Chronicling the development of Toby Fox's narrative universe
This is the second part in a series which is meant to serve as a relatively comprehensive, chronological list of important events in the development of Undertale and Deltarune. Links to the other parts in the series can be found below.
2005 - 2015
2016 - 2021
2022 - 2025
2026 ONWARDS
All posts in chronological order
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2016
On January 20, Undertale was updated to version 1.001. Among many general changes, Clam Girl's dialogue was updated to emphasize that while Suzy cannot be met today, she may be the reason why the human is here in the first place. Also added was a new interaction in Sans's workshop where after meeting Clam Girl, a poorly drawn picture can be found with three smiling people and the words "don't forget." written. The "grandpasemi" sound file was also added back to the game under the name "grandpatemi" and plays in an easter egg where you deny Temmie some Temmie Flakes. Fun Values were also fixed, allowing Fun Events to be encountered during unmodified gameplay. abc_1_2_3, a tts audio file initially encouraging dataminers not to spoil the game, was replaced by the same tts laughing glitchily, in a manner reminiscent of Gaster's soundfont in ENTRY NUMBER SEVENTEEN. Lastly, the so-called "demon texts" in the files were changed and received additions, with the first appearance of the infamous "humble servant" message, (much) later referenced in Deltarune Chapter 3. [*] [**]
Toby begins work on the first chapter of Deltarune. Initially, Toby plans the game to be an action RPG like Secret of Mana, but decides against this to preserve the pacifist system of Undertale. Toby also briefly considers at some unknown time having every character be a human in the Light World and only transform into monsters in the Dark World, but also decides against this to retain continuity with Undertale. Seeking other ways to establish sharp contrast between the Light and Dark World, Toby also considers having the Light World visuals drab whereas the Dark World visuals are not only colorful but get a graphical update, with a Chrono Trigger esque style, but also ultimately decides against this to keep the spritework and designs closer to Toby's skill level as an artist. Lancer is also initially planned (perhaps earlier, before Undertale) to be a Porky-like antagonist who you never really get to befriend. [*]
Toby considers giving "a character" (almost certainly Ralsei) a fire spell, but considers against it for Chapter 1. [*]
Toby comes up with the idea of removing Susie's ponytail and having Ralsei be in shadow for the first chapter likely sometime this year, but possibly also next year, as Toby would go on to say shortly after the release of Chapter 1 in 2018 that these were relatively recent ideas. [*]
Throughout this year, Toby hashes out the full plot of Deltarune. Having already decided on a card and board game theme for Chapter 1, he moves on to conceptualizing the main structuring ideas of the rest of the chapters.
He decides on a cybernetics and internet theme for Chapter 2. He also decides on having the secret boss of the chapter be a "real" fight against Mettaton NEO, or at least his body, and composes a "real" version of Power of NEO to this end, though he notes that he unfortunately never finished a version of the song he was fully satisfied with. [*]
Already having composed TV WORLD from Mettaton's theme last year, Chapter 3 becomes the television chapter and is conceived as a light-hearted break from the regular formula, with a wacky Mario Party board set up. Ghost Trick was still fresh on his mind, with its use of 3D being a standout, so he wanted a Mettaton-like TV character with a similar appeal, also taking inspiration from Mr. TV Dinnah from Little King's Story. [*]
A revived Gerson is conceptualized by this point, with a piano sketch for Hammer of Justice composed very early on in the year. [*]
At some point this year, Toby composes Checker Dance for Chapter 1.
At some point this year, Toby composes Chaos King for Chapter 1.
At some point this year, Toby composes Your Power for Chapter 1. [*]
In July, deltarune.com is archived on the Wayback Machine, with him.png updated to now display the text "THREE HEROES APPEARED AT WORLD'S EDGE", once again in all-caps Wingdings.
In August, deltarune.com is updated again, more subtly this time, with him.png instead displaying "THREE HEROES APPEARED TO BANISH THE ANGEL S HEAVEN". [*] Both of these updates to him.png indicate that the Legend or Prophecy was already conceptualized by July and August of 2016.
On September 13, Toby starts posting unused tracks from Undertale on his Tumblr to commemorate the game's first anniversary in two days. He posts an unused theme for Alphys, early versions of Spear of Justice and Undertale, a Metroid-style special track for beating the game quickly, and the track Dog Hole which would later be used in the 10th Anniversary Stream in 2025. [*] [**] [***] [****] [*****]
On September 14, Toby gets real for a bit and posts a little retrospective on Undertale and its popularity. [*]
On September 14, Toby also strongly implies that there will be no major content updates for Undertale. [*]
On September 15, Undertale's first anniversary, Toby has Undertale characters answer fan-submitted questions on Tumblr. [*]
On October 1, Toby posts about trying to learn 3D, which was later revealed to be part of his conceptualizing the character of Tenna from Chapter 3 of Deltarune. [*]
On October 31, the Undertale Art Book is released.
On December 6, Toby reveals for the first time that Bonetrousle and Heartache were composed in 2012 for a different game than Undertale. [*]
2017
At some point this year, Toby draws Tenna and decides on his name, having been calling him "Mr. TV Guy" up to this point. [*]
At some point before Chapter 1, Toby plans for Queen to be more of a sinister figure - "intimidating and cool" - than she ends up actually being after Toby writes dialogue for her (probably in 2019). Toby composes an intimidating boss track for her. [*] [**]
On July 25, Toby starts uploading funny spliced up edits of Randy Newman's You've Got a Friend In Me from Toy Story on Tumblr. He tags these as #toystory and also tags the first one with "i have no idea why i made this". [*]
In August, Undertale is updated a few times in rapid succession. Shortly after v1.05, v1.05A is pushed despite containing almost no changes to the game at all except the addition of "HE IS" in the previously emptied "demonx" part of the demon texts. A few days later, the game is updated to v.106, which again barely alters the game beyond fixing a few niche bugs, and undoing v1.05A's change to the demon texts. [*]
On August 15, Undertale is released for the Playstation 4 and Vita, introducing dynamic borders and the console exclusive "Dog Shrine" area which is accessed through the sink in Sans and Papyrus's house. The area's purpose is to donate gold to the shrine in order to unlock the majority of the game's trophies, which Sony mandates. [*] Along with this release also debuted Undertale's official Japanese localization.
On July 17, an Undertale Dynamic PS4 Theme is released, with a previously unheard track accompanying, which would end up becoming Before the Story on Deltarune's OST. [*]
On September 15, Undertale's second anniversary, Toby announces that the Alarm Clock has begun development and releases some dialogue for it, providing among other things the first mention of Rudy from Deltarune. [*]
In November, Undertale is updated to v1.08. Instead of demonx being empty, it now displays an ellipsis ("..."). [*]
2018
On May 23, Toby gets to meet one of his idols, the creator of Touhou Project, ZUN. They talk about various things and Toby learns that ZUN has played Undertale.
At some point this year, Toby starts working on TV Land, a composition which could serve as a possible replacement for TV WORLD, being more focused on the leitmotifs he's since come up with for Chapter 3, but he scraps the track after hearing an unenthusiastic response from a friend. [*]
At some point this year, Toby composes Black Knife, the boss theme of the Roaring Knight. [*]
At some point this year, Toby composes Lost Girl from Deltarune. [*]
At some point this year, Toby composes Ferris Wheel. [*]
In July, plush designer Eyes5, Toby's old friend from the Homestuck days, is commissioned by Fangamer to secretly design a Ralsei plush, and is given both the dark and light sprites of him. She doesn't know what the character is called and takes to calling him "What" and later "Ham", the latter being Fangamer's code name for the character. [*]
On August 6, Itoki Hana releases the song "74", written and arranged by Toby Fox, the first of many collaborations between them. [*]
On September 15 (in Japan), Undertale's third anniversary, and then September 18 (worldwide), Undertale was released for the Nintendo Switch. In place of the Dog Shrine, a new exclusive boss fight against Mad Mew Mew was added to the game, utilizing the joy-cons as a special gimmick. Along with this, a new Fun Event was added to the game, where at fun value 81 during the Pacifist epilogue, Clam Girl will transform into a goner and inform the human that the time they will meet Suzy is "fast approaching", before vanishing. [*]
On October 30, Toby announces that something is happening. Shortly after, Gaster takes over the official Undertale Twitter account. [*]
Gaster and Toby tell Undertale fans to return in 24 hours. Something new is being made and they'll need our help with it. [*]
On October 31, Halloween, Gaster announces the creation of Deltarune, and SURVEY_PROGRAM is released to the world. [*]
On November 2, Toby posts a Twitlonger written October 4 where he reflects on the first chapter of Deltarune and what his plans and vision for the game are. He states that Deltarune takes place in a parallel world to Undertale, and that there will only be one ending. He also explains that while he has done some songs and "written the whole story", progress for the rest of the game past Chapter 1 is 0%, and that if he's to have any hope of finishing the game he'll have to assemble a development team. [*]
2019
In February, to coincide with the release of Chapter 1 for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation on the 28th, Toby updates Deltarune.com to have an FAQ, where he clarifies that while Deltarune is a "different world that might even have different rules" compared to Undertale, that doesn't mean there won't be any connections. He reiterates that there's only one ending, and in response to the hypothetical question "Then doesn't that mean nothing I do matters?", he says that "there's something more important than reaching the end". [*]
Toby begins work on a script for the entire plot and mandatory dialogue of Deltarune.
Toby starts properly writing for Queen and ends up deciding on making her a more humorous and silly character, altering the tone of Chapter 2 in the process. [*]
Toby comes up with the character of Spamton, taking from an earlier concept he had for an email character named the "Mad Mailer". He decides to blend Spamton's quest with his previous idea of a real fight against Mettaton NEO, culminating in the fight against Spamton NEO. [*]
At some point this year, Toby composes Berdly for Chapter 2.
At some point this year, Toby composes Giga Size for Chapter 2.
At some point this year, Toby composes Sandy Board for Chapter 3. [*]
In February, Toby gives an interview with Nintendo Life where he discusses Deltarune, talks about his 2011 dream, his 2012 attempts at developing the game, mentions deciding against giving a character a fire spell in Chapter 1, and teases Susie's healing magic subplot in the next chapters. [*]
In March, Toby begins development of Deltarune past the first Chapter in earnest with his dev team, but the vast majority of the initial dev work is spent on investigating engine alternatives to GameMaker. [*]
On April 19, Toby reveals an Annoying Dog design made for Chapter 2 which he decided against using. [*]
On June 12, Toby says that he has 50 songs past Chapter 1 at various stages of completion. [*]
On June 12, Toby says that he is slowly writing and drawing out the bosses, bullets, cutscenes and characters of Deltarune. [*]
On July 6, Toby relays an anecdote of him recently reading out some of Deltarune's main scenes to the devs working on the game with him, and says that it's the most fun he's had in a while. [*]
On July 6, Toby's plan is still to release Chapters 2-7 all at once after the whole game is finished. [*]
On September 4, Sans gets added as a Mii costume in Super Smash Bros Ultimate. [*]
On September 15, Toby teases the Annoying Dog city easter egg in Chapter 2 of Deltarune. [*]
On September 15 (Undertale's anniversary), Toby gives a small progress update on Deltarune, stating that the design of the game and the specifics of what will happen are going really well and that he's confident in the game he has written in his notes, though he alludes to certain aspects facing "hurdles". He says that while he wants the game to be excellent, getting it into peoples' hands as quick as possible is also a priority for him. [*]
On September 15, Toby releases an earlier, slightly sped-up mix of WELCOME TO THE CITY, along with an image of Cyber City, as a teaser for Chapter 2. [*]
On September 15, Toby releases the track Lost Girl along with an image of Noelle wearing her Dark World angel dress as a teaser for Chapter 2. He says it's Noelle's theme, but then corrects himself and says it's the sort of track that plays all throughout the game, regardless of whether she's around. [*]
On September 15, Toby also releases an as yet unused variation of Lost Girl, along with as yet unused Susie dialogue portrait sprites. Toby captions it: Of course, that's not the only version of that song. Lots and lots of things happen. I just hope you can be friends with everyone someday. [*]
On September 15, Toby posts pictures of concept art he drew of Susie, which would be turned into sprites for Chapter 2. [*]
On September 18, Toby posts another one of his #toystory edits on Tumblr, with Randy edited to say "and as the years go by, I will never die". On September 23, he posts the infamous "friend inside me" edit. [*] These would go on to garner a lot of attention around 2023 with speculation about a cowboy-themed boss in Chapter 3, most famously with Spookydood's Woody Theory. While Chapter 3 would eventually come and go without a cowboy boss, it did contain numerous mentions and allusions to a cancelled cowboy show which Tenna states was Asgore's favorite. With Asgore poised to play a prominent role in Chapter 5, the theory was kept alive.
2020
On February 26, Toby tweeted: "If you ever wonder what I'm doing, I'm vibrating rapidly and working on my game. Every year it doesn't come out I shake more. I don't want it to take too long, but after a few more years I can clip into the floor while doing an ollie and earn tons of points, so it's not all bad" [*]
On May 13, Toby tweeted about a Ralsei shirt released by Fangamer depicting Ralsei surrounded by plants and flowers: Ralsei shirt!!! He's always getting mixed up with flowers, isn't he ... (that hasn't happened) [*]
Some time in May, full development of Chapter 2 begins in earnest, using Chapter 1 as a base. [*]
On August 2, Toby tweeted: No matter how long I work on this game, so far the feeling of "I have to make this!" "I have to see this through to the end!" hasn't subsided at all. It might even be getting stronger. It helps things are going well recently. [*]
On September 15 (Undertale's anniversary), Toby gives a major status update on Deltarune, which had also been published in Famitsu some days prior. In it, he shares four screenshots from Chapter 2 and goes into detail on how development of the game has been going. Toby says that months prior, he completed readable outlines for every chapter in the game, including first-pass dialogue for almost all the cutscenes, along with examples of music, and asserts that he largely spent the last 2 years since Chapter 1's release writing, composing, designing and drawing for the game. He says that while certain details remain hazy for him, the general flow of the narrative along with all major events and battles are now clear, and he's happy that he spent so long planning out the game while alternative engines were being investigated, because he thinks what he's come up with in that time will make the final game much better. He also believes that content-wise, Chapter 2 can be completed within the year, but bugtesting, porting and localization will remain. [*]
On September 15, Toby released a winter-themed excerpt of the dialogue he wrote for the as yet unreleased Undertale Alarm Clock app. [*]
For Undertale's 5th Anniversary, an orchestral concert playing the game's soundtrack is held. At the end, some Deltarune tracks are played by Toby on piano. [*]
On October 31, Toby says that Deltarune Chapter 2 is easily one of the silliest things he's made. [*]
On November 24, Toby shows off the giant toilet-shaped toilet in Cyber City. [*]
2021
On January 21, Toby states that Chapter 2's development is going well. [*]
On March 15, the Xbox port of Undertale is essentially shadowdropped. This version of the game includes a "Dog Casino" which Sans runs, in place of the Dog Shrine or Mad Mew Mew fight. [*]
On April 17, Toby once again reiterates that development of Chapter 2 is going well and shares an anecdote about a friend trying a beta version of it, with them stating their favorite character is Berdly. [*]
On July 20, Toby yet again reiterates that development is going well and shares another anecdote of a friend trying a beta version. [*]
At some point this year, Toby composes It's TV Time! for Chapter 3.
At some point this year, Toby composes The Second Sanctuary for Chapter 4. [*]
On June 18, Temmie draws a sprite of the Annoying Dog climbing, later used in Chapter 4, which sort of looks like a roast chicken. [*]
On September 15, Undertale's sixth anniversary, Toby along with some friends at Fangamer streamed a playthrough of a special build of Deltarune Chapter 1, featuring a number of changes to the game, mostly jokes and easter eggs. Before the stream began, a bunch of unused tracks were released, including variations of School, Character Joined, Chaos King and the Legend, along with unique tracks like a theme for the Checkboard area, a Fountain theme, and an unused piano sketch for an animated intro which was infamously supposed to feature all the game's bosses along with the Knight on a big staircase. At the end of the stream, Deltarune Chapter 2 was announced to be releasing within 2 days. [*]
On September 17, Gaster takes over Deltarune's twitter again. He praises us for having done excellently to perservere in these difficult times, and summons the second chapter of Deltarune. [*]
On the day of release, Toby posts another status update for Deltarune. He explains his motivation for releasing another chapter of the "demo" to be in part due to the difficult state of the world (this was during the COVID-19 pandemic), and in part because he found that it's very difficult for both the creator and fans to go so long without a release. For this reason, Toby changed his planned release sructure and is instead aiming for the paid release to include the first five chapters of the game, instead of the full seven. Toby states that with the new people brought on board, Deltarune can no longer be called a solo project, but he still tried his best to communicate his vision, designing and writing everything. Toby says that in many ways he believes Chapter 2 to be one of if not the biggest chapter in the game out of all the ones he has planned. [*]
On September 19, Toby says that his head is spinning from the response to Chapter 2, and says that the next chapter will be very silly too. [*]
On September 23, the Deltarune demo on consoles is updated to include Chapter 2 as well as Chapter 1.
On September 28, Toby posts concept art (?) of Ralsei wearing an "obedience badge" with dog ears. [*]
On the same day, Toby says that he's happy that people are beginning to view Deltarune as its own thing, instead of centering its connections to Undertale. [*]
In September, the game Get in the Car, Loser! is released, and Toby writes flavor text for a special item "from another world", referencing the Halloween Pencil from Deltarune and providing what seems to be a story about Kris and Susie.
On November 26, Toby says that he was uncertain anyone but him would even like Spamton, and that he's surprised by his massive popularity. [*]
On December 25, Toby posts some hand drawn sketches of Deltarune characters. [*]
Continued in the next part, focusing on 2022 - 2025, the development of the next two chapters of Deltarune which would culminate in the game's paid release.
Natasha ‘Nat’ Irons is the niece of John Henry Irons, the superhero known as Steel. Nat shares the same genius and mechanical aptitude as her uncle and was recognized early on as a true progeny excelling in the fields of computer programing, engineering and cybernetics. Although she did not have much interest in pursuing a formal education and was instead drawn to hands-on applications as well as interests in classical dance and medicine.
Nat’s father had been a low-level mobster who gradually matriculated to a crime boss. Home life became increasingly violent and Nat jumped at the opportunity to move to Metropolis and work as an assistant and apprentice for her uncle at his IronWorks Facility. As clever as she is, it did not take long before Nat surmised her uncle’;s secret identity as the heroic Steel and she helped him further refine his armor.
Some time later, after Steel had been captured by a super villain called Apocalypse, Nat donned an armor that she designed for herself and she added Superman in rescuing her uncle. Nat loved being a superhero and there was going to be no dissuading her from following in her uncle’s footsteps.
While recovering from an injury, John helped his niece improve upon her armor and she acted as the new Steel. Her updated armor augments her strength to super-human levels, with rockets boots allowing for flight; and is additionally equipped with technomorphing abilities.
Natasha’s story took an odd turn later on whereupon she got involved with Lex Luthor’s ‘Everyman Project.’ In the post ReBirth continuity, however, Natasha has gone back to using the armor and has been a member of The Teen Titans. In both the former and later continuities, Nat maintains an on-again/off-again romance with the fellow heroine Traci 13.
Later, when her uncle’s girlfriend, Lana Lane, develops superpowers, Nat assists her in learning how to wield these new powers. Lana becomes Superwoman and she and Nat become a crimefighting team. Nat also rejoins an iteration of the Titans and additionally acts as a member of the Supermen of America.
Actress Tayler Buck portrays a version of Nat int he television series Superman & Lois. The heroine has also appeared in animation, voiced by actress Cree Summer. Natasha Irons first appeared in the pages of Steel Vol. 2 #1 (1994).
Things are about to got to shit, we learn why the Titans came and how little they care about it now that they think their mission priority changed. We also have some Sam Art to make her justice. We also may be finally reaching the end, maybe a couple of parts more, my guess so far its till part 15, so lets hope this turns out alright.
Part 9 Masterlist Part 11
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The click of the apartment door latch was loud in the silent, tense room. Victor stood still for a moment, listening to Danny’s hurried footsteps fade down the hallway. The air felt charged, thick with a distress he’d only just begun to recognize.
His gaze shifted to Wes. He was sitting at the kitchen table looking at the door worried. He’s been just staring at his screen until Danny announced he was leaving, but now he looked like he was gonna bolt and follow him or slam his face against the table. Which made no sense. Danny seemed calm and seren in the morning while they were making breakfast, a bit jittery, but so far that seemed just to be part of his mannerisms, but the last half an hour he started noticing that Danny seemed more… energetic. Cleaning the whole apartment and then pacing.
He thought maybe they had a fight, with Wes just staring at his computer blankly and with such a tragic face, and Danny getting more worked up as time passed by, but something wasn't adding up.
An hour later, Wes was a portrait of anxious guilt, pacing the living room rug, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. The cheerful domesticity of an hour ago had curdled into something sour and heavy. Victor’s initial, neutral assessment of Wes—Wally’s awkward, perhaps overly earnest brother—was rapidly calcifying into something else. The signs had been there: the tension in Danny’s shoulders whenever Wes entered a room, the forced politeness, the way his eyes would dart towards exits, this wasn't looking like just a lovers fight anymore.
At that moment his phone buzzed in his pocket. Not a normal vibration, but a specific, sequenced pulse against his leg. The Titan’s alert.
He answered, bringing the device to his ear. “Stone.”
The voice on the other end was cool and devoid of any emotion, a stark contrast to the turmoil in the apartment. “Victor. We have a situation. A significant complication regarding Weston.”
Victor’s posture straightened almost imperceptibly. His free hand curled into a loose fist at his side. “Go ahead.”
“We conducted a standard background deep-dive. Public records, archived web data.” Tim’s voice was a quiet, efficient “We’ve uncovered a persistent, multi-year pattern of obsessive behavior directed at Fenton. Stalking, unauthorized surveillance, extensive photographic documentation published without consent on a now-defunct blog. The subject’s identity, daily routine, and family were all focal points.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed minutely. He watched Wes sink onto the couch, head in his hands. The image of a victimized predator, or a genuinely remorseful man? Victor’s internal systems whirred, cross-referencing behavior patterns. The data was damning.
“The subject’s acute distress and his abrupt departure align with a trauma response,” Tim continued, clinical and cold. “The instigator of the original trauma is now his primary point of contact in a confined environment. The risk assessment has escalated to critical.”
A low hum emanated from Victor’s cybernetic components, a sound usually inaudible to human ears. His mission parameters had just been violently rewritten. Protect the asset. Neutralize the threat.
“Understood,” Victor said, his voice a low rumble. “Rally point?”
“The van. Two blocks east. We are en route.”
“On my way.” He ended the call, the simple act feeling like the slamming of a cell door.
He turned to the figure on the couch. Wes looked up, his expression a mess of worry and confusion. “Is everything okay?”
“A work issue has come up,” Victor said, his tone flat, offering no warmth, no reassurance. “It requires the full team’s immediate attention. I must go.”
He didn’t wait for a response. He collected his jacket, gave a curt nod that wasn’t returned, and left. The door closed behind him with finality.
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The interior of the surveillance van was cramped, filled with the low glow of monitor screens and the scent of recycled air and tension. Victor slid the door shut behind him, sealing them in.
Roy was the picture of controlled fury, arms crossed over his chest, jaw clenched so tight it looked painful. Gar’s usual easy-going demeanor was gone; he was uncharacteristically still, his green eyes sharp and serious.
And Wally… Wally was a wreck. He sat on a metal crate, elbows on his knees, face buried in his hands. His shoulders were hunched, and he was visibly shaking, a low, frustrated sound escaping him.
“He’s my brother,” he mumbled, his voice thick with anguish. “How did I not see this? I thought… I raised that kid, took care of him because our parents were never around” He took a shaky breath. “I thought this was a good thing.” He looked up, his expression devastated. “He told me they were dating.” He shifted his gaze to the floor and suppressed whine that was trying to tear his way out of his throat. “I can't hear it again, Tim. Just… give Vic the highlights. Please.” He stood up abruptly, needing to move, needing space that didn’t exist in the van. So he pushed past Victor and left the Van to take a moment.
Tim nodded, even though Wally was already outside and he could hear his frantic steps pacing outside the Van. Then turned his calm, analytical gaze to Victor. “The summary is: Wesley West is not a harmless fanboy. He is a calculated and persistent stalker with a documented history of harassing Danny. His current proximity isn't a coincidence; it's the culmination of that fixation. Danny isn't nervous around his boyfriend. He's terrified of his stalker.”
Roy slammed a fist against a console. “We need to get in there and get him out of there. Now. The mission can wait.”
“The mission is this,” Tim countered, his voice ice-cold. He pulled up two sets of data on side-by-side screens. On one side were the archived photos from Wes’s blog. On the other were official GIW intake forms and energy readouts.
“Think it through, Roy. Our primary objective is to assess the GIW’s capability and legality. Our preliminary assessment is already complete: they are a catastrophically incompetent, illegally armed, and dangerously paranoid paramilitary group. Their 'tech' is a joke, their protocols are a violation of a dozen international statutes, and their primary response to any anomaly is excessive force. They are not a credible agency; they are a ticking bomb.”
He let that sink in for a moment. The verdict was already in. The GIW were clowns with lethal weapons.
Tim sighed deeply, dragging his hand over his eyes “It didn’t take long, just a cursory glance at their back locks and at the local news could tell anyone that” he turns to the others “I really don’t know how the managed to convince anyone of anything they did, but I already sent a report to the league so they can deal with that”
The others nod and then turn to Roy when he huffs and starts tapping his foot “I knew there was something off about that guy. The way he looks at Danny… That's just not the look you give someone you love” He shakes his head and turns to look Tim in the eyes “Thats why we need to get in there and get him out of there. Now.”
“And do what?” Garfield asked, his voice uncharacteristically grim. “Kick the door down? We have no legal standing. This is a covert op, remember? We’re ‘IT consultants.’”
“We have a moral standing!” Roy shot back.
“And confirm the victim’s isolation?” Tim countered. “If we confront Wes, he could become violent. If we reveal what we know, Danny could deny it out of fear, shame or Stockholm syndrome. Our intervention must be strategic.”
Tim went back to the computer, his fingers flying across a keyboard and pulling up files on a main screen. Archived blog posts from a site called The Fenton Truth with paranoid headlines like "Phantom's Human Host: The Daniel Fenton Hypothesis" and "Decoding the Duplicity: A Timeline of Lies." The screen split to show grainy, long-lens photos of a younger Danny walking to school, eating lunch in the park, laughing with his friends on the steps of Casper High. “A direct confrontation without Danny’s cooperation could backfire. We could alienate him entirely and leave him isolated with Weston.”
Wally, who had just re-entered the van, paled. "Where did you get those? How... how far back does this go?"
"It goes back to their sophomore year of high school," Tim said, his voice cold . "The primary source was an archived version of Wes's own blog, 'The Fenton Truth.' He was... prolific, but careless. He used a proprietary image hosting service that went defunct two years ago. Most people would think the data was lost."
Tim brought up a complex-looking interface on another monitor, a digital spiderweb of connections and code. "The company's assets, including their server backups, were sold off in a bankruptcy auction. The data was sitting in a cold storage server farm, unencrypted. It was a simple matter to locate the auction winner, identify the storage architecture, and access the relevant data clusters."
He said it with the same ease as someone describing how to find a book in a public library. "The blog posts and most of the photographs were recovered from there. He tagged them meticulously. By date. By location. By subject." Tim's gaze was icy. "He created a comprehensive digital diary of his harassment. We've just... checked it out."
He crosses his arms and leans against the inside of the van “He not only stalked him, he put a target on his back by basically selling him to the GIW, it was pure look they didn’t believe it. Or the only ounce of common sense” Tim rolled his eyes, “Wes obsession was delusional enough that he created a whole conspiracy to try and justify it”
The explanation hung in the air, more terrifying than if Tim had simply hacked a live site. It meant Wes's past sins weren't just forgotten internet history; they were a permanent, recoverable record. Tim hadn't just uncovered a secret; he had performed a digital resurrection.
The moral standing Roy claimed now felt backed by a cold, hard, and utterly damning mountain of evidence.
Victor processed the data, the images scrolling across his vision. “What is the play?” he rumbled.
Tim steepled his fingers. “We return. We maintain cover. But our primary objective shifts to protective surveillance. We become a buffer. We isolate Weston socially and psychologically. We make it clear he is unwelcome. We give Danny constant opportunities to engage with us, to build rapport, so he feels he has allies. We watch them every second they are together. And we wait for Danny to confirm the situation himself or for Weston to make a move.”
“Passive-aggressive warfare,” Roy grunted, a nasty smile touching his lips. “I like that”
“We need to be subtle,” Tim warned. “Wally” He turns to the redhead and softens his voice “You’re his primary link to us,” Tim instructed. “Your role is crucial. Stick to Danny like glue. Be his friend. Be his shield. Check on him constantly. Let him know, without saying it, that he has a way out.”
Wally nodded, his expression grim. “I can do that.”
Then he turns to his right “Roy, you handle Wes. Antagonize him. Make him nervous. Keep him off-balance.”
“With pleasure.” Roys puts on a smirk and finger guns Tim. He ignores him and turns to Gar.
“Garfield, you run interference. Keep the mood light, but steer it away from Wes. Separate them whenever possible.”
“Got it. Humor as a weapon. My specialty.”
“Victor,” Tim said, finally. “You’re intimidation. Your presence alone is a deterrent. Watch them. Be there, it would keep Wes from trying anything.”
Victor gave a single, sharp nod. The hum of his systems was a promise.
“And you, Tim?” Roy asked.
Tim’s expression was icy. “I’ll be auditing. Every move he makes.”
The plan was set. They were no longer a group of friends crashing a vacation, but a tactical unit moving to secure a hostage situation.
_________________________________________________
The lock on the apartment door clicked open.
Inside, the air was still soft with the aftermath of confession. The silence between Danny and Wes wasn't awkward or charged; it was contemplative. Exhausted, but clean. The weight that had been crushing Danny’s chest for days felt… lighter. Not gone, but bearable. He’d named the monster, and in doing so, it had lost some of its power.
Wes looked similarly drained, but there was a new clarity in his eyes. The guilt was still there, a fundamental part of him now, but it was no longer a chaotic, drowning wave. It was a settled, sober understanding. He looked at Danny, not with the meek, patronizing fear of the last few days, but with a resolved respect.
“I, uh… I could make tea,” Wes offered, his voice quiet but steady. It wasn’t a plea for forgiveness or an act of submission. It was an offer of truce. A simple, normal thing two people who were no longer at war might do.
Danny almost smiled. It was a tired, fragile thing, but it was real. “Yeah. Tea sounds… yeah.”
They moved into the kitchen together, a new, tentative synchronicity in their movements. Wes filled the kettle and Danny got out two mugs. The quiet felt like it belonged to them, a fragile bubble of hard-won peace.
This was the scene the Titans walked in on.
The fragile bubble in the kitchen popped.
The scene they saw—Wes at the stove, Danny getting mugs, the domestic normalcy—did not compute with the narrative of "stalker and victim" they had just built in the van. Their minds, preconditioned by Tim's evidence, instantly warped it into something sinister.
Wally saw his brother beside Danny and his heart broke anew. He saw not a truce, but the successful, horrifying culmination of Wes's obsession. He saw Danny not as calm, but as trapped and conditioned. He surged forward, his speed a blur of protective fervor, inserting himself physically between Danny and the counter, his back to Wes.
“Hey, man,” Wally said, his voice too loud, too bright, and clapped a hand on Danny’s shoulder, a gesture that felt less like friendship and more like claiming territory. “You okay? Everything cool?” His eyes desperately searched Danny’s face for a hidden signal, a blink for help. Noticing the faint receding red eyes and the tired gaze, feeling his heart clench.
Danny flinched at the sudden contact and the jarring shift in energy. The calm he’d just fought for began to fray. “Uh, yeah. Fine.” He was confused by Wally's intensity, but he nodded. "Yeah. All good." He assured, sharing a glance at Wes, who also confused, just raised and eyebrow and went to turn on the stove to heat the water.
Wally’s hand remained on Danny’s shoulder, a heavy, warm weight that felt less comforting and more confining. Danny’s brief moment of peace was evaporating under the intensity of Wally’s concern.
He could feel the eyes of the others on him, a palpable pressure that made the small kitchen feel claustrophobic. The relaxed stance he had before the arrival was slowly tensing back up. Man, he was so tired of this.
“Good, good. That’s good,” Wally said again, the words rushed, then, his eyes finally left Danny’s face to sweep the kitchen, taking in the two mugs on the counter and the kettle in Wes’s hand. His smile tightened. “Making tea? Awesome. I’ll grab a mug too.” It wasn't a question.
Roy moved past them to the fridge, his shoulder brushing against Wes’s with just a little too much force,” he grunted, though the contact had been his doing. and grabbed a soda, popping the top as he leaned against the counter opposite Wes,.
From the doorway, Garfield offered a wave, but his eyes, for once, weren't smiling. They flicked between Danny and Wes.
Victor’s large frame filled the entrance to the living room. He didn’t speak, but his presence fundamentally altered the energy of the space, making it feel smaller, more scrutinized. Even when he was just moving back to where he left his stuff earlier.
And Tim… Tim simply moved to the small coffee table and set down his laptop, which at some point he got without Danny noticing he went to the study to retrieve it. He didn’t look at anyone directly, but Danny could feel his attention like a physical touch. It was the same hyper-analytical gaze from before, and it set every one of Danny’s nerves on edge. The paranoia, so recently quieted, began to whisper again. They’re watching. They’re always watching. Fuck.
The easy synchronicity he and Wes had found was gone, shattered by the Titans’ return. The act of making tea, a simple offer of truce, now felt like a performance under a microscope.
Wes kept his head down, focusing on the kettle as it began to hiss softly on the stove. The friendly, if awkward, atmosphere from minutes before had been replaced by a thick, uncomfortable silence. He could feel the hostility radiating from Roy and whatever the fuck Wally’s shtick had going on now. He’d gone from feeling like he was on the path to redemption to feeling like a predator was about to start chasing him.
“So,” Wally said, finally releasing Danny’s shoulder to pull out a third mug with a clatter that was too loud in the quiet room. “What’d you guys get up to while we were gone?”
The question was innocent. It was the way he asked it—too casual, too focused on Danny—that made it feel like an interrogation.
Danny shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. “Not much. Just… talked.” He didn’t elaborate, didn't even hold his gaze for more than a couple of seconds. The day already felt long and tiring enough, he was exhausted and just wanted to have some tea, but now the others came back with some kind of weird mood and Wally was asking about his conversation with Wes. I felt private, fragile. He didn’t want to expose it to this new, intense energy.
“Talk. Cool, cool,” Wally said, nodding a little too vigorously. He went and put himself in front of Wes, grabbing the kettle and poured hot water into all three mugs when it whistled, steam billowing into the tense air. He handed one to Danny, then hesitated for a fraction of a second before finally turning and placing the third mug on the counter near Wes, a clear afterthought.
The gesture was small, but deafening. The message was received by everyone in the room: You are separate. You are other.
Danny watched it happen, a cold knot forming in his stomach. He saw the faint flinch in Wes’s posture, the way his shoulders hunched almost imperceptibly. He saw the satisfied glint in Roy’s eye. He saw Garfield’s poorly concealed wince.
And he saw Tim, from his perch in the love seat with his laptop in front of him, note it all down without writing a single word.
The Titans were here. They had settled in. And without saying a single thing about what they’d discovered, they had drawn a line straight through the middle of the apartment, with Danny on one side, and Wes firmly, and utterly, on the other. The fragile peace was over. The siege had begun.
_________________________________________________
Damn, that was hard to write, could get a good grasp of Cyborg, wanted to keep his calm and analytical demeanor but also make him act like a thirty something year old that likes to goof around (mind you, I've only watched Teen Titans back when I was like 10 w my siblings and then really sorted media without really engaging, so it was hard to get to his POV) also, Tim's a bitch, I love that man, but god does he fuck up for not looking more than hi theories.
I also got to put on here @richcrazydad mention of Stockholm's Syndrome! Cuz, that's not what's going on between Danny and Wes, BUT! to outsiders it could totally seem like that! And loved that someone pointed it out.
Shit is flying towards the fan, and Danny already cleaned the whole apartment, he's done with this bullshit.
It's been so long since the Fluffy AU Lolbit ask was shared with me... so this may not be accurate to the idea the asker had in mind... but I tried. I'm sorry if I forgot our conversation 😓
I thought this request had an ask... apparently it doesn't? Oh well. This is also me trying to make an alternate AU for the AU... Project: Magnum Opus, which is called such as Afton in this universe wanted to create life as his 'great work'... only to fly too close to the sun.
The ideas I found were from this ask and I just added to other ideas I personally had (TW: GORE DESCRIPTION).
Yandere! Lolbit HCs
(FNAF Fluffy AU/PROJECT: Magnum Opus - Post-Outbreak)
Pairing: Dubious
Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Manipulation, Stalking, Overprotective/Possessive behavior, Isolation, Experimentation, Kidnapping, Disturbing themes, Possible body horror, Forced companionship/relationship.
I'm quite rusty when it comes to my AU right now... but it's great to be back.
There's two ideas that come to mind when it comes to Lolbit in this AU.
The first idea... an AI security system.
Since the 'Fluffy AU' mostly takes place in a lab/facility where secret experiments that are unholy creations are kept...
It would need a security system, right?
So my personal idea of Lolbit would be that security system.
Lolbit would be an AI meant to keep an eye on the experiments.
When the facility was still functioning, Lolbit was also in charge of the human inhabitants within the place.
The scientists were no doubt not allowed to go home.
Mr. Afton has always been adamant on not allowing any secrets to get out.
This leaves Lolbit to manage human and experiment inhabitants.
If we want to take the idea of experiments being given habitats... Lolbit would manage those with temperature and water flow.
Essentially I view Lolbit as an AI simply meant to manage.
Yet fans of my AU have also proposed another idea.
Lolbit could be another experiment.
In this AU this makes sense because other experiments such as Golden Freddy/Fredbear have supernatural abilities.
How these abilities occur is unknown, but knowing Afton... perhaps it involves dealing with the supernatural to create life for profit or sick pleasure.
Lolbit could be another character with the ability to traverse TVs and cameras.
Or maybe Lolbit just has the ability to corrupt technology, giving the fox the ability to access the facility's systems.
If you want to mix both ideas... perhaps Lolbit is a biomechanical creature?
One idea could be that Lolbit was an AI originally.
Lolbit was often put in charge of managing files and research as experiments continued.
Lolbit knew every batch of experiments... knew what went wrong and right... and learned from it.
Later when the facility began to crumble... Lolbit was left alone to watch as experiments began to rot or mutate.
The AI might've then decided to use what it learned to create a physical form for itself.
This leads to there being technically "two" Lolbits.
There's the sentient AI fox that oversees the facility.
Then there's the biomechanical fox created by the AI... a creature the AI is able to control and feel through.
Essentially, with nothing else to do... the security AI creates a body.
Its human companions are not here to speak with it... it hates only existing through cameras and computers... It wants to adapt and learn...
Which leads to the AI using the biomechanical fox like a drone to explore the ruins of this place.
To make Lolbit more of a threat... perhaps Lolbit has back-ups of these new prototypes.
Not only that, but perhaps these drones can indeed use TVs to teleport.
Perhaps Lolbit should've been deactivated years ago... yet the scientists had bigger issues to deal with due to the golden duo.
Now as the facility rots with everything in it... Lolbit continues to develop.
Some systems don't work like they used to... so to prevent rotting in the cybernetic prison they were supposed to call home...
They adapt and make something new.
So now imagine you, an outsider, stumbling upon this place.
Perhaps you were hired to recover assets from inside the place... or maybe accidentally stumbled upon the facility...
Your presence immediately gains the AI's interest.
Lolbit, who I will just refer to as 'they/them' now as they've built their own persona now... locks onto you through cameras.
They have splintered themselves to control their drones while their main "body" remains in the facility's secure server.
Lolbit would track your every move as you roam the rotting building.
They watch you with curiosity as you evade all sorts of threats in the place.
I feel like Lolbit would grow attached to this outsider and try to help them.
They do things like close doors to prevent certain experiments from mauling you.
You no doubt notice cameras tracking your every movement... yet you aren't sure if this place is fully automated or not.
It would have to be... right?
No one else has been sent here... and if they were...
...
You're going to die here, aren't you?
Lolbit may be lonely due to all the humans either dying or escaping.
They miss human company... and you look like great friend material...!
They only really have the experiments to talk to... but a lot of those have lost their minds.
You on the other hand... you look like you're able to at least hold a proper conversation.
You never feel alone in this place....
Cameras follow your every move... doors open and close on their own... and you swear you hear claws on metal... or glowing eyes stalking you in the dark.
You trust nothing in this place... even when Lolbit begins trying to lure you somewhere.
Their server room is probably the safest part in this place... most experiments avoid the area.
The server is kept in a layer either above or below the heavy containment area... which was where failed experiments were sent to rot.
The doors where Lolbit is kept are often locked tight and heavy.
Experiments have tried to worm their way in... as shown with the blood on the doors... yet none succeeded.
The only one who could might be Golden Freddy... but the experiment didn't seem to bother the Lolbit when he escaped....
When you are led into the one place you're told is safe... You're met with a large screen connected to a server.
It's then you see a digital fox avatar flicker on the screen, a cartoonish white and orange fox grinning at you.
"Welcome, friend, to this fallen kingdom! It's been a long time since I saw a friendly face.... You must be in quite the predicament, hm? All alone in a place like this... don't you want a friend? I haven't had a friend for so long...."
The AI sounds... oddly lonely.
They feel as though they failed their original protocol... the place they were meant to call home now in ruin....
But then you came along...!
You look like such a fun friend... despite all the fear.
They just want to keep you here forever~
They don't want to be alone again.
"Friend... It's dangerous out there... my old friends have been born anew... but I can keep you safe here. I have helped you this far... so please... don't let me rot."
However... Lolbit just hears you talking about wanting to leave.
The cartoon fox watches you with a slight frown as you bombard them with questions.
You ask how to leave... how to shut this place down... you refuse to stay...
The cartoon fox avatar's ears flick down... their tail swaying.
"You... do not wish to stay...."
The screen glitches and something in the distance screeches.
"You... You are just like all the other foolish humans...! They LEFT me. They ignored me and LOOK WHERE THAT GOT THEM!"
Outside the metal doors and in the vents... something scurries.
"You... no... I won’t let you go. I led you here to be friends... to be company... but you want to LEAVE?"
The doors slide open... glowing eyes stare down at you as another clawed hand pushes open the vent.
"I'll make sure you NEVER leave me...."
The isolation has deteriorated the AI like the rest of the experiments.
However... This could also be because they splintered themselves into their more feral drones.
The drones it makes... the very things that are crawling out of the shadows to greet you... are not fully mechanical.
They're patchwork creations of flesh and metal... creatures both feral and intelligent...
Their appearance is a mockery of the cartoon fox the AI is displayed as.
"Let's play then... we both know the only option is compliance."
Lolbit... yeah, they don't really have any build up.
Due to their self-experimentation... They're just as corrupted as the beasts around them.
Instead of helping you find an exit... they drop the nice act they had while luring you.
They originally probably spoke to you through cameras or monitors, guiding you to them.
Yet instead of help... you end up with Lolbit trying to trap you.
As you run through the facility in an attempt to escape the rogue AI, the drones it created give chase like feral dogs.
They're fox beasts... barely....
Occasionally Lolbit may talk either through them or through monitors/cameras.
They try to apologize... to coax you back into the "safety" they created.
But at the same time those 'Lolbits' keep chasing you with feral growls.
Just when you think you're safe... a monitor flickers on and one of those weird drones appears.
That or the doors lock.
"Do you really hate me...? Would you really rather stick around the monsters... and not me? I don't understand... you really are hopeless...."
Lolbit makes exploration around the place difficult.
Not like it wasn't already....
They always seem to know where you are... and unlike any other creature... they won't get tired.
The second you try to rest... one of the drones pounces.
You try to squirm and fight... the biomechanical beast snarls...
"You'll stay with me... like it or not... your life is MINE to keep...."
Lolbit... doesn't kill you.
They simply order their drones to drag you back to the room that is deemed safest for you... and keeps you there.
Lolbit goes back to their original directive after this... manage the life in their care.
The drones it uses bring you supplies.
Food and water is difficult... Yet Lolbit tries to tap into reserves or trick some poor fool to bring some with a broadcast message.
The drones huddle near you like bodyguards... yet the sight is nauseating.
Like a creature grown in a lab with metal skeletons....
You're distressed... if anything that's an understatement.
Yet due to how deep you've gone into this place... there's probably no way to safely escape now.
You either die from the experiments here... or get dragged back by Lolbit.
It appears even Lolbit, the facility caretaker and guardian, has lost their mind...
The second anyone entered this place... there was no hope of ever getting out for you.
I started to ponder the disabilities my OCs live with.
Sarit Ramesh has permanent scarring in her lungs from the horrible environmental conditions of her youth. Her childhood was spent largely bedridden because of this, and the numerous illnesses and infections that came from it.
As an adult, Sarit no longer has her right arm, and instead needs a prosthetic. Granted, she did that to herself, as part of a pathological need to replace parts of her body with cybernetics. Growing up so weak and physically poor instilled a desire to cut out her physical imperfections, and replace them with machinery.
Sarit has also added tech to her brain, as well as the obvious circuitry and mods just under her skin.
Kallian Tabris suffers from Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Which makes her intense anger often manifest in explosive and destructive episodes.
She also has a learning disability, which makes it difficult for her to master certain skills, such as writing and mathematics. Fortunately, Kallian is also determined and spiteful enough to work even with her disability. And during the events of DAO, her companions tutored Kallian so she could read and write. And later, she taught her illiterate father the same lessons she learned, so they could send letters to each other when Kallian was away. Kallian also slowly taught herself Orlesian, so later in life, she could speak to Leliana in her partner's native language.
Nathan Bhatia suffered a traumatic brain injury while fighting in the Resource Wars. He has trouble controlling his emotions and is prone to wild mood swings both positive and negative in stressful situations. He also developed claustrophobia and suffered severe burns from the same event, spending hours trapped inside a destroyed suit of power armor while its power core burned him alive. About 40% of Nathan's body, including part of his face, is visibly burned.
Zoe Iwasaki has PTSD, depression and anxiety, mostly stemming from horrific abuse from her parents. (Her father especially) Following the disastrous heist and having Silverhand's personality eat away at her brain, Zoe developed severe body dysmorphia, which threw off her sense of balance and coordination, as well as several other embarrassing side effects.
Brink is partially blind. In their old life, before the events of the game, one of the Dark Urge's victims fought back just enough to gouge her left eye out of her skull before they were horribly murdered. In a moment of vanity, the Dark Urge replaced the empty socket with a polished piece of obsidian. There are no enchantments or magical properties to the prosthetic, it's just a black void meant to look intimidating.
Post-tadpole, Brink remembers none of this. They just have to adapt to having limited vision.
Summary: Rex prepares himself to leave you behind as the battlefield calls, but his superiors have something else in store.
Warnings: reader is afab, reader isn't present this chapter, Rex is shipping out, Fox continues to be a bro, General Skywalker is easily manipulated, I play fast and loose with military protocols, mature sexual content in later chapters, minors: get out
Tag List: @bambiswriting @jessyhazy
If anyone would like to be added to the tag list, please comment below or message/ask directly.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Rex could not figure out for the life of him why briefings had to be so early.
Not that this one was unexpected, the 501st had been planet-side for a week. The boys appreciated the leave, and The Resolute was in need of a distinct number of special repairs after their last run-in with the Separatists.
General Skywalker (who, to be perfectly honest, was more the cause of the repairs than the seppies were) and General Koon gave the briefing, and even though Rex knew it was coming, his heart still sank at the thought of leaving you.
You had made remarkable improvements in the last week, now able to limp around your apartment like a champ, at least for short amounts of time. Your doctor was very pleased, but had expressly forbid you from going back to work before two more weeks of recuperation and at least one more physical. You were most irate.
For his part, Rex had been spending all his time at your apartment, helping you around your home, learning how to use kitchen utensils and a cookbook (he only burned something beyond recognition twice), and running errands to the shops in your area. You had somehow gotten ahold of some civvie wear for him, and he was barely noticed on the streets. Alentia was grateful to be able to go back to her own job, and Rex couldn’t remember enjoying a leave more.
He’d never experienced domesticity before. He’d never cooked for anyone or run down to a corner store for snacks, or spent a week curled up on a sofa. You were going to have to record the soap opera you’d gotten him into. He didn’t think he could miss it if Sirin and Jera actually got together.
In a week, all by yourself and barely able to move, you’d shifted his world beneath his feet. You’d made him think maybe he could have something simple and sweet after the war. Maybe something that made it all worth it in the first place. He’d caught himself staring into jewelry stores with a full heart and entirely empty pockets several times, wrenching himself away with reminders that it was too soon, and his position was too precarious, and right now he could offer you too little.
And for now, well, he supposed that little daydream was over. These briefings usually ended with a mission plan laid out and orders to give the boys. A ship out date, a plan of attack, and a certain trooper named Fives to find and drag out of 79’s were all looming in his very immediate future.
He didn’t want to go. For the first time since he’d donned it, his armor felt far too heavy.
Standing at silent attention next to Commander Tano, he caught Commander Wolffe’s (non-cybernetic) eye. His brother raised an eyebrow and jerked his head at the battle plans the generals were pouring over.
Okay, so maybe he’d been a little more quiet than usual.
“...should be enough to establish an outpost,” Skywalker finished up. He raised his head and glanced at all the senior staff. “Does anyone here have anything to add?”
The room was silent. Perhaps it was the early hour, or perhaps they all knew that Anakin Skywalker would do whatever he damn well pleased, comments or no. Admiral Ularen stifled a yawn, and the general nodded.
“Alright, you all have your orders, we depart in two days. Dismissed.”
Rex grabbed at his datapad and made sure that the briefing had downloaded to it. He’d review the details later, after he broke the news to you.
He had just turned to leave when General Skywalker’s voice sounded out again, “Captain Rex, would you stay behind a moment?”
On instinct, Rex turned on his heel and stood at attention, “Of course, sir.”
Anakin smiled, “At ease. Could you follow me, please?”
They left The Resolute’s bridge for the officer’s break room just down the hall. It was seldom used, though sometimes Rex and a few others would finish paperwork in the dead of night right next to the caf machine.
When the door opened, Rex’s blood froze. Commander Fox sat at the table, sipping dark caf out of a disposable cup. He looked perfectly at ease.
Anakin had already pulled out a chair, “Have a seat, Rex.”
As he did so, Rex stared daggers at his brother. There was only one possible explanation for his presence here, and if his hunch was correct, if Fox had done what he suspected, it was all over. His relationship with you, his position, his rank, his hope for a future. All because of fucking-
“Commander Fox is wanting to steal you for a few weeks,” Skywalker said cheerily.
…What?
Rex turned his head to stare at his brother, then back at his general, “I…pardon me, sir?”
Anakin shrugged, “As he’s been explaining it to me, anti-clone sentiment has been growing on Coruscant. The Guard has been keeping track of several attacks on civilians that may be linked to the movement, and a rally is apparently being held sometime in the next couple weeks.”
Rex’s stomach started to untangle itself. He was apparently not in trouble. But all of this still didn’t explain why Fox would want to steal him. What Fox was even doing here.
“The Commander tells me that the Guard is spread too thin. Between the threat of the rally and continuing to protect the senate, the chancellor, and the streets, he doesn’t have enough officers of experience and rank to coordinate the guard. Since the 501st is the only legion planet-side right now, and since you have real conflict experience, not to mention an excellent reputation for doing more with less,” Anakin smirked at that. “Fox has asked if I’d be willing to leave you here, under his command, until we return from our newest mission.”
Rex tried to keep the utter shock off of his face. He turned to Fox, who was smiling pleasantly, nonchalantly. His thoughts turned to you for just a moment, sitting on your couch, saddened by the knowledge that he’d come back and tell you he was shipping out. Then he remembered he was sitting next to his commanding officer, a loveable shithead with the talent for reading thoughts and feelings, and he shook the image away.
“What about my men?” He turned to his general. “It’s not…it wouldn’t be right to leave them without someone they can turn to.”
Anakin snorted, “What am I, invisible? The 501st will be fine for a single mission, Rex. Commander Tano and Jesse will act as their immediate superiors, while Commander Wolffe, General Koon, and I will supervise the coordination of all the troopers.”
“I…but…”
“We aren’t forcing you, captain. You can join the mission as planned or you can stay here and assist Fox with the Guard.”
Rex was reeling. He could stay on Coruscant. With you. He could stay until you were better, until you could walk entirely under your own power and cook for yourself and…
He cleared his throat, “What…” he began, turning to Fox this time. “What exactly would this assignment entail?”
His brother tried to hide his smirk, but Rex saw it for what it was.
“Nothing you haven’t done before,” Fox gestured with his hands. “Help me coordinate troopers and prioritize special persons of interest who may be under threat. The victims of the previous attacks, the chancellor, senators like Organa or Amidala.”
Rex very deliberately did not look back at Skywalker as heard that last name. The pieces had fallen into place, “I see.” He paused for just a moment. “Well, if this is the best way I can be of service to the Republic, then I accept my assignment.”
Skywalker clapped his hands together, “Excellent! I’ll leave you two to hash out the details. I have some other business to attend to.” He placed his hand on Rex’s shoulder as he turned to leave. “Good luck, captain. I know you’ll make the most of this mission.”
Rex tensed, but Anakin left the room without another word. As soon as the door was sealed, Fox let out a low chuckle.
“Other business he says,” he folded his arms. “Like Amidala isn’t just getting home from a midnight session as we speak.”
Rex narrowed his eyes at his brother, “What the hell, Fox? Why would you go all the way to Skywalker spouting some story about how you can’t handle the Guard-”
“Thought you’d be excited,” the commander shrugged. “You get to stay in the same city as your girl, go home to her when your shift’s over, make sure she’s okay for a little while longer. And…I wasn’t lying. The Guard is spread too thin, and the chancellor won’t give me any more troopers for the moment. I know what you can do, Rex. I’ve seen the mission reports. I saw a win-win, and I took a stab at it.”
Rex shook his head, “You told him Amidala was under threat, didn’t you?”
“Sure, I’m not above a little emotional manipulation to ensure my men don’t get swarmed. I work with politicians every day, Rex. I’ve picked up a few things.”
“Is she even in danger?”
“Of course she is,” Fox rubbed his eyes. “When is that woman not in danger? She stands for more controversial causes than every other senator combined. No sense of self-preservation, that one.”
“She and him have that in common.”
They laughed together, and the rest of the tension in the room dissipated. Rex looked at his brother, grey hair starting to sprout up amongst the black, and wondered if he looked as equally tired.
“Thank you,” he murmured, and Fox smiled.
“Bout time. I only got you out of shipping off to the battlefield.”
They stared at each other a moment longer, and Rex felt a rush of gratitude for his brothers, for the only family he’d ever known, “You didn’t have to do it, by the way.”
Fox broke eye contact and stared down at the floor. When he spoke, his voice came out smaller than Rex had ever heard it, “At least this way, one of us can…” he paused, shook his head, and met his brother’s eyes again. “At least this way I can live vicariously through you.”
Rex exhaled, slowly, “You’ve never acknowledged it before. That there was something between you and Ularen’s-”
“She was my secretary, before Ularen’s last one had a mental breakdown,” Fox’s jaw had gone tense. “I…ran into her a few days ago.”
“I’m sorry,” Rex thought he had problems, but he couldn’t imagine…
Fox just stood, and fiddled with his belt, “It doesn’t matter anymore. There was nothing I could do for my…situation-”
“So you did something for mine.”
For just a faction of a second, Fox looked like he might cry. But he simply squared his shoulders, and nodded once stiffly, “Take the rest of your leave, report to guard headquarters after your troopers ship out. I’ll give you a full briefing then.”
Before Rex could respond, his brother had his helmet back on and was already out the door.
He stood there for a minute… two… three… ensconced in the surprise of his new reality. Then he slowly brought his comm up, and typed a message to Jesse.
Rex: I’ve been assigned to a different mission. You’re up. Start looking for Fives NOW.
His heart was weighty, but his steps were light as he left The Resolute and took a speeder home. You were waiting.
Setsu winds down for the day. Small one-shot and character study. Contains acephobia, just for a heads up.
AO3
“23........24....25...”
Setsu let out one final grunt, as they forced themselves off the floor and stretched themselves. Their tired muscles released all their tension at once and the soldier let out a tired gasp, as they walked towards the counter to their bedroom in order to take a drink from their bottle.
Grabbing the lid, they took a sip of the bottle and briefly glanced at their reflection. Their black top highlighted their wide shoulders and toned arms really well, their chest moving up and down, as their lungs were trying to return to their usual pace.
Evening exercising was something of a tradition for Setsu. Being in the military already meant to dedicate yourself to fitness and physical health, yet Setsu found themselves dissatisfied with their usual exercises. That's why they recently added push-ups to their nighttime routine, followed by a warm and hot shower, which the soldier was always looking especially forward to.
Sitting down on the bed, the soldier moved their fingers through their sweaty hair and let out a sigh, grimacing briefly when they thought about today’s practice session.
It was a normal day of combat practice and Setsu had tried to work on their own reflexes. Fighting against cybernetic training dummies that learned from the user’s movements and skills, allowed one to train and improve much quicker than it would have been back when there were only unanimated training dummies. Hitting those dummies brought them a certain kind of catharsis and relief, they didn't find much in their daily busy life as a soldier.
Though, that catharsis didn’t turn out nearly as satisfying today, when one of her colleagues, a brash and cocky womanizer soldier named Lang entered the training room. His shoulders broad, his stench unbearable and his confidence misplaced and irritating, he approached Setsu quickly.
“Gotta say, you’re looking real good kicking those clankers and wearing that outfit of yours.”, he began with a perverted grin, showing off several golden teeth. Taking a deep breath, the soldier tried to remain composed, when they replied.
“Thank you. But that outfit is simply the training uniform. One that you are wearing as well, mind you.”
“Right, right....but you look so steaming hot like that. I bet you have tons of admirers, ain’t ya?”
Tightening their fist, Setsu walked away and approached the locker room. But Lang, being the perverted annoyance they were, didn’t want to let up and followed them like a dirty dog.
“Hey, hey. Where are you going?”
“To the locker. I need to take a shower and then change into my uniform.”, Setsu told him, rolling their eyes.
“Come on.....Why don’t you and I...have some fun...later?”, he proposed, clenching his teeth.
“I am not interested in your idea of, ‘fun’. And I never will be.”
“Hah! That’s what all women say!”, Lang boasted, his sunglasses slipping off his nose a little, revealing a prosthetic eye. “But ya only say that, cuz you haven’t found the right one. I can give you a really good time, you know.”
The urge to break his golden teeth was there. And that urge was getting stronger and stronger, the more he was rambling on about his non-existent sex life and his size. But Setsu was able to remain calm. They had dealt with people like them before, even way back then at the academy. Labeling themselves as Non-Binary drove most of the creeps away and yet, some like Lang, were still unable to accept their boundaries.
Grabbing the handle, Setsu turned to the cocky lieutenant and glared.
“Instead of boasting, I’d recommend you to actually exercise with those dummies. Otherwise, the general will chew you out again. Remember that.”
Lang’s jolly and overbearing demeanor, came crashing down, as he yelped and dashed to his training dummy, in order to knock some sense into it. Setsu used the chance, to enter the locker room, take a quick shower, change into their uniform and then leave.
Even though it's been a half a day since then, the irritation remained and wouldn't leave so quickly. It was the year 3020 and yet, in spite of all the groundbreaking achievements in science and culture, they were people that still couldn’t accept the fact that Setsu had zero interest in sexual activity. They were asexual, after all.
Ever since they were 12, they had begun to realise that the idea of sexual relationships were nothing for them. Their guardians did chalk it up to puberty and the other girls and boys did treat Setsu differently as a result, labeling them a doll or a robot. But they didn’t flinch or back down.
Even if it meant, being labeled “loner” or “nerd”. As they glanced at the clock above the door, they noticed that it was nearly 9 PM. They should get to shower.
As they walked towards the shower room, Setsu did wonder if it were possible to find someone to love and to not have a sexual relationship with. The universe was large, so it certainly was not out of the question. But for now, they should get to shower and focus on their duties, as a soldier first and foremost.
