Tʜᴇ ϙᴜᴀʀᴛᴇᴛ

Pan sat down at a table at lunchtime. She smiled softly when Raf joined her, the younger boy looking much happier than he was earlier as he smiled back to her.

"Heya Pan," Miko grinned as she plonked on the seat opposite the silent girl.

Pan rolled her eyes before holding up a post-it note, 'Hello spunky-girl.'

"Thanks for the compliment," Miko beamed widely, Pan rolled her eyes at the Japanese exchange student making Raf giggle at them.

"What did Pan do now," Jack teased as he slid onto the seat next to the crazy girl, (better known as Miko).

Pan threw the previous post-it note, that she had then scrunched up, at him. Jack laughed as he batted the paper ball away with his hand, "That all you got, Hammer?" Jack teased.

Pan raised an eyebrow at him challengingly. Miko snorted, "She'll kick your ass."

Raf laughed as Jack wrinkled his nose, "Right," He admitted sheepishly, running a hand back through his hair.

Miko grinned triumphantly as Pan let out a small laugh, covering her mouth when she realized what she had done. Jack shook his head as Raf blinked at Pan in bewilderment, still not used to hearing anything from the Hammer girl.

Pan poked her tongue out at Miko as the girl kept grinning, "It's way too fun," Miko teased the older girl who then threw her apple at the exchange student.

"Missed," Miko smirked as she dodged it, only to come face to face with Pan's sandwiches, "Hey!"

Pan snorted as she held up a post-it note, 'Got you.'

Raf was laughing with tears leaking from his brown eyes and Jack shook in silent laughter.

Miko pouted as she wiped the food off of her face, "Meanie."

'You asked for it,' Pan shrugged, holding the note up for them to read, a grin present on her face now.

They laughed as the bell rang for the fifth period.

🛠️

Pan waved her goodbye to her friends, each going their separate ways.

Miko, to her host parent's house on the outskirts of Jasper.

Raf, to head to the empty canal before going to his home.

Jack, to his job then home.

And Pan, to her mother's car then home to something she wasn't expecting.

🛠️

Pan smiled to her mother as she slid into the passenger's seat of her mother's car, placing her black bag at her orange and white sneakers.

"Had a nice day?" Thalia smiled as Pan shut the car door lightly.

'Made a new friend,' Pan wrote out, 'Had lunch with Miko, Jack, and Raf.'

"Sounds fun," Thalia grinned, "And that there is more to the story," she raised an eyebrow at her as a sly grin appeared.

'Miko made me laugh then teased. I threw food at her and won,' Pan wrote out smugly. A happy twinkle in her green eyes.

Thalia laughed at her daughter's smug expression, "I don't doubt that for one second."

Pan smirked triumphantly as Thalia finally parked them in the Hammer household's driveway, where there was surprisingly another car waiting already.

Pan blinked her surprise as Thalia's jaw dropped for a second before she regained her composer, "I guess, Lee's home," Thalia muttered as she turned off the car.

Pan's smile lit up her face, child-like excitement appearing at the mere thought of seeing her father again after such a long time.

Thalia sighed as she watched her daughter rush of the car as her husband came outside, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Lee's tired work-hardened expression morphed into a joyous, loving one as he embraced Panacea in a hug.

Thalia let out another sigh as she also slipped out of her car, "Lee," She said in a firm voice. Not particularly happy with her husband at the moment.

"Thalia, I can exp-"

Thalia held her hand to stop him, "Pan, please go to your room while your father and I have a chat."

Pan frowned, releasing Lee before nodding to her mother. Pan glanced at her parents with hopeful eyes, before darting inside the house.

"Thals," Lee started and Thalia shook her head at him fiercely.

"It's been eighteen months, Lee," Thalia sighed, glaring at him, "Eighteen months."

"I know-" Lee started only to be cut off by Thalia.

"Pan has been bullied," Thalia hissed out, "For years, and neither of us noticed."

Lee's face fell as self-hatred for himself grew, "Years?" He should've been around more.

"Years," Thalia nodded grimly, her lips pressed tight against each other, "I didn't even know until it got so bad and the bullies ended up sending her to hospital."

Lee sighed, running his hands through his hair, "How's she doing now?" He asked.

Thalia shook her head. While the two adults may disagree on many things, Panacea Hammer was the link between them that was still keeping the married pair together.

"She has a few friends now," Thalia said, smiling lightly, as they walked inside, "She's happier now."

"Good," Lee nodded, a fond smile on his face as the thought of Pan came to mind.

The couple made their way to the kitchen table.

"How's work been?" Thalia asked, narrowing her eyes on Lee who stiffened slightly under her gaze.

"Good," Lee said after hesitating slightly, "I'm a major worker on the newest project we're doing."

"Care to tell what this project is?" Thalia raised an eyebrow at her husband.

Lee paused hesitantly, "Robotics."

"Doesn't seem that big," Thalia rolled her eyes at him.

"It's going to be the next step in human technology," Lee insisted, "We're making massive steps towards the future."

"Well, let's hope you don't miss out on the present before this future comes," Thalia said cooly. Lee flinched at the harsh verbal blow she dealt out.

"I won't," Lee promised firmly.

"You better not, because you have a daughter down the hall who's missed you more than you can image," Thalia said firmly, a growl present in her voice, "And you won't be coming back to her if you pull a stunt like that again."

Lee's expression hardened as he processed her threat, "It won't happen," Lee gritted out and Thalia raised an eyebrow at him, "Again."

"Better not," Thalia almost hissed out before standing up from the table, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get dinner ready."

Lee nodded and made his escape from the frustrated woman in the kitchen. 

What's this? A double update? Wow!

Lee. You. Are. An. Idiot.
You're working for the wrong side!
(Did anyone get the reference?)

Hope you enjoyed.
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