Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: (Directory)

• List and summary of all snippets within this Archive.

Chapter 2: (Godzilla: The Series) - In Which an Oversized Lizard has Concerns

• Godzilla defends his family from hidden dangers unaware that it may all be in vain.

Chapter 3: (Bakugan Battle Brawlers) - A Boy and His Dragon

• The Beginning of a Tale of the Bond between a Boy and his Dragon.

Chapter 4: (Godzilla: The Series) - This is How we Rise Up

• Graham signed up to intimidate some Politicians not be told his Dad was back from the dead.

Chapter 5: (Pixar Planes) - In Your Shoes

• In which Dusty Crophopper has a mild crisis and Lightning McQueen gives surprisingly good advice.

Chapter Text

In one of the largest sprawling metropolis within North America, winter slowly lost its frosted grip on the city of New York. Ice and leftover snow turned into spring melt and gave the sleepless city a vibrant shine in the late morning sun. 

Pedestrians and other Beings went about their day in the crowded maze of concrete and glass, bustling back and forth; wrapped in their own worlds of personal concern.

This, however, went unnoticed by one specific Being, New York's best kept open secret.

A crash echoed across the Hudson river as the largest creature on Earth made his appearance. Cool morning air curled around Godzilla’s scales and spines as he breached, the lower temperature a sharp contrast to the reptile's stressed body.

Unfortunately, the cool spring air did nothing to provide relief for the harrowed lizard. The darkness that has slithered at the edges of his perception for weeks rocketed to the forefront of his mind, its influence like a heavy bog.

It was suffocating and troubling. 

Such a sharp contrast was the bright calm morning to the murky sickness that coated the area.

An unfamiliar energy grew in him, leaving him twitchy and agitated. The need to sink his teeth into something and release grew by the second.

Slited orange eyes narrowed as he surveyed his home territory with a critical look. The sick stifling feeling was heavier than usual. 

The unidentified feeling only increased tenfold when his eyes caught on the outside cave his parent and pack stayed in for the majority of their time. The unmistakable feeling of his parent in danger reared its ugly head.

The Hudson rippled in response as the great reptile lunged.

Anger and the unknown emotions did not mix well together as he let loose an attention-demanding roar, standing to attention in front of the outside cave. Water crashed against the dock, and the Heatseeker rocked in its mooring as his tail lashed irritably behind him.

Something was wrong, the cave that was the safest point in his territory was darkened.

Sickness clung to it like a dying animal, it was supposed to be safe.

He could smell his pack from here and could sense the cloying darkness around them, there was no fear and that’s what caused him to let loose another roar when they refused to come out fast enough.

They were in danger and they didn’t know. 

He shifted back and forth, the unknown feeling clawing at his chest, as patience wore thin. It was a bitter revelation when one realizes that danger had your small ones in their sights.

Righteous anger suffocated him when he realized that something was stalking what was his. That something would dare. That anger only grew when there wasn’t an obvious enemy to lash out at.

His irritation was building into a growl when his parent finally walked out onto the cliff of their cave. A storm of emotions rested on his face that had Godzilla tensing subconsciously. His parents' sharp blue eyes scrutinized him closely while Godzilla’s own golden orange narrowed in return. 

One by one, his parent’s followers walked out to join his side and the uncomfortable feeling that had been squirming in his chest for the past couple of moments settled slightly.

He grumbled, irritated before bowing his head and sniffed at them.

Curious and concerned noises came from the group, as his parent wondered what was wrong.

Godzilla paid the noises little mind as he checked them over. When he got back nothing but fading irritation quickly being replaced by confusion, and not a single inkling of darkness. He wasn't quite sure whether to be relieved or increasingly irritated. 

He huffed as he leaned more on relief till movement caught his attention. His eyes darted to another male small one standing in the entrance of the cave when everything stilled.

He was unaware of how motionless he had gotten or how the world had faded around him.

There was a moment of pure stillness, a static almost, when something clicked. Something ugly bloomed in his chest, a dark and dangerous feeling that burned fire hot.

In the numerous fights that Godzilla had participated in, never has any singular creature invoked this dark feeling that was now burned and coiled in his chest. Because while the creature looked and smelled like a small one, it was NO small one. The feeling it gave off was too different, too alien.

He didn’t register the way his chest rumbled, the way his jaws parted or the way he towered over the outside cliff and everyone on it.

All that mattered was that there was a thing, a dangerous thing, close to his pack.

His spines flashed in a slow strobe like manner as that burning, ugly feeling made its way up his throat, the rumbling of his chest getting louder and a hiss passing his teeth.

Not even the startled and commanding calls of his parent and the rest of the pack could snap him out of his building fire. Because even unfamiliar with emotions, he knew this was different from anger. It burned his chest and set his blood ablaze.

Rage, he would later learn to call it.

And to the outside perspective, Godzilla was the spitting image of an enraged dragon.

The rage filled reptile felt his pack shift anxiously below him, but his attention was solely focused on the intruder.

The instant he registar his parent moving closer, and unfortunately closer to the invader, he acted on instinct. He hunched over his pack defensively while one clawed hand appeared between the two, a warning snarl tore from his jaws. 

He was vaguely aware of the outside cave shaking below him.

But none of that mattered or registered to him. All that mattered was the rage that now curled at the back of his throat, as the intruder refused to move. 

He heard his parent snap out something. The command in his voice causing Godzilla to twitch, but he refused to back down while his pack was in danger. 

When the thing tried to speak in response to his fathers commands, he snarled. Fire and smoke unknowingly curled around the edges of his mouth, chest rumbling like distant thunder on the horizon. 

The message was clear: Leave

Unfortunately for him and lucky for it, the information was received and it backed away slowly from the others. Although not before casting him a look, one that sparked with dark emotions for the briefest of moments, that caused Godzilla to nearly let loose a challenging roar in return. Enraged that something so small would not only threaten his pack but challenge him as well.

That thing was lucky he valued the safety of his pack over attacking back. 

He watched intently as it left the outside cave before getting into a metal roller and leaving. His blazing orange eyes followed it until it disappeared into the sea of glass, metal and stone. The dark presence that had cloaked the area began to recede with it now absent. 

He hissed, lips pulled back into a snarl before raising to his fullest height and letting out a shattering roar. Challenging the dark presence on the horizon, and declaring to all that he and his pack would not be so easily deceived. 

Even as his roar died down, the city of New York continued to hold its breath. 

He snorted in satisfaction as the world bled back into focus.

It was a strange feeling, being aware of his senses slowly returning to him. The dark and blurred edges of his vision retreated, the sounds of the ocean and sea birds fluttered back in, and the sharp contrasting scents of sea salt and smoke.

The pounding of his heart in his ears and the pain of tense muscles made itself known.

It was a feeling that left him unbalanced and confused.

He shifted with an exhausted sigh, breaths coming out ragged. He shook himself in an attempt to find his footing and calm down but was left lacking.

These past few weeks have left him stressed and anxious, it was wearing him down.

Blinking slowly and breathing heavily, making a point to ignore the pain in his throat, his eyes dropped down to his parent and pack. He blinked owlishly, however, when he noticed the damage on the cliff.

What?

Had he done that? He must have been more forceful than he realized when he tried to keep his pack and the intruder separate. He shifted on his feet, being careful of the way they were placed along with his tail, before dipping his head to give his parent a soft apologetic rumble. 

His parent eyed the damage for a second before reaching out with a hand and soothing words.

Godzilla simply hummed, relaxing at the forgiving gesture. Part of him wished he could tell his parent why he had acted out, disobeyed his order, but he had a feeling he would figure it out by his actions alone.

His parent had always been clever.

In response to the reassuring words and lack of fear from the others, a different unknown feeling curls in his chest, soothing the jagged edges the last ones had left behind. It had him relaxing more and simply content to bask in the affection.

He could not describe what he was feeling, at least at the moment, but this time it didn’t seem so bad.

He pulled back gently, opening his eyes that had at some point closed, and gave the gathered small ones a reassuring rumble and chuff. 

The previous events had left him exhausted and shaky, but he had no desire to return to his cave under the ocean. Concern over his parent and pack still at the forefront of his mind, he simply shifted so he laid alongside the outside cave like he had done when he was younger.

He listens quietly to the sounds of the world around him as soft wind blows from across the Atlantic carrying over his scales, he lets his mind wander. 

A lot of things have been happening lately. With his wandering mind, new unknown feelings and the creeping darkness on the horizon. It has left him struggling to find his footing in this increasingly new world. He wishes for the advice of an elder, but with that an impossibility he is simply left to make his own way. Thankfully no matter how far he goes his parent and pack are never far behind. 

They’ll simply have to find a way forward together.

He huffs, eyes wandering to said small ones who watch him in equal measures, he doesn't know what the horizon holds but he’ll be damned if he doesn't fight tooth and claw to ensure the safety of the ones he cares about.

For they are all that he has and he won't let anything take that away from him.

His mind wanders to horizons unknown as his eyes slowly slide shut and breathing slows.

The bright day in New York City continues onward, unaware of the darkness ahead.

Chapter Text

For all the strange and lonely children out there, who could never easily make friends with other kids. Children that used their imaginations to fill the void of loneliness, that came up with strange and wonderful beings that would forever be with you. A friend that understood and accepted you, this is something that we all longed for. And what greater symbol of this would be that of a boy and his Dragon.

. . . .

They called it Bakugan, the newest game all the kids were playing that none of the grown-ups were aware of. A secret that only they knew. The game itself had been created because of the strange event when thousands of unknown cards fell from the sky like rain.

Even as the cards dropped all over the world no one knew where they came from or who sent them, only that they were no ordinary playing cards.

Across the world a small group of kids came together to help build the game from the ground up and it was only then that the true power of the cards was revealed. Each card held its own battling beast which came to life when it was thrown down, however these battles were intense and if you weren’t careful enough you could lose both your card and the beast inside.

However these children were unaware that there was a growing threat happening in a parallel universe known as: Vestoria.

The home of the Bakugan.

Now a young boy alongside his friends were unknowingly about to become center stage to the greatest disaster of all time as their two worlds collided.

In this world there is a boy named Dan, and this is the story where he met his Dragon

. . . .

Dan was 12 when he met Drago.

The events that led up to their meeting weren’t very exciting except for the fact that the meeting itself is what made the events so memorable.

Dan was a skilled brawler, something he was well aware of, while Shuji was mediocre at best but his use of Darkus Bakugan had certainly been interesting at least. The brawl started like every other, a flash of their playing cards and shout of ‘Field Open’ from both sides triggered a series of events.

And this is where Dan would admit that he doesn't know how it works, only that you and your opponent are transported somewhere else. A place away from Earth where you can brawl safely without anyone getting hurt. Oh also time freezes when you enter a battle, so it's very convenient.

As soon as the world around them stabilizes, neither boy waits before throwing out playing cards that grow to 100x their size as they land on the ground. Creating a playing field in which their battle was to be staged. And with a shouted command of ‘Bakugan Brawl!’ they launch their game pieces outward, and with a surge of energy, sparked into massive beings.

In the area where all Bakugan brawls ended up a Darkus Stinglash, which was a humanoid faced scorpion, and a Pyrus Saurus, a reptilian like strongman, faced off as the two boys commanded their first moves. Fire whipped around a boy with brown hair and garnet colored eyes as his Saurus roared its challenge, in turn the Stinglash hissed its own. The battle waged for several long minutes as both opponents tried to fell the other’s Bakugan. At the moment though Dan Kuso, a brawler of Pyrus, had to figure out how to increase the power of his bakugan or he'd end up losing this fight.

Elemental energy twisted and flared from one side of the field to the other but unbeknownst to the participants a spot in the dimensions barrier grew thin, pushed to the brink by an outside force. Dan jerked as something snapped across his senses, but before he could react the world around him dropped away.

He gave a strangled yelp as he suddenly found himself falling backwards, through a tunnel of glitching white grey light. It shifted and twitched around him, seemingly reething like a living animal in pain, something that wasn’t meant to be. His mind raced in confusion as panic began to set it, what was going on?! As he fell and fell and fell, the pressure around him grew to painful levels. However before he could cry out in pain, everything suddenly popped as Dan was spat out into a world of fire.

Holy Pyrus

As far as he could see was fire, massive columns and streams of it flowed every which way seemingly with no regard for direction on a backdrop of fiery red. Dan was so stunned that he didn’t stop to realize if this was real or not but before he could even begin to worry about how to get back to his battle with Shuji a pair of Bakugan shot past him.

It was truly difficult to grasp time in moments like these but Dan swore it lasted for an eternity when his eyes locked onto the verdant ones of the large Pyrus bakugan. In that moment Dan forgot how to breathe, never in the months that he had been a brawler he had never experienced something like this. This moment in time where something more was going on, something that Dan couldn’t quite grasp but knew deep in his heart that something had changed forever.

That something had sparked to life.

The moment that lasted for eternity and no time at all suddenly broke as the Pyrus Bakugan was forced to focus on his, he was a he not an it, fight with a Darkus Fear Ripper.

Although Dan would never admit it, he gave a soft whine at the broken contact. Because just for a moment he swore he felt warmth filled him, a blanket of protection and the feeling of a loyal companion at his side made the newly discovered void in his chest all the more painful.

. . . .

Questions and realizations crowded his head, he had won the battle with Shuji but it had left him more confused than triumphant. He had sworn that his Bakugan had talked, but that was impossible, they were just game pieces . . . right? Part of him was confident in his belief but another smaller part wondered, he had never cared before whether a Bakugan was living or not but now he refused to consider his newest one anything else.

On that note, Dan was still shocked that he managed to acquire a Dragonoid of all Bakugan. He knew they existed because they had previously found a character card of one but actually hearing about or seeing one had become an impossibility until now. Still it filled him with excitement, a promise and a sense of knowing.

The two were going to be great together, it was on that note that Dan decided to call his new Bakugan: Drago.

. . . .

Dan’s brawl with Masquerade left a sour taste in his mouth, something about the other brawler set him on edge and he did not like it. Something was seriously wrong here. Especially with what Masquerade was doing, turning their game into something else, a game that he and the brawlers had spent so much time and effort putting together. Dan had met so many friend’s through Bakugan, and as if he was going to let Masquerade come in and do whatever he wanted. Dan scoffed sharply but his attention was grabbed by another problem.

He still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Drago had apparently broken the Gate Card?? That should not have been impossible, a Bakugan couldn’t use a move that was stronger than the card it was on but somehow Drago had. The mystery was only growing and Dan felt like the world was slipping out from under him and everything he knew was about to change.

The question is though, was he ready for it?

. . . .

Dan was confused, confused and hurt. The pain in his chest felt like a yawning void, a deep aching chill that threatened to consume him from the inside. This . . . this was NOT how things were meant to be, they were supposed to be partners, friends even! But now there was a small void in his room where Drago’s presence usually filled, filling his room with warmth and a steady support that the boy was badly missing. Everything had been going so well too, Drago had even asked to go with him to school this morning after the argument they had the night before.

Dan growled as he curled up on top of his bed, it was all Drago’s fault anyway. They won the battle with Rikimaru, he didn’t understand why Drago had gotten so upset. He had been rude and mean and . . . No, Dan refused to think that Drago had been scared, he was Drago. Drago was strong and brave, nothing like Dan, Drago wouldn't get scared because if he had then it would have been all Dan’s fau . . ., no no, it had been all Drago’s fault.

The boy squeezed his eye’s closed even as tears threatened to slip past, curling further on himself as he ignored the faint tremors running through his body. He tried not to whine at the aching cold in his chest but he didn’t think he was successful.

Dan felt awful, Drago was gone and he didn’t know what to do.

. . . .

Dan was in a bad mood which made him more snappish than usual.

He should have known that it would get him into trouble.

. . . .

He was right, his fight with Ryo had ended with him losing. Something he hadn’t suffered from in a while, he wasn’t including Masquerades fight for reasons. But something about this fight made the loss sting all the more, maybe because he was already hurting. Maybe because he didn’t have Drago, maybe because he finally realized what he did wrong.

. . . .

The surprise rain storm was frankly a perfect mirror to the one raging in Dan. He lost, he lost to Ryo but more importantly Dan realized just how stupid he was. The rain fell in sheet’s, instantly drenching the world and Dan’s clothes while giving a defeaning white noise that was nothing compared to the storm that churned in Dan. He was running, running, running, soaked shoes splashing and thudding against concrete as Dan made a desperate bid for the river. The very same river that Dan had thrown Drago into.

His throat tightened in desperation, breaths coming out ragged as his tears mixed with rain water. How, how could he have been so stupid!? Why had it taken him getting defeated by Ryo for him to finally See. To see the truth that he had been ignoring. Bakugan were alive, they had feelings and could die and he’d been treating them like simple game pieces! No wonder Drago had gotten so upset at him, rightfully upset at him, it had been Dan’s fault all along.

Dan barely swallows his scream of raw emotion as he scrambles around the corner of the bridge, sliding down the bank as he practically tripped over himself diving into the knee deep river. The sound of the pouring rain nearly drowns out his desperate shouts as his eye’s scan the murky churning waters.

His breaths are still ragged, tears still streaming down his face as Dan hopes beyond all hope that Drago was still here. Please, please be here, I’m sorry, I promise I’ll do better.

. . . .

Dan takes in a shuddering breath, a sob nearly tearing out of him as he pulls Drago out of the river. The relief is overwhelming as he suddenly finds himself breathing easier, the sight of Drago alone is enough to start thawing the bitter chill in his chest, letting the small ember of warmth to finally return. At Drago’s own excitement at Dan’s appearance though that ember briefly sparks into a burning fire, successfully chasing away the rest of the cold.

And though it dies down once again, it stays gently warming the boy from the inside. Even when Dan wasn’t sure of the future he had a good feeling it was here to stay.

. . . .

The sun shines brightly as it finally beats back the dark rain clouds, giving the world a bright glow just in time for a much needed reunion. By the river a boy and his Dragon make amends, a sincere apology and determined promise is answered by ready acceptance. The boy shouts in glee, his joy echoing across the river and beyond even as he falls back into the calm waters, his partner and friend laughs as the two embrace.

The bond discovered between them grows a little stronger, anchors a little more firmly and the quiet cold void neither of them knew they had suddenly fills.

For what could be stronger than the bond between a boy and his Dragon.

Chapter Text

A city once full of life and towering spires sat silent, only the barest of noises coming from within to show life still lived here. It was a far cry from its ‘Glory’ days and something ached deep within Graham to see the city so quiet and in so much ruin. Especially when the city had once been his home: New York.

Graham Tatopoulus sighed as he walked down the steps of the rebuilt city hall. While he was certainly tired of the bureaucratic discussions he had to participate in, he wasn’t sure the human’s thought out the location very well. Oh, he was well aware of why they chose it, especially when they realized who would be coming, that didn’t necessarily mean it was well thought out though.

Considering the whole city was filled with ghosts now, that in no way was ‘Courteous’.

“What’s the matter dear one? Are the politicians finally getting to you?” questioned his companion, a woman of Asian descent. Although it was hard to tell with her white hair and blue eyes.

Graham snort’s.

“If they are, they should know I have no problem eating them” he smiled with all teeth to make his point causing his companion to giggle, while covering her mouth with a delicate hand.

Graham may flash his teeth, growl here and there but they were empty threats at best. Anyone who had decent knowledge about him knew he preferred fish afterall.

The two walked on as life bustled around them in this small area of the city. A large square spreading out from the City Hall, plants and debrief having been shuffled in a way to make it somewhat aesthetically pleasing. It was all the energy and resources that could be spared at the moment. Graham suspected, given enough time, that the area would be rebuilt to the way it was before or at least close to it.

For all that New York was a ghost city, like many others, humanity was once again proving its adaptability and tenacity. For even in this haunted place life flourished in the form of both humanities and nature’s reclamation. It was easy to see the builds that were being repaired or those that were set to be torn down. While others would simply be left alone, a testament to what was lost and a reminder to those of the present as a lesson. It was a new age of growth and rediscovery that Graham couldn’t help but smile at and be reassured by.

“Is it truly the politicians that concern you or this place?” She asked softly, even as she watched the world around them he could feel her full attention.

“You know which one it is, politicians or not they’re only human,” Graham huffed softly.

“So it is seeing one’s home so different from when you left it that pains you” came the quiet response.

“Of course, one of many new realities I have to accept.”

“Accepting does not come without pain, I am sorry for what you are going through” her voice carried with it a level of empathy that Graham was still trying to wrap his head around, but it helped settle the ache in his chest.

When he had first been woken up, there wasn’t any time to think about anything but the threat to his world but when the dust had finally settled he was faced with a terrible truth. The world and people that he knew and loved were gone, had been for centuries at that point. It had left him devastated and lost, so much so that his allies had turned on him, however briefly, to help draw him out of his consuming grief. It had certainly not been a pretty point in time, but he was grateful for the other’s actions. But no matter what help and support he received from his new friends, it would never be the support and guidance he longed for from his father. And that was perhaps the most devastating realization of all, nothing can prepare you when you suddenly no longer have a parent to rely on.

Graham took a deep breath, his lungs filling with fresh oxygen of an Old-New city as he shook the melancholy thought away. He had to stay in the present for the sake of his own health lest he drown in the grief of his past.

With that in mind, he set his goals on more pressing matters, like food.

“So any idea on what to eat” Graham chirps while not so subtly changing the topic.

“Perhaps some Japanese food?” Mei giggled, her eye’s glittering in knowing but letting it be as Graham huffed.

“We don’t have to always get Japanese food,” Graham grumbled.

“What do you mean? I love the way your eye’s light up with a bowl of noodles” came the cheeky response.

Graham pouts even as the two chuckled and snickered in amusement. While the sun shone brightly from above, a light breeze tugged at the trees and bushes around them adding to the natural chorus. With birds chirping and people talking it all came together in a vibrant symphony of sound while in the remains of the once mighty city.

Just as their amusement died down Graham’s communication device rang out, surprising the pair. Like everything else technology took a hit after The Annihilation. So while it was still more advanced then what Graham was used to it wasn’t as advanced as it once was. Luckily for him he was a fast learner and accepting calls was easy enough.

Bringing the small communication device to his ear, he answered with a curt “Tatopoulos here.”

“Graham, I hope you’ve had a pleasant morning” came the familiar voice of Graham’s fellow co-leader, while they both led different groups they had long since agreed to a partnership between them.

“Doctor Serizawa, it’s as pleasant as a morning can be considering I’m doing your job” Graham said pointedly as he shot Mei an amused look. Truthfully Graham didn’t mind, like everyone else he had a healthy respect for the leader of Monarch. Graham was also aware Serizawa would only send him if the politicians were being difficult. Something, something, they listened to Graham more often than not. Which was just a polite way of saying they were still scared of him and Doctor Serizawa had no problem using that to his advantage, the old coot.

“A job I’m sure you're doing just fine at, but I didn’t call to check up on you, there’s a situation here that needs your attention.” While the doctor's voice wasn’t grave it held a note of tension in it which got Graham’s attention. So not world ending but just enough of a situation that the good doctor would call in back-up.

Which meant two things, it either had to do with a new mutation or something Serizawa had no idea how to handle. Which, thanks to the resources and people he had access to, meant it was most likely something Serizawa had no idea how to handle and was calling Graham to ask for help. He shot Mei a significant look, her eye’s narrowing in weary curiosity.

“How bad are we talking about?” Graham asked, cutting right to the chase but also curious, not much could stump the leader of Monarch.

There was a moment of pause before:

“Hello, my name is Nick Tatopoulus, leader of HEAT and I was told you could help my team?” came a voice with so much aching familiarity that it stole Graham’s breath away.

The noise that came out of him really could only be described as ‘dying orca’ and while he normally tries to aim for good impressions he thinks he’s allowed a pass in this instance.

Because, WHAT.

It may have been years at this point but Graham would never forget his father’s voice.

Mei shot him a startled surprised look, blue eye’s widening as her hair fluffed unnaturally a little. Graham bluescreen for perhaps longer than he should have trying to understand the situation before admitting defeat and quietly giving up on that. He knew there was no such thing as the impossible, he was living proof of that several times over, but this was getting ridiculous.

“Yes” came out more as a question than a statement and sounded particularly painful, but there wasn’t much he could do at the moment, not without all the details and he couldn’t get that here.

Without waiting for a reply Graham gave a forcefully clipped “I’ll be there in an hour” before abruptly ending the call. Again, not his finest moment but he was still riding heavily between ‘What the Hell’ and ‘You have got to be Kidding me’. So he turned to Mei, an apology on his tongue before she interrupted him.

“Go, take care of what you need to, I can handle things here” as pale fingers landed on his shoulder, giving a reassuring squeeze as she smiled. Graham didn’t hesitate to return it with gratitude before taking a step back, twisting on his heel and taking off at a dead sprint.

“I wish them all the luck in the world!” His shout was rewarded with a bright delighted laugh. If the politicians thought that Graham was a terror to deal with, then they were about to get a rude awakening. But there was no time to think about bureaucratic proceedings as he made a beeline for the Hudson River, expertly darting around people and over obstacles with an agility that he was known for. It was only then with the ocean calling his name and a mystery back home to be answered did Graham finally loosen his careful control on himself.

Between one step and the next his tail flowed out freely behind him, iconic spines emerging from his tail before quickly making their way up his back. Sharpened claws growing from his hands and feet as dark grey-green scales emerged across his body. When the shore of the river’s edge finally came into reach he didn’t hesitate to throw himself in with a delighted cry.

Those watching could only stare at his sudden plunge in bafflement before surprised shouts filled the air as a massive mutation suddenly breached. His shattering rawr letting everyone know who he was as he surged away from New York City.

The King of the Monsters: Godzilla.

. . . .

North Atlantic

Los Cinco Muertes Archipelago

Within the communications center of Monarch’s HQ stood their lead team, including members like Mark Russel and Doctor Serizawa. However it was Dr. Rick Stanton that leaned over and started an hour long timer on his station. Which caused Mark to shoot him a look that the other man only shrugged at.

“What? I want to see if he can break his own record, he seems pretty intent on getting here quickly. Which good job by the way Serizawa” he remarks to Serizawa before shooting their guest a significant look.

There guest who just happened to be one Niko Tatopoulus, the leader of the legendary HEAT Team. Although only those at Monarch even knew what HEAT was, a predecessor ‘organization’ that Monarch had stemmed from after The Annihilation. Nick shoots Serizawa a curious look as the older man nods to both of them.

“Yes I suspect Graham would wish to be here as soon as possible considering the circumstances, he is one of the only individuals that know about your team.”

“Considering what you’ve told us I’m surprised anyone would know” Nick said incredulously.

“Indeed, which is one of the things that make him a valued member of our team” Serizawa hummed.

Nick tilts his head, with his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket, the Leader of HEAT looked surprisingly unconcerned about the situation. While he was acting every bit of concerned leader for his team, there was no one in the room that knew him well enough to see the way his eyes wandered from one futuristic screen to the next, taking in every bite of data and clue he could. Very few saw the dangerous intelligence that Dr. Nick Tatopoulus had, easily distracted by his ‘Worm Guy’ personality. Funny how people easily forgot that there was a reason why Godzilla still listened to him. And this ‘Graham Tatopoulus’ behavior and response hadn’t escaped Nick’s attention, there was something going on. Something the people here knew but weren’t willing to share, at least not yet. His eyes narrowed carefully at the rest of the occupations of the room before relaxing.

“I guess so, although I’m curious, he seemed to recognize me, and not in the way simply hearing about someone would be” Nick points out absently, body language still open and curious.

The Monarch team shoots each other looks before they all turn to Serizawa, who once more takes the lead. Nick doesn’t miss the looks, doesn’t miss the implications in them, only quietly tucks the observation away to talk about it with his team later.

“A personal question that is best answered by Graham himself until he arrives, but for now let me show you to one of our meeting room’s and we can discuss more about getting you home” the older man hedges as he gestures back to the communication center's doors.

As Doctor Serizawa carefully led Nick out, the HEAT Leader shot one last absently sharp look at everyone before facing forward and following Serizawa’s lead.

Chapter Text

“That’s how you know they’re a dad” piped up a familiar voice.

Dusty groaned as he lifted his head, just enough to glare at Lightning from the safety of his arms. The young air racer was trying to recover from the relentless teasing he had just been subjected to by both of his mentors, why he admired them so much he didn’t have a clue. They were just as mean as everyone else, but before he could snark back his mind finally caught what Lightning had said.

“What” came a baffled reply.

Lighting smiled as he motioned to the group of adults in front of them, specifically the old World War 2 Navy Veteran and Piston Peak Fire Chief. 

“That’s how you know you have a dad or dads, they’ll tease you endlessly but be proud of you in the same sentence. They look out for you, they’re there when you need them. They care care .” Lighting emphasized as he smiled softly, eye’s full of understanding that left Dusty breathless. 

The air racer was well aware of Lighting’s own struggles with father figures. Between his horrible birth father and Ex-agent Harv it really seemed that Lightning would never find someone who truly cared and yet in an extraordinary series of events, enter in one Doctor Paul Hudson. Even after having heard the story several times, Dusty was still in awe. Now the two were nearly inseparable, it was hard to fathom that they had only known each other for a little over three years. 

They really did make a great team.

Dusty swallowed thickly as he watched his own two mentors, ever since he lost his mom and dad when he was young, the old Vet and Fire Chief were the closest things to parents he’d ever had. And while Dusty would love to call the two Dad, he wasn’t quite sure if they felt the same and that possible rejection scared the hell out of him. Lightning must have picked up on Dusty’s anxiety because he carefully padded the younger racer on the shoulder. 

“Hey, I know it’s scary. God knows how long I spent agonizing over it before finally giving in and just asking. And Doc, well I think he was just as happy as I was. The point is don’t overthink it, there’s a good chance that they have the same feelings but aren’t sure how to go about it either.”

He almost snorted over thought of either of his mentors freaking out like he was, but still.

Dusty bit his lip, quietly mulling over Lightning's words before eyeing both Skipper and Blade in the distance. Trying to figure out if either of them had hinted at having similar feelings. Skipper was gruff in his manner, something Dusty suspected was just natural when it came to War Veterans, but he does remember all the times of Skipper flying with him and making sure Dusty took care of himself. Blade was a little harder to tell because it was kind of his job to care about his team but he remembered the comments from both Maru and Cabbie, and how could Dusty forget about Blade staying by his side while he recovered after his crash? 

Not to mention the hovering , pun intended.

The air racer’s chest swelled with emotion as he recalled all those instances. All the little moments in between, it at least told Dusty they cared about him greatly. Still didn’t really prove if they wanted to be his Dad’s or not but that was fine, Dusty was too scared to break that status quo and he really didn’t need a confirmation anyway. He was fine with how things were.

“I’ll think about it” Dusty muttered as he tussled his copper hair, shooting the Piston Cup champion a look. Lighting only nodded in understanding before instantly getting distracted by a shout from his fellow racing friends.

Dusty watched him go before turning back to watch both Skipper and Blade. As he rested his head on his arms Dusty couldn’t help but smile, maybe one day he’d gain the courage to tell them but for now he was content with what he got. He needed a break from all the drama anyway.