A/N: 【
Hey, so in a lot of chapters you may have noticed that I've been quoting year 3 as something that was awful for them. Now you guys get a glimpse!
Posting these together since they're both Thalia lore.
】
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2026
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I'm bulletproof. I've got nothing to lose.
So... fire away.
Go on, fire the hell away.
The bullet ricochets. You'd taken your aim.
Come on, I dare you. Fire away.
You shoot me down, but I won't fall.
I am titanium, I tell myself.
I tell everyone that. I have half the university convinced that I'm a titanium wielder. The thing is, I am not titanium.
Ti:
Gallus, my lab partner, was engrossed in a particularly complex diagram, his brow furrowed in concentration. I, on the other hand, was battling a different kind of circuit: the one in my own mind.
He had asked about my powers, and I had lied. Again. I had told him I was titanium, strong and unyielding, a metaphor for the element itself. But the truth was far more… complex. I am titanium, yes, but I am also thallium and arsenic. A potent combination, a volatile cocktail of strengths and weaknesses.
The thallium, I could handle. Fine. But having a toxic element like it still isn't amazing.
But the arsenic… that was the one that kept me up at night. The power to sense danger, to anticipate the worst, to feel the undercurrents of chaos in the world. It was a heavy burden to bear, a constant reminder of the fragility of life, the ever-present threat of destruction.
I had learned to suppress it, to bury it deep within, to pretend it didn't exist. I didn't want to scare people, to be seen as a forerunner of doom. I wanted to be normal, to blend in, to be just another student, another face in the crowd.
But then Gallus had asked, his eyes filled with curiosity, and I had panicked. The lie had tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop it, a desperate attempt to maintain the illusion of normalcy.
Now, as I watched him work, his brow furrowed in concentration, I felt a pang of guilt. He trusted me, believed me, and I had deceived him.
But then I remembered his own admission, his confession of his own potentially dangerous powers. Okay, forget 'potentially', it IS dangerous. The fear in his eyes when he mentioned francium, the vulnerability beneath his confident facade.
Maybe, just maybe, we weren't so different after all.
He had only asked me to try and trick me that time. See what I'd say. He knew my powers. But shockingly, he didn't judge or frown or gasp. He seemed quite normal.
But after all, he is in the same situation with HIS powers. What about Aurelia? She has one of the best power set you can get. Gold, oxygen, helium. She's got it MADE.
She's one of my best friends though. She knew me since we were four or so, powers and all. I doubt she hates me for my powers or anything.
Actually, I saw all of them. They were new to me, yes. But they didn't judge me. I'm no titanium. I got shot down by my bratty schoolmates in the prep school I attended. Call it dean's kid perks if you want, being in an elite school but I SURE WOULDN'T. They called me a freak, a walking biohazard. Said I'd poison them, that I was a ticking time bomb. One kid even tried to shove a rotten apple into my backpack, claiming it would 'neutralize' me.
So, yeah, I'm not exactly thrilled about the idea of everyone knowing. What if they start to fear me? What if they try to control me?
Society sucks.
But for now...
I am titanium, I guess...
V
[similar concept as Anti-Fairies from Fairly OddParents]
2026
"The annual inter-dimensional university meet is the most boring thing in the world. Since the day their world's United Nations found out about our world, they suggested those stupid peace talks which never work. It's like, so cringe, right, Taliyah?" Dean Victor said to his daughter. He sat on the table, legs crossed and eyes half on his phone and half on her.
"It's not 'cringe'. You and your old people slang..." she sighed. "You should be confident while you speak, dad. And act a bit... civilized, please. In their world, the adults act like us children; polite, respectful and talking in proper English. "
He paced his office, kicking a stray textbook across the polished floor. "And these 'peace talks'? It's just a bunch of old grayheads sitting around, droning on about inter-dimensional ethics and blah blah blah. Where's the fun in that?"
He paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Now, if they were talking about inter-dimensional sports tournaments... that would be something. Imagine, a inter-dimensional dodgeball tournament! Or a multiverse-wide capture the flag! Now that would be epic."
He chuckled to himself, the idea of inter-dimensional mayhem filling him with a thrill. "And speaking of epic..." he muttered, his eyes fixed on a holographic display showcasing the latest research on Lead Carbon's groundbreaking discovery. "Lead. That kid... he's a wildcard. Imagine what he could do with this alternate universe stuff."
He leaned closer to Taliyah, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Imagine, a little bit of controlled chaos. A it of... destabilization."
Taliyah, who had been scrolling through her social media feed, looked up, her eyes widening. "Dad, what are you talking about?"
He winked. "Just brainstorming, my dear. Exploring the possibilities. After all, a little bit of chaos can be a very effective catalyst for change, wouldn't you agree?"
Taliyah stared at him, unsure whether to be amused or alarmed. Her father, the esteemed Dean of the university, was talking about causing chaos.
"But... but the peace talks..." she stammered.
"Peace is overrated," he declared, waving a dismissive hand. "Besides, a little bit of competition never hurt anyone. It keeps things interesting."
***
"Stay alert, Thalia. Dean Victor from the anti-world is an overgrown eight-year-old. But in their world, that's considered maturity."
"No wonder we call it the anti-world," Thalia shook her head. "It's weird..."
"That's why I'm sending you and your friends to deal with the adults. I can't keep up with you kids and your slang for the life of me."
"Oh... m-my friends..." her expression went down. "They're all... going through stuff right now."
"Oh?" Dean Vanadium raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of stuff?"
Thalia hesitated, then decided to confide in her father. After all, he was the only one who truly understood the complexities of their world, the pressure of their powers, and the unique challenges they faced.
"Well, there's Lead. He's... he's been acting strange lately. Withdrawn. Distant. And Selena seems worried about him. We all are."
"Lead?" Dean Vanadium frowned. "The boy who almost broke the universe? What's wrong with him?"
"I don't know," Thalia admitted, "He seems… lost. Like he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. And then there's Gallus. He's been acting weird too. He and Selena... they're having some trouble."
"Oh, I see..." he nodded. "Is there anybody you know who could delegate?"
It was at this critical moment that Nick's spectacled brown eye was peeping through a slight opening of the door, and he slowly pushed it further. "Dean Vanadium... may I come in? "
The dean's eyes widened. "Wait, is it 12:30 already? It's lunch time! I am truly sorry. With the conference, I..."
Nick smiled. "It's alright, I understand. Do you need any help?"
"Help? With what?" Dean Vanadium asked. "Handling the inter-dimensional delegation? Or perhaps... dealing with the 'trouble' brewing amongst our own students? There's quite a lot of that..." He was yet to switch out of dad mode.
Nick, ever the observant one, noticed the exchange between father and daughter. "Trouble? What kind of trouble?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Thalia, feeling a sudden surge of anxiety, quickly changed the subject. "Oh, nothing much. Just... teenage drama. You know how it is."
Dean Vanadium, however, was not so easily deterred. "Teenagers these days," he mused, "always causing a ruckus. But tell me, Nick, what brings you here? I thought you were busy with your own research."
Nick shifted uncomfortably. "I, uh... I was just passing by and I wanted to... well, I wanted to talk to you." He turned to Thalia, a small smile on his face, who watched curiously, then back to the dean. "But it can wait."
Thalia's eyes widened. Nick, with his quiet demeanor and his fascination with all things mechanical, was not known for his social graces. In fact, he was more comfortable with robots than with people.
Dean Vanadium, ever the opportunist, grinned. "Ah, young love. How heartwarming. Go on, then. I'll leave you two to it."
He winked at Thalia, then rose from his chair, leaving the two of them alone in the office. Nick, caught off guard by Dean Vanadium's playful banter, could only stare at her, his cheeks flushed. Thalia, feeling a mixture of amusement and apprehension, could only manage a small, uncertain smile. "My dad..." she sighed. "Anyways, what did you want to tell him?"
"Nothing, leave it be."
"Wait-- help me with one thing. Would you be my co-delegate for the conference?" she asked nervously. She never liked asking for help, but she had to this time.
Nick blinked, surprised by her request. "Me? Co-delegate? But... why me?"
Thalia shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Well, you're good with people. And you're good at analyzing data. And you're not my dad."
Nick chuckled, a genuine smile finally gracing his lips. "I suppose I am good at analyzing data." He looked at Thalia, his gaze lingering on her face. "And I wouldn't mind spending more time with you."
Thalia felt a blush creeping up her neck. She had not expected that. "W... what? I guess I just heard that wrong..." she shrugged
"Of course," Nick agreed, his eyes twinkling, but his expression still worried. "No distractions at all. Let's just discuss."
As they began to discuss the upcoming inter-dimensional meet, a strange feeling settled over Thalia. It wasn't just the anticipation of the conference or the unexpected turn of events with Nick. It was a sense of unease, a premonition of something unknown, something… dangerous.
She glanced at Nick, who was already engrossed in the holographic display, sketching out potential strategies for the upcoming negotiations. He seemed so calm, so collected, so oblivious to the undercurrents of unease that were beginning to ripple through the university.
Thalia hoped she was wrong, that her arsenic-fueled premonitions were simply misfiring. But a nagging voice in the back of her mind whispered a warning: something was coming, something big, and it wouldn't be pretty.
***
Taliyah, meanwhile, watched her father as he kept planning. Her thoughts kept diverting to her friend, Neil. Unlike her alter ego, she was head over heels for the boy and she knew it. He was a physics major, dealing with magnetism. She fantasized about their next meeting. He would burst in the room, a whirlwind of energy and disheveled hair, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Dean Vanadium, may I come in?" he'd announce, a playful grin on his face.
She would look up, her heart pounding in her chest. "Neil! What are you doing here?"
"I was just passing by," he'd say, his voice a low rumble, "and I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. And I thought… well, I thought I could be of assistance."
He would offer to help her with the inter-dimensional delegation, his eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint. And she, despite her initial protests, would find herself inexplicably drawn to him, her heart fluttering like a trapped bird.
Of course, this was all a fantasy. In reality, Neil was probably at the student lounge, playing video games with his friends, completely oblivious to the chaos brewing within her.
She sighed, shaking her head. "What am I even thinking?" she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Dean Victor, sensing her distraction, raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong, Taliyah? You seem troubled."
"Oh, nothing," she replied quickly, trying to hide her blush. "Just... daydreaming."
"About what?" he pressed, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Nothing important," she insisted, averting her gaze. "Just... inter-dimensional dodgeball."
Dean Victor chuckled. "Of course. Now, back to business. We need to come up with a strategy. And we need to find a way to infiltrate their communication networks. Maybe we can..."
Taliyah, lost in her own thoughts, barely registered the rest of her father's words. She kept replaying Neil's imagined entrance in her mind, the way his eyes would light up when he saw her, the way he would smile that irresistible smile.
She knew it was foolish, a complete fantasy. But sometimes, a girl could dream, couldn't she?
And as she drifted off into a daydream, she realized that perhaps, just perhaps, this "anti-world" wasn't so bad after all.
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