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flowapuddle · 4 years ago

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Haikyuu x Athletic! FEMALE Reader

Okay so enjoy this book and the chapters, please don’t copy or take credit of it - Puddle ❤️

This means speaking another language

Chapter 3- Volleyball Pratice pt.2

“So first we need to go over are returns, are main focus is on you two” Daichi said pointing at Kageyama and Hinata “Espically you Hinata” Daichi mumbled

Hinata frowned looking at Daichi “I receive the ball perfectly fine thank you!” He huffed out making a huff noise

“yeah if receiving the ball with your face counts...” Kageyama said looking at him

“Want to say that to me again!” Hinata said

Almost immediately you sweatdropped watching them two go back and fourth as if they were brothers

You felt the presents of dark aura behind you making you stiffen up you turned around and saw Daichi emitting the dark aura making you almost immediately back away

“Ummm guys....” you mumbled out watching Daichi stock closer to them

“You can only pray for them” Tanaka said quietly as he watching the two almost immediately shut up as Daichi glared at the two of them

“With them being done arguing, we can finally go over recieves” Daichi said in his usual mood

“Kageyama, Hinata and Tanaka get on one side of the court” Daichi said as the three rushed over on one side of the court “The ones going against them is Sugawara, (Y/n) and me” Daichi said looking over at the team “For the rest of you guys who aren’t practicing right now, pay attention. You will be getting in for us” Daichi said as he walked to grab a volleyball “Now let’s play”

“(Y/n) you want to be the first to serve the ball?” Daichi questioned you

“Yeah sure” You said as Daichi passed the ball to you and you caught it, you walked a few steps off the court

You slammed the ball a couple of times and breathed in ‘focus’

Was what you told yourself as you breathed out ‘serve’

You tossed the ball out infront of you getting a running start it felt like slow motion as you watched the ball slowly descend down as you slowly jumped in the air, you flung your arm back as you kept your eye on the ball

You felt your hand connect to the ball and with all your force you slammed it to the other side of the net

You watched it as it went on the court as Tanaka reacted as fast as he could not being able to keep it in you smiled and finally hit the ground being you back in the moment as the whole gym was silent

“woah...” “amazing...” “....”

You looked around as you smiled nervously “Did I do something wrong?” You questioned looking at everyone as Sugawara approached you smiling “No no don’t worry you didn’t, I guess we were expecting such a fast ball” He said as he looked at you “You did amazing” He said ruffing your hair making you smile up to him

“But I don’t think these first years and second year can handle a great serve like that” Sugawara said

“I heard that” Tanaka yelled out

“Let’s just ease up on it next time, so they have a chance” You nodded your head to his words

“Got it cap!” You said slauting him as he chuckled walking back to his position on the court

A few hits later....

You were subbed out as someone else took your spot you stood on the slidelines as Kiyoko gave you a water bottle and gave you thumbs up as you gave her a thumbs up too

You currently watching Kageyama serve in the ball he bounced it a couple of times and tossed it infront of him jumping arching his back slightly and hit the ball

‘That form seems way to familiar’

You thought to yourself as you placed a hand underneath your chin and thought

‘I have to ask Aaliyah about the one dude what was his name?’

You thought as you huffed out being slightly frustrated you felt a tap on your shoulder as you turned around long and behold it was the goddess Kiyoko “Can you help me fill up the water bottles by chance?” She asked looking down at you as you nodded your head

“Yeah of course I can!” You said smiling setting down your bottle of water and followed her picking up bottles and following her out of the gym and too the water fountain as you both slowly started to fill up the water

It was pretty silent for the most part of the journey neither kiyoko nor you decided to start the conversation

“So ummm Kiyoko?” You said as you handed her a bottle she hummed out indicating she was listening

“How has your day been going?” You said almost immediately you facepalmed yourself but resisted the urge too as you mentally freaked out

“Really (y/n) How has your day been going, your horrible”

“It has been relatively good, I can’t wait to get home and relax though. What about you?” She said softly as she handed you a bottled of water as you grabbed her a empty one

“I guess it’s been fine for the most part expect for that Tsukishima character I am not really fond of him” You said giving her a empty bottle while grabbing the full bottle of water only a couple were left “Can I ask you a question if it’s fine”

“Sure go for it�� Kiyoko said looking at you as you guys finished the rest of the bottles and picking up the crate “So Sugawara I think or Daichi were talking about exams that are coming up and there’s a couple who aren’t doing good. What does it mean if we can’t get a full team together?” You said as you both made your way back to the gym

“It means we can’t go to the upcoming camp, since we won’t have enough players” Kiyoko stated as she adjust her glasses

“Oh, well I think I will have to make sure that everyone qualifies” You said with a smile as she made a hummed noise opening the door for you

Everyone was still in the gym a couple of people sitting down as there were what you assumed to be the coach and the assistant coach

You placed down the waters and walked over to them seeing what they were discussing

“Hello coaches what’s going on here?” You said as you bowed slightly looking at the blonde dude and the black haired boy-man...he looks like a boy to you

“Ahh you must be the new assistant I am Ittetsu Takeda the faculty advisor and this is Keishin Ukai the coach” He said introducing the man and himself as you were starting to sit down “And who are you?” He said

“Hello I am—“ You were interpreted by Tanaka and Nishinoya as they slung a arm over your neck smiling

“This is the one and the only” Noya started out saying as Tanka started to talk

“#1 best female volleyball Imaah (Y/n)!!!” Tanaka yelled into your ear baiscally making you stiffen as you sweatdropped

“Ouch!” “Owie” They both said recieving slaps to the back of the head from Daichi as he pulled them off of you Sugawara smiled a bit nervously laughing

“She from the states, she moved here recently along with her older sister. She is also the manager” Sugawara said as you nodded “Yup that’s right!”

“Nice to meet ya kid, heard a lot about you. Glad to have you on the team” Ukai said holding out his hand as you shook his hand “Pleasures all mines sir” You said with a smile as you saw Hinata and Kageyama sitting down as you finally got to sit down next to them “Why are you guys sitting down?” You questioned

“They are sitting down cause there failing” Takeda said with a frown and his arms crossed

The whole gym went silent

“YOUR FAILING!!” You questioned almost yelling looking at both of them they nodded a bit embarrassed

“Yes they are both failing in English...” Takeda said looking at the two

“english aye...you two come to my house after practice and we can study.” You said looking at the two as they nodded there heads “I am sure you guys can pass!” You said encouraging them

“You think so? I have never gotten a double digit on a test before” Hinata said as you almost fell over being hit with what he said

“oh my goodness we will need a lot of help” You said with a sweatdropped “Maybe the team Can come? Or a few?” You said looking over at everyone as some of them nodded and smiled while others such as Tsukishima frowned and shook his head

“It’s settled my house tonight studying” You said crossing your arms

Time Skip After Everything

“(Y/n) you almost done sweeping?” You heard Daichi say

“Yeah almost give me two more minutes” You hollered out sweeping and finishing your part as you put up your broom walking over to grab your bag you made your way over to the door were the boys were at “Okay ready to leave?” You questioned looking at the boys the only ones coming over were Sugawara, Daichi, Tanaka, Noya and of course Kageyama and Hinata

“Are you sure we wont be intruding?” Sugawara questioned out as you slowly opened the door

“Nah don’t worry about it, my mom and dad would love to help you guys out” You said smiling as you opened the door to see Aaliyah standing there looking like she was about to open the door

She blinked looking at everyone holding her plain expression “Are you ready to leave? Or do you need a moment?” She questioned

“Ah no we are ready to leave” You said

“We?” She questioned

“Yeah everyone here is coming over to the house for studying” You said with a smile seeing as she slightly froze

“wonderful...” She grumbled out “let’s get going” she said starting to walk forward as you followed suit

“Should we call for the limo to pick us up?” You whispered out to her

“It’s already here, I called it earlier cause my legs hurt the coach had us running like a dam cross county team” She said with a frown as you both saw the limo waiting out infront

“Wow whoever gets that limo so super cool!” You heard Hinata said as Kageyama told him to shut up

As everyone made it to the outside gate you paused making Aaliyah stop a bit as she turned to look at you with a raised eyebrow

“Why did you stop (y/n)?” Sugawara questioned

“I don’t know how to tell you this but we have to get into the limo” You said turning to the boys as some of them were smiling others of them nodded there head

“That’s fine with us” Daichi said stepping a bit forward you made a humming noise as you all walked to the limo Aaliyah had opened the door and climbed in first followed by you and then the rest of the boys

The limo wasn’t cramped for the most part “thank goodness”

And everyone was getting along expect for—

“Baka roll up the window” Kageyama said as he was seating next to Hinata who kept rolling down the window

“No, I choose the window seat deal with it” Hinata said with a smirk and kept the window down

“BOKE HINATA BOKE!” Kageyama yelled as he basically started to fight with Hinata in the car making everyone get shoved and moved out of the way as they went at it

You tried to move out of the way but ended up jumping onto Tanaka lap as tried to move far away and avoid getting hit “you guys” you mumbled out but they didn’t listen

You looked over at Tanaka who was visable blushing being in the position he is in with you on his lap, you were blushing too as well as the your cheeks were visable turning a dusty pink color but you tried not to distracted since there were other issues at hand

You looked over a Noya who was holding out his phone recording it as he laughed looking at the two fight

Sugawara was attempting to calm them down

Daichi was yelling at them

Aaliyah was glaring at them her eyebrow was twitching “oh shit....” You mumbled out

“Y-you s-say s-something” Tanaka said as he looked at your field of vision and almost immediately stiffened up leaning forward to the fight “Guys cut it out—“ he said trying to make everyone shut up

It was too late

“kageyama and hinata.....”

You heard Aaliyah address in a dark voice making the everyone shut up instantly

Everyone looked at Aaliyah her blue piercing eyes glaring daggers into the souls for Hinata and Kageyama they both swallowed harshly attempting to look at her

“you have one more time to fight, if i so much hear you bicker when you both get to our house while i am working out....” She stayed quiet for a second making the tension raise higher in the car “I will personally make sure, you both don’t pass your test and make sure you both don’t make it to the camp understand?” She said glaring at them

Kageyama and Hinata nodded almost immediately and sat down straight up and stopped fighting

Aaliyah eyes darted over to Daichi and Sugawara “The both of you better keep them in check”

Both of them nodded fearing for there life the most part

Aaliyah looked directly at you glaring as she shuffled her way to the door and opened it since the limo arrived to the house “don’t make me do something I won’t”

With her last words she grabbed her things and hopped out of the car leaving the door open

The limo was quiet didn’t anybody dare to move

“Wow....you guys are going to dieeee...” Noya sang out as he chuckled looking at Kageyama and Hinata faces as they were pale like a ghost

“She won’t actual kill us right (y/n)?” Hinata said trying to make himself feel safe

You only shook your head “She going to bring you close to death” Is all you said as you hopped out of Tanaka lap and shimmed your way to the door of the limo

As everyone followed your suit everyone looked at your house admiring it

“Woahhhhh” Hinata said taking in the view

“I know right crazy cool” You said with a chuckle as you looked at everyone “Make sure you guys have all your stuff out of the limo if you do follow me!” You said smiling as you pointed at yourself and started to walk towards the front doors

Everyone walked in and stared at the amazement inside

“Wow the inside is even cool” You heard Hinata say as you smiled at him

Everyone was following you as you ran into your parents a man was standing next to them as Aaliyah was there also talking to them

“Mom dad!” You said smiling as you waved at them

“Hello sweetie”

“Hey love”

Both your parents respond looking at you and then behind you your mom pointed behind you “Who are these young fine men behind you sweetie?” Your mom asked sweetly as she looked at them

“Oh I am sorry these are my volleyball mates” You said stepping aside gesturing to them

“This is Daichi” “Hello Mr and Ms Imaah” Daichi said with a slight bow

“This is Sugawara” “Lovely to meet the both of you” Sugawara said smiling

“This is Tanaka” “U-uh hello!” He said waving awkwardly making your mom chuckle

“This is Nishinoya or Noya for short” “Hi there!” He said smiling

“This is Kageyama” Kageyama looked at both your mom and dad and bowed at a 90 degree perfectly angle “H-hi” he said while bowing you sweatdropped slightly “H-he is just nervous” You said chuckling

“Last but not least this is Hinata!” You said putting a arm around his neck smiling as he looked at your mom and dad with wide eyes smiling “Hello!” He said with a tiny blush

“Well hello there young boys, I am Imaah Homura” You mom said with her smile on her face as put a hand on your dads shoulder “And this is (y/n) and Aaliyah father Imaah Kenichi” She said with a chuckle as your father smiled and waved at the boys

“Hello boys, (y/n) love why are they here?” Your father asked directing attention to you

“Oh they are here for studying. Hinata and Kageyama are failing a class and need all the help they could get. Since my first language is English I thought I could help, can we use the library also?” You said smiling

Your mom’s furrowed her eyebrows a bit “Failing english” She questioned looking at kageyama and Hinata

Hinata nodded his head “yeah” he said quietly as he scratched the back of his head

“I don’t understand why we need to learn the pointless language, it’s like I will ever use it” Kageyama said as you immediately faceplam

“Kageyama I think your name was, you do realize if you plan to play volleyball internationally or be serious with the sport you need to know English” Your father said raising his eyebrow with a smile

“No you don’t” Kageyama argued back

“Kageyama how would you exactly know? From what I think you haven’t traveled outside of Japan meanwhile me and (y/n) mother have traveled around world due too basketball and volleyball take it from a retired pro when I say you need to know English” Your dad said

“retired pro?” Kageyama mumbled looking up to your dad

“did he not hear the part about why english is important?”

You thought with a sweatdropped

Your sister cleared her throat “Yes are parents played professionally basketball and volleyball in the states along being on the olympics team. They retired a couple of years ago” Aaliyah said looking at Kageyama

“That’s right” Your mom said with a smile

“umm....Besides the point can we please use the library?” You questioned out with a smile

Your mom nodded “Yes that’s fine, do you guys want any snacks or drinks to be brought down?” Your mom asked with a smile

“Water for me and some (favorite bag of chips) would be really nice” You said humming out as you turned your head to your boys “You guys want anything?” You said

“Heck ya I do!” Noya said as he started to order along with everyone else

(TIME SKIP)

“Okay through this door is the library be very respectful of it” You said as you looked directly at Tanaka and Noya who put a hand on their chests pretending to offended as you chuckle

You opened the doors to library as everyone walked in as you heard but of gasps and oh wows

“This is your guys library?!” Tanaka practicallly yelled as Daichi shushed him

“Don’t yell!!!” Daichi said harshly as he looked at Tanaka

“Haha yeah this is the our place of studying” You said getting to the couch and sitting down as you put your stuff on the table “Sit down guys make yourself comfortable we will get started soon” You said with a smile as you got off the couch

You saw Hinata putting his stuff down as you called him “Hinata Can you help me grab some of the books we will need” You said with a smile

“Oh course!” He said putting his things down and walking to you with his smile “Which way we go!” He said looking around

“Follow me” You said as you started to walk forward a few moments later getting away from the group you guys got more to the book section “Okay so, we just need English books maybe any others?” You said looking for the English section as Hinata nodded his head

“Yup only English!” He said as you nodded your head

You both approached the English section grabbing a couple of books you gave them to Hinata “Okay this this this, ew not that one” You said as you kept grabbing books

The books were basically almost taller than Hinata “(Y-y/n)” you heard Hinata grumble out as he was attempting to keep his balance as best he could and trying to follow you at the sametime

You turned your head seeing the basic tower of books as you chuckled “Guess I over did it let me put some back” You said grabbing a bunch of books to slim down the pile

You looked at him and smiled being able to see his face “Better?” You questioned

“A lot better!” He said with a chuckle opening his eyes and staring at you as you had your close eyes smile at him “she looks so cute...”

Hinata felt his heart starting to slowly speed up a bit as he continued staring at you, as he shifted his eyes somewhere else as blush was slowly coming on his face “ready?” You questioned looking at him

He nodded not trusting to use his words fearing he would stutter

Hinata was following behind you walking fast he failed to notice a random book that was put out as he slipped, him being to close behind you end up falling ontop of you

You felt a sharp pain as you fell suddenly down as your back hit the ground as you felt a weight ontop of you as you groaned

“ow” you said hissing out

“I am sorry! Are you okay?” Hinata asked being on top of you as you looked up at him

A blush broke out between you two seeing how close you both were

“His eyes from this angle there so..so cute....” you saw his lips moving as you tried hard to hear him as you were completely zoned out

“I am sorry Hinata what did you say?” You said

“I was asking if your okay” He said gently still being in the same position ontop of you

“O-oh yeah I am f-fine...do you mind getting off” You said

“Y-yes sorry” Hinata said immediately jumping off and helping you up as he picked up the books he was holding

“sorry about that I hope your not hurt” Hinata said as he looked at with worried look

You only shook your head “don’t worry I am amazing” You said with a chuckle

(Another Time Skip)

As you both got to the main area were everything and everyone was at

Everyone had out there School supplies and was working on different things

“Kageyama how do you spell out redeem?” Sugawara asked saying the word in English his English wasn’t the best but you could understand him

“Already starting” You said smiling taking a seat down and looking at Kageyama as he nodded

“There making me spell out words” He mumbled grumbled

“You too Hinata how do you spell out redeem?” Sugawara said as he looked at Hinata as he sat down taking out paper starting to write out the letters

Kageyama was obviously trying to cheat as you raised a eyebrow watching him trying to steal glances on his paper

“Stop cheating” Hinata said trying to cover his paper

“I am not! Why would I cheat off of you boke hinata BOKE!!” He yelled out as he started to write on his paper no longer taking glance as he had a slightly embarrassing face cause he was caught

“Times up!” Daichi said as he looked at the two “Hinata go first how do you spell redeem?”

“Okay so R-E-E-D-E-E-M-H” Hinata spelled out looking at his paper as you sweatdropped

“Okay, how do you spell redeem kageyama?” Daichi asked

“R-E-E-D-I-M” Kageyama said as you faceplam yourself

“What?” He questioned out as he looked at you

“Kages” You started off as you sighed “Thats not how you spell it” You said looking at him

“Niether of you spelled it right” Daichi said sweatdropping as he shook his head

“Dang there is really no hope” Tanaka said looking at the two

“Didnt you fail English Too at one point?” Noya said followed by a smack on the head by Tanaka

“Ouchie” “Shut up they don’t need to know that” Tanaka said as he growled out looking at Noya as he laughed

“Okay then how to you spell it?” Hinata said looking at everyone eventually his eyes landed on you

“You spell it R-E-D-E-E-M” You said closing your eyes as you leaned your head onto your hands

“How do you know?!” Kageyama said exclaiming out

“Baka she speaks English fluently her whole family does, weren’t you paying attention to when her father was talking to you!” Daichi said hitting him in he head with a rolled up piece of paper as he sighed out crossing his arms

“You guys need to focus more and study a bit harder so we can go home and go to the camp” Daichi said with a sigh

“It’s hard to understand” Hinata said throwing his head back dramatically as he whined out

“Maybe if we start off with basic easy words maybe you’ll understand it more” You said as you smiled at them

“Yeah maybe, it the test is Friday and it’s already Tuesday” Kageyama said whining as he leaned onto the table

“What’s a matter with it being Tuesday?” Sugawara questioned

“I have only three days to study” Kageyama said

“How’s that a problem?” Tanaka asked briefly looking up and raising his eyebrows

“Cause I don’t feel like studying a pointless language” Kageyama said sighing out

You rolled your eyes at his antics “mmmhm right”

(a stressful hour later)

As everyone was studying the door opened to a servant putting down the food “Here you are miss, if there any problem with the food ring your parents” He said as he bowed and walked out shutting the door gently

Everyone grabbed the food that they want as everyone started to chow down

“So are you guys like basically close to royalty?” Tanaka said as he stuffed his mouth

You shook your head “It may seem that way but I can assure you we’re not” You chuckled munching on chips

“This house is so big, is there fun things to do” Noya asked

“Sure there is a lot, we had it designed to our liking so we have a lot of things here” You smiled

“Besides the house thing why did you guys move to Japan if you don’t mind me asking” Daichi asked bitting into a onigiri

“We moved here to better my sister and our careers” You hummed out “Nothing tragic or anything just for that reason, oh and also my mom is investing/ruining half a company here so that’s the reason why and my dad gets to be a professional trainer too” You smiled

“Wow so cool!” Hinata said looking at you with sparkling eyes “What is your moms company?” He asked jumping up and down

“Well she is running it from what I remember a old high school teammate when she was living out here” You hummed out “You guys should know it, it’s on your volleyball jerseys” You said

“Our volleyball jerseys ?” Tanaka asked tilting his head

“Listen chief i ain’t following along can you simplify it” Noya asked putting his hands on his hips

“I think what (y/n) is trying to say is her mom runs the company ASICS the one that makes athletic footwear, sports equipment and jerseys” Sugawara said

“Yeah that’s the one!” You said smiling

“Wow cool!” Hinata said smiling

“So can we get free stuff...?” Tanaka and Noya asked looking at you

“Idiots you don’t just ask that!” Daichi said

( you guessed it another time skip )

“Well that’s enough studying before our brains fry” Hinata said yawning out

“Agreed with you this once” Kageyama said as he stretched out

“I think it’s time for all of us to get going” Sugawara said smiling

“Agreed” Tanaka, Noya and Daichi said with a smile

“Alright then you guys can pack up and I can show you the way out” You said humming out as you piled the books up and took your finished homework putting it in your bag

A few moments later everyone was packed up and ready to go as you guided them out of the library and too the front of the house

“Okay guys thank you for coming and having a study session we can have another one if you like” You smiled out as you heard someone call out your name

“Sweetie” You heard your mom said as you turned your head

“Yes?” You questioned

“Can you please get your sister and father. I think there phones our on sliences and they have been in the gym now for about 4 hours Aaliyah needs to eat still, study and rest up” Your mom said sighing

You nodded your head “Of course after I let the boys out I can get them” You said smiling as your mom kissed your cheek petting the top of your head “Thank you sweetie I knew I could count on you” She said as she walked away

“Okay you heard the women time for you guys to go I have to get my sister and father” You said as you had the servants open the door “There is a limo waiting out front if you want a ride to your house cause I know it’s late, use it if you want too!” You said encouraging them as you walked them out

“Thank you” Each one of them said as they walked of course into the limo as the waved at you

“Also don’t fight” You yelled out as the limo drove off as you watched it leave pass the gates you smiled having your hands crossed

As the limo went out of view you went into the house and immediately went to the back yard of the house and made your way to the indoor gym as you opened the doors only to welcomed by a stoic girl shooting the ball with the machine no shirt on only her sports blue bra and rolled gray shorts

Her eyes darted to you as she looked at you boring her blue eyes into you “what?” She questioned

——————————————————————————

Sorry for the long ass chapter I can’t help it I get so into it, I will try to cut it down - Puddle ❤️

The library you have!❤️

Chapter 4 is here!

Back to StoryBoard

#x reader #haikyuu x me #haikyuu x oc #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu x self insert #haikyuu x y/n #haikyuu x you #haikyuu boys #haikyuu #haikyuu!!#oc x character #x female reader

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secondgenerationnerd · 4 years ago

Text

Cadmus

This literally took multiple months to write. I hope y’all like it!

-----------------------------

These days have become more common the last few years. Summer sun shining overhead. Shrieking kids racing around the backyard, throwing water balloons at each other. 18-month-old Laney Kent and 19-month-old Max Wilkes splash in their water table and babble nonsense to each other. Despite the cute swimsuits their mothers tried to dress them in, the two prefer their swim diapers and nothing else.

“Cha-Cha! Cha-Cha!” Laney waves to her big sister as she runs by.

“Hi, Loo-Loo!” Charlie blows her a kiss and shrieks as her best friend tackles her. “Asha!”

“Don’t get distracted, Kent!” Asha teases. She helps her friend up before taking off again. Their parents watch from the back porch, shaking their heads at the gaggle of kids.

“See Asha already does Damian’s ‘call them by their last name’ thing.” Milagro bumps Irey’s hip with hers. Irey sticks her tongue out at the Lantern, grabbing a glass of lemonade as Damian walks by.

“Like how Max and Ben do Colin’s ‘if I smile like this, you won’t be mad’ thing.”

“Sh!” Colin gestures to Irey to stop, “She doesn’t need to know that, Ires!”

“Wilkes, you did that to Father once and thought it would work.” Damian points out.

“It technically worked on him. Alfred, on the other hand...” Cracking up at that image, the heroes can’t imagine a worst position to be in.

“To be fair,” Mar’i giggles, “Alfred had to raise my Dad and Jason; so, he’s definitely seen it all.”

They love how common these days have become. Reminds them of the past summer days when they were kids. Of course, in the past Damian would never kiss Irey like he does now. Jai would never call Lian babe or say he was going to get something from inside their house. Milagro would never laugh as Colin catches their boys, carrying them over his shoulder, all three of their skins beautifully mismatched. Jon would never wink at Mar’i as he makes some flirty joke, only for her to laugh and remind him that they already have four kids.

Things have changed, in all the best ways possible.

“Alright, let’s eat!” Lian calls to the kids in the backyard. Jai and Irey disappear with cracks. Mini Omega, as their parents call them, run as fast as they can to avoid the older speedsters. Jai and Irey stop beside the back fence as the kids run to the porch.

“Mom would love this.” Irey says simply, watching her daughter jump into Damian’s arms. Her husband kisses Asha's freckled face and spins her around.

“She would.” Jai agrees as his kids crowd around Lian. Her warm laugh at the six hands grabbing at her jeans, babbling at her, makes him fall in love again, “Ok, Sissy, let’s eat.

As they take a step forward, they feel something hit the middle of their backs. Their cries of pain make their families look up. Horror spreads through the group as the twins’ bodies seize. Eyes rolling back, the two collapse on the ground, taser poles embedded in their backs.

"Mama!" Asha gasps.

“Daddy!” Lily and Milly Harper-West speed from the back porch to their father. As the girls reach him, a figure jumps from their big oak tree. “MOMMY!” “BABY DOLLS!” Lian grabs a plate and throws it at the figure advance on her girls, hitting him in the face, “BACK HERE! GIRLS, RUN BACK HERE!”

Before the girls can take a step, the fence beside them crashes down. A truck drives through it, hired guns spill out of the back, one of them grabbing the girls.

“MOOOMMMY!” They struggle in his arms, tears rolling down their faces, reaching for her.

“OMEGA, GO!” Lian shouts. None of them hesitate. They know what to do. Colin and Damian make the other kids hide under the table, telling them to close their eyes.

The others jump over the railing; Lian grabbing a knife as she goes, Jon and Mar’i flying into the air. Lian runs straight for the goon holding her daughters. Someone swings a baton at her face. Hitting the ground baseball style, Lian stabs his ankle, scrambling to her feet as he goes down. Milagro kicks one away as someone grabs her from behind. Dropping down, she throws him over her shoulder. Sucker punch to a third’s face. Jon and Mar’i grab the hired guns in pairs, knocking their heads together.

That’s when things go wrong.

“Gah!” Jon yells as one of the guns opens a pocket. The bright green rock inside makes his body burn.

“Jon!” Mar’i shouts, watching in horror as her husband falls to the ground. She lands next to him. Their attackers throw caninsters at them and onto the porch. Emmitting a white gas, the heroes know they’re losing. Colin and Damian yell as they’re tased too.

“BABY DOLLS!” Lian’s close enough to touch them when she’s hit from behind. She falls to the ground, head throbbing. The last things she hears are her friends coughing, kids crying, and her children screaming for her.

Hours later, in a cramped room with a military grade door, miles and miles away, Mini Omega tries not to panic. Of course, that’s easier said than done when the average age is six. Any hope they might have of their meta cousins’ powers died when they woke up and saw the power dampening collars.

"It's okay, Charlie..." Asha tries to soothe her friend. As soon as Charlie and Peter realized what was on them, their minds brought them to the Bad Place. The last place the siblings would want to be.

"Nonononononononononono," Rocking back and forth, the 11-year-old covers her ears, eyes squeezed painfully tight. Nearby, Ben pulls on the metal collar around Lily's neck.

"Owie!"

"Sorry, Lil." He takes his hands away. "It's not gonna come off."

"Pete?" M&M pokes her big brother's face. Peter sits silently, arms wrapped around his legs, shaking. “Pete?”

“M&M, are you sure your powers don’t work?” Asha asks the young technopath. Face screaming up in concentration, M&M stares at the collar around her brother’s neck before deflating.

“They won’t work.”

“It okay, bubba.” Milly promises, letting Luke lay his head on her little lap. Laney and Max shiver in the corner, babbling away. Too young to know what’s going on. Ben finds a blanket in a pile on the ground. Wrapping it around the youngest two, he hugs his brother.

The toddler tilts his head, “¿Dónde están Mami y Daddy?”

“No lo sé, pero estoy seguro de que vendrán a salvarnos.”

“Ben,” Asha shakes her head, “They have to find us first.”

“They will.” Ben looks at her, “They promised.”

When Lian wakes up, her husband shaking her, the first thing out of her mouth is, “Where are the kids?”

“We’re trying to figure that out, babe.” Jai assures her as he helps her up. Leaning against him, she limps up to the porch. Their friends look about as good as she feels.

Even though it’s been a while, they fall into their normal habits. They circle around the back table. Remnants of their planned dinner litter the ground. Damian nods at Lian, “Good, you’re up. You alright?”

“Killer headache, but I’ll live,” She rubs the back of her head, “What do we have?”

“Mercenaries.” Milagro says, tossing a few weapons on the table, “From the looks of these, I can at least confirm they’re earth based.”

“They knew who they were coming for.” Colin notes. “My question, why didn’t they go for any of us? We’ve got two types of alien and a good variety of metas. Plus, Damian, Lian, and Mil are all experts in their areas of fighting.”

Jon and Mar’i share an uneasy look. Mar’i sighs, “If I had to guess…it was Cadmus.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Do you remember the mission where we found our older kids? Li, I know you were still on leave.” Jon runs a hand through his hair, “We found files that called that particular project Exodus.”

“Exodus?” Mil frowns.

Damian asks, “Does that mean something to you?”

“Well, that’s the chapter with Moses’s story.” She explains, “Just seems strange to choose that for a project trial.”

“Maybe not.” Irey looks at Jon and Mar’i, “Did Charlie tell you all how she got the burn scars on her back?”

“Just that she was told to do a-a trial. She was five, I think?” Mar’i says, “In her file, it said she was locked in a weather room. They wanted to see how different powers would react to extreme weather—”

“‘There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.’” Colin looks at his wife, “Those fuckers used the plagues for inspiration.”

“None of this tells us how to find them.” Jai points out, “And that information isn’t exactly helping ease the worry.”

“There’s a way to find the kids.” Jon glances at his wife again, then looks down, “Charlie and Peter both have trackers in their legs—”

“WHA—”

“Cadmus put them there.” Mar’i cuts off the others’ panic. “When they were little. M&M didn’t have one, but she was only there a few months. The ones in Charlie and Peter are too close to the femoral artery, and the muscles started growing around it.”

“Is that how they found us?”

“No, Mil. Babs was able to turn them off and regularly checks in.”

They’re quiet only for a moment. Damian plays Devil’s Advocate, “Can she turn them back on?”

Jon nods. “We need to hurry though.”

“Well, duh—”

“Charlie’s powers have started changing.” Jon cuts Jai off. “Her illusions are becoming…real. Last time she had a nightmare…I felt it when one of them touched me.”

The group takes that in. The three leaders look at each other. Then the group. Communicating in a way that nearly two decades of fighting together can give them. Irey nods at Mar’i and Colin, “You two are retired still—”

“If you think some League bullshit’s gonna keep me from saving my sons, you’re dead wrong.”

“Same with my starlings.”

“Everyone have their spare uniform?” Damian asks. The others nod. “Suit up. Mar’i, call Oracle and see if she can activate the trackers. We leave in five minutes.”

The cell door creaks open. Charlie immediately goes silent, though her shaking doesn’t stop. The group of scientists come into the room. There’s four of them—two men and two women— dressed in white coats and donning badges with six letters that Peter and Charlie see in their nightmares. C.A.D.M.U.S. Barely breathing, Peter curls up tighter, Ben scoots in front of him, mismatched eyes meeting the scientists’. Asha glares at them when they glance at Charlie. Then they look at the younger kids.

“That one.” The lead man points to Laney. “Initial blood tests show signs of Kryptonian and Tamaranean blood.”

“Really?” One of the women sounds impressed. Laney tilts her head to the side at the woman, blinking her too blue eyes at the group. “She’s still young.”

“Given what we’ve seen people with her lineage do, I’m not sure that matters.”

“In that case we might consider more physical trials—”

“No!” Charlie jumps to her feet, brown eyes wide. The older kids look at their usually meek friend in shock as she pulls on the lead man’s arm, “Me! Me! I’ll do a trial! Not her!”

She doesn’t see his hand, but she feels it across her cheek. As Charlie falls to the ground, Asha’s on her feet in an instant, eyes burning. The lead scientist turns on her.

As if a mean glare could stop a girl raised by heroes.

Asha surges forward. Jumping to kick the lead man in the face, rolling over him as he stumbles. Ben helps Charlie up as Asha elbows one of the females’ stomachs, kicking the other in the knee. The second male scientist grabs her dark curls, yanking her backwards.

“You little bitch—” He doesn’t get the chance to finish. Grabbing his wrist, Asha throws him over her.

She blows hair out of her face, grinning at her cousins, “Uncle Jason taught me that when I was 6.”

“The door’s open!” Ben shouts. The kids start to move forward when guards appear. Before they can get too close, alarms start going off.

Alert: Metas have infiltrated the facility. Full evacuation. Repeat. Metas have—

The room shakes as something explodes above them. The twins turn to the guards, narrowing their dark eyes, and growl together, “Mommy and Daddy are gonna kick your asses.”

Being helped by the guards, the four scientists glare at the kids.

“Take her,” The lead male growls, pointing at Asha. “We know she’s Bruce Wayne’s granddaughter. Once we’re on the plane, we can negotiate for her life.”

“No!” Charlie tries to push the guards away as they come for her friend.

“Take her too!”

“NO! ASHA!”

“CHARLIE!”

The kids fight as best they can, but they’re only children. Grabbed around the middle and held tight, Asha and Charlie scream for the others. Peter snaps out of his silence and races after his sister. Then a guard points his weapon at the little boy. Ben jumps in front of Peter, arms held out.

The door slams shut. The screams fade away, replaced by familiar voices a few minutes later.

“STARLINGS!”

“BABY DOLLS!”

“LITTLE MAN, WE’RE HERE!”

“We’re in here! We’re in here!” Ben shouts as he and Peter band their hands on the door. “We’re in here! Mami! Dad!”

Familiar faces peer through the window. Even in their hero apparel, the kids would know their parents anywhere.

“Dad!” Peter shouts, “You have to save Charlie and Asha! The bad people took them! They’re going on a plane!”

“Jon, Mar’i, Irey, with me!” Damian shouts, “We’ll get the older girls! The rest of you, get the kids to safety.”

Four sets of feet race off in another direction.

“Guys! Way from the door!” Lian shouts, "To a side wall!"

Ben and Peter pull the other kids to the back corner, shouting when they're in position. A brief pause. Then door flies back with a blast of green energy, their parent spilling into the room. As always, the Harper-West kids are the first to move, "Mommy! Daddy!"

"Baby dolls! Baby Jedi!" Lian catches Lily and Luke as Jai scoops up Milly. The three children cling to their parents, shaking as Jai and Lian check them for any bruises. "It's okay, we're here. Mommy and Daddy got you."

"Mami!" With his little brother's hand in his, Ben runs to their mother's arms, crying. Milagro catches her boys and holds them close. "Where's Dad?"

"I'm here, buddy." Colin backs into the room, “We need to go now.”

“Hallways?” Lian asks, picking Laney up in her other arm.

“Clear. You all stay behind me.”

"Okay, guys, let's go! Fast, fast!" With some trading around, the other three get the youngest kids in their arms. Colin clears ahead of them before the group moves on.

As they round a corner, a group of guards comes out of the elevator. Colin barrels ahead. Much to his sons’ horror. Ben races forward. Only for his mother to grab him around the middle. Max cries in her other arm.

"DADDY!" Ben fights Milagro. “NO! DADDY!”

"AAARGH!" Colin's body ripples, muscles swelling and growing as he mutates. The familiar burn hurts more than it had in when he was younger. That doesn’t matter to Colin. All that matters are the people behind him.

Abuse slams into the guards. Throwing them into walls. Into each other. He catches sight of the children looking at him in horror. Ben and Max’s faces. Pushing it down, Abuse keeps fighting. There will be time to explain later. Passing Laney to Jai, Lian draws her bow. An arrow appears in a guard’s leg as he tries to hit Colin from behind.

“Jai, put kids behind me!” Milagro orders. The speedster sets the kids in his arm behind her, lightning dancing under his skin as he races down to join the fight.

“Mami?” Max reaches for his mother as she sets him down.

“It’s gonna be okay, mi amor.” A glowing green dome appears around the kids. Lian at her side, the two women join the fight.

The kids had heard the stories of their parents fighting. Laughed at details that got fought over. Watched their parents spar, tossing playful insults at each other.

But seeing them in a fight is something else.

Lian spins on her heel, firing an arrow into one guard’s shoulder. Swings her bow and smacks another in the face. Someone tries to fire at her, only for the bullet to disappear and the guard crumple to the ground in a flash of lightning. Jai comes in and out of focus, socking guards in the face. His skin ripples with electricity. Abuse throws a guard to his wife, who slams her fist into his face. Milagro grabs a wrist and flips the man over her shoulder.

All the time maintaining her concentration to protect the kids.

In a few minutes, the area’s clear. The dome dissipates, parents reaching for their kids. Abuse lumbers ahead again. He needs to focus, and seeing his boys horrified faces, knowing they must hate him. No. Worse. They must be afraid of him.

In another part of the facility, a group of guards and scientists struggle to get the two oldest girls onto the plane. For once, Charlie fights back as hard as her cousin. Screaming at the top of their lungs. The collar around Charlie’s neck presses against her burn scars.

“Let go of me!” Asha bites at the guard holding her. “Let go of me!”

“Get them on the plane!” A guard snaps. The door below them blasts open. A crack of lightning and two figures fly into the room, a fourth following seconds later.

“Mama! Baba!”

“Momma! Daddy! Help!”

“Girls!” Damian shouts.

“Freeze!” The guard holding Asha jerks her up. His arm tightens around her neck

“LET HER GO!”

“BACK UP OR I KILL HER!”

“Jon, her collar.” Mar’i murmurs. He sees the collar around their daughter’s neck, but hears her rapid heart beat too.

“Her powers—"

“PUT HER DOWN—”

“BACK UP!”

“BABA!” Asha screams. Jon hears the gun click.

A split-second decision.

His heat vision cuts through the wiring.

Then all hell breaks loose. With a deafening scream, the guard holding Charlie is pulled away by a twisted claw. Monstrous figures—doctors in blood stained scrubs and sharpened scalpels, headless guards with mangled guns—appear around them. Asha’s guard yells as a doctor slices his gun hand off. In his shock, he drops Asha, who scrambles to the railing.

“GO AWAY, GO AWAY, GO AWAY!” Charlie covers her ears, her voice otherworldly, “I’M NOT GOING BACK!”

The monsters move. Slicing through skin. Firing bullets into heads. Their parents can’t move. Charlie curls up on the ground, still screaming. Pulling away from the railing, Asha crawls under the monsters to her. A body flies over head, hitting the ground with a sickening thud. Blood drips down the side of the platform.

As quickly as it starts, it stops. Unfreezing, their parents race to them; Mar’i and Jon flying up to the girls. Asha covers Charlie with her body, both girls shaking.

“It’s okay now. We’re gonna be okay.” Asha promises, protecting her cousin’s head.

A few hours later, in a hospital that specializes with heroes, the kids have been mostly cleared by the doctors. They’ll have to stay the night for observations, but that’s nothing compared to what they could be going through. In an empty hospital room and answering the League’s questions, the three leaders try not to lose their minds.

“Are you three seriously suggesting we dismiss—”

Lian cuts the senior hero off, “We’re saying given the circumstances, we made a judgement call.”

“You three know that family members are not allowed to be on missions to rescue each other—”

“Given that most heroes are related through marriage at this point,” Damian scowls, “That’s damn near impossible. Our children were in danger. That’s not a matter any of us can simply stand aside for.”

“More than that, we were attacked in my home.” Lian snips, “I don’t need to remind you all about Thawne taking my children from their beds, do I?”

“Of course not. This is simply routine.” Wonder Woman assures them, “What about the authorization of Abuse and Nightstar?”

“Emergency authorization Delta.” Irey taps her foot, “We knew the risks. This isn’t a choice any of us made lightly—”

“There’s also the matter of Charlotte Kent.”

Damian scoffs, “Asha’s life was in danger. More than that, the people that kidnapped them are part of the group that kept her captive for her early formative years. If you need her medical files, I’m sure Jon and Mar’i can provide those to confirm her diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.”

“So, in your eyes, her killing a dozen people is okay?”

“In our eyes,” Lian grits her teeth, “Charlie’s a traumatized little girl who lost control of her powers. What happened is horrible, none of us are saying otherwise, but what would you have us do? Throw her in Belle Reve?”

“No! Of course not! But—”

“I think,” Irey cuts Hal Jordan off with a cool look, “We reconvene another time. We’ll have our team fill out reports on what happened and provide whatever information we need when we meet. But right now, Lian has three kids that need her, and we have a daughter to check on.”

Signing off, the three leaders look at each other. Lian rubs her face, “Fuck me.”

“It will be alright, Lian.” Irey promises, “We did what was right for our kids.”

“I know, but I keep thinking about what could have happened. Especially to my dolls.” Lian grits her teeth. Damian rests his hand on her shoulder.

“Like Irey said. They need their mother right now.” He opens the door to the empty room they’d been using.

Across the hall, Milagro and Colin sit on a hospital bed together. Their sons cling to Colin, whimpering. They recognize the pain in his face, but that doesn’t stop him from holding Ben and Max close. Milagro hums softly as she runs her fingers through Max’s hair. The sight makes Colin’s worry during the kids’ checkup seem…misplaced.

In another room, Jai sits with his trio of monsters on one of the hospital beds, half signing. The tension in Lian’s chest loosens seeing all her kids snoozing on their father. Asha naps on the other bed.

“Mama?” Asha yawns, rubbing her eyes as Irey picks her up to settle down with her and Damian. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, Bug.” Irey kisses her 11-year-old’s head. “Baba, Aunt Li, and I took care of things.”

“Mommy,” Lily hiccups, reaching for Lian. Picking up both her daughters, she sits next to her husband and their son.

“I’m sorry, baby dolls. I’m sorry the bad people got you earlier.”

“It okay, Mommy,” Milly looks up at her, “We knowed you and Daddy’d save us.”

“Always.” Lian promises, kissing their heads. She holds them tighter, “Daddy and I will always save you.”

While the other families reunite, and their younger children sleep, Mar’i and Jon are having a much harder conversation down the hall.

Charlie sits beside Mar’i, her mother’s hand running through her hair, while Jon sits in a chair in front of her. One of his strong hands holds hers tightly.

“Charlie. Momma and I need to talk to you. Is that okay?”

“I guess…” Charlie sniffles.

“Hey.” Mar’i tilts her head up. “Starling, if this gets to be too much, you tell us. No questions asked. Okay?”

“Yes, Momma.” Charlie rests her head on Mar’i’s chest. Mar’i and Jon share a look. He takes a deep breath.

“First, we know you’re scared. We know there’s a lot of confusing stuff in your head. What we need you to know is that we love you and we’re not going anywhere, ok?” Jon waits until she nods, “Okay. That’s the most important thing we need you to know. No matter what we love you.”

Mar’i strokes Charlie’s hair, “The other kids said…when the bad people came and tried to take Laney, you asked them to take you. That you’d do a trial for her.”

“Yeah.”

“Baby, why would you do that?” The burn scars on her back come to mind.

“’s what we did before.” Charlie mumbles. “Before you saved us…the big kids would protect the little kids. Do more trials. Keep them safe. I did it for Peter before.”

“Oh, Charlie…” Mar’i hugs her daughter a little tighter.

“They were gonna hurt her, Momma.” Charlie hides her face. “They were gonna hurt Loo-Loo.”

They stay quiet and listen to her cry into Mar’i’s shirt. The dark bruise on Charlie’s pale cheek makes their stomachs churn. Makes them want to go out and take Cadmus down by themselves. But they stay where they’re needed for now.

“Baby,” Mar’i kisses Charlie’s head, “We need to talk to you about what happened in the hanger.”

“When I killed those people?”

“When your powers acted up.” Mar’i corrects. “You know what happened was bad, right?”

Charlie nods, showing her face to them, “Are they sending me to jail?”

“No.” Jon speaks firmly. “No. Charlie, what do you think would have happened if your collar didn’t come off?”

“I dunno…I didn’t want them to hurt Asha.”

“Why?”

“She’s my friend, Daddy. They were going to hurt her like they hurt me.” Charlie sniffles, “They were going to kill her.”

“Charlie, do you know what self-defense is?” Jon asks. Charlie shakes her head, “It’s when someone uses force if they think that they are in danger. What happened in the hanger was self-defense.”

“I killed them, Daddy.” Charlie whimpers, fresh tears filling her eyes. “I’m a bad person.”

“Charlotte Elisabeth Kent, you look at me right now.” Mar’i waits until Charlie meets her impossible green eyes. “Your powers made something bad happen. People died. That’s true. But you are not a bad person. Not even close.”

Charlie wiggles out of Mar’i’s arms, not meeting her parents’ eyes, “I don’t want to talk anymore.”

Jon nods, “Ok. No more questions. Do you want Momma and I to sta—”

“I want to be alone.” Charlie squeezes her eyes shut tight.

“Can Daddy and I tuck—”

“I want to be alone, Momma.”

Jon and Mar’i don’t let her see how much that hurts to hear. Mar’i gets off the bed, pulling the sheets back, “Daddy and I are going to check on your siblings. If you need anything, we’re right down the hall. We love you, Charlie.”

Charlie nods, keeping her eyes squeezed shut. When the door shuts, she opens them. The hospital sheets feel funny as she hides under them. They don’t feel like the ones at home.

Fresh tears fill her eyes. Home. She doesn’t have a home anymore. Momma and Daddy won’t want her around her brother and sisters. Her brother and sisters are going to hate her. So will her aunties, uncles, and cousins.

It’s all her fault.

This is why her tummy Mommy didn't want her.

“Charlie?”

She didn’t hear the door open, but Asha stands at the foot of her bed. Sitting up, Charlie wipes her tears away. Please don’t let Asha ask. Just let her tell Charlie she’s an awful person and she hates her. It’s what Charlie deserves—

“Chocolate or vanilla?” Asha holds out two pudding cups.

“W-wha—”

“Do you want the chocolate or vanilla? I picked last time.”

“…Halfises?”

Asha smiles. Sitting side by side, the girls trade the cups back and forth. When Asha gets up to throw them away, she notices Charlie curled up on the sheets again. “…Baba did bad things too.”

“Huh?”

“Before he went to live with Jid and met Mama. He did really bad things too.” She shrugs.

“…Why are you telling me that?”

Climbing back onto the bed, Asha says, “Because when Baba told me about the stuff he did, he said he wouldn’t who he is now without people loving him.”

“I could’ve hurt you—”

“I wrestle Gracie all the time. If she hasn’t killed me yet, I think I stand a good chance with you…Do you want me to go?”

Looking down, Charlie shakes her head.

“Can I lay down?”

Nodding, Charlie moves the covers back for Asha to crawl under. Laying in silence for a while, the two just exist together for a while. When their parents check in on them later, they find the two girls sleeping. Asha snores gently, arm flopped over her cousin. Charlie lays curled up. Letting Asha protect her. Neither pair of parents can find it in their hearts to separate the two. Just covers them with an extra blanket and kiss to their heads.

Let them get whatever sleep they can.

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