Work Text:
3 months he said, 3 short months to keep my son safe, but it’s been longer than that. I don’t know how long every time I see myself in the mirror there's more wrinkles, more drooping of my skin, less light in my eyes.
I often find myself drifting away from this cold, lifeless laboratory back to our little apartment back to William and J..John? I think. I can’t really remember. I feel horrible for forgetting my baby's name but I can’t help it, I think I’m even forgetting things about myself. That's what a place like this does to you, the plain white walls, the endless identically dressed doctors and nurses all wanting to do some tests on me like some sort of rat.
I pray it hasn’t been as long as I fear otherwise my baby wouldn't be a baby anymore, he won't even be a child. Oh God what if he hates me. He probably thinks I willingly abandoned him when he was little. Hopefully he was old enough to remember that we were happy together and will realize I had no other choice. I wonder what would have happened if I told Will what was going on. I had to keep him in the dark. The authorities don’t like when people know about their real values and goals, not that the people at the top of society would care; at the end of the day that's all that matters.
Unfortunately with how persistent Will is I doubt he would let it rest when I didn’t return after the promised months. I hope he didn’t find anything. The more he knows the more danger he is in, especially because of his lack of an ability. He needs to stay safe for John's sake. The last thing I want is for him to be alone. Especially because he is also a cripple because of me.
Just before I left I had to block John's ability from manifesting, trapping his aura away preventing him from unlocking it for the next few years. Before saying goodbye to Will I crept into his little room. It was always messy, clothes and toys haphazardly stored in the middle of the floor but he always managed to make it cosy and warm. Kneeling down beside his bed I hesitantly brushed his bangs out of his face and activated my god forsaken ability. Placing my hand on his forehead I forcefully pushed all his aura away, sealing it away for years if I wasn’t there to release it again. I didn’t want to hold him back like that but if the authorities came poking round I wanted them to think he was a cripple and hopefully get him off their radar entirely.
I desperately miss that little sweet apartment with them but it can’t be helped. When I return we will be able to carry on as if nothing happened. He can’t be that much older.
I have to spend most of my time here waiting for them to run more tests. I’m not sure what they are using the results for. They keep telling me my “Contribution” is helping them prevent chaos from taking over and helping them keep society stable -given how messed up society is I think I would prefer chaos- I don’t know how they are using the results but one experiment stands out in my mind.
I was wheeled into the blindingly white room waves of the familiar disinfectant washed over me causing mild nausea from the fumes. The first thing I noticed was the second examination table, who else is here. I was silently signaled to lay on the examination table, my thin hospital gown providing little protection from the cold, harsh tiles. I lay there daydreaming until I heard the door click again.
In walked a strange new lady dressed in a smart black shirt and trousers with long blond hair tied neatly in a ponytail. She confidently stepped towards the table parallel to mine. She turned round, facing me and sat on the edge of the table. “Hello Jane”
Her tone is warm and friendly but her glare is chilling. She is clearly here for a purpose and by choice, that was the most concerning part. Why would anyone want to be here?
“H…h…he” my voice was so coarse from underused that I could barely form words anymore. The lady was for some reason irritated by my failed response, or have I just forgotten how to read facial expressions. She stared at me for a few more awkward seconds before Dr Edwards entered his pale pink hair as frizzy and untamable as usual. I like him; He's one of the few people who treats me like a human, albeit if that human was 8 years old but can’t complain.
“So Valerie, are you ready for the procedure?” he asked with a hint of stiffness in his voice, is that fear?
“I am” she replied formally as if she were in a job interview.
“Jane, I assume you are ready” his fake condescending tone did not slip past me. I didn’t bother answering, having learned a long time ago that he will continue talking even if I attempted a reply.
“Don’t worry this one will be quick.” As if on cue two Nurses walked in with the same gas as always. They placed the mask over my face and the familiar sleepiness washed over me and I once again retired to my dreams of the outside world of how things were before this shit.
I have never seen someone other than the same small rotation of doctors and nurses around here. Not even a janitor I assume they keep me far away from everyone else for fear of my existence being noticed. Previously I would have said even if they did see me they would barely question it. I hardly look like one of the strongest people in the world, wouldn’t be surprised if most people believed me to be a low-tier, but now I’m not so sure…
If I were so uninteresting then why was there a strange blue haired man snapping pictures of me yesterday. God I hope he wasn’t sent by William, I know he has some detective friends. If he was, they had better be prepared for the worst. Stay safe sweetie.