AU: Son of Science

Context: The Professor raised Sabre, I think it stands to reason that he'd be almost if not just as crazy as him. He just doesn't let it show much. Also this takes place maybe like 1 or 2 days after my ChromaTober 2024 prompt 'Retaliate'.

TW: Violence

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[3rd Person POV]

The Rainbow Kingdom is beginning to rebuild after the chaos the Corrected Sun caused.

People of all colors work together to repair broken buildings and streets, with a new sense of understanding and acceptance. Seeing how far the Corrected Sun took the hatred of everyone being together, it made the citizens realize how unfair they were being to each other, especially the Blues and Indigos. There was talk of expansion to help with the space problem, either in the form of expanding the Kingdom or creating villages that branched off from the main city.

There was also a feeling of hope bringing them together, because of a recent revelation; the Red Steve, calling himself the Professor, who stopped Sol himself and helped free the Leaders from his grasp, and told everyone of him being the Red Steve that raised Sabre. There had been whispers and rumors surrounding the Catalyst's vague origins for a long time, but none had been confirmed until now.

Sabre, the Professor, and the Assistant stood with the Leaders and Light in front of the Citadel. They were discussing reconstruction efforts, Sabre's father excited to have the chance to work with other colors for the first time. The Assistant, as usual, was neutral while dropping the occasional line of sarcasm. Sabre himself was just happy to see his family again.

The Leaders were glad the fiasco was over with, and after being freed from Sol's prisons, were "forced" by each color of their concerned people to take it easy for a little while because of their prolonged exposure to the machine that drained their energy. Light was perfectly alright, just very annoyed by being locked in a cell in a sewer for a few days. All of them were happy to see everyone working together to fix the damage done.

"I've received word that all essential buildings have been repaired, so it's just all the damaged shops and decorative structures that need fixing now." Light says, smiling.

"That's great, now no one will have to worry about getting basic resources." The Yellow Leader replies, then turns to the Green Leader. "Have you heard anything from the fields your people made?"

"With the help of several other colors, the Green Steves that were farming have flattened out and re-tilled the areas that were vandalized." He beams. "Now all that's left is to replant, then start running the supply program again. Hopefully there's more Green Steves up for the job."

"I can help with that, actually!" The Professor exclaims excitedly. "I have a bonemeal formula that's extremely effective, it almost perfectly mimics your people's abilities to speed up plant growth! It works on every plant I've tested it on, especially crops, so I know it'll do well! And this way more than just Green Steves can volunteer to help grow the crops for more food supply, and the Green Steves won't have to use up their energy using their abilities."

"That's... wonderful." The Orange Leader says, amazed. "Although, are the materials for it hard to get?"

"Oh, not at all, it's a surprisingly simple recipe. Just a base of crushed bone from fish, with some pollen from beehives and a bit of either dark oak or pale oak leaves." The Professor grins, then puts his arm around his son for a moment. "And Sabre actually helped figure it out! Made the first prototypes of it, actually."

"Daaad, cut it out." Sabre says, his face turning a shade of pink.

"Really? You helped make it?" The Green Leader asks as everyone turns to look at Sabre.

"Uh, yeah, I- I would help in the garden a lot and wanted to find a way to make the plants grow better." Sabre explains, still looking flustered. "I just put random stuff together until I found something that worked."

"Oh, don't sell yourself short! It was genius!" Professor Red says, turning back to the group while letting go of Sabre. "He's helped me with a lot of my inventions, you know! Did he ever tell you that he's a redstoneer like I am? And good at it too!"

"You make machines-?" The Indigo Leader says, turning to Sabre.

"Dad, stop it." Sabre mutters to the Professor, trying to hide himself in his hoodie.

"What?! I'm extremely proud of you and you should know that!"

"This isn't the time-!"

"Fine, later then."

The Professor continues talking with the Leaders and Light, telling them about things he could provide help with. He's talking about aiding with finding more ways to provide food for all of the people when he reaches into his lab coat pocket, and notices something missing.

"Oh darn- Assistant, I forgot my notepad in the meeting room earlier, could you go get it for me?" He asks. "It should be near where I was sitting."

"Of course, Professor. I'll be right back." The Assistant says, heading inside the Citadel.

The group continues talking for a while, when suddenly a shout resounds through the street.

"He got free-! LOOK OUT!"

They turn towards the course of the voice, only to see a remaining Corrected Sun member rushing towards them. Quickly.

His sword in hand, he aims.

Right at the Professor.

Sabre realizes who the member is aiming at immediately, and just as fast, steps in the way and braces himself. But not for any kind of impact.

Light watches as Sabre suddenly turns his expression to one he's never seen before. It looked cold, determined, enraged, and just a bit... unsettling. He had never seen his friend like this at all in the fairly long time he's known him.

Sabre grabs the Corrected Sun member's sword just before it reaches its target, the blade barely missing Professor Red's head. Sabre then wrenches the sword away, making the member stumble, and tosses it aside.

The Corrected Sun member barely has time to think before Sabre grabs his arm, swings him up and around in a full circle, and slamming him into the stone brick street hard enough to crack it. Something audibly pops.

Everyone in the area freezes as they try to process what just happened.

It was such a short timeframe, just a few seconds. How did he do that so fast?

Sabre stares down the Corrected Sun member for a moment longer, seeing if he moves, and when he doesn't he releases the iron grip on his arm. The gold plating is dented where he grabbed it. Then, the icy expression disappears, and he looks... normal again. He looks back at the Professor with concern.

"Dad, are you okay? Did he get you?"

"I'm alright Sabre, just a small cut." Professor Red replies, shockingly relaxed about what just unfolded in front of him, not to mention the near attempt on his life. He runs a finger over a small cut on his lower cheek, no bigger than a paper cut. "It's nothing."

"I- You- What??" Light stutters. "How did you- Since when-"

"Uhhhh... could he always do that?" The Yellow Leader whispers, leaning towards the Orange Leader.

"I don't have the slightest clue. This is new to me as well." The Orange Leader whispers back.

"Oh, just something I picked up from dad. Don't worry about it." Sabre shrugs, back to smiling. "Where'd this guy even come from?"

A Colorless Guard runs up to the group, out of breath.

"I'm- so sorry about that, sirs!" He says. "We had just arrested that Corrected Sun member and were about to bring him in. Once we got to the gates, he somehow broke free of his restraints and punched me and another Guard and made a run for it. We didn't know he had a weapon. Is anyone hurt?"

"No, we're... all alright. Sabre took care of him before he did any damage." Light replies. "Just get this criminal to one of the cells, and check in with a medic if you or the other Guard are injured."

The Guard nods, then goes to the unconscious member and restrains him again, before another Guard comes to help and they drag him off into the Citadel. There's a bit of silence among the group for a moment.

"Man, Assistant's gonna be mad he missed that." Sabre laughs.

"Probably. Anyway, what were we talking about?" The Professor smiles.

Everyone else keeps their questions to themselves for now, and the day moves on.

Although many people made a mental note not to mess with Sabre anymore.