Work Text:
Ashlyn’s POV
I couldn’t believe this was happening. I was sitting in the principal's office, Aiden on my left side and Oliver on my right. I had never been called to this office before, excluding student counsel or awards. I had never been in trouble this bad.
“Do you three know why I called you here today?” Principal Davidson asked, and all three of us stayed silent.
She turned her gaze to me. “Ashlyn?”
You trust me. Trusted me. You know I’m not a bad student. You know I try hard. You don’t understand why I would do something like this.
“We got a report from the IT department last night,” she continued, and my stomach dropped, even though I already knew what this was about; this made it real.
She shifted her gaze to my right, to Oliver. “It detected illicit activity from your laptop, Oliver, and I would assume the prank came from all of you, as there were reports from multiple students of bragging coming from Aiden.” Now it was Aiden’s turn to get a look from both me and the principal.
“Well, Principal Davidson, I think you have the wrong guy,” Aiden lied smoothly, but I cut him off.
“Oh don’t lie about this now, Aiden. It’s too late.”
“Come on, Ashlyn,” he exclaimed. “You couldn’t have lied once in your life. I almost had her.” At that, Principal Davidson gave him a dirty look.
“Thank you, Ashlyn for being honest, however, because of this incident, I have contacted your parents, and once they arrive we will discuss the punishment.” My stomach dropped further at that, if It was even possible.
Aiden kept his face cool, but I could tell he was mad. “What the fuck, Davidson. You know me, I’m a regular, can’t we just get let off on a warning or like detention for a few days.”
“Go wait outside until your parents get here.” Davidson said, voice sharp.
We all stood up and hastily made our way out until she called out. “Ashlyn, you stay.”
I sat down, legs shaky. “Yes?” I said, voice quiet.
She looked at me with soft eyes, almost pitying. “Why would you do this? This isn’t like you at all. You can tell me if you were pressured to do any of this.”
I shook my head, tears pricking my eyes.
“I don’t understand,” she continued, but I kept quiet, partially because I didn’t want to dig myself –or the others– deeper in the hole, partially because if I tried to talk, I would start to cry.
She sighed. “Go wait, your mother should be here in a minute.”
Great, my mother, that's the exact person that I want to see right now.
I walked out of her office and was addressed by the secretary almost immediately.
“Take a seat, and wait, quietly.” she said, voice barren from its normal warmth.
I did as she told me and sat next to Oliver and Aiden. We sat in silence for a few minutes, until Aiden spoke.
“It’ll be okay, Ash.”
You’re reading my emotions. You can tell I’m trying not to cry.
Just then, to make the whole situation just great, our parents walked in.
Aunt Lia walked in first, furious, but she had a cool calm on her face, ready to lie her way out of the entire situation.
Like mother, like son. And Uncle Michael isn’t here.
Aunt Celine and Aunt Sloane walked in next, both looking equally as mad, but I didn’t need to be an emotion reader to see that Aunt Sloane was a little proud of her son.
And then, the devil herself walked in. My mother. She had a straight face, but I could tell she’s annoyed. Work is all she does anymore. Work is all she cares about anymore.
Why isn’t Dad here?
None of them said a word to us, as they walked into the principal’s office. I started at the floor, trying to will my body to not be here right now. I didn’t notice when all of them came out of the office.
“Ashlyn,” Mom said, voice stiff. “Come on.”
Where are we going?
“We’re going to a room to talk,” she said, answering my question before I asked it. I hate when she does that. It reminded me how angry I really am.
“Fine,” I said, voice tight with anger, as I got up and followed her, along with the rest.
Once we got to the conference room, I stopped listening. The principal told them about the IT rules and how important they are. I didn’t start to listen until the principal said the word suspension. My entire body tensed up and Mom noticed it, because she put a hand over mine. Like that was supposed to be calming. I shrugged her off and tried not to cry. A suspension could follow me forever. Suddenly, everyone was on their feet and leaving. Mom led me to the car and as I got in I slammed the door.
“Careful, Ashlyn,” Mom warned, voice still tight.
I rolled my eyes in response and turned toward the window. Around 10 minutes into the drive I realized we weren’t going home.
“We’re going to the field office. I still need to work, and your father is at a doctor’s appointment with Belle.” Mom answered, before I asked. Again.
“Typical,” I scoffed.
She kept her composure, only raising an eyebrow. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means, you always work. You can’t even take time off work to discipline your own daughter”
“Trust me, you’re in trouble.”
“But you don’t care!”
“Of course I care, you’re my daughter.”
“Sure,” I muttered, and turned back to the window. I didn’t want to continue this conversation. I wanted my dad. I wanted to not be here with her.
We pulled into the parking lot, and I begrudgingly got out of the car when she opened my door. I walked slowly all the way to security and the visitor desk. I wanted to be as annoying as possible. Once we got to the visitors desk, the woman there, and my mother started to talk, completely ignoring me.
“Can I have your ID?” The woman at the desk asked me, looking at me for the first time in the conversation.
“I never needed to give you my ID before,” I said defiantly.
“Well, now that you are over sixteen I need your ID to give you a visitor’s badge. It will only take a second.”
“Ashlyn, just give her your license," Mom cut in.
“Fine,” I grumbled as I fished it out of my backpack. “Here,” I said, as I slapped it on the counter a little harder than necessary, and Mom shot me a warning look.
“Thank you,” she said while the woman handed me a lanyard with a visitor badge as well as my ID back. Mom lightly elbowed me to tell me to say thank you as well.
“Thanks,” I muttered as I pocketed my ID, and the woman gave my mom a knowing smile and Mom returned it. Like raising teenagers was some big inside joke.
“I’m going to need your phone and any electronics you have on you,” the woman said timidly, like she knew I wasn’t going to be happy about it. I looked over at my mom, silently asking, “Do I have to?” and she gave me a small nod in response.
I groaned as I handed over my phone and chromebook.
“Is that all?” the woman asked as she put my things in a locker behind her.
“Yes unless you guys count ass headphones that barely work.” I said and I caught the look on my mother’s face. “I’m sixteen, Mom. I think I can say the word ‘ass.’”
She gave me a disapproving look as she thanked the lady at the desk once more, and guided me toward security. This part I had done a million times. This was the part where my mother left me for her little FBI status. She walked through a different entrance and appeared on the other side of security, having to do the hard work of swiping her ID badge and walking in.
I put my bag on the table and walked through the metal detector. I got through no problem, but of course there was something in my bag.
“Mind if I take a look through this?” The security guard asked me.
Yes, I do mind. I just want to go home or even school would be better than this.
“Go for it,” I said dryly, as he started to look through my bag.
“You’re clear, go ahead,” he said, waving me through.
I completely ignored my mother and walked straight through the hallway to the elevator. I practically grew up in the field office, so I knew my way around pretty well.
Mom rushed to get into the elevator, because the door was already half way closed.
“Thank you for holding the door for me,” she said sarcastically, and I chose to ignore her once more.
Passive-aggressive much?
We settled into awkward silence until the door opened and we both walked to her office.
“Wait out here for a second, I need to deal with something,” she told me as she waved another agent into her office. She closed the door and I was left standing outside.
Supervisory Special Agent Cassandra Hobbes needs to do her job. Don’t disturb her. Be perfect. Be quiet. Be the daughter she wants. Be the daughter she expects.
Suddenly the agent who was in there came out. “Your mother said to send you in.”
I nodded in response and walked into the office like I owned the place.
“Sit down,” Mom said.
“So you’ve finally gotten around to giving me the ‘you’ve effed up’ talk. First time without Dad, kinda nervous,” I teased, sitting down.
“This is serious, Ashlyn. You were suspended. This isn’t like you.”
“Oh no I thought we don’t care about college because I’m just a nepo baby.”
“Ashlyn, why did you do it?”
“I’m always a case to solve with you.”
“Ash–”
“I don’t want to talk anymore. I’m grounded, I know. Yada Yada Yada. Taking my phone away, a little late for that one though, the FBI beat you to it. I just want to sleep okay,” I said, spreading myself out on the two armchairs.
My mother sighed, but started to work.
“How long is my suspension again,” I muttered after a few minutes, not lifting my arm from my eyes.
“4 days,” Mom said, not looking up, and the room went quiet beside the clicking of her keyboard.
Around an hour passed before she spoke again.
“If you’re hungry, there’s some food in the break room.”
“Hey, you woke me up. I was asleep.”
“I know you weren’t asleep, Ash.”
“Ugh when’s Dad coming.”
“He’s at a doctor’s appointment for your sister. It’s running long. He’ll meet us at home”
“Oh… then I’m leaving for snacks.” I said, disappointment audible in my voice. I didn’t make it hard to tell that I favored my dad, and honestly, at this point, I didn’t even care how hurt that made her feel.
“Wait–is Belle okay?” I asked, already halfway out the door.
“Yeah, she’s fine,” Mom said, voice softer. “Be back within the hour, and do not wander,” she continued as I left.
I gave her a thumbs up and ventured to the break room.
***
20 minutes later, I exited the break room with a bag of chips, iced coffee that was almost certainly Lia’s, and an apple to appease my mother. I was on my way back when I overheard some agents talking about a serial kidnapping case. All victims went missing at the same time, all the rooms were searched, and a mark was left. The weirdest part was that none of the bodies have been found. I’m still a Natural as much as I hate it. I can’t stay away from these things or my brain will keep thinking of it until it bursts. So of course I spoke up.
“Umm you have the wrong suspect,” I said timidly, standing at the side of the conference room doorway.
“Who are you?” An agent asked me, and I could tell by his posture that he was the man in charge.
“Ashlyn Hobbes,” I said, and when my name didn’t register I spoke again. “Agent Hobbes’s daughter, sir.”
His face immediately warmed at the mention of my mother’s name.
“I should get you back to your mother,” he said, putting a hand on my shoulder.
I’m 16, not 6. You don’t need to return me to my mother. I’m not a baby.
I shrugged him off. “I can leave myself.”
“What do you mean wrong suspect?” a different agent asked me.
“Well, the suspect you have right now doesn’t fit the case. It’s an organized killing, or kidnapping in this case. You can tell by the signature and the markings left around the room. This was savored. And the suspect you have right now is definitely disorganized. You can tell by the unshaven jaw and that shirt looks like he’s slept in it. The UNSUB is doing this specifically, but it’s hard to tell because the connections are so vague. All the victims were at the convection at the same time, or so I would guess, and I would assume our UNSUB is one of the actors, or people working there. I would investigate these four. Especially this one, because she’s bitter about something that happened at work, and wants revenge,” I explained as I adjusted the whiteboard, and I hadn't realized the room was completely silent.
“That’s…freaky,” one of the agents whispered.
The lead agent cleared his throat. “How old are you?”
“16, and now I think my work here is done.” I said turning toward the door. I walked out and quickly walked back to my mother’s office, trying not to get caught. I wasn’t normally allowed to work on active cases, let alone when I was grounded. I got to Mom’s office and came in quickly.
“Did you go on a run or something?” Mom asked as I came into the room out of breath.
“I’m fine,” I said, and then there was a knock at the door.
“Come in!” Mom called, and it was the lead agent from the kidnapping case.
Damn it! Stupid proactive FBI agents.
“Vasquez?” Mom questioned.
“Can we discuss something?”
“About?”
“Your daughter”
Fuck Fuck Fuck
Mom was immediately alert when I was mentioned. “Of course, sit down. Ashlyn, go wait outside.”
I stepped outside the office knowing this day could either get way worse or way better.
After around 10 minutes Agent Vasquez came out.
“Hey kid, what you did back there was really impressive. Just like your mother. You have a real future at the FBI, just know that when the time comes, if I were you, I would apply.”
“Thanks for the advice, but I’m not looking to be like my mother, or any of your brain dead people here.”
“Okay,” he said, walking away, acting like that didn’t bother him, but I heard him muttering about teenagers.
“Ashlyn,” my mom said softly, standing at the door frame. “You can come in now, baby.”
Yay… the soft voice. Now I get is pity and her feeling guilty, but still mad at the same damn time.
“Vasquez told me about what you did back there. Said it was impressive, and I have no doubt.”
“I know I know I’m just like you. What if I don’t fucking want to be like you, Mom. What if I don’t want your fucked up life.”
“Ashlyn,” she said sharply.
“I want to talk to Dad,” I said defiantly.
“Your father isn’t here right now.”
“Well then I want to go home.”
“I’m still working, Ashlyn. I have a job to work and a family to support.”
“A family you are never home for!”
“I’m trying, Ashlyn!”
“Really? Because you're a shitty mom!”
“You have no idea how hard it is to be your mom!” she yelled, and I could feel the tears prick my eyes.
Be the perfect daughter. Don’t mess up. Be perfect. Always be perfect. Be the one they need.
The worst part is the fact that they don’t put the pressure on me, not really. I put it on myself, from the expectations they already had.
“I’m sorry,” Mom whispered.
“Too late now,” I said angrily, tears streaming down my face. I turned around so she couldn’t see me and curled into a tight ball, making myself as small as possible.
***
“Ash,” Dad called, as he knocked on my door.
Finally, I thought, He’s finally home.
I had been home for over an hour at that point, I ran straight to my room and locked myself in there. I didn’t want to even think about Mom. About how she doesn’t know how hard I’m trying to be perfect. About how I know I’m a fuck-up and I don’t need to be reminded.
“You can come in,” I whispered.
He walked in and sat down on my bed next to me.
“Your mom told me what happened,” he started.
“Told you what? Told you about the suspension or the yelling?” I said, still crying.
“All of it,” he said, pulling me into a hug, and I cried into his chest.
“It’s not fair,” I sobbed. “I tried. I tried so hard. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not going to tell you it’s okay, because it isn’t, Ashlyn. You can’t talk to your mother that way. You can’t break rules that are set for your own safety.”
“So you’re on her side,” I whispered, pulling away from him.
“Ash, I’m on neither side, but you need to understand you can’t say that.”
“She can’t say that shit either”
“I know she can’t, and she knows she messed up. I’ve told her that.”
“I’m not apologizing to her.” I said, turning my back to the wall.
He sighed.“Okay, darling, we're both here if you need us.”
He waited a second for me to say anything, and then slowly left the room. After a few minutes I could hear Belle laughing and Mom and Dad talking and everyone being happy.
Why do I have to ruin everything? Why does she have to hate me so much? Why can’t I be happy like that?