Blood Blockade Battlefront; Found
Jan. 28th, 2020 07:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alchemist_aliceTitle: Found
Fandom: Blood Blockade Battlefront
Prompt: Habits & Routines
Medium: Fic
Size: 1581 Words
Rating: G
Warnings: Cursing.
Summary/Preview: Master Rajuu never called him family and his creator never considered him to be offspring of any kind, so when Zed is suddenly welcomed with open arms into Libra's motley crew, he doesn't know what to make of it. As time goes by and awkward get-togethers become routine, Zed comes to appreciate his newfound family.
Notes: Set after Gill-Breathing Blues. Spoilers for Zed's origin story.
"So, could the Count be considered my family?" asks Rajuu's young disciple, trident in hand as he turns to him.
The Big Dipper master snorts, "Existentialism is but a distraction from your true calling. Although the Count created you, I doubt he did so with the intent of forming a familial bond."
Zed lowers the weapon in his hands and gazes upon it, his reflection twisted and warped in the solidified blood. "Then, could you be called my family?"
"Focus on your training," Rajuu snaps at him, nudging him in the calve with his staff. "Lest you wish to be eaten alive by the sand-worm."
It's been years since Zed finished his training and almost a year to the day since he was abandoned to the care of Libra, a group of super-powered misfits that were far more complicated than he anticipated Huma to be. The first outing he's invited to, an impromptu lunch date with his obnoxious senior and the most chipper Huma of the group, turns out to be nothing but a hazing attempt by the former.
As things are wont to become with time, these outings eventually become routine.
Zed is gently awoken this morning by the trill of a violin crooning over the radio somewhere near his tank, and he stretches his limbs with a yawn before looking over to see Gilbert tending to the flowers nearby.
"Good morning, Gilbert," he bids the butler with a smile.
The older Huma beams back at him and nods, continuing to water the hydrangea as Zed swims to the top of his tank and climbs out using the ladder. His cargo pants and tank top are draped over the sofa, clean and pressed, and he regards Gilbert with gracious bow of thanks before slipping into them.
"I told you to cut it out!" shouts a familiar voice as Zed emerges from the backroom and into the main office. "That camera cost me an entire moth's pay! If you break it, I swear --"
"You'll what?" comes a second voice, rougher around the edges.
Sighing, Zed stops in the doorway and studies the scene before him. Zapp, his senior in the Big Dipper style, is holding a brand new camera just out of Leo's reach, and being of such short stature for a boy his age, Leo is having a difficult time retrieving it from him. As Zed looks across the room, he finds the desks at the head of the room empty, meaning their bosses were out at the moment.
"Enough," he says and strides up to them, "give his camera back, Zapp."
The pale-haired man turns to Zed with an indignant snort, "Who died and made you Starphase?"
"I'm serious, Zapp!" Leo whines and scrambles to get past the arm holding him in place. "Give it back already!"
Chuckling a little, Zed easily snatches the camera from Zapp's hold and dangles it just out his reach as he taunted Leo a moment ago. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
"Oh, so you want an ass-kicking? Is that it, fishy?" Zapp shoves Leo off of him and leaps up from the sofa, summoning his blade suddenly. "Happy to oblige!"
Zed shakes his head and materializes his own weapon, parrying a swing or two thrown clumsily at him. "Off your game this morning, aren't you?"
"He's hung over!" Leo shouts, grinning when Zapp glowers back at him.
"Here," Zed bids his smaller friend, returning the camera to him. "Take care not to lose it again." Without even having to look behind him, he successfully parries yet another blow delivered by Zapp. He turns with an eyebrow arched high into his pointed forehead, watching as Zapp's blade fades and the blood returns to his body, and he slumps back onto the couch with a groan.
Leo settles into the armchair across the coffee table and huffs, "I told you not to stay at after hours last night."
"You stayed even after we left?" Zed asks, eyes wide. "Even though you knew you had work today?"
"Ugh. Shuddup," Zapp slurs his speech, finally surrendering. "My head fuckin' hurts."
Zed thumbs over his shoulder at the empty desks. "Where are the Chief and Mr. Starphase this morning?"
"Meeting with the League or something," Leo murmurs as he flips through photos in his gallery. "They should be back soon."
Humming thoughtfully, Zed looks between his two comrades and offers, "I was thinking of going out for breakfast, but since Zapp is in such a sorry state..."
"We can make a quick doughnut run," suggests Leo, sitting up with a smile and gesturing to Zapp. "Although, I'm not sure I have enough money to buy Mr. Personality here anything."
"Well, I do have a part-time job now, so I'll buy this time. My treat," Zed says with a chirp, smiling again. "You should stay here until the Chief and Mr. Starphase return. Someone has to babysit my unruly senior."
Leo sets his lips into a tight, thin line as he thinks it over. "I guess I could."
"I'll be back, then," Zed says, stepping onto the elevator as the double doors open. He hears a 'careful out there' thrown his way and turns to wave at Leo before the doors close on him.
Traffic is hectic this morning, even on the sidewalk, and as he nears the Dunkin Donuts down the street, he isn't all that surprised to find the line nearly out the door. It's like this most mornings on a weekday, he knows, but the humdrum of waiting in line doesn't faze him anymore. When he gets up to the counter, he makes sure to order kruellers for the Chief, sprinkles for Leo, and those fancy french donuts for Steven, and if he orders an extra black coffee aside from the usual for his boss then he'll just say it's because he needs Zapp in top form in case a Blood Breed rears its ugly head later on.
The office is much livelier when he returns, what with Klaus and Steven having just gotten back themselves. Chain has arrived herself, currently listening to Steven rattle off a report from the League, and K.K is idly chatting with Klaus about something cute one of her kids did in school yesterday. Their energy is infectious, and Zed can't grinning again.
"Zed's back!" Leo announces above all the hustle and bustle.
All eyes turn towards Zed, but he doesn't tense up beneath the spotlight like he used to. He saunters over to the coffee table and sets the food and drinks down, gesturing with a smile.
"I thought it'd be nice to eat together," he says, passing one of the coffees to Steven. "Since we're all here anyway, I mean."
"He treated everyone, too!" Leo chirps and flops onto the sofa beside him.
Steven takes a sip of his coffee with a soft, exhausted smile himself. "Well, I for one can't express how grateful I am. You showed up just in the nick of time, Zed; I was ready to fall over without my morning coffee to sustain me."
"Indeed," Klaus agrees, happily taking a doughnut from the box. "The meeting was sprung on us very suddenly, so we didn't have any time for breakfast."
"Gilbert?" Zed offers a krueller to the butler standing behind them.
The man accepts with the same smile he always has lighting up his weathered face, thanking him with a half-bow.
"Your part-time job must really paying off!" K.K remarks as she takes a jelly doughnut from the box and takes a bite, sighing afterwards. "I'm glad you bought extra!"
Chain takes a doughnut herself and just nods to Zed, smiling just enough to tell him how grateful she is.
Even Sonic pokes his head out from his favorite hiding spot, the collar of Leo's over-sized sweatshirt, and takes a sniff before skittering out to investigate. Zed nods to Leo when he looks to him for approval, and Leo passes a sprinkled doughnut to his little primate friend with a giggle.
"Here, this should help you sober up," he murmurs to Zapp amid the conversations continuing around them, holding a black coffee out for him. "Go on, take it."
Zapp does so with a grunt, "I didn't ask you to get me anything."
"You don't have to," Zed whispers in turn. "We're partners, aren't we? You're of little use to anyone in this state, in fact."
"Hey!" Zapp barks, clenching his teeth.
"Moreover, we're friends," Zed adds, turning to him with a chuckle. "This is just something that friends do for each other, right?"
Leo chimes in, "So suck it up and thank him already!"
"Tch." Zapp clicks his tongue and takes a sip from his coffee, warm and bitter as it slides down his throat. His face must be beet-red because he feels blood drumming in his ears as Zed passes him a doughnut as well. "T-Thanks, I guess."
Snatching a chocolate cake doughnut from the box, Leo holds it out to Zed. "For once I agree with the village idiot; thanks, Zed."
More 'thank yous' and expressions of gratitude follow suit soon after, claps on the shoulder and smiles all around in spite of it being a Monday, and the warmth bubbling within Zed's chest cannot be quieted by any feelings of doubt or anxiety.
"Then, could you be called my family?"
Zed laughs in spite of himself and takes another bite out of his doughnut.
Fandom: Blood Blockade Battlefront
Prompt: Habits & Routines
Medium: Fic
Size: 1581 Words
Rating: G
Warnings: Cursing.
Summary/Preview: Master Rajuu never called him family and his creator never considered him to be offspring of any kind, so when Zed is suddenly welcomed with open arms into Libra's motley crew, he doesn't know what to make of it. As time goes by and awkward get-togethers become routine, Zed comes to appreciate his newfound family.
Notes: Set after Gill-Breathing Blues. Spoilers for Zed's origin story.
"So, could the Count be considered my family?" asks Rajuu's young disciple, trident in hand as he turns to him.
The Big Dipper master snorts, "Existentialism is but a distraction from your true calling. Although the Count created you, I doubt he did so with the intent of forming a familial bond."
Zed lowers the weapon in his hands and gazes upon it, his reflection twisted and warped in the solidified blood. "Then, could you be called my family?"
"Focus on your training," Rajuu snaps at him, nudging him in the calve with his staff. "Lest you wish to be eaten alive by the sand-worm."
It's been years since Zed finished his training and almost a year to the day since he was abandoned to the care of Libra, a group of super-powered misfits that were far more complicated than he anticipated Huma to be. The first outing he's invited to, an impromptu lunch date with his obnoxious senior and the most chipper Huma of the group, turns out to be nothing but a hazing attempt by the former.
As things are wont to become with time, these outings eventually become routine.
Zed is gently awoken this morning by the trill of a violin crooning over the radio somewhere near his tank, and he stretches his limbs with a yawn before looking over to see Gilbert tending to the flowers nearby.
"Good morning, Gilbert," he bids the butler with a smile.
The older Huma beams back at him and nods, continuing to water the hydrangea as Zed swims to the top of his tank and climbs out using the ladder. His cargo pants and tank top are draped over the sofa, clean and pressed, and he regards Gilbert with gracious bow of thanks before slipping into them.
"I told you to cut it out!" shouts a familiar voice as Zed emerges from the backroom and into the main office. "That camera cost me an entire moth's pay! If you break it, I swear --"
"You'll what?" comes a second voice, rougher around the edges.
Sighing, Zed stops in the doorway and studies the scene before him. Zapp, his senior in the Big Dipper style, is holding a brand new camera just out of Leo's reach, and being of such short stature for a boy his age, Leo is having a difficult time retrieving it from him. As Zed looks across the room, he finds the desks at the head of the room empty, meaning their bosses were out at the moment.
"Enough," he says and strides up to them, "give his camera back, Zapp."
The pale-haired man turns to Zed with an indignant snort, "Who died and made you Starphase?"
"I'm serious, Zapp!" Leo whines and scrambles to get past the arm holding him in place. "Give it back already!"
Chuckling a little, Zed easily snatches the camera from Zapp's hold and dangles it just out his reach as he taunted Leo a moment ago. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
"Oh, so you want an ass-kicking? Is that it, fishy?" Zapp shoves Leo off of him and leaps up from the sofa, summoning his blade suddenly. "Happy to oblige!"
Zed shakes his head and materializes his own weapon, parrying a swing or two thrown clumsily at him. "Off your game this morning, aren't you?"
"He's hung over!" Leo shouts, grinning when Zapp glowers back at him.
"Here," Zed bids his smaller friend, returning the camera to him. "Take care not to lose it again." Without even having to look behind him, he successfully parries yet another blow delivered by Zapp. He turns with an eyebrow arched high into his pointed forehead, watching as Zapp's blade fades and the blood returns to his body, and he slumps back onto the couch with a groan.
Leo settles into the armchair across the coffee table and huffs, "I told you not to stay at after hours last night."
"You stayed even after we left?" Zed asks, eyes wide. "Even though you knew you had work today?"
"Ugh. Shuddup," Zapp slurs his speech, finally surrendering. "My head fuckin' hurts."
Zed thumbs over his shoulder at the empty desks. "Where are the Chief and Mr. Starphase this morning?"
"Meeting with the League or something," Leo murmurs as he flips through photos in his gallery. "They should be back soon."
Humming thoughtfully, Zed looks between his two comrades and offers, "I was thinking of going out for breakfast, but since Zapp is in such a sorry state..."
"We can make a quick doughnut run," suggests Leo, sitting up with a smile and gesturing to Zapp. "Although, I'm not sure I have enough money to buy Mr. Personality here anything."
"Well, I do have a part-time job now, so I'll buy this time. My treat," Zed says with a chirp, smiling again. "You should stay here until the Chief and Mr. Starphase return. Someone has to babysit my unruly senior."
Leo sets his lips into a tight, thin line as he thinks it over. "I guess I could."
"I'll be back, then," Zed says, stepping onto the elevator as the double doors open. He hears a 'careful out there' thrown his way and turns to wave at Leo before the doors close on him.
Traffic is hectic this morning, even on the sidewalk, and as he nears the Dunkin Donuts down the street, he isn't all that surprised to find the line nearly out the door. It's like this most mornings on a weekday, he knows, but the humdrum of waiting in line doesn't faze him anymore. When he gets up to the counter, he makes sure to order kruellers for the Chief, sprinkles for Leo, and those fancy french donuts for Steven, and if he orders an extra black coffee aside from the usual for his boss then he'll just say it's because he needs Zapp in top form in case a Blood Breed rears its ugly head later on.
The office is much livelier when he returns, what with Klaus and Steven having just gotten back themselves. Chain has arrived herself, currently listening to Steven rattle off a report from the League, and K.K is idly chatting with Klaus about something cute one of her kids did in school yesterday. Their energy is infectious, and Zed can't grinning again.
"Zed's back!" Leo announces above all the hustle and bustle.
All eyes turn towards Zed, but he doesn't tense up beneath the spotlight like he used to. He saunters over to the coffee table and sets the food and drinks down, gesturing with a smile.
"I thought it'd be nice to eat together," he says, passing one of the coffees to Steven. "Since we're all here anyway, I mean."
"He treated everyone, too!" Leo chirps and flops onto the sofa beside him.
Steven takes a sip of his coffee with a soft, exhausted smile himself. "Well, I for one can't express how grateful I am. You showed up just in the nick of time, Zed; I was ready to fall over without my morning coffee to sustain me."
"Indeed," Klaus agrees, happily taking a doughnut from the box. "The meeting was sprung on us very suddenly, so we didn't have any time for breakfast."
"Gilbert?" Zed offers a krueller to the butler standing behind them.
The man accepts with the same smile he always has lighting up his weathered face, thanking him with a half-bow.
"Your part-time job must really paying off!" K.K remarks as she takes a jelly doughnut from the box and takes a bite, sighing afterwards. "I'm glad you bought extra!"
Chain takes a doughnut herself and just nods to Zed, smiling just enough to tell him how grateful she is.
Even Sonic pokes his head out from his favorite hiding spot, the collar of Leo's over-sized sweatshirt, and takes a sniff before skittering out to investigate. Zed nods to Leo when he looks to him for approval, and Leo passes a sprinkled doughnut to his little primate friend with a giggle.
"Here, this should help you sober up," he murmurs to Zapp amid the conversations continuing around them, holding a black coffee out for him. "Go on, take it."
Zapp does so with a grunt, "I didn't ask you to get me anything."
"You don't have to," Zed whispers in turn. "We're partners, aren't we? You're of little use to anyone in this state, in fact."
"Hey!" Zapp barks, clenching his teeth.
"Moreover, we're friends," Zed adds, turning to him with a chuckle. "This is just something that friends do for each other, right?"
Leo chimes in, "So suck it up and thank him already!"
"Tch." Zapp clicks his tongue and takes a sip from his coffee, warm and bitter as it slides down his throat. His face must be beet-red because he feels blood drumming in his ears as Zed passes him a doughnut as well. "T-Thanks, I guess."
Snatching a chocolate cake doughnut from the box, Leo holds it out to Zed. "For once I agree with the village idiot; thanks, Zed."
More 'thank yous' and expressions of gratitude follow suit soon after, claps on the shoulder and smiles all around in spite of it being a Monday, and the warmth bubbling within Zed's chest cannot be quieted by any feelings of doubt or anxiety.
"Then, could you be called my family?"
Zed laughs in spite of himself and takes another bite out of his doughnut.
