Redacted

The Blossoms of Hope

Edited: 2/18/2024

"Doctor Anand, correct?"

Turning around, the young scientist couldn't help but narrow his eyes as they locked onto a similar green.

"Doctor Shim."

It was strange, despite having passed each other numerous times, working in the same labs, this was the first that the doctor had greeted him, let alone smile at him. Then again, it was late and alone. He wouldn't be surprised if Shim was only acting cautiously, not wanting anyone to connect their lineage together. After all, the younger scientist was a practical clone of the infamous Doctor Shim.

Although he understood, the young doctor couldn't help but feel offended; there was a reason why he had pulled his dark strands back into a tight braid and pulled a hood over his eyes. In addition, he wore lens that changed his eyes to the shade of hazel, to match his relation to his mother. To him, for the Doctor to contact him like this, made him feel he wasn't putting in enough effort to hide the fact that he had a bastard son.

"Your mother, she wasn't here today." Shim's words pulled him out of his thoughts, "Did she take ill? Last I saw her, she looked rather pale."

That is when the young scientist gave him a blank look, and badly wanted to say her illness was caused by a certain doctor had turned his back upon his mistress and his illegitimate child when stumbling upon a better marriage prospect.

Despite this, for his mother, he forced out a smile, "When I woke up this morning, she hardly had an appetite and could barely stand. So, I took initiate and told her to stay away from work." That is when he spotted the concern linger in Shim's eyes; his gut twist, fire burned in his chest, "Do not worry. I had set up medical droids to look after her while I am gone and everyone who needs to know is informed of her condition." He gave Shim a blank look, "She will resume work within a week."

If of course, lovesickness can be cured within a week.

"Then, should you not be with her? You are her son after all."

That is when his smile dropped and the fire within his chest burst.

"Oh?" He started, "Like how you were there for my mother and I all these years?" He couldn't help but feel triumphant at the way Shim flinched, "I may keep to myself, Doctor Shim, but I am not stupid."

"How did you – "

"Hard not to see the similarities." He gestured towards himself before tapping the side of his eyes; the way Shim took in a deep breath was enough, "and a simple cup you had left behind on a cafeteria table was enough to get solid proof."

He couldn't help but feel accomplished, satisfied at the way Shim's professional façade crumbled. But it quickly turned to fury when he saw the regret, the sadness in the man's green eyes.

"If you are thinking of apologizing, it's too late." He blurted, "I accepted 'years' ago that you wanted nothing to do with my mother and I."

"Angel, please – "

"That is 'Doctor Anand' to you." He spat, glaring at the older scientist, "I saw those images, those videos on the news, the web. You look so 'happy' with that little family of yours." He forced out a bitter smile, "How is your little boy doing? Bet he is everything you wanted from a child that was not born outside of wedlock."

"Enough."

"Or you wife?" He continued, "She looked so pleased seated next to you in those family portraits of yours." The younger scientist then gestured vaguely at Shim, "Tell me, does she know that you had intercourse with another woman and had a bastard as a result?"

"Doctor Anand!"

Pausing at the sight of Shim's eyes narrowed, jaw tight, the young scientist felt the same burning rage release once more.

"You? You think you have the right to be angry?" He scoffed, jabbing an accusatory finger at Shim, "Do you know how many years it took me to realize that 'daddy' isn't going to come and visit us anymore? Do you know how many years it took me to realize that your 'love' between my mother and I was superficial that you would not even acknowledge us? Do you know how many years it took me to realize that you don't care?"

"I do care!" Shim shouted back.

"You mean that money you would send us every month?" The younger scientist retorted, "or the little tidbits of gifts that we would receive that were 'anonymous?" He sneered, "I felt the 'care'. Tell me, if you truly did care, how did you not notice my mother loving you to the point of illness?"

There is a pause.

"What?"

"Despite your little 'meetings', not once did you say you loved her, not once did you show any sign of fondness, unless, with those brief moments of holding hands. Do you know what that does to a person? Knowing you loved them but unable to do anything?" He gritted his jaw, his hands curling into fists, "My mother kept telling me that you loved us, cared for us, that you would never abandon us because you 'loved us' so much." He then gave Shim a dark look, a glare, "but between you and me, between your family 'out there' and us, it is obvious who you love more."

"Angel, wait."

Ignoring the calls of the Doctor, he turned and stomped away, feeling the heat and wetness around his eyes as he felt the anger continue to burn.

Xxxxx

Angel took in a gasp as his eyes snapped open, his senses blaring that his surroundings were unfamiliar, foreign as emotions forced its way to the surface. He can feel the lingering heat of tears around his eyes.

"Angel?" He heard Hope voice her concern, her voice just next to his head, "They forced me to – Are you alright?"

Flicking his green eyes over to his Ghost, Angel, at first, remained silent, before straining out, "My father, he's…"

He saw the flicker of confusion, of worry in Hope's optic, "Yes?"

Taking in a shaking breath to exert some control over the hate building up within the back of his throat, Angel then sat up and slammed a fist down, uncaring that somehow there was a convenient table placed in front of him. Again, ignoring his instincts of danger, he felt his hand sink, the table bending under his frustration. Then, he took in a shuddering breath before leaning down and pressing his head against the table.

"Angel?"

Hearing his Ghost call out to him once more, Angel opted to ignore her, feeling the heat of the tears dripping from his eyes. Then, he raised his hand and used his fingers to wipe them away.

"Just, just give me a moment." He said.

"Well, I would." He heard Hope start, "But with our current situation, I say we don't have a moment."

Bewildered at her words, Angel took the opportunity to lift his head and finally, he acknowledged his instincts, his senses of unfamiliarity.

"Hope, where are we?" He asked.

"Base of the Blossoms of Hope." Angel couldn't suppress the incredulous thought of Isamu being a bit over his head to agree to such a name, "Located just outside of the Wall."

Biting his lip, Angel quickly wiped the last of the tears away before sitting up straight, finally feeling the head of the chair pressing against his shoulders and his hands upon the table in front of him.

Although his 'dream' still buzzed strongly in his head, Angel forced Pluto's teachings to take its place, his green eyes scanning the table.

And those seated around it.

In total he assess five possible threats: A Titan and a Hunter to his left, a Warlock and Titan on his right, and another seated Titan seated at the head. Each had their helmets removed, allowing Angel to take in their features and imprint them in his mind. He was going to need Akiva and the others' help if he were to encounter them again.

Thanks to the imprint of their armor, it was easy to recognize Toshak and Archer, revealing the former as Awoken and the latter as an Exo. If it wasn't for the glow of his eyes, Angel would have said that the color matched the tone of his skin, his dark violet hair shorn to the side to ensure that they would not get in the way. And also, to allow the Hunter to give Angel a glare.

In contrast, Archer's lights held a soft glowing white against muted blue, giving him a gentler appearance despite his obviously broader form, especially when the Exo in question turned and gave him a strained smile and a sheepish wave.

The Guardians seated opposite to them were both human, the Warlock a male with black shaggy hair barely reaching his ears and his blue eyes against fair skin showed hints of interests when their eyes locked. Next to him, the Titan is a woman, long brown hair pulled into a bun and her eyes an attentive brown, sticking out against her pale features.

And finally, the Titan seated at the head – the Leader, from what Angel can guess from his position – is a human as well, with fair features and hazel eyes twinkling behind blonde strands. Despite his friendly smile, distrust settled into the pit of Angel's stomach.

"Lumir, I take it?"

Having read up on the members of the Blossoms, Angel had expected him to simply confirm his identity and go on. Thus, he couldn't help but blink when instead, Lumir jerked back, his smile vanishing from his face and replaced with wide eyes. However, just as quickly as he had lost his composure, Angel saw him resume his smile, leaning over and clasping his hands together on the table. Although Angel can still see the remnants of surprise lingering in his hazel eyes.

"I had heard you were a keen individual." Angel scowled at his compliment, "then again, you had a Guardian such as Pluto-99 in your team. It would be safe to assume that he taught you a few tricks."

Although knowing fully well Lumir's words were supposed to be a compliment, Angel also couldn't help but feel offended, biting down the inside of his mouth to stop a retort building up in the back of his throat. Despite being well known for his relationship with the House of Spirits, it doesn't mean that all knows of his time spent with them, let alone know that it was Salziks who taught him how to catch the smallest of things; Pluto simply held him improve it.

"He was a good teacher." Angel managed to say, "although I still have room to grow."

Lumir nodded in approval, "I think it is safe to say that all Guardians have room for improvement, young one." Angel, again frowned, this time at the nickname, "especially with our capability to live beyond the average lifespan and near immortality."

The way he spoke the last word, the way his eyes glinted, sent warnings flashing to Angel's mind. He recognizes that tone: he has seen it way too often amongst Guardians who had a high sense of self.

"Despite this nice little chat we are having, I have a feeling that you didn't bring me here for small talk." Angel decided to say; his senses are telling him to get out of here.

"You little – " Toshak's words were interrupted when Lumir raised a hand. In turn, this earned him a glare from the Hunter. Angel can tell the latter was ready to jump on him.

Agitated now, Angel subtly raised his hand before feeling Hope settle into his palms and then brought her to his lap, cupping her in his hands. And out of sight.

"Why would you think that?" Lumir asked.

Angel frowned, furrowing his brows, "You had to shoot me in the head to bring me here."

He heard Lumir chuckle at his words; this did not ease his senses, "I do apologize for Toshak and Archer. I did tell them to bring you back unscathed." He leaned back in his seat, "However, I did not account for you resisting."

Angel narrowed his green eyes, "Wouldn't you if someone doesn't take no for an answer?"

A thoughtful hum can be heard from Lumir, "Your words ring true, young one." The smile upon his face unnerved Angel, "Then, perhaps this conversation can end quickly and both parties leave satisfied?"

Angel tensed shoulders, enclosing his hands around Hope, "Let me guess, you want me to tell you about Isamu?"

He saw Lumir's eyes brighten, "You are quite sharp. Pluto has taught you well." Again, Angel bit back his tongue, "You see, after Isamu left the Blossoms, all of us held regrets and thus, we searched for him for years, hoping to apologize and fix any misunderstandings between us."

Angel furrowed his brows, "Misunderstandings?"

A gleam can be seen in Lumir's hazel eyes. Angel's gut twisted.

"The Blossoms understood of his want of a child, of peace," Lumir went on, "But with our duties we do not have the time for such a thing amongst our ranks." He then sighed, "But we decided to make a compromise, and that we shall make a schedule, a cycle to watch this child that he yearns so badly. All we need is our leader and founder back."

Gritting his jaw, Angel struggled with the question forming on the tip of his tongue, eyeing the other members of the Blossoms. However, despite the danger, curiosity won out.

"But this compromise has to do with Isamu giving something up on his end?" Angel saw a flash of surprise in Lumir's eyes. Angel decided to continue, "You mention a child, but I have spoken with Isamu, listened to him speak. If he was indeed a founder of your clan, he would not have just left for the reason of being unable to find a child."

That is when Angel felt Hope shift nervously in his hands and he kept his eyes forward, forcing his panic down as he saw the smile upon Lumir's face go blank. His eyes revealed nothing.

"Pluto taught you too well." Lumir said, "Or perhaps that traitorous student of his taught you how to read one's body?" He sat up in his seat, "I have heard rumors that the Black Death can read anyone like an open book."

Hearing the name that he had heard being uttered when he first came to the Tower, Angel grounded his jaw together and gave Lumir the best glare he could muster, "His name is Ianos and he is sick with corruption."

"Corruption that would eventually turn him against us." Angel growled at Lumir's words; in turn, the Titan continued, "Which is why the Revenants are heretics, thinking that they can control the very thing that is trying to kill us." Angel saw Lumir's eyes narrowed, a scowl appearing on his face, "We are willing to let Isamu have a child but to let him monger around with those traitors?" Lumir shook his head, "He is simply blinded, confused by his desire to sire children." The smile is then back on Lumir's face, "Once he realizes his mistake, he will come back to us. As the proper leader and founder of the Blossoms of Hope."

A warning – both from Hope and his instincts – told Angel to rein in his anger, to force the simmering fire down his chest.

But Angel could not contain it.

"In my eyes, you are functioning well without him." He snarled out, "why the obsession of bringing him back? He is much happier without all of you."

That is when he not only felt Lumir's eyes, but all the others landed upon him, feeling their frustration, their anger behind their stares. The only one who even seemed mildly concerned was Archer, the lone Exo glancing back and forth between his team and Angel. It made Angel realize that he needed to take Pluto's and Ianos' advice on carefully picking out his words to heart.

"Happier? Without us?" He heard Lumir repeat back; Angel can see a spark, a spark of something quite not right with the Titan, "Isamu was the beacon of his Clan, our light, our hope." Angel's senses went alert as the Titan stood up, crossing his arms behind his back as he slowly made his way around the table, "So when he left us, we crumbled. Our name put to shame because of what the Revenants had done, and our numbers have been dwindling since." Lumir came to a pause short of where Angel sat; he felt his throat go tight as Lumir leaned in, looming over him, "We need him back to regain what we had lost, and you are going to help us find him."

Keeping his hands tight around Hope, Angel lifted his chin, took in a deep breath, and glared back into Lumir's hazel eyes, "Sorry to disappoint, but I made a promise to Isamu that whatever information given to me is to be kept between us, for the safety of the Revenants." He saw Lumir's eyes darkened. Angel continued, "and considering revealing Isamu's location would be revealing the Revenant's location, I am afraid I cannot answer your question."

"You are in allegiance with those heretics?"

Angel paused at Lumir's questions, pressing his lips together.

Is he?

He knows of Isamu, of the Revenants, and their history, understood why they left the Tower, and wanted to govern themselves. But, despite this, Angel wasn't sure if he could truly say he was in allegiance with them.

However, as Angel parted his lips, he then felt hands wrap around his throat, and his head suddenly being pressed against the back of his seat.

Eyes wide, Angel forced his panic to the side, ignoring the reflexes to claw at Lumir's arms. Instead, he kept one hand around Hope's form and raised one, wrapping it around Lumir's wrist. He took in a strained breath. It felt like he barely got any air in.

"What are you doin'!?"

Feeling Hope struggling in his hand, Angel then tightened his hold around her shell, forcing her to stay in his lap; he wasn't going to risk her letting out into the open when the Blossoms are this hostile, "Stop! You're goin' to kill him!"

The edges of his vision blurry, Angel then found his legs kicking out against his command, feeling his knees hitting the edge of the table as he struggled. However, it seemed to do little, as he can see feel Lumir's weight against his neck, feeling the Titan press against his throat.

Then he felt the hands leave him.

Taking in a stuttering gasp, Angel then leaned forward, coughing as he reached out with his free hand and grabbed the edge of the table to steady himself.

"I see no Darkness in your eyes." He barely managed to catch Lumir's words, "but that doesn't mean you are a fresh initiate."

"You think I am one of them?" Angel rasped out, lifting his head subtly so that his eyes connect with Lumir's, "You are more delusional than I thought."

This earned him a scowl from the Titan, "You met a Revenant and lived." The look he gave Angel was accusatory, "The only way that was possible if you were interested in joining their ranks."

Angel couldn't help but look Lumir over, weighing in how serious the Titan was.

And then laughed.

"I never heard of the Revenants until I met Isamu." Ignoring the way Lumir jerked back, brows furrowed and eyes wide, Angel sat up in his seat, taking in a deep breath for his screaming lungs, "From what I can see, you are getting desperate in trying to regain your former glory, believing that Isamu, someone that you had pushed away, would make everything better again."

"We know that Isamu would make the Blossoms great again." He hears Lumir retort; a quick glance at his eyes showed the spark of arc light flickering in them, "and you are going to tell us where he is."

Finding himself crumbling under the Titan's gaze, Angel licked his lips nervously, contemplating his choices.

One, he could lie his way out of this, put on his best poker face, and hand the Blossoms random coordinates to give himself time to escape.

Or two, tell them the truth, that although Angel has indeed met Isamu, he has no idea of his location, that his team had left him behind before he could even question where they're heading.

Considering that Lumir was showing off his true colors, Angel leaned towards outright lying. He already made the decision that he hates this clan, and that to see them running around in circles in a vain attempt to find Isamu would be amusing.

But, as Angel eyed the other Blossom clan members, and seeing the way they kept their eyes upon him, paranoia settled into his chest; who is to say that even if he were to give them the coordinates – true or not – that they were going to let him, and Hope go?

And he already experienced firsthand what happens when a Blossom did not get what they want.

With his mind made up, Angel licked his lips again before he answered, "Again, sorry to disappoint, but I said I met Isamu. That does not mean I know where he is."

He saw Lumir's hazel eyes narrow followed by the Titan snarling, "What?"

Forcing his fears to the side, Angel then squared out his shoulders and narrowed his eyes again, "You think Isamu would let me follow him to a base of the enigmatic Revenants? A Tower Guardian and a new light compared to his years?" He couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Considering how dense you are, I can see why Isamu left all of you behind."

No sooner had the words left his lips when he suddenly felt a strong hand grab him by the jaw, the grip tight enough where it made Angel wince as he was forced to look directly into Lumir's eyes.

"You lie." The Titan growled.

Angel suppressed the urge to pull away, trying to steady his beating heart.

"You think that with the current situation that I am in, surrounded by more experienced and stronger Guardians, that I would risk lying to you?" Angel tried to give his best glare, "I maybe young, but I am not that naïve."

Hearing Lumir let out a snarl of frustration, Angel then felt the Titan push his face away, finally feeling the man's fingers leave his jaw. Reaching up with one hand and touching the area tentatively, Angel winced; no doubt a bruise will form if he leaves it be.

"Since you claim that you are ignorant of Isamu's whereabouts, then we will have to spread our search." He looked up to see Lumir had stepped away from him, now halfway across the table, glaring at him.

"Contact your team." Lumir demanded.

That is when Angel's heart froze, a chill running down the length of his spine, "My team? What makes you think that – "

"Rumors spread fast, young one." Angel halted at Lumir's interruption, spotting a smile spreading on the human Titan's face, "and considered how you acted, the rumors are true." He approached Angel once more, "Your team has gone to the Revenants for help on saving the traitor."

"Ianos is no traitor." Angel hissed out, practically snarling as Lumir stepped away once more; there is an amused smile upon his fair face, "and I am not going to contact them."

"Oh, you will." Another chill ran through Angel's body as he spotted the glint in Lumir's eyes, "We just need to persuade you a bit."

Seeing the man's gaze lower to his lap, Angel promptly cupped Hope in his hands, practically smothering her as he growled out, "You will not harm my Ghost."

His words prompted Lumir to eyes wide before the Titan smiled again.

"You have it all wrong, young one." Angel tensed as Lumir ventured close again, "us Blossoms know that there are two ways to persuade a Guardian." He raised a hand and held up one finger, "One is to keep their Ghost hostage but, of course, someone such as yourself would fight body and spirit to keep them safe." He then hummed, "and not to mention that us Blossoms would not degrade ourselves to such lengths." Then, Lumir held up a second finger before reaching a hand and planted it upon Angel's shoulder; it was tight and painful, "Thus, we found an alternative. We cannot harm the Ghost." Angel then let out a hiss as he felt the man's fingers dig into his shoulder, "But, we can harm you."