Here's an AU I've been rotating in my brain for a bit that I'm sure you'd enjoy: Evil Handler AU, but the regular Handler is also there. This is because the Evil Handler is from the future, specifically from a timeline where Phoenix died and he didn't take it well, so he went back in time to kidnap them for 'safety' and the regular Handler has to save the day.
hello anon thank you for coming to the resident angst enjoyer, time travel fukery is always fun to mess around with
i really like the idea of the Evil™ handler not being implicitly evil but instead just being so wrought with grief for his phoenix that he Had to do something about it-- i'm thinking of it kinda like JD from Heathers?? like, having that drive to protect the ones he loves, going so far as to kill to ensure their safety
also im thinking of the sudden dread that phoenix would feel, seeing this older, more worn handler approaching them, looking a little manic but well meaning then hearing the voice of their real Handler... they probably think its a ploy by Zoraxis again but this feels more... personal... something something psychological warfare stuff??? maybe ooh--a 'who are you, what are you doing, what do you want' moment, phoenix being backed into a corner like a feral animal. how desperate would they get, would they want to throw hands, attack this facsimile of their handler,,, oogh