I slowly roused to the almost mentally scarring sound of my alarm attempting to beep itself out of existence. Like a metaphorical needle it slowly poked its way into my dreams until I snapped wide awake, reaching over and slapping the top of the little black box with the full intention of smashing it. Sadly my slap had no effect other than silencing the alarm, one day I’ll be free of its tormenting beeping, but unfortunately not today. I look down at the time, six thirty three A.M, only three minutes of torture to wake myself up today. I throw off the covers and stumble my way to my door, looking for the lightswitch on the wall next to it. After a bit of fumbling I finally find it and flip it on, almost blinding myself in the process. I open my door and walk into the hallway, slowly stumbling down towards the bathroom in nothing but my panties. When I get there I try the nob, finding it to turn freely. I throw open the door and dash inside with newfound clarity, closing the door behind me and pressing the lock button on the nob. My gamble paid off today, not throwing on a top ment I was able to make it to the shower before my siblings, which means I get all the hot water I want.
I check the towel rack and find its stockings satisfactory so I drop my underwear and reach in to turn on the shower in the tub. Right as the water starts flowing out the head I hear the door knob jiggle, followed by an over dramatic ugh from the other side, followed by banging. “Occupied!” I reply.
“Lucy hurry up, I need to shower!” My fifteen year old younger sister Jenny or Sara practically screams from outside. Being identical twins they are damn near impossible to tell apart except for how they dress, and even then it can be iffy sometimes.
“Well I just got in so wait your turn!” I yell back as I jump into the now steaming water and sigh in bliss. The twin outside stomps her foot, curses a word I could get her in trouble for saying if I was a petty bitch, then thunders back down the hall. I’ll save it for later, more ammo if they try to act like uppity little bitches again.
I reach up and rub the crust from my eyes with the aid of the water before wetting my hair and doing a twirl to let the sweet warmth splash down my back. Then I grab my shampoo bottle from the corner of the tub, only for it to feel lighter than it should. The lack of other bottles around the tub tells me exactly what I need to know. Those little shits are using my shampoo again, one of these days I’m going to put hair removal cream in a shampoo bottle. Parents' golden children be damned. I find just enough left in the bottle to wash my own hair, but only because I keep mine at seven inches long, far shorter than the two foot catastrophes that are attached to my sisters heads.
Maybe I should put hair dye in instead, like me my sisters got their beautiful blonde hair color from mom. Except for they are way too proud of their inherited color, they act so high and mighty about it that you would think they worked their whole lives to get that color. That might have been true at birth, but fifteen years later? I don't think so, which is why it would be so entertaining to hear their screeches as the first one realizes she fucked up hard stealing my shit. Would make them easier to tell apart, but mom and dad would throw a fit. I don’t think the excuse I wanted to dye my own hair would fly. They would just twist it so I’m in the wrong, like they always do.
I finish rinsing my hair and turn the water off, it takes a minute for the water to finally stop dripping so I can step out of the shower and towel off. I grab the hair drier and put my locks on blast, it only takes two minutes of blowing to finish drying. After that I pick up my laundry and wrap myself in a towel. Stepping back out into the hall I’m greeted by two scowling blondes only slightly shorter than me, who proceed to shove past me and start fighting with each other for access to the bathroom. I ignore them and head back down the hall, going into my room and closing the door behind me. I drop my towel and throw it into the laundry basket along with my underwear, then I rummage through my dresser for something acceptable to wear at school today. I decide to run with a white shirt featuring a popular defender and some black jeans. After that I huddle up to my mirror to apply some makeup. I don’t need makeup, but I like looking my best when I leave the house.
Once that's done I apply some finishing touches to my outfit before heading downstairs. As I pass the bathroom I see one of the twins waiting outside it impatiently while the sound of running water indicates the other is currently showering. I speed past the angsty teen and receive a glare on the way by, as if my showering first somehow caused her to lose to her twin. I ignore her and head downstairs, coming down into the hallway between the kitchen/dining area and the living room. As I roll in to get breakfast I see the clock about to strike seven, meaning I’m perfectly on time. As I walk into the kitchen and grab a plate mom notices me while flipping pancakes.
“Good morning Lucy, ready for school today?” She asks while slipping the spatula under another flapjack and flipping it over. I personally don't care for pancakes but Tommy and the twins basically live for pancakes in the morning. So I get outvoted three to one, at least the bacon mom cooks is edible.
“Yea, all my homework is done. It should be just an easy day of science and magic system classes.” I reply. But that's a bit of a lie, I don't have homework. But if I tell my parents that I get basically called a liar and given a whole spiel about how back in their day they always had some homework and blah blah blah. And they do it every… freaking…. Time! It doesn't matter that I get straight A’s, I got one B and didnt hear the end of it for the whole next semester. Meanwhile the wonder twins get all C’s and my parents throw a small celebration when they get the occasional B. Something about having to encourage them to do their best, blah. I can't wait to graduate highschool next semester and get out of this house.
Still, in the meantime I can get some petty revenge. Just because I don't like pancakes doesn't mean I can't stomach them. So I grab three of the four currently finished pancakes and a handful of Bacon and slather them in syrup before mom notices. Then I quickly stuff my face in two minutes flat.
“Lucy, leave some for your siblings.” Mom says. “It's fine, there's plenty left.” I reply in between mouthfuls. “One isn't plenty.” Mom chastises me.
“Well if they want first dibs on pancakes they should shower faster.” I say as I stand up and put my plate in the sink. “I’m off to the bus stop.”
On my way out the door I run into dad coming down the stairs with Tommy, who being only three years old needs help dressing and moving up and down the stairs. He could probably go up and down by himself but mom and dad are super protective of him, seeing him as their final miracle baby after ten years of trying after my sisters.
“Gwood moning Luky!” Tommy enthusiastically greets me from dads arms. He's absolutely adorable, getting his black hair from dad and green eyes from mom. He still can't talk properly, and for some reason he saw the c in my written name and started pronouncing it as a k.
"Good morning Tommy, mom's making pancakes today."
"Yay! Pankcakes!" He screams.
"Oh not in my ear buddy. Good morning Lucy, off to school?" My dad asks. He's a large man at six one, with black hair and brown eyes. The same eyes my sisters and I have.
"Yea, I'm off to catch the bus and talk to Charles and Anna. See you later." I say as I grab my backpack and winter coat from the hook and head out the door.
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That was a relatively easy morning since I managed to grab the shower first and get downstairs and scarf breakfast before the twins finished and came down to complain. But I've had mornings where they get down before I leave and then the complaining starts, and then I'm told to have consideration for my sisters and blah blah blah. If I ramble to myself about my home life too much I'll be here all day. So I continue on towards the school bus stop.
It's a quiet morning as usual as I wander between the buildings and down the streets, slowly making my way out of the residential suburbs. It's a long walk to the bus stop, at least twenty minutes of walking through the frigid February air. I'm used to it by now, keeping my hands in my pockets and my eyes on where I'm walking. At least until I hit the apartment block area. This place is packed to the brim with cheap apartment buildings built forty years ago and never updated or renovated since. The damned things would be demolished if it wasn't for the housing crisis going on. This is also where they decided to put the bus stop, because the population is densest in this area.
As I pass an alleyway between two of the buildings a huge metallic crash resounds that makes me jump, followed quickly by some clanking and clinking. I look to my left to see an old rusty metal trash can knocked over, the bags inside knocked out and ripped open, slipping their contents into the alley. The creepy part is there is nothing around that could have knocked it over. No cats, no dogs, no people. Probably a dog or cat that bolted out the other side when it realized it fucked up.
After that little jump scare I continue on the way to the bus stop, only to pass by two dudes in another alley clearly doing drugs. Thankfully they were too stoned to notice my presence as I passed by. Other than that it's smooth sailing and I make it to the bus stop to wait with the twenty others already there, including Anna and Charles. Anna has her black hair done up in a bun as usual, her brown eyes locked onto Charles as she enthusiastically goes on about something. Charles for his part looks his usual, short brown hair and green eyes with nothing special about him.
"Hey Lucy, ready for another fabulous friday!?" Anna yells at me when she finally sees me coming from a ways off. Charles looks over and also gives me a wave. I get over and immediately Anna starts yammering about Charles and what he's been talking about.
"So Charles said there is going to be another breach event today. Something about fancy predictions and equipment." Anna blurts out.
"I told you it's going to be today or tomorrow. Scientists have predicted based on current nu wave patterns and electromagnetic interference that another breach event will happen soon. They say probably today or tomorrow, but are still not able to determine where they will occur." Charles says.
"Well about time we were able to figure out when they are happening, they've only been terrorizing humanity for the last twenty five years." I reply.
"It's not an exact science yet, but leading scientists predict that by the end of next year we should be able to determine the severity of a breach at least. After that they want to…." Charles says only to be cut off by Anna, who is as over excited and energetic as ever.
"Yea, cool demon stuff Charles, but did you hear that Grey Spade, the Grey Spade, one of the most powerful Defenders of Humanity is doing a world tour and the first place he's going to visit is our city! I can't wait to see him, I'm so excited!"
"Uh, no I haven't heard that yet? When was that announced, and when is he going to be here?" I reply, totally caught off guard, but not by Anna's energy. The Defenders of Humanity, whose members are known as defenders, are humans with access to magic who have joined forces with each other across the globe to repel the demonic invasions from, we're not quite sure where demons come from, the public at large doesn't know at least. To say they are popular would be an understatement, there is a whole branch of culture basically dedicated to these guys. Merchandise, songs about their battles, fan art, you name it. Close to half of all modern media has a major focus on the defenders, and the other bits still incorporate them in some form.
Grey Spade is a legend among the defenders, a huge icon of modern humanity's ability to master magic and push back the demonic invasion. And he's just as popular in the public eye as he is on the battlefield. Some would argue he is the most popular defender, But I personally like Blade Flower more thanks to her aesthetic, but Grey Spade is still Really cool!
"It was announced really late last night! He's going to spend the later part of today in the city doing fan meet ups and other stuff at city hall, then tomorrow he moves to San Diego California, then to Tokyo Japan the day after that. Like oh my god I wanna go after school to meet with him!" Anna continues to fangirl.
"Yea that's kinda cool, but why is he coming to a city like ours? We are in the middle of nowhere corner of Virgina. This is barely considered a city. There is literally nothing here but the anti demon weapons factory." Charles muses. And he has a point, this is the middle of nowhere, he could garner much better support hitting up a major city.
"Maybe it's to show support for the workers of the factory? I mean my dad complains of overwork and long hours all the time." I say.
"Who cares! He's going to be here! And it's Friday so we can totally stay out late to see him! You guys are free right?" Anna asks.
"I have a session scheduled with my defenders and demons gaming group but I have a feeling it's going to get canceled once word gets around so sure." Charles replies while I think over my plans for tonight. Mom and dad wanted me to babysit the twins and Tommy while they had a night out on the town but they will probably want to take them to see Grey Spade instead leaving me free to go with Anna and Charles. Worse case I can just drag them along, Anna and Charles won't mind, there're used to it.
"Yea, I can come, but I might have to bring the twins and Tommy if my parents don't change up their plans."
"Oh that's fine, how is the little gentleman doing anyway?" Anna asks.
"Great, they still won't let him go up and down stairs, he still calls me lucky and says Pankcakes."
That earns a chuckle from both Charles and Anna. And after that we talk about various things until the bus arrives. Anna keeps fangirling over Grey Spade while Charles and I try to steer the conversation back to other topics but eventually give in and indulge her by talking about some of Grey Spade's known battles and feats. Normally she's more than happy to talk about other stuff, but she absolutely loves the defenders, so I can't blame her for being super excited.
Finally the bus arrives and slowly the kids and teens gathered around the dilapidated pole that marks toe pickup point start to filter onto the giant yellow rectangle. Given how far to the side we were standing, me Charles and Anna are last to board, with me specifically being the last one on. As I put foot onto the first step something weird happens. An errant thought pops up in my head causing me to pause. I don't have any homework today, and I already know everything they teach at school. I should just go home for the day. I can play games, study for the next grade level, or do something more raunchy. I stand in a daze for a moment before the bus driver yells at me, snapping me out of it.
"Hey, you getting on or not?" He asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Yea sorry, just got lost in thought for a moment."
"Well do that after you sit down." He replies.
I find my seat next to Charles, who is across the aisle from Anna who is currently chatting with some of the other girls on the bus about Grey Spade. As I sit down I think about that weird errant thought I had. I know damn well not to skip school, and I sure as hell am not horny enough to think about things like that last part. The thought felt so natural yet so out of place, even for an errant one. I decide to shelve it and talk with Charles about demons and the newest edition of the game Defenders and Demons. I'm not as much of a demonology fanatic as Charles, but I still enjoy learning about them and some of their more interesting quirks and features. And Charles is always on top of things revolving around demons, so he's a great source to learn the latest info from.
All is fairly normal for the first half of the ride, the bus weaving through the middle of town on its path to the school. Then another errant thought hits while I'm talking to Charles. He's so cute, I should just push him down and bite his ear. The worst part is I almost fucking do it before mentally slapping myself before my hands can even leave my lap. What the fuck is wrong with me today? Before I can think of anything else, a weak giggle sounds out around me. I freeze instantly and just wait, listing both physically and mentally for any more weird shit to occur.
"Hey Lucy, you good?" Charles interrupts himself once he's noticed I'm frozen stiff.
I let out a sigh and rub my forehead. "Yea I think so, but I might be tired or something."
"Maybe you should have stayed home then?"
"I felt fine this morning when I got up and showered. Anyway what were we talking about?"
"How the corjo demons have a scarcely similar appearance to bloodhounds."
Before I can reply, a loud siren reaches our ears. It's a familiar one, one that we only hear during tests normally. It's the reality breach alarm siren, indicating the demons are attacking our city.