I based it, tbh, on a Harry Potter fic series I've been reading but--
ANYWAY, the 'verse is basically played off my rp group's versions of the gang, but if Joy got them back together in 1950, and they rescued Adam.
They travel and stay in hiding, the (currently) nine of them.
Nine, you ask? Well, Joy, Sorrow, Fear, Fury, Pain, and little Adam, of course, but with the addition of Fury's wife Vasilisa and daughter Irina, and Fear's wife Antoaneta.
What a troupe.
Of course, more will be added in the form of Fear's son Ignatie, and perhaps more children? Who knows.
The rest of the 'verse' will be oneshots, written both by me and anyone else in the COBRA RP group who wants to add in uwu.
Track the tag #quiververse if you want to see more~!
(A 'quiver' is the name for a group of cobras. See what I did there.)
Joy watched her family sleep in the back of the truck, one hand resting on Misha's as he took his turn driving. They would be to their destination soon, and then out of the country.
Inácio was curled against the side of the truck, Annie asleep in his arms. Dmitri's family was on the opposite side, he and wife both curled around their infant daughter. Claude slept separately, arms crossed and head drooped.
And most importantly, her own son Adam slept in her lap, head resting on her chest and arms wrapped around their prized stuffed animal.
She smiled down at him, and then glanced up to watch their surroundings. Her family was whole, and soon they'd be safe, too.
------------------
They left the country with little fuss.
It was simple, now, to make cover IDs, and without much fuss or trouble (Adam had accepted it with wide eyes and a grin as Dmitri explained it was like a game), they adopted their new identities and went on their way.
No one questioned Mr. and Mrs. Brenda and Peter Faulkner and their son Harry traveling with Brenda's cousin Daniel. No one questioned Mr. and Mrs. Nikolai and Natasha Orlov and their infant daughter Anya, traveling with Nikolai's sister Zlata and her husband Leandro.
It was that simple.
And so they were off, the first of many identities and lives used in their travels, the first of many lies.
They may be together, but they must be hidden. They must be safe. For the Philosophers were looking for them now, and they had eyes everywhere.
But her family would stay safe, stay hidden, Joy would see to it.
No one would break them apart again, and they would live life to the fullest even as they hid in shadow.
Because they were together, and not even secrecy could dampen that kind of happiness.
[As usual, she's up a tree, watching the late-afternoon sky and minding her own business - or trying to. Someone's making an awful lot of racket down there. Stasi frowns and looks down only to see a very familiar red head passing underneath, surrounded by a very familiar flame-shaped indigo aura.]
Hey! Iraaaaaaa! [She considers waving, but opts instead for plucking a cone off the branch next to her and tossing it down next to the bobbing figure below. It's not necessary what with her sister being psychic and all, but her aim needs practice anyway.] Irisha, up here!
Retrieving Pain had been easy enough -- he had no attachments to 'civilian life, and Claude had agreed to return instantly, though somewhat put off by the two women and the infant they'd picked up.
But the next part of their mission would be a lot harder.
They had to break into Area 51 and kidnap back Adam.
It was a simple enough plan on paper -- Joy, Sorrow, and the rest of the former COBRAs would break in, and head to a predetermined point in the base. There, they would meet a contact of Joy's - a man willing to bring them five-year-old Adam. They would then leave with the boy, and escape via the stolen truck waiting for them with Vasilisa and Annie inside it.
Now all they had to do was carry it out. And Joy knew from experience that COBRA plans never worked exactly as intended...
-------------------------
So far, so good. She'd been glad to see that age hadn't slowed her boys down one bit; in fact, Inácio and Claude seemed like they hadn't spent a week off the battlefield. Dmitri was a little slower, but still keeping up, and Misha was the same as always.
She stopped, held up a hand. They were just outside the meeting point now, and her heart leaped into her throat. This was not a normal mission, pretend as she might. This was winning back a piece of her heart, her soul, her body. Her child, her little boy. She motioned for Misha to follow as she told the other boys to stay. They moved to follow the orders she gave as if they had never left her side, and the two entered the room.
Their contact was there, waiting with clear anxiety and impatience, though the first one cleared when he saw them. He smiled, nodded once. His part was a success. He turned, and both parents froze as they saw the small figure approach from the other end of the room. Small and blond, with his father's eyes and his mothers facial structure. Little Adam was in his pajamas, eyes wide with childish wonder and confusion, and he held tightly to a raggedy stuffed cat.
Joy approached him hesitantly, heart beating loudly in her ears, and knelt.
"Hello, Adam." She said softly, her voice shaking. "Did he tell you who I am?"
The boy nodded eagerly, as if he was used to being asked questions, and liked knowing the answer. "Yeah. He said my momma and papa were comin' t'get me tonight. Are you my momma, then?"
She nearly cried then and there, but swallowed the tears. "Yes, Adam. I'm your mother, and your father is right over there."
The boy brightened; he was clearly quite smart for his age, like she had been, and came out from his spot half-behind the contact. He was smiling, but it had the quiet nervousness of someone who wasn't quite sure if he was dreaming.
"They said I wasn't supposed t'see you 'cause of some big words I didn't get, but I think they meaned that it was kinda like when they took my toys away 'til I did my chores, only i'm not a toy i'm a kid." He frowned. "Are you gonna get in trouble for comin'? 'Cause I got in trouble when I sneaked in to get my toy back."
Her only response was to hug him tightly, and after a moment he did the same.
"I probably will, Adam, but having you back is worth it. I missed you so much when they took you away...I won't let them do it again, alright? Promise."
He nodded firmly. "'Kay. Can I say hi to papa now too?"
She smiled tearfully and picked him up, carrying him over to Misha. The boy greeted him with the same curious calmness, though Joy had a sneaking suspicion he thought this was all a dream - and would he be surprised tomorrow, then.
Misha cried openly, and took the boy from Joy's hands, holding him tightly and allowing him to rest his small head on his shoulder. He was asleep in moments, and they and the contact parted ways.
-------------
Dmitri had been delighted to see the boy, ruffling his blond hair and smiling in the way only a parent can - he had his own now, so it didn't surprise Joy all that much. Claude was his usual impassive self (though she swore she caught the hint of a smile), and Inácio congratulated them quietly.
"Now all we have to do is get the hell outta here." He whispered, jerking his head back the way they'd come and loading his crossbow.
Easier said than done. They were almost to the exit when a small yawn alerted them to Adam's awakening, and he blearily looked over at his mother.
"Momma, I hear people comin'." He mumbled sleepily, and pointed over his father's shoulder to the left.
She spun and pulled her gun, shouting orders to the others already, Claude, take Misha and Adam and get them out first, Dmitri, Inácio, cover me. All were obeyed without question, and she was shooting at the oncoming soldiers, crossbow bolts flying over her shoulder to the left, and a grenade following moments later from the right.
The blast shook the walls, and stunned them long enough for the three remaining COBRAS to get out, Joy last and diving out the door as Dmitri pulled the pin on a second grenade, stuffed it into his bag, and threw the whole thing in the base as she leaped up and ran.
The explosion was even louder that time, and smoke drifted up behind them as they tore across the field to the truck, diving in the back and slamming the doors shut, Vasilisa in the driver's seat slamming her foot on the gas and the whole crew careening out of there.
It took them all a moment to catch their breaths, and finally, a small voice piped up.
"That was really cool."
They all paused to glance over at Adam, whose eyes were wide and awed, and started laughing. The little boy looked surprised, and then grinned with the rest of them.
They were together now, the whole family, and now all that was needed was to get somewhere safe.
It took them two days and then some to find where Fear was living - it seemed only fitting that it turned out to be a small, homey cabin near a thick, dense forest.
Along the way, though, it was obvious to everyone how nervous Dmitri was getting. He fidgeted constantly as they approached their destination, eyes flickering from his wife, to his daughter, and out the side of the Jeep, rotating constantly as he played with his hands.
It took Joy several hours to get him to admit what she already knew, had known somehow all along - he still loved the Brazilian soldier they called Fear.
Joy had wondered for a moment how he could possibly still love the man, and yet so obviously love his wife as well -- but love, she knew, was a strange thing, and loving more than one person was not unusual an occurrence - and if any of their unit had the capacity to, it was Dmitri.
This would make things a little awkward, she knew, but Inácio was not the kind of man to be put off by something like that.
Still, though...she couldn't help but worry. She looked over at Vasilisa several times as they neared their destination, but all she did was smile and shake her head, as if to say 'it will work out'.
Joy had to wonder if it was a rule that all those with supernatural powers had to be vague and mysterious, or did she just pick the ones that did that.
--------------------------
Sorrow parked the Jeep a fair bit away from the house, while Fury and Joy got out, heading over to knock on the door.
To Joy's surprise - and Fury's visible discomfort - Fear was not the one who answered the door. Instead, a pretty, dark-haired, nervous-looking woman did.
She said something in Romanian, and the two exchanged looks. Neither of the knew the language, and Joy was fairly certain that the woman didn't speak much English, if any.
Joy and the woman spent several minutes attempting to communicate, both of them clearly frustrated but mildly amused at the barrier between them, while Dmitri continued to look uncomfortable.
Joy knew why, though, and it was fairly obvious who this woman was to Fear - as if the thin wedding band wasn't proof enough.
She just hoped Fear would let him down gently, if it came to that.
She didn't have to wait very long for the answer to her wonderings, because moments later, there was a soft thump behind them, and the woman's eyes lit up at something only she saw - or someone.
She called out in Romanian, but the word 'Inácio' was plainly audible in whatever she'd said, and both Joy and Dmitri turned around.
If she'd thought Dmitri looked older, she had not been prepared to see Fear-- Inácio was only, what...thirty-five? But he was already graying visibly at the temples and my God, he'd actually cut his hair short. He looked happy, though, if currently completely frozen in shock.
He found his voice eventually, shock turning into a disbelieving grin.
"Joy? Holy fuckin' shit, I never thought I'd see any of you again!" He laughed cheerfully, turning to the woman and speaking quickly in shockingly fluent Romanian, before slipping around the two to her side and putting an arm around her waist.
"I guess you met Annie, uh, Antoaneta. She's my wife and don't you dare say anything Joy I see the look on your face." Joy studiously tried to wipe off the shocked amusement from her face. "She doesn't speak or understand anything but Romanian, but I told her who you are. We'll figure something out."
Joy smiled, turning to the woman - Annie. "It's very nice to meet you, Annie."
Inácio translated, and Annie smiled and said something, which he translated back as 'it's a pleasure to meet both of you as well.'
She looked suddenly surprised, looking around and turning to her husband, asking him something curiously. A look of distress crossed his face, before he turned to Joy.
"He walked away."
Joy blinked, and glanced around her, realizing to her growing dismay that Dmitri was nowhere to be seen. She turned back to Inácio.
"He...yeah. He probably didn't take meeting her very well."
Inácio just sighed. "Didn't think he would. I...what do I say to him, though, Joy? Hi, sorry, I know it's only been three years but I've kinda moved on, we can be friends though I guess? Obviously he hasn't done the same."
Joy frowned. "No, he hasn't, from what he's said, but at the same time, you're not the only married man around here."
Inácio's eyes widened. "What?! He-- you-- he's-- to who?! What?! Dmitri?! Are you fucking serious?!"
Joy stifled a smile. "Your marriage was even more surprising than his, to be honest." She grew serious again, though. "Yes, though, he's married. Lovely lady, her name's Vasilisa. They have a two-month old, too."
Inácio looked stunned and amused for a few moments, before his eyebrows drew together in what was almost anger. "So wait, he's married with a kid, and he still holds a torch for me, and gets upset when I'm married too? I didn't think he was that petty."
Joy sighed. "Inácio, love makes people do stupid things. You should talk to him, at least, though -- I'm sure you ignoring him didn't help matters any."
He looked sheepish. "N-No, probably not. Oops." He paused, shaking his head and grinning. "We'll fix it later. Why'd you come looking for me?"
Joy sighed, but smiled affectionately. "I'm gathering all of you again -- we're going to rescue Adam."
He looked excited, but froze and glanced at Annie. "I-- I want to help, holy shit do I ever, but--"
Joy smiled slightly, feeling more confident with the offer than she would have if she hadn't had a civilian and an infant waiting in the Jeep.
"Dmitri's wife and daughter are with us. She's psychic, she...I think Annie is meant to come with us, too."
Inácio's jaw dropped, but he looked convinced - good, he was less of a skeptic than he used to be. "You got it. Where's the transportation?"
Joy pointed. "Ten minutes that way. Jeep with Sorrow and the Kozlovs. I'll meet you there?"
"Yeah, be there in half an hour? I gotta explain a few things to Annie, too."
"Don't be late!"
He laughed. "You got it, boss."
----------------------------
Dmitri wasn't at the Jeep.
Sorrow looked a bit uncomfortable, though, and Vasilisa was serene, both of which bothered her.
"Where's Dmitri?" She asked.
Sorrow waved out at the woods in front of them. "In there somewhere. He came back to the Jeep, threw a fit at Vasilisa, and stormed off to either sulk or cry or both, I dunno." He sighed. "Really, he's being awfully childish about this whole thing."
Joy sighed. "I know. When Inácio and his wife get here, I'll have him go talk to Dmitri. They really need to."
"They will." Vasilisa said matter-of-factly from the back seat. "It'll take a while, I'm afraid, but things will be okay eventually."
Joy frowned. "You knew? Why didn't you tell him in advance?"
"Some things you have to find out the hard way, and that was one of them. He was...is too hung up on those old feelings. He needed the shock." She sighed fondly. "I love that man, I do, and I know he adores me and our daughter, but he is not one for loving wisely, only too well. And while a heart like that is a good one, it blinds itself to its own shortcomings. Like jealousy, or not letting go."
Before Joy could respond, she was interrupted by the arrival of Inácio, bag slung over his shoulder and Annie in tow. He stopped by the van, waving at Sorrow - who rolled his eyes and waved back - and sauntering over to stare at Vasilisa.
"So you're the lucky woman that got saddled with Dmitri, eh?" He asked with a grin.
She returned one of her own. "And you're the infamous Inácio. It's a pleasure."
He chuckled, and blinked - he'd caught sight of Irina, wiggling slightly in her mother's arms. He leaned over to get a better look, just as the infant's eyes opened - Joy hadn't gotten a good look at her eyes before, but to both of their surprise, she had her father's eyes, the clear pale blue of the early morning sky.
Inácio was yet another victim to her charms, it seemed, and he smiled at her. "God, how did he even help produce something that goddamn adorable? I'd have thought any kid he had would be a screaming terror."
Vasilisa laughed. "Well, she's two months, Inácio. Give her time." She paused and winked. "And I'm certain your influence will not help that matter any."
There was a chorus of laughter, and Inácio turned back to Annie, translating introductions and greetings to and from Romanian. Annie drifted to coo over Irina, while Inácio approached Joy again.
"Where is he?" He asked softly, eyes shadowed and expression serious. Joy simply pointed to the forest, and without another word he disappeared into the trees.
------------------------
The two of them returned another forty-five minutes later, both looking awkward and a bit upset, but thankfully not angry, and the comfortable distance between them - not too close, but not far apart - told Joy they'd at least started the process of making up.
Dmitri slipped into the Jeep next to Vasilisa, who wordlessly passed Irina to him. He murmured an apology to her, before cradling his daughter as if she were made of gold.
Inácio helped Annie in before getting in himself, the two women separating the men. Joy supposed that was a good thing, though she smiled when Annie reached out and got Dmitri's attention, making a concerned face and gesture. He looked surprised, and smiled at her, nodding slightly.
But god, was this already exhausting. At least Pain was easy to deal with...but that was the last stop before their newly reunited family went to retrieve their last member. It was only a matter of time, now.
She tossed a reassuring smile in Dmitri's direction, who returned it half-heartedly, and the group went on their way.
Sankt-Ioann was an extremely small town, and Joy was surprised. She had not expected him to have settled here, so far from technology and the world. He hadn't seemed the type - Fear, perhaps, but not Fury.
She left Sorrow waiting with their Jeep and entered the town, earning many glares of curiosity and animosity from those in the streets at the early hour. Ah, a very inclusive town, too...even odder for him.
She was thankful she'd changed quickly on the way, into civilian clothes - her black uniform would have stood out more than she did already.
She stopped a man, her Russian easy and fluent.
"<Excuse me, sir, I'm looking for an old friend of mine? Dmitri, his name is. Dmitri Kozlov. I know he lives in town, but not where. Can you point me in the right direction?>"
The man made a face, but pointed down the road that led out of town, the opposite direction from where she'd arrived.
"<Down the road. Furthest house that way, nearly out of the town.>"
Surprised at his curtness, she thanked him and moved on. As he walked away, though, she heard him mutter to his wife "<It figures that family would know strange people like her. Bunch of ne'er do wells, I'm telling you.>"
They moved out of earshot after that, leaving Joy to muse over the new information. Family?
Did he really, now.
----------------------
The house was easy enough to find, a simple, inviting house, small and two-storied, with a fence around the front yard and well away from the rest of the town.
She smiled when she saw the telescope in one window. That's her Dmitri.
As she stepped through the gate, though, to her surprise the door opened. Framed in the doorway was a woman, perhaps Fury's age, with a mass of crimson curls down her back, a large amount of freckles, and a very knowing smile.
"Come in, Miss Joy. I've been expecting you for a few hours now."
Her English was thick with an accent, thicker than Fury's had ever been, and it didn't help to make Joy any less mystified as she followed the woman inside.
She led Joy to the kitchen, filling two mugs with tea and gesturing for her to sit. "Dmitri isn't awake yet." He said conversationally. "It was his turn to watch Irina last night, so he's exhausted. He should be up soon, and I know he'll be delighted to see you."
Joy smiled slightly, though she was inwardly stunned. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but--"
The woman laughed. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I forget sometimes not everyone is like me. Let me introduce myself; my name is Vasilisa. I am a psychic, and Dmitri's wife of two years."
Joy nearly choked on her tea. Psychic, she accepted unquestioningly. Her own lover was a medium, after all. But--
"His wife? You're-- he's married? Not to be rude, I mean--"
Vasilisa just looked fondly amused. "Oh, don't worry. I understand. I know about Inácio. You'll have to ask him, though- I probably shouldn't talk about it."
Joy nodded, finally smiling. It wouldn't do to mistrust the wife of one of her unit, especially if that woman could read minds. And she seemed like she was hiding nothing.
She caught Vasilisa's eye, and the redhead nodded, a knowing smile on her face - but only for a moment, as her eyes flickered to the kitchen doorway, smile turning to full-on mischievous grin.
Ah. Dmitri must be up.
Joy turned to face the doorway, and pressed a hand to her mouth to keep from laughing aloud. It hadn't been that long, but already the man called Fury had become...almost normal.
A little older, a few more lines, and was that a strand or two of grey? But it was the same small, dark-haired, scruffy Russian she called a dear friend. He rubbed at his face with the back of his hand, blinking bleary pale blue eyes.
"<Lisitsa, what're you doing up so early...? It's not even ten.>"
Vasilisa and Joy shared smiles, and Vasilisa answered. "<We have a guest, Dima. You might want to wake up properly and say hello to her.>"
Fury blinked, lowering his hand, tiredness turning to confusion...and then shock and disbelief as his eyes met his former commander's.
"....Alexa?" He spoke in English, his accent thick again after years of his own native language. "Is it-- is it really you?"
She stood, smile bright and warm. "Of course it is. It took me a long time to find you, Dmitri."
He laughed, stunned and overjoyed, and practically ran to her to wrap her in a warm embrace. "Fuck, I've missed you. You and all of them." He stopped, eyes wide. "Wait, the others, are they--"
"Sorrow is waiting for us, and afterwards, we get Fear and Pain." Her voice hardened slightly. "And then we rescue my boy."
"Adam, right...? Yeah, it's about time he comes home." Something passed over Dmitri's face, something she had never seen in his eyes before. Understanding? No...a father's protectiveness.
That's right...Irina.
She opened her mouth to ask, but Vasilisa had already left the room, returning moments later with an infant in her arms. Joy all but melted on the spot -- a little girl, the soft downy hair on her head already a bright red, just as freckled as her mother. She was adorable, and god it just made her miss her little boy even more.
She felt Dmitri at her side, and she glanced at him. He had the look of a father on him, and she had to admit that it suited him more than she would have ever guessed.
"How old is she?" Joy asked quietly.
"She's two months old." Dmitri answered fondly, reaching out to take the baby from his wife. "Born three days before my fortieth birthday. Funny, isn't it? The Fury, only three years away from battle and already I'm a big fucking softie."
Joy laughed. "You always were one, Dmitri. Don't you deny it."
The three adults shared a quiet chuckle, before Joy's face grew serious.
"I hate to ask this of you now, Dmitri. You have a family...I don't want to take you away from them like this." Her voice was soft, but firm. If he didn't want to go, he didn't have to. She didn't want to tear a family apart, refused to be like the men who tore hers away.
But Vasilisa spoke again, making the choice irrelevant.
"Joy. You won't need to take him away from us." She smiled. "We're going with you, all of us."
Two voices in unison rose, in surprise and - in Dmitri's case - protest. Vehement protest. But Vasilisa stood firm, smiling again her knowing smile.
"You should know better than to question me, Dima dear." She said lightly. "I saw it. We're with you. It's quite a nice little pack we'll have..."
Dmitri's mouth worked in wordless frustration, and Joy stifled a laugh. It was nice to see him again.
"Dmitri, she is psychic." She reminded him. "If she says she comes with us, she comes with us. It'll be nice for Adam to have someone close to his age, I suppose."
Dmitri groaned, running his hands down his face. "You're all crazy. Absolutely crazy. I married a crazy woman and my boss is crazier than she used to be. Oh my god. Oh my god, am I actually the sane one? This can't be happening."
The women shared a glance and then a laugh, and Joy patted him on the shoulder affectionately. "I'm sorry Dmitri, but you're sadly outvoted. Now go put some proper clothes on so we can get going."
He sighed heavily, and as he walked away, Joy added after him. "Besides, you should be used to crazy. You had Inácio, after all!"
"Oh my fucking God, Joy, shut up!"
Loud laughter followed the red-faced Dmitri up the stairs.
---------------------
Twenty minutes later, three people and a still-sleeping infant left the village. There hadn't been much to pack; they were travelling light, and really only needed Irina's things.
Sorrow was stunned to see Vasilisa and Irina, but warmed to her quickly upon the revelation she was psychic - birds of a feather, Joy supposed.
She was glad that the two new members of the group had been accepted so readily, and could only wonder if there would be any more surprises like this as she retrieved her other two boys.
Her family was reuniting, though, and more were joining. It was surreal, but at the same time...comforting.
They had always been a family, and it was quickly returning to that - she smiled to herself as she looked at the sleeping baby in the backseat. Soon, she promised herself. Soon my little boy will be with me again.
Her own eyes drifted shut as the Jeep bounced along the dirt road. This next part would be a long trip...Romania was a ways away, but that's where they needed to go next.
