Kinship Texas.

Population 2021.

Same as the year.

A quiet little one-horse town, unless you count the Harley's. At one time it was a bustling little community of small family-owned businesses. Surrounding a large Aviation parts manufacturer, it kept the locals fed and clothed. Over a hundred years earlier there used to be ranches and farms. One horse per family in most cases. Back then Kinship was named Next of Kin. Graveyards for fallen soldiers escaping the Alamo. Don't believe what you've read in the History books. Hell, there's even a family with the last name Crockett living here. Boone even. Speaking of...

"How's it coming back there Boone?" A stunning redhead with her long red mane pulled around her shoulders lifts her head, its tips died black as if feathers. Swigging a drink from a tin flask she waits on a reply after buzzing stops. Eyes narrow from a hard night of drinking.

"You try finishing a tat when your canvas is as naked as the day she was born." Her native American tattoo artist scowls wiping away blood from her upper back. He had been working on this woman for 18 hours straight. She had barely flinched. Unlike his dick. Halting only to smoke a cigarette and rub one off every four hours behind her. This bitch was fucking fine. He had known her since childhood. Both born here in the early 90's.

"Quit stroking your tattoo gun and finish up. My train leaves in..." She reaches to her right for a pocket watch dangling from her jeans next to her..."8 hours, 15 minutes. Gonna be done by then?"

"You're the one wanting the full back and shoulders done. Be glad I finished your tits yesterday. How are those hands holding them up?"

"Reaching for the sky Pardner."

"You're one tough girl Sadie Lynn. So, where's the Army deploying you next?"

"Nowhere, I'm out. Staying stateside this tour. I'm done with deserts."

"No shit. I thought you were career. Vacay in Hawaii?"

"I wish. Uncle Sam's got me going to Kansas. Got hired as a head of security at a place called Wyndham Explorations. Tornado alley no less."

"You always did give good blowjobs." He sighs firing up his gun to add more ink.

"As if you would know. Must have been a lot of bragging while I was gone." She rolls her eyes.

"If I get you done early..."

"Not gonna happen Tonto."

"Now that's just racist Sadie Lynn."

"Fuck you Comanche Boy."

"I'm older than you White Squaw with pretty colors."

"By two years."

"I remember wrestling with you as a kid."

"I whipped your ass every time."

"Untrue. Be more respectful. Your ass is right here for me to whip." He dares to slap her ass as he lifts his needle away from filling in the wings of an eagle.

"Good thing that's not your tattooing hand. Soon as I get up, I'm using that bowie knife by my boot to cut those fingers off."

"Why? So, I don't do this?" He jabs a pinky into her anal pucker.

"So dead. I swear."

He laughs at her. She merely scowls and takes another drink from her flask. "Wish you had more time here. My Grandfather would love a visit from you."

"Sorry Boone. Between burying my own Grandpa and tying up his will I barely had time to sit here with you. Give Newton my best."

"He did want to give you something. Ride up there with me for thirty minutes before your train?"

"Fine! Finish the bird before I flip you the talons."

"Now that you mention it, the gold watch looks damn good in the eagle's talons."

"That was important to me. I appreciate the perfection in your talents Boone."

"I have many talents."

"Yeah, yeah! Think with your tattoo hand not the one on my ass. My luck you'll trace your hand on my butt cheek."

"Interesting idea." He strategically places his hand over her butt as if planning. She shakes her ass to change his mind. That called for another drink. "Is that your father's flask?"

"Handed down." She lifts it to show off, "Sixth generation possession. Been in my family since 1865. My Great yada yada yada Grandpappy Jessup was one of the first Texas Rangers. That's why there's a star etched into the pewter. Little wore down in spots but it's there."

"Funny that he was a Texas Ranger, but your last name is Outlaw."

"I know right? He disappeared without a trace in 1877. Word, was he caught wind of some bad hombres in the Texas Rangers and they had him killed. No proof of that, but it's out there. Definitely not on Ancestry.com."

"I recall hearing that story now. When we were teenagers. You wrote an essay on the Rangers your sophomore year."

"You remember that?" She hisses.

"I also remember the Teacher ripping it up calling it hogwash. Not right."

"Mr. Butler was a prick. I barely passed his history class."

Boone hesitates to clean her wounds when he hears motorcycles revving outside his Ghost Town Ink parlor. It used to be an old mercantile. Barely up to code these days. Sadie Outlaw lifts her head groggily from the booze intake. Two days of hard drinking was just now taking its toll. Definitely no lightweight. She could drink most men under the table.

Stirring Boone felt uneasy about the new arrivals. "You better get your clothes on."

"Why? As if I'm afraid of a few bikers."

"You may be a badass in the Army Sadie, but we're talking gangs here. That's Korso and his crew, the Copperheads."

She stares out a lone picture window in the front of Boone's shop, to see six burly bikers with enough hair to be women. She corks her flask and reaches over for her knife. Sliding it closer she grins. Nothing spooked the Outlaw.

"Keep inking."

"Your gangbang Sadie."

"You're here as back up. Break out your tomahawk."

"Already have it handy." It was in a specially designed slot beneath his table believe it or not.

"Can't be too handy if your free hands still rubbing my ass cheek."

"Sorry." He removes it not even realizing it was still hovering. Approaching the front door Jake Korso barged in with the sound of a jingling doorbell over the threshold. He was a good 280 pounds of muscle, tattoos, and beard. Following him in were two others, less threatening, but ugly just the same.

"Afternoon Boone Tickle Bear."

"Korso. What brings you to my reservation?'

The burly biker rubs his beard looking over Sadie. "Mighty fine canvas you got there. Howdy Ma'am." He winks at her.

"Stop being respectful. You know I'm no Ma'am. Call it as you see it." She narrows her eyes at him while sifting through her jeans for a pack of cigarettes and a butane lighter. Cig to her lips she lets it dangle as the men size her up.

"Nice work there Boone." Korso looks over Sadie's shoulders, his eyes trailing over her back to just above her butt crack along the small of her spine, there a very ornate logo of a skull with a crossing of a rifle and a blade. "Special Forces? One shot, One kill. Now isn't that interesting. What's the fine print say?"

"It says, Thank You for Your Service." She huffs.

"Damn! That's hot." The two other bikers seemed impressed, both puckering their lips at each other.

"Why are you here Korso?" Boone sets his tattoo gun aside in favor of standing tall.

"Easy Indian. I'm not here for trouble. Just waiting on a package delivery. Damn!" He strokes his beard, "You wanted me to call it how I see it...that is one extra tight ass."

"I hear that a lot. Military style. Try bouncing a quarter off of it." Sadie lights her cigarette and takes a drag without using her fingers, exhaling a thin line of smoke. "I'm sending up smoke signals Boone. Get to work on my tat. Time's a ticking."

The bikers admire her fearlessness under pressure. Being totally nude in a compromising position, knowing they would love to manhandle her. They could tell she was tough.

"Mind if I get some privacy here?" She hisses without looking at any of them.

Boone moves to cover up Sadie's lower body with a towel. Sadie wouldn't have it.

"What are you, my masseuse? Get that rag off me." Hearing her Boone frowns. She was trying too hard to be the badass. The bikers would call her out eventually. Removing the towel Boone settles in his lean over her and begins tattooing again. One of the other two bikers moves around Boone making him uneasy.

"Relax. I'm only checking out her other tats. Rattlesnake coiling around both legs."

"Not a Copperhead." She growls.

"Too bad. You'd be one fine ole' lady."

"Nice tan for a redhead. No tan lines even." The third biker noticed.

"When you're in a fuckin' desert like Afghanistan for six years you have lots of time to fill. Suns harsh, so am I."

"You talk big." Korso nods, "No AK-47's here in Kinship."

"Don't need one. AK-47's is for pussies. I prefer a Norwegian HK416. Battleax with kick."

"Nice." The man behind her eyes her parted legs. A sweet pinkness clamped tightly like a clam made his mouth water.

"The Swedewacker or me?" She winces taking another drag.

"Both." He chuckled.

"Fellas!" Boone rallied to her rescue, "She's on a timer here. Her train leaves in less than 8 hours and I have at least six hours to finish this tat. Can you please wait outside for your package?"

"Calm down Brother." Korso raises his palms. "It's hot out there."

"Hotter in here." The third biker known as Roadkill chuckled crouching in front of Sadie. She blows smoke in his face with a wink. Swatting the nicotine aside he smirks for effect. Noting her thong laying with her bra and other clothing he stands picking it up to inhale it. "Oh, that's beautiful."

She lifts her head eying his enjoyment, "Those won't fit your fat ass."

"My big dick wouldn't fit in that tight ass pussy."

'Had bigger than you, I'm sure."

"Damn you got spunk."

"What part of privacy don't you get?" She hisses with a bitter bite.

"Beware Brothers." Boone shakes his head.

"I think she's all talk." Beastro, the second biker chuckles. "These snakes here lead up to some fangs?" His hand caresses her inner thighs, easing in between her leg's mere inches from her pussy.

"Only one way to find out." She reopens her flask taking a drink before corking it again and setting it aside. She winks at Roadkill still sniffing at her thin white thong. As Beastro rubs fingers along her slit Boone reaches for his hand. Korso in turn pats his concealed Glock.

"Like that Chica?" He grins toward his friends.

Nodding she clamps her inner thighs hard around his hand pinning him in. Rolling over she drags him sideways into an awkward stance. Raising her butane lighter she ignites a fire and spits her whisky at Korso. A blinding flash of flame makes him flinch. Leaping off the table holding her bowie knife up to Korso's chin while Beastro falls to the floor at their feet, she leers at Roadkill who had pulled his gun. Before any further violence could ensue the bikers outside whistled loudly.

"Bet I can sever his carotid and blind you with his blood before you get off a shot Panty Waste." Roadkill looks at Jake. Korso's attention dropped to her 38C's with hand tattoos palming both breasts. Both hands with a middle finger pointed high flipping him the birds.

"Holy shit!" Beastro grunts from the floor looking up between her legs. "Bitch has Rattler heads bearing fangs over her cunt."

"Bet my venoms tastier than yours. I let your hand go you get up and walk out of here. Let me get my artwork finished in peace. Pleasure was all mine."

Korso notes a Police Bronco outside. An Officer getting out. "Yaeger's here. Put your blade away Hotstuff. No threats."

She unclamps her upper thighs releasing Beastro to wave his arm to regain circulation. She smirks. "Just imagine what I can do if your dick was in there. Maybe your face."

"Damn! Bitch is crazy."

Another jingle of the door, a large older Cop entered removing his sunglasses. Eying Sadie from head to toe he shakes his head. "Same ole' Sadie Outlaw. Trouble at every turn. Gentlemen? Not so gentle I'm sure...word of advice? Find yourselves another hookup. How many confirmed kills you got now Sadie?"

"Forty-two shy of Chris Kyle's record Wyatt. Not even a Sniper."

"How's about with that knife there?"

"27. Four from thirty feet away."

"Jesus!" Roadkill tosses her thong on a chair.

"Keep 'em to remember me by." She growls.

"I'll pass."

"Outside Boys." Sheriff Wyatt Yaeger encourages the bikers with a nod. "Nice work Boone. My grandson Duke might hit you up here soon. He's been talking crazy. Something about a cobra. Too many snakes in these parts as it is. Copperheads. Rattlers..."He eyes Sadie's long legs. "Good to see you again Sadie. How long you in town? Deployed again?"

"Out for good Wyatt." She slaps Beastro on the ass in passing. Looking over his shoulder he sees her blow him a kiss. "See you around lover. Gonna say anything about my indecent exposure Wyatt?"

"Would it do any good?" Yaeger frowns.

"You know you always liked the girls." She points at her tits. "The boys don't like you much though. As you can tell by their hissy fit." By the boys she was referring to her twin rattler tattoos surrounding her thighs and snapping fangs at her cunt.

"Nice birds. Give my best to your Momma." He tips his Stetson and takes his leave. Before resuming her outstretched position on the cushioned tattoo recliner, she watches Wyatt and the bikers talking.

"Some things are better not knowing Sadie Lynn."

"I hear you Boone." She really couldn't have cared less.

With the dust settled Boone Tickle Bear continued his work. In five hours instead of six. He was proud of how it turned out. Her eagle looked majestic and savage at the same time. Coating her with antibacterial ointment and sealing it in under plastic wrap he sits back and has a cigarette with her.

"Bike or Jeep? Either of those relics even run these days?" She sits up getting dressed. Forsaking her bra due to the tat she tosses on her black tank top. Tossing her thong in his garbage can with a frown she points at him. "Don't go digging those out and hanging them from your rearview mirror." Smirking she shrugs, "Aw hell! Live a little."

"Jeep runs. Suzuki needs a fuel pump."

"Let's go see Newton before I run out of time. My Mom's driving me over to El Paso to catch my train."

"One can never run out of time unless the clock stops."

"Always a shadow clock. I thought you Indians invented that."

"Laying on the Earth Mother prematurely invites the vultures."

Pulling her jeans up he gets his final view of two dueling Rattlers fighting over her burning bush. She knew Boone was staring. Hissing at him she winks, "One snake in, one snake out. Only skin needs shedding is lambskin."

"Why do you taunt me so?"

Patting his chest, she puts her socks and boots on. Lastly her women's black Silverado cowboy hat with shiny silver disks banding the brim. "Ready to ride?"

"Right here." He unzips his own jeans. All he got from her was playful sneer. Out the door she went. Lights out Boone locks up his parlor and walks with her around to the back where his old 1973 Jeep Commando was hiding.

"Some things never change. Hopefully the oil." She sighs. Crawling up into the Jeep she listens at a horrible turnover of the engine. Boone peaks a brow as it finally starts.

"Still life in the old stallion."

"Good. Maybe I'll fuck Newton when we get there."

"You are indeed merciless Sadie Lynn."

"You know it." She rubs his leg letting her fingertips slip over his obvious erection. "Oh, not the gear shift. My bad."

"Clutch first." He pushes it down to the floor. Instead of rubbing his crotch she yanks the shifter into reverse.

"Two hours. Ride like the wind Cochise."

"Apache. Get your tribes right."

"Whatever. DRIVE!"

"I am so very offended." Regardless he smiled at the beauty. Reaching the edge of town Boone veered off the beaten path into a rather turbulent journey. Holding on for dear life Sadie had slipped up in judgment by not fastening her seatbelt. A seriously uneven piece of private real estate sent her toppling left into Boone. Her chest rubbing his arm gave him the idea to hit every pothole on the prairie.

"I'm so gonna beat your ass once we stop." She growls holding the windshield frame and the dash. He wasn't giving her time to look for a seatbelt. Not that there was one. The Jeep being as old as it was had a few less accessories since inherited.

"Relax. At least I have airbags if we flip over." He wags his eyebrows while checking out her tits. Nipple action noticed he chuckles, "So that's where I misplaced my arrowheads."

"You're a riot Tickle Bear. Gramps still living up on that bluff?"

"Ancestral land. What little we have left on the Rez. By the way, tell me about this new job. You apply for it?"

"Nope! General Westmore actually approached me about it. Said he recommended me."

"What did you call the place again?"

"Wyndham Explorations." Another hard jostle nearly throws her out the side of the vehicle. No doors didn't help.

"Exploring what?"

"Top secret stuff. I'm just the new security chief. Everything moved so fast with my Gramps dying from Cancer six months ago then dad dying last month, I barely got the gist of the place. Big complex though. All I had time for was a brief introduction. Signed a few wavers threatening lawsuits if I talk about what I see there. Series of inoculations I had to endure which kind of made me stress over. What type of Explorations am I going to be doing in a building? Right? Unless there's biochemical shit going on that I'm not privy to."

"Kansas you say? Maybe they plan on sending you to Oz."

"Hope not. Singing munchkins and flying monkeys make me nervous. Of course, I might swipe a few gold bricks on my way back home." She laughs as the countryside levels a bit more. It didn't last long. This part of Texas was pretty rugged. Mountains in the distance although not the largest in West Texas still challenged the locals. As they continued onward Sadie found pleasant memories of the area. Her Uncle Brandon used to bring her there in her teens and teach her rock climbing. She grew up tough and thrived on it. She missed her Uncle Brandon who passed while on a tour during Desert Storm. It was her uncle that inspired her to beat the odds and become one of the very few women in the Army Special Forces. Without him to tutor her in pretty much everything he knew before his tour she might not be the invincible bitch she had matured into.

"Getting close Sadie."

Snapping out of the traffic of memory lane at Boone's revelation Sadie saw smoke rising from a short cliff side. With Boone's pointed finger she recognized the neighborhood. She often wondered just how an old geezer like Boone's Grandfather climbed up that high. He had to have been 80 by now. Comanche strong she smiled. At a post driven into the desert floor, marked with a band of eagle feathers, Boone came to a halt. His Jeep sputtered, sending tailpipes smoke signals up as a signature arrival.

"If that buggy doesn't start back up and I miss my train you are buzzard bait."

"It will start. Do not worry your pretty little head, Outlaw."

"Still not bedding you down."

"Someday my dream will come true."

"My hormones have been riled up of late, which is weird, but I still don't swing toward fellas whom I call family."

"Your hormones were always busy." He grins as they walk together toward a rope ladder heading up the small cliff side.

"Yeah, I know. Kinship as a town moniker didn't help. I enjoy being friendly." She laughs as Boone becomes a gentleman offering her the lead on the ladder. Suspicious she shakes her head, "You just wanna watch my ass."

"I see your ass every time you visit. Is today any different?"

"You know I live to torture you Boone."

"I manage afterwards."

"I bet you do." She makes a hand motion as if he were jerking off. Smirking she accepts the rope after putting on her pair of rawhide gloves. A lesson well learned from many blisters. Although even they seemed to fade away as fast as they were unwelcomed. That was another thing about Sadie, in her entire life she had rarely even caught a cold. She just choked it up to the healing power of good alcohol. Of course, even then she was never drunk long. Zero hangovers no matter how much she imbibed. Her parents always told her that she took after the Outlaw gene more than her mother's side. Never much thought on it after that.

"Still hanging on down there Boone? Didn't miss a step looking up at my camel toe, did you?"

"As you say... wrong desert. No camels here."

"That reminds me. I need cigarettes before you drop me off at my mom's."

"How is it your lungs keep up Sadie Lynn?"

"You've seen my tits. Best set of lungs in West Texas."

"What lies beneath is where I worry."

"Bet I could run 10 miles and barely wheeze." She reaches the top and crawls over the stone wall that prevents a restless sleepwalker from falling to his death. At least that was what the family laughed about many moons ago. Dusting herself off she peers down at Boone leaning over with her hands on her hips. "You coming or not?"

"Is that a that's what she said joke?"

"Well, I am a She."

Another couple minutes he reaches the top and snatches up her hand to assist his final climb. Even though weighing more than Sadie, she yanked him skyward as if he were nothing. Astonished by her strength Boone winces. "Have you been working out?"

"You just tattooed my body. Did it look like I had any fat anywhere?" She maintained her grip on his hand even as he lowers his gaze over her front from head to toe. "If you say fat pussy, I'm throwing you off of here."

"It never crossed my mind."

"Sure, it didn't." She chuckles and drags him in front of her, "Me neither. Lead the way Tinkle Bear." A manhandled twist places him in the lead, her palms slapping the back of his vest to make an entrance. Ahead of them was a rock hut if you could call it that. A simple dwelling with many padded blankets on the floor, animal hides texturing the walls, ceramic pots in the corners, traditional ceremonial items. It was an ancestral home for Medicine Men. On the innermost wall toward the floor was a secondary entrance appearing as if a tunnel. It required them to get on their hands and knees to crawl within. Again, Boone gallantly offers her the lead. She grimaces and drops down on all fours moving into the darkness. Boone directly behind her follows, barely able to see. After ten feet Boone collides face first into Sadie's ass, his nose buried where dreams come true. "Seriously?"

"Sorry." His words muffled over her cLameltoe as she might claim as its pet name.

"No, you're not." She wiggles her butt across his features before crawling forward toward a distant flicker of fire. They could hear low level chants and the shaking of ceremonial rattles until a visual of an elderly man sitting nude makes Sadie peak an eyebrow.

Standing up inside the chamber she looks up into the sky through a hole in the ceiling casting sunlight upon the man. She squints noticing what looked like three birds circling the sky chasing one another. As Boone pulls himself up behind her, she points at the birds for him to acknowledge.

"Eagles. "He whispers barely audible but to her ears perfectly versed. In that same instant the rattles cease and the chanting halts.

"The three brothers come to greet you, Sadie Lynn." Impressed that he knew of their arrival she presumed her perfume gave off all the knowledge he needed.

"Hey there Grampa Newton. Long time no... you might want to put some pants on." She hides her grin while Boone scurries around Sadie in an assist to cover his grandfather. He wouldn't have it. Newton Ruffled Feather pushed his jeans away.

"Let an old man sew his oats." Newton waves Boone aside, "Come Sadie Lynn. Sit with me."

"Alright. Not in your lap though." She was brave enough to move in front of the elder and cop a squat Indian style, Boone crouching to her left.

"You have grown."

"Ummm! So have you it looks like." She winces at the elder's erection.

"Grampa please. Be respectful."

"What are you babbling about?" He follows their point at his dick. Unashamed the elder frowns, "The Great Spirits have called out to me to join them as I was once born." A directional circle of his hands around him leads their eyes away from his nudity.

Sadie looks around the cavern walls at cave art. Animals of every type etched into stone or painted in blue. She could almost sense eyes upon her. Looking at Boone, for once he was staring away. Newton had his own eyes closed. Shaking off her sensation of being watched she wonders if the incent urns were giving off some chemical hallucinogen like peyote. She would know for sure if her mind began playing tricks on her. All she could think of was missing her train.

"I can live with the... forefathers." She clears her throat, "Boone says you wanted to say hi while I was in town."

"The Great Spirits have chosen you Sadie Lynn Outlaw."

"Chosen me?"

"To embark on a great vision quest. Far away you will go."

"It's just to Kansas Newton." She chuckles.

"You have been prepared all of your life. Taught to survive at all costs. You are strong as the Bear. Fierce like the Puma. You see things as if the soaring Eagle." Newton points at the circling eagles above. Following his finger, she's reminded of them.

"You got those eagles trained Newton?"

"They are the Great Spirits here to see you off. The four brothers."

"Four? I count three."

Feeble yet exertive Newton Ruffled Feather stands tall nudging Boone away as he tries to assist him. Circling his fire Sadie observes him limp toward her. Her thoughts commenting on other things not so limp. Overlooking it the best she could another thing crossed her mind when the term wood entered her jest. How did Newton get wood for his fire way up here? With no time to ponder it she follows Newton as he stands over her. Not easy with a seven-inch cock four inches from her face. His hand touches her shoulder where she had recently had Boone tattoo...

"The fourth brother." Newton acknowledges as a piercing call of bald eagles' force Sadie to look skyward once more. This time the three eagles had landed on the rim of the rock skylight, staring down at her. He removes her plastic wrapping over her fresh tattoo even as Boone asks him not to. "There are no scars. Have you never noticed?"

"I-I guess I heal fast. Now that I think about it my other tats were the same way." Pinching the front of her cleavage to examine her TIToos she winces at Boone. They too had healed quickly. Boone could only shrug, having no answers.

"Medicine courses through your veins?" Newton lifts her arm.

"Yeah actually. I've had quite a few shots lately, before and after coming back to the states. Procedure to avoid being a carrier from one part of the world to the next. Why?"

"Have you not noticed even the needle marks are gone?"

"What are you getting at Newton?"

He caresses her back over the tattoo. "You wear your family heirloom."

"Yes. In case I ever actually lost it I had Boone ink it on to me."

"Within the talons of the fourth brother. He will keep it safe."

"Sure. Sounds like it's in good... talons."

"You are not the same Sadie Lynn I knew as a child."

"Hmm! I'm me Newton. Well except more in shape." She lowers her gaze and grabs her tits, "Oh, and I had these enlarged. Other than that? I paint my nails more often now. Trying to return to my feminine roots more. When you're a soldier that can be put aside some."

"You were always a warrior."

"Thanks Newt."

"There is something different about you." He lifts her chin to look deep into her eyes. "Yes. You have indeed been defiled by the white man."

"Say what?"

"Your eyes relate what he has done. I see your vision quest before it has begun."

"Ummm! Do you see me missing my train?" She resists his gaze and looks at her watch. "Times ticking Boone."

"Kansas..." Newton shuffles away and returns to his seat.

"Yes. My ranking General arranged a job in Kansas. Wyndham Explorations. Don't ask. Even I'm not 100% sure what they do." An eagle above lets her know they're still present.

"As the wind explores the world, so shall you. The brothers will watch over your journey."

"It's just Kansas. Sizeable place just South of Wichita."

"The Wichita tribes name for themselves was "Kitikiti'sh" or "Kirikirish," meaning Paramount Men. Paramount Men means Men of Supreme power." Newton offers his wisdom.

"Wow! You must read a lot. Where do you hide the encyclopedias?" She jests.

"Behind the Mason jars. They were free." He shrugs not laughing at himself but smirking at least.

"Nice to know Newton." Even as she slaps her upper legs to get up something about his joke made her uneasy. As Boone watches her circle the fire and bend over to kiss Newton on the forehead the eagles above screech and take flight. Three feathers filter down and land in the open fire, burning as the smoke leaves a pungent odor. A shrill cry makes her back tingle. Eyes flaring at the warm sensation she smiles. "That was certainly interesting. Take care of yourself Grampa Newton...that too." She points at his erection, "Don't let it get too close to the fire. You might just roast that wienie."

Snatching up her hand he pats her palm. "All of the Great Spirits will be with you Sadie Lynn. Console them." A tingle in her hand this time makes her worry that she might be having a stroke.

"Gotcha. I'll visit again soon. Love ya Grampa, like you're my own."

"Go with wisdom and grace. I will think of you often."

"Just not when you take care of that." She shies away on purpose pointing again at his erection. He finally had to laugh.

"Do you think I am my grandson?"

Boone winced dramatically, "Really? You're drawing me into this?" A pat on his grandfather's shoulder he too bids goodbye. Trailing Sadie toward the crawlspace Boone spots her looking at the cave paintings.

"Where do you think I got the idea to be a tattoo artist?" Boone stood proud of his family.

Ignoring him she reaches out and touches each of the animal drawings. With each one she hears in her minds-eye the sound each might make. After five touches she shakes off her imagination and chuckles. "Sorry! Just consoling."

Strangely, Boone understood. This time Boone led the way out. Intentionally doing as she had earlier, halting halfway on his hands and knees until Sadie collided her face with his ass. He laughs thinking it only fair until he feels her hand squeeze his scrotum hard digging in nails.

"Oh, look there's a rattler in here." She growls. "Poor baby. Don't even ask me to suck out the venom. Move before I miss my train."

He moved. Slowly but he moved.

After giving them enough time to reach the Jeep. Newton uncovers a hidden secret from below a blanket next to him. Producing a cellphone, he dials a number. A swift answer later Newton mutters the words... "Sadie is prepared." Just as quickly he hangs up. Amazing in itself considering cell towers were few and far between way out there.

Even for 80, Newton Ruffled Feather was rather energetic with his free hand. The chanting from earlier resumed without the rattle. It wasn't the snarl of the Great Spirits this time. Totally Newt.

********

El Paso train station, a few hours later.

"Time's up mom. They're boarding now. Thanks for putting the pedal to the metal."

Sadie hauls her large shoulder bag of personal things. Barely making it back to her mother's ranch she had time for nothing more than a fast shower and to show off her new tattoos.

Sadie's mother Mary gets emotional knowing her daughter was always gone for such long periods of time with every departure. Palming Sadie's right cheek lovingly she chokes on her words. "I wish you didn't have to leave so soon after the funeral."

"I know. It seems like everyone in our family dies off when either I'm gone, or they're gone. You know I'm a phone call away. The new job set some ground rules for me is all. Timetable stuff the CEO's said. Not sure what that means but seeing as I'm Head of Security something must be pretty important that needs guarding."

"Please be careful Sadie. All we have is each other these days." Mary notes the locket around Sadie's neck, the family heirloom passed down to her by her father over a year ago when she last took leave from the Army. Lifting the locketwatch locket she opens it to peer at the two photos within. One of her Great, Great, Great Grandfather Jessup Outlaw and that of his wife Bonita. "I'll miss these two as much as you. It was always such a comfort with them around. Even if it is only in photographs. Sometimes it felt as if their spirits were around to keep us company."

"I know. When Dad finally showed the locketwatch to me, I felt as if a pair of hands gripped my shoulders. I wish he could have accompanied us here. Why do all the Outlaw men have to die on us gals?"

"He... is taking things easier now in heaven with your grandfather. Please don't tell me that's why you had hands tattooed over your breasts." Mary scowls at her daughter's touched shoulder comment.

"Not hardly." Sadie smirks with a queer look in her eye, "Long story. Your daughter has some secrets too. Someday I'll fill you in. At least find comfort in the fact they're a man's hands."

"I never once thought you were into women."

"Who says I'm not into both?" She laughs. "We both know I'm so far from being an angel that I borrowed a hacksaw to cut off my chastity belt when I was..."

"I don't want to know how old you were."

"Good because I'm not telling you." Sadie mimics her mom. "You know you're proud of me even though I'm a slut." Her remark makes Mary sidestep her depression in favor of an eye roll.

"Of course, I'm proud of you even if you didn't take after me." Mary presses her palms together while looking toward Heaven. "Please forgive my daughter Oh, Lord."

"Better be asking for more than my soul Momma. My sins go deep." A second departure warning forces Sadie to throw her arm around Mary and drag her into a tight hug. Kissing each other's cheeks Sadie picks her bag back up and turns toward the glass doors leading to her train. "There's the final boarding call. I love you Momma." Tears fall from Mary's eyes as she waves goodbye. Even as Sadie exits, the waves became never ending.

Outside Sadie tilts her cowboy hat up to look at each of the cars diligently. Her ticket gave her a sleeper cabin for the long journey to Kansas. Locating the car, she passes a ticket taker who informs her to have a safe journey. Heading up into the car she finds herself alone. Not a soul besides herself were in sight.

"Car to myself. What do you know?" She finds her sleeper, opening it up before getting comfortable. Taking a seat, she rests quietly until the train pulls out from the depot. Waving at Mary through the windows she settles into it for the first couple minutes before taking her cellphone out and oddly writes a text to her father, wherever he was. A simple "I love you Pop. Don't be a stranger. I'm here if you need to talk." It went unanswered. Heaven was like that. Her back itching, she found a comfort in her eagle's talons as a back scratcher.

Four miles outside of El Paso in the desert, she yawns before pulling out the seats into a bed. Setting her alarm on her cell she prepares to take a nap. Ditching her boots and jeans she stretches out in her thong and tank top. Knowing she was the sole resident in the car she didn't even bother to pull the curtains. Besides that, she didn't care who saw her even if other passengers boarded later. Out like a light.

Just how long Sadie Outlaw had slept she was unsure. Waking up she eyes her cellphone and realizes it was off. "How in the world? I know I set my alarm." Peering out her cabin window she realizes the train wasn't moving. Sitting there a few minutes she puts her jeans and boots back on to check out the dining car. She figured she would find out why they were stopped in the middle of the desert. Reaching the door between cars she bulges her eyes.

"What the hell?"

Peering out the front she learns there was no forward car to pull hers. A quick glance backwards down the aisle she finds daylight through the back door as well. Swallowing dryly, she attempts to open the front door. It was locked. Eyes narrowing, she makes the stroll to the back door.

"This can't be good. Why would the train cars to both sides just disengage and leave me stranded? Forward I can understand, but where did the back four cars go?" Locating an intercom, she pushes the button as if there were someone around to answer. Maybe there was.

"About time you woke up Master Sergeant Outlaw."

"General Westmore?" Voice recognized; her eyes grew thin hearing her former commanding officer.

"How are you speaking to me from a com with no connection?"

"Get a good look at the landscape Outlaw. Notice anything?"

Sadie looks out the side windows. "Looks like I'm on high ground. Did the train engineer go and leave me stranded in the mountains?"

"Look further."

She heads back to the door and realizes something she had missed. "Where are the rails?" Seeing this she bolts to the back to find no tracks on either side. "WHAT THE FUCK! What's going on here General? I thought I was headed to Kansas. Did I get airlifted somewhere?"

"Not exactly. I'll let Professor Carlsbad explain things. Before I go... I salute you Master Sergeant. You were the best of the best. I'm counting on you. Survive this tour of duty and come home safely."

"Wait a minute. I'm not in the Army anymore. This still looks like Texas so fess up General. Did I get sent on some mission I never signed up for?"

"You did. The mission of a lifetime. Here's the Professor. God be with you Sadie."

"GENERAL? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"

"Hello Sadie. My name is Anson Carlsbad, chief science officer at Wyndham Explorations. Apologies due for not meeting you when you visited our facility a while back. Things were quite top secret. You were recommended for a very special mission. I will ask you to please remain in this car until the doors unlock. The energies surrounding you are harmful until they dissipate."

"Energies? Am I radioactive?"

"Not quite. Temporal energies. Your car is a specially designed time capsule disguised as a railcar. This will be your home base for the next year. Once you leave it will go into stealth mode. Only you can see it or enter its interior. If you were to step out before it is safe you might be drawn further back than necessary. Without the capsule."

"Further back?" Sadie was a fearless warrior but today she questioned the need to express fear. "Where am I?"

"You are still in West Texas. Only not the Texas that you grew up in. Sadie Outlaw? Welcome to the year 1876. The Centennial draws near."

"1876? Whatever!"

"I do not lie Miss Outlaw. Everything you should need to accomplish your mission is within this car. Maps. Food for two weeks. Water. Even arms. My time speaking with you draws close to an end. Once the outside temporal energies fade, so will my transmission. You will find books under protected panels in the floor. Read them, memorize them. Your mission will become clear. You will leave time capsule messages for we in the future to locate at preordained locations. A generator toward the back will give you enough power to listen as they explain things further. Be well Sadie Outlaw. Congratulations on being a successful time traveler."

"Don't you bastards ever ask permission?"

"You were chosen for your unique talents. We have prepared you for a good long while now. Faith in you is strong. I envy you..." Dead silence. The ending transmission leaves Sadie Lynn Outlaw speechless. Almost.

********

June 8th, 1876.

She should have never taken the job. No benefits. No pay. Just plenty of vacation time on the good folks at Wyndham Explorations.

"FUCK YOU GUYS."

********

Back in the year 2022...

Boone Tickle Bear had returned to his parlor to make sure the Copperheads hadn't trashed it once the Sheriff had left. Everything looked fine. Settling back to clean up his needles he looks at his tray of paints which he had left out in their hurry to beat her train. Glancing at his paint bottles, Boone Tickle Bear squints at something that catches his attention. Lifting up a bottle of paint to look at the label more closely he discovers something interesting.

"Huh! Made in Wichita, Kansas. What are the odds of that?"


Sabrina was as excited about this vacation as I was. We had not had a vacation by our selves in fifteen years and this year it was going to be just the two of us. Boat camping at Lake Mead and just the two of us! It was early fall so it was not to hot in the desert, but the water was still worm enough to be comfortable to swim in. How could it get any better!

I awoke Sabrina up about 4:30 am. I wanted to get an early start trying to beat the desert heat and the morning traffic. I looked down on her necked body as she moved and stretched, marveling at how good she looked two kids and fifteen years later. My wife was not old at thirty-five and she still looked like the kid I had married. Her 36c’s still stood proud and she has the best ass I have ever seen, her legs are not to long at 5’ 3” but they are perfect. Standing there looking at her I told myself, Sam your one lucky man.

I was putting the last of the gear in the truck when she came into the garage. She looked like she was still asleep standing there with a small travel bag. She had on an old T-shirt she had cut off so it hung to just below her boobs, and a pair of white t-back panties. I watched as she moved to put her bag in the truck. Her top lifted up to show me most of one tit as she stretched to do so.

Is it ok if I just sleep for a while? I just can’t get it going I’m sorry.

Sure its ok with me. Is that what your wearing?

I watched with a strong throbbing in my shorts as her panty’s stretched tight into the crack of her ass. She slid in closing the door looking at me smiling.

Are you telling me to put more cloths on? Mister we don’t have to wear any thing all weekend. Still smiling at me she said, I just thought it would be more comfortable sleeping like this while we drive up there. It’s going to be dark for a while and I can slip on a cover up if we stop.

No Hun you look fine and your right it will be dark for a while.

She was still smiling as she watched me adjust myself a little better.

Sabrina fell back to sleep almost as soon as the motor started. She had adjusted the seat back down about half way so she wasn’t lying down but not setting up either. I watched my beautiful wife setting there, half necked and sleeping as we drove on. Still thinking how lucky I was and trying to figure out how to set comfortable with a ragging hard dick.

We had driven about two hours and sun was just coming up. It was shining in Sabrina’s face and she turned to the side window to get it out of her eyes. As she turned her top pulled up exposing most of her breasts. I looked at her thinking how hot she looked lying there like that. I can’t remember when I had been so excited just looking at my lovely lady.

I can’t sleep with that dam, oh fuck Sam! Speed up, slow down, do something.

What the hell is wrong with you! I yelled at her. I jammed on the brakes pulling behind a truck I was trying to pass. I pulled over to the side of the road and pulled her to me.

What’s wrong are you hurt what is it?

That guy in that truck just saw my tits and I don’t know what else! What the hell were you doing? Driving right there by him so he could see me?

No I didn’t even think about it! I just couldn’t pass any faster with the boat back there. Dam are you sure he was looking at you?

Yes I’m sure, I looked at him and he smiled and waved at me. Oh God Sam I’m so embarrassed. How many others do you think have seen me?

Oh maybe one, I said, thinking ya one dozen. I really had not thought about them being able to see her but now I was intrigued by the idea of showing her off. I had been half-hard all morning from looking at her as I drove and I felt that thing in my pants start to grow again.

Sabrina turned in her seat and got up on her knees to reach the small bag in the back seat of the truck. I watched her ass as she leaned over, looking at the soft shape. Seeing how her t-back split her cheeks. I moved my mirror so I could look right at that sweet ass. Her cheeks opened just enough to see that the thong part of the panty had slipped into her pussy leaving her shaved lips bare and exposed.

What are you going to do?

I’m getting my shirt so I can cover up.

Oh don’t do that. You look so good to me and now that your awake and setting up no one else will see you, please.

I had turned in my seat and was looking at her fully exposed tits as she leaned over her seat. Her nipples were hard and sticking out like little erasers. She pulled back across the seat and had her T-shirt but she made no move to put it on. She set there for a minute looking at me then smiled at me.

What the hell, you said you wanted us to be as close to necked as we could all week so ok ill leave it off for now. Look at you, you’re hard as a rock. Sabrina then pulled her top up and shook her tits at me laughing.

You like these things being out in the fresh air, don’t you? She shook them at me again. Ok, I’ll keep my top off if you don’t want me to put it on. Just be careful when you pass some one, OK?

You have got a deal! God I love to look at you lady. She was laughing again as I pulled back onto the road.

She had leaned into the corner, back just enough for her top to pull up and expose the bottom half of her nipples. Sabrina smiled at me and pulled one leg up in the seat folding it to set on. As she moved her leg her panty’s slipped tighter into her pussy exposing her full lips for me to see. She watched me look at her, she was looking at the bulge in my pants.

Yes I think this will be a very good vacation my dear, she said and laughed as she saw I was catching that same truck….


David Shield was a genius when it came to his own inventions, but with even his vast knowledge of I-island it would take time for him to crack through the large number of hidden treasures locked away in the vault. The entire room was over fifty feet tall and was covered in wall to wall lock boxes. All of them were electronically controlled by the main database now at his fingertips.

Almost there… he thought as his fingers clicked along the keyboard… It's almost within my grasp again.

"Are we having fun in here?" Phoenix strolled in casually and eyed the room with a low whistle. "Look at all the fancy gadgets. No wonder you guys call this place the vault."

"How's the situation outside?" Sam asked wiping sweat from his brow. "We heard a scream."

"Oh nothing to worry about…" She waved it off with a sweet smile. "That was just Sworkill being dramatic. Some kids got lost in the building and were poking around the 80th floor. Made them all jumpy. The boss took care of it though, sent some guys to redirect them."

"Oh thank goodness." Sam let out a shaky breath. "I thought perhaps some heroes had managed to escape."

Yeah that thought would make you nervous, wouldn't it old man? Karma thought with an inner sneer. Her eyes must have narrowed because she saw his tension go back up and he averted her eyes by busying himself on the data panel.

She didn't care for the fact that David was being lured into villainy due to this man's treachery. Just like she'd been lured in by love, and a ticket into UA High school, David Shield was now being lead by the nose at the promising thought that his invention would save his friend. David was a well known and respected scientists who helped create so many incredible items and costumes that he was referred to as a hero himself. Yet even he had stepped onto the dark path known as villainy with the proper motivation to fuel him.

"Mr. Shield…" She spoke low watching this man work with an anxious smile on his face. "I know it's a bit late to be saying this but do you really think this is a good idea?"

She saw Sam tense up first and give her fidgeting looks. David didn't look up from his work, but instead kept typing even as he answered her.

"I had reservations at first. I know what I'm doing it morally wrong, but I'm confident the ends will justify the means." He paused, turning his eyes to another screen to check its lists before typing again.

"No, I really don't think it will." She clenched her fist at her side. "I know you think it's going to help, and maybe it will for a time… but all you're doing is delaying the inevitable. You can't give All Might immortality."

Now David stopped, his face going pale and his eyes whipping over to her.

"How did you-"

"I'm not an idiot Professor Shield." She clenched her hands at her sides. "All Might is the friend you want to help, and there's been rumors that he's losing his strength and power. Look at how easily he backed down during the hostage situation. In his prime we would have never been able to get away with this, and you're taking advantage of his weakened state in hopes that it would pay off in the end… but really you're just making it more clear to him that as time goes by he becomes less useful and less of a symbol than before."

"How can you say that?!" Sam pushed David out of the way shaking and glaring at her. His fear turning to rage now. "It's not just All Might that will benefit from this! Every hero in the world could benefit from this! It will…"

"Is that what you told yourself when you brought us all here?" She grit her teeth. "Is that what you told the little voice in your head called a conscience? You're even worse than he is for talking him into this so shut your trap you bald geezer!"

Sam gulped loudly but continued to shake and stand in front.

"We had a deal, young lady. If you want to get paid then I suggest you-"

"Oh I have every intention of getting paid… but what makes you think I'm letting you be the one to write my check?" She pulled out her gun that she'd retrieved from the hall. She took it off safety and cocked it before pointing it directly at Sam. It wasn't loaded, but he didn't know that. "Now then… if I did my research properly then there's a series of switches that allows for every box to be open in case of an evacuation. Both of you are going to put in that code for me."

"The hell is this? What are you trying to do, Phoenix?"

"I'm getting paid… didn't your assistant tell you?" Her lips turned sinister. "I'm not an actress, Professor Shield… I'm a real villain."

"What?" David choked and looked down at Sam who clenched his teeth. "Sam you didn't-"

"I'm sorry professor… but I didn't have a choice. How else was I supposed to get back all those years of work and effort that were taken from us? I need compensation for my work!"

"Sam…" David's voice held such betrayal and sadness that it tugged on Izumi's heartstrings.

"Pitiful isn't it?" She said with a small laugh and stepped closer. "It's pitiful how easy it is for someone's character to change so drastically. You trust them, put your faith in them…" her eyes took on a look of sorrow for a moment before she hid it with a smile. "...and all they do is disappoint you."

"Is that what happened to you, Phoenix?" David looked at her with a bit of pity. "Did someone betray you?"

"No…" a single tear slipped down her cheek and she lowered the gun just a fraction so that their eyes could meet. "I did the betraying."

"Hey boss!" Twice skidded into the door, and Karma's gun lifted back up in a threatening motion. "We got a problem. Those kids split up and the bulk of the group is moving up the tower."

"Boss?" David whispered even as he held up his hands in defense against Karma.

"Tch... figures that Wolfram's goons are a bunch of weaklings." She glanced back over her shoulder. "Oi, tell Compress to get his ass in here and have Dabi to keep Wolfram occupied. The clones should almost be done gathering up the goods in point A so we need to snag what we can from here and get gone."

"Righto!" Dabi saluted but then slumped. "What about the kids? They're a real nuisance… eh it's no big deal." He quickly waved it off as if the problem didn't exist.

"The security doors are sealed tight after they pass the 150th floor. There's only one way to get up to the tower from there and that's where we'll stop them." She looked at him over her shoulder. The look in her eyes had Twice bouncing with excitement.

"Ooh! Ooh! You got a plan don't yah? Tell me! Tell me!" He crosses his arms up in an X over his chest. "Not interested!"

"You've my measurements don't you?" She smirked and lifted her mask into place. "Make a copy of me… and I'll handle those nuisances personally."

~Meanwhile~

"It's pretty quiet, don't you think?" Ochaco huffed a little as they took a small breather.

"Yeah, we haven't had any disruptions or disturbances since the 80th floor." Kaminari agreed cheerfully. "Maybe they've finally lost track of us."

"Or it could be they're just lulling us into a false sense of security." Melissa argued and held her chest. A fresh bead of sweat dripped down her temple. "Could be they've got men waiting for us, or are setting a trap."

"Either way we don't have much choice but to press on." Iida took a deep breath to calm himself. "We've gotten this far, it'd be shameful if we backed down now." He rounded the corner but then stopped and cursed under his breath. "Damn, it looks as though the path is blocked from here as well. We'll need to find another way."

"There's a way in from outside, through the wind tunnel platform. We can use Ochaco's weightless quirk to float and it's a straight shot from there to the control tower." Melissa provided and had all of them smiling.

"That's perfect, lead the way Melissa." Iida nodded his head and the group followed Melissa down a set of paths and out to the platform.

"Here it is, we… uh oh." Melissa stopped when she spotted the single figure standing in the center of the platform. With her back to them, she created quite a picture; the wind from the high altitude blew her long duster jacket and red curly locks giving her a very ominous look despite her small size.

"What is it?" Yaoyorozu peeked around and her eyes narrowed. "A single fighter?"

"I recognize her…" Uraraka whispered. "She was the one standing over All Might when we went to check out the party. What's she doing all the way up here?"

"I recognize her too…" Mineta whispered. "She's the hottie Kaminari and I served drinks to at the expo earlier."

"Hey you're right." Kaminari thumped a fist in his palm. "Damn she was villain all this time? What a gyp."

"Now is not the time for banter you two." Iida stepped forward onto the platform first, his team behind him and forming a strong line of defense if needed.

Karma tapped her ear, signaling her crew that the gang of students had arrived before slowly turning to face them. With her mask on and the dark helping conceal her face she let out a little laugh.

"I've been waiting for you, young heroes." She applauded. "Congratulations on getting this far… but your tour of the tower ends here. If you would be so kind as to return to the lobby, you'll soon be released with the rest of the hostages. Providing that is you don't give us any further trouble."

"You're one to talk." Jirou countered with a sneer. "It's you villains that started the trouble. We're just here to finish it!"

"You tell 'em Jirou!" Uraraka thrust her fist. "Surrender or prepare to lose!"

"Pfft," Karma had to laugh. Izumi always did like Uraraka's spunk. "Whatever for? I'm in the clear advantage here."

"How do you figure that?" Jirou scoffed. "It's seven on one."

"For starters your math doesn't quite add up." She cocked her head to the side. "Only two of you have strong combative quirks, and out of those two only one of them knows how to handle it well."

"Eh?" Uraraka blinked in confusion. "Say what?"

"For second you're all held under society's thumb. The lot of you are students and there are rules in which you're forced to abide by if you want to become Heroes." She shrugged. "I'm a villain so those rules don't apply to me in the slightest. I could kill each and every one of you and no one would look at me any different. A villain is a villain after all."

"Oi is she for real?" Kaminari whispered to the rest of them. "How the hell does she know all this about us? Is she a mind reader?"

"Thirdly…the fact I'm alone doesn't hinder me at all. You're traveling in a large group of people you consider friends and have a strong sentimental attachment to them. If I endanger one of you, then another will gladly sacrifice themselves to protect them. Whereas I only have myself to worry about, no one to hinder me, and no one to distract me from the task at hand." Karma held out her hand and gave a come hither motion. Her eyes pierced through the dark, a glowing green against the black. "Still if you all believe that you've the advantage then come at me. Let's find out who's right."

A cold bead of sweat dripped down the side of Melissa's face. She swallowed hard and clutched her hands together trying to steady them. Something about this girl just sent shivers down her spine.

"Fine…" Kaminari stepped forward. "I don't like fighting girls, but since you're giving us no choice I'm going to prove you're wrong!" He tossed off his apron and tie and rushed forward.

"Wait Kaminari!" Jirou shouted and gasped as Yaoyorozu pulled her down and the insulated blanket appeared and covered the group.

"Take this you bitch! 1.3 million voltz!"

"Hmmph, so predictable…" She lifted her head, her face flashing in the light and Kaminari got a perfect view of her face as his lightning struck across the sky. "Kaminari-kun."

"Weh!?" Stunned himself, his electricity discharged against a fiery barrier that thrust out at him, knocking him on his ass and sent him rolling across the ground. His sparks sputtered and he sat looking stupefied.

"What in the hell was what?" Jirou pulled up the sheet staring awestruck. "Did she just block his lightning with a wall of fire?"

"That doesn't make any sense…" Melissa agreed narrowing her eyes on the situation. "Even when used as quirks, fire doesn't have the right properties to discharge lightning like that. It was almost as if it was reinforced by something."

Her prediction had been right, Karma thought, inwardly pleased with herself. The bluff had shaken them up, and she was able to put her power on display in the best possible way against that idiot Kaminari who jumped straight into it.

"Is it starting to sink in yet? You're all out of your league." She faced the group fully again, she let the flames dance up in her hands in a spiral motion. Be intimidating, be assertive… force them to back down! "This is your last warning… go back downstairs and surrender to the boss, or face me and die."

"Oooh, nice touch there Phoenix."

Wolfram spoke over the comlink and she had to smirk. It seemed as though Dabi had patched her taunt through to Wolfram to appease his interest in the battle. Keeping him focused on the intruders rather than what was happening upstairs.

"If you think that's something then you should see her fight. She's got a mean right hook." Dabi added over the speaker.

"You're sure you can handle that group of kids by yourself, Phoenix? Need me to send you some back up?" Wolfram suggested.

"Have some faith in the kid." Dabi interjected before she could way a word. "Trust me, she'll have these kids practically running off the side of the building within ten minutes."

Karma strained her ears so she could read the code in his words. Right hook…Faith…Side of the building… ten minutes. She had to stall these guys for ten minutes, then be prepared to take a leap of faith off the building.

"So what's the verdict, heroes?" She taunted and flexed her hands out forming flames in the palms. "Are you all gonna attack me? Or are you gonna heed my advice?"

"What should we do Iida-san? She seems way more powerful than the other villains." Yaoyorozu swallowed hard.

"I agree… She's so confident even though there's so many of us." Iida agreed and grit his teeth. He rubbed the scar on his arm and looked at Kaminari who hadn't moved from his spot on the ground. "We're in over our heads."

"Well what are you waiting for?" Getting heated and enjoying the moment of superiority Karma let her villainous nature take over. Her grin spread wide behind the mask causing those green eyes to go wide and the pupils to shrink. "ATTACK ME!"

"GLADLY!" Bakugo's voice suddenly called out and Karma whipped her head around only to get knocked on her ass by a massive explosion. Where the fuck did he come from?

"You guys alright?" Kirishima asked as he and Todoroki raced up from behind.

"Kirishima, Todoroki!" Iida turned and then glanced back at Bakugo who stood by the villain, hands braced for attack. "When did he-"

"You know Bakugo, we got a look at the situation from the doorway and he wanted to make a flashy entrance." Kirishima laughed jerking a thumb in his best friend's direction.

"Question is did he get her?" Todoroki ripped off what was left of his tie and let it fall to the ground.

"Sure looks like it to me." Kirishima laughed and then saw Kaminari on the ground. "Whoa hey Kaminari you alright man?" He raced over to his friend and knelt down to help him up.

"Mnng Kirishima…" Kaminari stirred awake and looked up at him fearfully. "It's not… she's… it's her."

"Huh? What are you saying?" Confused by the spaced out sentence he looked back over at Bakugo and the villain who was stirring and collecting herself from the sneak attack.

"Ready for more you bitch?" Bakugo flexed his hands laughing. "I'll take you on all by myself if these cowards don't want to."

"Nice to see you haven't changed…" Karma laughed and stood up, her wig falling off and face turning to her opponent. It brought on a sense of delight to see the stunned expression on his face. "Hello, Kacchan."

"Usagi?" For the first time in his life Bakugo took several steps back from an opponent. Todoroki who had been walking towards them stopped dead in his tracks and looked at her pale faced.

"Izumi…"

"Guys what's the matter? Why did you-" Uraraka paused her sentence when she too got a look at the villain without her guise. "No… Midori-chan?"

"You guys look so surprised to see me." She pulled off her mask and tossed it aside, then ran fingers through her messy black hair grinning at them. "Truth be told I'd hoped to postpone our reunion for a later date… but it would seem fate loves twisting knives in my back."

"Why Midori-chan?" Uraraka whimpered as she fought off the tears. "Why are you here? Why are you doing this?"

"Do I really need a reason?" She faced the tears with a look of pity. She felt the tugs on her own heart, the ache and hole each of these familiar faces put in her… but she wouldn't falter She wasn't the young hero they'd befriended. "Don't give me that wounded look. I'm a villain, remember Ura-chan?"

"You were our friend first." Todoroki corrected her and stepped closer. This time it was Karma who took a step back. "We trusted you, believed in you…"

"...and loved me." She smirked at him turning the look of pity in his direction. "Or so you told me every chance you got. I told you from the start I had priorities, people who matter to me more. Unfortunately society and hero school frown upon fraternizing with villains so I decided to join up rather than cut them off like the rest of this heartless society."

"That's the biggest bull shit lie I've ever heard." Bakugo snapped. "They warped you, Usagi. They're trying to turn you into something you're not and you're playing right into their hands."

"Hahahaha!" She had to laugh at that. "You're a fool if you think I'm a victim in all this." She pointed at herself still laughing. "Do you honestly think I didn't understand what was happening to me during that whole process? I knew the outcome, I knew what would happen the moment I found out Sensei was a villain I knew I'd dug myself in too deep. I didn't run away from it, I embraced it. I ate all that negativity up like candy and now look at me!"

She stood up straight and let her quirk dance around her. The kids of class 1A could only stare in horrorified awe at what had become of their friend and classmate.

"I was a quirkless nobody, but now all of Japan knows my name! Soon the entire world will know it too thanks to this infiltration. I'm the Queen of Villains! I am all powerful! I'm going to pull the strings of society and turn it into my puppet!"

"Like hell!" Bakugo screamed.

"We won't let you do that, Izumi!" Todoroki let the ice form around his hand. "We're going to stop you!"

"You can try, Shoto… but get that sick puppy love look off your face first. I'm a villain, so you'd better treat me like one." She crouched and let the flames twist up in her palms. "Because I won't pull my punches!"

"Fair enough, Usagi!" Bakugo launched at her again and she dodged quickly whipping the flaming energy out. He dodged as well, using a small explosion to jettison to the left and avoiding having his hand snapped right off his wrist.

Todoroki moved next, unleashing a massive barrage of ice in her direction which her flame whips cut down to size.

"Kirishima!" Bakugo whirled back. "Icy Hot and I will handle Usagi. You and motor calves use your quirks to bust through those security doors and get to the control booth!"

"Got it!"

"Round face!" He turned around to look at Uraraka. "You, grape face, and Ponytail get Kaminari out of here and treat his wounds. Do what you can to find a way outside and alert the other heroes about what's going on."

"Okay!" She obeyed. Using her quirk on Kaminari to lift him she and the others in her group hurried back inside.

Karma skidded off to the side to avoid the oncoming attack for Todoroki and she put a finger to her comlink. "Dabi, they're splitting up again, what's our situation upstairs."

"Never mind us here, do you need some backup? I can be down there in two minutes." Dabi said in cryptic speech. Translation being was that her double had finished with the Professor and Sam, and they were just waiting on transportation. ETA was two minutes.

"Not necessary, I can handle these punks. Just worry about your own task and be careful not to damage anything!"

"What the hell is going on?" Wolfram announced through the comlink. "Give me a status update."

"A little busy at the moment, Wolfram, let Dabi give you the details!" She shouted and sprung up to avoid Bakugo's blow and snagged him by the hair. She yanked him down slamming his skull against the brick.

Bakugo heard tweeting birds for a minute as the pain of the impact rattled his brain. He was lucky she hadn't cracked his skull open. In a move that was more instinctive then planned he brought up both hands and unleashed a furious blast against her belly.

Karma barely had enough time to bring up a barrier before she was sent skidding back by the blast. Todoroki caught her with his ice, her feet now frozen solid and trapped. Well Shit.

"Nice timing…" Bakugo grunted and held his head as he got up.

"Thanks."

"Tch, since when do you two get along so well?" Karma taunted and briefly checked the levels on her flame thrower. She didn't have much fuel left, which meant she'd be relying on more of her own energy after this.

"Shit happens when you're faced against odds." Bakugo explained. "We didn't want to do this to you, Usagi, but you left us with no choice."

"Well I'm happy to contribute to your brohood bond." She crouched down and used the last of her flame thrower to burn away the ice and release herself. The two boys stepped back into fighting stance looking ready for more. "You guys took on two villain flunkies all by yourselves, and still had more than enough energy to deal with me."

She laughed, her bright smile sending shockwaves of nostalgia to both of their hearts.

"Honestly your stamina amazes me… guess I've got more training to do myself."

"You're not gonna have any training time in prison, Izumi." Todoroki narrowed his eyes fighting back his emotions and focusing on the task at hand. "We're not letting you escape."

"Words are cheap… I'll believe it when one of you actually manages to take me down." She flicked hair from her face. "I kicked both your butts at the Sports Festival, and I've gotten way stronger since then."

"I'm not losing to you again, Usagi." Bakugo raced forward. "NEVER AGAIN!"

"Like I said…" Izumi heard the signal in her comlink and she leapt backwards and off the building. "TALK IS CHEAP!"

"What the!?" Bakugo stumbled to the edge screaming out as he watched Izumi plummet downwards. "USAGI!"

"IZUMI!" Todoroki joined him and braced a hand over his face as a gust of wind rushed up past them. The multipurpose transporter caught the falling villainess and she latched onto the top creating claws on her hands with her quirk and holding on for dear life.

The rush of adrenaline from the death-defying leap had made her face go pale and sweaty… but she laughed. She peered down through the window and saw her team manning the controls and waving to her.

"Nice timing, boys."

"USAGI!" Bakugo went to blast his way up to the jet but Todoroki held him back.

"It's no use, it's too big a risk."

"Get the hell off me! They're getting away damn it! Heroes aren't supposed to lose! I AM NOT GOING TO LOSE TO THAT DAMN RABBIT!"

Bakugo blasted his way up, using the racks of fans to help his ascension to the rooftop. He focused his quirk on the craft, his teeth gritting.

"I WON'T LET YOU WIN!"

He let loose a massive explosion that erupted over his head and in the direction of the plane. The smoke and fire covered plane and Bakugo unleashed the fury over and over and screaming in pure frustration because he knew that it wasn't going to work.

He fell to his knees holding his arms that now ached from overuse and his teary eyes stare up at the pristine plane, protected by Izumi's quirk.

"Damn you… Usagi…" He punched the ground and hung his head in defeat as the plane disappeared into the night. "Villains aren't supposed to win."


Hyunjin wakes up with a lapful of maknae and a groan, as Jeongin had successfully winded him. He opens his eyes blearily and flashes the youngest a halfhearted glare, but when he’s met with a bright grin, his irritation doesn’t last for long because really, as much as Jeongin was a wolf in lamb’s skin, Hyunjin still had a terribly soft spot for him and would probably sell and arm and a leg and maybe his soul too for the younger. Well...maybe not his soul, but still.

“Morning, hyung, you look like death and a half,” Jeongin chirps cheerily from where he is quite literally  seated on top of Hyunjin while the older of the pair struggles to breathe. If this doesn’t look like an assassination attempt, then Hyunjin doesn’t know what does.

“And whose fault is that?” Hyunjin groans as Jeongin’s thighs squeeze his ribcage a little too hard and the maknae’s sweet smile becomes the epitome of all things evil.

“Chan hyung made breakfast, we’re going shopping today,” Jeongin announces cheerily.

Hyunjin slowly sits up, blinking tiredly and running his fingers through his hair, trying to shake the sleep from his mind. “Okay, okay, I’m up, now get off me,” he mumbles, and thankfully, Jeongin finds it somewhere in his (cold) heart to clamber off of Hyunjin so that he can go and wash up. He feels like seawater and sand, but as his mind drifts back to what had happened the night before, he can’t help but smile as he drags his feet on his way to the bathroom.

He emerges a changed man, towel wrapped loosely about his hips and vitality returning to his body. He quickly throws on a loose, graphic tee and a pair of ripped sinner jeans (they really weren’t that tight, and Hyunjin really doesn’t think Felix has any right to be judging his jeans). Throwing on a few accessories, he makes his way out to the table where everyone was present except for Changbin, heaven knows if the man was still sleeping.

“Morning, hyung, you don’t look like death anymore,” Jeongin greets him again, cheerily. He reaches over to pinch the youngest’s cheek, causing him to yelp and bounce (how on earth he managed to do that without breaking his tailbone is beyond Hyunjin) away from him into the next chair.

Hyunjin pouts. “Innie, give me hugs,” he demands, stealing the empty chair between them and wrapping his arms around Jeongin. Jeongin dolphin-screams bloody murder, but Hyunjin just remains stuck to him insistently until Chan emerges from the kitchen with pancakes and sets the plate down on the table with one hand while prying Hyunjin off of the fox-eyed boy with the other.

“While I appreciate the fact that there’s no one sane enough here to call the police when they hear that kind of screaming, I kind of like my ears and I don’t want to lose them just yet,” he remarks. “You guys start, I’ll go get Changbin.”

“Yes, mum,” Felix quips with a mock-sigh.

“Don’t use that tone with me, Felicia,” Chan jabs right back and heads down the corridor.

Felix laughs and stabs a few pancakes, tossing them onto his plate. “Ooh, these look good,” he exclaims with a glint in his eyes as he takes the syrup and veritably  drowns the poor pancakes in the sweet stuff. Hyunjin stares at the obscenity of it in thinly-veiled disgust.

“I don’t understand how you haven’t yet gotten diabetes, Lix,” he remarks. Jeongin steals a few of the pancakes for himself and does the same and Hyunjin lowers his head into his hands. “I’m living with heathens,” he wails.

“Oh, don’t be such a drama queen,” Felix huffs, forking a few pancakes onto Hyunjin’s plate. “Hurry up and eat or we’ll bless your pancakes with the  correct amount of syrup.”

That’s all it takes for Hyunjin to practically shove half a pancake into his mouth and chew with renewed vigour, his eyes narrowing distrustfully at Jeongin, who brandished the bottle of syrup like it was some kind of firearm. “Stay away from my breakfast. Fifty-fifty is  not the correct syrup to pancake ratio, thank you.”

“And you call us the heathens,” Felix sighs, rolling his eyes.

“Shut up, Felicia.”

Hyunjin does end up drizzling some syrup over his pancakes, although not the ungodly amount that both Felix and Jeongin seem to favour. He secretly thinks that this confirms his suspicions of how the two were definitely spending too much time together.

He watches as Chan somehow manages to drag Changbin out of the bedroom and he throws his arm across the  shoulders of the shorter male. “Finally, someone sane,” he sighs.

“Why did I agree to come with all of you?” Changbin asks, his voice deep and gritty, giving away the fact that he had just woke up.

“Because you love us, hyung, now have some pancakes,” Jeongin deadpans, throwing a few onto his plate before looking up at Chan with a grin. “You too, hyung. You’ve been running around all morning.” Hyunjin chuckles at how Chan doesn’t hesitate to sit down and stuff his face after that. Not that he wouldn’t anyway, but a little encouragement every now and then never hurt.

“You look really tired, Chris,” Felix suddenly brings up, “Did you not sleep again?”

When Hyunjin glances back at the dark-haired man, he sees the dark bags under Chan’s eyes and he frowns. He knows that the man had been awake in the forsaken hours of the morning just like him, but he also knows that Chan was probably awake, up and running earlier than him and probably earlier than everyone else. Sure, Chan’s insomnia was nothing new, but Hyunjin would’ve thought that it would at least slacken during their vacation.

“You can always stay back and rest, hyung,” Hyunjin offers.

“How come I don’t get that option?” Changbin complains through a mouthful of pancake.

“Ew, hyung, say it, don’t spray it,” Jeongin yelps. “And you don’t get that option because if you’re not there then Hyunjin hyung will stick to me, and I really don’t want to die of heatstroke in Australia, so instead you can be my virgin sacrifice.” Felix snorts mid-bite of his pancake and bursts into teary-eyed laughter, half-laughing, half hacking his guts out as he chokes. Hyunjin can swear he hears Jeongin whispering a  “that’s right, choke,” but he deliberately chooses to ignore it.

Chan breathes out a long suffering sigh and goes to pat Felix on the back. “I’m coming with,” he decides. “Otherwise someone is going to die, and I don’t want to have to go through all the trouble of hiding a body. So everyone please control your murderous tendencies”

“I always knew that brat was part of a cult,” Changbin mutters under his breath and Hyunjin ruffles his hair, finding his grumpiness amusing. He would think that no one should expect a normal breakfast with decent people while they were all shoved in a building  by themselves, which, in retrospect, should have already been a terrifying prospect.

With a little more struggle, an argument on who should do the dishes and a strong disagreement when Chan offered to do it, Hyunjin finds himself setting the last dried plate on a rack and then drying his hands with the towel before tossing it aside. He makes his way to the door with a grin, throwing it open and letting the sun bathe him. He’d probably complain about it being too hot later, but for now he’d enjoy it.

The cove looked breathtaking and he’s sure  that he could wake up to that sight every day without ever growing tired of it, but it brings thoughts of Seungmin to his mind again, and the sudden urge to see the boy again washes over him. It probably wasn’t a good time though, considering his friends were right there, and really, after all their banter about it yesterday, Hyunjin didn’t know if it was a good idea to overwhelm Seungmin with the presence of all of his rowdy friends.

Besides, the boy did seem to be a more solitary type. There was probably a reason why he kept to himself, and Hyunjin knew enough about courtesy to know that he should put the boy in a position where he would be uncomfortable. Especially not when Seungmin trusted him enough to meet him again. His gaze grows distant as his mind wanders. Perhaps he could meet him again during the night. Hopefully this time Chan would be sufficiently tired and wouldn’t be out walking.

He yelps and stumbles as he feels someone cannon into his back, and his arms automatically rise to support Felix’s lanky legs as one of the blonde’s arms wraps around his shoulders and the other points to the car that Felix had rented for their vacation (seriously, the boy had too many notes to spare). “If I break my back, you can’t get piggyback rides anymore, Lix!” he hollers.

“Onward!” Felix declares shamelessly, and Hyunjin huffs, carrying him to the car and opening the door before throwing him into the backseat.

“Dibs on shotgun!” Jeongin screeches as he dashes past them only to careen into the driver’s seat.

Hyunjin pulls him out of the seat and huffs. “Other side,” he tells him, poking his dimple.

Jeongin pouts. “I knew that.”

Hyunjin, being the good hyung he is, lets Jeongin take the front passenger’s seat anyway and settles with being squished in the back with Changbin and Felix. Not that he minded, since Changbin made a good pillow and Felix had the window rolled down and was currently yelling whatever song was playing on the radio in a disturbingly deep voice. Chan had landed himself with the misfortune of driving all of them, and Hyunjin would’ve felt bad if he knew how to drive, but he didn’t so he saves himself the guilt.

At the shopping centre, he just finds himself dragged around by an eager Felix who has to be constantly reminded by Chan that he wouldn’t be able to fit all the things he wanted to buy into his suitcase, to which he retorts that he’ll just buy another one.

Somewhere between Versace and Balenciaga, Hyunjin recalls that he hasn’t seen Seungmin wearing a single article of clothing excluding the body jewellery, and he wonders if he should get something for the boy. Even if Seungmin didn’t feel self-conscious being naked, Hyunjin definitely did, and he wanted to spend time with Seungmin while they were both fully clothed...or at least sufficiently clothed. His eyes narrow slightly in thought as he tries to estimate the boy’s sizes.

Seungmin was skinny and fairly tall, falling just a little short of his own height. Hyunjin figures that he could chop a centimetre off of his own sizes, and so he starts to pull some clothes from the racks, nothing too tight, since he was sure that would make the boy feel uncomfortable, especially if he was used to not wearing clothes. He frowns slightly in thought as he wonders what the boy would like. Would he even like it?

“Oi, Hyunjin, don’t tell me you’re going on a spree too, you only have one carrier!” He can hear Chan calling to him, and he grins back at the dark-haired man.

“Don’t worry about it, hyung,” he calls back as he selects a loose striped shirt with long sleeves from the pile that he had beside him. It was fairly chilly during the night, and the shirt was soft too, so he figures it would be appropriate enough. He throws in a hoodie because everyone needed a hoodie and then a pair of cargo pants. Before he knows it, he has almost his entire pile of clothes that he’s decided to buy.

And definitely not enough money to buy it all. So he does the next best thing. He stands and drapes himself over Felix. “Lixieee, we’re besties, right?”

“I’m not buying all of that for you, Hyunjin.”

Hyunjin pouts. “But Lixie, it’s important to me. Pleeeease?”

Felix glances back at him, looking unamused. “No. Do I look like your sugar daddy?”

“Well—”

“Hwang Hyunjin, one, ew, and two, I am  younger than you.”

Hyunjin huffs and pouts, going back to his clothes and selecting a few random items before padding over to the cashier. “Consider our beautiful relationship cancelled, Lix,” he calls loudly, attracting the curious attention of a few other customers and a groan from Chan, who was hiding himself amongst a curtain of black shirts. Hyunjin really needed to convince him to wear some other colour.

“Consider yourself cancelled, you big baby,” Felix retorts, tugging Changbin close to him and then pushing an oversized, pale pink hoodie into his arms. “Binnie hyung, get this.”

“But—”

“Okay, I’ll get it for you.”

Hyunjin openly gapes at Felix while Changbin seems at a loss for words as the boy heads over to the cashier with the hoodie as well as the armfuls of clothes he had decided to purchase. “Traitor!” he gasps. “I see how it is, doing things for your boyfriend, but not for me.”  To his surprise, both Felix and Changbin stop short at that and stare at him in disbelief, their ears matching shades of red. Hyunjin feels someone pat him on the back and he turns to see Jeongin’s too-sweet-to-not-be-evil grin on his face, like Christmas had just come early.

“Nice one, hyung,” the youngest chirps, looking all too pleased at the scene. Hyunjin feels a smirk of his own creep over his lips.

“Right, go buy your things and let’s go before they kick us out of the store,” Chan calls, already lugging Jeongin and Hyunjin out of the store with ease. Sometimes Hyunjin really needs to give the man some credit; if Jeongin had mentioned him looking like death and a half that morning, Chan definitely took the cake and Hyunjin felt a little bad for it.

“Hyung, are you sure you don’t want to go back and rest?” Hyunjin asks worriedly. “You look like you studied for finals, finished five projects and threw in a thesis paper for good measure in one night.”

Chan offers him a dry smile. “Does it really look that bad?”

“Worse,” Jeongin pipes up unhelpfully as they sit down on one of the benches just outside of the store.

Chan laughs wryly. “Gee, thanks, Innie.”

Hyunjin rests his chin on Chan’s shoulder and leans against him. “No, but hyung, you really look awful. It doesn’t look like vacation at all for you.”

“Maybe because I have to stop all of you from almost getting yourselves killed 24/7,” Chan drawls before sighing. “I’ve been inspired lately, but I can’t...get it right,” he mutters. “I’ve got so many unfinished songs in my laptop and I’ve been hearing things since we arrived here. I can’t sleep until I get it perfect.”

“Hyung—”

Hyunjin knows that reasoning with Chan when he’s in one of those moods is really just plain impossible, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t stubborn enough to try.

“No, you don’t understand,” Chan interjects before he has the chance to say anything more. “I can’t sleep. I’m exhausted, but it’s like something is keeping me awake.” He sounds almost distressed to the point where it worries Hyunjin.

“Something?” Jeongin echoes, and Hyunjin can see that he too is awfully concerned as well, enough for the seemingly ever-present smile on his face to have disappeared.

“You’ll probably think I’m crazy,” Chan dismisses and Hyunjin pokes his dimples insistently.

“Hyung, we’re all a little crazy, you’re probably the sanest one out of all of us, and that’s saying something.” He ignores the offended yelp that elicits from the elder’s lips. Hyunjin pokes him yet again. “So tell us.”

“Tell us what?” Felix asks, loaded with bags as he and Changbin leave the store and leave the staff looking rather relieved although Hyunjin doesn’t miss the few that pull out their phones to snap a few pictures of them. He chooses to ignore it although he wishes they wouldn’t because while he knows that he has a very handsome group of friends and while he and his very handsome group of friends also happen to be terribly shameless, privacy was always something that they could appreciate.

“Why Chan hyung isn’t sleeping. Like, at all.”

“Chris I keep telling you to take sleep meds,” Felix sighs, sitting down with them. “We're heading back and you're going to rest. We can go play around on the beach or something.”

Chan turns to stare at him and frowns. “Believe me, I would, but I swear that I keep hearing voices and they sing...I'm trying to get that song, but I can't and I can't fall asleep either.”

At Chan's words, Hyunjin feels himself tense slightly which earns him a curious glance from their fox-eyed youngest, but he just shrugs it off as though it had never happened. He clears his throat and stands up. “We're getting you back, hyung, you really need some rest. We've been here for a few days and if you haven't gotten any sleep...well, you're getting some sleep now,” he decides, and they collectively nod in agreement. Chan seems about to argue, but eventually nods in resigned assent.

“Yeah, maybe I am just tired…”

“Maybe,” Hyunjin echoes, although he knows that that's not the real or only reason for it. For all it was worth, he wanted to change the course of their conversation before it pressed too far into foreign territory.

He helps Felix carry his bags to the car and somehow manages to shove it all into the trunk. Piling into the back seats with Felix and Changbin, he settles himself comfortably and rolls down the window as they begin to drive. “Let's order takeout today,” he suggests over Felix's merciless caterwauling, and it's met with a resounding agreement and what looked to be like complete and utter relief on Chan's part.

As they roll back to the bungalow, Hyunjin's eyes trail over the cerulean waves that roll against the sand and he feels the sudden urge to go to the shoreline and just stare out at the broad line where the blue sky met the bluer sea. “I'm heading out,” he tells the others on a whim, and to his surprise, Jeongin falls into step with him.

“I'll come with,” the youngest announces, and Hyunjin flashes him a grin and throws an arm over his shoulders.

“I knew you'd come around and accept my undying affection,” Hyunjin exclaims dramatically, only to have the younger propel him aside with a powerful shove, causing him to stumble. He huffs and makes a dramatic show of rolling onto the warm sand. “You're so mean to me,” he whines, bouncing on the sand and beating his clenched fists against it, his face twisted into a comical, petulant expression.

“...you big baby,” Jeongin scoffs, and Hyunjin gapes at him. This was the second time today he's been called a big baby, and it was certainly unfair because anyone with a pair of eyes could see that it wasn't his fault his friends were all colossal jackasses.

Jeongin grins sweetly at him and runs off across the sand, laughing happily, and suddenly Hyunjin's indignation at all the injustice that had been done to him that day dissipates because Jeongin just has that much power in his sparkling narrow eyes and dimpled cheeks. He hops to his feet and runs after Jeongin with a grin on his own face, jumping onto the youngest's back and clinging to him.

“Yah, you have too much leg, hyung!” Jeongin complains, toppling over and sending him careening onto the sand with a yelp. He just lies there, motionless for a bit until he feels Jeongin's finger prodding at his cheek. “Did you die? Are you dead?” He rolls over onto his back and laughs, causing Jeongin to pout. “Darn, I thought I got rid of you,” the maknae huffs. Shifting, he clings to Jeongin with a wide smile.

“Takes more than that to get rid of me,” he singsongs.

“Duly noted.”

Hyunjin whines when his forehead is flicked, but he doesn't move away from Jeongin until the youngest eventually gives up and just lets him practically lie down on him.

For a few moments, silence is sustained between them, but then it's broken by the sound of footsteps pounding on the sand, causing Hyunjin to crane his neck just in time to see Felix scramble over an outcrop and launch himself off of it with a vaguely distant  “yeet!” before hitting the surface of the water with a splash.

“Isn't he an adult?” Hyunjin wonders aloud.

“Aren't you an adult?” Jeongin queries, cocking an eyebrow at him.

Hyunjin gasps and huffs. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Whatever you want it to,” Jeongin chirps cheerily just as Changbin moves to sit beside them, dressed in more beach-appropriate clothing, namely a pair of swim trunks, a plain t-shirt thrown over his frame and a bucket hat.

Hyunjin glances over at him and sits up, hugging him. “Innie is being mean to me,” he tells Changbin.

“Why, did you tell him about your naked boy problems?” Changbin asks, causing Hyunjin to flush down to his collarbones and Jeongin to raise an eyebrow, a devious glint in his eyes as he leans closer to the pair.

“Naked boy problems?” He echoes and Hyunjin pushes Changbin pettily, but unfortunately the man works out and he doesn't budge that easily, which made for a very unsatisfactory revenge. Changbin side-glances at Jeongin and leans closer to him as though about to divulge something top-secret.

“He claims that he rescued a hot naked boy from drowning yesterday,” Changbin stage-whispers conspiratorially. Hyunjin halfheartedly slaps the man's bicep. “And he said he's in love with him,” he adds as an afterthought, and Jeongin's smile turns absolutely  wicked . Hyunjin yelps and rolls away from both of them.

“Nope, nope, I came here to have a good time and I'm honestly feeling so attacked right now,” he babbles, his ears crimson. “I'm being bullied so I'll go back to Chan hyung because at least he doesn't bully me, goodbye, oh, and Binnie hyung, your boyfriend is calling.” Hyunjin turns and darts back to the bungalow, his face sufficiently flushed. He still didn't know what had compelled him to say something like he was in love when really, he had only seen Seungmin twice. So maybe he was a romantic, but it didn't mean that he believed in love at first sight (or second sight) for himself!

He glances back just in time to see Felix bound out of the water and latch onto Changbin, who was a bright shade of red, while Jeongin cackled like a witch at all the newfound, juicy information he has. Hyunjin smiles slightly before running into the bungalow and hiding behind the nearest potted plant as though it would protect him from  feelings.

“Uh— Hyunjin…? Do I want to know?”

Hyunjin peeks out from between the leaves of the plant to see Chan staring at him, bemused. He sheepishly moves away from it to flop gracelessly down on the couch. “I was being bullied so I ran away,” he shamelessly confesses, sitting up a few seconds later and hugging one of the throw pillows. He tilts his head and squints at the older boy. “How are you feeling, hyung?”

“Honestly? Like fifty shades of death,” comes the response, and Hyunjin grimaces.

“Serious enough for you to pull a necrophilia joke, huh.” He laughs at the look of disgust that he receives for his troubles, but he's quick to lose the mirth, his features growing serious. “Hyung, you said you heard voices, what did it sound like?” He asks.

For a few moments, the dark-haired man stares at him, dumbfounded before sighing. “Really beautiful. I've never heard anything like it. I don't know how to describe it. It was beautiful in a...almost disturbing kind of way? Does that even make sense?” Chan looks frustrated at the fact that he couldn't adequately describe it, but Hyunjin still understands perfectly, and he has a good idea of who was behind it too.

“When did you start hearing it?” Hyunjin asks slowly.

Chan laughs dryly. “Since when did you become my therapist, Jinnie?” He jokes, but goes on to answer anyway. “Since we got here. The first night I thought I'd go and tweak one of the songs I was almost finished with, but then I heard the voice and since then it's been bugging me.”

That did make sense, considering that Hyunjin and co. had all fallen asleep from their trip, so only Chan would've heard the song. And now Hyunjin just happened to hear it too. The blood drains from his face as he wonders if he'll have to suffer sleepless nights too, but at the recollection that he had fallen asleep soon after he had returned from the beach with Chan is brought to his mind and he relaxes. Still, that didn’t mean that Chan was out of the danger zone just yet. Hyunjin knows for a fact that it’s been five days since they’ve arrived, and if Chan hasn’t slept for a single night, well...Hyunjin really doesn’t know how he managed to drive them to the shopping centre without killing all of them. For a few moments, he’s silent, wrapped up in his thoughts, but he’s pulled out by the sound of Chan’s voice.

“I sound crazy.”

“Yeah, you kinda do, hyung.”

“Thank you for your undying honesty, Jinnie.”

“No problem, hyung.”

Hyunjin stands up and pulls Chan to his feet by the arm, nearly causing the man’s notebook to topple off of the couch, but Hyunjin catches it before Chan can declare dishonour on him and his whole family and maybe his cow too (although he didn’t have a cow, but that was irrelevant). He sets the notebook safely on the coffee table and tugs Chan with him to the bedroom. “No working,” he declares. “We’re having some hardcore rest-time now.”

The older boy looks about to complain, but Hyunjin turns to face him with a deathly-serious light in his eyes. “I want cuddles, hyung.” And he knows that Chan will probably argue that he could work and give him cuddles at the same time, so he pulls the next card. “And I want attention too.”

The shorter male sighs resignedly and lets himself be dragged into the bedroom and plopped down on the mattress by Hyunjin, who promptly throws himself on top of him and cuddles him, silently thanking whatever deity had invented air conditioning. For now he’d cuddle, then he’d go find Seungmin, and hopefully get to the bottom of this.