Apologies

'Edward? I've brought Hazel to apologise.'

'I'm sorry.'

'...Th-that's okay. Well, I'd like to just put it behind us now...'

'Good. Can I go now?'

'I suppose so.'

'Bye, then.'

'Tony, you didn't need to do that.'

'Of course I did! I still feel like I'm letting her off too lightly, but-'

'Really, it's fine.'

'Are you okay?'

'To be honest, no. I'm not okay.'

'I'm sorry. That must have been awful.'

'I don't want to dwell on it.'

'I bet. The thing is, I'm really sorry, but I have to ask... did you really attack her dad?'

'Oh God...'

'...Wait, did you?'

'I...I can't lie...'

'Shit... I didn't expect that at all. I thought she was making it up.'

'No, I did do it.'

'Christ, Edward...'

'L-look, let me explain, okay? It's a long, long story. I didn't do it unprovoked. That man... he's evil.'


Elsewhere...

'Hi, Aria.'

'Hey.'

'Where's Stan..?'

'In the toilet, but it's been a while. I think he might have drowned.'

'Oh dear! It was curry night last night...'

'What is it with people getting shits from curry? It's never happened to me.'

'Me neither. I guess some people have delicate stomachs.'

'Stanley does anyway. We once went to the gym not long after having Mexican, and... yeah, it didn't go well. He let rip right next to this poor vampire woman. She's probably still choking.'

'Oh, that's terrible.'

'It is. How're you anyway?'

'Pretty good for once! What about you?'

'Eh.'

'Ah. That doesn't sound good. I heard about what you did to Tate...'

'I hope it left a bruise.'

'Mm... I hate violence, but I'm struggling to disagree. Poor Roxxi's pretty desolate right now.'

'I'm so sick of his shit. Just when I thought I was rid of him, he has to start fucking up people's lives again. What next? Another bastard baby? Persecution of aliens? Running for president?'

'Oh God, that last one...'

'Yeah, let's not even go there. Ugh.'

'Hey... don't let him bring you down.'

'I'm trying. I really am. But sometimes, I just think he's damaged me beyond repair. I'd been getting a better hold on my temper, but he's gone and wrecked that now.'

'I'm sorry, I don't know what to say.'

'It's okay. I know, lashing out is wrong. I just get so angry... It's as if I've been taken over by someone else. Damn it, I can't go back to being the way I used to be.'

'The way you used to be?'

'Nyla, I was horrible when I was younger. I screamed and shouted at people, mainly him, and sometimes I did resort to using my fists. Once I was away from him, I started to improve. I took up martial arts and tried to better myself. Because it's not fair for everyone else to have to tread on eggshells. Especially Edward, shouting really freaks him out. Fuck... I'm so shit.'

'Aww Aria, you're not. You're really nice. It's not your fault you've been exposed to so much.'

'Well, so have a lot of people, but they don't react the way I do.'

'Come here. Stop being so hard on yourself. Jeez, it's better than what I do. At least you don't let yourself be a victim.'

'Thanks. But don't you start talking shit about yourself either. You protected yourself and your kid when it mattered the most. That takes some damn balls.'

'I really appreciate that, thank you.'

'Not a problem. Anyway, I'll be okay. Like I said before, Tate won't get the better of me.'

'Edward, I don't know what to say. That's horrific. I had no idea... The mayor being so fucking evil, and Miles...'

'Well, now you know.'

'I'm so sorry.'

'Thank you. I must admit, telling you and going through it all again... it's not good for me.'

'I understand.'

'Do you?'

'Yes. The thing is... I have PTSD too. This is my first teaching job. Before that, I used to be a soldier. Some horrendous things happened out there. I'm not going to bore you with the details, but you can probably tell by looking at me, right? I was blown up. I lost a leg. And my best friend...'

'...Oh God, Tony, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to sound like I was dismissing you!'

'That's fine. I've been working quite hard on my recovery. But yes, I do know how trauma affects people. I know how little things can set you off, and how having to recall something so awful in detail can fuck up your mood for the rest of the day- no, the rest of the bloody week, sometimes. And shit, it doesn't just happen to soldiers. What you went through is way beyond the pale. It'd be a miracle if you weren't still affected.'

'So you really do understand...?'

'I do. As for Miles, I don't blame you in the slightest. He really had it coming. And despite your fear, you still managed to confront him...'

'You're one hell of a brave person, Edward.'

'Thank you. It means a lot to be told that.'

'You're welcome. Any time, if you ever want to talk, I'm here.'

Goddamn it, Hazel

'Man, I can't wait to show you my progress. I'm pretty proud of my DDT. And if we're lucky, we'll get to see Nick Raven, and I know how you feel about him...'

'Cool.'

'Hey, what's up with you today?'

'...Sorry, Jude. I'm really distracted.'

'I can tell! Go on, what's bugging you? You can tell me.'

'Um... it's Dad again. I don't know what to do...'

'Carmella? What's he done?'

'He wants me to marry this old guy!'

'What the fuck?'

'He-he's arranged it and I... I don't want to do it! But he's really insistent...'

'Tate's gone and done it again, has he?'

'Oh, fuck off, Hazel. Mind your own business.'

'I'm fine here, actually. So. An old guy, huh?'

'Did you hear me? I told you to mind your own business.'

'Oh, I heard. I just don't care. Why don't you let her speak for herself instead of being her attack dog?'

'Only one of us is acting like a dog, and it's you. Because you're a bitch.'

'Say that again, I dare you.'

'S-stop fighting, please..!'

'I called you a bitch.'

'Don't make me take my gloves off.'

'What's going on...?'

'Oh God. I'll go intervene...'

'Ooh, she's going to take her gloves off! How terrifying!'

'Well, they're the only thing in the way of me roasting you into a fucking crisp, how about that?'

'Okay, Hazel. I... I think that's enough.'

'Ugh, like I'm going to listen to you.'

'Well, while you're here, you have to.'

'No, I don't. I'm not taking any notice of a damn thing you say, not after what you did!'

'That's nothing to do with it-'

'Bullshit. You don't get to come into my house and nearly kill my dad then start dictating to me what's what! Fuck off.'

'I'm just... I want you to leave them alone, th-that's all...'

'You know he's the reason you're still safe, right? Because he told me not to do anything else to you. Otherwise, I'd be adding a fair few more scars to that impressive collection of yours!'

'Hazel!'

'Oh my God, you can't say that!'

'Hazel! How dare you talk to someone like that!'

'He fucking deserves it!'

'No, he doesn't! What could Mr Farrington have done to you?'

'Oh, you know,  breaking into our house and putting my father in the hospital?'

'I-I have to go...'

'What? Come on Hazel, don't be ridiculous.'

'It happened, okay? Look, he's running off because he's guilty. Just ask him.'

'...Let's talk in private.'

'Hey, Edward! Don't let her upset you!'

'I-It's okay, Carmella. Don't you worry about me.'

'But she said some horrible things. I don't want to leave you upset.'

'Honestly, I'm fine.'

'Can I give you a hug, at least?'

'...Go on then.'

'Hey, it's okay...'

'Thank you.'

'What in the world was all that about?'

'I'm being serious. Just ask him.'

'Hazel, that's a very serious allegation.'

'And a true one! I came home to find my dad laying in a pool of his own blood. Edward did it, as a newly-turned vampire.'

'And Edward will confirm this?'

'Unless he wants to lie to you. If he has the fucking balls to admit it, then yeah, he will confirm it.'

'For God's sake... okay, I'll talk to him, on one condition. That you apologise to him for saying those horrible things, and that you promise me you'll never talk to anyone like that ever again.'

'Uh, that's two conditions. And I'm not apologising to him.'

'You either do that or I take it to the principal. That's your choice.'

'But Mr Bolton-!'

'No buts. In fact, look at me. I have scars on my face too. If I were wearing less, you'd see that I have them all over my body as well. Would you be so nasty to me?'

'Of course not, sir. I like you.'

'Even if you didn't, you need to treat people with respect. It's called being an adult. It's important that you're civil with people at all times, even if you don't like them. You have no right to be cruel to others, especially about their scars.'

'...Oh, fine. I'll apologise.'

'Good.'

Fucking perfect

*knock knock*

'Come in. Unless you're one of those hippie protesters, then I'm afraid I'm not interested. There's nothing wrong with Tiberium as an energy source-'

'Ahem.'

'Oh. It's you. Long time no see.'

'Yeah. Shame it couldn't have been longer.'

'Well, you can just go away again. I have no interest in talking to you.'

'You think I'm here because I'm interested in having a chat? There's a good fucking reason I haven't spoken to you in years.'

'That's nice. Now get out. I have better things to do.'

'Unless you want me to start screaming at the top of my voice and tell everyone about the things you've done, I suggest you listen.'

'...Fine. What do you want?'

'To be honest, I'm not expecting much out of you. But if I didn't at least try, I'd be doing everyone a disservice. I want you to stop being gross and ruining our lives.'

'Is this something specific? I'll need a bit more of a clarification than that, because I know you think everything I do is gross.'

'Maybe that's because it is.'

'In your opinion, and you already know just how much that matters to me.'

'Then let me put it to you in a way that will matter to you: if you start fucking with my siblings, you'll have me to answer to.'

'Oh, I'm terrified.'

'You think I'm kidding.'

'I don't. On the contrary, you've always been a mentally unstable little bitch. But that doesn't mean you'll actually manage to do anything to me.'

'We'll see about that, won't we? If I'm as mentally unstable as you say, what's going to stop me? I'd love to rip you to shreds, and I don't really care about the consequences if it stops you from hurting people I care about.'

'...Is this about Carmella?'

'What the fuck do you think?'

'I don't see the issue.'

'Really. You couldn't possibly imagine there to be anything wrong with forcing a sixteen year old into marriage with a pervert.'

'She'll be eighteen when it goes ahead.'

'No she won't, because it isn't going ahead at all. Even if I have to cut your dick off and forcefeed you it to change your mind.'

'Charming, as usual. I'm so proud of the daughter I raised.'

'Raised? Don't make me laugh, Tate. You know, I only have issues because of you. You wanna blame anyone over me turning out to be crazy? Look at yourself. Oh, wait, you probably do enough of that already. Because you're so much of a narcissist, you actually think you've never done anything wrong.'

'To tell you the truth, Aria... I'm fucking perfect.'

'...'

'It's true.'

'Were you dropped on your head as a baby?'

'No, but I'm regretting not doing it to you. If only I'd never married Sheri. You three wastes of space are going to tarnish my family tree forever.'

'You do a pretty good job of it yourself. Listen up, Tate. I'm not bullshitting you. This is a warning. I won't let you ruin my sister's life. She's a lovely girl and she deserves so much better than you. You're not marrying her off just so you can line your own pockets.'

'It would have been you, you know.'

'...What.'

'That's right. When I made the deal, it was with you in mind. Obviously that changed. You're not fit to be anybody's wife. As if I'd inflict you on a man. Especially with your stupid "asexuality" or whatever it is. Men need women who actually put out.'

'...'

'I couldn't have used Saraya either. I mean, look at her. She's fucking hideous-'

*slap*

'SHUT. THE FUCK. UP.'

'Argh, Christ! O-okay, that's enough, you're going to leave now-'

'One of these days I'm going to fucking murder you! You're not scared of me? You fucking should be!'

'Just get out! Security!'

'It's fine, I'm going! Just remember what I said! You go ahead with it, you're fucking dead!'