Heart Attack

Castle

We arrived back at HQ with Robyn. The second Altair saw me, he was at my side — no hesitation, just this smooth glide like winter wind, eyes already scanning me for injuries. Those golden eyes of his always look calm, but if you know him — and I do, maybe too well by now — you can read the way they sharpen when he’s worried.

He didn’t ask out loud. He never does.

"Are you okay? Show me what happened."

That was the thought I caught from him, so quiet it felt like a secret meant for me alone. I nodded, fingers brushing his as I linked our minds. The rush of memory flooded him; his thumb twitched once against my hand, then he sighed and let go. Just like that — gone. Cold air where his warmth had been.

Robyn was already being guided to the main office, and Altair’s attention snapped forward again, posture perfect soldier. Mine… not so much. My brain was still buzzing. Not from the mission, but from earlier — Edward Elric. That name. I knew it. It had been clawing at me since we picked him up.

Why now? Why here?

“Kori.” Altair’s voice cut into my spiral. “Tell me.”

I opened my mouth — but didn’t get the chance.

Damian was waiting inside the meeting room, posture ramrod straight, jaw set in that familiar scowl that made half the room tense just looking at him. He didn’t greet us by name — not me, not Altair, not even Robyn.

The whole team was already there. General Ironwood at the center, stone-faced and brittle, like if you touched him wrong, he’d shatter. Winter Schnee was beside him, looking even icier than usual, but then I noticed Qrow leaning casually against the wall near her, flask gone for once, smirk softer than usual. Interesting. Love makes people do strange things.

Yang and Blake stiffened when they spotted the Elric brothers — recognition flashing in their eyes. Maybe they remembered the library too. Or maybe they were staring at the way Edward’s hand rested against Ironwood’s arm, steady and sure, no shame in it at all. That soft look in Ironwood’s eyes? I never thought I’d see that from him.

Altair’s fingers brushed mine. A reminder. A question. Stay with me.

“At last,” Damian began, cutting through the murmurs, “there is time to show you as much of the truth as we know.”

His sword hissed free. A ripple in the air, like a curtain tearing. From the portal stepped Neo, Jason, and Tim. The room tensed, but no one attacked.

“These are the other Seasons,” Damian announced, voice steady. “Timothy Jackson Drake, the Spring King of Mistral. Jason Peter Todd, the Autumn King of Vale. And Neopolitan Torch.”

I didn’t miss the way Damian’s gaze softened on Neo, just slightly. She noticed too; her smirk curved sharper, teasing. Jason muttered something under his breath to Tim — low, but not low enough. Tim elbowed him, cheeks faintly pink.

“You kept this from us?” Ironwood’s voice cracked like ice.

“Only your military,” Damian replied flatly. “Our team always knew. We decided to reveal it when I could take control and keep you from doing something pathetically stupid.”

Jason grinned wide. “Demon Spawn, you need some ice for the Gen’s burn.”

“Jason,” Tim hissed, glaring, though the corners of his mouth betrayed him. Neo laughed silently, shoulders shaking.

“Focus,” Damian ordered. “Todd, the information.”

Jason rolled his eyes, pulled up a scroll. “Yeah, yeah. So, as you know, we were infiltrating. Cinder wants to steal the Winter Maiden’s powers. Joke’s on her — no Maiden to steal from.”