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Shots

PD with Z & Ter. (( Limbo ))

The house had been so sadly quiet since Reese had been taken away at D-Corp. Wilbur had been doing nothing but stress cleaning since Edge had been called to take the young boy in. The father in question was now down in his work out room, doing what it was that he always did in times of distress: beating the crap out of a punching bag.

He didn't even know what prompted the idea...well, that wasn't true. He'd been sorting Reese's pictures. One in particular was of a scribbled brown splotch with a brown line connected to a green line, which in turn was coming out of a bigger, green colored splotch. Wilbur remembered the day Reese had drawn it, after the first crazy encounter with the young Miss Z.

What Wilbur didn't understand is why he actually went through with the call. So there he was, on the phone to the mantis girl's house...calling himself crazy for even attempting to make contact with the annoyance. But then again, he pondered, Reese would have wanted her to know.


The mantis girl had been getting ready to go out, and was in the process of applying her mascara when she heard the phone ring. She ignored it thinking that someone else would grab it. But as the annoying buzz from her own phone continued to drone she gave an annoying sigh.

"SOME ONE GET THAT!" She snapped placing the mascara brush back in the tube a bit roughly before straightening. As the phone continued to ring she realized that no one else was going to answer it... and will a roll of her eyes she snatched at the cordless laying on her bed a black nail polished nail clicking the answer button before she lifted it to her mouth.

"Yeah?" She answered leaning her head to one side so she could continue applying her make up. If anything she hoped it was a telemarketer...she she could yell at them and hang up.


Wilbur sighed to himself. He didn't even have to ask...the tone alone reeked of Zyanya.

"Miss Z," Wilbur began...not understanding how he was able to hold back the contempt from his voice. "I do not believe I have to explain myself, but it is Wilbur." He expected her to complain about him calling her...knew she'd make a remark about him bothering her or something of that nature. He'd wait for her to settle before continuing with his call.

"I know you and I don't exactly...get along." The tone of his voice was grave. This was serious business. If she didn't get that by now, there was more wrong with her than suspected. "However, you are what Reese considers his best friend. In that frame of mind, I feel it's important for you to know.

"There is some sort of...virus. A disease, that is effecting the young children of D-Corp. Edge and I took Reese in for testing against this defect, and while he was not showing signs of illness at that time, we were required to leave Young Sir there for quarantine. It is quite serious, Miss Z. We have heard that one child has already succumbed to this disease, and at any moment Reese could begin showing signs of infection."

He paused for a second, contemplating his next words. Was there really anything Z could do? No. Was there anything any of them could do? Again, no.

"I'm not completely sure what else I hoped to accomplish by calling you. But, as I said, you are someone immensely important to a child who is equally important to me. I felt as though Reese would want you to know what is going on."


Zyan's eyes narrowed as she continued to examine her nails. She didn't trust the corporation. No more than she trusted adults in general. She felt a rise of anger in the back of her throat. She wanted to yell at Wilbur, tell him off but perhaps it was more that she felt helpless in this situation.

It wasn't like she could charge up to the Corporation and demand they let Reese go. It was several long minutes of silence before she replied. Her voice was low when she finally spoke.

"But he is okay? For the time being?" There was a tinge of worry in her tone, she chewed on her lower lip, wondering if there was anything else she could say. The fact one child was allowed to die on the corporation's watch irked her.


Wilbur sighed. His eyes were distant. He was worried, obviously. Who wouldn't be? But something inside him felt relieved. So she really did care about Reese. He could hear the worry, however small, in her voice. He wasn't someone who she toyed with, or used perhaps for amusement. Though their ages were different, Reese's feelings of friendship were indeed shared.

Maybe that's what he'd hoped to accomplish with this call. Not intentional, this "test"...but effective none the less.

"As far as we know, yes. We were told we'd be informed if there was any change in his condition. If you'd like, I could also keep you updated on his progress?"

Yes. This had been something he'd needed. A confirmation that this girl, however crass and out of line, wasn't someone who would one day end up breaking Reese's delicate heart.


Mulling over the man's words the mantis girl fiddeled with a peice of hair out of habit. Chewing on her lower lip thoughtfully for once.

"Yes...I would like to here about his progress. He damn well better improve." She cursed though it was obvious her frusteration wasn't aimed at Wilbur himself but at life in general.


"Very well. Should we receive any updates, I'll be sure to contact you," Wilbur responded, his tone not sounding so strained. It was like a weight was lifted...he didn't feel so defensive of Reese when talking to Zyanya.

"I suppose that is all. Try to have a good night, Miss Z." With goodbyes said, he'd hang up.

Sighing, he'd attempt to go back to cleaning, but shortly the phone would ring. It was a call to stop his heart. Reese's condition had grown worse. He was told that the guardians were to return to D-Corp as soon as possible. You've never seen a butler and his employer ready to go somewhere so fast.

Pre-meta PD with Saedah

Phonecall with Saedah

Reese sat in his room, sniffling a bit with a deep pout across his face. He couldn't remember a time in his life that he'd felt so angry. Was this was betrayal felt like? It made his head and his chest and his belly hurt. All he wanted to do was scream, but he'd done enough of that already, hadn't he? He looked around his room with disgust, hating everything he saw. Even that stupid journal his dad had given him.

"Thupid...thupid," he muttered angrily, rolling over to where it sat on his desk.

He picked it up roughly, snuffing an angry breath out of his nose. Stupid DCorp...with their needles and their, their diseases! He ran his fingers over the cover of the journal and nearly started to cry. His fingers felt all fuzzy, like he had gloves on. They'd broken him. He wasn't the same anymore.

"You want me to write in thith thupid thing...fine," he stated angrily, slamming the book down and opening it to the first page.



His words were angry and he knew it. A stream of thoughts without any real definition to them...but he didn't care. What did DCorp care about what he thought? They stuck him with a lying murderer and his one man clean up crew. The only thing he cared about now as far as DCorp was concerned was his dragon.

His dragon. How long had it been since he'd gone to see the egg? Reese, suddenly forgetting his journal, rolled himself to the door of his room.

"WILBUR!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, sitting angrily in his door for the two seconds it took to hear the thundering of the butler's footsteps up to the boy's room.

"Yes, Young Sir?" the man said with a gasp, completely surprised the child was actually calling on him for something.

Reese's face was a scowl, his arms crossed as he out right glared at the man he once considered family. God, it pained Wilbur so much to see him like that. They'd gone about this all horribly wrong, and he knew it. Oh Reese, we've let you down so horribly...

Reese took the moment to think. Oh, there was so much he wanted to say, "I want to go thee my dragon egg," he chose instead, stating it bluntly.

It wasn't a request. Wilbur hesitated, but decided against correcting the behavior. Reese was upset, justified in being so...and if anything, all Wilbur wanted to do was rebuild the relationship that teetered in the balance.

"Very well, Reese. I'll get the car ready." Wilbur bowed his head as he backed off, heading back down the stairs and out of sight.

Reese stayed in the door for a moment, feeling his face crumble as he started to cry again. Anger swelled up in him like a bubble shortly after, and roughly wiping the tears off his face, the boy began getting his backpack ready. Though he hated that dreadful place, he hated here more...and planned on staying at DCorp for as long as he could manage.

Edge wiped the sweat from his forehead as he walked up the stairs, pausing when he heard the front door open. He could hear Wilbur talking to Reese without any response from the boy, and also the sound of Reese's wheelchair rolling across the floor. Continuing his ascent, Edge came to a complete stop when he reached the top of his climb.

Reese was sitting in front of the doorway, a little surprised himself. He hadn't expected to run into his father. Honestly, he had hoped the man would stay down in that basement forever. The shock in his eyes quickly turned to anger before Reese made an abrupt about face and headed for the staircase leading up to the second floor.

Edge could barely see the boy from where he was, watching carefully as Reese shifted himself from one chair to the special contraption that got him up the steps. He mildly noted that the fit on Reese's current wheelchair was getting snug, but was impressed that the child didn't seem to have trouble going back and forth between the chairs. When Edge heard the safety lock on the mobile chair and was sure Reese had safely transferred from one to the other, he moved out into the kitchen where he knew Wilbur was cleaning.

Wilbur only glanced up when his employer entered the room, sighing and going back to the dishes. "He's still upset." It was an obvious statement, one Edge had known just by looking at the boy, and Edge felt like salt had been poured onto an open wound in his heart.

"Yeah...he didn't speak to me when he came in," Edge said with a sigh, slipping into one of the chairs at the table.

Wilbur brought him a glass of water, and almost turned away before he too sat down and sighed, "He seemed a little better coming down from his visit, but the moment he saw me, the scowl came back."

The younger man shook his head...and then placed his forehead into his hands. Sitting there in silence, he felt the overwhelming sensation of shame creeping up his back. He knew the feeling well; Shame had once been Edge's constant companion when his original family had fallen apart because of his job.

He took in a heavy breath, trying to force back the feeling of nausea that was sweeping up his throat from the pit of his stomach. As he shuddered, the tears overtook him.

"I've done it again, Wilbur..." he whispered hoarsely between quiet sobs. "I've alienated the child I love...I've driven him away...just like I drove...I drove them away..." And he gave into the sadness completely, unable to stop himself from weeping into his palms.

Wilbur watched Edge cry, placing a hand onto the other man's shoulder as he felt his own tears filling his eyes. What had they done? Oh, Reese...sweet, gentle Reese...

"We failed him," Wilbur whispered, wiping his eyes as they finished the rest of the night in silence.

Reese looked at his journal, considering it. Maybe he should write something a little more...constructive? Besides, he'd seen a TV show about this girl who wrote in her journal and it made her feel better. Maybe writing would also make him feel better? It was worth a shot.



But where to begin? Well, what was he thinking about right now? What was bothering him?



Reese sat back in his wheelchair, sighing softly. Hey, you know, that actually did feel really good. It wasn't like he had a bee nest in his belly anymore. Smiling a little, he wheeled himself over and set the journal next to his bedtime stand. He'd have to write in that again sometime soon.