Archive of Our Own ^beta

It started with a power surge, then an outage.

My headphones went silent. I didn’t know what caused it, and I didn’t need to. The city was under attack from a giant robot, security was down, so I packed my bag and ran. I ran far away and didn’t stop until the lights of the blended into the stars in the sky. As soon as I found something resembling shelter, I also found a ray gun pressed to my neck by two guys in colourful masks like superheroes shouting at me to explain myself, calling me names, and demanding the contents of my backpack for my life. “Uh, not thank you?” I said, my voice high pitched and quiet as I raised my hands.

“Oh the little mouse speaks! Good to know the city kept that intact!” one of them said, in the darkness I could only see the sillhouette of a pair of bunny ears on his head. It made up for his considerable lack of height. I winced and quietly excepted my fate. That was, until he showed up.

Honestly, looking back, he was just as messy and unintimidating as he is now, but back then, he looked like a god in my eyes because no one in Bat city would dress like that. I thought his dark red singlet and dirty white unbuttoned shirt looked kinda cool. His hair was auburn with a strand handing in his face and he had two moles on his left cheek. He also had a flashlight so, you know, that looked kinda impressive in the dark night. “Hey! Watch it there, Bones, Nonsense Tuned. Why’re you wasting battery on some weakling anyway? I thought you were above that."

“Ah, shit. Look, Ash, we’re just looking for supplies,” Muttered the taller one. He kept his ray gun aimed at me but seemed to hesitate. Now that I could actually see them, I noticed his outfit of mostly black clothes, with bleached and painted bone patterns and lots of silver accessories.

“Why are you looking out for a city boy anyway? Are you really that soft now?” said the other guy. He looked younger than me and dressed in pastel colours that may or may not have supposed to look like that. And yeah, he was wearing bunny ears for some fuckn’ reason that’s honestly beyond me. “I haven’t changed, Nonsense, He’s mine. Simple as that. Back off.”

“Woah, King of the Desert here thinks he’s all that now just because he rolled with Dr D and Cola a while back. Newsflash Rotary, They’re dead.” The goth sneered, his comment was completely gibberish to me, but it made this guy tense up. I got the feeling there was unresolved business between them. My defender didn’t dwell on it too long, and drew his ray gun on them.

“I won’t hesitate again, Bones.” He shouted, which made the goth guy pull his gun away from my head as he raised his hands in playful surrender, “Alright. Just sayin’, someone from our crew got dusted last week...”

“You weren’t trying to recruit him, you were trying to off him.”

“We never said it was him we wanted. The positions always open, Ash.” The bunny ears guy smirked at him and pivoted on his heel as they both walked away.

As they retreated, the other guy, my protector, shouted after them, “And I don’t want it.” Before running a hand through his messy hair turning to me and asking “So, you really just left the city, huh?” I felt shaken by the encounter, but tried to answer him though my voice shook.

“Er, y-yeah. Who are you?”

“Rotary Ash. You? Or, ah, I guess you don’t have a proper name yet.”

“A proper name?” I asked, we were standing next to what seemed to be the wreckage of an old car, so he sat down on a piece of metal sticking out of the ground and I sat next to him. He stood the torch in between us.

“Y’know, most Killjoys have names like mine. Those two were Nonsense Tuned and Bones. Most people have two words, not all. Mine is based off an old kinda phone because I like being connected to people or- used to be.” His expression grew sad for a moment before he smirked and said “And Ash because I like burning stuff.”

“Ah, that’s um, interesting… so it’s just stuff you like and connect with? Like poetry…”

“Ha, yeah, I guess it is a bit poetic. A lot of Killjoys love music and art and stuff too. Mostly because it’s emotional and messy and real.”

“Everything B.L.I isn't...” I muttered. I found it beautiful and exciting that there was a whole world of people like that.

“Yeah. You don’t have to come up with a name right away, but what do you like?” Rotary Ash said. his voice was loud and confident, I realised. He wouldn't survive in the city.

“Um, I uh, I like sewing… and rodents, like rats and stuff. And… I don’t know, spaghetti?”

He laughed and smiled at me “Well that's something. Have a think about it, dude.” He said, patting me gently on the shoulder.

“Is that okay? You don’t have anything to call me.”

“Then what about something simple, a one-word name I can call ya by? And if you ever find something you like more, it’ll become my nickname for you.”

“Ha, yeah, I like that. You can call me Rote. That’s what my girlfriend used to call me,” His face flickered with that sadness again, so I decided to leave it. it was so late couldn't tell if it was midnight or early morning, so Rote took me back to where he'd set up camp.

It was just past midnight, about 2 or 3, when we made it back to my camp from earlier that night. I relit the fire and Stitches started looking through his backpack for something, his blue-ish black hair and rectangular glasses reflecting the fire light.

“What you got there?” I asked

“Just some spare clothes, water, food, soap and hand sanitiser.”

I noded, he seemed to have been pretty prepared. “So how long were you planning an escape for?”

“Oh, I’ve been dreaming of it for a while, but there was this power outage tonight? And I think a bunch of people made it out. I tried to convince my- er, roommate, and he helped me pack, but he refused to come with me.”

“Ooohh,” I said.

He rummaged through the spare clothes and laid them out on the ground. “I’d really like to get out of this suit soon. I just got home from work when the power outage hit.” He said. I took a look at the clothes. Some jeans, some cargo pants and shorts, and a few plain t-shirts. One shirt stood out to me, a black and white striped long sleeve. I smiled. “Hey this one’s pretty cool.”

“Huh? Yeah, I guess, but wouldn’t it be a bit hot in the desert?”

“Sure, but it’ll make good sun protection.”

“I mean- I heard the sun’s pretty bad out here. My roommate was a low-level Scarecrow. I- um, I was a drac sout, but I’ve barley been out. Just got promoted, actually.” He looked kinda ashamed of it. I could see why. It isn’t exactly a good look when you worked with the people who were actively trying to kill us. Suddenly, I had an idea. “Dude, come on, let’s give you a full desert makeover!”

Not gonna lie, he looked a little scared, but I went through some of my clothes and found an off black band shirt that had a rip in the sleeve. I explained that’s why I don’t wear it that often and that, because it’s a bit big on him, it’ll fil perfectly over the striped shirt. He thought about it for a minute, before taking a stack of offcut fabric pieces from his bag and saying “I can fix it up”.

He ended up using a strip of black and yellow striped fabric, like caution tape, it actually looked really cool. When I saw him for the first time in proper killjoys clothes, gotta admit, I was a little proud of him. He’d added some patches to the cargo pants too, little splashes of colour and pattern along with some beads I’d threaded onto his bootlaces while he was sewing. “Yeah! You’re one of us now, dude!” I said, maybe shouted, Stitches didn’t seem to mind though, he was smiling like crazy.

I noticed his eyes drift from his old clothes on the ground behind him to the fire behind me and I smiled to. “You wanna burn them?” I asked.

“Oh definitely.” He replied, he picked up the shirt and threw it into the fire, burning his old life till all that’s left was the jacket. As the embers fluttered away, I saw his shoulders relax a little. I came to stand next to him. I’d noticed earlier that the jacket was big on him. Too big. I was starting to suspect it wasn’t his, so it honestly wasn’t a surprise to me that he kept it.

“Hey this might be a bit of a weird question, but…” he said, turning to face me.

“Yeah?” I said

“Do you know where I could find hair dye? I, um, I’ve always wanted to try it but my roomate said it was stupid and they don't let dracs do much-” He rambled. I could tell he was nervous to ask

“I know where to get it. I’ll take ya tomorrow.”

The next day I woke up early like usual and turned on the radio. Static. Like I’d expected. That brat, Val Velocity, had taken out Dr D a few days ago now and Cola had gone a few before that, but I still wasn’t used to the white noise that filled the void.

“What are you listening to?” Behind me, Stiches had woken up from where he’d fallen asleep in that jacket.

“The radio. There used to be noise. There were these DJs, mainly Dr Death Defying. The voice of the desert we called him. He’s gone now. Last thing that came through the airwaves was his death announcement. Carried out by me and this girl- she’s a legend, see? I dunno what happened in Bat city, but she led the charge. A bunch of Killjoys marching into the city to make a stand. I would’ve gone too, but I couldn’t stand to be around… well…” I struggled to describe Val in a way that would make sense to him. I couldn’t, but Stitch didn’t really care. He didn’t ask. Honestly, he’s pretty respectful of my past.

Of course he did ask some questions though, “So, you were friends with, er, Dr Death Defying?”

“Yeah, he helped me out and stuff when my girlfriend died. He and Cherry Cola. They were good people. All of ‘em.” It hurt to think about them, but one thing I’ve learnt is that it’s not fair to them to not remember them. They live on in our memory so supressing it? It’s like killing them again. I’d never do that to my girl. Or Cola. Or D.

Before we could talk more, though, a noise cut through the static on the radio. “W-hr-th-eyr—zzzz” A voice! Both me and Stitches crowded around the old thing trying to make out the sounds. I could see more questions in his eyes, but neither of us wanted to risk drowning out the noise.

“zzz-Heya folks! Can ya hear me now? S’pin a while since Dr D came off the air, but we couldn’t let that silence last forever. ‘Specially with the influx of City people escaping into the desert. I couldn’t just leave ya in the dark now could I? Even if you were there that night, and believe me, I was, you still might be a bit confused so lets sum it up. Hi, I’m Risky Runaway and here’s the rundown.”

Stiches seemed to mouth the name before meeting my gaze “Who is this guy?”

“I don’t know. Haven't heard much of him but that don’t mean much.”

The announcement continued, “Last night, the Ultra V’s lead by everyone’s favourite Party Poison rip-off, Val Velocity, marched into Bat City with the girl, yep that’s right, THE girl who used to roll with the ever relevant Fab Four. Rumour has it that she had them surrender and when they tried to mask her, things went all haywire and all B.L.I devices short circuited, killing the power in Bat City. That’s where I pulled up to see crowds running away. And they just kept comin’ all through the night. B.L.I must be left crippled, but I did my part and helped a few get away faster. One o’ which is now rolling with me. From what we can tell, most people made it out, leaving only the coldest crows and deranged dracs left, though some other people mighta slept through the wreak. You can expect a whole lotta downsizing and more attacks of smaller troops. But that’s just the half of it. You may have noticed the giant head thingy from near the nest has risen up out of the ground and walked across the dessert. Yeah according to some of the more degenerate Battery Citizens have informed me that it’s what the droids call “Destroya”. Their saviour who would liberate them from the City. Some accounts say that it was holding a droid. A blue haired girl. That’s all I got so far. I’ll be cruising around today making sure no deaths go unnoticed, under the radar and, uh, if any y’all see me out there, feel free to say hi.” Before the voice cut to static again, a mutter was heard in the background. A different, deeper voice and a quieter “Alright” from Runaway, before he continued. "That's me today, folks! Keep safe out there. We don't know where the road is headed, but we're travelin' the same one so don't let anyone get lost, ya hear?" The radio fizzled out to static again.

I turned down the radio and a moment of silence fell between Stitches and I. I smiled to myself. “New blood, huh? Good. I was worried we’d be lost without someone. It’s what D would’ve wanted.”

“Do you have any idea what’s going on with this guy?”

“I dunno. From how he talked, he sounds like a motor baby. Doesn’t leave his car much. Also sounds like I’m not the only one with a new friend today.” I smirked and him, and he returned it in a smile. “So that’s it, huh? The morning news?”

“Yeah, usually there's some music too, but it’s no surprise this Runaway guy doesn’t have the full set up yet.” I hesitate, remembering the night before. “Come on, let’s go get some breakfast and hopefully some hair dye.”

“Come on princess, time to wake up,”

I opened my eyes to see a boy with brown hair and a stupid hat. Last night he’d gotten very mad at me for commenting on it, but even in the morning, it just looked so silly. Those little flaps on the side covering his ears and neck. Hehe. What’re they protecting him from? Sideways sun?

He must’ve seen me smiling at it because he shouted at me again to “Get up” and “Stop staring”... Fair.

His name was... Orion, if I remember correctly, and his boyfriend was Shooter Elk! Oh wait, that’s right, not boyfriends. They made that very clear too. When I got up, I relised that my hair that had been neatly braided behind me was now messy and undone. Logically, I should’ve cut it right? But I like having it long, at the same time, I don’t have a brush…

Walking out of the shabby bedroom I’d slept in, I found an even more beaten up living room and kitchen. There seemed to be three other rooms and one of the walls was half collapsed. Orion was sitting on a worn couch, and a pretty blond boy, Elk lay across his lap. 'Not boyfriends', riiiiiiight… Behind the kitchen counter was the other guy, an older man, old enough that he probably even fought in the analogue wars. His hair was dirty blond, and he wore a tattered trench coat over a stained button up. Kinda like worn version of city clothes. His glasses were cracked, and he had bandages over his right eye. What was his name again? I hope it doesn’t come up… He looked up from what he was doing and smiled at me.

“Oh, you’re up. Sorry about Orion, he can be a bit, er, argumentative.” He said, eying his companion. Orion returned a wary glance.

“Watch it Savior.” Oh riiiiight. That was his name. Saviour Angel? Yeah. Okay. I laughed to myself.

“Hm? What’s so funny?” Angel asked.

I smiled at him and said, “Our names match. I’m Angelica.” He returned my smile as he leaned against the counter.

“Welcome to the crew, Angelica. You’re one of us now.”

From behind me, Elk sat up, arms stretched out to lean on the armrest next to Orion, he chimed in saying, “Yeah, welcome aboard! If there’s anything you need just ask.”

Orion sighed. I looked at their faces, their clothes, them. Dirty and chaotic. Fun. Oh! That reminds me!

“Do you guys have a hairbrush?” I asked.

Orion and Elk exchanged glances before Orion said “Uh, maybe in the bathroom? That door through there.” He pointed to one, and I wondered if that meant I took one of their rooms, or if they slept in the same room. I said thanks and as I walked towards the door, Elk followed to help me look.

The bathroom was a little dirty, like everything in the desert, but Elk immediately started looking through the most likely drawers. “We have some hair ties and things,” he said, taking out a few, “so I’m sure we have one somewhere. Ah, here!” He took out a surprisingly clean hairbrush and handed it over. “Though you might want to think about a different style, y’know, just for fun.” He said, smiling.

“Fun… Hmm…” I took out my hair and started brushing it. “I don’t know. Braids are the best way to keep it tidy. I used to have two, but my boss told me it looked too childish.”

“Well, Angelica, no body out here will judge you. It’s a world full of colour and chaos and light. Everyone does what they want. Besides, that sounds so cute!”

I looked at myself in the dirty bathroom mirror. My untied hair was poofing up around my face, A big strand falling to the right. “Yeah! Why not!”

It took a few hours, and the others helped too, but by the end, my outfit was way more desert appropriate and most importantly, I thought it looked pretty cool. While Elk braided my hair, the boom box blared. A new host they said. He had a nice voice. Orion called him annoying. “Seems B.L.I is fallin’ behind. Don’t expect them to be runnin’ the city much longer. People still roam the streets and some are still leaving even now. Still, I wouldn’t call it safe. Reports are that a few Scarecrows still remain, as well as some dracs and some captives. So save your raids for another day when the streets are filled with our parade. The sun has set, but the party hasn’t begun yet. Hold in there Killjoys.”

“Aaaaand done!” Elk said at last. I stood up and twirled around.

“You might need this too.” Orion handed me a ray gun, Saviour Angel shook his head and said, “She won’t be needing one of those out here.”

“You can never be too careful. Plus, it looks cool.” Savior sighed, I laughed. The desert is so fun!

The desert is really hard to write about! I still like it though. I’ve always like talking to people, gossiping, and now I get to do it on the radio, but like, it’s so hard to make yourself do something. Even though I want to work on this, I just wanna drive. I finished my broadcast, and sigh. I lay down on the roof of my car, my impromptu studio, and just watch the sky. I pulled my shades over my eyes and started humming to myself. No specific tune. Just noise. Just something. I tried a few note. Random melodies, before settling on an old memory, “Burning on, just like a match, you strike to incinerate…” it was a tune I remembered from my childhood. It was supposed to be loud, and sometimes I sung it that way, but I was tired now. Mentally at least. So it came out soft. Like a lullaby. “The very lives of everyone you know. And what's the worst you take, from every heart you break? And like the blade you'll stain. Well, I've been holding on tonight.” At some point my mind switched off, I closed my eyes and lost track of time. But I kept singing, like autopilot.

I checked back into reality at the end of the song when the silence pierced my mind. I sat up and slid off the car. I’ll die of radiation one of these days I swear, but it’s a pretty sweet ride till then. When I get off, Eddie's there waiting for me. He looked at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read yet. Annoyed maybe? Too calm. Confused? Probably, to be honest. In awe of my good looks and singing skills? Not a chance with this guy. I really didn't know him well enough after only three day. After a nervous minute, he said “You know that song?”

“Yeah,” I replied, not what I was expecting, but I honestly don’t know what was, “Why?”

“It’s an old one. From a bit before the analogue wars. My memories are fuzzy, and most music was digital so they’ve wiped most of it from the internet, but… I um, I managed to pirate a copy of that album.” He looked embarrassed, but I just smirked at him.

“Wow, piracy, cool. I barely remember the names of the songs I know, they all blurred together a while ago, but when things started getting weird, when my family fled the city, I downloaded a bunch of music and filled up every charging port I could find for my dingy little iPod. Every chance I got, I downloaded new music until I couldn’t find any more. And eventually the power ran dry.” Eds looked genuinely sad for me, or annoyed, or both. After a minute, he said, “Helena, right? That song?” I laugh lightly and nod.

“That sounds right. I wouldn’t really know. I probably could recharge the old thing, but it’s a really old model, old port, and none of the inside guys who I talked to could smuggle something that specific.” “You have a tendency to ramble don’t you?” He muttered, I flinched and felt kinda embarrassed, but I probably looked more horrified. In a dramatic kinda way.

“What? No I don’t! I definitely don’t! I talk a pretty normal amount but-like-yeah! It’s not that weird!” He rolled his eyes at me. I ah, probably could’ve said that better…. But I mean, I live my whole life on whatever instinct takes me so I don’t really care if it don’t make sense. I gesture for him to get back in the car with me and when he sits down next to me he asks what charger I need. “Lightning. It’s an Apple device so since B.L.I steeped the market, they stopped making them.”

He nodded and said “If you’re right we’re this is headed, I can take you back to my place in the city. I think I have one of those.”

“Sweet. Then we can put these airwaves to good use and blast Fall Out Boy until the witch comes to get us. Or the Sun. Whichever’s first.” A hint of a smile crossed his face and honestly, I realised how lucky I got to have him with me. He’s honestly kinda cute when you get to know him. “You’re really really weird” He said.

“Don’t I know it,” I replied “Now, I think there’s a group of stragglers a few kilometres from here. I saw their campfire last night. We’re too close to the city for any Killjoy to hang around. Unless they got a story?”

“It’s even weirder that you’re a journalist.”

“Ey! I’m just a truth seeker. A rebel. A dust bunny drifting around and anyways, the journalist were the first to get shut down.”

“So you admit you are.”

“I’m not a nerd!”

Our back and forth continued as we sped across the sand.

The elevator doors dinged open and I stepped out into the glossy white hallway of floor 6. The lab. In my time as a Scarecrow I’ve spent a lot of time here working with the head researcher in desert activities, Vega. They’re a weird little guy and remind me a bit of my roommate-kinda-totally-boyfriend (we’re totally dating guys).

But whatever! Look- the point is that it wasn’t just Vega meeting me in the lab today. When I walked in, my little scientist is sitting is her usual spot backlit by his, like, 8 monitors. I’ve been begging him to let me play something on that thing. But noooo that “unprofessional” … Anyway, she was sitting at their usual spot surrounded by my boss, Normal Guy standing next to them on one side, and Vick, another guy a rank above me who got upgraded to an operation head like Normal Guy when the top exterminator, Korse, got booted. Several steps behind them Bok-Su, my former assistant and current mission buddy (or whatever they want us to call it), who I walked to stand next to. At the table, Vick was arguing with a guy sitting at a wheelie chair. He was dressed in pink, his hair was pink, and it kinda gave the effect of his skin being pink too. Or maybe it was. Idk. They seemed to be arguing about some assignment. The pink guy was leaning back in his chair, saying “Eh I’ll be fine, I don’t need training.”

Vick tried to convince him. “It isn’t about your skill or- er, “charisma”, it’s about not having the resources to sell it. You can’t even see if your audience buys it, so you really need-”

“I don’t need anythin’. Promise.” The pink guy said, running a hand through his greasy ahh hair.

“You’re going to get caught! Then the whole mission will fail- and then our last scarecrows will go down- and then the city will collapse, and- Do you get what I’m trying to say?!” Vega shouted. Yikes. Bok-Su and I exchanged glances and nodded at each other.

I stepped up to Vega and put a hand on their shoulder. “Heeeey, there buddy. Don’t spiral just yet.”

“Of course you would think it’s okay! You’re always too laid back. And then when things go awry-” as they spoke, her voice rose it pitch and volume. Sheesh. Catastrophising queen I guess…

“I always land on top. We’re strong. B.L.I. can’t die, and I wouldn’t let you either.” I winked at him and they scowled at me.

Normal Guy laughed in that way that he has where, y’know, he doesn’t really laugh? He said “Hello there! My excellent Scarecrow. Welcome to our new initiative, operation infiltration!”

I cracked a smile. “Hey that rhymes!”

Normal Guy smiled at me, but Vick was all gloomy and serious. Wow I am really glad that Normal Guy’s my boss and not him. Poor Bok-Su though. When she got promoted from my assistant, she got transferred to work under Vick. Anyway, he snapped his fingers at us and shouted to pay attention. “I’ve enlisted the help of Cupid here,” the weird pink man waved at us, “his job will be to infiltrate Killjoy spaces via broadcasts. However, we still need someone out there infiltrating the field.”

“And you need us to do it?” Asked Bok-Su.

“No, of course not. They may know your faces now. Anyway, we need our exterminators fully available 24/7-”

“However, we do want to implement spies from our ranks.” Normal Guy interrupted, smiling when Vick glared. Vega cut in before another argument could break out.

“The problem arises with whether we should use members of our own ranks. One argument,” he gestured towards Vick, “is that it would be better to find, capture and use new escapees that have real networks and pre-established bonds, yet are still in fear- or uh, ‘under our control’.” Vega hesitated, reading the faces of the two higher ups, both blank, before continuing, “The other argument is to use people who are fully under our control. We’ve already gone through a screening process to find two adept candidates who are currently undergoing training and will be ‘escaping’ some time between tonight and tomorrow.” Normal Guy smirked at Vick. “However, we want to trial both ideas. Both to eliminate rate of failure and find out which method works best for future ventures. That being said, er, I do think that the former may be more effective than the latter as time goes on.”

Vick’s turn to smirk. Normal Guy frowned and walk around to stand next to him. I looked at him kinda confused and he did the lil shushy gesture thingy while Vick leaned over Vega’s shoulder to look at their stats or whatever. A few seconds later, Vick screamed in pain and leaned forward on the desk. “Ow! What the fuck?!” He snarled.

“Tehehe…” Normal Guy said.

I leaned towards Bok-Su and whispered, “What just happened?”

Bok-Su responded at a normal volume, “He kicked him in the shins.”

“Really mature of you, you know?” Vick complained.

“Look, ALL I’M SAYING IS bugging captives would form mistrust and genuine panic rather than just shunning any new faces. And with time, we can use the bugs to launch new brain washing tech. Besides, they can’t reveal much if they get caught so…” Vega explained.

“You’d know a thing of two about mistrust, so I’ll trust ya on that!” I laughed.

Normal Guy patted me on the shoulder and said “Your job is to capture and plant these little devices on- hey hold on. Where did-?” He patted his pockets down, looking for something. Behind him, Vick was holding a small bag containing the bugs. “Looking for these?”

“Hey, give that back.” A small chase/fight broke out in the lab while Vega winced and tried to ignore it.

“Anything else I need to know?”

“I’ll… send you the mission brief.” Their voice was tense. I could see they were stressed by the two adult men arguing in their lab.

“Anything I can do to help you out?” I offered.

“Not much, no. Unless you could give me a raise?” They sounded kinda just nervous, kinda just desparate, but it’s not like I exactly had that much budget. Or power. I mean, I’m her manager, but NG and Vick still control both our pay. Still.

“Ha, we’ll see. Anything for my pet scientist.”

“Please don’t call me that…” They mumbled.

“Fine, my little lab rat.” I did finger guns and said goodbye. Me and Bok-Su walked off. We walked in silence until we were in the lift.

“I think they’re intimidated by you.” Bok-Su said.

“Really? You think? I dunno, I think they’ve warmed up to me.”

Bok-Su looked at me weird. “Sure. I guess. I’ll trust that you’re not treating them that badly.”

“Nah, you beat that out of me the first week we worked together!” I laughed. The doors dinged open.

“This is my floor. Bye, dude.” Bok-Su waved to me.

It’s been about a month since she’d been living on a different floor, since she’d been transferred, but whatever. It’s not like I miss her.

When I get home, it’s only me.

The radio was on again. I don’t know why Ryan bothered, but he was trying to ‘tune in to Killjoys frequencies.’ We all knew it won’t really work, but Vonnie’s trying to help him out. At least that’s what I can hear from behind the broken piece of metal I slept behind. A voice crackles and I hear McCoy shouting. Carmen’s voice from closer by called, “June! June! Come! Ryan did it! Or-well, Vonnie did. But we got it!”

I shot up from where I sat. “wait, WHAT?!” I ran right past Carmen, nearly knocking her over, “Sorry!” I called as I rushed to Ryan’s side where he and Vonnie where celebrating. “Yeahhhh! We did it!”

“Of course, I knew I’d get it eventually I-”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re both super smart ‘n stuff, now let us listen!” McCoy shouted excitedly.

“Uh oh, emergency broadcast, Killjoys! Keep your eyes on the skylines because from where we’re driving, there seems to be a white B.L.I. van driving in. Now, normally that’s just an ordinary alert, but the direction is that of a camp not too far out. Western side of the city, seemingly a group of fresh faces, but don’t worry, we’re comin’ in quick, just hang in there, tumbleweeds!” The broadcast cut out. Leaving silence in the camp for approximately four seconds before Ryan rushed to pack his stuff. There was screaming and chaos, and I remember grabbing my bag too, but all of us saw it when we looked to the city. That white van approaching.

It was chaos. Pure, pure chaos. It took a few minutes for disaster to hit, but Vonnie was shouting orders, Carmen was crying, McCoy was desperately staring off into the distance trying to gage how far away help was. Ryan packed quickly and ran to me, grabbing my arm and talking to me in panicked whispers. “It’ll be alright, June. Stay near the edge of the campsite. Stay near the edge and run when they hit.”

"But- but what about them?”

“They’ll get away too, June. It’ll be fine. We’ll all make it out but it’s easier to move in smaller groups. You just stay with me. It’ll be alright.” I could tell from how he kept saying it that he was trying to reassure himself.

And then they came.

We were all running by now, together. I made sure Ryan didn’t leave before that. We ran and the van parked at our campsite and two people got out. Unmaksed. Scarecrows. Shit. A woman in all black and a much taller man in a suit without the jacket. I didn’t have time to watch them much closer. I turned my head and focused on the road until- “Wait! The radio!” McCoy shouted.

“Leave it!” Vonnie shouted back.

“Yeah, dude, it’s not that deep. I got all the other tech and the modifier so-” Ryan tried to reason with him, but it was too late. He was already running back. Carmen and Vonnie shouted and started to turn back. I hesitated and looked back, but Ryan came behind me, placing a hand on my back and pushing me forward. “Don’t worry, June. Keep running, don’t look back.” I can feel his fear and even my own as we both ran. Until I felt something hit my ankle. “Ow!” I scream, “June!” I hit the ground hard. My head hurt. I started to feel dizzy and I felt my head pulled onto his lap…

I faze in and out of consciousness.

Ryan stroking my hair. Then he gets up to leave...

His jacket under my head on the desert ground. Someone bandaging my ankle. And a skirmish in the distance where our campsite used to be. A car rushing off towards it.

Finally, I properly wake up in the back seat of a car. I’m stretched out across McCoy, Vonnie and Carmen’s lap. “Wha.” I grunt, staring up at Carmen whose fidgeting anxiously with the edge of her cardigan until she hears me. “Oh! Junebug!!” Her face lights up with warmth. Ryan smiles at me too and McCoy cheers. Vonnie immediately gets to work explaining “June! Thank God you’re awake. These two Killjoys saved us after you passed out.” She gestured to the two me in the front seats. A ginger guy waved at us from the driver’s seat and his friend, a guy with black hair that covered his right eye, looked at me in the rear-view mirror.

“How’s you leg?”

“Okay…” It felt kind of numb honestly. Though my I realise my feet were lightly resting on Ryan’s leg. I’m not tall enough for it to bother him though.

The man in the passenger seat nodded. “Good. I did my best to wrap it but honestly, I don’t really know what I’m doing.” It felt weird that this stranger had done that for me, but I responded with a “that’s okay”. I didn’t really mind.

He continued. “I’m Eddie, by the way. Your friend Ryan went back with Risk.” He gestured to the ginger guy who continued the story. “ When we got back, the Scarecrows had taken your folks into that van of theirs. We broke them out before they could run. You guys are lucky they were soft on you cause you’re city folk. They were shooting at me like crazy but you only took one hit!” He laughed. The rest of us stayed quiet. Only one day out here and I get the feeling we just dodged a huge bullet.

I glanced to the clock on the wall. Counting down the minutes until-

“My dear Da-Jeong.”

She never missed. She was always right on time. Down to the second. I would know. I have nothing to do but count.

I look at her through the bars of my cell. Her messy, greasy hair pulled back, a slight sweat visible on her forehead. She must’ve just got back from a job.

She slid the tray of food through the slot and onto the table on my side.

She always wanted to stay and chat, but I never did. At this point, I’m just her personal diary.

“We started a new initiative today, Da-Jeong. Infiltrating the desert. Spying on Killjoys.” I tried to bite my tongue but I couldn’t help but retort.

“More betrayal? More monitoring? You’re taking away peoples lives bit by bit. Destroying their relationships- their lives and you know it.” I stood up, walking over to the face her.

She laughed at me “My, so hurt? You’re as fierce as ever I see.”

“You killed him. You really expect me to-”

“It wasn’t me who shot the gun. It was you who made the choice to leave. You tried to run. This is what happens.” She said. I saw that flinch though, she knows that she’s responsible.

“Besides, if you wanted to leave, you shouldn’t have waited until I had to most at stake.” She shrugged and walked away.

The clack of her boots against the tiled floor fills the air even after her departure.

Two years I’ve been stuck here.

Two years since he died.

Since she killed him.

Since she was promoted.

It’s been two days since I left the city. Part of my fringe on the right is now dyed bright green, Rote has a dyed the strand that hangs in front of his eyes a matching colour.

I was standing outside Chow Mein’s shop waiting for Rote. It’s routine that he’d take longer than me, except this day something had caught my eye. My hand reached into the pocket of my shorts. Two things. A packet of candy to throw off the scent. And a packet of cigarettes. I know it’s bad. That’s why I’m hiding. I’ve been trying to quite for years, but since my roommate smoked a lot, I never really full did. And somehow, I’m here. Wondering when I’d even have time away from Roat. Especially since I’d have to steal his matches or lighter. Why does he even have two different ways to start a fire? Probably good if I don’t but….

Car comes towards the shop. Drifting to a halt. The people inside start to get out. Most of them are in city clothes. Probably people like me, but they look shaken. The driver got out and handed the passengers some carbons. Gave them a few tips for survival and leaned against the hood of his car, talking to the guy who was riding shotgun and was now standing next to him. He was wearing a plain white button up shirt and a red tie. Another runaway. They talked for a bit before the driver, an energetic ginger, noticed me staring. He waved at me and his friend says something to him that stops him from striking a conversation with me. Thankfully.

Less than a minute later, Rote comes back out and after checking in on me, he walked over to the guys and started talking to him. “Hey! I haven’t seen you around much. I mean that’s not that weird, but what’s your name?”

I cringe at how socially incompetent this introduction was, but the other guy didn’t even flinch. Though his friend did.

“I’m Risky Runaway. You- er- mighta heard my broadcast over the last two days?”

“What’s your name?” I ask softly.

“Eddie. You?”

“That’s honestly a bit confusing right now because I just got here, but I’ve been going by Stitches?”

“So you’re like me then?”

“Yeah.” I say. And that’s it. We have a few more meaningless exchanges before the other two drag us onto whatever random adventure they have planned, but my hand never leaves that packet in my pocket.

They were arguing again. I literally just woke up. I walked into the living room and was hit with two things. One, Orion and Elk arguing over the radio. That kinda arguing where they weren’t fully screaming at least but they were talking a whole damn lot. Two, that smell. I looked to the kitchen where Angelica was watching the boys fighting, with two mugs in front of her. When she meets my eyes she smiles and waves me over. “Savior! Here! I er, found this in the supplies I pack and I though-”

“You had actual coffee? And you DIDN’T SAY SOMETHING SOONER?!” That came out louder than I intended, but Angelica didn’t seem to mind. “It’s pretty cheap but it was in the stuff I threw in my bag. I had a few packets and since we don’t have milk….”

“That’s fine. I appreciate it. This kinda stuff is hard to find out here.” I smiled at her. She smiled back. We sat down on a couch across from the other two and I think I might have stared at her a bit, but she didn’t notice.

She seemed to be in her 20s, young and smiley with a softly round face. She has a few freckles or moles around her face. Her hair is a similar kind of whitish-blonde colour as Elk. And me to some extent. Though I think my hair is bit of a dirtier colour. Nothing about me is clean.

I know people have asked if Elk and I are related, so I wondered if we look like we’re related. Ha. I wouldn’t mind being her weird great uncle kinda figure. I really love these weird children I’ve adopted since I’ve been in the desert. My children…

The argument going on is about some broad cast. “It’s a hoax, I’m telling ya! There’s no way we can trust that guy!”

“I think we should give him a shot. What makes you suspect him but not the other guy?”

“Because this guy’s just giving the wrong vibe. He doesn’t talk like D did and he’s trying to get us all to meet up too quick. It’s like he’s luring us around.”

“You just don’t like him cause he’s old.”

“He literally said he wasn’t gonna be there. AT A PARTY HE’S THROWING.” Orion threw his hands up in annoyance and I interrupted.

“Who are you talking about exactly?” I asked.

Elk Sniper smiled and calmly explained. “Well, there was this new broadcaster competing with Risk to claim Dr D’s crown.”

“Another one already?” Angelica said quietly.

“Apparently. His name is Cupid- or so he says- and he’s already named a time and place fir a party. He expects people to head back to the nest after all that’s happened? No way!” Orion said, really annoyed now.

“Yeah, definitely a hoax. Don’t trust him.” I added.

“SEE??!!!!” Shouted Orion. There was a bit more back and forth but ultimately, they both know I have the final say.

We get out of the house around ten according to watch. An old thing from before the analogue wars that I got converted to solar powered when I was back in the city. The boys never asked a whole lot about my life before this and I’m grateful for that.

I don’t really know what they were even looking for today. They just love wandering around and finding cool stuff. Thankfully, I have a digital map, so we don’t get lost. Our biggest problem is leaving our shitty house left alone. Sometimes I stay home because of that, but they like having me out and I like to make sure they don’t get hurt. It’s my job after all.

They run ahead and shout and play and pick at scrap metal like little kids even though I they’re both legal adults. Barley.

“Hey! Saviour, Angelica!” Elk Sniper ran to me and pointed into the distance. “There are people in the distance!”

I looked to where he was going, and sure enough, there are two figures walking aimlessly. “Can I go talk to them?”

“You don’t have to ask every time, you know?” I said with a sigh. Though in my head I was glad that he still asked. That he still came to me. It made my job easier.

“Yeah, sure, but they’re coming from the direction of the city.” Orion complains

“We don’t know that.” Elk objected and another fight broke out.

The boys finally shut up when I started walking towards the strangers. “Let’s talk to them. They might need help like Angelica. But Orion’s right to be wary. Elk, gun at the ready.” He nodded at me. They all did. Both boys had the same expressions. Confident smirk, eyebrows furrowed. Ready for conflict. I realised a few years ago that they got it from me. It’s weird because I noticed Angelica watching us and copying too.

When we got a better look at them, they looked really non-threatening. A tall man with a wide frame and green hair and a short girl who looked to be around the boys’ age with brown hair. As soon as I saw this, I felt myself relax. Angelica and Elk’s expressions turned to something like a small, slightly confused kitten. They really do look like siblings. Orion, however, stayed guarded. I suppose that’s his role in the team.

“Oh, hi there!” The man smiles at us and waves at us. They’re both covered in dirt and dust.

“Hi hi! Did you come from the city?” Elk asks, putting away his ray gun.

“Yeah,” said the girl, “we just managed to get away. B.L.I. hasn’t been the same since that day. There are some people who are legit just living completely fine. Too many dracs and scarecrows left to enforce boarders.” She shrugged.

Orion grabbed Elk Sniper’s hand before he continued the interrogation. “Really now? Why didn’t you leave earlier?”

“I didn’t want to make any rushed choices. I weighed up my options and managed to get away.” Said the girl.

“I had to say goodbye to my plants… I’m still really scared for them, to be honest, but I couldn’t bring them out here since they’d never survive the sun.” The green haired guy explained shyly.

Elk and Orion looked to each other a bit confused, but Angelica asked the next question.

“So what are your names? And how do you know each other?”

“Oh, we met while we were leaving. Thought it was better to stay together. I’m Cobyn and this is Poppy.” He responded.

Now I hate it when people say “I later found out” because WHEN DID YOU FIND OUT? But I will say that I later found out they use she/they and he/they pronouns respectively… I found out later that afternoon when Elk asked. I’m old okay? I FORGOT TO ASK!!! I feel kinda bad about that. Just think I need to say that because I’ve been distinguishing by gender this whole time because I DIDN’T KNOW I’M SORRY.

“So would you like to stay with us for a bit while you find your feet?” I asked. Orion gave me a death glare for that.

“Oh, come on we don’t have enough space! We already gave the spare room to Angelica.” He protested. I paused for a second before I made up my mind.

“It’ll be fine. I can take the couch. We have spare sleeping bags and stuff anyway.”