Vengeance

11

2015

Why Raven? Seraphim realizes, all these years, she's never asked Angel why. Why did his mother select a raven as her symbol? Did she feel a kinship to the bird of darkness or a simple fondness for the magnificent creature? It's likely Angel doesn't know, but Seraphim wonders if he does know?

"Seraphim?"

She turns towards the source of the voice. Striker stands a few feet away, near the doorway. He's just come in from patrol.

"Simon," she greets with a sad smile.

The soldier's gaze flickers to the glass case sheltering Raven's suit. He makes his way around the meeting table, claiming the seat beside her. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"The thing about a uniform is after a while it becomes part of who you are, no different than an arm or leg, but sometimes...it becomes too much and you have to put it aside, cut it out like a cancer before it eats you alive."

"What's left to take it's place?" Seraphim meets his gaze. "It's more than just a limb, it's our identity - his identity."

Simon nods, digesting her words. He glances at the case and then back at Seraphim. "Identities change. Right now, for example, you're a student, soon you'll be a lawyer. Your identity will change and you'll change your life to accommodate that. Angel will adapt. It'll take time, but he'll find his way."

Seraphim bows her head, feeling the familiar sting of tears building in her eyes. "I don't know how to help him. I feel helpless, like I'm watching him drown and can't dive in to save him."

"The first thing is to realize its not about you. Angel will work through it. He's strong, but he's broken, and he'll need time to heal." Simon speaks from experience. After his multiple tours overseas and losing his friends in Project Striker, he spiraled into a deep depression. For a long time he struggled to figure out his path. He did though, eventually.

"And if he doesn't?" Seraphim dares, refusing to raise her head.

"It won't be your fault," Simon replies without hesitation.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He stands up and heads towards the back to change. He pauses to glance back at Seraphim, still sitting with her head bowed, he sighs.

Seraphim listens as Simon's heavy footfalls grow fainter and fainter. She lifts her head. Simon's words weight heavy on her mind. Angel is Raven. He always has been. It's his birthright, the one place in his life where he doesn't have to hide. What will he do now?

She drives a hand into her unbound waves. She can't accept that she can't help Angel. They've always had each other's backs. What that bitch did won't change that, Seraphim won't allow it.

The speakers wired to the computers blare out an alert Angel programmed. Seraphim leaps to her feet and rushes over. She awakens the sleeping screens with a keystroke. A Changed escaped from a prison transport. She opens the alert. Duplicator, damnit. Daiyu and Kennedy caught him last week. He's been awaiting transport to the Cage, a prison that was recently built to house Changed criminals.

Seraphim sighs, rubbing her tired eyes. Despite her efforts to conceal it, everything has taken a toll on her. She's had to balance law school, leadership of the Guardians and coaxing Angel through his nightmares and frequent panic attacks. To keep from collapsing from exhaustion, she's been sneaking naps between classes. Seraphim knows she can't keep this up much longer, but right now she has no other choice.