Theodora - Snapping

Theo knows she has anger issues. It comes with the territory of being Wrath’s granddaughter. Ever since she was a child, her parents were so strict on her emotional regulation. No tantrums, no wailing; all feelings were kept under a close watch.

It helped her bury the anger, yes, but it never helped her cope with it. She hides it with a quip and grin, and it festers beneath all along. They thought it was best for her, and who is she to disagree? She's pretty great if she says so herself.

Still, sometimes she just can’t push down. It boils up and rises and rises and-

The popsicle stick she’s using to build this stupid fucking model snaps in her hand. She takes a deep breath; it’s just a stick, it’s not that important, just grab another one from the bag. 

“Theo-” Viktor looks taken aback when he glances over, “Theo, it’s on fire!”

It is, she realizes distantly. It’s becoming ash in her hands, just like all her plans. Every good thing she thought she could have, every happy moment…she wanted so much for herself, for Viktor, for you…

It’s such bullshit. Murders, abductions, fucking weird ass primordial beings popping up everywhere. She tries to brush it all away, but after so many times of watching horrible things happen and being able to do nothing to stop it-

“Theodore!” She hears her mother’s voice in her head, as sharp and cold as it used to be when she was a child, “Impulse control!”

“Sorry,” She says to Viktor, near stoic, letting out a breath.

She brushes the ash off her hands. It falls on her jeans, making dark smudges when she tries to wipe it away, but she ignores it with a clenched jaw.

“Theo, I’m worried.” Viktor’s brow creases, “Should we just wait till-?”

Just wait until you get home? Fuck no. She's made a fool of herself enough in front of you. She won’t lie and say it was a good idea to take Fletcher out by the knees the day of Orientation. She just-

Impulse control.

Bury it, throw dirt on it, and call it a day.

“Really, I’m good.” She says with an easy grin, falling back into her usual song and dance with ease, “The amount of glue on my fingers right now is just abysmal.”

Viktor purses his lips, worrying for a moment longer, before he nods and continues his work. The dark circles under the draca’s eyes tell Theo he’s not rested well enough to psychoanalyze anyone. 

It’s for the best. Really. She just needs to keep working on it.