Edmund would like to express some opinions to whoever taught this girl that understanding. For now he will continue hugging.

"I, um, sorry," she says. "Probably you didn't—come here looking for strange girls to sob all over you—"

"...are you under the impression that I told you my tragic life story and wanted you to nod politely and say 'oh, hmm, that was very interesting'? Because I didn't. This was an expected and positive outcome."

"...okay that makes sense," she acknowledges. (Sniffle.) "I just—I'm not used to people... caring."

"This is consistent with my hypothesis that I want to hex everyone you have ever met."

Tiny watery giggle. "Oh no, don't do that, they're, um..."

...and then she falters, because up until very recently she would have said they're trying their best, the best way they know how, to do what's right for the world, to help her be the most effective Slayer she can be... but...

"...I know they're probably - I mean - someone's got to be the closest thing you have to good, even if they don't do what they ought. But - you deserve better."

Deeeeep breath tiny voice.

"When I got the invitation letter from Mesmerra I was locked in an abandoned building with a vampire and my powers weren't working."

Hug.

Angry hug.

Shaking with fury hug.

Light fixture in a nearby sconce flickering on and humming threateningly and suddenly shattering -

(She squeaks and ducks, instinctively turning so that Edmund is shielded from the glass.)

Edmund squeaks similarly when moved. The dangerous humming ceases, as does the furious shaking. "I - fuck - are you okay -"

She brushes at the sleeves of her jacket and combs her fingers quickly through her hair, checking for shards. There's no hard spots or sounds of tiny fragments clattering to the ground. "I'm fine—are you okay—what was that—"

"It - it happens sometimes. When wizards are - really upset. Angry. It's not supposed to happen by the time you're in school. But - I guess - I was really upset."

"...sorry?" she says uncertainly. "It's. Um. Well I really want to say it's not a big deal but I think perhaps it kind of objectively is."

Edmund chokes on a slightly manic laugh. "Yes, I think it's objectively a pretty big deal that the people who are supposed to be protecting and supporting you instead allowed someone to take away your powers and lock you in a building with a vampire. What the fuck is the point of having back-up if they don't back you up?!"

"...I'm... not actually... I'm not actually sure they... well, it, um..." This sentence is a disaster. Try again. "...I'm not sure it's just a matter of—of someone getting past them. I—um. It's." This sounds so flimsy when she says it out loud, but, "My Watcher was—looking forward to my birthday, I guess, sort of? Except then when my birthday actually happened it was like she had forgotten it completely? Except then, um. The thing. Happened. And now I don't know—like, it's obviously insane to think that that was what she was looking forward to all this time—and she wasn't looking forward to it in, in the fun way, it was like, she kept doing extra training and 'you'll be eighteen soon' and—I don't know, I think maybe I am just insane."

Edmund looks confused as she goes through the tangled syntax.

Then, around "obviously insane", he - crystallizes. It starts with his face and spreads through his body. His expression is blank. His muscles are perfectly relaxed.

"Do you know where she is now?" he asks, blandly. His voice is precise.

"...I mean no because I was locked in an abandoned house but yes because she's probably in the same set of places she's usually in but no because you shouldn't go murder her because she is trying to make the world not end and for all I know it was really important! And she kept doing extra training, and on things that in retrospect are relevant to not having my powers, and what if there was a really good reason for it and she was just doing her best to help!"

"I don't want -" He shakes his head. "I want to kill her. But I wouldn't unless I had no other choice. What I'm going to do is read her mind. Find out what she knew, what could possibly be so important that they would betray you like that for it. If her reasoning somehow satisfies me, I will tell her exactly what I think of her and leave it at that. If it doesn't, I will find a way to make sure neither she nor her coven of vultures ever gets their claws on another child."

"I think you shouldn't do that."

He looks - lost.

"They hurt you. They'll hurt more people. More children."

"I don't want them to hurt people but—but I don't want them to get hurt, either, and I don't want the world to end, I really feel like you have not been giving sufficient attention to the part of this story where things are the way they are because the world might end if they were a different way! I don't know for sure that the world would end if you stopped the Watchers from being like that all the time but it seems important to check really carefully before you try anything! And—and if me getting hurt means the world won't end then that's good, that makes it a good thing, I am happy to get hurt if it saves billions of lives!" She shrinks into herself, hunching her shoulders and wrapping her arms around her stomach. "Sorry. I shouldn't have yelled. Sorry."

Edmund hugs her firmly.

"Don't be sorry. I - I want to help you. Not hurt you more. I just... got caught up. I'm sorry."

She wavers for a moment, then hugs back. "It's okay. Thank you for—for caring."

Edmund continues hugging for some time.

"I've been less..." He pauses. "I've been less... something. Ever since I came back from Narnia. I used to have self-control. I used to have ice in my veins. But... I've been making mistakes. Like, like getting so upset about you getting hurt that I didn't think about what you'd want."