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Chapter Text

Adaine considered herself very brave. 

She was brave for fighting her sister just an hour ago. She was brave for standing up to the Harvest Men and everything else her and her friends had faced. She was brave for dealing with panic attacks her entire life even though there was never anyone there to help her. And she had certainly been brave defying her parents to get Aelwyn arrested.

And so, as she, Fabian, and Riz walked out of the Abernant manor with further evidence Adaine felt brave enough to ignore Riz’s suggesting of sneaking out back and confronted her parents straight on.

Her mother looked upset, mouth thin line, brow furrowed, like she was debating something over in her mind and she didn’t like any answer she saw.

Adaine’s father looked furious.

But Adaine did not flinch as he spotted her. She didn’t cringe as he stormed up, leering over her in a way that was guaranteed to make her feel small.

“It was a very brilliant move at the house, Adaine.” He said it through gritted teeth, like he was trying very hard not to explode. But that didn’t stop him from snapping his words, didn’t stop his voice from trembling in rage. “A diplomat’s child cannot be taken into custody. It is an insult to the nation of Fallinal!” He pointed at her, fire burning behind his eyes. “There will be consequences for this. Drastic consequences!”

Adaine let her own anger rise to match his. She was proud of what she had done and would not be apologizing for it. Furthermore, she hated her father more than anything else in the world and let that fuel her as she snapped back at him. “You have treated me like a second class citizen in this house for as long as I can remember!”

She was going to say more, had a whole speech prepared, but was cut off by a crack in the air, her head whipping to the side, and a stinging in her cheek.

“I will not have you speaking to me that way, you ungrateful brat,” her father hissed, “Not now. Not after what you’ve done.”

Emotions warred within Adaine. Her anger, already hot and burning. How dare he. How dare he do such a thing to her! How dare he treat her like this, like he always had. How dare he how dare he how dare he.

Shock was also strong, rooting her in place and locking her muscles. She hadn’t expected this, had never even considered it. For how vile they were and how terribly they treated her, Adaine's parents had never hit her, never struck her, never caused her physical harm. She had assumed they thought themselves above such barbaric forms. 

Then there was the fear. The familiar panic creeping into her bones and stealing her breath. Because he had never hit her before. And she had not known it but that had been a line, a comforting barrier that she could emotionally hide behind. Knowing that no matter how upset they became she was never in any physical danger from them.

That was gone now and in the turmoil of emotions the fear won. Because if he was willing to hit her, if that was on the table, then anything was. What would he do to her when they weren’t in public, with her friends watching? Where was the new line, if there even was one?

She knew part of it was the panic attack and the irrational thoughts that accompanied them. But Adaine felt like she knew, with her entire being, that if she ever went back into that house she would be as good as dead. 

Turns out she wasn’t as brave as she thought.

***

Fabian wasn’t really a thinking guy. 

He liked to think he was, and he tried to be. Tried to pay attention to his friends to get them personal gifts, tried to think through his movements in a fight. But he often got confused when the party talked or rushed ahead without worrying about what he was leaving behind.

Like at this moment, he didn’t even have time to process what he was doing before he was already half-way through the action.

He saw Angwyn hit Adaine, strike her across the face mid sentence, and the next thing he knew he was surging forward and his fist was connecting with the diplomat’s jaw.

Angwyn reeled back, the only thing stopping him from collapsing to the ground was his wife behind him fumblingly catching him in her arms.

Fabian knew that what he had just done was incredibly stupid. Insanely, egregiously stupid. But he had already done it and now there was nothing to do but ride it out. Stand with his decision like his father would. 

He stood in front of Adaine, one hand out protectively. Though he didn’t think she really registered him there. Adaine looked completely shell shocked, staring blankly at the ground from where her head had been turned. The only movement a tremble in her shoulders and hands even as tears gently ran down her cheeks.

Out of the corner of his eye Fabian saw Riz rush to her side, taking Adaine’s hand and speaking gently to her. Satisfied with that, Fabian turned his full attention to the enemy in front of him. 

Angwyn had regained most of his senses and was pushing his wife off as he stumbled to his feet. He looked absolutely livid as he glared at Fabian, raising his hands.

Fabian drew his sword before the wizard could make another move, thrusting it forward so the tip touched Angwyn’s shirt button. “Don’t! I don’t want to see a glimmer of magic or I will gut you. Do you understand?”

Angwyn sneered but, thankfully, slowly lowered his hands. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing, boy? I am an ambassador. This could start a war. ”

“Then start a war!” Fabian snapped back. He was surprised he could hear himself over how loud his heart was thumping, but he did not let his hand tremble or his face crack.

Angwyn scoffed. “You are a child. You have no idea what you’re doing.” He stepped forward. “Move away from my daughter and stop embarrassing yourself.”

“I am a pirate!” Fabian screamed, shoving his sword forward, ripping the elf’s shirt before Angwyn stumbled a step back. “And you have attacked a member of my crew! You should be feeling incredibly lucky that I haven’t already painted these steps with your blood.”

Behind him, Riz let out a soft, “Whoa.” Fabian did not turn, did not break eye contact with Angwyn. He did not know himself if he was bluffing and he did not want to have to find out.

Thankfully, Angwyn took a step back, still sneering but obviously not going to put up more of a fight. “You’re going to regret this, child. ”

Fabian felt as if there was a lid on his anger that he was just barely keeping down. “Not as much as you will. Riz.”

“Y-yeah?” Riz stuttered behind him, voice filled with emotion that Fabian was not letting himself feel.

“Take Adaine and get on the Hangman. We’re leaving.” Fabian was thankful that Riz didn’t protest. He just gently guided Adaine, who stumbled after him. Fabian made careful, purposeful steps to make sure he was always in between his friends and the Abernants as they circled around to his bike.

For the first time, Adaine’s mother spoke up. “This is kidnapping, you know. Taking Adaine without our consent.” She looked worried, her gaze flicking from her husband, Fabian, and her daughter behind him.

Fabian snorted. “Then I’m kidnapping her. Besides, I care about her consent more than yours.” 

He got to his bike and climbed on, never looking away from the Abernants. He didn’t blink even as he felt Adaine wrap her arms around him and bury her face into the crook of his neck. 

“Take us home, Hangman.”

He didn’t look away until the Hangman had gotten far enough that the Abernant manor was out of sight. 

Only then did he blink away the tears forming in his eyes and let his body shake.

Chapter Text

When Fabian got to the Seacaster manor he did not get off The Hangman right away. His hands had been shaking so badly during the ride that he had been immensely grateful The Hangman could drive itself. 

And if that wasn’t bad enough Adaine had not once removed her damp face from his shoulder.

“Riz,” Fabian said, clearing his throat as the word came out as a croak, “The Ball, I didn’t see you get on. Are you still there?”

“Yeah,” Riz answered, his voice soft, “I got into Adaine’s backpack. I’m going to get out now.”

Fabian nodded and placed a hand on Adaine’s arm that was still wrapped around his waist. “Are you alright, Adaine?”

She didn’t verbally answer, just buried her face deeper into him and squeezed tighter.

Well, at least she didn’t seem to be paralyzed anymore. 

Carefully, Fabian moved her arms and climbed off the bike. Riz was waiting next to it and he took Adaine’s other hand as the two helped her off the perch. 

She still looked absolutely terrible. Her hair clung to her face where it got stuck in the tear tracks on her cheek. Her eyes were red, puffy, and unfocused as she stared down at her shoes. She wasn’t shaking as much now but she looked like a particularly strong breeze could send her spiraling. 

Master, The Hangman spoke in Fabian’s mind, shall I tear those responsible asunder for daring to cause such harm to yours?

Touching, that even The Hangman was concerned. No, we’ll deal with this. Thank you, Hangman. Head back to the garage for now.

Fabian gently tugged on Adaine’s hand and she obediently followed, like she was in a trance. Riz picked up the rear, biting his lip but staying silent.

Fabian was immensely relieved when he spotted Cathilda as soon as he walked in the front door. The maid was carrying a set of towels somewhere but stopped immediately once she saw them. 

“Goodness, you three look like death. What happened?”

“So, so, much Cathilda,” Fabian said, tension draining from his shoulders as he breathed in his own home, “can you get Adaine and Riz something warm to drink? I need to go talk to Pa-Pa.”

Cathilda smiled kindly at his two friends. “Of course, you’re father’s in the crow’s nest. I’ll whip up some hot chocolate for you two.”

Fabian nodded and moved to leave but was stopped by Adaine’s grip tightening around his hand.

“Fabian,” she said for the first time, her voice coming out wispy and stuttering, like she was still having trouble breathing, “your father. I…Last time I was here. I made him angry at you. I’m so…” She swallowed thickly, tears springing again to her eyes as she stared intently into his, “Fabian, I’m so sorry .”

It hurt. Seeing her like this. It hurt as if someone had stabbed him in the lung. He cupped her hand in both of his and gently squeezed. “It’s fine, Adaine. I swear. It wasn’t your fault and even if it was my father… he’s a good man. A little argument isn’t the end of the world for us.”

Adaine did not look any more reassured but she released his hand and let herself be pulled by Riz into following Cathilda. 

Fabian made eye contact with Riz, who nodded at him, and only then did he let himself turn away and head up to the crow’s nest. He heard his father before he even entered the nest. Bill Seacaster was singing to himself, a slow mournful sea shanty.

Fabian was a bit grateful that Adaine had stopped him from going up immediately because with all that had happened he had honestly forgotten that he and his dad had had a fight. 

But it should be fine. He hadn’t been lying to Adaine when he said a little argument wouldn’t be the end of them. Sure, he couldn’t remember the last time Pa-pa had been angry at him but certainly this couldn’t be the first.

Besides, he had just done something he was sure his father would be proud of. 

“Pa-a?” He called, peering up into the nest.

“Well, well, well,” Bill Seacaster said, looking up from where he had been strumming a lute. “Playin’ me shanties up here in the crow’s nest. How goes it, Fabian Aramaic Seacaster?”

“It goes… Pa-pa it doesn’t go as well as I would have wanted.” Fabian admitted, climbing up fully.

Bill snorted and turned away. “I would suppose not. But what are you coming here for? You wouldn’t want help from an old man you’re ashamed of. Best go find a privateer to help you.”

Fabian took in a sharp breath. “Pa-pa, I… I will not lie to you. I was ashamed of you.”

His father’s head snapped to him, hurt clear in his one good eye. “You say such things to your own father, me lad? Your own flesh and blood?”

“I was ashamed of you,” Fabian continued, talking over his father’s protests, “I wanted to be… I don’t know, honorable? This place, this country, there are certain rules one follows to be a respectable member of society.”

“A respectable member?” Bill roared, rising to his feet, “You think a Seacaster cares about being a respectable member of society? Has school corrupted you, boy?”

“I was wrong.” Fabian did not let himself flinch, even as his father jerked back in shock. “There is nothing unhonorable about being a pirate. I am… proud to be one.”

Bill licked his lips, obviously caught off guard, before he huffed. “Don’t patronize me. Words said to comfort your old man, nothing more.”

Fabian shook his head and took a seat on a wooden stool. “Today, I became a pirate, father. I truly believe that. Not only did I shout it so loud my throat ached but I did the single most piratey thing a man can do.”

His father’s brow raised. “You stole a ship, sailed the seven seas with it, then went down when it sank?” 

Fabian smiled wearily. “I assaulted a government official.”

Bill Seacaster’s eyes opened so wide Fabian swore his eyepatch was going to pop off his face. “HA!” The first cry was said almost involuntarily, as if the news had shocked it out of him. But then Bill started laughing for real, a big belly laugh. “Hahahahaha!” He surged forward, wrapped Fabian in his arms, and spun his son around and around. “My son! My boy! My darling Fabian. You make your old man proud! You really are a pirate! This calls for a celebration. Where’s Cathilda? We need whine and beer and-“

“Pa-pa, Pa-pa!” Fabian interrupted around his own laughter, his father’s enthusiasm infectious even as he tried to school his emotions. “As much as I’d love to celebrate with you I’m afraid there is no time, Pa-pa.”

Bill’s brow furrowed and he gently set Fabian down. “What’s wrong? If this is about the senator you vanquished then worry not. No son of mine will get caught up in something as pesky as the law.”

“Ambassador,” Fabian corrected, “and, sort of. You see he… well he attacked one of my crew mates, his daughter, and in response I… I may have kidnapped her. A bit.”

“You kidnapped a madain?” Bill asked, rubbing at his beard, “A bit old school but certainly shows gumption.” 

“It was for her own good!” Fabian protested, “He… her father, he’s horrible! And he hit her, Pa-pa! Not in sparring or joviality but with cruelty. She’s a part of my crew. I couldn’t just leave her there.”

Bill Seacaster smiled at his son, softer now, and put a hand on his shoulder. “You assaulted a government official in protection of your crew? Son, I have never been prouder of you in my entire life.”

Fabian blinked rapidly, smiling uncontrollably. “Thank you, Pa-pa.”

“So,” Bill said, slapping his knees and standing up straight, “where is this fair maiden you rescued from her kin and whisked away to your ship?”

“Oh!” Fabian popped up, “Yes, right! I brought her here, of course. She’s down below with Cathilda and Riz, another member of… of my crew.” It felt weird to refer to them like that, like he was above them in some way. But he knew his father would appreciate the usage and, in this moment, he did feel like they were his responsibility.

“Then what are we standing around here for?” Bill said, grabbing Fabian’s arm and pulling him to a rope, “Let’s not keep them waiting!” 

Fabian spluttered. “Pa-pa wait, we need to-“

He was cut off as his father grabbed one of the many ropes connected to the crow’s nest and the two of them went swinging. Bill screaming in joy and Fabian in surprise.

***

The hot chocolate helped. 

Adaine still felt a bit dazed and incredibly drained. That wasn’t unusual, after a panic attack, though this attack hadn’t been anything close to normal. Usually they involved spiraling thoughts, a shortness of breath, and barely contained sobs. This one had been… distant. Like she had simply exited her body for a time and was watching events from the other end of a long tunnel.

But she had snapped back to the present once Fabian had left them. Now the hot chocolate was warming her up and Riz’s hand in hers was grounding.

But even as the panic faded from her body the pit of dread that had settled in her stomach did not. She swore could still feel the sting on her cheek though she knew, logically, that was ridiculous. As a wizard it wasn’t like her father could hit very hard and she had plenty of other injuries from the earlier fight that throbbed.

Still, she felt like that one was lingering the longest. 

To distract herself, Adaine glanced at Riz. He was sitting in a stool next to her, both of them sitting at a wooden counter in Fabian’s kitchen, Cathilda bustling away at something around them. Riz was alternating between typing away on his crystal and sipping his own hot chocolate, having only one hand available for both tasks as the other did not leave Adaine’s.

He was obviously worried about her and trying not to show it. But that just added guilt to the dread in Adaine’s stomach.

“What are you doing?” She asked, then instantly cringed at how stupid that sounded. It should be obvious what he was doing. “On your crystal, I mean.”

He glanced up at her and smiled in a way that was definitely trying to be reassuring, though Riz had never been the reassurer of their group. “I’m just texting everyone else. They’re heading back to the Luxury Apartments now and I told them where we were and that we might be awhile. I didn’t go into too much detail about why, though.”

“Oh.” Was all Adaine could really think to say, though after a moment she added, “Don’t you need to head home too?”

Riz shrugged. “Eh, yeah? My mom’s gonna be pissed if I’m not there when she gets back but I don’t think she’d be surprised.”

Uhg. The guilt twisted harder. Was Adaine just a conduit for upsetting parents? What’s next? Was she going to have an allergic reaction to the tuna surprise and make Gilear hate her too?

As if summoned by her thoughts Fabian’s mother chose that exact moment to enter the kitchen. She was in a long fluffy nightgown/robe type outfit and had a glass of whine settled into her palm like it was physically glued to it. 

“Cathilda? Cathilda have you seen my…” Hallariel trailed off as she caught sight of Adaine and Riz, her eyes squinting like she was trying to see something across the ocean and not three feet away. “You. You’re… you’re an Abernant. Aelwyn, right.”

“A-Adaine,” Adaine corrected. She bowed as low as she could while sitting at a counter and recited the traditional Fallinel greeting. Technically, that was wrong. The greeting was only supposed to be used the first time you met someone. But Adaine was running a bit on auto pilot right now and shifting into acting overly polite was easy.

Hallariel’s eyes lit up a bit. “Ah, now I remember. You’re Fabian’s charming little High Elf friend.” She leaned over the counter, getting close enough to Adaine’s face that she could smell the alcohol on her breath. “You’re very pale. Were you this pale the first time? I’m afraid it’s slipping my mind.”

Adaine was frozen, unsure how to proceed, and felt a rush of relief as Riz stuck a business card into Hallariel’s face, drawing her attention to him. 

“Hey there, Riz Gukgak. I’m also a friend of Fabian’s. We, uh, also met before.” He let go of Adaine’s hand to stick his out for a shake. 

Hallariel ignored his hand as her unfocused eyes tried desperately to concentrate on the business card in her face. 

“Yo ho ho! Clear the deck, we’re coming in for a landing!”

Adaine managed to stifle her shriek as Fabian and Bill Seacaster seemingly descended from the sky and landed with a thump on the other side of the kitchen. However, she wasn’t able to stop her muscles from locking up and jostling her drink, spilling a good chunk of it onto the counter. 

Before she could even begin to panic about the mess she’d just made, Cathilda swooped in with a rag and mopped up the drink in a moment. She winked at Adaine in a conspiratorial way and then was gone just as quickly. 

Adaine’s attention was drawn now to the new arrivals. Bill Seacaster was yelling about… something and giving his wife a kiss. Fabian was standing next to his father, looking a bit frazzled but much happier than Adaine had seen him in a few days now.

That changed when they made eye contact and he immediately schooled his expression and rushed over to her. “Adaine, are you alright? How are you feeling?” He raised his hands towards her face and she must have twitched because he immediately withdrew and stuffed them in his pockets instead.

That was sweet of him. Though there was honestly no need.

His father did not have the same reservations. He clapped a hand onto Adaine’s shoulder and shook her so violently she got dizzy.

“Is this her? The fair maiden ye snatched away? Wait a moment,” he stopped shaking her, letting Adaine stabilize herself by gripping the counter, and squinted with his one eye, “I know you. You’re the wizard my son let get mauled by a werewolf.”

Behind him, Fabian flinched and Adaine cursed herself. She just kept causing problems. “Yes Pa-pa, the very same. This is Adaine and, well…” Fabian looked between his father, who was grinning madly, and his mother, who was watching the whole scene with mild curiosity. He clasped his hands together in a sort of pleading gesture. “Ma-ma, Pa-pa, can she stay with us? At least until we get this whole mess sorted?”

Adaine was going to protest, going to insist they didn’t have to do that, that she’d be fine going to Gilear’s again or something, but Bill Seacaster spoke before she was able to. 

“Of course, me boy!” He wrapped Fabian in a crushing hug, lifting his feet off the ground, “You can always keep any treasure you plunder. That’s the pirate code!”

“Pa-pa!” Fabian protested even though his ribs must have been cracking, “Please do not refer to my friend as loot. ”

“Oh, right right right,” Bill set Fabian down with a chuckle. He tapped his nose and pointed his finger at Fabian and then Adaine. “You kids, always calling me out on things. I appreciate that in you yungens. This old dog always has more tricks to learn.”

He blinked as he seemed to finally spot Riz behind Adaine and grinned cheekily at him. “And who’s this? Lad, you didn’t tell me you brought home two maidens.”

“Uh,” Riz said, a blush rising to his face. Adaine would have tried to save the poor boy if she wasn’t relieved the attention was off her. “Uh, no, I’m a, I’m Riz. Or The Ball. I’m… I’m Fabian’s friend. Just here helping Adaine.”

Fabian groaned. “Pa-pa! The Ball is… why he’s practically my first mate! And… wait a moment, don’t you need to get home?”

Riz waved his arms as everyone in the room looked to him. “It’s fine! I want to stay and help. Adaine’s been through a lot and we have that boat stuff to ask about too and-“

“I can handle all of that, The Ball,” Fabian said breezily, “You should head home before the police start pounding on our door looking for you.”

“Ah!” Bill said, clapping Riz on the shoulder, “Wanted by the law are you? Wouldn’t expect anything less from me boy’s first mate.”

“No, no, my mom’s a cop. Detective. Detective cop. Ahh, you know what, I should be getting home, actually. If that’s okay.” Riz now looked significantly overwhelmed. Though Adaine didn’t know if that was from Bill Seacaster’s personality or the realization of who his mother was and just how upset she’d be should he return after her.

Fabian nodded, took a step forward, glanced at Adaine, then went back to where he was. “That’s fine. The Hangman can take you. Do you know where the garage is?”

“I can take him young master Seacaster,” Cathilda piped up, gently touching Riz’s arm and leading him away, “Come along now. It is getting late for everyone.”

Riz let himself be led away. “Okay, uh, I’ll text you guys. Stay safe, yeah?” He looked at Adaine when he said the last bit, staring at her. Somehow, that stare managed to get his point across. Just one word from her and he would stay. He would stay forever if he had to. 

Instead, she waved him away. “We’ll be okay. Thank you Riz, have a good night.”

He looked significantly more relaxed at that and turned away to properly follow Cathilda out of the kitchen.

Something tickled Adaine’s neck and she turned to see Hallariel gently running her fingers through Adaine’s hair. 

“I think it’s a wonderful idea for you to stay here,” she murmured, “Fabian needs more elves in his life and this house is certainly big enough for another body.”

“We even has a guest room!” Bill said excitedly, dancing out of the kitchen, “Come lass, come Fabian, we’ll go set it up so it’s ship shape for you.”

Hesitantly, Adaine pulled herself away from Fabian’s mom to follow after his dad. Fabian himself looped his arm around her, pulling her close as they walked. He somehow seemed different than normal. More sure of himself, more thoughtful. 

“I hope the guest room is to your liking, we almost never use it. And if it isn’t you can sleep in my room. I certainly won’t mind.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Adaine reassured him, “Thank you, again. For… thank you.”

He patted her hand and nodded, not smiling but his eyes shining. “Of course. Adaine, of course.”

Chapter Text

Adaine woke up the next morning feeling better. 

Though she woke up which was insanely embarrassing since that meant she fell asleep. For an elf that was equivalent to wetting the bed. Possible to happen but usually only occurred in young children. Adaine could not remember the last time she had actually slept and was glad she hadn’t ended up needing to sleep in Fabain’s room. At least now there had been no one around to witness her blunder.

She stumbled out of the bed. The blankets were coarse, made out of some kind of thick fiber, though she had hardly noticed when she collapsed last night. At least they were easy to untangle herself from.

The guest room was exactly as Adaine had expected it to be. That is to say: pirate themed. 

The walls, floor, and ceiling were all made of pleasant dark wood, there were things like maps and flags hung up and the only window was a round porthole. There was also modern amenities, of course. A big tv, a computer, charging ports in the walls, a wardrobe. It was a nice room and, even with it just being for guests, more decorated than Adaine’s own. 

As soon as Adaine opened the door voices floated towards her. Young voices, not Fabian's parents as far as she could tell. She followed them and it led her back to the kitchen she had been in yesterday. 

She was startled to find Fig and Kristen. Fabian and Cathilda were also there but that was much less surprising. 

Kristen and Fabian were sitting at the counter. Kristen eating cornflakes (funny) and Fabian Captain Crunch (funnier) and seemed to be harassing each other if the raised voices and spilt milk was any indication.

Fig was at the kitchen stove, spatula and pan in hand. Cathilda was standing behind her, guiding her hands and speaking encouragingly. 

It was all very surreal. 

"Adaine! Good morning!" Kristen spotted her first and stopped her efforts to keep a spoon out of Fabian's grip.

The rest of her friends turned at her voice, though Cathilda managed to redirect Fig's attention before she burnt the omelets she was cooking. 

"Are you wearing Fabian's clothes?" Fig asked as she flipped the omlet. 

Adaine blinked down at the baggy T-shirt and shorts she was currently wearing and tugged at them.

"Well, I wasn't going to make her sleep in her one nice outfit," Fabian protested before Adaine could. Gone was the strangely protective and calm Fabian and returned was the perpetually flabbergasted one. Adaine was unsure which one she preferred at this point. 

“What are you two doing here?” Adaine asked, walking further into the room so she could stand next to the counter.

“Duh, we came to see you, girl,” Fig replied, waving her spatula, “Riz texted us saying something happened and so we couldn’t meet up and also that you were staying over here but he didn’t tell us why. ”

“He’s super grounded now or he’d be here too,” Kristen jumped in, “and Gorgug said his parent’s need his help with something but he’ll come over if it’s an emergency.” She paused and cocked her head, her face scrunching up in worry. “Is it… an emergency? Fabian’s also being really cagey.”

“I told you everything was fine and I had it handled,” Fabian huffed, crossing his arms, “Besides, it’s not my story to tell.”

“I don’t know,” Adaine said, forcing a bit of humor to her voice as the opportunity to tease Fabian presented itself, “you’re the one that did all the punching. I was kind of out of it the whole time.”

“What?” Fig gasped, and only Cathilda’s hand on her shoulder stopped her from leaping away from the stove and towards Adaine, “You guys got into a second fight? Without us?”

Kristen was eyeing them both with worry now. “How did it go? Are either of you still hurt?”

“It wasn’t a fight, ” Fabian said, snatching the spoon away from Kristen and stirring his cereal, “I just… it… I punched Adaine’s dad, alright?”

There was silence for a moment before Fig let out a long whistle. “Dang.”

“Why?” Kristen asked, her eyes flicking between the two of them.

Fabian gave Adaine a pleading look, simultaneously asking for permission and begging her to take over the story telling.

She sighed and crossed her arms. “Because my father’s a horrible person. What else is new? We got into… an argument. About Aelwyn’s arrest. And thing’s… well, it got more heated than it ever had before.” Adaine did not know where this lump in her throat was coming from. Why she was skirting just telling her friends what had happened. A flash of the memory replayed in her head, her father’s face, his hand raised, and she clenched her eyes against it.

“Oh,” Kristen said, “I get it.”

Adaine jerked her head up to stare, shocked, at Kristen. Fabian did too, practically leaping from his seat, though Fig just blinked at them all in confusion.

Kristen waved her hands in front of her face, as if to swat their concern from the air. “Not like that! Not like… my parents suck and kicked me out and are narrow minded and stuff but they weren’t…” She took a breath, as if she was also having trouble saying it, and switched directions. “A few church camp activities involved volunteering with the foster system. There was a good chunk of kids there that came from messed up homes so like… I get what you’re trying to say, is all.”

Fabian nodded, sinking silently back down into his seat. Fig made a little ‘o’ shape with her mouth as the implication sunk in for her as well.

Adaine… didn’t like this. She was used to talking about how much she hated her parents. Did it all the time. But that usually came in bursts mid conversation. Just a little bitterness leaking out before they all moved on. She wasn’t used to her friend’s talking carefully, pity and worry in their eyes, like she would shatter at a touch. She didn’t like it. 

“So,” Adaine cleared her throat, breaking the heavy silence, “you’re cooking, Fig?”

Fig thankfully took the hint, or maybe she was actually distracted by the question. “Hey, I resent the surprise in your tone!” She flipped the again egg and Adaine was honestly surprised when it landed back in the pan. “I’m a great cook.”

Cathilda nodded, smiling with what almost looked like pride. “Honestly, she’s a natural. Get’s a bit distracted but when she’s focused she’s very competent.”

Fig puffed up her chest in pride.

Fabian rolled his eyes. “Oh yes, competent. The highest form of praise.”

“Kristen, throw something at him for me.”

Kristen obliged, flicking a few corn flakes at Fabian who spluttered with indignation. 

“Besides,” Fig continued, mostly talking to Adaine as the other two had a mini food fight, “it should be literally no surprise I’m a good cook. Sandra Lynn is a ranger and taught me all the basics when I was a kid. And my dad was the angel of the right amount of food! I’ve got devil food powers now.” She punctuated the last sentence by slipping the completed omelet onto a plate and sliding it over to Adaine. “For you, mylady.” 

It was a huge omelet, though it looked amazing. At least three eggs probably went into that thing along with a collection of chopped onions and green peppers. Adaine couldn’t help but laugh. “Maybe you didn’t inherit that, then. This is much too much, Fig.”

Fig did not laugh back. Instead, she stared at Adaine with a furrowed brow and squinting eyes, like she was trying to read something on her face. “No, it’s the right amount. Trust me. I know.” She grinned and waggled her fingers, prompting Adaine to roll her eyes.

Fig continued to stare at her, expectantly, until Adaine reluctantly took a bite of the omelet and cursed. “I didn’t want to give you a bigger ego… but that’s good. Like, really good.”

“Yes!” Fig cheered, pumping her fist, “Another point for Fig being perfect at everything.”

“What?” Fabian reached over, “Let me have some. I won’t believe it until I taste it.”

Fig lunged across the kitchen to swat his hand away. “Hey! No! I made the perfect amount for Adaine. You can’t go ruining that by taking some!”

Unfortunately for her, Adaine was on Fabian’s side and much closer. She handed him her fork and he took a bite before Fig reached them.

Fabian also cursed. “It’s amazing. What? This is the most insane moment of my life.”

Fig threw a dish towel at him. “Stop acting surprised! I have many hidden talents.”

“I can make really good corn based meals,” Kristen interjected herself back into the conversation, raising her hand like they were in school.

The other two booed her and Adaine couldn’t help but smile as she ate her omelet. The pit in her stomach was shrinking. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad, now.

***

They descended into playful arguments after that and eventually moved out of the kitchen and to Fabian’s room to play video games.

It was nice. They had rarely all hung out at Fabian’s house and he relished in the chance to play host when there wasn’t an immediate threat to take care of or training to be rigorously forced through.

“Uhg, your house is so cool,” Fig said from the hammock in the corner of the room. She was hanging halfway out of it as she stared at the TV upside down, “It’s totally unfair. I want a whole house that’s like… bard themed or something.”

“What?” Adaine said, sarcastically, as she struggled to stay out of last place in the game, “You mean sharing your room with Galiear’s yogurt isn’t everything you’ve ever wanted?”

The rest of them burst out laughing at that while Fig stuck out her tongue.

“This place is pretty cool,” Kristen agreed. She had opted out of playing early and was just watching the three of them battle. “How long are you going to be staying here, Adaine?”

It was hard to tell watching the screen, since she was doing so badly already, but out of the corner of his eye Fabian saw Adaine stiffen, her grip on the controller tightening and her breath coming a little quicker.

“As long as she wants!” Fabian said with as much authority that he could muster, sitting up straight and putting on a hard, serious face that he directed towards the TV.  “In fact, Pa-pa said that if any of our crew wanted to stay at any time then the house was always open. He insisted a good captain always has to look out for his.”

Awww,” Kristen cooed, “that’s sweet of him.”

“Since when are we your crew?” Fig asked, throwing a bit of popcorn at him, “I thought we agreed no captains?”

Fabian fumbled with his words and hunched his shoulders as the brava left him. “Well, yes, obviously. But I’m thinking of it more that we’re all captains, right? We each have captain like duties to each other, after all.”

That wasn’t true and he flinched at his own lie. He was starting to think of himself as captain. His talk with Pa-pa last night had pushed the idea further into his head and he couldn’t shake it all night. He wanted to protect his friends, he wanted to guide them like his Pa-pa guided him. He wanted to be worthy of that.

Fig continued to squint suspiciously and Fabian started to sweat under her stare but Kristen, his savior, clapped in excitement and diverted the attention. “Does that mean I can stay here too?”

That threw him off. “I guess? Do you want to?”

Kristen steepled her fingers together and hummed in thought. Was she actually serious? It certainly wouldn’t be a problem to host her too, of course, they had more than enough room. It would just be weird to have so many friends suddenly living with him.

But it would also make them feel even more like a real crew.

Fabian’s twisting thoughts turned out to be pointless as Kristen eventually shrugged. “Nah. I like the Luxury Apartments. And, besides, I think Galiear is growing on me.”

“Yeah!” Fig cheered, “He grows on people like mold!”

That caused them all to descend into rambunctious laughter again and the good mood lasted throughout the rest of the day

Chapter Text

Fig and Kristen had stayed through lunch, when Gorgug came over and they explained the situation to him too. They all went out to a movie after that, then brought ice cream to Riz, before they all parted ways. Adaine had to insist she was fine to all of her friends a few more times but the day overall ended on a happy note. 

Though it wasn’t over yet. There was still dinner to attend. With the Seacasters.

“Is there anything I have to know, specifically, about having dinner with your family?” Adaine asked for probably the third time as she and Fabian headed to the dining room.

Fabian rolled his eyes. “No, Adaine, just be yourself. Really, there’s no reason to worry so much.”

Adaine made a noise of disbelief. “Fabian, the first time I met your father he forced us to sing sea shanties all night and then made us skip school to train with him all through the next day. Excuse me for being a little nervous.”

Fabian flushed at the memory and cleared his throat awkwardly. “Yes, well, Pa-pa does get a bit over excited at times. But he really means no harm!”

Adaine licked her lips. “I know that. I would simply like tips on how to not excite him in the future.”

Fabian sighed over dramatically. “I have literally no idea how to do that. He’s always excited.”

Adaine sighed a normal amount. “Awesome.”

The dinning room was just as grand as the rest of the house with a long table able to seat at least a dozen guests. But unlike Adaine’s family, who all sat spread out from each other, the five table settings were all crowded to one end of the table.

“Five?” Adaine couldn’t stop herself from asking.

Fabian’s face visibly lit up. “Cathilda will be eating with us today! A treat!”

Oh. That sounded nice. There were no actual staff in the Abernant Manor, just unseen servants. Adaine had always wished there had been, maybe then there would have been at least one person to talk to. 

Hallariel walked in the room, wine glass in hand. “Oh, Awelyn, I-“

“Adaine.”

Hallariel paused when Adaine cut her off. Not the pregnant pause of displeasure and threat that Adaine’s parents often used. No, it seemed that whatever train of thought Hallariel had been on had been thoroughly derailed by the interruption and she was desperately trying to retract them.

“Ma-ma,” Fabian said, stepping forward and pulling out a chair for her, “are you ready for dinner tonight?” 

“Ah, yes,” she sunk into the offered chair, “I’m simply famished.”

Bill Seacaster entered a moment later, laughing as loudly as he always did. “Welcome me family to dinner! Oh,” he tipped his hat, “and our honored guest Miss Abernant. How is you this fine evening?”

“Fine sir,” Adaine said politely, taking her own seat when Fabian gestured to it, “Fig and Kristen came over.”

“Ah! That’s the, uh, the little devil girl and the cleric, yes?” Bill asked, looking between Adaine and Fabian for confirmation. 

“Got it in one Pa-pa,” Fabian praised, taking his own seat, “they came to cheer Adaine up and we spent the day with them.”

“You’re little friends are so cute,” Hallariel murmured into her wine.

A bell rang out and suddenly a lot of servants flooded the room, bringing trays of food and glasses of juice (and more wine) out. Once everything had been put down and the servants left Cathilda came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “Well, I hope you all don’t mind but I prepared something a little special for our guest today.” She turned to Adaine with an apologetic smile as she sat in her own seat. “I didn’t know what you like so I made master Fabian’s favorite.”

Adaine let herself do an over exaggerated grimace. “Please not kippers.”

“Kippers are the perfect food!” Fabian cried, “And one day I will get you to see that.”

Bill pounded the table. “Right you are my son! And a great source of protein.”

Cathilda had an amused smile. “Fortunately for us kippers are more of a snack food than a full meal.”

“We’re havin’ meat and potatoes!” Bill crowed as the lids were lifted off the platters and meat and potatoes were revealed.

A lot of meat and potatoes. Pork chops, ham, turkey, lamb, all freshly cooked and steaming. Mashed potatoes, wedges, fries, baked, even chips. 

Adaine was slightly overwhelmed. Her own family had modest sized meals. It wasn’t seen as proper to gorge oneself, they would always say. This honestly seemed excessive.

“Are we going to eat all of this? Tonight?” It was probably rude to ask. Ungrateful. But the shock was real and Adaine never knew when to keep her mouth shut. 

Thankfully, the Seacasters seemed hard to offend. 

“Of course, lass.” Bill stabbed a slab of meat with his fork and brought it to his plate. “Eat as much as you can.”

“We don’t eat this way every night,” Fabian explained, though he was attacking his own pile of food with gusto, “mostly just with guests. We’ll have leftovers and the extras after that go to the rest of Pa-pa’s crew.”

Oh, that made sense. It was hard to remember just how many people technically lived here. They were good at staying hidden, behind the scenes while they made the ship run. 

“But for now we eat!” Bill gestured to Adaine. “Eat! Eat!”

Adaine obeyed, trying to take a portion big enough not to be rude but not enough that she wouldn’t be able to finish it. They ate and talked about nothing for a while, Fabian catching his parent’s up on their day and vice versa. Adaine was content to watch, only speaking up occasionally when Fabian missed a detail or something interesting about the Seacasters’ day caught her attention. 

Mostly though, she just watched and listened to the strange family having a pleasant dinner together. 

“So, Miss Abernant,” Bill eventually said, prompting Adaine to look up from where she had been trying to finish the last of her potatoes, “What kind of forces can we expect to come for you? The army? The navy?”

Adaine blinked owlishly at him for a moment before the question registered in her mind. “Oh! No, I don’t think you’ll need to worry about any of that. My parents they… they don’t care for me that much.” Under the table, Fabian put a hand on her arm. Adaine resisted the urge to roll her eyes. His concern was appreciated but entirely unneeded in this moment. “I’ve been spending a lot of nights at the others’ places and I honestly don’t think my parents noticed,” Adaine continued to explain, squeezing Fabian’s hand to comfort him in return. 

“Ah,” Bill said, shifting so he was leaning a bit towards her, “but this situation is different, ain’t it? You didn’t just leave the house, run away from home or not come back for a few days. You were stolen. Right out from under their nose!”

Adaine exchanged a look with Fabian. “What does that matter?”

Bill let out one loud laugh and banged his fist on the table. “What does that matter? We’ve wounded their pride, girl! My darling boy broke into their home, stole a prized treasure, and flipped them off on the way out. No mind that it was you who got stolen. The point is the very act was an insult and I don’t think such snobs are going to take that lightly.” He grinned, like this was the most exciting thing in the world and Adaine’s expression wasn’t being filled with horror. “So, what are we lookin’ at? Will they be sending assassins or hell fire?”

The pit in Adaine grew bigger with every word he said. Because it made sense. She knew her parents didn’t care about what she did or where she was, they were upset at her either way after all. But it wasn’t just that now. She had sent Alewyn to jail. She had defied them open. Fabian had threatened to gut her father. 

Her breath quickened and she felt sick to her stomach as she realized just how royally she had messed up. 

She was vaguely aware of the Seacasters continuing to talk. But it felt like she was hearing underwater. Dimly, the part of her brain that wasn’t spiraling acknowledged that she was having a panic attack. The same kind as yesterday, a new kind of panic attack where instead of being overwhelmed from her emotions she felt separated from them. 

“Adaine!” 

The voice cut through the haze and a hand on her shoulder shook her from the rest of it and back to the present. 

“Wha…” she still couldn’t breathe properly, choking on her words.

Fabian’s face came into focus, inches from her own. His hand was on her shoulder, squeezing gently. He was obviously trying to keep his own panic out of his body as he called her name again.

“Adaine. Adaine, are you alright?”

She nodded, struggling to find breath as her senses came back to her. Her cheeks were wet. Had she been crying in front of Fabian’s parents? That was embarrassing.

Another hand came from her other side and gently rested on her chest. 

“Just follow my example, dear,” Cathilda’s voice said in her ear, “In and out. Steady now. See?”

Adaine followed along and after a few minutes she felt and appeared calm enough for both Fabian and Cathilda to draw away. 

Hallariel gently wacked her husband on the shoulder. “Now look what you’ve done. You’ve upset our guest.”

“I’m sorry lass,” Bill said, surprisingly gentle, “I didn’t mean to rile you up none. We ain’t going to let anyone hurt you, right?”

Adaine nodded and cleared her throat. “Yes, I… I’m sorry. I get…” She winced. “I’m sorry. I know everything will be fine.”

And it would. Obviously it would. The idea that her parents would care, in any way, about her had shaken Adaine but that panic was gone. They would be upset, sure, but they wouldn’t do anything rash. They weren’t stupid. 

“Thank you for dinner,” Adaine said, wiping her face, “it was incredibly delicious.”

Fabian, perhaps sensing her desire to change the subject, perked up. “Yes, it was incredibly delicious as always. Thank you, Cathilda.”

And the conversation went on from there.

***

The rest of the weekend passed by without incident. Adaine did not seem particularly uncomfortable at the manor, and Fabian considered that a win. She did avoid his parents more often than not but that was understandable for… a couple reasons. 

Eventually, it was Monday again and Fabian drove them both to school on the Hangman. 

“He talks to you, right?” Adaine asked as they rode, her arms around his waist as he ‘drove’. “What kind of personality does he have?”

“Oh, you know, cool. He’s a cool and awesome motorcycle.” Fabian fought a blush down as he remembered the Hangman trying to set him up with Fig right off the bat.

Unfortunately, Adaine was perceptive. “He’s really weird, isn’t he?”

Master, The Hangman growled in his head, tell her of all the lives I have scored from this earth in my time. 

“He’s nice,” Fabian insisted. 

At school they parted ways, Adaine heading to her wizard classes and him to his fighters.

His first class, general melee, he shared with Gorgug. The half-orc waved to him when Fabian walked in and sank into the chair next to him. 

“How are you?” Gorgug asked.

Fabian waved his arm. “Fine, fine. Ready to kick some ass today.”

“No,” Gorgug said, rubbing the back of his neck, “I mean, uh, I mean the situation with Adaine’s dad and stuff. It was really brave. What you did for her.”

Fabian blinked. “Oh. Yes, I suppose it was.” He laughed. “But why would that make me anything but fine? The great Fabian Seacaster! The hero of the day.”

Gorgug smiled at him, but it was only a small one. “That’s true. But, still, it must be hard for you. Everyone’s really worried about Adaine, obviously, but you’re… I mean it’s affecting you as well.”

Fabian blinked owlishly before grinning. “Oh, Gorgug, are you worried about me? Don’t be! I’m loving this.” He paused and instantly back peddled. “I mean, obviously I’m not loving it. It’s tragic what is happening and Adaine deserve much better parents but, uh…”

Gorgug chuckled. “No, I get it. Just…” He reached out and layed a hand on Fabian’s shoulder. “If you ever want to talk or anything, we can. You don’t have to put on a brave face.”

Fabian waved him off. “Calling it a brave face implies it’s a facade. I am brave!”

Gorgug smiled for real now. “You sure are.”

Chapter Text

It had been about a week of living with the Seacasters and Adaine was starting to develop a routine of some sorts. If anything could be called a routine in such a chaotic setting.

Most things actually didn’t change that much at all. She still went to school, had the same classes, did the same homework, she still hung out with her friends more often than not. All that had really changed was the end of the day was now filled with boisterous laughter from Fabian’s father instead of snide remarks from her own. Meals brough Fabain’s mother going on a drunken rant about how beautiful Adaine was instead of the harsh critiques from her own mother. And nights involved her and Fabian staying up late more often than not playing games or watching movies, instead of the harassment she had always endured from Awelyn. 

It was weird and loud but it was certainly a lot nicer.

Unfortunately, while Fabian was available to drive her to school every morning he had bloodrush practice after school. This was usually not a problem as Adaine just went over to someone else’s house or stayed and studied until he was done.

But today the sun was out and Adaine had a half finished paper saved on Fabian’s computer that she had to get done so she elected to walk back to the Seacaster’s by herself.

The walk was honestly pleasant. She didn’t have a lot of physical classes so it was nice to get out and moving. The air was crisp but not biting and she was texting Riz on her crystal about the essay as she walked so it was productive too.

Unfortunately, because she was so consumed by the texting she did not notice the long black car pulling up to the Seacaster manor as she climbed the steps. She did not acknowledge the sound of the door opening and closing, and she only looked up, with a terrified start, as her name cut through the air.

“Adaine.”

Terror flooded Adaine’s system at her father’s voice and it only grew more as she realized he was right next to her. 

He did not give her a chance to run, or even fully process him being there, before he snatched at her arm, squeezing her wrist in a death grip. 

“I thought I’d find you here,” Angwyn sniffed, yanking her towards him, causing her to stumble and drop her crystal, “this little temper tantrum you’re throwing ends now.”

Adaine got over her shock enough to plant her feet and pull back. “What are you-? Get away from me. Let go!” She cast a spell at him, not thinking, just hurtling any magic in a desperate attempt to get free. 

Unfortunately, he seemed to be expecting this and a counter spell went up immediately, bouncing her magic right back in her face. Oh, it was a level one witch bolt. Ow.

“Really, Adaine, this is unbecoming.”

He continued to say something as he physically dragged her to the waiting car but Adaine didn’t catch any of it. She could feel the panic consuming and herself growing distant, leaving her body like she was astral projecting and viewing everything through a haze.

No no no no no! If she was going to have a panic attack why couldn’t it be the normal one? At least that fit was loud . She needed that right now, needed to scream and cry and alert someone inside that she was being abducted by her father. She did not need to grow numb and distant as she was quietly led away. 

The one time in her life she wanted to cause a scene and her stupid broken body wasn’t letting her.

“Excuse me?” A voice cut through the haze and silenced Angwyn’s muttered ranting. He froze, Adaine stumbling next to him, and both of them turned to see Hallariel coming down the path. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Angwyn relaxed, subtly, at the sight of the other elf and the hold he had Adaine’s wrist loosened. “Ah, Hallariel, perfect. I was hoping to speak to you and not your oaf of a husband.”

Hallariel’s eyes narrowed. She still had a glass of wine in her hand, Adaine was pretty sure she never didn’t, but she was looking at the scene with more focus than Adaine was used to. “Oh? And what did you wish to speak to me about?”

He sighed, like this was all such a big bother and he hadn’t been dragging Adaine down the street not moments ago. “I’m afraid your son has done something rather foolish. He witnessed an argument between me and my daughter here and assaulted me on my own property. Then he carted Adaine off while she wasn’t in the right state of mind.”

Hallariel blinked slowly, probably trying to wrap her clouded mind around the words, and pursed her lips. “Fabian can certainly be a reckless boy.”

Angwyn chuckled like they had just agreed on something. Like the two of them were better than anyone else. It made Adaine’s skin crawl. “But, because I am a merciful man and realize this was just the bullheadish nature of a child, I am willing to not press charges. I would just like my daughter to come back home.”

“H-Hallariel,” Adaine desperately spoke around her panic. She had to make Fabian’s mother understand. She couldn’t let Angwyn convince her to let Adaine go. “p…please. I…”

“Be quiet,” Angwyn snapped and the fear choked the rest of Adaine’s words, and most of her breath, away. He gave Hallariel an apologetic look. Like he had to apologize for Adaine daring to speak at all. “And I’m sure you want her out of your hair as soon as possible. She’s such a difficult child. Always talking back, always throwing tantrums. Don’t worry, once I relieve you of this burden I’ll-“

Hallariel threw her glass of wine into his face.

She didn’t just splash the liquid at him, she threw the glass. It shattered on his forehead and he completely let go of Adaine as he stumbled back, in shock. “What the f-“

“You come over here to my house, ” Hallariel hissed, dangerous and with intense clarity, “with your pompous attitude. You insult my husband and my son. Then you try to steal Adaine away while berating her as well? She is a charming, talented young woman that you treat like shit .”

For the first time in Adaine’s life she felt she shared something in common with her father. Because she was just as floored at this development as he looked.

It was shocking that Hallariel had thrown her glass, yes. And that she was defending Adaine so fervently was a surprise of course. But what threw Adaine, what her brain was choosing to focus on, was that this was the first time Fabian’s mother had gotten her name right.

Adaine realized dully that tears were streaming down her own face, but couldn’t find it in herself to wipe them away. 

“You… you…” Angwyn sputtered, wine dripping off his face just barely masking how red it was getting. It also made it impossible to tell if there were any cuts from the glass. “I will not be taking parental criticism from a drunk .”

Hallariel stepped forward, getting way too into his personal space. “I am a pirate’s wife. I take what I want from those undeserving. And you do not deserve to be a parent.” She turned away, towards Adaine. 

Adaine could only squeak in surprise as Hallariel wrapped her arms around her waist and physically lifted Adaine into her arms like she was a toddler. Because she was not, actually, a toddler it was incredibly awkward and cumbersome but Adaine was still so overwhelmed by… everything that was happening that she didn’t protest as Hallariel physically carried her away.

“I will bring lawyers!” Angwyn shrieked, seemingly coming unraveled in the face of so much insanity. “So many lawyers! You’ll be drowning in them and I’ll squeeze you of every coin you own.”

Hallariel flipped him off over her shoulder and Adaine couldn’t help but mimic her.

***

Fabian had gotten done with Bloodrush practice to the most alarming text. It was from Adaine and all it said was

You’re mother is completely badass.

This was incredibly alarming for two reasons. The first was that in all of Fabian’s life he was pretty sure his mother had never done anything remotely close to ‘badass’. Most of the time she didn’t do anything. Period. She often felt like a creature that lived in their house more than a person or a mother. He could not imagine what she could have done that would elicit such a response from Adaine. 

The second reason was because Adaine used the wrong ‘your’. The incredibly studious and perfectionist elf never made typos. 

He had torn home as soon as he could, breaking multiple traffic laws, and burst through his front door in a rush.

He found Adaine sitting on a couch in the main room. Wrapped in a blanket, sipping a coco, and reading a book. She jumped when he rushed into the room and looked up at him in surprise. 

“Adaine!” Fabian cried, panting hard and glancing around wildly, “What-how did Ma-ma…what happened?”

She blinked big eyes at him. “ You’re worked up. Did someone tell you what happened already?”

He shook his head. “Your text had a typo.”

“Really?” She pulled out her crystal and glanced at it before sighing wearily. “Darn. Well, I suppose that can’t be helped.”

“Adaine,” he pressed, coming over to kneel next to her, “what did Ma-ma do? She didn’t make you go into the Egg did she? Because I told her even if you are an elf that thing isn’t-” 

“What?” Adaine laughed. A quick bark of a thing like she wasn’t expecting it from herself. “What, no! Fabian she…” She paused, seeming to collect her thoughts while Fabian’s insides twisted with worry, before continuing. “My father tried to snatch me off the street.” 

“What?” Fabian roared, surging to his feet and glancing around like he could find the ambassador hiding in the grain of the wood. “Where is he? Did he hurt you? I swear Adaine if he so much as laid a finger on you I’ll-“

“Fabian, Fabian, calm down. I’m fine.” But he didn’t miss the way she massaged one of her wrists or twitched, avoiding eye contact with him. “This was hours ago and obviously he didn’t succeed in snatching me away. Your mother came out and chased him off.”

Fabian gaped at her. “My… my mother? Are you sure it wasn’t my father? Or Cathilda? Or even a random stranger that was passing by?”

Adaine rolled her eyes with a smile, like Fabian was being silly and this was not an impossible thing she was explaining. “No, I’m pretty sure it was your mother. She threw an entire glass of wine at him, cursed him out, and carried me away.” Adaine paused and blushed a bit. “Then she petted my hair for a bit while I got over the panic attack. But that isn’t as important.”

Fabian was flabbergasted. Floored. Shooketh! His mother? Assaulting someone? Cursing? Being motherly?  

Disbelief coursed through him as well as… jealousy? Was this jealousy? The ache in his chest as he imagined his Ma-ma gently holding Adaine as she cried? The anger that it wasn’t him in those arms.

He forcefully pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind. Adaine’s father had just tried to kidnap her (unkidnap her) she certainly deserved a crumb of parental affection. Fabian certainly got enough from his father. It was fine.

“Where is…” he cleared his throat to rid it of the lump and ignored the concerned look Adaine was starting to give him. “Where is she? Now?” 

Adaine shrugged and looked apologetic. “I don’t know. She left as soon as I calmed down and then Cathilda came in and gave me the coco and blanket. I’ve just been reading since then.”

Pressing his lips into a thin line, Fabian nodded. He rocked on his heels for a moment, torn. “Are you sure you’re alright? Do you need…” he trailed off, unsure what he could even offer. He couldn’t heal her, physically, and she seemed to be coping enough emotionally at the moment.

She smiled at him in a weird way that he didn’t really like. “I’m fine. Go find your mom.”

He swallowed, hard, and nodded again. “Okay. Yes. I will… do that.” 

And then he left. In a distinctly unbadass way. To figure out what on earth was going on with his mother. 

Chapter Text

Fabian strode around his house, feeling weird and gross and trying to avoid examining those feelings deeper than surface level, until he eventually stumbled upon Cathilda and his Mother in the dining room.

The two women were sitting next to each, deep in conversation. 

Shockingly, it was Hallariel that seemed to be doing most of the talking. She was poking the table to punctuate her sentences and gesturing wildly with a new wine glass in her other hand.

Cathilda was the first to notice Fabian’s presence. Because of course she was.

“Master Fabian, welcome home,” she greeted, sitting up straight, “how was school today?”

“Fabian!” His mother also greeted, her voice slurring a little. Goodness, was she more drunk?

“Hello Cathilda, hello Ma-ma,” he greeted politely though he was certain the strain on his voice was obvious, “Ma-ma I just spoke to Adaine. Did you-“

Did you comfort her during her panic attack? Did you pet her hair? Did you hold her closely? Did you throw your wine away for her? Did you defend her honor? Did you become insulted on her behalf?

Did you mother her? Did you did you did you?

“Did you attack her father?” He eventually landed with. 

“Pff,” Hallariel waved her non whine hand loosely, “you say that like you didn’t do the exact same thing just a week ago.” She took another sip of her wine, staring into the cup as she said, “I’m incredibly proud of you for that. That man is, in fact, an absolute ass.”

Something fluttered in Fabian’s chest and it hurt how much he craved it. “I… thank you Ma-ma. What-“

“But!” She interrupted, leaning forward so far Cathilda had to put a hand out to steady her, “I know exactly what type of ass he is. And he is not going to roll over like a good boy and let us do what we need to. He will plan a counter attack, mark my words.”

Fabian blinked. He had been so consumed by thoughts of his mother that he had briefly forgotten what they were talking about. “Oh, uh, oh dear. You don’t think he’ll try to snatch her away in her sleep or anything, do you Ma-ma?” Not that he wouldn’t like to see the stuck up aristocratic try. But it might be traumatizing for Adaine if her father was gutted in front of her.

Or maybe it would be therapeutic?

Cathilda spoke up, shaking her head. “Those folks don’t seem much the type. Even today he didn’t drop by intending to whisk Adaine away. It seemed his plan was to convince your mother here that you’d been foolhearty and have us give the young girl over willingly. It was just bad luck he found her climbing the steps and decided to act immediately.”

Hallariel sniffed. “Not like I would have been convinced. He was very rude.” She shook her head aggressively, like she was trying to clear the alcohol from it, before ruining that by taking another drink. “But there is still worry to be had. He will not attack with force but with law. The government. We are technically immigrants and he a government official. He will try to use the system itself to get his way.”

Well that sounded… bad. Fabian’s hands clenched, like he could somehow punch the problem away. “So what are we to do? We have enough money for our own lawyers don’t we?”

“Worry not my dear,” Hallariel continued, ignoring his second question. Though the answer was probably obvious anyway. “Your Ma-ma has come up with the perfect solution.” She steepled her fingers together and rested her chin on them. Then Fabian’s mother shot him the most focused, giddy, and sharp stare he had seen on her in a long time. “You two simply need to get married.”

Fabian heard the words. He turned them around in his head. And then again just to make sure he heard correctly. Eventually, he had to give up and respond in the only way he could. “What?”

Cathilda, at least, had the decency to shoot him an apologetic look.

But his mother plowed on with great enthusiasm. “Yes! It would be perfect. It would give her an excuse to be here, legally out from under her parents, and you two get along so well anyway it wouldn’t even be suspicious.”

“Ma-ma I can’t marry Adaine,” Fabian said, his voice almost turning into a shriek as his face grew red.

That idea was just so… so… no. Just a big no.

Hallariel’s smile dropped. “Do you not think she’s pretty?”

“Whoa!” Fabian raised his hands like he was being held at gunpoint. “Whoa, I did not say that. Also? Entirely irrelevant.”

Hallariel sniffed and glanced away. “Of course it is. If you can’t see yourself being attracted to a gorgeous little High Elf girl then of course you couldn’t marry her. Makes perfect sense.”

A different High Elf girl flashed in his mind. Hot and passionate and kissing him before he could even process it. Her flavor engulfing him.

Fabian made a noise of distress somewhere in the back of his throat. “That is not the reason, Ma-ma. Of course I’m… of course I’m into High Elves. But Adaine she’s…” A strained laugh escaped him. “Ma-ma, she’s my friend! I’m not going to just marry her for convenience sake.”

She huffed like he was being completely unreasonable and got up from the table. “Well at least ask her about it. It could save her a lot of trouble if she really never wants to see her parents again.” She came to his side and pinched his cheek. “And who wouldn’t want to marry you, hmm? You’ve got all the best genes.”

Fabian just wanted out. Out of this conversation. Out of this room. Out of the painful hold his mother had him in. “Alright! Alright, fine. I’ll ask Adaine what her opinions on this are. But don’t get your hopes up!”

And his Ma-ma smiled at him and the same fluttery feeling was back. “That’s my darling boy.”

***

It was exactly six minutes after Fabian had left that Adaine got up. She had tried to go back to the book she was reading but Fabian’s expression kept swirling in her mind.

He had looked so lost. Like a little boy. 

It only took her a few minutes of fruitlessly rereading the same page that she gave up. She doubted she would be able to help him with whatever he and his mother were going through, at least not directly, but she couldn’t just lounge about on his sofa all day either.

Besides, she still had an essay to write.

She folded the blanket neatly on the chair, set her book on top of it, and set her coco cup on a saucer. Hopefully that would be fine. Cathilda had insisted she needn’t clean up after herself too heavily and at this point Adaine wasn’t even sure where these things went.

Satisfied, Adaine walked out of the room and towards her own to get started on that essay.

And immediately got swept up by a pirate.

She yelped as Bill Seacaster thundered down the hall, grabbed her under the arms, and hoisted her into the air. Wow, was she really so skinny his hook could loop completely around her arm like that?

“Adaine! Sweet lass, I heard you had a run in with a foe this afternoon. Are ya harmed any?” He twisted her a bit in his grip, examining her over like she was secretly bleeding out somewhere.

“I’m fine.” Adaine was surprised to find a smile fighting for control on her face. Bill Seacaster was just so earnest, if a bit over the top. “Your wife defended my honor admirably.”

Bill laughed his big laugh that shook his entire body. “Wouldn’t expect anything different from my wife! Family’s full of the best of the best.” He brought her in closer, like they were about to share a secret. “Now, how would you like to get some practice in?”

A hint of worry gnawed at Adaine. “Um, practice?”

“To the main deck!” Bill yelled, pointing with his hook. He had to let go of Adaine to do so but instead of dropping her he seamlessly transferred her full weight to his good arm and ran full sprint. 

Adaine really needed to drop this habit of being carried off but she was grinning a bit too much to protest now.

They got to the deck, which was essentially an outdoor patio type situation. The same place the Bad Kids had had their all day training session. That had been… an exhausting day.

Bill gently put her back on her feet. “Now lassy,” he said, speaking at a normal volume for once, “Fabian was telling me the most interesting tale of you fighting your sister. He said you clocked her right in the face. That right?”

“Uh,” Adaine was torn between incredible embarrassment and the knowledge that Bill Seacaster would probably think that was cool. “Yes. She’s been kidnapping people and also just sucks in general. She definitely deserved it.”

He grinned and clapped her on the shoulder. “That’s what I like to hear. You’ve got a fire in your belly. Now let’s fight.”

“Thank-wait, what?” 

He thrusted a sword into her grip, one that looked near identical to what Fabian always swung around. Then with a mighty war cry he rushed her with his own.

Adaine shrieked and scrambled backwards as the pirate swung his sword at her. Instincts, or maybe just fear locking her muscles, let her raise her own sword enough to block his first strike. The collision of the blades sent a shock of force through her arms and she was incredibly proud of herself that she managed to hang on to it at all. 

He did not let up after that first hit. Instead going at her again and again and again. Adaine barely managed to block each one with her own sword and a small part of her brain noticed that he seemed to be actively aiming for her sword.

The other parts of her brain were too worried about being impaled to acknowledge that. 

Every hit felt like it was going to rip the weapon straight out of her hands and every advance the pirate made sent her stumbling back and fighting to stay on her feet.

“Stop!” Adaine yelled when she remembered she could do that, “Wait wait stop!”

He did not. Bill yelled again and hit her sword hard enough she could feel the vibrations through her teeth.

“I said stop!” Adaine let Bill’s next hit knock the sword completely out of her hand and used the brief freedom to shoot a fire bolt directly into his face.

Bill reeled backwards and Adaine, nerves frayed and mind in combat mode, used mage hand to trip his peg leg out beneath him. The pirate crashed onto his back, beard on fire, and Adaine took a few large steps away from the deranged man to catch her breath.

After only a moment Bill Seacaster started laughing like a madman. “HA! Hahahaha, that’s the ticket!” He sat up, smacking at his beard to put the fire out, and gave Adaine a large grin that she did not return. “You’re certainly quick on your toes, missy. Though lettin’ yourself get disarmed like that usually won’t end so well even if ya got a fireball in your back pocket.”

Adaine stared at him. Her chest was heaving from the exertion she had not been expecting and her hands were trembling with lingering pain the sword handle had caused. “What? What was that!?! Why did you just start attacking me?”

“Why I was testin’ ya of course.” Bill stood back up and plucked his sword from where he had dropped it. Adaine tensed but he just sheathed it with barely a glance. “Fabian kept talkin’ about this fighter spirit in ya and I wanted to see it with me own eye. And he was right! You certainly don’t hold back when pressed.”

Adaine breathed in deep through her nose and tried to release it calmly. “Do you think that, maybe, there was a better way to do that than trying to stab me?”

“Ha!” He tapped his nose and winked. Probably. It was hard to tell with the eyepatch. “If I had been tryin’ ta stab ya you’d already been run through. Your swordsmanship isn’t exactly fine tuned.”

Adaine felt weirdly offended at that amidst the rolling anger and shock.

“But,” Bill continued, “I wanted to see your fire, girl, and not just the magic kind. Your anger! Your passion! How you handle yourself in a real fight. And let me tell you, it was glorious to behold.”

And he smiled at her in a way that was so sincere and proud that it distracted Adaine from being pissed off. “Well, I… Just, don’t do that again, alright? For goodness sake I thought you were trying to kill me.”

“You’d be dead if that was the case.” He said that part with a deadly seriousness that sent a shiver down Adaine’s neck. “But any case we’ll have to work on your sword skills. Magic is all well and good but sometimes using your fists or the blade is where the real kicker is. Hallariel wants to go over that with ya.”

Adaine blinked. “She does? I didn’t know she could sword fight.”

“Can sword fight? My darling wife is the best in the entire world! That’s why I married her.” His eye glazed over a bit, as if reliving a strong memory, before he continued, “She’s working something out with Cathilda at the moment about your parents but when she’s done it’ll be training time.”

Adaine cringed. “It’s not going to be like this every time, is it?”

Bill shrugged. “Probably not. But who knows! My wife is always full of surprises.”

Chapter Text

Fabian waited a whole until night had fallen to go talk to Adaine. Partly because he didn’t want to disturb her if she was still feeling sensitive after the day she had and partly because he just didn’t want to talk about this.

No, that was a lie. He mostly just didn’t want to talk about this. 

But the rest of the Bad Kids were planning on coming over for a movie party tonight and Fabian did not want the topic weighing in his mind the entire time. So with one hour to movie time he knocked on Adaine’s door and walked into her room.

She was sitting at the computer that was set up in the room. She typed away for a few more seconds before glancing over at him. “Hi, what’s up?”

“We need to talk,” he said, walking over and flopping on her bed.

“Is it about swords?”

Fabian lifted his head to look at her. “What? No? Why would it be about swords?”

Adaine shrugged and fiddled with the edge of her jacket. “Your dad attacked me with one. Kinda. It was apparently for some sort of test. He said your mom wanted to train me in fencing.”

Fabian’s eyes opened wide and his brow furrowed. “Why does no one tell me anything in this house? My mother wants to train you?”

“And your dad attacked me.”

He waved his hand lazily. “That part makes sense. Pa-pa just goes at people sometimes. It’s fun.”

Adaine rolled her eyes. “Sure. Fun.”

Fabian pursed his lips as he steeled himself to get back on topic. “Speaking of my parents my mother proposed a very… interesting idea that I promised I would talk to you about. And it’s not fencing lessons.”

“Oh?” She had turned back to her computer and continued typing. Probably something for school or she wouldn’t be focusing on it so intently. “And what’s that?”

Fabian tilted his head back to rest on the bed again. “She had the amazing idea that we should get married.”

Adaine made a choking sound. “I’m sorry she said what?”

Fabian surged into a sitting position, throwing his hands out. “That’s what I said! I was like, Ma-ma, what are you talking about? This is absurd. And she was like, just ask Adaine Fabian she may be down for it. And I was like she’s not going to be down for it Ma-ma!”

“Why would we do that?” Adaine had fully turned around now and was looking at him in utter disbelief. “Are your parents secretly weird like Kristen’s and we can’t, I don’t know, can’t live together unrelated?” 

The indignation faded a bit. “Well, no. It’s because of laws and such.”

Adaine raised a brow, her eyes darting about in confusion like she could read sense off the walls. It was fruitless, however, Fabian had already tried. “Laws? Which laws?”

He clasped his hands together and ran his thumb over the back of his hand, peering at Adaine carefully. "Well, my mother thinks that your father is going to file a kidnapping report of some sort. Take us to court to get you back, you see?"

There was a pregnant pause as Adaine digested this information. "It wouldn't work anyway."

Fabian nodded. "I think so as well. We can hire our own lawyers and it's so obvious that they suck any court would see-"

She waved her hand to cut him off. "Not that part. The marriage idea. It wouldn't work like your mom's thinking."

Fabian gaped at her, only one implication standing out. "Are you saying you'd be fine with marrying me if it did work?" Then Fabian paused and puffed out his chest. "Not that I don't blame you, of course, I'm quite a catch. I'm just surprised you think of me that way."

Adaine rolled her eyes and smirked sharply at him. "Don't flatter yourself. You're much too gross to even consider that. And you know I couldn't stand being in my sister's shadow even more."

Fabian flushed. "I-thats not-I'm sorry okay! You can't be mad at me for that. She kissed me and-and it's not my fault she's incredibly sexy."

Adaine made a fake gagging motion. "This is exactly why you're gross. Stop telling me these things immediately." She leaned back in her chair and narrowed her eyes. "You should feel lucky she was kidnapping people actually. Because if we didn't have to fight her and the elementals I would have also killed you."

Fabian crossed his arms with a huff. "I don't know what to tell you. She's hot and I'm just a man."

"Barf."

In a desperate bid to change the topic and get her death glare off his neck he said, "So why wouldn't the marriage thing work like mother thinks? Besides the obvious gross factor, of course."

Adaine, at the very least, seemed willing to drop the Alewyn topic as well. "Well, we're children aren't we? It wouldn't be as simple as signing a paper. There are marriage laws regarding children."

Fabian tilted his head. "But we're teenagers. And my parents would approve. Don't you just need one parental approval and both parties consent?"

Adaine nodded hesitantly. "Ignoring how you know that off the top of your head. Yes, that's how it works in Solaris."

"Ah, but not Fallinel, I'm guessing?"

Adaine gave a half smile. "Funnily enough it's not really the law technicalities that are different. The problem is that only applies to teenagers. Children can't get married at all."

Fabian raised his eyebrow so high it almost popped off his face. "Okay? We are teenagers, though."

Adaine made a face that was part amused, teasing, and annoyed. "Not by elf standards, actually."

Fabian scoffed. "Adaine I'm half elf. Even if you're all immortal I know that elves mature at the same basic rate that everyone else does."

"Sure, physically," Adaine stressed, "but not socially. Not legally. In Fallinel you're socially underage until you're a hundred. It was only a century ago that they lowered the legal 'adult' age to thirty. You aren't considered a young adult for anything until you're at least twenty."

Fabian blinked at her. "...are you telling me you're a toddler in elf society?"

Adaine blushed which told him everything he needed to know. "That's not the point. There's no way to easily disown me from my parents, is all." 

"A little baby. Oh my Sol I need to tell Fig. She's going to have a field day."

"Fabian," Adaine all but whined, "it's just how stupid Fallinel thinks. They'd treat any of you the same way. It's not a big deal."

Fabian grinned mischievously. "I'm afraid it is. And now I definitely have blackmail over you."

Adaine groaned. “Fine. I’ll drop the kissing-my-sister thing if you drop this.”

He basked in triumphant victory for a moment until something else occurred to him. Something horrifying. "Wait a moment. Does that mean you'd have to live with your parents until you're thirty?"

"No, I'm sure they'd have some high class match picked out for me the second I turn twenty. That's actually pretty common. Either the parents use their children as political pawns or the children get married quick just to get out. 'Teenage marriages' happen more often than not."

He digested this information. “Why are they called teenagers if it’s after your teens?”

Adaine pinched the bridge of her nose. "It's not. There's just no Common translation for it since the term pretty much only applies to elves anyway. Do you have any more questions about how dumb and weird my home country is?"

Fabain put actual thought into that before shaking his head. "Not at the moment. But I will say this is a bit of a relief for me. I did not want to try talking Ma-ma out of her insane plan."

Adaine chuckled a bit but Fabian could see the worry lingering in her eyes. 

"I'm sure it wouldn't have been needed, anyway," he tried to reassure her, "even though your parents are, frankly, insane I highly doubt they'd be willing to go into a giant court battle over something as pesky as this."

"Yeah," Adaine said half heartedly, chewing on her nail in thought, "it's just… it's weird. My parents don't care about me. They've never cared. I'm pretty sure if I dropped dead one day they wouldn't have even noticed. But now? Now they want me back? I know it's only because they feel slighted or something but still it feels…" she huffed and shook her head. "Shit. I thought I was over wanting them to want me."

Oh. Oh dear this was a little deeper than Fabian knew how to go. He did not have the skills to deal with emotions as complicated as this. "Well… that's… you know we care right? We want you, Adaine. And not for any selfish reasons or anything."

She stared at him and cocked her head to the side like she was puzzling something out in her brain. Fabian was suddenly nervous he had said something completely stupid again and made things worse.

But after a moment she smiled. "You know I can't tell which 'we' you're talking about and that makes me really excited." She then half turned away, maintaining eye contact but positioning herself back in front of her computer. "Do you need anything else or can I get back to this essay?"

Fabain scoffed even as he stood up. "Can't believe you'd rather do school work than shoot the breeze with me. Really, Adaine, I'm wounded."

Adaine rolled her eyes affectionately and started typing again. "Too bad your ego's not as thick as your skull."

He gasped dramatically, one hand clutching his chest. "Wounded!"

***

It was only the next day when Adaine came back to the manor (with Fabian this time) to find Hallariel in the guest room. 

Or, Adaine supposed, the room that was slowly turning into her own.

"Oh," Adaine called, instantly tensing,"are you here for the, uh, fencing lessons." 

Hallariel waved a hand at her, not looking up. "That can wait until later, dear."

Hallariel was moving around the room, examining everything with a critical eye. Adaine had no idea what she was looking for, if she was judging the few changes Adaine had made to it or if she was determining what more they could change. Eventually, the older elf stopped by Adaine’s closet and thumbed through the scant few clothes in there. Most borrowed from Fabian and the rest of her friends.

“Do you have anything at your old home you want?” Hallariel asked as she examined her son’s clothes in Adaine’s closet. “Personal items? I can send Bill to fetch them for you, it won’t be difficult.”

Even though the idea of Bill Seacaster breaking into her parents house was amusing, Adaine shook her head. “My personal effects are… sparse. Most everything I could want I kept in my backpack anyway. The only clothes I own are Hudol uniforms and this outfit I’m currently wearing.” She pulled at her jeans jacket self continuously. “And Fabian actually bought me this. Sort of. He gave me a gift card.”

Hallariel stared at her in that really intense and also kind of unfocused way that she did. “Only allowing you to dress in a school uniform you don’t attend is certainly an interesting form of child abuse, I’ll give them that.”

It felt as if cold water had washed down Adaine’s back.

She knew that. Of course she knew. She’d always known that her parents were horrible vile people and that they treated her far less than she deserved. But somehow just knowing it was different than having an adult state it in such plain words.

Child abuse. She had been abused.

Adaine didn’t even notice Hallariel had moved until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She snapped out of her haze as Hallariel rubbed slow circles on her back before trailing down her arm. “You’re quite slim. Even for a graceful high elf.” She massaged Adaine’s hand with her thumb and interlocked their fingers together. “Is it natural, personal choice, or do your parents withhold meals?” 

“Uh,” Adaine tried to suppress the shiver that ran through her as Hallariel intently examined her, “All? Both? I am just naturally thin, all of my family is, but sometimes I have to skip dinner or breakfast. But I’ve never missed two meals in a row and sometimes it’s just because I’ve been busy and not…” Adaine trailed off as Hallariel’s eyes rose to meet hers. 

Keeping their hands entwined, Hallariel used her free hand to gently grab Adaine’s chin and pull her forward. 

Adaine squeaked and was sure she was beat red as her face became inches apart from Fabian’s Mom. Hallariel gently ran circles on Adaine’s chin with her thumb.

“Don’t worry, pet,” Hallariel murmured, tilting Adaine’s head down and gently kissing her forehead, “we’ll take care of you now.”

Chapter Text

Fabian was watching some dumb detective show that Riz had coerced him into seeing when Adaine entered his room.

He turned it off and sat up immediately. She was bright red, obviously flustered, and just genuinely looked a bit out of it. “Adaine? Are you alright? What happened?”

“I think,” she said, her voice a bit shaky, “that we might have to get married.”

He blinked. “Wha-“

“Because if not your mom might get to me first.”

Concern was immediately replaced with indignation as he lept off of his bed. “Adaine! Have you been flirting with my mother?”

“No!” Adaine protested, rubbing at her face like she could scrub the blush from it. “She’s flirting with me! Or maybe she just has a really sensual way of being a parental figure. I don’t know! Your parents are weird.” 

Fabian frowned and crossed his arms with a huff. “Oh, like you’re one to talk.”

“My parents suck,” Adaine corrected, “yours are just weird.” She paused, mostly collected now. “Oh, uh, and your mom is taking us shopping now. I think. She said to tell you.”

Fabian blinked in surprise, though he probably shouldn't have been. Adaine really did need a wordrobe rehaul. He pulled out his crystal and started texting the group chat. "In that case I'll tell the others."

Adaine furrowed her brow. "Why? Your mother didn't make it sound like a group activity."

Fabain waved his hand as he texted. "When Ma-ma takes me shopping it's more an excuse for her to gossip with the clerics and try on perfume. We'll mostly be left to our own devices."

"Oh," Adaine mumbled, tugging on her jacket in the way Fabian knew meant she was feeling self conscious. But she seemed to get over it quickly enough and grinned cheekily at him. “As long as she doesn’t flirt with me in public that is. I don’t think I could handle all day of that .”

Fabian felt himself flush and scrambled for a moment before grabbing a pillow off of his bed and throwing it at her. “Stop being weird about my mother!”

Adaine laughed as she ducked the projectile. “Only when you stop being weird about my sister. Fig said you described how she tasted, which is incredibly gross.”

He had to demote Fig from best friend status now. She was a traitor. “That was supposed to be private!”

Adaine’s grin was practically splitting her face. “Like all those videos on your computer that are totally not yours?”

He threw another pillow at her and was satisfied when this one connected with her face, though she didn’t even flinch at its plushness. “Out! Get out of my room!” 

Still laughing, Adaine retreated, calling over her shoulder, “Be ready to leave soon!”

Fabian made sure to slam the door behind her and stood, panting, in his room, trying desperately to force his blush down. After a few moments, he chuckled and started scrounging around for an appropriate shopping outfit, a grin unable to leave his face.

For what seemed like the first time since Fabian had punched her dad in the face, Adaine seemed happy. 

***

Adaine had not expected their shopping trip to take place at the Elmville mall. Her own parents bought their things at exclusive clubs and high end fashion stores and Adaine had just assumed every rich family did the same. 

But, no, they just went to the normal mall. 

Fabian instantly seemed bored of the whole situation, walking behind Adaine and his mother with his hands in his pockets and his gaze flicking lazily from shop to shop. 

Hallariel, on the other hand, seemed ecstatic. She was walking at a pretty fast pace, talking to Cathilda who was walking beside her. “Oh, I have many fond memories of this place. The conversations, the purchases, the pillaging.”

“You certainly haven’t been out of the house in a while Ma’am,” Cathilda spoke. Not an accusation, just an observation.

"That's right," Hallariel mused, "I'm sure everyone's missed me."

Adaine leaned over to Fabian. "Does your mom shop here a lot?"

He snorted. "If by 'shop here' you mean send the servents then yes. Ma-ma hasn't personally gone much of anywhere in a while."

"Oh, here we are!"

Adaine glanced back up to see the four of them had stopped in front of the same store where Adaine had bought her jacket. It was still just as over the top and gaudy as she remembered. 

"Hallariel!" The shop keeper, Madame Silvaine, appeared out of the glitter and took Hallariel's hand, the two giving each other a kiss on the cheek. "It is so nice to see you, darling. It's been so long, how are you?"

Adaine spoke to Fabian again as Hallariel chatted for a moment. "In hindsight I should have known you gave me that gift card with how chummy you were with Madame Silvaine."

He chuckled a bit. "Yes, well, my skills of secrecy are apparently much stronger then your sense of observation."

Adaine slugged him in the shoulder which he humored by exaggeratingly rubbing it. 

"Ah, Master Fabian and Miss Abernant. How nice to see you again." Silvaine said, turning to the two children.

Fabian waved and Adaine bowed her head politely. "It's nice to see you too, Madame Silvaine. The outfit I bought here is my absolute favorite." That was not a high bar to clear but they didn't need to know that.

Madame Silvaine clapped their hands. "Yes! I see you're wearing it now. Back for more are you?"

"We certainly are," Hallariel spoke up again, putting a hand on the top of Adaine's head, "Adaine needs an entirely new wardrobe. And I just knew you'd be the best of the best for this endeavor."

"Of course of course." Silvaine ushered them into the store, it smelled like too strong perfume. "What are we looking for? More 'normal teenage' clothes?"

Adaine nodded eagerly. "That would be lovely."

Hallariel made a disappointed sound. "Come now not just normal clothes, surely. I want to see you in a beautiful dress."

"Uh," Adaine shifted on her feet awkwardly, "I'm not really… into that stuff. Not especially."

"But certainly it wouldn't hurt to try?" Hallariel pressed, tucking a strand of Adaine's hair behind her ear. "We can get you jeans and the like too, of course, but it's an outing! I want to dress you up a little."

"I…" Adaine glanced at Fabian, hoping that he would know how to rein in his mom better than she did.

But Fabian looked… perturbed. Upset and deep in thought as he stared at Adaine and his mother. "Fine," he eventually said, "but only if I get to pick an outfit for her too."

"What?" Adaine squeaked in surprise. She had not been expecting this level of betrayal. "Fabian!"

But her protests fell on deaf ears as Madame Silvaine grabbed her shoulders, leading her to the changing rooms as Hallariel, Fabian, and even Cathilda broke off into different sections of the store.

"Don't worry, dear," Silvaine soothed, "these types of things happen all the time. It shouldn't take more than a few hours."

Adaine groaned.

Hallariel came back with her choices first and Adaine reluctantly began changing. The first item was a long and elegant ballgown. It was a blue that matched Adaine's eyes and was fitting without being too tight. The bottom section flaired out a bit but not an obnoxious amount.

Hallariel clapped when Adaine stepped out of the changing room. "Lovely! How do you like it?"

"It's… fine," Adaine confessed, twirling at Hallariel's request. "It reminds me a bit of the dresses I'd have to wear for those balls my parents would drag us too when I was little."

Those things hadn't been the worst time in the world. They were boring, sure, but usually her parents had been so busy parading Aelwyn around that Adaine was free to hang out in some corner and avoid any harsh words.

And this dress was much more comfortable than the constricting things she used to wear.

"Well I think you look like a dream," Hallariel gushed, "try on some more!"

Adaine did, trying on a few more elegant dresses. They were all… fine. There was even a well pressed suit and matching skirts to add some flavor. But she certainly didn't care for any of them too much. She paused when she got to the bottom of the pile Hallariel had picked. Instead of another dress there was a pale robe with blue and gold accents. 

She put it on, tying the middle tight and letting the sleeves bunch up at the ends. It was shorter than she expected, which explained the leggings it came with, and surprisingly easy to move in. When she exited the changing room she gave Hallariel and Madame Silvaine questioning looks. "What is this? It's almost like a traditional wizard robe but much less cumbersome."

Silvaine answered as Hallariel took a swig from a flask she had gotten from somewhere. "It's a Bladesinger outfit. It's supposed to mimic a wizard's robe while still leaving you nimble enough to swordfight."

Adaine blinked down at herself in surprise. She had heard of Bladesinger before, of course, but they were mostly fairytale heros. Real spellcasters hardly had time to take up fencing and as far as she was aware the opposite sentiment was shared by fighters. She hadn't even known they had a traditional uniform.

Hallariel nodded approvaling. "We are getting that one. It fits you like a glove."

Adaine nodded, unsure she would have protested even if she hated it, which she didn't. But she was relieved when Cathilda emerged from the clothing racks, carrying an armful of much more normal outfits.

The next half hour was much more fun. Adaine tried on t-shirts, sweaters, croptops. She styled jeans, slacks, shorts. Even some sundresses and skirts that were comfortable and stylish. There were also some more jackets and coats and while Adaine accepted getting a heavy parka for winter she declined the jackets, liking the one she had too much to ever trade it out. 

By the end she had a sizable pile of clothing that she was quite pleased with and immensely excited to wear.

And then Fabian arrived with his selection. 

"Fabian," Adaine said, aghast, "you have got to be kidding me."

"Come on," he said, holding the outfit that could only be described as an exploded rainbow out to her, "it was either this or the sailor uniform."

"Fabian!"

"Adaine," he whined her name in a mocking sort of way, "you promised me one outfit! And besides, you owe me."

"What?" She squeaked, her eyes not leaving the clashing colors, "What could I possibly owe you for that justifies this?"

And for a moment his face drops. Adaine didn't even think he noticed himself but he wasn't exactly a great liar. The hesitation and hurt on his face was clear for the half second before he covered it up with a teasing grin. "For punching your Pa-pa of course! We wouldn't even be here shopping if it wasn't for me."

That was… concerning. But this wasn't the time or place to try and pry Fabian's prideful shell open. 

Instead, Adaine gave an exaggerated huff and snatched the outfit from him. "Fine. But you better not laugh."

By his grin she was pretty sure he was going to anyway.

Adaine changed into the outfit as fast as she could just to get it over with. There was a rainbow striped shirt with a pair of blue overalls on top that had little stars stitched in all over. The overalls stopped midway down her shins which left room for the tall pink socks to be shown. Which matched the pink and purple fingerless gloves. Lastly we're orange high top converse that also had stars decorating them. Adaine threw her jacket over the assembly and looked at herself in the mirror. 

Oh. 

Oh no. Oh no.

She looked somewhere between a preschool teacher and said preschooler's horrible art project. The colors clashed loudly and the patterns were many, giving the outfit a busy look. 

Adaine looked stupid.

Adaine looked adorable.

Worst of all she absolutely loved it.

"Oh," she mumbled, rubbing at her temples, "Fabian is never going to shut up about this…"

Reluctantly, Adaine stepped out of the dressing room and emerged for her audience of four to witness. She kept her head down, certain her face was bright red.

Fabian immediately began clapping sarcastically, which did not help her blush.

"Ooo," Hallariel cooed, "you look precious, my dear. Like I could eat you up for a snack."

"It's certainly bright," Cathilda said, tactful as always.

"It's very you!" Adaine glanced up to see Madame Silvaine looking genuinely impressed. "A cute and fun kind of energy."

"Thank you…" Adaine mumbled.

The rest must have caught on that something was wrong by how quietly she spoke since Fabian pipped up, a hint of worry in his voice. "Come now, Adaine, it's not that bad."

She shook her head and bit her lip, trying to keep her embarrassment down. "It's not. It's not bad at all. In fact I… um… I really like it." She hesitantly raised her head until she made eye contact with Hallariel. "May we get this one, too?"

Fabian looked like he was about to fall out of his chair but Hallariel just smiled. "Of course. Anything you desire, darling."

Chapter Text

Fabian was not upset. 

He wasn’t! He was actually relieved. For a moment there he had been worried his little prank had upset Adaine more than just embarrassed her. So he was obviously relieved and happy when it turned out his prank had completely backfired and she loved the insult to fashion he had given her.

Obviously.

He was not sulking as they left the shop, saying goodbye to Madame Silvaine with bags bursting full of clothes. None of them for Fabian.

Adaine was practically skipping. She had changed back into the clothes she had arrived in, but kept the purple gloves on, and thanked everyone like a billion times as they went back into the mall proper.

“Cathilda, your suggestions were fantastic. I’ve never had so many clothes I like,” Adaine gushed. She was holding some bags, insisted upon it, but even as they talked some of Pa-pa’s crew appeared around the corner and freed up her hands. “Oh. Wow, you guys work fast.”

“Ah, thank goodness,” Hallariel mumbled, leaning on Cathilda as the crew bustled away as quickly as they came, “that was certainly exciting but mummy’s all tuckered out now my darlings. Cathilda, there’s a winery around here, yes?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Cathilda said, patient as ever, “it’s on the other side of the mall.”

Mother groaned and shook her head. “Everything’s so big and there’s no reason for it. Alright, you two go…” she waved her hand vaguely, “have child fun while I go have adult fun, hmm?” She turned away, but turned back immediately and fished in her purse. “Wait. I have a credit card for you Adaine.”

Adaine blinked wide eyes like she could possibly be surprised by this revelation. Or maybe she was just surprised that Ma-ma had remembered. Fabian certainly was. 

Hallariel handed Adaine a shiny gold card, identical to the one Fabian always carried on his person, patted her head and then turned and practically dragged Cathilda towards the winery.

Fabian wasn’t upset that she had barely glanced at him. Certainly. 

Before he could stew any longer in emotions he definitely didn’t have Adaine turned to him, confused expression upon her face and card still held out in front of her.

“How… much is on this card?” 

Fabian frowned. “Well, I don’t know. I don’t keep track of the exact count of all the wealth in my parents’ vault.”

Her eyes widened and she looked at the card in her hand like it was going to bite her. “Their entire wealth? This is connected to that account?”

He rolled his eyes. “Really, Adaine, do you think we’re the type of people to make multiple bank accounts?”

“Fabian,” she half gasped half whined, “I can’t… that’s so much… how much am I allowed to spend? What’s the credit limit?”

Gracious, she honestly looked like she was about to freak out. Fabian rested a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her. “As much as you like. There’s no limit as far as I’m aware.”

He honestly couldn’t tell if it worked or not. She snorted and rubbed her temple. “There has to be a limit. I don’t think your parents would be fine if I spent all of your money.”

Fabian raised a disbelieving brow. “Are you planning to buy a small city or something?”

“Well…no,” she confessed, face scrunched up, “but there still needs to be a limit. ”

“Uhg, Adaine you’re so impossible.” Fabian dramatically draped herself on her. “Why couldn’t you just be a normal rich girl? Instead you’re some kind of sad conglomeration of the bad parts of being rich and poor.”

Adaine grunted with the effort of holding his weight up with her shoulders. “You’re such a flatterer, you know that?” She ducked, causing him to almost tip over, and escaped from under him. “But seriously, I need an upper limit.”

Fabian regained his balance and folded his arms, shooting her a hard look. “What will you do if I refuse to give you one? If I just tell you to go wild?”

She paused, honestly seeming to consider this as she fiddled with her new card. “Honestly, I probably wouldn’t spend anything if you did that.”

Fabian sighed loudly and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fine. Your limit is a thousand gold.”

Adaine looked appalled. “Start lower. I’m begging you.”

Fabian threw his hands into the air. “Oh for pete’s sake! One hundred! And if you somehow manage to hit that limit I’ll… let Fig write a song about me or something.”

A smile tugged at her lips and Fabian felt a little better. “Okay. That’s a decent compromise I suppose. Though I probably won’t spend hardly anything, still. It feels like your mother bought me more than I could ever want.”

And the bad feeling was back. Fabian shoved it down as far as it would go. “Well, what would you expect? She seems to adore you.”

And his acting must be getting better because Adaine beamed at the praise. 

Fabian’s crystal buzzed in his pocket and he snatched it up immediately. Any distraction from this conversation. “Ah, the others have arrived. Shall we meet up with them in the food court?”

Adaine’s eyes lit up and Fabian couldn’t stay mad at her. Not that he was mad before or anything. “Oh, I would love to, I’m starving.” 

An idea sprang to his mind and he let an excited smile grace his face. “You can treat everyone! It is honestly a wonderful feeling. You don’t know the pleasure of money until you spend it on your friends.”

“Yes,” Adaine said, playing with the credit card now, “I think I’d really like that. You certainly make it seem fun.”

Fabian cleared his throat and extended his arm to her. He didn’t want to be upset. He wanted to go have fun with his friends. “Shall we, Miss Abernant?”

She giggled and linked arms and that helped a bit. “We shall, Master Seacaster.”

***

“Whoa, I love the gloves! They are so chic.”

Adaine did not know Fig pre-highschool and Fig always insisted that she was a completely different person than she was before her horns grew in. But sometimes, Adaine could see the cheerleader in her. 

Like right now as Fig practically lept across the grungy food court table to clasp Adaine’s hands within her own. She twisted Adaine’s hands around, examining her cute new gloves from every possible angle. “Did you buy them just now?”

“Yes,” Adaine was torn between being excited and embarrassed by the frivolous piece of clothing, “Fabian picked them out for me and his mother bought them.”

A few of them shot Fabian a questioning look but he just frowned indignantly back at them. “What? You think I don’t have good taste or something? I have excellent taste.”

“It’s not that,” Riz placated quickly, “it’s just not the type of style you’d usually pick out.”

“Weren’t you down for putting her in a sailor outfit last time we went shopping?” Kristen pointed out. “And you liked her uniform thing?”

Fabian threw his hands in the air. “She looks nice like that! Is it my fault her horrible parents had good taste in clothes?” 

“Guys!” Adaine called out, disrupting the argument before it could really get started. “Can we talk about this later?” The food court smelled so bad and so good at the same time. Greasy food of all types surrounded them and Adaine desperately wanted to try it.

Fig gasped overdramatically. “Adaine wants to eat and not talk about her sucky parents? Someone call the police, we've got an impostor on our hands.”

The rest of the bad kids snickered and even Gorgug added on to the teasing. “Living with Fabian has already changed you that much?”

Adaine rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Maybe so. He has bullied me into buying you all something today.” Which wasn’t completely accurate but ever since he had mentioned the potential to treat their friends to gifts she hadn’t been able to shake the idea.

Fabian snorted and put his hands behind his head. “Don’t get too excited. She forced me to give her a hundred gold limit. Though if you can goade her into spending more, be my guest.”

“Woo!” Fig threw her hands in the air. “Lunch’s on Adaine!”

Adaine couldn’t help but giggle. “If you give me a recommendation for the unhealthiest thing here I’ll certainly use Fabian’s money to buy it for everyone.”

“Pu-leez Adaine,” Fabian said with a groan, “it’s as much your money as it is mine.”

And that made Adaine glow inside. Even if Fabian only meant that it was his parent’s money and not his, it still felt so good. She was really starting to belong with his family, even more than she had ever belonged with her own.

And goodness that was just a lovely thought.

Chapter Text

Adaine stood on the 'deck' of Seacaster Manor, shivering in the brisk breeze. 

Though, if she was being honest with herself, the shiver probably wasn’t entirely from the cold. She hadn’t noticed it in the store but the Bladesinger outfit she was currently wearing was actually padded on the inside, technically classifying it as light armor and practically making it warm and cozy.

No, she was more nervous than she was cold. Hallariel had told her to meet her up here after school, ready for training. It was now after school, here Adaine was, and yet Hallariel was nowhere in sight. Part of Adaine worried the older elf had forgotten and another was scared that she was just hiding somewhere to jump out when Adaine was least expecting it.

And a little bit of her couldn’t help but be excited.

Thankfully, Hallariel appeared a few minutes later and it wasn’t while trying to stab Adaine in the face. No, she just walked out onto the deck, still in her usual long robe but now with a whip-thin elven sword instead of a wine glass in her hand.

“Ah, you’re already changed, wonderful,” she said, looking Adaine over, “are you ready for your first lesson?”

Adaine hesitantly nodded. “Every time I come here with your husband I feel like he’s trying to kill me. Is that… going to be the flavor of this training too?”

To Adaine’s great relief Hallariel chuckled and shook her head. “That does sound like Bill. But I’ll take it easier on you, pet, don’t worry.”

The tension in Adaine’s shoulders eased some. “Great. That’s good. How do we… start?”

Hallariel waved her sword in the general direction of the Barrel of Swords that was always shoved in the corner. “First, pick out a weapon. Anyone of those will do for now, I think. We’ll get you a proper one later.”

Adaine nodded and wondered over. There were at least a dozen swords there of all different styles and designs. She had absolutely no idea what differences between them actually mattered and which were for show so she just picked the closest looking one to Fabian’s sword and turned back.

When she did Fabian’s Mother had taken her robe off, revealing a tight fitted Swashbuckler outfit. Puffy shirt, a lot of straps and belts, and knee high boots.

Adaine gaped a little.

“Now,” Hallariel said, flicking her sword around in front of her so fast it created a hissing sound in the air, “I will be giving you a demonstration. Watch me closely and stand back.”

And Adaine did.

Hallariel was like a river. She flowed across the deck with almost perfect movements, twisted and spinning and thrusting and lunging. It wasn’t sword fighting like Fabian did, hacking and slashing with full power, this was more like a dance . Every move went into the next seamlessly and every swing of her sword was purposeful and controlled. Her feet maneuvered around themselves in perfect harmony, not a step out of line and Hallariel ended the dance right in front of Adaine, the tip of the sword an inch from her nose.

Adaine clapped.

Hallariel smiled a bit bashfully and withdrew her sword. “Thank you, darling. I will admit that was mostly for my benefit. Needed to get back into the groove.”

“I’ll say that you did!” Adaine couldn’t help but gush, “That was wonderful to watch. You’re amazing.”

She preened a little, standing up straight and tilting her head and it reminded Adaine so much of Fabian. “Yes, well, now that I’ve warmed up it’s onto the real lesson. You know Fabian has been telling me such interesting stories about you.”

That was a bit of a topic jump. And Adaine couldn’t think of any stories about her Fabian would find worth sharing. “Oh? Like what?”

“Hmm,” Hallariel was staring at her again with those searching eyes, like she was trying to peel back Adaine’s layers by her gaze alone, “for instance he told me that you all had a car chase which ended with you pinned under it.”

Adaine’s face wrinkled a bit at the memory. “I’m pretty sure Fabian did a backflip off the car as it tipped over. It was quite impressive but me and Fig did end up trapped underneath until he and Gorgug pulled us out.”

Hallariel had a thin smile on her face. “Yes. Indeed. He also mentioned you got mauled by a werewolf?”

That one caused her to cringe. “Your husband already berated us on what a dumb move that was. Quite thoroughly.” 

“And also by an owlbear?”

“Okay, Fig just left me to deal with that. It was completely on her.”

“And that at your last fight you got smacked around by your own mage hand?”

“…Fabian wasn’t even there for that one. Who is telling you these things?”

“The point is,” Hallariel flicked her sword out again and Adaine flinched as it landed right next to her cheek, “you seem to attract danger like a magnet. And are very bad at avoiding it when it comes to you.” 

“Sorry?” Adaine wasn’t sure what the right response to that was. But it felt like she was being scolded.

Hallariel simply looked amused as she lowered her sword. “I wish to train you in the art of the blade not necessarily so you can attack but so you have enough time to cast your spells without being knocked out immediately. Ergo, Bladesinger.”

Adaine blinked back down at her outfit. “Do you know how to bladesing? I wasn’t aware you could do magic.”

“I am very old, Adaine. I may have not gotten around to lighting candles with my fingertips but trust me when I tell you I’ve studied every art of the blade there is.”

Adaine nodded, clutching her sword tighter. Oh, she was definitely being scolded. 

“Alright.” Hallariel took a step back, and slowly brought her sword up in a traditional fencing stance. “Let’s do a quick exercise to see where you’re currently at.”

“Bad,” Adaine instantly supplied, her nerves climbing back, “I’m currently very bad. I’m not even proficient in light armor.”

“That’s why I’m training you in it.” Hallariel gave her a soft look but didn’t drop her sword. “I’m going to be gentle. Just try to block or move out of the way.” 

Adaine nodded again and Hallariel moved forward. With a squeak Adaine tried to raise her sword and only managed to point it directly into the sky. She jerked back, away from Hallariel, but stumbled over her own feet and barely made it a step before the tip of the thin sword pressed into the padding near her shoulder.

It didn’t hurt . Hallariel had kept her promise and been very gentle and the light armor did its job well on top of that. Adaine didn’t even feel the poke. 

What she did feel was crushing embarrassment. 

“S-sorry,” she mumbled as Hallariel withdrew her sword, “I did warn you I’m very bad.”

And it was worse because Hallariel looked so disappointed. Adaine glanced away, staring down at her shoes in shame. 

“Hmm, that’s alright,” the older elf said gently, “let’s forgo the swords for now and just work on your footwork. Getting used to moving in that armor will do you a world of good.”

Adaine nodded, taking a breath to steel herself with determination. She wanted to be better. Wanted to make Hallariel proud with a longing she hadn’t felt since she was a very small child. Since before she realized everything would always be a disappointment to her parents. “Alright. Yes. Let’s do this.” 

Hallariel smiled and went through the beginning of her dance once more, much much slower this time. “Copy my movements. Concentrate on keeping your steps light but steady.”

Eagerly, Adaine moved forward, only to trip on the sword she had forgotten she was holding. The bladesinger uniform was bulkier than she was used to, throwing her balance off so she completely overcorrected. The only thing that kept her from face planting right then and there was Hallariel’s hand flashing out and catching her by the elbow.

Adaine was pretty sure her entire face was redder than Fig’s.

Hallariel let out a breathy little laugh. “This may take a bit longer than I anticipated.”

***

Fabian got home from Bloodrush practice a bit later than usual, it was always a bit more loose now that they didn’t have a coach again, to an immediate greeting from his father. 

“Fabian me boy!” Bill burst into the garage where Fabian was parking the Hangman, one hand behind his back. “How was school? Slay any dragons? Save any more damsels in distress?”

Fabian started in surprise. His father, while always enthusiastic in his affections, often didn’t meet him right out the gate. Or ask about his day. “Oh! Pa-pa! School was fine, no dragons or damsels, unfortunately. But I did absolutely dominate on the bloodrush field.”

“Would never have expected less from my son. Pirates dominate in any field, that's what I always say.” Bill clapped him on the shoulder with the arm that wasn’t behind his back, a grin full of crooked teeth. “Fabian, how would you like to do some training with your old man?”

“Of course, Pa-pa!” Fabian replied instantly. He and his father often trained together, it was their most common form of bonding. They hadn’t done it since he started high school, not just the two of them. Fabian had been too busy with adventuring and school and his party and his father had been busy with… whatever it was Bill Seacaster did with his day. “I’d love to.”

“Marvelous!” But his father didn’t pull away. Instead, his smile grew a tinge bashful. “And, son, I have a wee bit of a gift for you.”

“Oh? Pa-pa, you shouldn’t have, it’s not even my birthday.” 

“I don’t need an excuse to spoil my son!” Bill practically yelled with a laugh before dropping his voice to a much more reasonable level. “And besides that, the present has to do with the training.”

Fabian shook his head and pulled a bit away, more to better see his father than anything. “I don’t need a new sword Pa-pa, I quite like my current one.” There had been a time, when he was younger, where he tried every sword under the sun. That had been a grueling few weeks but he had been thrilled by the results. That sword had served him well for years now. 

“Not a sword, not a sword,” his father corrected, “but something to go along with it.” With his trademark maniac grin Bill Seacaster pulled out what he had been hiding and presented it to Fabian with a flourish. “Nothing pairs up with a sword quite as well as a shield!”

Bill held out a round wooden shield with a metal buckle in the middle. The dark wood was painted with an image of the Hangman’s skull in a silver that matched Fabian’s hair.  

Fabian let out a confused laugh. “Pa-pa? I don’t… this is beautiful and touching, honestly, but I don’t know how to use a shield.”

“Well, that’s what the training’s for, of course!” Bill laughed his typical belly laugh, tugging at Fabian’s arm. “Come, come, I’m going to turn you into the best protection fighter the seven seas has ever seen.”

“Wha-?” Fabian let himself get dragged into the house, “Protection? Pa-pa do you know how to use a shield?”

“Why of course! You think your old man hasn’t tussled with a piece of wood in one hand? Back when I had two hands I was quite talented with both of them.”

He took Fabian up to the deck, talking excitedly about his adventures wielding a shield the whole time. A few of those stories Fabian had heard before and a few he prayed he would never hear again.

When they arrived on the deck it was not empty. His mother and Adaine were already there, doing what looked like a dance routine mixed with martial arts. Hallariel stopped as soon as the boys appeared and after a moment Adaine noticed too.

Adaine looked rough. Fabian had definitely seen her in worse sorts (crushed by a car, mauled by a werewolf, ect) but she still looked on the verge of falling over. Sweat covered her face, making her hair stick to her neck, and she was gasping for breath. Not in a panicked way that Fabian was used to seeing but seemingly from simple exertion. 

Fabian waved to her and Adaine lifted a hand briefly in return before letting it drop to her side, her entire posture slumping like the trial of holding her own weight was too overwhelming. 

“Hello boys,” Hallariel called, in contrast to the younger elf looking not even slightly winded.

“My dear wife!” Bill called, rushing up and planting a messy kiss on her face. “I wish to use the deck for some training with Fabian but I certainly wasn’t aware you’d be up here.”

“It’s alright.” Hallariel patted her husband on the shoulder and turned to glance at Adaine, who had wandered over to lean on a nearby barrel. “I think we’re done for the day anyway, right darling?”

Adaine gave them a thumbs up from where she was doubled over.

Hallariel’s face drew a thin line, though there was amusement in her eyes. “I’m afraid I may have worked the dear a bit too hard.”

“I’m fine,” Adaine wheezed. 

Fabian’s mother clicked her tongue as she glided over and put a hand on Adaine’s back. “Come now, pet, let’s get you a shower and into some more comfortable clothes. You’ve done so well.”

Adaine let herself be led away, though Fabian was pretty sure in her state she couldn’t have put up a fight if her life depended on it.

“Ta-ta Ma-ma!” Fabian called as the two elves walked off.

Hallariel waved over her shoulder. “Goodbye darling, have a good time with your father.”

And then they left and Fabian was alone with his father. Like always. 

“That, right there,” Bill said, staring wistfully at where his wife disappeared, “that’s why I want to train ya in shield work. There’s nothing more important in the world than your crew and your partner. And you, son, you’ve gotta learn to protect them. That’s your duty as a captain.”

Fabian made a pained noise in the back of his throat. “Pa-pa, please, I thought we had dropped the silly notion of setting me and Adaine up.”

“Of course, of course,” he said but in a way that did not fully comfort Fabian, “but she’s still important to you, ain’t she? She still needs you to protect her, which you haven’t been doing such a good job of up ‘till now, have ya?”

Fabian twitched and tried desperately to control the emotions on his face. Shame, obviously, because his father kept bringing up his failures and he hated it. And that sharp now familiar slash of jealousy. Because of course Adaine needed protection, of course the gift was really for Adaine, of course his father only wanted to spend time with him for Adaine’s sake.

It wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t her fault and he was not going to let himself be upset at her. She was just being spoiled after a lifetime of neglect. She was new and shiny and his parents were always swept up in the newest and shiniest thing. He was their son; there was no reason at all to be jealous.

But his jaw still clenched as he answered. “No, I suppose I haven’t. So are you going to…” He let out a long resigned sigh and straightened his shoulders. “Teach me how to be a protector? Is that it?”

Bill smiled at him. A gentle, more fatherly expression than what he usually wore. “You make me proud Fabian, you know that don’t you? You make your old man proud.”

“Yes.” And what more could he say to that?

“Great, now that the sappy talking’s all out of the way…” His father pushed the shield into his hands and danced back a few steps, drawing his sword. “We fight!”

Fabian withdrew his own sword and let himself get lost in the familiar routine of sparring with his father. Of the sword coming down hard, now blocked by the shield, of the frantic steps to keep up with the much more experienced man. The adrenaline was exhilarating and everything was fine. Nothing had changed and Fabian certainly never wanted it to. 

After all, Fabian Seacaster always got everything he ever wanted and it was always incredibly satisfying.

Chapter Text

It was weeks of training. 

Everyday Fabian went to school, bloodrush practice, then home to protection training. Adaine got home before him and so started training before him too. Separately. Her with his mother and he with his father.

She gained endurance as she trained, no longer on the verge of collapse once Fabian got home, and so Fabian got to glimpse more and more the ends of her sessions. 

While he was being battered around with his shield, training how to lunge in the way of arrows or directing hits to his own body, she seemed to be picking up the art of dodging. 

Her training was a collection of movement exercises like he did at bloodrush practicing, fencing spars, and one handed casting. Fabian would often walk in on Adaine and his mother engaged in a duel, Adaine focusing on weaving around strikes and only blocking with her sword and then shooting out a blow with magic.

It was interesting to watch and Fabian couldn’t help but feel some pride in his friend as he saw her improve over the weeks. She hardly even fell over anymore and barely got nicked by his mother’s sword, her light armor protecting against most of the blows that she couldn’t get away from. 

Said armor wasn’t her only appearance change for these training sessions either. Adaine wore her new gloves almost constantly and they seemed to improve her grip by a considerable amount. Her hair had flown into her face and broke her concentration one too many times so she had taken to tying it up in ever lengthening pigtails during practice.

Not to mention the tacky sticker book Kristen had gifted her, its contents now decorating her bladesinger uniform and chosen sword. 

Fabian was also improving in his new fighting style and upgrading his wardrobe. The sun was always getting in his eyes so he had taken to wearing dark eyeliner to counteract it. His shield chafed against his exposed arm which meant an arm guard was in order. Black, with skull and crossbones to match his shield. He had let his silvery hair grow longer too, to hang around his shoulders in dreadlocks, and let a black bandana fall around his neck to match his father’s red one.

With the tireless work and updated equipment Fabian was soon able to wield the shield as easily as his trusted sword. Not as fast as Adaine though. Probably because Bill had started to jump in on her exercises while he waited for Fabian to get home.

And even though the two of them slowly started practicing at the same time their training never intermingled. 

Until one day it did.

Fabian got home from bloodrush practice and headed to the deck like always. But he didn’t find the usual scene of Adaine deep in her practice, both of Fabian’s parents guiding her until they noticed he had arrived. 

No, instead all three of them were waiting for him. Adaine twirling her sword nervously in her gloved hands (she had gotten so comfortable handling it) while both of Fabian’s parents stood behind her, looking expectant and excited. 

“Fabian me boy!” Bill called, waving wildly like Fabian couldn’t see him from across the deck, “Nice of you to join us.”

Fabian resisted rolling his eyes as he strolled over. “Good afternoon Pa-pa, Ma-ma, Adaine. Is something… going on?”

Adaine nodded, fidgeting more, but Hallariel beat her to the explanation. “You both have been doing such a splendid job and making amazing progress. Your father and I have decided that you’ve learned more than enough from us.”

He hadn’t learned anything from her, of course, but he just nodded anyway. “So we are… graduating? From this flavor of schooling?”

“Close.” His mother squeezed Adaine’s shoulders, which made her relax a bit. “We can’t teach you more. But there certainly are things you can learn from each other.”

“You two are gonna have a sparring match!” His father cut in with boundless enthusiasm. “Practice what ya know with an opponent more your own speed.”

“I don’t think my skills are even in the same ballpark as Fabian’s,” Adaine spoke for the first time, shooting him almost an apologetic look, “He’s been a trained fighter longer than I even knew what swords were. He’d have to go incredibly easy on me.”

Bill laughed and tapped his nose. “While that may be true, missy, he’s just gotten started with protection fighting. He’s as green around the ears as you.”

“That’s not how the saying goes,” Adaine mumbled, but a smile tugged at her lips.

“So you want us to fight?” Fabian asked, frustrated by the conversation at this point. Adaine was right, he was much more skilled than her. But there was no way he would be able to change his parent’s mind once it was made. “And then what? Whoever wins gets a gold star?”

“It’s not about who wins, darling,” Hallariel insisted, reaching over and pinching his cheek, “It’s so we can assess your progress from the sidelines.”

They could have done that if she had ever even looked over at his practice. 

Fabian sighed heavily and slipped his backpack off, revealing the shield he had taken to pretty much constantly having on his body. “Alright, let’s do it then. Are you ready, Adaine?”

“Oh!” She jumped slightly and slipped the sword into a stronger hold. A good habit to have picked up. “Are you? I mean, yes. Yes, of course.”

“Let’s have ourselves a duel!” Bill cheered, crushing Fabian in a hug and ruffling Adaine’s hair before bounding off to the sideline.

Hallariel smoothed Adaine’s hair back down and blew Fabian a kiss. “Good luck my darlings.”

Adaine turned to Fabian with a smile that was both nervous and excited. “Sorry to spring this on you last minute. They were coaching me through one on one duels all afternoon.”

Fabian backed up as he unsheathed his sword. “It’s fine. I’ve been in many duels in my life.” 

“Right, well, go easy on me.” Adaine’s tone had a nervous little laugh to it.

Fabian nodded silently as he stepped back into a ready position. He really didn't want to talk, he just wanted to get this over with.

“Alright you two!” Bill hollored from the other side of the deck, “Have at each other!”

Pa-pa might have expected one of them to lunge at the other at the prompting but neither teenager did. Instead, Fabian took careful and precise movements to the side, feet digging into the dirt with every step. Adaine copied him in the opposite direction, keeping the two of them the same distance apart as they circled one another.

That was already a sign that she’d improved. Adaine wasn’t Kristen bad at movement but she had been struggling with the light armor for a while. Good to see her so confident in it. 

Speaking of confidence Adaine made the first move. Her blade hummed with energy as she flicked it and sent a shockwave of magic towards Fabian. He didn’t recognize the spell but he did recognize her being overly flashy by using the blade and not her freehand.

It was almost nothing to knock the magic away with his shield, but Adaine didn’t look disappointed. She was testing him, using her range advantage to gather information while he couldn’t easily reach her. 

Well, best not make it too easy for her.

Fabian darted towards her, closing the gap between them in only a few steps, and thrusted his weapon forward.

Adaine actually managed to block it. Fabian’s sword skirted along the edge of her’s and was shoved to the side as she successfully parried, her gloves helping keep her weapon securely in her grip. 

“Good show,” Fabian complemented. Partly genuine, because he hadn’t been holding back on that thrust, and partly just so she was distracted for half a moment as he used his sword’s now lower position to swipe at her midriff. 

But her other hand went up, like she intended to catch the blade, and Fabian’s weapon glanced off a glowing blue shield. 

“You’re not the only one with two hands,” Adaine said, her voice a bit breathy with what Fabian easily recognized as the adrenaline of a successful move.

“Ha!” Fabian’s father laughed, clapping his hands together. “Did you see that? I taught her that!”

Oh so that’s what Pa-pa had been doing in the early afternoons. Just showing Adaine everything he was supposed to be teaching Fabian.

Adaine threw another magic missile (right, that’s what it was called) with her sword, forcing Fabian to bat it away again and giving her room to recover.

She was doing well, certainly. He could afford to try a little harder.

“Let’s put them to work then,” he taunted as he rushed forward again. 

Adaine yelped as Fabian started swinging, hard and fast with little pause in between each strike. She did an admirable job of using her sword and twisting her body to avoid the hits. Not even a month ago and an attack like this would have downed her. But Fabian was relentless and he managed to graze her arm, ripping through her uniform and drawing the tiniest drop of blood, before he backed off.

“Ha!” He shouted in triumph even as he panted. That had taken more energy than he cared to admit. Fabian glanced at his parents; his father was grinning with uncontained excitement, of course, but his mother clicked her tongue.

“Are you alright there, pet?”

Adaine shook her scratched arm but didn’t take her determined gaze off Fabian. “I’m fine. But that’s certainly a point to Fabian.”

Fabian’s teeth ground together as his jaw clenched. “And it’s about to be another!” Ignoring the strain in his lungs he lunged again, thrusting with his sword and batting her counterattacks with his shield. 

Even though he wasn’t coming in as fast, measuring his swings to conserve his energy, Fabian made sure to keep the pressure up by always moving forward. Adaine was forced to stumble back as he got in her space and refused to give her breathing room, keeping most of her attention on her footwork.

It was an ideal strategy. Fabian was taking much less exertion than Adaine, she would tire far quicker than him if they kept this up.

She seemed to realize it too, her expression growing more and more frustrated as she was pushed back step after step. With a desperate shout she lunged forward with her sword outstretched.

Fabian easily caught the tip with his shield but realized his mistake too late as Adaine smirked and her sword pulsed with energy.

A large blast of magic shot out of it and into his shield, pushing him away so hard his feet skidded on the dirt they were kicking up. He only barely managed to stay standing, now a considerable distance away and his shield arm ached from the force of the blow. 

Fuck, he had forgotten how many spells she knew. Idiot!

Adaine did not let him recover. She threw his earlier tactic back at him, coming in hot with a rush offenergy and fast blows that she hammered into him with a flurry of steel. 

“That’s the ticket!” Bill cheered, “Lay into him, lass!”

Already off balance, Fabian swung his own sword and shield wildly to try and block the metal and magical attacks. In what had to be a lucky hit, the tip of her blade grazed his calf, sending a thin trail of red down his unarmored leg. 

“Excellent,” Hallerial said as Bill whooped and hollered, “perfect form.”

They hadn’t cheered when he landed a hit. Only concerned for Adaine. They didn’t compliment his form like they did hers, didn’t take pride in his progress. They didn’t even ask if he was alright!

With a scream of pure frustration Fabian rushed forward while Adaine was still panting for breath. Startled, she raised her sword to parry but it didn’t matter. Fabian didn’t strike at her with his weapon. Instead, he held the stupid shield that wasn’t really for him out in front of his body and slammed into her at full force.

She had gotten better at sword fighting, certainly, but he was still much larger and stronger than she’d ever be. 

Adaine let out a cry of pain as she was thrown into the dirt, her sword falling from her grip and skittered away. 

Fabian shouted again. No real purpose to it, just to shout, as he raised his shield over his head.

Adaine’s hand went up immediately and Fabian found every muscle locked in place as the Hold Person took effect. 

For a moment no one moved except for the panting exertion of both Fabian and Adaine’s chests. Him completely towering over her cowering form, shield still raised.

He shook the spell off as he stumbled back as his parents rushed over. Adaine didn’t recast it. But she did stare at him. There was confusion in her eyes. And fear.

Fabian whirled away before he could see more, before his anger could snuff out and be replaced by guilt, before his parents could dote on her and scold him. He threw his sword on the deck and stalked away, wrestling the shield off of his arm as he thudded down the stairs.

Even if they were angry he didn’t suspect his parents would follow him. Why would they? Adaine was still up there, perhaps even hurt from Fabian’s attack, and they seemed infinitely more concerned with her well-being than his own.

That was fine. He was fine. 

“Fabian!”

Chapter Text

Adaine rushed after Fabian the moment she could scramble to her feet, ignoring the Seacasters’ calls. Her shoulder throbbed, sure, but not bad enough to need attention. And the flash of fear she had felt when he shoved her had quickly given way to confused anger. Now she was way too pissed off to just let him walk away without a word.

“Fabian!” She called as she raced off the deck and down the steps. “Fabian, get back here this instant!”

He stopped, halfway down the hallway, and Adaine paused at the bottom of the stairs to catch her breath.

“Yes?” He snapped, not turning around as he stood stalk still. His shield was laying at his feet, where he had finally gotten it free and his shoulders were rising and falling with his haggard breaths. 

Adaine glared at the back of his head as she advanced at a more even pace now. “What the fuck was that, Fabian?”

He scoffed, tilting his head to talk over his shoulder but not enough so she could see his face. “That was sparring. Oh, I’m sorry, did you want me to hold your hand through it? Let you win so you wouldn’t get your nice outfit dirty?”

Adaine fought down the urge to throw a punch at him. She was still swimming in the adrenaline of the fight and for some reason he was actively pushing her buttons. 

But she wasn’t stupid enough to get into a fist fight with Fabian. Not when he was obviously just as pissed off as she was.

“You fought dirty and you know it,” she accused through clenched teeth instead, hands clenched into fists, “There was no way I would be able to just take a hit like that.”

“I fought like a pirate, Adaine.” Still he refused to turn around. Couldn’t even look her in the eye. “Hard and rough and, yes, maybe a little dirty. If you can’t ‘take it’ then you shouldn’t be playing in the same field.”

Adaine huffed. “Where is this coming from? You were fine at the beginning of the fight! Did me landing one hit really bruise your ego that badly? Goodness Fabian, what is wrong with you?”

He froze at that, every muscle in his back tensing and his shoulders coming up to his ears. “What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with me?” He whirled on her and she jerked back. Not from fear, but from startled concern. “That’s what I want to know!”

Fabian was a mess. Tears were streaming down his face, getting blackened by his eyeliner that was becoming smudged. What Adaine thought was tension of anger was actually him hunching his shoulders, collapsing in on himself. His expression was twisted in desperation, pleading, begging. 

“What’s wrong with me?” He gasped out, “I’ve been working so hard. Everyday I try to get them to notice me. I practice with my father until my hands bleed, I do what my mother asks and try to be her perfect darling son. I’ve done that my whole life and still they never seem to notice!”

He yelled, not words, but just a strangled cry of pure emotion. “And then you just came in! You showed up and suddenly they’re all over you! Praising you, doting on you, giving you attention. And I… I… you’re great, Adaine, I love you but I don’t know what you’re doing that I’m not. What secret have you cracked that I’ve been trying to solve my whole life?”

His voice dropped to a broken whisper as his entire body shook with sobs. “What am I doing wrong? Why do they love you more than me?”

Adaine was frozen as she watched her friend, her always strong and confident friend, dissolve into tears. Unbidden, a memory came upon her like a vision, pressing on the back of her eyes until there was no way to escape it.

“What am I doing wrong?” Adaine, much much younger, asked as she rubbed the tears from her eyes.

Her sister sighed, like this was all just an annoyance. “Everything? Nothing? Does it really matter?”

“W-wha- of course it matters!”

Adaine couldn’t remember what she had been crying about. The hundredth unearned punishment? The thousandth dismissive gesture?

Aelwyn rolled her eyes. “It’s not really what you’re doing, if I’m being honest. You’re just being too… you. And that’s a problem. You need to be more like me.”

“But… then they won’t love me! They’ll just keep loving you.”

There was pity in her sister’s eyes. But the kind you give someone for being too stupid to understand how fast the fire around them was burning. “Don’t you get it? They’ll never love you.”

Adaine blinked rapidly to dispel the memory that seemed to be overlaid in the present. Except instead of Adaine there was Fabian, crying into his bandana. And instead of Aelwyn there was…

Adaine felt her heart shatter as if shot with Riz’s gun. Without thought she surged forward and wrapped Fabian in a hug, clinging to him like he would be swept away if she didn’t.

Thankfully, he accepted the hug. She wasn’t sure what she would have done if he hadn’t. Fabian grabbed onto her just as desperately as she did him, burying his face in her shoulder and sobbing.

Adaine felt sick as they embraced. Even though she let him cry she couldn’t deny that she had hugged him more for her comfort than his. 

Because Adaine was overcome with a terror she did not even know to fear until that moment. A horrible possibility that never even crossed her mind but now seemed like an inevitable reality.  

She was no better than her family. She was no different than them.

It didn’t matter how far she ran, didn’t matter if they were in jail or dead, didn’t matter if she changed her name and her face and every tie she had to them. Her parents, her sister, they would still always be a part of her. Their blood pumped through her veins, their essence a part of her very existence. 

“Adaine?” Fabian asked, a sniffle still in his voice, “Are you… are you okay?”

She was vaguely aware that she was shaking and crying. Not just crying even, by whining, what was almost a scream getting caught in her throat and coming out soft and shrill. 

Guilt struck her harder. Fabian was hurting, hurting because of her, and here she was crying instead. A voice, that sounded like her mother, insisted she was selfishly throwing a temper tantrum and bringing all the attention back on her like a spoiled little brat. 

Adaine cried out and released Fabian’s shirt to grab at her the roots of her hair, her fingers getting caught on the twin braids and pulling hard. They were in her blood, they were in her mind, they were inside her and she would never escape them. 

“Adaine!” Fabian pulled back completely, his face full of panic.

Adaine saw her own face reflected back at her. Memories on memories of being consumed by panic and having it ignored or dismissed. Just like she was now doing to Fabian. 

She was a horrible person. A vile, cruel being that could do nothing but torment those around her in the pursuit of her own desires. An Abernant. 

“You’re having a panic attack,” Fabian said as evenly as he could but his voice was still shaking, “I need you to breathe with me, alright? Take a deep breath…”

He demonstrated but Adaine couldn’t make herself follow. It was impossible to do anything more than scream, no way to take any air in. And it wasn’t worth it anyway, she didn’t deserve it. Not when she was just a copy of the worst people in the entire world, just a clone of pain and misery. 

Her legs gave way under her, not sinking to her knees but full on collapsing as she tried to tear her  hair out. Tried pointlessly to wrench the people that had poisoned her existence from her body and mind. 

Fabian caught her, before she could hit the ground, concern rolling off him in waves. Because he was kind and good and the only thing she was capable of was hurting him. “Adaine, please,” he begged, “you’re hurting yourself.”

She didn’t answer, of course, she just kept whining and thrashed in his grip. She needed to escape, to escape this house that she was tainting, to escape his arms, to escape her own flesh. 

Fabian made a noise half terrified and half determined as he physically dragged her over to the wall. He sat down, back against the wall, and forced her onto his lap. Her back pressed against his chest and then his hand came up and pressed into her sternum, forcing the remaining air from her lungs in a gasp.

“Now breathe in,” he commanded, taking a deep breath himself. His chest pressed against her back, his hand releasing pressure, and Adaine felt herself taking a few stuttering breaths, “now out.” Adaine coughed as the air was forced out of her again but the next breath in came just a fraction smoother. 

She didn’t know how long they stayed there, breathing together, but each cycle came easier and siphoned a bit more of the panic away. Adaine let go of her hair at one point, letting her hands drop into her lap. Her skull ached, she was exhausted, and clarity returned to her. 

Eventually, Fabian dropped his own hand, trusting her to breathe herself now. Though he didn’t let her go, his arm wrapped around her waist and his hand gently squeezed hers. Which was fair, she had been trying to claw her own brain out what seemed like moments ago.

Goodness, panic attacks were so embarrassing. 

“Sorry,” she said, her voice coming out hoarse. 

Fabian let out a laugh that had the frayed edges of relief to it. “You don’t have to apologize for a panic attack, you know that. I’m sorry for causing it.” She started to shake her head but he squeezed her hand tighter and continued. “It’s not… I’m not actually mad at you. I shouldn’t have blown up on you like that. Shouldn't have battered you in the duel. I’m sorry.”

She swallowed thickly and pushed the words out before he could protest or the panic could creep back in. “I feel… I feel like I’ve been acting like Aelwyn. Treating you like she treats me.”

“What?” Fabian shifted, sliding Adaine off his lap so they could face each other. “Adaine, that is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

She shook her head, hard now that she didn’t have to worry about colliding with his. “Is it? Fabian it’s… it’s obvious that you’ve been hurting for a while. I should have noticed. I shouldn’t have been… I was taking all the attention, and not caring at all that it left nothing for you. That’s what she did to me. My whole life. And now here I am no better than her.”

Fabian huffed and frowned at her. “Oh really? I’m sorry, have you been badmouthing me to my parents behind my back?”

More memories. Lies and slander Aelwyn would wield like a sword against her. Adaine’s been making a mess of the backyard again, no respect for decoram at all, obviously. I heard Adaine flunked her last test, how embarrassing. I’d never have something like that, must be Adaine’s. 

“N-no!” She quickly protested, “I’d never do anything like that, I swear!”

“Then you must have been, what? Didn’t you say she used to use you as target practice for her spells? Have you somehow been doing that without my knowledge?”

Testing the limits of mage hand by pulling Adaine’s hair or tripping her up. A hold person during a panic attack to keep it quiet and contained. Hideous laughter bounced back at her along with a mocking joke.

Adaine hid her pained wince with an indigent huff, crossing her arms. “That’s not the point Fabian!”

He squeezed her hand again and the good news was that in comforting her he seemed to at least temporarily forget about his own misery. “That is the point. You have done nothing wrong, Adaine. And I shouldn’t be mad at you.”

“Then you can’t be mad at yourself,” Adaine instantly pointed out, “you’ve done nothing wrong either.”

He paused at that, and Adaine was worried she had dragged him back down, but he gave the tiniest of nods and spoke in a small voice. “…you’re right. I couldn’t… I’m not really doing anything wrong. My parents…shit…” He rubbed at his eyes, smearing his makeup more as he sniffled. “I know they love me. I do. But they’re just… they’re just so mean sometimes.”

Adaine stared at him as he used his bandana to wipe his face, considering. 

Adaine’s parents did not love her. She knew that quite clearly. And despite how much she detested the praise and attention her older sister got, she was pretty sure they didn’t love Aelwyn either. Didn’t think they were capable of such a thing.

Gorgug’s parents were nice. They rebuilt everything he broke without complaint. They made his friends ants on a log when they showed up unexpectedly. They kept little scrap books of his baby pictures and encouraged him to date. They weren’t mean.

It had never been a conscious thought but Adaine was pretty sure she had assumed the two were always mutually exclusive like that. Either your parents loved you and were nice or they hated you and were mean. 

She closed her eyes and thought about the weeks she had spent with the Seacasters. Getting lost in the memories on purpose now. Bill’s endless enthusiasm, his boundless praise and immediate acceptance of her. Hallariel standing up for her, getting her gifts, soothing her with comforting touches. 

These were good things. Happy moments. They showed love and filled her with warmth.

She switched the dial and examined it all again. 

Bill’s energy turning into a rushing attack that scared Adaine, his praise always about how much one should emulate him, his immediate acceptance not of her needing a home but of Fabian stealing her. 

Hallariel standing up to her father now looked possessive, wanting something the diplomat had. The shopping trip an excuse to dress Adaine up like a doll and fawn over the outfits. The way she took every opportunity to run her hands across Adaine’s body now sending uncomfortable shivers. 

She must have actually shivered because Fabian spoke up again, voice concerned. “Adaine? You haven’t said anything in a while.”

“Sorry,” Adaine popped her eyes open and squeezed his hand back. That wasn’t even considering how they treated Fabian. How they might have treated him his whole life. “I was just thinking. I’m not… I’m not used to parents being… complicated. Good and bad. Loving and cruel. It’s a bit disorienting.”

Fabian chuckled wetly. “Loving and cruel? Yes, I suppose that’s a good way to look at my parents. Sometimes I… I wish it could be one or the other, sometimes. That they loved me better, like Riz’s mom, so I would never be scared of disappointing them. Or…” He paused and looked away, staring down at their hands instead of her eyes. “…or worse. That I could just have one screaming match like Kristen and be done with it. But it would break their hearts’, I think, and mine as well. I can’t… I don’t hate them, Adaine, I just wish…”

“Yeah,” Adaine said, not even sure what she was agreeing with. But she did know she agreed. She sighed heavily and untangled their legs so she could climb to her feet. Exhaustion almost dragged her back down but she powered through it, Fabian rising with her. “I need to go talk to them. Your mom, at the very least. Let her know that it’s not okay how much she’s been ignoring you to favor me.”

“What?” Fabian protested, his hand on her elbow to steady her, “You don’t need to do that. This-“

Adaine shook her head again, cutting him off by shooting him a determined look. “No, I do need to. The only thing I’ve ever wanted from Aelwyn is for her to stand up to me for once in her life. Even if it wouldn’t help. Even if it made things worse. I just wanted her to try.” She took a deep breath, steadying herself enough that Fabian let go of her. “If I can’t at least do that then I really am no better than her.” 

Fabian’s storm gray eyes met her blue ones and she felt emboldened, and immensely less guilty, at the gratitude reflected in them. “Well, if it’s any consolation, I already think you’re a damn better sister than she is.”

Chapter Text

Adaine couldn’t get her hands to stop trembling as she walked through the halls of Seacaster Manor. 

Neither parent had been on the deck when she and Fabian had reemerged. He had offered to come with her to look for them but she had suggested they split up instead. It wasn’t like they were going to be fighting or anything. It was just a talk that desperately needed to happen and finding them faster would get it over with faster.

Get it over with before either Fabian or Adaine could lose their nerves. 

But now Adaine really wished they had stayed together. She was losing said nerve much quicker without his strong presence. 

Thankfully, unfortunately, the next corner Adaine turned led her to Hallariel’s bedroom. The door was open, revealing Hallariel standing in her grand bedroom that she almost never tranced in. The older woman was still in her own fencing uniform and seemed to be pacing, or maybe looking for something, but she glanced up just in time to spot Adaine lingering in her door frame.

“Ah, Adaine, there you are.” Hallariel rushed over and cupped Adaine’s cheeks in her hands, tilting her head as she examined her. “Are you alright, pet?”

Adaine was disarmed by a weird wave of emotions. Her parents had never given her a nickname (unless ungrateful child counted) but she knew that it was something good parents often did out of affection. She had always felt a pang of jealousy when Sandra Lynn called Fig honey or Gorgug’s parents called him bud.

It had felt nice, when Hallariel had given her one, made Adaine feel like she belonged. But now that Adaine was trying to look at the Seacasters more critically…

… pet was kind of a weird thing to call a kid.

Before she could process that enough to act, Hallariel was already moving on. Her hands traveled from Adaine’s face down her neck and arms before she stopped at the small cut on Adaine’s forearm. Hallariel clicked her tongue in displeasure and twisted Adaine’s arm in her grip, examining the small wound. “Fabian was so rough with you. Unnecessarily so. I’ll need to have a talk with that boy…”

“Hallariel,” Adaine protested, twisting out of her grip and taking a few steps back, suddenly uncomfortable with the physical affection, “Fabian didn’t do anything wrong. He was… I mean, okay, he shouldn’t have shoved me but we already talked it out. He’s been really upset recently and-”

“That doesn’t excuse his behavior,” Hallariel interrupted, crossing her arms and thankfully not trying to regrab onto Adaine, “even if he’s upset he shouldn’t take his issues out on you.”

Adaine almost grabbed her hair in frustration but remembered just in time how sore her head currently was and balled up the fabric of her uniform instead. Fabian had just stopped her from pulling her hair out, it would be incredibly rude to him for her to do it now anyway. “You’re the one who pointed us at each other and told us to fight! Of course he was going to-” She cut herself off before she could get too worked up and took a few deep breaths through her nose. “Hallariel. I do not think you’ve been treating Fabian fairly.”

Hallariel blinked and furrowed her brow.

Anxiety clawed at Adaine’s throat at the expression. She was talking back she was going to get in trouble they were going to kick her out. But it was easy to push the panic down, she’d had years of practice doing the same thing with her own parents, after all.

“You’ve been ignoring him,” Adaine continued as steadily as she could, “probably for a long time but definitely while I’ve been here. You’ve been favoring me without any acknowledgment of his feelings or needs. And I…I’ve been enjoying the attention too much to notice myself but now I have and so I need to speak up.” She looked down, unable to maintain eye contact as her words picked up pace. “I don’t know why you seem more inclined to mother me than your own son. I don’t know if it’s just because I’m new or a girl or a high elf-” Did she really just say that to Hallariel’s face? Adaine had officially gone insane. “But I know it’s wrong. Fabian loves you and is desperate for your approval and for some reason you keep denying him that. You… you need to be better. To him. For him.”

Every muscle in Adaine’s body was tense as she finished her little speech and stared resolutely at the floor. There was more she should say, she knew. More she should explain or emphasize. But she found she was completely out of words. Her mouth dry and her mind frozen.

“I don’t… appreciate you trying to tell me how to raise my own son,” Hallariel said after a beat. Then she sighed and Adaine felt the soft backside of her hand brush her cheek. “Listen, pet, you-”

Adaine jerked back with an unintended gasp and lifted her gaze to lock eyes with the older elf. “A-and and that! Don’t… don’t call me that. It’s weird! I’m not your pet. I’m not your anything. Fabian is your son. You need to treat him more like one and me less like…a prize you’ve won or something.”

Hallariel stared at her with such an odd expression. Adaine could see the anger, could spot it from a mile away, but there was also confusion and worry.

“I see…” Hallariel stood up straighter and withdrew her hand. Adaine didn’t know if that was a good sign or not. Then, the older elf started to sniffle, just a little at first but soon actual tears started rolling down her cheeks.

Adaine froze. Out of all the worst case scenarios she had been imagining this one had not crossed her mind.

Hallariel cried out like she was being tortured and leaned on the doorframe for support as she buried her face in her hands. “You’re right!” she sobbed, “I’ve been a horrible mother! I’m not even worthy of having children.”

“I…um…” Adaine stumbled, unsure how to proceed. Hallariel acknowledging the problem was good, right? But this was taking it a little farther than Adaine had been implying. “You’re not horrible. Trust me, I know horrible. I just think you-”

“No!” Hallariel interrupted, still crying, “I am. For all the reasons you said. I’m neglectful and abusive and just the worst mother in the world.”

“N-no,” Adaine practically yelped, feeling the conversation unravel in front of her, “of course you’re not! You’re way way better than my own mother, for one thing, and I wouldn’t dream of calling you a-abusive.”

Hallariel sniffled and peeked out between her fingers. “Really? You’re not just saying that?”

Adaine shook her head and tried to make her sincerity shine through. “Of course not. You’re amazing. You’ve taken care of me so much and made me feel incredibly loved and almost like… like a part of this family. A better mother than I’ve… you’re a good mom, Hallariel.”

Fully dropping her hands away from her tearstained face Hallariel gave Adaine a wobbly little smile. “Thank you, Adaine. I’m… I’m honestly honored to hear you say so. I actually have something… for you… if you’ll accept it? If you won’t find it too overbearing.”

“Sure,” Adaine agreed, not even caring what this thing might be, just relieved that the older woman had stopped crying, “What is it?”

“Oh, where did I put it?” Hallariel muttered to herself, turning around and returning to her room. Adaine hesitantly followed, nerves a bit frayed by the training and the sparing and the panic attack and…everything. It had been a very long day.  Oh, she was exhausted. “Ah! Here it is.”

Hallariel pulled a piece of paper out of a drawer and carefully smoothed it out. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to give this to you yet. It’s not gone through all those official channels yet, Cathilda has been trying but it’s been a bit difficult with your parents still running about, but… well, it’ll need your signature at some point, won’t it?”

She held the paper out and Adaine’s breathe caught in her throat. 

It was an adoption slip. A mostly incomplete one, as she said, but one nonetheless. There was her name, and Hallariel’s and Bill’s. Even Fabian’s was there, also with a prompt for a signature. All of the family. A part of the family.

If Adaine had any tears left in her she would have started crying again. Tentatively, she reached out and touched the paper. “I…are… is this real?”

Hallariel laughed and reached out to tussle Adaine’s hair. She was too focused on the paper to protest. “Of course, dear. I’m sorry it’s taken so long, and will continue to take more time, but we’ve been talking about it for a while. All of us have just adored having you here and would want you to continue to do so. Only if you wish, of course.”

Adaine nodded rapidly and struggled to speak against the emotion. “I would! I would like that very much. I… I’ve loved being here. This… this is more than I could have ever asked for.”

“You don’t have to ask,” Hallariel reassured her, taking the paper back and carefully placing it back in the drawer, “You’ve honestly become like a daughter to me, Adaine. And I know Bill thinks so too.” She chuckled and shook her head, a fond smile on her face. “And despite his recent actions we’re both aware Fabian cares for you like his own flesh and blood.”

“Fabian’s great,” Adaine agreed, “I care for him too. For all of you.”

Hallariel placed her hands on her heart and looked touched. “And we for you. I… feel free to refuse, of course, but may I hug you?” 

Adaine latched onto her as an answer. 

Hallariel cooed and hugged Adaine in return, rubbing her back in soothing circles. “It’s not official yet. But welcome to the family, Adaine.”

Adaine only hugged her tighter in response, not trusting herself to speak more.

When they were done hugging, and a little more crying, Adaine left with a warm feeling in her chest.

It was only after she got back to her room that she realized Hallariel hadn’t, actually, promised to try and treat Fabian better. 

That was fine. She was sure things would work out now.

***

Fabian did not like that he and Adaine split up.

For one thing, he knew that panic attacks tended to drain her, leave her sleepy and exhausted. That was already on top of the physically taxing sparring match and this attack had been… bad. He had witnessed a couple of them before but none where she had tried to injure herself. It had… it had scared him, just a little, watching her scream and thrash and claw at herself without knowing how to help.  

This whole situation scared him. The fight, his inability to keep control of his own anger, his uselessness as Adaine had tried to rip her own hair out, her plan to confront his parents. All of it felt completely out of his control and unnerved him in a way he didn’t want to admit.

He should have protested it more. Should have followed her when she wandered off. But she had been insistent and Fabian didn’t want to push her anymore than he already had today.

So now he was wandering through the house, allegedly trying to find his father so he could, what? Yell at him? Fight him? Like that had ever worked in the past.

Oh no. What if Adaine ran into Pa-Pa first? Did she know how to handle him if he got angry with her? What if he threw her out for disrespecting him? Fabian didn’t want that! This was a mistake, he shouldn’t have left her alone, should have-

“Why hello Master Fabian.”

“Gah!” Fabian almost lept straight into the air, hands coming up in fists and a leg raised defensively. But he relaxed instantly at the sight of the half elf maid blinking sweetly up at him. He had wandered his way into the front room and Cathilda was halfway through dusting all of the tastefully placed art and furniture. “Good heavens Cathilda don’t sneak up on me like that. I might have… if I was holding a sword I could have run you through by accident!”

“Of course you could, Master Fabian,” Cathilda said and even though her expression didn’t change he could have sworn she was being condescending. It might have bothered him if he wasn’t already bothered by everything else. “Pardon me asking, but is everything alright?”

“What?” Fabian straightened himself and glanced around, like someone else might be lurking in the walls, catching him in his moment of weakness. “Yes, of course, why do you ask?”

“Oh, no reason.” Cathilda went back to her dusting, though Fabian didn’t see any dust in the entire room. “I just thought I saw some tears. Must have been sweat from your sparring match, my mistake.”

“Right.” Fabian hesitated, staring at his maid’s backside as she dusted, humming a little to herself. He didn’t really know why he was denying it. It wasn’t like crying made him weak. Adaine cried literally all the time and she was the strongest person he knew. “I… Cathilda, may I ask you for… hmm, maybe a little advice?”

“Of course!” Cathilda patted the chair she had been dusting and smiled at him. “What’s on your mind, young sir?”

Fabian sank down, suddenly feeling heavy in his own body but light at the same time. Like a weight was being lifted but only its absence made him realize how heavy it was. “It’s nothing, honestly, just a bit of a problem me and Adaine are having. I… you’ve been… working with my parents for a while, yes?” She had to have been, there wasn’t a moment in Fabian’s memory that Cathilda was not also there.

Cathilda laughed. Standing next to him while he was sitting made them almost the same height. “I would say so. Why, I was on the ship with your father for years before he retired.” 

Fabian nodded and scratched at his chin, unsure exactly what he wanted to be asking. “How do you, I don’t know, deal with them?”

“Deal with them, Master Fabian?”

“Oh, you know,” he waved a hand vaguely, “when they get too much or you want them to sit down and listen instead of flying off. Or, you know, deal with them.”

She regarded him for a moment and he avoided eye contact, not wanting to see if the gleam in her eyes was sympathy or scorn. Eventually, she sighed and patted his hand. “Fabian, me and your parents are… well, we’re friends in a sense. And crew mates in another. And employer and employee in yet another.”

“Okay?” He said after she didn’t continue, looking at her now she looked contemplative. And handed him a tissue that he didn’t realize he needed until he wiped his sniffling nose. “That doesn’t exactly answer my question. How do you stay friends when all you want to do is punch their lights out?”

Cathilda tittered, but it had a sad edge to it. “Why, sometimes I do knock them out. Or I just let them do what they want, even if it pains me so to see it, let them make their own choices.” She grabbed his hand now, covering it as much as she could with both of her little ones. “But the relationship I have with them is much different than yours. You can’t act like I would, Fabian, we’re different people with different pasts.”

“Then what do I do ?” Fabian asked, almost a strangle in his voice now that was probably just a puberty crack and not raw emotion, “I don’t want… I want… it should be better, shouldn’t it?”

“Yes.” Cathilda squeezed his hand tightly and he squeezed her’s back so hard he was worried he might crush her. “It should. I do know that your parents love you Fabian, they don’t want to hurt you. They’re just as thick as a seal’s blubber, the two of them, and don’t see when they do.”

“I’ve been trying to make them see!” Fabian raised his voice and gnashed his teeth. “I’ve fought with Pa-Pa! I’ve practically hounded Ma-Ma for attention. What more can I do? What is Adaine doing that I’m not?”

He flinched, instantly angry at himself. This was not Adaine’s problem. She was trying to help anyway and the least he could do is not drag her down with him.

Cathilda rubbed his hand with her thumb, soothing him with the rhythmic movements. “That girl’s the opposite of you in many ways. I think… perhaps your parents are so used to you they don’t notice it anymore.”

Fabian slumped. “So stop being myself? Wonderful.”

“Now now.” She very lightly rapped the top of his hand. “I didn’t say that. But when you express your problems with your parents you tend to do it in the same way each time. You put a strong front with your father and a soft one with your mother. Perhaps switch them around? Catch them off guard.”

Fabian’s eyes widened even as his brow furrowed. “Be soft with Pa-Pa? That sounds like a death wish!”

Cathilda shrugged and her eyes were so sad. “Bill loves you, darling. Him and Hallariel. You’ll see.” She picked her duster again and patted his hand one last time. “Now, a maid’s job is never done, after all. Would you like anything to eat? Kippers perhaps?”

He nodded and then, determined to at least try and follow her advice, whispered, “I love you, Cathilda.”

She seemed taken aback by this, blinking rapidly but smiling hard enough it looked like it hurt. “I love you too, Master Fabian. Let me get you those Kippers.”

Chapter Text

“Fabian!” 

Fabian glanced up at the call and pushed himself off the wall. He had been lingering outside Adaine’s room since leaving Cathilda, unable to make himself go look for his parents more but too worried about his friend to just go hunker in his own room.

But it seemed his worries were all for naught as Adaine seemed to be almost bouncing with joy as she made her way to him. 

Fabian gave her a hopeful smile, feeling his mood automatically lift. “Adaine, you seem to be in good spirits. Did you manage to talk to Ma-Ma or Pa-Pa?”

“Yes,” Adaine said, a happy giggle in her voice. She reached out and grasped his hand, shaking it a little in her excitement. “Yes! I talked to Hallariel and… and she told me the most wonderful news.”

“Oh?” He squeezed her hand back and gave her a once over. Besides from the cut he had given her she did, in fact, appear completely fine. Everything really must have gone well. “And what was that?”

“She…” Adaine blinked happy tears, grinning so hard she struggled to force the words out around it. “She said she wanted to adopt me. Her and Bill. They want to… make me part of the family. Oh, Fabian. ”

Fabian’s eyes lit up. Adoption. That was perfect, beyond perfect. He already thought of her as family and sealing that feeling in ink could only bring better things. The fact that his parents were seemingly just as taken with the idea was icing on the cake. Excitedly, he grabbed her other hand, holding them both out in front of him. “Adaine! That… why that’s wonderful! I would of course be fully on board with having the best little sister in the world-“

“Fabian, I’m like three months older than you,” Adaine laughed, bouncing a bit on the balls of her feet in her excitement. 

“I was here first,” he said with utmost authority, puffing out his chest. There was no way in the nine realms he was going to be a little brother, “that makes me the big brother. Obviously.” He ruffled her hair and she stuck her tongue at him. Like a bratty little sister. It was perfect. This was perfect. “I wasn’t informed about this beforehand but…” He paused, as a thought hit him, a slight furrow coming to his brow as he took a step back. “I wasn’t… told? Adaine, this is fantastic news, I won’t pretend otherwise, but did you… did you talk to Ma-Ma? About…”

Celebrations were in order, of course, but there was still the issue. The underlying issue of his mother ignoring him and his father pushing too hard. They hadn’t told him. They had told Adaine before him. The issue, it seemed, was ever present. 

“Oh,” Adaine calmed down a bit from her high and nodded seriously, also refocusing on the problem they had set out to fix. “Yes. She, um… I did talk to her about it. I mentioned that she should be paying more attention to you.”

“And… how did she take it?” Fabian bit his lip and even despite his insistence of being the big brother felt very small in that moment.

Adaine winced, and that certainly wasn’t a good sign. “…badly? She didn’t get mad!” She amended quickly when she saw the flash of fear in his face. “Honestly, it was kind of touching how emotional she got. Lots of tears. Your mom feels really really bad about how she’s been treating you.”

Fabian let out a giant sigh, his shoulders slumping with relief. “That… that is amazing to hear. So she said she’d try better? To be… present? Is she going to come talk to me or… apologize or… something?”

He shrugged at the end, trying to play it off as not a big deal. But it was, it was a bigger deal than he had ever thought and his hands squeezed hers unconsciously. 

Adaine hesitated, looking like she was actively searching for the right words. “Well, she didn’t really say as much, no. We kind of got caught up with the adoption talk. But I’m sure she means to! I’m sure the second she clears her head she’ll be right over here with an entire heartfelt apology.” 

“Hmm.” He wanted to believe her but… it felt like an empty promise. His mother had never apologized for anything before, why should he expect her to start now? “Yes. I’m sure.”

“What about you?” Adaine said, obviously trying to move on while still remaining casual, “Did you get to talk to your dad?”

“Ah, no, I didn’t run into him,” Fabian said, shaking his head and looking back up, “but I did run into Cathilda. She gave me some very good advice, I think, and it got me pondering our little conundrum here.”

Adaine tilted her head and squeezed his hands back, her soft pale fingers rubbing soothing circles on his callused ones. “Oh? And what did you come up with, dear big brother?”

He grinned cheekily at the phrase, letting himself be bought into the obvious attempt to cheer him up. “I think, now stay with me on this, but I believe that we should go and ask an expert.”

“An expert?” Adaine snorted, “I would assume you would be the expert on your own parents.” 

“I am!” Fabian insisted, “But I am not really the best at this whole… talking things out and making them better thing. I’m much more of an action man, you know that. We need someone who, ah…” He snapped his fingers as he searched for the right word. 

“Has experience navigating complex familiar relationships?” Adaine supplied.

Fabian snapped one last time and pointed at her. “Yes! That. And there’s only one person I know that fits the bill.”

***

Adaine almost regretted coming here the moment they knocked on the door to Gilear’s Luxury Apartment. 

It was the next day and she was once again dressed in an overly colorful outfit. Her cool jacket overtop a shirt that Fabian had described as ‘the unfortunate carpeting of a bowling alley’ paired with pants that were ‘an unholy shade of orange’ but she was pretty sure he was just jealous. 

After all, he had taken to wearing almost all black clothing recently. He was currently sporting a black tank top and tight jeans, like he was trying to show off his muscles while also slipping into the shadows. He also had make-up on again. Despite swearing it was solely to make him better in a fight. 

Either way the clothes comforted Adaine, which she certainly needed as Fig opened the door and fixed them both with a teasing smirk. “Well, well, well, it seems the fiances have finally ordained to grace me with their presence once again.”

Fabian sputtered as Adaine groaned and the regret built. “I knew telling you about that was a mistake.”

“We-that…” Fabian struggled to say something coherent, “We’re going to adopt Adaine! So those jokes are completely inappropriate, Figerouth.”

Adaine sunk her face into her hands as the visit went off the rails in the first half a dozen sentences. 

Fig blinked in surprise and her smile turned more genuine. “Whoa, that’s dope. Congrats guys.” She then frowned and shook her head, moving her body so it more thoroughly blocked the door frame. “Hold on, I’m still pissed at you two for ditching us these past few weeks! Fabian’s only talked to me to ask about punk stuff and I haven’t even seen Adaine outside of school. What’s up with that?”

Adaine raised a brow to her (hopefully) future brother. “Punk stuff?”

Fabian blushed and ignored her question completely. “We’ve been busy. And that busyness is what we wanted to get your advice on, actually.” 

Fig’s forehead creased as she pinged from anger to confusion. “Didn’t you guys want relationship advice?”

“Parental relationships!” Adaine quickly explained. She did not want Fig going off about her ‘relationship’ with Doctor Asher. “Fabian’s parents have been… we’ve been having trouble with them. And since you-”

“Ah, got it.” Fig nodded and grabbed both of their arms, dragging them into the apartment proper. Both of them wrinkled their nose at the horrid smell of expired yogurt and cloves. “You two want to know about the ins and outs of dealing with loser parents. Well, I only have one piece of advice for you.” She lit up a cig and flopped back onto the stained couch in a way that was probably supposed to look cool. “Ditch ‘em.”

Adaine and Fabian groaned and rolled their eyes.

Fig regarded them for a moment and coughed a bit on her cig. “You guys gotta stop sinking up like that. It’s creepy.” 

“I have no desire to ditch my parents!” Fabian insisted, “I love them dearly.”

“And I don’t think bouncing from parents to parents every time I get upset is the best long term strategy,” Adaine admitted with a grimace. Ditching them had worked for her in this case, she had to admit, but it really didn’t seem sustainable. “Besides, you didn’t ditch your parents the moment the waters started getting rough.”

Fig scoffed. “What are you talking about? I haven’t been back to my mom’s place in months.”

“But you stay here at Gilear’s, ” Fabian pointed out, looking around the place with obvious distaste, “even though you know who your birth father is now?”

Fig was silent at that and stared a bit unfocused at the coffee table. Even when she spoke next she didn’t answer the question. She just cleared her throat and asked, “So what kind of problem are you having with your parents? What’s been going on?”

Adaine politely didn’t comment further on fig’s own family struggles and instead regaled her with the tale of their life since Adaine moved in with the Seacasters. Fabian jumped in occasionally, sometimes by himself and sometimes when Adaine prompted him to express his own feelings on certain matters. 

Fig didn’t say anything throughout the tale. She just nodded and grimaced at the appropriate points. It wasn’t until Adaine was describing her last conversation with Hallariel that Fig piped up. 

“Oh, yeah, that’s totally textbook manipulative mom stuff.”

Adaine paused mid sentence and cocked her head. “I… what?”

“The whole crying thing when you mention how they messed up?” Fig waved her hand lazily. “That’s what every mom does. They’re all ‘oh, now I’m the bad guy’ expecting you to get all sympathetic for them and drop it. But you know what? Sometimes they are the bad guy!”

Adaine blinked rapidly at her and let out a little disbelieving laugh. “Well, I don’t think that’s what was happening. Hallariel seemed very concerned that she had hurt Fabian.”

Fabian was quiet now, even as Adaine looked to him for confirmation, scrapping the ratty carpet with the toe of his shoe.

“Uh huh,” Fig said, completely unbelieving, “and what did you guys talk about right after that? Did you, like, make a game plan on how she was going to apologize or something?”

Adaine licked her lips and twisted her hands. “Um, well, no. Not exactly. After that she… that was when she mentioned the adoption documents and-”

Fig groaned loudly and threw her cig on the table. Which was definitely a fire hazard. “Dang! That’s rough. ”

“What?” Adaine asked, indignation making her hackles rise, “There’s nothing wrong with that. It was actually a very touching moment and-”

“Yeah I bet it was,” Fig interrupted again, her face twisted into a scowl, “bet it was one of the best days of your life. Which is kind of ruined when you think about how it was just a distraction from your totally reasonable grievances. And then the thing that was supposed to be nice is just another reminder of how much of a liar she is!”

Fig stood up, huffing, as Adaine and Fabian stared at her. 

“She was manipulating you, girl,” Fig continued, fixing Adaine with an intense look, “I’m completely sure about it.”

“No!” Adaine protested, glancing at Fabian again in desperation. His face was tight but he didn’t look like he was about to start protesting with her. “No, there’s no way. Fig, you… you’re just projecting.”

“She’s not, actually.”

The kids turned to see Gilear standing in the entryway to the kitchen, still in his stained robes and with a yogurt cup in his hand.

“Well,” he amended, stirring his yogurt awkwardly, “she might be projecting but that also doesn’t mean she’s wrong.”

Fabian side-eyed Fig even as he spoke to the older elf. “Gilear, I wasn’t aware you’d be here.”

“I apologize for interrupting,” Gilear said, swaying a bit like he wasn’t sure if he should back away or come closer, “ I couldn’t help but overhear. My daughter is completely correct. Intentional or not over exaggerating misdeeds to the point they sound ridiculous and then showering the harmed party with praise or gifts so they are distracted from the issue is a way one manipulates a situation so they do not have to actually be held accountable for their actions.”

The three of them stared at him, with various degrees of shock. 

“Fig,” Fabian eventually said, “I think someone has replaced your father with a mimic.”

Gilear sighed and while it was mostly his usual weary sigh there was also a tinge of annoyance. “Before I became the… lunch lad of your school I had my sights set on becoming the guidance counselor. Despite my, admittedly shabby, current mental state I am not, as the kids call it, a complete buffoon.”

“Of course not,” Adaine reassured him and quickly kicked Fabian when he made a noise of disagreement, “sorry. I just don’t think any of us were expecting this level of insight.”

“You wish to ask Fig how she and I made peace after our… truly horrific fight, yes?” He came in now, finally finding the confidence and regarded them all with more gravity than Adaine had ever seen from him. 

Adaine nodded even as Fig protested, “I was getting to that part!”

“There is nothing to get to,” Gilear said, regarding her fondly, “you did nothing but forgive me, as is appropriate.”

Fig went quiet at that and dug her heel into the carpet. “Well, you made it really easy.”

Gilear nodded. “And that is exactly the point. I… had hurt you. Severely. With my words, with my actions, with my entire being. You were under no obligation to forgive me but it was something I desperately wanted. So I have been doing everything in my power to make that forgiveness come as easily as possible. Even if that means becoming a lunch lad and having gaggles of children run around my place at all hours and listening to punk music until I am sure I am going deaf. There is… nothing I wouldn’t do for your forgiveness, Fig.”

“Aww, Gilear,” Fig sniffed and rubbed at her eyes, “You’re gonna make me get emotional you jerk. I… fuck.” She went over and wrapped her arms around him in a hug he awkwardly returned, yogurt cup still in hand. “Can’t believe you’re embarrassing me in front of my friends.”

“Ah, but I am almost certain that is the job of a parent.”

Adaine looked away, suddenly finding the stains on the carpet to be much more interesting. Her heart ached, like it was being squeezed to the point of popping. She hadn’t… there had been a callous on her heart, she realized, a wall she hadn’t even noticed was there until it had been taken down. When her friends were affectionate with their parents before she had felt jealous, sure, but in a wistful, fantasy, kind of way. Like how she could get jealous of how tall Gorgug was or how nimble Riz’s tail made him. Things that she knew she’d never experience.

But now… now she felt longing. An almost uncontrollable need that was so close. She wanted this. This peace and this comfort and this love and she felt so terribly close to getting it that having still out of reach was torture. 

She didn’t even notice her hands had started to tremble until Fabian grabbed one of them, prompting her to look up at him. He wasn’t smiling, not exactly, but there was understanding in his eyes and hope in his touch. Shit, was this how he had felt his whole life?

Adaine smiled gratefully at him, the only thing she could think to do, and Fabian turned back to Gilear and Fig, raising a disbelieving brow. “So what advice is this display trying to convey? Just forgive them and hope it gets better?”

“Of course not,” Gilear said, almost gently, which made Fabian scoff, “you have no obligation to forgive them. You have no obligation to do anything. The responsibility falls solely on their shoulders.”

“But we want to,” Adaine insisted, squeezing Fabian’s hand tighter, “we want to do something. To… to fix it. Anything we can.”

Gilear visibly thought about this as he and Fig broke the hug. “In that case, I would take a note from Fig. Be… direct. Forceful. Let them know what they have done wrong and don’t let them try to weasel their way out of it. Show them you are suffering and express, clearly, what you want from them, be that an apology or what have you.”

“Ha!” Fig puffed up her chest. “Yeah, you just follow my example. Master Fig will teach you all the ways of being a rebel.”

Gilear made a distressed noise. “I would not recommend putting cigarettes in coffee cups or drinking yourself silly.” Fig cringed, a little, at his disappointed look. “A few very pointed conversations where you express your feelings will do the trick as well. And if your parents are… well, I’ve only spoken to them on occasion myself but they don’t seem irredeemable. And if they are not irredeemable they would try. For you.” He frowned and shuffled awkwardly. “At least, Fabian’s parents don’t seem irredeemable. No offense, Adaine, but yours are… not the best.”

Adaine laughed. “No, no, no offense taken. I’ve taken Fig’s advice already and ditched them. It’s Fabian’s parents I’m concerned about.”

Gilear nodded, looking almost relieved. “Ah. That is… wise. If you ever need… backup in dealing with the Seacasters I will be… happy to help.”

Fabian snorted and rolled his eyes. “Gilear, both of my parents would run you through without effort.”

“Yes,” Gilear said, looking a bit pale now, “I said that mostly to be polite, I admit. Those two frighten me to my very core. But I will be here to talk, if you need.”

“I’ll beat your parents up!” Fig interjected, scrambling to her base, “Or I’ll play music so loud they have to pay attention.”

“Perhaps, not now,” Gilear quickly interjected, “let me… ah… make you children some lunch. Since you’re here.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Adaine said, before he could leave and start rummaging around for extra yogurt, “I think Fabian and I need to… think about what you said. Thank you.”

“If it doesn’t work you’ll move up to the top of my mortal enemies list,” Fabian threatened, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk.

Gilear shuddered. “I rue the day I would ever make an enemy out of you, dear boy.”

Chapter Text

They had planned to confront the Seacaster parents, they really had. Adaine and Fabian had left Gilear’s place ruminating on all that was said to them. They had even discussed it among themselves, going over what they had learned and then making a game plan on having to continue.

When they had gotten home both of them had… not lost their nerve, exactly, but had decided to postpone the conversation until after a night’s rest.

And then Adaine had woken up to a text from her mother.

Fabian had walked in on her staring at her crystal, crisscrossed on her bed without even her hair brushed. She hadn’t been able to get further than sitting up and even that was starting to feel like a struggle. 

“Adaine?” Fabian called, his face tight with concern. He really had gotten so much gentler since she started living here, it was an impressive amount of character growth. “Are you alright? If you’re not ready to talk with Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa today we can call the others and just have a movie night or something. You know Kristen has been practically begging for one recently.”

“Hmm?” Was all Adaine could get out as she continued to stare at the text, article, her mother had sent her. The only thing she had heard from the woman in practically months. “No. No, it’s not that. I mean, um, I probably won’t be able to do that today but it’s because…” She let out a shaky laugh and held the crystal out to him. “I seem to be a wanted criminal now?”

Obviously confused, Fabian took the crystal from her hands and the moment he did Adaine flopped onto her back, letting her hands fall above her head and tangle in her hair. “I was wondering why I hadn’t heard from them in a while. My father was texting me threats from like three different numbers for days before he went all radio silence. I thought they might have gotten bored.”

“The Fallenial government stole your sister from jail?” Fabian gaped.

“Yep,” Adaine said, popping the ‘p’ and not looking away from the ceiling.

“And this act has now prompted our two countries to go to war?”

“Yep.”

“And your parents have gone, on record, to say they support the war and that your family is claiming direct responsibility for the jail break?”

Adaine took a deep inhale through her nose as her hands clenched into fists. “ Yep. ”

“Adaine.” He was suddenly right by her side, she hadn’t even noticed him move around the bed, and laid a hand on her arm. “Your hair.”

She blinked at him and only then noticed her fists had balled around clumps of her hair. Adaine forced her hands to relax and sighed. “Sorry. I’m fine. Just extremely pissed off.” 

Fabian laid down sideways on the bed with her, so their heads were at a right angle to each other, and reached out to squeeze her hand. “Well, at least they’re not trying to get you back?”

“That’s exactly what they’re doing,” Adaine mumbled, squeezing back as hard as she could, “I’m going to get deported.”

She could feel Fabian twisted his head on the sheets but couldn’t bring herself to look at him. She was not going to cry. She wasn’t. 

“No. You’re not,” he said with such conviction she almost believed him for a moment, “I won’t allow it. We won’t allow it.” 

Adaine shook her head and forced herself not to grab at her hair again. “Fabian, they didn’t just leave. They specifically took responsibility for it. For a war crime! Like it or not I’m still their fucking daughter. If I don’t get sent to be a, I don’t know, a prisoner of war or something, I’m going to get shipped out of here. Solace isn’t going to let me just hang around after this.”

“They are if they know what’s good for them,” Fabian threatened under his breath, making Adaine giggle despite herself. He then cleared his throat and continued, “yesterday, when you went off to bed, I spoke with Ma-ma-“

“Fabian!” Adaine sat up quickly, causing Fabian to yelp as the pressure of the bed shifted, “I thought we were going to do that together.”

“It wasn’t about the issues,” Fabian denied, staring up at her, upside down, “I was only inquiring about your adoption papers. You said there was a place for me to sign so I thought it would be responsible or something.”

Adaine raised a brow. “You? Being responsible? The world must be ending.”

Fabian grabbed one of Adaine’s pillows and smacked her with it, which she tolerated with a smirk. “Mock me not, dear little sister, I am trying to be thoughtful here. And anyway the point is that mother is apparently ripping apart the legal system to get that document to work. If she can do something like that then I’m sure she’ll be able to strong arm whoever would try and take you away.”

Adaine smiled, though she could feel how frail it was on her face. It felt like she was going to shatter and only Fabian’s presence was keeping her from the fate. “Thank you but… I don’t want to get any of you in trouble. If all of you got swept into this-“

“Oh shush shush, hush your face.” Fabian twisted onto his belly and reached out to wave at her, trying to reach her face but obviously not willing to put in the effort to stretch that far. “You’re family now, Adaine. Your problems are our problems.”

Adaine pressed her lips in a thin line. “I appreciate the sentiment, really I do, but that does just make it worse. The government is just going to have a reason to incarcerate all of us.”

Fabian seemed to think about this for a moment before hoisting himself up off the bed. “Unless, we solve a conspiracy and save the world.” He held out his hands and Adaine let him pull her up and off the bed as well. “I think we’ve neglected some missing girls for long enough, don’t you?”

Chapter Text

Fabian was an idiot. And a failure. And even a coward. That’s all he could think as he sat in the cramped jail cell with (only four) his friends.

They had failed to save the dwarf girl, failed to save Gorgug’s girlfriend. That gross pixie nerd (that Adaine had warned them was no good she had told them) had turned on them and now they had lost all their leads, all their clues, and they had been arrested for completely justified murders. 

And the worst part, the worst part, more than Fabian running away from the fight or almost getting stuck in a video game or Riz shooting a kid’s fingers off, the worst part was that the police had taken Adaine away.

He hadn’t even noticed when it had happened. One minute they were all being shuffled through a police station, stripped of their possession, fingerprints being taken, and the next they were being shoved into a cell minus one member.

Fabian had asked, demanded, the rude woman in charge where she had taken her. What they had done with Adaine.

He hadn’t really understood the answer. She had spouted a lot of jargon, and insults, but Fabian could at least glean that they had taken Adaine to a different holding area somewhere in the precinct.

To process her deportation. 

With no other ideas of how to get out of this mess Fabian called his father.

“Hello Pa-pa,” he greeted, trying to keep his voice light and unconcerned. It wouldn’t do to show weakness, to show how scared he was, not to his father, not now. “Well, you see I'm currently in jail, with my friends. We got caught in the middle of a failed battle, you see. We could use some assistance in getting out.”

His father’s voice crackled through the crystal. “Got yourself thrown in the brig now, did ya? And your friends?”

Fabian wasn’t sure why that was the part that needed clarifying. “Yes, it seems that way.”

“Did ya do what I’ve been teaching ya, son?” Bill asked, “Did you protect your lady? Captain your crew? Going down with your ship is noble, boy, but dragging the others with ya ain’t. ”

Fabian winced visibly enough that Kristen shot him a concerned look. He quickly waved her off as he answered his father. “I… no, Pa-pa. I tried but… I kept the others safe, of course, but Adaine… they, the police, they took her somewhere and I’m not sure…”

He was not going to mention how he had raced out of the arcade like a coward at the first sign of spectral ghosts. Even saying this much felt like tying a noose around his own neck.

Bill didn’t say anything for a few moments before simply stating, “Alright, I’ll be over then.” And hanging up.

“You okay?” Kristen asked with her annoyingly high wisdom. 

Fabian huffed out a chuckle and tried to stand up straight. “Yes, of course, my Pa-pa will sort all this out. Just you see.”

Kristen just stared at him for a bit longer. “Hey… Adaine’s gonna be okay. We’ll make sure of it, don’t worry.”

Fabian’s fists screwed up but he appreciated the gesture enough to not take his nerves out on her. Instead, he just nodded and repeated himself. “Yes, of course.”

It didn’t take long for his father to arrive. Bill Seacaster was led through the police department and the door to their cell was open long enough for him to get inside.

And then everything immediately went off the rails as Gorgug asked him if he was his biological father.

“Fabian!” Bill barked after almost skewering Gorgug in surprise, “How many of your friends am I makin’ my own?”

“None!” Fabian said, trying to keep himself from strangling either Gorgug or Bill or even himself at this point. “We are getting wildly off topic!”

“Not none, ” Bill insisted instead of listening, “your mothers going through a heap of an amount of trouble to make that little girl a part of the crew.” He glanced around. “Where is Adaine anyhow?”

“I don’t know, Pa-pa,” Fabian groaned, “they took her somewhere and-“

“And you let them?” Bill barked, “Why’d you go and do a thing like that?”

“I didn’t-“

“Once I was locked in combat with a Fallinel ship,” Bill Seacaster was launching into a story now and Fabian knew there was no stopping him when he got like that, “and they had their eyes on takin’ your mother away. Got in their heads they were savin’ her they did. I lost me hand keepin’ them off her, Fabian. I would have died before I’d let them take her away.”

“I get it!” Fabian snapped, “You’re the greatest of all time and never make a mistake. Great, thank you for the lecture, now can we stop talking about you for five fucking seconds so we can all get out of here?”

Bill stood up straighter, glaring down at Fabian. “You’ll raise your voice to me, boy?”

“I will!” Fabian practically screamed back, “If it’s the only thing that’ll get you to shut up and listen.”

Bill jabbed a finger into his chest. “I tried to give you the best life, save in Solace, and all it did was make you soft .”

Just like that it was as if all the fight was blown from Fabian’s sails. He froze, eyes going wide.

“Soft?” Fabian whispered, Cathilda’s advice echoing in his ears. Be soft with your father.

“You know the difference between you and me?” Bill kept shouting, “Is that I would never let a man speak to me the way I am speaking to you right now.” And then he shoved Fabian’s shoulders, making him stumble backwards and the rest of his friends scramble away to give them room.

Fabian didn't move, even as his father stared at him, obviously waiting for a retaliation. Fabian was trembling, his entire body shaking as he stared down, unable to look Bill in the eye. "Soft? Soft? Yes, yes I'm fucking soft!" He raised his head and glared, righteous fury mixing with his already turbulent emotions and making him shake harder. "Do you know why? Because I'm fourteen! I'm a fourteen year old boy and my father just shoved me!"

Bill blinked at him, and it seemed like no one in the room was breathing. 

Fabian kept going, not surging forward but stepping back so he was pressing against the wall. "I'm in jail , Pa-pa! I'm in jail and I just fought ghosts and I don't know where they took Adaine and I'm scared. I'm scared out of my mind but instead of feeling emboldened by the sight of my father I'm just more scared. Because instead of coming in here and helping me he's just talking about himself and how great he is while completely ignoring me once again!"

Bill schooled his shocked expression and raised a finger to jab into Fabian's chest. "You don't speak to me that way, boy."

"Why not," Fabian half spat half begged, tears falling freely down his face now, "you're my dad, do you understand that? I'm your son. I shouldn't be worried you're going to, what, beat me up? Because I'm speaking back to you? Because I lost a fight? I lost a fight Pa-pa! And I'm sorry I disappointed you but I'm just a boy!"

Bill's mouth opened, closed, then he licked his lips and continued in a low voice, like he was self conscious of anyone else hearing. "You've never disappointed me, Fabian. Never. It's only when you disappoint yourself that you disappoint me."

"Why are you here?" Fabian asked, not bothering to drop his own voice or wipe his tears, "Did you just come to scold me and shove me around?"

Bill shook his head, glancing around at their audience nervously. "Course not. I just… I want you to be strong, my boy, be able to handle your own problems."

"I'm a child," Fabian said, swallowing hard, "and I've been dealing with my own problems since I could stand. For once, for once, I would like my father to be a solution to a problem and not another one piled on top of it all."

"You think of your old man as a problem?" He sounded genuinely hurt by the question.

"I do when he jumps me to 'keep me on my toes' or pushes me to use violence as every answer," Fabian scoffed, "so if you're going to beat me for speaking this way to you or going soft just get it over with so I can get back to solving my other problems."

Bill actively stepped back, eye wide. "Fabian… I'm not going to… I want you to be a fighter , to be strong, not to be…" he trailed off, gaze searching. Bill reached a hand out, to lay on Fabian’s shoulder or brush his tears or strike him across the face. "Are you scared of me, my boy?"

Fabian flinched, body going stiff and teeth gritting as he braced himself. 

Bill jerked back at the reaction and it felt like the entire world had frozen except for the tears still leaking from Fabian’s eyes.

And then Bill Seacaster backed away and slumped onto the little wooden bench in the cell. “The world is a dangerous place,” he said, voice taking on a slow cadence of a somber tale. “Many things will try to harm ya. To crush you.” He gestured to his peg leg, “To slice ya.” His hooked hand. “To take anything it can away.” His patched eye. “Fabian, son, I don’t want ya to have to go through such things but ye will. I’ve tried to prepare ya for life and the horrors of it the best I can.”

He hunched his shoulders and his face looked pained as he stared at Fabian. “Are you telling me that all I’ve done is bring the horrors into me own home?”

“I…” Fabian swallowed thickly and took a tentative step towards him, “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to… to live up to your expectations. But they’re… they’re too much sometimes and I don’t… I’ve never known how to tell you that. I know, in this moment, I have failed you but-“

“No.” Bill cut him off with a firm shake of his head. “You’re Fabian Aramais Seacaster. You can’t fail me. Makin’… making mistakes is part of growing up. I’m the one who’s failed you, my darling boy.”

“No, Pa-pa,” Fabian couldn’t help but protest, sitting on the bench next to him, “you haven’t. It’s not-“

“I have,” Bill insisted, face pinched with… with guilt, of all things, “ya see I… oh, hold on a moment where’d it go?”

He patted his pockets, which were quite a lot, and even pulled out a few fistfuls of gold as he searched.

“Uh, is this what you’re looking for?” Fig spoke up and Fabian almost jumped. So concerned had he been with his father he’d almost forgotten the rest of his friends were still there, watching the whole thing. Fig pulled out a palimpsest from behind her back and awkwardly held it out. “I kinda pickpocketed you when you came in. Sorry…”

Bill blinked at her and Fabian tensed, ready to defend his friend (her honor or her life he didn’t care which) but Bill only let out a weak chuckle. “You’ve really gathered yourself a fine crew, Fabian. Crafty bunch of kids.” 

“Why…” Fabian asked, terrified of the answer, “why do you have that ?”

Bill sighed and scratched at his beard. “A bit of fun I suppose. Now, I ain’t involved with kidnapping no maidens, mind, but I did get an offer to smuggle these crystals to a bank for a hearty sum. Reminded me of the good ol’ day. But I shouldn’t have kept it from ya, not when it was obvious that was what ye were looking for. I really have failed ya…”

Hesitantly, Fabian reached out and slipped his hand into his dad’s, squeezing it and feeling a considerable amount of relief when he squeezed back. “It’s alright, Pa-pa, even you are allowed to make mistakes. Sometimes”

Bill chuckled and very lightly swatted Fabian’s shoulder with the blunt of his hook. “Now don’t you go spreading rumors like that. Ruin my reputation, it will.”

They shared a laugh and the next thing Fabian knew he was being pulled into a hug. Not a crushing one like he was used to but an almost gentle embrace. 

“I’m sorry,” Bill Seacaster whispered into his son’s ear, “I never meant to hurt you. I only wanted you to be strong enough to endure everything the world will throw at you.”

Fabian didn’t resist the tears as they fell. He let himself cry into his dad’s shoulder. “Thank you. I love you, Pa-pa.”

“I love you more than anything in the world, my darling boy.” 

***

“Excuse me,” Adaine called, politely as she could, as the police officers stuffed her in a cell barely big enough for one person. They had separated her from her friends and she was trying very hard not to give in to the panic and rage shaking through her body as the adrenaline from the fight wore off. “Why am I being seperated?”

“Uh,” the two guards glanced at each other. Agent Worrel had followed the others to wherever they were being held, leaving Adaine with much more incompetent security. “Standard procedure ma’am. They’re gonna be here a long time but you’re just in a temporary holding cell until the paperwork for your deportation can be filed.”

Cold dread flooded Adaine’s body. If she was deported to Fallinel she’d be sent back to her parents. If she was sent back to her parents, in Fallinel, then she would never see her friends again. Never step foot off of Fallinel soil in her life. They would make sure of that if for no other reason than to spite her.

“Oh,” Adaine said, trying to not sound terrified. She failed, her voice definatly squeaked as she spoke. “Well, I do believe I get a phone call, at least? That’s standard procedure too, right?”

One of the guards jolted. “Right! Yeah, of course.” He handed her back her crystal and she stopped herself from ripping it out of his hands. “Though we’ll have to stay and listen and no calls out of the country!”

Adaine smiled sweetly at him. “Of course not.” She hadn’t been planning on it, anyway.

She turned around and shakily typed in the number, holding her breath as the call rang once twice-

“Hello?”

“Hallariel!” Adaine practically gasped in relief, “It’s me, it’s Adaine. Listen, me and Fabian and the rest of our friends got arrested and-“

“Oh, yes, yes,” Hallariel said on the other side of the line, sounding a bit distracted, “Fabian called Bill already.”

“Oh!” Adaine exclaimed, “So you’re on your way?”

“Bill is,” Hallariel clarified, “I heard they’re threatening to deport you, is that right?”

“Wait…” Adaine said, grip around the phone tightening, “You’re not coming?”

“Well, they’re not going to let me see you, darling. I’m not your guardian.”

“No, no, no, I know that,” Adaine quickly rushed out. She really didn’t know how long she had on this call, “I’m not excepting that but… you’re not coming to see Fabian?”

“No? Why would I?”

“Why…” Adaine spluttered, “Why would you? Hallariel, that’s your son! He’s in jail!”

“And Bill’s. His father’s always been better at handling the boy.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake Hallariel!” Adaine practically yelled into the phone, causing the two guards to jump and turn to blink at her. She ignored them, the rage over powering the anxiety. “You really can’t just keep ignoring him like this. I know you’re, like, just getting sober and stuff but you have got to step up and be a mom to him.”

Hallariel huffed, her voice staticing a bit through the line. “Are we really talking about this again? Now? Don’t you think there are other, more pressing things to discuss?”

“Yes we’re talking about this now!” Adaine snapped, “Your son is in jail and you’re not even bothering to come see him? He needs you! If you don’t get ahold of yourself and actually be a part of his life once and awhile you’re going to blink and the next thing you know he’s going to be gone.”

There was silence for a moment, before Hallariel’s quiet voice barely reached her ears. “My parents always warned me against falling in love with a human. Their life… even Fabian’s, it’s only a quarter of ours. Do you recognize that? It’s like they’re not even here at all before they’re gone.”

Adaine swore she was seeing red. “But they are here! Right now! Fucking spend a moment living in the present for once in your entire life. I’ve only known your son for a few months and I’m about to never see him again and yet I feel like I’ve spent more time with him then you ever have. You have a great thing going, a great family! Get it together and enjoy it while it lasts or I swear it’s going to haunt you for eternity.”

And then, before she could lose her nerve, Adaine hung up the phone, panting out heaving breaths as she stared at the black crystal screen.

“Um,” one of the guards spoke up, and jerked back when Adaine snapped her glare to him, “if you’re done we’ll, uh, we’ll need the crystal back now.”

“Fine.” Adaine shoved it through the bars at them. “I don’t need it anymore anyway.”

Well, at least she had thoroughly burned some bridges before she was forced to leave. Maybe that would make the nonexistent goodbye easier in the long run. 

Feeling drained as the anger faded away, Adaine curled herself into a ball in the corner of the cell and let the tears she had been holding back fall freely down her face. All of her life it had been much easier to cry when she was alone. Before, the isolation had felt like safety. She was free to express herself without getting scolded for the act or berated for the noise.

Now, it was simply easier to cry when no one was around to wipe the tears away. 

Chapter Text

Hallariel sat on one of the couches in the main room of her manor. She wasn't sprawled out on it but sitting up, hunched over a bit so her elbows were resting on her knees. There was a bottle of wine on the coffee table in front of her and a glass poured but she had not touched the drink. She was just staring at it, thinking more than she had really done in the last fifteen years.

"I know you're there Cathilda," she called after who knows how long of silence, "you can quit pretending you aren't."

"I wasn't pretending ma'am," Cathilda said, stepping out from behind the couch and standing in front of her, "just keeping quiet to let you think."

Hallariel gave her a flat look before leaning back with a deep sigh. "And I suppose you know exactly what I'm thinking about do you? Come, Cathilda, you are always just... brimming with wisdom, aren't you?"

"Well, I may have overheard your call with Miss Adaine," Cathilda admitted, her expression patient but not giving anything else away, "it was a wee bit loud."

Hallarel look a deep breath but ended it with a scoff as she looked away from her maid, her friend, to gaze dramatically at nothing over her own shoulder. "That girl is incredibly ungrateful. We've been nothing but kind to her and she thinks she can speak to me like that?"

"Mmm, you have indeed been treating her well. I'm quite proud of you."

Hallariel's ear twitched at the compliment and she tried hard to get it under control. "But? There's always a but when you say those types of things just spit it out."

Cathilda chuckled and shook her head. "It's obvious Adaine's got a bit of a stubborn streak, just like Fabian. And she's quite protective of her friends." Cathilda's gaze dug into Hallariel and she tried to avoid eye contact. "Just like Fabian."

Hallariel fought the urge to bite her lip. That wasn't dignified. "And what, exactly, are you implying by that?"

"Nothing ma'am," Cathilda said, pretending to be just an observing maid again instead of the fierce and judgmental woman Hallarial knew she was, "Just worried you might have forgotten what your son is like. Seeing as you ignore him so often."

"I do not ignore Fabian," Hallariel snapped, turning to Cathilda now. Her hand itched for the wine glass on the table. To drink it or throw it in her friend's face she didn't know. "I... buy him things."

Cathilda's entire face dropped into a disbelieving expression. "Ah, yes, and we're all aware that's the only requirement for good motherhood."

Hallariel snorted and shrugged, feeling incredibly ungraceful in the action. "How am I supposed to know how mothers work? You know that Fallinel just throws teenagers into the woods until they stop being weird. We elves have no idea how to deal with children."

Cathilda had completely dropped all pretenses now. She rolled her eyes, rolled her eyes, at Hallariel. "Your father has actively tried to connect with youngin's for years now and I know you're mother's been out of the picture for quite some time but that doesn't give you the right to do the same." She glared a bit and folded her arms, tapping her fingers judgmentally. "And you seem to be having no trouble being attentive and a decent enough parent to Miss Adaine."

"Well I can relate to her more!" Hallariel defended herself, waving her hands for emphasis. "She's a woman, like me, and we're both from Fallinel, and her time isn't consumed by Bill's training and the pursuit of his legacy. It's just easier, Cathilda. What do you want me to do? Make it not easier?"

"Maybe I want you to spend more than iota of effort into raising your son." Cathilda's voice did not raise but her eyes had gone so cold it made Hallariel shiver and pull her robe tighter around herself. "And I think you left off something on that little list, didn't ya? It's cause she's an elf isn't she?"

"Yes!" Hallariel cried, throwing her hands up and falling back, "Yes, alright, it's because she's an elf. I'm interested in investing my time and energy into her because she's not going to fucking die in a couple dozen years. I confessed it, are you happy now?"

"No, of course I'm not happy you daft idiot." Despite her harsh words Cathilda came over and sat next to Hallarial, cupping her hand in her own. "Hallariel you can't... you can't just run away from death."

"Yes I can..." she mumbled, not pulling away, "I'm immortal it's literal the entire thing."

Cathilda squeezed her hand, hard. "People die. People you love will one day be gone. Eventually, even if it's in thousands of years, you will also die. It's a part of life. You cannot ignore life trying to run from that."

Hallariel closed her eyes and pursed her lips. She certainly wasn't holding back tears. "You hate me."

Cathilda gently slapped her hand. "Stop that. You know I don't. I am quite annoyed though. You can't destroy yourself and your family running away from something you've never even experienced." Hallariel's eyes were still closed but she could still hear Cathilda swallow heavily. "Loosing a loved one, a child... it's not easy Hallariel. I won't pretend it is. But the time you spend with them, no matter how short, is worth it. What hurts more than losing them is... knowing you had time with them you wasted away."

Hallariel bowed her head. She had no other arguments. "You're sounding a lot like Adaine."

"She's a smart girl," Cathilda said, patting her hand again and pulling away, "you may want to start listening."

***

Bill Seacaster came home without the prize he had left to collect. Feeling drained. Feeling bad.

The great Bill Seacaster was not used to feeling such things.

"Ah, Bill," his wife's voice came and Bill glanced up to see her coming into the room. She looked a bit frazzled herself. Cathilda was right behind her. "How... how are they?"

"Uh," Bill licked his lips and tried to straighten his shoulders but his heart wasn't really in it, "they're in a spot of trouble, no question. Can't get 'em out. And I wasn't even able to see Adaine."

"Oh, well that is a disappointment." Hallariel pulled on her robed, like she was nervous. Which was ridiculous, Hallariel Seacaster was never nervous. "She called me. She seems... stressed. Is Fabian alright, at least?"

Bill rubbed his face and shifted on his peg leg. "He... you know our boy. He's strong. Not... feeling so strong right now, though, heh."

Cathilda was looking at him. Looking at him like she could stare right through him and see what was clawing at his heart.

"Am I too hard on the lad?" Bill eventually blurted, causing Hallariel to glance up in confusion. "Push him more than I should? Work him too long?"

Hallariel tilted her head. "You bond with him by training."

"And I prepare him!" Bill pointed at his wife to acknowledge her point. "The world's a harsh place! He has to be ready for anything or someone's gonna come up behind and skewer the lad while his guard is down."

"Oh, I don't know if that'll happen," Cathilda piped up, "not if he's got someone else watching his back, don't ya think?"

"I..." Bill hesitated, his arm shaking before falling to his side, energy gone. "I've been training him how to protect others. But boy's got no one out there protecting him." He met eyes with his wife, wondering if she could see the horror filling him as he thought about how he'd been raising his son. How that might, somehow, have been wrong. "He was scared of me, Hallariel. Terrified of his own Pa-pa."

"Well." Cathilda walked up and patted him on the leg. "Seems like you two have some things to think about. I'll go make a tea and once we're done getting all this sorted we'll figure out how to break those kids free."

Bill couldn't help but bark out a laugh, tension easing out of his shoulders just a bit. "This is why we keep ya around Cathilda! Where would be without ya?"

Cathilda smiled over her shoulder as she began to walk away. "Dead, I assume, captain."

Bill laughed and shot a look to his wife, who smiled back, her face like a sunbeam piercing through the dark night. Had she always looked so beautiful? "Aye, I think you're right about that one, Cathilda. Would never have survived without my crew."

Chapter Text

Adaine paced in her little cell. It wasn’t a great place to pace, all things considered. It was very small and cramped, while also being a perfect square with no part longer than the other. So instead of pacing back and forth she ended up just walking in tight circles. 

It was dizzying and was giving Adaine a headache but there wasn't anything else to do and the boredom and worry that came from it was worse by far. At least a month had passed at this point, maybe more. There were no calendars or even clocks in this section of the jail but the days had certainly dragged on long enough. They had called this a 'temporary holding cell' but if that was true then how long were they planning on keeping the others? Or had that just been a lie and an excuse to separate them?

These questions and the isolation were going to drive Adaine insane, she was sure of it. The only people she had seen in however long were the two guards who did not talk to her and Sklonda once or twice, though Riz's mom was never able to stay more than a few minutes at most. Still, they were the longest conversations Adaine had had in a while and she was eternally grateful Sklonda cared enough about her son's friends to come check on her.

She hoped that the rest of her friends weren't separated and that they were holding up better than she was.  Sklonda had assured her they were all fine but also admitted she hadn't been allowed to see them much either. So maybe they were also going insane and just hiding it better.

Adaine really wished she still had her sword. Stabbing something sounded very cathartic right now.

As it was she could only pace and wait and try not to panic again.

The monotonous day was interrupted by shouts and commotion echoing from further in the police precinct. Probably another escape attempt by her friends. They had tried several and as far as Adaine could tell none of them had been successful, though Fig had seemed to have gotten close at one point if the guard's gossip could be believed.

The two guards in front of Adaine's cell rushed off to check on the commotion and Adaine took the opportunity to lean against the bars. There was no way she'd be able to see around the corner from here but if she was lucky she might catch that incredibly rude officer from out of town looking frazzled by her friend's antics. That was always kinda funny.

However, it was barely a moment after the last guard rounded the corner out of sight that Adaine became thoroughly distracted by what was in her cell to worry too much about what was out of it.

The entire back wall. The entire back wall suddenly collapsed into the little cell by aid of an earth shattering explosion.

Adaine yelped and pressed herself as hard as she could into the bars and squeezed her eyes shut tight as flecks of dirt and concrete peppered her. When the assault stopped and no more explosions occurred Adaine very cautiously cracked her eyes back open and peeked at what, exactly, had just happened.

Bill freaking Seacaster was standing in the middle of what once had been a cell but was now more like an open air patio with the giant hole in the back wall and everything. He was perched on a large slab of now rubble, looking all the world like a pirate captain claiming land for his treasure.

"Wha- huh? " Adaine sputtered at him, rather eloquently. Maybe this was a hallucination and she had, in fact, gone insane. That would make more sense than him somehow being here. How did he even make that explosion?

Peering behind him she was able to make out the tip of a canon and some people she recognized from his crew holding it steady.

So that was how.

"Adaine, lassy!" Bill called out, hoping down from the concrete slab he was perched on to land next to her. Right next to her- there still wasn't a lot of room here- and Adaine could smell the ever present sea salt on him. "So this is the right cell. Worried we'd have to blow open the whole station to find ya." He laughed his typical full body laugh and Adaine was still reeling to much to process any of this.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" Adaine managed to get out, still pressed against the bars and utterly baffled by the situation. "Did you blow the wall in ?"

"Why, we've come to do a jailbreak," Bill explained, ignoring her second question completely, "Well, that and fake yer death. Figured you didn't want to stay cooped up here no more nor get sold off to your home country."

Adaine's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. Eventually she just decided to push the majority of her questions to the side for now and focus on a singular insanity. "Fake my death?"

"Yes!" Bill drew out his cutlass and tilted the sharp side towards her. "Permission to bleed ya, lass?"

"What?" Adaine yelped, jumping back from the sword and holding her hands up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down. Explain to me what on earth is going on!"

Bill blinked, like the question was ludicrous and out of left field. "We're rescuin' ya! Breakin' ya out. Freein' the jail bird. Was that not clear?"

" Why ?" Adaine stressed, "And how? What about everyone else? What about Fabian ?"

"They bein' sprung as well," Bill laughed like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Fabian's ma-ma is takin' care of the boy, don't get your ears in a twist. I just had ta come get ya personally since we need to be more delicate with this one."

Adaine glanced at the giant cannonball shaped hole in the wall. " This is delicate?"

"See, we distracted those that were watchin' over you by havin' that mailman act first. The Hangman is a rather smart bike, it knows more allies than I would have thought!" Bill laughed again but Adaine now glanced worriedly down the hall, suddenly realizing that the guards could come back any minute. "Now that there's no one around I'm free to do a little bit of old fashioned crime. And we can get to the business of fakin' your death."

"Still confused about that," Adaine admitted. Was there smoke coming from around the corner? "Why are we faking my death?"

"'Cause the coppers are after ya!" Bill explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And I don't want Fallinel trying to take ya away. You're one of ours now, ya hear? And we're going to make sure you stay that way for as long as you like."

Adaine blinked back tears. "I... thank you. I would like that."

"Great!" Bill moved his sword to her again. "So can I bleed ya?"

"What does that mean? " Adaine practically shrieked, back to defensive. That was kinda just how you had to act around Bill Seacaster.

"Well, we can't just leave the scene like this, can we?" Bill said, sweeping his sword around the room, "They'll think you've went and escaped. Not died in the explosion. We gotta spread your blood around. Throw them off the scent."

"O-oh." That... sort of made sense. In the world where faking her death at all made sense. "You're not going to just stab me right?"

"Course not! What do you take me for? A maniac?"

Adaine wouldn't have said it in those exact words but...

Bill held out his hood to her, pointed side down. "Give me your arm, lass, I know where ta slice without doin' too much damage."

Hesitantly, absolutely sure she had gone crazy, Adaine complied. She laid her arm on the hook and in one smooth motion Bill cut a line across the top of it.

Adaine sucked in a breath through her teeth at the sting but was surprised by how little it actually hurt, all things considered. Bill patted the wound, squeezing her arm gently, and when he took his hand away it was practically dripping with blood. Adaine watched in morbid fascination as he spread her blood on the bars, the floor, the bottom of the rubble pile. By the time he was done it really did look like someone had been killed.

"There!" Bill crowed, stepping back and admiring his work. "A bang up good job. Now let's get you out of here and bandaged up."

Adaine squeaked in surprise as he picked her up with one hand and then jumped, sending the two of them flying through the hole and out of the precinct completely. From out here it was obvious that some part of the building was on fire and Adaine could only hope that everyone made it out alright.

"Now you scallywags!" Bill cried and would have been doing a horrible job of remaining undetected if there weren't already screams filling the air. "Spread out. Divert attention. And if ya get caught keep your captain's name out of your mouth."

The two other pirates saluted and ran off, one of them dragging the canon with him. 

Bill placed Adaine on her feet and patted her head. Which got a lot of blood in her hair but whatever. "Let's get ya home, lassy."

***

"Okay, here's my new plan. I disguise myself as one of you and they get so confused they let us both out."

Fabian rolled his eyes and glanced behind him and through the bars he was leaning on. Fig's cell was directly across from his and he could see her gently tapping her horns to the bars as she strategized. "There is no possibility that works. They know what cell you're in. It'd obviously be you."

"Yeah, but consider," Fig protested, "cops are stupid."

Despite himself, Fabian couldn't help but snort out a laugh. "Ah, well you got me there."

"Hey!" Riz, predictably, spoke up from Fabian's right. "My mom's a cop."

"And it's her greatest character flaw," Fabian teased, earning himself a glare from the goblin.

"Not to mention," Riz continued instead of rising to the bait, "is that some of these guys have already seen through you once. I doubt all the observant guards are just off work today."

"Ooo, there's a thought," Kristen spoke up, across from Riz, "we just need to get all the smart guys to leave. Anyone here got streamers on them? We could convince them there's a party for them or something."

"Adaine's jacket would have streamers," Fig bemoaned, her horns making click click click sounds as she sank to her knees. It was wild how quickly she could switch moods.

"They probably didn't let her keep it," Riz, always logical, pointed out, though his voice was sad as well.

There was a moment of contemplative silence at that before Gorgug quietly spoke up from Fabian's other side. "Do you think she's okay?"

"Of course she is," Fabian instantly scoffed, "she's a very capable girl. I'm sure she's handling this better than we are."

"You don't think she's... gone, yet, do you?" Kristen asked. Fabian glanced over at her cell so see her twisting her hands in worry, also sitting down. "They said they were going to deport her, right? How long does that take?"

"My mom said she was still there last she checked," Riz tried to reassure them, "Travel to and from Fallinel is really weird anyway. It probably takes a long time."

"Yeah but your mom saw her ages ago," Fig groaned, pressing her entire face against the bars now, "what if they took her away since then and just didn't tell anyone?"

Riz shook his head, his claws tapping on his own bars. "They wouldn't do that. There are... forms. And stuff. They can't just throw her in a boat and call it a day."

"I thought they couldn't just throw you in jail for months without parole or a trial or something," Kristen said with a grimace and exaggerated shrug, "kinda seems we're not sticking that close to the book on this one."

Fabian tuned out their rapidly devolving argument and turned back so he was facing the far wall of his cell. Adaine was fine, he was sure of it. And if she wasn't then he would just go get her back, tearing down anyone who would dare to get in his way. No need to stress about it now.

Instead, Fabian used his free unlimited call that was somehow not blocked by the magic suppressors on the cells. Or maybe there simply wasn't one on his cell? He wasn't exactly a caster, after all.

Hangman, how's the outside world?

It took only a moment to get that familiar reply that rumbled in his mind and soothed his nerves. Sire, perfect timing. We are almost ready to begin.

Begin? Fabian questioned. He had talked to his bike many times in the past few months. Had him check in with the other's parents to make sure they were safe and just generally keep him company when he couldn't stand his friend's voices anymore. The Hangman had mentioned 'preparations' once or twice but had never elaborated. Fabian had honestly just assumed he was keeping the house in tip top shape for Fabian's return. Or as tip top as a sentient motorcycle could manage. 

I will be waiting for you outside, master. I long to feel you astride my seat once again.

And that was all Fabian got. The Hangman did the mental equivalent of hanging up and Fabian was completely alone in his thoughts again.

What on earth did that mean?

He didn't have to wait long for an answer because only a few minutes later a little halfling postman with little shorts and a shirt and one of those little pith helmets strolled down the cell block. He looked... strangely familiar.

The postman stopped in the middle of their cells and smiled like he was on vacation and not standing in the middle of a prison. "Oh gosh there gang, how's it going?"

Kristen gasped. "Family we almost ran over..."

Riz pressed his face against the bars of his cell and dropped his voice to a low whisper. "The fucking feds got us in here man. I know you hate the Goddamn feds."

Fabian had to stifle a laugh. How quickly the rogue turned when they weren't specifically talking about his mother.

"You're the guy from the ice cream shop," Gorgug spoke up and it suddenly clicked in Fabian's mind where they had met this man before. That was way back on one of the first days of school. How any of them remembered each other on sight was a mystery to Fabian.

Fabian contemplated this for a moment as the others kept talking but a familiar name snapped him out of his thoughts.

"We like you kids, we think you're alright. The Seacasters already explained everything to us."

"What?" Fabian called, completely turning around and gripping the bars himself. "My family? What?"

"Listen here's the thing," the halfling- Fabian could not remember his name for the life of him- said with the solemnity of a preacher in a church, "I don't know what you kids are up to, but I do know one thing. Laws are threats made by the dominant socioeconomic ethnic group in a given nation. It’s just the promise of violence that's enacted, and the police are basically an occupying army, you know what I mean. You guys want to make some bacon?"

He then pulled a mask that had apparently been hiding under his helmet down to cover his face and pulled an already lit Molotov cocktail out of his mailbag.

Fabian started cackling in glee the moment he saw it. "Yes! Yes, mailman! Burn this place to the ground."

The halfling hit Fabian's lock with the cocktail, breaking it and springing the cell open even as fire started to spread.

And then more halflings repelled down from the ceiling and did the same to everyone else's cells.

"What?" Fabian half yelled, half laughed in disbelief.

Everyone else immediately fled, Riz yelling something about calming down as they did.

But there was no time for calming down. Fabian scrambled with his friends out of their now busted cells and down the hall. They made it as a group to the next section of the precinct, a collection of filing cabinets and locked up cubbies containing all their confiscated possessions. The bad kids instantly split up around the room, collecting their stuff. Fabian made a beeline for the weapon rack and picked up his shield on sword.

Both swords. He grabbed Adaine's too. He didn't know if it still being here was a good sign or not but he chose to take it as one.

Where was she? He hadn't seen where they had originally taken her and even if he had that was months ago and there was so much chaos right now. Did she know what was happening? Was she trapped somewhere as the building burned around her?

As the rest of his friends finished gathering their things and moving on Fabian hung back as he desperately scrambled around for her spell book. She might not be able to make it here and he knew she needed that. And her orb. Oh, her stupid orb. They really needed to get her another focus so she didn't have to keep lugging that thing into fights or settling for components.

Fabian pulled open drawers and tossed things on the floor in his search. Why couldn't they have just kept the stupid book out in the open like the weapons? He needed to go but he couldn't just leave it. He needed-

Fabian's thoughts were cut off by a frankly ridiculous amount of electricity racing through him. All his muscles went on strike at once and locked up in pain, sending him toppling to the floor, swords spilling out of his hands.

"Got you, ya little brat." A police officer was standing above him, some large human man holding a sparking taser. A taser. How barbaric, he couldn't even electrocute Fabian with a spell or stab him or something. The cop grabbed Fabian's arm with one hand and Fabian couldn't get his aching muscles to respond. He doubted he could even hold a sword at the moment. "You're not getting away this time, either."

Fabian closed his eyes as the guard brought the taser back up. No matter how much it hurt Fabian wasn't going to scream. He wasn't.

He didn't get to test that resolve. Before the taser could reconnect the guard groaned in pain and Fabian opened his eyes to see him slumped to the side, a whip thin sword sticking out of his spleen.

"Wha...?" Fabian gasped as a tall thin figure pulled the sword out in one solid movement. They were wrapped up in a fine sheet around their head, obscuring their identity. But Fabian's eyes locked with the figure's and they quickly pulled the front of the sheet away to reveal their familiar face. " Ma-ma?"

"Hello darling," Hallarial , his mother, said. She reached a hand down and helped pull him to his feet. “Don’t just lie around, we haven’t gotten out of here yet.”

Fabian could only gape at her. “Why- ho- What are you doing here?”

“Can a mother not want to see her son after so long apart?” Hallariel feigned offense before straightening back out. “I’m here to rescue you, darling. Though I have to admit it was all your motorcycle’s plan. You have quite a loyal steed.”

As if on cue the Hangman rumbled in his mind once again. Master, have you escaped? I am waiting eagerly for you.

Fabian ignored his bike for the moment to sputter some more at his mom. “But… why are you here in person? Certainly you could have just sent some crew and… and all these people you seem to have recruited.”

Impossibly, Hallariel looked almost embarrassed. His own mother looked ashamed. Of herself. “Are you really going to make me say it out loud, darling? I know I have a bad habit of not being there for you and I… well let’s just say Adaine encouraged me to break it.”

“Adaine!” Fabain’s eyes went wide as he chose to put the current topic on pause to deal with more pressing things. “She wasn’t with us, we have to-“

“It’s alright,” his mother soothed, patting him on the head, “your father is fetching her as we speak. All we need to do is get out of here and kill any who get in our way.”

“Can you not?”

Fabian jumped and whirled around to find Riz standing behind him. The goblin had his gun in one hand and Adaine’s spell book tucked under his other arm. Her orb was laying at his feet and although Riz had obviously been watching the whole highly embarrassing scene he just looked stressed.

Riz's eyes flicked to the cop still bleeding out between Fabian and his mother. "My mom works here, you know. Can we just leave without murdering all her coworkers?"

"Ah, I remember you," Hallariel said, gesturing to Riz with her sword, "you're... ah..." She paused for a long, long moment while Riz and Fabian stared at her until she eventually gave up with a shrug. "Fabian and Adaine's friend."

"Riz," Riz said at the same time Fabian introduced him.

"That's The Ball."

Riz gave him a flat look but rolled Adaine's orb over. "Can one of you carry that? It's like half my size."

Fabian awkwardly scooped it up into his arms. It was incredibly awkward, especially when he was also carrying two swords and his shield. The collection of weapons was all more or less piled in his arms rather than being weld with the dexterity and grace he was known for.

But his mother plucked the orb and Adaine's sword out of his arms, rolling the orb across her own hands like it weighed and wasn't annoyingly large. "Let me take these, darling. If I'm not going to be stabbing anyone I'd rather have you free for your daring escape."

Fabian really didn't know how to react to this. To his mother being helpful and attentive to his needs . That simply wasn't her.

Hallariel gave him a tight, almost nervous smile, and urged him forward with another flick of her sword. "Your steed awaits, Fabian. And all your friends."

Fabian could only nod mutely and go off with Riz. His best friend gave him a searching look as they fled.

"Your mom is breaking us out of jail?"

"And my bike," Fabian said, a bit in a daze, "and my father is breaking Adaine out apparently." He then coughed and straightened his shoulders as they ran. "Because of course my family is here! We're pirates after all. Your mother puts people in prison and mine takes them out!"

Riz snorted and rolled his eyes. "I'd fight you for saying an even half rude thing about my mom but..." Riz gave him a smile that Fabian tried to pretend he didn't see. "I'm glad you and your family are growing together."

"Oh, hush," Fabian muttered, "mind your business, The Ball."

"Sorry," Riz laughed, "best friend's business is my business."

Fabian gave him a noogie. "Shut up and let's go find my sister."

Riz's grin was all sharp teeth. "Love you too."

Fabian groaned but couldn't keep his own smile off his face. "Shut up. "

Chapter Text

Seacaster manor was certainly busy. Adaine recognized a few pirates running around as being part of Bill's old crew, now either live in staff or just friends that came over once in a while. But there were other, non-pirate people, there as well. How in the world did they find all these people willing to blow up a police station?

Wait. It was Elmville. Never mind.

Adaine wandered over to a corner to catch her breath and stop giggling madly. This was insane. An insane thing just happened. No way anyone would actually think Adaine died in that collapsing station. And even if they did, how were the Seacasters going to keep her hidden? Slap a wig on her and call her a different name?

Wait. No, they definitely would do that.

This was so stupid. Stupid in the most insane, incredible, fun way possible. Adaine was either going to start crying or laughing so hard she'd split her sides.

What felt like moments but was probably actually a few minutes passed. Bill had wandered off almost as soon as they had arrived, shouting at her to stay put, and though she wasn't alone she was unbothered as she tried to center herself.

That ended as soon as Fabian's frantic voice cut through the air. "Adaine! Where's Adaine? Has anyone seen her? She's supposed to be here!"

"Fabian!" Adaine called out to him, pushing herself off the wall and heading towards his voice. He was in the entryway, the rest of her friends right on his tail and all looking none the worse for wear.

Fabian locked eyes with her and his face went through an impressive journey. The worry turned into relief which then quickly morphed into shock and horror.

"Are you alright?" He practically shrieked, rushing forward and halting a step away from her, his hands moving in aborted patterns as if he wanted to reach out and cup her face but was too afraid to. "What happened to your head?"

Adaine blinked at him in bewilderment for a moment, reaching up and touching her own head. Her hand came back sticky with blood and she laughed even as Fabian continued to stare in horror. "It's nothing, I'm fine. I'm literally fine."

"Your head is bleeding!" Fabian practically shrieked, "That is the opposite of fine!"

"It's not," Adaine reassured him, shaking her head and giggling probably a little too madly, "my arms a little banged up but that's all. I'm not hurt."

"Do you need healing?" Kristen asked, coming up behind Fabian. She didn't wait for an answer before reaching out and laying a Cure Wounds on Adaine. The cut on her arm healed up immediately but of course the blood in her hair wasn't cleaned away.

Adaine could have prestidigitationed it away but found she didn't particularly care too. It made her look practically roguish and pirate like.

But even if she wanted to Adaine couldn't get another word out before she was enveloped in a tackle hug as Fig slammed into her. "I'm so glad you haven't left the country! I- I was so worried I'd never get to see you again."

Adaine didn't hesitate to squeeze her back as hard as she could. "Me too. I don't know how I could have survived without you guys." She giggled again as she pulled away and looked at all her friends. "Though I guess I haven't survived! Fabian's parents faked my death."

 Her friends blinked at her, almost in sync.

"What?" Riz asked, confusion and disbelief equal in his voice.

"That explains the blood I guess..." Gorgug murmured.

"Well how is that going to work?" Fabian demanded, "We were supposed to be siblings. We can't do that if you're dead!"

Adaine shrugged helplessly. "I have no idea. But if it means I don't have to go to Fallinel I'm happy."

"You'll never have to go anywhere you don't wish to, darling," Hallariel said, appearing behind the gaggle of friends, "I have some things I believe belong to you."

Adaine's face lit up as Hallariel handed her the sword she had been using, her spell book, and her spell focus. "Thank you! I thought they might have been lost and while I could probably just grab a new sword I did not want to try and replace my spell book."

She stuck her spell book in her small pack that she had thankfully managed to hang on to and buckled the sword to her hip. Without anywhere to put her giant orb she ended up having to cradle it awkwardly in her hands.

Fabian made a face that was half a grimace and half a smirk of amusement as he clapped Adaine on the shoulder. "We need to get you a better spell focus.  Surely they make ones that aren't the size of beach balls."

"I wouldn't reject a new one," Adaine agreed, "though I don't think we have time for that, currently."

"Right!" Riz said, almost literally hopping with pent up energy. "We have to get to the school. It's been months. Who knows what's happened to the girls in that time?"

"You all go," Hallariel encouraged, "we'll deal with the police trouble." She smoothed down Fabian's hair and kissed him on the forehead. "You be good now, darling. Stay safe."

"I will, Ma-ma," Fabian promised, sounding like he was about to choke up.

"And Adaine, erm..." Hallariel grimaced a bit and with a roll of her eyes Adaine magically cleaned her hair so Hallariel could safely pat it. "You'll look after Fabian, won't you? He has a tendency to get into trouble."

"Ma- ma, " Fabian half-hardheartedly complained as Fig and Kristen snickered at him. 

"Run along now, children," Hallariel ushered them away, "I must find my husband and get all these people out of my house before the police track the destruction here. We're not supposed to do crime, you see. Best to divert their attention around a bit."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Seacaster," Gorgug spoke up over the other's laughter, "we'll take care of your kids."

Adaine was so excited.

***

The school was the right move as the six of them almost instantly uncovered a host of incriminating information.

Turned out their vice principal was the bad guy and also a dragon. So that was absolutely wild. Fabian wished he could have said he called it but the closest person to that honor was Fig, and she hadn't even been that close.

Didn't stop her from lording it over the rest of their heads though.

"See? I told you he was a weirdo! He was totally a skirt chaser."

Fabian rolled his eyes as he flipped through more books in the principal's office. He wasn't really reading anything, leaving that kind of nerd stuff to Adaine and Riz who were both pouring over the text like they were food and the two were dying of starvation, but he wanted to pretend to be helping, at the very least. "Just because he's evil doesn't mean he's a creep, Fig. Those are two very different things."

Fig stuck her tongue out at him which he mimicked. "You're just upset because no one listened to me and we could have had this whole thing solved months ago if you did."

"Guys," Adaine called, drawing all attention back to her. She had that book she had stolen freshman year in her hands, looking at it with wide eyes. "I...uh, I think you should all hear this."

She read out from the book, something about only certain people taking it from the library. Fabian didn't really understand it but the others were slowly having various expressions of dawning understanding.

"You said your sister..." Riz started, chewing on his lip, "does this mean she's...?"

Kristen gasped and clapped her hands to her face. "She's the Elven Oracle."

"No, no, I removed the book," Adaine corrected, though she seemed a little out of it, eyes gazing almost blankly at the far wall.

Everyone began talking over each other, asking Adaine if she could cast any spells on herself or dive into her memories or something.

"Wait, wait, hold on," Fabian spoke over the chatter, waving his arms in front of his face, "the Elven Oracle is a teen? I mean, not to doubt your divination ability or anything, Adaine, but... how would that even work? Isn't the Oracle ancient or something?"

Riz's eyes looked like they were going to spring right out of his head. "Your sister had that modify memory spell. What if she... used it on you...?"

An uncontrollable scoff left Fabian's mouth. "Are you suggesting Adaine is actually hundreds, no, thousands of years old and simply forgot about it? That's not how elves work." He gestured to her, who was looking extremely overwhelmed. "Look at her. She's very clearly not an adult."

"Magic can do a lot of things dude!" Riz insisted.

"No, okay, no, it's um... nnng." Adaine groaned and rubbed at her eyes, as if she could scrub her brain clean. "The Elven Oracle is a titled that's passed on. It's not... it hasn't just been one person from the beginning. And the previous Oracle died... the day before the first day of school." She stared down at her hands like she had never seen them before and whispered, "So, when the last Oracle died, did I become the next one?"

Fig tapped her foot as she thought, squinting hard at nothing in particular. "Your sister knew you became the Oracle, right? That's why she dared you to take the book in the first place?"

"How did she know? Is your family-" Gorgug asked but was interrupted by Adaine swearing under her breath.

"That sneaky little bitch, I hate her so much."

Fabian reached out and grabbed her shaking hand, which had screwed up into a fist, and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I think we should go put that book back."

Adaine nodded and pressed the book into her chest. Her breathing was getting faster but she seemed grounded enough at the moment. Not full on panicking yet. "Yes. Let's put the book back."

"You guys go," Riz said, going back to the files around them, "I'm going to finish going through this stuff."

"I'll co-"

Fig was cut off in both her words and moving forward by Kristen grabbing her arm and pulling her back. "Hold on, let the new siblings have their bonding time. They haven't seen each other in months."

Fig huffed and crossed her arms with a pout. "I haven't seen Adaine for months either! Does best friendship mean nothing to you people?"

Fabian frowned, though Adaine seemed too distracted to really listen to the conversation. "Come on. We're all best friends. You can't just claim best friend status for one person."

"Riz already claimed you!" Fig pointed accusedly at the goblin who blushed bright red and buried his face further in the papers around him.

"I- um, why don't you two just go put that book back?" Riz muttered when Fabian raised a pointed brow at him.

"Yes," Adaine said again, walking out the door without waiting for Fabian.

Fabian quickly pointed two figures back and forth between his eyes and Riz before he rushed out after her, catching up after only a couple of steps. "Are you alright?"

Adaine swallowed thickly and nodded, gripping the book like it was a lifeline. "Oh, I'm fine. This is only the, what, third life altering event to happen to me recently? Apparently I'm the most powerful diviner in the whole world! Boy, you'd think I would have seen any of this coming then, huh?"

She giggled hysterically and Fabian reached out to touch the middle of her shoulder blades when the laughs turned to frantic gasps.

"It's a lot," she whispered, "it's just so much to take in."

"Yes, well, at least it's not surprising," Fabian awkwardly tried and smiled ruefully when she gave him a confused look, "I mean, it's always been obvious you're one of the most talented wizards of our generation. This isn't that big of a shock."

Adaine snorted and leaned into his side. "You're a fighter. Your flattery means nothing."

"Rude," Fabian faked offense and the two of them laughed softly.

The library was dark and empty when they arrived, all the staff gone or trapped by now. The restricted section, despite being off limits, was just another row of shelves sectioned off by nothing but a velvet rope.

This school had horrible security.

There was a stand on the edge of the section, right next to the rope, and Adaine made a beeline for it before carefully depositing Watches and Wards back in its place.

Almost the exact moment her hands left the book a rush of energy filled the room as well as almost angelic singing and Adaine began to float up into the air.

Fabian jumped back, hand on his sword as he had no other ideas on what to do as Adaine began to glow, her hair waving in an unfelt breeze.

And then a ghost appeared in front of her.

"Ah!" Fabian yelped and struck out with his sword, cleaving the ghost in two. Or, trying to, at least. His sword lacked any magical properties and so passed harmlessly through the spector as if it wasn't there at all.

"Well, how rude," the ghost sniffed. She was an elven woman with long hair and fancy looking robes that appeared to be dripping wet. "Is this really how my successor greets me? With a sword to the face?"

"Are you... the previous Oracle?" Adaine asked, still floating in mid air. Her eyes were so wide they looked as if they were about to pop right out of her skull and her breath came out in a whisper.

The ghost, the Oracle, gave one last glare to Fabian, who could only blush and stutter with embarrassment, before turning her attention fully to Adaine. The ghost kissed her on the top of the head which, by Adaine's shiver, she did indeed seem to feel. "Yes, child, I am your predecessor. I died in a ship wreck. It was brutal. I don't recommend."

Adaine let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah, you didn't see it coming?"

"I did," the oracle confessed with a shrug, as if they weren't talking about something like her violent death at the hands of a storm, "but I thought there was a shot, I took a swing and it ended up a miss, you know what I mean? Sometimes it doesn't work out that way."

"Sometimes it doesn't work out," Adaine repeated, sounding almost like she was in a trance.

"Excuse me!" Fabian spoke up. He was getting just a little freaked out by Adaine continuing to float in the air, having a casual chat with a ghost. "What in the world is going on here?"

The ghost glared at him a little which he felt was unjustified. "We're having a moment, if you don't mind. I am trying to pass on the title of Oracle."

"Why now?" Fabian demanded, not about to be bullied by a dead lady, "Why didn't you show up when you first died? And why Adaine? She is a very capable wizard but being the... being the Oracle is a lot of pressure to put on a fifteen year old girl!"

"I would also like to know that, actually," Adaine added as well, "and how my sister knew this was going to happen when I didn't."

The Oracle shook her head, making a tsking sound with her tongue. "So many questions... who the new Oracle becomes is not something I, or anyone else, decides upon. It isn't a calling but simply a title, pass from great divination wizard to the next. If anyone guessed you'd be Oracle they simply must have picked up on your incredible talents. They would have been rivaled only by my own, after all."

Adaine frowned at that, contemplating. 

"As for why I am revealing this to you now that was, indeed, my  choice," the ghost continued, speaking softer now, "I did not think you were ready for the knowledge yet. You seemed to have a lot going on."

Adaine nodded. Fabian was also certain she hadn't blinked this entire time.

"But worry not child, all the previous Oracles are with you now and the future is yours and yours alone." She reached out and kissed Adaine's forehead once again before disappearing in a burst of light.

Thankfully, Adaine descended from the air slowly but Fabian still reached out to steady her and help get her feet back under her.

"Well, that was odd," Fabian said lamely as Adaine blinked rapidly and rubbed her face.

"Certainly could have been worse," Adaine agreed, taking a few steadying breaths, "my life is insane."

"You go to Augefort, of course your life is insane."

The moment was interrupted by Kristen bursting into the room, moving so fast she had to catch herself on the door so she didn't go sprawling across the floor. "GUYS! Guys guys guys!"

"Whoa, where's the fire?" Fabian joked, moving over to give her a hand.

Kristen was breathing hard, obviously having run here from the principal's office. At Fabian's question her eyes shrunk to pinpricks and she started shaking so hard Fabian almost had to hold her upright. "That's... that's just the thing. Haha. How'd you guess?"

Adaine came up to them and placed a hand on Kristen's shoulder. "Just breathe, Kristen. What's going on?"

Kristen shook her head hard. "Our houses... check your crystals."

Fabian and Adaine exchanged confused looks as Fabian fished his phone out of his pocket.

There was a text message from an unknown number. No words, just a picture.

A picture of Seacaster Manor burning, Harvestmen dressed in their scarecrow costumes swarming the place.

"It's happening to all of us," Kristen explained, "the other's already left. Goldenhoard, Kalvaxus, he's targeting our families."

Chapter Text

After calling a car for Kristen, Fabian and Adaine raced on the Hangman towards Seacaster Manor.

Adaine, funnily enough, had also gotten a text that showed the Abernant household lit up in a bonfire. She had promptly ignored it. Even if she did have any affection towards her birth family left that house had been empty for months. Everyone else who had lived there safely away in Fallinel. She wondered, as the wind whipped through her hair and the Hangman was pushed to its ultimate limit, if the rest of her family received a similar message. If they even cared she might be in danger.

Probably not.

They could see the smoke rolling off Seacaster Manor long before they got in view of the actual ship house. From where Adaine had her arms wrapped around his waist she could feel Fabian tensing more and more every moment.

"They'll be okay," she tried to reassure both him and herself, squeezing him, "they're pirates. They can take on a few cult members."

Fabian's hands were white around the Hangman's handlebars. "Yes, yes of course. We've taken on these hooligans ourselves after all."

When they rounded the corner the sight that greeted them was not a pretty one. A large section of the manor was completely ablaze and scarecrow masked cultists were running every which way, starting more fires, rushing through the door, or just going at the walls with hatchets.

Adaine leaned around Fabian's back to start snipping a few of them with cantrips. She favored ray of frost instead of firebolt, not wanting to contribute more to the blaze raging around them. This had the positive effect of slowing down many of the Harvestmen's attempts at destruction but the negative one of not causing too much damage and simply turning their murderous intentions to the two incoming kids.

Fabian didn't seem to mind the extra intention. He took his hands off the handle bars to draw his sword and shield and with a dramatic battle cry launched himself off the motorcycle entirely and into the fray, knocking a cultist over with his shield and skewering another with his sword in the same motion.

Adaine yelped and lunged forward to grab the handles herself so she didn't fall off after him. "Little..." Adaine muttered under her breath as the Hangman whipped around for the tail end to smack into another Harvestman, laying them flat on their back. She was so glad this thing drove itself. "Not all of us can do kick flips off of moving bikes."

A guy with an ax was coming up from Fabian's backside and Adaine quickly hit him was a ray of sickness before he could cleave her brother's skull in.

Fabian spun around at the sound of retching and kicked the guy so he fell over before turning to Adaine and waving her over. "Come on then! The Hangman can take care of the rest out here. We need to find Ma-ma, Pa-pa and Cathilda."

Underneath her, the Hangman rumbled in agreement and Adaine managed to slip off of its seat without embarrassing herself but also without any of the extra pizzazz that Fabian had. As soon as she let go the Hangman tore off to run another Harvestman over, fishtailing back and forth to avoid getting hit by their wildly swinging axes.

Fabian let out a mighty battle cry as he took off into the house, Adaine right behind him. "You shall not harm my family you scurvy dogs!"

He had really tilted all the way into the pirate thing.

Adaine blasted a few more spells out while Fabian swung wildly and the two of them managed to fight their way through the manor. When they got to the top of the stairs their attention was split in two directions. To their left fire raged like a storm and they could hear the tell tale cackling of Bill Seacaster though the words he was spitting were too muffled to make out. To their right was less fire but loud clashes of steal and a whole host of yelling.

Fabian stood, frozen, at the top of the stairs, looking back and forth between the two directions. His eyes wide with terror and indecision.

Adaine reached out to lay her hand on his and nodded to the left. "Find your mom. I'll get Bill."

Fabian hesitated, his eyes searching her face, before his face hardened in determination and he nodded. "Alright. Be safe. If you don't meet back up with me in five minutes I'm going to be incredibly cross at you."

 Adaine snorted. "Oh no, how horrible. I was planning on getting stabbed but if you're going to be cross..." She shoved him in the shoulder and took off towards the left. "Go help your mom."

"Five minutes!" He called after her.

Adaine rushed off, her steps quicker and more assured as she moved into her bladesinging stance. The fire was hotter here, the smoke almost choking, the Harvestmen had obviously concentrated their efforts on this side of the manor. Probably zeroing on the legendary pirate specifically. Adaine could hear Bill yelling his battle cries and insults, though his bravo was cut off by heavy coughing more often than not. Not a good sign.

The path was clear, at least. Bodies littered the ground like weeds but anyone still alive was probably locked in battle. Adaine just had to rush forward, get there and help and then-

A thunderous groaning sound assaulted Adaine's ears and a flash of precognitive vision let her stop just in time to avoid a flaming support beam that tumbled from the roof. She had to scramble back to avoid getting caught up in the licking flames and for the moment it seemed like her path was completely barred.

Adaine cursed and glanced around for a safer way through. She could jump over the beam, potentially, but that would risk burning herself severely if she didn't clear it. The other side might be just as choked with debris but-

Her thoughts were interrupted by someone much larger than her body slamming into her side and sending her sprawling to the floor. Fuck, she really needed to grow stronger. Getting knocked prone was not fun or dignified. The Harvestman who had slammed into her was built like a linebacker and was on her in an instant, slamming his sword down into her shoulder and effectively pinning her to the floor.

Adaine screamed in pain and lashed out wildly with the sword in her other hand, catching the Harvestman on the cheek and ripping his mask and flesh. The cultist didn't seem phased at all by the blood now streaming down his face. He left his sword sunk into Adaine's shoulder blade and pulled a hatchet from his belt, raising it up with the clear intent of smashing it into Adaine's skull.

"No no no no," Adaine denied and, aiming mostly just away but roughly to the other side of the beam, Misty Stepped away from her attacker.

She managed to land in the empty hallway beyond the collapsed beam and not in a giant pile of fire so that was a success. No one was immediately around her to attack either so Adaine took a few precious seconds to catch her breath. The Harvestman's sword had not teleported with her which was good in the sense she didn't have to unstick herself from the floor but also meant she was now bleeding profusely from that shoulder.  With a groan Adaine peeled herself off the floor and got her footing back under her. She wished Fig or Kristen were here, or even Riz. Knowing how to quickly dress a wound seemed useful in the moment.

She pulled a small health potion from her jacket instead and drank half of it while she moved into Bill's bedroom.

Adaine had been expecting a host of enemies to deal with once arriving but was surprised to find the bedroom surprisingly empty of living bodies. Many many dead ones were scattered around but the only person still standing was Bill Seacaster himself.

And even that was only on technicality. The pirate had handcuffed himself to his bedpost, forcing him to stay on his feet even as he was bleeding from multiple wounds, his breath coming shallow and ragged.

His eyes cracked open as she approached, shaking arm beginning to raise the sword before he recognized her and he dropped the thing completely. "Ah, lass. Thought you were more of them intruders. Fabian's safe is he?"

"Yes, he went to find Hallariel," Adaine reassured him, casting a few frost rays to fight back the creeping fire as she carefully picked her way over to him, "Bill what happened?"

"Good, that's right good," Bill said around a wet cough, ignoring Adaine's question for the moment, "if he didn't look after his mother I'd have to skin the boy." Adaine shot him a look and she wasn't even sure if he saw it but he groaned loudly and shook his head. "Shouldn't say that. My dear lad gave me an earful about sayin' things like that."

"Well, you can apologize to him about it when we get out of here," Adaine told him as she examined the scene, trying to figure out the best way to go about this.

"I'm afraid that won't be happening," Bill said, slumping further, the handcuff cutting into his wrist, "the rushed the house when we weren't prepared. Set the place ablaze. I chained myself up so I'd die on my feet but this seems to be the end of old Bill Seacaster."

"What?" Adaine's gazed snapped away from where she was examining his multiple wounds and to his face. He wasn't suggesting he was about to die, was he? Sure, his wounds looked bad but Adaine had seen a lot worse in her life and she was sure Bill had too. "No, no way. I'm getting you out of here."

"Too late for that lassy, I'm a dead man standing. But still. I died on me feet protecting me home. Good a death as a pirate could ask for." He sighed and tilted his head back, closing his eyes. "Me only regret is I didn't do as right by Fabian as I ought to have. I love that boy but I'm afraid I wasn't the best father to him. You'll tell him that I'm sorry, for any harm I've caused, won't you lass?"

"No," Adaine said sternly, causing Bill to blink his eye open to her. It seemed like she had actually caught him off guard. But if he really thought she was going to let him have a dramatic speech and then just dip out of this mortal plane he had another think coming. "You don't understand. You're going to tell him yourself because I am really not going to let you die here."

Before he could answer Adaine with one hand shot a Knock spell at the handcuff, springing it open, and with the other took her half empty health potion and shoved it in Bill's mouth, forcing him to drink it down as he slumped to the floor.

After a moment he was able to bat her away, coughing still but much less of a death rattle than before. "Damn it child, what do you think you're doing? Don't force feed a pirate when he's on his death bed."

"Fabian fucking adores you," Adaine told him, taking a step back to give him some breathing space. The healing potion would stabilize him but he was still going to be weak and in a lot of pain. "And he's always in his head about what you'd want out of him and how proud of him you are."

"I'm always proud of me boy!" Bill said, climbing shakily to his feet. "He's me son. Best thing in the world."

"Then you're going to tell him that," Adaine said sternly, reaching out to help him up. She was mad. Mad that someone was trying to take away a family she actually  wanted to have, mad that Bill seemed to be ready to just give up on it all now that he was on the edge of everything he actually wanted. And she used that anger to help haul him to his feet and keep him steady. "You don't get to see the light and want to be a better parent and then just go on and die on us. I won't let you take the coward way out."

"What?" Bill barked and there was enough strength in the tone that Adaine let herself relax a little more. "The cow... you're calling me a coward? I should run you through for that!"

"Uh huh," Adaine said, unimpressed as she guided him in limping out of the still burning room, "that's what you do with things that make you uncomfortable, right? Get rid of them so you don't actually have to face them. And now that your life isn't as comfy as it used to be you're willing to give up on that too."

Surprisingly, Bill was silent at that for a moment, letting her lead him to safety. "I ain't a daft fool. I know ye ain't talking about the comforts of a soft bed and a warm meal. I've dealt without those most me life."

He was right, he wasn't an idiot. So Adaine didn't bother answering that. Instead she just said, "Fabian's been facing this kind of discomfort his whole life. Not being sure of himself. Not being confident in his choices. He's starting to get there, but he still needs his dad. You can't just run away now."

Bill let out a grumble that, if Adaine didn't know better, she would have sworn was closer to a defeated sigh. "Can't believe you're calling me a coward. Down right rude is what it is. Who's been teachin' this lass these things?"

Adaine snorted and didn't say anything in response. But she felt him lean more easily on her, accepting her help, and felt more confident than ever that everything would be alright now.

***

Fabian charged into his mother's bedroom, putting all concerns for his father out of his mind at the moment. He trusted Adaine to take care of him. Trusted her more than he had anyone in his life.

He met resistance almost immediately but felt like he was practically untouchable as he parried a Harvestman and skewered another as he raced passed. He briefly wondered if Kristen knew any of them and then hoped she didn't.

He got in the bedroom to a sight that almost stopped him in his tracks. His mother having a sword in her hand wasn't too surprising as she had been training Adaine but Cathilda was wielding two sabers and was fighting off four villains in a practical hurricane of steel. Cathilda was... a maid wasn't she? Did maids know how to sword fight?

His hesitation could only last a moment, however, as he caught sight of a cultist baring down on his mother's exposed backside. "Ma-ma!" He shouted in warning, jumping forward and just barely managing to get his shield in between Hallarial in the blade. The Harvestman stumbled back in surprise at the block and Fabian took the opportunity to slash them across the face before turning to his mother and maid.

"Ma-ma, Cathilda, what.... what is going on?"

"Oh, seems as if we're experiencing a bit of a home invasion," Cathilda said as she slaughtered her opponents soundly, "takes me back to my youth, don't you agree Hallarial? Like we're being boarded."

Unlike Cathilda who had a smile on her face and held her swords as easily as she did a broom, Hallarial was panting and leaned over to rest on the bed frame in this moment they had. "Yes, though I admit I was a much more... active woman... back then." She tilted her head back as she caught her breath. "I need a drink."

Fabian shook his head and then, with no other options to him, shook his head again. "You two really need to talk to me more. I feel like I know every single detail about Pa-pa's life and none of yours! I simply..."

Cathilda came over and gave his arm a reassuring squeeze and he instantly felt better. "It's alright, Master Fabian, things'll get better from now on. You'll see." She shot a look that wasn't quite a glare but almost felt worse than that at Hallarial who stood up a little straighter. "Isn't that right, darling?"

"Yes, of course," Hallariel said, first stiffly and then she let her shoulders drop and she looked... vulnerable. More vulnerable than Fabian had ever seen and he had seen her black out drunk. She smiled and it was a very fragile, very nervous, expression. "I'll put that on my 'being a better mother' list, yes?"

Feelings churned within Fabian, confusion, at the silent conversation Cathilda and Hallariel seemed to be having. Anger, anger at how it was only now everyone seemed to want to pay attention to him and not just his accomplishment. Resentment, that she thought everything could be fixed with a few kind words and a prison break.

But mostly, mostly he just felt relief. "Yes, I... thank you Ma-ma. All I've wanted, for a long time I think, is for you to be my mother." He laughed awkwardly, startled himself by what he said, and looped a arm around Cathilda's shoulder. In for a penny... "Cathilda has been my maternal figure most of my life it feels like! And I love you dearly Cathilda, so so much..."

She smiled at him and reached up to pat his cheek. "And I love you, Fabian. You've always been such a good boy."

He swallowed the emotional lump in his throat and nodded, turning back to Hallariel. "But I, ah, I would like very much to get to know you as well, Ma-ma."

Hallariel nodded slowly, almost serenely. "Harsh but fair my son. I would like to get to know you as well, if you'll still let me."

Fabian reached out with his other arm and pulled his mother into the hug as well. It was a bit awkward, with all their weapons and Fabian's shield, but in that moment, embracing the woman who had always been there for him and one who he had always wished was, Fabian could have sworn he never felt happier.

"So you have two mom's now?"

Fabian startled and untangled himself enough to turn around.

Adaine was standing in the doorway, Fabian's father using her as a crutch. They both looked bad, bloodied and battered but were smiling at him all the same.

"Fig's going to be jealous," Adaine said with a laugh, "you're catching up to her in number of parents. I swear you people just collect them like cards."

"Adaine, Pa-pa," Fabian called, ignoring Adaine's jab as he rushed over to them, "are you both alright?"

"Yes," Adaine told him, pride in her voice as she let Cathilda support Bill's weight, "I made sure of it."

"That girl has the shapens to be a real pirate," Bill said. There was a large pool of blood on his stomach and a slur to his words but his eyes shone as he regarded both of them. "We haveta keep her around."

Adaine blushed lightly as Fabian nudged her with his shoulder.

"Cathilda" Bill asked the halfling woman under him, "you know how to stitch a wound, don't ya?"

Cathilda blinked and Fabian was sure he'd never seen her so caught off guard. "Master Seacaster, are you asking for my help?"

He groaned and patted her on the head. "Are ye really going to make me say it again?"

The love Fabian felt for his family was overwhelming as he watched all of his parental figures talk, lightly ribbing at each other. They were all friends, at one point long ago, he had heard that story before. He'd never actually believed it until now.

Adaine nudged him back and when he turned to her she tilted her head with a fond smile. "Come on, are you ready to go fight a dragon?"

Fabian tightened his grip on his sword and shield and flashed her his most confident smile. "I thought you'd never ask."

Chapter Text

They met back up with everyone at the school once more. Fabian and Adaine leaving the other Seacasters to clean up the rest of the mess and get help while the children had a dragon to fight and a town to save.

Thankfully, there was good news all around from the other bad kids. No family had died- Kristen's dad had apparently busted his arm but she didn't seem too worked up about it- Sandra Lynn had flown off to rescue the captured maidens and while everyone seemed tired and roughed up there was determination in each set of eyes.

"Adaine, when we were driving back I noticed that your old house is just completely gone now," Riz was kind enough to inform her, squinting as he delivered the news, "do you feel... anything? About that?"

Adaine thought about this for half a moment before snorting and shaking her head. "I feel like it's funny? Whoever was watching us must not have been paying that close attention." She smiled reassuringly at him as she looked around at all her best friends. "Everyone I care about is safe. Let's go slay a dragon."

"Hazzah!" Fabian agreed and proceeded to kick open the gym doors.

Inside was a very normal looking prom, all things considered. Crowded gym, tacky decorations, an announcer on the stage declaring Dayn and Penelope the prom king and queen that if allowed to continue would spell doom for maybe the entire world.

Normal prom stuff.

"We gotta get that crown," Adaine said, standing on her toes in an attempt to see past the packed crowd.

"No problem," Fig said with a wink, hooking her arm around Gorgug's, "This music is trash anyway. I think a different band should start playing."

"What?" Gorgug asked as Fig dragged him through a dimension door and the two of them appeared on stage.

"I've got a plan," Kristen said, glancing around and chewing on her lip, "if I can just get over there somehow..."

Adaine didn't need to be told twice. She cast fly on the cleric and sent her on her way. She tried to give a cool quip like Fig had done but it didn't really come off great so whatever.

Kristen flew away and as she did so Adaine took a moment to fall into the Song.

Bladesinging was a very interesting sword form. It was a style of fighting inspired by bard; intended to use rhythm and dance to expand one's magical ability, but specifically crafted to work for wizards , as opposed to any of the many other classes with innate magic. When they had first started training Hallarial had told Adaine that despite learning the same style, every bladesinger hears a slightly different song. Adaine had not listened to much music in her life so she didn't know exactly what kind echoed in her mind but she knew that she liked it. The song had energy she associated with Fig's music, the raw passion of Gorgug's, and the community of the sea shanties the Seacaster household seemed to always be filled with. All of that seemed to hum through her, bringing life to her limbs and a quickness to her step.

Adaine bounced on her toes as she turned to Fabian and cocked her head cheekily. "So... race you to the stage?"

Fabian snorted. "Please, don't make bets you can't possibly win." He then whistled so loud Adaine had to cover her ears and half a second later the Hangman roared through the empty halls of the highschool and screeched to a halt next to them.

Adaine glared as Fabian swung onto the bike. "You did not have to whistle."

"No," he agreed, "but it was cool. The Ball! Would you like a ride?"

"Oh, hell yes," Riz cheered, jumping up and clinging to Fabian's back, "Fabian and The Ball! Best friends riding into battle."

Fabian opened his mouth, closed it, shook his head and then withdrew his sword. "Oh, what the hell. Best friends!"

The Hangman roared louder than needed as it took off with the two boys.

"Cheaters!" Adaine called after them but there was a giggle in her voice. The bladesong always felt so good, she could barely conceive being upset at her friends at the moment. She took off running after them, the bladesong made her much faster, not as fast as a motorcycle or flying of course, but enough that she didn't feel like she was going to be completely left behind.

She ducked and dodged through the fleeing other students, watching as Gorgug wrestled the crown from Penelope and Fabian engaged Dayne in a sword fight, protecting Riz so he could get off some long range shots.

Ragh and Goldenhoard were off to the side but approaching the stage fast and Adaine threw a thunderbolt at them in an attempt to, at the very least, distract them from going after Gorgug and the crown.

Ragh stumbled with a yelp as the lightning hit him but Goldenhoard kept going like it was nothing.

So that... wasn't good. Adaine ran faster. It'd be better if she could get in sword range.

Goldenhoard leapt at Gorgug but didn't even touch him. Instead the vice principal took Gorgug's surprise as an opportunity to wrench the crown from his hand and throw it at the half surrounded Penelope.

Suck.

There was no time to do anything but watch as the senior girl gleefully placed the crown upon her head.

Adaine had made it to Goldenhoard and Gorgug, at least. Goldenhoard didn't seem to notice either of them as his gaze fixed solidly on the back of the room and he clicked what looked like a garage opener.

"Yes..." Goldenhoard practically hissed as the entire back wall of the gym lifted up. "Yes! My time has finally come! Destiny I embrace you!"

Everything that happened next was a bit of a blur. Behind the wall of the gym was just a massive pile of gold and as soon as it hit the lights of prom Goldenhoard began to change.

His shirt burst apart at the seams, wings sprouted from his back, and he roared a thunderous bellow as he went from a seven foot tall dragonborn to a multiple story dragon.

Which Adaine was standing at the feet of. So small in comparison he could easily crush her like a fly.

Adaine started to tremble, lightly at first and then with wracking tremors that made it difficult to keep a grip on her sword. A small part of her brain whispered that this was dragon magic. They had a fear aura. It was a charm that was settling over her and squeezing her throat, just a charm.

Every other cell in her body was too busy screaming to listen to that little voice. She was going to die she was going to die. They had put up a good fight, tried to solve the mystery best they could, but it was over now. The good guys had lost. And now they were all going to be torn asunder for daring to try.

Adaine's legs moved without permission, her breath catching in her lungs as she scrambled back and did the only thing she was sure she was capable of in that moment. She ran away.

Coward, she berated herself as she pushed past Gorgug and rushed out a side door. She could hear her name being shouted behind her but she couldn't even muster the courage to look back. She was leaving her friends, leaving maybe the entire country to its doom but no matter how much she screamed at herself that she needed to stop, needed to turn around and fight like she had been practicing she could not make her legs stop running.

She made it outside, no direction in her mind but away, when something grabbed her around the waist and plucked her right out of her dead sprint.

Adaine screamed at the top of her lungs and instantly tried to squirm out of the grasp. She wasn't even fighting whatever had her, just thrashing like an animal caught in a trap. The urge to get away pounded in her skull so loudly she couldn't even think logically enough to misty step free.

"Hold on there, hold on there lass!" A familiar voice said in her ear, "What seems to be all the rush?"

After her attempts to break free proved futile, Adaine managed to shove her blind panic down enough to get her bearings as she gasped shallow breath after shallow breath.

Bill Seacaster was here. He looked a little better than he had a few dozen minutes ago when she had last seen him but still obviously beat up. He had one arm tightly around Adaine's waist, holding her securely in place even as she tried to wrestle herself free, his hook was looped around her arm, loosely so as to not hurt her, and she bleated realized it was there so she couldn't hit him or herself.

"W-what?" Adaine gasped, trembling hard in place still, "Bill, you're injured! What are you doing here?"

"I wasn't about to let me children fight a dragon all by their lonesome!" Bill declared, "Where would be the sport in that? So I rounded up a cleric fast as able, said if he didn't patch me up I'd carve him up instead, and now here I am." He grinned confidently for a moment before peering at her curiously. "And what about you, lass? What are you doing all the way out here? The dragon's inside, ain't he?"

Oh, he was going to hate her. Bill Seacaster was going to see how weak she was, how broken. He was going to yell at her for fleeing a fight, or maybe even laugh at her, and then leave her. Kick her out of his home. Her parents had always made it clear they only barely tolerated her faults, how would a man so concerned with strength be expected to even do that much?

Adaine slumped in his grip, the panic briefly overwhelming her until it just circled around to cold dread. There was nothing she could do. Her entire life was about to be upended, again, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Because she deserved it, didn't she?

"I...I ran away," Adaine whispered, the back of her mind wondering if it was possible to tremble right out of her own skin, "The dragon... now that he is a full dragon, he's terrifying. I-I couldn't handle it. I panic. I panic at small things and I can't breathe and this was such a huge thing and I couldn't make myself not panic so I ran!" Tears were falling down her face as she confessed her failures into the grass below, unable to even look at Bill. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I couldn't do it. After everything and all the training I've been going through and what you've given me I'm just too fucking scared to even-"

She cut herself off as something slipped around her head, blocking one of her eyes, and all of a sudden she felt... calm.

Well, calm er. She was still frightened, certainly, still worried about her and her friend's lives and what Bill Seacaster was going to think of her. But it was no longer overwhelming like it had been a moment ago. No longer demanding that the only thing she do was run, no longer certain that the only safe path was away.

Blinking the still falling tears out of her eyes, Adaine looked up- now half blind- at Bill's face.

He had given her his eye patch. That's what was now around her head. Without it he looked much older, less like a fierce pirate and more like the retired man he was now. The scar over his eye was old but had obviously healed weird, morphing his face in a strange way. His remaining eye seeming brighter in comparison. Now that she wasn't going to bolt, he moved his hand from her waist and firmly placed it on the top of her head.

"Lass, I was told you got a medical condition. Makes ya jumpier than most, is that right?"

Adaine couldn't nod so she swallowed thickly and quietly confessed, "yes. I-I'm sorry. I'm weak, I can't-"

"Now none of that," Bill said, his voice gentler than Adaine had ever heard it. Though that wasn't saying too much. "Your body not working as right as others ain't no reason to apologize. Look at me." He took the hook off her arm and tapped at his scarred face with the side of it. "I ain't got an arm or leg. I ain't got a whole eye. Does that make me weak? That make me think I ain't worth the fight?"

There was a moment pause until Adaine realized he was expecting an answer. "N-no, no of course not. You're incredibly brave, Mr. Seacaster."

"Not always," Bill admitted, which shocked Adaine so much she snapped her mouth shut, "fear can be the killer in a tight fight. That's why I wear this here patch." He tapped the hook to her face now, right at the top of the patch covering her eye. "It's got enchantments on it, helps one stay brave. Conciderin' ya ain't shakin' like a leaf in a hurricane no more I take it you can feel the effects."

"Yes, I-" Adaine reached out and gently touched the patch herself. Magic. Of course it was magic. Dragon's has passive fear spells on them. Everyone knew that. "It's being very helpful. Thank you."

Bill took his hand off her head and moved a step back, looking at her with a hard, but not unkind, expression. "Now listen to me here lassy and listen good. Do you think that I use a peg leg and a hook makes me weak? That I need these blasted things just to walk around, let alone fight, it makes me worthless? My victories don't matter?"

She shook her head, feeling like she was getting a school lecture.

"Then you can use that patch!" He practically shouted, pointing dramatically at her, "and anything else ya need to get through this fight. Just because ya take help to get the job done doesn't mean the job didn't get done. Do ya understand me?"

"Y-yes," Adaine said as confidently as she was able, wiping the tears off her face, but making sure the patch didn't get bumped askew. "Yes. I'm ready I can go fight I can-" She turned back towards the door and gripped her sword tightly. "I can help them. I know I can."

Bill clapped her on the shoulder which Adaine was pleased to find did not knock her over. "What are we fighting for, then?"

Adaine took a deep, steadying breath before blowing it out, feeling satisfied in how smooth it came. "Family."

"Ah, well. I was gonna say 'gold' but that works too."

***

Fabian would have gone after Adaine, he really would have. She had seemed completely overwhelmed when Kalvaxus transformed and from the terror that had been on her face Fabian could make an educated guess that it hadn't been a tactical retreat that sent her running.

But he had been a tad busy. Destroying Dayn with his fellow Bad Boys and dodging cheap shots from Penelope had taken up most of his concentration. Also Gorgug kissed Ragh or something. Lot going on.

So Fabian was distracted, focused on the fight, when he heard a familiar cackle. Startled, he glanced up to see who else but his father charging straight at the now fully grown dragon.

" Pa-pa?" He gasped, getting a firebolt clipping his shoulder as he gawked.

A familiar glow of blue magic flew at his attack and Adaine bounded up beside him, looking much more confident than she had a few moments ago.

She was also wearing his father's eye patch. So that was new.

"Adaine, what is Pa-pa doing here?" Fabian demanded as he pulled her down into a duck, out of the way of Kalvaxus' lashing tail.

"He's here to help," Adaine explained, flipping the patch up so he could see both her eyes, "it's going great!"

Fabian would have gawked at her had he the time. Instead he just protested, "he's injured!"

Adaine shrugged. " You try telling him to go home."

Fair enough. Still, Fabian grumbled as he did a dive roll, trying to get closer to the flying sorceress. "He had better take care of himself. We currently don't have a healer."

Adaine's eyes went wide as she followed him, easily able to dodge around attacks flying around with her new fighting style. "Kristen's down?"

Fabian nodded towards where Penelope was, floating high above them, a catwalk underneath her. "Up there. I've been trying to get to her but this ridiculous sorceress keeps being annoying."

Adaine squinted up and Fabian could practically hear the gears whirring away in her brain. “I can deal with Penelope and get to Kristen. You go help your dad.”

Well, she certainly seemed confident enough, and who was Fabian to question what was so obviously a half formed plan. He nodded and lifted his shield in invitation. “Would you like a boost?”

Her eyes practically lit up. “Would I?”

Adaine backed up as Fabian crouched, shield held in front of him. “Ready?” He called to her when he got his stance right.

She nodded in way of answer and charged. They had never done this before and it had all the makings to be an absolutely terrible idea but none of that mattered at the moment. Because it’d be really cool if they pulled it off.

Adaine placed a foot on his shield and as she pressed down with her weight on it Fabian surged upwards, launching her up and over his head. 

She flailed, mid air, and shrieked a little, but managed to get lost up in the rafters and not immediately fall back down upon his head. 

“Did you make it?” Fabian called up anyway.

A single thumbs up over the edge was his answer and Fabian took that as all permission he needed to run back towards Kalvaxus and try to find his father.

An incredibly easy task, as it turned out. Bill Seacaster was running around the dragon’s legs with Gorgug, slashing and hacking while trying to avoid claws and tail. The Ball was a bit further back, shooting with his gun and making frantic, desperate, looks towards the door. 

Fabian slid in front of him just as Kalvaxus made a lunge with his jaws, letting the sharp teeth sink into his shield instead of his friend’s flesh.

“Uhg!” Kalvaxus cried, splinters in his lips, “You are all so annoying!”

“Haha!” Bill called, waving towards Fabian, “My boy! I see you’ve finally decided to join the real battle.”

“Papa what are you doing here?” Fabian demanded even as he let Riz climb onto his back to get a better angle for his gun.

“Why I’m helping ye of course,” his father said, stabbing at Kalvaxus’ ankles, making the dragon yelp.

“Oh how sweet, ” Kalvaxus mocked, slashing Gorgug back with his claws. The barbarian buckled for a moment before struggling back to his feet. “A whole family reunion. Now I get the pleasure of killing the real Seacaster and the cheap knockoff.”

Fabian flushed, anger building up under his chest. But before he could open his mouth to answer, his father beat him to the punch.

“Do not talk about my boy that way!” Bill cried, swinging now with reckless abandon. “He’s the greatest Seacaster to have ever lived!”

Kalvaxus sneered. “Yes, I suppose all parents want the younger generation to carry on their legacy.”

“My legacy?” Bill laughed, “He’s got his own legacy he’s already making. Taught me a thing or two already he did.” He turned, away from the dragon to fully speak to his son. “Fabian’s already I greater man than I ever was. Still a boy and already showing up his pa-pa.”

Fabian snorted in an attempt to clear his tears without sniffling. “You’re going to make me cry in front of the villain.”

“Why come here then?” Kalvaxus hissed, teeth clenched together, “Why not let your great son fight his own battles?”

“Because he may be a greater man than me,” Bill said, jutting his sword towards the dragon, “but he’s still a boy. And a boy needs his father!”

Kalvaxus snorted, great puffs of smoke coming out of his nose. “Touching.” Then he released the breath he had been holding, shooting a great plume of fire right at Bill.

“Pa-pa!” Fabian cried, darting forward and throwing himself in front of his father. The heat was searing, his wooden shield doing nothing. As Fabian began to lose consciousness he was, at the very least, comforted by the feeling of his pa-pa’s arms around his own. Holding him. 

Shielding him.

Chapter Text

“Alright, explain to me again what happened?” Fabian asked after the battle, “How did our principal return from the dead?”

Adaine and him were sitting on the steps on the school, waiting for the kidnapped maidens to have their go at killing Kalvaxus. 

Adaine took another drink of her water before shaking her head with a shrug. “I don’t know! Seriously. One minute I was killing Penelope, super weird battle by the way, she would not stop insulting my outfit and calling me a nerd. Anyway, everyone was down except me and I was kinda freaking out, right? But Kristen was right there so I got a potion out of my jacket and was about to give it to her when her eyes just snap open. Bam!”

Adaine made a little explosion effect with her hands, starling Fabian into almost dropping his own drink. 

“She was glowing kinda… technicolor, right? And then she started floating and a ringtone type thing started playing? And then Aguefort appeared and time froze.” 

“And he… snuck Kristen out of heaven?” Fabian repeated what he had heard earlier, utterly flabbergasted. “And then Kristen invented a new god? ”

Adaine shrugged again. “That’s what they both said. Even though that doesn’t make sense because Kristen was still breathing when I got to her. But maybe she was already… back from heaven by then.”

Fabian shook his head and chugged his water. “That’s weird. Kristen is weird.”

“All our friends are weird,” Adaine insisted, “though it was nice for Riz to be able to get the finishing blow.”

Fabian could only agree to that. “Yes, avenging his father personally. I am quite proud of The Ball.”

Adaine nodded as well, fiddling with her bottle for a moment before saying. “Speaking of… father’s. Is Bill…?”

“He’s fine,” Fabian quickly reassured her, “though I made The Hangman take him to the hospital. Weather he wants to or not he needs to get some proper heals in. He’s been through much today and is just an old man.”

Adaine chuckled and nudged him with her shoulder. “You know, weird as it is, I think it’s nice when you can say things… in the realm of negativity about your father.”

Fabian huffed. “It’s not negative. It’s just a statement of fact. And knowing ones limits is a good thing.”

“Sure,” Adaine said with a smirk.

They were quiet for a moment, the sounds of brutal murder echoing behind them. Their friends had already gone home with their own parental figures. The two of them were now just waiting for the call Fabian had called.

He cleared his throat, glancing over at Adaine for a moment before turning away. “Ah, so, you know I was thinking. There are many great Seacasters out there, now. My father isn’t the only one.”

Adaine raised a questioning brow at him. “Yeah?”

He coughed awkwardly. “It’s just… you are joining the family. Obviously, that is non negotiable at this point. But my father sort of faked your death and Seacaster is a great name… I don’t want to pressure you into anything, of course, and I’m sure we can find some other solution but…”

Adaine, during his entire fumbling speech, had been building up with laughter. Her shoulders shaking and the eye patch bouncing against her forehead as she couldn’t keep her humor in.

Fabian pouted. “Well you don’t have to laugh at it.”

“Fabian!” Adaine cried, punching him in the shoulder. “You dolt. Of course I’m going to go by Seacaster now. I can’t… I’m definitely not going to keep Abernant. ” She shook her head in disbelief. “Really, I mean, of all the things to be stressed about.”

Fabian squawked and flapped his arms in protest. “I didn’t want to assume! Goodness Adaine, excuse me for not being rude. ”

Adaine snorted and leaned her head on his shoulder. “You’re such a ridiculous brother, I swear.”

“Well,” Fabian said, settling down and watching the stars with her, “you’re a bratty little sister.”

Adaine rolled her eyes. “I’m still older than you.”

They sat there, a moment, enjoying each other’s presence. Enjoying family.

“Do you really think we’re going to get away with the whole ‘faking my death’ thing?”

“In Elmville? I’d be surprised if you didn’t already have a grave.”