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When Lotus sent you to Höllvania, 1999, you never thought that this was how it was going to be.
All you could think about was to save them.
There had been so many times when you have failed, or rather, felt that you did.
Failing to leave Duviri the first couple hundred tries, failing to help Stalker -Soren- in saving his beloved Jade, failing to catch the asshole Orokin Podcaster from taking Lotus -Natah-, god you could go on and on.
Of course there were moments where you have succeeded.
Saving Lotus and bringing her back and getting her to accept that she is Lotus because she is BOTH Natah and Margulis was a challenge, but you succeeded.
Your inability to help Stalker save Jade allowed for the birth of your beloved godson, Sirius.
You also succeeded in leaving Duviri and succeeded in merging with your younger, void-powered self that was in cryostasis while you were stuck in the Zariman for the longest time.
So in all honesty, despite the fact that Albrecht fucking Entrati told you that you needed to allow the explosion to occur on New Year's eve, all you wanted to do was to tell him to fuck right off and pull the trigger of your Sirocco. Sirocco is not the best gun you had, but it would've done the job no problem.
But what good would that have done? If you had killed Albrecht, what would that have made you?
And then that creepy asshat Man in the Wall went and showed you how each of the Hex would die.
How the psychic yet infested Eleanor Nightingale ended up attacking the lonely yet caring Leticia Garcia, who had no choice but to shoot her friend causing their deaths.
How the flirty yet the absolute pain in the ass Quincy Isaacs got blown up by a Scaldra tank mid mission.
How the charming yet insecure Aoi Morohoshi practically exploded herself from the inside out from trying to keep the nuclear reactor from exterminating the city yet ultimately failing.
How the inexperienced yet absolutely willing to help Amir Beckett got shot by the asshole Entrati to stop him from hacking the nuclear plant.
Or how the broody Arthur Nightingale that is full of Hero Complex died by radioactive poisoning.
And you couldn’t let that happen.
No, you couldn't. And before you knew what was happening, before you knew what you were doing, you turned back time.
And suddenly, it's January 1st, 1999. The Hex knew something had shifted, but their memories are... fuzzy to say the least. They don't remember dying on New Year's eve of 1999, except for maybe Eleanor, if she poked around in your head.
But they knew, somewhat, that time had shifted, and that it was all your doing.
And wasn't that a mindfuck to deal with, both for you and for them?
But then you got the change to save them again. You went through an entire year, spending each birthday with them even though yours was pretty much unknown to you at this point. You went through missions with them, spoke to them at least once a day, and even urged them to have team lunches with you.
And here you are, sitting in front of Kalymos, Albrecht's hairless cat, grounding yourself before you decide to fully commit in saving them.
"Are you sure about this, Tenno?"
Ah, Excalibur Umbra, ever the skeptic. And possibly the only actual father figure you've properly had. Your parents had died so long ago that you don't even remember their faces or their names and Teshin, well.
Teshin was definitely more of a mentor.
But Excalibur Umbra? While he's mostly a frame, he's retained his sentience enough that he's definitely been a father figure to you. He's protected you both in and out of transference, and guided you with a lot of things.
You could swear that he even tucked you to bed one time, but he'd always deny such accusation.
It's almost astonishing, and maybe a little weird? Especially considering that Arthur is a protoframe for Excalibur in general.
"I am, Umbra." You responded as you played around with your equipment. "I have to save them."
Umbra sighed, knowing that he really couldn't change your mind. You had the determined glint in your eye, the same one that you had when you were determined to save him.
He just hates that he couldn't be there to help you. He'd be stuck in the backroom, pacing back and forth while you were out there, facing that creep Man in the Wall.
He couldn't be there to protect you.
His worry is palpable, that you couldn't help but get up from the floor and placed a calming hand on the metal arm. Umbra was cold to the touch, but you could almost feel the warmth from his care.
"I will be fine. I promise." You headed back to Kalymos so you could be dragged to one of the most awful places in the world, the Void. Before you could, Umbra's hand touched your shoulder.
"Don't let that thing take you away, Tenno."
"I won't let that thing take anything else away from me, Dad."
And then you got whisked away.
Had you stayed for just a few seconds longer, you would've heard how Umbra choked on his own spit, and he doesn't even need to produce the damn thing. He can't eat! Or even talk physically! Every conversation you've had with him had been telepathic for Lua's sake.
But you didn't see it, as you blinked and you are back in the void, aboard the Zariman. The ship that used to be your home was now barren, filled with things that cause fear and panic within you. Yet you ignored it, running towards various figures covered in an inky slime. You pulled as much of the slime as you could off of them and used transference to quickly pop into their minds.
With Eleanor, you dulled her senses and allowed her to think for herself instead of letting the techrot take over, stopping her from attacking Lettie and getting herself killed in the process.
With Quincy, you gave him the strength to embrace the techrot, a part of him that he's denied, and helped him see that the abilities that came with it are helpful and can save not only his but other people too.
With Aoi, you gave her the encouragement to slow down and feel the way her abilities are, that she is strong enough to keep the nuclear core from detonating.
With Amir, you got him to slow down and relaxed his breathing, helping him realise that the change in him can help him hack the nuclear plant terminals with a parazon that he never realised had been there the entire time.
And Arthur? You dulled the pain that he was feeling and helped him get up and walk out of the core chamber. While he was a little worse for wear and may be a little affected by radiation, he would stay alive.
You stood back as Lettie did first aid on Arthur, sighing in relief.
Because you did it. You saved them, and in turn, they saved themselves.
"You did it." Quincy stated beside you, to which you only shook your head.
"No, we did it." You said, although you were slurring your words a little.
"You alright there?" Aoi asked from in front of you.
"Yes." You said, although truth be told, you were seeing doubles and your head was pounding. Before anyone could make a comment about how you were very clearly lying, you went weak and lightheaded, falling on your right side.
Right into the arms of one Amir Beckett.
With squinted eyes, you looked at Amir. His orange tinted round lenses framed his face perfectly, the way the warm lights of the area around you made his features pop even more.
"Orange is a really good colour on you, Amir. I like it." You slurred out. "It makes you look even more cute. Or Attractive. Both actually."
If you didn't lose consciousness then, you would've seen just how red Amir had gotten, and how he, a man of half steel and flesh and full of electrical current that he's basically just speeding through the roads on two feet like the flash, entirely malfunctioned.
When you woke up, it was to the wind on your face and and the smell of tires against concrete. You opened your eyes and found yourself in Amir's arms. You could hear him mutter under his breath about how he needed to bring you to Lettie's makeshift infirmary so she could check you over fully. In the distance, you could hear On-Lyne beginning the countdown in their New Year's eve countdown.
10
9
"Amir."
8
7
"Hold on, Drifter. I need to take you to Lettie's-"
6
5
"Amir stop and put me down."
4
"But-"
3
"Put. Me. Down."
2
And he did. He stopped running and placed you on your two feet. The others, who were on their atomicycles, stopped when Amir did.
1
You grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him down, your lips meeting his own just as fireworks popped in the sky. You could hear Quincy hollering and wolf whistling somewhere around you, cheering the both of you on.
Amir was still frozen when the kiss ended. Shock and awe are raw on his face, but his eyes shone with affection and adoration.
"Happy New Year's, Amir."
Maybe it was your words that shook him out of the shock, or maybe he just finally processed the fact that you like him. Either way, a shy smile morphed on his face before he kissed you back.
"Happy New Year's, Drifter."
Standing in Höllvania's Central Mall, you watched Aoi stand beside Lettie while they teased Eleanor. Arthur and Quincy are quipping at each other, and you stood on the old stage, in the arms of Amir Beckett. You could feel Umbra running around the backroom, entertaining your vulpaphyla.
You have had to and will continue to fight tooth and nail to keep your family together.
Falling in love and dating Amir Beckett is just a bonus you never expected.
And you wouldn't have it any other way.