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DISCLAIMER!: This is purely fiction And is not made to perfectly represent the foster care system in any countries. Some procedures and situations will be inaccurate for the sake of the story and is not meant to be offensive to anyone who has been in foster care or works in it.

Thank you for reading.

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And after that...

It was a blur.

Nova felt as she had the day the police found her. In her father's house, hiding in the basement at ten years old. Everything was a rush of people. Social workers, police, a detective that asked her questions about Karon.

Nova and Zoey barely had time to collect their things before their whole house turned into a crime scene. Nova didn't have much to begin with, just clothes really. So after she pocketed her family picture, she quickly helped Zoey gather all of her toys.

That was it. It all felt too sudden... One afternoon her and Zoey are coming home from the library, eating instant ramen that Nova prepared. And then the same time next day they're being carted out of their home. Nova had been there for almost two years, while it wasn't all that nice... It was still home.

Zoey was blank faced. Holding onto Nova's hand with one of her own, in the other was a stuffed animal she held onto.

Nova wished she'd cry again, at the very least. This distant and blank look didn't fit her. It wasn't right.

"Hey sweetie..." A vaguely familiar Woman approached the two at the police station. She knelt in front of Zoey. "We have a nice family that you're going to stay with for a little while."

Nova felt her heart shatter. It wasn't just broken anymore, at those few words directed only at Zoey she lost all hope.

"...Nova too?" Zoey asked, tugging Nova's arm.

"...No, Nova has to go to another family." The social worker said slowly. Nova tightly closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears.

"I don't wanna go then. I want to stay with Nova." Zoey shook her head, ducking behind her older sister.

"Zoey dear... Come on... It's going to be okay." The woman said, her lips pressed together.

"No! No I'm not going!" Zoey wrapped her arms around Nova who almost stumbled. She didn't say anything, a few tears snuck down her cheeks. She couldn't take a side. As much as she wanted to scoop Zoey up and run away with her... She couldn't. That was basically be kidnapping.

According to the government... The bond Zoey and Nova had meant nothing if they didn't share blood. It didn't matter because it made things harder for them.

Because they were too different to be homed together. They met by chance, and will be taken away from each other by the law.

Besides, Zoey was a foster kid yes... But she still had a living parent. Her mother still had a slight chance of regaining custody, or at least visiting rights.

Nova was an orphan. Her stay in foster care was permanent. Because she didn't have parents to take her back one day.

"Zoey." The woman said sternly. "You have to listen baby."

"No! I hate you! Go away!!" Zoey yelled, turning a few heads.

"Shh... I'm sorry for upsetting you. But it's going to be better there alright? They're very excited to meet you and they have another little girl your age." She continued to try and soothe her into submission. But Zoey wasn't having it.

"No!!!" Zoey clung to Nova tightly, burying her face in Nova's side.

Nova didn't move more than to set her hand on Zoey's head. She couldn't move, she was frozen. She should fight... Fight for Zoey, make a scene. Scream like Zoey was screaming. Hold onto her and never let go...

But...

But that would be selfish... Wouldn't it?

And where would that put them? In a situation where theyd have to be forced away from one another? There was no possibility of them getting their way. Not in this situation. And why should they?

They were right.

This new home... It probably would be better for Zoey. Better than being alone with Nova. Because that's what Nova was...

Alone.

Anyone close to her was destined for that. Nova was cursed, cursed to drive everyone away in fear. Cursed to never be normal. Never have a real family.

Was she really selfish enough to drag Zoey down with her?

Zoey could... Live a normal life. Even if Nova couldn't. Zoey could. She could go to a normal healthy family, that might even help with her stealing and her breakdowns. Maybe being in a stable environment would... Be good for her.

Nova slowly sunk down to her knees, taking Zoey's face in her hands. She brushed her hair out of her face and with it her tears. "Zoey... I'm sorry but you have to go okay?" Nova whispered, trying to hold back her tears. "She's right, it'll be better for you there."

"B-but you're my sister..." Zoey sniffled. "I want to stay with you."

"I know... I want to stay with you too..." Nova wiped Zoey's eyes.

"Y-you said you'd always be there for me... Why can't you adopt me? I want you..." Zoey cried.

"Because. I'm too young." Nova hugged Zoey. "But I'll still be there for you. Okay? We just won't live together anymore."

"W-what if I never see you again?" Zoey sobbed. "I don't wanna leave."

"No don't say that Zoey, we'll see each other again. I promise we will. I'll make sure of it." Nova hugged her tightly. "But you have to do what they say alright? You have to be nice."

"But they're being mean." Zoey mumbled, wiping her eyes and nose.

"They're helping you... Making sure you stay safe." Nova said with a sigh. "Please listen... I don't want you to get in trouble."

"Okay... I'll listen... For you..." Zoey whimpered, her bottom lip trembling as she pulled away slightly.

"Thank you Zoey." Nova brushed her little sister's hair from her face again. Hugging her one final long time and kissing her head. "I love you Zoey, more than anything. Don't you ever forget that okay?"

"Mkay." Zoey nodded, burying her face in Novas neck. "I love you too."

They held on for a long time. But it also wasn't nearly long enough. Nova soaked it all in, the love of her little sister and then...

"It's time to go." The woman above them said, her arms crossed as she looked over some paperwork.

Nova pulled away first, because she knew that Zoey wouldn't. This... Was it. It did even feel real. Like this wasn't actually happening. Nova felt detached from it all, like she had every other time she was relocated. She felt numb to it, even as tears rolled down her face. Even as she looked down at Zoey who was fully sobbing.

This couldn't be real... Could it?

Zoey, the girl who saved her, who was always there for her. Who would defend her without understanding why people hated her in the first place. Because Zoey didn't care about what your name was or what you looked like, she cared about what was on the inside.

She cared about Nova because of the protective love her older sister always gave to her. Because she knew Nova loved her. Because Nova helped her through the worst times she ever faced. They were always there for each other. No matter what.

Until now, when Zoey was slowly pulled away, her hand slipping out of Novas. Her grip was soft, she knew she couldn't use her quirk any longer.

She had to let go.

A/N: This is getting hard to write...

Also I'm prolly gonna add that disclaimer somewhere in the beginning of the story as well.

Obviously this is all fictional (although the practice of separating foster siblings that aren't related does happen in the system) and unrealistic.

But with this sloppy system and Karon's character in general (who obviously shouldn't be a foster parent) don't represent any actual system and aren't intended too.

While I've done some research and known a few people who were in foster care I am ignorant to many things regarding it. This is all purely for entertainment purposes.