Where Rosa is #DONE - Tears of Themis Fanfiction

If this is slightly OOC, I do not care. This came into my head after reading @alstroemeriadissonance’s “NXX goes to Hell” story, reminding me of a headcanonI had written. And now it’s a story. Enjoy. Or not. XD

…

Rosa had warned them. Multiple times.

But now, she had had it up to here with Marius’s snotty childishness, Artem’s superiority complex, Vyn’s two doctorate degrees, and Luke… well, generally fanning the flames.

Now, she was standing at the NXX round table, four sets of wide eyes staring at her in fear after she had slammeda book on the table.

Slowly, she smiled, something tense covered in false sweetness. “Boys,” she purred, putting on her best innocent tone. “Stand up for me, yes?”

Luke was the first to do as told. Marius soon followed. He looked like he wanted to say something, but the only word that managed to fall from his lips was, “Missy…?”

“Yes,Mr. Von Hagen,” she asked, her tone dripping with artificial sugar to cover her boiling anger. “Do you have a question you think would be wise to ask?”

His eyes were wide, and Rosa watched the color drain from his face as he struggled for words. “N-no.”

She nodded, then looked towards her boss and the resident psychologist who were both slowly standing from their seats.

Without a word, she took Luke’s chair, dragging it across the room, the legs squealing against the floor as she did. Once she got to the corner of the room, she swung it around and dropped it so it faced the corner.

With that fake grin still in place, she then took Marius’s chair, dragging it squealing across the floor to another corner of the room and setting it up the same way. Next came Artem’s, followed by Vyn’s.

No boy dared say a word.

When she returned to the table, her smile was more or less real now as she stood tall, squared her shoulders, and clasped her hands in front of her. “Now,“ she began, surveying the other four members. "Would any one of you like to guess why I took your chairs? Or would you just like me to tell you?”

For once, her boss looked speechless. Marius was sporting a similar expression, although there was definitely more fear lingering in his eyes. Luke, for his part, hung his head the way he did when he knew he was in trouble, just like he had years ago when her mother had last scolded him.

Lastly, Vyn looked rather sheepish. “Have we done something to upset you, Rosa?”

“Upset?Me?Noooo,” she drawled out. “No no no. No, hehe. Why would you think that, Dr. Richter?”

“You seem to be rather tense and—”

“Vyn, for the love of everything good and holy in this world, shut up,” Luke cut in.

“Detective Pearce,” Rosa said, turning her tense smile on her oldest childhood friend, emphasis on the ‘child’. “You seem to have discovered the conclusion. Would you like to share it?”

Luke, NSB agent who faced down some of the hardest criminals with a sinister smile, looked rather like a kicked puppy at the moment who could barely meet her gaze. “Would you like us to sit in those chairs?”

“Yes, Detective Pearce,” she answered. “I wouldlike you to sit in those chairs, like the quartet of naughty kindergarteners you are. And once you’ve thought about the reason I have asked you to sit in those chairs facing the corners, I will let you boys outof your time-out.”

“Rosa,” Artem finally spoke up, his face red and voice surprisingly unsteady. “Is this truly necessary?”

She turned her gaze on her superior. “I don’t know, Mr. Wing. Is it? After all, I’ve only asked you boys to stop your incessant pissing matches, oh, howmany times now? Wait.”

With her finger in the air, the universal sign to ‘wait’, she canted her hips, exuding all the attitude she possibly could as she whipped out her phone and opened up the notes. “One hundred and twenty-seven times. With, let me state for the record, twelve of those times at the Pax Island, seven of those times in Skadi, and ten of those times in Egypt.” With that, she put her phone down on the table with a nice thwack and turned her tense smile back on the boys. “So, I do not know, Mr. Wing. What do you think? Is it fair of me to ask you boys to reflect on your piss-poor behavior when it has affected the inner workings of NXX?”

Artem now officially hung his head in shame, his cheeks bright red and unable to look Rosa in the eyes.

“Has it truly been that many times?” Vyn dared to ask, his eyes holding a modicum of surprise.

“Isn’t it shocking, Dr. Richter?” she shot back at him. “How much the psychologist doesn’t listen when that’s at least fifty percent of his job?”

Marius snorted.

“Do you find something funny, Mr. Von Hagen?”

“No, Missy.”

“Nowhat?”

“No ma’am!”

“Better. Now, before I tell you all to sit your respective pain-in-the-asses down in your chairs, do you have any questions or comments you’d like to make?”

Luke cleared his throat. “How long would you like us to sit in the chairs?”

“A very good question, Detective Pearce.” With that, she pulled out her phone. “I’ll set a timer for five minutes. It will restart if any of you boys get up out of your seats. Anything else?”

“Surely there can be another method to be considered,” Vyn suggested.

“Vyn,” Marius hissed.

“And what could that possibly be, Dr. Richter?”

“I’m gonna go take a seat,” Luke said, stepping away from the table.

“I will, too,” Marius agreed.

Leaving Vyn and a tentative Artem standing at the table with Rosa.

“Please,” Rosa challenged. “I’m waiting.”

“I simply do not believe that this would be the best way to go about tackling the issue. I do believe we owe you an apology, however—”

“Dr. Richter,” Rosa said, cutting him off and siding up to him. That artificially sweet smile was still stretched across her face. “Do you know what Ithink?Ithink that Momma Richter has never held Little Vyn by the arm, helpfully guided him over to a seat, and sat his petulant ass down in a chair before instructing him to think about his actions. But don’t worry, Dr. Richter. There most certainly is a first time for everything. And if you think. for one moment. that I. do not possess the ability. to physically drag you over and put your ass in that chair… you are wrong.”

With that, Artem walked away from the table and over to his chair.

The only remaining man standing now hung his head, his cheeks redder than a tomato.

“So, Doctor. Rich. ter,” Rosa slowly ground out. “What would you like to do?”

Without a word, he went and sat in the remaining empty chair in the corner.

“What good boys,” Rosa chirped, setting a phone alarm for five minutes before sitting down in her chair and picking up a document.

And a minute in, she had an epiphany. She had just put four grown-ass men in a time-out.

She had just put FOUR GROWN-ASS MEN in time-out.

And not any grown-ass men, she realized, but a highly skilled state agent, the head of the Pax company, a senior attorney, AND a renowned psychologist.

She had to bite her lip to keep herself from laughing.

Five minutes later, the timer went off.

“Do not get out of your chairs,” she commanded, watching as all four men slowly sat back down in their seats.

Holy shit, this was the most powerful she’d ever felt.

First, she walked over to Luke, siding up next to him and leaning against the wall. “Detective Pearce,” she began. “Why do you think I put you in time-out?”

Luke’s face turned red, but he still managed to shoot her an impressive pair of puppy dog eyes. “Rosaaa,” he quietly whined.

“Detective Pearce,” she quietly repeated. “Why do you think I put you in time-out today?”

He hung his head. “Because…”

A quiet sniggering came from the side.

“Mr. Von Hagen!” she said, spinning on her heel to face him. “How kind of you to volunteer while Detective Pearce gets his thoughts together.”

She watched Marius’s face blanch as she marched over to him. It filled her with more pride than she cared to admit.

“Mr. Von Hagen,” she said, leaning against the wall beside him. “Why do you think I put you in time-out?”

Marius hung his head in silence for a short moment. “Because… we didn’t listen to you?”

“That’s a good start,” she said. “Why do you think I put you specifically in time-out?”

His mouth moved but no words came out.

Which, she realized, was fair. These boys probably had no idea of the particular behaviors that had landed them in time-out other than they constantly were at each other’s throats.

Specifically, over her. She wasn’t completely oblivious. These boys all fought for her attention in one way or another. They were like a bunch of brothers wanting mom to tell each of them they were the favorite. Except it was four adult men fighting over little old her. It felt kinda like brothers fighting over who knew what was best for their little sister. Which had become mentally exhausting.

“Do you think it’s because you whine for my attention?” she asked.

Marius looked up at her, his face suddenly turning bright red.

“And pick on Vyn in particular, harassing him because he’s hard on you as his student? And because you wave around your status as both the head of Pax and as ‘King’ to try and get your way?”

He hung his head. “Yes, ma’am.”

She grinned. “Good job,” she said, her voice even. “You may take your chair back to the table.”

Without daring to look her in the eye, Marius dragged his chair back to the table, a sad little whine ringing through the room as the legs scraped across the floor.

She then walked back over to Luke. “Detective Pearce,” she said, leaning against the wall. “Do you know why I put you specifically into a time-out?”

He grimaced. “Be… cause… I…”

“Is it because you pull the ‘Rosa’s best friend’ card to try and rile up the other boys?”

Luke’s face turned red as he coughed.

“And because you try to boast about your skills, specifically about technology and survival?”

“Yes.”

“Good. You may take your chair back to the table.”

Also unable to look Rosa in the eye, Luke picked up his chair as silently as he could and walked back to the table.

Now came the two stubborn ones. Rosa took a deep breath before walking across the room to Artem. His face was already red, and he couldn’t so much as spare a glance in her direction.

“Mr. Wing. Do you know why I put you specifically in time-out?”

“Is it because I participate in these spats?” he asked.

She’d give him points for effort. “Maybe it’s because you wave your expertise around? And because you specifically engage in battles of knowledge with Vyn? And maybe it’s because you try to be an overprotective dad to me under the guise of being my work superior?”

He grunted, covering his mouth with his hand. “Y-yes.”

“Good. You may return to the table.”

He didn’t move; she walked away first. It was when her back was turned that she heard him pick up his chair and take it back to the table.

Now, to Vyn.

“Dr. Richter,” she said, leaning against the wall and crossing her arms. Unlike the others, he was the first to sit tall and meet her gaze, even though his cheeks were a little pink. “Do you know why I put you specifically into time-out?”

“Upon reflection, I do engage in these arguments with wit.”

“You do,” she continued. “Purposefully to show off your knowledge in an attempt to impress me. Do you know what else?”

His expression faltered.

“Could it have to do with holding your elite status over the other’s heads?” she continued. “Or teasing Artem about your two doctorate degrees as though that is a sign of superiority?”

Vyn hung his head, his cheeks redder than she’d ever seen. “Y-yes.”

“Good. You may return to the table.”

With that, Vyn picked up his chair and returned it to the table.

Now, with all four boys at the table, Rosa returned to her seat, taking up her documents to quietly review.

The meeting went exceptionally smoothly after that. All boys were quiet unless necessary, and all conversation was curt, relevant, and to the point. If anything, the meeting ended earlier than normal.

Now, time to stir the pot and see if these boys had learned anything.

“Before I head out, I forgot to do this earlier.” She went up to Luke, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She felt him stiffen, sucking in a tense breath before tentatively returning her hug.

“As any loving guardian does,” she began, sliding out of Luke’s embrace before going to Vyn to give him a hug. He also stiffened under her touch, his arms hovering up as though debating whether or not to return it. “They are sure to give reassurance after a punishment.”

Then, it was Artem’s turn. Despite clearly expecting it, her senior positively froze, his arms glued to his side and not moving.

“So I love all of you, okay?” she said, moving to Marius. He was the most accepting of the hug, returning it after only a moment of hesitation.

“Now,” she finished, sliding away from a now pouting Marius. “I’m going to leave. I hope we can continue this behavior pattern during the next meeting and every meeting from her on. Good night, boys.”

And with that, she left the room. Rather, she pretended to leave. She exited down the hallway, but instead of leaving, she opened and closed the door before silently tiptoeing back towards the room to be within earshot of the open door.

“It’s a trap,” she heard Luke say. “That hug meant nothing. We say nothing unless it’s related to a case. Or she will do that again, and we all know there’s nothing we can do to stop her. Understood?”

“Understood,” came the chorus.

"Also,” Luke continued. “We never speak of this again.”

“Agreed.”

Rosa couldn’t help but smile. Those were her boys.