#i might need to call in an emergency meeting with my therapist we aren't doing good lads

[casvonriegan]

love working on my phd proposal for like 10 hours while in extreme emotional distress

[wyvchard]

Idea from this prompt by @whumpster-dumpster

CW: References to and implications of death, violence, unhealthy family dynamics

Her blue eyes furrowed as she opened up the screen and updated the information contained within it. She sighed as the commands changed the status of another individual once again.

"This will be much harder than I thought." She looked at the screen and sighed. "... Should I remember them or should I forget about them entirely?"

A call rang from her desk, making her press the button to answer. "Good morning, you have reached my orchard's main line. How may I help you?" She kept her attention on the screen.

"Lia speaking. We obtained the records of most recent check. I'm sending the information to you as we speak."

Listless silence took over as the notification popped up.

"... He went back to his family? They signed off on this?" Her muttering didn't evade the other line.

"Yes. If you would recall, his immediate family is not the problem but the extended family is."

"Make sure the faction still has someone monitoring the situation. I trust that they know what they are doing but make sure he knows that he has a way out." She sighed, updating the tasks that needed to be done and checking off what is no longer needed.

"Don't you miss your home?"

"... Not really. My parents argue with everyone else at home. It's quiet here and I get to learn things with a pretty lady like you."

"Aren't you a sweet little charmer? Well, let's continue learning, shall we? Your powers could be very dangerous if you don't know how to use it. So listen carefully."

Her fingertips trembled as the memory of another little boy who outgrew his place within her embrace returned, stinging her eyes as she pushed down the memory.

"Sister... you... might want to see this." Her brother looked at her with pained eyes as he handed her a newspaper. She took a quick glance at it, not noticing when he left as the news made her fall apart.

He was met with her stunned silence as he walked in with her adopted son's daughter, telling her that he will take the little girl in as his own child and raise her as best he could.

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

Lia merely waited for a few seconds, fully knowing that her creator is trying to compose herself once more.

"We made sure. I'll be updating that information when I get there. How are you feeling?"

"Nothing new. Thank you for your concern." She shrugged off her anxieties and went to call a separate line after she hung up.

"So, what kind of medical emergency is it this time?"

"Hey, doc. Can you write a medical leave note for me? I don't really want to go to work right now."

"That's new. Usually, you'd jump at the chance of working. Did something happen?"

"Bad memories. I may need to book another appointment or something." She sighed, walking with her phone in order to get something from the nearest fridge.

"I can recommend one or two."

"Look, as much as I want to meet your therapist, pretty sure anyone who knows just how much stuff you've been through already has a lot on their plate." She closed the fridge after getting a bottle of water and returned to her desk.

"Well, at least I ended up being somewhat of a well-adjusted adult with a successful career. " "Okay. Maybe I still have some issues. Like you."

She gave a wry smile. "Maybe."

"I don't like what they did. I know it was wrong. But the others don't. They don't know that what happened to us wasn't supposed to be the way of things. So, I'll prove it. Prove that I can do better than them." He approached her while she was doing some chores.

"It wouldn't be easy. Are you ready to face many challenges to achieve that goal?" She asked him as she put away the cups in its proper places.

"I am. And you're going to help me, right?" He smiled at her while grabbing the dirtied cutlery to wash it.

"Well, I am kinda your caretaker at this point." She shrugged, letting him guess her intentions.

"So, is that all you need right now?" The doctor smiled, hoping that this time, he'd need not to worry about his former caretaker's health for a few more moments.

"For now, yes. Thank you. Be ready, though. I heard the faction will have a lot of work cut out for us."

"I heard. Don't worry, I'm preparing for it as we speak."

"That's good. Also. "Congratulations for marrying your work."

The doctor sputtered for a few moments before hanging up.

She laughed as she finished the bottle of water. "Hah, it's always fun to see people in love." She smiled at the memory of another person from the past.

Several dossiers lined her desk after a few more moments. "Alright. Let's see who will be in charge to certain tasks."