The cheers were still ringing.
Nova didn’t hear them.
Suddenly her knees hit the ice. Hard.
Then the rest of her followed.
One second she was walking to the beat of the applause and the next everything went black.
The crowd gasped.
Guards were on her instantly, pushing past the blood-stained rink. Two grabbed her shoulders, another her legs. But when they tried to lift her,
“Her femur’s cracked clean through!”
“She’s not stabilizing, look at her ribs!”
“Her shoulder just popped out again, god, don’t move her too much!”
Nova coughed weakly, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes blinked open for a second, saw the ceiling, spinning, distant. Her body felt like glass, every part of her broken and trying to scream.
The chip’s glow had faded.
And all the damage Butcher had done…
Came rushing back.
She winced as pain surged down her spine, hot and jagged, like fire under her skin.
But underneath all that agony… was something else.
A thought.
A single, breathless truth.
“I’m alive.”
She didn’t get executed. She didn’t get taken out by Butcher. She survived. And in Vault-0, surviving meant something.
It meant they’d patch her up.
Because if you lived… you had to finish your sentence.
You had to keep skating.
Keep killing.
Keep giving them a show.
That’s why the guards didn’t hesitate and she could see it in their eyes. She had earned their respect. Butcher was more than just her bully. Now she took down Butcher and carved a rose into the ice.She earned it. Earned the next round. Earned her damn place finally.
A guard barked through his comm. “We need clearance! She’s bleeding out..“
“Get her there, now!”
They dragged her across the ice, every jolt a fresh slice of agony.
The last thing she heard before slipping under,
Was her own breath hitching in her chest.
And someone calling her name.
“Nova!”
Familiar.
Soft.
Everything went black.
Machines beeped in jagged rhythm.
Nova’s body was barely hanging on, limbs braced, ribs taped, eyes shut. Her chest rose in small, painful motions, like even breathing took effort. She looked nothing like the force of nature that danced around Butcher. Now, she was pale, fragile.
Broken.
The med techs had done all they could. Now it was just… wait.
The door creaked open.
Vera stepped in, slow, unsure. She wore her Vault-0 jacket tight around her shoulders, fingers curled at the sleeves. Her eyes were already red. The room felt too cold, too still, and the moment she saw Nova’s bruised, bandaged face,
She broke.
“Nova…” she whispered, stepping closer.
Her voice cracked. “You’re not supposed to be like this…”
She sat beside the bed, hands trembling as she reached out, but didn’t touch. Just hovered there, scared to cause more damage.
“I didn’t mean to,” she said, barely louder than a breath. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just… I saw him, Butcher, he was gonna, he had you. I thought, if I could just throw him off, even for a second, ”
Her lip quivered, and she clutched her hands to her chest like it would hold her together.
“I tripped you. I did. I did it. But it wasn’t to hurt you… I swear, I swear it wasn’t.”
She shook her head, tears spilling freely now.
“You were about to die and...”
The machines kept beeping.
Nova didn’t move.
Vera leaned in, biting her lip hard. “Please, Nova. You gotta pull through, okay? You gotta wake up and cuss me out or throw a blade at my head or call me crazy. I don’t care.”
A broken laugh slipped out. “Just wake up. Please…”
The door creaked again.
Vera froze, wiping her tears quickly, standing up straight.
Jinx entered first, hood down for once. Her red contacts shimmered with unshed tears. Behind her came Dez, eyes low .. Mute walked silently at the rear, carrying something folded in his arms. Petal followed with soft steps, holding a small bouquet of frost-hardened flowers she’d grown just that morning in the hydro cell.
They all stood at the foot of Nova’s bed, quiet.
Dez cleared his throat, but even his voice was soft. “She looks like hell.”
Jinx shot him a look. Mute who stepped forward, gently laying the black-and-chrome Vault-0 jacket across Nova’s chest. The insignia shimmered faintly. The number etched on the shoulder: #047.
Petal reached out and tucked one of Nova’s braids behind her ear, her touch feather-light. “You earned this,” she whispered. “Just rest.”
“She made history,” Jinx murmured. “No one’s ever dropped Butcher like that. No one’s ever moved like that. You were... perfect out there, babe.”
Dez crossed his arms, eyes wet despite the grin trying to peek through. “Yeah, you scared the hell outta me. Kinda proud of that. Don’t do it again.”
Mute knelt down by the bed. He pulled a small note from his sleeve, drawn in black ink, sharp and neat. It was a simple sketch: Nova skating, petals flying behind her, the word “Legend” etched in graffiti font at the bottom. He tucked it under her hand.
Vera stepped aside, letting them be with her, just for a moment longer.
Then, one by one, they left.
Petal placed the frost flowers beside the monitors. Dez gave a lazy salute. Jinx squeezed Nova’s arm gently. Mute looked back one last time before the door shut behind them all.
Vera lingered, hand brushing Nova’s shoulder.
“You have family now,” she said softly. “We all do.”
And then she left too.
The room was quiet again.
The sterile scent of the hospital wing filled her senses as Nova’s eyelids fluttered open. The bright overhead lights made her squint at first, her vision still blurry from the haze of unconsciousness. Her body felt like it had been run over by a thousand freight trains, broken, bruised, every inch of her a war zone.
She exhaled sharply, trying to move, but every muscle screamed in protest. Her hand instinctively reached for her ribs, where the sharp ache reminded her of Butcher’s merciless beating. She winced, unable to ignore the pounding in her head, or the dull throb from the damage.
Her breath was steadying when she heard it, the scrape of a chair moving. The soft shift of fabric, the faintest creak of leather. She froze.
A figure sat there, just out of her full view. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, sharp, calculating. The tension in the room was thick, her senses on high alert as she tried to focus, to piece together where she was.
She turned her head slowly, the movement slow and deliberate, but her limbs felt heavy and uncooperative. And then, she saw him. X.
He was sitting there, a shadow against the dull glow of the hospital lights, his posture relaxed but somehow still dangerous. His dark eyes were locked on her, unreadable behind that mask of his.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Nova’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to figure out why he was there. Was he going to finish her off while she was vulnerable? Or was he... watching?
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Nova broke the silence. Her voice rasped, raw and still recovering from the strain of battle.
“You got something to say, or you just gonna sit there staring at me like some creep?”
X didn’t answer. He didn’t move, didn’t blink, didn’t even seem to acknowledge her question. He simply sat there, watching her with that eerie patience of his, as if waiting for her to come to terms with whatever was happening.
The silence stretched on, and Nova’s discomfort grew. She hated not knowing what to expect.
Her eyes were still locked on him, her instincts telling her to stay sharp. “You gonna say something anytime soon?”
Still, he didn’t speak, and Nova felt that old tension in her chest rise. Every moment he stayed quiet, every second he just sat there watching her, made her uneasy.
X stood up slowly, his movement smooth and controlled, like a predator on the prowl. His boots made a soft sound against the floor as he walked toward the door, and Nova’s breath hitched in her throat.
What the hell was he doing?
Without a word, he reached the door and locked it with a quiet click. Nova’s heart began to race, her eyes flicking between him and the now-locked exit. Her muscles tensed in response, but her body screamed in pain, refusing to obey her instincts to spring into action.
He was blocking her only way out.
The sickening feeling of vulnerability crept over her. She could barely move, barely even sit up without the whole room spinning, and X knew it.
But he didn’t stop there.
He moved to the small window set into the door. The faint outline of light from the hall flickered through it, but X reached up and covered it completely. The darkness beyond the door swallowed up the little bit of hope she had left.
Now, the room was eerily quiet. No sounds from the hallway. Just the muffled hum of the lights above and the pounding of her pulse in her ears.
Nova’s breath caught in her throat. Every instinct she had screamed at her to act, do something, fight back, anything, but her body betrayed her. She couldn't move as fast as she needed. The pain from her injuries had a grip on her that she couldn’t escape.
X turned around to face her again, standing tall and unmoving. His eyes were focused, cold, as though he were studying her every reaction.
X finally broke the silence, moving fluidly, as though every step was calculated. Without a word, he silently locked the door, then blocked the window with a piece of cloth, the action making Nova's nerves jump. She felt the heat of his presence in the small, dimly lit room, her breath hitching as she realized he wasn't leaving anytime soon.
Nova's eyes darted to the small table beside her, where a sharp object rested. Her hand instinctively moved towards it, but before she could grab it, X was already there, his hand swift and firm, wrapping around her wrist. He didn’t let go.
Her pulse quickened. She was too weak to move, her limbs heavy from the healing effects of the chip wearing off, and she could feel the raw ache from Butcher's brutal assault creeping back.
X didn't speak immediately. His grip tightened slightly, not in aggression, but like a silent reminder of his control over the situation. His eyes were still fixed on her, intense, calculating.
The seconds dragged on.
Nova shifted uncomfortably, trying to pull her hand away, but his grip was unwavering.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost too calm.
“How do you feel?” he asked, his gaze still locked on her, studying every flicker of emotion in her expression.
Nova’s eyes widened, her mind scrambling to process the sound of his voice. He’d never spoken before, had barely even acknowledged her existence beyond their interactions in the rink. The shock of it left her momentarily speechless.
X's question hung in the air like a heavy weight, the silence that followed pressing in on her chest. Nova tried to breathe through the tension, but her body felt like it was on fire, the pain from her battle with Butcher crashing down on her all at once. She opened her mouth to respond but couldn’t find the words. Her throat tightened as the full scope of her exhaustion hit her.
Her limbs still felt broken, stiff, like they weren’t even hers anymore. Now, the wreckage of her body, of the fight, of everything, was overwhelming. It was too much. She was too much. And she couldn’t push through anymore.
The pain coursed through her, sharp, brutal, unrelenting. Her breath caught in her chest as she fought to hold it together, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t keep it in anymore.
Before she even realized it, the tears started to fall.
She clenched her fists, trying to hide her face, but it was too much. She couldn’t keep up the wall, not anymore. Not when every inch of her body was screaming, not when the fear of what was happening, of what would happen next, suddenly felt like too much to bear.
She broke. A shaky breath escaped her, then another, until her chest was heaving. She was shaking, unable to stop it. The tears fell faster, hot and uncontrollable, as the weight of everything crashed down on her, of the fight, of the chip, of being trapped here, of having no control.
She wasn’t strong enough for this. Not anymore.
"Please…" Her voice was barely a whisper, thick with emotion. "I can't do this."
She felt small, so small, and for the first time in a long while, she didn’t know how to move, how to fight, how to fix it. All the strength she usually relied on was gone, replaced by a kind of raw, painful vulnerability that terrified her.
The tears streamed down her face, and she didn’t try to stop them. She couldn’t.
Nova's tears flowed like an endless stream, each sob a reflection of the crushing weight she had been carrying. The pain was too much, and she couldn’t hold it in any longer. Everything she’d been through, everything she had to endure, it was too much. Her chest heaved with each breath, her body trembling as she let the emotions spill out.
X watched her silently, his posture stiff, unsure of how to reach her. This wasn’t something he was used to. He was used to people fighting for their survival, keeping their distance, but this...this was different. This was vulnerability, raw and unfiltered.
Without a word, he ripped the sleeve from his jacket, the sound of the fabric tearing sharp in the still room. He quickly tied it around her eyes. His hands were steady, almost gentle, as he secured the makeshift blindfold, as she braced for the worst, a mercy kill.
He sat there for a long beat, contemplating, before he slowly, deliberately removed his helmet. The clinking sound of it echoing in the room.
His movements were careful as he leaned forward and enveloped her in a slow, deliberate embrace. It was nothing like the typical survivalist grab, nothing calculated or tactical. It was tender, as though he was trying to offer something real, something tangible.
At first, Nova tensed, shocked by the closeness, but then… she felt something unfamiliar. Something warm. A connection. Her heart raced in a way she didn’t expect. She couldn’t see him, couldn’t feel the cold hardness of his helmet, only the warmth of his face, the rise and fall of his breath. He was human.
"I know," he whispered softly, his voice barely a breath. Just two simple words, but they held so much weight. They were understanding. They were empathy. They were the acknowledgment that he understood the pain she was going through, that he understood her struggle.
Nova trembled in his arms, clinging to him, feeling something she hadn't felt in a long time, human connection. The chaos inside her quieted just slightly with his words, with the warmth of his embrace.
He didn’t try to make her stop crying or tell her everything would be fine. He just held her, letting her feel safe for a moment, letting her know that it was okay to feel broken.
Nova's body was too exhausted to fight the pull of sleep. She’d cried herself out, every muscle aching from the strain, her chest tight with the remnants of her pain. Slowly, her breathing evened out, her sobs fading as her mind faded into the depths of unconsciousness. She barely registered X adjusting her in his arms, his careful, silent movements as he laid her back against the bed.
With a gentle but steady hand, he pulled the blanket up over her, tucking it in just right to make sure she was warm and comfortable. His gaze lingered on her for a moment, taking in the exhaustion that had taken over her.
X’s movements were fluid, almost too quiet as he reached into his jacket. He pulled out a small piece of folded paper and slipped it into Nova’s hands. The paper was light, almost delicate, as if it held something important, something he knew she’d need later, even if she didn’t realize it now.
He stepped back, his fingers lingering for just a second longer on her hand before he pulled away. The room felt colder without him there, the silence growing. His helmet clicked into place, and with one last glance at her, he quietly left the room.
The door clicked softly shut behind him, and Nova remained there, peaceful for the first time in what felt like forever, holding the paper in her hand as her dreams swept her away.
Nova’s eyes flickered open, the soft buzz of the force field around her window the first thing she heard. For a moment, everything was quiet, like a lull in the chaos she had just survived. She looked around the room, her new "cell." No more cold concrete, but this place? Same difference. Just had some bars and a force field on the window, that’s all. She wasn’t fooled. It was still a cage, no matter how much more comfortable it was than the last one.
She sat up, wincing a little. But then she checked herself. Legs? Good. Arms? Good. Her body was sore as hell though. She caught sight of the calendar on the wall. A month. A damn month had passed.
Her stomach sank. A whole month. A whole month I lost.
She clenched her jaw, looking away from the calendar. Her mind went straight to her mother, the one person who mattered more than anything in the world to her. The fact that she’d been gone for a month hit her like a ton of bricks. It was one thing to lose time to this hellhole, but her mother didn’t have much left. She only had a few months. Maybe less now.
Dang it.
Just then, the door clicked open, and Vera stepped in, looking a little unsure of herself. Nova snapped her head up, her eyes hard, but she didn’t say anything. She wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone.
"Hey," Vera said quietly, sitting down at the foot of the bed. "How you feelin’?"
Nova stared at her for a second. Wasn’t in the mood to play nice, but she could see the sincerity in Vera’s eyes. She remembered her apology, while she was unconscious in that bed.Then pushed herself to speak.
"Better, I guess," Nova muttered.
Vera’s eyes softened, but she didn’t say anything for a moment. Just sat there, letting Nova process. She knew Nova had every reason to be pissed, but Vera wasn't the enemy anymore. She just wanted to make things right.
"I, I’m sorry for what happened before," Vera said, her voice low.
"Stop. I ain’t mad at you.I heard your apology aight." She paused for a second, thinking, and then her lips curled into a crooked grin. " We cool. We both been through hell, haven’t we?"
Vera blinked, clearly surprised. "I… I didn’t expect you to forgive me so easily."
Nova shrugged, a small glimmer of amusement lighting her eyes. "I know what you did. I get it."
Vera let out a relieved sigh, and Nova could see the weight lifting off her shoulders. The tension between them was gone.
Nova continued, settling back against the pillow. "You were just tryna protect me."
Vera smiled softly, her eyes glimmering with a mix of relief and hesitation. "I’ve been holding onto something for you," she said quietly.
Nova’s brows furrowed slightly as she sat up straighter, the weight of the words settling in. Vera reached into her jacket pocket, pulling out a small folded piece of paper.
"I found this in your hands," Vera continued. "I realized the guards would’ve confiscated it if they saw it, so I kept it safe."
Nova's heart skipped a beat. She knew exactly what it was before Vera even unfolded it, X’s letter. The memory of him holding her in that vulnerable moment, his words to her still echoing in her mind, rushed back.
Nova unfolded the letter carefully, the words written in delicate, familiar handwriting, the kind of script that could only belong to her mother. A lump formed in her throat as she began reading:
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVS54iPur4
My dearest Nova,
I know you’re probably wondering where I am, but I want you to know that I’m okay. The Bishop has been looking after me, keeping me safe in his quarters. He’s been kind, watching over me like a guardian.
I miss you terribly, my child. Every day, I watch you on the hologram TV, hoping that you’re doing alright, knowing that you’re out there fighting, surviving, and pushing through. I know you’re stronger than you think. Please, never forget that.
I wish things had been different. I’m sorry, Nova, for getting you into this world, for pulling you into this chaos. But you’ve shown me what true strength is. Keep pushing, keep fighting. You’re more than capable. You have my love with you always, and I pray for you every single day. I pray for your safety, for your survival, for your freedom.
Please, my daughter, don’t give up. I’ll always be here, watching over you.
With all my love,
Your Mother
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDr1dogkEO
Nova finished reading, the weight of the letter sinking deep into her chest. She stared at the last line, her mind racing. She wasn’t sure if the tears in her eyes were from relief or sorrow. Her mother’s words, even from afar, were a comfort, a reminder that there was still love in this broken world, a love that she could hold onto.
She wiped her eyes quickly, fighting to maintain her composure. As much as her mother’s words brought warmth, they also filled her with a bitter longing. She missed her so much. But she couldn’t let herself get lost in that. Not now.
Her gaze moved to Vera, who was watching her with soft understanding. Nova sat back against the pillow, holding the letter close to her chest. Her voice was almost a whisper when she spoke again.
"How did that foo get this?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and disbelief. "How could he have known…?"
Vera looked thoughtful for a moment before answering, her tone hesitant. "I don’t know. But it’s clear that X cares about you. He probably saw how much you were suffering, and if he could, he’d do whatever it takes to help."
Nova shook her head slightly, still processing the enormity of it all. She had never imagined someone, especially someone like X, would go this far for her. How did he even get a hold of something so personal, something that had been kept from everyone but her? It didn’t add up, but the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like it might not matter.
"I don’t even know what to make of him at all girl," she muttered under her breath.
Vera smiled softly, though her eyes were still filled with that quiet understanding. "Don’t ask me. Maybe he just like…."
“Don’t even..finish that sentence”.
Nova’s eyes narrowed, her gaze moving back to the letter. She didn’t know how, but she’d get through this. She had to. Not just for herself, but for her mother. For everything her mother had done for her, even from afar.
Vera grinned and held out her hand. "Come on. You been in that bed long enough. Lunch is up."
Nova raised a brow. "Girl, I just got outta critical condition, not a damn spa."
"Yeah, well, you look good for a half-dead legend," Vera shot back with a smirk.
Nova rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small chuckle that slipped out. She threw on her Vault-0 jacket, the one her crew brought her, and followed Vera out of her upgraded cell. The halls looked the same, cold and steel, but the air felt... different.
When they stepped into the lunchroom, everything stopped.
Trays clinked. Forks paused mid-air. Conversations cut off like someone hit mute on the whole damn place.
Nova blinked, unsure why it felt like everyone was staring.
Then,
Clap.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5D1rt0h9B
Another.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvItggQcDem
And then another.
Not everyone, but enough. A small ripple of respect echoing through that cold-ass room. Even a couple of guards nodded, one of 'em tapping his baton to his thigh in rhythm with the applause. Not mockin’. Real.
Nova froze, brows furrowing. "What the hell is this?"
Vera leaned in, smiling. "That’s for you."
She felt heat rise in her cheeks, something she didn’t feel often. Not from embarrassment, nah, this was something else. Like... honor. Like being seen.
Across the room, Rose sat at a table, her usual stoic glare softened. Her eyes shimmered just a little.
She was proud.
Nova let the moment sit. She didn’t wave or bow. Just gave a small, respectful nod and walked with that slow, steady, yet shy gait of hers like, dang.
She leaned toward Vera as they made their way to a table. “I go into a coma for a month and suddenly I’m Beyoncé?”
Vera snorted. “Nah, you ain’t Beyoncé. You’re Nova. That’s louder than all that.”
Nova sat down, eyeing her tray like it owed her answers. “Still looks like prison food.”
“Welcome back,” Vera grinned, nudging her. “Queen of the rink.”
Nova smirked, then looked around the lunchroom, at the players, the guards, the space that once swallowed her whole.
This time, it didn’t feel like a prison. It kind of felt like home.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWIPbbYvsn
