Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Engel yawned while he waited patiently on his seat, his excitement barely outweighing his fatigue as his eyes remained glued to the terminal for their flight.

Although originally he assumed he would travel to his internship alone, he took solace in finding two familiar faces from the school traveling with him. Said faces were Abbie, who leaned on his shoulder, dozed off and Riley who had been on her phone, and from a glance he noticed it to be a conversation with ruby.

While he waited, he recalled back to why his and the classmates he had beside him planned to travel with nostalgia and fondness ebbing away his fatigue.

[4 days ago]

The whole class had gathered around the auditorium due to a sudden cancelation of class, murmurs and whispers sprung up for the sudden cancellation, though many seemed relieved, given it meant a brief mercy from certain teachers.

Engel didn’t listen to the chatter, rather he looked to his friends, who seemed rather occupied elsewhere, though he would notice some unease, more so from the newest student, and friend Claire. Hearing her voice her concerns as the two locked eyes.

“Engel, what do you think is going on?”

He could only really ponder, given how this never happened, especially given how a certain trio teachers are, it wouldn’t make sense to cancel now. “I don’t know,” he replied, “maybe we’ll find out soon,” he added, trying what he could to stay positive in the situation.

Suddenly the high pitch screech of the speakers silenced any chatter, all eyes focused on the center and none other than Ms. Grace herself, sparking more murmurs amongst the class.

“Good day everyone, you’re all wondering why we canceled all your classes this month” she announced, ignoring the chatter while she continued “starting this month, we will be doing a special activity with all of you” she began.

“You will all be going through a 2 month internship of you choosing, and by the end, you will have to write down your experience” she finished. Engel heard the chatter and whispers around him grow two fold

“A-an internship…noooo” he faintly heard a student moan out in despair, and he couldn’t blame them, yet the prospect did excite him, and from a glance, he knew his friends seemed both hesitant,yet excited as him.

And now all he had to do was find an organization to apply.

…

It became late within the school dorms, and Engel grew frustrated. To think that finding an organization that met with what you wanted would turn out so hard, as minutes turned to hours of research, he found none that he liked.

A part of him wanted to retire to bed until an odd advert on his screen. The logo was of a red train with a clock at its center with seven words he could not understand, surrounded it in a half circle, now this had caught his interest.

Searching deeper, he found it to be a company in Korea, its details described what they were looking for matched with Engel’s own, and would pay for travel expenses.

In the back of his mind grew hesitant, it felt too good to be true, and to leave the world he knew was scary, and yet the idea of traveling and the travel cost being paid was tempting.

[Attenion passengers going to Korea: please be ready to enter as the plane will land shortly]

His trip of nostalgia ended, as the terminal called out. “Hey, the plane is about to land” he spoke, gaining Riley’s attention while waking Abbie from his slumber.

“W-whuh? A-alrea-WHAO!” Abbie spoke both in a rather skittish and confused manner, quickly noticing the two beginning to head to the boarding area, only to be gently dragged along by the hand by Engel.

In a hurry the three began to briskly run to the boarding area, Abbie lagging behind, hoping to be first in line.

“Well, this is it,” Riley carried her bags while she spoke in manic confidence “I’ll be seeing you guys soon, and maybe if we meet up we can have a bit of fun”

Abbie gave a nod, and a weak smile followed suit “y-yeah, see you guys soon sometime”

And like that the two had left, leaving Engel to find his seat.

Ideas of what his internship would be like played in his head as the plane took off to Korea.

However, this flight would change these three in more ways than they would know.

Chapter Text

Two months…

Claire didn’t think two months of being an intern for her mom’s church was bad; rather, she was more grateful than anything that she even allowed, the only gripe being how harsh the work was.

And her paper reflected it, descriptions full of what you’d expect from a church that ranges from ministry to worship, and of course hard work that though intense. It was more worth it’s experience.

Embarrassment remained fresh on her mind, seeing herself in clothes of her mother’s occupation, though a small smile remained seeing both of her mom’s smiles at the hard work she had accomplished. And thankfully her class was not too dissimilar with everyone in various get-ups that gave a good description of what sort of job they worked.

The only exception was Oliver, though expected due to being an EA.

And yet as class began to start and Ms. Circle stared at the clock, it’s ticking felt ever so slow, three seats remained empty, and Claire knew two. And she knew she wasn’t the only one.

Lana looked at Abbie’s seat, worry worn firmly in her face as Abbie remained absent as the clock ticked on. Ruby was no different, her screen briefly flickers between her face and her radar. A pink silhouette of Riley stood in the corner with a question mark beside it.

As the gap in time grew closer and closer, Ms. Circle grew confident that three would be late to her class today and began to speak “right class, let’s begin toda-”.

“Oh thank god we made it…”

“Ms. Circle, we’re sorry we’re late it’s just-”

“Oh…no”

The whole class grew silent as they all stared at the trio by the door. their get-ups seemed out of place among those already inside the class.

Where normally, one would wear clothes that resemble some sort of job, one such being a businessman, teacher, mechanic, and Claire’s somewhat stretching it, the trio wore something no one could really guess from their get up…or at least give the wrong impression.

Abbie’s was of a blue trenchcoat with black shoulder pads and armguards, underneath was that of a yellow button-up shirt with a black tie. But what stood out most was a sword too large for him to carry on his own feasibly, yet he stood with…confidence.

A fairly odd trait that was usually never found with Abbie and Lana had noticed it, he didn’t seem as skittish as before, and if by his body language alone she could see he could take things in stride. Though her thoughts were cut short as one of the bullies looked at Abbie in surprise, their voices faint but she swore one of them said ‘Is that a fucking zweihander?!’.

Riley was no Different, wearing a white button shirt, and pants with gold badges, her legs and an arm were covered in plate armor adorned with red wax seals, alongside some sort of scripture etched into it. A badge stood by her shoulder with the insignia of a hammer crossed with a nail while a sword that scarily resembled a nail hung from her side. Her unarmored arm rested on it.

“And what happened, you were nearly late” Ms. Circle finally spoke up, her teeth barred with her fury barely restrained as she looked at the trio, though it seemed odd as even the likes of Abbie didn’t seem all that scared, perhaps she lost her touch, or something else was at play.

“O-oh sorry Ms. Circle, we were just trying to catch up with each other” Riley explained, holding her arm in embarrassment as she spoke.

Ms. Circle narrowed her eyes at the three for a moment before softening to something more akin to neutral “All alright, don’t make it close again” she spoke with annoyance as she eyed the three while they walked to their seats, her gaze stuck longer on Abbie the most, but soon she began her lesson.

Ruby looked at Riley while she sat down, she noticed how her eyes always gravitated to Ms. Circle’s compass, only to gravitate elsewhere, as if she was consciously trying to avert her eyes.

Her scanners noticed many peculiars and it worried her, she noticed a spike in heart rate every time her eyes landed on Ms. Circle’s compass, though it wasn’t something that was out of the ordinary, many students had a similar effect as a constant fear was present.

But what stood out was the same kind was present when she had the same spike to her, even if the glance was brief.

This confused her to no end, delving further she realized many peculiars, Riley’s emotions were one of disgust and fury, and her smile was strained. And though she held her arm with care, it gave the output of a vice, all of which culminated into an answer that she knew she had to confront as soon as she could, then let it consume her friend.

Just what had happened in her internship that’s forcing her to leash herself?

“hey Claire,” Engel said, his smile was the same, yet there was something that seemed to give a feeling of professionalism. His clothes seemed rather familiar, yet not as while dark blue combat tactical uniform was fairly grounded alongside his vest as the word ‘Limbus’ was written on it in bold red, and his magnifying glass sat comfortably in one of many of his vest pockets.

“Hey Engel, I didn’t take you for being the tactical type” she greeted back, looking at his outfit up and down, unsure of what to really make of it, -did he take an internship in some military?- being the only thing on her mind.

“O-oh i-i’m not…nevermind” he sputtered out, somewhat trying to salvage whatever conversation the two could really have at the moment “I didn’t take you to being a Die-I mean a pastor” he quickly corrected, his mind trying to readjust from the two months he had.

Claire looked at Engel with a puzzled look, despite shaking the confusion, it left some sort of impression that something was up with her friend. For now, she’d help bring some ease, they all had an eventful 2 months after all “My mom works at a church, I won’t even begin to tell you what I went through” Noticing Engel be more at ease brought some comfort as they two quietly conversed as the lesson dragged on.

As class came to a close and papers of their tests and their internship alike were given, Claire, Lana, and Ruby couldn’t help but wonder about their friends as a single thought popped up.

“What happened in those 2 months?”

Chapter Text

Ruby looked at her friend’s seat since lunch had begun. The class had ended on a fairly uneventful note, with everyone submitting their tests for the period and trickled into the cafeteria for an early dismissal, yet it didn’t feel whole.

Ruby had opted to plant her cord into a nearby socket, losing her appetite from worrying about her close friend, whom she hadn’t seen for the whole time they and their friends had eaten.

Attempts were made to scan the cafeteria which yielded no results, and calls were made from her phone yet no reply had been received, with the final straw to be but a simple text, only to be left on read.

And now enough had been enough as lunch turned into free period.

Ruby’s thoughts began to drift until she heard the snapping of fingers. Looking around, the cafeteria had been empty and the clock showed several minutes passed.

Looking down she noticed grounded her thoughts was another friend, Robby “Ruby, you…okay? You’ve just stood there for a while” his expression was one of confusion while he spoke. Ruby pondered on what to say before responding with a nod, Robby looking on with some skepticism before shrugging “Alright…Well, everyone is at the pool, you wanna come?”

Ruby quickly replied with a firm shake “I do not want to join you with the class at the pool right now, I wish to check on Riley as my database noticed many mental discrepancies and it has worried me” she explained.

Robby looked uneasy while he listened, but he couldn’t do much once she had put her mind on something “alright, but be careful, Riley’s been acting weird since her internship…” he warned, knowing that whatever may happen between them, it won’t end well, the school taught him that much outside of the usual curriculum “more than usual I mean” he quickly added.

Ruby considered Robby’s words before nodding. Unplugging herself from the wall outlet and parting ways with him as she began her search, Robby hesitantly left to the pool with the class with some hope he’d lose one or both of his friends afterward

…

“Riley? Are you here?” She asked when she peeked into a classroom, only to find another empty room, a small reprieve from the usual chaos that happens in the school, but for Ruby, it was another dead end she had to move from and continue onward.

Many minutes had passed since her search, in each classroom, and at one point the library left no step further from finding her friend. She had to confront her friend now than later, with the gap between free time and the next class closing ever tighter, she found herself at the gym’s entrance.

Determination grew as it was her last chance to confront what ate at her friend. Rushing in she scanned the gym until, finally. She found her.

And that well of worry now began to spring, at the state she was in.

Riley had curled herself in the corner, her armored hand held her unarmored one while it reached for the nail-like blade on her hip, muttering of near madness was all she spouted. Ruby looked at her friend heartbroken at what had become of her, and that grew into resentment towards, what sort of company she had her internship with.

Walking closer, her steps were slow yet heavy, but Riley didn’t seem to be aware of her, she heard mutterings that her friend had mumbled out in her trance.

“I-I don’t…but I have…but I don’t…B-but I have” Riley repeated in ad nauseam before suddenly stiffening her poster, as a small, robotic but all so disgusting to one half of her mind while another was gentle voice spoke to her.

“Riley…:” Ruby spoke, she looked at Riley with a horrified expression, which ate away both sides of Riley’s psyche as resentment and guilt mixed, leaving her confused.

“O-oh, hey Ruby” she managed to speak out, a smile faux smile grew, trying to hold any sort of mask of sanity to avoid an inevitable confrontation, and for an excuse to keep her mind busy “We should head to class, we’re going to be-”

“Riley, I want to talk about what’s happening to you lately” Ruby cut in, her tone firm. To which Riley panicked.

“W-we can talk about this after class” she quickly replied, trying to circumvent her friend only for her to copy her movement and impede.

“Right now.” Ruby took a firm step forward, causing Riley to step back, her strained smile now turning to a fearful frown.

A fear of what may happen now as Ruby began to take another step, and began to list what she observed.

“After your internship, I noticed you have been having a spiked heart rate whenever you look at me or Ms. Circle’s prosthetic” Ruby began while taking a step forward.

“Ruby, I don’t want to talk about this,” she said with uncertainty, while she took a step back.

“You are constantly trying to avert your gaze when you look at me, or anyone with prosthetics, and you seem overly stressed, your smile has been more strained recently” Ruby went on.

“Ruby I don’t want to talk about this” Riley’s voice became more desperate as the space between and Ruby grew more slim.

“You also give an expression of deep disgust and you’ve held your arm with the strength of a vice” she continued to close the gap.

“RUBY PLEASE!” Riley begged. Her back, now pressed against the wall as her line of sight had nowhere else to look, nowhere to avoid.

“And I want to ask you why you are like this. What happened?” she questioned with genuine unease despite the synthetic voice.

“I…I” Riley hesitated, her mind a haze of conflict, the tension growing more and more taught until something snapped.

To Ruby, it was the blaring of her alarms that she had been damaged.

To Riley it was the simple act of muscle memory, her mouth and voice acting much faster than her mind with words she will regret. Insanity reveled in every letter as her armored arm grew loose while her unarmored arm went to her nail.

“I’ll nail you to the wall so your blasphemous heretics like you may never rest on sacred ground!”

Riley drove her Nail into Ruby, piercing her through her abdomen, her friend in shock from both the force behind it and the expression she had. Her smile was one of mania, yet held a mask of unbridled disgust and zealotry for all that had abandoned the purity of flesh, while her eyes were one of haze, yet she could still see insanity bubbling beneath as a demented giggle left her lips.

“Riley…” Ruby managed to say despite the damage done, a hurt expression remained, not from betrayal nor the attack that transpired, but to see her friend act this way.

And that was what it took to bring her to her senses, her arms quivered from the realization of what she had done. She looked at Ruby in horror. Quickly pulling the nail out of her friend and letting it go as it clanged to the floor, her kneels buckled as she fell to her knees.

“R-Ruby, N-no no…” Panic and despair filled her mind while her hands were weakly clutched to her head, the fact sank in that she hurt someone she cared for, tears now falling to the floor, now alone with the guilt she now earned.

Riley slowly felt her hands move on their own accord. Looking up she saw Ruby on her knees in front of her with her hands holding hers, the wound she left sparks of electricity and leaked oil, yet she didn’t seem perturbed, all she saw was a forgiving smile, wounding her more.

“Ruby, I’m…so” she wanted to say only to feel the embrace of her friend, a small part of her revolted for such an action, yet she found her body too weak to protest and simply allowed the action, and slowly she returned the gesture.

Despite the dogma she had been fed, she found the warmth of her friend as real as a person.

“Riley, I wish to help you in what you are undergoing” Ruby stubbornly said, not once did she leave her embrace to speak “But I want to know how it came to this point”.

Riley tightened her embrace, it was the only thing to ground her before she spoke “it…began like this”

…

“HA!”

The child screamed at the top of her lungs before plunging a massive nail into a man, blood and oil contaminating circuitry in the process.

The child had a bright look when she joined her internship in the corporation’s inquisitors, to know the process of “canned experiences” was tempting enough as is.

However, what it led down was one of enabling her darker nature.

“P….lea….s….e…..s…to..” the prosthetic man rasped through broken voice modules, yet they fell on deaf ears as the child drove the nail into them, deeper ever more until they were left to hang by it.

“Paise thee, young klienhammer, you have quite the potential, almost as much as the former one who grips during her youth” spoke another in high regard, uncaring as the screams of others that went about their crusade against those that had abandoned their flesh for the filth of prosthetics.

And yet the child could only give a demented smile “Daaw, thanks! Now who’s our next target?”

Her steps grew heavy with each body she nailed, her mind was a haze, and yet despite it, a small voice in her mind kept reminding her over and over that what she had done was wrong.

No matter what had happened in this demented internship she had gone through, despite the efforts of “canned experiences” cleansing her mind when her faith wavered, that small voice stubbornly persisted. And perhaps that’s what led to her freedom.

But until then, she could afford to ignore the voice a little longer
…

“And that’s been my whole internship” Riley gloomily finished. the regret remaining fresh on her mind. Burying her face on her friend’s shoulder, she wondered if it changes things between them, to know what she had done.

Ruby helped Riley to her feet as they separated from their embrace, a forgiving smile met her friend’s gloomy expression “Riley. I do not fully understand what you have encountered, but I do know you require support” she stated with an obvious tone, earning her friend an endearing eye rool “however, I will accompany you through the entire process” she declared as she held Riley’s hand.

And those words alone were enough to draw a smile “Thanks” was the only thing she could say, allowing the feeling to faster and reduce the pain of the guilt she now had, until she gazed at the wound she inflicted did she have a sudden realization.

“Wait! I stabbed you, how are you still okay?” she looked to Ruby who seemed unaware of such an injury.

“Though you may have damaged me in the abdomen, the damage you gave was merely superficial” she informed and brought some relief to Riley, though she continued “however, if you had stabbed me exactly-”

“Let’s just…go to class please” Riley blurted out. Not wanting to hear an explanation on how she couldn’ve killed her friend, which Ruby obliged as the two enjoyed the silence while they left.

…

The two walked toward Ms. Emily’s room. The events that had happened, now had been a memory, but as they did a blur had passed them by, only to be followed by two more, screams echoed out as it.

The two already knew what was going on, yet Riley looked conflicted. Her gaze stared off in the direction where the hapless student had run to alongside two teachers had chased them.

She had the power to fight back now, and yet, guilt had wrecked her to no end, her mind split on the decision until she felt the familiar feeling in her hand.

A plain black knife, the same one she lovingly carried everywhere was now held in her armored hand, while her nail hung by her hip. Perhaps now she could cause a little chaos that weren’t petty, for once she can give the trio that the school had grown to fear a taste of their own medicine.

“Riley…” she snapped her head to Ruby who simply nodded “Go” being the only push she needed.

Riley looked at Ruby, then to her knife, with a now familiar manic smile, one of genuine familiarity, a cackle that seemed more iconic now before funning off to where the teachers had chased the student..

It was time to cause some chaos.

Chapter Text

Abbie had been running for what felt like an hour now. Every part of his body screamed at him to slow and rest, yet he couldn't with the familiar sound of footsteps gaining behind.

“Abbie, get back here!” Ms.Circle screamed in anger while holding his test in her hand, which had a resounding ‘F’ to his grade.

Fear had mostly held the reins in his panicked thoughts, with the only small thought that repeated rapidly, giving some direction as the chase went on -Think, Abbie think!- frantically his eyes darted at anything that could aid him.

And only to find the path he ran on led to a dead end, while another had a door that led to another.

-okay…think, both lead to a dead end and the only way out is through…- a shiver of fear crept through his spine at the thought of facing the teacher who towered over him. And yet the only way out was through her.

And he would regret what he had to do next.

“You…” She spoke with deep malice, her eyes fixated on the apple child before him while she held his paper “I have been patient with you FOR.SO. LONG!” shoving it in his face before ripping it right of him with her own hand and compass. Spiking fear into his mind more than before.

Her compass reared back while she spoke. Aiming to drive it deep into Abbie’s head “AND THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT?!” then plunging it down.

Abbie scrambled for whatever courage he could, the compass many times his size trusted downward with judgment calling and a resounding thud should he remain still. Rolling to the side, the compass missed him by a hair as it broke tile than bone.

“DON’T THINK YOU’RE GETTING AWAY EASILY FAILURE!” Ms. Circle spoke with both sadistic pleasure and anger. Uprooting her compass she swung to the side with little effort, wanting the apple in her eyes to squirm before perishing.

Abbie barely had time to raise his arm to block before the compass collided with him. Abbie could have sworn he felt his arm fracture before he was flung, a plan that somehow worked.

Sailing through the air, he tumbled several meters, each hit bruising and breaking bone, yet gave space and time in turn. Something that he needed now more than ever.

“YES!” he exclaimed in persistent triumph, only to follow with screams of pain from his body soon after. Allowing Circle time to catch up, her footsteps feeling closer than he thought while he stood, his body staggering while he did so.
Yet the footsteps that approached felt different.

“Abbs?” spoke a familiar voice. Abbie could barely turn his head yet knew who it was, and relief was the understatement he had when he saw her.

Her clothes were rather plain, but at least it was rather telling she interned as a farmer, or at the very least dealt with agriculture, but despite it all two sock puppets covered her arms.

“Abbs…oh god,” Lana stared at Abbie’s state, knowing full well the cause. Taking his arm she ran, dragging Abbie along, hoping in her mind the two could somehow survive long enough for their math teacher’s wrath to cool and give up, and if possible patch her friend before Ms. Circle took them both.

“La…na?” Barely able to speak, a small smile grew, seeing a familiar help him out yet a small sensation of shame lingered at the back of his mind.

He had to be saved again, time and time again he had to be the one to hide behind his friends, and this was no exception. A part of him wished he could do the same now, even after the internship took up.

“You’ll be fine Abbie, we just need to-” she paused, trying to find anything to reassure her friend despite how much how much has been pressed against him, and soon herself as well should Ms.Circle catch up to the two. All that was needed was a chance.

And that came in the form of the exit.

“There!” Exclaiming at the exit at the end of the hall, her sprint doubled with Abbie barely keeping up in tow, each step teetered on falling over and escaping. Only a few steps between salvation.

“Almost there Abbs, just a bit-” hope exuded from her voice while reaching the exit, and to an extent, he would smile at the prospect when the lying nightmare could end.

Yet a familiar voice dashed any hope they had with the briefest of glimpses of an oh-so-familiar compass appeared at the edge of their field of view.

“GOT YOU!” Ms.Circle yelled, thrusting the sharp end of her compass at Lana. A smile of triumph washed over the math teacher, while thoughts of what pleasures she’d gain once she skewered the two failing excuses of students that escaped her for too long.

Time felt as if it began to slow for Abbie, and for once it was relief that it was his mind rather than T corp’s technology at play. But he couldn’t shake the dread in his mind while he watched the compass drive ever so closer to his friend. Her face slowly formed to shock.

His body ached and yelled for any relief of rest while his mind screamed at him to act. To do something, anything to prevent the tragedy that was occurring before his eyes and his heart, it told him to be brave, to stand up and grow, to save the friend who time and time again protected him.

With the strength he had left, he pushed Lana further along, saving her the pain that would befall him.

And the fiery pain that his leg had was an indicator.

Lana tumbled and staggered slightly, confusion became to worry. looking over to her friend, only silent shock took hold with fear holding her as she bore witness to what happened.

Ms. Circle's smile grew wider at the sight of Abbie who barely moved as she slowly tore and pulled away her compass from Abbie’s leg. Though she wondered how his clothes could remain largely intact despite the amount of abuse she had done, yet it didn’t matter too much.

Swinging her compass she bashed Abbie to the side, breaking bone and bruising flesh only to follow up with another, his blood staining the halls, until finally dealt an upward swing that sent him careening through the air.

“ABBIE!” did Lana managed to scream out, yet she could only watch as Abbie tumbled and collided with the floor only to be brought to a sudden halt by the doors of a supply closet.

Abbie barely brought himself to sit up straight and gaze at his would-be causer of death slowly approaching to finish the job.

The edges of his vision darkened, wondering how he survived long enough to get here if he had to endure the hardships of his internship

…

“MY ARM!” the child cried out. What should be a normal spar ended in a mediocre complaint. His resolve shattered as easily as his arm while he whined and rolled on the floor.

“Haaah, kid, get up, I didn’t hit you hard, it’s only a bruise” the mentor spoke before the child, having been at their limit with the child's apprehensive demeanor.

The child would feel something hard and cold on the bruise before looking to his mentor, tears welled while listening “Kid, if you keep whining and crying, then why bother taking an internship in the Zwei association in the first place?”

The child couldn’t answer, both focused on the pain and the inner motives that wracked in his mind, wondering why he even got to this point and his mentor knew it.

“Kid, what’s the motto of the Zwei Association?” they spoke up, confusing the child who quickly answered back.

“Y-your shield.” his mentor nodded

“Good, and what I can tell from you. You’ve hidden behind them all your life” Their words struck hard into the child, yet continued “At some point whoever is shielding you might need it in turn, and you have to pick up, or else you’d have no one to hide behind and die in the ditch”

This worried the child, yet their mentor grabbed their baton and waited for his response “Well. Come at me”

-your shield…- the child thought, perhaps this was the start to finally seeing a small sprout grow into a tree, so bracing the pain, the child stood.

…

“Now…time to finish what I started” Ms.Circle loomed over Abbie’s near dying body. Raising her compass to finish the job, only to be impeded by a sudden force to the back of the head.

Lana panicked, yet held determined with a broom in her hands, swiping at the teacher to delay the inevitable some way, only for Circle to catch it and snap it in two. No words were spoken, yet Lana could tell the message was ‘you’re next’.

Ms.Circle stared at the sock puppet student who had feebly raised what remained of the broom. Raising her compass arm, she swung down.

Yet what she felt was the clashing of metal.

Abbie held his ground, his body broken yet his spirit remained stalwart. Swinging upward he gave himself and Lana room, his grip on his Zweihander was still despite the injuries.

“Abbie…?” Lana weakly spoke behind his friend, yet a determined face remained on his face while focusing on Ms.Circle.

“Lana, thank you. For protecting me” he managed to say, a grateful smile grew “but now. Let me be your shield”.

Ms.Circle Looked at Abbie, anger rising, yet remained impressed that he could stand “You’re finally standing up after everything?” she pondered. Rearing her compass she lunged at the seemingly meek student “YOU’RE STILL TO ME!”

Abbie braced and with a properly timed swing, parried Ms.Circle’s attack, giving the two an even ground as they clashed.

Blows were traded, yet Abbie kept going with each swing of the Zweihander clashed, parried, and at times pinned Circe’s compass, and it only went faster, with a matter of time of either the two breaking the other’s resolve.

And that break came.

Ms.Circle grew tired of the stalemate, swinging down, she planned to end Abbie’s crumbling confidence and end the tiring chase to an expected close

Yet Abbie responded with a swing of his own, breaking the end that held the metallic spike as it flew off to a far corner of the hall “WHAT?!” she screamed out. Looking at her weapon in shock caused who should be a failed student who couldn’t seem to get anything right.

And that shock was all Abbie needed to turn the tide.

Charging forward, Abbie swept Ms.Circle to the floor with the flat end of his blade, followed by jamming his blade into her compass, breaking the weapon in two with a harsh twist.

Finally with a resounding glare, for all the fear he felt, he was now the one to bring it to an end with a harsh slam to the head with the flat side of his blade, rendering the math teacher unconscious for a time.

The confidence he had felt bringing the scariest teacher down was an understatement.

“Abbie…”Lana walked closer to Abbie, his posture still as excitement filled her eyes “THAT WAS AMAZING!” she cheered, seeing the whole fight while relief washed over her, for once they didn’t need to run, and maybe, there was a way to fight back.

However, that was for another time.

Abbie smiled at Lana with relief and pride at his accomplishment, yet the realization dawned on him he couldn’t hear her voice. What followed was his body going limp and his vision going dark, the adrenaline finally wearing off.

The last thing he saw before taking his rest was the worried look of her friend, but he at least knew they were safe.

Chapter Text

Of all the things Claire would be doing, running from room to room, class to class, all to get away from her teachers who failed her tests for being late was the last on her mind.

Catching her breath she found herself cornered, Ms. Thavel looked at her with a feral smile. Claws scratched the locks that lined the hallway with each step she took while Ms. Bloomie covered her other routes of escape, her smile oddly strained while her weapon shook while it was raised.

Despite the situation, she was at least grateful for the lack of a certain math teacher, though it left more questions on where they could be, not that she wanted a third to chase her.

The two teachers closed in, and in a mad bid for escape, ran through a gap in between the two, a glimmer of hope that maybe she could escape unscathed.

Only that it was met with the tile floor and a searing pain in her leg.

“Augh…” she managed to moan out. Familiar footsteps follow behind, and a cold chill runs through her spine when she looks at her imminent demise.

Ms.Bloomie stared down at Claire, hesitation running through her entire being despite her blade arm raised to the air, a trace of blood fadedly covering it.

“M-Ms. Bloomie P-please…” Claire begged. Seeing the teacher’s hesitation grow, she watched in anticipation when the science teacher briefly lowered her blade, only for fear to grow when her arm stiffened and rear back further.

“I’m sorry Claire” is the only reply she’d hear the teacher say, and both parties closed their eyes. Ms.Bloomie thrust her blade forward, wanting nothing more than to give another student she grew to care a painless death, while Claire screamed out, bracing for what would happen next.

However, the only sound that came was the sound of clashing metal.

Opening her eyes, the moment felt slow with the adrenaline still running through her, she saw a familiar face and relief that she had another opportunity

“Engel?” she managed to say, the fear within her lifted enough to speak. Her friend stood in front of her, his arm stretched out with his magnifying glass in his hand while Ms. Bloomie and Thavel stood in shock.

“Claire, RUN!” he screamed out. Focusing on the two teachers and buying time for her to escape.

Claire didn’t need any further words before running off, the sound of metal clashing and the harsh screams of Thavel echoing through the halls, her breath ragged the only thing on her mind was the hope that maybe, just maybe Engel would come out on top.

Turning the corner, her eyes widened at the unexpected sight of Ms. Circle on the floor unconscious with Lana and Abbie nearby, the latter knocked out cold with injuries covering his entire body with the former carrying his body along.

“Lana?” her friend turned to look at her, relief washing any worry they had left.

“Come one, let’s get out of here, I don’t want to be around when Circle wakes up” her friend spoke with urgency, and she couldn’t blame them and quickly, the two carried their unconscious friend out.

As the three ran for the exit, Claire hoped that Engel would be okay until the school bell rang.

…

Engel breathed in as much air as he could, his arm sore from fighting two at once, while his mind became hazy with each swing of his key, memories of knowledge gone with no time to regain.

Ms. Thavel had done most of the work, while Bloomie struck swiftly from behind, yet none of their attacks seemed to even pierce his clothing, a small boon that felt greatly overlooked with each attack wearing him down.

Despite it, he was relieved to have a small opportunity to peer through his magnifying glass, absorbing what information he could, no matter how short-lived it was with the two’s relentless attacks.

Especially knowing he was somewhere familiar, with familiar dangers, unlike his internship

…

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I joined the before team, I thought it would be training for a job, not getting into places no one has ever been, and getting what info we can for some rag-tag bunch of immortals that could harness the multiverse could get much.

But then again it was “on-the-job training” I just wished it wasn’t like this.

Each mission I’ve been on really creeps me out, and it’s making me sick sometimes with how disposable the company treats us.

but …

“Phew, thanks intern it was kinda close with that one”

“No problem, let’s go tell the higher-ups the info and head back, yeah?”

I just hope that my friends who joined me here are having a better time but at least it’s not so bad after a while.

…

Engel felt his body slack from the unending assaults from both teachers, his breath growing labored with each attempt to move and clash. Edges of his vision darkened while the final nail to his defiance walked to him.

“Don’t try being a hero…meat” Thavel growled out with frustration. Being impeded by a student and for so long forced out whatever qualm she could muster, wanting nothing more to be done with the key wielder.

Bloomie only looked to the side, not wishing to see her fellow teacher do the final blow. Arm raised Thavel swiped down at the defiant student who didn’t have the time to stand.

Only to feel her palm land on the sharp end of a knife.

Thavel’s inhuman cries echoed through the halls, only for the response of manic giggling.

Engel stood up and quickly looked down the hall. At the very end was Riley, her arm stretched out, and morphed into a thumbs-up.

Capitalizing on the opportunity, his gaze landed on Ms. Thavel, absorbing the knowledge his magnifying glass could get at the teacher whilst she pulled the knife from her hand.

By the time Thavel pulled the knife out it was too late. Engel’s expression grew melancholy and his body strengthened with resolve, as now with the knowledge he gained he had no worries as his key grew to a tremendous size and mass.

The tide now had changed.

Thavel looked to the science teacher for some sort of assistance, and only found her hesitation.

Bloomie knew the tides no longer favored the two, while deep within she knew she didn’t want this. She and Engel shared a glance, tension thick with how her response would be, and with a nod, she ran, leaving Thavel to her fate.

Thavel’s shock at her fellow teacher’s betrayal was short-lived, feeling the weight of a massive key strike her side, forcing her to slide a few meters.

“No more.” is the only word Engel would say to Thavel. Finally having the confidence and the strength to stand up to the teachers who for so long brought fear to every student, now stood on even ground, and perhaps prevented the deaths that would have befallen his friends unlike many before.

And the only deciding factor now was the first swing.

The two exchanged blows, claws against key, a bruise for a scratch, a fragile equilibrium slowly turned in Engel’s favor with time slowly but surely ticked down to the end of the day.

The bell rang with a downward swing to the windigo’s head, knocking her unconscious. Many students and staff alike trickled out of the classroom, all deadset to go home from the nightmare that school provided.

Engel sighed in relief, his body sore and covered in scratches, yet triumphant all the same as ease settled.

“You did a great job beating up Ms. Thavel” He heard Riley speak. Walking to him, she kicked the knocked-out English teacher before sitting down, the two sharing the relief.

“Well you gave the the opportunity” he confided. The two would share a small smile, the worries of today now over.

Standing up Riley looked at Engel and stretched her hand out, allowing the serenity to take hold while they headed out, the two excited to get back to their friends.

…

“Hey Engel, I didn’t have the chance to say this, but thank you.” Claire broke the silence. The two taking the bus home, and in honesty with sore bodies, one from running for dear life and the other from combat, it felt rather deserved.

Engel couldn’t help but smile. His sight looked to his friend “Anytime, you’re my friend after all” A sense of peace and warmth filled him as he looked at the world outside.

The sky was a peaceful orange while the hints of stars began to peek out from within the late-noon sky, all while the world passed them by.

A small thought soon came to his mind. Looking to Claire, the two shared a moment of bliss, the nightmare of school, and to Engel his internship fading behind them.

“Hey Claire, I just remembered I wanted to share this song I learned while in my Internship, do you want to hear it?” Claire nodded at her friend's question, a song till the got home felt rather nice.

Engel smiled at the approval. Taking a deep breath he began to sing a song he learned, a song that helped him through the hardships he faced and pass on through the day.

“The old days of chasing down shadows
All that remains are vain memories
As if a fire swept right over me
All that's in my hands is ash dust

I have run all without rest
Those times gone by that got me choked up
Will I end up missing them too?
A long, long ways from now
When I look back on those memories
I sure hope that I can smile

With whatever time I have left to me now
I need to take my steps forward
Burning myself up until I'm no more
I must look just like a candle

Without a moment to breathe
I was thrown into turbulent days
I hope that I can take my path
A long, long ways from now
When I look back on those memories
I sure wish that I can smile

Let me, let me fly far so far away
So I can reach the stars like a bird upon the night sky
This night, this night will visit me again, I'm sure. but...
It's alright, since I can live on…”

The two lead against one another, and a moment of bliss filled the air as Engel looked out the bus window.

“It's alright”

Chapter Text

The crackling sound of speakers broke the silence of a bustling gym. Stalls lined the area, each one lined with various projects and subjects as students began flooding the room, now looking to the makeshift stage that stood Ms. Bloomie, her expression strict yet patient for once.

“Alright, welcome everyone to the science fair,” she announced over the microphone “Be sure not to disappoint me with your mediocre projects, this is getting graded” Her eyes narrowed as she overviewed the stalls before leaving. Letting the students talk and perform any last-minute fixes before she and other judges grade their projects.

3 months had passed since the events had happened, and those involved moved past it, yet the past of that time never really left.

Engel with his group, being that of Riley, Abbie, and Zip did their last-minute fixes on a diorama on the solar system, despite the last member of the team having a tense relationship with everyone else, they all pulled through, if teeth clenched.

“Alright, Let’s see what you all made” Bloomie muttered while she and other judges walked over to each stall. Her eyes were sharp as slits while writing down each detail be it a flaw or favor in each project had.

The group held their breath when the judges stopped at their stall. Bloomie in particular was the one to worry the most, slightly nudging her head as to signify what their project is, despite already knowing from a glance.

Abbie surprisingly managed to shake his nervous stupor first “U-uhm, It’s A diorama of the solar system” hastily informing, he watched the judges write down their notes—all except Bloomie who hummed out a sound of minor disappointment.

Writing her final notes she and the other judges moved on to the next. Allowing the group to let out the breathes they almost didn’t know they had. Simply thankful that they had theirs finished.

“Welp,” Zip exclaimed. Stretching her arms into the air, satisfied for both being done with the project alongside the temporary truce she had to endure “later dorks” being her final words before running elsewhere.

Engel shook his head, be it from relief or irritation was unknown. Looking to his other groupmates he had left “Well, what do you guys want to do now?”

Abbie seemed to shrug before he answered, his tone was reluctant, yet had some amount of confidence. “well, I was going to see the other projects and maybe talk to our friends if they’re done” Riley would pipe up upon hearing that, reminding her of something she heard prior.

“Oh yeah! I heard Robby and his group made something special this time” This gained the attention of the two, to which Riley gave a grin “I know where it is, come on” With that she led the two over to Robby and his group’s stand.

And Engel felt a bead of dread come over him when he saw what they had made.

It was rather rudimentary, with wires of various sorts exposed alongside cables that led from a control panel, with the center of it all being a full-body mirror. To say Engel was worried was an understatement, he only hoped it didn’t do what he thought it would do.

And soon the judges would find their way there.

Ms. Bloomie looked up and down at the machine made by the smartest in class made with skepticism “And what is this?” she asked. Pointing her pen at the machine, her gaze barely holding both confusion and tempered frustration of everything mediocre so far.

Kevin took the opportunity to explain, only to feel his mouth be covered by the Cubbie’s paw as they looked over to Robby and Edward. The two tensely working on the controls “It’s a machine that lets us see the multiverse” Edward quickly explained. Gaining the judges' attention.

“We don’t know if it works, yet, we haven’t tested it” Robby warned as the machine began to buzz with life, Bloomie at center stage.

The reflection showed a static image of Bloomie, her attire the same with the caveat of a much noticeable boost in height, almost comparable to Circle before two engineers turned the device off.

Ms. Bloomie stared this reflection down while writing down her notes, her expression veiling the newfound awe, if by a little.

All while Engel saw what it was, something his internship mentioned, and despite being more archaic than the actual design, he knew the function as a small mutter left his lip.

“The mirror.”

“Meow?” Cubbie spoke to goad any volunteers. A small crowd began to form, interested in what the group had made and what possibilities it could hold.

Engel grew hesitant, and only knowing it in mention, but experience was another. “I’d like to try” he suddenly said, gaining glances from the crowd when he stepped forward.

“Hold it loser, we’re still working on this” Edward snapped. Busy refined the process and controls alongside Robby until they turned it on again.

The reflection showed nothing but pitch darkness followed by a wave of fragmentation and green. Murmurs amongst the newly formed crowd began to form yet Engel remained patient, anticipating what he would see in the mirror before him.

Then he heard his voice emit from it, confusing the crowd and more so the group that designed it, and soon something would appear.

"Engel, pleasure meeting you Executive Manager, I...hope I learn a lot in this journey with you"

It showed the colorful and chaotic halls of the school, multi-colored tiles, lockers and paper lined and littered about as Engel saw himself.

The one in the mirror wore boots rather than shoes, his shirt sporting a red tie with an ID hanging next to it as it peeked out from the cover of his coat.

The coat had his name spelled out by the hem and was adorned with the number fifteen near the left side of his collar, smiling nervously as he showed his magnifying glass turned key.

Engel looked in shock at the static image of himself in the mirror, thinking about what choices he would have made to lead where the version he saw would be now, the temptation to ask compelled him.

He barely opened his mouth to ask before feeling a sudden force moving him aside.

“Move! It’s our turn!” Riley impatiently said. Pushing Engel aside, only to stop midway thanks to Ruby, her hand holding her more impulsive friend’s.

“Riley.” Ruby looked at her more impulsive friend with a stern look. The two grew closer over the past months and almost became inseparable as a result, not taking much for the more impulsive student to stop in her tracks.

“Alright…” Riley managed to say with both annoyance and endearment. By now Engel was well out of the way, allowing the two to see their reflection on the machine while it began to uncharacteristically whirl.

“What the hell are you doing now nerd?” Edward glared at his unfortunate partner, frantically tinkering with the controls to keep the machine stable. Thankfully Robby followed the same sentiment.

“I-I don’t know?! I thought we accounted for multiple-” His frantic words were cut short when a familiar voice echoed through the machine.

"I will forever be by your side, O'one who grips..."

Those words lacked any warmth Riley felt from her friend, and for it to come from the person she felt most safe brought her blood to freeze, the wound of it all being deepened further with the title, a title she was so familiarly offered.

The final nail is what the machine shows.

The reflection showed a scenery blanketed in twilight. At the same time, a damning fire of burning houses gave light to the once-dark environment, revealing two familiar faces, their manic joy masking their zealotry while they purged the unclean in their wake.

Ruby wore holy regalia not too dissimilar to the Riley during her internship. However, with the addition of more wax seals and armor, her screen was pitch black yet insanity and zealotry could be conveyed just behind it.

Though somewhat static, the repeated motions of her plunging a nail twice her size into an unfortunate soul while sparks and blood splatter from the supposed wound, all while Riley stood above the droid…her manic smile felt cold yet loving towards her newfound confidant.

Though some were rather indifferent given the nature of the school itself, most were more appalled and shocked, but none were more than the two who gazed into the machine itself.

Ruby slowly covered the part of her screen that displayed her mouth. From what she was told, she knew what sort of job Riley decided to do in an internship with the corporation, yet to witness firsthand and add further salt to the wound, seeing herself shook her to her core.

It was only made worse when she looked at Riley herself. Her expression was one of horror while the strength of her grip grew tighter, all while her breath grew shallow as the reminder of what she was part of, and more so what could have been stared directly at her. The manic smile of insanity that was no longer her’s.

To see her…friend, that word no longer felt right, not anymore, but to simply see her back in the state many months ago brought sensations her circuitry couldn’t describe, alongside the sight of the world that the mirror showed brought a bitter sensation to her taste sensors.

“I think we are done.” Being the only thing the droid could say, her eyes narrowed at the reflection before picking up Riley. Quickly leaving the gym to help calm the person in her arms, she doesn’t know how to describe their relationship now, but that didn’t matter for the time.
“Okay…” Edward spoke rather awkwardly. Now having fine-tuned the machine to allow smoother and more direct interaction, at least compared to the rest, all the group needed to keep it running and allow others to join.

And though the prize for first place was set in stone, the incident shown with Riley and Ruby, and Bloomie giving the ribbon, the crowd didn’t seem to wane once all the formalities ended. Each is curious about what version of themselves could be found within the mirror.

…

Claire looked at the familiar sight at an alternative version of herself, a faint green hue surrounded the device's edges as her reflection remained unaware of the drone above her.

A sharp glare ran towards Edward who met it with indifference, preoccupied with keeping the machine stable enough to run alongside Robby to really pay attention to the familiar scene of events of months past unfold, with the only difference being instead of being grasped by the drone, it dumped water on her alternate self.

In a panic, she ran to the edge of the library and leaped to the library below. Her form was suddenly covered in bright light followed by an audible shimmering, blinding Claire and the Audience waiting their turn.

As the light faded and eyes readjusted, Claire would see her alternate self in a much different form, looking on with surprise and wonder.

This version of Claire now wore a seashell top, her hair adorned with shells and starfish with her most striking feature being the salmon tail that took place of her legs.

Only then did her alternate self acknowledge them, her face once full of panic from her descent…or so most would assume, now morphed to confusion upon gazing at her non-mermaid self and audience behind her.

Scanning the crowd, her alternate Claire’s eyes widened at the sight of Lana, in haste she quickly pointed to her in shock “w-wait, you have a-” only to be cut off upon meeting the floor face first.

…

Lana’s expression was confused when she had her turn to see the device.

The environment displayed was the school’s hallways, the area was dim with only a few hints of twilight peeking through the windows having more decorations than what the chaotic school would normally allow under normal circumstances.

And at the end of the hall was what she could assume was herself in that reality.

Her alternate self was not too dissimilar to Ruby, albeit a much more outdated model of the droid herself, with the only deviance being a ponytail and sock puppets on the droid's hands. Splotched of dried blood around the chest was hidden away under the darkness of the school

The two stared at one another for the longest time, her alternate self flashing static from her screen, occasionally lurching as she drew closer. Yet despite having no expression on her alternate self’s face, it felt melancholy

A part of her wondered how she became a droid and why at night of all times, though she found herself smiling at the prospect, though the truth would be best left unsaid in this case.

Though for a moment she swore she said a pair of yellow eyes stared back at her from the screen her droid counterpart had
…

To Oliver, not many things weirded him out, his choice of lovers was pretty paramount to it, and yet here he was. Looking at the Device Edward and his teeth-clenched posse made, and to say it weirded him out was quite the understatement.

His version was a car, traces of racing patterns lined the edges of his frame while a pipe of exhaust stuck from his hood. His face was absolutely horrified to the point of dropping a can of what he can only think is washer fluid, given that the brand is of a yellow duck.

“Uhm…hi?” is the only thing he could really say to his vehicular alternate, who shuddered at the sight of himself and familiar faces, to what end he didn’t know.

He watched his vehicular counterpart shift and move back, only to be broken by various complaints followed by the sound of car horns, the loudest being the alternate version of Lizzy, her form obscured by his frame, and to the mirror he peered through. Protecting those behind him from the horror he saw.

“Come on! Move it you piece of diesel! You’re holding up everyone damn it!” Oliver took note while looking at his alternate self with growing disinterest. Speaking that would echo to him in the mirror for a long time.

“Man, what a wimp”

…

Abbie was rather hesitant when he saw himself in the device, anxiety welling with warnings and horror stories from Engel about something similar to what he’s interacting now, yet his friends with much coaxing helped him to find the confidence to have a turn. Granted he was last, his friends waiting for him to have his fill before they all head home.

And that led to now, listening to his alternate self, the background was a forest area while his counterpart looked much like himself, with the addition with his belt having spherical orbs around it, his clothes more vibrant in color and surrounded by beasts.

"this guy is a tropius! They can glide with ease using their leaves despite their size! And this is a fungus kangaroo that we call a breloom!"

His alternate said. Pointing to the banana tree and mushroom-themed dinosaurs, the latter he rode while some sort of spiky green seed-like animal slept in his alternate’s arms.

So far he was content listening to his alternate say various facts and trivia about the beasts in his alternate dimension, wondering what sort of adventures his alternate self and his friends would go on daily.

“Okay, no more this machine is gonna blow if this keeps going,” Edward said. Breaking the moment and signaling the end of the requests. Though Brief Abbie couldn’t help but frown at the news, yet knew it was to be expected.

“I have to go, it’s been fun meeting you, me” Abbie awkwardly said. Waving to his alternate self goodbye before the machine turned off. Waving to the group who gave the opportunity who mostly in turn returned the gesture before joining his friends to go home for the day, hoping this would be the last craziest thing to happen in the school year.