Chapter Text
/8 years ago/
“Search the ruins! There may be life!”
Gem could hear a voice, strange and feminine but calm. She could hear people outside the rubble, searching for life after the incident. But she was the only one alive. That - that monster killed everything; including her parents, Crystal Cliffs and the rest of the children. Screw that, the monster killed every breathing thing in Crystal Cliffs. Except her.
“I don’t sense any survivors. The team has checked every building.” A familiar voice said. Then, it clicked, that voice belonged to Phantom, the #1 hero.
“Have you checked the cave behind the portal, Phantom?” The same feminine voice said.
That was the only reason why Gem survived. The small magic cave was well hidden. Hidden enough that the monster didn’t even notice her breathing or her heartbeat.
Gem jumped when the leaves were pushed aside and threw her dagger at the intruder on instinct, just barely missing. The dagger Grian gave her. The dagger was made of sharp obsidian, and one of Grian’s feathers encased in resin, in the hilt of the handle. Possibly the last trace she had of any of her family.
“Damn… you have good aim. I’m going to ask Kuna about giving you a spot in the Milita.” Phantom muttered, barely dodging the dagger. “Where’s your parents?”
”Dead.” Gem’s voice was hard. “I don’t want to join the Milita anyway. They failed to save the village.”
Phantom raised an eyebrow, “No family at all? Aunts? Uncles? Siblings?”
Something compelled Gem to answer honestly.
”My older brother.” Gem whispered. “Grian.”
~
”Dawn! Do you copy that!” Grian’s voice cut through the com on her wrist.
“Copy that Xel, do you need backup for Crow? I have managed to get Canary to retreat.” She replied.
“Don’t need help on Crow. Ask Solstice, he seems to be doing fine but he's battling 3 villains at once.”
”Alright Xel, I’m on it.” She replied and headed off towards his direction.
She hurried out of the alleyway she was resting in and went to find Solistice.
“Sc- Solistice, do you need help?” She asked, flying up to Scott, who was on the rooftops of one of the shopping district buildings. Gem noticed three other figures, and Lunar was shooting at a rapid pace.
She narrowly dodged an arrow that managed to hit the tower behind her and landed next to Scott.
Raising a frantic hand to his earpiece, he whispered into the mic. ”I’m doing fine but help Angel. He got hurt attempting to heal Inferno, and void knows his powers only help others.”
Gem nodded and strained her elf ears to hear any trace of Skizz, someone who was like a father she’d never had.
“If you’re sure?”
With an answering nod from Solistice, she decided he had it under control but she quickly threw a fire bolt at one of the figures attacking Scott for good measure.
She took off again and while flying overhead, Gem saw Skizz quickly heal the wounds on Inferno’s shoulder, but was wincing at every movement.
“Angel? Are you okay?”
”I’m fine, Gemstone, nothing two weeks of rest won’t fix.” Skizz said, smiling in reassurance.
Thankfully, she was trained in first aid, so Gem wrapped up the huge gaping hole in Skizz’s stomach.
“You really need to be more careful dad.” Gem scolded, ensuring that there were no villains around to hear her. “And you too Tango, I can’t have my two dads dead.”
Gem said it with a teasing lilt to her voice, but she was well aware of the pain in her eyes.
She heard the footsteps of someone approaching, and she was on guard in an instant.
“Guys,” she whispered urgently, “I hear someone coming.”
Skizz strained his ears before relaxing. “It’s just my good friend. Don’t worry.”
Gem knew that Skizz and Algorithm were very close. In fact, all the heroes in their rank knew. They were the Amethyst Rank, the top heroes. However, outside of their rank, no one was aware of this, including Rainfall.
She genuinely didn’t know the leader of the Organisation’s real name, due to the fact that everyone addressed her as Rainfall. The Organisation had changed a lot when they changed leaders. Apo, or Kuna, was the old leader, and the one who saved her all those years ago. It was now no longer the Militia, instead, the hero’s force was called the Organisation.
It was weird to her that nobody talked about Apo anymore, and even more weird that the new leader prohibited it by her decree. Anyone who talked about Kuna or Apo, would face consequences.
The consequences being in the dungeon for weeks for a hero and… execution for a normal civilian. Gem knew what the dungeon was. Grian had been thrown in there once, and when he came back, Grian was never the same.
“Angel!” Algorithm appeared, his voice concerned. “Are you alright?! I hope Lunar’s arrow wasn’t too damning.”
“I’m fine, Algorithm. How's everything in the villain-y side of town?”
“It’s going fantastic. Are these two of the heroes?”
“Mhm,” Gem agreed. “Dawn and Inferno here.”
Algorithm nodded. “I’ve heard a lot about you two during our hangouts. How have you guys been?”
“Good.” Skizz said, “but Imp- Algorithm, you should go. I hear that both the heroes and villains are looking for us.”
Algorithm nodded in acknowledgement, before fading into the shadows.
~
“Congratulations, Amethyst Rank! You guys have successfully knocked out Nyx and Canary. Hopefully this discourages them from appearing again until they heal.” Rainfall allowed a smirk to come over her face. “Good job. You are dismissed until further notice.”
The 6 of them nodded and bowed as they made their way back to their floor to go relax at the Cafeteria.
“Hey, Joel!” Gem said, spotting the man at the door. “How’s your bakery cafe going?”
“Fantastic!” He replied enthusiastically. “No one knows that I’m Helios, or else the cafe would probably be a lot more busy.”
“What about the regular who comes every morning and orders a pink caramel latte?”
“I finally got her name.” Joel said smiling. “Lizzie. That name fits her amazingly.”
“Ohh!” Scott joined the conversation. “Does the top fan favourite hero have a crush? Geez, all your fans will be soo disappointed.”
“Oh shut up, Scott! You can’t be talking! You have a crush on your coworker don’t you?” Joel teased, seemingly amused by Scott’s flusteredness.
Scott rolled his eyes. “Y’know what, fine! I do like him.”
“Woww,” Gem said, rolling her eyes. “Everyone is getting love life drama but me.”
“Speaking of love lives, how do you think the Ruby Rank is going with their relationships?” The three had made their way to the common room, or as Gem liked to call it, gossip central.
Scott rolled his eyes again. “I swear, there are so much yaoi in the Ruby Rank. Apparently, if Shelby’s yaoi radar is correct, Pyro and Abolish have a thing for each other and Shelby likes Drift and vice versa. Shel and Drift are dating now.”
“Oh! We need to send a gift basket then. We do that for every couple in the Organisation don’t we?” Joel said.
”Wait Joel, doesn’t your bakery open at 7? It’s 6:30 right now.” Gem said, glancing at the clock.
”Oh shit. Do y’all want to come with me? I told Liz that I would bring some of my friends to meet her.”
”Oh yeah, I’m down.” Gem said. “Scott, you coming?”
“Sure.” He nodded. “Let’s get out of our hero attire first and get into some more comfy casual clothes.”
”I’m going to have to survive on so much caffeine.” Joel groaned.
”I’m sure you’ll survive Joel.” Gem said, giving his shoulder a gentle nudge.
~
The three managed to make it to Joel’s Bakery, Bread Bridge Bakery at 6:45. There was already a huge line.
“Joel, are you able to make me a Forest Green Special?” Gem asked as they entered through the side doors.
“I can. Scott? Do you want anything?” Joel was already beginning to make Lizzie’s regular order, the Pink Caramel Latte she ordered every day without fail.
“I’ll take an iced chocolate.” Scott said, his eyes flicking around the menu. Joel nodded and began to prepare Gem and Scott’s orders.
“Guys, it’s seven, do you mind opening the door please?” A customer called from the outside.
Gem nodded and opened the door to the cafe. The stream of customers poured in, and Gem decided to help by taking the orders, with Scott and Joel making the orders.
”Good morning! How can I help you?” Gem asked with a bright smile, looking at the first customer.
”Hi! Is Joel away today?” The pink-haired lady asked.
“Oh! You must be Lizzie. He’s here today, take a seat. Joel will be there shortly. Here is your order.” Gem passed Lizzie the pre-made pink caramel latte, which she accepted happily.
”Thank you so much-” Lizzie paused, and Gem realised she had never gave Lizzie her name.
”Gem.”
”Gem.” Lizzie began. “A friend of mine is coming as well so are we able to order from the hybrid menu?”
The hybrid menu consisted of food and drinks for the hybrids who were unable to order from the regular menu.
”Of course! What hybrid is your friend?”
”Vex. His name is Scar, so I was wondering if we could order the Blood Bath.”
”I’m able to do that. Thank you, Lizzie!”
Lizzie nodded, and walked off to sit at the tables.
”Joel! Lizzie is ordering a Blood Bath for her friend. Table 6.” Gem announced over her shoulder.
”Got it!”
~
With the three of them helping at the bakery, the morning rush of customers was gone in 40 minutes instead of the regular hour and half.
”Damn. I need you guys to help at the bakery more often.” Joel said, huffing out a puff of air.
“I’ll be happy to help.” Gem said. “Not like I have anything better to do anyways.”
“I’m sure we can rope G in too. And Skizz, and Tango.” Scott said.
”That’ll be fun.” Gem laughed. “All of us helping to run the bakery.”
The conversation was interrupted by the bell above the door jingling before a vex hybrid came in.
”Lizzie! Sorry I’m late! The traffic was hell.” The hybrid, who Gem was assuming was Scar, paused when he noticed the three. “Oh hello there! Who are you? I am Scar Goodtimes.”
While they introduced themselves, Joel was remaking the Blood Bath for Scar, who attempted to politely decline but took it in a rush when Gem explained Lizzie paid for it.
The five were sitting at the table and getting to know each other until 8, when Scott had to leave, explaining he had to go to work.
“Oh?” Lizzie raised an eyebrow. “Where do you work?”
Scott sensed she had no malicious intent with the information he provided. ”I work at Hybrid Academy. I teach the students there how to properly use ice or water magic.”
”Oh! My brother works there too. He teaches flight.”
”Jimmy?” Scott asked.
”Yep! Do you know him?” Lizzie said. Her mind was already connecting the dots. Her brother Jimmy was always going on and on about the ‘cute blue haired teacher that taught ice and water magic.’
”Mhm.” Gem answered for Scott. “They’re really close.”
”Yeah, I know. Jimmy’s my brother.”
Scott smiled. “That’s another thing I can annoy Jim ‘bout that now. Anyways, I have to go, see you guys around!”
”Bye Scott!” Everyone said, waving as Scott flew away with his owl wings.
Lizzie sighed in contentment. “I can see why my brother likes Scott so much. He really is charming.”
”Well… don’t tell Scott we told you this…” Joel started.
”But he likes Jimmy as well.” Gem finished.
”I approve.” She said, “They have the older sibling approval.”
”We approve of it as well.” Gem said. “Right, Joel?”
”Right.” He agreed. “I approve fully.”