Are Ewe Okay?

Saturday, November 7, 2020 -- The Ostenberg-Welles House

At the Ostenberg-Welles house, Boon inspects themself incredulously in the mirror. Running a hand over their fur, playing with their long ears, through their now curlier and whiter hair. It made sense at least, they’d had the ram horns for a while now, if they were going to be turned into an anthropomorphic animal at least it was consistent. But they couldn’t help but at least feel a little bit uncomfortable. *Oh gods this is going to be so awkward to explain to my friends, What’s up guys, I’m a sheep now. At least I can count on Atlanta to be chill about it, we’re pretty solidly past appearance being important. I uh, do look pretty cute though not gonna lie.* Boon flops onto their bed and stares at their laptop. The screen shows a myriad of search results for permutation pink treatments. Boon shuts the screen and pulls out their phone, navigating to text Atlanta.

**Hey babe. Do you have a minute? Some stuff went down. I’m okay just, I look a bit different now, so you might want to see that. I’m at my house.**

Over at her own house, a paint-splattered Atlanta is chasing a similarly dirty Jasper around the front room. They were supposed to be painting it in preparation for Hikari to move into it as they converted the room next to Jasper’s into the nursery. Things seem to have gotten sidetracked. The paint rollers have been abandoned on the floor, and there are beige footprints all across the plastic protecting the floor. Atlanta has just caught Jasper and started tickling him when her phone chimed. It’s enough of a distraction that Jasper wriggles free, giggling as he runs away again. He’s blocked from escaping the room by Noah, who crosses his arms as he surveys the room.

“This doesn’t look like painting to me,” Noah sighs, signing along with speaking.

Atlanta and Jasper exchange a look before both giggling. ***I don’t know, there is a lot of paint around***, Atlanta signs, causing Jasper to double over in laughter.

She pulls out her phone, brows furrowing in concern as she reads Boon’s text. “Uh, I’ve got to run. Boon needs me.”

Noah raises an eyebrow. “Do they now?”

Atlanta looks down at her phone again, reading the part about Boon being fine but being concerned nonetheless. “Yeah.”

Still not sure if this was a lie, Noah sighs again. “At least change so you don’t get paint all over Maggie and Helen’s house.”

Atlanta nods, and lightnings through the wires up to her room. She changes into a non-paint-splattered outfit, and lightnings out her balcony and over to Boon’s. Deciding to bypass any potential Maggie encounters, she goes straight for Boon’s room.

Boon is waiting on their bed wearing a \*Halcyon United Roller Teams\* hoodie pulled up over their head. They sheepishly lower their hood and turn to face Atlanta. “H-hey cupcake. How’s it going?” It’s a bit harder to tell now, but Boon’s cheeks are completely flushed.

Atlanta blinks for a moment, taking in Boon’s new look. “Boon! You’re a sheep! You’re so fluffy!” Then she flushes and shakes her head, realizing how stupid that must sound. “Um, I mean, are you okay? Sorry, I just...was surprised.”

Boon smiles. “Would you believe me if I said that this isn’t the worst thing that happened today?” They glance at the door to their room. “Um yeah, the sheep thing isn’t so baaaad.” Boon looks horrified for a moment and clasps their hands over their mouth. “*Ahem*, the sheep thing isn’t so bad I- it should be reversible…if I decide to. There’s a pretty solid reason why I may not want to though, besides um, besides the fluffiness being kinda cute.”

Atlanta covers her mouth with her hand as Boon baas to hide a smile. After taking a second to compose herself, she sits on the bed next to Boon and takes their hand. “Oh, soft,” she whispers, momentarily distracted again by the difference, but after a moment of stroking the back of it, she stammers. “Oh um. Yeah. Why wouldn’t you want to change back? And what reasons would you? Um, cuz, you know, it’ll take some getting used to, but you don’t have to worry about me not loving you if you stay a sheep. You know that, right?”

“Of course, yeah, no I didn’t think that would be an issue. Um, how do I put this…” Boon sighs. “Melody’s house had this dimensional nexus opening up in it, and a ton of people wanted to use it. One of those people was an ally of Surtr…you know, big angry flaming agent of the apocalypse.” Boon lifts up their hands for emphasis. “Anyway this servant of Surtr mayyyy have overheard me telling Closure’s mom, the cool one not the space fascist, my true name. I um, I thought it would impress her that I knew it…” Boon looks solemn “But if you know someone’s true name, you can make them do whatever you want them to…”

Atlanta puts an arm around Boon, trying to be comforting. “I’m so sorry. Do you want to talk about it, tell me what happened?”

Boon shakes their head. “He…he made me fight my Mom. I couldn’t- I let it happen again. I- my actions weren’t my own and I couldn’t stop it and if Overgrowth hadn’t done what he did I would’ve killed her and it would’ve been all my fault and this keeps happening to me because I’m weak and I’m a failure and apparently just anyone can get in my head and tell me what to do and it felt like Sapphomet all over again.” Boon’s breathing quickens and they dig their head into their palms.

“Hey, Boon,” Atlanta says gently. She sits on the floor in front of Boon so she can look up at them, and puts a hand over Boon’s on their face. “You are not a failure. Other people being shitty to you and doing terrible things is never your fault. Tay nearly scratched my face off when she was mind controlled the other day. Are you going to blame her for that? And you’re certainly not weak, Boon. You’ve been through so much. If you were weak, you wouldn’t have made it this far. You’re amazing and strong and so much braver than you give yourself credit for.” Atlanta starts to tear up. It breaks her heart to see them hurting like this. “The people who do this kind of thing are good at what they do. They know where to find cracks and will dig into those. It’s not your fault. It’s never your fault when people hurt you.”

Boon swallows and begins to slow their breathing down a bit. Atlanta’s presence was so comforting, so grounding. The walls stop closing in around them and they no longer feel like they’re drowning. They don’t speak for a few minutes, they just hold Atlanta’s hand and breathe. “Thank you, Atlanta. I was, I was spiraling a little bit there. I- I don’t like that this affects me this much, even months after I got rid of her. I don’t like that it still feels like she has a hold on me even though she’s sealed away safely. I just- I want to be free.” Boon sighs “But that’s going to take some time, I understand that now. What happened last year was…it was bad. And I can’t expect to just forget about it and be done.” Boon sits up and then flops backwards onto the bed. “Anyway, I don’t expect to get mind controlled again anytime soon, provided I stay like this at least. Hurricane said that transforming me would alter my true name, just enough that the last one couldn’t be used against me anymore. I’m afraid if I turn back it’ll revert and Surtr and his armies will be able to use it against me again.”

Atlanta crawls up on the bed to lay next to Boon, on her side so she can still see their face. It’s strange to see it so different, but not bad. The desire to pet Boon’s hair -- which looks extra fluffy now -- or ears increases the more she looks at it, but she holds herself back for now. “Do you want to stay like this? Because if you don’t, we can find a way to prevent them from using that against you. I mean, we’re superheroes. We always find a way.”

Boon ponders for a moment. “I…I don’t know. Is it weird that I don’t know? I mean like, I don’t feel uncomfortable like this, and I can take all the time I need to look into getting it reversed. I feel cute, my hair is really fluffy, and my girlfriend can barely keep herself from scratching behind my ears so those are all plusses.” Boon grins and looks at Atlanta.

Atlanta nods along with Boon up until the last part, where she flushes. “I, what? Nooooo. That’s not. I…” Atlanta pulls the hood of her hoodie over her face to try and hide her very red face.

Boon rolls over to hug Atlanta, laughing as they do so “Atlanta I demand you scritch behind my ears!”

“Boooon,” Atlanta protests, then giggles. She wraps her arms around them, returning the hug. After a moment, she finally lets herself reach up and touch Boon’s new ears. They are incredibly soft. She also runs her fingers through Boon’s fluffier hair before scritching Boon’s ears. “There, happy now?” The question was supposed to sound teasingly exasperated, but Atlanta doesn’t have it in her to sound anything but content.

Boon sighs and looks down at Verve, smiling warmly. “I…I am.” Boon rolls back over next to Atlanta and looks up at the ceiling. “I’m happy.” They take a deep breath and then turn to look at Atlanta. “I’m gonna give this a few weeks and see how I like it.”

Atlanta pulls down her hood, still blushing but not nearly as red as before. Rolling over, she rests her head on Boon’s shoulder and wraps an arm around them. “That sounds like a good plan. And you know, either way, your choice isn’t permanent. You can change your mind. I mean, assuming the antidote works for you. And I guess I’ve been assuming that Perm Pink changes a person to the same thing every time...” Atlanta trails off, eyebrows furrowing as she tries to figure out if that makes sense or not.

“Exactly! There’s no pressure. That is a good point though, has anyone ever been cured and then re-pinked? Anyway, I’m gonna keep things as is for now and feel it out, so you may need to get used to me being a sheep.” Boon finishes their sentence and looks concerned for a moment as they spot some dried paint in Atlanta’s hair. “You been getting into art lately? You’ve got some paint in your hair love.” They reach over and brush off a lock of her hair.

“There are certainly worse things than you being a sheep,” Atlanta grins. When Boon points out the paint, she shrinks in on herself a bit and looks nervous. “Oh. Uh. No. We’re repainting the front room.” Atlanta sits up and tugs her hoodie sleeves down over her hands. She bites her lip, looking like she wants to say something else but isn’t quite sure where to start.

Boon waits for Atlanta to finish her sentence. Realizing there’s more to the story they raise an eyebrow in a knowing look. “And…?”

Atlanta takes a deep breath and spills it all out. “Okay so we’re repainting the front room because Grandy is going to move in there because we’re converting their room into a different room and that kind of room is a nursery because Mom’s pregnant.” After taking in a deep breath, she looks back at Boon. “But it’s like, a secret? Because people don’t announce this kind of thing until later.”

Boon’s eyes light up, showing their now horizontal pupils. “YOU’RE GONNA HAVE- *ahem* secret right. You’re gonna have another little sibling!? That’s amazing! I’m so happy for y’all.” Boon looks concerned for a moment. “Oh gods, I’m- I’m gonna have to keep that a secret aren’t I.” Boon looks down solemnly. “I think. I think after today I need to make a serious effort towards keeping secrets. I’ve put you in danger by not being careful with your identity, and I almost hurt my Mom because I said my true name out loud…I’m going to start with this one. Nobody will learn about the baby until Demeter is ready to announce it, I promise.”

Atlanta pats Boon’s knee. “It’s okay. I mean, I’m also not great with secrets. I have no idea how I kept my identity a secret from the team for so long. Besides, I think it’ll only be like a month? I think your mom knows, cuz like, clairvoyance. And Ernest knows. I told him on Halloween.” Atlanta grimaces a little. “But otherwise, just my immediate family knows so far. Mom says she’ll announce it in about a month. And uh, Daybreak will retire again.” She tugs her sleeves further over her hands.

“Ah okay that makes sense…” Boon stops to consider the implications of Daybreak retiring for a moment. They hold Atlanta’s hand firmly. “Are you...are you nervous about that? It’s okay if you are.”

Sighing, Atlanta nods. “Yeah. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m super excited about the baby. Like, another sibling. I’ve been declaring people left and right my siblings since I joined the team, but another baby is just,” Atlanta can’t hold back a huge grin, “something else. Something extra special. I remember when Jasper was born, and how excited I was. And now, just,” Atlanta falls back on the bed, hugging herself. Then the smile fades, “But like...Mom’s been helping me with hero stuff ever since she got back. And I’m trying to get better at being smart about things, but I don’t think I’m there. And now when people look at me, they’re going to expect me to be her, and I’m not her. Especially when she retires, people are going to expect me to fill her shoes, and I don’t know if I can.”

Boon sighs. “Yeah that’s- that’s a mood huh? Honestly though Atlanta, you were a capable hero long before your Mom got home. And you’re right, you aren’t Daybreak, you’re Verve. Verve who warned the city about a deadly space laser, Verve who foiled a plot against the world’s magic users, Verve who saved Hero One from the clutches of the Reaper, Verve who saved my life…you don’t have to fill anyone’s shoes, dear, just your own, and I think you’re doing an incredible job of that so far.” Boon sighs. “I get though, that’s all easier said than done. I’ve been…worried about my Mom. She got caught by Aldrich a few weeks ago and he almost drained her powers. And then yesterday. I almost beat her and…she’s getting older. Don’t get me wrong she’s still plenty young. But she’s not too much younger than my grandmother Katrín was when she got injured and retired. And every time I beat her in a spar it reminds me that she’s not in her Prime anymore, and that I need to be...”

Atlanta nods slowly, messing up her hair against the bed. “I...I guess Verve’s been a hero, and sure I did some cool things, but Mom is so smart. I just, rush into things and throw lightning at them. And I’m not even good at the lightning part anymore.” She sighs again, and fumbles around for Boon’s hand a bit before finding and taking it. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing great. I guess I’m also worried about my Mom getting hurt, even if it’s for different reasons. I don’t really know what to say. Thinking of Maggie as being old and slowing down doesn’t really compute in my head, she’s so--” Atlanta cuts herself off from saying ‘scary,’ but can’t think of a replacement word quick enough, “Uhhhhh, strong?”

“I mean of course she is! She’s hella strong. I mean, you could hardly tell she took a break to raise me if you didn’t know better…but I fight with her multiple times a week, I can tell that she gets tired ever so slightly more easily. She’ll continue to be strong for years, decades even, but I don’t know if she’ll be…umm…Ragnarok strong.” Boon stares at the opposite wall for a moment. “But I am…” They turn to face Atlanta “And you’re way stronger and smarter than me, so like I think you’re good.” Boon grins smugly.

“Don’t be silly, Boon. You’re way stronger than me. Like, in terms of super strength mine is lowest tier. I didn’t even realize I had it for like, a year.” Atlanta nudges her joyfriend in the side.

Boon giggles. "You're taking it too literally! There's more to strength than just physical power. My mom's strength is in her perceptiveness, mine is in my versatility, Ryan's is in their patience, Cadenza's is in her…persistence…and your strength, Atlanta, is that when you set your mind to something there's nothing you can't do. When the people you love are in danger you'll do whatever it takes to make sure they're safe. You care so deeply and genuinely about people and you are always looking for the good in them. That's what makes you strong, and that's why you're going to be the world's best hero someday soon." Boon delivers their speech with a look of pure admiration in their eyes.

“Wait, no, I…” Atlanta flushes, unsure how to respond to that kind of praise. And as much as she isn’t sure she believes it, she can tell that Boon does. Part of her wants to bury her face in a pillow to hide her embarrassment, but a bigger part can’t look away from Boon and the sincerity in their eyes. Finally, she quietly says, “Well if I do become the best hero in the world, it’s only because I have you beside me.”

Boon can't help but tear up a little bit. They roll over and hug Atlanta tightly as if letting go will cause them to lose her. "I love you more than anything you know that? And I will never leave your side. We're going to do amazing things together."

Atlanta hugs Boon back, just as tightly. “You and me, heroes of Halcyon City. Fighting evil, being gay.” She giggles. One of her hands reaches up to run through Boon’s fluffy hair. “I love you.”

Boon closes their eyes and their ears droop with contentment as Atlanta runs her hands through their hair. "I love you too dear. I…I think I want to spend the rest of my life with you…" Boon looks really concerned for a moment, "Sorry, is that too much?"

Atlanta shakes her head. “No, you’re good.” She pulls back so she can look up at Boon, grinning mischievously. “We’ll need to start keeping a tally of how many times you accidentally propose to me before I graduate high school if you keep it up, though.”

Boon's eyes widen in surprise, a flush is barely visible below their fur. "I- nooo I did it again! Alright I promise when I propose to you for real it'll be way more special and also when we're both older."

Atlanta’s grin widens. “When, huh? But what if I propose to you for real first?” She boops their nose.

Boon gets an excited look in their face for a moment "WAIT waitwaitwait. Have you seen those- those videos where lesbians propose to each other simultaneously? That's my challenge to you. When we're both a little bit older I challenge you to propose to me at the same time as I propose to you."

The image hits Atlanta, and she grins. “Challenge accepted. But not at least until I’ve graduated.” She starts to laugh. “Wow, we’re, we’re goners, huh. Just, absolutely irredeemably sappy.” Her grin softens as she looks at Boon, and brushes a bit of hair out of their face. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Boon smiles warmly at Atlanta "there's literally zero hope for us. But same, I'm fine with that." They rest their head on the pillow and let themselves just get lost in Atlanta's eyes for a moment. After a while Boon breaks the silence. "So. I bet Jasper's excited to be an older brother huh?"

“Oh you have no idea. He’s been asking me questions non-stop. I should tell him that Ernest knows so he can bother him.” Atlanta shakes her head affectionately. “But it’s super exciting. Jasper is so ready to not be the baby. He said something like, ‘I have so many good older siblings that I’m bound to be the best one.’ I can’t wait until everyone knows. Jasper will have so many people he can talk to about being a good big sibling. Ernest, Cambria, I’m sure he’ll talk to Mel about it even though I’m not sure Mel considers himself Jasper’s big brother--” Atlanta cuts herself off as a thought hits her. She can barely hold back an excited little grin. “Hey Boooooon, have you ever held a baby before?”

"I- I never have, no. Will I like, be allowed to hold the baby? Are you allowed to hold someone else's baby?"

“Why wouldn’t you be allowed?” Atlanta tilts her head to the side, confused.

"I don't know! Doesn't like- like if you hold a baby the mom can't recognize it anymore right?" Boon has a look on their face almost as if they're doing mental math.

Atlanta’s eyebrows furrow for a moment as she tries to parse out Boon’s logic, then falls onto her back as she laughs. “Oh! Boon, we’re not birds! Or kittens. Mom will be able to tell the baby is my sibling even if you hold it, promise.”

Boon buries their face in their hands in embarrassment. "Noooo you can't blame me for making that mistake, I'm literally a bird sometimes!" Boon emphasizes their point by turning into a falcon and fluttering to land on top of Atlanta, where they start preening her hair.

Atlanta makes a mental note to buy the baby a bird onesie and take a picture of Boon holding them in it. As Boon starts to preen her hair, she gently waves Boon away, giggling. “Stop, you’re going to wreck it even more. And get paint in your mouth. You’re as bad as Wingnut.”

Boon flutters back onto the empty space on the bed and turns back into a sheep-they. "I can't help it, your hair looks so nest-able!" they say, giggling. After laughing for a bit longer, Boon sighs. "Thanks for coming over by the way. I know you should probably be prepping the nursery but…I needed this. I feel a lot better now."

“Hey, my hair isn’t that messy,” Atlanta protests, even though her hair is, in fact, a pretty big mess right now. It’ll be a pain to de-tangle later. “And I’m glad. It makes me happy when I can help you feel better. Don’t worry about the nursery. Jasper and I got uhhhhhh, distracted, while we were painting Grandy’s new room, so really you just got me out of cleaning that up. Besides, we have about five months to finish. And it’ll be done in like two weeks if Dad gets his way.” Atlanta rolls her eyes affectionately. “He’s also super excited. All this probably makes it feel more like before Mom disappeared, to him at least.”

"That's really sweet! It must be so nice to have a whole big family again." Boon's eyes look a little watery for a moment. "Mom and I have been feeling the same way about this house. She was so excited to build that doghouse for Lugnut when he got back. Mel has some insecurities about living here since he doesn't want to overstay his welcome, but I think my Mom is just really excited to have a family again. All the excitement of living here has been wonderful for her." Boon opens their mouth for a moment as if to tack something else on to the end of that statement, but changes their mind.

Atlanta squeezes Boon’s hand, only getting a little distracted by how soft it was this time. “What is it?”

"My Mom…is thinking of proposing to Helen"

Atlanta gasps and her eyes go wide. “Oh! Oh my gosh! That’s-- are you happy about that?”

"Of course!! I'm thrilled! I get to have two moms and Ernest gets to be my brother officially and we get to be one big family and I can help plan the wedding and I'm sorry I'm just so excited, gods above. If Helen says yes of course, can't count my chickens yet you know but ahhhhh I'm so excited!"

“That’s so great! I haven’t been to a wedding in forever! I can’t imagine Helen saying no. Boon that’s so exciting!” Atlanta squeezes Boon’s hand again. Her eyes sparkle for a moment, imagining it. “You know, it’s been kinda feeling like changes are coming, especially with people talking about leaving Big Team, but not all change is so bad or scary.”

Boon gives a laugh interspersed with a bit of bleating. “No. Sometimes change is good. I’m excited to see what comes next.”

Atlanta immediately decides that the bleat-laughing is cute, and holds out her other hand for Boon to take. “Yeah. Together.”

Boon looks embarrassed from their laugh, but takes Atlanta’s hand nonetheless, looking their girlfriend in the eye adoringly. “Together.”