Reaper's Resurgence: A System Reset

Alexia

I struggle rather hard to keep the corners of my lips straight. Because I know Astrid won't let that go if she sees.

But it's honestly very hard to keep a straight face at this.

"Now listen, Luna," Astrid says while kneeling down in front of Luna, who is sitting on my chair as I watch from the side inside of my booth. "I am your aunt and not your father, alright? There is a clear distinction between the two."

Luna just continues staring directly at her face through half-lidded eyes that look like she may fall asleep at any moment as she mumbles, "But you're Aunty… and Father… right? Can't you be both?"

"No, sweetie," Astrid says, shaking her head with a rather panicked and more than a little distressed look on her face. "I am only your aunty, alright?"

"Then… who's Father?" Luna asks, making Astrid stiffen up before she hurriedly looks at me.

She happens to look at me the moment I just happen to focus on some random battle in the arena though, so I'm not in the house right now.

"Um, well… that…" Astrid begins to stutter, clearly not knowing what to do or say in this situation.

"Do I… not have a Father?" Luna asks after yawning, and out of the corner of my eye I see a tear forming in the corner of her own eye. But I can tell through our bond that she's just sleepy and it's a tear from a mixture of her yawning and the drowsiness she's feeling. And not actual sadness of any kind.

Astrid, on the other hand, does not have that bond. So she starts flipping out.

"Uh, well, that is to, uh," Astrid says, not really going anywhere.

"Why…" Luna begins before tilting her head in the corner of my eyes, "…can't you be Father?"

Astrid freezes in place at that, no doubt feeling distressed about not wanting to hurt little Luna's feelings. Not that she could since I can tell Luna doesn't really care much about Astrid. Just a bit more than she cares about other allies.

Which isn't much.

She hasn't really spent long with Astrid after all, so it makes sense. Even if Luna looks just like the two of us did when we were younger, except with my Quantum Reaper aspects.

"M-m-maybe… just…" Astrid grunts out, sounding like she's on the brink of giving up and just letting Luna call her father.

And by now I can't hold it in anymore and let out a quiet giggle. One that immediately makes Astrid's head turn towards me with her face going bright red and her cheeks puffing out a tiny bit.

Which looks adorable, but that's besides the point. Considering that she's angry.

I finally turn to look at the two as I tell Luna, "No, you don't have a father, Luna. So don't worry about those sorts of things. Astrid is just your aunty."

Luna simply nods her head while wiping her teary eye and saying, "Okie."

Then she yawns once more and jumps up from the chair before patting Astrid's head once when Astrid seems like she's about to go off on me. Following which she says, "Hello, Aunty."

And without another word, as Astrid is frozen in place again, Luna walks up to me and raises her arms. Clearly wanting me to pick her up.

So I do just that and turn to face the arena again, ignoring my rather shell-shocked twin for now.

A few seconds pass in silence as we watch the fights in the arena from near the edge of my booth. Then I whisper into Luna's ear, "Thank you."

She just looks at me and tilts her head, only to shrug, giggle once, give me a kiss on the cheek for some reason, and return to watching the arena.

I think that was the most fun I've had in a while.

Honestly, I probably needed that. A nice break from all of this fighting, fighting, teleporting around, fighting, dealing with these thought eavesdropping stalkers, and more fighting.

"Did you just…" one of said thought eavesdropping stalkers mutters, but I ignore him. "Of course you would…"

Not sure when he got back in the first place, or where he went. Honestly don't really care either.

And you'll be a thought eavesdropping stalker until you stop eavesdropping on my thoughts.

He doesn't respond, making me snort.

Which seems to snap Astrid out of it as she finally gets up and rushes towards me while exclaiming, "Did you really do that just for your own entertainment?! That was just cruel Lexi!"

I glance at her, and so does Luna. Then I nod my head, place one hand on her shoulder, of which Luna mimics for some reason.

And I tell her, "Thank you for that. I really needed it."

She opens her mouth for a second, only to close it again.

After a few seconds though, a faint smile emerges on her face and she says, "Your bullying aside, I'm glad your more playful nature is returning."

I blink at that.

"You've seemed incredibly focused ever since the Reset started," Astrid explains. "It's been worrying me a little bit. But just now you seemed like your old self before the Reset."

Oh.

Interesting.

I guess I have been focusing a lot on this one goal.

I do that sometimes.

Haven't ever focused on a single goal for this long though, so I guess I can see why she was worried.

But…

A frown stretches across my face as I turn to look out the edge of my shielded booth.

…what have I even been focused on?

Fighting to grow stronger? To become the Quantum Reaper and take my place? To survive?

I'm not sure what my goal is now that I think about it.

"Still, please don't bully me," Astrid comments, making my gaze return to her to find her with a single brow raised and her arms crossed.

"I wouldn't call that bullying," I comment back before glancing at Luna and asking, "Right, Luna?"

Astrid's mouth parts open, only for Luna to throw one fist in to the air as she exclaims, "Right!" Even though I'm pretty sure she has no idea what I'm referring to.

And once again, Astrid is left stunned.

Meanwhile I'm covering my mouth as a chuckle leaks out.

This is fun.