Throwing stones in glass houses.

Made me think the whole window stabbing thing must have been some sort of pre-emptive karma, because the entire time I'd been calling Alan and Alex's mother bat shit crazy, I'd been ignoring the fact that my own parents were also a few cents short of a dollar.

Involved with an illegal organisation? Taken hostage and stabbed? STABBED. Multiple times. Multiple stabbings of daughter. Starvation? Insanity? Betrayal? Ball gowns? Just Trauma. All the Trauma.

...Sure, they might not be the most attentive parents in the world... but I like to think they would hesitate to hand me back to the people who let a group of teenagers save the world...though technically, the Shrink Program had tried to stop us... but that just makes them even more incompetent!

But no. One heartfelt apology from Reece, a single bat of those sincere blue eye, and my fate was sealed. All was forgiven, and I was left cursing the small Supervisor's irresistible charm.

Reece I could understand, but they didn't even get angry at me! After hearing about everything that had happened, my parents had taken me aside and made sure I knew.

I had a good heart.

No matter what trouble I got into, they believed it would always be for a good reason, and trusted that I would try my hardest to do the right thing.

Staring up at their love-filled gazes, I came to a decision. The moment I got out of here, I am kidnapping Monica.

I'm a lost cause, but she still had time...if I could just get here away from these lunatics, she might actually grow up into a respectable adult....

Then, after saying how much they supported and trusted me...

They handed me over to Devin.

Literally.

They put me in his hand and watched on with fond smiles as my little brother reminded me just who was the real authority figure in my life.

...It was even worse than I had imagined...

I would give details, but the entire ordeal has been locked away in the deep dark place in my mind where I go to cry.

And today, almost an entire month since the day Devin converted me to sainthood, my brother had finally calmed down enough to speak to me.

It was such a big deal, I'd gotten special phone privileges. Cause who knew how long the forgiveness would last?

I held the phone up to my ear with a sense of foreboding.

"Hello...?"

"You Idiot."

Not even past the initial greeting. Apparently.

Still, it might not be too late to escape...

"Um ...Wrong Number?"

"You hang up on me..."The voice on the other end dropped to a deadly flat. "...and I'll personally come over there and tape you to the closest ceiling fan."

Well. In that case.

"Devin? That you bro...?" I gave a nervous chuckled"Sorry, your murderous intent was just a little hard to recognise over the phone..."

"You could have been killed!"

Oh...We're starting now? No small talk first...? Okay then...

"Funny that you would bring up death at a time like this..."

The shouting began. So loud and violent, I had to hold the phone away from my ear...then put it back, when Devin screamed at me to hold the phone properly.

Because he's an unnerving little brat.

Still, a bleeding ear was a small price to pay, because it was only. After I dutifully listening to the tirade that heard the change.

"...Did you even think what it would have done to Monica!? To Mum and Dad!? They all think the entire world of you Maddison! It would have killed them if something had happened to you..."

I straightened up, every 'Big Sister' siren going off in my head.

Something was wrong.

"Devin..."

"Shut up!" His voice wavered, hinting at the one thing scarier than Angry Devin. "I'm not finished yet!"

Hurt Devin.

"...Okay."

"Don't you ever do anything so stupid again!"

"I won't."

"You're just saying that...!"

"No, I'm not," I spoke with rare firmness. With the dependability, my brother had learned not to expect from me.

"I'm taking cricket seriously now, Devin. I hardly ever tackle anyone these days. I also got Garmen to explain the difference between a simile and a metaphor to me, and he still believes to this day I actually retained the information. I'm channelling my frustration into macaroni art...a few of my pictures have been made into motivational posters. Because they're creative. Not scary. I even got a black eye from reconciling with Laurel, and as soon as I manage to corner them, I'm gonna apologise to those punks I mutilated on the train. So...um...I'm trying. "

I stared at the wall in front of me, trying not to squirm.

"Just, replacing all the crap in my life with little, not stupid things...yep."

Devin didn't respond. Long enough that I had to check that the phone hadn't disconnected.

"...You still there bro...?'

"...I'm sorry Maddison," Devin said, voice so quiet I barely heard it.

My grip on the phone flattered, eyes going wide.

The worst had been confirmed.

"I didn't mean to get angry again...I've spent so much time being angry at you...and the last time I didn't even talk to you... and then you nearly..." He trailed off when a babble of reassurances didn't hit his ear.

"Maddison...?"

But the line had been abandoned.

[******]

He had been starting to turn an instant before I hit, alerted by my rapidly approaching battle cry.

"That can't be a go- Ack!" Alan barely managed to keep his feet as I tackled him, scaling up the shrunken boy's frame with more psychotic dexterity than even I was used to.

The tall boy stumbled under the surprise attack, yelping as I latched onto his head and started to pull.

"You!" I screeched the word, clinging like a deranged harpy to my perch.

"Me!?" He cried back, keeping a hold of my arms as if that would stop me from detaching his head.

"You made him cry!"

"Who!?"

"MY BABY BROTHER!"

"Wait! Ahhhh! Maddison! I need that...!"

I started twisting.

There would be no forgiveness. Only Blood.

"DIE!"

Obviously realising that there was no diplomatic solution, Alan sort aid from the group he'd been speaking to before I came to rip his head off.

"Help!" Alan flung a desperate hand out to his brother, who watch the scene unfold with nothing but a scowl.

Alex would not be helping.

Alex was very firmly pretending not to know the lunatics performing the sacred dance of decapitation as he basked in the attention of his fan group.

Well...tolerated, might be the better word. Seeing as both brothers were on their best behaviour, and murdering a bunch of teens for cooing over how adorable you are is something that is frowned upon by the Shrink Program. Those guys who were going to help Alex return to his normal self, in return for the brother's complete cooperation.

Eventually.

So silently fuming as he was constantly cuddled and cooed over was Alex's life now.

If anything, watching his greatest tormentor have his head yanked on by a deranged rage monkey was the best thing to happen to the little boy since being forced to join the Shrink Program.

Still, all good things much come to an end, and it was as I was just as I was beginning to make some headway, that Alan was rescued.

I growled as strong hands gripped me under the arms and started to retrain me, and I would have turned upon the one trying to separate me from my prey, but...

"Enough, Miss Tramph." One look and Mr Folics' stern glare was enough to quell my struggles. "I refuse to explain this in court. Either calm down, or I will escort you to Peri and Winkle myself."

It was something only understood by those who knew them well. Peri and Winkle being in charge of discipline is just a cover story, when, in fact, they are the punishment.

I did as I was told, though continued to watch Alan menacingly from under the Supervisor's firm hold.

Just consider yourself lucky my Lawyer showed up.

Alan looked up from where he had been hunched over, clutching his strained neck. Took one look at his saviour

...and paled.

"Oh...ah...long time no see Mattie..."

Mr Folics broke his nose.

I barely registered the Lawyer's hands, leaving my shoulders before the Supervisor had lunged towards Alan and neatly applied his fist to the red-heads face.

Mathew Folics stood over the fallen teen, expression ice cold.

"Don't. call. me. that."

There were stars in my eyes.

I have the best Lawyer in the world.

Alex's bystanding groupies took this as their cue to disperse. No one wanted to mess with an unhinged supervisor, not to save Alan anyway.

They weren't the only ones keeping their space. At this time of day, there was quite a bit of people traffic around, what with us standing on the platform between stations, but even the crowd seemed to be giving us a wide berth. Abandoning us to our fate.

"Stay where you are Alexander." Mr Folics didn't even look at the boy, who had been trying to slip away unnoticed. "There is much we need to discuss."

Alex scowled...but did what he was told.

He didn't want to die, after all.

"Guess I deserved that." Alan groaned, sitting up with a hand to his bleeding nose. "Though I wish you hadn't gone for the..."

Alan trailed off, looking past Mr Folics...past me, to someone behind his expression like a deer in the headlights.

Alex wouldn't even look up from the floor.

A little unnerved by their reactions, I turned to see what they were looking at...

...and groaned.

"Why do you always show up when I'm doing the wrong thing?"

Oliver Green raised an eyebrow at me but betrayed his amusement with a smile.

"Can't say I'm doing my job if I don't keep an eye on you, Maddison." The Cheerful Supervisor rolled himself forward in his wheelchair. "Though I'll consider letting this one slide."

His green-eyed gaze fell to Alan, and there was a sudden weight to his words.

"Considering the circumstances."

I glanced between My Supervisor and the openly terrified twins, realising that this must be the first time they had seen each other since the revelations about Mr Green's memory being wipe, Cassandra's control over him...and the surgery that had removed his core thingy...

Oh...

Catching sight of a familiar face in the passing crowd, and deciding now might be a good time to give them some privacy...

"Okay, nice seeing you. Bye!" I waved a hand before literally running away like my life depended on it.

"Wait!" Alan reached out a hand to stop me. "Take me with you..."

"Put your hand down, Alan." I gave him a look. A very, very, careful look. "Before I start feeling insulted."

How dare he choose my wrath over anyone else's! It is me he should be fleeing from.

Alan stared up at me for a moment longer, realised this was just going to be one of those days I held him responsible for every misfortune in my life... And let me go with a sigh.

"The price I pay for quality." He muttered, climbing to his feet and while using his sleeve as a hanky.

Did I ever wonder if Alan still saw at me as a lowly pawn after everything we had been through?

No. Not after escape from the Shrink Program attempt 3#. The one that used me as a diversion and involved a Chocolate Bar on a string.

There was no more doubt.

For his part, Alex glared at me as I fled past him...but his glares had lost a bit of their effect these days so...

"Apollo!" I called out, trying to catch up to him in the crowd. "Wait for me."

The little shit sent me a bored look over his shoulder and would have kept walking if his brother hadn't held him back with a hand on his arm.

"Don't be rude Polly." Artemis scolded quietly, smiling brightly at me as I closed the gap between us.

"Hello Love, I thought it might have been you we heard screaming from across the station. "Only Artemis could say such a thing and make it seem fond. The tall blond straightened his glasses, giving an apologetic nod towards the direction I had just come. "You seemed busy so we..."

"Tried to get past without being noticed," Apollo muttered, earning a soft elbow to the side.

But that was okay. Apollo could be snide all he wanted because...

Pale green eyes narrowed at me angrily. "Stop it."

I smiled innocently.

"Stop what?"

"Its one-inch Tramph."

"Oh... I know." My grin widened, and I stood even straighter. "I just don't want you forgetting it."

Apollo made a wordless sound of frustration and resumed storming off in the direction of the station.

Ah. Sweet, sweet revenge.

It was something I revelled in every day, especially since finding out it nearly didn't happen. Apollo refused to talk about it, but Artemis had hinted that their father had wanted them to go with him. Knowing Alan, setting up the boys to escape with their father, had been part of the plan.

They had chosen to stay.

"You shouldn't tease him so much, Love." Despite the slight admonishment, Artemis offered me his arm. "He really is a very sensitive boy."

Startled into cooperation, like every other time Artemis has treated me like a lady, I awkwardly offered my arm in his direction. As always, the well-mannered boy took pity on me and took my hand so that he was escorting me.

He never failed to leave me red-faced.

I'm pretty sure its revenge for the ice-cream thing.

"So..."I gave Artemis a look that let him know I was onto his bullshit "Where are we going?"

[*****]

"Maddison Tramph." Lavender eyes smothered me with sadistic amusement. "What a pleasant surprise."

I had to bite my lip to keep from saying "Jack" In the age-old way one foe greets another.

Instead...

"I'm not saying it."

"Oh? but it was you who insisted I provide a name you can remember."

"Crow is a type of bird. Not a name."

"Robin." Robin paused in her knitting to argue.

"That's different." "Lark."

I crossed my arms, Defiant.

"...Birdbrain. That's my final compromise."

Apollo just rolled his eyes... and Artemis was too busy failing at arts and craft to notice, but at least Reece acknowledged my pettiness with a sigh.

He was the one currently on 'Dangerous Birdperson' sitting duty... but the giant Supervisor didn't lift his gaze from on his own knitting needles.

"Please say you haven't come just to pick a fight."

I frowned slightly.

Technically, I was here because the Supervisor's had gotten me sucked into the latest Shrink Program drama...

Robin's love life.

According to the lasted information, Apollo has a huge crush on her but feels guilty for stealing his brothers fiancé, while Artemis is aware of his brother's feelings and in denial about having any romantic intentions towards Robin. As the brothers both refuse to make a move for the others sake, the brooding wildcard, Crow, has swooped in and established a mysterious bond with Robin.

Though the brothers struggle to sort out their own feelings, they both agree that Crow is bad news, so have teamed up to become the ultimate third wheel. Meanwhile, Robin shows no interest in the situation whatsoever and Crow...

Is giving me a knowing look.

I glared back.

Asshole.

"...I think the official reason was to escape the Oliver green/ Floid twin reunion party." I explained as truthfully as I could. "I did have some more to say to Alan but...Crap!"

My hands flew up to my head in horror. "I ditched Devin on the phone!"

Of all the stupid single-minded things to do...!

Artemis sent me a worried look.

"...Is that the boy who...?"

"Yes!"

"...my condolences."

...Devin had become something of a legend around the Facility.

I pulled at my hair in despair. "He's never going to talk to me again!"

Though Robin sent me a sympathetic blink, Crow openly smirked at my misery...and even Apollo couldn't hide a little snicker.

"We have a visiting day at the end of the week." Reece, ever the saint, tried to soothe. "I'm sure you can make it up to him then..."

He paused suddenly, head tilting as he listened to something over the Supervisor's communication system.

Whatever the little device in his ear was saying to him, it had Reece looking at me in a way that made me sure the news affected me in particular.

"Oh, dear..."

I know that tone...

I crossed my arms defensively.

"I didn't do it. Whatever it is, I've been framed."

"No no, it's not you Maddison..." Reece indicated to someone across the room to come relieve him of psychopath watching duty/ Appointed romantic scoop collector."...There's been something of a mishap in Havoc's lab..."

[*****]

I flattened him with a disapproving look.

"Nigel."

The golden-haired boy wilted like the puppy who knew he was in trouble.

"Let's go over this one more time." I crossed my arms. "When Havoc asks us to help him out with an experiment, we say...?"

"...no." Nigel hugged his knees guiltily, not daring to look up at me.

"That's right." I nodded my approval of his answer. " So why..."

I pointed accusingly to space between us. The distance keeping me from pummeling him, because I could not physically force myself any closer.

"Do you smell like the Hulk had a one night stand with dumpster!"

"...I...um..." Nigel stared at the floor. "Didn't realise he wanted to test pheromones... "

Didn't realise...?

"We're talking about Havoc!" I threw my arms up in disbelief, then immediately had to bring my hand down back over my nose. "Of course, it was going to be pheromones!"

"...she has a point..."

"Hush Havoc, don't draw her at..."

I rounded on the two Supervisors responsible for this mess, both of whom had been watching me with an odd intensity ever since I had shown up to inspect the damage they had done to my property.

"As for you idiots." I pointed angrily at both of them. "I'm revoking your Nigel sitting privileges."

What? No! Not that Maddison! Anything but that!

Garmen looked kinda offended that he was being included, but Havoc understood right away I was taking his toy off him.

"But..!"

"You do not pick up my Minion, You do not pick on my Minion, and you do not experiment. on. my. Minion!"

Giant or no, the look I gave them promised death.

And they believe that promise.

"Do I make myself clear?"

All I got was silent, intimidated nods.

I huffed, turning back to give Nigel one last glare.

Seeing his miserable look... I decided to relent a little.

Nigel held a special place in my heart, after all, one that no one else could ever replace.

Except maybe by a punching bag...

"Don't worry my like that." Nigel perked up, and I had to turn my back on him before his happy expression could make me change my mind. "Idiot."

No one dared to speak again until I was leaving the room on Reece's shoulder.

And even then, they weren't exactly subtle.

"...I thought for sure that one would work."

"I'm telling you, Havoc, there is no way pheromones are not the answer."

"...I...um...don't think..."

"Of course they are Garmen, pheromones can solve everything."

[*****]

I found him in his usual hideout.

Even if he couldn't smuggle cigarettes into the Shrink program, the habit of huddling in solitude was one Alex would probably never break, often ditching his fans and/or brother to brood in the closest stairwell.

No one came in here because one, exercise, and two, the moment you opened one of the fire escape doors, Peri and Winkle would be guaranteed to be watching you...on the off chance you're actually using the stairs for their intended purpose.

An accessible fire alarm just isn't really something you give a facility full of delinquents...

I stood a few steps above the small boy, nervous about breaking the silence.

Alex did the honours for me.

"Should have stuck around to watch the show if you wanted details." He muttered, not bothering to look up to confirm who it was intruding on his solitude.

I was the only one brave/dense enough to tolerate his bullshit.

"Didn't want to see you cry," I explained simply.

"I didn't cry."

"What about Alan?"

"I'm sworn to secrecy."

Dang.

I sat down on the step, hooking an arm through the railing.

There was only one way to deal with Alex's sensitive feelings.

Blunt force trauma.

"Does he blame you?"

The little boy flinched.

"He should," Alex mumbled.

I grimaced, knowing there wasn't much point in telling him not to blame himself.

When bad stuff happens, you feel bad...and a lot of bad stuff had happened to Alex.

The day when I became a Nanotechnology expert would likely never come, but I understood that Cassandra had caused a lot of damage to Oliver Green's mind.

The Shrink Program had had no choice but to remove his core to free him from Dr Floid's influence, and the process itself had caused further brain damage. With the brain, recovery wouldn't be as simple as copy and paste.

"He probably could blame you, but he's a Supervisor," I muttered back bitterly. "I'm pretty sure being insanely good-natured is part of the job description. Every one of those assholes thinks they were put on this planet to cause nothing but sunshine and rainbows."

"You're not wrong." Alex scoffed, his voice the closest to amusement that I had heard in a while.

We were silent for another moment.

"...He doesn't remember you?" I asked, much more hesitantly this time.

"No."

Probably never would.

"...but?" I prompted softly.

Alex sighed.

"He's volunteered to become our Supervisor."

Couldn't say I was really surprised.

They had blueprints of his brain.

From Before Cassandra. He could have chosen to go back.

He chose to go forward instead.

I frowned at the news.

"Of all the nerve. Making me share. How am I supposed to compete with Alan for most annoying patient? And you. There's no way I can be moodier than you. I can't even be the cute one any more."

Alex finally looked back up at me, a slight smirk on his lips.

"Guess you'll have to settle for being the Good Girl from now on."

[*****]

It was a conspiracy.

Not the fact that Vain and I had somehow ended up in an elevator alone. We were both returning to the dormitories. It was pure coincidence. A coincidence we're both content to endure in awkward silence.

No...The elevator, the high tech remote controlled super elevator, somehow managing to break down with the both of us trapped inside.

That was the conspiracy.

One I refused to take quietly.

I beat a fist against the glass, shouting at the Supervisors on the other side.

All of whom were blatantly ignoring me.

"...when I get out of here, I'm going to find a damn toothpick and blind each and every one of you meddling old bastards...!"

"Maddison." Vain sighed from where he leaned against the wall. "If verbal abuse was going to achieve anything, we would be moving by now."

"And what do you suggest?" I hissed, glaring back at him like the caged animal I was.

"...They obviously want us to talk."

My jaw clenched.

"We talk. All the time. I spoke to you this morning."

Vain didn't roll his eyes. Eye rolls were beneath Vain.

He somehow managed to give the impression, though.

"I don't think 'hello' at the breakfast table counts."

My hands all but clawed against the glass.

"What else are we supposed to be saying to each other?!"

Vain glared solemnly at the window, and I realised that he was just as uncomfortable with this situation as I was. Maybe even more so, since he was the one likely to die if things went wrong.

"You've been avoiding me." He finally stated, his tone icy and without inflection.

I flinched, not at all prepared to be having this conversation.

...That didn't mean I was going to give up right away, though.

"You've been letting me."

Vain twitched, and I knew I had hit the nail on the head.

Ha. Two can play the shame game.

"I've known you nearly our entire lives." Vain glared even harder at the wall, and I had the feeling his ire was not all directed at me. "Trying to force the issue is just as likely to scare you off than solve anything."

Okay. Ouch.

"Oh, if that's all the problem is...Fine." I stood back from the window, arms crossed. "Go ahead, Vain. This is me, listening like a mature adult. Say what's on your mind. I won't get mad."

The pale boy twitched, annoyed at having his bluff called.

He's been dreading this just as much as I have.

"There is nothing to say." He replied cooly.

"Right."

"We have already talked about what happened, and everything is forgiven."

"Exactly."

The elevator didn't move.

I tapped a finger on my crossed arms, and...for lack of anything better to do...change the subject.

"I talked to Devin today."

Just like that, I had Vain's complete attention.

"...shouldn't you be rocking in a corner somewhere then?"

I stared at the floor. It was almost too natural to return the banter, but then...

"He cried Vain."

There was silence in the elevator.

Then... he said the one simple thing that needed to be said.

"I'm sorry, Maddison."

I knew he meant it. I knew with every fibre of my being that he would never want to hurt my brother. That he never wanted to hurt me.

And...I was done hurting him.

"That's what I'm supposed to say," I muttered, shifting uncomfortably. "I was kinda in the middle of saying it when you told me I had to shut and wait until we were the same size so you could punch me."

"Punch you?"

"It's fine...better than fine even. Let's do this!" Straightening up with sudden determination, I stepped away from the wall. The last thing I saw was his mildly frustrated expression Before I closed my eyes and stood waiting. "After everything I put you through, you deserve one free hit."

If I saw it coming, I was totally gonna duck...

"Maddison..."

"Nope. I insist. Hit me."

I was going to take this hit like a champion, and everything would finally go back to the way it was. No more tension. Just me and Vain, being the bestest of buddies.

"Just make sure to position your thumb correctly, and I swear to god if you knock any of my teeth out..."

A soft weight pressed against my lips, taking everything away from me.

My words. My thoughts. My breath.

Everything.

Then the gentle touch pulled away, and I opened my eyes to find his intense glare barely inches away from me.

"I believe the exact words I used were 'shut you up in the only way appropriate." He murmured as if daring me to argue with him.

I stared, face just as red as his eyes.

If it's a fight he wanted...

"That. Was the weakest excuse for a punch I have ever felt." I growled, reaching up to tangle a hand in his white hair. "Pay attention, because I'm only showing you how to do it once."

I pulled him down to my lips. There were no feather-light touches. I made sure he could feel it.

No one challenges Maddison Tramph and gets away unscathed.

"See?" I pulled back, expression stern.

"It's all in the wrist."

Vain raised an eyebrow, completely composed.

"Hmm, I might need to practice."

I scoffed.

"Good luck with that, I'm not letting you get another free hit..."

It was then that I noticed the strange, echolike quality to my words.

Stiffening, I slowly turned to look out the window.

And was confronted by my own image, the sight of Vain and me, kissing in an elevator, splayed across every glass surface in the room.

For everyone to see.

My reaction. Was immediate.

"PERI YOU VOYEURISTIC ASSHOLE!!!"

They didn't even need to be filming me. My raw scream could be heard across the entire Facility.

It seemed to break the spell of silence. Vain covered his mortified face with a hand as the elevator was suddenly filled with every Supervisor in the Facility talking at once.

The other hand remained clasped in mine.

As I continued to rave, the footage of Vain and me was replaced by Peri and Winkle sitting in their control room.

Wide-eyed, Peri pointed mutely at his partner...My New Arch Nemesis...!

Who sat in his chair, fiddling with a pencil...

And Said Nothing.

At the end of the day.

It was Winkle.

Who had the last laugh.

The End