Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When preparing for the battle Fluixion obviously thought about the possibility of losing but after seeing the army of Infernus and the covenant plus the caution measures his team made he quickly discarded the possibility of failure. 

Not to mention he is Fluixion of Lumminara, The Architect of the conspiracy that shocked both Islands, Prince of the Aculon Empire, he isn't known for losing. 

But now, in the middle of the war, he realized a little problem, they are losing… really badly.

There are more people they accounted for and they were pretty well geared, even with the best army and the best traps they couldn't possibly win. 

While hiding on the final floor of the castle he tries to find a way to survive and while he is on the verge of giving up, a voice breaks his thoughts. 

“Flux!” Thomas shouts at him and runs up to him “I finally found you” He says while catching his breath 

“Thomas” He looks at his friend, his brown usually well styled hair is now all messed up and covered with ashes, he's pretty sure he has blood on his face and he isn't sure if it isn't his. “Before you ask, no I don't have more ideas on how to get out of this one” He says guessing that's what he came to ask and goes back to looking at the war that's happening below them “I guess we don't have much more time left” 

“But I'm glad you are still alive now,” Flux says quietly but loud enough for Thomas to hear 

“I'm glad you are still alive too” Thomas gives him a small smile “And since I intend to keep it that way, I have a way to keep you keep

“What?” Flux looks at him confused and shocked 

“Flux, I need you to take this” He passes him a glass bottle with a weird orange liquid and Flux's confusion grows “It's called a fire resistance potion” 

“Where-” Before Fluixion could continue his sentence Thomas interrupted him

“Dont ask where I got it from cause I don't have time to answer” Thomas frowns “Look Flux out of all of us you have ambitions and a brain that could keep you going, no one else on our side is gonna be able to survive after this war, so I need to use this to escape” at this Flux's mind goes racing “Also I was never the one with the plans and couldn't possibly think a way to escape this mess” he half jokes 

After all this time Flux knows there isn't a way to stop Thomas when he looks at him so determined so after a beat of silence he asks

“How long does this last?” signaling the bottle 

“8 minutes” Thomas smiles knowing that Fluixion is formulating a plan, before either of them either say something else the shouting of guards stops them.

“You better start running Sir,” Thomas says 

And something neither of them expected to ever happen, happens… 

Fluixion goes and hugs him, a genuine, full of emotion, a silent goodbye. “Thank you, you were the best right-hand man a mastermind could ever ask for” and runs off 

»»-----------¤-----------««

Even though Thomas wanted only Fluixion to survive, he knew that he couldn't leave his sister to die since she never did that to him, so he made his way to find Cynikka.

He was lucky enough to find her alive in a type of meeting room, he rapidly approached her moving past all the people panicking around her.

“Sister.” He says

“Brother?” Cynikka looks at him a bit confused since he shouldn't be there 

“We need to go. Now.” He grabs her wrist and tries to move but the other stops him

“What? No!” She tries to escape his grasp but that only makes Fluixion tighten his grip 

“Yes, if we want to live we need to go now before it's too late!” Fluixion says with a slight sign of desperation in his voice 

“Fluixion I can't leave now, my people need me, the volcano needs me-” Cynikka tries to rationalize but Flux doesn't let her

“I don't care about your fucking volcano Cynikka! I care about being alive and my sister not leaving me to survive completely alone” Now the desperation in his tone is very evident. Please i don't want to lose you again goes un-said

Suddenly he feels like he is 13 years old again running away from the people trying to kill the remaining members of the Aculon empire, and something tells him Cynikka feels the same way since she looks at him and breathes out “Do you even have a plan? The other party's army is more dangerous than it looks…”

“I do but I need you to trust me…” He says relieved is hearing him out.

»»-----------¤-----------««

As far as his escape plans go, this wasn't his best work. 

Maybe jumping into the lava while people were shooting arrows wasn't the optimal way to escape a war but it worked somehow

They ran far away into a snow biome where they found a tower and after making sure it was completely abandoned they decided to hide there for the time being.

It was accommodating enough for both of them and it had a few supplies to keep them going until they figured out a new plan. 

Now Fluixion was sitting in an awkward silence since neither of them knew what to say but while thinking about everything that had happened the last week, Fluixion was interrupted by his sister entering the room with a medkit in hand

“Let me see your arm,” The former queen asks him in a demanding tone 

“Why? Nothing is wrong with it” He lies and looks at her

“I'm your older sister I know how you act when you are hurt and try to pretend nothing is wrong” Cynikka frowns 

“I don't know what you are talking about” Fluixion tries to deny while looking away

“Fluixion I swear by my volcano that if you don't show me your wound I will throw you to the snow to die” She threatens and while both of them knew that was an empty threat and that Cynikka would never hurt her brother intentionally, Flux was too tired to keep arguing.

He took off one of the sleeves of his jacket exposing a nasty wound on the side of his arm 

“How did you even get such an ugly thing?” His sister asks, concerned while looking at it “This will hurt by the way” before starting to clean it

“I think one of the guards of some nation in Pandora did it but I don't even remember at this point “ He sighs and Cynikka hums focused on her work “Snowbird stitched it at some point but I guess they broke while we were escaping the castle,” Flux says sadly at the idea of his late teammate 

“Well it needs new ones, do you mind if I do it?” She asks

“Do I even have a choice Cyn?” He looks at her sarcastically 

“Nope!” She giggles which made Fluixion smirk 

»»-----------¤-----------««

After checking for any more wounds they realized how exhausted both of them were, thankfully the tower had enough bedding to share between both of them since sharing wasn't something new to them.

Maybe it was the snow falling or the fact he had her sister beside him sleeping or how this situation feels so familiar but whatever it was gave him a sense of security. 

His last thought before falling asleep is when was the last time he saw snow falling from the sky… 

Chapter Text

Blood 

Dead bodies 

Weapons on the floor 

Shouting men 

People in agony 

That's what the empire has become to…

Her feet hurt from running 

Her lungs hurt from the cold

Her heart hurts from panicking 

Her eyes hurt from crying 

But she needs to keep going. 

They need to escape this place. 

Ender's last wish was for them to survive, she can't disappoint him, not now that he is gone.

She needs to find Fluixion and leave this hell immediately…

She has lived all her life in this castle but suddenly none of these hallways feels familiar. 

She needs to find Fluixion, She promised Ender she would protect him and keep him alive 

‘Where is he?’ Is the only question she can afford to ask in her brain 

She is growing really tired of pushing soldiers out of her way but she needs to find him 

Every step feels heavier than the last one and the rooms keep getting larger and larger

And suddenly she hears a familiar crying ‘Flux…’ she realizes but before she can reach him a loud agonizing scream follow by a 'BANG' are heard and everything goes black….

»»-----------¤-----------««

Cynikka wakes up with her heart racing and her body shaking, 

She looks at her surroundings and remembers her current situation. ‘Right, I'm not running from the anti-Aculon soldiers, I'm running from the anti-Infernus people’ 

She could hear a groan from the body next to her 

“Did you have to wake up so aggressively?” A clearly irritated Fluixion asks her 

“Sorry, you should go back to sleep, I'll go find something to eat,” Cynikka tells him while standing up and cleaning the dust off her clothes. 

“I couldn't go back to sleep even if I wanted to, plus we need a plan to survive from now on” He answers

“Let's eat something first my little mastermind” She ruffles Fluixion's black hair earning a noise of complaint 

»»-----------¤-----------««

Being royalty of an empire meant they had to take a lot of different classes that growing up seemed useless but once she started the Infernus kingdom, she became thankful her paranoid father made her take them. 

Cartography was especially useful right now since she managed to make a perfect map of Yggdrasil and Pandora. 

Looking at the maps they both agreed that it was better to stay in the snow biome. They were refugees at the moment, it was easier to hide and most people don't know how to travel or survive in it.  

For a moment she tunes out of their conversation and looks at her surroundings, a big map made of different pages of Flux's sketchbook, a few other papers full of crucial information for their survival, a candlelight close enough to illuminate the room but far enough to not make everything catch on fire and finally her younger brother completely focused trying to figure out every outcome.

She does have to admit that 24 years old Fluixion is much more helpful than 13 years old Fluixion. 

Back when they escaped the fallen empire, she was the one in charge of all the planning and making sure they survive another day but now after everything that's happened the child she traveled with now is a man full of knowledge.

Cynikka has to give a bit of credit to herself, her improvement from her 18 year old self is very notable, becoming a queen has helped her way of thinking which has proven to be extremely helpful in their current situation.

After hours and hours they managed to create a plan, it isn't flawless but as long as they work together it is gonna work. 

'At the end of the day, two geniuses are better than just one.' Ender's words resonates in her head 

»»-----------¤-----------««

They were so distracted with the strategies that they didn't realise night had fallen. 

The former queen looks at her brother concerned since he was very clearly about to pass out. 

“Flux” Cynikka shakes her brother's shoulder while standing up

“Hmmm?” Is the only answer she got from her brother 

“I think we need some sleep after all of this planning” She offers her hand so he can also stand up

Without any verbal acknowledgement Fluixion stands up and goes to the place they slept last night, she couldn't call it a bed since it was 2 pillows and some blankets but it's better than nothing she guesses. 

“Goodnight dear sister” Fluixion mumbles and imitately passes out 

“Goodnight dear brother” Cynikka smiles at him and falls asleep shortly after.

We will survive this. 

Chapter Text

Winning the war should've felt good, Saparata supposes, at least both islands felt like that.

And Saps was happy they were happy with the end of the battle but he couldn't experience the same happiness.

He didn't get to confront Flux Fluixon. 

He didn't get to see the man who framed him and ruined his life for 1 whole year.

He didn't get to see the guy who broke his heart 

Cass and Schpood were the only people who kinda understood what he was feeling, 

“I wish I had gotten to stab the bastard so I could see his arrogant ass completely defeated,” Cass said

“Yeah, I wish I saw Cynikka's face when she realizes all her little cult is completely wiped,” Schpood continued.

But they would never get that closure since multiple soldiers from both sides saw the queen of Infernus and the leader of the conspiracy jump directly into the lava, completely burning their bodies. 

No one really knows why they did it or why they jumped together,

“Probably their ego didn't let them die by their enemy's hand and they jumped together cause they had the same idea” Is what Legacy told him with clear bitterness in his voice.

Saparata couldn't shake the feeling that wasn't the complete truth, but then again he would never get the answer to that since dead people can't speak. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

Saparata really needed time alone, which is crazy considering that he spent a year running with no one by his side, but these past months have been completely hectic and he has become really overwhelmed with the interactions during the war. 

So after saying his goodbyes to Cass and Schpood, who didn't exactly comprehend the reason for wanting to be alone again, and offered him a place in their respective nations (which he refused) he parted ways. 

He didn't really want to go back to his vacation house (which is probably still bloody and with intact evidence of the massacre) so he went to the only other place he knew he could be isolated from any society, his snow tower. 

Even though it had bad memories with it, it was also the place he realized he wanted to keep living and prove his innocence to the world at all costs, so it wasn't a bad option. 

So he took a bunch of materials and food for his survival, his netherite sword (a gift from the covenant during his time there), and started making his journey to the snow biome.

»»-----------¤-----------««

One would think that the “white boy” would like the snow but the truth was that Saparata wasn't a fan of the cold biome so he was very glad when he saw his tower appear in his line of vision.

Except that something was really wrong.

When he approached the door ready to unlock it, he realized it was already unlocked.

Saps remembers very distinctly that he locked the tower since he didn't want anyone to enter.

He entered the tower very slowly making sure not to make any noise. 

Looking around inside the tower he could clearly see someone had been there. There were a few papers with sketches of replicas of the islands around the table he used to eat at, and on top of said table, there was a big map of both Yggdrasil and Pandora. Inspecting the rest of the room he could see that the food cabinet was empty and the candles were definitely more used than he had left them, a few other things were out of place. 

Analysing the room further he realised… someone was there right now.

In all honesty, he probably shouldn't try to investigate alone in a situation like this but after training the covenant people who didn't hate him, he was confident in his ability to fight more than one person, especially if he had the advantage of them not knowing Saps was there. 

So he unveiled his sword and made his way to the second floor.

»»-----------¤-----------««

Out of all the scenes he was thinking of when he made his way to the second floor this was not it. 

In front of Saparata was the evil queen of Infernus, Cynikka, and the cruel mastermind of Lumminara, Fluixion, both alive and next to each other with Fluixion’s head resting on Cynikka's shoulder, covered in blankets sleeping on the floor. 

Looking at them, they looked so small and defenseless which he found oddly endearing. 

But then he remembered that these two are war criminals and that they were supposed to be dead. 

“What the actual fuck?” Saps says out loud

Chapter Text

A very familiar voice wakes Fluixion and his sister.

“Cynikka please tell me that wasn't who I think it is,” Flux says refusing to open his eyes in case he is wrong and gets to go back to sleep 

“If you are thinking of the white guy you hate, then I'm sorry to tell you he is standing in front of us with a netherite sword in his hand” An annoyed Cynikka answers him

He opens his eyes to realize the former queen wasn't lying.

The last man he wanted to see was in front of them, armed, while they were very much defenseless. 

Flux sits up and hears Cynikka tapping the ground with her finger. Morse code, one of the essentials for the Aculon Empire royalty. 

.-- .... .- - / -.. --- / .-- . / -.. --- ..--.. (What do we do?) She asks him 

Fluixion realizes that there is nothing he has no other option but to try to talk his way out of this one. 

- .- .-.. -.- / .- -. -.. / .... --- .--. . / .... . / -.. --- . ... -. .----. - / -.- .. .-.. .-.. ... / ..- … (Talk and hope he doesn't kills us) He answers her using the same method 

“What do you want, Saparata?” Fluixion asks very displeased 

“What do I want?” Saparata scoffed in disbelief at Flux's tone “I want to know what you are doing in my tower and alive nonetheless” 

“This is your tower?” Cynikka asks surprised "Is a very nice tower" her tone is patronizing 

“Yes, it is” Saparata answers her with a frown “Now answer Fluixion” He points at him with the sword 

Flux ignores the pain that it brought hearing his full name coming out of Saparata's mouth.

“I'm trying to survive the whole battle that was happening, obviously” Fluixion shrugs 

“Of course, your cowardly ass would flee the scene instead of accepting the consequences of your actions,” The white haired man says with venom “What are you doing though?” He now signals Cynikka “From what I've been told Queen Cynikka would never leave her dear volcano and never for some pathetic rat” Saparata tells her which made the woman frown.

“I'm protecting the only thing I have left” Cynikka answers very simply with slight anger in her voice, Saparata though was left very confused at her statement

“What-” The ex-convict tries to question her statement but Flux interrupts him before he can finish his sentence “Well now you know, now what Mr. War Hero” He asks mockingly 

“hero?” Saparata mumbles before stopping for a minute to think of what to do now he has both of the most wanted people infront of him

.. ..-. / .... . / .- - - .- -.-. -.- ... / -.-- --- ..- / ... - .- -. -.. / -... . .... .. -. -.. / -- . / .. .----. .-.. .-.. / -- .- -.- . / ... ..- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- / .-.. .. ...- . (If he attacks you stand behind me I'll make sure you live) Cynikka tells Flux. 

He looks at her in shock and before he could refuse his sister's request Saparata stops thinking and decides the course of action 

“You two are prisoners for now” Now that made both Cynikka and Fluixion stare at him “I'm still more armed than both of you and I know neither of you is are fighter so while I contact Cass you two are my prisoners” Saparata smirks at their angry faces  

Fluixion goes to stand up and shout at him about this being an outrage but he immediately feels Cynikka's grasp pulling him down 

“Keep your shit together Flux” She whispers to him,  only loud enough for him to hear.

And even though he wants to shout at the swordsman in front of them he figures it wouldn't really help so he stays sitting by Cynikka's side.

»»-----------¤-----------««

Saparata left the room for a brief moment but before they could try to scheme a plan, he came back and out of all people Flux never thought Saparata would be the one to be able to make handcuffs out of chains but he did. 

Now they are sitting on the other side of the room with their backs against each other and their wrists tied. 

Honestly, even though his wrist hurt it was better than being dead or at least that's what he is trying to convince himself while he waits for the ex-convict to send his letter through his owl. 

After a while filled with fruitless attempts at making a plan with Cynikka through Morse code, Saparata finally finished. 

“Okay! Letter sent!” The other man says cheerfully 

“Fucking finally,” Flux says quietly 

“Yay!!!” Cynikka celebrates sarcastically 

“Now what, genius?” Fluixion looks him in the eyes 

“Now I go to bed cause I don't want to speak to you and haven't slept in days” Saparata shrugs 

“Are you that confident we wouldn't escape while you sleep?” Cynikka asks confused about the white haired man's confidence.

“The way the chains are tied on your wrist is the way The Peacemakers captured their prisoners, there isn't a way you could possibly set free from that mess of knots, unless you wanna cut your arms of course” Saparata answers yawning, both of the siblings were physically surprised at the mention of The Peacemakers “Now shush both of you, only wake me up if something actually important happens” 

And with that, the white haired man falls in a deep slumber, leaving the siblings in silence.

.-- . .-.. .-.. --..-- / - .... .- - / .-- . -. - / -... . - - . .-. / - .... .- -. / .-- .... .- - / .. / - .... --- ..- --. .... - / .-- .- ... / --. --- -. -. .- / --. — (Well, that went better than what I thought was gonna go) Cynikka taps 

Fluixion sighs before answering 

-.-- . .- .... --..-- / -. --- .-- / .-- . / .-- .- .. - / .- -. -.. / .... --- .--. . / -.-. .- ... ... / -.. --- . ... -. .----. - / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. ... / -- . / --- -. / ... .. --. .... - (Yeah, now we wait and hope Cass doesn't murders me on sight) He tells her which made Cynikka chuckle.

.... --- .-- / -.. .. -.. / .-- . / . ...- . -. / --. . - / .. -. - --- / - .... .. ... / ... .. - ..- .- - .. --- -. / -... .-. --- - .... . .-. / -.. . .- .-. . ... - ..--.. (How did we even get into this situation brother dearest?) She questions looking at the ceiling. 

He could tell that was a rhetorical question, because they both knew exactly what led them to this situation. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

After what felt like an eternity Saparata's owl appeared in the windows begging to be let in but its owner was peacefully sleeping unfazed by the bird.

“Saparata” Cynikka tries to wake him up since Fluixion couldn't bother to try to do it himself. 

“Saparata!” She tries again and again until after too many attempts Flux gets tired and shouts at Saparata in annoyance. 

“SAPS!” and the guy finally wakes up. 

“Don't call me that” Saparata mumbles waking up and again he felt that weird pain in his heart but decides to ignore it once again.

“Cry about it later, your bird has been waiting outside for way too long for a small being who isnt prepared for snow,” Fluixion tells him. 

Saparata gets up to open the window and lets in his owl before closing it again. 

He pets his bird before grabbing and reading the letter that was brought with it.

“So? What did she say, Sir Saparata?” Cynikka asks him, tired of waiting for him to finish reading. 

“Well I have good news for me and bad news for all of us” Saparata answers her, he didn't wait for either of the siblings to say anything before continuing “The good news is that she is coming as fast as possible” 

“And the bad ones?” Flux asks since that was the only part that concerned him 

“We are stuck here for two more days” Saparata sighs 

Lovely. Just what I needed. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

The last time he felt 60 hours were so infinitely long was back on The Aculon Empire.

Fluixion was freshly 12 years old which meant he was old enough to start making diplomatic travels without any of his siblings by his side. 

It was always exciting going out of the palace and being useful to the empire made him feel less than a disappointment, so it wasn't a bad trip. 

That's of course until the journey back to the castle they encountered a huge snowstorm that made the Aculon crew stop in a nearby village. 

The soldiers that were with him decided that it was better for his safety to stay hidden, so “”logically”” they locked him in a hotel room for two days only letting him out for human necessities. 

When he finally arrived home and told Ender crying what the soldiers did he personally ordered for the guards to be executed for treason to the royal bloodline. 

But at least then he had a bit more freedom and stuff to do. Now he is sitting on the floor in an uncomfortable position and his hands are tied so he can't even draw or write in his sketchbook. 

He has Cynikka to talk to but there is so much they can say without letting Saparata gain any information about them or their plans.

But after the longest two days in his whole life, finally, while they were sleeping they heard Cass shouting at Saparata to let “them” in.

(He supposes that “them” was Cass and her guards)

And shortly after Cass entered the second floor seeing the siblings. 

“Holy shit,” Cass says looking at them and then her vision focuses on him “The asshole is alive”

“Great! Now you are here” Flux says in annoyance.

Cass was always an annoying factor in Fluixion's plans. 

Out of nowhere Cass burst out laughing.

.. .----. -- / ... --- / -.-. --- -. ..-. ..- ... . -.. (I'm so confused) Cynikka tells him 

“Uhhh Cass?” Saparata was also confused by the woman's reaction 

“Sorry Saps, it's just that-” Cass cleans a tear from her eye trying to explain herself “Look at them, both of the biggest war criminals of each island now all weak and pathetic ” She looks directly at Fluixion's eyes when speaking 

Yeah,  definitely annoying. 

“Ha ha very funny,” Flux says rolling his eyes

“Hillarious even” Cynikka adds with the same level of sarcasm 

“So what are we doing with them, Cass?” Saparata asks the question that all of them were waiting for the answer. 

“Well, you said you wanted them to be alive for now, right?” She asks Saparata and he nods, Flux didn't have time to process the fact that his former best friend wanted him alive before she continued “That means Westhleem and all of the Pandora are not an option, so I was planning to send them to Elysium for the time being while you and I set up a meeting to figure out with both islands what to do with them for real” Cass finishes suggesting.

“Honestly sounds like a good plan” Saparata says in response “But do you think Benji and his council will be fine with it?” 

“I don't completely know for sure but is the only place where they won't kill them on sight,” Cass says 

“I guess so” For a split second Flux could see a hint of worry in Saparata's face “Then you should go to Elysium and use your magic leader of a nation convincing powers to talk to them, while I babysit these two pieces of garbage” He completely switches his tone making Cass giggle. 

“Well, I suppose I'll get going then” She says and both of them disappear out of his line of vision leaving the siblings in silence once again 

“At least she didn't kill you the moment she saw you” Cynikka breaks the silence first 

“Yeah but she looked down at me which is probably worse” Fluixion answers annoyed at the idea of being seem as less or weak “Do you think Elysium would take us?” He asks her 

“Benji and his council are very weird case if I'm honest, one day they are all for peace and quiet and the next day Benji authorizes the kill on Linguini. But he still my friend and I think if the pretty woman-” Flux rolls his eyes at that “Convinces the council that it is for the greater good then they'll probably take us” Cynikka answers him and he hums.

I guess they'll have to keep waiting for an answer.

Chapter Text

⪼ To: CallMeCass ⪼ From: saparata

Hello Cass,

I'm not in any imminent danger (I feel like I should start with that) but I did find myself in a predicament…

I'm going to start from the beginning to make it easier, 

I was peacefully walking to my new place of residence (the tower on the snow I told you about, remember?) but when I arrived at the entrance I realized that the front door was unlocked.

(Cass. I'm so fucking sure that before I left the tower for the last time I locked the door to make sure no one could enter and use the tower against me)

And well I didn't know how long the door had been unlocked, for all I know it could be like this for months, right? But I still enter the tower with caution. 

Seeing the state of the first floor I could tell that not only someone had been here but that someone was there right at the moment. 

And even though it wasn't the best idea to keep investigating the tower, I needed to know who was in my tower. So I grabbed my sword, activated stealth mode, and went up to the second floor.

(For context the tower has 3 floors, 

The 1st floor is the kitchen and living space, the 2nd floor is the bedroom and bathroom and the 3rd floor is a balcony.) 

And Cass, nothing and I mean nothing could prepare me for what I saw when I entered the bedroom.

(This is the reason I ask you to keep this letter completely secret by the way) 

In front of me was Queen Cynikka and Fluixion peacefully sleeping on the floor next to each other. (Both very alive let me tell you)

Apparently, they found a way to survive the lava and manage to escape the battle, and now they were hiding in what they thought was a random tower. 

Now, I'm not surprised that Fluixion was a coward and fled the scene (I'm sure you aren't either) but what I'm surprised about is finding Cynikka there. 

It doesn't make sense that the same woman who worshipped and even killed for the volcano is now abandoning it but what makes even less sense is how she was almost...defensive... of Fluixion. 

During my interrogation, I asked her why she would leave her people and the volcano for a random bastard like Fluixion, and not only did she seem angry at my words but she answered (and I quote) “I'm protecting the only thing I have left” and refused to elaborate further. 

Do you know what that was about? Because I'm really confused.

Anyways moving to the present, 

Right now the both of them are completely defenseless and have no possibility of escaping. 

I honestly don't know what to do with them for the long run (that's why I'm writing you) 

I just know I want them alive.

You must think I'm insane for this and I know how much you want them dead but I have 2 main reasons.

Firstly, Fluixion's disbelieving face at being the one in weakness is pretty satisfactory.

Second, I think dying is the easy way out of this, they need a bigger punishment, something that makes them regret everything they have done.

And finally, I still have questions for both of them and if they are dead I won't know the answers.

Please help me here, you are the only person I can trust with this. 

If you aren't too busy with post-war paperwork I ask you to come to my location 

⊹ Here are the coordinates to my tower: 

‎ ‎‎ ‎ＸＸ ＊ＹＹ ＊ＺＺ

Please bring the least amount of guards possible, since we don't want this getting out of proportion. 

Sincerely, 

ᏕᕱᎵᏕ.

══════ ∘◦ ✉︎ ◦∘ ═══════

⪼ To: saparata ⪼ From: CallMeCass 

Greetings Saps,

Firstly, don't worry I am not showing this letter to anyone, this matter will not leave these letters. 

Now… what the fuck?.

Out of all of the things I thought could possibly happen while you were alone, finding Queen Cynikka and Fluixion alive was not on my list. 

I have to agree with you that it is not completely surprising that Fluixion escaped and I'm also really confused at Queen Cynikka's actions. 

I ask discreetly about her relationship with Fluixion, but no one seems to know much, just that Fluixion and his team managed to convince Infernus to hide them in exchange for making defenses for the castle.

There's obviously more to it but all the people who know the answer are either dead, waiting to be executed or rotting in different Yggdrasil dungeons. 

Also, you are right. I do think you are crazy for wanting them to be alive but at the same time, I understand and respect your reasoning. And I think we could reach an understanding.

I have a few ideas on what to do from here but I feel we'll need to speak in person before making a decision. (Fear not I will only bring two of my best guards and they won't know any of the details) 

I do regret to inform you that the trip between The Cass Coalition and your tower is two days so I hope your mental health can handle that. 

Best of luck,

Your friend ᏣᏗ𐒡𐒡 ❁

Chapter Text

Growing up, her father always taught her that being attached to people was a HUGE weakness and having friends was completely prohibited (which led her siblings and her to treat each other coldly or meanly when they were in front of her father and other government officials) 

So every friendly interaction she had with people wasn't genuine, she didn't actually like most people she talked to. 

There were a few exceptions, like her. 

Cynikka remembers the first time visiting Elysium, a nation built in what the rest of Yggdrasil considered a paradise. 

An oasis full of life.

They didn't have to survive extreme weather or intense dryness in their crops, they even had water that didn't boil you alive. 

It was considered the closest thing all of their island had to Pandora's privileges. 

Elysium and Infernus were two very different nations. 

Elysium called itself a neutral nation (but that's a debatable statement) and her kingdom was very much not.

During the island meetings, the Elysium council representatives and Cynikka would always disagree. 

But despite their differences between their nations, Benji and Cynikka actually became good friends.

Maybe it was the fact that Benji was naturally friendly or the fact that he had morals and stood for them, making Cynikka value him more as a human but they just clicked and she started enjoying his company.

Every decision she took as the queen of Infernus he understood it, maybe he didn't agree with it but he never questioned her or made her feel ashamed for it. 

When Linguini betrayed her and the rest of Yggdrasil turned their back on her, Benji went behind his council and supported the killing of the mafia. 

He was what normal people considered a best friend and she was grateful for it.

So when Cass came back with a bunch of guards and a prisoner carriage, announcing that they would be moved to a type of prison in Elysium, Cynikka couldn't help to feel a little bit of happiness that she would see her friend again. 

She had given up any hope of seeing Benji again. Just like she did with her

»»-----------¤-----------««

The trip to Elysium was awfully boring, since they were traveling in a carriage made for criminals there was no way to see the outside or even have any type of light enter their moving cell. 

The only way she had the idea of where they were was through the temperature changes and the mental map of Yggdrasil she had. 

During the entire journey, Flux was mumbling how outrageous and how pathetic the whole situation was. 

She didn't need to see his face to look past the anger in his tone; she could tell that his real feelings were the frustration of having to accept how he failed and the sadness that disappointment of the people who believed in him brought him. 

And Cynikka knew this was the case not only because she knows her brother more than she knows anyone in the world but because she was feeling the exact same way.

Failure was one of the many things that were prohibited growing up, failing and making mistakes made you weak and useless to the empire. 

“What's the point of even being alive if you aren't on the top?” Elanulo's words were engraved on her memory. 

The rest of the trip she spent reminiscing about the things she had learned over the years, seeing if she could find a way out of the situation with Fluixion by her side. 

But she didn't find anything. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

They arrived at Elysium during the night.

The guards put on a cape on top of their bodies to disguise their presence in case anyone who isn't allowed to see them appears and messes up the whole operation.

The place where they'll be staying until the island's leaders say otherwise is very…unique.

The outside was a normal Elysium residence and the inside decoration was nothing different from any other house but one of the guards activated some redstone, opening the entrance to a secret basement. 

Cynikka and Fluixion were dragged downstairs where they were thrown aggressively into the one singular cell by the guards. 

The cell was exactly how she imagined it would be. 

An empty room made of cold stone without any natural light.

Just a tiny little candlelight across the iron bars near the staircase. 

Saparata (who apparently never left their side) entered the cell and changed their chains/handcuffs moving their wrist to the front instead of their back like they had been since the tower. 

"How confident is this man that we won't use this to our advantage?" She questioned in her mind

Sapara gets out and signals the guard to lock the cell from the outside, trapping the siblings inside. 

“You two will stay here until all of us decide what to do with you,” The white haired man says with his arms crossed “The only way out is from the staircase we entered from, and upstairs is plagued with Cass Coalition and Elysium military guards who won't hesitate once they see you outside, so I recommend not trying to escape since you'll get killed” 

“Thanks for the advice,” Flux says with sarcasm and anger in his voice 

“No problem,” Saparata says in a monotone tone “I'm going to leave now, a guard will come twice a day, one to move you to the other room so you can fulfil any human necessities, and another to give you food so you don't die of starvation” 

“Wait so no one will stay down here supervising or something?” Cynikka is very confused at the lack of supervision downstairs.

“No one deserves the punishment of staying with you two in a place like this, so every guard is upstairs” Saparata answers her “And in your current position I doubt any plan you make to try to escape is even possible” 

Flux makes an angry sound looking away. 

“You might be smart but you need to be a fighter to survive that amount of guards, and neither of you is so…” He isn't incorrect but his tone still annoyed her a lot. 

“Please don't do anything stupid,” Saparata says with sincerity before leaving with the guards that were accompanying him, leaving the siblings completely alone. 

She sighs and looks at Flux, the figure in front of her is just the shell of her brother. 

The man who approached seeking refuge back in Infernus, the man who had fire of determination in his eyes is now gone. 

Maybe he finally accepted that he lost.  

And she wouldn't blame him, as Saparata said there is no way out of this one. 

And if she learned one thing about the leaders of this world is that they will not hesitate to order their execution for people like them. 

The former queen doesn't understand why Saparata wants to slow their inevitable fate. 

Does he want a public execution where everyone can see that they failed or does he pity them and want to give them a few more days alive?

She looks back at Flux realizing he had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position. 

Cynikka sighs and makes her way next to him and puts his head on her shoulder to give him more comfort. 

She brushes the hair falling into his face and Fluixion's face becomes more peaceful. 

The scene is so familiar it hurts but she doesn't have to experience it for much longer since she felt her eyes grow tired too and also passes out.

What would she think of me now? 

»»-----------¤-----------««

Flux wakes her up to tell her someone is coming downstairs. 

And when she opens her eyes she sees none other than the Archon of Elysium looking at her in surprise.

“Oh my goodness, she is truly alive!” Benji exclaimed, failing to disguise the clear happiness in his voice. 

But immediately clears his throat going back to what she called ““Benji's leader mode””

“Can you give us a tiny bit of privacy, please? I need to interrogate Queen Cynikka” Benji switches to his more serious voice when asking the guard. 

“But Archon Benji-” The guard tries to argue until they realise that Benji wasn't asking he was giving an order “Yes sir, I'll be waiting upstairs you know how to notify us when you want to leave” The guard finally complies leaving the three of them alone. 

“You are alive Cyn!!!” Benji says, now showing his real happiness. 

“Yeah, I am” She nods “You know what they say bad seeds never die” that made Benji giggle and Cynikka smile. 

“Girl I have so many questions” Benji sits down on the cold floor, not caring at all how uncomfortable it is.

“I'll try to answer the best I can then,” She says, still smiling.

"I can tell the whole truth but he deserves answers before I die, no?" She ask herself 

“First of all, how have you been? This has probably been one heck of a week for you two” Benji asks worriedly, making her smile soften. 

(She could tell Fluixion was confused with that being Benji's first question) 

“As well one could be when being in my position” A pause from her “I miss the commodities of my kingdom but not being dead is nice I suppose,” She tells her friend.

“Oh yeah, the downgrade of the fancy queen chambers to this must suck, huh? I wish I could give you a most comfortable place but you know how the council would react…” Benji sighs, they both know she doesn't mean only the castle when she says that. “How did you even survive the fall? I know so many people who saw you jump from so high into lava” 

“My good friend, that's a secret we will keep only between war criminals” She winks, making him laugh.

They talk casually a little bit more, like they used to talk back in the boring parties they were invited as leaders, she complained about Saparata attitude and him complained about the post-war work. 

“What about him? Is he okay?” Benji asks in concern, signaling her brother.

Fluxion during this whole conversation has been silently observing the two friends, not daring to say a word or acknowledge Benji in any form. 

Cynikka has to think a bit before answering, she doesn't want to say anything that would prejudice Flux. 

“He is probably doing the same as me, maybe a tiny bit angrier but at the end of the day we are still trapped here with nothing left so I think it is fair” She decides to say. 

Her voice came out a little more grim than she wished though.

“I see… Well, at least both of you are alive together!” He tries to cheer her up by lightly punching her shoulder through the iron bars.

Not for long probably. 

But she is thankful for the sentiment, Benji always knew that there was more history between her and Flux apart from just one guy from Pandora that appeared in her doorstep looking for help, and knew Cynikka cared a lot more about Fluixion than she showed.

“Well, I should probably go now, don't want anyone getting suspicious and thinking I'm betraying” Benji gets up from the floor, shaking the dust off his robes.

“That's a good idea” Cynikka agrees “Plus you still have paperwork to do, Archon” She teases him

“Ugh don't remind me,” Benji says, moving his hands to his face in despair making Cynikka giggle. 

“On a more serious note, Cyn” Benji looks at her friend

“Yeah?” She tilts her head curiously 

“Take care, don't give up now,” He says softly “I'll root for the two of you in the next Blue Cross meeting, I'll do my best to keep you guys alive, so keep pushing please” Benji confesses looking at Cynikka, then he focuses on Fluixion, and then back to Cynikka. 

“Thank Benji,” she says sadly. “I'll try my best” 

“Your best is always amazing Cyn” He smiles at her. 

A genuine smile that gives her a tiny bit of hope. 

“Okay, I should really get going” Benji breaks the atmosphere bringing back the unserious tone.

Benji presses a part of the wall that she can't see very well through the awful illumination, which makes a bell ring, and shortly after the entrance opens bringing two guards downstairs.

“Are you done, Sir?” One of them asks. 

“Yes, I collected crucial information I can use in the next Blue Cross meeting” Leader Benji's voice answers. 

“Great, I'll escort you to the Elysium HQ,” The guard says 

“Very well” Benji nods “Goodbye” He waves at them before disappearing into the upper floor.  

The other guard that is left stares at the siblings for a solid minute, completely in silence, with a mix of surprise and judgment. 

“Um hello? If you stare for much longer your eyes will grow tired and you'll fail at your job” Cynikka tries to bring back the guard's attention.

The guard flustered gains back composure and clears their throat before speaking.

“We will use this time to bring you your meal of the day, don't expect anything tasty, you are criminals and criminals don't deserve any good,” The guard says, trying to sound intimidating and failing miserably. 

“Whoa, that's the least intimidating voice I have ever heard coming from an Elysium militar” She mocks the guard “Kid you made a new achievement for Yggdrasil history just now” 

The guard left offended, going back upstairs to get their meals. 

»»-----------¤-----------«« 

The non-intimidating guard was right.

The meal was nothing good. 

Bread that was harder than a rock and a suspicious stew that tasted like dirt and sand.

They obviously had had worse meals back when they were on the run as teenagers, but still, the taste of dirt in the soup wasn't very pleasant. 

“I didn't think you were actually friends with Archon Benji” Fluixion finally breaks his silence. 

“What do you mean?” She takes away her vision from the stew to look at her brother. “You didn't trust my social skills?” 

“Is not that, is just-” Flux stops to recollect his thoughts “It didn't cross my mind that the friendship you told me was genuine, but seeing you talk to him I realized that there was an actual sentiment there” He finishes and looks at the ceiling. 

“Well it wasn't at first, I was faking every interaction but sometime midway I realized it wasn't just me pretending for the sake of my nation it was me enjoying his company as a friend and I started caring for him” She confesses 

“Don't you think that's dangerous? Remember what Father said-” Fluixion looks back at her and tries to talk but is immediately cut off by Cynikka 

“Father thought and said a lot of things and look where it got him,” She says with spite “If we were to follow every lesson he gave us we would've died 11 years ago back in the Aculon castle” And that made him shut up.

They sat in an uncomfortable silence after that, they didn't talk about their Father's ending.

Fluixion is the first one to speak again. 

“Do you think he will manage to convince the world not to kill us?” He changes the topic back to the present. 

“I'm not going to lie , I have no clue.” She tells him sadly “But I know that when Benji actually speaks his mind he will make sure he is heard so there is a bit of hope there” 

And Flux nods in response and goes back to thinking. 

“Hey, wanna play that game we played in the castle?” Cynikka suggests 

“What?” Fluixion looks at her confused 

“That one-word game brother taught us for when we were bored while he was in meetings, remember?” She questions 

“Yes, I remember but why? And aren't we too old for that?” The Architect says still in confusion 

“'Cause we don't have anything else to do and maybe we are too old for it but who's gonna judge us for it?” She shrugs 

“You know what? Sure. Let's play” He finally complies “But don't be mad when I kick your ass my dear sister” he smirks

“Oh brother dearest you will regret that smug attitude” She laughs. 

Would she be happy to see me smiling? 

Chapter Text

Saps left Cynikka and Fluixion in the cell that Elysium made for them, it felt inhumane to leave them there but at least they were alive like he wanted he supposes, so he ignored the voice in his head telling him how wrong it was to leave them there. 

He left the prison (if you can call it that) quickly, so he didn't have to think longer about it.

The Elysium people told him they prepared a place for him to rest, and even though he was leaning to decline it, he realized how tired he was after the 2 days of “babysitting” (as he called it) the two villains of the islands. 

The place wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but it was comfortable nonetheless. 

He took the opportunity of taking a warm bath before making his way to the bed, where he planned to sleep but even though he felt all of his energy drained his brain decided to spiral and keep him awake.  

Saps had a lot of thoughts after living in the same roof with Cynikka and Fluixion. 

The image of when he found them was engraved in Saparata's memory.

Cynikka before the war was the definition of royalty with her attire and hair always perfect and Fluixion was the body image of elegance, clothes always ironed and not a hair out of place but at that moment with their hair messy and both covered in ash, they looked like completely different people.

It is weird to think that at some point they were one of the most powerful people in both Islands, and now they were reduced to being shadows of their past selves. 

One of the things he was more confused about was the reactions one of them had when Saps interacted with the other one. 

For example, Cynikka would get really angry when he insulted Fluixion, and Fluixion would visibly panic every time he got too close to Cynikka. 

There were moments where their actions showed that there was some kind of deeper relationship than just being allies in war times, like the time he grabbed Fluixion's arm and he hissed in pain, Cynikka imitately jumped and started scolding him for touching such a delicate fresh wound (not like Saps knew it was there) or like when he was checking Cynikka's chains and Fluixion kicked him in the feet when she flinched at the sudden contact. 

“What’s going on between them?” Saps asked himself but couldn't figure it out.

»»-----------¤-----------««

It was only when the morning sun woke him that he realized he had fallen asleep in the middle of thinking.

He also realized he was very hungry.

After his morning routine, Saps decided to go to the Merchant Market to find something to eat. 

Elysium was known to have the best crops in Yggdrasil, so it was always a joy to eat there. 

Being a “war hero” (like Fluixion had called him) came with different perks and even though he despises the term he is thankful for the people's gratitude, and well the free watermelon slices were also nice. 

He walked through Elysium for a while trying to decipher what to do next, Cass had told him to go look for her at the Cass coalition after he was done with his business in Yggdrasil so they could organize the meeting. 

But he really didn't want to confront that issue, so he decided to visit Schpood first and then leave for Pandora, he is one of Saparata's closest friends after all, and leaving Yggdrasil without saying bye would really mean. 

He knows the Emperor is very busy with the post-war business, especially since Westhelem was one of the main nations involved in the conflict, so he wrote him a letter asking if he could stop by. 

Shortly after, the Emperor wrote back saying that he could come by whenever he wanted, but if he started traveling now, Saps would make it in time for a very special event they were having. 

So Saparata wasted no time and made his way to Westhelm.

»»-----------¤-----------««

When Schpood said there was going to be a “very special” event in Westhelm he should've known it was a coliseum trial, also known as a fight to the death between criminals to gain freedom and be absolved of all of their crimes. 

Saps wasn't a big fan of these “trials” but Schpood loved them, it was almost a sport in his eyes so he wasn't surprised he didn't miss the opportunity of holding one with a war criminal.

But to give the emperor some credit this wasn't any war criminal this was [redacted] , and since [redacted] was such a strong individual, Emperor Schpood decided that [redacted] would need to fight multiple people at once, so yes- this was a special event. 

“I thought [redacted] were either dead or rotting in a dungeon,” Saps said once he arrived at the viewing platform Schpood had in the coliseum. 

“And you'll be correct, my friend, hello to you too by the way” Schpood answered without taking his eyes out of the fight, Saps sat next to him. 

“Then why is [redacted] here? Shouldn't they have the same fate?” Saparata is confused. He didn't want [redacted] to die or suffer, [redacted] was always nice to him but it was a confusing situation. 

“I decided to show mercy since I'm such a benevolent emperor-” Schpood answers making Saps laugh “and [reacted] is one who still has honor within themselves” Schpood looks into his eyes with a serious tone but goes back to the fight in a second “Plus! it makes an incredible show!” Saps rolls his eyes at the enthusiasm of his friend. 

“So what happens when [redacted] wins? Both of us know the other fighters don't stand a chance” The white haired guy says, confident in the woman's abilities.

He remembers during his stay in the covenant how the high officials made both of them spar and how [redacted] wiped the dust of the floor with his body every single time. 

Saps was convinced they knew he couldn't win but still made him fight [redacted] to test his determination (and because the soldiers found it hilarious every time [redacted] won without breaking a sweat)

“[Redacted] 'll be free, of course. That's the whole point of these fights, Saps. At first, will be under intense supervision by my soldiers, but [redacted] 'll become a normal Westhelm citizen if [redacted] behaves” Schpood answers him while taking a sip of his wine and enjoying the fight.

“How did you even capture [redacted]? [redacted] is probably the strongest fighter in both Islands right now and I doubt normal Westhelm soldiers did it” Saps eats the popcorn sitting on the table between chairs while asking.

“After the battle [redacted] turned themself in, saying that it wasn't worth fighting if the reason they were fighting was dead” After Schpood said that, Saps immediately realized who he was talking about. 

“Now shhhh, with your boring question, it's getting good” Schpood brought a finger to his lips before he could say something else.

After [redacted] inevitably wins, Saparata and his friend go to the Emperor's palace to eat dinner. 

They ate while chatting about the changes in the nation and meaningless things. 

It was a good time, but he needed to go to the Cass coalition as soon as possible, so he stayed the night at the palace and left at dawn. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

The boat ride to the Cass coalition was awfully boring, but after 12 hours of the same blue ocean, he finally arrived. 

The Cass Coalition has always been a beautiful nation, which was known for the citizens’ happiness being contagious.

Saps made his way through the Capitol district to Cass’s office. Once he arrived, he was greeted by the secretary who made him wait a minute before making him enter the leader's office. 

“My favorite white boy is here!” Cass greeted him with a hug and a huge smile. 

“Hi Cass” Saps hugged her back “How have you been?” he separated from the hug and sat in one of the couches 

“Incredibly bored,” Cass says in fake distress “Now I get why Schpood fucking hates meetings” She shakes her head 

“I can imagine tedious it must be” Saps nods 

“What about you? How was your stay in Yggdrasil?” She says while sitting next to him on the couch

“I'm…. fine,” He said unsure making Cass frown in response. 

“Saps you know we don't have to call the meeting, right?” Cass tried suggesting 

“Cass, I appreciate you caring for me but I feel this is a big enough problem to get everyone in the Blue Cross Alliance involved, not something we can keep under the rug,” Saps says seriously 

“I mean we could always kill them and stop having this problem” Cass shrugged but Saps shot her a deadly glare.

“Okay Okay! I understand! We aren't killing them!” Cass told him “But we could” she tried to joke to lighten the tension but it caused the opposite effect. 

“Cass.” Saparata's tone became so much more serious than before and he looked at her in the eyes “As much as I hate Fluixion and disagree with Cynikka's life choices I don't want them dead” 

“Yeah but this is hurting you Saps, I can tell.” She puts a hand on his shoulder “The emotional baggage he brings you is too big, eventually, it's going to destroy you” 

“I think I'm already destroyed,” He says quietly unsure if the woman next to him heard it but not caring enough to confirm it “I'm not changing my mind Cass” This time loud enough for her to hear without a doubt. 

“Okay, then… we have a letter to write to the Blue Cross people, no?” She smiles and makes her way to her desk grabbing the stuff for the letter and they begin formulating the best letter they could to explain a situation like this. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

The meeting was arranged to happen three days later so Saps stayed in the Cass Coalition for the time being.

Cass soon realized the reason why Saps hadn't gone back to his former home and arranged a group of people to go clean it, while he stayed in her nation. 

Saparata tried to decline it but Cass kept insisting it was fine and before he knew it it was too late to refuse because she had already sent the people to work. 

Saps helped the citizens with their problems, as a way to occupy their time (like when helped the bakers transport their materials from one location to another or when he helped the fishermen clean their docks) and when Cass had free time they hung out and laughed at the stupid actions of some of the government officials of the Islands. 

It was a good way for his mind not to spiral.

The night before the meeting Cass told him to meet her at her place for a “serious talk” and even though Saps hated the idea, he knew that it was needed and he couldn't avoid it. 

Cass's house was very simple but very cozy so it wasn't the worst place to be in for an uncomfortable situation.

“Okay, Saps we need to talk,” Cass says once they sat in her living room.

“Do we?” Saps tried knowing it was fruitless.

“Yes, we do.” She crossed her arms “Tomorrow is the meeting and I want to know what you're gonna say during it” 

“What do you mean?” Saps asks not because he didn't understand Cass’s question but because he didn't understand her true motives with it.

“Saparata everyone wants the both of them dead and gone forever except for you, one of the people more affected by their actions and that's weird even for you. 

As your friend I want to know why you think that way but mainly as a leader who cares for her people I want to know before the meeting what your justifications are so I know if I'll stand with you or follow everyone else's wishes” She deadpans.

“I already told you-” He tries to lie but gets immediately interrupted 

“Saps both of us know that what you told me before is bullshit and that there's more to it than the reasons you told me in that letter,” Cass says annoyed

“I'm going to tell you but I need you to hear me out” He sighs 

“That's the whole point of this conversation silly” She gives him a small smile relieved he is willing to talk 

“I believe there's still a human being in their souls” Cass looks at him confused “When I found them in the tower all powerless and weak I could see something I hadn't seen before” He confesses 

“What?” Cass’s confusion didn't leave her face 

“They care for each other, in a way normal allies don't, not even in a way you and I care for each other ” Saps looks at her

“How do you know that?” Cass questions him

“If they were only allies Fluxion wouldn't give her the bigger part of the bread I gave them and Cynikka wouldn't tell me to be careful with his wounds,” Saps tells her

“They did that?” Cass was even more confused than before

“Yes! And there a more instances where I could tell there's more than what we thought about them” Saps exclaimed

“So what? What's your plan or how are you going to prove to the rest that this is a real thing?”

“I figured out a way to see if they are really too far gone but you'll have to wait to the meeting to know” He gives a determined look “I contacted the main soldiers who are guarding them in Elysium and they will report their attitude and actions, which from what they told me are the same ones I saw in the tower or even more clear, in front of the meeting attendees" 

“I see- you really thought of this, huh?… well I trust you then” Cass’s words shocked Saps and his reaction made her giggle “You heard me, dummy, you made a good point so I'll stand by you in the meeting” And without thinking Saps moved fast and hugged her making her laugh even more but returning the hug

“But I can't make any promises if everyone else decides as a final decision to go against you, okay?” Cass says softly separating from the hug

“Of course” he nods “Thanks Cass” he smiles softly 

“Okay we should go to sleep now, we are leaving early tomorrow” Cass yawns and pats him in the head. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

When they arrived at the Blue Cross base the representatives from Tricolor were already there, (probably because they were the ones closer to that base) Cass made her way to do small talk with them but Saps decided to use the time to review his bullet points. 

He didn't know how much time had passed but after what felt like an eternity, a Blue Cross staff member told everyone that they were starting. 

Saparata took a deep breath and made his way to the meeting table. 

Everyone sat in an awkward silence around the meeting table, until they started the meeting when a young woman with black and pink hair sat at the head of the table.

“Hello, leaders and representatives of each nation, and thanks for joining us in a last-minute emergency meeting. My name is Metzli, and I’m your neutral mediator from The Blue Cross.” The young woman, Metzli, started talking. 

“The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the future of ex-Quenn Cynikka and Fluixion who were thought to be deceased but a week ago Sir Saparata found them alive” After finishing her sentence, everyone broke the silence, some whispering things and some elevating their voices but everyone shared the same sentiment of disbelief. 

“I understand these news are really shocking but I need everyone to keep quiet and not speak unless you are given the word” Metzli didn't like the fact that the silence was broken and decided to speak louder this time, and surprisingly she managed to bring back the silence.

“Sir Saparata.” She looked at him directly “Please state your side of the story” 

“It all began a few days after the war was declared to end, I decided to move back into a tower I used to live in in the snow tundra in Yggdrasil. But when I arrived I could tell something was off and when I entered the tower I realized someone was there and I decided to investigate it.

I managed to find Cynikka and Fluixion alive and sleeping in the bedroom of the tower. 

I immobilised them without difficulty and wrote Cass a letter telling her the situation, she arrived shortly to the scene. 

In the end, we decided to send them to a prison in Elysium, where they are being held right now” Saps finished speaking and started analyzing everyone's faces, some were visibly angry and others were still processing the information. 

“Why didn't you just kill them?” A representative of Aperion asks

(Metzli looked at them very displeased for not following her rules)

“I can answer that,” Cass told them “May I?” She looks at the mediator 

“You may,” Metzli said 

“We, that's Sir Saparata, Archon Benji, his council, and me, decided that it was best to not act selfishly and instead decide between everyone under the blue cross alliance what to do” Cass answered 

“Didn't they kill a bunch of innocent people? Or did we forget that?” CrazyGojo from Al Qarasina asked her. 

“I mean do you really want to put yourself at the same level of a cold hearted murderer, Mr. Gojo?” She looked at him and he immediately embarrased looked away from her eyes. 

“We need to be back on topic, please” Metzli brought back the attention “Now everyone is aware of the situation, we need to figure out what we do from here?” 

“I say we do a public double execution and we clown their life choices while throwing tomatoes,” Schpood suggested. 

“I agree with killing them part but I feel Pandora deserves to execute Fluixion separately” Tempolt from Tricolor suggests instead.

“I say we kill two birds with one stone and kill them both on a common ground” a representative from Yggdrasil that Saps didn't recognize said. 

“What? No! Fluixion deserves to be killed by himself in Lumminara grounds” Legacy from Lumminara disagrees. 

And quickly a huge argument developed over where and how the criminals should be killed, every time someone spoke raising their voice to be heard the volume of the other voices grew larger. 

“Um… excuse me, everyone? I have something to say” Saps said but it was futile since everyone else was too focused on the argument to hear him or so he thought. 

Fortunately, Benji reached a breaking point after hearing them argue over each other for five minutes straight.  

“EVERYONE! SHUT THE HELL UP!” The normally quiet leader shouts making everyone who was arguing stop speaking “Sir Saparata wants to say something”

(You could tell Metzli was frustrated at the disrespect of the simple rules) 

“Since we can't reach an agreement I have a plan B but I need everyone to hear me out,” Saps says nervously now that all eyes are on him. 

“What do you propose Sir?” The mediator looked at him

“I say we let them live,” Saps says seriously 

“WHAT?!” Schpood shouted and regretted it milliseconds after seeing the angry glare Metzli gave him “I mean- why do you say that Sir Saps?”

“I believe they aren't too far gone and aren't the heartless monsters we all thought they were, back when I found them in the tower, I realized that there's still humanity in them and killing them would put us on their same level” he made a signal with his hand to stop everyone from interrupting him “These two people demonstrated that they care for someone apart from their own person” 

“That's literally not true,” A member of Starlyn said clicking their tongue

“It is. During the time I spent with them, I could tell they care for each other in a way that someone who only cares for their own interests wouldn't” He looks again to the people around him before continuing “And I have a way to prove it, can I?” Saps looked at Metzli asking for authorization and when she nodded he signaled for someone in the crowd around them to come near. 

Two Elysium military members stood next to Saparata.

“These are the two main soldiers who are guarding and interacting constantly with ex-Queen Cynikka and Fluixion in their prison in Elysium, who will give a report about their actions” He nods at them as a way to tell them to speak

“Well, as Sir Saparata said, it is clear there is some kind of huge attachment between the prisoners.” One of the guards starts speaking.

“There have been multiple instances during the interactions we have had with the prisoners where we could see this. These instances vary from small things that could be just a coincidence like insulting us when we talk down to one of them to more clear things like standing between us and one of them when they feel they are in danger” The first guard reports.

“You could also tell they care for the other's well-being when they argue over who should get the bigger portion of food or when they complain about us hurting the other person but not caring when it comes to themselves” 

The second guard adds. 

Everyone is in silence thanks to being in shock, no one ever thought of the possibility of being an attachment but…

“How do we know if this ““attachment”” is a real thing? and not another one of their schemes?” Tempolt asks frowning 

“With all respect Lord Tempolt, as someone who fought in the battle of Infernus, the people who were fighting against and the people imprisoned right now are not the same, we can tell very clearly that both of them have completely lost their will to keep going and their determination to fight. They don't have the energy to plan something this deep” The second guard answers.

“I fail to see how any of this is even relevant to deciding if they should live or die,” Schpood said bitterly.

Saps goes to answer but Benji answers for him

“We as emotional beings can't in good conscience kill someone who still has a human in their soul, how could we claim we are better than them if we completely ignore this fact?” The interruption surprised Saps, he didn't think Benji out of all people would get his exact line of process. 

The statement was convincing to most of the people there but some of them weren't convinced yet, seeing this Cass decided to take action and approached them from the other side of this point of view.  

“Plus what's the worst punishment a person who doesn't want to keep going can receive?” She points out. 

“Forcing them to keep going?” A tricolor official answered unsure. 

“Bingo” Cass smirks leaning back in her chair, now seeing more convince faces pop out. 

“Okay, so in the hypothetical case we do let them live, what do we do with them then?” One Al Qarasina member asked. 

“The plan is to put them on house arrest under my watch,” Saps says making everyone confused, Cass included. 

“Elaborate please Sir Saparata” Metzli who had given up on controlling the speaking privileges tells him. 

“Well- I'm the neutral party here, I don't belong in any nation, no? and I also live alone on a small island by myself so I believe if I have the help of some of you, we could keep them there and force them to live in isolation. ” Saps suggests “Also I think it's not a good idea to separate them after everything we know now, so both of them would be moved” 

“That's actually not a bad plan, a crazy one? Yes. But not a bad one” Benji says “And I completely agree is not a good idea to separate them” 

Tense conversations through whispers between nations began and after a minute Metzli grew tired and broke the atmosphere.

“Who is in favor of Saparata's idea? Please raise your hand” The mediator asks, and almost everyone raises their hand, except for Tempolt and Schpood 

“The majority has agreed to go with Sir Saparata's idea” Metzli announces and Saps smiles at the results “We need to organize the details for this plan to not risk the citizens’ safety” 

“If we are doing this- I think Lumminara's engineers and investors can make a security system to make sure they don't escape since Sir Saparata's eyes won't be enough” Legacy suggests. 

“Barbieland has a great therapist who can come and do daily check-ups to make sure they don't unlive themselves” GingerLuna, the prime minister of Barbieland offers.

“Elysium promises to escort safely and discreetly both prisoners to Sir Saparata's island” Benji adds 

“I promise to guard perfectly both of them and make sure they don't hurt anyone” Saps promises 

“But if someone sees them out of your island, they will be immediately killed, okay?” Schpood says, looking at Saps

“If no one has any more to add, the final plan of action would be first Lumminara will prepare a security system for the prisoners and once that's finished Elysium will escort them secretly to Sir Saparata's island. From there, Sir Saparata will manage and guard them until we say so, Barbieland will assist with a therapist who will make sure they don't take the easy way out. And if they escape, it becomes kill on sight” Metzli recaps “Is anyone in disagreement with this plan?” She looks around, and no one says a word. 

“Then that is all, thank you everyone for coming and hearing from each other, I remind you that for the severity of this topic, these can not reach the public and needs to stay between government officials.” Metzli says seriously “That being said, I hope every plan discussed today goes well and we don't have to do another emergency meeting” Everyone claps “You are free to go”

And just like that, the meeting was done. 

Chapter Text

“I have amazing news and news that Fluixion will hate!” Benji's voice was the first thing he heard when he woke up on day 7 of living in the underground cell (or at least he thought it was the seventh day, it's not like he had a sun to tell the time with) 

“Hello to you too Benji. How are you? I'm glad you are fine, I'm doing fantastic thanks for asking!” Says Cynikka sarcastically making the leader laugh 

“I guess your visit has to do with the result of the meeting with the Blue Cross Alliance about our future, right?” She changes her tone and sighs 

“Yes, it does!” Benji is weirdly cheerful, considering he is about to tell his best friend she is going to die. 

“When and where are we getting executed?” Fluixion says without any emotion, they had already accepted they weren't going to live so it was only a matter of the details.

“That's the thing, you guys aren't dying!” Benji says happily.

“WHAT?!” Both siblings said really loudly, probably louder than it's been in a while. 

“Yep! That's the good news! The consensus of the meeting was to let you guys live!” Benji sat down and the siblings sat in front of him.  

“Apparently Sir Saparata had a change of heart once he saw you being miserable back at the tower where he found you and used his white boy magic to convince most leaders and representatives that you two aren't heartless monsters” Benji explains.

“Why the fuck would he do that?” Flux muttered to himself confused. 

“If that's the good news, what is the news that Flux will hate? Because I think it has to do with what is going to happen to us now that we'll live and believe me nothing is worse for him than this” Cynikka asks intrigued and that peaks Flux's attention. 

And while Flux should be offended by her sister's comment, it wasn't wrong per se, this place was horrible for someone like him. 

“So about that…” Benji chuckles nervously “They declared that- you know- umm…” He puts a hand in his neck trying to explain. 

“Spit it out already it Archon, it can be that bad” Flux rolls his eyes at the guy.

“You two are going to be under house arrest-” Benji starts to answer

“Oh that's not bad at all” Cynikka replied in relief 

“-At Saparata's island, with him as your only guard…” Benji finishes his sentence 

“WHAT THE HELL?!” Fluixion immediately stood up in disbelief and started walking in circles while rambling in rage. 

“Yeah..that's the reaction I was expecting” Benji sighs

It took Cynikka 10 minutes to calm down Flux so Benji could continue speaking.

“So we are just going to live there, alone with him?” Flux asks frowning and Benji nods. 

“How is that going to work though? Is two against one” Cynikka made a good point, Saparata is a good fighter but he can't take Cynikka and Fluixion when they'll have the resources to put a fight or escape. 

“Lumminara was assigned to create a security system that will help with that” Benji explains to her “I'm not part of that so I couldn't tell you how said security system is going to work” 

“Wait-” Flux realized something “Are they actually keeping us together?” He managed to put his rage aside and ask Benji. 

“Yes, no one is separating you two in future plans” Benji says with a soft tone in his voice. 

And that made him feel a bit more at ease, if they were to be separated now they probably wouldn't ever see each other ever again and what would even be the point of being alive then? 

Afterwards, Benji explained a few more things about the arrangement (like the fact they'll get psychiatric check-ups constantly or that they are going to travel to Saparata's island with Benji and Elysium soldiers) and after a little chatter between her sister and Benji, the leader had to leave to attend to his responsibilities, leaving them alone once again. 

“If you ask me, that was not the outcome I was expecting at all from that meeting," Cynikka told him while sitting next to him.

“Tell me about it,” Flux says leaning into the cold wall still in disbelief. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

The time passed slowly while they were waiting for any update about their situation, but after 2 long weeks of playing childhood games with Cynikka to keep his mind distracted from his reality, thankfully one random day Benji and Saparata entered the basement.  

“It's time we transport you to Sir Saparata's island” Benji informs them in his serious tone he uses when he remembers he is a leader of an important nation. 

“I need to change your handcuffs’ position before leaving for security measures, please stay still and don't try anything” Saparata warned them before entering the cell.

Flux held his breath subconsciously when Saparata got close to them and tried to avoid the other man's gaze at all costs. 

Once their hands were in the back they were directed to the surface, the tension in the ambience was sharp, the guards around them were clearly not happy to see them leaving and whispers were all the noise that was there. 

He stayed close to Cynikka the whole time trying to ignore the words of disgust coming from the Elysium soldiers. 

When they stepped outside of the building, he could tell it was hours before dawn, Flux supposes that they don't want anyone to see the biggest war criminals being escorted from their nation. 

The Elysium soldiers dragged the prisoners into’ carriage (probably the same one they arrived on) the whole time no one directed a word at the siblings, the only words spoken were instructions to the soldiers or gossip between guards. 

In all honesty, Fluixion dissociated his mind completely during the ride to the docks so he wouldn't know what happened there but once his brain decided to work once again he realized they were in a room, sitting on something he could barely consider a bed, the rest of the room was completely empty, he could also tell they were inside a boat thanks to the movement of the floor and the sound of waves coming from outside. 

The trip to Pandora was equally as boring as every boat ride he has been on, Cynikka managed to fall asleep during it but Flux wasn't as lucky, his mind kept racing with thoughts involving the future ahead of them. 

He sat next to his sister's sleeping body considering everything about his current position, there were too many possibilities and way too few certainties, he had no idea what Saparata could do once they arrived on his island.

Is he going to lock them up and not let them see the light of day? Is he going to make them work themselves to death? Is he going to ask questions about the past? Is he going to torture them? Or is he just letting them be and ignore their presence?

Hours passed by where nothing happened at all, just him sitting on an uncomfortable surface with nothing else but his thoughts and a former Queen sleeping by his side, but in the end, they managed to arrive at Saparata's island. 

Saparata entered the room informing them that a Lumminara's workers team would come and install an artifact that was going to be part of the security system, and true to his word shortly after 2 women and one man entered the room. 

The women were wearing the official Luminarian Engineers uniform (The same one Thomas used to wear) and the man was wearing the official Luminarian medic one, he also seemed younger and more scared than the women accompanying him. 

The older one of the women approached him carefully (pretending not to be scared of them) with the two others following behind her.

“We are going to use this device to implant a chip that will display your location at all times to Sir Saparata” The older woman informed them. 

“This system would also notify every nation under the Blue Cross alliance if you were to leave the perimeter allowed aka Sir Saparata's island” The other girl added. 

“Who should we install first, Sir?” The same girl asked, looking at Saparata, who was standing near the door watching them. 

“Let's do Ex-Queen Cynikka first, I feel she'll be easier for you, she is more composed than him” Saparata answers her, sensing the nerves coming from the Luminarians. 

The medic made his way to Cynikka and started disinfecting a part of her neck. 

“Is this going to hurt her?” Fluixion asked the team, showing more concern in his voice than he would've liked to show but he genuinely was uncomfortable with these strangers touching and hurting his sister. 

The medic got taken aback at the question, clearly not expecting it “It shouldn't hurt, is going to be uncomfortable for a second and maybe it would sting a little but nothing unbearable” he answered before getting to work.

To the guy's credit, he seemed very skilled when inserting the chip into Cynikka's neck, making the process very quick. 

“How do you feel, Miss?” The medic asked her once he was done. 

“Like I was stabbed with a syringe in my neck and implanted a foreign device in it” Cynikka answered him. “But it doesn't hurts” 

Flux was relieved that the process didn't actually hurt her. 

“Now I need to do the same process with you Mister Fluixion” The medic addressed him nervously.

“Just get on it quickly kid” Flux instructed him. 

The application went exactly as Cynikka's, Flux could see from his peripheral view how tense the Luminarian Engineers were when the medic got near him. 

“Done?” Saparata asked once the syringe left Fluixion's neck and the medic nodded “Okay, thank you for your service let me walk you to your boat” 

And with that, they left the room. 

The next person to enter the room with Saparata was Benji, informing them that it was finally time to leave the boat and set foot in Saparata's land. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

Cynikka and Fluixion said their goodbyes to Benji and made their way out of the docks, now they were waiting for Saparata to finish speaking with the soldiers and Benji in private so they could go up the hill into their new base with him. 

As the Aculon descendants that they were, they were analyzing their surroundings, taking in as many details as they could just in case they would need them in the future.  

The island was as different as the rest of Pandora, with lots of greenery and pleasant weather.

As far as the terrain went, it was a big hill surrounded by a beach, there was a staircase that led to the top where you could find the Acropolis. 

Saparata's Acropolis was almost the same as he left it years ago, just with a few more additions.

“You designed this, right?” Cynikka asked him while pointing at the building.

“Yeah, I did” He nodded “At least the original design” 

“Damn, I'm glad all my hours of harassing Duke Turkey so he could add architecture to your studies were worth it” She gave him a slight push in the arm making him smile a little. 

They kept absorbing information about the place in silence, when they heard footsteps approaching them.

“Okay you everything is ready, let's go up and I'll talk you through my plans for the future and give you a tour of the place” Saparata signaled them to follow him up and that's what they did. 

(The staircase was pretty and all but it was such a burden to go up) 

Once they reached the top, they entered the building carefully and unsure, they were walking right into the house of their enemy so they couldn't really be calm about the situation. 

“Please sit over here, first we talk and then I'll show you around.” The white haired man told them, they followed his instructions and sat next to each other but making sure to maintain their distance from Saparata. 

“Well, as you know you are going to live here with me from now on.” The house owner started speaking “And the only way this is going to work is by you two following simple rules I thought of;

The first one is really obvious: Not leaving the island by any means. You'll be free to roam around this island but the moment you leave it you'll be killed on sight. 

Second: You won't be able to use any sharp objects for the time being. Maybe in the future, if you prove yourself to be trustworthy enough not to hurt anyone with it we can discuss it, but for now, you can't. 

Third: You'll need to help with house chores and take care of the place. You two are obviously spoiled rich kids who never did any chores growing up but I refuse to do everything by myself. 

Fourth: Communication with the outside world is prohibited unless I authorize it. This one is mainly for Cynikka, cause I know she'll probably want to keep in contact with Archon Benji or some of the Infernus survivors, but I'll need to make sure you don't plot anything. 

And finally, when the therapist that Mattel comes to do their sessions you'll need to be trustful of them by all means. If you decide to lie and they realize it they'll inform the alliance and I might not be able to help you with the consequences there.

Any questions?” Saparata finished speaking and stared at them.

“How much free will do we have?” Flux asks him emotionless still avoiding eye contact. 

“I'll free you from the handcuffs in a second and as long as you follow the rules you are free to do whatever” Saparata answers him 

“Do we need to refer to you by title, Sir?” Cynikka asks next 

“You can just call me Saparata and please don't need to use that formal tone with me, it's going to make me age much faster” Saparata chuckles “Anything else?” 

The siblings shook their heads “Awesome! Let me free your wrist and I'll show you your room” Saparata said, way too happy for someone with two war criminals in front. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

The room was nothing special, two beds in parallel positions (one with purple bedclothes and the other with red ones) and two dresses, also in parallel with each other.  

Nothing like the Aculon or Infernus castles but after sleeping for weeks on the cold floor, Flux wasn't complaining. 

“There are clothes in the dressers for you, I don't think you'll love them but I don't think you'll hate them either” Saparata informed them.

“How do you know they'll fit?” Cynikka asked raising a brow at him

“There are records of your measurements made by the tailors you used to attend to, I just used that and went shopping at the Cass Coalition” Saparata shrugs 

“You went shopping? You hate shopping for clothes-” Flux questions 

“I wasn't going to let you go around with ashy and bloody clothes, Fluixion” He interrupts him with a venomous tone when pronouncing his name (Flux pretends it doesn't hurt him) “Anyways, my room is just in front of this one so if you need something there it is” 

“Is there anything else important we should know there is?” Cynikka asks intrigued 

“Oh! Yeah, there is!” Saparata claps his hands “In the original blueprints for this island there was a spot made for a bathhouse, but it never got complicated for the reason you already know-” He says the last part with a toxic voice tone 

Guilt came through Fluixion’s body 

“But the lovely workers from the Cass Coalition made it a reality! Come, I'll show you it” Saparata went back to his normal tone and left the room and the siblings followed 

Looking at the bathhouse he could immediately tell that it was the design he once made for Saparata. 

Fluixion didn't know how he should feel about the fact that all these additions to the island followed his original sketches. 

From the additions to the finished house to the paths connecting each part of the island, everything was just how he planned it many years ago.

Memories he did not want appeared in his mind.

“Flux you should really go to sleep now, these blueprints will still be here by tomorrow morning,” Saps said softly interrupting his thinking process 

“But I'm inspired, Saps! If I go to sleep now I'm going to lose my inspiration!” Sleepy Flux protested 

“Really? You are inspired?” Saps questions him and he nods furiously “Cause to me it looks like you've been staring at that poor piece of paper for half an hour without doing anything” He smirks 

“I-” Flux gets embarrassed at the fact that Saps was looking at him “Shut up,” He says while blushing 

“Come on, let's go to bed” Saps smiles, grabbing his hand and dragging Flux to sleep. 

It was really overwhelming how everything here reminded him of his biggest mistake and the happiest moments of his life the past.

After the bathhouse, Saparata showed them a few more things. 

Like a greenhouse (which made Cynikka curious since she didn't understand why an island with perfect weather would need one of those) or the barn where the farm animals were being kept. 

“That would be everything, go clean yourselves up and come to the kitchen since it's almost dinner time and we need to cook” Saparata dismissed them and left for the kitchen.

“How ugly do you think the clothes are going to be?” Cynikka asked him whispering 

“Nothing worse than that time Duke Turkey decided he would choose your outfit for the day, worry not” Flux sighed, making his sister laugh. 

»»-----------¤-----------«« 

“Cyn I swear to any mighty being watching us right now that if you add eggplant to that salad-” Flux looked horrified at the salad Cynikka was making 

“You need to stop being such a picky eater, Flux! Plus it's purple, you love the color purple!” Cynikka defended herself

“I'm not a picky eater, I just have fine taste buds! Not my fault you like that cardboard-tasting excuse of a vegetable” Flux argued back 

“Can you guys stop arguing about the food? It's not that serious” Saparata complained “Cynikka please put the eggplant in a separate bowl and add it to your portion of the salad later” 

“Finner taste buds he says” Cynikka murmurs mocking Flux 

“I swear you two argue like siblings” Saparata rubs his nose bridge with his fingers 

Cynikka and Fluixion freeze immediately and go completely silent. 

Shit. 

He hears Cynikka tapping quietly on the surface where they were cooking. 

.. ... / .... . / --- -. / - --- / ..- ... ..--.. (Is he on to us?) She asks him 

Before he could respond, Saparata looked at them confused. “Uh, you guys okay?” 

“Yes, is just that I thought Cynikka here was sneaking around and adding the eggplants into the salad while I was turned around” Flux lied quickly 

“He is paranoid, don't mind him” Cynikka followed. 

--. --- --- -.. / ... .- ...- . --..-- / -... ..- - / . --. --. .--. .-.. .- -. - ... / .- .-. . / ... - .. .-.. .-.. / ... ..- .--. . .-. .. --- .-. .-.-.- (good save, but eggplants are still superior.) She tells him and in response, he rolls his eyes 

They ended up eating dinner shortly after with an uncomfortable silence that all three of them hated but none of them knew how to break. 

After dinner Saparata instructed Fluixion to wash and dry the dishes, and even though he complained Flux still did it since he didn't have anything else to do. 

He really hated washing the dishes for the main reason that the feeling of the water on his mechanical arm was really uncomfortable but he would rather do that than go back to the endless memories that this place brought him. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

After finishing his task Saparata informed them that he was heading to bed and they should go too and left them alone. 

“I'll go take a bath, are you going to be okay if I leave you alone for 15 minutes?” Cynikka asks him concerned 

“Yeah, I'll be fine Cyn” He answers sincerely “Not a child anymore silly” he offers a small smile 

“Never said you were” She ruffles his hair and leaves too.

With nothing to do next, Flux decides to head outside to watch the night sky and breathe fresh air since the building was sophisticating him. 

The sky view from Pandora always amazed him, he remembers the endless nights of work in his office back in Lumminara where his only company was the constellations. 

He used to get lost watching them shine so brightly no matter how difficult the times were. 

Fluixion was never an astronomy guy and actually used to hate the astronomy classes their father made them take, it was mainly because the professors explained everything in such a boring way that made the Aculon prince lose interest. 

The only reason he didn't fail those classes was that his older brother explained the materials to him through mythology and folklore. 

Maybe the reason he liked to see the stars was because it reminded him of the kindness his older brother gave him. 

At this particular thought he felt his vision become blurry and before he realized it, Fluixion was crying. 

He didn't know why but an overwhelming feeling of sadness took over him. 

Negative memories of the last years and all the horrible decisions that he has been making trapped him and made his crying worse. 

He doesn't know how long he was left sobbing on the staircase of the Acropolis but he knew it wasn't a short amount of time. 

Suddenly he feels warm arms pulling him into a hug.

“Shhh it's okay, I got you” He hears the soft voice of Cynikka telling but Flux couldn't stop, so she changed strategies “Let's try regulating your breathing, okay?”

He nods softly and separates from her embrace and Cynikka holds his hands tightly instead. 

“Inhale through your nose for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, and exhale through your mouth for eight seconds. Can you do that, Flux?” 

He nods softly again and follows the instructions she gave him.

“Very well, let's do it once more” She praises him and repeats the same instructions 

“Wanna talk about it?” She asks him once she could tell he felt calmer and he nods once again

“Do you think I deserved to survive, Cyn?” His voice barely comes through and avoids eye contact. 

“What-” Cynikka panics 

“Is just that- Out of all of the people around me I was the least deserving to live, no?” He doesn't wait for her answer “I'm just a pathetic coward who only-” 

“Shut up” Cynikka holds him close once again making him stop speaking “Please don't say that about yourself” She pleads

“Sorry” He apologizes and feeling guilty for making her cry 

“You are the best thing that has happened to me and I'm really glad we are alive together,” She says between sobs

“I'm glad you haven't left me, Cyn” Flux tightens the hug 

“As long as you don't leave me first, I'm not going anywhere” She separates from the hug looking him directly in the eyes “I promise you” 

Flux hugs her once again. “Sorry for making you cry”

They stay there in each other's arms for an unknown amount of time. 

“Let's go to bed now” She says after she gets too tired to keep crying and stands up and offers him a hand so he can do the same “Please”

“‘Kay” He was too tired to formulate a better answer and took her hand and stood up too.

They fall asleep immediately after lying down in their respective beds.

Chapter Text

Cynikka finds herself waking up in her new room after one of the worst sleeps she has ever had in her almost 30 years alive, even when she was on the run as a teenager she had better sleep than the one she just had.

The worst part is that she could see through the window shades of the room that it was still dark outside but her body refused to fall asleep once again. After a while of shifting positions in the bed to try to go back to sleep and failing miserably she decides to give up and get up to wait for the sun to rise, since it's been weeks since she has seen dawn. 

She sat down at the same staircase she had found Fluxion crying last night and waited for the sun to come out. 

Thankfully she didn't have to wait long, she guesses that after years of making a habit of it, her body must've been accustomed to doing it by default. 

Dawn from her new residence looked beautiful, she could see the reflection of the sun on the seawater, and the whole sky became tainted with a mixture of light orange and pure blue. 

But as beautiful as it was, Cynikka couldn't help but feel that the scene was... disappointing. 

Watching the sunrise with her family in her home was an ethereal experience, but this just felt empty and lonely. 

Feeling a bad spiral coming out from that train of thoughts, Cynikka decides that she needs to keep her day going and goes back to the bedroom to grab a pair of clean clothes and heads off to the bathroom to take a shower. 

Looking at her new outfit she concluded that Flux was right, the clothing that Saparata had gotten for her weren't the worst clothing items that she had worn, they weren't ugly or uncomfortable, it was just very different from her usual attire but she had no other choice other than to get used to it since this casual fashion was her new reality. 

Looking at the reflection in the bathroom mirror she could tell that the royal woman she once was was long gone, the person looking at her was not a queen nor a princess, she was just a woman in an oversized red sweater with jean shorts and a body full of scars and regrets. 

Another thing telling her apart from the royalty versions of herself was her hair. 

She had to put her hair in a low ponytail since it was the only hairstyle she knew how to do on herself. 

Throughout all her life, someone else always did her hair. 

As Princess of the Aculon Empire maids would keep her hair loose, perfectly intact, and just over her shoulder, and wouldn't allow her to change it in any way. 

(The faint memory of a mother brushing her daughter's black and curly hair is present in her mind every time she looks at her hair) 

As Queen of Infernus, she had more freedom over her appearance so she always had her maids put her hair into a pristine side buns hairstyle that was made strategically to look perfect with her crown. 

Occasionally the people she trusted the most would braid her hair as a way to show affection. 

Right now she has none of those people to help do her hair and she wasn't going to wake up Flux (especially after last night) just to do her hair, so a low ponytail would have to be done for now. 

Cynikka left the bathroom and made her way to the kitchen.

Not being in the mood to cook anything, she decides to eat some fruit for breakfast, which wasn't an uncommon decision for her. 

Benji once told her that “Fruit was the best breakfast for workaholics like you. It is quick, fresh and it has a bunch of nutrients so start doing that from now on silly” when they were in a private private setting, after she almost passed out in a meeting for not eating breakfast, so scared of being scolded again by her best friend, most of her breakfasts as Queen became fruits that Benji from the farms in Elysium that he kindly donated every time they saw each other in her kingdom. 

Back in the present day, Cynikka sat at the dinner table to eat her fruit and looked through the window until she heard steps coming closer and peered her head out to find out who was approaching her. 

“Oh, you are awake Cynikka” Saparata revealed himself as the owner of the steps

“I am” She takes her vision back to the landscape since she now knows where the mysterious steps came from. 

“I was not expecting that,” He says “Have you eaten anything yet?” 

“Yes, I ate some fruit” Cynikka answers him disinterestedly, not looking away from the window. 

“Do you want anything else?” Saparata asks and she shakes her head “Okay, then I'll go make myself breakfast” he says before leaving. 

After a moment has passed Saparata comes back and sits with her at the table. 

The man attempts to do small talk with her asking her things like how she slept last night or how she felt about her new clothes, only earning short and cold answers from Cynikka, taking the hint from her disinterest, Saparata decides to ask a deeper question.

“Did something interesting happen after I went to sleep last night?” 

That piqued her attention and made her look directly at him frowning, she had no clue if he knew what happened last night or was just trying to grab her attention simply but either way, she just answered with a firm “No.” 

She only receives a hum of acknowledgement and decides to change the topic before the man asks something again.

“Do you have something I could read while I wait for Flux to wake up?” Saparata looks at her taken aback by her sudden initiative “Preferably something long, I don't want to get bored since it's going to be a while… the guy is not a morning person at all” 

“I know he isn't,” He says quickly and immediately regrets saying it. 

Weird. Why would he regret saying that? 

“I mean- I can show you my book collection and you can choose what to read, if you follow me I can show you it” Saparata doesn't wait for an answer and gets up to lead her to a huge bookshelf in one of the rooms. 

Cynikka ignores the uncomfortable silence and ends up grabbing one called “Pandora's Flowers and Its Language” and she sits down near the kitchen to read. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

She didn't know how long it took for Flux to come out of the bedroom but when he finally did her heart broke when she looked at him.

The owner of the amethyst eyes looked like he was about to break any minute with huge eye bags under his tired eyes. 

Looking at him the words that left his mouth last night kept repeating, the way his voice sounded so sure when speaking how he shouldn't be alive resonated in her memory making her want to hug him and never let go of him.

Seeing the state of her brother she decided to get up and make him breakfast,

“Go sit at the table Flux, I'll grab you breakfast,” She said ignoring the annoyed response he gave her and the questioning gaze of Saparata.

She took the least amount of time to go back to her brother as fast as possible. 

“Here you go,” Cynikka said, putting the mug with coffee and a plate with scrambled eggs and toast. 

“You don't need to baby me, Cyn” Fluixon told her frowning 

“I know, but you looked like you needed it,” She told him, smiling softly, ruffling his hair.  

“Thanks” Flux muttered only loud enough for her to hear and took a sip of his coffee. 

She sat down at the table next to him to keep reading while he ate in silence.

Cynikka should've focused on her book but the tension in the air was so big and noticeable that the information about flowers wasn't enough to ignore it. 

The reason for the ambience was very clear. 

Saparata and Fluixon. 

Saparata sat not far away from them, staring directly at Fluixon, dismissing her presence while monitoring the shell of a man next to her every move. 

Fluxion pretended not to notice the staring and acted like he was focused only on his breakfast and nothing else but his body language told her the contrary, he obviously was hyper aware of the other man's eyes on him and didn't like it at all making his body tense and his breath uneven. 

The thing was that Cynikka could tell something major had happened between them from the moment Fluixon first mentioned Saparata in one of his letters, it was clear to her that there was more to their story than two people who once were best friends and now are enemies. 

It became even more obvious when Saparata found them in the tower in the snow and looked deeply into Fluixon's eyes trying to say thousands of words filled with deep feelings with only one exchange of glances. 

Cynikka didn't know what happened between them and probably would never find out since Fluxion would never admit to anything involving relationships and feelings, he was always bad at saying his thoughts involving both of those things out loud, but the thing she did know was that the thing that broke them apart wasn't just a friendship betrayal, it went much deeper than that. 

Saparata decided to snap out of his loud thoughts and break the silence, going back to his character of someone pretending that having his mortal enemy under the same roof was a normal thing. 

“Since Fluixon is now awake I'll tell you what the itinerary for today is!” He informed them. 

“Awesome, obligatory labor,” Cynikka answered sarcastically. 

“Since Cynikka was reading a book about plants just now, I thought it would be a good idea to do some gardening!” Saparata ignored her comment and said to them “Let's go to the greenhouse and crop area, so I can tell you what to do” 

»»-----------¤-----------««

The greenhouse was her favorite part of the island (even if she didn't understand why it was needed) so it wasn't the worst place to be working at. 

Saparata passed them a pair of gardening gloves before giving them instructions 

“So what I need you to do is to grab every vegetable in here that looks ready to be eaten and put them in baskets and then on the cart over there” Saparata points them at the cart “The way that you are gonna know if-” 

“You do know that that shrub over there that is labeled “tomatoes” isn't a tomatoes, right?” Cynikka interrupts him, pointing at a plant.

“What are you talking about?” Saparata asks, tilting his head confused. 

“That's a Solanum carolinense or commonly known as horsenettle and it's poisonous, Saparata” She informs him 

“What- They look like tomatoes to me… How can you tell?” Saparata is even more confused 

“Look” She grabs his wrist and moves to the plant in question “Look at the spiny stems and leaves, plus the star-shaped white to purple flowers with yellow centers aren't the normal tomato flowers” She points out like it's the most obvious thing ever 

“I- I guess you are right…” He says embarrassed, at that Flux gives him a loud scoff in disbelief “Don't act like you knew too Fluixon” 

“Jokes on you, I didn't know they weren't. The flowers are obviously not tomato flowers look at them closely” Flux responds offended 

“Well since you both are so well versed in plant knowledge I guess you won't need my help” Saparata crossed his arms

“What if I didn't want it in the first place?” Fluixon mocks him, earning an irritated noise from the other man. 

“I'll go see the animals then” Saparata leaves them annoyed. 

“Only if he knew that we were obligated to take herbology classes since we were like 5 years old” Cynikka sighs once she could tell Saparata wouldn't hear her, making Flux laugh. 

She starts to work but knowing that the man beside her was going to start to overthink after interacting with Saparata if they just worked in silence, she decided to fill the silence with the classic banter between siblings, her jokes and sassy comments were awfully successful at distracting her brother's mind. 

Between chatter they made good progress and as the ambience became lighter Flux called softly for her attention “Hey Cyn..”

“Hmm?” Cynikka makes a noise of acknowledgement but doesn't look at him and continues working 

“How are you holding up? I realized that you are always the one checking on me” He says and that makes her look at his tired eyes

“You don't need to worry about that, brother” She smiles in reassurance “But if you really want to know, I'm doing as well as someone with a life full of regrets breathing an inexplicable tension between my new caretaker and my brother can be doing” 

“Ah- sorry about that” Flux laughs nervously pretending not to be self-conscious about it. 

“Don't worry, I'm joking dummy! Is not that bad” Cynikka giggles at his reaction and continues working 

»»-----------¤-----------««

After grabbing all of the fruit and vegetables needed from the greenhouse and outside crop area, Saparata sent them to wash them at a nearby river. 

The sensation of the water on her hands made her so visibly surprised that it made Fluixon laugh at her.

“Hey! Don't make fun of me, young man! You try to live on an island for over a decade where all the large bodies of water are boiling hot, mister!” Cynikka stops washing her zucchini to throw a splash of water at him.  

“Hey!” He complains between laughter making her laugh too

Soon their laughs die down and they went back to work in a comfortable silence but Cynikka becomes deep in thought remembering a conversation she had long ago.

“Did you know they say that Pandora has rivers with waters so fresh and clean that they are capable of washing your fears and worries away?” [redacted] tells her when they are watching the sunset 

“Yeah?” Cynikka looks at her endearingly, always loving when the fierce warrior tells her random facts. 

“Yeah,” They nod slightly “My biggest secret is that I have the stupid dream of visiting one day and just washing my troubles away” [redacted] confesses, exaggerating her statement slightly but still being sincere about it. 

In Cynikka's eyes, it was incredibly adorable how the other was embarrassed to say that out loud. 

“It's actually kinda cute” Cynikka admits quietly, feeling her cheeks grow hot “I promise you that one day both of us will travel to Pandora just to go in on one of those magic rivers” She looks at the person beside her seriously. 

[redacted] just giggles at the determination of their Queen when promising to achieve their dumb whim “I'm being serious [redacted]!” Cynikka pouts, making the other giggle even more “I promise by the volcano that I'll make your dreams come true!” 

“Woahhh! By the volcano?” [redacted] stops giggling and asks exaggerating her shock, Cynikka nods aggressively “Careful my Queen, they might start thinking you are the one devoted to me and not the other way around” 

“I am devoted to you” is what Cynikka doesn't tell her, instead opting to lean her head against her shoulder. 

“Cyn, you good?” The worried voice of her brother breaks free from the sad memory “You've been washing that eggplant for way too long” 

“Yeah, I'm fine” Cynikka lies and continues with her task 

»»-----------¤-----------««

Days passed more slowly than the siblings would like, even if they got hobbies to keep them busy at times Saparata doesn't use them for free labor the length of the days was unfairly long when they didn't have outsiders contact. 

The tensions between Saparata and Fluixon were still very present and disturbing Cynikka every day but thanks to the mighty beings above them there were still moments where the siblings could forget about the tension in the air.

Like the time where Flux, the man who almost got away with mass murder, couldn't get near a pig because he was afraid it would cover him in mud and fell in the mud when trying to escape the ""beast""… 

Today, Cynikka found herself looking at the sunrise like every morning but this time the feeling of nostalgia was too much and made her start sobbing quietly.

“Cyn” The soft voice of Fluixon made her freeze completely.  

“What are you doing awake? It's too early for you” Cynikka looks at him pretending like nothing happened and that there weren't tears running down her cheeks. 

“I heard you crying from upstairs” He responded, making her feel guilty, and she cleaned her cheeks with the sleeve of her sweater.

“Oh, well I'm not crying now you should go back to bed!” She tried to convince him but he brushed off her attempt and decided to sit next to her instead. 

“Is it an Infernus ritual to wake up before dawn and watch the sun rise every morning? You do that every day” He asks curiously, changing the topic. 

“Not really, it's just a thing I do to feel like I'm close to my home” Cynikka avoids his eyes.

Flux only hums in response.

“Back in Infernus, Ezran, my stepson, and I would watch the sunrise every morning from the balcony on the top floor,” She tells him with a sad smile.

“Really?” He asks surprised.

Flux knew that Cynikka had an arranged marriage and that Infernus once had an heir but didn't know much about them since she never talked about it. 

“Sometimes Harvest, my husband, would join us” She could feel the tears coming down again and her voice quivered “It was the moment of peace we would have before going back to our royal duties” 

Flux not knowing what to do pulls her into a hug making her cry harder.

“Every time I see the sun go up I think of them, It's the least I can do when it's my fault they die” She confesses between sobs

“I understand the feeling” Flux confesses hugging her tightly 

They found King Harvest's head in the front gate of the Ashen Bastion, days after the covenant killed Linguini. 

It was a horrible sight and one she would never forget and the cries of her son will haunt her till death. 

She started an intense investigation to find the assassin of her husband and sent a diplomat and two members of the covenant, to push the mafia into handing over the rest of the body, and being scared of the covenant they complied. 

But for Crown Prince Ezran that wasn't enough, and he decided to go against the Queen's orders and go on a stealth mission alone to find the man responsible for his father's death. 

When the maids informed her that the prince was missing, she immediately sent a group of soldiers to scout for him in all of Yggdrasil and just hoped that they weren't too late. 

Days filled with anxiety and panic attacks passed, Cynikka wasn't sleeping or eating, her soul deteriorating slowly thanks to the worries about her son's life. 

One day one of her soldiers informed her that they had found Prince Erzan's body mutilated on mafia's grounds.

She got a full group of covenant soldiers to accompany her to demand answers from the mafia but the only answer she got was that “He deserved it for killing his dad's killer” 

The mafia got completely wiped out that night.

The prince got a typical Infernus ceremony as his funeral but with the particularity of being at dawn instead of midday. 

As she watched her son's body descend into the lava of the volcano and the sunrise, she couldn't help to feel it was all her fault. 

That day she was having a meltdown in her bedroom when [redacted] found her and rushed to her side “If I had made better choices- If I hadn't allied with Linguini in the first place, they would still be alive,” She told [redacted] while crying in her arms 

“Flux when I say that you are the only family I have left I mean it” Cynikka looked deeply into his eyes “If you die I die with you. Please don't die” 

“I won't. I promise” Amethyst eyes meet grey ones as a way to communicate feelings

Logically Cynikka shouldn't believe his words so lightly but she decides to be selfish for once and pretend he is telling the truth.

Chapter Text

When the remaining Infernus soldiers surrendered Saparata thought everything had ended but that wasn't true, they were yet to find Fluixon's dead body. 

Even if they found Cynikka's and SitzKrieg's ones, his was nowhere to be seen, which only meant the bastard was still alive. 

Saparata was quick to take action once it was confirmed that he wasn't dead. 

He called his owl and wrote a quick message to Fluixon.

“Meet me at the coliseum in two hours, let's end this as it should be. 

You and I. 

You have nowhere else to run and you know it. 

I'll be waiting”

Saps didn't need to sign the piece of paper, he knew Fluixon would recognize the messenger bird, he didn't even need to write more, the message was clear. 

A duel to the death to end it once and for all.

When the bird left his room in the palace, he got his gear ready and sneaked out making sure no one followed. 

He arrived quickly at the location stated in the piece of paper and waited for his opponent to arrive. 

Saps was sitting in the Westhelm Colosseum benches when obsidian eyes met amethyst ones, the same eyes of the man who blamed him for the massacre of Pandora's leaders were in front of him, accompanied by his right-hand man Thomas. 

“I didn't think you would actually show up” Saps lied, he knew exactly that Fluixon wouldn't deny his request.

He made his way to the arena. 

“Can't say no to a friend, can I?” Fluixon replied with his obnoxious smirk and a mocking tone 

“Friend? You lost the right to call me that a long time ago when you used me as your scapegoat” Saparata was starting to get really angry 

“Stop letting your feelings get to you, you know it was the only way” Fluixon stated

“Except you were wrong, Yggdrasil never planned for an invasion and now thousands have died for your mistake” Saparata's voice was full of venom 

“This wouldn't have happened if you died like you were supposed to” Fluixon made a signal to Thomas, the other man put a hand over his shoulder, nodding in reassurance before leaving the arena to watch the duel in the benches Saps was before. 

The duel in question was quick, Saps has always been the better fighter between them so he didn't struggle at all and before he knew it he had his sword against Fluixon's throat.

But he could not make any contact with it, he had Fluixon exactly where he wanted him, in the floor unable to make another move, but at the moment he hesitated to do the final hit because the man looking at him wasn't the monster who he was fighting moments prior but instead it was the noble man who used to read him love poems under the starlights. 

Suddenly he couldn't do it anymore, he couldn't kill the man he loved, he lowered his weapon and tried to back off but before Saps could finish his action. Fluixon made his final move. 

The raven haired man grabbed the sword with his mechanical arm and stabbed himself in the chest with it. 

Saparata took the sword out of his enemy's body and threw the object far away from them and took several steps back.

He fell on the floor and couldn't move anymore, he was forced to watch as the beautiful amethyst eyes were drained of any life left in them, Saparata was frozen watching his Flux bleed out in Thomas’ arms only hearing the screaming and crying from the last member of The Conspiracy standing. 

Roaring into wakefulness from the same nightmare that had been haunting him for almost 2 months now, Saparata gasped and immediately felt his body rejecting last night's dinner. 

He rushed to his private bathroom, still half-unaware of his surroundings and moving just from muscle memory. 

The image of Fluixon's lifeless body bleeding out with a stab wound in his chest and the screams of emotional pain coming from the other Luminarian always had some type of physical reaction on him. 

Once he puked his insides out and grounded himself remembering that that was a dream and just a hypothetical situation (and that Fluixon was safe and alive in the room in front of him) he decided he needed fresh air and a good glass of water. 

The past 3 weeks have been an earthquake for his mind.

Who would've thought that living under the same roof with your nemesis would be bad for your mental well-being? 

Every time he sees Fluixon he feels an intense amount of rage, having the necessity of beating him and demanding answers from him, but he forces himself to be the bigger person and ignores his violent urges. 

He also needs to ignore the pain in his heart when he sees him give that small but warm smile to Cynikka 

Living with Cynikka isn't easy either, the older barely acknowledges Saparata's existence and always ignores his instructions when he tries to give her some. He also wants to demand answers from her (in a less violent way) but Saps knows that even if he were to ask her something she would discard his questions. 

The trio's mornings had become a simple and monotone routine, Cynikka would wake up at dawn to do who knows what and eat breakfast by herself, then Saps would wake up next and eat breakfast while she reads some type of flower book in the living room, Fluixon would be the last to wake up, almost at midday and Cynikka would make him breakfast and sit at the table with him while Saps leaves to his office to do anything but interact with the other two, after that Cynikka would inform him that they are finnish and they all go to do their respective chores until lunch. 

This morning was no different, Fluixon and Cynikka were at the table when Saps decided to go outside and enjoy the sunshine and relax before working on improving his barn, except he couldn't do that because as soon as he stepped outside he could see a boat in the distance approaching his dock. 

He ran down the stairs to see who the owner of said boat was, since as far as he knew he wasn't supposed to have any visitors that day.

Soon he saw a familiar figure securing the boat and quickly recognized them, it was his younger brother Micro. 

Normally he would be ecstatic to see his sibling, especially because he hadn't seen him since the battle of Infernus but this time was different since he hadn't told Micro that he had war criminals (who were supposed to be dead) living with him. 

He approached his snow-haired sibling trying to hide his panic. 

“Ghostie! What are you doing here?” Saps greeted him, nickname slipping out easily. 

“TAPS!” Micro hugged him so fast Saps could barely process he was in a hug, the use of his own nickname almost made him feel better “And what do you mean what am I doing here? I came to do a surprise wellness check on my brother who has been giving brief and lifeless replies to my letters!” Micro pulls out from the embrace and crosses his arms but he was still smiling 

“Oh… Sorry Ghostie I've been trying to keep myself busy after the end of the war” Saps apologizes, his excuse was technically a half lie but it didn't help him feel less guilty 

“Don't worry, Taps! I understand all this international war hero must be emotionally draining, that's why I came to you instead of you visiting me!” Micro changed his frown to an understanding smile 

“I appreciate the sentiment Ghost, but you caught me in the middle of something- We could reschedule and-” Saps couldn't finish his sentence before getting interrupted by his brother 

“Oh come on, you can make time to eat lunch with your favorite younger brother!” Micro complained, “Now come on I brought fresh ingredients for us to eat your favorite dish!”

After finishing his sentence Micro grabbed a backpack and ran up the hill, completely ignoring Saps attempts to stop him. 

Apparently not only Micro was against his wishes but the world in general was too because a tired Fluixon came out of the entrance. 

“Saparata can you stop making so much damn noise-” Fluixon complained with his eyes still closed 

Micro seeing the man in front of him screamed so loud that the birds in the trees around them flew out scared. 

And if things couldn't get worse for Saps, Cynikka decided to come out to the entrance too also complaining about the noise 

“Taps… I don't want to alarm you but there are dead people in your house” Micro took a step back scared

“Oh it's you” Fluixon opened his eyes to realize who was making all the noise 

“TAPS HE CAN SPEAK” Micro stood next to Saparata grabbing his sleeve more scared than before 

“Taps is a cute nickname,” A sarcastic Cynikka said in response, ignoring the rest of the afraid man comment

Saps sighed loudly and looked at his brother “Micro, they aren't dead, unfortunately they are very alive and they live here” 

“Tragically” Fluixon lamented 

“YOU ARE HARBORING WAR CRIMINALS?!” Micro screamed again, now backing up from Saparata's body 

“He isn't harboring us, kid” Cynikka corrected him “We are living here against our will” 

“I won't believe a word you say” Micro was clearly becoming angry.

Saparata stood there, trying to find a way to de-escalate the conversation before it's too late

“Oh, you didn't know, Micro? Your brother here offered himself as our new caretaker while we are living here under house arrest” Fluixon told Micro, as a way to mock both him and Saps, making things worse. 

“Ha! For a master manipulator like you, you should've come up with a better lie! Saps would've never done something like that” Micro said confidently and if Saps weren't so focused on fixing the situation he would've been ashamed 

“Well, you better believe in us, kid because we haven't said nothing but the truth” Cynikka scoffed 

“Yeah likely story you snake, you two probably are forcing him to hide you” The anger in Micro's tone was becoming clearer by the second 

“You really need to knock that confidence off, Micro” Fluixon suggests 

“You would never do that, right Taps?” Micro looked at Saparata, making him direct his attention back to the conversation 

“They aren't lying, Ghost” Saps confesses meeting Micro's gaze 

“What?” Micro's previous confidence disappears in an instant 

“Look Micro-” Saps tries to explain but gets interrupted again 

“Don't lie to me, you aren't doing this willingly, are you?” Micro's eyes searched his for any signs of dishonesty 

“I am- I am doing this willingly” Saps couldn't keep looking at his brother's broken heart eyes 

“Why?- He killed our sister!” Micro's voice was barely linear 

“I-” Saps didn't know how to answer, because it was true, Fluixon did send an assassin to kill Jophiel but Saps still kept him alive and even he didn't know the reason why. 

“Isn't it obvious? It's because our dear hero has a huge savior complex, Micro” Fluixon answered the question for him

“I know damn well you aren't talking about my brother like that” Micro looked back at Fluixon 

“And what if I am?” Fluixon defies him 

In response, Micro approached him with rage and grabbed him by the collar pushing him to a pillar “You don't get to claim to know my brother after all you did to him” 

Saparata froze at the mention of the betrayal, he couldn't do anything but watch the scene unfold 

Cynikka decided to do something herself and pushed Micro away from her ally and proceeded to stand in front of Fluixon as a way to protect him 

“Don't think I forgot what you did Queen Cynikka” Micro pointed at her “Thanks to your stupid fucking war all my friends are dead!” 

“Join the club buddy,” Fluixon told him, showing a slight sign of pain in his face when the word friends was said, throwing Saparata off but at the same time making him go back to reality and do something.

“Okay, that's enough!” Saps clapped his hands as a way to call for their attention 

“Fluixon and Cynikka, go take a walk or something, I don't care what you do but leave the house right now” He ordered the duo, thankfully they decided to do as he said for once

“Micro, you follow me I'll explain you everything” 

The brothers sat down in Saparata's couches and the owner of the house started to explain the situation. 

Saps explained everything as best he could but not saying any of his feelings involving the situation, not a single mention of his new nightmares either. 

There is no point in worrying his brother further. 

He could see that Micro was doing his best to understand him but he clearly wasn't really convinced it. 

And Saps couldn't blame him; it was a surreal situation. 

“Look Ghostie- I can't tell you more since this is supposed to be confidential and I don't know if it's even a good idea for you to be here” Saps tried to add to his explanation without sounding like an asshole

“So now I'm just supposed to leave and never see you again?” Micro is clearly hurt by his words 

“Not forever dummy” Saps says softly and gently grabs his brother's hands “Just go for now and wait until everything is more sorted out and they are more stable, okay?” 

“Fine…” Micro complies “But! But you have to write to me twice- No. THREE times the amount of letters and with real feelings not like the ones you were sending” He adds crossing his arms

“That seems like a fair deal Ghostie” Saps ruffles his hair, he was grateful his brother could at least understand that. 

After a caring hug, Saparata accompanies Micro back to his boat. 

“Taps I trust that you know what you are doing but please think about yourself once in a while,” Micro tells him before he leaves 

“I promise I'm doing just that,” Saparata says trying to sound truthful 

When he arrived back at the house Cynikka and Fluixon were already there, having a conversation he was not interested in. 

“I'm going to my room, I trust that you two are adult enough to figure out a lunch by yourselves” Saps informed them before leaving them without waiting for an answer 

He lay down in his bed to reflect on what just happened.

If Saparata was truthful with himself, lying to Micro felt horrible. 

He kept trying to convince himself that it was to protect him and not worry him but he couldn't feel like he was failing as an older brother.

Back in Theria, he never had to worry about being the responsible one, that was always Jophiel's job.

When Saps and Micro got in trouble she would always keep them out of any big punishment but still lecture them afterwards.

She constantly kept them away from getting physically or emotionally hurt. 

Even when they left Theria for Tricolor and she became Queen she still did everything in her power to look after them, but when Saps decided to leave the kingdom and take a step back from the political world when he was 18 years old, Micro told him that he was going to follow him. 

It was then that Jophiel made him swear that he would protect Micro with his life, and suddenly he understood what being the responsible one meant. 

Micro was only a year younger but had a habit of trying to get himself killed by nature so he constantly needed assistance, so being the older one Saps kept having to help him get out of stupid situations. 

He still remembers the way he got overprotective when Micro told him he was going to move out of their island to live with some friends, he interviewed every single one of the guys until he made sure they were going to take good care of his little brother. 

He obviously helps him pack his stuff and helps the rest of “the cartel” in their new home.

Their dynamic drastically changed when Jophiel was assassinated. 

Saparata tried to shake off the sad thoughts and replace them with happy memories of their childhood, sadly his attempts were fruitless and he passed out with nothing but pain in his heart. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

Saparata woke up not because he wanted to but because his body was screaming for him to eat something 

Who would've thought that barely eating breakfast and skipping lunch would make you hungry, huh? 

Leaving his room he realized that the sun was gone and the moon was up. 

Which made him regret his choices because now his sleep schedule would be all messed up 

Saps made himself a sandwich, grabbed a glass of orange juice, and made his way to the dinner table. 

When he arrived, he saw Cynikka reading one of her books. He sat down in the other corner of the table since he knew that the women would ignore him either way.

Cynikka was a weird individual, Saps didn't understand her at all, her actions never seemed justified, she was a private person who never showed her motives and the only real information he got about her was other people's experiences with the Queen. 

The few facts he had about her were that she worshipped a volcano, that she sent hitmen from the covenant to kill Linguini over the resources his mafia rightfully owned, and that she protected Fluixon after he was forced to escape Pandora. 

But seeing her now, the person sitting across from him looks nothing like the evil monster of Yggdrasil, and more like a normal civilian who hasn't hurt a single person ever. 

Which made the former queen even more confusing! It didn't help that the woman didn't dare to show any ounce of personality in front of him. 

“Can I help you?” Cynikka raised an eyebrow 

Saps has probably been staring for a while and someone has been observing her 

“Oh sorry I was lost in thought” Saparata laughed nervously and embarrassed “I'll go back to eating my sandwich, don't mind me” 

Saps tried to go back to eat his sandwich as he said but he was interrupted by Cynikka's voice “Can I ask you a question?” 

Saparata blinked twice before responding “Sorry?” 

“Can. I. Cynikka of Infernus. Ask. You. Saparata of The Acropolis. A. Question?” She asked him again slower and more annoyed this time

“Oh- I guess?” He answered unsure, confused by the sudden initiative

“The guy who visited you today, is he really your brother?” Cynikka asked 

“Yes, he is my younger brother by a year” Saps was even more confused now

Cynikka only nods and goes back to her book. 

“Why do you ask?” He questions, trying to clear a bit of his confusion

She looks at him again, it made him feel like the woman was trying to decide if he was worthy of an answer.

She must've decided that he was since she closed her book and dedicated her full attention to him.

“I wanted to understand his hostility against my-” She explained but paused before correcting herself “His hostility against Fluixon” 

Her what? Her ally? Her friend? 

Can this woman be less confusing for once?

“Well most people in Pandora hate him and want him dead so I don't get your confusion, Cynikka” Saparata answers the obvious response 

“Well I know that, I'm not stupid” She rolls her eyes before looking back at Saps “His rage and hatred seem awfully personal for someone who hasn't been mentioned once in our conversations” 

“Okay, I'm tired of this shit,” Saps thought to himself and decided to ask the question he had wanted to ask for a long time 

“Why do you care so much?” 

Now it was finally turn for Cynikka to be the confused one “Why do I care so much about what?” 

“About Fluixon and his well-being” He answers 

“Someone has to do it” Cynikka responds to his question 

“That's an awful answer coming from someone who was leader of a nation” Saps was very unsatisfied by her answer 

“Well, you asked and that's the answer you are getting” Cynikka was annoyed at the fact that Saps was demanding more m

Saparata was not going to end this cconversation there so he decided to expand his point “I mean- you were Queen of a very influential nation, you were having bigger issues at the time than conflicts of a place across the ocean, AND still to put it all at risk for a random guy and his group” 

“Watch your tone, Saparata” Cynikka says clearly getting angry 

But Saps already started this and he will have his answer “You were on the brink of a big war with other nations in Yggdrasil and decided to throw it all away, risking innocent people only to protect this man who is nothing but a bastard who was known to be untrustworthy-” 

Cynikka decided to interrupt with a question he wasn't expecting “Oh and you are so much better aren't you?” Her voice showed her anger 

“Are you kidding?” Saparata laughs annoyedly before continuing “Yes! As a matter of fact, I am better than people like him who committed mass murder and people like you who took innocent countries to war!” 

“Really? You truly think so, oh dearest Saparata?” Cynikka mocks him 

“Yes! I fully believe that, former Queen Cynikka” Saps started to get more than just annoyed

“Well Sir Saparata, I'm going to tell you something that you haven't even dared to consider,” Cynikka says with venom “We did what we needed to do to protect the people we care for and lost, and you did it for vengeance and proving you were always right about yourself and won so how much better are you than us?” 

“I-” Saparata was speechless at the audacity of the woman 

“Didn't you say that Fluixon did all that to defend his ideology without thinking about others’ points of view?” She questions him looking directly into his eyes 

“I did” He was confused where she was going with that, slightly scared.

“How hypocritical of you, then,” She says with venom “Because you keep saying all of this stuff and assuming a bunch of stuff about us, without knowing anything”

“Wait a second” He stopped Cynikka from talking further “I may not know you but I know Fluixon. Don't you forget I was the person he was closest to for years!” He defended himself against her claims 

“If you really knew him we wouldn't be having this conversation, wouldn't we?” Cynikka says “You didn't even think Fluixon was able to do half of the things he did in the first place” 

“Don't you dare turn everything he did on me” He was getting really angry with each sentence that came out of her mouth 

“Saparata. You didn't even think he was capable of caring for people until the tower! And if you knew him you would know that's just the furthest thing from the truth” Cynikka tells him bitterly 

“How would I know that? He didn't give me anything to work with that gave me that impression!” Saps complains angry, very angry. 

“So you are saying that I am right? That you don't know anything about Fluixon and are just assuming things based on personal experiences and things you don't have the full story?” She smirks 

Saparata had no idea what to say after she said that, he wasn't going to admit she was right but didn't know how to deny it.

“Now you are just too proud to admit that you were wrong, something you criticized us for too may I add” She spoke like she won this debate 

“Shut up” He didn't want to keep hearing her

“Now you are trying to silence me, wow you are 3/3 Saparata” She claps sarcastically 

And that was the last straw for Saps, he slams the table and gets up in anger before shouting at her “I SAID SHUT UP! YOU OUT OF ALL PEOPLE DON'T GET TO TWIST THIS ON ME- I ONLY WANTED TO LIVE A PEACEFUL LIFE AND HE FRAMED ME FOR MASS MURDER AND YOU PROTECTED HIM MAKING MAKING HUNDREDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE DIE ON THE BATTLEFIELD, DON'T YOU DARE PUT US IN THE SAME CATEGORY” 

She seems unfazed at his reaction and calmly says “You are right. We aren't in the same category” She nods before looking dead in the eyes “The difference between you and us is that you get to live as the hero of the people for the same thing we get to be just the villains in your story” 

After saying that she leaves Saps alone.

Suddenly everything in the air in the house feels too dense and his vision goes blurry.

He instinctively gets out and runs to the beach.

The waves weren't loud enough to keep the thoughts he had been trying to evade for weeks quiet 

“She doesn't get to do this! She has no right to!” 

“I didn't spend years on the run for some excuse of a queen to treat me like this!”

“Cynikka has no clue what I went through!” 

“She has no idea about my story”

Then he thought more about what Cynikka said

“But I don't know hers either…”

“Maybe she has a point…” 

“Maybe she is saying the truth and I don't know shit about Flux” 

It's all too much, his legs give out and he falls to his knees. 

His body can't do anything more than hug himself, scream, and cry. 

After what felt like an eternity, Saps manages to exhaust himself enough to stop crying.

He doesn't know where he got the energy to go up the stairs and get to his home.

He ignored the abandoned dinner on the table and just threw himself on the bed. He didn't even change into more comfortable clothing before passing out once more. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

The next morning he woke up later than normal, so late that Fluixon was already awake. 

Thankfully Cynikka went back to stop acknowledging his presence and neither of them touched last night's conversation for the rest of the day.

Everything seemed to go back to “normal”. 

It wasn't until late in the evening when his owl brought to him two letters when he was in his office that his day changed drastically.

The first letter he read was good news and was from Jenny of Mattel telling him that in two days the person in charge of the psychiatric check-ups will visit the duo.

But the second letter was from Legacy and it was the one that shattered his brain into thousands of pieces.

“Fuck” He says after finishing the letter and proceeds to put it down and slam his head against the desk.

Chapter Text

⪼To: saparata ⪼From: Jennygracefully

Greetings Sir Saparata,

I hope this letter finds you in good health, Sir.

I'm Jenny, the minister in charge of the foreign Relations of Mattel.

I'm writing to you today to give you information on the psychiatric evaluations we as the nation of Mattel are supposed to be providing. 

The specialist who will be performing said evaluations is the former mayor of Mattel, Madzvie.

This might come as a surprise but before being the mayor she was a doctor here in Mattel, and now that she is retired from politics she has decided to help in this case. 

Please be assured that she is completely qualified to do these health assessments. 

The first examination is planned to happen on the ᙭᙭/᙭᙭/᙭᙭ , we recommend not to change the date of the examination to avoid further trouble with the other nations. 

That being said, if you need us to reschedule we can look into it but we can't assure you that the date can be moved for longer than a week.

This has been all the information we needed to share with you from our end, we hope we can get a response as soon as this letter arrives in your hands. 

Sending the best regrets in the name of all Mattel, 

𝒥𝑒𝓃𝓃𝓎

══════ ∘◦ ✉︎ ◦∘ ═══════

⪼ To: saparata ⪼ From: LegacyAN 

X 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗟 X 

 X 𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘 X

Dear Saparata, 

I wish today's letter would be a positive one and just a good letter between acquaintances, but today I write to you as the president of Luminara. 

Normally the information I'm about to tell would only be told in person for security reasons but due to your current situation, it's going to be written in this letter. 

Please burn the paper after you read the contents in it. 

Today, the ᙭᙭ of ᙭᙭᙭᙭ my guards found undeniable proof that the individual named Thomas, also known as the engineer of The Conspiracy, is alive. 

Apparently, he managed to escape in the middle of the battle thanks to the chaos happening. 

There have been multiple sightings of the criminal around the outskirts of Harbourbloom and the Luminara's bridge. 

But the real proof was a cabin that my guards found in the depths of the jungle outside Luminara territory, with used bandages and residue of cut brown hair that is without a doubt his. 

We have no idea where he could be now but he has reason to believe he'll be heading to your island next. 

If you do find him we ask you to hand him immediately to Luminara so he can be put on a trial in our nation. 

I advise you to keep the prisoners within your eye range as a safety measure. 

Thanks for your time, 

ㄥegacy 

Chapter Text

Fluxion wasn't made for the prisoner lifestyle; it was too silent, too monotonous and too boring for a person like him.

Or well that's what he concluded after a month of living like one. 

Most people would argue that is the least he deserves after being a mass murder (and they'll be right) but it just didn't fit the once President of Luminara. 

His days were awfully similar which made them almost impossible to get through. 

The same routine of waking up, eating, working on his assigned task, eating again, working on another assigned task, eating one last time, going to sleep and repeat. His only variation on that routine was that sometimes he would draw in his sketchbook during the afternoon instead of working around the island. 

And even if he had Cynikka by his side to help him survive each day, it didn't mean he was enjoying his new life. (not like he enjoyed his past life either) 

Today started like any other day, he forced himself to wake up, battled to get out of bed and went downstairs where Cynikka made him eat the breakfast she prepared for him (He told her multiple times she didn't need to cook food for him since he could do it himself but she never listened) 

He was eating his toast with scrambled eggs when an annoying voice owned by the bane of his existence, Saparata, interrupted his pleasant and silent breakfast.

“Okay you two, today is a special day!” Saparata said way too enthusiastic for the early morning, which was only met with quiet acknowledgement from the siblings.

“Aren't you going to ask what's different today?” The white haired man asked in response to their lack of reaction 

“Saparata, even if today was so ‘special’ is not like we can go against your instructions so it really isn't any different from any other day” Cynikka tells Saparata 

“Shouldn't you at least be a little curious about it?” He asks frowning 

“Just say what are we doing today” Flux says taking his eyes from his (now cold) toast and looking annoyed at Saparata 

The obsidian eyes owner frowned at his annoyance but decided to explain anyways “Well if you remember correctly one of the conditions for you to being alive was that you needed constant psychiatric check-ups”

In all honesty Fluixon completely forgot about that condition because it hadn't been brought since the first day they arrived to the Acropolis “And today is the date of your first assessment” 

“Woah we must be really lucky for it, aren't we Fluixon?” Cynikka asks him sarcastically 

“The luckiest” He responds with the same sarcasm 

Saparata ignores their comments and continues speaking “I also have to add that if you remember correctly one of my rules is that you need to be truthful to the doctor in charge of this assessments so I expect you to follow it” 

Cynikka is the only one who responds verbally giving Saparata a sarcastic “Aye aye, Captain” 

“Well that being said Doctor Madzvie should be here by noon so-” Saparata tries finishing his sentence but gets interrupted by Fluixon 

“Madzvie?” He asks surprised “As Princess of Mattel Madzvie?” 

“Yes-” Saparata answers him trying to finish his sentence from before but gets interrupted again, by Cynikka this time.

“Why? You know them, Flux?” She asks curious 

Saparata coughs trying to bring the attention back to him but gets ignored 

“Not personally” He shakes his head “But she used to be Mayor of Barbieland before they had a civil war or something” 

Saparata coughs again, louder this time but has no success. 

“Why is she our therapist then?” She questioned and he just raises his shoulder as a way to say ‘I don't know’ 

“Okay! If you are just going to ignore me I'll leave to clear my office where you ungrateful people would have your therapy sessions” Saparata says before leaving the siblings alone “Do whatever you like with your life see if I care!” 

“Ish, no need to be so dramatic” Cynikka rolls her eyes at the angry man making her brother laugh quietly.

»»-----------¤-----------««

Thanks to Fluixon horrible sleeping schedule, they didn't have to wait for long for Dr. Madzvie to arrive.

Once Dr. Madzvie enters the house with Saparata, she only waves slightly at them before going to talk with the latter in the office.

Cynikka decides to continue to read the book she was reading and Fluixon goes back to his sketchbook.

After a few minutes Saparata informed them that both of them needed to come in and as always, they followed his instructions. 

They entered the office quietly, where they found that it was re-arranged for the occasion.

The desk was moved to be against the wall away from the window, where it usually was, there were was also a couch made for 2 people and a couch chair in front of it (Flux didn't know where they came from since they weren't there before today) 

The psychiatrist was sitting down on the arm chair reading a document when they opened the door. 

“Oh! Coming in!” Dr. Madzvie put down the document she was reading and smiled at them when she heard them open the door “Please sit down and make yourself comfortable” 

Cynikka and Fluixon sat down awkwardly and waited for her to speak again 

“I know Sir Saparata probably told you who I am but I'll introduce myself just in case” She started speaking, her voice was calm but not in a bad way “Hello Cynikka and Fluixon, my name is Madzvie and I'm the Doctor assigned by Mattel to follow and help during your psychiatric journey” 

Her tone took Flux off guard, he wasn't expected to be met with such a polite but warm voice.

The former queen must've also not been expecting it since he saw her be visibly surprised from his peripheral vision.

“You must be confused about how these sessions will go since it's probably a new experience so I'll try my best to explain it” Dr. Madzvie continue speaking “Is that okay, of course” 

They nodded in response 

“Wonderful” Flux didn't know it was possible to be so cheerful when speaking with war criminals but the woman in front of them was managing it “Just ask anything at any point if you are confused by it, okay?” 

They only gave her a quiet “okay” in response 

“Firstly, whatever you say between us is completely confidential, I won't tell your caretaker” Fluixon hated that Saparata was being referred as their ‘caretaker’ but didn't voice it “anything you tell me during our sessions unless is about hurting yourself or others” She says

“Wait, whatever we say here won't leave the room?” Cynikka asks confused 

“Yes, it won't reach anyone unless you want the contrary” The therapist answered her and waited for a bit before continuing “I must add to my statement from before that I still have to inform Sir Saparata of your current state through a report but I won't have any of the details you tell me” 

“I see” Cynikka gave her a slight nod

“Another thing” Dr. Madzvie continued explaining “Most of this sessions will be individual but there might be a few that might be of you as a duo” 

“Oh” Flux speaks involuntarily and tunes out of the conversation.

That fact gave him mixed emotions. 

Because for one part having separated talks was for the best since he has a lot of things he wouldn't like to say in front of her sister because he doesn't want to be a burden.

But from the other side he was basically glued to Cynikka's side since they escaped Infernus so it was weird to be alone with someone else who wasn't her. 

He realises that he zoned out and decides to ignore the feeling of discomfort and tunes back to the woman in front of him.

“I think that's all of it mainly, any questions?” Madzvie looks at them 

“How frequently will you come by?” Cynikka, who was paying attention, asks her. 

“I can't give you a schedule since it will vary from different factors like your emotional state or if your caretaker requires it” Her tone sounds apologetic which confused Fluixon but once again didn't say anything 

“Do you have any other questions?”

The siblings looked at each other trying to see if the other had anything to say before speaking at the same time

“No, I don't have any other question”

“Clear as the Pandora sky” 

“Lovely” Dr. Madzvie says without a hint of not sounding genuine “I'll start with… Fluixon” 

Flux was not prepared for going first but it's not like he has a choice in the matter 

“Cynikka please leave the room and wait for your turn, okay?” Dr. Madzvie looks softly at his sister. 

Cynikka stands up but before leaving she grabs Fluixon's shoulder in reassurance and offers him a warm smile, which he reciprocates.

Once she leaves the doctor speaks again “Well Fluixon, since this is our first time meeting as Doctor and Patient you must not trust me so I thought that it might be easier for you to just answer some questions to get my conclusion of your state right now” 

“Do I need to answer all of them and in detail?” He asks since he wasn't really looking forward to speaking a lot about his situation with a stranger 

“Of course not, you don't have to say anything you don't want to” She says like it was a given thing but somehow it didn't feel patronizing in any way “But I would appreciate if you give me any type of verbal and honest response”

Fluixon was surprised how understanding and polite the woman sitting in front of him was, he got used to most people ignoring his feelings during and after the war that this attitude felt out uncomfortable. 

“Before the first question though” Madzvie must've seen he was zoning out and decided to get started “I want you to introduce yourself, I already introduced myself so is only fair you do the same” 

“Why? You probably already have it written down in a document” He was truly confused by this woman

“Well, the way you introduce yourself is different from what a governmental document describes you, isn't it?” She explains calmly 

“I suppose that makes sense” He nods and thinks for a second before introducing himself “Hello, I'm Fluixon from…” He doesn't know where he was supposed to say he was from, since he has no right to say Luminara since he failed them they wanted nothing to do with him and he hasn't been Fluixon from Aculon for a long time, so he just goes with ‘somewhere’ and continues “I'm 24 years old and in the actuality I live in the Acropolis against my will” 

Yeah that seems good enough, he thinks to himself and Madzvie must've thought the same thing since she hummed and wrote down something in her pink notebook. 

“That's a good introduction” She praises him before continuing “The first question is really basic, how are you doing today?” 

Fluixon was caught off guard once again, it felt really suspicious when a person he just met asked how his day has been, so he decided to go really vague “I'm doing as well as you can imagine” 

“Fair enough” She says while writing down something “How has your sleep been since you arrived here?” 

“Awful” He responds 

“I can imagine” She looks at him softly “Do you struggle to fall asleep?” 

“My father hunts my mind every time I close my eyes and I only can hear him say that I became just like him, I only can fall asleep if I cry myself to sleep”

“Yes” He really doesn't like the direction this questions were going 

“What about nightmares? Do you have them?” She looks at him directly 

“If by nightmares you mean my family screamimg at me from the underworld begging to know why did I let them die for my selfish ideals” 

Flux didn't want to respond that question, scared Madzvie was going to ask more in depth about it, so he resorts to bite the inside of his cheek.

Dr. Madzvie writes down something in her notebook, she also probably realized he was uncomfortable since she decides to change the topic in her next question “Eating habits?” 

“I'm forced to eat three meals a day, if that's what you are asking” Flux responds, he obviously wasn't going to tell her that the one forcing him to eat was his older sister. 

Flux hear Dr. Madzvie mumble “Interesting” under her breath while writing before asking the next question

“Do you have any hobbies?”  

“Sometimes I draw when I don't have work to do around the island” He says 

“Really? That's so fun!” Madzvie says cheerfully “One day you could show me one of your drawings” 

Flux only nods, slightly embarrassed. 

“By the way, are you close to Cynikka?” Madzvie asks, looking directly into his eyes.

Fluixon really didn't like this question, he didn't know what to answer, he can exactly go “Of course I'm close with her! She is my older sister!” but he also can't lie since that was one of the stupid rules he had to follow. 

He started thinking of an answer, trying to decipher a way to say the truth but not give enough information for her to use it against him. 

“Sorry, I must have caught you off guard” The woman interrupted his thought process with her apology “I was just asking because that was something brought up in the meeting but I asked it too upfront that's my fault” 

Fluixon wasn't convinced with her apology but that gave him an out of his problem “I guess we are somewhat close since we been through so much together”

“I suppose that's it's true” Madzvie looks at him for a moment before writing down something “Would you consider her a friend, acquaintance, a roommate or just a cellmate?” 

Do siblings count as friends?... I guess they do 

“I would say she is my friend” Flux utters

“It's good to know you aren't alone here” Madzvie tells him. 

It felt so sincere thaf he couldn't stop himself from agreeing with her “Yeah it is nice” 

While the former president hides his panic for letting more than he wants show through, the doctor tries to hide her surprise while writing down something very quickly. 

Before Fluixon could spiral about her reaction, Dr. Madzvie speaks again

 “Okay” The medic looks directly into his eyes “Now the most serious and important questions, you don't need to answer this beyond what you are comfortable but please answer truthfully” 

That's not worrying at all-

“Fluixon” Her tone drastically changed “In the past month and a half, Have you ever had thoughts of harming yourself?” 

Suddenly the world froze, the air thickens and his body goes tense. 

Fluxion looked away and pretended to look through the window before responding a quiet “Yes” 

The raven haired hears the woman in front of him.

“What about dying? Have you ever wished you weren't alive or thinking about killing yourself?” Madzvie has a particular tone when asking this question 

His heartbeat accelerates, he needs to respond, he needs to say the truth but no one was supposed to know the answer. 

No one was meant to know that he doesn't want to keep going.

It isn't often that Fluixon was lost for words, he was a smart guy, he knows how to hide his feelings behind witty comments, but this stranger managed to leave him speechless.

“Fluixon” Dr. Madzvie calls for him “Fluixon, please look at me” 

But he doesn't, he doesn't want to see the pity in her eyes. 

“Is okay, in your situation it is completely normal to have this type of thoughts, that doesn't make you weak or stupid” Madzvie says but he doesn't believe her words of pity. 

If there was one good teaching that his father taught him was that the moment you start showing weakness is over to you. 

That’s how men as powerful as King Elanuelo end their stories. 

And he was not going to be like him ever again. 

“I think that's enough for today” Dr. Madzvie sighs “You may leave now but I recommend for you to grab something to drink and get some fresh air, I know it wasn't easy to open up to someone you don't trust”

Fluixon stands up and gives a small bow before leaving. 

Once he arrived at the living room he crossed eyes with Saparata, he looked away quickly.

“Cyn, it's your turn” He informs his sister before leaving to grab a glass of cold water.

»»-----------¤-----------««

Fluixon was looking into the horizon, he tries to concentrate in to the waves at the distance getting his mind away from the conversation with Dr. Madzvie. 

“Boo!” Cynikka tries to scare him but failing miserably 

“I literally heard your footsteps approaching me” Flux rolls her eyes at her attempt 

“You are not fun” She pouts  

“You are the one trying to give me a heart attack by scaring me, how is that fun?” He asks 

“God forbid a girl wants to have fun” Cynikka complained “Wanna go to the greenhouse to discuss whatever that was?” 

“Yeah, sure” He agrees 

The Acropolis greenhouse had become their new hangout spot, their safe space away from Saparata's watch and a place to vent about their new life. 

Once they entered the greenhouse Flux sat down at the barstool he put down one day because he was tired of standing up while Cynikka worked on her flowers. 

“So how did it go for you?” He asks while Cynikka worked on her hibiscus 

“Honestly? It wasn't that bad, just uncomfortable” She says while examining the petals of the pink flowers

Flux hums in response. 

“How was it for you?” She looks away from her plant and raises an eyebrow at him 

“I don't like strangers looking in to my personal life, worse if its me being the one to tell them about it” He tells her with a bitter tone

“That's fair” She moves to look at a lavender bush “But we are going to have to get used to it"

“That doesn't mean I'll like it” He frowns 

“Look at the bright side, at least she is nice” Cynikka says before muttering something under breath about her plant needing more micronutrients

“Isn't that suspicious? Like imagine she uses-” He starts to ramble but is cut off by his sister

“Flux, you are going to contract an incurable disease just because you are talking just because you are telling a nice lady about your feelings” She stares unamused at him

“When I get a fever just 'cause I been talking about my feelings you'll be the one taking care of my delirious brain” He threatens without any bite behind it

Cynikka giggles at his dramatics “You say that as if you don't get all clingy when you are sick and I don't have to fight you to leave your side for 5 minutes” She crosses her arms 

“I have no clue what you are talking about” He feigns ignorance even if that's exactly what he does.

After a small moment of silence they look at each other and burst into laughter. 

Their laughter dies down and they fall into a comfortable silence. 

Flux directs his attention to the landscape outside through one of the huge windows of the greenhouse and Cynikka goes back to her plants. 

“Hey Flux” Cynikka interrupts their momentary peace 

“What's up?” He decides to not look away from his view from the outside, he sees a small bird eating something in the soil.

Such a simple life… 

“Did she also ask you about our relationship?” Cynikka asks, there is a hint of concern in her voice 

He presumes that this conversation is more important than the little bird and directs his attention to his sister. 

“Doctor Madzvie asked if we were close and if I consider you a friend” Flux tells her, he now can see the worry in the former queen's eyes. 

“What did you tell her?” Now the concern was more notable in her voice 

“I told her that we were close since we've been through a lot and that I consider you a friend, which technically isn't a lie” He shrugs “Why? What did you say?” Now he is the one worrying about what the other said thanks to the change of body language of his sister

“Ah- So… Funny thing-” Cynikka laughs nervously, avoiding meeting his eyes 

“Cyn what did you tell her?” Now he wasn't just worried, he was panicking, Cynikka could've told her so many things that would put both of them in danger 

“ImayorhavenotansweredthatyouweretheonlypersonIhaveleftandthatyouarethemostimportantpersoninmylife” She confesses really fast while hiding behind the lavander bush she was working on earlier. 

Fluixon couldn't believe it, he stands up angry and approaches the place where Cynikka was pathetically hiding behind the bush.

He takes a deep breath before punching his older sister on the arm “Cynikka of Infernus, you scared the shit out of me! I thought you told her that I'm your brother!” 

“Why would I tell her that so soon?” Cynikka says rubbing the part of the arm Flux hit “That hurt by the way”

“What do you mean with ‘so soon’ Cyn?” He says, crossing his arms and frowning. 

“We are going to tell her at one point, Flux” Cynikka tells him “If we don't want to get in trouble we need to be honest during those sessions, remember?” 

“I hate when you make a good point” He sighs 

“Believe me I don't want to tell her either but I want us to be safe and if that means telling her about us being siblings I'll do it” She says sincerely and stands up cleaning her clothes 

“Why are you such a responsible adult?” He mumbles, pressing his head on her arm 

“There, there” Cynikka giggles petting his head 

Flux takes a step back and offers his pinky finger “Let's just agree to tell her at the same time on the right moment” 

“Thought you were too much of a grown up to do pinky promises?” She raises her eyebrow and laughs when Flux frowns but finally intertwines her finger with him 

“Let's go back, I don't want to keep thinking about this whole therapy thing” Fluixon says before leaving 

»»-----------¤-----------««

Life continues as ‘normal’ (As normal life can get in this whole situation) 

The same mundane routine, with the same boring instructions. 

Well, something did change after the psychiatric evaluation and that's evolving Saparata.

Flux doesn't know what Dr. Madzvie told the guy but he seems more aware of their existence and checks on them more than he used to. 

Flux doesn't really care as long he doesn't speak willingly to him. 

His heart can't take the changes of their relationship showing through Saps’ tone when he talks to Flux

Right now he is cleaning some herbs that Cynikka gave him when she was gardening.

He managed to convince her that she didn't need to accompany him to the river and that she could continue gardening in peace. 

The feeling of the river felt rather awkward thanks to his mechanical arm but he doesn't mind it enough to stop his task. 

It was almost peaceful, the sound of the cold water was very grounding, it allowed him to close his eyes and breathe. 

But like every small moment of peace in his life, it didn't last long.

This time thanks to an animal of some sort throwing small seeds at him, at first he thought it was an accident, but by the 3rd one he decided to open his eyes and see what was disturbing him.

What he saw was not what he was expecting at all. 

Across the river a very familiar figure was standing. 

“Thomas?” His breathing became irregular 

How is his right hand man, who was supposed to be dead, standing meters away from him? 

“Sup!” The figure, who also sounded like his best friend was now waving at him

“Holy shit I have officially gone insane, I'm hallucinating dead people now” Fluixon runs a hand through his hair, eyes wide open.

The figure frowns and crosses the river, now standing in front of Flux “I'm not dead dumbass”

He looks up and laughs hysterically “Nah you are 100% a hallucination, ain't no way Thomas got to live after that battle” 

The figure made an annoyed huff before saying 

“If I was a hallucination could I do this” And flicks his fingers hitting Fluixon's forehead

Fluixon realizing that a hallucination couldn't hurt him and this figured did it, he moved by instinct, throwing the herbs on the ground and stands up to hug Thomas “You survived” 

Thomas quickly corresponds the hug, laughing “Yeah I did” 

Flux quickly snaps out, and realizes that it was impossible for the engineer to survive the battle, he breaks the hug and grabs Thomas by the shoulders “But how?? The battlefield was infested with enemy soldiers!” 

“What? Don't tell me you forgot that I was the undefeatable champion of hide and seek back in the orphanage?” Thomas smirks 

“I can't forget something that didn't happen dumbass, that was me! I was the undefeatable one, you were a close second I'll give you that” Flux replies arms leaving his friend shoulders 

They immediately break into laughter after Fluixon says that.

The happy memories of them playing in the backyard of their orphanage with Snowbird flooded their senses. 

“Fuck, I missed your stupid face” Fluxion says cleaning a tear from his eye

“Damn, don't be going all soft and mushy on me Flux” Thomas mocks his friend, making Flux push him slightly “But I missed you too” 

“How did you find me anyways? I thought us living was ultra-classified information…” He questions 

“Oh that was easy! A quick visit to Luminara's official archive-” Thomas replies but gets slapped in the back of the head by Flux “Hey!”

“Are you a morron?! You could've gotten yourself killed!” Fluixon scolds his irresponsible friend 

“What else was I supposed to do?” Thomas asks

“Live?” Flux responds, still not believing the careless actions of the engineer 

“I am alive” Thomas reminds him

“Yeah but you should've live AND forget about me, maybe start a new life somewhere else” Fluixon adds to his initial statement 

“Why the fuck would I do that?” The chocolate haired man questions, like what was Fluixon telling him was irrational 

“You are telling me you preferred to throw away your opportunity of moving on and continue with your life just so you could have a chance of seeing me again?” Fluixon ask sarcastically because there is no way- 

“Yes?” Thomas responds, confused at his friend reaction “Flux you are my best friend, if there was a chance where I could see you alive again I was going to take it” 

And before Flux could recover from his best friend confession he hears Cynikka's voice in the distance, accompanied by another set of footsteps 

“Saparata I'm telling you he is fine he probably-” She says when walking to them but stops her sentence when she sees Thomas.

“What the hell?” Cynikka's eyes wide like plates. 

But Cynikka's reaction wasn't the problem, the problem was that she was accompanied by Saparata, an armed Saparata.

Saparata grabs the hilt of his netherite sword, looking angry at them “Fluixon care to explain what is happening here?” 

Fluixon didn't doubt for a second what he needed to do, so he proceeded to stand in front of Thomas “Don't take another step closer to him” 

He knows he probably doesn't look very threatening in Saparata's eyes, but he isn't going to let the man in front hurt his friend.

Saparata seems to listen to his threat and doesn't move from his position but he doesn't let go of the hilt of the sword “What is he doing here?” 

Flux quickly thought of an answer that didn't put Thomas in danger but before the words could leave his mouth the man behind him answered “I'm visiting my friend” 

Flux mentally facepalmed, that wasn't going to help their case 

“You are just visiting your friend” Saparata points out emotionless, it was obvious he didn't trust the answer he was given 

“Yeah!” Thomas answers faking innocence 

“Thomas cut the bullshit” Saparata says angry, the grip on his sword becomes tighter “You're here to free him aren't you?” 

Okay so if Thomas doesn't say a word now, I can- Flux tries to make a plan in his brain but his thought process is interrupted once again by the latter

“I mean if the shoe fits” Thomas decides to be honest at the worst time 

“Thomas shut the fuck up” Flux hisses annoyed 

“Yes sir!” Thomas puts his hand up in a salute. 

“Look we don't need to do this longer than it should be” Saparata takes out the sword and points it at him “Fluixon hand him over”

It wasn't a request, it was an order. 

Luckily Flux never liked following orders, so he stands his ground “No” 

Flux sees Cynikka panicking behind Saparata, he feels guilty for worrying his sister but he would feel worse if he gives up on Thomas. 

“No?” Saparata scoffs 

“I am not handing him to you” Fluixon looks directly into Saparata's eyes “You are going to get him killed and I can't let you do that”

“So no. I am not handing him over” 

Saparata seems to be taken back by his words and lowers his sword. 

Obsidian eyes meet amethyst ones, trying to read him, trying to decipher Fluixon's intentions.

A silent battle but for the first time Flux since Saparata found them on the tundra, he isn't going to look away, he isn't going to lose and he isn't changing his mind about Thomas. 

“UGH WHAT I'M DOING WITH MY LIFE?!” Saparata unexpectedly shouts, putting his sword back on the case. 

Fluixon and Thomas look at each other trying to understand what just happened but neither knows. 

“We are going inside” Saparata orders “All of us” 

“What?” Thomas asks confused 

“We need to talk so we are going inside to do it” Saparata says like it was very obvious “Just don't try to run Thomas or I'll kill you myself” 

“Boss, is this a good idea?” Thomas whispers into Fluixon's ear

Flux feels a sour feeling in his chest when he hears his friend calling him ‘Boss’ like he still goes under his orders. 

“Are you coming or not?” Saparata says annoyed 

Flux grabs his friend writes and guides them inside the house

»»-----------¤-----------««

The three of them sat at the dinner table, while Cynikka stood away from them leaning on a pillar watching the scene. 

Fluixon knows that she doesn't agree with his decisions at the moment, to the normal eye she might see calm and collected but for someone who has lived most of his life with, Flux can tell she is worried. 

But he doesn't have time to feel guilty about his sister, he has bigger matters to attend to.

Like negotiating his best friend's life. 

“I think both of you are smart enough to see why I can't let Thomas roam around freely” Saparata states

“So you think execution is a better choice?” Fluixon asks him, bitter. 

“I never said that” Saparata corrects him “As a matter of fact, I don't even want Thomas dead” 

Fluixon can't say he wasn't surprised by the answer, because he was but he wasn't going to let that show through. 

He was still negotiating terms with the enemy so he couldn't show any sign of insecurity.

Thomas on the other hand couldn't hide his surprise, he tilts his head in confusion and asks “You don't?” 

“I don't” Saparata says honestly 

“What are you going to do then?” Fluixon asks 

“I'm going to hand Thomas to Luminara” Saparata looks directly at him 

Fluixon doesn't look away but sees through his peripheral that Thomas' body goes tense at the mention of the nation. 

“You are going to hand him to the nation that hates him the most and most definitely will execute him but you don't want him dead?” Flux asks sarcastic 

“Luminara has gotten rid of their death sentence Fluixon” Saparata says “If I have him going around free, he will get captured by any other nation and will be executed shortly after. And that's only if they don't follow the kill on sight that Cass has” 

The reasoning is smart and it make sense but Fluixon will never admit that out loud so he decides to hum in response before asking another question 

“What's the plan then, Saparata?” 

He doesn't know when their names had become a way to hurt each other

“If Thomas agrees to surrender and to not escape ever again, I'll personally write to President Legacy, he'll send soldiers to arrest him and transport him to Luminara to have a trial” Saparata talks like he is talking to both of the Conspiracy members but his gaze never left Fluixon 

“Is your call Flux” Thomas voice makes Fluixon look away from Saps to look at his friend “I trust you with whatever you think I should do” 

Flux hates that he has Thomas' life in his hands once again, he hates that chocolate eyes look so determined to follow his instructions, he hates that he feels like he is back in the Ashen Bastion but he has to ignore those feelings and has to think logically, there is a life on the line.

And the logical step in this situation was to accept Saparata's demands, he knows that Legacy's government is equally as spineless as the president so as soon as they get informed that Thomas surrendered, his sentence will change from being locked up in solitary confinement for the rest of his life to being sent on some type of reformation program outside of Lumminara.

“I think you should do it” Flux tells him

Thomas smiles softly and nods “Then I'll do it” 

“I'll go write the letter then” Saparata says before leaving the room 

Before Thomas or Flux could say anything about it, Cynikka moved from her position to where they were sitting.

Flux seeing that decided that he needed to apologize for making his sister worry but the words died in his mouth the moment Cynikka slapped the back of their heads.

“What the fuck Cyn?!” He hisses “What was that for?” 

“You are the smartest idiots alive” Cynikka says instead of answering his question

“What did we do that was deserving of that?” Thomas asks offended 

“You” She looks at Flux “Know that disobeying the rules 50% of the time could result in your execution, and you disobeyed it anyways! “

“I knew what I was doing” He lies

“Yeah and I'm free to leave the island” She says sarcastically 

Thomas laughs at Fluixon being scolded before Cynikka addresses him too 

“And you!” 

Thomas freezes with fear when looks at him 

“You are the luckiest bastard I know because in no logical world Saparata should've let you live after what you did!” She tells him

Thomas opens his mouth to say something but Cynikka gives him a death glare and he closes it immediately after.

“But I'm so glad your stupidity worked” Cynikka sighs in relief 

»»-----------¤-----------««

Saparata informs them that Lumminara's soldiers will arrive at night so they could do whatever as long as it didn't mean going outside the house, and then he runs off to do god knows what. 

While they waited Thomas took it as a personal mission to talk about his ‘solo adventures’, Flux could never admit out loud but listening to the engineer talk about how he used a Westhelm soldier armor to camouflage and escape the battlefield or how the archives were surprisingly easy to access was very entertaining. 

But good things are cut short and the sound of the characteristic Lumminara whistle broke their safe space, Saparata said that he would talk to the soldiers and then they'll come by to arrest him after. 

“So this is the goodbye?” Thomas says looking at the docks of the island

“I guess it is” Flux said with sadness also looking at the Luminara's boat

“Thanks by the way” Thomas looks at him with a sincere smile "I don't think I have said it yet" 

That confused Flux, he hadn't done anything worth it of gratefulness “Why?” 

“For not handing me over and negotiating with Saparata” Thomas answers “What Cynikka said is true, you could've died for it” 

“Well, is the least I can do since I was the one that dragged you into this mess” Flux confesses, still looking at the ship, avoiding his friend gaze

“I could say the same thing” Thomas breath quivered “It was my idea to use Saparata as the scapegoat after all” 

“But it was my choice as a leader to go with it” Flux argues

“Flux look at me, please” Thomas pleads 

Flux doesn't trust himself to not start crying once he meets his friends eyes but he was never good at saying no to his family, was he? 

So amethyst eyes meet chocolate ones

“You were a great leader Flux” Thomas smiles softly “You are a great leader”

“But-” He tries to argue but Thomas puts his hand on his shoulder 

“You are, that's we chose to follow you” Thomas says so gently it hurt Flux "No one forced us to do it" 

“I highly doubt that” Flux feels tears threatened to come out "I sucked and you know it" 

Thomas removes his hand and laughs “You are too stubborn for your own good, you know that?” 

“It has been mentioned once or twice” Flux smirk “Mainly by you as a teenager” 

Thomas laughs again and looks away from Flux, looking at the end of the staircase his smile fades. “Our time to part ways has arrived” 

Fluixon looks where his friend was looking and sees Saparata and the soldiers going up.

“I guess it has”

“Time to close the curtain, Architect" Thomas does a reverse

“You are so dramatic, this isn't the final chapter, Engineer” Flux pushes him slightly 

“You are right it isn't” Thomas smiles “We shall meet again”

“Just stay safe until then, okay ratbag?” Flux smiles back

“You too idiot” Thomas says 

After those words left his mouth, soldiers arrived with handcuffs, Fluixon stepped back and watched his friend get arrested with a poker face. 

Watching Thomas get escorted to the boat his mind drifted away from reality 

»»-----------¤-----------««

It was a cold winter night in the bunker, Fluixon was very focused on his paperwork, he had been working all day long without stopping and he still had a pile of papers to review before he could leave the desk. 

While he was very concentrated on the work before him, his team had other plans and he heard the door of his office being opened.

Judging by the sound of the door he assumes the responsible of the interruption must be Rotation and his suspicion gets confirmed almost immediately by the mention's voice.

“You look great today boss!” Rotation compliments him, but Fluixon knows better than to fall to this manipulative tactic since he was the one that taught him that. 

“Whatever is what you want to ask me for the answer is no, Rotation” He says without looking away from his papers

“But-” The younger soldier tries to explain himself but is cut by Fluixon voice

“You have your answer, now you may leave” Flux says pointing at the door.

The younger sighs disappointed before exiting the room. 

Fluixon estimates that the peace and quiet last around 5 minutes before another one of his teammates interrupts him.

This time it was Gotoga. 

“Boss have I ever told you that-” The trap artist tries the same approach that Rotation tried but Flux wasn't going to fall for it either.  

“No.” This time he decides it wasn't worth it for an answer with more words

“You don't even know what I was going to ask” Gotoga says and Flux doesn't need to see his face to know that he was pouting 

“You want to ask for something stupid like Rotation, so my answer is no” Flux says writing down something 

“Fine” Gotoga mutters sadly before leaving.  

After 15 minutes he hears the door being opened again

“Also no” He says before Snowbird could say anything 

“I haven't said anything yet” The diplomat complains

“They always sent you when I already said no to Rotation and Gotoga” Flux tells him, grabbing the next page of his document

“Okay let's say hypothetically that's true-” Snowbird tries to argue

This time Flux decides to look away from the paper and look at the diplomat eyes “Snowbird, last time I checked you have a paperwork to do too and if you don't want your paycheck being cut by a 10% I suggest you go back to work” 

Snowbird freezes before saluting “Sir yes! Yes sir!” He says enthusiastic before leaving fast 

Another 15 minutes past before his right hand man and NewKids enter the office 

“Flux the child wants to ask you something” Thomas informs him

“Thomas I have so much work left to do” Flux argues looking at the engineer 

“Please boss hear me out” NK pleads with puppy eyes

“Come on Flux, you aren't going to make the child cry are you?” Thomas adds 

‘The bastard knows what he is doing’ He thinks to himself before sighing 

“Fine, what do you want NK?”

“Can we celebrate Christmas?” The youngest ask smiling

“That's what you wanted to ask?” Fluixon frowns 

“We don't have time for celebrating” He answers 

But it seems like it wasn't the correct answer because NK starts to tear up 

“Look what you did! You monster!” Thomas gasps, pulling the younger closer to him

“We have a lot to do-” Fluixon tries to defend himself 

“Please Mister Flux” NK uses his puppy eyes once again 

Flux bites the inside of his cheek reconsidering his options but his thought process is cut short by the sound of NK sniffing 

Finally Flux runs his mechanical hand through his hair before resigning and saying “Fine, you can celebrate Christmas in the bunker” 

NK's face immediately brightened and smiled “Really?” 

“Yes really” Flux face softens when saying the youngest of them jumping of happiness 

“Oh my god I'm going to tell the others” NK says before running off leaving Thomas and Fluixon in the office, he hears him order to Snowbird that he needs to write an invitation for Seraphim

“Thomas please make sure they don't burn down the bunker while celebrating” Flux orders his right hand man 

“Me?” Thomas points to himself “You realize you are part of it too, right?” 

“I am not” He frowns “You know very well I don't like Christmas and that I hate everything involving it” 

“Are you gonna be the one to tell them that you don't want to go with us cause you have no holiday spirit?” Thomas argues crossing his arms 

Flux freezes at the idea of all of the team being sad and disappointed at him, Thomas seems to realize his friend's dilemma and laughs at his distress. 

That's how Fluixon ended up on an ugly sweater in a very well decorated bunker smiling at his teammates opening the presents he bought for them. 

»»-----------¤-----------««

“Hey Fluixon?” Saparata's voice broke the memory replay 

“Yes?” He asks disinterested on the white-haired man 

“Can I ask you a question?” Saparata asks 

“Sure” He agrees even if talking to Saparata was the last thing he wanted to do right now

“Why did you look much more relieved knowing Thomas was going to live than when you were told you were gonna live?” The question surprised Flux, he wasn't expecting Saparata out of all people to ask him that.

Flux doesn't know what came through him, but he decides to answer the other's question truthfully even if his instincts were telling him that it was a horrible idea “Because none of them deserve to die for my horrible choices as a leader, me on the other hand should've been out a long time ago”

Chapter Text

Hi, I'm Flochii aka the author of this fic and I have a few things to say. 

Firstly I want to apologize for the mess that I was in yesterday and worry you lovely people. 

If you don't know what I am talking about don't worry, there is nothing really relevant right now. 

All you need to know is that a few things have happened that affect the future of this fic but I don't have enough information right now to act on it or explain it. 

But this is my official announcement that this fic is going on an indefinite hiatus. 

I'm very unsure what is going on involving the issue so I won't be writing this story until I'm 100% sure what's a fact and what is someone begging for attention on Twitter.

Sorry if you are confused with what I am saying but if I'm completely honest, I'm also completely lost in the situation.

And as much as I would like to explain, I'm terrified of spreading misinformation and messing up things further so I can't say anything other than what I am saying right now. 

Secondly I want to talk to the people that are reading this story for the first time,

Hi, thanks for tuning in even with the disclaimer on the summary. 

Now you might realize that some parts are written down as "[redacted]" and I apologize for disturbing the pace of the story with that but it is my only solution right now for dealing with the issue that doesn't involve deleting those chapters…

I still have energy to write involving this universe that I created with this fic so I might write the Thomaspr (Thomas x Micro) spinoff that I mentioned in my last author notes. 

So if you still want to read stuff I write you can look forward to that. 

I think that's everything I wanted to say, again I apologize for all the troubles I caused with this situation… 

I hope everyone has a great 2026 and I hope the next time I publish something on this fic is an awesome quality Cynikka one.

Yours truly, 

- Flochii21 

Chapter Text

Hello, 

Today I have bad news (again) 

I'm sad to announce that I'll be discontinuing this fic and this universe permanently.

I never thought this day would come, I always thought this would be the fic I would finish this story and would give everyone a happy ending they would love but sadly that would not be the case. 

I have completely lost motivation with state smp, there are some accusations being thrown around and there are statements against those accusations but if I'm completely honest I have no idea who to believe and I'm really confused. 

This isn't doing good for my mental health and is really exhausting to worry about.

Don't get me wrong I would never support sexual harassment, grooming or any type of malicious intent against minors (or against anyone really) but the information has been formulated in a such a weird way and people from the staff of states are having conflicted reactions. 

So right now I think that is just completely separating myself from the state smp setting. 

I'm genuinely so sad and disappointed at literally everyone in the situation. 

Such delicate information should be treated with care and respect and both sides have done everything but that.

Now I want to thank every single one of you who have supported me and this story, from the people who commented saying they like my stuff to the people who just read every chapter and didn't say anything. 

Like I mentioned before I was never the writer type and was SUPER insecure with my writing when I started this fic, but thanks to every single one of you I got to enjoy writing and I felt confident when I published a chapter. 

So thank you from the deepest part of my heart. 

I also want to say that I want to keep writing about fandoms that I enjoy involving minecraft smp, like lifesteal and unstable, so if you like those you might see stories coming from me.

I want to add that I have a few ideas with the chained life group since I have been watching a lot of their streams so you might see something about them in the near future. 

I think that's everything I wanted to say as the final goodbye of this story. 

I genuinely appreciate the support and thank you for being here.

Your loyal author, 

Flochii Veintiuno.