Down And...

The apartment of Ria Lockhart after the events of ReVival 59. A morose setting. Ria Nightshade sat on the couch with an ice pack pressed to her neck. RIA was seated on the floor, arms hugging her knees to her chest. Ria Lockhart stood. She looked to Nightshade, then to RIA.

“So that's it?” Lockhart spat out with a frustrated shrug.

“Yeah, that's it.” Nightshade snarked, though with less bite to her words than usual. “Fucking Rainbow is a failure. I'm a failure. Welcome to life.”

Lockhart glared over at her downtrodden personality.

“You know what? FUCK THAT!” The exclamation caused RIA to flinch while catching the undivided attention of Nightshade. Lockhart started pacing between the two, her gaze shifting between both.

“I've been patient, very fucking patient, with both of you! All because it's kinda my fault you're here. I've let both of you have some control for over a year now and this is how you're gonna act?! Some adversity and we fucking fold?! Hell no!”

There's a pause, silence filling the room. Lockhart stomped up to RIA, who glanced up at her, eyes full of worry.

“You just gonna give up on Angel?” Lockhart asked.

“No…” The reply for RIA was a bit slow and lacking in life.

“What? Speak up!” Lockhart demanded. RIA’s brow furrowed slightly.

“No.” A bit more bass in her voice.

“Oh, I'm sorry. Am I talking to a former Alias champion or a scared little bitch?!” The taunt from Lockhart was intentional. It worked, RIA shooting to her feet, face to face.

“I'm not fuckin' giving up on her!” The fire RIA had, the one she usually held, roared out of her mouth. Lockhart gave a stiff, but respectful nod. Turning on her heels, she charged over to Nightshade.

“And you! Really? You gonna act like that's the first time you been stretched out?!” More goading.

“Fuck you.” Nightshade replied, her edge still marginally dulled.

“No, fuck you!” Lockhart blurted back. “You got your shot and you fought your ass off! You might be pissed and you might be hurting, but you're not a failure! At least you faced him head on! Are you a coward?”

The Toxic Queen’s eyes widened.

“What the fuck did you just call me?!” She growled through gritted teeth.

“Well?! Are you?!” The Steel Hart continued to challenge her. Nightshade bolted to her feet, haphazardly tossing the ice pack to the side. Much like RIA moments ago, Nightshade stood in close contact of the alpha.

“Fuck no!”

With both fractured pieces of herself on their feet, Lockhart calmed walked to stand between them.

“We haven't hit our end. Nothing is over.” Lockhart began. “We get knocked on our ass, we do the one thing all three of us excel in: we dust ourselves off and come back for more! Nightshade, give Rainbow our body back.”

Though the Toxic Queen scoffed and rolled her eyes, she nodded in agreement. Lockhart put her hands on her hips.

“Tomorrow is a new day. We don't let our losses define us. We use them to strengthen us. And that's exactly what the hell we're gonna do!”