[Strawberry Castella Café, 9PM]

  Wiping the tables with a well worn out rag, Susan then wiped the sweat off her forehead. Looking at the last customers for the day - an old married couple - finish their drinks, she approached them with a gentle smile on her face.

  "Mr and Mrs Phillips, how was the coffee?" Susan asked, picking up the cups and putting them on a tray.

  The couple smiled, complementing the drinks.

  "You always do make the best brew..." Mr. Philips said, chuckling heartily.

  Susan laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head with a bit of hesitation.

  "Oh heavens no! There are cafés far better than this old hole in the wall!" Susan retorted. She was well aware that her café had very few customers, partially due to the location being so far away from the city. Still, it was a choice she made purposely, and she wasn't going to regret that decision.

  Mrs. Philips waved her hand dismissively, telling her that what her husband said was true.

  "This place always serves coffee exactly how we want it... And it's not a unique thing. You always put so much care and attention into all your customers' drinks. It's almost like you know exactly what they want!" The old woman chuckled.

  Susan chuckled nervously, patting Mr. Phillips' back - rather violently at that.

  "I don't know what you're talking about! Me? Know exactly what you want? Pffttt what do you think I am, a superhero?" Susan said twirling her strawberry blonde hair.

  The couple looked at Susan with a confused and slightly annoyed look before shaking away the feeling.

  "Anyways... Despite your eccentricity, you're a very kind and thoughtful person. It makes the café feel very cozy...." Mr Philips said, rubbing his back.

  Susan helped soothe it as well, a guilty look plastered on her face, before turning into a sigh.

  "Well I wish more people were like you two... It would really help with the rent... I'm raising two kids after all!" Susan said, yelling at the sky.

  Hearing her talk about her niece and nephew, Mrs. Philips began asking where they were.

  "I haven't seen those two in ages... Especially that Olivia girl. So busy with her school activities and community work... You must be very proud of her aren't you?" Mrs. Philips smiled.

  Susan nodded, telling her that she was very proud of BOTH of them.

  "They're both special in their own ways..." Susan said, tapping the table.

  Mr. Philips laughs before looking at her with an "are you serious?" Look.

  "That's like comparing an apple to an exploding papaya!" He laughs, something Susan was not very fond of.

  Trying to hold back her annoyance, she asked what he meant by his words.

  "Look, I know you're his aunt, but that Oliver boy is... Less than stellar. He's gloomy yet tries to act cheerful, he's not smart but he tries to look like an intellectual, he tries to act mature but still plays with those silly toys- you can't seriously compare him to his sister. At this point I wonder if they're really related..." Mr Philips explained.

  Susan's tapping became more aggressive as she tried her best to hold back her anger. She knew what the man said was somewhat true... But that wasn't the entire truth. She knew how much Oliver had changed, and how much he hid away from others. Hearing someone slander him was not only frustrating... But down right infuriating. Opening her mouth slightly to correct the old man, her attempt was foiled by the sound of the café door's bell.

  "Saved by the bell old man..." She clicked her tongue.

  Turning to the entrance, she tried to tell the people who had just entered to leave.

  "Sorry, it's almost time to close up. The kitchen is closed so-" however stopped after realising they were criminals.

  The two vagrants smiled, one of them licking his knife as the other rested his bat on his shoulders.

  "Aw too bad... I was just about to get a drink... Say... Is the till closed yet?" The man with the bat said, a demented look on his face.

  The old couple immediately stood up, hiding behind the café owner as the robbers slowly approached them. The one holding the knife scanned Susan with his eyes, smirking as he realised she was defenceless.

  "Too easy... Open the fucking cash register unless you wanna get a wound in your pretty little body..." He said, tracing the knife against her skin.

  Susan didn't react however... In fact she actually began laughing. Her laugh confused the old couple while infuriating the criminals.

  "Hey bitch! What do you think is so funny huh? Huh?! I've got a fucking knife! You think you can fight a knife?!" He yelled, his pride damaged by her laughter.

  As Susan slowly began calming down, she wiped away her tears before looking at the man with a smug looking on her face.

  "What? Little baby got upset over me laughing?" She mocked.

  Gritting his teeth, the man tried thrusting his knife into her - however was quickly stopped by Susan grabbing his wrists. The man looked up at her confusion, before Susan promptly broke his wrist. The man fell down to his knees - the knife dropping down as he screamed in pain.

  "Greg!" The man with the bat yelled before looking at Susan with a scowl. "I'll fucking kill you!" The man said, charging at her with his bat.

  As the man approached her, Susan calmly grabbed the rag she used to wipe down the tables earlier - using it to grab the bat from his hands before slamming it into his head with the makeshift mace. As it made contact with his skull, a cracking sound rang out throughout the café.

  "Oooh... Did not mean to go that hard..." Susan said, grimacing.

  She looked around to see if the old couple were safe, finding them looking at her with fear and relief. Susan felt a bit ticked off by the intimidated look on their face - promptly yelling at the two.

  "I saved your life, I'm not gonna kill you!" She yelled.

  The old couple immediately felt embarrassed, dropping their look of fear in place of a guilty one. Sighing, Susan folded the rag she was using before pulling out her phone to dial 444. Hearing the dialling sound, Susan clicked her tongue before crossing her arms.

  "Geez... You'd think for a metropolis, you'd get an instant pickup..." Susan retorted, her nose scrunching.

  As she waited for the call, the man who's wrist she broke stood up. He slowly began approaching her, his murderous aura leaking out from him like a faulty pipe.

  "This bitch! Not only did she humiliate me and break my wrist... She acts so casually after cracking my friend's skull? I'm gonna kill her... I'm gonna fucking kill her!!!" Greg thought to himself, running towards the woman.

  The moment he was within grabbing range, Susan put one finger on the collar of his shirt - tugging it to bring him closer towards her. Still holding the phone, she landed a back kick to the man's solar plexus, sending the man flying.

  Watching the man being thrown across the café, the old couple’s jaw fell to the floor - shocked at the raw display of strength.

  “What the hell-”

  As the man’s body reached the front door, it would have crashed through- however Oliver had opened it right as he came flying towards him.

  "We're bac-" a loud grunt stopped his speech as the criminal came crashing into Oliver sending him backwards as well.

  Olivia who was beside Oliver looked with widened eyes before quickly peeking into the café. Seeing the bleeding man on the floor, Olivia looked up at her aunt who was still busy waiting for the police to pick up. Despite the terror she had just endured a few hours earlier in Leighburne town, Olivia began shaking slightly before gulping hardly.

  "Wicked..."

  Meanwhile outside, Oliver had begun slowly recovering from being thrown into a wall. He held his head, swearing that he could see birds circling it.

  "I think I'm going crazy..." Oliver thought to himself, grimacing.

  Looking down, he noticed the unconscious man that had been thrown at him had disappeared. He looked around frantically, seeing the man running off like the coward he was. He grimaced before running towards the man, cornering him into an alleyway.

  Feeling his back against the cold brick wall, the criminal from earlier was forced to stare Oliver down as he slowly began approaching him. With each step he took, the more fear set into the man’s heart. Step, after step, after step... His heart began racing. The dark alley coupled with his dark clothing, made Oliver seem like a shadow - with only his bright turquoise eyes illuminating the dark scene. The man couldn't take it anymore. He closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable. Step... Step... Step... Step?

  "Huh? How long is this alleyway?" The man thought, slowly opening his eyes.

  Despite his fears, his curiosity took over him - wondering why it took Oliver so long to get over to him. It turned out... That Oliver had traced a few steps back to pet a cat. The man looked with confusion and... Well confusion, as Oliver had completely ignored the man, instead focusing on the cute cat that had followed him into the alleyway.

  "Who's a good kitty? Aww you're so cute!!!" Oliver said, his voice giddy as the cat leaned into his pets.

  The man stared at the scene with shock.

  "Huh? What? Why?????" The man thought to himself, completely baffled.

  His confusion and appal was quickly replaced by anger, believing the boy to be mocking him. Clenching his fist tightly, the man ran towards the boy with tears in his eyes.

  "Don't look down on me!!!" He whined as he ran at the young man.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  Oliver's happy expression turned sour before hitting the man with an uppercut to the jaw.

  "Don't interrupt my playtime you bastard!" Oliver said, watching the man fly high up into the sky before landing with a thud.

  The loud sound scared the cat away, causing Oliver to reach out to try and catch it.

  "Wait no! Kitty!!!" Oliver yelled, his heart breaking as he saw the cat running away - disappearing into the street. Oliver became depressed. That cat was so cute... It loved him so much - and he loved it back. He could still hear the meows it gave earlier as he scratched its ears. The purr, the look it gave him, the way it circled around him. The memories were so short... Yet so full and bright. Oliver would never love anything else from that day onward... "Nah even I know I'm being overdramatic..." Oliver said, scoffing.

  Hearing the sound of police sirens getting louder and louder, Oliver looked towards the unconscious man. He picked the man up by his hood, pulling him towards the café. Sitting him up against the wall, Oliver dusted his hands off before placing them on his hips.

  "Super win!"

  Soon the police arrived, taking Greg away into the police car while taking his friend away into an ambulance. The police then began questioning everyone at the scene about what exactly went down- especially Susan.

  "So they came into rob you, and you defended yourself correct?" The police officer asked.

  Susan gave a thumbs up, causing the police officer to grimace. The police officer couldn't really do anything however, writing down Susan's testimony on her notepad instead. After a bit more questioning, the officers left, leaving only the five left at the café. They all collectively sighed, glad that all the police stuff was over.

  "I had to repeat 'I got slammed into a wall' so many times..." Oliver sulked.

  Olivia nodded in agreement.

  "I think my tongue has abs now..." Olivia frowned.

  Susan patted their backs, trying to comfort her niece and nephew.

  "There there... It's over now..." Susan said, also frowning.

  As the three began sulking, the old married couple came up to them. Mrs. Philips cupped Susan and Olivia's hands, thanking them for helping them.

  "We owe our lives to you two!" Mrs. Philips said, smiling.

  Both Susan and Olivia were confused as to why the two were thanking Olivia as well - since Oliver was the one who caught the second robber.

  "T- thanks... but this guy was the guy that helped. Not me..." Olivia said, laughing awkwardly as she rubbed the back of her head.

  The two then turned to Oliver, who was still in a sulking mood. They then turned back to Olivia before tearing up.

  "Such a good sister..." Mrs. Phillips said, sniffling.

  "Giving the glory to your incompetent brother... Truly you are a saint." Mr. Philips said, consoling his wife.

  Olivia looked at them like they were stupid, before pointing repeatedly at Oliver.

  "Him. Not me. Him-muh..." She said, practically poking Oliver.

  The two turned to Oliver once again, but this time in disbelief. They really couldn't believe it, however Olivia was being incredibly adamant that he was the reason the second robber was caught. They couldn't do anything but believe.

  "Well... I'm sorry then. Thank you, Oliver my boy." Mr. Philips said, patting him on the back.

  Oliver snapped out of his sulky mood, looking around with confusion.

  "O- oh! Ok... Um thanks..." He gave a thumbs up.

  Looking at Oliver, Mrs. Philips tilted her head.

  "Oliver have you grown taller?" She asked, intrigued.

  Oliver nodded, standing beside Olivia to show that he was now taller than her.

  "She's a shortie." Oliver said, sticking out his tongue.

  Olivia punched his arm before turning away with a pout. Oliver laughed in response, teasing his older sister for her height.

  "Guess I'm the big brother now!" Oliver said, poking her cheek.

  Olivia turned to him with annoyance, yelling at him for his teasing.

  "That's not even how it works, and you know it!" She yelled, beating on his chest.

  Oliver laughed, continuing to tease her.

  "Shortie! Shortie!" Oliver said as he began running away.

  In response, Olivia began chasing after him, causing Oliver to scream. The two began running around in circles, their aunt watching with a smile on her face.

  Leaning her back against the wall, Susan’s quirked a brow as she saw Mr. Philips approached her - joining to watch the two with her.

  "Hmm... Maybe that boy Oliver isn't so bad..." Mr. Philips said, a bit of guilt behind his voice.

  Susan smirked before crossing her arms.

  "Told ya... He's a good kid. It's just his sister is so perfect, it's hard to shine..." Susan retorted.

  Mr. Philips nodded, before looking at Olivia.

  "But now... Olivia doesn't really feel special. When you see them as equals... It's almost like she loses all meaning..." Mr. Philips said.

  Susan looked at the man with a scowl, however stopped herself before she said something that would land her in court. All she could do was put her hands in her apron pocket before walking inside.

  "It's late... I'm closing up shop..." Susan said, her voice slightly colder.

  The old man was confused by the sudden coldness, but could not argue with her words. He held his wife's hand before walking away. However as he walked away, Olivia looked at him with a saddened expression. She overheard what he had said about her, which obviously upset the girl. Clenching her fist, she quickly walked into the café - trying her best not to cry. Before she could enter however, Oliver grabbed her arm.

  "Sis... You okay?" Oliver asked, worry filled his face.

  Almost as if she didn't feel anything, Olivia turned to him with a confused expression on her face.

  "What're you talking about?" She said, raising her eyebrow as she chuckled slightly.

  Oliver stayed silent for a moment before smiling and letting go off her arm.

  "Nothing... Just thought you were upset over my teasing you or something..." Oliver retorted, hitting her back.

  Oliver huffed, giving her the middle finger with a smile plastered on her face.

  "Whatever dork! Come on get inside before you get eaten by a Fester or sumthin..." Olivia said, walking in before Oliver.

  Hearing the bell ring, Oliver didn't follow in with her - instead he stayed outside for a moment. Looking at her walking deeper into the café through the outside window, Oliver sighed.

  "You don't always have to be so strong..."

  Stepping inside, he saw his sister and aunt sitting around the reading area of the café. Oliver plopped down on the couch, sighing from relief.

  "Finally... I get to sit down... I had the longest day ever..." Oliver complained.

  Olivia rested her head against his shoulder before putting up two fingers.

  "Technically two..." Olivia said, counting the two finger with her other hand.

  Oliver perked up a bit, surprised they were in Leighburne town from two days.

  "So I haven't slept in 28 hours..." Oliver grimaced.

  The twins almost wept, realising how shitty their day was. To cheer them up (and maybe stop them from collapsing), Susan placed down three cups of coffee and some tiramisu cake.

  "Ew I hate coffee blergh... just give me that succulent, delicious nectar of life!" Oliver said reaching out to the plate of tiramisu.

  The two women looked at Oliver with a blank expression, unsure if he was joking.

  "You... Do know that tiramisu cake has coffee right?" Susan asked, looking at the boy with hope in her eyes. Hope that her nephew wasn't a complete idiot.

  However his next few words made her lose all hope in the boy.

  "Isn't tiramisu cake made out of tea?" Oliver said, shoving his mouth with a spoonful of the cake.

  The two women looked almost disgusted by Oliver - as if he just told them he liked to watch videos of animals being abused, or catching up with the Kardashian.

  It took a solid 15 minutes to convince Oliver that the tiramisu cake he loved and obsessed over, was made from the thing he despised most in the world. It was almost like betrayal.

  Looking at the plate in his hands his scowled.

  "How dare you... I put my trust in you... I loved you... You were my everything! I loved your rich cream that was just sweet enough to bring enjoyment without sacrificing flavour. I loved the soft biscuits you were built upon, how my spoon cut into you with ease - as if you were a soft pillowy cloud. I loved that slightly bitter acidity you brought that balanced the sweetness of the cream - which now that I think about it should've ticked me off to your true identity... However it pains me... It truly pains me... You are dead to me..." Oliver said, his eyes filing with tears.

  He then continued to eat the tiramisu cake as if he didn't just pour his heart and soul into that monologue earlier.

  "Ish still good tho..." Oliver said, is mouth full of food.

  The two women looked at him with even more disappointment, though this time they were more disappointed at themselves.

  "Damn that monologue was good..." Olivia said, clicking her tongue and crossing her arms.

  "Well... He was a theater kid..." Susan retorted.

  Oliver pointed his spoon at the two, huffing as he swallowed his food.

  "I'd prefer if you referred to me a 'theatrically inclined'... Besides I think I hate theater now after today..." Oliver sighed.

  Olivia shivered in agreement, causing Susan's interest to be piqued. Leaning back into the couch, she asked what had happened on their mission.

  "You gotta tell me all the juicy details..." Susan said, entering her gossiping aunt mode.

  The two looked at each other, before sighing.

  "Settle in cause I think you're gonna hate it..."

  [One detailed retelling later]

  "THEY DID WHAT?!" Susan yelled, slamming her coffee cup on the table.

  Oliver and Olivia closed they eyes as they made a "yu, totally shouldn't have tolled her look".

  The two watched their aunt pace around the café, bitting her finger nails as she began mumbling enraged rantings to herself.

  "I'll kill them... I'll totally kill them..." Susan said to herself, an evil look on her face.

  The two tried calming her down, but she was obviously too far gone for their intervention. All they could do was hope she would calm down without destroying the entire café.

  [20 minutes later]

  Susan sat back down on the couch, sighing as she ruffled her hair.

  "Alright.... Alright... I'm calm..." Susan said, fixing her hair and eyeliner.

  Oliver and Olivia sighed in relief, happy she didn't destroy too much of the café.

  "You know all of that is coming out of your own paycheck right, aunt Susan?" Olivia said, her eyes still closed as she smiled wearily.

  Susan stopped fixing her makeup for a moment, sulking as she realised the consequence of her actions. Sighing Susan laid on the couch, before looking at the two.

  "I need good news right now... How'd you guys defeat that Fester?" Susan asked, making circles on the couch.

  Hearing her question made Olivia tense up. How could she tell her aunt that she failed at the last second and was unconscious for the rest of the battle? She knew how much Susan loved her, but Olivia knew her ain't would lose all respect for her if she told her the truth.... At least that was what Olivia thought. Mr. Philips' words flooded her mind, clouded her mind. She believed that if she knew what really happened, she wouldn't love Olivia. She'd see her as just a worse version of her brother. She couldn't think rationally anymore. She couldn't think about any other outcome other than her aunt being disappointed in her. Because she had no excuse. She really did fail. She was a complete and utter loser. So she should just accept it.

  "Truth is I-" but before she could finish her sentence, Oliver interrupted her.

  "Olivia beat that damn Fester to a pulp! She was so cool!" Oliver said enthusiastically.

  Olivia turned to him with wide eyes, confused as to why he would lie for her. Oliver gave her a quick glance, smiling before looking back at his aunt.

  "She beat that guy all by herself. Meanwhile I was too weak from a massive attack to even transform..." Oliver sighed, really playing into his character.

  Susan was slightly surprised, expecting Oliver to have at least helped - but still she was proud of them nonetheless.

  "Well you both are fighters. I'm so proud of you two ya know that?" Susan smiled, looking at the two with love in her eyes.

  Oliver and Olivia rolled their eyes with a smirk, reminding her that she says that about everything.

  "Because it's the truth damnit! You guys are the best!" Susan said, hugging both of them.

  The two chuckled before Olivia turned Oliver, mouthing the words "thank you". He smiled before mouthing the words "give me all your chocopies". Olivia playfully hit him, before mouthing the words "fine". Oliver fist bumped before his attention was taken away by his phone buzzing.

  Taking out his phone, Oliver raised an eyebrow as he noticed it was a phone call. Susan pulled away from the hug, before asking Oliver who it was.

  "Dunno... It's from an unknown number..." Oliver responded.

  Olivia crossed her arms, telling him it was probably another scammer.

  "Remember last week you almost lost your social security number..." Olivia said, looking at him smugly.

  Oliver turned red, embarrassed to be called out.

  "I thought it was my package from Tailezon..." Oliver mumbled.

  Susan took a look at the number before grimacing.

  "That's a number from F.A.T.E... If it starts with +F5 it's from their headquarters." She said in a matter of fact way.

  The two looked her suspiciously, wondering how she knew that. Susan shrugged, telling them that she's gotten calls from them before.

  "You two ARE investigators after all. Minors too. I'm still accountable for you. And yes Oliver I know you broke your finger to get something stupid like information..." Susan glared.

  Oliver looked away with a guilty expression as well as cursing Yue.... He then took it back realising that if she found out, she'd do something much worse than breaking his finger.

  "A- anyway... If it's a call from HQ, it must be important." Oliver said, looking at his ringing phone.

  Susan looked over to Olivia, gesturing for her to follow her. Olivia nodded, giving Oliver some privacy. Oliver took a deep breath, before nodding his head. He picked up the phone, putting it up to his ear.

  "Hello, Oliver Rand here..." Oliver said hesitantly.

  He heard shifting in the background before finally hearing a voice. A familiar... But stuffed voice.

  "Sorry I was eating a burger..." He heard swallowing. "Hello Oliver Rand! You finally picked up I see..." The voice from the other side said.

  "DIRECTOR BRANFORD?!!" Oliver yelled in shock.

  Director Branford hummed in response.

  "Indeed it is I.... Are you shocked I called you?" He asked.

  Oliver agreed with his statement, confused why the director of F.A.T.E is calling him.

  "Well you shouldn't be... You're kinda a hot topic deal after the Leighburne invasion. Especially since you can transform..." Branford explained.

  Oliver froze for a moment, before gripping his phone tightly.

  "So it got out huh...?" Oliver said, his tone darkening.

  Director Branford chucked.

  "Yes. We know your secret Oliver, thanks to any anonymous broadcaster... Actually... Everyone in F.A.T.E knows..." He explains.

  Oliver gulped before asking if anyone else knows.

  "Has the video been released to the public?" Oliver ask, his voice was shaky.

  "Nope... Everyone in F.A.T.E signed a non-disclosure agreement when they first entered for cases exactly like this... So unless they wanna rot in jail. That video will be F.A.T.E private property...." Director Branford answered.

  Oliver felt relieved... however he quickly began trembling, as he was scared to ask his next question.

  "So... Am I going to die?" Oliver asked, teary eyed as he asked it.

  Director Branford was silent for a moment, before answering.

  "That will be decided tomorrow. Be at F.A.T.E headquarters by 8 A.M for the meeting. And don't be late..." His voice was cold.

  Before he could ask anyone else, the Director hung up on him, leaving Oliver with only the sound of silence. Dropping his arms to his sides, Oliver looked terrified. The fear of uncertainty kicked in as he felt sick to his stomach.

  Oliver Liam Rand was going to die.