Anything That Can Go Wrong

From Now On

AU: Alpha/Beta/Omega, Hybrid, Circus

Balthazar Cavendish sat in the bar with his head hung low as he knocked back another shot of whiskey. It was the same bar he'd recruited Zack in. The thought made Balthazar pour another shot and down it far too fast, after all, look at where it had gotten the poor kid. In a hospital bed with his SoulMate sitting by his bedside, hoping and praying for him to wake up soon.

The door opened, but Balthazar didn't bother to look, whoever it was could drink in peace and if not, Balthazar would happily let whoever-it-was take him out. He didn't care anymore. 

Surprisingly, there was a grunt and a soft thud and Balthazar did look. He saw the Tiny General sitting across from him on the hat Balthazar had put on the bar when he came inside the building. "We thought we'd find you here," Mort said, crossing one leg over the other and sighing.

"How did you find me, Mort?" Balthazar asked, then held up his hand, "No, don't answer that. Let me guess. Was it Milo or Vinnie?"

"We asked both. Milo did think you might be here, but couldn't tell us much more before he was too worried about being away from Zack. It was Vinnie who told us you'd definitely be here. He said you'd feel guilty about Zack and he knew where you first approached Zack about joining the team."

"Zack's burns are my fault." Balthazar groaned, throwing back another shot. He wasn't yet drunk, not even the slightest bit tipsy, but he was getting there. He'd plyed Zack with this same alcohol, downing shot after shot until Zack was agreeing to come aboard his strange train of dreams.

"Oh, shut up, Cavendish," called a new voice. Balthazar looked over; startled and almost afraid. Melissa and the rest of Cavendish's Oddities stood in the bar now.

"We've all done stuff we aren't exactly proud of, Cavendish. Be it biting an idiot for coming to close in an alleyway," Melissa gestured to Chad, the Dog Boy, "Or punching a guy who whistled at me on the street, then laughed in my face when I turned," she gestured to herself, "Or setting a tavern on fire when her brother was mocked for his act," she waved a hand towards Sara, who lifted her chin with a glare not looking the least bit ashamed, "None of us is perfect. Sure, it hurt when you did what you did, but you brought us together and made us a family. You're stuck with all of us. Zack too. And Vinnie would tell you the same." Balthazar sighed, looking at the bar. A song came to mind so he let the lyrics out.

I saw the sun begin to dim and felt that winter wind blow cold. A man learns who is there for him when the glitter fades and the walls won't hold. 'Cause from that rubble what remains can only be what's true. If all was lost, there's more I gained 'cause it led me back to you.

Balthazar turned and smiled at his friend, his family, minus three. These people had come for him even when he had nothing. He couldn't give these people anything, couldn't offer them money, or a roof over their heads, he couldn't even offer to protect them from the people that would see them dead.

But he could offer them promise that he would never again do what he'd done.

From now on, these eyes will not be blinded by the lights. From now on what's waited 'til tomorrow starts tonight. Tonight. Let this promise in me start, like an anthem in my heart. From now on. From now on.

Never again would Balthazar Cavendish be blinded by fancy lights. Whatever he'd put off as tomorrow's project started that night. Let the promise be the start, let it be an anthem in his heart. From now on, he'd be better.