Anything That Can Go Wrong

This is Me

AU: Alpha/Beta/Omega, Circus, Hybrid

"No, you have a show in an hour. Get back to the building." Cavendish snapped, eyes flashing bright yellow.

Melissa blinked as the door was shut in her face, something she was used to, but Cavendish had never done. She turned and looked at the people around her, blue eyes filling with tears. The others around her met her eyes, each of them worried and hurt and just as shocked as she was. Melissa began walking to the street doors with a heavy heart.

A song fluttered in her heart, so she opened her mouth to give life to the lyrics.

I am not a stranger to the dark. "Hide away," they say, "cause we don't want your broken parts." I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars. Run away," they say, "cause no one will love you as you are."

Melissa paused in front of the doors, narrowing her eyes, deciding then that no one had the right to tell her who she could be.

But, I won't let them break me down to dust, I know that there's a place for us. For we are glorious.

She didn't need Cavendish to validate her, she was perfect how she was. She turned, facing the people she called friends. She nodded to them as she passed, offering comfort when the only person who'd believed in them had turned away.

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down. Gonna send a flood, gonna drowned them out. I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I'm meant to be. This is me.

Melissa offered a smile to the Woman in White, Candace, and set her hand on the conjoined twins', Phineas and Ferb, right-most shoulder. She narrowed her eyes as she set her sights on the doors leading into the ballroom. The people would have to learn. They wouldn't be silenced any longer.

Look out 'cause here I come. And I'm marching on to the beat I drum. I'm not scared to be seen, I make no apologies. This is me.

Melissa wrenched open the door and stormed through it into the ballroom, the entire Cavendish Freakshow behind her. The redhead knew she had their support before they ever sang a note, but as they lifted their voices in harmony, a smile flickered across her face.

The people back away from them, staring in horror, and Melissa felt her resolve crumble. For a heartbeat, she wanted to cover her beard and run like she had so many- too many- times before. Then a hand slipped into hers and another voice lifted the song.

She looked down and found Mort, the Tiny General, looking back at her.

Another round of bullets hits my skin. Well, fire away, cause today, I won't let the shame sink in.

Melissa smiled and began forwards again. The "freaks" walked with their heads held high, they were done being shot down and discarded like old laundry. More people back out of their way.

Melissa lifted her voice again.

We are bursting through the barricade and reaching for the sun.

"We are warriors!" the others cried and Melissa's happiness bloomed to life in her grin.

Yeah, that's what we've become.

The 'freaks' stopped short of the doors and Melissa reached to pull the open. A hand stopped her and she looked up to meet the eyes of Vinnie Dakota, who stood to lose the most by their song.

"You can't stop us, Vinnie. You won't!" Melissa hissed.

Vinnie smiled, eyes twinkling behind those glasses he wore, blue-and-brown smiling back at her. "You already had one dramatic entrance today. Let me do this one for you," he replied.

Melissa's face lit up in relief as she let go of Mort's hand and hugged her friend hard. "Thank you, Vinnie," she whispered.

"I told you, kid, I'm here for you. For all of you." Vinnie murmured back. Then he let go and the others stood back. Vinnie kicked the doors open and the 'freaks' marched into the streets with Vinnie watching proudly.

MML~MML~MML

The 'freaks' kept their eyes on the men with torches and metal objects and guns, tensed and ready for a fight to break out.

They where careful, but they continued their song, letting the music lift their hearts. They ignored the calls to go home, the jeers, and the jabs about their looks. They didn't let anyone bother them, even when they were told to go inside and never come out. They lifted the chorus again and sang it louder than the men could shout.

They flaunted their flaws, showed themselves off. They were who they were and nothing could take that from them.

They didn't stop their song, not when the men shouted, not when their lives were threatened, not when Sara was grabbed and she jabbed him in the stomach to get free. Not when Cavendish came running out to smooth over the ruffled feathers and Vinnie came rushing after him to help protect the others. Not when Cavendish told them to go back inside and get ready for their show. Not even when a fight broke out between Vinnie and Cavendish and Zack broke it up with a growl and a gust of wind from his powerful wings.

Their song continued into the ring, even after Cavendish left with the Nightingale, Savannah, and Vinnie and Zack took over the shows. They sang their song with passion and renewed vigor, and this time Milo joined them on the floor.

MML~MML~MML

As Milo joined his voice to theirs, he twisted and danced, showing off not only his thin and wiry frame (perfect for flying through the air) but his pure white wings as well. Milo looked up when he felt familiar eyes on him and found Zack watching from the office above the ring.

He remembered how happy he'd been when Zack had wrapped his fingers around Milo's smaller ones. Then he remembered how cold he'd felt when Zack let his hand go and wouldn't give him an explanation. He'd looked back and noticed that an elderly couple had been staring at Zack and Milo understood. So, he'd left the performance in tears,

Now, however, as the lines of the song where sung, Milo maintained eye contact and direct the words to Zack.

I'm not scared to be seen, I make no apologies. This is me.

Milo narrowed his eyes to make his point, a reminder that he wasn't about to hide away from the world. Zack smiled and nodded and Milo knew he understood.

MML~MML~MML

The chorus was raised again and time almost seemed to slow down. Melissa softened her voice as tears filled her eyes again. When she reached the end of the first part of the chorus, the others stood on the edges of the ring.

Candace leaned forward, showing off her pale skin and white hair. Milo and Sara twisted around, spinning to show off their thin frames and wings. Amanda showed off her dark skin and multiple piercings. Bradley's sleeveless shirt put every bit of ink on display.

The song came to an end with a pose and the audience was up on their feet, clapping and laughing and smiling as if they'd actually give a damn later. Vinnie came forwards, all smiled and applause and fixing the Oddities with encouraging glances and proud smiles. "Aren't they amazing? Give another hand, folks; c'mon they deserve it."

Melissa's lips quirked into a smile as the applause rolled in once more.

This is me.