Normal is overrated.

When John returned to school the next day, he was expecting something more… fiery. Explosive. Perhaps all the revelations of the previous days had tainted his ability to enjoy the calm and quiet, but John found that the more his classes remained the same, the more he stressed out. It was a gnawing worry, because, while he sat in class, he was getting closer and closer to two equally terrifying things - either training with Moira or facing her enemies.

It wasn't until fifth period that he got some kind of a break - namely, Moira pinning him up against a wall between classes. There were other students around, but the bell was close enough to ringing that nobody could overhear them. All the same, Moira leaned in and grunted at him, a frustrated noise that immediately put him a little on edge.

"I've been looking for you all day," Moira said, growling a bit as she struggled to keep her voice in check. "You still haven't messaged me!"

"Y-you didn't ask me to, what did you need?" John asked, glancing around. A few students were looking their way, but Moira was keeping herself in check as best she could. With a sigh, she released John from the wall and stood back as if she were having a more normal conversation.

"I gave you my phone number for a reason, blast it all! I've messaged you at least a half-dozen times, but all you've done is-"

The bell rang then, signaling the last chance for students to dash away to class. Those who had been staring filed away as if broken out of a stupor, while Moira merely shook her head and turned away.

"Message me, and soon. And check your phone every once in a while! You're coming over after school - I'll arrange for you to leave your home without suspicion and take care of transportation. Your training starts tonight. I plan to move on the Cabal by week's end."

John's surprise must have been evident, because Moira only glanced at him for a moment before scoffing and turning away.

"I do not intend to look weak. Our enemies are at the door, John, and I will not allow their actions to go without retaliation any longer. I will pick you up at five-thirty tonight. If you do not come outside, I will presume our alliance has prematurely reached its end."

"Really? An ultimatum? Why does Moira hate the Cabal this much?"

John supposed that there was a chance - however small - that she was always this zealous, especially given how he himself had been treated when Moira first encountered him… but this seemed odd, almost hateful. He had worked so hard to get his relationship up with Moira, and yet the Cabal were already about to tear that apart… and John couldn't explain exactly why, but he had the distinct impression that it wasn't all because of the attack on their factory.

John needed to do some research, and unfortunately, the only place he could do that research was the last place that he wanted to go right now. The only bright side was that it didn't look like he had any choice... was that a bright side?

"Oh, hi, John! How was your day? New term still going alright?"

Normally, John would've done what any teenager did - barely answer his mother, quickly journey up to his room, and avoid any uncomfortable questions. But today he was on edge, and more importantly, he was curious. Moira had said she would make arrangements for him, but he had no idea what that meant.

"Not too bad, mostly the same boring stuff," John replied as casually as he could manage. "Anything new at home?"

"Well, I have to admit, I wish you would've told me when you put in your application, but I suppose you didn't think you'd actually win the contest."

"Contest?" John asked, glancing over at his mother.

"Oh, don't play coy, John, were you planning on going out the window?" His mother practically leaped over to him, wrapping him up in a strong embrace. John clung tightly, hoping to hide his shock behind her back for as long as possible while his mother started to shake with apparent laughter.

"Really, John, what did you think I would tell you? No? Any chance for my child to prepare for his future is a chance I encourage. I don't care what you end up doing, as long as it makes you happy… and if it pays the bills and leaves you with something to take care of your parents later in life, all the better!"

"Well, you know, I always worry about what you think of me. Can't take any chances…"

John's mind was a mess, trying to figure out what the hell had happened while he was at school. His mother was reacting like he was leaving forever, but as far as he knew, he'd be sleeping in the same bed that night… unless Moira really had a crazy idea of what "arrangements" meant.

"Oh, John, don't worry about what I think. Do whatever makes you happy," his mother said, tucking her face into John's neck for a brief moment. He heard her sniffle and snort, obviously holding something back. Before he could ask what was bothering her, she pulled away from him and firmly grasped both his shoulders.

"But why am I going on like this? Go get ready, John. I'll put dinner off until you get home. Just let me know if you end up staying the night!"

With that, his mother turned away, leaving John both speechless and completely off-guard. Sensing that further questions or statements from him could only raise his mother's suspicions, John quickly spun away and made for the stairs. His heart was pounding and his mind was racing as he reached for the handle to his room. The second his hand made contact with the knob, he twisted and threw the door open, closing it behind him as quickly and quietly as he could. When he had the door securely latched, John strode over to the closet and threw it open carelessly, barely avoiding slamming the door into the wall. John breathed a deep sigh of exasperation, but couldn't honestly say he was surprised by what he saw.

Seras was jammed into the corner of his closet, clad in a pair of John's sweats that barely fit her feminine figure and a t-shirt that was a size or two too large in the stomach area, while still being several sizes too small in the chest area. It was a very attractive look, overall, but the pile of miscellaneous apparel items that covered her threw that look off quite a bit, leaving her a klutzy mess of fallen dress shirts and scattered underpants.

"O-oh! Hello, Master, I thought you were-"

"I'm not," John said, sighing as he shook his head. "Did she notice you?"

"N-no, Master, of course not. I still 'aven't met whoever it is; she came in a while ago, but she never opened the closet, just picked some things up."

"Good… good work, Seras. So, if I leave for a while, do you think you can handle it?"

"Of course, Master! I can 'andle anything, but what exactly are we gonna be fightin'?"

"We," John emphasized, "aren't doing anything. You are staying here while I leave, again. I don't know what's going on, but it's not time for you to join me, yet."

John could see the disappointment in Seras' eyes and fought the urge to roll his own. As much as Seras was a capable woman, latching onto him as her only real anchor in this strange new world had left her a bit uncertain. John would have plenty of time to work on that later, after he got himself situated in his own new world…

"I'll be home as quickly as possible. You're strong enough to hold it together until then, I know you are. In just a few days, I'll have enough time free of interference that we can spend a whole day together, I promise."

"If Moira doesn't start a war this weekend," John added in his mind, fighting back the sour thoughts that followed, hoping his luck wasn't quite that poor. Hopefully, Moira would find a reason to delay herself…

"A-alright, Master. What are we doing now then?"

"Right now, we're relaxing. I'll probably be leaving soon. Until then, get comfortable. Do whatever makes you happy."

John pulled his phone free and began crafting a message to Moira, not wanting to anger the Warden yet further by ignoring her instructions to contact her. By the time he finished and hit the "Send" button, Seras had sat herself in the corner of the room, a pen in hand and a pad of paper John had left sitting on his desk clutched in her hand. He'd only bought the pad for jotting down notes on builds during his many MOBA sessions, but judging by Seras' intense and rapid writing, she had something a bit more interesting in mind. When she caught John staring, she blushed a bit and turned her eyes firmly on the paper, scribbling frantically as if engrossing herself in her work would **** John's eyes off of her.

John's quick check-in message sat untouched for all of three seconds before his ringtone started off, the Mario theme blasting and sending Seras' ears twitching as she glanced up, meeting John's eyes for the first time in several minutes.

John quickly tapped to clear the ringtone away. The message Moira had sent was short, concise, and clear. Also terrifying.

We're here.

As John read over the message, almost immediately came the sound of a heavy knocking at the front door. If John could hear it, he knew there was no chance of his mother missing it, especially since the kitchen was not that far from the front door.

"John! They're here!"

"Coming!"

"And just… who do you think they are, Mom?"

John didn't know the answer to that question - and he wasn't sure he wanted to, but Moira wasn't giving him much of an option.

"I'll be back soon, Seras. Remember, if anyone comes up here, hide in the closet and hold the door shut if they try to open it."

"Yes, Master," Seras said, nodding. John could see a bit of sadness in her eyes as he turned away, but he certainly wasn't going to bring her with him to see Moira of all people. He opened the door to his room and began to move toward the stairs.

"Um, M-master?"

John turned around, raising an eyebrow at the young vampiress. She distinctly avoided looking him in the eye, instead fiddling with her hands in her lap while sadly looking away to the corner of the room.

"Um… please be careful, Master. After everythin' that's happened… you're all I have left."

"…"

John stopped for a moment, his mouth hanging open. He had, of course, realized what creating all of these creatures meant, but until recently, it had only been Maera and Mithra, who he had more or less treated like pets. Feeding them, sheltering them, taking them on (horribly dangerous) walks… but Seras? She was too intelligent for that. John had been so worried about taking care of himself and his own worries that he'd barely paid attention to hers. A weight seemed to lay on his chest as John realized he wasn't just a creator, or a "Master", he was the only connection Seras had to the new world around her.

"I'll be back, Seras. Soon."

John turned back and stepped into the hallway, but cocked his head over his shoulder before he shut the door.

"I promise."