Desmond didn't remember much about the days leading up to his parents' divorce.
What he did remember was the feeling—the way their house had turned from a home into a battlefield, with quiet tension filling the space between their arguments. Charlie and Renée had always been different. Charlie was steady, a man of routine. Renée was restless, always chasing the next big thing.
In the end, it wasn't a huge fight that ended it. Just a quiet decision. A signed paper. And then… nothing was the same.
Bella, ever the daddy's girl, stayed with Charlie in Forks. She had always felt more at home in the rainy little town than anywhere else. Desmond, on the other hand, followed their mother to Arizona.
Not because he wanted to.
But because someone had to look after her.
Life in the Desert
Phoenix was hot.
Not just regular hot—the kind of heat that made you feel like you were walking straight into an oven every time you stepped outside. Desmond had never been the biggest fan of it, but over time, he got used to it.
Life was… different in Arizona.
Renée was the same as always—bouncing between different hobbies, trying new things, always searching for something to make her happy. But Desmond could see it in her eyes. The loneliness. The uncertainty.
She had wanted to start over, but starting over was harder than she thought.
So, Desmond took on the role of the responsible one.
He made sure the bills were paid on time, picked up groceries, and handled all the little things Renée forgot about. He didn't mind. It gave him something to focus on. Something to keep his mind off the fact that no matter where he went, he never felt like he truly belonged.
A Normal Life… Until It Wasn't
By the time he hit seventeen, Desmond had built a solid routine.
Wake up. Go to school. Help around the house. Deal with Renée's latest hobby obsession. Try not to accidentally break anything when his powers acted up. Repeat.
On the outside, he was just another high school kid.
On the inside? He was anything but.
His powers—his shield—had evolved in ways he hadn't expected. It wasn't just something that blocked attacks anymore. It responded to his emotions. If he was angry, it would crackle in the air around him like static. If he was anxious, it would form in flickers, protecting him before he even realized he needed it.
And the absorption ability? That was getting out of control.
One time, he was play-wrestling with a friend, and they accidentally shoved him too hard. Instead of stumbling back, his shield took the force, absorbed it… and when he pushed back, his friend went flying six feet across the yard.
It was terrifying.
But also thrilling.
Still, Desmond tried to live normally.
He went to parties (even though he didn't drink), hung out with classmates, and acted like a regular teenager. But deep down, he knew this normal life wouldn't last forever.
He just didn't expect it to end so soon.
The Call from Bella
Desmond and Bella talked often, even if it was just short phone calls. They were close growing up, and distance didn't change that.
But one day, she called him, and her voice was different.
"Nineteen years old and still in high school. You're a failure, Des," Bella teased, but there was something off about her tone.
Desmond smirked, leaning back on his bed. "Yeah, yeah. Not all of us are overachievers. What's up?"
A pause. Then—
"I'm moving to Forks."
Desmond sat up straight. "Wait, what? Why?"
"Mom's going on the road with Phil. She says it's easier if I stay with Dad for a while."
Desmond frowned. He knew Renée had been dating some baseball player, but she had never mentioned making a big move. "Are you sure about this?"
Another pause. "I mean… not really. But it's just for a year."
Desmond didn't like it. Something about it felt off.
But it wasn't his decision to make.
"Well," he sighed. "At least Forks is peaceful. No crazy Arizona heat to deal with."
Bella snorted. "Yeah, just endless rain and awkward dinners with Dad."
They talked a little longer before she hung up. But even after the call ended, Desmond couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming.
Something big.
He just didn't know what.
Yet.