Feeling a large swoosh against his back, Diego looked up at the winged woman for a quarter of a second. The woman cut through the spider, instantly killing it with practiced ease. Covered in spider blood, the woman calmly landed on the floor beneath her. Stephanie ran up to hug her, but the winged lady calmly put her hand out and stopped her. 

“Stef,” she said softly yet sternly, “I’d hug you, but I don’t wanna ruin your clothes or anything like that.” “Lithy, you know I don’t care about those things,” she said as she hugged her, gently kissing her. 

Diego stood there trembling and confused with everything that had just occurred before his eyes. Mayhem yelled louder than usual, snapping Diego out of it. 

“UHM, YOU TWO ARE ACTING LIKE A BIG GIANT SPIDER DIDN’T JUST MAKE A FAT ASS HOLE IN THE WALL JUST NOW,” he yelled, tossing his hands up. “Agh, sorry,” Stephanie said, rubbing the back of her head, “I didn’t realize I got so distracted I’m sor–”

 “Is everything alright? I ran over as fast as I could,” Valentino interrupted, her voice a bit louder than usual. “Everything’s fine; everything’s been dealt with,” Stephanie said, pointing at Ilithyiah, “Lithy dealt with it and neutralized the situation.” 

Ilithyiah waved energetically at Valentino, “Yeah, it’s dealt with for now,” she said, “but we should really investigate this.” “You’re right,” Stephanie followed up, “I don’t think this is just a one-off thing,” she said as she crossed her arms. 

Ilithyiah looked over at Diego “Um.. who the hell is this guy?” she said, pointing at him with her thumb. 

“Language, Ilithyiah,” Valentino said a bit bluntly, “His name is Diego, he’s a new hire.” “A NEW HIRE?” Ilithyiah squealed “WE HAVEN’T HAD ANYONE NEW IN A YEAR!” she said as she dashed over to Diego, energetically grabbing his hand. 

“I’m Ilithiyah; I’ve been a spy here since 2014!” she said enthusiastically, “I know my name is a mouthful, so you can call me Lithy or Lith!” Diego slowly nodded, overwhelmed with everything but complying. “Okay, question for you,” Ilithyiah said, calming down a notch, “So what’s your species? Or structure better yet?” 

“Oh wait, we haven’t explained that to him yet, I don’t think..” Valentino said, thinking, “A structure is another word for abilities, to put it simply. Usually, structured abilities, especially magical ones, are for non-humans. You’re atypical, as humans aren’t supposed to have structures entirely.. Nor know anything about them, for that matter… Which is why you’re being hunted down right now, I suppose..” Valentino said nervously, chuckling lightly. 

“It’s not.. Normal?” Diego thought,” Then how do I-”  “You’re human... With a magical structure..” Ilithyiah exclaimed, interrupting his train of thought, “HAHA, THIS IS A PRANK, RIGHT? YOU ALL GOT ME GOOD.” 

“I’m being serious,” Valentino said with a neutral tone. Ilithiyah’s face immediately became serious, but then curious “Are you sure you’re not cursed? Or a mutant? Or–”

 “OH MY GOD,” Mayhem screamed, causing everyone to jump, “CAN YOU FUCKING IDIOTS STAY FOCUSED FOR 10 SECONDS?!” he said as he threw his hands up. “We all got a bit off track, haven’t we?” Valentino said sheepishly as she approached the spider’s corpse, crouching and greasing her fingers with its blood. 

“Hm, that’s awfully strange, why is it red rather than blue?” she curiously spoke as she rubbed it between her fingers. Valentino turned slightly, meeting Ilithyiah’s gaze, “Ilithyiah, can you take a sample of this and send it to the labs?”

 “You didn’t even have to ask,” she said, whipping a sterile needle from her bag to take a sample. 

Diego stood there like a doe in headlights, unsure of what to do while simultaneously wanting to help. 

“Diego,” Valentino uttered “Do you think you’re strong enough to help move this spider?” Diego hesitantly nodded as he walked over and grabbed one of its hairy legs, beginning to slowly but surely drag it, trying not to gag. “Take it to the labs so it can be examined,” Valentino stated, “And don’t worry, Ilithiyah can show you the way.” 

Later that night, Diego sat on the edge of his bed, gazing at the city view while trying to collect his thoughts. “I don’t understand anything that happens here, but I’m still unsure why I even got roped into this,” Diego muttered softly to himself. “Seriously, what’s the deal with people here.. If anyone, Stephanie seems the most norm-” 

Mayhem practically kicked down Diego’s door, startling Diego in the process, “OKAY, OKAY SO VAL WANTED- WAIT AM I INTERRUPTING SOMETHIN’??” Diego shook his head, causing Mayhem to slam the door shut behind him.

 “OKAY GOOD, BECAUSE AS I WAS SAYING, VAL WANTED ME TO LAY DOWN SOME GROUND RULES SINCE HE’S BUSY FILLING OUT EMERGENCY PAPERWORK OR WHATEVER HE SAID.” 

Diego raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself “Wait a minute.. He? I thought she was- well never mind bu-” 

“SO RULES AND OTHER THINGS YOU NEEDA KNOW,” Mayhem said as he fell back onto the bed, Diego turned slightly to give him his full attention. “OKAY WOAH YOU HAVE GORGEOUS EYES BY THE WAY,” Mayhem said as he looked at Diego, causing him to become slightly flustered but remaining stone-faced about it. 

“ARE YOU BLUSHING??” Mayhem asked, slightly smiling knowing he’d called Diego out. Diego shook his head, now being embarrassed somewhat. “WELL ANYWAY,” Mayhem said as he propped himself up on his elbows. “RULES.. UGH, SO WE FOLLOW 3 BASIC RULES, THE MOST OBVIOUS ONE BEING DON’T TELL.” 

“IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BEING A SPY… YOU’D KNOW THAT’S THE MOST OBVIOUS RULE,” Mayhem said as he rolled his eyes. 

“SECOND RULE, WHENEVER YOU GET YOUR APARTMENT, NOBODY, AND I MEAN ABSOLUTELY NOBODY OUTSIDE OF THE TEAM CAN VISIT YOU,” Mayhem said a bit sternly, his eyes narrowing. 

Diego nervously nodded, still listening, “AND THE THIRD, MOST IMPORTANT RULE, DON’T BE A PAIN IN THE ASS UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY,” Mayhem said as he held up an ID card. 

“THIS IS YOURS BY THE WAY, WE DIDN’T AND STILL DON’T HAVE ANY FREE TIME TO PUT YOU THROUGH THE ACTUAL DEGREE TEST..” He remarked, “AT LEAST NOT UNTIL THE WHOLE SPIDER BULLSHIT IS DEALT WITH.” He then gave it to Diego, surprisingly gently.

 Diego examined the card, quickly noticing the photo was from his driver’s license. “Wait.. is this from my lic- HOLY SHIT.. MY CAR,” Diego thought, instantly becoming frantic and throwing Mayhem off. 

“WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR DEAL NOW??” Mayhem asked, still yelling but slightly louder than usual. Diego took no time to get out his phone and quickly typed “WHERE’S MY CAR?” “IT SHOULD BE IN THE GARAGE— DID THEY NOT DRIVE IT OVER HERE WHILE YOU WERE OUT COLD!?” Mayhem blurted, also becoming panicked. Diego shrugged with solid apprehension. “UGH,” Mayhem groaned as he rolled off the bed, falling onto the ground but perking right back up, “THEN GET THE HELL UP! LET’S GO ALREADY.”

In the labs, Ilithyiah carefully examined samples taken from the deceased spider. “I just don’t understand how a spider became so huge, let alone have red blood since they typically don’t utilize hemoglobin..” she said to herself, her voice laced with concern as she took notes. 

“Whadya say, Lith?” Stephanie asked, entering the laboratory. “Just talking to myself, that’s all,” Ilithyiah said as she put the slide under the microscope.

 “Hm,” Stephanie hummed as she pulled up a chair next to Ilithyiah, watching her work as she quietly began to indulge in a cookie.

 “Stephanie,” Ilithyiah said as she narrowed her eyes, slowly aligning her gaze with Stephanie. Stephanie’s blood ran cold as she stammered, “Uhm.. Y-Yes?” “Did you forget what I told you about eating in my lab while I'm working..” 

“..Maybe,” Stephanie said, embarrassed from being called out. “Put it away,” Ilithiyah said in a demanding tone, “Now.”

 “..Yes ma’am,” she sheepishly spoke as she put it away, a subtle blush creeping up on her face. “Thank you,” she said softly, returning to her sweet-natured tone, “Now, where was I?” she said as she went back to studying the slide. “Uh…” Ilithyiah hesitated, “Why are there traces of red blood cells in that spider after all?”

MAYHEM’S HUSH-BUSH

Mayhem sat down excitedly, “TODAY’S HUSH HUSH IS ABOUT DIEGO, THERE’S TWO! DID YOU KNOW THAT HE ACTUALLY HAS TWO DIFFERENT HAIR COLORS? HIS EYEBROWS ARE NATURALLY BLACK YET HIS HAIR’S NATURALLY A LIGHT BROWN! HE ALSO PARTS HIS HAIR DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON HOW HE FEELS THAT DAY!” Diego randomly sat next to Mayhem and waved. “WHAT THE- WHERE DID YOU- HOW DID YOU-“ Diego took out his phone and quickly typed, “Have you been stalking me or something?” “UM, NO..” Mayhem stammered, suddenly becoming nervous, “I’M JUST VERY OBSERVISE OR OBSERVANT.. WHATEVER THE HELL”