Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

1

“Are you sure this is…y’know, a good idea?” Emmett asked as he sat on the dressing table, looking around at the room.

“You’re the one who came up with this stupid idea,” Jaelyn rolled her eyes as she put the last touch on her makeup, “So if this ends up being an absolute dumpster fire we’re blaming you,”

“Aw, c’mon, Jae,” Victoria grinned, twirling a drumstick in around her fingers as she perched up on a chair, “Don’t tell me you’re scared ,”

“I am not scared and I don’t know where you got that idea,”

“Sure thing, clown face,” 

“You take that back, Stick Figure!”

“Oh you did not just call me that!”

“So what if I did!?” Jaelyn fired back, only to start yelling as Victoria hopped off the chair and started tugging on her pigtails, “You absolute heathen! Let go!”

“Aww, what’s the matter? Can’t take a lil’ ruff an’ tumble?” Victoria sneered, “Make me bi-!”

She was cut off by a hand smacked against her mouth, which was then subsequently bit, causing the sisters to start fighting physically rather than just words.

Emmett shook his head as he continued messing with the strap of a guitar. He loved his sisters, he really did…but the fact they went at each other’s throats like this did get a bit old. It wasn’t as bad as people would think though! Jae and Vicky just…had a habit of…snarking back and forth when one got on the other’s nerves. They still cared about each other at the end of the day though.

He looked around the room, doing a headcount and frowning.

“Hey,” he started, “You guys seen Cyndelle?”

Jaelyn and Victoria stopped fighting, the latter on the former’s back and pulling her hair much like reins on a horse. Jaelyn took this as an opportunity and shoved Victoria off her, grumbling as she went to redo her hair. 

“Nope, not really seen her,” Victoria shrugged, dusting off her jacket, “Aw, bloody hell Jae! You got your stupid foundation on my jacket!”

“Maybe next time you won’t jump me like a baby koala,” Jaelyn sniffed as she grabbed the curling iron, “And don’t pull my hair next time! I know you’re big into the grunge look, but I am very much not,”

“Yeah it doesn’t suit you either,” Victoria stuck out her tongue before turning back to Emmett, “We got about what, half an hour? Probably should go find her?”

“I’ll text the Boss and see if she’s seen her,” Jaelyn said, putting down the curling iron and grabbing her phone.

“Thanks, Jae!” Emmett beamed, “C’mon, Vicky, let’s go find Cyndelle.”

They spent about fifteen minutes searching for Cyndelle with no luck whatsoever. Their youngest sibling was…often times very elusive and hard to find. Popping up in places that she had no right to be or wasn’t in before. Emmett chalked it up to her being so small compared to the rest of them.

“You don’t think she ran outside do you?” Victoria asked.

“I don’t know,” he shrugged, “She hates the rain and it’s like, biblical proportions flood out there right now.”

“So she’s probably managed to stuff herself in a vent or something, fun. I’m not climbing in after her this time,” Victoria deadpanned, “Last time I did that, I was sneezing dust bunnies for a week .”

“I don’t think she’s hid in a vent,” Emmett reassured her, “She doesn’t like getting her clothes dirty. It was just that one time!”

Victoria opened her mouth to protest when both of their phones chimed. The two siblings immediately pulled out the phones and unlocked them to see a message from the same person.

Tessa: Found her! Backstage, behind the big ol’ loony lookin’ squirrel cutout. 

Emmett gave a grin, his golden eyes lighting up as he typed out a quick response.

Self: Thanks, Tessa! We’ll get her!

Tessa: I’ll get Jae 2 stall 💛 Break a leg u lot!

“Right,” Emmett grinned as he stuffed the phone back into his jacket pocket while Victoria did the same, “Shall we go?”

“Yeah, sooner we get her all ready sooner we can get this over with,” Victoria nodded. 

The brother and sister duo ran down the hall towards the backstage area. They could hear music from the group before them playing and somehow managed to sneak back past the Security Detail to snoop around. 

Emmett felt Victoria tug on his jacket and he looked at her as she pointed. He followed her gaze to a very goofy looking animated squirrel cutout. He gave a nod and the two of them made their way to it.

“...Lil’ Buddy?” 

He managed to crawl between wall and cutout, seeing a bundle of fluffy ruffles and gold stuffed near the back. Two pale golden eyes looked up from between a fluft of white hair.

“W-W-What are you…do-doing here?” Cyndelle’s voice was shaky and Emmett could see tears slipping down her cheeks, “A-A-Aren’t you supposed to go on in a few minutes?”

“We all are, yeah,” Emmett nodded, “You, me, and our sisters,”

“...Y-You don’t need me,” Cyndelle stammered, “I-I’ll just…m-mess up. A-And then I’ll d-dissapoint Tessa an-and everyone…an-and it’ll be my fault…”

“Hey,” Victoria leaned down into view, looking at her youngest sibling, “No one’s gonna think you’re a screw up. If they do? I’ll use their heads as a snare,”

Cyndelle gave a soft, almost barely there giggle as Emmett offered his hand to her. She gave a sheepish little smile as she took it and he pulled her out of her little hidey hole. Thankfully, she wasn’t covered in dust bunnies this time. Her dress was still quite clean, save for a little dust which Emmett and Victoria quickly brushed off. 

“See? Good as new!” Emmett smiled, “Ready?”

“...Not really…b-but I’ll…be right I think?” Cyndelle admitted, “Oh…Oh dear…I-I need to get Celeste!”

“Don’t worry about that,” came Jaelyn’s voice as she walked up, grumpily lugging Emmett’s guitar and what looked to be a much smaller instrument case, “I got it. And it’s tuned.”

Cyndelle gave a happy smile as she darted towards Jaelyn, grabbing the instrument case and gently setting it down on the ground. She then wrapped her arms around Jaelyn in a hug.

“Thank you!” she trilled before rushing back to the instrument case and popping the latches. Her delicate fingers reached down, grabbing what was now revealed as a violin, dark in color save for a flurry of silver stars that raced down the side and top. Cyndelle grabbed the bow and a block of resin, making sure the bow was properly done up as she took a shaky breath.

“Oh! There you are!” another voice called, making the four Elliot siblings jump and look back at one of the Security members, “You’re up, break a leg!”

“Thank you!” Emmett beamed as he waved. As soon as the Security guard left, Emmett grabbed his sisters and put them in a strong hug, “No matter what happens…I’m glad we did this. Even if I did have a moment of uh, insecurity earlier.”

The quartet’s phones chimed. 

Tessa: U lot look great! Got the stage set up 4 u 2. I’ll b watchin’ from the sidelines. Have fun! 

The four all grinned at each other as they fired off rapid responses.

Emmett: Thank you, Tessa!

Jaelyn: Thank you, Boss.

Victoria: Thanks, Tess!

Cyndelle: Thank you, Tessa~! 💛

“Righty-o,” Emmett grinned, “Let’s knock their socks off, yeah?”

Victoria idly twirled her drumsticks around her fingers as Emmett and Jaelyn finished getting ready. The dark, rumbling chords of Jaelyn’s bass and the higher, singing chords of Emmett’s guitar clashed and wove together in simple harmony for warm up. Cyndelle was currently sitting on a stool next to Victoria’s drumset, kicking her legs back and forth and humming quietly to herself to warm her voice up. Her violin sat on her lap, but she wouldn’t need it for this song. The next one…maybe. If they needed to do that one anyways. 

To be honest, Victoria hoped that they wouldn’t. That they’d be one and done and she could get back to her books. But Emmett wanted to do this. So did Tessa. So she agreed. 

She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath and letting herself sink into the persona she wanted to be for this. Snarky, sarcastic, rough around the edges. A cutting blade designed for punching.

Not Victoria, but V.

“Alright, you all ready?” one of the talent scouts asked, “You do know this will be recorded and performed live, right?”

“Yep!” Emmett nodded, giving that easy smile, “Just means that more people will like us,”

“Or more people will laugh at us if we screw up,” V smirked.

“Oh hush!” Emmett pouted.

“Right…so,” another talent scout asked, “What’re your names and what’s the band called?”

“Right! I’m M, and these are my sisters J on the bass, V on the drums and Cyn’s one of our singers,” Emmett, rather M, explained, “We’re uh, the band Absolutely Solved,”

“N, J, V and Cyn,” the third scout nodded, writing down everything they could, “Got it. And you’ve got the required three pieces yeah?”

“Of course,” Jaelyn, J now, stated, smirking at the fact that Emmett’s stage name had been changed and he was just…rolling with it, “Though I’m pretty sure we might convince you with one,”

“Three is still a good setpiece though!” Cyndelle, Cyn, smiled, “I-It might um, give them a taste of what we’re all about!”

“Pretty much,” the first scout chuckled, “Alrighty, ready when you all are,”

“Ready, Cyn?” Emmett asked, offering a hand to help Cyn down off her stool.

“Of course, big brother,” Cyn beamed, walking up and grabbing the microphone, standing on her tiptoes as she unhooked it, “Suppose we should give the name, eh?”

“That’d be nice,” the second scout nodded.

“So, this is titled Through the Stars, From Adversity .” Cyn explained, “And we hope you like it!”

V took that as her cue. Clicking the drumsticks together for timing, one, two, three, four before N and J started in. Cyn took a breath and a sweet, silvery soprano voice soared through the air.

“I remember when on that starry, icy night,” Cyn sang, “ Your breath was silver, your eyes moon bright. You woke me up, you picked me up. You knew me and I knew you.”

N chimed in, his lower tenor sweet and warm as he gave a harmony to Cyn’s melody as they hit the chorus.

“And I say, across these jaded stars,” they chorused together as Cyn swept her arm out, With a sweep of hands on an old guitar, Ad Astra, Per Aspera. From Adversity, to the stars, I will come to you.”

Cyn and N’s voices cut out as a warm, velvety alto voice cut through, rippling and sighing in melancholy silk.

“These days are long, these days are cold,” J sang, “ These days where silver becomes gold.”

V opened her own voice, grinning as she twined her voice with J’s, a slightly higher range that caused a brilliant waltz. “ Our light shines, our light blazes…And our song will be known for the ages.

She caught her family’s eye as she twirled her drumstick again, winking at them, at the camera before smirking and continuing with her piece. N and Cyn joined back, a quartet choir of angels soaring through the small room.

“ And I say, across these jaded stars,” Cyn trilled.

“With a sweep of hands on this old guitar,” N continued.

“Ad Astra, Per Aspera,” J added.

“From Adversity, to the stars!” V finished, “ I will come to you!”

The instruments began to fade, their notes ceasing, leaving just the sound of the quartet’s voices alone in the hall.

“Ad Astra, Per Aspera. From Adversity, to the stars…I will come to you.”

“I messed up. I played the wrong note, I missed that one chord ughhhhh I’m the worst,” Emmett groaned as he pulled at his hair the second they got back into the dressing room.

Their worst or best fears had been realized. The scouts only heard that one song. They didn’t want to hear the rest. One was enough they said. 

That either meant that all their work was for nothing…or they had impressed.

“Calm down, biscuit boy,” Victoria sighed as Cyndelle hopped into one of the chairs and started checking over her violin, “They probably heard all they needed to.”

“Regardless of all the mistakes,” Jaelyn sighed, looking directly at Emmett, “I…will admit it was…fun. To do this. So…and I’m only going to say it once…thank you, Emmett, for pushing us to do that,”

“...I’m sorry I didn’t quite catch that,” Emmett blinked, “Did you just thank me, Jae?”

“Don’t push it.”

Their phones chimed, four instances at once in their group chat.

Tessa: OMFG GUYS

Tessa: GUYS! 

Tessa: GUYYYYYS! ASDFSADFASDFAWEASFASF LOOK!

A link was sent in the chat and the quartet crowded together as Emmett pressed play. Youtube opened up…and the link was their song.

“...Oh boy,” Victoria winced, “How bad is iiiiiiii-why are there over 3 million views.”

“Look at the comments!” Cyndelle squealed, “‘Where have these guys been!?’ ‘OMG I LOVE THEM!’ ‘They sound so good!!’ Did…did we do it!?”

“WE DID IT!” Emmett crowed, “Even if we don’t get picked up by the talent crew here, we did it! We got people liking us! Look at all those likes!!”

“...Oh fun, I suppose this is going to be our lives now, isn’t it?” Jaelyn asked.

“Hey, it’s better than dusting and cleaning homes!” Victoria gave a sharp grin, laughing as more of Tessa’s texts came through in excitement.

The last one came through and all four went silent for a moment.

“They want us to play where ?!” Emmett choked.

“Guess the Boss is going to have to splurge a little on plane tickets…” Jaelyn sighed, “We’ve got a lot of work to do but…”

She choked off as she was grabbed into a massive group hug that turned into a squealing and jumping party. 

It was the start of something new…something that would change their lives forever. 

It was the start of Absolutely Solved.

Pictures by AhoNoKio!

Absolutely Solved: Cyn, V, J, N

Chapter Text

2

It’d been a few weeks since their first performance and the Elliots were still riding high from their success. A performance abroad away from their Australian home had really made their spirits fly. 

Cyndelle hopped down from her bed, smiling as she stretched and let out a yawn before padding down the hallway of the bus. Her siblings were already in the front lounge with Emmett at the stove, tongue stuck out as he flipped a pancake in the frying pan into the air and caught it with a flourish. 

His smile turned blinding as Cyndelle clapped excitedly and hopped up onto the crescent couch, bouncing lightly next to Victoria as the latter was already wolfing down her breakfast. Victoria grabbed a can of whipped cream and grinned,  popping the lid off with a flick of her thumb.

“Baby bird?” she asked.

Cyndelle could barely contain her giggling as she nodded and opened her mouth, getting a spray of whipped cream as a result. Jaelyn rolled her eyes as she neatly stabbed a blueberry with her fork.

“That’s crude and childish,” she chastised.

Victoria and Cyndelle both shot her a deadpan glare, golden eyes half-lidded in annoyance before Victoria took the can of whipped cream back. She then proceeded to keep eye contact with Jaelyn before spraying a hefty amount of the sweet fluff into her own mouth.

“You’re a child.”

“An– y—r a sti— in th– m–d,” Victoria grinned through a mouth full of whipped cream.

“Stop being rude, swallow before you speak,”

“M—k me!” Victoria smirked before swallowing, “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed,”

“The bunks only have one access point,”

“My point still stands.”

“Alrighty, here ya go, Cyndelle!” Emmett’s voice piped up as he sat a plate piled high with pancakes, chocolate chips melting through the fluffy exterior in the form of a smile, “Extra chocolate chips, just like how you like ‘em. Aaaaand can’t forget the sprinkles,” He pulled a shaker full of rainbow sparkly chips and sat it down on the table.

“You’re the best, big brother!” Cyndelle beamed as she swiped the whipped cream can from Victoria and absolutely dousing the pile of pancakes with it. She looked around for a second before beaming as Emmett sat a bottle of chocolate topping on the table.

“Cyndelle you are going to get cavities,” Jaelyn chastised as Cyndelle upended the bottle over her plate, “You know better,”

“I have fruit!” Cyndelle protested, jabbing her fork at the few pieces of banana and mango on her plate, “But chocolate is better,”

Jaelyn opened her mouth to protest when four chimes went off. She settled to scowl at her little sister as she fished out her phone, the others doing the same.

Tessa: G’mornin u lot! Sleep well?

Cyndelle gave a beaming smile as she took a big bite out of her pancake monstrosity, getting some whipped cream on her nose. She sat her fork down after the bite and shot back a reply.

Cyndelle: Yup! Jae’s being mean to me again about breakfast.

Jaelyn: She dumped a bottle of chocolate topping on her pancakes and put I don’t know how much whipped cream on top of it. With sprinkles.

Tessa: Rlly!? Pics!

Cyndelle smiled, reaching around with her phone, the rhinestones on the case catching the light as she winked and took a selfie with her breakfast, sending it in the group chat.

Tessa: Think ya got some whipped cream on ur nose, lil buddy. 💛 I’m jealous. I just nabbed a granola bar on the way out.

Victoria snorted as she read the message, stuffing another forkful of pancakes into her mouth, Cyndelle pouted but quickly got her nose cleaned off.

Victoria: Where did you go off to anyways?

Tessa: Working on the stage 4 the performance. Currently dodging security because APPARENTLY a teenager in a black hoodie digging through wiring looks suspicious af. Managed 2 get up n2 the catwalk. Got a pretty nice view of the place tho!

Emmett: Pls b careful…

Tessa: U know it! Wiring’s a paaaaain. Should b back home late afternoon. But if u guys come 2 the venue…bring snacks? Pls? Pls? Pls? 🥹

Emmett: Sure thing!

Jaelyn: We’ll be there as soon as we get dressed.

Tessa: Awesome! Also! I kiiiinda went outta my way & made social media accounts 4 u lot. Twitter, Instagram, reddit (well, everything but ur username), facebook (even tho no 1 uses it anymore) but w/e. Thought it’d be a good idea 4 u guys. Get 2 meet ur fans & all.

“...This is either going to be either really good or really bad,” Victoria chuckled as she picked up her glasses off her face and cleaned them a bit, “Ugh, Cyndelle I think you got some whipped cream on the glass…”

“That was from you though!” Cyndelle whined as she stuffed another bite into her mouth.

Tessa: U all r verified & everything. Green star, thumbs up, checkmark w/e. People’ll know ur the real deal. Didn’t know what u guys wanted 2 call ur handles…so I just used ur stage names. Change ‘em how u want.

Emmett: Will do! Thank you Tessa!

Tessa: Np! See you guys soon!

Links popped up in the chat labeled with each of the siblings’ names. Cyndelle opened up the first of hers, it asked for a username to be created and she gave a small, wry grin as she typed in what she wanted. She saw Victoria lean over her shoulder, looking to see what her little sister did.

“Cynderella, huh? A pun? Seriously?” she teased.

“What’d you do?” Cyndelle asked, “I wanna send you a friend request!”

“Aaaaaand sent,” Victoria smirked, “Yo, Emmett, Jae, what’d you two do?”

“Here you go!” Emmett smiled, handing over his phone as Cyndelle closed an eye and looked at her sister.

“‘ViolentDrumrollPls’? And you said mine was weird,” she giggled, “Jae! I wanna see yours too!”

“Oh my god you dork,” Victoria groaned, “You went with a pun too?!”

“Whaaaat!” Emmett protested, grabbing his phone back and handing it to Jaelyn, who tossed hers to Cyndelle, “I liked it!”

“What did you pick!?” Cyndelle asked as she sent a request to ‘Jaded Star’ and tossed it to Victoria, who thumped her head back against the couch cushion.

“Am I the only one who did something at least fun with my name!?” Victoria demanded as Jaelyn quietly rolled her eyes and gave Cyndelle Emmett’s phone.

“‘Nthusiastic’?” Cyndelle asked, looking up at her brother, “Thought you woulda gone with…I dunno…goldeNretriever?”

Emmett stared at her for a loooong while.

“...I didn’t think of that,”

“Too late,” Victoria shot him a look over her glasses, “That one site doesn’t let you change your username once you set it.”

“And I highly advise you keep the same name across accounts,” Jaelyn suggested, “Just so that we don’t mix things up.”

“Smart,” Emmett nodded as Cyndelle scrolled through her friend list and saw four names instead of three.

“...I guess Tessa already friended all of us,” she pointed out, “ViolentDrumrollPls, Nthusiastic, Jaded Star, Cynderella and Shadow_Electric.”

Victoria let out a loud, barking laugh.

“Oh my god that nerd’s an edgelord!” she howled, “I’m totally giving her hell for that when we see her later,”

“Finish your breakfast so Emmett can have his without offering it to all of us and it gets cold,” Jaelyn said as she continued to eat, “Then we’re going to get dressed and head out.”

Emmett pulled his ballcap down over his hair as Cyndelle tugged excitedly on his sleeve and dragged him into a store. They had a little time before they were to meet up with Tessa and rehearse for the show in a couple days, and Cyndelle wanted to check out the music store in town. The second they walked into the building, Emmett’s eyes widened as a smile crossed his face.

The smell of resin and paper, fresh guitar strings and the hum of an amp finishing blasting a chord filled the air as they walked in. Cyndelle immediately bolted off to the violins, delicately with feather-light fingers lifting one off the display and putting it over her shoulder. He let her go, she’d been looking forward to this all day and he didn’t want to disappoint her.

So he instead wandered to the guitar section and examined one of the Fenders that they had.

“Can I help you, sir?” a new voice asked, making Emmett jump sky high. He turned around to find a rather pretty woman standing behind him. He would have thought she was human…

Were it not from the glowing blue band of light around her blue irises and the nearly imperceptible seam in synthetic skin on her cheekbones. 

An Android.

“Oh, yeah!” Emmett gave a warm smile, “Can I test the Fender out? I like to see how an instrument feels if at all possible. How it sounds too,”

“Sorry,” she apologized, brushing back a lock of bright red hair back away from her face, “Ah…store policy that we don’t let people play until after they b-”

She froze as the sound of pure angelic violin strings caught her attention. Emmett winced as both of them looked at Cyndelle, who was already playing the violin she had picked up. A quick and rousing piece that set her fingers flying over the neck and the bow singing back and forth.

“...Oh no…” the employee whispered, her glowing gaze going even brighter in fear, “M-M-Miss! I-I can’t um…it ah…”

“Hm?” Cyndelle blinked as she stopped, looking at them as she lowered the violin from her shoulder.

“W-We can’t really let people play the instruments unless they bought it already,” the poor girl stammered, “I-It’s company polic-”

“What’s going on here?” a lower, gruffer voice demanded as the heavy clomp of boots came down the stairs, “You, Droid. What did you do.”

The girl’s eyes were wide as her mouth opened and shut repeatedly. “I-I-I w-wasn’t able t-to um…p-please, Sir I-I need this job…”

“I was going to buy it anyways,” Cyndelle stated, “It’s a good sound, very well made,”

The store owner’s eyes didn’t leave the terrified Android. Emmett stepped between them with a sunny smile as he reached into his pocket.

“Miss…ah…Ripley is it?” he started, glancing at her nametag and getting a shaky nod from her, “Was just showing me the Fender here. We’ll take that too if you don’t mind?”

“O-Of course, sir!” the girl, Ripley nodded, darting over and picking the guitar up, carrying it and it’s case to the counter as Cyndelle came up with the violin and its case. 

Emmett followed, slipping past the owner and coming up to the counter to pay. He dug out a checkbook as Cyndelle dragged out her own. 

“A-Are they together o-or…” 

“Separate!” Cyndelle smiled.

“Alright,” Ripley nodded, “Um…for you, Miss…that’ll be about $775,”

“Thought so,” Cyndelle nodded as she quickly paid, “Good quality comes with price…though that’s a very good deal here!” she took her violin and cradled it gently, like a newborn child, “You look like a Cadenza to me. I think I’ll call ya that. Pretty good name, eh?”

“Yeah, just make sure that Celeste doesn’t get jealous,” Emmett poked her in the forehead, getting her to scowl as he stepped up, “Think I saw mine was ‘bout the same price?”

“A-Ah, no it’s actually much ch-” Ripley was cut off as Emmett gave her a check for the same amount as Cyndelle’s violin, “S-Sir it’s…”

“No worries,” Emmett grinned, “Consider it a little bit of a tip for excellent service. If we come back to the city we’ll definitely bring our sisters here with us. J and V would really like this place. Good selection of Basses I saw, J would be in heaven,”

“And I saw some good quality drumsticks back in the back too for V!” Cyndelle nodded, “We’ll be sure to come on back at some point. Hope to see you here, Miss Ripley!”

“W-Wait you’re…!?” Ripley’s glowing gaze widened as Emmett and Cyndelle started out, both of them staring down the owner of the store as they did.

“Feel free to stop by the concert hall in a couple days!” Emmett waved, “Cyn and I will probably be playing your instruments then!”

The door closed behind them before they could be stopped by being recognized.

“I hope she’ll be ok,” Cyndelle murmured, hugging the newly christened Cadenza to her chest, “I don’t…like people like that store owner.”

“Kinda reminds ya of back then, huh?” Emmett asked, putting a hand on her shoulder as Cyndelle gave a nod, “I think she’ll be ok. The tip and the fact that we bought both instruments and gave a ‘threat’ of coming back to see her next time might have saved her. You need to be a bit more careful, sis…”

“I know…” Cyndelle shivered.

The world they lived in…was not kind to the synthetic folk. That was something they both knew and even saw on their walk through the city. Street cleaners with glowing eyes being kicked or spat on, places they had just cleaned being littered immediately after. Servers in restaurants with dimly shining light having food and drink being thrown at them after a slight mistake. 

The fact that the Androids built by JCJenson looked and acted near human, save for some light seams in their skin and glowing ringed eyes, made it worse. Humans were cruel to their own at times…seeing that cruelty going to those that could not fight back for fear of disassembly was even more of a heart stopping and sobering thought.

But it was something neither he nor his sisters could change. However, that did not stop them from trying. Maybe if the right person heard the right song or the right message…things would change. 

At least…that’s what Emmett prayed.

It was two in the morning when Victoria got a ping on her phone. Groggily, the drummer shifted up in her bunk, reaching for her glasses and digging for her phone. After a few bleary attempts to unlock the phone and read the text message…she screamed into her pillow for a good fifteen seconds.

She kicked her blanket off, causing a few of the photos of destinations she wanted to visit to flutter and ruffle. 

“Imma rip her.” she seethed as she jumped off the bunk, holding her drumsticks with her teeth as she pulled on her boots and stomped them into submission, “Gonna tear those pigtails off with my bare hands an’ chuck her Bass inna woodchipper.”

She stomped over to Emmett’s bunk and pounded on the door, getting the bleary eyed boy to poke his head out, his guitar was already hanging from its strap around his shoulders and he looked decently put together.

“Imma kill her,” Victoria hissed.

“I’ll warn ‘er,” Emmett yawned as he started down the stairs, “Y’wanna grab Cyndelle?”

“That’ll take us about twenty minutes,” Victoria sighed, “Sure. Yeah.”

She turned down the other side of the hall and walked over to Cyndelle’s bunk, the faint glow of fairy lights seeped under the door and Victoria dragged the thing open. Cyndelle was already buried deep in her covers and pillows and stuffed animals. A pillow was already smashed over her head and her phone was thrown to the other side of the bed. 

“Hey, c’mon, pipsqueak let’s go,” Victoria started, only to sputter as a stuffed animal was thrown at her face with a squeak, “Cyndelle, c’mon,”

“Nooooooooooooo…” Cyndelle whined, snuggling deeper into her blankets, “‘m tired, Vicky…”

“Yeah, yeah, but you know Jae…” Victoria grumbled, “Be late…get Jae’s hate…”

“Jae can go stage dive without a crowd,”

“...Somehow the fact you have zero filter when you’re tired is both hilarious and scary,” Victoria deadpanned, “C’mon.”

She went to grab Cyndelle, who whined and tried pulling away and grabbing onto the railing of her bed. Victoria gave a heavy sigh. She really was going to rip into Jaelyn for this…

“Right,” Jaelyn said as her siblings shuffled into the stage, “I was going over the recordings we took of the previous rehearsal and, to be frank, it’s sloppy. So, we’re going to keep going until we get it right.”

“We couldn’t wait until the sun was up!?” Victoria demanded, “You kiddin’ me?!”

“It’s just one more time before showtime,” Jaelyn stated, “That’s all.”

“It had better be once more,” Cyndelle grumbled as she picked up her violin and put it in its brace.

“Do it right and it will be,” 

The door swung open and another figure shuffled in, black hoodie and fluffy pajama bottoms accompanied with bunny slippers. A coffee mug sat in the figure’s hand, steam curling from it as the scent of cinnamon and caramel wafted from the very full cup. 

“Tessa!” Emmett beamed, smiling as he waved. He got a tired grunt from their manager and eldest sibling as she shuffled towards the audience’s chairs and curled up in one of them, pulling her hood down further and taking a long, long drink from her mug.

“You don’t fall asleep on me either, Boss,” Jaelyn warned, “Need to make sure all the stage stuff is running smoothly.”

All she got was a point to the coffee mug, which happened to read ‘Do Not Talk To Me Above This Line’.

“Anyways,” Jaelyn sighed, rolling her eyes, “Places. We’re running choreography from the top.”

Three hours later, three of the quartet were ready for murder. Their audience member was awake at least, coffee long drained despite the fact she’d gone to refill the mug fifteen times. The fourth of the quartet was all bright eyed and bushy tailed. 

“Alright, one more time,” Jaelyn clapped her hands, only to duck as a pair of drumsticks courtesy of Victoria were thrown at her…alongside a little slipper from Cyndelle and a wad of paper from Emmett, “I mean it this time! It’s almost perfect.”

“Jae, it’s 6am. And we have a concert this evening,” Emmett said slowly, “Everything’s fine. Can we at least get some sleep before we have to get ready?”

“And you will,” Jaelyn stated, “ After this last run.”

“You’re gonna ruin our voices,” Victoria huffed, “Not so much mine yeah, but if I use my head as a drumstick for a single beat on stage I will make sure you never find that Bass again.”

“You can try,” Jaelyn rolled her eyes, “Now. Again.”

Three groans chorused up as Jaelyn started up strumming, but they all got back into position. Cyndelle started her part of the routine, her little feet flying over the stage as Emmett swung her in a twirl and started playing alongside her. 

That’s when Cyndelle staggered.

“Cyndelle?” Emmett asked as Cyndelle shook her head, grabbing at her chest, “You good?”

“...I…I don’t…” Cyndelle stammered, “I-1-1-1-I…”

And Cyndelle collapsed on the stage, lying still and silent…unmoving.

“CYNDELLE!” Emmett shouted as Tessa leaped into action, bounding up the stage at a speed that seemed near inhuman as she darted towards Cyndelle. Jaelyn and Victoria dashed over as well, the former dropping her Bass to the ground as Emmett slowly turned Cyndelle up on her back.

Cyndelle’s eyes were still open, dark topaz save for a brilliant golden ring that encircled her irises. Tessa’s hands ghosted over Cyndelle’s pajama top, placing a hand against her throat to check for a pulse.

“I-Is she…?” Emmett stammered, and Tessa shook her head.

“No, she’s still alive,” came the reply, “Lemme…aha…” she pulled down the collar of Cyndelle’s top, exposing her collarbone and the dimly flickering red light right under her skin, “Low charge. Vicky, front right pocket of my bag. Has a charge cord. Emmett…help me get ‘er up, yeah? Jae, go make sure no one’s here ok?”

Victoria and Jaelyn dashed off, the glow of their own eyes leaving burning afterimages in the dark, blinking amber in the dim light from the stagelights that had been turned off for the beginning set. Tessa reached into her hoodie pocket, pulling out a small remote and pressing the button. 

The lights on stage turned back out and she looked up at Emmett, yanking down her hood and letting rust-brown tangled braids fall free over burn scarred skin. Silver-sky rings met terrified amber ones and she patted his shoulder as they helped get Cyndelle to a spot backstage where she could charge.

“She’s gonna be a-okay,” Tessa told him, her eyes casting silver shadows on the scuffed floor, “Just…good thing we caught this now rather than showtime,”

“Yeah,” Emmett nodded as Victoria came back with the cord and Jaelyn returned from her rounds.

“No one’s here. Just us, Boss,” Jaelyn stated as Victoria brushed Cyndelle’s hair away from her neck and Tessa plugged in the charge cord.

“Good,” Tessa nodded, “You lot have worked hard for this and if anyone found out…well…don’t think it’d be too good, y’know? They might go on that whole ‘AI making music is bad’ schtick again.”

They waited in silence for a good five minutes, waiting and watching over Cyndelle with worry and anxiety riddling them. After ten minutes passed, Cyndelle’s face reanimated and the golden band in her eyes brightened as she let out a whimper and was drawn into a hug by Tessa.

“Easy, it’s ok,” Tessa rubbed her back, “Gave us quite the scare! Thought you were better about making sure your battery was charged at night.”

“I-I-It was…” Cyndelle sniffed, “I-I-I-I was fully charged before we g-g-got here! I-I couldn’t…m-move…i-it was so scary…”

“What about you guys?” Tessa asked, casting a silver-ringed gaze up at the other three, “Levels on you all?”

“60%,” Jaelyn stated.

“54%,” Emmett confirmed.

“80%,” Victoria reported, “Though I’ve been just hammering on the drums, not dancing,”

“Cyndelle wasn’t moving more than me,” Emmett pointed out, “Our routine is the same,”

Tessa frowned as she looked Cyndelle over. She turned towards Jae and gave a shrug.

“Guess that means rehearsal’s canceled. I need to make sure this isn’t gonna happen tonight,” Tessa told her, “Sound good?”

“Y-Yeah,” Jaelyn nodded, “Um…we should be…ok I think. Get some rest,”

“Alrighty then,” Tessa smiled, getting to her feet and helping Cyndelle to her feet, “You an’ me are gonna have a movie day, yeah? While I figure out what happened to your battery,”

Emmett got up and swept Cyndelle into his arms, the smaller sibling sniffing as she hugged him around the neck and let him carry her out. Tessa patted Jaelyn on the back.

“Don’t beat yourself up about it,” she told her, “We probably woulda found this out sooner or later. Just happened to be sooner. Better in rehearsal than during performance amiright?”

“...Yeah,” Jaelyn murmured, “I’ll…get everything locked up and meet you back at the bus.”

“I’ll stay with her and make sure it’s quick,” Victoria nodded.

“Sounds like a plan!” Tessa gave a grin and a pair of finger guns as she pulled her hood back up over her head and jogged out the door. 

Jaelyn took a shaky breath, closing her eyes and regaining her composure. When she reopened them, the golden ring had completely disappeared. She jumped a little when Victoria put her hand on her shoulder, her own golden ring around her irises dimming and hiding her true nature once again.

“C’mon, let’s finish up and then get back to the others,” Victoria winked, “Maybe next time we don’t wake up at god knows what time it was and practice until the crack of dawn?”

“...Oh, don’t think you’re getting out of that,” Jaelyn scowled, “If those sloppy tempos were anything to go by,”

“Oh, sloppy tempo huh?” Victoria scoffed, jostling her sister with a shove, “I’ll show you…”

They both looked at each other for a moment and then burst into shaky laughter. They had a few hours still at least before it was showtime.

Tessa by AhoNoKio

Chapter Text

3

Cyndelle’s eyes flickered open as the sun shone in from the windows. It was a beautiful day, pure blue sky, butter gold light rays, birds singing happily in the spring air, the sound of people going about their daily lives…

She chucked a teddy bear at the button controlling the shades and dragged her blankets back over her head. She’d only been asleep for an hour after Jaelyn’s rehearsal from hell and she was not going to be awake all day thank you very much!

Especially after the whole incident…

She curled closer into a ball under the blankets, the golden ring of light around her irises casting blinking shadows as her eyelids shuttered them. A shudder ran through her body as she cast a quick look at her charge level in the corner of her vision.

25%. 

Better than the 2% it had been when Emmett had brought her back to the bus…but still much lower than it should have been. She gave a yawn as she held the golden retriever plush closer to her chest and buried her face in its fur. She was so tired…she knew it was due to the low charge but still!

She shouldn’t have drained that fast…not in that amount of time.

So that meant something was wrong with her.

It’s just…she didn’t know what.

There was a knock on the door and Cyndelle tiredly peeked her head out of the covers and turned to face the opening to her bunk. The door slid open and she was met by silver blue ringed eyes, wild rusty brown curls out of their normal braids and a burn scarred face cracking a soft smile.

“Ey, sis,” Tessa’s voice was soft as she leaned on the door, “How you feelin’?”

“Tired…” Cyndelle mumbled, eyes fluttering closed for a moment before waking up, “D-D1dn’t…ch-ch4rge mu-much.”

“To be fair it’s only been an hour, yeah,” Tessa sighed, “Y’good for me to take a squiz at it?”

“Mhm…” Cyndelle yawned.

“Alrighty, upsie daisy!” Tessa smiled, reaching for Cyndelle and carefully picking her up out of her bed.

“‘s cold…” Cyndelle whined as she left the bed, but didn’t have the strength to fight, instead going full on ragdoll and getting Tessa to grunt as Cyndelle’s full weight laid heavy against her.

“Oi, maybe lay off on the pancakes,” Tessa teased as she shifted around, transitioning Cyndelle into more of a piggyback and leaning forwards so Cyndelle didn’t slide off, “You’re heavier than you were the last time we did this,”

“But they ta-ta-t4ste g-good,” Cyndelle murmured, snuggling into Tessa’s shoulder, the sharp eucalyptus and nutty scent of Tessa’s burn medicine filling her nose. 

“Yeah but you keep this up, Emmett’s gonna be the only one that can lift ya, silly goob,” came the chuckle as they shuffled into Tessa’s room and the older sister kicked the door shut before going towards the bed and gently setting Cyndelle down.

Cyndelle stuck her tongue out at her sister and Tessa returned it with a grin, trotting over to her desk and grabbing a few odd little devices that Cyndelle didn’t know the name of. 

“Alrighty, so! First thing’s first…gonna check the power output of your core,” Tessa explained, “Good thing we gotcha in a tank top otherwise we’d have to take your shirt off. So, I’m gonna open you up at the seam here…then I’m gonna connect this…” her fingers were cold, the soft synthetic skin not conducting the heat a human body would give off as she removed the near seamless skin section and grabbed what looked like a jumper cable prong, clipping it to the soft whirring-whining core that spun in star-like brightness in Cyndelle’s chest. “There. Now…that’s gonna take a lil bit to get an accurate reading soooo…”

She reached over and held up two dvd cases.

“ Phantom of the Opera or Singing in the Rain ?”

“Alrighty, sis, I know that you have a Darkrai in that lineup somewhere.” Tessa growled, looking over the switch in her hand across the bed at Cyndelle, who was grinning back at her, “Lets see ‘im,”

Their movie marathon was on pause for a little bit as food was ordered and on the way, courtesy of Victoria, Jaelyn and Emmett…who had left about half an hour ago to find something. Jaelyn didn’t even protest when the frankly unhealthy amount of junk food was asked for by both Cyndelle and Tessa. Only compounding on the fact that what happened last night spooked Jaelyn badly.

Tessa made a mental note to talk to Jaelyn about that after they found out what was wrong with Cyndelle.

There was a knock at the door and the girls both looked up as the platinum blond curls belonging to Emmett poked in through the door. His golden eyes lit up like the sun, the light ring around his irises shimmering as a smile crossed his face.

“Delivery~!” he sang as he nudged the door and revealed the other two of their little family behind him. A pizza box marked with a planet and spaceship lay in his hands while Victoria came in with a couple of two liters of drinks and Jaelyn shuffled in with a shopping bag full of candy, “Trip advisor said this was a good place to get pizza…and the shop was saying they’re the best in this quadrant of the galaxy,”

“Extra large triple cheese and meats pizza,” Victoria chuckled as she shoved her glasses further up her face, “We got drinks and candy too.”

“How are you feeling?” Jaelyn asked.

“Still tired,” Cyndelle admitted, “My charge’s only up to 45%...but I’ve stopped stuttering at least…and I’m about to beat Tessa in a Pokemon battle,”

“Oh, you think huh!?” Tessa demanded, a wry grin on her face as she lovingly shoved her youngest sister, “C’mon then. Throw him out! I’ve got my team all ready to kick your little butt to next tuesday.”

“A Tinkaton, an Aggron, a Registeel, a Cosmog…that still hasn’t evolved yet?”

“I need more time with it ok? Only evolves when I’ve fought with it, ok?” Tessa huffed.

“A Mew, oh that’s new…and an Aegislash,” Cyndelle hummed, “This’ll be easy actually,”

“C’mon, I’ve seen your team before,” Tessa’s eyes narrowed, “But I don’t think that team of a Mimikyu, Litwick, Morpeko, Indeedee and Magearna is that scary. It’s the Darkrai I’m worried about. But! I can take ‘im. So bring him out!”

“Okieee~!” Cyndelle gave a grin as she selected her combatant…and something pale white and green came out.

“...THAT IS NOT A DARKRAI!” Tessa screeched as the very much a shiny Mewtwo came out, “WHERE THE BLOODY HELL DID YOU GET HIM !?”

“Found him.” 

“BULL!” 

“What was this about beating me?” Cyndelle’s grin was downright diabolical, “Cuz dunno ‘bout that,”

“Ohoooo you suck . I’m still going to give you a thrashing,” Tessa scowled, as she gently gave Cyndelle a nudge with her foot, “Oi, Emmett, pass me a slice of that pizza! Imma need some fuel to burn for this fight!”

Tessa did not win that fight. Nor the rematch. Or the rematch after that. By the time the pizza and candy had been consumed and the soda had been drank, the diagnostic had been run. And Tessa frowned as she was staring at the readout. 

“What’s it say?” Cyndelle asked.

“That’s the problem,” Tessa frowned, “It’s…sayin’ nothing. Your core’s completely fine.”

“Then why did my charge just…drop like that?”

“I dunno, sis,” Tessa sighed, “I’m not seein’ anything that would say why to be honest.”

“...So I’m…just…defective then,” Cyndelle pulled her legs up, holding them as she put a hand to the warm glass protecting her core, “...Like everyone said back then…”

Tears slipped down from her eyes, tinted into topaz gemstones from her light only for Tessa to sigh and scooch closer to her. Cyndelle felt her sister loop a hand around her and pull her into a hug.

“You’re not defective,” Tessa told her, “Just…got a lil buggy problem that I gotta fix. An’ that’s what I do, eh? Fix problems?”

“Sis…I’m gonna ruin everything ,” Cyndelle sniffed, “I’m gonna get us found out…I’m gonna collapse on stage an-and they’re gonna see that we’re not human…an-and they’re gonna dismantle me …l-like they tried to do b-before…”  she grabbed at her chest, her breaths starting to hitch and stutter, catching in her throat and making static ring in her eyes and her ears, "I don’t…I don’t wanna end up in the garbage heap again! I-I don’t wanna go back! I don’t! 1-I can’t! I c4n’t ! I won’t! I-I-I-1 wo-w0n’t!”

“And no one’s gonna put ya in there, Cyndelle,” Tessa’s voice was firm and yet gentle at the same time, “They’re gonna have t’ go through me before I let ‘em get to you or our siblings yeah? An’ y’know me. I’m a bit of a scrapper!”

“...Why couldn’t I have been built normal …?” Cyndelle whimpered as her sister stroked her hair.

“Hey…y’know what I see?” Tessa asked, getting Cyndelle to look up as the synthetic skin of Tessa’s thumbs dried the tears off Cyndelle’s cheeks, “I see a young lady who, god it was six years ago wasn’t it? Six years ago, talked a little 12/13 year old girl from doing something absolutely horrendous to herself and made her realize that there was a life that wasn’t hellish out there. Granted, that little seven year old droid had grabbed her sibling units and dragged them to help out, but it was still her that talked the little heiress down from the roof. Who threw an entire cake at the head maid because she was being an absolute menace to the little heiress…and who stayed with said little heiress while her big brother and sisters helped get a pile of burning beams off her. Who also, at her big brother’s insistence, decided to sing her little heart out in front of billions of people and kickstart a career as a superstar. Now…you tell me, Cyndelle…where’d that little girl go eh? Cuz…I still see her sitting in front of me.”

She bopped Cyndelle on the nose, the silver-sky rings dimming slightly.

“But that lil’ candle flame soul of hers seems to have a little shutter over it, y’know?” Tessa continued, “Thinks she’s not worth it. That she’s defective . Sooooo…I might have an idea. But we’re gonna have to work fast, y’know? Concert’s in like five hours.”

“...Oh…right…” Cyndelle’s voice was hushed, “The others…”

“Already at rehearsal. Jae’s gonna take it easy on ‘em though, I made her promise,” Tessa winked, “You…I have an idea. Your charge’s weird yeah?”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Well…then we just need to make sure your charge is up. Easy fix is by making a portable battery for now,” Tessa pointed out, “Can disguise it as a wire from your mic. But…for now we’re gonna have to play nice and only have you come on at the end, ok?”

“...Ok…” Cyndelle nodded, though her shoulders slumped still.

“Hey, we’ll have more time for the next show,” Tessa told her, “I’m not gonna leave ya hangin’. Y’understand, lil sis?”

“...I understand, big sis,” Cyndelle replied, hugging her sister, “Thank you…”

“Anytime,”

“Hellooooo New York City!” N hollered, waving as the crowd in front of them shrieked in glee, “It’s been an honor playin’ for you lot this evenin’! We’ve been kinda nervous since it’s been our first concert well, y’know, live and in front of such a massive audience…”

“Speak for yourself, nerd,” V smirked, leaning on her drumset, “I think they’re as fired up as I’ve been all night. Dunno ‘bout you but I can keep goin’ all night long!”

“Some people have jobs in the morning, V,” J deadpanned, rocking back on her heel, “And we all know that you aren’t the most incredible of people in the morning.”

“Oh really ?! You wanna come over here and say that again, sis?!” V sputtered, standing up from her seat.

“I have the pictures to prove it and no thanks, I think I’m quite fine where I’m at.” J preened, “Considering I’m up here. And you’re down there. I’m not quite sure you can reach this high.”

“My drumsticks can though!”

“Oooookay!” N gave a laugh, “Sorry guys, they’re a little catty still. Uh, well…as I was gonna continue. You lot might have noticed we’re down a member! Cuz there were four of us the last time. Well, there’s a reason for that.”

“Yeah, Cyn’s a liiiiittle shy about this still,” V yawned, twirling a drumstick, “Sooooo we gave her the entire concert to kinda work up her courage.”

“Boss has been backstage pumping her up too I’m guessing,” J shrugged.

“Which is why ~” N beamed, “We’re gonna give her the warm welcome she deserves. She’s been practicing this little routine for a while but it’s a lil’ different than what you guys saw us do in the video. She didn’t get to show off what she could do there so…we’re gonna show you guys what she’s capable of! Soooo…all of you put your hands together for our little sister, Cyn!”

The crowd started giving cheers and applause and the other three members of Absolutely Solved  turned around to face the backstage…where Cyn stood, shaking her head as she clutched her violin to her chest, white knuckled. V rolled her eyes.

“Louder, nerds!” she barked, “She’s shy!”

As if galvanized by her order, the crowd’s cheering rose to a roar. Cyn peeked her head from backstage, saw the crowd aaaand immediately went back behind it. 

“Not enough,” J hummed, “One more time, that might do it,”

The entire venue shook from the force of the elated and excited shriek from the crowd. It rose and rose…until all the lights went out. Confused cries, some screams even, started filtering through…

And then the soft, gentle notes of a piano started. The crowd could see the keys lighting up under J’s dexterous touch, but it wasn’t anything compared to what they heard and saw next. 

A single spotlight turned on, revealing the fourth member of Absolutely Solved. A dainty, flowing dress that would have looked more a place on a doll than a living person fluttered with every small, ballerina swipe step. Murmurs of confusion continued as they saw the violin in her hands. She’d sang in the video after all…what was this for?

And with that, Cyn put the violin up to her chin, cradling it like a mother would her child. A soft, sweet melody trembled from it, getting the confused murmurs to hush as Cyn continued to walk out onto the stage. She stopped for a moment, staring at the crowd as the notes sighed into the air…and then a look of determination crossed her face as she burst into movement.

The violin in her hand seemed to sing as she moved across the stage, V’s drum beat pounding a quick staccato heartbeat as N’s guitar lay down a low thrumming line. Cyn seemed to fly over the stage, fingers dexterous as she plucked at the strings before running back into a quick melody accompanied by the voices of her siblings. 

None of them overshadowing their youngest sibling, this was her show as she twirled and played her little heart out on the stage. The crowd watching in stunned silence as the violin’s last notes sang through the air, carried by J’s piano.

And then the entire venue erupted into shrieking applause as Cyn’s face bloomed into a brilliant smile and she took a low and deep bow.

“See…toldja they’d love it,” Tessa’s voice murmured over the headset.

“...Think they want an encore, sis,” N chuckled as he picked Cyn up and put her on his shoulders, getting her to shriek with laughter as she waved.

“M-Maybe,” Cyn admitted, “But um…maybe sit me on the piano bench next to J for this one, eh?”

Chapter Text

4

The music was thundering in her ears as the headphones canceled out every unwanted crash and bang and whine of the world around her. Drowned the pained moans and weak coughing of broken androids bleeding in glittering pearlescent hues across the cracked and pitted concrete that desperately needed filled in. A battered hand, gleaming diamond smears reached for her and she dodged out of the way, hugging her backpack closer to her as she hopped over another arm.

They were getting bolder today…

Normally only one tried to swipe at an unlucky passerby, try to steal whatever precious rations or valuables and sell them to fuel their miserable existences and addictions. She couldn’t afford to be their next mark. 

She turned up the music as she danced out of the way of yet another begging hand. She didn’t have time for this. There was an appointment she needed to get to. Getting the lifeblood of the broken androids on her clothes was not something she was able to afford.

A frown quirked her lips as she looked  at her phone and checked the time, a sigh left her as she stuffed her phone back in her pocket and tightened her backpack’s straps. If she was going to make it…was probably best for her to get some height.

She ducked into an alleyway, scanning the narrow passageway for an easy up. Fortunately for her there was a fire escape that had been rusted and broken…but would hold her weight just fine. 

With a soft ‘hup!’, she dashed forwards, grabbing the fire escape and pushing off, using her momentum and the narrow walls of the claustrophobia from hell alleyway to climb up to the rooftops. As soon as she broke above the smog covered city below her, the sun did much the same to the clouds. 

The maze-like Labyrinth sprawled before and below her, bursts of rust and brilliant color from the slum underbelly of the much richer Heights. The wind whipped her hair around her, sending brilliant violet strands twirling in the breeze. She rolled her eyes as she pulled off a band from her wrist and immediately began to put her hair up in a ponytail, the small stubby thing spiked under her beanie as she smoothed an errant bang behind her ear. 

God she loved the freedom of being up here. Now…to not get caught . 

She gave a bright, gleaming smirk as she turned on her heel and started sprinting towards her target area. Her feet flew over the concrete, sending her sailing over the wide gaps between the ramshackle buildings. Her boots clomped with harsh metallic stomps as sheet metal rang in staccato tempo alongside the music pounding in her ears. 

She could see the end of the Labyrinth’s slums up ahead and grinned as she stopped just before the edge…didn’t want to get caught after all. With a swift swing of her legs down off onto a much less rusted fire escape, she clambered down the ironworks and smirked as her boots hit the asphalt with a satisfying and solid thud. A  brush of her jacket later, she made her way out of the alleyway and into the sunlight of the mashed up chaos that was the border of the Heights and the Labyrinth. Tinted a deep purple from her sunglasses, the world seemed a bit more sharp and stark and far less rose tinted as she saw humans going about their daily lives…and androids going about their significantly worse ones. 

The violet haired girl pulled her phone out again, checking the time and looking up the address she was supposed to be at…plenty of time and it was just across the street. She gave a sigh as she brushed herself off again, straightening her glasses as she strode with confidence towards the building. The ‘We’re Hiring!’ sign blinked in brilliant neon in the storefront, and she looked up to the sky, saying a small little prayer to whoever’d listen. God…Buddha…some pagan deity who took pity on souls like her…

And with that, she pushed open the door.

“Good morning!” the receptionist smiled, a human woman she noticed…that was interesting, “What can I help you with?”

“I’m here to have my interview with Mr. Carson?” she asked, “I know I’m a bit early but, Mom and Dad kinda sorta instilled the whole ‘if you’re on time you’re late!’ ideology.”

“Oh that’s wonderful!” the woman smiled, “Can I have your name so I can let him know?”

“Sure. Uzi? Uzi Doorman?” she asked.

“Uzi…hm…” the receptionist hummed, “This might take a little bit, computer’s slow. If you’ll have a seat there? I’ll let you know when I find it,”

“Thanks,” Uzi nodded as she made her way towards a small table and shrugged her jacket off, revealing the frankly nice looking blouse and slacks that her father had pulled teeth to get her to wear. She took her sunglasses off, folding them and putting them away in her pocket, luminous rings of violet light glittering around her irises as she did. 

“Oh…” the woman’s voice piped up, “Um…Miss Doorman,” Uzi’s head poked up and the woman gave a shrug, “I’m afraid the position’s been filled.”

“But…the sign out front!” Uzi protested

“We’re required to have that out there,” the receptionist shrugged, “Afraid you’re going to have to find work elsewhere.”

“Are you freakin’ kidding me.” Uzi hissed, “You guys couldn’t have even called to let me know?!”

The woman gave another shrug and Uzi took a deep breath. Now was not the time to lose her temper. She couldn’t afford it. Not now. With a harsh, quick blast of air through her nose, she snatched her jacket and stormed out of the building.

Was it her hair? She knew violet was a… bold choice. But she didn’t really have much control over that. Just how she was. She was dressed nice, businesslike…gag her. So that couldn’t have been the problem…

She kicked one of the trees shading the sidewalk, cursing as her toe throbbed and she hopped up and down to ease the pain. She knew what the problem was. She just…didn’t want to admit it.

Her fingers ghosted against the near invisible seam in the skin on her cheek, the glow from her eyes tinting her fair skin a dusty lilac. Her core-heart dropped as she chewed on the inside of her cheek and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jacket.

She should have known that a business with a human receptionist would never hire an android worker.

With a grumble, she grabbed her phone and marked off that interview. There was still time…she had five more to go to at least…

Uzi wanted to pitch her phone into the wall. Six interviews…all of them either filled or told ‘we’ll call you. Don’t call us.’ God she loved her life.

She settled instead for punching the concrete wall, bruising her knuckles and sending the translucent diamond blood dribbling down her fingers. She groaned as she went to fix her busted hand…her parents would throw a fit if they saw. 

“Back to the drawing board…” she sighed, wiping off the blood on her slacks as she walked through the Labyrinth. 

The sound of commotion caught her attention and Uzi’s eyes widened as she dodged behind a trash can. Curiosity got the best of her as she quietly peeked out to see what was going on.

What she saw chilled her lifeblood. 

A group of Peacekeepers, decked in white, golden brass buttons and badges flashing in the dimming light of the dying day, had seemed to corner a group of androids that were milling about and getting ready to go home. A hissed curse left Uzi’s throat as she looked down at her phone again. Did she somehow miss curfew?

No…no she still had about forty five minutes left.

These guys were just getting off on the pain they could cause. Uzi swallowed as she slowly made her way back further into the alleyway. She wasn’t far from home. But if she was spotted…it wouldn’t be good for her or her family. 

Thankfully, the Peacekeepers seemed to be occupied with kicking a downed android that had been begging earlier. Uzi shuddered as she heard the sound of synthetic shell crunching under steel toed, black polished boots. The static scream from the poor android stabbed at her ears as she steeled her nerves and bolted down the alley, small and swift as a shadow. 

A hand grabbed her elbow as she passed by a doorway, dragging her inside. Uzi immediately raised her hand and launched her fist forward…getting rewarded with a yelp from her assailant.

“Ow! Easy, Zi!” a familiar voice winced, causing Uzi’s breathing to steady a little bit as she saw familiar glowing green rings tinting golden curls with springtime leaves, “I was just wanting to warn you there’s Peacekeepers down the alleyway. Sarah nearly got caught.”

“Thad you know better than to grab me like that,” Uzi hissed as Thad brought her deeper into the house and closed the door behind him. He nodded towards the living room where the television was playing and Thad’s parents and sister were sitting, chatting while dinner was cooking.

“Oh, Uzi?” Thad’s father asked, wincing as he shifted in his seat and aggravating the broken leg that was being propped up, “What’s up kid?”

“Peacekeepers outside,” Thad explained as a pounding sound thundered from the door. The family’s eyes sparkled in blue and green terror as Thad’s mother gave Uzi a blanket and gestured for her to sit next to his older sister, who shoved a jenga piece into her hands while Thad went to answer the door.

Uzi’s eyes widened and her core hammered in her chest as a Peacekeeper appeared in the doorway.

“Evening,” the Peacekeeper smiled behind the blank black glass faceshield, “Making sure everyone’s following curfew…we saw a suspicious figure run by here…everyone here’s accounted for, right?”

“Yes, sir,” Thad nodded, “Zi’s spending the night tonight…working on a project for class and all. Uh, and we’ve been in here for hours,” Uzi was impressed by how smoothly Thad lied.

“Just makin’ sure,” the Peacekeeper said, “Beautiful family unit you have here…”

“Yes, sir!” Thad’s father smiled, “Got lucky I guess. Get their looks from their mother,”

“I can tell,” the Peacekeeper’s reply was dry, “Shame she’s not a Redlighter…I know guys who’d pay big credits for someone like-ahem, I’m getting ahead of myself. Remember the curfew…and stay inside.”

“Thank you, we will,” Thad smiled as the door was closed and his mother gave a violent shudder.

“That one is just…creepy,” she muttered, “Uzi, kid…you be careful getting home, please,”

“Yeah…don’t worry, I can get home without being seen,” Uzi nodded as she got up, folding the blanket and being careful to not knock over the jenga tower, “Thanks.”

“Not a problem, kid,” Thad’s father told her, “Tell your dad I said hi, ok?”

“Will do.” Uzi gave a small salute as she snuck out with Thad following close behind.

“Job hunting’s a bust huh?” Thad asked.

“Yeah,” Uzi sighed, only to pause as Thad pressed a powerpack into her hand, “Thad…that’s yours…”

“We had extra,” he shrugged, “‘sides…was a thank you from Sam. Might wanna talk with him if you’re looking for a job. You know what they say about Sam…”

“He can get you anything,” Uzi chuckled, “I just…dunno if that includes a job,” she closed his fingers around the powerpack, pushing it back to him, “I’ll be fine, dude keep it. You’re gonna need it with your dad’s leg,”

She didn’t give him a chance to protest as she slipped into the gathering gloom, footsteps pounding in her ears as she continued to run. She needed to get home.

By the time she’d got home it was just about to hit curfew. She saw a box on the doorstep of her home and curiously went up to it, poking around. Inside lay three powerpacks, their rations for the day. Her father’s for payment doing his job and the other two for having children under 18.

Her stomach growled, causing her to gnaw at her inner cheek. She couldn’t think of that now. A sigh left her as she picked up the packs and the box, opening the door and nudging it open with her foot. 

A pair of silver-white rings under blued-black hair met her immediately. 

“Sissy!” came the high pitched squeal as she felt arms wrap around her legs.

“Hey, Hal,” Uzi ruffled his hair, “I’m home.”

“You almost were late…” Hal accused as Uzi let him go, “What took you so long?”

“Well, was talking to a bunch of people about a job,” she shrugged, “You hungry?”

“Yeah,” Hal admitted, “Mama forgot to pack lunch again,”

“Yikes…you must be starving then,” Uzi winced as she knelt down and handed him a powerpack. “Here ya go, you gremlin,”

Hal gave a beaming smile, the white rings around his irises glowing brightly as he bit down on the cap. The six year old started sucking down the charge, turning the glowing blue package a dim slate as he continued to eat.

“Where’s Mom and Dad?” Uzi asked.

“Mama’s room,” Hal admitted, “Mama isn’t feeling good. Dad’s changing her bandages.”

“Thanks, squirt,” Uzi gave a half-smile, “Go finish your meal and do your homework. I’ll be in to check over it in about an hour, ok?”

“Okieee!” Hal beamed as he darted off, leaving Uzi alone in the mudroom. 

She gave a sigh as she pulled off her boots, putting them next to her father’s own steel toed boots and Hal’s tennis shoes. Her mother’s flats were covered with dust, which Uzi brushed off with a frown before standing up, popping her back with a wince. She tossed the empty box to the side and started up the stairs to her parents’ room. 

She could hear soft voices, her mother’s trembling alto and her father’s warm baritone in beautiful harmony as she knocked on the door. She poked her head in and took a look around. 

“Mom? Dad?” she asked, the room was dark save for a honey glow lamp from the early 3000s and a set of violet and white glowing rings, “Mind if I come in? I have food,”

“Hey, kiddo,” her father smiled as he waved her in, “How’d the job hunt go?”

“No luck,” Uzi admitted as she came in and sat on her mother’s bed, handing her parents the other two power packs, “Same ol’ same ol’. ‘We don’t hire your kind here’.”

“You’ll…find something,” her mother’s voice was fractured glass and shattered ice, a far cry from what it had been months ago. 

Her mother’s bandaged hands reached forwards, gently grabbing Uzi’s and squeezing. Uzi had to fight down the feeling of sympathetic pain seeing the open scar wounds that still leaked diamond fluid from weeping openings. Bruises littered her body, the most striking being that of a handprint over her throat. Though…those were just the ones that were visible. Uzi knew that there were far more under the blankets and her mother’s clothes. Bite marks, scratches, tears in the fair synthetic skin…

It was a miracle that the statue of diamond clarity that lay before her, Nori Doorman, had survived her attack. Radiant as Venus surging from the waves, broken as Hephaestus cast down from the Mountain.

Uzi’s father looked at the pack as he helped his wife eat, gently, lovingly, tipping it up and holding Nori’s head steady as one of the violet rings flickered out from stress. 

“Easy, honey,” he murmured as Nori started coughing, he rubbed her back as he looked at the last pack, the narrowed silver eyes then looked up at his daughter.

“I ate already,” Uzi lied, “Thad had an extra one he got from Sam. So he gave it to me. Brandon says hi by the way,”

“I’ll have to pay him a visit sometime,” Khan’s voice was tired, cracked.

“Dad, you need to eat,” Uzi pushed it towards him. “I’m fine. I’ve got a couple more job leads to chase…then we’ll be fine. I promise,”

Khan looked at his daughter, then at the powerpack. Uzi could see the look of dim hunger in his eyes, she knew he needed to eat…she knew he knew she was lying to him about eating but…of them both, he needed to keep his strength up in order to make sure they all were fed.

“...Okay, kiddo,” he sighed, “Thank you.”

Uzi gave a smile as he reached for her and hugged her, she hugged him back tightly.

“You eat tomorrow do you hear me?” his voice was quiet, harsh, “That’s three days you’ve gone without it.”

“...Yeah, I hear you Dad,” she sighed before pulling back, “I’m gonna go check on Hal’s homework. You two relax, I’ll keep the little goblin busy,”

“Thanks, kiddo,” Khan nodded as Uzi came and gave her mother a kiss on the forehead.

“Night, Mom…night Dad,” 

“Good night, Uzi,” Nori smiled as Khan reached up and ruffled her hair on her way out.

Uzi closed the door behind her, closing her eyes as she put a hand to her stomach, wincing at the sharp hunger pain that shot through it. She was young, she could handle it. She didn’t need her family worrying about where their next meal was coming from or who got to eat that day. With her mother being unable to go outside, her father working two jobs and being cheated from the extra ration because his bosses were stingy , and her and Hal both being underage…

It was going to be rough.

She pushed off the door and walked towards Hal’s room, knocking firmly a couple times. She heard Hal talking inside and she nudged the door open. The room was covered in pictures of places he wanted to see. The Eiffel Tower, the Forbidden City, the Crystal Spires of Copper-9, the Lava Lakes of Plat-4… 

“‘Sup?” Uzi asked as she came in, sitting on her little brother’s bed as Hal looked up at her, hugging his stuffed dog, “You doin’ ok, squirt?”

“Yeah…just…” Hal rubbed the back of his neck, “Porter’s worried about Mama.”

“Oh?” Uzi raised an eyebrow as she picked up the stuffed golden retriever and looked her over, “Wonder why?”

“She says Mama’s getting sicker.” Hal admitted, “And she’s scared…because Mama’s not getting better.”

“Mama’s  been through a real bad thing,” Uzi explained, handing the dog back to her brother, “Those kinda things take…a really long time to heal. We just gotta be there for her and Dad, y’know? Can’t cause problems…”

“But you cause problems all the time, Zi…”

“Yeah well I’m me. You’re the good kid, remember?”

Hal was quiet, holding Porter close as he swallowed. “Right,” he finally muttered.

“You do your homework?” Uzi asked.

“Yeah…wasn’t that hard,” he shrugged, pointing at the desk, “Can you read to me before bed tonight?”

“Why not,” Uzi shrugged, getting up and going towards the bookshelf, “Hm…Halvin and Cobbes today?”

“Yeah!” Hal beamed as Uzi slipped the book from the shelf and started towards the bed.

“First though…gonna look at your homework,” she poked him in the forehead, “Don’t want you getting in trouble with your teachers, ok?”

“‘Kay, Zi,”

Uzi ruffled his hair, chuckling as he grumbled and swatted at her hand. She started looking at his work, correcting where she could, teaching where he’d missed a number. But…that was just the life she had. 

It was a hard one…but her family made it bearable. Now if only she could make it easier for them…

She made the decision that she’d go and talk to Sam in the morning…maybe he’d know about some jobs or would be willing to put in a good word for her to his boss to give her a job. It was…kinda the only hope she had.

Else there were going to be a lot more nights where her only food was the bread of sleep.

Uzi by AhoNoKio

Chapter Text

5

The next morning dawned grey and rainy. Uzi pulled a face as the violet light from her eyes cast dim shadows across the walls. Did she want to get up? No. But she knew if she didn’t, her dad would be in here and telling her to get up. And if she still didn’t get up…that was grounds for Hal getting a bucket of ice.

With a groan she got up, pushing the covers away as she reached for the charge cord poking out of her chest. A wince left her as she looked at the frayed thing and sighed, barely a charge, she’d probably have to scrounge for another one. 

A knock at the door caught her attention and she gave a groan, throwing her head back.

“I’m up, I’m up,” she said, “Just looking for clothes,”

“Just making sure, kiddo,” her father chuckled, “Your bag’s down by the door. Make sure you tell your Mom goodbye,”

“Will do, Dad,” Uzi nodded as she shifted up off her bed. She padded over towards her dresser, grabbing a pair of socks that thankfully matched for once. 

Her eyes lit upon the posters and anime drawings that littered the wall, grinning as she hopped up and down on one leg to pull the sock over her foot. She grabbed a shirt, examining it and bringing it up to sniff…thankfully it wasn’t absolutely rank, she’d have to do laundry soon for sure…and slipping it over her head. She smoothed the band logo down, worn from design and usage, soft from age, absolutely perfect. Next came the pants, thankfully those she didn’t have to worry about being dirt, and with flourish, got the chain straightened out on the leg from the belt. 

She then grabbed her beanie and her hoodie and slipped those upon her person, checking herself in the mirror and smirking as she shot a pair of finger guns at her reflection. Perfect. Angsty edgy teen energy in spades. 

With a grab of her phone and headphones, she made her way out of her room, hooking the things around her neck as she walked over to her parents’ room. She knocked politely, waiting for the weak ‘come in!’ to answer her before pushing the door open. Her mother looked tired, as if she’d not gotten any sleep. Her charge cord was still plugged in, the glassy rainbow glitter of scars on her arms from the light shimmering as she shifted to better sit up. Hal sat on the other side of her, cuddled up to their mother with eyes closed despite being fully dressed.

“Hey, kiddo…” Nori smiled, gently brushing one of Hal’s blue-black curls away from his face before reaching for her daughter, “Heading out?”

“Yeah, Mom,” Uzi nodded, sitting on the side of the bed, “Just wanted to come in and let you know. How you feeling?”

“Like crap but hey…that’s normal for me,” her mother’s smile was lopsided as one of the violet rings in her eyes flickered, sputtering, “Your father’s bringing me some stuff for lunch so I don’t have to um…y’know…g-get out of bed,”

“Lunch in bed, how romantic,” Uzi chuckled, though her core cracked hearing her mother’s wavering voice, “He gonna give you a flower in a vase for it too?”

“Ha…he would,” her mother grinned, “Hey, kiddo…Hal…” she shook her son’s shoulder, getting Hal to grumble as he snuggled closer, “ Halberd …you gotta let go, kiddo. Uzi’s gonna be taking you to school,”

“Don’t wanna,” Hal mumbled.

“Halberd Doorman, you know better,” Nori chastised as she flicked his forehead, getting him to grumble as the silver-white rings blinked and glared up at his mother, “Look, I know you both hate school but if you get caught skipping then it’s not gonna be good.”

“What do we even need school forrrr!?” Hal demanded, “It’s prison. And it’s not like the humans are gonna be hiring us for lawyers or whatever…”

Uzi gave a snort. “I think he’s gotcha there,”

“I don’t make the rules,” Nori poked him in the chest, “‘Sides, I wanna see my kids walk across the stage when they graduate and say ‘Those are my kiddos!’”

“Fiiiiine,” Hal grumbled as he reached forwards and gave his mother a hug, “But only ‘cuz you asked.”

Nori gave a bark of a laugh, bringing Uzi into the hug as well as she tightly hugged them both. “I’m proud of you both…now, go on. You’re gonna be late for school,”

“Love you, Mama,” Hal murmured.

“Love ya, Mom,” Uzi agreed.

“Yeah, I love you both too, kiddos,” Nori smiled, giving a last squeeze, “Now go get going before your dad has a fit.”

Uzi dropped Hal off at his school before immediately turning tail and disappearing into the Labyrinth’s maze of buildings. She needed to get to the doc area as fast as she could, then she could go back on the hunt for a job. Maybe. Unless Sam somehow managed to have something for her. She hopped over a barricade, ignoring the construction going on in the background as she dipped and ducked through the lot. 

Sam was one of those that knew everything and everyone. Had his fingers in a lot of different pies. If you wanted something, chances are Sam had one or was able to get you one pretty quickly. Ranged from day to day things like pencils all the way to the powerpacks which were guarded to keep the android population under control.

It was…a bit shady, his work, but hey…if it worked, Uzi wasn’t going to complain. 

Eventually she walked into the Warf, nose crinkling as the scent of fish and oil and rust assaulted her nose. She pulled her headphones down off her ears, cutting the music off as she looked around…and giving a small, wry smile as she saw a familiar face.

“Sam!” she called, starting towards a tall, sturdily built form that was popping his back from lifting a box from a pallet.

The pink ring of light around maroon irises lit up brilliantly as an equally bright smile bloomed across Sam’s freckled face. He gave a wave, brushing back the copper curls of his hair away from his forehead before sticking his hands in his ratty old hoody.

“Sup, Zi!” he greeted, “What brings you to this neck of the woods? Er…side of the pond? Nono…corner of the box kingdom. Yeah I like that…”

“Came to see you,” Uzi said, coming closer as she crossed her arms and settled back on her back foot, “I need something.”

“Well you came to the right place, man!” Sam’s grin was blinding, teeth a little crooked as was his nose…probably from a fight he got into. “What can I getcha? New phone? Headphones? Got a real nice selection of Strike headphones that came in today,”

“I need a job,”

“A job ?” Sam blinked, “Hm…I can see what I got. Walk n’ talk?”

Uzi shrugged and followed him into the warehouse, falling into quickstep beside him. Sam looked down at her with a smile.

“How’s your mom? I heard there was uh…an incident,” he winced, “Sorry dude, that’s a real bummer…”

“She’s…alive,” Uzi swallowed, “It’s…one of those things that, well…it’s difficult.”

“Yeah…don’t I know it,” Sam’s gaze dimmed a little bit, “But, hey…least you still got ‘er. Even if she’s a bit…outta it, y’know? More than I got.”

“I didn’t mean to bring that up, dude…sorry,”

“Nah, all good. I got these guys as family,” Sam winked, “Even if a few of ‘em are hardnoses,”

He opened a door and gestured for Uzi to go ahead, waiting until she was in the room before following and closing the door behind them. Sam’s room was small, more storage closet than anything. A fold up sofa, battered to hell and back, lay against one corner…a small kitchenette in the other, a plant sat on the desk, surprisingly alive and taken care of, blooming with brilliant gold and white flowers as Sam grabbed an ice cube from the fridge and placed it in the pot. 

“Have a seat wherever you can,” he smiled, “When’s the last time you ate, Zi?”

“Uh…last ni-”

“Don’t lie.” Sam’s voice suddenly dropped ten degrees, frigid and brittle as Uzi’s stomach growled and betrayed her words. “Uzi, I don’t like liars. Your light’s barely lit, it’s been at least three days since you’ve eaten. Now. Answer me. When did you last eat.”

“...Three days ago,” Uzi admitted, getting a nod from Sam as he rummaged around and tossed her a red powerpack. Uzi’s eyes widened as she juggled the thing. “Dude…where the hell …I can’t afford this.”

“Call it payment for your mom saving me from an overdose a few years back,” Sam shrugged, “I don’t like owing people, Zi. Eat.”

Uzi didn’t argue, snapping the cap off of the pack and starting to suck down the glowing energy. It took all her willpower not to scarf the entire thing down at a rapid pace…she couldn’t afford to get sick and purge all of this. The dim violet rings around her irises burned brilliant near indigo, she felt all the aches and pains immediately wash away and she finally pulled the pack away…it still had a little bit left but damn …

“How was it?” he asked.

“Best damn powerpack I’ve ever had…” she admitted.

“Yeah, starvation is a hell of a seasoning,” Sam shrugged, pulling out a blue power pack and tossing it to her, “Take that. Considering your Dad’s probably not getting enough for you and your Mom and your brother…least that’ll buy you time,”

“Thanks,” Uzi muttered, sticking it into her backpack, “So…about that job? I know your boss is always wanting runners…”

“Ehhhh…” Sam winced, “Don’t think you want that job, Zi.”

“Sam, my family’s gonna starve,” Uzi grit her teeth, balling her fists into her pants, “I need a job. I’m willing to do anything for that. I’m fast, I can literally get anywhere in the Labyrinth.”

“Look I’m gonna lay it straight for you, dudette,” Sam shook his head, “You’re not gonna like any of that. It’s not the fact I don’t think you’d be good at it…heck, man…you’d probably be the best runner we’d have. But I gotta think about the consequences when you get caught.”

“If I get caught.”

“ When ,” Sam’s voice was firm, “Y’think my pretty mug’s got its looks from me not gettin’ caught? And when they catch you, they’ll take it out on Hal or your Dad or your Mom…I don’t have anyone so they won’t take it out on people I care about. I just…have one of those not punchable faces anymore. Capybara energy man…pretty sick.”

“Wow…so coming here was a complete waste of time,” Uzi sighed.

“Eh, wouldn’t say that,” Sam shrugged, “Gimme your phone,”

Uzi raised an eyebrow, but she did as asked. Sam flopped into the beanbag chair and started typing into the phone for a few seconds before shaking his head.

“Daaaang, Zi. Thing’s like, ancient. Surprised it’s lived this long.”

“I can’t afford a new one, dude, you know that,” Uzi grumbled.

“I meaaaan, I can set you up…”

“And I owe you more than I already do?” Uzi scoffed, getting a chuckle from Sam as he handed her phone back to her, “What’d you do?”

“Eh, you’ve got my number now,” he told her, “If something comes up, I’ll shoot you a text. Capiche?” 

“Yeah…” Uzi sighed, “Just…please try to find something fast? I’ll freaking clean houses and crap. I don’t care. Anything .”

“I know, Zi,” Sam nodded, “I’ll talk with my people and I’ll get back to you, ok?”

“Thanks, Sam…” 

“Hey, lemme walk you out?” Sam asked, “Least I can do.”

She gave a nod as Sam jumped up, the exposed silver of some of his internal struts on his arms glinting as he offered a hand, yoinking Uzi to her feet. She followed him out into the not as drizzling daylight and Sam offered his hand to her to shake.

“I’ll let you know as soon as I hear somethin’, ‘kay?” he offered.

“Yeah…thanks dude,” Uzi nodded as she took his hand and shook it. Sam shot her a pair of finger guns before walking off to pick up another box and move it into the warehouse.

“Why you talkin’ with Sam?” 

Uzi jumped nearly five feet in the air, “HALBERD!” she whipped around to see her little brother standing behind her, thumbs under the straps of his backpack as he stared expectantly at her, “What the hell are you doing here?!”

“Followin’ you,”

“No duh , Sherlock!” Uzi hissed, grabbing his arm and marching back off the Warf with him, “Why!?”

“Cuz it’s better than goin’ to crappy school,” Hal shrugged, “What were you doin’ with Sam? Is he your boyfriend?”

“Wha- no !” Uzi shook her head, “Why would you think that?”

“You were holdin’ hands. That’s how you get cooties, remember?”

Uzi groaned as she threw her head back, dragging him further into the Labyrinth. “What’s stopping me from telling Mom and Dad you skipped school?”

“Same thing that’s gonna stop me from telling them you skipped out on school,” Hal gave a pretty smile as they walked, “You still haven’t answered me!”

“Went to Sam asking about a job,” Uzi finally said.

“You’re sixteen though?”

“Yeah and you’re six. I can get a job.” Uzi grumbled.

“But…the law says no kids get a job?”

“Obviously I’m not gonna say I’m sixteen,” Uzi rolled her eyes, “That’s stupid and dumb.”

“I’m telling Mama you said the s word.”

“And I’m gonna tell her you said ‘crap’.” Uzi snarked back, “So there.”

“...Fine,” Hal huffed, pouting as he crossed his arms, “So…did you get it?”

“Get what?” 

“The job!”

“Oh…no.” Uzi admitted as she rubbed the back of her neck, “Sam says he’s going to text me when he gets something,” 

They walked in silence for a little bit, Uzi taking a turn and heading towards the solitary park near the Heights that she knew would be safe for Hal to run around in until school was over. She blinked as he thumped his head against her side and looked down at him.

“...I hope you get somethin’, sissy,” he murmured, “I don’t want you to be sad anymore,”

Her shoulders sagged a little bit as she hugged her little brother to her side. “You’re a good kid, y’know that?”

“I know,” Hal grinned up at her.

“You’re also a brat and I will freakin’ deny ever calling you a good kid if you say anything,” Uzi growled playfully,”

“I know that too,” he giggled.

Sam: Hey.

Sam: I found smth

Sam: 987 Fevre Rd n the heights

Sam: lmn if u need anything. 

Uzi’s smile was brilliant as she scrolled through the messages and typed out a quick response.

Self: Thx u the best

Sam: ;) 💚 👉 👉

Sam: Might wanna go now. They’re w8ing 4 u

She shook her head as she pocketed her phone starting up towards the Heights, she trusted Sam would have some pull but…considering the last time she’d been up at the Heights hunting for a job she didn’t have too much faith in the humans that ran the businesses up there. But she couldn’t really think like that.

Sam pulled strings for her…she’d have to have faith that he wouldn’t let her down.

She stopped in front of a brickworked building, looking at her phone at the address, then back up at the building. The sign glowed in brilliant violet neon, letters slanted and styled in archaic 2000s graffiti style. 

Milhall’s Music

“Sam what the hell did you get me into…” she wondered as she walked in, regretting the fact she wasn’t able to go home to change into ‘interview clothes’. But, oh well. This was her last chance. The bell rang and Uzi quietly padded into the store, “Uh…hello?”

The music shop was small, band posters pasted on every surface, blacklighted as signatures glowed in brilliant blued-violet stark against the paper. Instruments lined the walls, records and cds and vinyls for collectors sat in their paper jackets in rows. A small stage area with a drum set and a few microphones was set up near the back behind a glossy glass and dark steel desk. 

“Oh my god I died and went to heaven…” Uzi’s eyes widened behind her sunglasses as she made her way to the guitars, a pale hand tracing over the smooth neck of a Fender with awestruck reverence. “Sam’s killed me.”

A middle aged human male, tall and broad…more Ken-doll all star quarterback jock vibes than the edgelord really, poked his head from the back of the building.

“Oh! Hey! Hello!” he beamed as he came out to meet her, “Sorry, was unpacking some basses we got as a shipment. Name’s Teddy…what can I help you with?” he offered her his hand and she shook it with a firm, strong grip.

“Uzi,” she returned, “Uh…heard you were hiring for a job here?”

Teddy’s smile turned beamingly bright. “Oh! Yeah! We hadn’t put out the ‘we’re hiring’ signs out yet, but well…have to say, you certainly fit the vibe here. You like music?”

“Yeah,” Uzi smiled, “Some really nice selection of guitars from what I could see.”

“Favorite band?”

“...They’re…kinda obscure,” Uzi admitted, “Copper-9’s Dead Batteries.”

“No kidding eh? My son likes that band!” Teddy grinned, “Akaline’s their new one but his favorite is Lithium.”

“Oh my god yes,” Uzi immediately winced, stuffing her hands in her hoodie pockets, “Uh, sorry…got a bit excited.”

“No worries, kid. Wait here, lemme get some paperwork. Gotta fill out the application y’know? Formalities,” 

“Y-Yeah, sure…” Uzi nodded as Teddy immediately ran back to the back room. She wandered further into the store, taking off her sunglasses even though part of her screamed not to. She couldn’t wear them all the time, they’d find out sooner or later. 

She frowned as she saw one of the guitars on display, the bridge seemed a bit lopsided to her eyes. She knelt down, putting a finger on the piece and wiggling it…noticing that it was incredibly loose. Likely a bridge pin wasn’t installed right.

“Alrighty, I’m back!” Teddy’s voice started, “Er…Uzi? Everything ok?”

Uzi looked up, blinking up at the human…who was flanked by a much smaller female human, one who looked more in tune with the shop’s theme. Dark, straight as a ruler hair with olive skin and turquoise blue eyes. Her heart shaped face was quirked in a smile as she saw Uzi in her shrimp backed crouch in front of the guitar.

“Uhhhh the bridge is loose?” Uzi’s voice was quiet, almost a squeak, before she gave a cough, “Ahem, uh, probably a loose bridge pin. It’ll make the guitar have a buzzy tone around the bridge and can really screw up the tone.”

“And…how would you fix this?” the woman asked.

“Uh…may I?” Uzi asked, nodding towards the guitar. When Teddy gave her an enthusiastic nod, Uzi hopped up, grabbing the guitar and carrying it to the main desk. She pulled out a small tool from her pocket and started to work. 

Teddy and the woman watched in silent, enraptured glee as Uzi swiftly fixed the guitar. Tightening the final string, retuning the guitar, she slipped the strap over her head and strummed her chipped and cracked fingernails over the strings. A warm, resonant tone rang from the acoustic guitar and Uzi held up the guitar for her hopefully future employer to examine.

“Bridge is secure and the strings are redone,” she smiled, “Should last for a while. Sometimes during transit the bridge pins get knocked loose or even during manufacturing they end up like that.”

Teddy had stars in his eyes as he turned to the woman. “Martha…c’mon…we gotta. She’s perfect.”

“I agree,” the woman, Martha nodded, “Well, Miss…”

“Uzi, Uzi Doorman,”

“Miss Doorman,” Martha smiled, “When can you start?”

“Seriously?” Uzi sputtered, “Y-You’re…you’re serious?! Y-you’re giving me a job!?”

“Well, yeah?” Teddy grinned, “Why wouldn’t we?”

“...You seriously don’t mind that I’m…”

“You’re what?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“This?” Uzi gestured down at herself, at her eyes, “Y’know…an android? Not a human?”

“I mean you seem like you’d show up to work on time, you do a good job that I can see...you dress clean, you seem polite to me...why wouldn't I hire you?” Teddy chuckled, “Plus! You like music!”

“Honey, you can fake a smile. Put on nice clothes…” Martha added, “But a true love for this kind of thing? That you can’t fake. And we’re looking for someone who fits both the vibe we’re going for, which you very much do, and someone who loves music as much as we do. We’d be proud to have you work for us.”

Uzi’s knees buckled a little bit and she had to catch herself on the ledge of the front desk. She had a job . She’d done it…

“Now, since you’re a droid we’re probably going to have to get your serial for the ration delivery yeah?” Teddy asked, “And on top of that, your starting is going to be ‘bout $16 an hour. That ok?”

“Wait. You’re… actually paying me?” Uzi blinked, “With real money. Not just…Not just the power packs?”

“Why wouldn’t we?”

“Most people don’t do that for android workers,” Uzi admitted.

“Well, people do call us a bit eccentric I guess,” Teddy chuckled, offering his hand, “Welcome to the team, Zi,”

Uzi’s smile as she reached for his hand and shook it was one that outshone the very sun.

Chapter Text

6

“Oh, ho, the rattlin’ bog! The bog down in the valley-o! Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog! The bog down in the valley-o!” Cyndelle sang as Victoria started drumming on the table with her palms. The youngest Elliott grabbed Tessa’s hands and yanked her to her feet, dancing around the bus while Jaelyn rolled her eyes and continued working on some paperwork, “In that bird there was an egg, a rare egg and a rattlin' egg. And the egg on the bird, and the bird in the nest, and the nest on the limb, and the limb on the branch, and the branch on the tree, and the tree in the bog, and the hole in the bog, and the bog down in the valley-o!” 

“Oh, ho, the rattlin’ bog! The bog down in the valley-o! Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog! The bog down in the valley-o!” Emmett’s voice carried over from the driver’s seat as Victoria’s came with him, Tessa laughed as Cyndelle’s movements went faster and faster and the android girl’s voice started up again.

“In that egg there was a bird, a rare bird and a rattlin' bird!” Cyndelle beamed…only to get undercut by Jaelyn’s voice finally joining in, swift and clear and smirking as Victoria’s drumming sped up, as Cyndelle’s violin sang even faster. 

Jaelyn pulled a face looking at her siblings before taking a deep breath and going as fast as she could. All the while glaring viciously at Victoria who just kept speeding up.

“And the bird on the egg, and the egg on the bird, and the bird in the nest, and the nest on the limb, and the limb on the branch, and the branch on the tree, and the tree in the bog, and the hole in the bog…and the bog down in the valley-o!”

The Elliotts all kinda stopped, looking impressed at Jaelyn, who crossed her arms with a smirk on her face…and then all of them burst into laughter as Cyndelle started playing again.

“Oh, ho, the rattlin’ bog! The bog down in the valley-o! Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog! The bog down in the valley-o!” the five siblings all finished, even Tessa who was too far in a giggle fit to get much out.

“Oh, you all should be ashamed of yourselves,” Jaelyn huffed as she went back to work.

“Jae, c’mon, it’s a road song!” Victoria scoffed, “Gotta have some fun while we’re in Ireland with some Irish songs.”

“Why not practice the ones we have in the set?” Jaelyn raised an eyebrow.

“...Why don’t we add this one?” Cyndelle gave a sweet smile as she jumped back into her seat next to Victoria, setting her violin on her lap.

“Because we already have a full set,” Jaelyn deadpanned, “And if we put more in we’re going to have a harder time…especially with your battery doing what it does,”

Cyndelle pulled a face as she huffed, grabbing the charge cord nearby and plugging it into the port on her chest. Victoria shot a nasty look at Jaelyn.

“That wasn’t called for, sis,” she scolded.

“It’s true,” Jaelyn stated, going back to her work, “Unless you want us all to be found out…we need to figure out how to keep Cyndelle from crashing on us in the middle of a concert.”

“I just sit on the piano bench, like always ,” came the bitter snark from the youngest Elliott, “Then hop up for the finale.”

“Leeeeet’s not argue, yeah?” Tessa winced, “I’m still workin’ on it, Jae…”

“Everything ok back there?” Emmett called back, “I’d get up but uh…kinda can’t unless I pull over,”

“We’re doing fine, buddy,” Tessa told him, “Just a mite tired is all! How much longer ‘til we get to Slane Castle?”

“‘Bout an hour,” Emmett replied, casting a quick look back, “Pretty mountains though! Wish we could stop and look aro-” he cut off as the bus gave a rattling, knocking sound.

“...Well that’s certainly not a rattlin’ bog…” Tessa muttered as she started towards the front, Emmett’s eyes were flaring as he swiftly and smoothly turned the bus to the edge of the road, “...Ooooo I see smoke…that’s not good.”

“Nope,” Emmett agreed, “Wanna help me take a squiz at it?”

Tessa nodded as Emmett turned the bus off and hopped out of the driver’s seat, waving back at his sisters.

“Be right back!” he called, “Tessa an’ I are gonna check out the engine. Shouldn’t take us long!”

Tessa opened the bus door, yelping as she pulled her arms closer, trying to warm herself and wishing she’d grabbed her coat…the hoodie was only going to do so much. Emmett winced as the wind knifed through him as well.

“Haaaa how’s that for early spring Ireland for ya?” he gave a watery smile as he trotted towards the front of the bus, opening up the hood and coughing as a billow of smoke-steam breathed at him. “Bloody hell!”

They both waved away the smoke, clearing the path to better take a look at what was wrong. Tessa approached the frankly far warmer than it should be engine, the silver-blue light from her eyes casting shadows on the dusky metal. Emmett’s golden light joined her as he leaned over her shoulder.

“Whatcha think?” he asked.

“Mm…gasket got worn out here…” Tessa murmured, reaching for the part, “Which caused rain to go through…and damaged the electrical components here.” her hand, scarred and shiny with old burns and synthetic skin brushed against the fried chips, “Long story short…we’re gonna need it towed. It’s in Safe Mode, it’s not gonna move until we have an actual technician boot it back up and a mechanic to fix it. I can hack into it and get it to ‘move’ but uh…I don’t have the tools to fix it here on the bus. Fix you lot, yes. Bus? Hell no.”

“Ha…Jae’s gonna scrap me,”

“Well, look on the bright side…I’ll probably be heading to the afterlife with ya, big guy,”

“Oh sweet robo-Jesus …” came Victoria’s voice as the familiar sound of her combat boots clomping down the stairs caught their attention, “Why’s it so bloody cold!? Oh ew why is the rain chunky?! Is that ice ?! Ugh! Anyways, what’s the verdict?”

“Bus is shot. We need to have it towed.” Emmett winced.

“...Oh Jae’s gonna kill you…”

“We know,” Tessa sighed, “Welp…let’s get back inside, outta the cold aaaand let Cyndelle and Jae know,”

The trio hurriedly made their way into the bus, shivering and shaking the ice-rain remnants from them. Jaelyn looked up expectantly at them.

“Well?” she asked.

“Gonna need to get the bus towed,” Tessa said, “some of the electrical stuff’s shot. I can hack into it to get it to like, turn on but it’s not gonna budge otherwise. I don’t have the tools here to fix it. If we were back home, oh yeah I’d be able to fix it right quick! But…well…”

“Lovely,” Jaelyn deadpanned, “Might as well call the company. I’m so sure that they’d be willing to come running at near midnight to the middle of nowhere !” she pulled up her phone, freezing as she saw the blaring ‘No Signal’ at the top near the battery, “Oh you’ve got to be kidding me! A deadzone!? Really?!”

“We’ve been in a dead zone for like the past hour, Jae,” Victoria shrugged, “Why you think we were doing roadsongs and not playing on our phones?”

“Zip it Turkey Drumstick,” Jaelyn hissed, “We’re going to be late ! We’re not going to get to rehearse, the concert’s going to be delayed…we were supposed to be in Slane two hours ago! Whose bright idea was it to go through the highlands!?”

The rest of the little family was quiet, pointedly looking at her.

“What!?” Jaelyn demanded.

“Let’s just say, the person who wanted to go through the highlands as a ‘shortcut’ is glued to her phone 90% the time,” Victoria ticked off, “wears legit Hatsune Miku rip-off clothes, and is pretty decent at playing the bass.”

“Don’t forget bossy,” Cyndelle piped up.

“Yeah, good point, sis!” Victoria’s grin was absolutely vicious.

 Jaelyn’s face turned a furious scarlet, her eyes burning with autumn sunlight as the rings blazed brightly, “I ought to ram those drumsticks up yo-”

“OK!” Tessa got between the two sisters, hand on both their chests to push them back, “Chill. We need to y’know, conserve power an’ all. It’s dark, we’re gonna have to sleep on the side of the road for a bit until sunup. So please , don’t kill each other…I’ve already gotta hack into the bus to get things workin’, I don’t wanna put you lot back together after you rip each other to shreds…”

There was a knock on the door to the bus. All five Elliotts froze, staring at it. The nod of agreement from the four androids was given…along with some very deep and calming breaths as the golden rings of light flickered out and left them seeming somewhat human. Emmett quietly padded towards the door, opening it…and revealing a very concerned human man standing in front of the door.

“Evenin’!” Emmett gave a winning smile, getting a smile from the man, “Uh, somethin’ I can help you with?”

“Was goin’ t’ ask you the same,” the man started, “Noticed the lights from your bus here from my place. Weren’t sure if y’ needed help or no.”

“Oh uh…yeah, the rain kinda screwed with the electronics and all,” Emmett admitted, “You’re welcome to come on in! Get out of the rain an’ all,”

He stepped out of the way, letting the man into the bus. He pulled down his rain-slicked hood, revealing a bright shock of crimson curls hiding brilliant sea blue eyes and a spatter of freckles that danced across the bridge of his nose. 

“Pretty nice in here,” the man nodded, “Ack, pardon me manners, name’s Riley, Riley O’Daire.”

“Nice to meetcha, Mr. O’Daire,” Tessa waved, “I’m Tessa…these are my siblings, N, V, J and Cyn…uh, sorry to drag you out here on this…awful night,”

“Oh, no worries, I know who y’ are, been followin’ your music since y’started.” Riley waved her off, “No worries, saw the headlights from my house like I told N here, ah…mind tellin’ me what you’re doin’ out here?”

“We were on our way to Slane Castle,” Cyndelle stated, “We have a concert there,”

“...Well if you be headin’ to Slane Castle, you be goin’ the wrong way,” Riley deadpanned, “The road ahead’s been closed for decades. It’s just me and me dog up that way.”

“...What?” Jaelyn blinked, “N…I swear …”

“It’s not my fault!” Emmett panicked, “GPS was saying to go this way!”

“Yeah, y’wouldn’t be the first,” Riley chuckled, “Don’t be so harsh on him, lass, GPS is always leadin’ tourists this way. Avalanche closed the road ahead an’ no one’s bothered clearin’ it.”

“Can this night get any worse ?!” Jaelyn demanded.

“Don’t say that, J,” Victoria warned, “Because it will. It’s just the law of the universe.”

“We’re supposed t’ be gettin’ a blizzard for the first time in ages,” Riley warned, “If y’want, I can offer my home until the storm’s over. Don’t think this bus is gonna be too warm for long if it won’t run.”

“You mean…a warm bed? And not moving?” Cyndelle’s golden eyes were bright as she looked towards her siblings, “Please?”

“Don’t see a problem with it,” Tessa smiled, ruffling her hair, “If it’s not too much a problem. Uh…is it ok if we bring some of our stuff? Instruments don’t do well in extreme cold,”

“We can stick ‘em in the back o’ the lorrycar,” Riley smiled, “Plenty o’ room I think,”

“Lord we’ve been blessed with an angel,” Tessa gave a sigh, “Thank you,”

Riley’s home was one of those old Irish farmhouses that you’d see in the movies. It wasn’t large and sprawling manor castle in the highlands…but it was a modest home that had been there for centuries it felt like, part of the land around it. The deep reddish-brown wood floors glowed with the crackling firelight…of which Victoria and Tessa beelined for, shivering as the wet snow dripped off their hair. Cyndelle and Emmett were already enamoured with the massive, old Irish Setter whose tail thumped happily on the couch as they cooed and made over the animal. 

Jaelyn however, was still angry. At Emmett, at the bus, at herself…and at the Irishman whose warm, half-crooked smile hadn’t left his face.

“What.” she demanded icily as she hung up her coat and took her boots off at the door like a normal person . 

“Nothin’, jus’ waitin’ my turn is all,” Riley chuckled, making Jaelyn’s already red from cold face turn red from embarrassment as she hurried away and let him shrug off the heavy coat, “I wondered if the whole ‘ice queen’ thing was fake…I don’t think it were,” 

Jaelyn fixed him with a glare as she crossed her arms, “Oh I’m sorry ,” her voice was dripping venom, “The fact that we’re on a tight schedule, being delayed, and now people are going to wonder where the hell we are…”

“Already took care of it!” Cyndelle cheered from the fireplace as she raised her phone, showing off a picture she’d taken of her, Emmett and the dog, “Took a lil’ bit, but situation’s been updated to the fans!”

Jaelyn frowned, pulling up her phone as the follow notification went off. The image Cyndelle had showed her on screen.

@cynderella: Hey guys! Bus broke down so we’re spending the night at a nice farmhouse. With the blizzard coming in we’re gonna be delayed a bit 🥶💔But, save your tickets! We’ll let you know when we’re on the road again! But until then…have a picture of me and @nthusiastic with this absolute SWEETHEART of a puppy! See you soon! 💛

“Internet’s not very good here but y’should be able t’ get some notifications off,” Riley admitted, “As y’can see,”

“Yes, I can,” Jaelyn grumbled, wincing as a warning popped up into her vision, “Well. If you will excuse me, I would like to retire for the evening.”

“You’re welcome t’ take any o’ the guest rooms on the second floor,” Riley told her, “I’ll have breakfast ready in the mornin’, bright an’ early.”

“Thank you,” Jaelyn nodded as she grabbed her bag and her instrument case and marched up the stairs. The hall was lined with rooms, so she just picked one at random, unsure which was actually available. The room was lit with lantern light, butter gold against the dark wood and pale walls. She stopped, staring as her hands shook a little bit, gripping the he m of her skirt and apron as pale eyes and white ring looked up at the ballroom and the Master berating some poor new model before putting a fork through their eyes and sending liquid diamond through the air. Her throat seized as she took a stumbling step backwards into the door, hand to her core-heart as her breaths came out in panicked pants. That could have been her. That could have been her. That could have been her. Error after error flashed across her vision as she shook her head and looked for Tessa…Tessa wouldn’t let that happen to her. 

She could still smell the smoke…taste the ash…feel the burns on her skin…

The thump of her bass’s case on her foot, causing pain to shoot up her leg. She was instantly knocked out of the memory. She wasn’t that little maid anymore. She was J, ice queen superstar of Absolutely Solved now. That life was dead and gone and couldn’t trouble her anymore. 

Right?

Another low charge warning blazed across her vision, causing the golden eyed woman to groan as she walked over to the bed, setting both instrument and bag on the duvet before fishing out her own charger. She leaned over, finding the outlet and plugging the charger into it before getting herself dressed in her sleepwear. Once she flicked her long, silvery platinum hair from the collar of her nightgown, she went to plug in the charge cord to her own port. 

Once that was done…Jaelyn lay down, closing her eyes to the mournful howl of the wind, snow and ice in the highlands. 

“Right, well, I’ve let J know where y’should be sleepin’ so I’ll let y’know as well.” Riley stretched as he got up from his chair, “Second floor has a bunch o’ guest rooms, Mam wanted a bunch o’ kids…jus’ got me,” he gave a soft chuckle, “But they’re all available. Should be able to double up with one o’ ya gettin’ the room to y’self. I’ll be gettin’ up…’round five thirty or so to start makin’ breakfast.”

“Thank you again, Riley,” Tessa smiled, still keeping her head hidden under her hood, “Y’don’t know how much we appreciate it,”

“Ah, don’t wanna hear none of it,” Riley waved a hand, “Jus’ bein’ a good person is all. With that…g’night,”

“Night!” came the chorus as Riley walked up the stairs.

He gave a tired yawn as he scratched at his chest, fingers lighting on cool metal before skating off it. His free hand reached for the copper-black door handle of his room and he opened the door…

Only to see J sleeping peacefully in his bed. He gave a small smile as he closed the door quietly. He’d explain in the morning to her…she was tired, grumpy, and he really didn’t need to be poking and prodding that particular dragon out of her sleep.

And…bringing up the charging cable was probably unwise as well. That’d be a tomorrow Riley thing. 

Present Riley O’Daire was exhausted…so he made his way to one of the guest rooms and went to bed.

Chapter Text

7

The smell of bacon, sausage, potatoes and eggs woke Jaelyn from her recharge. The golden eyed woman gave a groan as she sat up in the bed. It’d been a while since she’d slept in something not her room on the bus, so the comfort of the soft bed was…a little uncomfortable.

Her gaze flicked towards the number at the corner of her vision, a frown twisted her features as a sigh left her throat. Went to bed at 24% charge…woke up at 75%. This was going to go swell .

She quietly yanked the cord from its port, wincing at the slight pain that panged through her chest. Jaelyn then swung her legs over the side of the bed, the white nightgown falling delicately around her ankles as her bare feet hit the dark floor. A shiver ran from her toes, up her spine and to the top of her head as she pushed herself up, grabbing onto the post of the bed to help. She walked over to the window, pulling back the curtain and looking out at the snowy, winter wonderland outside. 

It looked like something out of a Christmas Card…

A scowl narrowed her golden eyes as her nose wrinkled. That had to be at least three feet deep…

A knock on the door made her jump, golden rings blazing brightly as she turned her back towards the door. 

“I’m up,” she stated.

“No worries, Jae!” Emmett’s voice chirped from the door, “Just wanted to make sure you’re all good! Riley’s making breakfast for us. Though, you could probably smell that.” his voice lowered a bit, “You charged ok?”

“I’m fine ,” Jaelyn grumbled, “I’ll be down in a couple minutes. Make sure the Boss doesn’t eat our host out of house and home…”

“Will do!” 

She heard his footsteps thump down the stairs and Jaelyn gave a sigh as she leaned her head against the window pane, her breath fogging over the diamond glass as the golden glow of her eyes reflected back at her.

This all really was her fault…wasn’t it?

Jaelyn shook her head as she padded back over to her suitcase, rifling through and pulling out a warm, deep green sweater and jeans. The self deprecation and hate could wait until tonight when she was alone again. Today was a new day and she needed to face it with all the dignity of the ice queen she’d toted herself to be.

Whoever had invented mornings needed to be shot, drawn and quartered, Tessa had decided as she fumbled her way down the stairs. Her hood was drawn over her messy bed head of rust colored locks and her hands barely poked out from the sleeves. Her bare feet tapped on the dark wooden floorboards as they turned into smooth, cool stone on the ground floor.  

“Mornin’ Tessa!” Emmett chirped, waving from over at the table in the kitchen. Tessa gave a grunt as she shambled over to the table. Riley looked up at her from over a campfire mug full of what Tessa could smell was coffee.

“Not a mornin’ person?” he asked.

“She really isn’t,” Victoria yawned as she grabbed the coffee pot and started pouring it into the aluminum mug in front of her oldest sibling. 

Tessa gave another grumble of thanks as her hands wrapped around the steadily warming metal, the cold ache in the synthetic and burned skin seeping away as the heat built up and thawed her fingers. 

“Cream’s right here,” Riley said, scooting over a small container, “I’d offer ya some Baileys to go with it, but, well…too early for that,”

“Wh’ kinda Irishman are ya?” Tessa grumbled as she took a sip of the espresso and sighed in contentment as the caffeine started to kick in, along with the warmth that coiled down her throat and around her chest. 

“Fair,” Riley chuckled as Cyndelle trotted down the stairs next, smiling and beaming as she waved…though she did stop to pet Riley’s dog and ruffle his ears before coming up to the table, eyes bright and happy as Emmett handed her a plate.

“Morning!” Cyndelle beamed, “Did you all see the snow outside?! It looked like it was about up to my shoulders!”

“Aye, it was a heavy blizzard,” Riley nodded as he sipped on his own coffee, “Snow’s not gonna melt for a while…not with that amount. And there’s thoughts there’s goin’ t’ be more.”

“J’s gonna throw a hissy fiiiiiit…” Victoria snorted, “I think she was expecting like a day or two at most…”

“Unfortunately, it takes a wee bit for them to dig all the way out here,” Riley admitted, “Sorry t’ burst all o’ ya’s bubbles…”

“Hey, we’re together! And we’re safe!” Emmett smiled, “That’s all that matters to us. If it weren’t for you, Riley, we’d probably have froze to death!”

“And the world’d be lesser for it,” Riley chuckled, “I-”

He stopped as another set of footsteps caught Tessa’s ear. The four Elliotts turned around to see their fifth member come down the stairs. Jaelyn looked…tired. There were circles under her eyes and she looked a bit bleary. She came down and pulled out a chair next to Tessa, sinking into the wooden seat before quietly grabbing herself another mug and pouring coffee into it. 

“Rough night?” Tessa asked as Cyndelle started stuffing herself full of food.

Emmett hadn’t touched his plate, too busy waiting for Jaelyn to come down and get herself served. Jaelyn seemed to notice this and she picked up some sausages and placed them on her plate. Tessa grabbed some potatoes, stabbing them with a fork before popping one in her mouth. Emmett gave a beaming smile before he quietly started nibbling on his food. 

“Couldn’t sleep well,” Jaelyn mumbled, placing her napkin on her lap, “Bed was too comfy,”

“Well, it’s the first night in a new place and all,” Victoria shrugged, tearing into another piece of stiff bacon as her arm came up to wrap around the plate, almost shielding it from view, “Should be better tonight,”

“If need be,” Riley piped up, “Just to let y’know, Miss J,” he gave a soft smile as he sat down a pitcher of syrup in front of Cyndelle, whose eyes lit up like stars as she near dumped it over her toast…before also nearly upending the sugar bowl over it, “The outlet on the other side of the bed gets a better charge,”

Jaelyn’s fork clattered to the table, her face went pale as Tessa’s blood chilled. Jaelyn kept her eyes firmly locked on the plate…though Tessa could see the very faint golden ring blazing in terror and dread around her irises. She gently put a hand on her knee, feeling Jaelyn’s hand seize her wrist.

“I…don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jaelyn’s voice was quiet, “Better yet, Mr. O’Daire… why were you in my room?”

“To be completely honest, Miss J,” Riley admitted, “T’was my room you were sleepin’ in last night. That’s on me though, should have told ya it was mine.” he rubbed the back of his neck, “But the point still stands, y’ll get a better charge on the other side of the bed.”

Jaelyn was quiet for a long while. Tessa looked up at Riley, jaw working.

“...Suppose you’d prolly want money or somethin’ to keep this…quiet?” she asked, she hadn’t pegged Riley as someone who’d take advantage of this kind of information. But…she’d been wrong in the past…

“What? No,” Riley shook his head, confusion in his eyes, “Doesn’t matter to me. I’ve got everything I’d want. Mam raised me to be a good person, you all worked hard for what you have…it isn’t me place to judge or be like that at all. I was just giving a piece of advice. Don’t matter to me at all if you’re human or…well…not. I don’t really have a leg t’stand on,”

Jaelyn was still quiet, the rest of their siblings had stopped eating…watching Riley with something close to wariness and fear. Riley’s face turned sad.

“I can get why you lot are worried…it’s not a happy world out there for your kind. But y’ve got no reason to worry with me. We all be walkin’ the same road. Regardless if our blood be red or clear.”

Tessa’s shoulders relaxed as she took her hood down, the silvery blue rings of her eyes casting ghostly shadows over his  face. “Sorry, Riley…you can see why we’re uh, kinda cagey about it.”

“Aye,” Riley nodded, “I can see. Is it jus’ Miss J or…”

“Everyone but Tessa really,” Emmett shrugged, “Tessa kinda uh, well…”

“Fire,” Tessa explained.

“I get that too,” Riley gave a soft chuckle, tugging at his shirt collar and revealing a steel grey plate, “Farmin’ accident and birth defect. Me heart won’t work on its own.” He cast another look at Jaelyn, sadness in his blue eyes as he sighed and stood from the table, “Well…I’ve got to take care of the animals…snow might be up to me chest but that doesn’t mean they’re not going t’ want their breakfast…”

“Want some help?” Emmett asked, getting up as well, “I can help clear a path from the house to the barn and pull down some hay if you want.”

“Y’don’t have to, Mister N…”

“Emmett,” Emmett corrected, winking, “Since you’re kinda in the know now, don’t see why I shouldn’t give ya my real name,”

Riley gave a smile and nodded, “Point is you’re still me guests. An’ this is just chores for me.”

“Yeaaaah but it’s either that or stay holed up in here with Jae sulking,” Victoria shrugged, pushing up her glasses, “Victoria by the way, and Cyn’s Cyndelle.”

“And I’m comin’ too!” Cyndelle chimed, “There might be little lambs in there and they’ll be so cute and soft…”

Riley gave a laugh before nodding, “Alright, well…I do have some heavy boots and coats that you’re welcome to use. Follow me,”

Tessa watched them go, the human girl turning towards Jaelyn after the sounds of their voices died away, muffled by the snow. Jaelyn did not look up from her plate, her hands were still shaking as the golden light cast by her eyes flickered over the meal.

“Jae…” Tessa started, “Hey, Jae-Jae…”

“...I did it again…” she whispered.

“Did what?”

“I did something that got us exposed,” 

Tessa gave a sigh, pulling her sister into a hug. “It was an accident. And we came out alright!”

“I pushed Cyndelle until her battery broke and now another human knows about us…” Jaelyn muttered bitterly into Tessa’s shoulder, “Because I took the wrong room and started charging…”

“Well, you were being a real jerk earlier because you were cranky…so I’m glad you got that charge,” Tessa admitted, “But, hey…it turned out alright! We’re still workin’ on Cyndelle’s battery issues but, well…that’s on me, not you. Mighta been something I messed up when I was workin’ on you lot in the beginning. It would have been somethin’ we ran into anyways.”

She pushed Jaelyn off her shoulder and held her by the shoulders.

“My point is, Jae,” she gave a soft smile, “Things happen for a reason. An’ I think that this is gonna be a good thing. We’ll have someone to talk to! An’ now you lot don’t have to hide for however long it takes the snow to melt!”

Jaelyn’s eyes narrowed.

“Wait…how long?”

“Prolly like a week or two before we’re outta here.”

Jaelyn let out a groan as she thunked her head against Tessa’s shoulder again, which got a loud bark of a laugh from the human girl.

By the end of the week and beginning of the next week, Jaelyn was starting to get antsy. The snow had melted a little bit…but was too treacherous for the bus company to get out and fix theirs up again. Her siblings seemed happy, enjoying the delay and playing in the snow, helping Riley around the farm and the house. 

They did, at Jaelyn’s insistence, practice some of the songs for their set. Tessa sat on the couch, the head of Riley’s Irish Setter on her lap and getting scritches as her family ran through some of their songs. Riley sat in his chair, watching with smiling eyes as the quartet worked. 

“Having fun?” Tessa asked, looking over at Riley as Cyndelle gave an exhausted groan and collapsed on the couch next to Tessa, fingers fumbling with the cord before plugging it into her core heart to charge.

“Oh absolutely,” he smiled, “I never had enough money to buy a ticket to go to one of your concerts, and the one you’ve had here in Ireland was sold out near instantly. So this is quite the treat,”

“I think Cyndelle’s out for the count,” Victoria winced.

“‘m good…” Cyndelle gave a thumbs up, not lifting her head, “‘m ju-just tired.”

“We can take a break,” Jaelyn said, her voice went quiet again as Cyndelle slowly, painfully shifted up to her side.

“Jaeeeee I’m fine !” Cyndelle huffed, “Don’t beat yourself up. Just…gimme a couple hours, yeah?”

“If you want, I can entertain ya for a few hours,” Riley offered, “least I can do as your host,”

“Sure!” Emmett beamed, “Gives us a break too,”

Riley gave a nod as he got out of his chair. “Give me a moment, I’ll grab what I need,”

He darted up the stairs, Jaelyn’s eyes narrowed as Emmett put his guitar back in its case. Victoria hopped onto the couch, making both Tessa and Cyndelle jump with the momentum. 

“I don’t think this is…a good idea.” Jaelyn said.

“Jae you’re seriously not gonna tell him he can’t do something in his own house !” Victoria growled, glaring at her.

“No, I just don’t think it’s a good idea to force him to perform,” Jaelyn admitted, “He’s done a lot for us. It’s just…I don’t feel its right. That we’re being horrible guests. We’ve been eating a lot, taking up all the spare beds, and of course us practicing…”

“I think you’re worryin’ too much, Jae-Jae,” Tessa told her, pulling Cyndelle into her lap as the latter reached to give the dog more scritches, “He offered, I say let ‘im,”

Jaelyn opened her mouth to protest again, but stopped upon seeing Riley come down the stairs with a large case. She’d seen the case before in his room but didn’t dare to open it. Riley sat down, smiling fondly as he opened the case…and revealed an absolutely gorgeous rosewood celtic harp.

The column was decorated with carved knots that wove and weaved within each other, raised and carved white with age. The soundboard which was leaned against Riley’s body carried more celtic designs, raised while shadow-stained black wood made them pop. A moon and two stars decorated the shoulder while the stars had tails that wove delicately down the neck of the harp.

“That is probably the most beautiful string instrument I’ve seen…” Cyndelle breathed, golden eyes positively glowing as she took in the instrument.

“‘s been in me family for generations,” Riley smiled, as he tuned the magnificent harp, “I can play the fiddle too, but, well…the harp be where me heart lies.”

He finished his tuning, looking up at them all with a little smile.

“‘m not much a singer but, well…I’ll do what I can,” he admitted as his fingers started around the strings. Warm music poured from them, filling the air as Riley’s voice joined the strings.

It was soft, warm, lower than Emmett’s tenor. A warm, melted dark chocolate tone. While it wasn’t anything on a classically trained voice…it was the warm, raw and full of emotion, the voice of someone who sang because it was what they knew. Not because they were trained.

“Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin…Siúil go socar agus siúil go ciúin. Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom, is go dté tu, mo mhuirnín slán…”

Jaelyn wasn’t sure when she’d taken out her bass and started strumming softly along with it, but she had. Victoria started tapping her drumsticks on her thigh and knees and the cushions, Emmett had done much the same as Jaelyn, building up on the song as Cyndelle’s voice joined Riley’s, complimenting the man’s voice with a silvery descant.

Tessa closed her eyes in contentment as she let the music wash over her…and Jaelyn gave a soft smile as the angry, hardened pain that had encased around her heart started to melt like ice on a spring morning.

Riley sat on the couch, tending to the harp as the old clock marched ever on. A chime alerted him to the hour, only two…oh he’d been up far longer than he wanted but…it was worth it. 

The Elliotts had been ecstatic to ask about the harp, though respectfully did not take it from him. As soon as Cyndelle was feeling better, they had gone back to their practicing and Riley had gone to finish making dinner. 

Now, however, the Elliotts had gone to bed and Riley had some time to tend to the harp. Finn, that old Irish Setter, had immediately padded after Cyndelle, going up to the bedroom she shared with Tessa. Victoria had gone to bed herself as well, J not long after her while Emmett made sure they were all safe in bed before he himself retired for the evening. 

The old house had been full of song once again…something he hadn’t heard since his parents passed, but once more had fallen to silence. It really was an incredible experience. 

A creaking floorboard caught his attention and he looked up to see Miss J wincing as she had tried to sneak down the stairs.

“Sorry,” she apologized, “I was…going to get something to drink,”

“Y’re more than welcome t’ join me, Miss J,” Riley smiled, “I’m just tending to the harp before turning in myself,”

The blonde haired android woman gave a sheepish smile as she quietly made her way down the stairs. Riley got up from his seat and grabbed another cup from the cupboard, laying it down on the table before pouring some coffee into it…and then topping his own off. J gave a smile as she sneakily looked around…before putting a hefty amount of cream and sugar into the drink. 

“Don’t tell Cyndelle about that,” J growled as Riley chuckled.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Miss J,” he smiled.

J gave a nod and took a few sips of coffee, relaxing as the warmth from it chased the chill of the night away. 

“If we don’t get any more bad weather, the snow should be melted enough to have the people from the company come up to fix your bus by Thursday,” Riley admitted, “I know y’ve been a wee bit anxious about this,”

“We were supposed to be in continental Europe by now,” J sighed, “Next concert is in Paris.”

“City of Lights and Romance,” Riley nodded, “Beautiful place,”

“Yeah. But…I’ll kind of admit…I’ve liked the quiet of Ireland better,”

“Y’ve not been to the big cities have you?” Riley chuckled.

“We have, I just like it out here better,” J admitted, staring into the coffee mug, “It was…one of the reasons I…suggested trying to cut through the Highlands. I wanted to…breathe.”

“This comin’ from the lass who was pushing to get goin’?” Riley raised an eyebrow, chuckling as J shot him a withering glare, “I meant nothin’ by it, Miss J. I just find it a bit amusing.”

J rolled her eyes, but there was a soft little smile on her face. 

“I’ve…enjoyed this a bit actually,” her voice was quiet, “Gave me a chance to recharge a bit as it were. To…relax.” The golden rings of her eyes glittered as she looked up at him, “That song tonight…what was it?”

“Old song passed down from generations back,” Riley smiled, “I loved the song ever since I was a wee lad. Me Mam would sing it every night while me father would play it on the harp. T’was the song of a young maiden lamenting the loss of her lover as he went to war. Sayin’ she’d follow him anywhere…and everywhere,”

“It’s beautiful,” J told him as she finished her drink and stood, carrying her mug to the sink and washing it, “I’m afraid I’ve kept you up a bit longer than I’d like. I’m sorry,” 

“Don’t be,” Riley smiled, “I enjoyed it,”

J gave him a soft smile and Riley could have sworn he saw the pale white of her cheeks flush with scarlet. She started up the stairs only to pause.

“Jaelyn,”

“Eh?” Riley asked, raising an eyebrow. J turned around to face him.

“I never gave you my name,” she told him, “My name is Jaelyn,”

Riley gave a bright smile he tilted his head in a bowing nod, polite and gentle.

“That…is probably the most beautiful name I’ve heard, Miss Jaelyn,”

Chapter Text

8

Tessa shuffled down the stairs leading up to her room, yawning as she rubbed at her eyes. She could see Emmett, Victoria and Cyndelle all three crowded around the door to the kitchen and living area, Cyndelle had apparently climbed up Emmett like he was a rock wall. 

“...G’day you lot…” Tessa’s voice was slow, still sleep drunk as she tried to look around her siblings, “Wha’s goin’ on? Where’s Jae?”

“Shhhh!” Victoria hissed, “There’s a bloody changeling in the bus.”

“What?”

“Do we have any iron?” Cyndelle piped up, looking up from her phone, “Or fire? That’s what they say to do but…I think she’s too big to put in a pan over a fire…”

“I’ve got a lighter that we picked up from that station in Dublin…” Emmett reasoned.

“What the hell are you on about!?” Tessa demanded.

“Jae got taken by the fairies or something,” Victoria yoinked Cyndelle’s phone from her hands, scrolling and ignoring Cyndelle’s protesting whine, “...Cyn, you’ve got scissors in your craft box, right?”

“Ooooh right!” Cyndelle gasped, “I’ll go get that!”

“Oi, no!” Tessa huffed, grabbing Cyndelle as she tried to bolt past, “Use words, not actions. What’s going on.”

“Jae’s… smiling ,” Emmett admitted, “And humming. As she’s making breakfast.”

“Whatever you do, do not eat what she gives us! ” Victoria hissed.

“You all are being silly,” Tessa scoffed, coming closer and peeking into the room.

Jaelyn was humming softly, if she was able to hear her siblings’ comments she didn’t let on. But the crackle of bacon in the frying pan might have been a big deterrent. What got Tessa’s eyes to widen as the silver-blue ring glowed even brighter…

The android girl was actually smiling . A soft, warm thing that gave the image of being curled up on the couch in front of a crackling fire with multiple blankets and a mug of hot chocolate. Tessa’s expression turned dumbfounded as she turned to Victoria. 

“Yeaaaaah no, I think somethin’ mighta yoinked Jae.” she blinked.

Upon hearing her name, Jaelyn looked up from the stove and smiled brighter at the four siblings. “Good morning~!” she trilled, “Breakfast is almost ready, we’ve got a long and hard day of work today, concert’s not going to make itself go…we’ve got practice and I want to make sure that everyone is properly fueled up. I’ve got your coffee already made, Boss…just the way you like it. And Cyndelle, I’ve got a bunch of chocolate mini muffins with mangos and blueberries waiting for you.”

The quartet slowly made their way into the living area, eyes watching Jaelyn carefully…but if she noticed she didn’t let on. The older girl smiled as she sat down food for all of them before digging in herself. None of them budged.

That got Jaelyn’s attention and the golden ringed eyes turned confused.

“What?” she asked. 

“Nothing it’s just…” Emmett’s voice was slow, careful, “Well…”

“You’re smiling.” Victoria, blunt as ever, poked her fork at Jaelyn, “You were humming and you were cooking us breakfast like some sort of Disney princess who just met her prince. Who are you and what have you done with Jae ?!”

The taller girl’s eyes narrowed as the smile fell from her face. She swatted Victoria’s fork away from her chest and rolled her eyes.

“God forbid I do something nice for my family,” she grumbled, “I woke up early, thought I’d be nice and make breakfast since Emmett and Boss both were up way too late driving to get to Slane Castle since we got on the road. But no, I’ve got a board of directors that are mad and calling me to an HR meeting because I was smiling . You realize how ridiculous you sound?”

“You’d do the same thing if it were one of us!” Cyndelle protested, “An-oh…oh those muffins look really good…”

“CYN!” Victoria protested as Cyndelle swiped one of the muffins and popped it into her mouth.

“Oh they are good…” came the youngest Elliott’s whimper as she started piling her plate full of the little mini muffins. 

“Emmett…” Victoria tried, but the lone male of the group shrugged his shoulders, “Tessa?!”

“If you keep me from my coffee, Vicky I’m going to make you sound like a munchkin during your concert,” Tessa threatened as her fingers had coiled around the mug.

“Fine! I’m still not convinced it’s actually you,” Victoria growled, glaring at Jaelyn before poking her in the forehead, “Maybe you got stolen away by a bunch of fairies in the night. And you’re a Changeling or a troll left behind to wreck all sorts of havoc on us as revenge for the bloody Brits doing things to the Irish all those years ago…”

“Or maybe ,” Jaelyn swatted Victoria’s finger away from her forehead, “I’m here to teach annoying drummers a lesson!” she straightened, that cool and calculated smirk on her face as she crossed her arms, “Since you don’t believe it’s actually me, Vicky…you can explain to the others why we’re going to be doing practice the second you get done with breakfast.”

“Aaaaaaand she’s back,” Victoria grumbled as she flopped back in her seat, “Joy. Thought that break we had was enough to melt that icy ball of frost you call a core, Ice Queen…”

“You thought wrong,” Jaelyn sniffed as she brushed her hair back, “Finish your breakfast and head to the castle. Your rhythms are shaky and you were pitchy the entire time we were snowed in,”

“Yeah, so were you,” Victoria snarked back, “And on top of that, think that’s the wrong letter in that word. Not pitchy, just bit-”

“OK THAT’S ENOUGH!” Emmett’s voice was shrill as he shoved a piece of bacon into Victoria’s mouth. She shot him a deadpan glare as she ripped the piece of meat out of her mouth and started chewing, “Thank you for breakfast, Jae! We’ll get ready right away.”

Night had fallen, the crowd around Slane Castle was starting to get excited. The stage was flickering with holographic Irish flags and shimmering green clovers. The darker the evening got, the more excited and amped up the crowd was starting to become…

And then every single light went out on the castle, the stage, everywhere.

The crowd gave sounds of confusion, thousands of phone lights immediately lit up, creating a river of stars on the ground…and then the fog rolled in from machines placed strategically within the crowd. Faint blue light followed the fog, creating the illusion of water flowing through the crowd. 

That’s when the voice started. 

A high, clear, silvery soprano rang out across the castle lawn, rippling and echoing as if from the land itself.

“I hear your voice on the wind…and I hear you call out…my name,” the voice called as golden light bubbled over from the stage and a lone figure in shadow, halo’d in gold as her dress fluttered in her wake, “‘Listen my child’ you say to me… ‘I am the voice of your history. Be not afraid, come follow me…answer my call and I’ll set…you…free!” 

The lights immediately flared bright as the sun, fireworks shooting into the air as Cyn’s violin sang alongside her voice. The youngest member of Absolutely Solved beamed as the crowd shrieked in excitement, cheering her on as she continued, N and J seeming materializing in the fog beside her.

“I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain, I am the voice of your hunger and pain.” Cyn continued, her voice soaring as she swept across the stage, the white and gold ruffles of her dress glittering like sunlight as she spun and danced, “I am the voice that always is calling you…I am the voice, I will remain!”

She was twirled around by N as V came out of the smoke, settling down in her seat at her drumset. J put the strap of her bass around her neck as she and N got ready to go.

“I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone, the dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow,” Cyn continued as the holograms around the screen had autumn leaves whirling around her as she spun as well, turning into snow as she continued. “ Ne'er do I sleep throughout all the cold winter long…I am the force that in springtime will grow …” 

Flowers bloomed in holographic brilliance. Her violin wailed and sang as pale confetti flower petals wafted around her. She hopped down the stairs, getting closer to the crowd with a smile that turned almost sad as V started drumming.

“I am the voice of the past that will always be, filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields. I am the voice of the future…Bring me your peace!” Cyn called, her smile returning as she danced back up the steps, waving her violin’s bow, “Bring me your peace and my wounds, they will heal!”

“I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain,” V’s voice sang, “I am the voice of your hunger and pain. I am the voice that always is calling you…”

“I am the voice in the past that will always be, I am the voice of your hunger and pain,” N added, I am the voice of the future…”

“I am the voice!” Cyn’s voice carried in silver descant over her siblings, “I am the voice! I am the voice!!” She held the note as long as her little lungs could, a brilliant smile on her face as the last notes of the drumline and strummed guitars faded.

The crowd erupted into cheers as the group waved and N jogged up from his spot.

“G’devenin, Ireland!” he whooped, getting a shriek of delight from the crowd, “Man! Talk about that freak blizzard eh!? Sure surprised us! Sorry ‘bout that y’know…we might be good but we can’t control the weather. We’re super glad you lot could join us tonight and you all were safe! So we kinda switched up our set to make it up to you. Entire set’s gonna be songs that you lot prolly grew up with! We know we had a lot of fun with ‘em!”

“Yeah we felt real bad that we had to reschedule,” V twirled her drumstick before leaning on her set again, “Buuuuuut~ well, we’re the ones that had to suffer through J being an absolute nightmare ,”

“Classy,” J rolled her eyes, “Get some better insults, Stickfigure…because those are barely a class action.”

“She’s kinda right,” Cyn admitted, “That was kinda weak sauce, V,”

“ Weak sauce !?” V demanded, sitting up straight, “Y’know what, pipsqueak?!”

“Oh boy,” N winced as the crowd laughed, “Heyyy girls, let’s not fight…”

“NAH! Nah she called me weak sauce! She’s not gettin’ away with that!” V growled, “Oi, Cyn. You. Me. Battle. Now.”

“You don’t want that, V,” Cyn smirked as she sat down on the stage’s edge, kicking her legs back and forth, ‘cuz y’know Imma win~”

“LIKE HELL!” V snapped, already reaching down behind her set, “I got this while we were snowed in and I’m gonna revel in beating you in this little argument,” 

It was a hand drum of sorts, traditional Irish instrument as V darted up and plopped down next to Cyn. Her pale blonde hair tinted green by the lights, making the emerald of her old band shirt even deeper as she started up a fast and quick rhythm. Cyn let V go for a little bit, the latter giving a small shout as the crowd watched in enraptured silence. Finally, after about thirty seconds, Cyn shifted her violin up to her chin, giving a huff and started to play just as quick. 

Both girls having an ‘argument’ via instrument as the crowd clapped to the beat. J and N watched in growing amusement as they clapped as well. As the two girls ‘argued’ against each other, their determined expressions turned into something playful as they got up off the stage lip and started going around each other in a circle before V let out a cheer and both stomped their feet in the finished argument.

They grinned at each other and embraced tightly, V ruffling Cyn’s hair affectionately as the latter pouted and gently whacked her with the violin’s bow. 

“Well, now that that’s been sorted…” N gave a nervous laugh as he rubbed the back of his head, “We good to continue the concert?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” V smirked as she made her way back towards the drumset, “Oi, nerds! How many of you lot be familiar with ‘Whiskey in the Jar’?”

The crowd shrieked their excitement as they started up the music.

The final song was upon the crowd. But this one was…different. For one…they’d never really seen a costume change before. At least…not one from J of all people. 

The oldest member of the band had glided out like some fae from the mist. A deep, emerald green dress clung and lovingly showcased every curve God blessed her with, her long blonde hair had been braided in a half up and half down style while pins of emerald glimmered like new leaves in the golden wheat of her locks. She looked every bit an Irish Princess as she stood center stage and opened her mouth.

“Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin…Siúil go socar agus siúil go ciúin. Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom, is go dté tu, mo mhuirnín slán…” her voice was like rich, melted dark chocolate. The crowd hushed in awe as V started up a very soft drumline and N strummed to match her. “I wish I was on yonder hill…’tis there I’d certain cry my fill. ‘Til every tear would turn a mill… is go dté tu, mo mhuirnín slán…”

She did not move from her spot, her voice rising above the drum and guitar. Reaching through the crowd.

“Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin…Siúil go socar agus siúil go ciúin. Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom, is go dté tu, mo mhuirnín slán…” she continued, “ I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel. I'll sell my only spinning wheel, to buy my love a sword of steel. Is go dté tu, mo mhuirnín slán.”

Past the castle lawn, echoing, reaching, her golden eyes reflecting the light cast from the stage.

“Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin…Siúil go socar agus siúil go ciúin. Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom, is go dté tu, mo mhuirnín slán…” she grabbed at her heart, voice trembling as Cyn’s violin joined in mournful melancholy, “I wish, I wish, I wish in vain…I wish I had my heart again…and vainly think I’d not complain. Is go dté tu, mo mhuirnín slán…”

The lights flashed, V and N’s playing got louder and louder. J’s voice continued on…and, to her…she hoped that it found its way to a certain place in the Highlands where the snow still glimmered on the hills and a warm fire crackled in a hearth.

“Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin…Siúil go socar agus siúil go ciúin. Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom, is go dté tu, mo mhuirnín slán…” 

The next morning, the Elliotts were on an air field getting ready to fly to France. Jaelyn looked down at her phone, a small smile on her face.

Self: Going to be in the air soon. Sorry you couldn’t make it to the concert.

R: It’s fine…no way I was gonna get any ticket. And I didn’t want you to boot someone out just to let me have a spot. Let me know when you land, yeah?

Self: Promise. 

She leaned her head back as the plane jolted. She’d have about two hours before she’d be able to answer again. But, well…those would pass quickly.

Jaelyn wasn’t wrong. It was strange how close everything was in Europe…compared to how spread out everything was in the United States and in Australia anyways. That hour and forty-five minutes seemed to just…fly by. Pun not intended. 

Soon enough, she was in the sunny skies of Paris. Tessa had given them their hotel room reservations, told them what time to meet her there, before she darted off to do her typical shenanigans involving the venue. 

So, that left the group with a bunch of time on their hands. 

Self: Hey, just wanted to let you know we landed. 

R: Wasn’t too bad was it?

Self: No, flight was uneventful other than Cyndelle and Victoria deciding to pull a prank on Emmett and Tessa involving whipped cream and a feather. 

R: Ah, classic.

Self: Don’t encourage them.

R: Alright, alright, I won’t!

She gave a soft smile and a chuckle as she looked up and saw her siblings pouring over a map. Trying to figure out where they wanted to visit before the hotel, she figured. Her phone chimed again and she frowned as she looked at it again.

R: Hey…you’re prolly going to the Eiffel Tower, yeah? 

Self: Likely. 

R: I’ve always wanted to see what it looks like from the top. Send me a picture?

“Yo! J!” Victoria’s voice called, “We’re gonna check out the Eiffel Tower, you gonna join?”

“That’s convenient…” Jaelyn thought, “Of course. We should probably stick together.”

Self: We’re actually heading there now.

Strangely…she didn’t get another response. But, that was somewhat to be expected. He was busy after all. So was she…they both had their lives.

That…didn’t mean she didn’t check her phone every chance she got as she and her siblings made the trip to the Tower. However…Emmett, upon seeing how tall the blasted thing was, did not want to go up. Victoria and Cyndelle weren’t keen on going up without him and leaving him alone. 

So, Jaelyn said she’d go up and get that picture she promised…then send it to Cyndelle for her to put on her photo wall. 

By the time Jaelyn had gotten to the top of the Tower, the sun was high in the sky, most people leaving the Tower in favor of getting food. She leaned on the railing, looking over the Seine and smiling as all of Paris was unfolded before her.

“This would have been magical to see at night,” she sighed, bringing up her phone and taking the picture.

Quickly, she sent the picture as promised…once to Cyndelle and then to R-

A soft chime caught her attention and she turned around slowly.

Standing on the other side of the walkway behind her, with a bouquet of roses in his hands, was Riley.

“Y’ll have to forgive me for trickin’ ya, Jae,” he admitted, “An’ don’t get too mad at your siblin’s either.”

“...What are you…when did you… how ?” Jaelyn sputtered as he came closer.

“I took the flight last night, got here ‘round midnight,” Riley gave a soft chuckle, “T’was worth it. Seein’ ya so flustered and, well…” his cheeks flushed with a blush as his blue eyes twinkled, “I wanted t’ surprise ya,”

“Well you bloody well did that.” Jaelyn snapped, getting a grin from Riley as her Australian accent came out incredibly thick.

How embarrassing.

“Aw, c’mon, Jaybird,” he smiled, “I like that little accent when it comes ‘round…but, that’s just…well…everythin’ ‘bout ya t’be honest. Never really felt like this towards…anyone,”

“...Me neither,” Jaelyn admitted, a faint sputter of golden light around the irises of her eyes, Riley reached out, taking a hand and offering the roses. She gave a soft little laugh as she took them, breathing in the sweet scent…before wrapping her arms around his neck and near jumping into his embrace.

Riley gave a laugh as he spun her around, sitting her down and looking at her with just…pure love in his gaze.

“Shall we give this a chance then?” he asked softly, “Y’an’me?”

“...I’d like that,” Jaelyn smiled as she took a step closer, face tilting up to meet his.

And with a soft breath of laughter from them both…their lips met.