"Unfortunately, due to recent events, Eden has been admitted to a group home in a nearby village. We acknowledge this is not the child's fault, but as she was snuck into our institute to harm us, it is the best decision to return her. There could be internal bugs on the child that we are unaware of, and right now, it is just the best course of action. Because of the instance involving Eden, we are upgrading our security measures. Somehow, the Forest nation created a bomb that bypassed our metal detectors. We need to ensure our technology is up to date. We will be installing higher quality detectors- and new high-grade security doors and locks. If you wish to enter or exit the facility- access the roof- the basement, you must be accompanied and scanned before and after exiting or entering. I hope you all understand our concerns. This facility houses important technology, weapons, knowledge, and people. We must protect what we have, the secrets we have- need to win this war. Thank you."

When Liri is done with her speech, a few people start asking me accusing questions.

"Did you not see her carry the thing inside?"

"I uhm- I wasn't with her when she arrived."

"Still, you should've sensed it beforehand. Aren't you supposed to be a security measure too?"

"Well, I am a person." I explain, and they shake their head.

"Well, why don't you do your job?" The person, I'm now realizing, is Astra. She's quite hot-headed so I've heard. She mostly hangs around Carro and Raine, so I don't see her much. She pushes me back by my shoulders.

"What, are we five?" I ask, and she gets angrier.

"You know you aren't the shit, right? I know you think you are, but we could kill you. You couldn't kill all of us."

"Want to test that?" I pushed her back. Usually, I am not one for fights. When I first got my powers, I was still a teenager, and I liked to rile people up. After I realized the true damage I could cause, I started testing it- hurting the people who used to steal from me when I was on the streets. I accidentally hurt this one guy badly. It was irreversible. I hid from his family for a while afterward- but I wasn't scared. I was ashamed. They never came after me, they knew I could hurt them like I did him.

I don't like that part of me- this piece of me. The only piece people seem to care about. I am not a monster. I never wanted this for myself. I don't understand why people have such low opinions of me when they've never spoken a word to me. Even after this, I still don't blame Astra. She's scared, and this is the way she shows it.

"I wish Lyx would've killed you that morning. It would've been safer for us."

"I didn't bring in the damn bomb!" I defend myself.

She lands a punch to my cheekbone. It bruises immediately. She's quite strong.

"You are the reason for it. If we didn't have you, the other nations would play fair. You're a mutation, a disease. You aren't normal! You shouldn't exist. A freak of nature."

I try not to let this hurt my feelings, but I'm not emotionally strong, only physically.

"Alright, shut up before I knock your teeth in." It's Saira. She's rolled up her sleeves. Esta is behind her, grinning a little. Those two have been hanging out more and more- suspicious.

Astra turns to her, and she drops her fists to her side. Saira has a lot of respect amongst the warriors.

"Oh, Saira. Sorry. I just thought someone should-"

"Nobody does anything." Saira grit her teeth. "Mitah has been a blessing for this institute for many years. He's protected us from things none of us could get out alive from. You're angry at him for saving your life yesterday. Do you realize how stupid that makes you look?"

Silence.

Astra crosses her arms and leaves, embarrassed.

"Hey, none of that bullshit she said is true, you know that?"

"I know." Though I say it, I don't believe it. Saira knows this, but she leaves it.

Later, in my bunker, I can't help but feel a little down.

Badger walks through the door, and I feel my chest decompress a little. He always manages to make me feel better even when he isn't trying to.

He's carrying a little bag under his arm.

"Is that for me?"

"If you're good, yes."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm teasing. It's just a little blanket I knitted while I had some time to. I was going to give it to you for your birthday."

"That's so long from now."

"Well, I wanted to make you something because buying you something from the shops felt cheap- and something from me means more. I think." I noticed a quiver in his voice. I pat next to me, and he takes a seat on my bed.

"You seem nervous. What is it?" I take his chin into my hand, run my fingers down the side of his face. He closes his eyes- avoidant of mine. He does that a lot when he's feeling a lot. I've come to notice a lot of Badger's quirks- I wonder if he notices mine the same.

"I've just been sad. This world is horrible. I don't know how much longer I can be here." My heart lurches, and as much as I want to pull him in a hug and quiet him from talking, I know this line of conversation is important to listen to when someone brings it up.

"Why do you feel like this?"

He looks up at me.

"Everything that's happened this past year has been insane. I feel like everything happens out there- where you are. And I am locked away in the med bay. I only see the aftermath, and I'll never be able to help you." He's breaking down in front of me now. I allow myself to hold him now as he's sobbing into my shoulder. I had never seen Badger cry like this before- save for once when he was having a hard time at the very beginning of our relationship. But this was different because he knew me now, and I knew him.

"Would you want to be a soldier?" I ask.

"I just want to feel capable."

"Of what? Killing someone?'

"No!" His voice is hurtful and sharp. "I just want to feel stronger."

"You've improved a lot since we started training on the rooftop. Granted, we can't train there anymore, but we can just train-"

"Stop talking." He says, and his face is angry but I know it isn't at me. He wouldn't be angry at me. He's not like everyone else.

I stay silent, and he pushes me down by my shoulders.

"What are you doing-?"

"I just need you tonight. By me, with me, whatever- just stay close."

"I can do that." He rests his head on my chest and sets his hand there. I can hear by his sniffling that he's still upset. I want to ask him why he's crying. I want to fix his problems. But realistically I know I can't do that. But I am told to be quiet and stay close.

So, I do what I can.