Chapter Text
Me and Nova were finally going on our first date!!!!!
I mean, it was just a walk, but it would be our first one together since we announced we were official.
I still remember everybody's reaction to the news. Zed and Vargas did two laps around Camp Rayburn while screaming the entire time, and Addison's face lit up and she hugged us. Vera and Ray were a bit more held back, but I'm sure it'll grow on them. And Auntie E, well, she's Auntie E.
I love spending time with Nova, she's so loving! I could literally talk about her all day long.
So, here we were, holding hands IN PUBLIC (AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!) and trying to pretend we weren't nervous at all.
Things are going great between us, and I think this is the happiest I've ever been in two years, since I was… Nevermind.
It was a walk around Sunnyside, so I looked kinda like an outcast with all the leather black clothes. Everyone was either trying to be respectful or really discreet while staring at us. Some of our people still weren't happy about the Unification and would stare me down every chance they got, but, honestly, I've been through worse.
We were planning to go to our spot outside Camp, but something caught my attention.
In a dark alley, I saw something hitting the wall. It looked a lot like a really strong sound wave.
Oh no, Victor, get yourself together, it definitely wasn't that.
But then I also heard her voice. A voice I hadn't heard in two years. Okay, now I was getting more and more curious. Could it be…
Nova had also noticed it.
“Victor, what exactly are you going to do?”
It was risky, but I let go of her hand and approached the alley. Two familiar voices could be heard.
“Gosh, Amy, stop that, someone will notice you.”
“It wasn't my fault that bin looked like it wanted to fight me, Hartley.”
Alright, they even got the names right as well. Now I had to go look. But what would Auntie E say about that? She's not here now, though, is she?
I walked along the alley with Nova right behind me. I reached for her hand as I held my breath and jumped in front of them.
“Hi, eh, it's…” what could I possibly say to them? Like, would I go up to them and just say I'm Colby?? And how would I greet them? Would I call Amy by her human or her villain name? But I was already in front of them, so I had to say something.
“It's, eh, it is going to sound crazy but, I'm Colby.” I don't know why I had mumbled it, I had indeed missed them very much.
“Who is it?” Hartley asked, trying to understand.
“Colby.” I said really quietly, without looking them in the eyes.
“Wait, you're who!? Amy, put him down right now.”
“Thanks for the warm welcome, guys. “ I said in pain a few seconds later while lying on the ground.
Nova was quick, she immediately jumped in front of me and tried to fight Amy off.
“No, Nova, stop, STOP, I know them!” I shouted while getting up.
“You, you actually know them? They just tried to hurt you!”
“No no, it's not like that, I can explain!” I said getting between them.
“Please do.” ordered Amy in a slightly confused but also angry tone.
“Are the others here?” I asked.
“Answer first!” She said a bit more threateningly.
“Alright, okay! How do I say this, I think it's already clear. Hi, Amy and Hartley, I am Colby.”
“We already got that, idiot.” Amy was in disbelief, and Hartley looked like she was about to cry. “How and why are you here?”
“I could ask the same thing about you.” Nova still had her guard up.
“Now where are the others? Are mom and dad here too?”
“Mom and dad!?” Now it was Nova's turn to be left speechless. “I thought you were an orphan!”
“And we thought you were dead!” Amy added.
“No, I wasn't, hold on a minute. Dead? Why would you ever think that?”
“Not the right time, Colby,” muttered Amy white looking at Nova. “Who is she?”
“That's Nova, we're dating and I trust her more than anyone.” Wait, could I say that? I know we are official but it still feels weird going around saying it.
Hartley looked disappointed for a fraction of a second, but she covered it with a smile. “No way, we're so happy for you!”
“She is, I'd never say such thing.”
“Eh, thanks, I guess.“ I said awkwardly.
Hartley looked like she wanted to jump and hug me, but tried to hold herself and only shook my hand. Amy seemed indecisive about something.
“What is it?” I commented.
“I'm wondering whether I should take you to the others now or when you're alone.” She emphasized the last word. Nova noticed it again, and stood by my side.
“I'm coming too,” she said bluntly and made her way out of there.
“We're not going from here, you starry toilet paper.”
“Call me that again and I'll-”
“Okay, looks like we're all going!” Said Hartley and she mouthed ‘help me out‘ to me.
“Great then, which way?” I hurried.
(☆▽☆) ✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧ (☆▽☆) ✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧
They eventually led us to the forest outside town, where we found dad trying to “teach” Jake how to start a fire to cook.
Hartley shouted “We're back!” and got everyone to look at us.
Jake was the first one to react. He got up and walked straight at me. It was clear he wanted to say something but didn't know what.
Honestly, I had missed them all so much I hugged him in front of everyone. Only for a second, though, I'm not that dumb.
“You're… you're…” mom started but wasn't able to finish out of shock, and, was that worry?
Dad wasn't that fast. He was ignoring me for some reason, and was focused on the two sticks in his hands. He was dripping in sweat and he would just not look at me.
“Dad?” I stepped a bit closer. I couldn't believe that I would get to see him again, and I thought he had missed me just as much.
Mom was now behaving like dad. She was standing far away and staring Nova up and down, who got impatient and lit the fire herself.
“Woah,” said Jake in disbelief, “Dad, look she has fire powers too-”
“Yes, Jake, I noticed it too,” he replied, now more anxious than ever. He wouldn't take his eyes off Nova all while still ignoring me.
“Dad! Aren't you listening? Answer me!” What had gotten to him?
“Tell me what's going on! Who are you and how do you know Victor!”
“Victor?” Said mom confused and then realisation hit her. “Vic, are we in-”
“No.”
“You're outside Shadyside and Sunnyside.” Me and dad replied at the same time. “Monsters live in these towns, like-”
“Vampires and daywalkers.” He finished my sentence automatically, but regretted it instantly.
“How do you know about us?” Nova asked, straight forward. “Stop pretending, sir!” She took just a step closer and extended her hand.
“Alright, fine! Don't burn me! And put that hand down otherwise I'm not saying anything.“
“I don't think you're in the position to negotiate.“ said Nova coldly, but listened.
Dad looked me in the eyes. I could finally see his face clearly for the first time in almost two years, and it looked stressed.
“Oh, for goodness sake just say it!” Amy demanded to know.
Interestingly enough, mom was the one to speak first.
“You're not my biological child.” That's what she said. Plainly and simply, with no emotion in her voice.
My jaw was on the floor. WHATDOESSHEMEANIMNOTHERBIOLOGICALCHILD? Not that I hadn't thought of that before, how would the others be explained then? I tried to remain calm.
“Come again? More specifically?”
“What don't you understand, she's not your mother, that's what she's saying.“ Dad said, finally. “I had you with another woman.”
“So you cheated.” Amy chimed in, unable to look at him the same again.
“It's not what it seems like.”
“Not what it seems like? NOT WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE?” she was getting furious now. “Did you or did you not cheat?”
“Technically yes, but I was forced!”
“FORCED? To have a baby with another woman!? Liar. You're lying. I don't believe you. And I thought you loved mom.”
“Let me explain-”
“I. Am. Disgusted. By. You.” And she left. Hartley followed her.
Jake spoke up, looking anywhere but him. “I didn't follow them because I wanted to hear your explanation. Go on.
“You’re never going to believe me.”
I couldn't hold it in any longer, I snapped. “Just say the damn reason!”
“That woman's sister forced me. That Veronica.”
What did he say? “Aunt E? She forced a married man to have a child with another married woman? While you both already had children of your own? That's too much, even for her.”
“He never mentioned the other woman being married or having other children. Colby, where did you-” Jake commented, generally confused about the whole thing.
“Where do you think I was before I came to live with you?”
“I don't know! The orphanage? The streets?”
Nova finally spoke. “Wait, this is getting way too complicated. Victor, Victor's dad, will you just tell us everything we need to know about that affair?” she was keeping her distance even from me now. I had messed up so much, I had to make it up to her.
“I'll tell you everything.”
Before I could even start talking, though, a figure appeared and pinned dad down. It hauled over his neck.
“HOW DARE YOU COME HERE AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS!” It was an extremely familiar voice, one I had dreaded from the start.
Aunt E lifted him off the ground and threw him on a nearby tree, then got up and started breathing heavily. Dad had two small holes on the right side of his neck, with blood coming out.
I hurried over to them. “ARE YOU CRAZY!? You just bit him! Are you out of your mind?” No no no no no.
“Oh, relax, he should be fine by now.”
“He should be a vampire by now!”
“You have no idea how many terrible things he's done!”
“That's no excuse! You just bit a human!”
Nova approached dad to take a look at his wounds. Meanwhile, Amy and Hartley arrived, with eyes wide open and the definition of ready to kill a person across their faces. Amy hit Auntie E with her powers, who got out of here immediately.
“What happened, I wasn't looking. Is your aunt still here?” Nova said, looking up from dad. Everyone rushed to his side, Nova rushed to mine.
My eyes were on dad, but my mind was far away. Auntie E had just bitten a person. Turned them into a vampire! That's so messed up. That's wrong. That's illegal. Illegal. That's highly illegal. Forbidden by law. If a person commits such a crime they lose their job and get locked up in the dungeons. Lose their job. They lose their job. She was the leader of the vampires. I'm the heir. I am the heir. Am I the heir anymore? Do I, do I-, am I the…
I heard voices from some people near me but I didn't pay attention. My feet carried me away, as far away as possible from here, before it happened. I knew what was coming. My hands were sweating. I wouldn't, I couldn't. Not in front of them. I couldn't, I'm too young. Not all the vampires. I had to get out of here right now, or they'd all see it.
I didn't manage to go very far. My body wouldn't let me. My head was spinning and my chest was in pain. I wanted to stop it, but I could not move, just like every other time. I sat below a tree, that's where I gave up. What had the doctor said? Deep breaths. One at a time. No. No. No. Take it easy. You'll get over it just like every other time. I covered my head with my arms like I was hiding from everyone and everything. I was struggling to breathe again. My heart was pounding. Chest in excruciating pain. The breaths. Come on, Victor, get this over with quickly and then go back to taking care of everyone. I was trembling like a maniac, heart and head pounding.
Then I felt someone sitting next to me. Two delicate hands wrapping around me. Suddenly, my head was laying on a person’s shoulder. Her shoulder. She was saying something, but her voice seemed to be coming from far away. She placed my hands on her heart and neck, then started breathing slowly, one breath at a time. Our foreheads touched. Mine was sweating, hers was reassuring. She was whispering words of encouragement to me, her lips just inches away from mine. Not once did she let go of me. We sat like that for about five minutes, not making a sound. I calmed down enough and opened my eyes.
“Thank you” was all I could say, before I finally collapsed. She hugged me tightly while I cried like a child in her arms. She stroked my back and let me cry for as long as I needed. I took another 10 minutes to be able to form a sentence. She was patient, loving, there. Holding me. Making sure I was okay.
“I'm so sorry about that.” I managed.
“Hey, hey, don't you ever apologise about that again.” she said while looking me deeply in the eyes. She was so beautiful, right there.
“I didn't want you to see me like that.”
“Why?”
“Because you're the strongest, kindest, sweetest and most important person in my eyes.” I said while staring at the ground. She placed a hand on my chin and lifted my head to look at her.
“Is it alright if I asked what happened?”
I nodded in agreement. “Biting a person is illegal in Shadyside. You lose your job.”
“And your aunt is the Eldress.”
“And I am next in line.” I said, terrified. Saying it out loud made it look final.
“Are there any windows in the law? You're too young to be leading every vampire.” she wondered in concern.
I nodded in denial. No windows. No excuse. No escape. And I always wanted to leave Shadyside the moment I got the opportunity. Now I would be forced to stay in that prison of a place forever.
I was on the verge of tears again, I knew it. But I didn't want Nova to see me cry again. But she took such good care of me. But I didn't want to force her to do it again. I didn't want to be weak in front of anyone, that's always been a problem of mine. And what if someone else came looking for us? They'd see me.
“Come on, I want to check in on dad.” I got up not looking at Nova. If I did I'd just cry again. In her arms. No, don't be like that.
“Are you sure you feel well enough?” Her voice was so empathetic, I wanted to hug her right then and there.
“Yes, don't worry about me.” I tried to convince her. “Really don't, I'm perfectly fine.” I hate lying to my loved ones so much.
She didn't say anything, but she let me lead the way. She had wrapped her arms around my waist and was resting her head on my shoulder. I got butterflies in my stomach. This was the moment I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. And no, I don't think it is weird to think this anymore. I'm in love.
When we got back to the others, Amy was the first one to talk to me.
“Jake told us everything, now it's your turn.”
Everyone gathered around me and listened to what I had to say without interrupting me. I didn't tell them the full story of course, otherwise they'd call me a coward. Just from the day I came here until today, and I hid some parts too. I didn't tell them about all the nights I had spent crying because I missed them so much, nor about my life before I got to Centropolis.
“I told my side of the story. Mom, dad, yours is next.”
Neither of them said anything. Not a single word. Again!
“I am so done with this. Come with me, I want to talk in private.” I said.
I led us to a clearing Willa had shown me a few days ago and stood opposite them.
“Go on.” I said dead serious. “I deserve to know.”
They were both hesitant, but dad went first.
“I… We… You know what, leave it. You're too young to understand.”
“Oh, I'll understand just fine. NOW EXPLAIN will you?”