Kirunax
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Dysfunctional (Chapter 4)
🕑 Added 2025-03-06 17:47:13 +0000 UTCThese weren’t the worst accommodations, all things considered. Bright lighting, smooth white walls, clean bed, clean toilet. The last one was a bit puzzling, given that his hands were covered by these weird manacles, limiting his ability to interact with it. Perhaps it was here to tempt him.
All in all, he’d had worse.
“Kid, please, just give us something.”
In all honesty, he could only recall one instance when he had “done time” as the Americans say. And that time was rather short. Just long enough to hold a mock trial, followed by a swift execution.
“Kid, you haven’t eaten in five days.”
So he wasn’t held in nearly as much comfort back then.
“Kid, I beg you! Something! Anything! Just answer a few questions, and I swear, we will get you out of here, I promise!”
Clean sheets? Running water? Light? Pure decadence.
“Kid, your sister misses you. She hasn’t stopped asking for you. She’s in the building right now. Just, please, let’s go through the interview. Answer a few questions, tell us a bit about your powers and I will personally escort you to her the moment it’s over!”
Although, it would have been nice to have small stove and few ingredients. Just a simple meal. A nice soba, perhaps a bit of miso soup on the side to settle the stomach.
Stop thinking about food.
“I’ll take it from here, Martin.” A familiar voice interrupted PRT agent’s desperate pleas.
Oh look — the clown is back. My, even entertainment. Truly, American jail is an experience.
Of course, not truly being a child, Emiya did not really appreciated clowns. This one was also looking haggard which, while more to Emiya’s palate, meant the he wasn’t all that good at his job. Tanya would definitely have a few choice words about his 'unprofessional appearance'.
Tanya…
Newly arrived man turned to Emiya.
“Come on, kid. I’m getting you out of here.”
“Legend, it’s against regulations. He’s to be held until we can get him through the interview.”
“The protocols obviously weren’t written with this situation in mind. What are we going to do, starve him to death?”
“…We can force feed him.”
“Which is also against protocols, since we would have to send an agent inside,” Legend gave the agent a hard stare. “Just go, Martin. The situation’s changed anyway. I’ll handle Wilkins if she objects.”
Legend entered his cell and knelt to input a code into the contraption restraining his limbs. Emiya felt how cables that connecting his ankles loosened.
“Sorry, kid. I can arrange for you to walk out of the cell, but I can’t remove the Brute-shackles at the same time,” the man apologized, “Usually, they’re removed when prisoners are moved to a more secure holding cell at Protectorate HQ for a prolonged stay. Only happens after the first round of interrogations, however.” Legend ran a hand through his hair.
Yes, which is exactly why Emiya kept his silence. By reinforcing his senses, he was aware of more than they suspected. He was aware not only of their complaints about the protocols but, more importantly, that Tanya was still in the building.
Keeping his mouth shut allowed her time to heal from the whole ordeal and gave Emiya time to contemplate their options.
He was also bunking on PRT cracking before he does. A gamble that paid off.
That’s not the real reason, and you know it.
“Let’s go. You sister’s waiting for you.”
Emiya was led through the corridors of PRT HQ at a sedate pace allowed by his shackles and short legs.
He missed being tall. He sorely missed having longer reach. Kansho and Bakuya were definitely not intended to be wielded by children. As was majority of arsenal. He will manage, but there was an odd disconnect between his instincts and his body.
The people in corridors gave him wary looks but were calmed by his minder’s presence.
Finally, we entered a room. Not an interrogation room as I expected but an ordinary office meetings room.
Tanya was waiting for us.
Blood red smile on a blood red face. Blue eyes blaze with joy as she looks at him.
Emiya felt sick.
“Hey, little sister,” He made an effort to actually smile at her.
“Brother,” she nodded at Emiya and it looked like some tension left her posture.
Looking her up and down, he noticed that she wore manacles not unlike his own but hers connected to her neck, keeping her hands under her chin.
The clown wilted under Emiya’s questioning gaze.
Tiredly plopping at the table, Legend waved his hands and explained, “Her preliminary threat ratings did not necessitate full set of Brute-shackles. They couldn’t get her out of the medical without them. It was this or keeping her under.”
Lovely. Looking at her Emiya could reason that this particular set of restraints was designed to keep her hands in a position where activating her power would kill her.
Assuming she could only create her blade-shaped forcefield with her hands of course.
Tanya was studying his own shackles closely.
“Thank you for bringing my brother here, Legend. However, I still refuse to disclose any information without a lawyer present,” she said eventually.
Tanya’s eyes locked onto mine. There was an unspoken question. Emiya shook his head in response. She beamed at him and fully turned to Protectorate leader, who watched their whole byplay with an air of exhaustion.
Did fighting those criminals take so much out of him? It’s been almost a week, and he wasn’t even wounded. The little girl in front of him did the same, and she recovered much faster.
So much like her brother.
“We have failed you both. I have failed you.”
He and Tanya carefully observed him.
“The State of New York has failed you.”
Now he was just being dramatic.
“Antony Jefferson has been arrested,” Legend continued.
…What did Jefferson had to do with anything? Are they trying to apply pressure? Emiya did not wish the man ill, but he wasn’t all that concerned about him either. Unless they thought Tanya would be more worried about him, but she had met Jefferson exactly once.
He glanced at her and she was looking at Legend with narrow and suspicious eyes.
“I can’t help but find this development awfully convenient for your organization, Legend,” her tone was calm and measured, “considering Jefferson is our GAL.”
Our what?
Emiya looked at Tanya questioningly
“Guardian ad litem,” she clarified and then frowned at his still questioning gaze, “A person appointed by the court to represent our best interests in legal matters.”
“Ah.” Emiya nodded. Jefferson indeed handled government paperwork for them.
There was a hint of concern in Tanya’s eyes now.
“That is not what’s going on,” Legend vehemently denied. “And Jefferson was never your GAL. A case worker and GAL cannot be the same person, and that same person definitely cannot receive money from insurance companies on behalf of beneficiaries.”
Tanya’s shoulders tensed.
“That cannot be right,” Emiya frowned. ”Jefferson was the one to handle our case when Alicia died. He is government employee and works from an office in NYC’s Department of Social Services building. He is known there. I read all the paperwork that requires my signature, and Jefferson’s was validated by DSS seals.”
Tanya relaxed.
Legend sighed. “Antony Jefferson was found guilty of Insurance Fraud Conspiracy. He has been stealing from you and many other people, kid. I am sorry.”
Emiya tried to figure if the man was lying.
“But the paperwork was fine,” he eventually said. “Receipts, bank declarations, income tax…”
Tanya’s eyes darted to him “Income tax on life insurance payouts?”
“…Yes?” Emiya felt unease under her scrutinizing gaze.
“Shirou, those are non-taxable.” She said with edge to her voice.
Are they? She seems so sure about that.
“She’s right,” Legend tiredly confirmed, “That “income tax” is where Jefferson was taking additional cut for himself. He was not supposed to, since the real money went to Adepts members who were posing as your legal guardians.”
What?
Who are Adepts?
Could it be true though? The man in front of him did not appear to be lying. Too sure in his words, too affected by them.
Emiya carefully thought about it. Objectively, he could see a pair of orphans falling for some kind of scheme. Such things happened everywhere. But he himself was not a child. Surely, he would notice something amiss?
Things… were fine. There wasn’t a lot of money, sure. But he was perfectly capable to make enough. Basic necessities for him, some amenities for Tanya, and even some savings for her future use. Granted said saving were growing at a snail’s pace, but the older he got, the more jobs he could apply to. He had some vague plans for making use of his culinary skills in the future. A chef’s job would see Tanya through college. The insurance money was just… a crutch. In all honesty, if he really needed to, he could make better money with more active use of his magecraft. Active mercenary work if things got really hard. Even if it wasn’t something he really wanted.
Suffice to say, he was never overly bothered with payouts. They just allowed him to move at more relaxed pace, where he could still go to school to assure authorities that they were doing everything children their age were supposed to.
Did he become lax? Figured he had a plan for everything and thus missed some obvious signs? Took things easy being let loose from Alaya’s leash?
Honestly, Emiya wouldn’t even bother to feel anything regarding being scummed like that, but it wasn’t just him, was it?
Have I let Tanya down?
Emiya was responsible for more than just himself. So being scummed meant he allowed that money being stolen from his sister.
That was… unfamiliar shame.
He didn’t dare to look at the blonde girl right now.
Legend ran hand through his hair. “Look, it’s a big failure on our part. A massive scheme that had run for years and affected many. You, kids… No one should have gone through what you did. But you are a resilient pair. Strong. I don’t want to say lucky, but… there were other children. They…” He sucked in breath.
“But let’s not talk about the past. There will be time to discuss it, but what you need to know is it’s all going to be better now.”
“How so?” Tanya asked.
“We have found your father.”
Huh?
Legend took two folders from side cabinet and put them on the table in front of them.
Inside were results of paternity tests. Positive for him, negative for Tanya.
Emiya wasn’t sure how to react. Logically, he understood that this body must have a father. No reason for Alaya to go with immaculate conception and he was sure Sumire would have mentioned going through something like that.
But Emiya never gave it any amount of thought.
He didn’t think he ever asked about the man that took part in this body’s conception.
Why would he?
“So?” Emiya asked.
Legend gave him an undecipherable look.
“So, you are going to live with him now.”
“We were quite fine on our own.” Emiya casually observed.
“You shouldn’t have been on your own!" Legend slammed his hands on the table, glaring at Emiya. “The only reason you were on your own is because we dropped the ball—massively!”
“The state doesn’t really allow orphans to stay outside fostering system, does it?” Tanya asked.
“It does not,” Legend confirmed. “The fact that you two remained so for five years is a colossal failure on everyone’s part,” the masked man massaged his temples.
“Any chance it can remain that way?” Emiya inquired.
Legend leveled him with bloodshot eyes.
“No. It definitely cannot.”
Bummer.
Legend sighed and slumped in his chair. “Look kid, just take your sister and go to your father. You don’t have to work yourself to the bone to pay bills anymore. You did a great job taking care of your sister but it’s over now. You can just enjoy your childhood, go to school, make some friends, be a kid. What happened at the mall was an outlier, the Wards don’t…”
“The Wards?” Emiya narrowed his eyes at the man, sensing where this was going.
Legend seemed surprised at sudden hostility. “Yes. You are part of the Wards program effective this morning. Your father has already signed your contracts.”
“No,” Emiya denied vehemently. “We are not joining the Wards.”
“Shirou…” Legend started further drawing Emiya’s ire but was interrupted by Tanya.
“We don’t really have a choice, do we?” She sounded… resigned. “If we are not signed up by a guardian, we will end up joining as wards of the state anyway, right?” She asked Legend.
“…Yes.” Legend confirmed.
Emiya was not pacified. “And there was no pressure applied on this father,” he spat, “no money changing hands?”
“God no!” Legend was visibly taken aback. “Look, I know you don’t feel charitable towards the government at the moment – you have no reason to – and I understand that you are … worried after what happened at the mall. But I know your father. Colin Wallis is a good man. He decided to took you both in the moment he knew about you, fought Director Wilkins on that even. He’s the leader of Protectorate ENE, Armsmaster,” Tanya’s eyes widened, “he will keep you safe. I promise.”
Legend tried to be as reassuring as he could.
Emiya did not care. He was about to start arguing when Tanya chimed in.
“Brother, we should consider this.” She calmly stated.
“What?” Emiya’s head swiveled to her side. “Why?”
Tanya hesitated for a second, sending a glance at Legend.
“Would it really be so bad to be a hero?” she asked.
Emiya’s heart skipped a beat.
No.
“You don’t know what you are talking about! Tanya, this isn’t a game! You will die if you think..!”
“I know that,” She calmly said. “But now that we have powers it’s not just about me anymore,” she sent Legend another glance.
No. No. No.
Tanya leaned into him. “We don’t have a choice,” she whispered into his chest.
No, this can’t be happening.
“And hey!” she chirped loudly and… childishly, “We get to stay together!”
Legend was smiling warmly at them.
Emiya’s shackles strained to contain his rage.
“You’ll do great, kids. I know you will.”
