Blaine bit his lips as he looked over at where Santana and Charlie were cooling down after morning practice, they were always just a bit further away from everyone else. He had gotten the invite from Charlie before sectionals to start coming over for extra practice at the Fabray compound but it had been a couple of days since she'd come back from injury and she hadn't brought it up since. Kurt was certain that this had just been some grand manipulation by her, but after knowing Charlie for a couple of months now, it was more likely that she'd forgotten. Reminding her would probably be the best move, but simply going up and talking to Charlie was difficult. Perhaps it was because he still felt like a bit of an outsider, but Charlie wasn't exactly the approachable type.
Taking a deep breath, to steady his nerves he pulls away from the rest of the team and heads over to Charlie and Santana who were bickering, which was rather normal between them.
"I'm a really bad liar Santana, heroes shouldn't be lying anyway."
"So when you're rescuing a child, and things aren't going that great you'll tell a small kid that everyone is going to die?"
"Don't be ridiculous Santana. If I'm there, everything will be fine. I'm not lying, and I'm not being arrogant. I will save everyone."
Santana rolled her eyes, and turned to look at Blaine who had approached them and narrowed her eyes when he cleared his throat. "What do you need Blaine?"
Blaine hesitated as Charlie turned to look at him, "I was wondering when I could swing by to do some training with you?"
"You can't," Charlie replied bluntly, making a face. She had wanted to train with Blaine, her hand to hand combat was lacking and practicing with Blaine was supposed to help close the gap.
Santana sighed, even though her lips can't help but quirk upward at how terrible Charlie is at this. "Don't take it personally Blaine, she's grounded until she can become normal. She's been banned from training outside of practice."
Blaine paused for a moment, before looking at Charlie and wrinkling his nose. "So, for life then?"
Santana snorted and looked over at Charlie who looked outraged at his characterization of her, "I mean you're not wrong, her mother is asking for a miracle."
Charlie scowled at Santana and Blaine, "My grandparents are enforcing this, and my mom will be back this weekend."
"Couldn't you lie to them and say you have a party or something to go to? No alcohol or anything, just a regular teenage social gathering that normal teenagers do?" Blaine pressed further.
"Not after that disaster that you called a party. I've tried to think of ways to get out of this, and none of them are any good."
"Charlie both your mother and your grandparents know how much of a fuckboi you are, this isn't complicated, just say you're going to have sex with someone." Santana points out, "Or just sneak out in the middle of the night like a normal teenager. Also once again, rebelling is what teenagers do. Just do it anyway and when she gets upset point to a book on teenage development and say that you're hitting all your milestones or something."
Charlie made a face, the reason she got away with half the shit that she got away with was because she more or less followed her parents rules. It's why they trusted her to not be an idiot. She glances at the team for a moment, "My mom won't believe that you and I aren't secretly training, and our parents talk to each other—"
"She doesn't know me or my parents," Blaine points out immediately. "And my parents are doctors so if you do get hurt again you can get medical care immediately. I'll even make sure Cooper isn't around."
Santana studied Charlie, every solution that she had offered Charlie had shot down immediately. "Take the rest of this week and next week off, and once you start to get irritated the offer stands Charlie. We'll cover for you and you can train as long as you train the two of us."
Charlie nodded, that made sense to her and she needed to watch more tape of Charlotte Flair to make sure that she optimized her training anyway. "Okay, but if we're caught you two bullied me into this."
Blaine and Santana exchange looks, no one could bully Charlie into anything. "Sure," Blaine promises.
~ O ~
"Here, let me get the door for you," Quinn insisted as she quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and practically ran to the other side of the car.
Marley thought the little gestures were cute, at least she did at first. But now that Quinn literally did not let her do anything by herself made her feel like Quinn maybe thought she was incapable of living on her own. Or maybe Quinn was showing her how much she means to her before she went to Luther Corp.
"Baby, I can get the door," Marley quietly argued, holding the door shut as Quinn attempted to open it for her.
"I insist," Quinn countered, opening the door anyway.
Marley sighed, "What has gotten into you lately? I have lived without you for nearly two decades, I can do stuff on my own." Marley threw her bag over her shoulder and began to walk off without speaking before she felt a gentle tug on her shoulder and she was wrapped in Quinn's arms.
"I'm sorry," Quinn mumbled quietly, "I just wanted you to show you how much I care."
Marlery sighed and turned towards Quinn, "I need to be able to do stuff on my own. We can talk about this more after practice okay?"
Quinn hummed in agreement and pecked Marley on the lips before letting her go entirely. "Are you sure I can't carry your bag for you?" Quinn teased gently, only to immediately be met with a hard look from Marley. Quinn put her hands up in surrender and laughed. When Marley finally pulls away, Quinn's smile slips off her face. She had thought that doing all this would make her closer with Marley, but it seemed like all she was doing with pissing off her girlfriend. Being banned from practice and sitting with Marley and the rest of the team sucked, and for once Charlie wasn't budging, even after she had gone back to Bob Evans yesterday and gotten her food.
"I need to find a way for Charlie to lift the ban," she mutters to herself, before heading into McKinley so she can think about possible solutions.
~ O ~
"You went behind my back! You said if I took this job you'd enjoy your retirement." Bestie snapped at her former mentor. They had been arguing for over an hour about Figgins' decision regarding the trip to Fort Salem.
Lawrence sighed, tired of this argument going on as long as it has, "Leave it be, Shannon."
"We've been over this argument a thousand times," Figgins attempted to mediate, "but my decision is final."
"It was only final when she threw her money around and you caved," Beiste was seething and pointed accusingly at Artemis, "You took away an opportunity from so many kids because you can't give up the spotlight for even a second."
Artemis tilted her head, "This isn't about my ego, or some long standing disagreement with General Alder. Level 5 augmented individuals are rare, officially there are only twelve of us. Thirteen soon, but names aren't released to the public."
"I don't see what that has to do with you deciding to force Figgins to cancel the trip to Fort Salem. If you don't want Charlie or Santana involved with the government then they didn't have to go. Not all the kids on that team will be blessed to be a hero, and even if they make it there is a relatively low ceiling for some of them. The military is an excellent option."
"And as I said to Figgins, if there is anyone who wishes to make the military there home I can arrange for a letter of recommendation, I still know many generals, and active senators." Artemis said her tone steady as she met Shannon's steely gaze with one of her own. "You care about these children, so trust me when I tell you that the last person you want in their orbit is General Alder."
"General Adler's facilities are the best in the business. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and you know it. There is no one else, not like this. No money would be able to replace whatever you just ripped away from my kids," Beiste had so much more fight left in her, she wasn't afraid of some bitch with a lump sum.
"McKinley will have a top of the line training facility, which will be ready by fall, assuming the permits go through. There is a city council meeting to discuss this project, I don't foresee a problem Shannon, and if you wish to have a top of the line facility for your students to train in, I can arrange for that. It might not be Fort Salem worthy but it will be top of the line."
"There are seniors on my team that won't get to see that facility. What am I supposed to tell them? That they weren't good enough for your favor because of some difference in political ideologies?" Beiste growled, still thinking of how this was going to affect her team and their morale, "They've worked so hard and yet now you are taking this away from them. I won't be quiet about who exactly ruined their chances; I refuse. Fire me, I don't care. I don't want to work in a place that cares more about money than the kids."
"That's not fair, Shannon," Lawrence sighed.
"Shannon, my family is responsible for nearly half of the Level 5's in this country. I have protected and served this country for nearly sixty years. I have seen things that you wouldn't believe. I know things that should never be spoken about, and I am telling you that General Alder isn't doing this out of the goodness of her heart. She has always been self-serving, and dangerous. She is a woman where the ends justify the means, and if that means using those kids that you care so much about—well she's certainly not above doing that."
"Then you get to tell them exactly what you've done. You get to see the heartbroken looks of kids who are never going to feel this level of importance again. Then you prance off to your cushy house and your money and your power and you get to forget exactly who you are letting down," Beiste argued.
"So will I also be telling them that I'm in talks to let them practice using the Summit facilities?" Artemis challenges.
"You'll be telling them that as much as they've worked, they will always be in your granddaughter's shadow," Beiste concluded.
Artemis was quiet for a moment, "Your team did something that no other team has managed to do, they stepped out of Charlie's shadow all on their own. Their display at sectionals has caused quite a stir in the community and many agents and schools are paying attention. I'm not the one putting these kids down, you are."
"Well, let's all bow down to our Furher, may she protect us always," Beiste ended, "When you're ready to see reason, Figgins, I'll be in my office making sure that the rest of our team gets the great news." Beiste left the office quickly, slamming the door behind her.
Figgins dabbed the sweat on his forehead and looked at Artemis who didn't look pleased with the turn of events, "I'll make sure she sees reason."
"Shannon isn't going to quit," Lawrence responds and rubs his brow.
"No, she isn't. The team is on the cusp of a national championship title, and she will see that through." Artemis turned to Figgins, "You should be receiving the plans for the new facility within the next few days, if there are things that you want to change then make a note of it. Come along dear," Artemis said as she gets up.
Lawrence nodded and hopped to his feet, "Do you think the twins are in class right now?"
"Probably, and we shouldn't give them an excuse to not pay attention," Artemis reminded him, smiling when Lawrence groaned.
~ O ~
Emma Pillsbury arranged the brochures on her desk and glanced up at the clock on her wall, there were still a few seconds before her meeting with Quinn Fabray. Juniors needed to start thinking about their plans after high school and Quinn was one of the students who didn't have a plan or a university that they wanted to go to. It was her job to make certain that all students were on the right path.
There's a knock on her door causing Emma to look up and smile when she spots a surly looking Quinn standing at the door. "Quinn, come in. Take a seat."
Quinn sighed and pulled a chair away from the desk and slumped down into it, she had no idea why she was being forced to attend. "Ms. Pillsbury, I know that it's required that we have this discussion but, even if I haven't thought about what I want to do in the future it'll be fine. I've got a 4.0 GPA, I'm a level 5 and Charlie's already becoming a household name. Any school that I want to go to will accept me if Charlie also puts in an application, and I plan on getting her to do that for me. And as entitled as this sounds, my family is wealthy—my future isn't really a problem. You should probably focus more on Finn Hudson then me. I know I'm incredibly privileged."
"What hobbies do you have, Quinn?" Emma started, seemingly ignoring the young teenager hoping to leave their designated time early.
"You sound just like my twin," Quinn muttered under her breath. "I read. I paint, I have hobbies, and as I said I'm sure I'll be fine for university as long as I can get Charlie to apply as well."
"As much as your twin means to you, this session is about you. What do you like to read? How often do you paint?" Emma smiled, meeting Quinn's eyes with a kind smile.
"I thought that this session was about my future, which I'm telling you will be fine. It shouldn't matter that I don't know what I want to be when I'm an adult, I'll be fine."
"A little birdy told me you've stopped doing everything that you used to do in light of spending time with your girlfriend. Would you like to give me your opinion on that?" Emma gently pressed, that same smile still on her face.
"I'm going to fucking kill her," Quinn seethed, no wonder Emma sounded like Charlie. Charlie had probably set this up. "Look I don't know what my twin has told you but as I've said numerous times, she was dropped on the head as a baby."
"Once again, this session is not about Charlie, nor did we talk before this session. Any information given to me stays completely confidential, which is why we are talking in this safe space today. You didn't answer my question, why have you stopped doing the things you like to do to spend time with someone else?" Emma stated, still with that damn infuriating smile on her face and leaving no room for argument.
Quinn narrowed her eyes, "That's what you're supposed to do, I can paint any time. I can read any time, I still read before bed, I haven't stopped doing the things I liked to do because I'm spending time with Marley, I just adjusted my schedule so I can give Marley all my attention."
"But what about the attention you give to yourself, Quinn," Emma sighed, "Have you given any thought to what you want to do past high school that would make you happy and not anyone else?"
"And I'm telling you it doesn't matter."
Emma actually frowned, "And why is that? Why does your happiness not matter?"
"That's not what I said—or what I'm saying. I'm a level 5, I don't have to worry about this like everyone else does. It's not about my happiness or not, I'm happy right now, I have a girlfriend, my grades are better, I'm going to murder my twin sometime today, it's a wonderful day."
"You've stopped training. You're not a part of any clubs at school, you haven't come in to discuss possible future plans. It's your junior year, Quinn, why does it seem like you're not enjoying it?" Emma asked, completely ignoring the threat of another student in light of a possible breakthrough.
"Right has Charlie come in—"
"Yes, she has. I can't discuss what we talked about, but your twin does try and squeeze me in when she has time. It's alphabetical Quinn, and Q comes after C."
"Well, I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. All because I don't have a plan like Charlie doesn't mean that I'm not taking it seriously."
"So you don't actually have a plan," Emma hummed, "And you come off hostile if anyone asks you about it because you're—afraid to be left behind? Forgotten? Why are you actively holding yourself back?"
"Left behind? My grades are higher than Charlie's, if you rank our abilities, my abilities are stronger than Charlie's—"
"Why are you comparing yourself to your twin?"
"I—what?"
"Why do you constantly compare yourself to Charlie? Not once have I personally brought her up, you have for nearly every answer you've given me."
"Because everyone constantly compares me to Charlie. Oh you're Charlie's twin, I guess you want to be a hero too. Who's the stronger twin? I threw a party last weekend, and guess which twin didn't get in trouble? Me. Why? Because Charlie nearly got herself killed, my mom didn't even care that I threw a party she banned Charlie from training outside of practice," Quinn snapped at Emma. "I mean Charlie's not even that great, her grades are worse than mine, I'm far more powerful and yet everyone goes around sucking Charlie's proverbial dick."
"So you feel that you deserve more credit than Charlie. You're better than her," Emma tested, pausing when she saw her breath in the air.
"Of course I'm better than her," Quinn responds immediately. "Yet for whatever reason she gets everything, the favoritism, the girls—and yet she keeps trying to insert herself into my business. She keeps pretending that she's better than me!"
"So you're sabotaging yourself because you want to hurt her like she's hurting you," Emma continued the questioning calmly.
"Of course not! I love my twin. She's just a pain in my ass most of the time! I don't actually want to hurt her, I just want her to stop judging me and acting like she's better than me when objectively she's not."
"Quinn, I'm going to let you into a little secret: I've never once heard Charlie say anything of you not being good enough, in fact usually she can't shut up about how amazing you are. So perhaps you are hearing these words from another source. When you close your eyes, who do you see as the person that you are mad at most," Emma started that stupid smile again.
Quinn narrowed her eyes, this was a game that she didn't particularly want to play. "I want to go to Yale."
"With your grades and capabilities, Yale is perfect for you. What did you want to study there?" Emma asked, finally getting somewhere with Quinn.
"It's an excellent school that will open doors of opportunity," Quinn answered flatly.
"I didn't ask for a tour, Quinn, I asked what you wanted to do there," Emma pressed gently.
"I don't fucking know! Why does it matter? Yale is a fantastic school—"
"Because unless you start thinking for you, not knowing will always be your fall back. You need to think of yourself. Here, I'll start. You like reading, do you like writing as well?"
Quinn's anger deflated, she wasn't going to bully her way out of this. "Yeah. I like to write."
"Yale has an excellent writing program, would you be interested in something like that or would you prefer further your education on another subject?"
Quinn "I don't know," she admits, sighing when Emma begins to pull out brochures.