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eggiesins · 2 months ago

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Where the Sand Meets the Sky: Lost and Found is up!

This chapter took a while, mostly because, as much as I love Bronco the Kid, I hate writing him even more. But anyways! Athenas continues to hunt her quarry, but finds herself with an unexpected addition along the way. Logan...does not know how to handle her.

Find the fic on Ao3 here or read the full chapter below :)

Athenas guides her mount slowly along the railroad, shrinking back into the saddle when she spots Unsuur just ahead on the same path. His hair shines just a little brighter in the early morning sunlight, and he's chosen to wear his best uniform with the fewest patches around the elbows. He moves with a signature stride, a rhythm to his steps that lets her know that, despite everything going on, he's still content.

Sure, Logan destroyed the water tower, but Athenas and Mi-an fixed it. Sure, Sandrock is still beset by constant, unyielding sandstorms, but the Little Woods is a big step in the right direction. Other than the recent melancholy twinge lodged firmly in his heart, why shouldn't he be optimistic?

Annoyed, Athenas pulls her mount to a stop, debating whether it would be better to speed right past the lawman or make the trip together and hopefully have a chance to walk things over. Admittedly, the idea of facing Unsuur frays at her nerves more than any monster or bandit could, tugging at her with cold-laced dread, but she's avoided him for long enough. With a sigh, Athenas nudges her mount toward the man, carefully dismounting to take the horse by the reins and walk alongside him, all the while hoping he won't notice the tremor in her hands and the anxious furrow in her brow.

Unsuur notices, of course. Even without years of observation training, he would always notice the smallest details about her. From the dark circles plaguing her eyes to the odd movement of her hips as she attempts to walk without limping. He can see the guilt she carries in the low slump of her shoulders, in her darkened eyes that dart around to look at everything, anything but his face. She fidgets nervously with her fingers, the same fingers that had tangled in his hair and pulled him close for one blissful moment so many weeks ago. Those same hands had hurriedly shoved an entire pot of stew into his arms, shaking as they pushed him through the front door and out into the chilly, empty night.

Athenas takes a deep breath, steeling herself as Unsuur walks silently next to her. “I um, well I-,” she begins, wracking her brain for the right words - the perfect words - to make all of this go away like some magic spell. But despite the monstrous animals wandering the desert around them, despite her own mutated body, there is no magic to take back time, no miracle to erase her mistakes now. Damming up the stream of self-pity, Athenas finally says what she means. “I'm so sorry Unsuur, about before. I got carried away with things when I shouldn't have, and I promise I won't ever hurt you like that again. It was wrong then. It's wrong now, and you deserve so so much better than that.” She pauses, scratching at the back of her head. “I uh, I realized that I have a tendency to let my emotions guide my decisions...so, trying to work on that now.” Out of habit, she reaches out for his hand, clasping his fingers gently. Unsuur stops, his whole body tensing before he untangles himself from her grasp.

He turns slowly to hold her trembling gaze with his own. She chews at her lips, and he can feel the soft, ghosting memory of them, a warm, plush touch that had sent shivers down his spine. And in an instant more, she feels only like a stab of cold dread to the chest, a slashing hurt that coils and twists in his gut, a warning. And yet...

“Athenas, I forgave you a while ago,” he begins slowly, carefully reading the conflict between disbelief and sheer relief in her eyes before he continues. “I used to look at you and go 'whoa' 'cause you're so cool and good at building. But now...now I still look at you and go 'whoa' but then I also feel hurt because of what you did.” His voice is steady, but softer than usual.

Athenas' face falls, but she nods along in agreement as he continues.

“It's hard, being best friends with someone who hurt you. I think I'm beginning to really understand why that stone is called painite now. Sure, there's nothing else in the world like it, but that also means there's nothing else in the world that can hurt you the same.” He pauses for a moment, worrying at his own lip in a surprisingly overt gesture. “For now, I'd really appreciate it if we could just be best friends from a distance, at least until it doesn't hurt to just look at you....is that okay?” He glances at her, a glint of anxiety hanging in his cobalt eyes, almost as if he feels guilty for even asking.

Athenas struggles to swallow the lump in her throat, to calm the indignant anger pooling in her belly, but responds with a solemn nod.

“Space...” she mutters. “Yeah, okay. I can make some space.”

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

Space is surprisingly difficult to make when stuck in a cave tunnel with the person whose heart you've broken, even more so when your life is in their hands. Even now, as the Civil Corps is beset by feral hyenas blocking the path to finally catching Logan once and for all, Unsuur takes care to fight from Athenas' left side, covering her blind spot with a steely defense. For all the futility of the gesture, warmth still spreads through Athenas' chest and relief still lightens her shoulders. She whispers a silent word of thanks to whichever cosmic force might be listening before she dives back into the fight, letting her momentum carry her as she pirouettes and slashes her way through the tunnel.

As the group draws closer, Athenas' can begin to make out the echo of a low voice. It's a slow drawl - that signature Sandrock lilt - drifting through the damp air of the cave, gently bobbing across the uneven walls and fading into a soft bass. She's not close enough to make out the exact words, but his tone is sharp and impatient, a threat. Logan. Athenas shudders, a giddy tremor bubbling in her chest and red film swimming at the edges of her vision with the anticipation of the fight. It's been a long while since the shipwreck ruins, and sparring with the Civil Corps isn't quite the challenge it used to be. Even Pen has begun to lose his luster, only redeemed by the power of his... space punch. He's so fucking cringey.. her train of thought begins to drift.

Her eyes narrow, reality coming back into focus as the voices start to grow clearer, coming slowly to a stop to listen in. She recognizes Logan's voice first. “We have ways of making you talk...”

“Yeah! We have ways!” It's a young voice that cuts through the bandit's pause, high-pitched and energetic, a boy?

Before Athenas can give the boy too much thought, Matilda cries out. “Please!” she begs. “I don't know anything!” Athenas' head jerks straight toward the sound, but Justice quickly signals to her and Unsuur. Hold. As the trio continues to listen to the interrogation, Athenas' blood begins to pound in her ears, quickening to a whining ring as Matilda screams.

“Weapons hot!” Justice orders, jumping to his feet. “Let's do this!”

Quickly, the group rushes into the next room, preparing themselves for the gruesome scene sure to greet them...

…

Is that a fucking feather?! Athenas' brain short-circuits at the sight of a small boy - no more than ten - with messy blond hair and a tattered red cape excitedly brandishing a feather at the bound Minister. Other than the intense embarrassment of being tickled so viciously, Matilda seems surprisingly okay, with no visible injuries that Athenas can make out from this distance. Logan's voice draws the builder's attention back to the more pressing issue in front of her.

“You sure you got enough folks to bring me in?” The bandit steps forward with his challenge, his steely eyes betraying nothing behind the roughly hemmed bandana masking his features. It's true that the Civil Corps had dwindled in numbers over the years of Justice's tenure as sheriff. After all, who else would stand and fight to their last for some dried up oasis? But coming from someone who had grown up in Sandrock, only to then turn and betray it, to turn and betray his friends - the jab cuts deep.

Athenas holds back, taking her cues from the sheriff despite the boiling in her blood screaming at her, pleading with her to leap forward and tear the man's throat out. We need him alive, she reminds herself sharply, a quick command to silence that part of her that would chew him up and spit him out with glee. Her knuckles are stark white with strain as she grips her spear tightly in her hands, and Logan is not so far away as to miss the extreme dilation of her pupils, the excited flush to her cheeks, the gobs of hyena viscera glistening across her forearms. A shadow of wariness slips across his eyes as he realizes that the Civil Corps may have actually come prepared this time, all thanks to the scarred, short woman currently frothing at the mouth across from him.

The sheriff cocks his head to the side, glancing back at his team uncertainly. “Y... I mean, yeah, pretty sure!” he responds, and Logan needs no further urging, rushing in to slash at the lawman with his daggers. But for all his insecurities and self-doubt, Justice is quick, dodging to the side to avoid the blow. Not one to be outdone, Justice responds with a heavy swing of his hammer. But Logan knows his friend all too well and quickly leaps backward, giving Athenas the perfect opportunity to move in. She lunges forward, letting her new brace hold her weight as she aims a quick jab straight at the bandit's face. Logan almost misses the parry, swearing under his breath at her unexpected speed. As Athenas' spear is knocked to the side, her heart thrums with an excitement that sends sparks dancing down her spine. Logan is quick with his counter, bringing both of his daggers down hard across the length of Athenas' raised spear. For a moment, neither fighter moves, locked in the exhilarating embrace of their mutual challenge. Athenas can't help the smile spreading across her face as her breathing grows heavy, each exhale almost a growl as she pushes back against her opponent. Lightning shoots down her spine as Logan's stance gives out – ever so slightly – under her pressure. His boots slide across the gravel floor as she continues to push against him. Logan holds his stance as best he can, unsure of Athenas' end goal but still grasped tightly in her mismatched gaze like a fly caught in a web.

“Well,” Logan grunts, suddenly shifting tactics with an appreciative once-over of her form. “You've certainly healed up nicely.” His navy eyes wrinkle with a smug grin as her brows furrow in confusion and sanity washes back across her features for a moment. In response, Athenas shifts her spear to the side and uses the momentum to carry her around Logan's flank. Quickly planting herself, she swings the steel-tipped blade across his back, but only slashes through the leather of his vest as he pitches forward. The two combatants quickly right themselves, slowly circling one another, gazes locked as they each probe the other for weakness.

Athenas can't control the dry laugh that escapes her. “How ironic that my life was saved by the very same bandit now at the business end of my spear,” she comments. Going for the throat, she adds, “Y'know, I almost started to think you were one of the good ones.”

Logan's eyes darken at that, his shoulders sagging for a moment in a way Athenas could almost, almost take as an admission of defeat. To her surprise – and glee – Logan recovers quickly, returning to the fight with renewed zeal as he lunges toward her her blind side. Athenas swears, swinging wildly and hoping for the best, but luck is not with her. Before she can spin to face him, she feels the bite of cold steel against her throat, hears Logan's low rumbling laugh against her ear. The feel of his warm breath against her skin raises the hair on the back of her neck and sends goosebumps pebbling down her arms.

Trying to ignore the distracting heat of her pressed up against his chest, the bandit murmurs to her, “Y'know, I think I preferred you in your pjs darl- OOF!” A well-placed elbow to the solar plexus gives Athenas the opening she needs to duck the man's grip. Spinning quickly, Athenas smacks him across the chin with the butt of her spear, unable to hold back her delighted giggle at the heavy thwack of wood on bone and Logan's resulting groan of shock and pain. A thrill runs down her spine as her steaming blood threatens to overwhelm her entirely.

Standing to the side, Sandrock's Civil Corps watches the combatants with awe, struggling to keep up with the speed of the fight.

“Uh, sir,” Unsuur begins, sword gripped tightly at his side. “Shouldn't we step in and help Athenas?” He eyes her short form nervously, wincing at each blow she takes in spite of his own confidence in her skill. Justice blinks, finally tearing his eyes away from the spectacle unfolding before them.

“Oh, uh right!” The sheriff agrees as he hefts his hammer once more. “Let's get in there and take Logan out, once and for all!”

The two men separate and charge forward, taking care to avoid Athenas' wildly swinging spear as they step around to flank the bandit. Logan spots the cavalry coming up behind her and leaps backward, putting as much space as he can between them. Before the Civil Corps can move in, a familiar arrogant voice calls out from above.

“SUH SUH SUH SUH SPACE PUNCH!” The Protector of Sandrock crashes to the ground with incredible force, sending thunderous waves rolling out across the gravel-covered floor.

Logan quickly rolls to the side, narrowly avoiding the heavy impact from the attack. Athenas isn't so lucky, and the aftershocks send her tumbling to the ground with a curse laden shout. But the Pen is quite agile for someone of his size, bouncing back immediately and taking a free swing at Logan's face. The bandit stumbles back, nearly falling to his knees with a groan. With a shake of his head, Logan pushes back to his feet and gives Matilda a shove, sending the round table rolling down further into the cave. The woman yelps as she finds herself cartwheeling into the dingy darkness.

Logan grabs the young boy by the collar and barks out a quick order, sprinting away in the opposite direction. Athenas glances back and forth between the two routes, only committing to follow Logan once Pen rushes off for the minister. Ignoring the waves of pain shooting through her braced leg, Athenas rushes to catch up with the Civil Corps. Just wait 'til we get back to town, Pen.

The trio arrives just in time to see Haru blow up the entrance to the gang's escape tunnel, helpless to stop the men as they make their getaway. Justice kicks at the fallen boulders, swearing in frustration. “Damnit Logan!” Taking a deep breath, the sheriff slowly collects himself.

“Let's get back to the Minister, then,” he finally sighs.

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

“THAT WAS AWESOME!” Andy finally cries once the bandits make it a safe distance from the town. His hands gesture wildly in the air as he continues. “You were all like 'you puny Civil Corps fellas really think you can take me in?'! But then that builder showed up! I ain't never seen someone swing a spear that fast! Oh,” the boy pauses, scratching at the back of his head. “My bad Logan... But that fight had even my bandit heart poundin'! And then when Pen came in with that Space Punch! I mean-”

“Yeah,” Logan mutters, his gaze distant as he rubs gently at his bruised jaw, no longer following Andy's ecstatic rambling. With the fight still fresh in his mind, Logan's thoughts drift back to the wild builder. She's better than he had expected, quick and efficient with no wasted motion. Aside from all the unsettling laughter, she's a surprisingly technical fighter, not at all what he had expected. A twinge of embarrassment sends a flush to his face as he recalls the fight, the wicked glint in her eye as she pushed him backward, a glint that had, at his words, shifted to something different - almost disappointment - even as she swung that spear straight at his jaw with brutal accuracy. As to the question of why Logan had thought saying something like that would benefit anyone, even the bandit himself comes up short. It had just... seemed like a good idea at the time. Shaking his head, Logan turns his attention back to the boy currently poking him in the shoulder, but Andy cuts him off before he can begin.

“You've been actin' real strange-like since we escaped that cave, Logan. You sure that builder didn't clock ya too hard back there?” The boy's brows knit together in stern disapproval as he glares the bandit down.

“I'm fine,” Logan responds, but Andy remains unconvinced, crossing his arms across his chest as he holds his stare. “Trust me kiddo,” he reassures the boy with a quick pat on the head. “Just...got a lot on my mind after all that. But hey, we're almost back home now. How's about we do some grillin' an'... I dunno, try to come up with a new bomb design for Haru?”

Andy flashes an unsettlingly familiar grin before nodding his approval, settling back into place on the saddle. He's definitely got a design in mind, but he's not sure it's something he should take to Haru.

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

Athenas sighs to herself in relief as she reclines on her bench swing, gently puffing on her handmade wooden pipe. The bright Sandrock sun is just beginning to peek out over the horizon, bathing the desert in a warm orange glow. Delicate rays of light dance along the early morning dew, refracting across the masses of yakthorn and sandberries in an orchestra of glittering radiance. A thin trail of smoke drifts upward from the pipe, twirling lazily in the still air. Athenas pulls her feet up and leans back, closing her eyes as a wave of relaxation rolls through her body, loosening her sore muscles and quieting the pain in her knee. She whispers a silent word of thanks into the empty air. To God? The Light? She's not sure what cosmic entity is truly responsible, but she's grateful for the peaceful sunrise regardless.

But, as Unsuur had once told her, “Nothing good lasts forever,” and Athenas grimaces as she hears an unfamiliar knock on the gate behind her. She quickly dumps out the contents of the pipe before pulling her robe tightly around herself and heading toward the front of the yard. She quirks an eyebrow as she nears the fence. Peeking over the top of the white wood is a mess of curly hair, just as bright and orange as the sandy dawn now rising behind her. As she steps closer, Athenas recalls the photo of the “specialist” Mayor Trudy had shown everyone at the fireside chat the night before.

Catfish? She asks herself as she finally gets a good view of the bounty hunter waiting just on the other side. The Bronco she had seen in the photo was obviously an older man, with his tired lined eyes, bulging nose, and a complexion just beginning to bloom with liver spots. But the Bronco standing before her now? His skin is smooth and surprisingly pale, eyes bright and focused behind a weathered pair of glasses, the only indicator of age that Athenas can truly make out.

Before she can greet him, the bounty hunter addresses her with an undoubtedly local accent.

“Howdy there, partner,” his voice is unnecessarily gruff, as though he might be forcing it down an octave or two, but there's something familiar in his tone that Athenas can't shake. “You the Builder 'round these parts?”

When Athenas nods skeptically, he continues. “The name's Bronco. Bronco the Kid. I'm here by request of your Mayor to track down those handsome devils that are giving y'all such a headache, and I'm gonna need your help to do it.”

Athenas blinks. “Handsome...devils?”

At her question, Bronco shuffles his feet, clearly uncomfortable. “Er, well, yes,” he explains. “I couldn't help but notice from the wanted posters I seen that the bandits y'all are goin' up against are particularly good looking.” Athenas can't help a resigned shrug of agreement at that. She does still have one working eye after all. The bounty hunter nods with her as he carries on with his speech. “Not that I'm gonna let that get in the way of my work er nothin'...”

“In any case, what I'm gonna need from you is a Super Shock Shield!” The short man perks back up, trying to recover his scraps of dignity as he rambles on about...something.

“Well, why do you need the shield?” Athenas interrupts, trying to suppress a soft chuckle at the - man's? Child's? - the guy's antics.

“What for?” Bronco looks confused, clearly unprepared for the question. “To aid me in the capture of these handsome devils, of course. Did you even need to ask? Anyway, I've already gone to the trouble of having that uppity science feller design somethin' for you to work with; so here you go.”

“The sooner you get it done, the sooner I can go after those dashing rogues! Curse them, and their ravishing good looks! So long, workshop ownin'... Builder-type person!” Bronco flashes her a quick wave before jogging back toward town, his gait something of an awkward waddle.

Ravishing...good looks... Athenas thinks to herself as she wanders into her house. I'm too high for this.

Studying the diagram as she walks through the door, Athenas quickly finds herself stumbling over a recently moved coffee table that used to be a rug. Swearing, she catches herself with her cane and rubs at what is not the first of many table-induced bruises on her shin. Despite the momentary distraction, her gaze refocuses on the diagram - if it could even be called that - held loosely in her hand. The lines are jagged and imprecise, clearly crafted by an unskilled hand, and the whole thing seems to have been drawn in some kind of crayon or marker.

As suspicion bubbles away in her mind, Athenas slowly makes her way up the newly constructed stairs to get dressed and go investigate.

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

“Well then, 'And-aaaaah,' got anything to say for yourself?” The laughter in Justice's voice is difficult to conceal as he approaches the fallen bandit, now wig-less and exposed for his schemes.

Andy growls in response to the question, “I would've gotten away with it, if it weren't for you meddling adults and this builder, too!”

Justice only shakes his head, exasperated. “Shucks. Well, Mayor, what are we gonna do with him? I mean we can't throw a kid in the clink...”

“Yeah,” Unsuur agrees. “He'd slip right out through the bars.”

Athenas snorts at the comment, drawing a quick glare from the sheriff before he turns back to his deputy-in-training. “What!? No, for moral reasons, man! We gotta deprogram this kid, he's been bandit-washed!”

Still coming down from her high, Athenas tunes out the silly back and forth between Andy and Justice, musing on the whole situation. For a moment, Andy's gaze meets hers and she freezes. Despite his aggressive front, his eyes are wide and trembling, shaky fists clenched tightly at his sides. Even as he spits and hisses at the sheriff, his gaze darts around, searching for escape. Athenas grits her teeth, recalling her first interactions in town with Unsuur and Qi, her first day at the military academy, her wide-eyed scream as the first of the lab assistant's injections begins to take effect. Miguel's low rumbling voice drags her back to reality.

“Perhaps...” he begins, letting his words hang on a pause, as if what he's said already is of some great import. “I may be of assistance.” Another pause as he turns to address Andy. “What this boy needs is discipline.”

“No...” the boy mutters in horror.

Miguel ignores him and continues. “A regimented schedule of rudimentary reading, writing, and arithmetic.”

“No...!”

“Compounded with a soothing slosh of hard labor to wash it all down.”

“No!”

Miguel continues despite the boy's pleas. “In time, he will come to see the Light. And then he will thank us. If need be, one day he will aid us in tracking down Logan so he too can see the Light.”

“I'll never rat out my friends!” Andy shoots back. “You'll have to-”

“Mayor Trudy!” Athenas interjects, her mouth responding faster than her brain. “I can take Andy in!”

The group turns to her in unison, each face contorted, in some form, to confusion. Miguel's eyes are wide, his mouth set in a thin line, while Justice and Unsuur stand slack-jawed as they stare at her.

“O-oh!” Mayor Trudy chirps in surprise. “Y-you wish to help this boy instead?

Athenas nods firmly. “I just remodeled the workshop, so there's plenty of space. We can even go get him a new bed from By the Stairs right now. As a builder, I can teach him a skill, a trade that relies on all the same schooling the Church could provide. As a Civil Corps member, I can teach him all the values of a well-adjusted citizen. I have more than enough income to ensure he's well taken care of. But I think, more than anything else, Andy needs a family. He needs care and stability.”

Miguel scoffs, opening his mouth to interject, but Athenas beats him to it.

“A-and I'm sure we can work out a schedule with the Church to help fill in any gaps with my work schedule. It does take a village, after all.” Athenas turns back to Trudy, her voice softening. “But, don't you think it would be best for Andy to have both? He's not a bad kid, Mayor. He just needs to be shown the right path.”

The small mayor takes a moment to consider both proposals, weighing things out as she observes the boy in front of her. Realizing what's at stake, Andy quickly straightens up and puts on his most polite smile, taking a small side-step toward Athenas. Trudy sighs and nods to the group.

“Fine. Athenas, will you watch over and care for this boy? And Miguel, can I rely on you and your people to step in and help when needed?”

Both the stern builder and the grim pastor nod their response. After a pause, Trudy continues.

“Then I hereby sentence Andy the bandit child to indefinite confinement in the capable care of our resident builder and Civil Corps member, Athenas. In addition, Andy will also commit to regular community service with the Church and indefinite mandatory attendance in Sunday school! Until his behavior normalizes.”

It takes a moment for Jasmine to reassure the young bandit that Sunday school would still at least be fun, but once she does, he finally calms down enough for Athenas to address him directly.

“Hey Andy,” she begins, unsure on how to proceed. “It's uh, it's been a pretty long morning for both of us, I think. How's about we head on over to the workshop so you can pick out your bedroom? After that, we can go find you a bed at Arvio's shop.” She smiles tentatively.

The boy crosses his arms, eyeing her up and down with suspicion. “I dunno what yer expectin' bein' so nice to me n' stuff. It's not like I'm gonna just up and rat out my friends just 'cause ya get me a bed n' my own room!”

Athenas' smile widens into a grin. “Well, then I guess it's a good thing I wasn't planning on asking you to do that. But, I do have to ask...” her expression softens. “Are you okay with this? Comin' to live with me from now on? I get pretty busy being a builder, but I promise I'll do my best to make sure you're happy and healthy.”

Andy's eyes go wide at the question as he scratches at the back of his head. “Well, dang Athenas I- I...” The boy sniffles, glancing down as he tries to force the words out, opting instead for defense. “I s'pose it don't sound too bad. Better than the Church at least...”

Athenas places a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I can work with that. Now, let's go get your room set up so I can get started on lunch. Then, I'll show you how to build something really cool.” The boy looks up at her uncertainly, but nods his assent.

As the two make their way to the workshop, Athenas lets Andy run ahead to burn off what energy he's got left. The boy is clearly healthy. Logan and Haru were taking good care of him, at least. His eyes are bright and focused, and he's definitely got plenty of energy.

But why would a man, willing to kidnap and... “torture” the Minister, also be willing to take in some child and take care of him? Children need attention, routine, and a lot of food. Not to mention, Andy, while fiercely loyal, is a definite wild card. How much information does the boy actually know? The more Athenas learns about Logan, the more questions she finds, even more so now.

He had gone through all the trouble to kidnap Matilda, and used that precious time to ask about water? It's true that the Church handles the imports and exports of water, but the idea that someone is hiding it? Who would stand to gain anything - other than Logan - by depriving the town of such a vital resource? Is Logan's interest in the water simply a villain looking for the next weakness to attack, or is there a deeper method to the madness, something no one else seems to know about?

And what was with that fight in the Outback? One minute her heart is hammering with adrenaline, ready to fight to the last, and the next she can feel Logan's own racing pulse against her back, his warm breath tickling her neck. If he was trying to seduce her into siding with him, it had been a poor attempt, especially once he opened his mouth. Still, she can't deny the effects of that deep voice or the intense look in his eye when she finally had struck a nerve with the man, can't deny that some part of her, somewhere along the way, has become more interested in him than in any way she can deem truly healthy. Whether that interest is more so the cat chasing a mouse or something more unsettlingly affectionate, the builder can't be sure. But she has a town to save. And Logan is definitely the villain, right?

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

Logan swears under his breath again as he carefully guides his goat up the cliffside, eager to stay out of the way of any prying eyes. Sitting high upon the craggy edge of the mesa, the bandit finds the spot he's looking for. Through his binoculars, he can see the train station below and the town's main street ahead, as well as Athenas' workshop to the left. Movement down the large road catches his eye, and he adjusts his angle to spot the Civil Corps dashing after a small blond figure.

“Andy,” Logan sighs, quickly jumping up to go retrieve the kid when he hears a familiar cry.

Looking back to the town, Athenas is gripping Andy by the collar as the rest of the Corps catches up. Soon, the boy is completely surrounded, and Logan's heart pounds in his chest. There's an ache starting to form, and a lump in his throat as he watches on. He can't make out any of what's being said, but Athenas and Miguel seem to be arguing about something. Shortly after Mayor Trudy speaks up, Athenas takes Andy by the hand, leading him back to the workshop. Logan's expression softens as Andy brightens back up and practically bounces his way back to her home. Athenas meets his energy with a vibrancy of her own, indulging in a bit of childish wonder as she laughs along at the boy's antics. Light help us, there's two of them now.

As the pair steps through the front gate, already giggling and thick as thieves, Logan feels a dull tugging in his gut. The feeling creeps into his chest and twists in on itself, undulating in alternating shades of putrescent green and glowing rose, the push and pull of resentment and respect. As the builder closes the door behind them, Logan's attention begins to drift.

Athenas laughs cheerfully, one hand outstretched toward the energetic boy next to her, the other clasped gently over her swollen belly. Together, they make their way toward the workshop gate where a tall man with white hair waits on the other side, watching them with a gentle smile of his own.

Shaking his head and smacking at the binoculars, Logan quickly chastises himself for getting distracted. Though, strangely, he finds he's not exactly mad at the idea itself. He's been on the run for a while now, and seeing the home he so desperately wants to return to...

But her? Really? The cackling, one-eyed demon from the fight in the Outback? If Pen hadn't interfered back then, Logan's not entirely sure he would have made it out alive, much less in one piece. Until he finally had her restrained, she had seemed more like something he'd be asked to hunt down than someone he'd be sent to rescue.

Logan rubs at his jaw, still bruised and sore from that damned spear. It had been an impressive maneuver, he has to admit. Even in defeat, he can appreciate the solid stance in her round, muscled thighs, the perfect precision of the swift blow, the bright glint to her eyes as the hit rang true. Her short hair had dampened and curled with sweat, and the tip of her tongue had caught just between her teeth when she smiled down at him as he fell.

Athenas had also been the one cleaning up after every attack on the town so far, the one consistently putting her life and labor on the line for people she has only known for a short while. And, at the end of the day, she's the one who didn't hesitate to take in a wild - sometimes downright devious - bandit child, simply because she knows it's the right thing to do. Andy has a chance at a normal life now, the bandit realizes in bittersweet surprise. Come what may, he knows the town will look after the boy from here on out.

“I'll be back for ya kiddo,” Logan sighs, finally putting the binoculars away.

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

“Rise and shine kiddo!” Athenas calls out cheerfully as she strides into Andy's room with a quick flick of the lights. Dawn is just beginning to peek through the small window, illuminating a cozy bedroom filled to the brim with new toys and furniture.

A tousled mess of blond hair grumbles at her from beneath thick downy covers, and Athenas can't help a smile as the boy throws the blankets off dramatically.

“Better be a good reason yer wakin' me up so early, Builder,” Andy grunts with a tired glare. Athenas holds back a chuckle as she reaches out to muss his already tangled curls.

“Well, breakfast is ready downstairs,” she begins, and the boy's glare shifts to a more skeptical raised eyebrow. “But we need to eat quick, gotta be sure to head out early if we're gonna catch any fish today.” Andy looks at her slack-jawed, and Athenas pretends to ignore him as she continues. “After that, I'm thinkin' we can head to the Blue Moon for lunch and get started on that Super Shock Shield you designed...” Before she can finish speaking, Andy is already gone in a whirlwind of flying clothes and combs, prattling on excitedly about all the kinds of sandfish he's gonna catch, as well as some modifications to the shield for “maximum powerage.”

After breakfast, the pair makes their way out to a small fishing spot that Elsie had pointed out to Athenas, near Gecko Station. The bandit child riding in front of Athenas ensures that not a moment of the ride is spent in silence, bombarding her with all kinds of questions and comments.

“What kinda fish are we catchin' today?” he asks. Athenas tilts her head at an angle as she replies.

“I'm actually not too sure. I've only been to this spot once before. The uh, missing eye sometimes makes sandfishing out here more frustrating than fun...” She drifts off into an awkward pause before the right words finally find her. “But today's definitely gonna be fun 'cause I get to hang out with you while we fish!”

Andy twists in the saddle to look up at her, not bothering to hide his focus on her blind eye.

“Was that from the crash?” he asks, voice suddenly turning serious.

Athenas forces a patient smile as she stares straight ahead. “It is... I guess Logan told you about that, huh?”

The boy nods in response, and his features soften as he looks up at her with wide eyes. “Was it just like he said? Ya fell out the sky in a flaming metal box? When Logan told me about it, it sounded real bad.”

Flashes of white-hot metal, scorching sun, and blood-drenched hands dance across her memory, and for a moment, Athenas does not reply. But Andy is impatient as he waves his hand in front of her face and calls her name, bringing her back to the present.

“Oh, sorry kiddo, I got a bit lost there for a second,” she looks down at him apologetically.

“Nah it's fine,” the boy waves dismissively. “Logan does that sometimes too. He says that sometimes bad memories can catch up to ya, make ya go real quiet for a bit...” Andy pauses before puffing up his chest and firmly announcing, “I dunno nothin' 'bout that, though, bein' the strong, rugged bandit that I am.”

“Ah right, of course,” Athenas nods along, trying keep up an understanding facade. “Big bad bandit Andy isn't scared of anything, especially not that massive Boxing Jack coming up behind us right now.”

The boy's eyes go wide as he quickly leans to look past her, small hands clinging tightly to her shoulder. “What Boxing Jack?!” But his efforts are rewarded only with the view of the empty desert behind them, not a bouncing mutated marsupial in sight. He slowly turns back to Athenas, unamused.

“There ain't no Jack out there, yer just messin' with me!”

Athenas' facetious giggle is all the confirmation the boy needs, and he rolls his eyes at her before switching tactics. “I shoulda known there weren't gonna be no Jack. After all, ya are travelin' with the second in command of an infamous bandit gang.”

“Oh yeah?” Athenas smirks, gaze forward as she slowly guides their horse down the rough terrain toward the fishing spot. “I didn't realize I was in such esteemed company! Please, forgive me your Grand Banditness.”

Andy crosses his arms and gazes forward haughtily with an upturned nose. “As ya were, Builder. This bandit knows how to be manganaminous too. Why, I reckon, if we can catch us at least a couple a cool fish and you cover lunch, I might even forgive ya fer that uh... the um... transgression!”

“Of course, Sir Bandit,” Athenas laughs as she dismounts, holding her hands at the ready just in case the boy falls. Andy jumps down with a scoff, landing easily as he takes a moment to survey their surroundings.

“Hey, this ain't too far from the old hideout,” he comments, quickly turning back to Athenas with a suspicious squint. “If'n it's information yer after, y'ain't gonna get it from me, Builder.”

Athenas shakes her head with a smile as she turns to retrieve their sandfishing gear from the saddlebags. “Only information I'm after is what kind of bait you wanna use, kiddo.”

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

Athenas can't hold back the grin smeared across her face as she jogs along casually next to the short man currently struggling for breath. With a huff, he slows to a walk and checks the large tablet gripped tightly in his pudgy hands. The pair winds their way down the narrow cliffside path toward The Bend, carefully navigating around the various boulders and scrap knocked loose by the latest sandstorm. Bronco mutters to himself, convinced his voice is low enough for Athenas not to hear as he talks through his various insecurities and difficulties reading the tablet.

“...and the elevated femininity points north...I think...then it should be life's alchemy to the south...or was that the dilapidated sky?” He grumbles along, and it's all the builder can do to hold back her laughter at the ridiculous scene. First she was interrogating the various pets of Sandrock, and now she's following the lead of some ancient mystical artifact. If only Dad could see me now...

As the investigators turn a corner, Athenas stops dead in her tracks at the sight before them. Only a short distance away, Logan stands next to his mount. Before she can process that somehow the dowsing plate actually worked, she notices the bandit speaking in hushed tones with a small boy with messy yellow hair.

“Andy!” Athenas hisses, quickly crouching for cover behind a nearby boulder. “The little goblin told me he was running off to play with Jasmine!” Andy passes Logan the super shock shield Athenas had made with him, his eyes wide and pleading. Though the bandit takes the shield, he waves his arm with swift finality at the boy before mounting his goat and riding off further into the cliffside. Andy is left standing by himself against the empty desert background, his head and shoulders hung low in defeat.

“He's getting away!” Bronco cries out, leaping up from his hiding place next to Athenas and taking off after Logan. The builder glances back and forth between the bandit now fading out of view and the broken boy standing alone atop the cliff. With a sigh, Athenas shuffles out from behind the boulder and slowly approaches Andy. As she makes her way toward him, something shifts in her chest, an overwhelming emotion she can't quite place. The urge to protect pushes painfully against her ribs, and the sight of the boy's tear-filled eyes jabs straight at her heart. She could rush off after Logan right now and throw him off the cliff for making Andy cry, but she could also stay and comfort the poor kid in his time of need. It's confusing and unfamiliar, with her pounding blood screaming at her to just go and end Logan already, held in check only by a heart that beats for the lonely boy ahead.

He stands silently, unmoving as Athenas approaches. She places a gentle hand on his shoulder and asks, “Hey kiddo, you okay? What happened?”

Andy sniffles before responding, looking up at her with trembling violet eyes. “Logan kicked me out of the gang,” he mutters, almost in disbelief. Before Athenas can respond, the boy's eyebrows knit together and his face twists into a grimace as he continues, voice rising in agitation with each word. “He took that super shield I got for him and then he kicked me out!”

“Andy I'm so sorry,” Athenas murmurs. His anger, his confusion, his care and loyalty, Athenas looks down at the heartbroken boy and sees her own reflection staring back, reaching out desperately for a father who might never come back again. “Kiddo, I think... I think he's trying to protect you.”

He looks back up at her, unsure. “Really?” He shakes his head quickly, dismissing the idea. “But he said he saw me fraternizin' with y'all! He thinks I can't be trusted no more! So that's it! I'm out! I got nobody now... I'm all alone. Again...” Andy's shoulders quake with choked sobs as he steps away from her and turns with an accusatory glare.

“This... this is all your fault! If you ain't caught me, I'd be back home with my friends. With my family!” His outstretched hand trembles, and his cheeks shine with tears.

Andy's words are a slap to the face, and Athenas can't hide her shock, nor the sudden surge of guilt in her gut as she realizes he's right. But there was no way she could justify leaving a young boy in the hands of dangerous criminals at the time. It seems Logan understands that as well.

Recovering herself, Athenas responds, “You're right Andy. If I hadn't caught you, then you'd still be back home with the gang. That's part of the reason I wanted to take you in, kiddo. You're one of us now, and if you'll let me, I'll take care of you as one of my own too.” Athenas chances a gentle pat on the boy's head, a leap of hope in her chest as his features shift from accusatory to bewildered.

“One of...you?” he murmurs to himself. Quickly, the builder snatches him up in a tight hug, and with a sniff, Andy wraps his arms around her neck, clinging to her. The two stay there for a heartbeat before Andy speaks up again. “Alright Athenas,” he begins, leaning back in her arms so he can meet her gaze. “But don't expect me to act different or nothin'! I'm still bad to the bone, ya hear me? I may not be with Logan's crew no more, but I'm still a bandit at heart!”

Athenas chuckles in response. “Of course, your Grand Banditness. Wouldn't have you any other way, honestly.” Shifting him to sit on her hip, Athenas lets out a high-pitched whistle for her mount. “By the way, I'm thinking we should make churros for dinner tonight.” She pretends to ignore the excited, almost feral glint in the boy's eyes as she continues. “Plus, it's been a long day. I say we take the rest of it to go make some fireworks and see how many we can set off at once.”

As the newfound family makes their way back to the workshop, Athenas' grip loosens on the reins, letting Andy take over as her mind begins to wander.

“Dad, you know what Motherhood means. I...we don't even know for sure if I can have kids! Not like I ever really wanted them! And what about Orson?” Athenas' voice was low, quivering with the weight of her disbelief and betrayal.

Her father gritted his teeth, unable to fully meet her gaze as he responded. “It's the only way to get you away from the front lines for what's coming, Athenas. As for that boy, I can get him on the ship but...”

His pause hung heavy in the air, and a stone of dread sat in the pit of Athenas' stomach.

“But what?” she demanded through a clenched jaw. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she held her fists tightly at her sides, nails digging into her palms deep enough to cut.

Her father sighed as he answered, “But... he'll never be able to see you again. Neither of us would. The risk would be too high. I'm sorry Ladybug, it's the best I can do.” He hung his head in defeat.

As the pair approaches the workshop, Andy quickly jumps down from the horse and runs inside, ready to begin the promised churro preparations. Athenas watches him go with a soft expression.

“Never wanted to be a mother, and now I've got a son I didn't even birth.”

#my time at sandrock #mtas #sandrock #mtas unsuur #unsuur #mtas logan #mtas headcanon #eggie writes

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