Seeking Strays

The meeting between all of the Guardians and Canaries assigned to the academy went about as expected. That is to say—boring. They all gave us a warm welcome, naturally. Two of them were old couples that’d diligently protected the city in ages past, and now had cushy jobs as a reward for their service. The last duo was young like me and Quinn, and the Guardian was a White Rabbit to boot.

Once the meeting was over, I walked out alongside Quinn and headed for our office. It was an annoyingly long and bland meeting that sucked up most of our day. I did, however, get the Calamity requisition forms figured out with the help of Jessica, one of the elderly Canaries. She’d been all too willing to help me out.

The elderly Canaries were familiar faces. They were here when we graduated from the academy so long ago… we graduated when I was 19, and I was 23 now. Had it really been four years since I officially became a Canary? It felt like so much longer. I frowned and went through the dates in my head.

Anyway, we’d have four Calamities ready and waiting by the end of the week. I wasn’t expecting much, to be honest. We were basically shoving the kids out of the nest while they were still in their eggs. Forget flight training—they didn’t even have wings yet.

Part of me felt kind of bad that we might be traumatizing these kids for life. The other half of me kinda hoped they would be traumatized and drop out of Guardian training now. There were other jobs for Awoken, some of them just as integral depending on their ability. I mean, look at me? Not everyone was a combatant, and that was okay.

’Sides, the week delay was longer than Quinn and I got. We’d barely met each other before we were flung into the storm sewers to hunt a Calamity under the supervision of our instructors. There was a reason Tori ended up dying so quickly. 

“What’s up with you?” Quinn wrapped her arms around my shoulders, and leaned on my back as we walked away from the meeting room. Her physical affection drew me out of my dreary thoughts. “You’ve been out of it all morning.”

“This really okay?” I wiggled around in her arms, and curled tighter around Vigil as she pulled me to a halt in the middle of the hallway. “We’re in school, Quinn.”

”I asked first?” She asked back instead of giving me a proper answer. ‘Cause of course she did. Not like we were setting a bad example. “No one's in the halls, anyway. And since when was a little affection between us girls not allowed?”

I sighed, and shrugged her arms off of me. I hadn’t gotten much sleep, so I was pretty exhausted on top of everything else. The posters glared at me throughout the night again. Then there was the meeting this morning and, well—“I just want to sleep.”

“I can think of more fun things to do in bed.” She didn’t even react to my glare, and just shrugged unapologetically.

“Really, Quinn?” Why couldn’t she let a conversation just be normal for, like, five minutes? That wasn’t asking for too much, was it? “Sylvie and I got into an argument last night.”

“Again? That girl…” Quinn moved around in front of me and shook her head as if she was disappointed in my sister.

“It was my fault,” I quickly clarified. I still wasn’t sure why or how I pissed her off so much last night, but it being my fault was perfectly clear.

“Somehow, I highly doubt that.” My Guardian grimaced, and shook her head. “She was all over the place while you were out, Reyna. I thought she was well behaved, but—“

“Don’t talk bad about Sylvie.” I glared at Quinn as my lip curled up to reveal a canine. Of course she was out of it. Judging her over that so wasn’t fair. Anyone would be in a bad mood with their only family member stuck in a coma.

“My, my, still got that nasty protective streak?” She raised her hands in surrender, and laughed lightly. “If I didn’t know better, I’d call you a mama bear instead of a sister wolf.”

“You feel clever after that one?” I held Vigil in one hand and tiredly stared down at the cute silver plushie.

“Like a valedictorian." Her smile slowly melted, and she stared at me thoughtfully. “You know, if we got you some new clothes you could be the perfect gloomy teacher at this rate.”

“What’s wrong with my clothes?” I stared down at my nice blouse and slacks. It was one of the three nice outfits I had on rotation.

“Everything.” She sighed heavily, and rubbed at her skull like I was some great mystery she couldn’t understand. “Seriously, girl, you could do way better. If we got you something that accentuated your body a bit more, you could turn every head on the street.”

“As if I’d want that.” I’ll just keep to my nice, simple clothing. The less people who noticed me, the better. Especially with all the fame from making it back from the Mire still hanging over my head. “And why don’t you take your judgmental ass and go somewhere else?”

 “Ah, c’mon Rey-Rey. Cheer up, yeah?” She nudged me playfully with her shoulder. “An argument is just an excuse to make up, isn’t it? What’s that saying? Absence makes the heart found? It probably applies here somewhere.”

”That’s one way of looking at it.” Maybe she was right? Heh, right. I just needed to apologize to Sylvie, and try to make it all better. My tail twitched lightly. Maybe we’d even still go to the circus? 

“Excuse me, Guardian Tidebreak.” The Canary of the senior class’s Guardian approached, and broke me out of my nice daydream. My glare instantly turned onto him, causing the man to take a step back. “Um, could you help me with something?” 

“Sure? What’s up?” Quinn side-eyed me and shuffled a few steps to the side.

”There’s some flooding in one of the bathrooms.” He shrugged and rubbed at the back of his head. “Figured you’d be the best person to go to for this kind of thing. It’ll make it way easier on the janitorial staff.”

“I’ll start working on those permits.” I backed away from the two of them. While the paperwork to get a Calamity was tedious and boring, getting the permits to have a fight between the students and the Calamity was even more boring and tedious. Quin would probably break her computer trying to get them. That left it all up to me.

”Yeah, yeah.” Quinn waved back toward me, and followed the man toward the flooded bathroom. She barely got a few steps before she turned back with a smile. “And cheer up, Reyna? You’re so pretty when you smile.”

My ears flattened to the side of the head. Cheer up. Like it’d be that easy. There was only one thing that could cheer me back up, and she was busy in class at the moment. ”I… I’ll try.” 

“‘Kay. Can’t really ask for more.” Without further delay, she moved after the Canary. The two soon disappeared around the bend of the empty hallways.

”Operator, why would a Canary be responsible for a flooded bathroom?” Vigil asked from my arms as soon as they were out of sight.

”I’m not sure?” Maybe everyone else was busy, and one of the students brought it up to him as he was passing by. 

I walked through the halls, and paused momentarily at a trophy case full of the academy’s accomplishments. Most of them didn’t mean anything to me, but in the corner of the case sat a small golden trophy for close combat at the inter-academy competition. Reyna Vargriev was engraved into the side of it, and a picture with a younger me grinning her ass off leaned against the trophy. 

The smile was half because I won, and half because I got to spend a ton of time out in the world without the syndicate leering over my shoulder. I was… 17 right then? Should’ve been my sophomore year, so yeah. Weird. I looked so young as long as I ignored the heavy bags under my eyes.

I brushed my hand against the glass of the case. It’d been a long time since I competed in anything like that. I could only go my sophomore year. After that, Hades needed me too often so I had to drop off the team. Those times back then were… simpler.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to touch the glass.” A voice called from behind me, and made me guiltily flinch away from the trophy case. The senior class Guardian approached from my side. 

”Sorry. Just got lost in thought.” I once more crossed my arms to support Vigil leaning against my chest. My chin dropped down onto his fluffy head as I eyed the Apex with my ears alertly perked up.

He was a White Rabbit, with one long ear stretching up above his head, and the other cut a quarter short. The tip of it was covered in scars. Similarly, a scar crossed his nose like he’d been swiped by a claw. It gave him a roguish look, and the white hair that was natural for his Totem only exemplified that.

The 4th year’s Guardian was the type of guy to have his halo out on low. It was shaped like a heroic multi-pointed star. Several smaller stars orbited around it, and fed light into the central one. The entire thing was a dull red barely a touch up from blood.

“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to the janitorial staff.” The man laughed lightly, and moved up beside me. “See someone you know?”

“Not anymore.” My tail gave a slow swish, and I shuffled away from the trophy case. Our academy days were better left buried. I was a neurotic mess back then with the double-life. At least I had a grasp of it now.

”Mmm.” The White Rabbit glanced at the trophy case with his head tilted to the side. “Reyna, right? Oh, sorry. Canary Vargriev.”

”Just Reyna’s fine.” We were going to be close coworkers, anyway. “I don’t think I caught your name?”

”Tokan. Guardian Brightstar.” He held out his hand to me. Three scars crossed the back of it, though they looked like they’d been done with a blade instead of claws. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too.” I secured Vigil, and hesitantly returned his handshake. The man wasn’t totally unfamiliar to me. Like the elderly couple, he was here when me and Quinn graduated. He would’ve been in charge of the sophomores back then, though, so there was no interaction between us.

“I hope I wasn’t interrupting you, Reyna.” The White Rabbit grimaced, and his ears swayed around almost as if in guilt. 

I eyed the man warily. I couldn’t quite tell what he wanted. Maybe it was just professional curiosity in a new coworker? “I was just on my way back to the office, so not really.”

“Ah, me too. Let’s walk together?” Before I could say that I was fine, Tokan moved beside me and started to walk down the hall. “How are you liking your new job here so far?”

”It’s alright,” I muttered weakly as I unwillingly followed after the man. 

“Well, if you ever need any help, you can come to me. I’ve been here a while, so I know how this place works quite well.” Tokan smiled charmingly at me. There was just something about him that made my tail stay tense. 

“I appreciate the offer.” Though I’d probably just go to Quinn first. She was back in her old-money ways of just throwing credits at problems until they went away, so she’d be able to handle most things.

“Hey, are you doing anything tonight?” He asked.

”Um… why?” My response noticeably lacked energy, and made me wince. So much for having a good first impression.

”Then do you want to go get dinner with me?” He put on that charming smile once more as his nose twitched like White Rabbits tended to when they got excited. “Or coffee.”

”Oh.” So that’s what this was? Why’d he want to go to something like that with someone like me? Unless… heh, right. Must be the Hero Canary fame. “My sister and I are making cupcakes.”

We bought all the stuff for it from the store when we got the steaks. I always wanted to try baking them. Hopefully, it would also be a good time to make up after last night. If she even still wanted to talk to me, that is.

”Then what about tomorrow night?” His smile dipped ever so slightly. 

“My Guardian and I are inspecting the place we’re using to teach the newly Awoken.” We had to inspect the place entirely to get permits for everything. As long as there was nothing massively wrong, like an Anarch hiding out there, it should pass inspection.

His expression melted fully into a dull one. “Are you free any day of the week? How about the weekend?”

”I’m going to the circus with my sister.” I put on a polite smile and edged away from the man. My arms tightened ever so slightly around Vigil, and my gloominess intensified. “I’m sorry.”

”Ah, it can’t be helped.” He laughed it off and brushed his hand back through his hair. His jaw tightened though, and his ears twitched in annoyance. “I just wanted to get to know you better. The other two Silver Wolves I met were totally different.”

”Jason and Guinevere?” I asked idly. They were the only two totally different Silver Wolves in the city as far as I knew. 

“Got it in one. Your Totem really is much closer than mine.” Tokan’s smile returned. It was strained though, and his eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place. Or maybe I was just tired and seeing things.

I rubbed at my eyes once more. I’d kill for a cup of coffee right about now. “Not really. They’re just… they were pushy after my parents died. You know how it is.”

”Do I…” He did not, in fact, seem to understand how it was. Still, he agreed nonetheless. His halo brightened as if to remind me it was there. “Look, I’ll be outright. You want to go out with me?”

”No.” My response was instant. Too instant. I could see it in the way his face turned, but I definitely damaged his ego. His charm faded entirely into a stormy expression. I quickly tacked on, “s-sorry. I’m just too busy with the school year starting up and all of that.”

He eased up slightly at my reasonable excuse, and nodded thoughtfully. “I could get you an assistant. As my girlfriend, you’d want for nothing. I’m just saying. You’ll live a hundred times more comfortably with me in the future.” 

Oh… he wasn’t asking. He wasn’t just an awkward guy who couldn’t take a hint. He was actively trying to establish control over me like some self-important prick. My ears slowly flattened against my skull. That certainly made things simpler, didn’t it? “I really—“

“My dad’s the silverport regional manager of LEGS.” He smirked. Oh, so that’s why he thought he was so important. I knew what that meant. It wasn’t technically a threat, but he’d basically put the gun on the table.

Deep breaths. Don’t hit him. I really can’t afford to hit him. Quinn would probably help me hide the evidence, which made it a little more tempting. Stop thinking about hitting him!

”Operator, perhaps castrating him would give a clearer answer.” Vigil warmed in my arms.

My expression broke into a smile as I held back laughter. His eyes flicked down to my lips, and his confidence once more returned—just in time for me to shatter it again. “S-sorry.”

“Look, a Guardian has taken interest in you. Shouldn’t you at least think it over?” His charming smile returned, only this time it looked far more unsettling. “I’ll give you a few days to think it over.”

My gaze hardened, though I hid the sudden streak of aggressiveness boiling up inside of me. This would be a particularly bad time to fall into Rage. A tremble went through me, and my tail went completely still and straight behind me. When I spoke, my voice came out a trembling mess thanks to my restraint. “I… I’ll think it over.”

His smile widened as he watched me. I could see it in his eyes—he thought I was scared. Heh. Sure buddy, let’s go with that. If that made him fuck off, then yeah, I was terrified. Terrified I might lose grip on the anger rolling through me and make my life a little more complicated.

I held back a bitter laugh. As much as I wanted to beat the guy through a wall so he’d understand to leave me alone, his dad made me wary. It’d be all too easy for someone like that to ruin my life.

”Good!” He smirked, and moved off away from me down the hall. He called over his shoulder. “I’ll be seeing you!”

”Not if I can help it,” I whispered back, and forced my fists to unclench. I woodenly turned on my heel, and moved back toward my office.

I stopped at the door, and stared at my reflection in the window. A young woman who looked easily bullied looked back at me with trembling red eyes. She was an exhausted Silver Wolf carrying around a cute plushie, and practically screamed noncombatant. If I just had glasses, I’d make for the perfect timid support staffer. Disgusting.

Vigil only spoke up once we were safely in my office. For once, I actually had my own office. It was totally bare outside of a desk and chair. “Operator Reyna, was that a courtship ritual?”

”That’s one way to call it.” Courtship ritual? Really? The absurdity of his words stole away some of my boiling anger. 

“It appeared ineffective,” Vigil said.

“Heh, yeah. Very much so.” If there was one thing I didn’t respond to well, it was force. Especially from someone who didn’t hold my leash. Hades may have beaten it out of me so I wouldn’t bite them, but that didn’t mean anyone else could try.

“Why not act more forcefully?” He asked. “My records indicate your approach at rejection was too weak.” 

“You don’t think I know that?” My voice had more bite to it than I intended, and I winced. “Sorry. Things aren’t that simple, though.”

”This unit does not follow.” 

“Guys like that… there’s no telling what they’ll do.” Awoken tended to get a nasty ego. Especially when rejected. I’d seen things only an Anarch would do from the Guardians at Harbor. “You heard what he said. He’s the son of the LEGS regional manager. That kind of position has power in a place like this.”

He could make life a living hell for Sylvie and me just to get to me. If he took things that far. He might not, but he seemed like the type from what little interaction I had with Tokan. For someone as self-important and controlling as him, there was no telling what he might do.

It was fine, though. I could just avoid him, and hopefully everything would blow over. Hopefully he’d get bored and fuck off while he was at it. If not—well, it wouldn’t be the first time Barghest accidentally handled someone that got handsy.

”This unit understands.” Vigil warmed in my arms once more, and the cut plushie blinked up at me. “I will look into countermeasures.”

”Don’t work too hard.” I smiled softly at the Titan core, and gently placed him down on my desk. It was really about time I started on the mountain of paperwork I need to go through. Yay, bureaucracy.

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