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Before the world went to shit, Madelyn Murdock worked in superhuman research and integration. She put her everything into her work, studying the sociological nature of superhumans and how they functioned with each other, and with the rest of the world. Her empathy made her approachable, her military experience made her disciplined.
So when demons started appearing, she was at the forefront trying to help manage the onslaught. Despite this, her name wasn’t exactly spread through the news, so when two young superhumans found their way into her office, she was surprised, to say the least.
The girl had experience in the field. Murdock immediately assumed military due to her serious expression, but beneath that the youth that shone halted that train of thought. Perhaps police, or security. The boy was even younger, barely an adult by the look of his boyish face. Despite their youth, however, they were determined.
They’d looked into her proposals, and wanted to help fight. Murdock was taken aback, as they were the first people to take her proposal into proper consideration. The army wasn’t cut out for this, she knew it. They needed something more.
So she accepted, and they became some of the first recruits into what would become the Agency of Supernatural Protection. Murdock wasn’t in charge, but from the field agents’ perspective, she was. She called the shots, she made the teams, she allocated assignments. It was everything she missed from the military combined with a flexible, passionate group.
They lost a lot of agents after the first few battles. Many left. Some never got the choice. But those two stayed. Soon, more would join them.
- - - - - - -
Sterling had killed someone.
Between the demonic invasions, the Agency had started looking into superhuman activity, spurred on by Murdock’s curiosity and the higher-up’s new willingness to listen.
They had been hunting the serial killer for months after a recent break-out. Murdock already had her suspicions, from how Sterling was acting, but to hear it from his own mouth… it hit Alexis the hardest.
So here Murdock was, doing clean-up.
Technically, it wasn’t her job. But she’d be damned if she let two of her best agents separate without trying her hardest. At least, that’s what she told the higher ups. In all honesty, she did care for the kids, and she didn’t want them to lose themselves because of this. So here she was, standing outside Alexis’ room.
She knocked gently on the door, waiting for a response.
“C’m in.”
The door slid open and Murdock’s heart sank as she saw Alexis lying on her bed, facing the ceiling. The woman didn’t even turn as Murdock entered.
“Agent Jones.” Murdock stepped closer, standing at the edge of her bed. “How are you?”
And it was like something had snapped. Alexis sat up quickly and turned to glare at Murdock.
“How am I? How am I? I’m furious is how I am! He- he killed someone! I don’t care if he was a serial killer, we do. not. Kill! But he did it anyway! He killed someone and then he lied about it!” She was breathing harshly, face red.
“He lied about it! He lied for months! Months, Ms Murdock! He- he… he lied.” Her voice shook.
“Why did he lie to me? Why did he lie? Why… did he not trust me? Did he think I’d be mad?”
Murdock had expected this, she’d prepped for this. But hearing it was different to thinking about it. She exhaled softly, then knelt down to be at eye-level with Alexis.
“Are you not mad now?”
“Yes!” Alexis fumed. “I’m pissed! But it’s not the same! I’m mad because he lied! I just- I just- Why!”
“I can’t speak for Sterling.” Murdock started softly, not missing Alexis’ frown.
“But,” She continued. “Have you considered that it wasn’t a distrust in you, but a fear of disappointment instead? Maybe he was scared of letting you down.”
“But he doesn’t regret it!” Alexis snarled.
“Not killing, no.” Murdock agreed. “But maybe he regrets lying.”
Alexis sighed into her hands. Murdock hesitantly placed her hand on the woman’s knee. She didn’t shake it off.
“Jones?”
She looked up, and Murdock could see the tears in her eyes. Suddenly, she was hit by just how young Alexis was. The woman was barely over 20 and was fighting a war, working for an agency that the work of was emotionally draining to Madelyn, who was at least 10 years senior. Sterling was even younger.
“I can’t tell you what to do. But I think you should talk to him. Try and understand, okay?”
“Why are you here?” Alexis muttered. “Is it impacting our efficiency or something?”
It hurt, the assumption she was only there for work. Murdock brushed it off.
“I don’t care about your efficiency, Alexis.” It was improper to call agents by their first names. Madelyn didn’t care. “I care about you two. And you’re hurting. I want to help.”
Alexis was studying her. She tried to remain loose and readable, open. Finally, Alexis’ gaze flickered to the side and she sighed.
“I’ll… consider it.”
“That’s all I ask.”
If they were friends, she’d stay longer. But this already was improper, and Murdock didn’t want to overstep boundaries. So she rose and silently stepped out the door, closing it quietly behind her. Without looking back, she moved toward her own apartment.
- - - - - - -
Murdock was… uncertain, when her agents came to her with the child of their enemy. Her hesitancy was not directly due to the girl, but more to do with the circumstances. Logically, she knew, she should detain the girl. Emotionally… Sterling’s gaze was wide and hopeful, and Alexis was similarly open, even if she didn’t show it the same way. So, with a sigh, she accepted.
And Diamos joined them.
Despite Murdock’s hesitancy (which was completely valid in her opinion), somehow the little devil girl managed to wriggle her way into a gap between Alexis and Sterling in Murdock’s heart that she didn’t even know existed. The three of them, after a while, became inseparable. Even amongst all the darkness that was their reality, those three still managed to find some light, something to smile and laugh about. The sight of the three of them running about became common within the walls of the Agency, and Murdock couldn’t find it in her to imagine it any different.
- - - - - - -
Paperwork absolutely sucked.
The world was now aware of Diamos, which of course left Murdock in charge of buffering a series of… not so nice emails directed to the agency. She had to force herself to use pre-prepared responses for a few especially colourful ones instead of sending back an essay on why the original author was an idiot- but overall, she was slowly getting through the many, many emails.
She was so absorbed in her work she almost didn’t hear the soft knock upon her door. She did, though, and offered a gentle “come in” to whoever was on the other side. She didn’t recognise the knock, and a glance to her clock showed it was past midnight.
To her surprise, a red face poked around the dark wood, a nervous expression on the young devil’s face. Diamos shuffled nervously, her feet knocking against the ground. They, along with her horns, ears and eyes were the only parts Murdock had noticed change, able to flick from more goat-like to more human-like when the girl focussed.
“Diamos.” Murdock greeted, closing her emails to give the young woman her whole attention. She didn’t miss the nervous fidgeting as the devil stepped a little further into the room, teeth worrying her lip. Murdock’s brow furrowed in concern.
“Hey now, you’ll tear your lip if you keep that up.” She chided softly. “Why don’t you tell me what’s brought you here, hm?”
“Um…” Diamos hesitated, eyes downcast.
“Do you want to sit down?” Murdock thought she’d sit in the chair across the desk, but instead the girl curled up in one of the soft bean bags spread across the edge of the room.
“Can I… Can I just sit here, for a bit, please?” Diamos curled up as she spoke, voice small and scared.
“Of course. Are you thirsty?” A shaking head.
“Okay.”
Murdock returned to her responses, eyes flicking to the devil every now and then, a small smile flicking across her face as she noticed the girl slowly relax as the night progressed. By Murdock’s next stretch break, she was asleep, tail swaying adorably in a slow curve.
- - - - - - -
A river stone sunk in Murdock’s belly as Alexis and Sterling stumbled into her office. Something was very, very wrong.
She stood and walked around her desk, watching the two carefully. Tears stained Alexis’ face. Sterling’s was blank. Dark stains spread beneath the layers of dust covering their uniforms.
Shit.
Without stopping to think, she stepped forward and pulled her kids into a hug.
Alexis broke first, choked sobs escaping with her shuddering breaths. Sterling just shook, silent tears falling onto Murdock’s neatly pressed shirt.
She didn’t care.
Not when two sets of desperate hands clutched the back of her shirt and her two strongest agents broke down in her arms.
Not when they couldn’t hold themselves up anymore, and the three sank to the floor. Not when blood and dirt and tears mixed to stain her clothes to the point she doubted she’d be able to get them out.
Not when her eyes were drawn to her open door, desperate to see a glimpse of red and green, waiting just around the corner. Not when her own tears joined those falling on her shoulders.
Her arms tightened ever so slightly, a protective hold on her remaining kids. She closed her eyes and breathed, whispering soft nothings. Behind closed lids she imagined two other sets of arms wrapping around them.
She didn’t open her eyes.
She kept them closed and held onto the ghosts of those lost as tight as she held her living, breathing, brilliant kids close.