Undercover: A FC/UC Background Short

Gamma Belt
Mortal Realm
Sector ACR 4-A, Nuevo Filipina
2012

Whispers erupted all over upon the presence of a new student.

It was Adrienne del Riano’s sophomore year in high school when she brought in with her, a cool-faced male wearing the prescribed uniform for the males. Immediately did students clear, standing at the sides and watching with amazement (as well as mild fear) as Adri walked calmly across the hall, the new male at her side and glaring down anyone who attempted to stop the silver-eyed heiress.

Information spread just as fast as whispers did. By the beginning of lunch time, word on the street proclaimed that this newcomer had a name:

Zachary Regulus. He was a dark-haired, ruby-eyed male who was frequently seen by the del Riano’s side. Apparently, he was put in the same class as her – II-2 – and was seatmates with her as well.

According to his ‘official’ story as said when the class introduced themselves to one another, Zachary was the son of a family friend. He was to spend the rest of his high school years in Nuevo Filipina, having the liberty to choose where he wanted to go upon graduating.

His somewhat legitimate background caused rumors to circulate. After a full week, gossip went around that Zachary was sent to NF due to something he had done back in his homeland. 

To the rest of the students, Zachary was a big problem; his spitfire attitude combined with his closed-off attitude yelled problem.

Due to that, little to no students – aside from Adri – approached him.

It bothered Adri that Zachary had to go through so much, but in all honesty, the male didn’t mind. Having to interact with less people would mean less trouble, and less trouble would make the job easier for him. After all, his sole purpose was to guard and protect Adri from all kinds of harm. The monsters present in that world didn’t care where they spawned.

As long as they got a victim, then their ‘objective’ would be fulfilled.

Memento Mori: A FC/UC Background Short

Gamma Belt
Mortal Realm
Moneta Residence
2009

“Lysa!”

A blonde-haired lady turned, clutching something tightly in her hands. A smile reached her lips as she saw the brunette-haired man approaching, attempting to relax at the sight of him.

“There you are,” he scolded. The weapon in his hands, a lava-red scythe, retracted into a simple bow. “What did I tell you about running off? I’m supposed to be your Watcher. Someone who protects you. Not someone who would end up losing you.” He meant it seriously – losing Lysa would cost him a lot – but the lady gave him a mischievous little smirk.

“Nothing happened to me, Z.” his cheeks flamed at the nickname and he huffed, turning away from her. “See? I’m unscathed from the attack. If you can even call it an attack,” she mused.

What had happened to the twosome?

Well.

Zachariel Vasilias had been guarding Lysandra Moneta carefully as the female got home from college, when a rustle from a couple of blocks away captured their attention. Zachariel had instructed Lysa to stay close, but the stubborn Storm Original went off, wishing to give the monsters a distraction while Zachary summoned his weapon.

And it did provide a distraction.

That is, they decided to chase her rather than attack him.

So Zachariel ended up having to do a number of things at once; ward off the monsters away from Lysa, make sure that no one saw them, and make sure that the girl didn’t clumsily fall over her own two feet (as she tended to do).

Luckily, they were safe – and Lysandra was patiently waiting for him inside the comfort of her own home.

“You shouldn’t worry too much, Z,” she teased. Zachariel gave her a look. “I mean it! Besides, I was able to get them off my back a little bit, right? Right?”

The sky above them gave a rumble and it started to rain. She gave him a cheeky grin.

“Come on inside, idiot. I don’t want my Watcher getting too sick.”

Beautiful Rage: A FC/UC Graphic

"He's got an aching for vengeance and blood lust."

The New Assignment: An FC/UC Short

Gamma Belt
Mortal Realm
Sector ACR 4-A, Nuevo Filipina
Del Riano Residence
2011

Zachariel Vasilias had a new Assignment.

He felt strangely empty; having come out of the WRC (Watcher Recovery Center) for reasons he couldn’t exactly remember, a new task was thrust into his hands the moment he stepped out. Zachariel couldn’t quite understand it himself. He didn’t exactly know what landed him there in the first place.

It was like one moment, he was on duty – the next, he was there.

And it was too disorienting.

Zachariel looked at the rolled up paper in his hands, remembering the name written in a fine, elegant script. He said it in his head: Sacha Adrienne del Riano.

He looked around him. The Watcher was waiting by the entrance to the house, seated comfortably on a wooden bench situated facing the street, by the gate. And he waited patiently, wondering what kind of Assignment he’d have to face this time.

But wasn’t that his first?

Confusion made him knot his brows. Zachariel tried to remember. It felt like he had spent the majority of his life in the Watcher’s Abode, but at the same time, it felt like dozens – hundreds – of fragments were missing from his memory. He felt like there were gaps. A million of them.

The gate opened.

He looked up, seeing a girl going inside. Long black hair bounced off her back as she moved, the girl carrying a mild orange bag. She looked exhausted.

There was a burn in his hand and he dropped the paper by accident, wincing and clutching the palm of his hand. On the ground, the text of Sacha Adrienne’s name glowed a brilliant orange.

(Un)wanted Reunions: A Shoujo Parallels Headcanon Short

Gamma Belt
Mortal Realm
Sector ACR 4-A, Nuevo Filipina
Del Riano Headquarters
2022

Zachary wanted to shake some sense into her.

“Are you kidding me? Are you honestly kidding me, Adrienne?” he tried to stop himself from yelling, really. But he couldn’t believe that she had just said. “You’re not going there. I’m not allowing you to go there,” he started, feeling the rage start to pool up in his system, “You’re not going to visit Emmanuelle Astra. You’re not.”

Adri, on the other hand, felt like yelling herself.

“Who are you to stop me, Zachary?” she demanded.

“As your Watcher, Adrienne, I’m making you stay in your room.”

“You can’t do that. I’m not letting you do that, Zachary.” The girl’s cold silver eyes met his ruby ones, “You may be my Watcher – in more ways than one – but you’re not controlling my actions. I’m not going to let you control my actions like some kind of puppeteer and the marionette.”

“You don’t know what you’re doing,” the Lava Original spat. “After what I’ve done to protect you, and now you’re just throwing it all away.”

Adri stared at him and took a step backwards, clenching her fists tightly.

“I owe you nothing, Zachary.” She said coldly. “Absolutely nothing. Fine by me if you decide not to be my Watcher anymore. I don’t care.”

The sky lit up for a moment outside – and with that came a large clap of thunder.

With that, she turned on a heel and left him alone in the middle of the hallway.

Heavyset Protection: A Shoujo Parallels Headcanon Short

Gamma Belt
Mortal RealmSector ACR 4-A, Nuevo Filipina
Del Riano Residence
2022

Adri knew, of course.

His assignment wasn’t stupid. She was anything but stupid. So seeing the look on the Astra’s face was one thing he enjoyed from his visit. If Emmanuelle thought that she had the upper hand, then…she hasn’t seen anything yet.

The only thing he worried about was how she would handle it.

For many years, the del Rianos made their lone daughter believe that she was a Snow Original. And she only found out the truth, the extent of her abilities, only a few weeks to a month ago. It was an accident, a mere accident that he was unable to control.

Sacha Adrienne del Riano found out a bit of information about Operation Verdandi. 

Someone had carelessly left papers and such in the Main Library, where she liked to stay during days where everyone seemed too much. Zachary only found out when the guards rushed towards the area, hearing the words smoke and flame thrown around.

That was when he rushed as well, going from faux-Human to full-pledged Watcher. She was there, in the middle of the room with the paper flaming in her fingers. Sun, he thought. An overly uncontrolled Sun. Outside the del Riano residence, a storm was already going on, with rains and lightning all over. 

“Adri,” he called. “Calm down – just calm down, can you hear me?”

She didn’t reply, the paper burning more and more until it crumbled to ashes. The woman stared at it in horror, then looked at him, her eyes wide. 

They were orange. A burning orange.