𝙼𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚎, 𝚁𝚑𝚘𝚍𝚎 𝙸𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍
𝙾𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟹𝟷𝚜𝚝, 𝟷𝟿:𝟹𝟺 𝙴𝙳𝚃

'...So you're saying humans dress up in costumes and go out at night to knock on strangers' doors, and those strangers give them candy if they say a specific phrase on a specific day?' Failsafe asked after I explained for the fifth time about Halloween. I could've sworn she already knew this stuff, but maybe she just never bothered to pay attention. We were sheltered by the League for the past two years anyway, so it's not like we've ever had the chance to celebrate. In fact, I think the closest we've ever come to experiencing Halloween together was that one incident a year and a half ago, but that didn't really count.

"Yeah, pretty much." I shrugged, hands comfortably in my pockets as I watched Megan attempt to wrap Connor in medical wrap for a mummy costume. Wally was in the lobby too, complaining that Wolf wouldn't join him for a howl. The gingers werewolf costume was actually pretty sweet, I wonder if he bought it, or how long he spent making it otherwise.

At home, Mom and I always used to make my costumes. Not because we couldn't afford it, but just because it was more fun that way. I wonder if she's still making her own without me. Did she last year? This year?

'But what about 'Stranger Danger?' And,' I chuckled as Failsafe tried to rationalize the holiday against her previous knowledge. Unfortunately, she wasn't getting anywhere. Humans were very hypocritical, I guess.

'And not taking candy from random people!?'

'Halloweens the exception, Failsafe.'

Confusion racked her being and flooded mine. 'And this happens all over?'

'For the most part, yeah. Though some countries do different things or nothing at all. That applies to different cultures too. Everyone does their own stuff.'

'Why?' My partner asked but I got the feeling that was a rhetorical question, so I didn't answer. She muddled around in circles for a while and I huffed as Wally started hitting on Megan right in front of Connor, who was clearly her boyfriend.

"Awkward for him, being a third wheel on our date." He laid an arm on her shoulder and muttered the last part while pointing at Connor despite the fact we could all hear him.

Megan was unimpressed and not having it. "Wally, I invited the entire team to the dance." She added with a smile, "Zatanna too."

"Good. Keeps us on the down low." Wally flirted with her and I saw Connor roll his eyes. I chuckled under my breath while trying not to cringe and came to sit next to the super-powered Kryptonian, crossing my legs and leaning against his side.

"So you' going as my favorite Martian?" The speedster continued his futile wooing and I mumbled so only Connor could hear, "I'm getting secondhand embarrassment just watching this."

He didn't reply, but from the lifting of his lips, I got the impression he agreed.

"Not exactly." Megan let out a fake roar as she began to morph into a zombie bride with heavy makeup and a completely white form. The only splash of color on her was her hair.

"Whoa, babe. Eat my brains anytime." Wally had his jaw open in awe as he spoke, Megan closed it for him with a triumphant smirk.

Connor turned to me, looking down and scanning my form. "What're you going as?"

He must've been confused due to my lack of a costume. I was decked out in regular jeans, a t-shirt, and a thin jacket. Definitely not the first choice for a Halloween outfit of any kind.

"I'm not going out this year, unfortunately. Didn't have anyone to go with since Robin's patrolling tonight. Batman said I couldn't go alone." I shrugged. The way he explained it to me, petty crime spikes Halloween night as all the big names take a break for the holiday. A bit strange, but... Actually, there is no but. It's just strange.

Wouldn't that be the best time to strike? Though I guess law enforcement and Batman would be on pretty high alert following that mindset too...

Anywho, I would have rathered gone trick or treating than attend a high school party where I don't know anyone but the friend group that invited me. I figured they'd probably want to hang out with kids their own age. We see each other every day. It's about time we take a break from each other and I let them let loose with their peers alone. Sucks though, guess I'll have to get my candy discounted from the store.

"Great minds think alike." Captain Marvel came from the hallway, flying over with badly caked makeup on his face. It was black around his eyes and white slathered unevenly everywhere else. I guess he was supposed to be a zombie too.

"Captain, you look... terrific." Megan was being nice. It definitely looked like the first time a child found their mother's make-up bag. If I didn't believe what Failsafe said before about Captain Marvel being a kid before, I believed it now. No matter how immature an adult is there's no way they'd apply something like this, this badly. Right?

'Hey. It was twelve, right? Captain Marvel's age?'

'Ten.'

I inhaled, that didn't seem quite right to me. For some reason, I recalled him being a little older. Couldn't place why though.

"Are you going to a Halloween celebration too?" The Martian tried to make conversation with the 'adult.'

"Well, sure, I'm going with... Uh, I mean, you did invite the whole team, right?" Captain Marvel, Billy, fumbled with his words as he tried to backpedal into still going. Ouch. Rejection like that must've hurt.

"Yeah, we'll all be at the dance. So don't worry about us. Go. Have a good time at your party." Megan encouraged him, not knowing the party he truly wanted to go to was theirs. I felt kinda bad for him, he must've been so excited about going to an older kids' party. I know a long time ago I would have been interested in going myself.

Saving Captain Marvel from further embarrassment was Artemis and Zatanna arriving fully clad in their costumes for Halloween. They were going to the party too. Dressed like a vampire and a witch. How creative and subtle on Zatanna's part. Really, that was hilarious. Talk about hiding in plain sight.

"Oh, hey, Zatanna. You look great." Artemis complimented her as she walked alongside the teen towards us.

"Oh, thanks. You too." I was happy to see a smile on Zatanna's face, she must be really excited about this considering how overprotective her dad usually is. He probably doesn't let her out of the house often, judging by all the times she's said she's had to sneak out.

She caught sight of Captain Marvel and his ridiculous make-up, "Oh, look, zombie Captain Marvel. That's hilarious, heh."

I don't think she really found it all that funny. But she continued curiously, "Is the Justice League having a party? Because my dad didn't mention it."

"No. No, no, no. See, I..." In a panic, the hero attempted to work his way out of the situation but couldn't seem to find the right words. Seeing my chance to actually do something Halloween-related tonight instead of just veg out on the couch with 80s slasher flicks, I uncrossed my legs and stood up, walking over to Captain Marvel and placing a heavy hand on his shoulder, leaning on him as I turned to the group.

"He's taking me trick-or-treating."

"But you just said you couldn't go out because you didn't have anyone to go with." Connor pointed out. As soon as Connor started talking, I tried to silence him by crossing my fingers to make an X and by waving my hand. But he finished his sentence. The reason was that Megan immediately turned around from looking at Connor to zeroing in on me.

She raised her eyebrow, and I got the full brunt of Megan's mom look™, courtesy of being the mom friend™. Megan gave me her best-disappointed look, putting her hands on her hips. Suddenly, I felt like a guilty child in front of her mom.

"Captain's an adult!" I tried to defend myself, but yet her menacing look did not waver. I huffed in defeat and turned to the bigger man, patting his arm. "Sorry, I'll go ask Batsy real quick, and then we can go, big guy."

"If he says yes." Megan tacked on.

"If he says yes," I repeated boredly as I started to make my way out of the room and down the hall, behind me, Artemis and Zatanna began to talk again as Megan continued to help Connor with his wrappings. Captain Marvel waited for me by the Zeta tubes.

"Yo, Failsafe, you know where Batman is?" I asked into the open air, comfortable enough to say the words aloud instead of through our link. It felt better like this, reminded me of way back when. When we were just a kid and her alien.

'No, give me a moment. I'll try and search for him.' I nodded, letting her power flow into my body. She responded a moment later, 'Black Canary's therapy room.'

I chuckled, "Oh yeah? The broody, mysterious Dark Knight Batman's getting therapy then?"

'I don't believe that's the case.' My body tensed up, and I got the feeling Failsafe was on guard. I started heading in that direction, surprised to learn when I got there the door was locked. This was clearly meant as 'Go Away' but I'd already walked all the way over here, so I asked Failsafe to get me in.

It was a weird feeling, as my body phased through the wall, like playing with jello. I stumbled through the wall, not expecting the coarse feeling overwhelming my body. As it turned out, Batman was not alone in the room. Robin was sitting in the armchair as Aqualad stood next to him. Red Arrow immediately focused on me and Red Tornado stood off to the side, head slowly turning toward me. Was that why Failsafe was guarded?

"Uh," I so eloquently greeted them, "Hey."

Red Arrow turned to Batman, swinging his arms toward me in a 'see?! I told you so!' manner. "She was spying on us. That's suspicious!"

"Hey, (Y/n)." Robin greeted me back with a smile, leaning over the armchair with his head on his crossed arms. A smile graced his masked face.

I smiled back at him, "Hey Rob. What's going on? Why am I suspicious?"

No one answered me. Which bothered me even further. I tried to remember anything I could that would elicit this reaction, but the only secret that came to mind was that thing from the day after the Reds attacked. I groaned.

"This is about the mole again, seriously?" I complained, "I thought we got over this."

The last time we all talked about this it almost tore the team apart. I really didn't want to go through that again, even if I was more preoccupied at that time it was still one of the worst missions we'd ever had.

"It is worth discussing." Aqualad defended the whole of them.

I brushed it off. "There is no mole."

"How do you know for certain? Or are you just trying to get the suspicion cast off of you so you can move freely to share our secrets with the Light?!" Red Arrow took a step forward, pointing an accusatory finger at me.

I frowned, crossing my arms. He sounded like one of those crackpot conspiracy theorists from back home. But while he was accusing me, it occurred to me that I'd only been in a room with Red and Narrow for a cumulative five minutes and he was already calling me a traitor to a team I've been on for months compared to his astounding five minutes. A team for which he probably didn't even know half our names, on account of the five minutes of time spent together.

Yeah, there was no way I was taking the insane ramblings of this paranoid man seriously.

"I just know, so stick it, Ginger Arrow." I shot back, being as rude as I could think to be. "You would know too, if you spent more than five minutes hanging out with us instead of playing the world's worst game of werewolf."

Robin looked between me and Red Arrow, clearly thinking to try to diffuse the situation by hesitantly asking, "Wouldn't Failsafe know who the mole is?"

I paused. That's actually a really good question.

"Yeah, that's if she'll even tell you. This whole thing is so incredibly suspicious I can't see why you all can't recognize that." Red Arrow scoffed, "This isn't the only nail in the coffin either. If you bothered to check her files–"

I clenched my fists, ready to tell this paranoid fuck what was good. He didn't get to say these things about my friends without a good punch to the mug. He didn't know any of them. He didn't have any right.

But, before I could yell my own retorts back at him, my ears started ringing and black dots filled my vision. My mind became fuzzy, and it felt like my consciousness was slowly slipping away. My sense of balance went off-kilter and I had to jut out my foot to regain my balance. As I tried to stop this, I realized I was already gone. My consciousness slipped past me without my control. It wasn't natural.

______________

"I have no obligation to prove myself to you. And you, yourself are not above suspicion, Harper." I snapped back, taking a deep breath to prevent the anger from seeping in further. I ran my hand through my hair. (Y/n) wouldn't, can't, hear any of this. Today was supposed to be full of fun, that's what she had said. I would make sure it was only fun.

She deserved that.

"What do you mean by that?" He snapped back, clearly offended by my accusation. He should be. He should know how it feels.

The overall anger had dimmed since I put (Y/n) under, but mine still held firm.

"You have about as much evidence to prove your hands are as untouched by the Light as mine." I let it go, not liking the direction of this conversation and the looks I was getting as a result.

"In any case, Robin, no, I don't know who the mole is." I looked him in the eye as I told him. It was shameful to admit, but this crystal burning in my chest was sapping more of me away by the day than I'd like to admit. If I did know the answer, I don't anymore.

It's like more of me is slipping away by the day. At this rate, I don't know if I'll be able to hold on until the thirty-first. Until the time in which my cycle ends is up. I know I will, and yet, it almost seems like an impossibility. The more I depart from what I know, the rockier the ground I pave beneath my feet becomes. Though, I find I am not averse to the texture. In fact, I welcome it now with open arms because of (Y/n).

So I want to give her this special holiday. Make it enjoyable and memorable. It's the least I can do for the person I hold most dear.

"You say that as if there is one." Aqualad countered. I held silent.

"So there seriously is a mole?" I saw Robin's eyes enlarge under the mask, mouth open.

"I told you!" Red Arrow exclaimed, "Which just makes this all the more incriminating."

"Failsafe," Red Tornado called to me and I turned to my friend as he scanned me. "You are certain there is a mole but don't know who it is. How can that be?"

I averted my eyes, exhaling. "It's not as simple as that. I wasn't around to find out who it was."

Batman narrowed his eyes so far they turned into slits, Robin was the one to ask the next question, however. "Someone would have caught you up on it, wouldn't they? Or...?"

I shook my head, rewording my sentence as I explained. My eyes locked with Batmans as I muttered lowly, "I will not be around to find out who it is."

With the mood sufficiently soured, I finished this discussion. I'd never tried to hinder (Y/n) like this for so long, it was starting to make my chest hurt. "If that's all. We'll be leaving."

______________

As my vision first came back, I groaned. Holding my head as a wave of nausea came crashing down over me before slowly seeping away. The ringing hadn't stopped yet. What the fuck did Failsafe do to me...?

'(Y/n), tell them we're going trick-or-treating, and let's go.' Failsafe told me curtly. As she was busy, figuratively, rushing me out the door, the obnoxious, ongoing noise in my ear subsided.

'Alright, but we're talking about this, later.' I blinked, trying to clear the bleariness out of my eyes, and snapped my fingers, testing out my eardrums to see if they were damaged and as a motion to remind myself why I was there. I concluded that my hearing was fine, and said, "Right."

I'd almost forgotten about that over the confusion and fear of what just happened. Failsafe had never forcefully taken control like that. Or, at least, I think that's what happened. I shook my head and looked at Batman, "Anyway, sorry for interrupting your.... Uh, little chat..? But I just wanted to tell you that Captain Marvel and I are going trick-or-treating."

I turned to Robin, putting my hand on my hip. "I know I already asked you this. But, you wanna tag along?"

He shook his head, "Can't. You remember our deal though, right?"

"Of course," I told him way too sweetly for it to be anything nice. Under my breath, I muttered to myself, "Greedy bastard."

I know he heard me because he snickered, lips twisting into a smug smirk. I scoffed, knowing my purpose here was done and I needed to get a move on before the 'appropriate' trick-or-treating hours were over. So, I turned around and headed back toward the door.

"See ya, suckers!" I hollered back at them as Failsafe allowed me to walk through the locked door. As soon as I was on the other side, I let out a breath and made my way back to the lobby, where Captain Marvel was patiently waiting for me.

Megan, Connor, and Wally all seemed like they were ready to go, and Artemis and Zatanna were nowhere to be seen. Huh, weird. Did they go to the bathroom or something? I can't imagine they would miss the party.

Megan turned to me, impatiently asking, "So, what'd he say?"

Then it hit me that I told them I was going trick or treating, but failed to ask. Crap. Tell her he said it was okay. Look her in the eye. Use your powers of bullshitting to your advantage, (Y/n).

"Everything's good, Meg. He was kinda busy, he told me to just go. See? What'd I tell ya, waste of time." I shrugged noncommittally and walked over to Captain Marvel.

"Let's go." I tried to rush him through the tubes without being suspicious. He nodded rapidly, really selling the 'nothing amiss here' vibe I was going for.

"Wait," Wally said right before the machine was about to scan Captain Marvel, who I was slowly inching, and pushing, toward it. I cursed under my breath and looked back at him, "What?"

"You're not wearing a costume?"

"Huh?" I asked under my breath before looking down, realizing I wasn't really dressed as anything I could bullshit into a costume. "Uhhh."

Crap. I didn't plan for this. I didn't think I was going anywhere and I don't have a costume. What to do?

"Failsafe'll make me a costume when we get there. No biggie." I smiled at them as I pushed Captain Marvel through the zeta tube as it teleported him to Gotham.

"Bye!" I took a step back before anyone could say anything else and waved as the computer scanned me and teleported my atoms to the predetermined location.

When I opened my eyes, I was in a back alley in Gotham with a perplexed Captain Marvel. He blinked rapidly, looking down at me. "Why Gotham?"

"Robin gave me a map of all the best places to trick-or-treat. Maximizes the amount of good candy we'll be getting." I held up my phone, the texted map pinned in our conversation.

I looked up at the older male, cringing. "Billy, can you please change back? It's a little weird to be trick-or-treating with a thirty-year-old. It's like you're my dad."

"Thirty-year-old?!" He exclaimed before pausing, looking down shocked. "Wait, you know my secret identity?"

"Yeah," I shrugged before motioning to him, "Now change. I'd rather look like the babysitter than be the babysat."

"Now you know how I feel," He huffed before muttering, "Shazam."

There was a flash of lightning before a kid wearing jeans, a white t-shirt, and a red hoodie with terrible face paint. He had black hair and blue eyes and reminded me of Dick. In fact, he happened to only be a tad bit shorter than the Boy Wonder. I wish he were here. Barbara too. Maybe Zatanna would've been interested? Ah, whatever.

"How'd you know, anyway?" He complained.

"Failsafe," I said like that explained things. And to him, it did. I tacked on as I was looking down on the map, trying to locate what street we were on by looking outside the alley. There was a group of kids running by, trying to get to the next house and more candy quickly. I caught sight of the street sign, we were close. "Plus, you act like a ten-year-old."

"So do you!" He shot back, petty.

"Difference is I'm not trying to hide my age." I stuck my tongue back at Billy.

"Whatever." He crossed his arms, leaning back on his left leg. He looked me up and down, "So, your costume?"

"Huh, oh, yeah," I nodded. That was important, very important. So important it had been mentioned at least three times in the last hour. "Failsafe can you transform my–"

I paused. Was this right? I felt bad. Not about making Failsafe change my clothes, which I was fine with, she did that every time we needed to suit up after all. But this was something else.

"What?" Billy asked, confused and no longer fake annoyed.

"It's Failsafe's first Halloween, I feel bad not letting her participate." I frowned, clutching my chest.

'Do you still want to trick and treat?' Failsafe asked, her thought broken up like she was asking hesitantly.

'Of course, but I want you to do it too.'

Our conversation stopped there for a moment. And as it lulled, a pain built up in my chest like molten lava. It felt like the crystal still disrupting Failsafe and hurting both of us, was beginning to react to something.

'Well, there may be a way.'

I blinked, very confused as I seemed to be seeing double and the pain dwelling in my chest went away quicker than it appeared. There I was, right in front of me. I was smiling, at myself, who was me.

"What the fuck...?" I cursed in my bewilderment.

Billy looked between both of us and shot his arms out. "Oh, so when I curse everyone calls me out on it, but as soon as you do it, it's fine."

"Shut it, Billy." I looked her up and down and it clicked in my brain that Failsafe must've done something. It was like looking in a mirror. A really weird mirror.

"What do you want to do for costumes?"

I paused, realizing something about this whole situation that had me frowning and furrowing my eyebrows. "You're just gonna skip over how you did that? I didn't even know you could do something like this, Failsafe!"

"Of course, I can. I can do almost anything, remember?" She smiled at me reassuringly, like she was still trying to be some perfect being in my eyes. But she didn't have to.

"Then why didn't you do this before?" I asked, unthinking why she didn't. If she could give us both separate bodies then this could've been strategically viable. In fact, if she could have done this before, then I could have gone to school without her, and she could have done other things. Actually, overall, if she could make another body, why did she even need me as a host to begin with?

As soon as the question left my mouth, Failsafe flinched so harshly that there was no way I could deny it. "Ah, about that..."

I thought she was going to say something, maybe apologize again, for the way she'd been insistent for years that we were the same when we were, in fact, not. But instead, she shot her hand out and I flinched, expecting to be punched in the gut when I looked down in confusion at not feeling anything.

Her hand was going through my body.

"...Ah?" I didn't know whether to scream in terror or ask what she was doing. This was terrifying but cool. Interesting, is the word I landed on.

Failsafe bit her lip, "I can't conjure a real physical form for you right now, my power just isn't enough. But if I'm conscious of the things you're touching, this should be able to work."

"For... for me? So this isn't? You're in my...?" She nodded her head, rubbing up the sides of her arms shyly.

"I can't do it the other way, I'm sorry."

"No, no," I shook it off, "it's fine. I'm just happy we get to spend the night together."

As I said that, Failsafe's mood seemed to shine like a second sun, and as I looked at Billy, who'd been watching this conversation half-confused and half-fascinated like I was. Feeling bad for not including him, I added, "All of us."

"Yeah," Billy smiled, "Now let's get going, shall we?"

"Costumes?" Failsafe asked, patient.

I thought for a moment, "Well, now that you're here, let's do a doubles costume then, ya?"

"Like what?"

"Something cool, something nice," I hummed, thinking. We were in Gotham, the scariest, darkest, and gloomiest city in America. Probably the world. Better go with the theming. "I wanna be a Gotham villain!"

"What, why?!" Billy exclaimed, incredulous. But it didn't stop anything as my clothing turned into a checkered pattern of black and red. My sneakers turned into high tops with two different colors each, with checkered tights and shorts, a tank top, and a puffy checkered jacket. Even my hair got pulled into two ponytails. In my hand, an unpatterned bag appeared.

"Cool." I breathed, looking at myself. This was a nice outfit, I would actually wear this.

"Should I be Joker, then?"

I shook my head, "Nah, I got a better person in mind to match me. If you want to."

Failsafe didn't need to hear what the person's name was to change her outfit into a green, leafy dress that went down to her knees. With light line green tights and green boots. She left her hair flowing. A bag was in her hands too.

"Dope," Billy said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Now that you two are ready to go. Can I get a bag too?"

I looked toward Failsafe and she nodded, holding her hand up in Billy's general direction. His facial make-up changed, morphing to be less clumpy and messily applied and to look more convincing as his clothes changed too, becoming more ripped, white, and dirty. Kind of like Megan's outfit from earlier. A nondescript bag was placed in his hand too.

"Thanks?" He squeaked, tugging on his clothes. "This is pretty cool, but that was my favorite jacket."

"I can fix it once we're done." Failsafe rushed to quell his worries which made the ten-year-old sigh in relief.

"Great!" I clapped my hands together, "Let's go. I want candy."

"Finally!" Billy exclaimed, rushing out of the alleyway.

"Wait," I held my hand up for him to stop and checked my phone, looking at the map Robin gave me and shoved it into my pocket. "The next neighborhood over gives out full bars."

"Then if you want candy, you better get to it first!" Billy called back, starting to run around the corner and out of our sight. I glanced at Failsafe for half a second then pushed off the ground and started sprinting around the corner.

In mock appall, I yelled out to him, "You're on, short stack!"

Failsafe called out from behind us as she casually made her way toward us, "Slow down. We have time!"

She had to raise her voice at the end as we made our way to the first house.

I watched as Billy vaulted over the thick concrete railing of the townhouse stairs as he rang the doorbell. I made my way to the top as soon as the person opened the door.

"Trick or treat!" We both held out our bags as the lady who answered the door cooed at our costumes, though I noticed the slight preference for Billy's costume over mine. Failsafe came up behind us and held out her bag as well, the lady commented on how good the petals on her costume were.

She smiled and closed the bag as she got her candy, politely saying thank you to the lady and turning on her heel, walking closer to me as I waited on the front stairs for her. I waved to the woman who started to shut her door before taking Failsafe's hand and rushing us over to the next house where Billy was already collecting candy from the guy sitting on the lawn chair with a colorful Halloween-filled candy bowl and a cigarette. He had a mini tv with which he was watching a horror movie.

I recognized that horrid white paint job and red spirals. "Yo, dude, is that Saw? Nice."

The old guy chuckled and held up his gloved hand for me to high-five, I slapped his hand with enough force for him to go 'Youch!'

"The original's the best one there is..!" He laughed heartily. I can't say I agree with his opinion, but I wasn't about to sit here and debate. It's Halloween and we're on a time crunch.

"It's a slow night." He said as he urged me to take a second handful from the candy bowl. Apparently, parents in Gotham don't want their little children out too late tonight, so trick-or-treating starts at an egregious early time.

"Thanks."

"No problem, anything for a fellow horror enthusiast. Gotta start that shit young, get it into your blood." I chuckled awkwardly as he kept talking, waiting for Failsafe to get her helping from the bowl as he rattled on about how lucky I was to be young and able to see newer and better-improved movies than him.

By the time we backed away from his doorstep without coming off as rude, Billy was three houses down and yelling, "Sweet! Another candy bowl!"

"Don't go too far!" Failsafe hollered toward Billy as he finished taking what he wanted from the bowl and rushed off to the street corner, waiting for us so he could hit the crosswalk button.

I took Failsafe's hand as we went to the next three houses, the next one was a candy bowl, the second was a fully decked out guy dressed in a wacky waving inflatable tube man costume that Failsafe and I got a photo with, and the last house on the street was another candy bowl just like Billy said. It was on the front mat so we both had to crouch down to reach it.

I took the candy I wanted from the bowl and looked over to Failsafe to see her mulling over the picked-over bowl. Billy and others must've taken all the good candy because all that was left was lollipops and taffy.

"Failsafe, what're you doing? Just take some and let's go, Billy might blow a fuse if we make him wait any longer." I nudged her shoulder with my elbow and she made a noise of annoyance.

"It says take one, I'm deciding."

My mouth dropped, she's actually respecting the 'Take One' written on the sign. I slid my hand across my face and groaned. "Okay, I'll bite."

So I waited for her to pick up an orange-flavored taffy and pocket it into her candy bag. "There, you good?"

She turned to me and smiled, nodding happily. "Yes, I am. I think this one will be the most enjoyable flavor."

I have a feeling with all this candy both of us are collecting tonight I'm going to get very sick. Unless Failsafe can somehow eat it with a different body. I slapped my thighs and stood up, lending out my hand for Failsafe to take and hauled her up.

Billy yelled for us to hurry up while stomping his sneaker. I snorted and let out a giggle, Failsafe followed. I hopped down the stairs and we met up with Billy at the end of the street. As soon as he saw us coming down the stairs he hit the crosswalk button so hard that if he were Captain Marvel it would have taken the street lamp down to hit the concrete.

"Finally! My God, you two are slow." The ten-year-old boy shouted as he flung his arms up in the air in a huff, his candy bag smacked into his arm, causing a crunch from the wrappers. The crosswalk changed from the orange hand to the white walking man and he raced across the street before the numbers even showed up.

"Billy, wait!" I exclaimed as I ran behind him, Failsafe trailing behind, taking her time as the crosswalk counted down from the half-minute time given. The black-haired male skid onto the sidewalk and immediately butt his head into the side of a taller teenager.

"Oh, nards. Sorry, Billy wasn't watching where he was going." I snatched Billy's upper arm and dragged him away from the poor guy quickly. The ten-year-old frowned and looked really guilty as he frantically tried apologizing to him.

"(Y/n)?" A familiar voice popped out from beside the giant. A freckled face formed around a toothy smile as she approached me. Her brown hair bounced in two pigtails and had been redyed at the ends to purple.

"Lexi," I waved to her, unexpecting to see a familiar classmate but happy. "Good to see ya'."

"It's good to see you too, it's been a week or two since we last talked, yeah?" She walked past the boy and came over to hug me, I froze, thinking she was going to go through me and we'd have a whole mess to explain. But her arms wrapped around me and tightened, so I did the same.

"Yeah, we should catch up next time between classes or during lunch." I offered, she stepped back and a giggle left her lips.

"Definitely!" She looked me up and down, noticing my outfit while I did the same to her. A plaid skirt paired well with a beige vest that was about one size too big, with that being mostly covered with a long coat and green striped tie. She paired it off with white gloves and black boots. Her final accessory was a cheap Walmart brand plastic scythe that was less than half her height and painted sloppily with red and black paint.

"Wow, your costume looks amazing. Soul Eater, right?" I asked, admiring it. This clearly wasn't store-bought. I admire her effort.

"Yup! I really like Maka, a lot. I saw this scythe at the store and just knew I had to make the costume myself." She gushed. She brought up the scythe for me to see and I ran my fingers over it. It had the texture one would expect from a recently painted, unsanded object. "It looks so good, doesn't it? I love it!"

"Yeah, it really does."

"You know, usually I throw out old Halloween stuff if I'm never going to use it again, but I think I'm going to keep this one."

"You should," I told her. It's so cool that she makes her own costumes too. I didn't know that we –used to– have that in common.

The clinking of metal and plastic caught my attention as a happy bark penetrated the air. I peered over Lexi's shoulder to discover Billy on his knees petting a Husky. The person holding its leash was the one Lexi was with, and the one Billy bumped into. I guess the guy forgave him.

"Oh, forgive me," Lexi said hurriedly, "this is Gabriel, he's my boyfriend."

A blush made its way onto her cheeks and she cleared her throat. I thought that was cute. "And this is his dog, Frog."

"Nice name." I complimented without thinking about it. I thought it was cute and certainly creative. "I'm (Y/n). Nice to meet you."

"Thanks, nice to meet you too," Gabriel responded, and I got a good look at him. He was taller than both Lexi and me by a couple of inches, maybe even a foot. He was darker skinned too, which seemed to compliment his green eyes. His hair was pulled back, but dark. A white dress shirt was tucked into black trousers. Red hightops didn't seem to be part of the look, but he was wearing a watch.

I couldn't figure out if he was dressed up or not, so I asked. "What're you supposed to be?"

"Shinji, from Evangelion. This is my mecha," He held up the leash, causing Frog's collar tags to jingle.

"Lexi was supposed to be Asuka, but she changed her costume last minute." His voice went up an octave as he took a playful accusatory tone with her. She chuckled.

"Soul Eater ended recently, Eva is a classic. I had to take the opportunity while it's still fresh in people's minds!" Lexi defended herself. Frog nuzzled into Billy's side, and the ten-year-old gushed. I wanted to pet the doggy, but I didn't want to be rude...

"You mean fresh in yours."

"Exactly. Same difference."

"That still doesn't make any sense, and you know it."

"No, I don't." Gabriel rolled his eyes and let out an audible sigh before doing a double take.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't notice your sister there. Hey," He brought up his free hand to give a small wave. I looked behind me, trying to see what he was talking about. I turned right into Failsafe, who'd been standing quietly behind me.

"Holy–" I scrambled to step back and give her some room. Right, I kinda forgot we were doing that as I was talking. "Sorry, didn't see you."

"It's okay. I wanted to let you finish your conversation before I interrupted." Failsafe explained. I noticed Lexi's attention had shifted to Failsafe, so I took my chance and headed over to crouch next to the dog.

"It's, uh, nice to meet you," Lexi said, putting out her hand for Failsafe to take. "I wasn't aware (Y/n) had a sister."

Failsafe took her hand, shaking it firmly. "Yes, well, I study at a school out of state. I'm visiting for familial reasons, so I'm afraid I haven't had a chance to meet any of her friends. For what it's worth, she talks about them all the time. You included."

"Who's a good girl? Boy?" I asked, admiring the fluffed coat of the dog. It had to have been recently brushed.

"Frog's a girl," Gabriel smiled. I nodded. "Who's a good girl?"

Frog was very receptive to the compliment and came to nuzzle my hand, and passed right through it. Confused, Frog let out a whine. I shared a look with Billy, who had the same thoughts written on his face: shit.

"Really? I hope everything is okay," Lexi said, her eyebrows scrunching up in concern. They released each other's hands, and the brunette took a step back.

Billy covered for me, taking the husky's head in his arms and ruffling up her hair. Gabriel didn't seem to notice. I frowned, no dog petting for me, then?

"My name is Lexi, and if you're ever visiting for something less important. We should hang out."

Failsafe nodded, "Thank you, I appreciate that. I'll make sure to remember."

Lexi hummed, rocking back on her heels. "I'm sorry since I didn't know (Y/n) had a sister, I don't know your name?"

Oh, shit. I opened my mouth to respond with a name, any name. Maybe the one I picked out for Failsafe before, but she responded before I could get out the first syllable.

"Yuan." Failsafe shrugged, but I could tell it was fake. Mock disinterest. "Our parents had a strange taste in names."

Lexi chuckled, "I get that. It's unique."

"Thank you," Failsafe replied, "I think so, too."

Gabriel checked his watch, bushy eyebrows scrunching up in concern. "Hey, Lexi. It's eight. We're going to be late if we don't get going."

Billy whined, "But I want to play with Frog more."

"Oh no, really?" Lexi snapped her attention over to Gabriel, then to Billy and the dog who seemed to love him, to Failsafe. "Would you all like to walk with us? We have to turn at the next intersection."

Her eyes darted to Billy again, "it'd give more time for him to play with the dog."

"That'd be wonderful, Lexi. Thank you." Failsafe replied curtly and with respect. I stood up, nodding and putting my hands in my pockets. I saw Failsafe pretend to check our phone.

"We'd love to." Failsafe's eyes darted to me as I confirmed. And I got the sense that maybe she had something to say.

Gabriel whistled to Frog and the dog looked up at her owner, spinning happily as she let out a bark. He started walking, and she followed, nipping at Billy to keep playing with her as they went.

"(Y/n)," Failsafe muttered my name as she walked next to me. Billy was still playing with the dog as all three of them walked in front of us. I guess Lexi sensed Failsafe had something important to talk to me about because she attached to Billy and Gabriel as soon as we agreed to walk to the next street corner together.

"Yeah?" I asked, slightly turning my head to her, keeping my voice down.

"When we split from them, may we let Billy go so I can talk to you in private?" I could tell whatever the subject was, it was getting to her. She was scratching at her wrist.

"Of, of course, yeah, sure." I tugged at one of the pigtails my hair had been made into, unsure of what else to say until we had our goodbyes. But I could tell Failsafe was far from anxious. In fact, she almost looked... ashamed. And definitely sad.

When we got to the four-way stop, Lexi hopped into a stop, turning around with her hands on her hips and a peppy smile.

"Well, this is our stop." She said cheerfully, grabbing Gabriel's forearm and pulling him left. Frog barked.

"What? No, it's—" Gabriel protested. To which she shushed quickly.

"No, silly." She emphasized like a teenage girl in love. "My house is this way, remember?"

She tugged on his arm and started dragging him down the street that definitely did not lead to her house, I think. Because Gabriel replied, "I don't think it is... is it?"

They were out of earshot if she responded to him. Billy huffed, "But I wanted more time with the dog."

"You got more time with the dog," I mentioned, but it did nothing to stop Billy's pout.

Failsafe was quick to get the ten-year-old on track for something else. She waved him off aggressively, "Billy, go trick or treat this street without us."

"But you said this street had full bars. I can't go without you." Billy insisted, looking between me and Failsafe.

"We'll catch up, Buddy. You can handle doing one street by yourself. Right, Captain Marvel?" I egged him on, knowing whatever Failsafe wanted to talk about was more important. As much as it pains me to admit it. Full bars. Full bars...

Billy scoffed and waved his hand, "I've been doing that all night."

His shoes kicked against the concrete sidewalk and he yelled back that if he could he would try to get us some to 'save time.'

He's a good kid. I can see why he's a hero.

I shoved my hands in my pockets and looked over to Failsafe, who was rubbing her hands over her upper arms. A bead of sweat ran down her face.

Deciding to let her figure out what she wanted to say before we talked about it, I asked her something of my own. Hopefully, I would get an answer, give her time to think, and most importantly, calm her down a bit.

I've never seen her so... anxious. Out of place. Distraught. The only time she'd ever been this frazzled was... A couple of months ago, after Kent Nelson's death. With Klarion and the crystal.

"That's a new name, I like it, by the way. Are you going to use it? As a secret ID?"

Failsafe quickly shook her head, a smile coming to grace her face. Her shoulder relaxed, and I got the feeling I hit the right spot unintentionally.

"It's the name I've given to my predecessor. Someone more human than she was... Niktonian." Failsafe shrugged, "I figured, since I, myself, have received a human name. So should she."

I nodded, humming in agreement. "So, Yuan."

"Yes, I thought the meaning of it suited her." Failsafe's hands dropped to her sides slowly, slinking down.

"That's good."

"I took it from one of your humans' oldest civilizations," she started, "one that is still around."

"I thought it best because she– Yuan's, older than humans entirely. And she is still around the same way they are, in a different form. But still very much here."

"What do you mean, Failsafe?" I stepped in front of her, raising a brow. She's not the type to say sentimental things like, 'She's here, in my heart.' Or something like that.

"She's in my heart," Failsafe replied immediately, blasting away any expectations I had for this conversation.

"...What?" Had I miscalculated something? Did I not know my best friend as well as I thought? What the hell was she talking about?

Failsafe placed both of her hands on her chest, the candy bag slapping her side from the movement. "The name means 'eternity' and 'origin'. Fitting, for the person who started this all. Fitting for what she's left behind."

Failsafe looked me in the eyes, "If all goes well, she'll never truly leave. The origin point she gave to us will guide eternity. So I chose Yuan."

I swallowed the lump building up in my throat, "I think that's beautiful, Failsafe."

I enclosed my arms around her, realizing how weird it was to —finally— hug her. Her body was the same as my own. It was kind of awkward.

Failsafe put her arms on my shoulders and pushed me away slightly, "there's something I have to tell you. Something I should have said a long time ago, and didn't."

I blinked, completely blanking on a joke. It didn't seem like the time, but Failsafe's eyes were so intense that I felt like I had to lighten the situation. Still, some situations aren't meant to be lightened.

I nodded, letting her continue as I swallowed the buildup of saliva in my mouth. Just what hadn't she told me?

I mean, I was glad she was finally opening up— but this sounded serious.

"The crystal, inside of your chest. That's been hurting me and causing you pain too." She took a deep breath, breaking eye contact to steady herself. I placed a hand on hers, wanting desperately to support her.

"It's— it's made of her, Yuan. But not quite. It's... it's her offspring. That crystal affects me the way it does because it's made from my species, the ones Yuan left behind. It—" Failsafe's breath caught in her throat and she looked like she was about to panic. I could feel it in my hand, her shaking.

"Your siblings." As soon as the confirmation came out of my mouth her eyes darted to meet mine. And she nodded.

Failsafe brought the unheld hand up to her hair and carded through it violently, scratching her scalp too. "I was the only one, chosen out of so many. I— I didn't even think... We can only die— I know we can die. By the end of our lives, whenever that may be, and, and by the creation of more of us."

As she opened up more to the responses of mind and body, the more expressive she would be. Still, it was strange, to say the least, to see her unraveled like this. She'd always been so put together.

"Failsafe," I grabbed tighter onto her hand. "It's okay, take your time. I'm here, there's no rush to talk."

She nodded, dazed. It's like she barely heard me. But she started breathing slowly anyway, trying to calm herself down. She was a wreck.

"You don't have to share, it's okay—"

"No!" She protested, turning to me with dazed eyes. Her shoulders slumped, "No, you deserve to know."

"Okay, then. But just try to breathe." Again, she nodded but I don't think she heard me.

"That crystal, it is what happened to the rest. A punishment for a criminal, I suppose." She scoffed and I raised an eyebrow.

"Wait, hold on. Your mom is a criminal?" I questioned, surprised. I mean, I know what she did was unconventional— but still.

"Not a mom. We don't have a gender, (Y/n). Predecessor or even Creator is a better term."

"But you call her she? You use 'she' too." I pointed out, lost.

"You use female pronouns. And I like it. It's easier that way. I'm fine with being a female. As for her, the first time she ever tried... her experiment. It just so happened to be a female of a species no longer around. But yes, my predecessor was charged with a crime."

"Can I ask what?"

"Tipping of the scales." I saw Failsafe's throat Bob up and down. "That... crystal. It must be the punishment dealt. Just letting her die, losing all that energy. Letting the remnants have a chance to carry out her work again, it was rational to try and subdue the threat."

She carded a hand through her hair again, this time less violent. "But it wasn't right. They're blind to the problem she was trying to solve— my species is going to continue making the same mistakes and hurt not only people but the very universe we strive to protect."

"That must've been, still must be, hard for you. I'm sorry." I didn't know what else to say. What do you say to that? Your only parent's a criminal, and your only direction in life is deemed wrong by everyone you could ever relate to. And they take it out on you and your siblings. Turn your siblings into some kind of melted-up rock, and you're the last, only one left out of the entirety of them all.

No wonder she felt so alone.

My eyes expanded as a thought came over me, "It's why you were so caught off guard that night at the Tower of Fate. You could sense it."

"As natural and and as instinctive as it is to breathe." Failsafe concurred, shuddering. A slight breeze passed by us, and she hugged her arms. But I don't think it was from the cold of autumn. A leaf blew through my arm. As the chill passed through the trees, they whistled. "It hit me in an instant, the moment I could feel it. I knew."

I took a deep breath, but it did nothing to help the growing emotional weight building up in my chest. I can't tell her it'll be okay. So what could I tell her?

"I'm sorry, I kept it from you when you had a right to know, (Y/n). It was wrong of me." Failsafe declared. I shook my head frantically.

"No, Failsafe. It's fine. For something like that? You should've told me when you were ready to tell me. I would never want to force you to confess something like that, something so personal and deep, without you being okay with it."

She bit her lip and swallowed, I saw her throat bob up and down. "It's your body. This crystal is your problem too. I've hurt you enough. And I've heard your cries, as you've heard mine." Failsafe looked me in the eyes, glassy determination set within them, "So, please. I want to correct my mistakes, I want to share. (Y/n), I want to do this together, with you–"

My heart melted at her declaration. Until it jumped out of my chest and up my throat as a giant explosion rang out a block away. The fire alarm went off and I saw smoke bubbling up into the sky. We shared a look, both of us thinking the same thing.

"Billy!"

Failsafe and I ran down the street, toward the smoke cloud. It was a bank, of course, it was a bank. The front windows were blown open, letting out the majority of the smoke. And a gang of badly masked robbers were bursting out with guns and filled duffle bags. Billy was sprawled tightly against a brick wall across the street from them in an alley, observing. He was waiting to engage without revealing his secret identity.

'Failsafe, can you do anything about this?'

"Of course." She uttered quietly behind me, almost a mutter. 'But I don't want to risk putting you or Billy in danger.'

'They'll get away otherwise.' I rationalized. 'I'll keep Billy safe, you go.'

'(Y/n),' Failsafe started but didn't finish. One of them, the leader, saw Billy from the alley and started yelling at him to come out. He was pointing his gun at him. The only thing Billy could do was put his arms up and walk slowly out.

The armed felons seemed to sigh with relief as he did until they were swept up by a crashing wall of plants, each the size of an elephant. I looked back at Failsafe, she looked caught off guard. It wasn't her, she didn't do this.

Which means it was someone else. The only one in Gotham with plant-based powers, then.

A blond lady wearing checkered red and black patterns was skipping toward the tied-up men in the plants, a bat swung over her shoulder. A second later it was gone, hitting the man who threatened Billy in the face. Blood poured out of his nose in waves, and since he was held upside down, he had to screw his eyes shut to keep the liquid out.

"That's what you get," She huffed, "threatening a child. On Halloween!"

She paced around in a circle, raising her hands to the sky before dropping them. "How could you?! Even?! You're lucky you just got the bat."

Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy just stopped a robbery and saved Billy Batson, aka Captain Marvel. Well, that was unexpected, and ironic.

I breathed a sigh of relief and rushed over. Billy could handle himself, he was a smart kid. And powerful too, more powerful than me by my own. But he was still only ten years old.

"Billy, are you okay?!" I exclaimed as I ran toward him, going so fast I had to slow my dissent or risk flopping face-first onto the sidewalk.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He said without looking at me, he was watching Harley and Ivy as they continued to harass the robbers. They deserved it.

"You sure, kiddo? We can rough 'em up some more." Harley turned around, swinging the bat around with one hand as she came over to us, crouching down and looking over Billy. She was checking him for injuries.

"Nah," Billy said, cautious. "Just hope they get into custody soon."

"Oh, of course," Harley scoffed, like the thought that they would go anywhere else was humorous. "No other place for child-harming scum like them."

"Harley, the guy didn't actually hurt the kid. Yet." Ivy shook her head, walking over and placing a hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"Waving a gun in his face is ham, I'v." Harley protested, "It can do serious damage to his mental well-being. God forbid this asshole over there," she pointed the bat toward the robber leader, "gives him something serious like PTSD."

"I'm fine." Billy insisted.

"For now," Harley declared, "but make sure you see someone soon, okay?"

"We'll make sure of that." I said, "Thanks for saving him, Ms. Quinn..?"

She looked up at me from her crouch and smiled, "Just Harley."

Harley looked at both me and Failsafe over, smile growing, "Nice costumes you three, but I have to say I'm a bit biased to say yours," she motioned her hand to me, "is my favorite."

I smiled, pulling out my phone from my pocket. "You wouldn't mind a picture then, right?"

Billy gave me a look, and so did Ivy– though hers was less, 'What are you doing?!' and more, 'I can't believe this'. But Harley smiled and posed for a picture with me, Failsafe and Ivy joined in the background as both of us dragged them in. I smiled, Harley did duck lips, and Faislafe and Ivy's faces were both neutral with subtle happiness.

It was a nice picture. But sadly, whatever this was had to end. Ivy nudged Harley's shoulder, advising her that they had to leave. "Harles, we should go."

I could hear police sirens coming up in the distance, no doubt them still being here when they get there would be unfavorable. Harley nodded, "Yeah, yeah, just as long as the kids are okay."

Poison Ivy walked into the dark alley Billy was hiding in, disappearing into the shadows and birthing plants from concrete cracks to boost her over the dumpster and high chain fence. Harley started to follow, and I don't know what compelled me to do so, but I pulled a lollipop out of my bag and called out her name.

"Harley," I called, waiting until she turned around to toss her the lollipop. She looked at me then back to the candy, popping in her mouth without a second thought with a smile. "Thank you."

"No problem, sugar pie," Ivy called for Harley again.

"You look better with her." She backed up a few steps to show her partner she was still coming.

"I think so too." Harley winked at me and then disappeared into the night.

We all took a second to breathe when they left, and I saved the photo to an album on my phone before looking at the map on my phone.

"So, who wants to get some full bars before the police get here and the night's over?" I inquired to the two, happy that after some hesitance Billy agreed happily to get more candy. Failsafe seemed a bit... distant, like something was bothering her. But she agreed too.

Maybe she had more to say, but she wasn't making the effort to say it. So I wouldn't push her.

"Then let's go right, there's three block's worth of reported good candy down there plus it's right by the 'rich neighborhoods'," I told them, pointing over to the right side of the street, where cars were slowly passing by wondering what had happened.

"Rich neighborhoods?" Billy questioned, skeptical.

"That's what Robin says, I trust him." I shrugged, starting the walk over. Billy stayed in line with me, but Failsafe dragged behind. It was like that for two whole blocks as we collected candy to fill up our bags.

"So, you got a favorite candy? I'm sure with all that we've collected I can get enough cavities just based on the one brand." I joked, looking back at her.

Failsafe refused to look at me, clutching her candy bag tighter in her hands. "This candy isn't for you or me. I'm not letting you have one and a half bags of candy, (Y/n)."

I raised my eyebrow, trying to figure out what she meant when it clicked. She'd been collecting that bag of candy for Robin.

I placed a hand on my chest, "Oooh, Failsafe!"

She didn't reply, but I could tell her mood was dropping more. The person whose doorbell we rang opened the door with a smile, plopping candy into our bags before we even had time to say trick or treat. They shut the door, and I started walking back down the townhouse stairs. Maybe if I talked about something else Failsafe would feel better. Or feel the need to talk, at least.

Failsafe stopped. Stalling on the stairs of a random person's house. I heard her shoes scuff against the concrete of the block steps and stopped too, turning only slightly so I could still see Billy in my peripheral vision as he raced over to his next house. I guess he got used to our molasses pace and knew not to wait.

I wanted to ask if something was wrong, but by the way, Failsafe's lips popped open only to shut again, I kept quiet. It was probably best to let her talk first. I raised my eyebrow though, just to let her know I was waiting for what she had to say.

Her jaw opened, then snapped shut like she'd suddenly had to trap the words– or worse, lost them.

"I'm–" She took a deep breath from her chest and slapped her hands against the sides of her thighs. "Today, Harley and Ivy..."

"Yeah? What about them?" I attempted to stimulate the conversation. Not really knowing what she was trying to say, or how she wanted to say it.

"Today, they were just like me."

"Vigilante crime fighters?" I joked, unclear on what Failsafe could possibly mean. Sure, they were out on the streets stopping some petty crime– which was certainly a deviation in behavior, but I didn't see how that applied comparison to Failsafe.

Failsafe shook her head, twiddling with her fingers as she looked down for a moment, collecting herself. "No, they're– they're 'the bad guys', playing hero."

She frowned, which made me frown too. How could she ever think this of herself?

"Failsafe you're not bad. And neither are they." I took a step up the stairs, trying to get my best friend to look at me as she turned away.

"That's your side of the story. Not mine, not theirs, not everyone else's. They do good, but they accomplish their good by bad methods. Ivy only cares for the environment, but she's taking it out on ignorant people instead of educating them. And Harley too, used to help people. Today, she saved you, me, Billy– it hasn't changed." I saw her throat bob up and down as her hand came up to grasp a leaf from a nearby tall plant growing in the minuscule front greenery of the townhouse.

"So?"

"I want to do good as well," She told me, tracing the leaf with her index finger, "and I tried to do it, the only way I know how."

"You're not bad, Failsafe," I reassured her. She shook her head again, unconvinced.

"For years, I was..." She trailed off, looking for the right word. I saw her eyes become glassy like they do right before you start to cry. Her shoulders shook a little bit, and I saw the subtle shake in her hands. "Alone. Utterly and truly alone. Formless, without a voice or feelings. The only purpose to my existence was what my memory told me– to protect the universe, all universes, and all dimensions under my jurisdiction– and, and you. You were my purpose."

I had nothing to say to that, she rendered me speechless. I shifted my feet just a bit but continued to let her speak without interruption.

"And when I finally met you, when I became 'Failsafe' for the first time. When we were Failsafe– I was finally able to put words to experiences. I had feelings for the first time that were tangible, present. It was too much, it–" Snot trailed too far down her nostril and she sniffed before continuing.

"For the first time, everything had a meaning past the greater whole. There was... attachment. There was the crippling sense of burden building up. I realized, for the first time, that I had been alone. I had minded that solitude. I had been... lonely. That the only time I'd ever interacted before you was with a member of my own species, something we don't remember until it occurs, and only briefly. I felt many things, sadness, longing, confusion, rage, happiness," her eyes darted to me in her peripheral vision for a split second before she uttered, "Loneliness."

"I... I couldn't bear the thought that– that it had changed. That I wasn't alone anymore, after so long. I didn't want to be alone, but I was scared of not being alone. Loneliness, as it turns out, is the only thing I've ever known." A second leaf on the steam caressed Failsafe's hand and joined its neighbor in her palm.

"So I accepted denial. I convinced myself we were one and the same. It was so easy to do it too, we were in the same body, and I knew you in and out. I've come to these years we've spent together so many times that it just felt so natural to have you there." The second leaf overlapped the first one, its prickly tip brushing against the stem of the other leaf. "Like you were always, had always been there. Because for me, you have been."

"But that was wrong, and I was shown that it was wrong. Because you're your own person, (Y/n). You're a great, wonderful person. A good person, the best one I could ask to be with."

She took a breath just as a breeze passed by us, shuffling the leaves in her hand. As it passed, she retook them in her palm, both laying side by side.

"You're my hero."

Words caught in my throat as I stared at Failsafe in awe. I had no idea she ever felt this way. All of that, she was dealing with by herself. My fists balled up and then relaxed. I let out a long sigh, looking at her.

She was going through all of this, alone. I couldn't help her at all. No, I didn't help her.

But to hear her call me her hero anyway? Why? What did I do? What could I ever possibly do that would warrant that? Failsafe was the amazing one here, not me.

"You're my best friend, and," I spoke up, clearing my throat. "You're my hero, Failsafe."

At the declaration, Failsafe finally brought her eyes to look at mine. Water streamed down her cheeks as she bit down on wobbly lips. The rapid movement from her body snapped one of the leaves off the steam and she held onto it, close to her chest.

I continued. Because she needed these words. Because she deserved to hear these words.

"Y'know, Failsafe has always been a heroic name to me. Much better than Guardian, I think. I mean, it's the thing that stops machines before something bad really happens– probably saves lots more lives than we know. But also, Fail and Safe. I always kinda thought it like, 'You'll never Fail to keep me and everybody else Safe.' You get it?" I scratched the back of my neck, unsure what I was even saying anymore.

"What I'm trying to say is, even if you think the way you put good into the world isn't the best. It's your way, and if it works, that's all that matters, right? And I think it's working." I smiled up at her, the best I could give. "And I think the others do too."

She smiled too, and as another breeze passed by, the leaf clutched in her hand escaped. Traveling up into the great, starry night sky.