When the first rays of light pierced the darkness of the pastures, paddocks, and barns, Jaime was leading Donus into the arena. For about thirty minutes daily he got out of his head and became part of Donus. Claire watched him from the bedroom window and was captivated. Her guilty pleasure in life was staring at this man when no one would see her. After his usual course of heart-stopping jumps he walked Donus smiling and laughing as he talked to him. Jaime jumped down and ran for the arena gate. It took Donus three seconds to gallop after him coming to skid stop at his right shoulder. Jaime looked up at the huge gelding laughing and rubbing his neck.

Claire watched Jaime, unguarded and playful. “In the distance between the arena and barn, the rider gives way to the businessman.” She said out loud.

Claire went home to work on her pool before meeting with Lance. She didn’t mind the weight training now that she wasn’t sore anymore. She knew she was stronger for it and that is what mattered. Lance had Claire lay on her side on the mat, one leg extended. He placed a thirty-pound disc on her inner thigh and told her to lift it off the ground. Jaime slipped into the gym and watched them from behind the observation window. Lance saw him, smiled and waved. Jaime could see Claire struggling. Her face was red and her leg was starting to shake. He saw her bare down and grit her teeth. Jaime was done watching her suffer and shot a look at Lance that said I’m going to kill you if you don’t let her stop. Lance laughed and shook his head no. Jaime couldn’t cope so he left and punched his truck before he got in.

He picked up his cell phone and dialed Lance’s number to leave a message.”Hey, it’s Jamie. Claire needs the best possible cardio boost she can get in three weeks. She can’t run like she wanted so can you give her some options. Thanks Lance, you and Missy should come for barbeque. As soon as we get back from Claire’s show we’ll do it.”

Jamie walked into the barn and almost ran into a striking gentleman waiting for Claire. Jaime decided he was Hollywood handsome with a British accent and impeccable manners. “I have an appointment with doctor Beauchamp. My name is doctor Ethan Grey.” Jaime felt his spine stiffen. “She willna be back soon, can I help ye with somethin.” Dr. Grey was almost as tall as Jaime, easily meeting his eyes. “Has she found someone to manage the equine therapy horses she brought from Boston?” Jaime held his chin for a moment, “ah! Yes, she surely has. A very nice lass has already agreed and doctor Beauchamp trusts her implicitly. So… I can tell her ye came by.” Grey pulled a business card from his perfectly tailored breast pocket. “Thank you, sir. Who are you?” the doctor leaned in slightly. “Jaime Fraser.” ‘Her everything’ he wanted to say. He waved goodbye to the duped doctor and marveled at his complete lack of guilt or conscience.

Jaime had a secret he shared with no one, he smiled at the warmth he felt by it. That is my future wife yer askin about doctor Grey. She’ll no see the likes of ye until her name and mine are the same.

Jaime’s mam taught him about the sanctity of marriage that would bind him to one woman for the rest of his life. During his years as a rider, he often wondered if there could ever be one woman to claim his heart for eternity. He rather doubted It. His life was a smorgasbord of women that was continuously refreshed. He wondered if he would have seen Claire as unforgettable then. He rather thought he would. A diamond is a diamond no matter where or when you see it.

Jaime looked through his mail and pulled out a heavy linen envelope from the Arizona Equestrian Association. The annual auction to raise money for the coming year. Jaime always attended and donated something of value to do his part. He wasn’t crazy about cocktail parties with the elite but hopefully this year he would introduce his new rider and maybe pull the interest of new investors.

He brought back the image of Claire gritting her teeth to hold the weight up off the floor. The lass wants it. Like he wanted it. When she’s strong enough, she will pull the rest of Jag’s power out and they will be unstoppable. Jag was young, only five years old, and giving about fifty percent of his ability. If she wins Novice he could ask sixty thousand for him. But, it ceased being about the money a while ago. Maybe it was when he saw Claire sitting on the coral bars reading to him. Or when he first saw them jump the cross country. What he did know is Claire surrendered in a hail-Mary-ride and relied on Jag to see her through it. They went in as individuals, they came out as a team. Jag would be officially hers when the transfer of ownership was complete. It will be a surprise and she will be over the moon. What troubled him was Jag might be the very thing that takes her away from him. If she is invited to show abroad will she go? Jaime had to love her enough to let her choose her path, and he would.

Claire was helping Rupert get the horses brushed and wrapped for transport to the show. She was riding the two remaining greenies in equitation, dressage, and hunter jumper. She wanted them to sell so she could get them off her to do list.

Fred and Ginger got a warm goodbye hug and Claire felt her guilt rising. She ran an online ad for an equine therapy manager and emailed back and forth with numerous interested people. One man stood out. A fellow equestrian and partner in a four-physician pediatric practice. He had the children in need of Fred and Ginger’s special talents and boundless love. She never met the man but he left word at the barn that his plans had changed. Too bad she thought.

She only had two more weeks to prepare for the horse trials in Palm Springs. Lance bumped her routine up to include twenty minutes of incline treadmill after every session with him. She hated it but really wanted to live through the four brutal miles of cross country they would ride.

Horses loaded, tack stowed, food loaded into Angus’s truck, they were ready to go. Jaime whistled for Pup but no soft brown dog bounded out of the barn. Claire’s heart was in her throat and she started running straight to Jag’s stall. One of the Pony club kids was playing her music excessively loud until Claire’s finger hit the ‘off’ button. Then she heard it. There was only one dog in the world who hupped and she found him growling and pulling on Jag’s halter and hupping to make him stand up. Jag was having none of it and opted to lay in his wood chips and sleep. “C’mon Pup. It’s Jag’s day off and we gotta roll.” She walked briskly back to the truck and Pup was already in Jaime’s lap, tongue out, and panting. “Jesus! I should be sitting in his lap, panting with my tongue out you little idiot.” Jaime laughed as did Claire and they were off.

The show was the usual fun, chaotic, two days of events. Rupert and Angus got drunk in the hotel bar, Jaime met with buyers, and Claire’s riding was flawless winning her three of the four events she entered. Her one loss was from number 68 almost falling asleep midway through an eleven jump course. Both horses sold so they would be hauling an empty trailer back tonight.

When she got back the hotel she showered and laid on the bed naked feeling dreamy and worn out. Her eyes closed and she slipped in and out of sleep. She dreamed that Jaime’s mouth was kissing her between her legs. She felt his tentative tongue slip in and out of her. She heard herself panting his name and soon figured out this was no erotic dream. His fingers were invading her and tongue flicked her heat until she was groaning. Her legs opened and he finished her savagely. ”Claire was launched into the exquisite bliss while her body pulsed. Jaime kissed her several times before she opened her eyes. “Why are you clothed? Come here and let me fix that.” He stilled her hand. “Canna, must meet the guys for dinner and get on the road.” Claire made a face. That hardly seems fair.” Her sleepy smile made Jaime weak. “I have somethin for ya once yer dressed.”

Claire gathered her purse and gave Pup a kiss. “No hupping” she scolded pointing at him. Before she could reach the door Jaime grabbed her and popped the button on her jeans. He lifted her sweater and exposed her nipples. Then he kissed her, long and deep. Asking for her tongue. Claire felt him dab something on her nipples and between her legs. She broke the kiss as he was fixing her sweater and buttoning her jeans. “What on earth was…Christ! What is that, what is so, God almighty, so, oh shit, Jaim…it is so hot.” He smiled at the look of pure arousal on her face. “Ready Sassenach?” She was not able to speak at the moment so he pulled her along. Now Claire, you must pull yourself together he laughed. She walked stiffly, eyes half closed, smiling. Jaime pulled her into the restroom hallway and kissed her. When he touched her nipple she gasped loudly. “I'm not hungry Jaime lets order room service. He pulled her along to the restaurant.

The guys congratulated Claire on her wins but she was distracted and flighty. “Ah, myyyy wins…hmm,” several seconds passed, “ah, thank you gentlemen.” Rupert and Angus looked at Jaime with eyebrows raised. “Oh, we started celebratin and Claire’s a bit of a lightweight with alcohol. In other words, the lass is hammered.” The guys were very appreciative of Claire’s condition like she had been inducted into the good-ole-boys club. If either of them had known the look of an aroused woman the ruse would never have worked. Claire would look at each of them now and then and wonder what the conversation was about. Then she would sit back in her chair and feel the magic going on between her legs. Jaime watched her eyes sparkle like diamonds. Her erratic breathing was making it hard for him, literally.

Claire was coming back to her senses as dinner was finishing up. Jaime had her dinner in a container because she didn’t take a bite. He shouted for the guys to be careful on the road and they were gone. Once everything was in the trailer they pointed toward Phoenix. Jaime handed Claire a small jar that said Kuma Sutra on it. Inside was a green gelatinous substance that smelled divine. “Is this what you put on me?” Jaime smiled sheepishly, I’m sorry lass! I dinna expect your reaction, just wanted to surprise ye with something nice.

It was pushing ten o’clock when they were still an hour away from Phoenix. Claire unbuttoned her shirt and removed it. Jaime paid close attention. She removed her bra and dabbed the green stuff on her nipples. It took about twenty seconds before she started to purr. Next, she took off her boots and pants. Now in her tiny panties, she dabbed the goo on her heat. There was just enough time to smile up at Jaime before, “Oh, Christ! That is, wow… Jaime, oooh it’s getting hotter! He couldn’t watch her wiggle in delight because he was cutting straight across the desert to put some distance between them and the road. He held Claire back when he skidded to a stop and jumped out of the truck. He spread out a bedroll that was kept in the trailer for emergencies and this was the very definition of an emergency.

Claire leaned back on the seat and closed her eyes because the feeling of the gel was so intense. She felt Jaime’s arms come under her and she smelled the amazing desert. He laid her on the blanket and started ripping his clothes off watching her spread her legs wide and arch her back. “Holy mother of God” he whispered. He slid next to her and put more goo on her nipples before he sucked one into his mouth. Claire almost screamed. “That is wow.” She forced her eyes open and asked Jaime to sit up on the side of the truck. When he did she put her face in his lap and Jaime closed his eyes when her warm wet mouth wrapped around the head of his cock before it slid down him. She rocked back on her heels and then forward until he banged into her throat. She held him and buried her face in his balls coming back to slide her mouth around him again. “Jesus yer good at that lass.” Her eyes shot up to his in delight as she tried to say “really?” But having her mouth full at the moment it was unintelligible. Jaime grabbed her shoulders and dropped onto is back pulling her to straddle him.

She lifted up and dropped her body down on him and gasped. Jaime couldn’t help smiling at his uninhibited lover who was demanding, and bold, and highly aroused. It had been weeks since she was in this position and her mind went blank except for the non-stop porn going on in her head... “Lass?” Claire wasn’t moving. She tried so desperately to remember. Jaime could see the goo was wearing off and he finally realized that she didn’t know how to move. “I’m sorry lass.” He sat up inches from her face. Rolled her to her back, “look up love.” She gasped at the sky so full of stars. Another moonless night like when they went to Silly mountain.

Jamie was pushing her legs open. Claire tried to keep her eyes open, watching the amazing sky but Jaime’s tongue won and she peeled off for another trip into her orgasm. Jaime laid beside her, his cock like a granite club and waited for Claire. He was definitely getting rid of the gel. It was a bit much for his sweet no-brake Sassenach. But…it won’t hurt to use a little more out here in the desert. He put a large dab on her nipples and clit and counted from twenty to “God…..damn! Ooooh, hot, so hot! Oh my, yesss.” She was squeezing her thighs together so Jaime gently pushed them apart. When the cool night air hit her core she went silent and arched her back pushing her legs open wider. She was panting and asked “please touch it. Right now, touch me.” she whispered. He sucked her nipples and she reached for his hand pulling it to her. “ah, ye want me to touch ye here where ye so wet and swollen? He wasn’t moving his fingers so she moved her hips against them. Jaime was ready to explode watching Claire in this hyperaroused state.

Jaime gave Claire the most exquisite orgasm. When she dropped back to earth she wanted more. ”I want you to pound into me and not hold back Jaime, I need a brute right now." One brute coming up! He thought. He spun her around, “drop down to your elbows lass.” When she did he drove himself deep into her. Thrust after thrust she moaned and cried out. His arm came around her and he pulled her up against his chest then pushed her legs wide and sinking deep into her body. “Oh God Jaime!” He pumped her over and over, pushing deep into her. He flipped her around and her legs were up in the air. She wanted nothing in the way of what was coming. He thrust into her, “are ye gonna come for me lass?" He drove into her again. She was panting and growling as Jaime pushed deep into her scraping his stomach against her throbbing. When he knew she was tumbling he let himself become the brute she asked for and finally exploded deep inside her. They clung together, panting and dripping with sweat. She pressed her face into his neck. “God I love you Jaime.”

“Sassenach, if ye get any better at doin what ye do to me I will lose my mind,” he panted. He buried his face in her hair and growled pulling great giggles from a smiling Claire. Once they were dressed and back on the road Claire turned on the radio and sang to the western songs. “I am starving! Got any cookies or peanuts in here?” She ran her hand along the cubbies and the dash, looked in the glove box, and her hand ran into the Styrofoam container with her dinner. She leaned her back against Jaime and stuck her feet out the window while she ate ribs and sang him home.


Billy was giving his new job second thoughts for the hundredth time that day as he scanned his security badge into the elevator. A badge that allowed him entrance to a penthouse that the tenants were unable to leave.

Frank said it was for their own safety, that the omegas were far too valuable to risk falling into the wrong hands, but Billy had a feeling the omegas’ personal safety was the least of this company's concern.

The unfortunate truth, Billy realized, was that he needed the money more than he could afford being critical of his new employers. It still didn’t make it any easier for Billy to wrap his mind around the job.

As the elevator doors opened, Billy was struck with how hollow the large apartment felt even compared to yesterday when he first laid eyes on it.

He remained in the entryway, unsure how to proceed. Billy was supposed to introduce himself to the omegas and find a rhythm in his new job. But acting as a personal bodyguard to a single person felt a whole helluva lot different compared to this.

Billy took a deep breath and stepped into the foyer. Confidence was key when it came to establishing yourself as an authority figure.

He was hit with numerous smells and sounds all at once. Happy, chattering voices mixed with breakfast food and multiple omegas. Voices that died down once his presence was noticed.

There were six omegas lounging on the plush couches, and one in the kitchen, boys and girls alike. All eyes were on him.

Billy cleared his throat. “Hi, My name’s Billy.”

He was met with silence.

“Uh, I’m your new security guard.”

A few of the omegas on the couches shared cautious glances. Billy could smell the fear coming off of some of them. “Listen, I’m just planning on settling in and getting to know everyone. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Wow, you’ve never done this before have you?” An unknown voice spoke up from down the hall.

Billy turned to watch an eighth omega enter the kitchen.

The first thing he noticed what how unafraid he smelled compared to the other inhabitants. The second was how breathtakingly handsome he was.

The omega was wearing dark baggy pj pants and a white cotton t-shirt. The wardrobe seemed to perfectly compliment his thick dark hair that framed soft features and deep brown eyes.

Billy thought of a hunting trip Neil took him on long before he ever presented as an alpha. It was the first time he’d ever seen a deer in the wild. A doe with wise bright eyes. She was standing in the middle of a clearing, watching Billy, unblinking and unafraid.

Neil shot her clean between the eyes and laughed at Billy when he cried.

The brunet staring defiantly at Billy reminded him of that doe as he leaned over and grabbed an orange from the breakfast spread on the kitchen counter. “The last thing Brenner will want you to do is get to know any of us more than you have to.”

Billy didn’t fail to notice how the man had strategically placed himself between Billy and the omega girl in the kitchen, or how all the other people in the room seemed to give him their undivided attention. Billy was most likely looking at their de facto leader. Befriending him would probably make his job worlds easier.

Billy shrugged. “From my past experience, it’s better if I’m friends with the people I’m supposed to protect.”

“Mmm, protect.” The omega repeated.

Billy watched as the girl offered the brunet some kind of salve. Without speaking, the omega accepted it and tugged at the neckline of his shirt, revealing a series of bite marks all along his collarbone. He winced as he massaged the ointment into the wounds. “Trust me William, it’ll be better for everyone if you keep your distance.”

Billy didn’t know what to say, especially after having his first name thrown back in his face with such vehement rejection. The other man was just verbalizing what Billy had been feeling the entire commute to work. That this company was balancing on the edge of a knife between professionalism and fucked-up, and Billy had made himself partially responsible for it by taking the job.

The marks on the omega’s skin only seemed to confirm that feeling.

Billy licked his lips before speaking, “Look, I know you have no reason to trust me. Hell, you probably have good reason to fear me. But I’m not here to hurt you. I want to help in whatever way I can.”

The girl leaned into the other omega and whispered. “He doesn’t talk like the others, Steve.”

Billy quickly committed the name to memory. Steve. It suited him, Billy thought as he watched Steve scoff and disappear down the hall back to where the bedrooms were located.

The room fell silent again, and not for the first time Billy found himself wishing Frank had given him some kind of roster with everyone’s names on it. This was a lot to remember for the first day, and Billy felt like he was already losing his footing.

As if reading his mind, the girl previously standing next to Steve moved forward and extended a hand.

“I’m Carol,” she gestured towards the occupants of the living room. “On the couch are Brett and Lori, they’re twins.”

 The two siblings cautiously waved in response as Carol continued introducing the other omegas. “And that’s Nick, Claire, Tonya, and Beth.”

 Billy listened intently to Carol, knowing how important it was to be able to quickly identify his new charges. Despite the luxurious setting, Billy felt like he was at a pet shelter looking at a bunch of strays.

Brett and Lori were sitting close enough that their legs were pressed against each other, as if physical separation would equate to losing a limb.

Beth, a petite woman with olive skin was curled up in the couch corner like a small cat. Billy was sure any sudden movement would send her bolting from sight.

Nick reminded Billy of some of the guys he used to know back in California. Sunny bleached blond hair and tanned skin. His cloudy eyes and relaxed posture spoke of years of self-medication.

The girl next to Nick, Claire, reminded Billy of his little sister back home. Billy wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing considering where Claire was working, but he couldn’t deny that her fiery red hair and sharp blue eyes brought some familiar comfort.

Tonya on the other hand, reminded him of Neil. Her steel grey eyes seemed to be analyzing and picking him apart. The sneer tugging at the corner of her mouth let Billy know that she was not impressed with what she saw.

 Carol nudged Billy with her shoulder. “Don’t worry about Steve, he’s always a little grumpy in the morning.”

 “Is he alright?” Billy found himself asking, gesturing to his own collarbone.

 Carol’s smile faltered as she looked to where Steve used to be. “Some... customers like to get rough with us. Steve volunteers for those clients as much as possible. I think he’s trying to protect us, but it takes a toll.”

“It’s not like any of us ask him to do that,” Tonya rolled her eyes. “I don’t see why you guys act like he’s such a martyr. The freak probably gets off on those kinds of people.”

Billy turned to Carol, ignoring Tonya’s comment. “Does he need anything? Medicine or bandages...?”

 Carol shook her head. “We get everything we need from the medical wing.”

 Billy nodded and turned back to where Steve had disappeared. All the different scents in the space were extremely dulled down (probably from the collars), but he still found himself desperately trying to catch a whiff of the omega’s scent.

 “Were you being serious when you said you wanted to help?”

 Billy snapped his eyes back to Carol. She was self-consciously tugging at the collar around her neck, her eyes looked cautiously hopeful. He nodded.

 “Do you think you could get a message to-“

 “Carol!” Steve snapped as he walked back into the common area. His eyes were darker, filled with a stern warning as he handed Billy a sheet of paper.

 “Here’s our weekly schedule. It might help you actually do your job.”

 Billy accepted the slip of paper and looked around the room at the omegas staring back at him. That’s when he realized... he was just another Frank to these people. Hired muscle. An enforcer. Someone to keep them all in line.

It would take a lot more than kind words and a smile to make them see him as anything else.

As if on cue the elevator doors pinged open and Frank stepped out. Half the omegas instinctively averted their eyes or shifted to more submissive, unassuming postures.

Frank was either oblivious or used to that behavior, because he didn’t miss a beat as he held three small pieces of paper above his head. “Dance-cards are in ladies and gentlemen.”

Even Steve’s head snapped to attention as the larger alpha made his way around the room.

“Tonya,” Frank read off one of the cards, “you’ve been requested for the end of the week. It’s a new client so go easy on him.”

The omega sighed and pouted up at Frank. “Pity, I usually like my alphas with a little bite to them…”

Billy didn’t miss Steve huffing a strand of hair out of his face in annoyance.

Frank shook his head and stepped away. “Pity I don’t make the rules around here sweetie.” He said with a wink.

The exchange left Billy feeling gross. He was beginning to see why Steve was trying to keep him at arm's length from the other omegas. It was too easy for someone like Frank to step in and abuse the power he had over them.

Frank walked to the end of the couch. “Twins! Very exciting news. You two are going abroad.”

Brett glanced at his sister as he hesitantly accepted the card. “We are?”

“Yeah some Ukrainian guy Brenner met is interested in this place. So interested that he’s requested the two of you for the week. We’re leaving in thirty minutes so pack your things.”

Lori stood and pulled her brother off the couch and towards the bedrooms. Neither of them looked excited at the news.

“Aaaannd last, and arguably least: Carol.” Frank turned on his heels and handed her the last card. “That Williamson guy must have taken a shine to you because he wants another round tonight.”

Steve stiffened as Carol took the card. Billy could smell the fear wafting from her as she looked up at Frank. “Tonight? But you’re leaving with the twins so who--?”

“Mr. Hargrove over here will escort you.” Frank interrupted and slapped Billy on the back.

“I thought you said I wouldn’t be in charge of taking any of the omegas to their appointments.” Billy interjected.

He could see Frank’s jaw tighten at being challenged. “Yeah well, your job description just expanded. Congratulations. Carol will show you what to do once you get to the hotel.”

The alpha made sure Billy was paying attention as he pointed to the omega in question. “She is not allowed out of your sight. Ever. During transit the windows will remain up and she will not be in contact with anyone except her client. Got it?”

Frank didn’t wait to hear his response. Instead he turned and shouted down the hall, “Hey! Dee and Dum! Get your asses moving!”

The twins had one bag between the two of them as the darted past Billy, only risking a quick goodbye to the rest of their friends before being herded into the elevator.

There was almost a somberness to the way the omegas departed. As the doors closed Billy could almost swear he saw Lori trembling.

The remaining occupants stayed motionless for a moment as they heard the elevator descend.

“Fuck.” Steve growled and began pacing the kitchen.

“They’re going to come back.” Nick offered from where he was still slouched on the sofa.

“Really?” Steve rounded on the other omega. “Just like Stacy came back?”

Claire leaned forward from where she was sitting. “That was different, Stacey’s contract was up and she was able to go home.”

“Yeah I’m sure that’s what they want us to believe.” Steve turned back to the kitchen. There was something about his state that reminded Billy of his life with Neil. Like he was a caged animal that was slowly but surely going crazy.

“Well,” Carol began, “I guess I’d better get ready.”

She held the card in her hand like it might burn her as she shifted from one foot to the next, clearly nervous. That’s all it took to bring Steve down from whatever manic state he was psyching himself into.

Suddenly his fiery eyes were back to soft pools of warmth. “Do you need me to help?”

“No, I can manage.” Carol smiled weakly and began to make her way down the hall.

Billy once again found himself as a loss for what to do. He never imagined he’d be taking one of the omegas to a client on his first day. That was both an incredible responsibility and a sickening task he didn’t know if he was prepared for.

Billy didn’t feel like Frank, he didn’t want to feel like the other alpha. But he wasn’t any closer to the omegas either. He felt stuck somewhere in the middle, unsure as to what side he truly belonged on.

Billy and Carol stood in silence as the elevator descended to the building’s garage.

“He is nice when you actually get to know him.” Carol spoke.

Billy turned, but the small omega next to him kept her eyes on the doors. “Huh?”

“Steve. He’s just angry and misses his friends.” She looked down at her shoes. Something told Billy that Steve wasn’t the only one who missed people on the outside.

“Did you two know each other before this?”

Carol looked up with a sad smile and nodded. She wasn’t Billy’s type, but there was certainly an undeniable beauty to her features. She reminded him of the women depicted in renaissance paintings. Bright, full-figured, and possessing the perfect harmony of strength and grace.

“We went to school together, shared friends, and were planning on going to the same college.” Carol brushed away a tear from her face, careful not to smear her makeup. “Things changed when Steve and I presented as omegas, god that feels so long ago…”

Billy offered her a tissue that she graciously accepted. “I think I’d be pretty angry too if I had to leave that life behind.”

“Oh, Steve’s not mad about that,” Carol laughed bitterly and shook her head. “His parents sold him to Brenner Relations in exchange for stock in the company. They’re literally making money from whoring their son off to the highest bidder.”

Billy felt his stomach churn at Carol’s words. What kind of person does that to their own son?

Neil would have, if he had the chance. But he didn’t, because Billy was an alpha. Steve’s hadn’t been that lucky.

“I’m sorry.” He offered lamely, knowing that sorry didn’t begin to cover the fucked-up life that these people were coerced into living.

“How did you…?” Billy began, unsure if he could, or even wanted to finish the question.

“How did I end up here?” Carol finished, handing the tissue back. “Brenner Relations offers a five-year contract to any interested and unbound omega. I get five percent of whatever I make, and I get to keep the clothes and trinkets that clients bought me at the end of the contract.”

“Five percent?” Billy stared in surprise. That was nothing!

Carol sadly shrugged. “It doesn’t sound like a lot but it’s a pretty sizeable nest-egg for when I get out of here. I couldn’t afford to live anywhere after high school. This place was kind of my only option. I’m actually lucky I got in…” She trailed off, half-heartedly.

Billy was still in shock. “You consider yourself lucky to be here?”

Carol frowned. “Almost all of us do, but I wouldn’t expect you to understand.” She turned away from Billy, staring resolutely at the empty elevator wall.

“How could you?” She whispered, “How could someone who chooses this kind of job ever understand people who never had a choice.”

The hotel suite looked more like an apartment to Billy. But then again, anything would look absolutely lavish compared to the closet he was renting.

There was a fully stocked kitchen and spacious bathroom, but the obvious focal point within the space was the queen-sized bed. Billy felt like he was more uneasy than Carol when they entered the room.

The omega hadn’t said much on the drive over, but this clearly wasn’t new territory for her.

“Banana Bread.” She said as she reached for a wrapped present on the bed.

Billy turned in confusion. “Sorry?”

Carol unwrapped the gift to reveal a school-girl’s outfit. Her expression remained uncharacteristically blank. “That’s my safeword. If I say it during any part of the night then you need to step in.”

“H-how will I hear you? Is there a room I’m going to be listening from…?”” Billy looked around the suite again, but he couldn’t see any obvious spaces.

Carol shook her head. “You have to stay and watch.”

“Excuse me?”

The omega pointed to a chair in the corner of the opposite end of the room. “Frank usually sits there. You don’t have to say or do anything. The client will probably pretend you’re not here anyway. You just need to make sure he doesn’t get too rough.”

Billy felt sick to his stomach as he stared at the corner. “How will I know?”

Carol shrugged and looked down at the outfit in her hands, gently rubbing the material between her fingers. “If he starts getting too violent. Mostly if he tried to damage this.”

She vaguely gestured to the collar around her neck. “I need to get changed. You should probably make yourself comfortable, he’ll be here soon.”

Billy sat down in the chair, feeling utterly helpless and out of place. He didn’t know if he could actually go through with this, watching Carol submit to some rich perv. This wasn’t the job he signed up for.

With nothing else to do, Billy reached for the “dance card” that Frank had given Carol earlier. At first it looked like some kind of business card, but upon closer inspection Billy realized it was more like a restaurant ticket for sexual fantasies.

“Student/Teacher fantasy (uniform provided). Virgin-fantasy. Resistance. Oral & Penetration.”

It felt so dehumanizing to see Carol’s night printed out for her like she was some customizable toy. That’s probably all she was in the eyes of her clients.

Billy was on the verge of bolting and taking Carol with him when there was a knock at the door.

Carol emerged from the bathroom dressed in the school girl’s outfit. “Just remember the safe word.” She whispered to him before reaching for the doorknob.

There was a brief moment where Carol seemed to take a deep breath and collect herself before she pulled the door open with a smile.

“Mr. Williamson! Thank you so much for coming!” She stepped aside and allowed her client to enter.

Whatever Billy was expecting, Williamson did not match up.

The guy genuinely looked like a college professor! Which granted, could easily just be part of the fantasy, but Billy’s gut told him this was an outlet for Williamson to experience things he wanted to enact in reality.

“Miss Harper,” Williamson removed his glasses and looked her over. “I’m hoping you know why I asked to meet.”

Carol brought delicate, painted nails up to her face in contemplation. “I thought you wanted to talk about my grade on the last test.”

Williamson smiled and shook his head. For a split second he met Billy eye and they both acknowledged each other’s presence, but then the man slipped back into his fantasy.

“As a matter of fact Miss Harper, it’s come to my knowledge that you cheated on that test.”

Carol gasped in shock and Billy had to hand it to her, she could sell a scene. “That’s no true! How could you say something like that?”

Williamson stepped into Carol’s personal space, backing her up against the bed. “It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, the school board will have you expelled once they hear about this.”

“No.” Carol whispered as she fell onto the bed. “There has to be something you can do, you have to believe me!”

Williamson smiled and tugged at one of the buttons on Carols blouse, popping it open and revealing some cleavage. “Well, I’m sure we can come to… some kind of agreement…”

Carol’s eyes widened as she held her arms protectively over her chest. “No Mr. Williamson please!”

She turned to her side, eyes misting over with tears. “I-I’m saving myself for someone…”

There was something to the delivery of that line that struck Billy. It made him wonder if there was someone out there waiting for Carol.

Williamson laughed and pulled her hands away. “Frankly my child, I don’t care what you want.”

He dove on top of Carol, her screams filling the room as he tore away her clothes and hiked up her skirt, revealing pink lace panties.

Billy was frozen on the edge of his seat. His eyes remained focused on Carol’s face, waiting for her to call out her safe word.

But it never happened, not when Williamson pinched and twisted her breasts until they were red, or even when he turned her over and forced himself inside her.

Carol screamed and cried almost the entire night. But she never called for Billy to save her.

The minute Williamson left the apartment, Billy was on his feet and running across the room.

“Are you alright?” He reached out, but was afraid to touch her.

Carol looked absolutely spent, and there were still tears falling down her face. Her eyes refused to focus, but she managed to give a nod. “C-could you help me to the shower?”

Billy didn’t think twice before gently scooping her up and carrying Carol to the bathroom. Even to Billy’s nose, she stank of alpha and sweat. He couldn’t imagine how she must be feeling.

Carol stood against the tiled shower and took a few shaky breaths. “I’ve got it from here.

Thanks.”

Billy didn’t want to leave. But he didn’t want Carol to feel any worse than she obviously already did. Which is why he found himself back in that awful chair, resolutely not looking at the bed and messy sheets in the middle of the room.

The only thing he seemed to be able to focus on was the muffled sound of Carol crying.

The drive back home was even worse than the drive to the hotel. Billy felt sick to his stomach, and Carol seemed almost entirely checked out.

“Is there anything I can do? Anything I can get you?” He offered.

Carol slowly turned to stare at him. Her eyes were distant and red-rimmed from the crying. “Can you go back in time and make sure I never present as an omega?”

Billy frowned and turned his eyes back to the road. He heard Carol sigh.

“Yeah, I didn’t think so.” She leaned her head back and stared up at the stars through the car window.

“I used to love the stars.” She half-whispered to herself. “I liked the idea that they were somehow responsible for our traits and destinies.”

Billy watched as Carol blinked away more tears and stubbornly rubbed at her nose. “But now I hate it. I hate that maybe someone or something out there always meant for me to be an omega, to suffer. The stars seem so cold and far away now. Just like everything else.”

The car was once again filled with silence. Billy absently wondered how Frank handled these situations. The shattered aftermath that must have occurred after every client.

Frank probably would have kept Carol in the backseat, refusing to acknowledge or attempt to fix any of this wretched night.

But Billy wasn’t Frank.

He pressed a button on the console, and Carol’s window began to roll down.

She stared in surprise at first, her eyes suddenly alert as she turned to Billy, checking to see if this were some kind of trick.

He merely kept his eyes on the empty road and gave a small nod.

Carol slowly smiled before she leaned out the car window and felt the cold night air blowing past her face for the first time in years, completely disregarding any rules or restrictions that previously held her prisoner. Her thick brown hair blew all around her, tangling carefree in the wind as Carol began to laugh. Her voice sounded raw and scratched, and Billy tried not to think about the night’s events that caused it.

Billy still felt sick to his stomach after the hotel room. But a small smile crept along his face as he watched Carol look at the stars and stick her hand out to feel the wind pushing back at her.

He might not have been able to protect her from her client. But he could do this.

For a small window of time, in the dead of night where no prying eyes or rough voices could hurt her, Carol was free. If only for just a moment.

But maybe a moment was enough for now.

By the time they got back to Brenner Relations, the entire building was dark. Carol was still smiling as they rode the elevator up to the penthouse. She hadn’t spoken much, but Billy didn’t expect her to.

He was surprised to see Steve waiting for them when the doors opened. The omega was sitting on the couch, a blanket bunched up in his hands as if he had been wringing it all night.

“Steve!” Carol whispered and happily bounced into his personal space.

Steve stood and pulled her into a hug. “Are you alright?”

Carol sighed and nodded into his shoulder. “It wasn’t so bad. He didn’t want me the entire night.”

They remained like that for a moment, allowing the two omegas to even out their breathing and relax into each other’s arms. Eventually Steve pulled Carol at arm’s length and looked her over. He frowned when he noticed her wind-blown hair.

“What happened to your hair?” He asked, reaching out and trying to detangle the mess on top of her head.

“Oh!” Carol smiled and looked over her shoulder. “Billy let me put my head out the window on the drive back. It was amazing, you should have seen the stars!”

Billy watched Steve focus on him as if the omega hadn’t noticed his presence until now. Those eyes that were so guarded earlier this morning now held something that resembled soft curiosity.

“You did that for her?”

Billy shrugged, suddenly extremely self-conscious under Steve’s gaze. What was it about the omega that completely evaporated his defenses? “I… I just wanted to help.”

Steve slowly detached himself from Carol and shuffled over to where the alpha still stood in the entryway. For what felt like forever, all Steve did was stare as if he were searching for something in Billy’s deep blue eyes.

Whatever it was, Steve must have found it because he slowly offered his hand to the alpha. “Thank you.”

Billy felt like a seventeen-year-old with a crush as he shook the omega’s hand, trying not to react to how soft and warm it felt. It was nothing like Frank’s, or any alpha’s handshake for that matter. There was no show of dominance or strength. It felt genuine, and welcoming.

“Don’t mention it.” Billy mumbled as he turned back to the elevator.

“Good night Billy!” Carol whispered.

“Night,” Billy turned back as he walked away, which resulted in him walking into the elevator doors as they opened.

 Billy felt like such an embarrassing idiot, until he heard a soft laugh behind him. Turning again, Billy watched as Steve covered his mouth, trying to conceal the grin that had spread across his face. Steve’s laugh wasn’t cruel, or mocking. Billy could listen to that sound for the rest of his life and never get tired of it.

As the elevator doors closed in front of him, Billy licked his lips. “Good night Steve.”

The elevator began to move downwards. But Billy’s enhanced hearing was still able to pick up the words Steve whispered after the doors closed.

“Good night, Billy.”


As Catra slowly exited Adora’s room, she found herself in a large hallway that stretched in both directions. Unsure of which way to go, she decided to head left. The worst thing that could happen was that she would have to turn around, right? Catra kept walking until she seemed to reach the end of the hallway, where she stood in front of two massive doors and heard conversating behind them.

Maybe this leads to the great hall?

Catra pushed open the door on the right, peaked her head in and immediately regretted her decision.

What’s going on here?

Inside, sat the Queen of Bright Moon high on her throne, most of the royal guard, some servants and what Catra assumed were other important people based on their uniforms.  It appeared that they were having some kind of meeting? Whatever it was, Catra did not want to stick around to find out.

She tried to slowly back her way out of the entrance, but the door let out a loud creak. Suddenly, all eyes were on her, and Catra tensed immediately.

Fuck.

“Adora? What a pleasant surprise!” The queen greeted her. “I did not request your presence in this gathering today, what brings you in?

Oh Gods. Oh Shit! How would Adora respond? Think Catra! Think!

Still barely peeking out from between the doorway, Catra tried to think on the spot. She knew that Adora was always respectful to people in charge, even if they were awful people like Shadow Weaver. So, she decided that she should try to keep this conversation very formal and end it as quickly as possible.

“Good morning your…majesty. I was… just checking in to see…who was attending this meeting…to make sure that I didn’t need to take notes…for those individuals who did not attend.” Catra smack herself mentally. To her, the answer seemed really dumb, but she hoped the queen would buy it.

“Oh, Adora, you know there is no need for you to do that.” Angella spoke softly. “The royal scribe is present at all times, and anyone who misses a meeting can refer back to these notes at any given time.”

Catra didn’t know how to respond.

The Queen gave her a soft smile before speaking again. “Always thinking about work, aren’t you? Promise me one of these days you’ll take a day off please.”

Take a day off? Ppsssstttt. When did Adora ever do that?

“Right… the royal scribe… guess I forgot about that. I’ll try to relax more, I promise.” Catra affirmed.

Promise.

Huh.

Probably another one Adora wouldn’t be able to keep even if it came out of Catra’s mind.

Catra then realized that she had just been standing there idly in the doorway for a few seconds and decided that this would be her best chance to try an escape this very awkward encounter.

“Sorry for the intrusion your majesty, but I should really be on my way, your daughter is waiting for me after all!”

She shut the door behind her as quickly as possible and headed off towards the other end of the hall as fast as Adora’s stupid legs would take her. Adora’s body was built for strength, not agility like Catra’s body.

Still walking down the hallway, she took in the many murals that seemed to line these walls. She saw many figures she didn’t recognize, but she did spot the Horde soldiers that appeared in some of the murals. Surprisingly, they weren’t portrayed as evil, just as a foe of the Rebellion. Catra just assumed that it probably be too graphic to depict the realities of war on the castle walls. These pictures were meant to tell a story, not to scare the living shit out of Bright Moon’s citizens.

She kept walking.

In reality, Bright Moon was much easier to navigate than the Horde. At least it would have been if she knew where she was going. Here, it seemed that all rooms and corridors branched out from this main hallway, unlike the Horde where you could get easily lost in the many twists and turns of its layout. Catra took a mental note of Bright Moon for future reference.

Never know when I might have to sneak in on a stealth mission, she thought.

Not that she had ever thought about sneaking in before.

To see Adora.

No, never.

Finally, Catra found herself in a large open area, which she assumed could only be the great hall. Her suspicions were confirmed when she spotted Glimmer and Bow, who stood facing each other, talking about something that Catra couldn’t quite hear. From what she could see, however, was Bow was gesturing wildly and Glimmer was almost doubled over in laughter. Whatever they were talking about must have been funny. Dare she say, she almost kind of felt left out?

Stupid human ears, and why do I even care. They aren’t my friends.

As Catra approached, they both gave her questioning looks.

“Hey, I’m ready. Are we leaving soon?” She said as she came to a stop next to the duo.

“How are you ready?” Bow questioned. “You literally don’t even have any shoes on!”

Right…Adora did where shoes. Good thing the Queen didn’t see that.

Glimmer eyed her too. “And your hair is still down! You never leave the castle without your hair up.”

Whoops.

Bow looked her over again. “And the sword! You’re always carrying it around!”

In this moment, Catra was failing miserably at being Adora.

She had completely forgotten about the sword in her daze that was waking up in Adora’s body. Would it even work for her? Not being able to turn into She-Ra would give her away. But, did she even want to be She-Ra?

The thought made her shiver.

“Oh yeah… I was just testing you both to see if you’d notice…” Catra gave them a weary smile.

What a fucking stupid answer.

“Give me one sec and I’ll be right back!” Catra turned around and made her way back to Adora’s room to put on shoes, pull back her hair and grab the sword, leaving Glimmer and Bow in the great hall.

“She’s acting really weird today right?” Bow asked as he turned to face Glimmer.

“Yeah, totally.” She nodded. “I just thought that she was just being strange after the nightmare she had, but the breakfast incident and now this … it’s definitely out of character for her.”

Bow pondered for a moment. “She has been very standoffish too. Maybe we should ask her questions on the way to the ruined city to see if we can help her out? Maybe something is bothering her?”

“Good idea, I want to get to the bottom of this. She’s our friend and if she needs help, we should be there for her.” Glimmer said confidently.

Catra entered the bedroom again and slipped on a pair of socks and Adora’s ridiculous boots, which were way too hot for this time of year and attempted to pull her hair into a high and tight ponytail with that stupid little poof that she always had. She didn’t even need that poof anymore; it was just a leftover side effect from the bangs incident a few years ago in the Horde. Which was hilarious. The two of them had found a pair of scissors in an abandoned storage closet a few years back. Catra had dared Adora to give herself bangs, which she would only agree to if Catra cut her hair too. Adora left the storage closet with lopsided bangs and Catra with a patchy undercut.

Catra smiled to herself as she reminisced the event, even when she remembered the repercussions they faced when Shadow Weaver found out.

Continuing with the ponytail, Catra’s eye was drawn to something in particular on Adora’s body. While she still had both hands in her hair, she noticed how the muscles in Adora’s arms moved with every adjustment Catra made to the ponytail. It was fascinating. She managed to put up her hair fairly nicely, surprising even herself, but she couldn’t resist raising up her right arm and curling up her bicep.

Am I really flexing right now?

Catra couldn’t help it. She didn’t have the muscle mass that Adora had, and to be honest if she was Adora she would be flexing at every opportunity that she had. Which who was she kidding, Adora basically did flex at every opportunity, especially when she was She-Ra. Speaking of which.

Where’s that sword?

Catra glanced around the room briefly before finding the sword on the right side of the bed that she had woken up in hours ago. How had she not noticed that before? She hesitantly walked over to it and grabbed the hilt. It felt physically lighter than she remembered, but mentally it almost felt like a burden. Catra inspected the sword seeing her reflection, or rather Adora’s reflection, shine back at her. Would this thing even work for her now?

I’m really about to try this aren’t I?

She sighed and raised the sword above her head.

She could recall these next words at any moment, she has heard them at least a dozen times.

“For the honor of Grayskull!”

…

…

…

Nothing.

Catra had expected there to be some kind of blinding light and transformation, but the failure was rather lack luster.

Well, this isn’t good.

She strapped the sword to her back and left the bedroom with uncertainty written across her face.

Reentering the great hall, Catra tried to remain cool, and kept the thought of not being able to turn into She-Ra in the back of her mind. Glimmer noticed her first and a huge smile spread across her face and Bow happily clapped his hands together.

Gross. How can they be so enthused this early?

“Finally! Come on let’s go!” Glimmer cheered as Catra joined them again.

“Adventure!” Bow cheered.

Glimmer pinched the bridge of her nose. “Bow… stop.”

He frowned slightly. “What it’s cool when Sea Hawk says it!”

“You… ARE NOT SEA HAWK!” Glimmer shouted.

Ugh, so fucking annoying! How am I supposed to put up with these two for a whole day!?

The trio walked out the main entrance, and Catra took in the sights around her. Bright Moon really was a beautiful place when it wasn’t being attacked by the Horde…by her. The runestone illuminated the entire kingdom giving an ethereal lightness to the whole place. If there was any place that Adora should be able to relax it would be Bright Moon, but Adora being Adora, it didn’t surprise Catra that even here, she wouldn’t be able to.

They entered the Whispering Woods, still slightly damaged from freezing over during the battle, but steadily growing back. Catra, made a mental note to report this if she ever made it back to the Horde. The refortification of the Whispering Woods would definitely hamper another attack on Bright Moon.

She noticed as they were walking that Bow and Glimmer seemed to keep their pace in front of her, so she remained in the back. Weird, she sarcastically imagined that the ‘best friend squad’ would hold hands and skip everywhere they went.

The thought made her chuckle slightly to herself.

“It shouldn’t take us long to get back to the civilian town, or I guess ruins now.” Bow pulled out his tablet. “My tracker pad says probably a few hours.”

Ahhhh, so that where we’re going…and a few hours? Geez did these guys really walk everywhere. No wonder Adora has legs of steel.

“Great! Just enough time for some quality bonding! Right, Bow?” Gimmer asked as she nudged him in the side with her elbow.

“Sure is Glimmer!” He returned the gesture.

Okay, so these two are acting weird now.

“Soooooo… Adora… what’s your favorite animal? Glimmer asked as she looked back at Catra who was still trailing slightly behind them.

They didn’t really have animals in the Horde, so Catra struggled slightly. She knew about the thing Adora rode around on, but she had no idea what it was called.

“Uhhhhhh… my companion?” She answered unsurely.

This answer made Bow and Glimmer look at each other.

Guess that was the wrong answer?

Bow then asked another question. “What would you say is your worst habit?”

This was an easy question. Catra knew that Adora couldn’t stay still to save her live.

“Not being able to keep still, or I guess not being able to relax in any way according to the people around me.” Catra said with an involuntary grin on her face.

Glimmer laughed.

Guess she liked that answer?

“Okay, biggest pet peeve?” She continued to question her.

Maybe, people asking me so many fucking questions!?

Obviously Catra couldn’t say that, and there were so many things that Catra did that she knew pissed Adora off, but what was something that would still pertain to her now?

“When people take my stuff.” She said as she shrugged her shoulders.

Glimmer smiled at her. “Yeah that’s for sure. You get heated if anyone tries to take your sword away from you!”

Catra definitely knew all about that…

“Favorite food?” Bow asked.

That question threw Catra off slightly. “At the Horde? Definitely the grey ration bars. Now…?”

Another shared glance between Bow and Glimmer.

Mentioning the Horde was a slip up. Catra didn’t really know if Adora had a new favorite food outside of the Horde, so she came up with the best answer she could think of. A very Adora answer she thought.

She eyed the two before attempting to correct her answer. “I’m not really sure, everything is sooooooo tasty out here!”

That answer came out a little more sarcastic than she intended it to.

Glimmer was looking a little skeptical now.  “Okay… tell me what’s your favorite color?

Oh, Catra knew the answer to this question in a heartbeat.

She smiled to herself. “Well…that’s kind of a trick question. I have two favorite colors, blue and yellow obviously.”

What was this anyway? 20 questions? Maybe these two didn’t know as much about Adora as I thought. This all seems very one-sided too.

Are they starting to get suspicious of me?

What Catra didn’t know was that Glimmer and Bow were doing this on purpose. Asking her questions, that they already knew the answer to, to see if something was up.

“Adora… could you give Glimmer and I a moment for a sec? Bow said as the group stopped walking.

“Ah, sure? I guess I’ll just go over here?” She said as she thumbed to a general area of the woods.

As Catra walked away and leaned against a nearby tree, Bow turned to face Glimmer.

“This is incredibly weird right?! Like, she’s getting most of the questions at least half right, but it’s like she’s not herself, like she only knows bits and pieces of her own personality!” Glimmer whisper shouted as she looked over to where Catra was standing.

Bow looked at her two as Catra picked at her nails. “Yeah, it’s almost as if she only knows the stuff she knew about herself when she was… still in the Horde… you don’t think?”

Glimmer’s eyes widened. “SHE LOST ALL HER MEMORY ABOUT US AND IS ONLY PLAYING ALONG NOW?”

“No, Glimmer. Calm down.” Bow said as he placed his hands on her shoulders to ground her. “This is going to sound crazy, but what if Adora, isn’t Adora?”

“WHAT!?’ Glimmer shouted a little too loudly.

Catra glanced at the pair, but still couldn’t hear their conversation.

“Shhhhhhh! Bow shushed her.

Glimmer narrowed her eyes before lowering her voice. “What do you mean Adora isn’t Adora?”

“I think that Adora’s body is still here, but here consciousness isn’t. I mean, think about it. Why else would she not be able to answer simple questions about herself? She only knows the answers to them as if she knew herself only when she was in the Horde. Almost as if she were a friend of herself and not her.” Bow attempted to explain but he was thinking but Glimmer still looked doubtful.

“Bow, that’s insane! How would that even happen?” She asked.

“Oh, I don’t know Glimmer! Etherian magic? Being able to turn into an 8ft tall warrior princess? Witchcraft? A curse? Take your pick!” Bow exclaimed as he listed off all the possibilities as to how this could have happened.

Glimmer crossed her arms over her chest. “No, need to get snippy Bow!”

Bow felt guilty. “Okay, I’m sorry… maybe it has something to do with us leaving Adora in the ruins by herself yesterday?

“I knew we shouldn’t have left her alone!” Glimmer said as she perked up slightly. “How are we even supposed to figure out who is in Adora’s body?”

Bow pondered this question for a moment before he smiled and brought his right fist down into his left. “Hit ‘em where it hurts?”

“Yeah!” Glimmer smiled before becoming confused. “Wait… what?”

He laughed slightly at his friend’s sudden change of emotions. “Ask her about the only thing Horde soldiers are uncomfortable with; relationship questions.”

A mischievous smile broke across her face. “Brilliant!”

As Catra was leaning on some tree, watching Glimmer and Bow as the seemingly argued with each other for the umpteenth time today, she really wondered how she found herself in this situation. What would drive Adora to go this far? Why would she want to switch bodies with her of all people? Her thoughts were interrupted by a flail of Glimmer’s arms, which she assumed was her signal to rejoin the duo.

“You guys done asking me questions yet?” Catra asked as she sauntered her way over to the pair.

“Not quite, we have one more for you.” Bow said.

Catra rolled her eyes.

Glimmer raised an eyebrow before speaking up; looking way too smug for Catra’s liking.

“Have you ever been in a relationship?” She spoke in a teasing tone.

Catra was confused. “A what?”

“Come on Adora! We’ve been over this!” Bow said playfully. “A relationship is between two, or more people in some cases, that deeply care for each other. Their love is more that platonic and they are romantically involved.”

Catra really didn’t know how to respond to this question, they didn’t really have relationships in the Horde. By the sounds of it, Adora and herself may have been in a relationship. All the gentle brushes against one another in the hallway, the handholding, heated sparring, cuddling…

A blush spread across her cheeks as Bow and Glimmer grinned at her.

Oh, they’re still waiting for an answer… and I think they definitely think something is up now.

And if they were getting suspicious of her, she might as well have some fun.

A smug smile graced Catra’s face. “Oh, you mean like me and Glimmer?”

“WHAT!” Glimmer shouted.

Catra disregarded her tone. “Yeah, aren’t we like a thing?”

Glimmer was really getting frustrated at this point.

“NO! THAT’S ENOUGH! TELL ME WHO YOU ARE!” She shouted.

Catra, suddenly found herself pinned against a tree, with Glimmer staring up at her. She had a firm hold on Catra’s shoulder, her right fist was raised, and it was surrounded by pink energy. Catra could really squirm away from this hold if she wanted to, but honestly, she was finally having fun now.

“Take it easy there Sparkles, you might run out of juice again.” She said to egg her on.

The stern expression on Glimmer’s face fell at the realizeation, but it quickly turned into something a little harsher. “Sparkles? Wait… CATRA?!?!?!?”

“Awww, you finally figured it out.” Catra mocked.

Glimmer tightened her hold on Catra’s shoulder and the energy around her fist glowed brighter.

“What have you done to Adora!” She asked in a harsh tone.

“What have I done?” Catra chuckled and rolled her eyes. “More like what has Adora done to herself and to me!”

“Come one guys, settle down.” Bow interjected. “Glimmer please release Ador… Catra and we can try to figure this out together.”

Glimmer remained firm. “Not until she gives us answers Bow!”

“I don’t think you want to do that.” Catra said calmly.

“What are you gonna do? Lick me again?” She scoffed.

Catra smirked again. “If you want me to princess. It would probably be more fun as Adora anyway.”

With a wink, Catra saw Glimmer’s face flush red.

Ha! It’s too easy messing with her. Almost as easy as messing with Adora.

“But seriously, it’s not like I’m going to run off. I have nowhere to go and I’m definitely not going back to the Horde looking like this!” Catra exclaimed.

Glimmer slowly released her grip from Catra and the energy around her fist slowly dissipated. The two harshly glared at each other before Glimmer spoke up again. “Fine, but now we need to find Adora, the real Adora.”

Catra pushed off the tree and smoothed out her shirt. “Look at us, finally able to agree on something.”

“Great!” Bow said as he body relaxed from the standoff ending. “Now that we’re all on the same page, where do you think we can find her?”

She thought for a second. “Well, you all had this expedition planned since last night, right? If I know Adora, she’ll try anything possible to meet up with you guys because she knew where you were already going to be, which means…

Catra was suddenly cut off by Glimmer.

“…she’ll be heading towards the ruins too!” She shouted excitedly.

Catra let out an irritated grunt and then mumbled “Yeah…that’s exactly what I was going to say.”

“That means we have no time to lose! According to my tracker pad we can get there in an hour or so if we jog.” Bow stated as he looked down at the tablet.

“Or I can just teleport us there.” Glimmer interrupted. “I know where it is and it’s not that far.”

“Nope, no way, nuh uh.” Catra refuse.

“Come on! Don’t you want your body back! This is the quickest way to do it.” Glimmer said as she tried to convince her.

After internally debating with herself and weighing the pros and cons, Catra made up her mind.

“Fine.” She relented.

She held out an arm and Glimmer looped her arm around hers to lock their elbows together. The trio was then engulfed in pink magic and Catra remembered how much she had hated this feeling.

When the group had rematerialized, they had arrived at the ruins.


The next practical saw 1-A assembled at one of the outdoor training grounds. The staff had been rotating to cover Aizawa’s lessons while he recovered from the USJ attack, and All Might had been chosen to cover their next practical. Still following Aizawa’s lesson plans, of course. Izuku had been tasked with reporting back to his mentor whether or not any changes had been made from his instructions, and after the first time someone decided to go off his carefully structured assignments none of the substitutes were willing to press their luck again. Izuku wasn’t quite sure what Aizawa had done, but it made Hizashi laugh every time it was mentioned, so he assumed it had to have been good.

	With the Sports Festival only a week away, they were all focusing on getting in as much training as possible. It was different from before though. None of them could deny that. Izuku knew his own reasons for feeling off, and there was no telling what the others had been through when they were scattered through the USJ or blocked by the warp villain. It was with only a little hesitation that he had passed on what he saw to Aizawa. If he had been at school, Aizawa would have noticed in a second what was wrong with his class. It was only fair that someone tell him how they were doing so he could adjust the lessons as needed.

“Freeze tag?”

The group huddled around All Might as he explained the lesson Aizawa had prepared for them, looking at each other as though they weren’t quite sure they had heard the hero correctly. Aizawa’s lessons were always much more complicated than freeze tag sounded. Simulations and scenarios that pushed them to think through their problems and apply their skills in different ways. School had only started a short time ago, but they knew Aizawa well enough to know that there was more to this activity than it seemed.

“Yes, young Ashido!” All Might’s voice seemed to echo in the empty city street. The training ground was very similar to the one they had used in All Might’s first lesson with them with tall building, looping wires, and pipes raised high about the ground. “Freeze tag! Although there will be a few rules, of course!” He winked with a smile, and Izuku choked back his laughter at his classmates confused faces. Aizawa hadn’t filled him in on his lessons ahead of time-that would be cheating even if Izuku happened to be his personal student-but he thought he could see where this was going.

“The rules are simple, but make sure to listen! Aizawa-sensei will have all of the footage from this class as well, so don’t forget that he will be watching! Expect some notes on your performance to be emailed to you by the end of the day! There are a few things you will be graded on. We will have three randomly chosen seekers at one time. Seekers will gain points based on the number of people they tag. There will be a time limit for each round, so don’t waste it! If you get tagged, have no fear! This is freeze tag, after all. You will have a chance to try again. Points for the rest of the class will be determined by the number of classmates you unfreeze, so no running away from these fights! Use your quirks as you see fit, but remember we do not want to visit Recovery Girl because of reckless quirk use! Make smart choices.”

His instructions were so much better than their first class. It was easy to see that he had taken Aizawa’s and Hizashi’s advice to heart. Izuku and Denki exchanged a quick look, grinning. All Might had seemed nervous about covering their class during their last training session with him, but he seemed to have gotten over it. As for the activity itself, Izuku couldn’t hold back his excitement. This was just the thing the class needed to get in a better headspace before the Sports Festival. Something fun that still required them to strategize and work together. A way to ease them back into using their quirks around and potentially on each other. Making it so that students could only get points for unfreezing their classmates meant that everyone would have to be involved in the action at some point while putting the seekers at a disadvantage.

All Might tapped at the tablet in his hand and then held it up for everyone to see the three names in the middle of the screen. “Our first seekers are: Iida, Asui, and Uraraka! You have two minutes to prepare. The buzzer will sound when the round begins! Good luck!”

Izuku and Denki wasted no time. Two minutes wasn’t a lot of time, and with Iida’s quirk they needed to put as much distance between themselves and the starting point as possible. While they would still need to be close enough to get points of their own, it wouldn’t do them any good to get caught in the initial wave of tags. Iida was a bad draw for their first round, and Asui and Uraraka were almost as troubling. Asui had reach, and Uraraka had a grin on her face that was entirely too familiar for him to think that she would be easy to avoid.

Aizawa would have been disappointed had he actually been there, because Izuku was so focused on figuring out what Uraraka might have been planning to give her such a look that he only noticed that he and Denki were being followed a moment before she spoke.

“Hey, guys! You look like you know what you’re doing! Mind if I tag along?”

Izuku and Denki exchanged another look without breaking stride. Izuku wasn’t sure that he had ever had a real conversation with Ashido before, and he was fairly certain that Denki hadn’t been that close to her before they became friends either. So why did she suddenly want to team up with them? It could be as she said. Izuku and Denki had immediately reacted when All Might had started their count down. For some reason, Izuku thought there was more to it than that though. Still, there was no reason for them to refuse. Ashido hadn’t been anything but polite to Izuku, and she hadn’t been one of the ones who had looked at him warily when they learned that he was quirkless. That was good enough for him at the moment.

“Sure!” Denki said, shooting her a grin over his shoulder. For a second, Izuku couldn’t help but marvel that Denki had understood his thoughts on the situation without him having to say a word, but then he remembered that they were in the middle of an exercise, and their time would be running out soon.

“This kind of activity works better with a team, so thanks for the help, Ashido!” Izuku added, wanting to make sure she knew that it wasn’t just Denki who was okay with having her along. She grinned in return, and they lapsed into silence until they turned the corner of a building and slipped inside. By Izuku’s count they still had thirty seconds until the seekers would be released, but they should have moved far enough away to have a moment to get a better plan together.

“Ashido, did you see where everyone else went when All Might started the count down?”

The three had crouched down near the doorway of the building, out of sight of anyone who happened to run by but with a clear view of the street leading back to All Might. They couldn’t stay long, Izuku knew. Getting trapped in the building was a sure way to end up tagged, and they would have to venture out to earn points of their own, but it would keep them out of the fight for the moment.

“Everyone kind of scattered,” Ashido said, tilting her head to peek around the doorframe. “I think Blasty wanted to hang back and fight straight off, but Kirishima was pulling him down the street before I caught up with you.”

“Blasty?” Izuku covered his mouth with his hand so that he wouldn’t laugh. Denki didn’t even bother hiding it.

Ashido smiled with a sheepish shrug. “Yeah? Bakugou’s still refusing to call us by name, right? He has all those silly nicknames? So, I though he deserved one of his own. At this point, I’m not sure if that’s just a thing he does, or if he really doesn’t know our names. Either way, I’ve probably said it to his face a dozen times now, and he hasn’t blown up on me. I’m taking that as his seal of approval!”

She wasn’t wrong to take it that way, Izuku felt sure. He hadn’t spent much time around Katsuki since started school, but he knew that if he really didn’t want Ashido to call him that he would have told her so. Loudly. With his quirk to help get the point across. It was another reminder of how much Katsuki had changed in the recent months, and it made him wonder again what exactly had happened to his old childhood friend while Izuku had been distracted with his training. Something for him to worry about later.

“Not everyone went as far as us though!” Ashido said, bringing Izuku back to the conversation. “I saw a few people duck into the buildings closer to All Might. Probably hoping they can unfreeze the first people tagged.”

“Even though they’ll probably actually be the first people tagged,” Denki said, leaning into the wall beside him. “Iida’s too fast.” Just as he spoke, there was the sound of an explosion in the distance. Their time was definitely up now. They needed to be moving soon if they wanted to get any points.

“Looks like Blasty got his wish,” Ashido said, laughing. “I wonder how mad he’s going to be once he gets tags? I bet it’s going to be Uraraka who does it. He’s been spending a lot of time with her and Kirishima lately.”

“I guess we’ll find out if he actually decided to just fight them head on,” Izuku said, running through everything he knew about Iida, Uraraka, and Asui’s skills. “Head on confrontation isn’t going to work. This is set up so that people will have to end up getting tagged, not matter how much space is in the training ground. If we only get points for unfreezing people, then everyone is going to be drawn to the same general area. I think our best bet is to get in and get out. Find someone who has been frozen, tag them, and then get out of the main conflict as quickly as we can.  The seekers don’t get points for keeping people frozen, so there’s really no incentive for them to keep watch of them once they’ve been tagged. As long as we can get in and out without getting noticed, we should be fine. If they’re smart, Iida, Uraraka, and Asui will work together to corner people to tag, which should leave everyone else fairly open. We make sure to move together, and if we get split up we meet back outside the main fighting. Sound good?”

“Wow, Midoriya! You really put a lot of thought into this!” Ashido said.

Izuku thought is said a lot about how far he had come that only looked for a double meaning in her words for a second before realizing that she was completely genuine. Compliments from his friends or Aizawa and Hizashi were one thing, but it was still odd for other people to take note of his skills. He rubbed at the back of his neck awkwardly, refusing to look at her or Denki. “It’s really nothing.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Izuku!” Denki said, and Izuku noticed Ashido’s eyes widen slightly at the use of his name. “That’s a great plan! If we stick together, I’m sure we can rack up a ton of points.”

Izuku grinned at the two of them, and reached for one of the pouches at his belt. “One more thing…”

They headed back towards the base without another word, sticking to the sides of the buildings as they hurried down the side walk. It wasn’t just the sounds of explosions they could hear as they moved closer, and Izuku wasn’t surprised when they turned the final corner to see that their class had descended into chaos. For a moment, Izuku’s thoughts shifted to the last time he had seen his class in such disarray, and there was a tightness in his chest as he stared at the scene. Denki and Ashido stopped on the sidewalk a few steps ahead of him and looked back at him, their confusion clear.

“Izuku?”

“Midoriya, are you okay?”

Shaking away the images from that day, Izuku hurried to catch up with them. “Sorry, guys. Memories.” Denki frowned, but didn’t press him, reaching over to give his hand a squeeze.

Ashido shuddered. “I get that. As if the nightmares aren’t bad enough. Do you want a minute?”

Izuku could tell she meant it. They had agreed to work together, and their grade for the practical was dependent on them getting out there, but if Izuku said that he needed a second to pull himself together then Ashido wasn’t going to complain. It was such a small thing. Kindness from someone who understood what he was going through. But for someone who had only recently started receiving that kindness from people his own age, the gesture meant more to Izuku than he cared to put to words.

“I’m good! Let’s go get some points!”

He hesitated only a second before removing his practice rods from where they were secured to his belt. They didn’t feel the same in his hand as his normal ones, but that was the point. It was one step closer to getting back on track, and it was a step that he could make without pushing his comfort zone too far. Aizawa would kill him if he thought that Izuku was trying to rush through his recovery in time for the Sports Festival, and Izuku didn’t want to let him down. He knew it would only hurt him worse in the long run. Besides, as Aizawa had told him many times since their initial conversation about his mental block, eskrima wasn’t the only trick he had up his sleeve.

It seemed that Izuku’s analysis had been correct. Most of the class had gathered in the open area of the base once the round truly began, and while it was clear that some of his classmates had the same idea of getting in and getting out again, the seekers were too good of a match up. From what Izuku could see, half of their class was already frozen with Asui and Uraraka on both sides of the streets waiting to pick off anyone who tried to get close enough to unfreeze them.

Ashido let out a quiet giggle as they approached. It seemed that she had gotten her wish after all. Katsuki stood to the right of Uraraka fuming, his arms crossed. If Izuku didn’t know better, he almost would have said he was pouting. Uraraka kept sending glances his way, trying to cover her own laughter with her hand. It wasn’t working though, and Izuku could hear the popping of Katsuki’s explosions grow louder the longer Uraraka struggled to contain her glee.

“This is going to be harder than I thought,” Denki said. Hagakure seemed to be having the most luck breaking into the crowded mess. Izuku could only follow her trail by the people who suddenly broke away from the crowd. Sero had used his tape to pull himself out of reach a second before Iida grabbed him again, slapping Ojiro as he went passed. Ojiro managed to block Iida’s next attempt to tag his with his tail and tagged Sato. It was hard to keep track of with everyone shifting, but then Todoroki was suddenly moving again, sending a wall of ice that cut off Asui from the rest of the group, and then Katsuki was letting off an explosion that almost knocked Uraraka to the ground. Their training together seemed to have paid off though, because Uraraka hardly seemed phase, lunging to freeze him again.

“It’s now or never!” Ashido said brightly, starting towards the chaos. Izuku and Denki had no choice but to follow. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect as they slipped into the fray. Iida had managed to tag Ojiro again, but it was only a second before Tokoyami was there to unfreeze him. Iida was facing off against both of them, as they managed to keep him at an arm’s length through Ojiro and Dark Shadow’s blocking. Asui was trying to make it around Todoroki’s wall, and Uraraka was still fighting Katsuki, both of them grinning. Izuku wasn’t quite sure how that friendship had started, but he would have to get the story from Uraraka later. As he watched, Kirishima joined Bakugou’s side. They fell into a rhythm almost instantly, but Uraraka was still holding her own.

The trio headed to the center of the crowd, unfreezing people as they went. Izuku didn’t both to keep track, as he tried to watch all three of the seekers at once. Asui made it around the wall, immediately tagging Aoyama and Kouda who seemed to be working together. Iida pushed passed Dark Shadow, diving underneath him to tag Ojiro again. Without Ojiro’s assistance, it was only another moment before Iida managed to distract Tokoyami long enough to tag him as well.  Kirishima and Katsuki were still going strong against Uraraka, which left only the two seekers to deal with.

“We can’t get out!” Denki said, backing up until he could feel Ashido and Izuku beside him. Even with Uraraka busy, Todoroki’s ice had cut off a large part of their escape route. Going by Katsuki was out unless they wanted to risk getting caught up in that fight, and Iida turned from Tokoyami and Ojiro to lock eyes with Izuku through the crowd.

“Too late. Iida’s spotted us. Remember the plan?” They both nodded, and Izuku’s grip on his practice rods tightened. They couldn’t show their hand too early. The timing had to be perfect. The space between them opened up as Iida approached, and Ashido took the opportunity to launch acid into Iida’s path. It didn’t make him choose a different target, but it did force him to slow down, edging around the path that Ashido was creating. Iida veered right away from Asui and the wall, and that was when Denki struck. His control had gotten so much better since working with Aizawa and All Might. Iida almost tripped avoiding the blast, another throw from Ashido sending him stumbling back towards the left where Asui waited.

Izuku ran to meet him, rods raised to knock his hands aside. Iida feinted left, but Izuku was already moving, ducking under his swing to come up behind him and throwing a small blue ball at his feet before Iida could recover, refusing to think about the last time he had used one. The ball exploded, covering Iida’s feet in the sticky material that would keep him from taking another step.

He only had a moment to appreciate the stunned look on Iida’s face before he yelled out, “Asui! Uraraka! Midoriya’s got-”

It didn’t matter though. Ashido had moved the moment that Iida was secure, tossing the ball that Izuku had given her towards Asui with a cry of “Catch!” Asui raised her hands instinctively, catching the movement a moment too late. Blue covered her hands the moment the ball made contact, and Asui cheered.

The last ball, given to Denki, exploded at Uraraka’s feet as she jumped out of the way of Kirishima and Katsuki’s joint attack. After that, it was only a matter of unfreezing the people who had been tagged before the buzzer sounded ending the round.

“That’s all for round one! Take a break, everyone, and we’ll draw names for round two! Midoriya, could you please release your classmates?”

“Of course, All Might!” Izuku said, his face going red. He reached into his pocket again, passing a vial of the solvent to Denki and Ashido, while he leaned down to pour his own vial on Iida’s shoes. “Don’t worry, Iida-kun. This won’t stain your shoes. It will just break the compound down, so you don’t have to wait for it to break down naturally.”

“As expected, Midoriya,” Iida said. “A brilliant plan, with a simple solution!”

“Thanks?” Izuku responded, not quite able to keep the confusion from his voice. Yes, Iida had apologized to him about their first training exercise, but that was a long way from what he was saying now.

“Ah,” Iida said, looking at him as Izuku straightened up. “About what I said before. I have to apologize to you once again, Midoriya-kun. What you did at the USJ…The situation might have been far worse if it hadn’t been for your quick thinking and action. You were a true hero that day, and I will be looking forward to seeing what you can do in the future.” The words were punctuated by a sharp nod, and then Iida was off, heading towards Asui before Izuku could fully process what he had said.

“What was that about?” Denki asked, coming back to his side, Ashido following a moment after him.

“Another apology. I think?”

“Iida’s a tough one to read, even though he seems so straight forward,” Ashido said, shaking her head. “But look at us! If we don’t have the most points after that round, I’ll be surprised! It worked just like you said, Midoriya!”

She grinned at them again, and he could feel Denki watching him for his reaction. “Only because you and Denki timed it perfectly! We couldn’t have done it without you.” If possible, her grin grew wider, and Izuku couldn’t help smiling in return.

“Hey, Ashido,” Denki said, throwing an arm over her shoulder. She blinked, surprised, her eyes drifting to his arm and then back at Izuku, but she didn’t step away from him.

“Yeah, Kaminari?”

“How do you feel about coffee ice cream?”

Once again, Denki had somehow managed to read Izuku’s mind, and Izuku didn’t have a problem with it one bit.