#1-helluva-hazbin

[1-helluva-hazbin]

Hello! can you see a girl reader who wants to be perfect in everything (in appearance, in weight and in work) and cries if someone bypasses her? characters: adam or lucifer :)

I’m so excited for the ask! I’m happy to try and oblique. I’m not certain I 100% understand your ask so if what I’ve written isn’t what you meant, send in another ask! Thank you for your patience while I got to this as well! Both scenarios for both characters are going to be written with established relationships (friendship bordering on romantic for Adam, a romantic relationship for Lucifer). Both stories were only quickly proofread.

Trigger Warnings for Lucifer's story: suicide, self harm, self depreciation

.˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳.  ✶✶ Adam ✶✶  .˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳. Adam x fem!reader

Song that fits the vibe: Sleep Token - DYWTYLM

Adam was used to seeing women cry; usually tears of joy from having their brains fucked out by the dickmaster himself or subsequently tears of sorrow when he made it clear he didn’t want them and their clingy bullshit around long term. Regardless, they were a pretty regular thing for him to have to deal with.

In the time he had gotten to known you, which was decently long since he tended to get bored of the winners, he hadn’t ever seen you shed a tear. Even when you both had initially met and he had said some rude ass shit to you, you gave him grace. You were much like Emily in the sense that you were usually a bundle of joy full of understanding, forgiveness, love for all, blah-blah-blah.

Only you were hotter. WAY hotter.

In his books you were the hottest winner he had ever seen and based on how you acted, you knew you were good looking. You acted sheepish and tried to downplay any compliments you got but he noticed the way you glowed when you got them. You fed off of it. Taking pride in your appearance. You were always dressing to the nines, going through every known self care routine, and working out; even though you didn’t need to in heaven. You had it down to a science at this point with all of it seemingly coming so effortlessly to you.

Even the work you had taken up to help out the angels who needed it was easy for you. You only ever needed instructions once and you could repeat it back flawlessly performing it with ease.

The only more impressive thing besides being the most flawless being of all the heavenly creatures was that you, of all the winners out there, had impressed HIM. Besides killing sinners and fighting, you might even rank higher than Lute for badass bitches. He wouldn’t admit that openly of course. Lute would be pissed. Plus, that would make it seem like he liked you too much and he wouldn’t want to blow up your ego. He wouldn’t want to have to eat his own words down the line.

Yet, one day as Adam had rounded the corner, after a long boring ass meeting with the counsel, and he saw you standing in the vacant hallway with your head down and fists clenched. What the fuck were you doing? He started to ask until he noticed that though your hair covered your gorgeous face, he could see the tears falling to the ground. Your shoulders shaking slightly as you tried to quell the downpour.

The moment he got his barings, he started marching over to you. “Who the FUCK do I have to kill?” Your head whipped up, your eyes puffy and cheeks red. Somehow the tears that littered the marble floor hadn’t disturbed the perfect makeup you had dawned. 

“A-Adam?” you gasp out, suddenly trying to dab dry your face with the back of your hands. “Tell me who made you cry and I’ll fucking slaughter them.” Adam growled out. As he neared you, his approach slowed but the moment you were within arms reach his hands shot out to gently grab your face. His thumbs lightly rubbing away the tears while trying not to fuck with your make up. His eyes roamed your face, taking in how haggard you look, before locking eyes with you, “Give me a name sugartits. I’ll show ‘em not to mess with THE Adam’s friend.”

The intensity Adam was emitting was a little intimidating and yet, the way he was holding your face was so tender. You couldn’t help but lean into his touch as you brought your hands up to cover his. Tears started to well in your eyes again as you took a shaky breath.

He started to simultaneously panic and get wildly more pissed off the moment it looked like you were going to start crying again. His only tell that he was internally raging was that his eyebrows furrowed more, until you brought his hands down away from your face. You held onto them though as you lightly pressed them to your chest, right above your plush bust.

This was the first time you had ever considered talking about this with anyone. Usually you could hold yourself together long enough to get to your room before you fell apart but, today it had all been too much. The fear was overwhelming. The fear of being replaced. Of being tossed aside. You had done everything perfectly. They all had said so. They had sung your praises since you had come and yet now, their attentions had turned elsewhere. How was it that people could suddenly turn their affections to someone else when you had done it all right? You desperately needed the validation; the vindication. You had done it all right, hadn’t you? Where had you gone wrong? What did you DO wrong? How could you fix this?

You look up to Adam with your misty doe eyes. His gauze tightly fixated on you. He was an honest person. Unkindly sometimes but, he was honest. If anyone was going to tell you how you had fucked up and how you could fix it, Adam would.

“It-It…it’s just…” your breathing is shaky so you take a moment before continuing. “I feel…I feel like I messed up and I don’t know how to fix it. There’s…there’s a new winner. She’s really kind, smart, funny, and so pretty. She’s…” you choke up for a moment thinking about all the ways she’s attractive in the ways you aren’t, “SO pretty… and helpful. She’s so fast at everything she does. I…I…”

“Okay sugartits you’ve lost me. Why were you crying over some new winner?” he asked, utterly bewildered.

You tear your hands away from him as your eyes well up again. You shouldn’t have expected him to understand. “EVERYONE wants her help… I haven’t been able to help anyone out since shortly after she ascended and I feel so…so useless. She’s replacing me… I’m… I’m replaceable… how? I thought I did everything right? She’s so much better than me-”

“Shut the fuck up.”

The words stunned you into silence and halted your spiral, just as the tears had started flowing again. “You really think some dumb bitch is going to walk up in here and take YOUR place?” he scoffed rolling his whole head, “Yeah fucking right. I give it a week tops before she fucks up. As if some rando new winner can take YOUR place. They’ll be crawling back to you asking for your help. BEGGING for your help. You being the goody two-shoe you are though will forgive them for being stupid and will go back to being #1 at whatever boring paperwork they have you doing.”

“But…why would they just… What did I do wrong?” you ask with a hoarse voice his explanation not making sense.

“Do wrong?” He gasped out, “You couldn’t do a damn thing wrong in your life if you tried. They’re just being fucking dumb. You’re better than every other winners out there and when they realize that you need to rub it in their face. Make them LOATH the day they thought they could replace you. Until they pull their heads out of their asses I’m sure I got some stuff you could help me with.”

He reached out and wiped away the tears again. The aching in your heart eased slightly knowing he wholeheartedly believed what he was saying and, for the moment, his conviction was enough for you. Not that it completely quelled your feelings but, you were able to manage them far better knowing you were still wanted in someone’s world.

His eyes lit up, “You know, you could come to meetings with me and take notes or whatever. Give me the cliffnotes. That shit is SO boring. I’m sure your notes will be better than the official ones they write up anyways and I don’t have to read that shit.”

You smile laughing softly, “I can definitely do that.”

He returned the smile, his thumbs lightly caressed your cheeks, before withdrawing his hands. His whole demeanor instantly reverting back to his usual cocky self. “Damn am I good at giving advice out or what? Just another way I’m FUCKING amazing. You know what, I deserve some goddamn ribs.” he hooted as he turned and started waltzing off.

Seconds later he turned and looked back realizing you were still standing there in a daze, “Come on sugartits I ain’t got all day!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♱𐕣 𖤐 𐕣♱  ☽𖤐☾ Lucifer ☽𖤐☾  ♱𐕣 𖤐 𐕣♱ Lucifer x fem!reader

Song that fits the vibe: She’s An Actor - Austin Giorgio

Trigger warning: suicide, self harm, self depreciation 

You would have thought by now you would be used to being compared to other people. 

Used to aiming for perfection, without ever truly achieving it.

In life you had been constantly used as a pedestal; your sister, friends, co-works. It had never felt like you could claim the recognition you wanted despite having done everything right. 

The perfect GPA in school with extracurriculars to the point you only got a few hours of sleep. Yet your sister’s athletic achievements in swim and cheer had always meant more to your parents. 

The modeling career that you had gotten into, with your best friend following suit only for her to have gotten a contract a year before you. She had even attributed it to your help during a renowned shoot. An unintentional wound that drove you to the edge of your sanity; studying every fashion magazine, the extreme exercising, dieting, any pills that might help and you could get your hands on. 

Then once you finally caught your own break, getting a contract with a big modeling firm, constantly being included in the creme dela crop of models. The never ending critiques of what outfit looked good on which body for x, y, z reasons. Even if you were chosen more than every other model in the company for being the most ideal woman to show off the reveried outfits of the season, you were nothing more than a manikin. Replaced at the drop of hat the moment you couldn’t do it.

You couldn’t stop yourself though. You had to do it all. You had to do it flawlessly. You were a failure if you didn’t.

Yet, somehow it was never good enough.  Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t. Even in death, the out you brought about convinced it would be your sweet release, hadn’t ended the torment.  You had only condemned yourself further.  The epitome of failure.

Why couldn’t you even die right?

How had you ever attracted Lucifer’s attention?

As you stood in the the hotel lobby, the Hazbin Hotel gala fundraiser in full swing with all the top sinners and hellborns mingling and enjoying the free event, you felt eyes scrutinizing you. 

Your corset was cinched as tightly as it would go, reducing your waist dramatically, though giving you a somewhat nice hourglass shape. The mermaid style, galaxy themed dress had a sweetheart neckline and off the shoulder straps. It was a deep hue of royal purple on top before gradually fading to black starting at the hips as it descended your figure with gold and silver stars across the entirety of it, fit your figure snuggly and played off of Lucifer's pristine white and gold tux, his bowtie and pocket square the same royal purple. All your assets were perfectly held within the outfit, with tasteful peeks of skin showing beneath the chiffon overlay at your sides and a silt from just above the knee down. A golden snake choker with its head seated in your jugular notch, accenting your bust.

Lucifer hadn’t left your side since the event started. He had a hand incessantly lingering on your lower back as you both navigated the sea of people. You weren’t sure if the constant touch was for him or for you, but it helped steady you as you held yourself together by a thread. Every person you met was better than you in one way or another; status, poise, brand name outfit, professional makeup.

There was no hesitation with each new face in identifying any and every advantage or feature they had that you lacked. Another chip off your shoulder.

The socialite veneer seamlessly masking the degradation you were inflicting. The practiced saccharine smile never leaving your lips. Well timed laughs. A slight head tilt here to show your interest followed by a slight nod. The only honest part of your act was the high praise you sang regarding Charlie and her truly stunning optimism and strong willed determination.

You could feel the scrutiny lightening the longer the night went on. Some people even reapproached you and Lucifer to continue talking. Prior feigned politeness making way to many of the hellborns attempting political fanangling. Both you and Lucifer’s attempts to redirect the conversation back to the point of the party thwarted or outmaneuvered. Eventually, the conversations fell outside of your ability to participate. You had become an adornment.

You were so tired, so heavy.

Following a particularly trying bird guest whose smarmy quips were particularly taxing you excused yourself from the conversation, missing Lucifer’s panicked glance as you moved away. You just needed a break. 

Just a quick one.

You looked yourself over in the mirror. Fixing any stray hairs. Correcting any smudges of lipstick or eyeliner. You noted the contour along your nose could have been darker to thin your fat nose. You’d need a tighter corset as well should you need to attend another party like this.

You backed up to further evaluate yourself.

The prettiest you can be and still you are disgusting.

Your eyes fluttered shut and you took a slow deep breath. No. No you looked good. This would be something you could wear for a shoot. You just needed to change a few small things. Maybe a couple things. Possibly one bit thing. All the comparisons throughout the night flooded your mind, a tsunami. If only you could change everything about yourself. All the things you lacked. All the things you needed to be. Nothing you could ever achieve.

You choked out a sob. Your hands crawling up your arms as you hugged yourself tightly. You dug your claws into your flesh. Stop this. You couldn’t break down now. The gala wasn’t over just yet. You squeezed your arms tighter, not realizing your claws had broken skin. The failed attempt to reel yourself in breaking you further. Failure. Why couldn’t you hold yourself together for a night? You hunched over as now silent tears hit the floor.

A knock sounded at the door.

You held your breath, eyes wide as you stood there. A breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. “One moment please! I’m almost finished!” you call, your voice taking on a melodic tone. 

There was a pause. “Open the door sweetheart.”

Lucifer. You didn’t reply. Didn’t move. Didn’t breath. He knew you only used that voice when you were hiding a breakdown. It didn’t help that the bathroom was your go to place. “My sun, please?”

You crumbled.

The moment the door was unlocked he was in the bathroom with you. His small, lithe body slipping in and closing the door behind him. A soft smile greeting you despite the puffy eyes and tear streaks staining your made face.

“I’m ready when you are.” he whispered.

Your eyes widen and you’re frantic at the thought of being the cause of the king of hell leaving. Look at you fucking something else up tonight. Before you could say anything, a portal appeared behind Lucifer. He gently took your hands before he stepped back. He didn’t pull you though. 

You stared at him; his gentle smile, soft eyes, adorable cheek marks. The tears started flowing again and your hands squeezed his. You stepped into his room in the hotel several floors up from where you both had been, the portal closing behind you.

A glittery red mist engulfing the both of you before disappearing in seconds. Both of you in the dark blue rubber duckie pajamas he had created for your 1 month anniversary however long ago. His a short sleeve shirt with loose fitting pants and yours a spaghetti strap dress that flowed down to your knees. The gashes on your arms cleaned and bandaged up. Your hair down and make up gone. Across the room, your galaxy dress and his heavenly white suit and usual hat hung up on hangers.

“Thank you…” you whisper, trying to wipe away the endless tears that were still flowing down your face. He pulled your hands away from your face and lightly kissed you. He led the way over to the bed, both of you quickly climbing in. You cuddled into his chest as he wrapped his arms around you. You closed your eyes. Listening to his heartbeat and steady breathing. One of his hand of claws raking through your hair. A rosy cheek pressed to the top of your head.

“Will you tell me what’s wrong?” He asked in a whisper. Your hands clutched his shirt. Embarrassed you couldn’t keep yourself. He turned his head to kiss your hair. “You don’t have to tonight. It’s been a long day. Tomorrow though?”

You don’t want to. You don’t want to face the feelings, to face him. Admit to him the truth that nothing you did was ever truly good enough. That you were a failure and tonight was further proof.

You backed up to tell him it was nothing. That you just got overwhelmed and were tired. To hide away this ugliness. 

The look of concern caught you off guard though. He was unmasked. Vulnerable. Asking for you to be the same. He had been open about answering everything you had ever asked him, why couldn’t you do the same?

You couldn’t fail him. You could be a failure in every other way but not for him. You couldn’t fail him. Wouldn’t. 

Slowly, you nod and echo, “Tomorrow.”

“Okay.” He returned his cheek to the top of your head squeezing you into him with both arms. His tail manifesting and wrapping itself around your closest lower leg. “I love you.”

You burrowed into his side again, your own arms securing him to you. You smiled, feeling his tail. “I love you too. Thank you, my star.”

Both of you quickly succumbed to sleep wrapped in each other’s embrace.

Neither of you believing you deserved the the other.

[helluva-simper]

[atttwoood]

ʜᴀᴢʙɪɴ ʜᴏᴛᴇʟ | ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ 1 ᴛʀᴀɪʟᴇʀ ᴘ.1|ᴘ.2|

[eepylucifer]

[homefryboy]

taking kill-virginity means nothing

(commissions open)

[beetlewine-art]

Sometimes i forget that HB and HH share the same universe... can you imagine how the Hazbin hotels season 1 finale looked like from the perspective of the characters of Helluva Boss? Are you really telling me that while those funky little red demons were dealing with their drama and angst there was a damn battle between Heaven and Hell? AND NONE OF THE OTHER SEVEN DEADLY SINS SHOWED UP TO FIGHT? Like, okay i get why they didn't, but seen Ozzie and Bee kill some angels could have been really cool.

(half of me in tempted to believe that The Sins have never seen Lucifer, their sweet dork of a boss, get angry or lose his cool and watching him beat up Adam terrified them. But the other half of me also believes that he has beaten the shit out of Mammon at least once, while Satan and Ozzie cheered for him).

I NEED to see Blitzo's reacion to all this mess, i bet it was hilarious.

[danandfuckingjonlmao]

a good animated show must have at least 4 of the following:

- gay

- existentialism/nihilism

- morally grey lead characters

- horrendously depressing themes/messages

- psychedelic weird shit that highlights the absurdity of life

i don’t make the rules (i do make the rules pls recommend me shows—i’ll put the ones i’ve watched in the tags, feel free to add any you think of)

[birdy-babe]

I like to theorize/headcanon that Stolas’ “do you know what I want?” Monologue will eventually be mirrored by Blitz. Like when he confesses or when their relationship is real and healthier.

So… I wrote a lil thing for it. Do with this what you will

The actual monologue by Stolas:

“Do you want to know what I want? I want to know what it’s like to not be alone. I want to be someone’s someone. I want to feel wanted, but like In a romantic way. Like I’m standing out in the rain at a train station and someone is shouting ‘Harriet!don’t get on that train! It’s going to London and I cannot be without you!’ The point is I just want someone to care if I stay or go. I want someone to want me. To want to see me, to hold me, to look at me and think: ‘you’re the only one I want. I desire to hold you and talk to you, never let you feel so…’ You! Why are you here? I don’t want you here, go home please! Let me not feel so sad”

My Headcanon mirror monologue:

“Look stolas, it took a while but I… I figured out what I want. you told me what you want- to not be alone. And… god dammit I think I want that too. I think I want you to be my ‘someone’ or whatever, and in some pansy-ass romantic way not just… for fucking. Like, shit- okay, like if you were at some dumb train station, and it was raining or whatever, and you were running off to some fucking placed called ‘Log-bog’-“

“London, my dear”

“Whatever- I’d… fuck Stolas. I’d tell you to stay. Maybe not at first. First I’d probably yell at you because I’m a mess and I don’t know how to handle my own emotions. And then I’d call you shitty names, really shitty ones that I don’t actually mean, all because I know you deserve better than me. So It wouldn’t be like your shitty rom-coms. But fuck it- the ending would be the same? I’d tell you not to go. Because fuck- I don’t really want to be without you”

“Blitz I-”

“No- don’t Interrupt- if you interrupt then I’ll start thinking about what all this means and I’ll change my mind and jump out your window or kill myself or something-“

“Go on”

“Fuck it- Stolas… you’re the only one I want. Okay? You make me want to do some gay shit like hold you- and I actually fucking like talking to you. So I want that- I want to talk to you. I never want to let you feel like that again. I was a coward at that stupid fucking party. I should have said it back then, but I hated myself for making you feel so sad. But fuck it- that’s why I’m here now. If you want me to be. I want you, Stolas”

[goldenamaranthe-blog]

Welcome to Lust: Chaggie

Vaggie: (sitting in the back of the Morningstar family Cadillac, dressed up in a deep, purple skirt and blouse combo) This is pretty unexpected, babe. What's the occasion?

Charlie: (sitting next to Vaggie, dressed in a long, backless crimson dress that has Vaggie's mind short circuiting) We haven't had any time to ourselves in ages! Plus, with the war against the Extermination and rebuilding the hotel, I figured we were in desperate need of a date night!

Vaggie: That's awfully sweet, hun. But- (watches as the car reaches the heart of Pentagram City and starts speeding towards a purple tunnel) -where exactly are we going?

Charlie: Oh! Since you aren't a Sinner, I figured we could go outside the Pride ring!

Vaggie: (mental glass shatter) To...where?

Charlie: Punch it, Razzle!

Razzle: (in the driver's seat, gives an adorable thumbs up) Baaaaaaap!

Vaggie: (clings to the seats so hard her nails pop the leather as the car speeds forward and zooms through a magic portal) Chaaaarlie!!!!

Charlie: (hands up in the air like she's on a rollercoaster) Woohoooooooo!

-The car manifests in a purple-blue hued city. Neon lights of lips, XXX's, genitalia, the occasional stripper pole, and "Sex" illuminate the streets in blue, pink, and purple lights.-

Vaggie: (blushes furiously as her whole thought process goes offline, and the car pulls up to a large, pink establishment with a line circling around the block) Ch-Charlie??!????

Charlie: (excitedly) Welcome to the Lust ring, Vaggie! I've had an invitation to attend a show for a while now, but never had someone I wanted to go with! (Scrambles out of the car and opens Vaggie's door)

Vaggie: Lust ring? Ozzie's? As in the House of Asmodeous? (Absentmindedly follows Charlie out of the car, up to the front door, and into the lusty dinner theater illuminated in blues, red, and pink) Dinner theater????

Charlie: I'm sorry I didn't tell you where we were going earlier, Vaggie. I've always wanted to check this place out, but the rules are pretty strict. Even if the owner is-

Ozzie: (explodes into existence next to the VIP table Charlie and Vaggie are sitting) Charlie, Baby!!! It's about damn time you finally accept that invitation of mine! A hundred years is a long time to make me wait~

Charlie: Uncle Ozzie! (Jumps up and gives Ozzie a hug)

Vaggie: Ooooooh....fuck.....

[kandy-sticks-zaza-blogs]

Shows I watch instead of Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss

Pls don't attack me I am autistic pls respect my boundaries

Mixels my fav childhood minisodes about lego characters that learned to work together and their fusion are awesome. Also I understand what Kramer is saying.

3 2 1 Penguins have good bible quotes in the christain kid show I only know Veggietales when I was watching it on YouTube also 4 talking penguins are cool also Kevin is my fav autistic British penguin.

When it came out I got excited when it came out I was waiting for season 2 but it never came I love the cool rubber hose cartoon style in the adult animated show.

I love how it is about cooking and DND anime like Campfire Cooking in another world it’s wholesome,dark,delicious food and amazing animations also I love how the food look tasty and the intro song is a vibe but I wished that they added the missing moments in the manga right to the cutscenes when I’m watching it.The anime turns me into a gay simp fr.

When I first saw Red dwarf on BBC my mom tells me that Red dwarf is her fav childhood show I love how funny the sci-fi series is also the cat slaying in every episodes.

I love watching Bravest Warrior as a pre teen I love how they look like Adventure time but sci-fi Catbug gotta be my fav character.

Scooby doo is my fav when I grew up watching it on my old iPad and watching it on tv what I hate the most is scooby doo mystery incorporated they ruined Scooby doo and Velma relationship Velma loves Scooby doo when she met him as a puppy it’s so adorable I love how Velma treats him as a good friend instead of being jealous of eachother also I hated the Velma show.

I love watching Gravity falls on TV whenever I am on vacation with my family I love watcit everyday since my favourite is Mable cuz she’s like my fr as a kid now I become Robbie but without nobody cuz I never interested in dating. Alex Hirsh the legend who made a successful discontinued amazing 2 seasons show and made a coolest lore about Bill Cipher.

I love watching it since the show came out the year after I was out of the womb and still a baby I love how cool the robots are transformers are a greatest franchise since the 80s I love that the transformers characters are different from the original one like an alternate universe Prowl was my fav when I was a kid.

I love Monkey wrench since it came out I love the funny duo between Beebs and Shrike relationship they are the funny duo in the indie series the stories isn’t rushed and I love Sci-fi genre so much!

[mr-malumm]

Cringetober day 15: animation meme 😎😎

In my au 1 gets trapped in hell and has to make a deal with dark mode vox but hes miserable and everything is bad for him 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[1-helluva-hazbin]

Growing Pains

Lucifer x Reader

Content warning: fluff, trust building, slow burn, building communication skills, self improvement, fast proofread (please excuse the errors)

Summary: Lucifer's attempt to bond with you, a newer resident of the hotel, spectacularly backfires. Unable to avoid Lucifer, with an impending sinister catalyst, necessitate a resolution forcing you to work through your avoidance tendencies.

Author Notes: This one shot is on the longer side. Let me know if you think I should have made it 2 chapters or if it works as it is. I also wanted to apologize for the day delay! Yesterday did not go as I had planned.

Word Count: 6183

Thank you for all the love and support you choose to give!

Charlie and Vaggie were sitting and talking in the hotel lobby not too far off from you. Vaggie’s one arm, the one you could see, casually draped over the back of the couch. Her thumb stretched from its resting position, lightly caressing her partner as they talked. A minute affection Charlie didn’t seem to notice in her exuberant excitement. One you couldn’t help but focus on, completely ignoring the book you were looking over. You forced your attention back to the book momentarily before Charlie started laughing. The sound ripped your gaze from the pages back over to the loving couple. Charlie’s hand now on Vaggie’s arm. 

It made the skin on your arm prickle with goosebumps.

“My, my, my, weren’t you ever taught it’s rude to stare?” The accusation startled you from your fixation and you tilted your head to see Lucifer propped from beside you. One eyebrow skyrocketed nearly to his hairline while the over exaggerated smile on his lips seemed to pull painfully tight on his lips as he attempted to playfully exclaim, “It’s almost like you’re plotting something!”

His quip stung, intentionally or not. You had noticed since arriving his method of interacting with other sinners was usually to tease them about sinner-like things; violence, cannibalism, plotting against other people, their drug use. His favorite against you was that you were plotting a scheme, usually against Charlie. Everyone had been slightly wary of you upon your arrival. Charlie had sworn up and down that it would change. That since you always seemed so aloof and standoffish it was just unnerving for some people in the hotel. Including her dad who was trying, in his own way, to connect with all the sinners when he was around. He had a couple thousand years of prejudice to work through but, he was trying!

She had taken to coaching you at every interaction you had with her. Even Vaggie had jumped on board with her encouragement. If one of them said hello and asked how your day was, a simple ‘fine’ wouldn’t suffice. It didn’t encourage bonding! No, you had to elaborate. Tell them what you did that day. Did you learn anything new? What books are you reading? Share with them things about yourself! Ask how their day was. Reference something they previously told you. Have an actual conversation.

 As well intended as they were, it was exhausting. Having gone from almost solitary living for the last century or two -between working in a job where you were almost completely unbothered while living with a single roommate whom you could go days without speaking to- this was a complete 180 and utterly tiring. You didn’t uproot your life to make friends. You had come here to work on redeeming yourself. Get into heaven if it was possible. Which Charlie repeatedly told you included being friendlier, kind, thoughtful, and most importantly selfless. Even if you didn’t necessarily care about everything other people had to say, it was important to still allow them space to be themselves without judgment and make sure they felt heard. That is what would help get you into heaven!

You had noticed as time wore on, begrudgingly so, the tactics she had you practicing had been working. Several of the newer residents had loosened up around you and started conversing with you on a somewhat regular basis. During some of the group exercises where Charlie would tell people to pair up, they had come up to you and suggested you work together. It was just a skill you had let wither that you needed to redevelop. A plant you needed to relocate from shade to sun. 

Whatever analogy you needed to tell yourself you did to prevent yourself from giving up. You came here for redemption after all which meant something needed to change and maybe that was part of it. You wouldn’t have been cast to hell if you had gotten things right.

So as Lucifer loitered beside you, you tried to keep in mind you needed to be better and that this was his way of connecting like Charlie had said. Regardless of how it stung hearing it time and time again. This was just practice. More draining practice. “I’m not plotting anything sir.” you said, closing the book in your hands before setting it down to make sure he knew he had your attention. Now what though? 

You wracked your mind for what to say next. Charlie said to be honest with people. How do you explain to him why exactly you were staring? That you had started craving physical touch again since coming here. That after having gone years without  brushing against anything other than the books you worked with, that having Charlie clasp your hands when she was excited or Angel throwing an completely unwarranted arm over your shoulders when he wanted to use you as a prop for his dramatics, those simple actions had suddenly rekindled your human, well sinner, desire for contact. How pathetic would that make you look? How weak? Then to have been caught fixated on them, desperate to live vicariously momentarily.

“I was just…” you drawled. The idea of telling the truth set your face ablaze in embarrassment. You couldn’t bring yourself to say the truth. You looked over at the couple settling on your answer. “...admiring their relationship.” 

He openly laughed, playing along with his original story, “Mmmmhm. If you say so~~.”

A combination of frustration and disappointment washed over you. Completely incinerating any trace of the embarrassment you have felt over the real reason why you had been staring. Hearing him happily hum as he sauntered over to Charlie not believing an ounce of what you said regardless of your lack of ill will towards the princess. If he was only joking, why was it the same barb over and over? Why were you the one he continuously chose to make that specific joke with? It really didn’t feel like a joke anymore. 

You looked down at your book trying and failing to speedily process your emotions. You heaved yourself up turning to leave. Not wanting to exist in other people’s presence anymore. Too emotionally taxed.

Wrapped up in your own feelings and thoughts you missed Lucifer glancing back at you. You missed the jarred skip of his step as he caught sight of the haggard expression during your momentary unmasking. You missed the fact he stopped walking all together as you slipped from the room.

You quickly found shelter in the sanctity of your room. Recharging the rest of the evening cocooned in the fuzziest blankets you had, that you made sure always smelled of orange and cinnamon, buried in the book you had just gotten. As the evening slipped into night though, you slipped from your room and made your way down the hall needing a small break from the confines of your quarters before heading to sleep. Because despite your exhaustion, you enjoyed a little fresh air before bed.

Living on the second to top floor had its downsides; like being closer to Alastor’s studio or hiking up the seemingly endless number of stairs. You personally felt it had more perks though. One of the best upsides being a small balcony with a cafe styled table and chairs. Later in the evening when a good number of the residents had either retired to their room for the evening or were still out partying, there was a blissful window of time where there was little risk of running into some else. So you would make your way to the balcony and sit looking out over the city.

Disconnected but present.

You pulled one of the chairs next to the railing so the back of the seat was at a 90 degree angle to the railing. Plopping yourself down, you perched yourself in the seat with both feet up. One arm rested on the railing so as you leaned forward, your belly pressing into your legs, your chin and cheek resting on your arm rather than the cool metal. A few adjustments here and there quickly remedied any qualms your body had with the positioning and finally you were nestled in. The final signal of settling a small decompressing huff.

The usual sights and sounds greeted you. Your eyes scanning for any changes or immediate drama to observe from your box seat above the masses. Angel Dust and Husk walking away from the hotel caught your eye. Angel talking with his whole body as Husk just shook his head in amusement. Angel suddenly buckled over laughing before reaching out to place a hand on Husk’s shoulder to steady himself.

The skin on your shoulder prickled and you involuntarily shiver. You look away from them too little too late. The ache for contact instantaneously tearing at you from the inside. The arm wrapped around yourself tightened in a futile attempt to ease the ache, already knowing from experience it wouldn’t work. You buried your face in your arms contemplating just going back to your room to lose yourself in the book that had occupied your warring mind earlier.

A click sounded from behind you making your head shoot up to see a bashful appearing Lucifer holding the door open. He gave a lopsided grin, gingerly pointing to the second seat, “Do you… mind if I join you?” 

You blinked a couple of times, staring at him. Immediately wary of his presence. The lingering silence dragged on, making him shuffle anxiously before you gave permission with a curt nod. You directed your attention back out towards the city despite being hyper aware of him.

A quivering laugh slipped from his lips as he stepped out a little too close for your liking, admittedly the size of the balcony was intended to be intimate, and closed the door behind him as he sat down in the seat across from you. He immediately stretched out, slipping his legs through the railings, putting one elbow on the table between the two of you. “Not a bad view from up here. If you ignore most of the gun shots and ‘fuck you’s’ it can be pretty enjoyable.” He shot a sideways glance over to feel out your reaction at his attempted small talk.

“Yeah it is.”

 The city sounds echoed between the two of you. Distant conversations filling the void that the two beings right there were unable, or unwilling, to fill. He nervously laughed, his fingers drumming on the table. You looked over to him this time. Seeing his eyes flittering from object to object unable to choose 1 thing to look at.

Quickly, his drumming fingers started to grate against your already worn nerves and tired mind. Unable to bare whatever this was any further, you attempted to excuse yourself as you started to stand. “It’s late. I’m heading to-”

“No! Wait! Wait!” he sat up from his faux relaxed pose holding out both hands. “Just… hold on.” he breathed out yet another quivering laugh, the panic shining brightly in his eyes as you bore into him with yours. 

He took a deep breath. He looked away, mentally giving himself a small pep talk before he looked back. “I wanted to talk. About earlier.”

“I’m tired….” you admit as you stood there looking down at him. His nervous grin and hopeful eyes making your resolve to run buckle. “What about earlier?” you ask, easing back into your seat placing both hands of your clasped on the table.

“Thank you.” he said before beginning to explain. “When you were leaving the lobby,” he specified, making a circle motion with one of his hands, “you looked, well, upset.”

“I looked upset.” you repeated.

He slowly nodded. His next words said slowly and carefully, “I was… wondering if it was something I did? Or said?” he paused before further clarifying, “I wanted you to tell me why.”

You scoffed. Perhaps it was the unroofing of a metaphorical wound his joke had made. Perhaps because you were tired. It could have also been a combination or something completely unrelated. Regardless, you were unable to hold back the venomous sarcasm that slipped from you, “Well I can’t imagine why.” Lucifer’s eyes widened, the reaction only egging you on. “It’s like constantly being judged for something you didn’t and wouldn’t do isn’t upsetting.”

Lucifer stared blankly, “What?” 

“Oh you’re plotting against Charlie I see?” your voice lowered in a pathetic attempt to mimic the king. “How many times did you think you’d get away with making the same joke before I realized you clearly meant it? That you’re genuinely suspicious I’m out to hurt Charlie?”

“I didn’t-”

“How many times do I have to tell you I’m not out to get her? I like Charlie! She’s kind! She’s thoughtful! Yeah she’s irritatingly persistent but, she needs to be.”

You had started to dig your nails into your own clasped hands in your flurry of emotions unable to reign them in. You took a breath, realizing you needed to step away from this conversation. You stood up just as Lucifer found his voice. “I never meant for it to be an accusation. It was meant to be a joke.” You felt your emotions spike again, your jaw clenching, as he continued, “I saw you staring at them an-”

“Because I’m TOUCH STARVED!” the words were out of your mouth before you could consider what you were saying, “I saw them giving one another affection and was just so envious! I just stared! I didn’t mean to, I-” You glanced up to him to  find a look of confusion, twisting with what you interpreted as disgust, on Lucifer’s face that made your train of thought grind to a halt to reevaluate why his expression was so. Your mind finally processing your admission. “I just…” A hand slowly lifted to lightly cover your mouth, your eyes widening.

“What now?” he asked, the confusion deepening in the expression of his face. A raised eyebrow. A lopsided frown. The slight tilt of his head.

Your face started burning, chest tightening. It instantly became hard to breathe. Panic. You were panicking at the vulnerability you had just bared. Anger melded with embarrassment in the midst of your anxiety. You bristled, launching into an unneeded defense. “You know what, I don’t need to fucking explain myself to you.” You turned, throwing the door to the balcony open, practically running back to your room. Anything he might have said behind you drowned out by your panicked thoughts.

A sleepless night followed. Unable to calm your mind, it ran in circles in your head; justification of your outburst, realizing you completely blew it all out of proportion, getting angry that you had allowed such a vulnerability to air so freely, fear of what Lucifer might do with the information or who he might tell, embarrassment at being so weak, anger at the conversation having happened, before feeling defensive again to repeating the looping train of thought. As the day’s light started to breach the veil of night, only then did you finally slip into unconsciousness utterly spent. 

The next few days were spent dodging Lucifer which was relatively easy since you were simultaneously also attempting to fix your wrecked sleep schedule.  When you were going to sessions though, you did your best to preemptively vacate any areas when you heard Lucifer approaching or avoided areas you knew he would be in. The change in behavior had mostly been easy to truthfully explain to Charlie as well when you boiled down the scenario into the simplest of terms. You had gotten upset about something and had ended up not sleeping well. While she of course wanted to know the whole situation to help you navigate it in any way she could, she was respectful, admittedly a little pouty, when you said it was something you weren’t ready to talk about. Not having to lie to her made you feel a little better since you missed quite a few of her group exercises. 

While many of the residents didn’t care or hadn’t found the change to be too out of place, when paired with your explanation, it didn’t slip the careful eye of Alastor. The first day it had seemed to catch his attention but, by the second day he had taken a keen interest in your antics. When you would try to slip out before Lucifer would come into a room, he would stop you to talk about your participation in the session. Once he told you Charlie wanted to speak with you and then took you into a room where Lucifer and Charlie were talking, only for him to have misheard Charlie’s request. While he framed his actions as innocent and well intended, you had never seen the grin on Alastor’s face as wide as it was. It was unnerving. 

By the fourth day, you weren’t just paranoid about running into Lucifer. Alastor’s newest hobby had seemed to become tormenting you and his questions and conversations had become probing. Feeling out cracks in your story. At one point he had even told you he was all ears for any issues you might have with other residents or guests. 

Having lived through his rise to power, you knew there was no good to come from exposing yourself to such a machiavellian individual. You wouldn’t put it past him to worm a deal out of anyone, even as lowly you. An expendable pawn was still a piece to play and he was one to look at the bigger picture. 

At that point, you garnered enough gumption to face Lucifer. You couldn’t risk getting caught under Alastor’s thumb and the idea of him knowing you were touch starved and how that could be held against you igniting a spike of anxiety. You knew Lucifer and Alastor were not on good terms but, the idea of word getting to Alastor was distressing. You loathed the idea of facing Lucifer but you needed to ensure your blunder remained under wraps. This was for self preservation at this point.

Towards the end of the day, you sequestered yourself to your room to prepare; plan key points you wanted to discuss, how you wanted to phrase things, etc. You knew you couldn't lose your head again, considering how the prior incend had led to the current circumstances. After an hour or so though, you felt ready. 

You made your way to the top floor, taking extra precautions to avoid running into Alastor potentially heading to his studio. Once certain Alastor was not loitering about or following you, you made your way down the hallway towards Lucifer's room. You focused on your breathing as you trekked the hall. Attempting to quell your anxiety and slow your racing heart, to no avail. By the time you reached his door, your pulse was thrumming in your ears and you were certain he would be able to hear it too.

You stood before his door paralyzed. Both hands clenched at your side. Unable to stop the tremble that plagued them. Your eyes locked onto the perfect white presetine door as if trying to bore holes through it. Your breathing uneven. All the words you had practiced having evaporated from your head as you made your way there.

This was a mistake.

You pivot. Hurriedly, retreating.

Halfway back towards the stairs your eyes register Alastor's studio door and the terror that drove you to the point resurface. You halted. Your hands flew to your head in a silent temper tantrum as your mind raced to determine what would be the lesser evil. A sense of urgency gnawing at you considering you were standing dead center in the hallway of a barren floor.

What was worse; not knowing if Lucifer might reveal what you had said, accidentally or intentionally, with everyone including Alastor potentially finding out or turning around and confronting Lucifer?

The first concern was all just a possibility though wasn't it? There was no guarantee that it would happen. Talking to Lucifer wouldn't guarantee that he wouldn't spill your secret either. You let out a soft, maniacal sounding laugh as you took a step forward only to stop again. A possibility that would weigh on you for weeks to months leading to you lurking around the hotel, as you had been, haunting the place. Harrowed by the uncertainty at every turn.

"FFFUuuuucccckkk..." you groaned softly. Your palms sliding down your forehead pressing into your eyes. You needed to confront Lucifer. The realization making your stomach churn. You couldn't continue dodging him and you couldn't outrun the fear. You turned resting your back against the wall, your hands on your knees as you bent over mentally recollecting yourself. You went through what you had gone over before in your room. Reminding yourself of the key points. 

You sighed and brought your palms to your eyes again. Slowly breathed out. Pulling your hands from your eyes, you launched off the wall propelling you back towards Lucifer's room. The momentum only lasting a few steps before freezing again. 

"Heeeey, as entertaining as this pantomiming is, and it's a great performance, I would appreciate getting access to my room sometime tonight."

Your face blanched as a shiver slipped down your spine. You slowly turned to see Lucifer standing behind you. Both hands perched on the apple of his cane and a practiced smile on his lips. One eyebrow raised, almost lost beneath the rim of his hat, as he watched you tentatively turn towards him.

Instantly you straightened yourself and stepped aside. "Good evening." your voice was dry and hoarse. 

"Yup. Good evening." he chirped back, unmoving. Your eyes were locked onto a spot on the floor, your mind utterly blank. As the seconds drew on, his smile tensed as he nervously waited for you to do...something? His fingers drummed on his cane. "Well... if the performance is over I'll be heading to my room. Have a good night!" He looked away awkwardly and started on his way.

A quick glance at his back got the gears in your brain working. What were you doing? He was right there. You were screwing it up. "Wait...wait! Lucifer…" It was soft, but loud enough for him to hear. He slowed and turned looking back. 

"I..." Your eyes meeting made you want to run. The idea of having this conversation replusing you. You pushed off the wall and walked over towards him, fighting the urge to flee. "Are you free? I-...I would like to apologize and talk. About the other day?" Your face felt flushed.

Lucifer shuffled and gently smiled which was unnerving. It was a smile you had only ever seen reserved for Charlie and Vaggie. "Don't you think it's rather late? It would be a little unproductive if we had a repeat of last time."

The comment struck a nerve considering it was earlier in the day than when he had approached you. It must have shown on your face as his smile dropped paired with your response. "That's fine. We can talk tomorrow."

"Unless, you're not tired?" he asked, putting his nervous smile back on and laughing anxiously, "We could have a cup of tea this time. Chamomile perhaps?"

You hesitated but, then nodded. "That would be nice."

He nodded, as he started towards his room onto the spin around. "Ah! You're comfortable talking in my room right? I wouldn't want to make an assumption! We could certainly talk on the balcony again if you prefer!" 

"Uh, somewhere private is preferred so your room is fine." You respond bluntly, his nervous energy deflating. He nodded once more, his grip on his cane as tight as a vice. 

The two of you made your way to his room; him leading with you trailing after. His room was surprisingly clean though you couldn't help but notice a small work area over to the left of the door with two piles of perhaps 50 or so rubber ducks. He had noticed your gaze and eagerly redirected you over towards the windows where he had a little cushioned bench seat perched below. As you settled into the seat, Lucifer got two tea cups ready with a snap of his fingers.

He carried them over to you with practiced care and gingerly handed one off to you before he sat down as well. You took the cup, admiring the beautiful and intricate abstract design on it, before lightly blowing on it and taking a sip. 

"Sooooo..." he drawled, having quickly taken a sip from his cup as well, "before you start, there is something I wanted to bring up if that's alright." Your eyes flick to his, his expression a mask utilizing his usual smile. You nod, making sure he saw before he proceeded,"I need you to explain to me what you meant by 'touch staved'."

You gawked at him. You hadn’t heard what you thought you just heard. “What?”

Lucifer blinked before looking a little frantic and blurting out, “I know what it means! Of course I know what it means. I’m the king of hell. I’m not so wildly out of touch that I don’t!” he laughed looking out the window before taking a sip of his tea, “I’ve also heard it can mean different things to different people. So I want to know what it means. To you! I want to know what it means to you.”

He finally looked back to you taking another sip of his tea, already halfway through his small porcelain cup. Meanwhile, you felt like you were short circuiting sitting across from him. Not only had you spent the last few days fretting and dodging the angel, worrying that he would tell people what you said, but now he was asking you to spell it out for him. Was he….messing with you? You studied him before he gave you a toothy grin coyly purred out, “So?”

It didn’t seem like he was messing with you. Something like this was more Angel Dust’s style of teasing. You mimic Lucifer by taking a sip of your tea for a slight delay. You carefully set the teacup down on the windowsill next to you and place your hands in your lap. “I need you to promise me you’ll never tell anyone.”

“And why would I do that?” He asked. He was messing with you now though you were in no mood for it.

You narrowed your eyes at him and stated as matter of factly as you could despite wanting to spit venom defensively, “I’m not untouchable like you. We’re in HELL. Anything and everything can be used against you by the wrong people. I can’t end up having someone use anything I say here against me.” 

His facade softened and his smile dropped into a frown. He brought the teacup up to his lips and muttered something into the chamomile. “No one is  untouchable…”

You heard him say something but, hadn't been able to make it out so you remained quiet.

“I promise to never tell another soul.” he finally sighed.

“On Charlie’s life?” you asked, knowing he could still share what was said as there was no magic binding him. You needed to know just how serious he was though and Charlie was usually a good indicator. His eyes flashed red and they narrowed at you. You held firm, keeping eye contact and straightening your spine.

“On my life. No reason to bring Charlie into this.” he leaned back, his eyes fading back to their normal golden hue.

You hesitated to accept but relented with a nod. Knowing you had to accept the compromise he offered but, you did feel satisfied that he wouldn’t share what was said. You started thinking about where to begin. As you contemplated, you felt your face heat in embarrassment. He watched, patiently biding his time as he lightly tapped the rim of his teacup with a claw topping it off with more tea.

“For me…” you looked him, locking eyes. The embarrassment clawing through you. The intensity making you panic. Your eyes darted away. Finding a spot on the floor to stare at again so you could think with even a fraction more clarity. “For me it means I… I …miss…touch.”

You glanced up to him, to see the sight raise of an eyebrow. Your mind started churning with worst case scenarios and suddenly your face burned hotter. You looked away again.

“Not sexual!” The words spit out, not wanting any uncomfortable undertones to the conversation. “It’s just… simple touch. Like hugging. Lightly having someone put their hand on my shoulder. Even just bumping into people. Any sort of skin contact makes me want more and afterwards that’s all I want. It takes days for that to calm down and since being here… that’s usually around the time something else happens. It’s a never ending cycle.”

He listened, his face remaining neutral as you spoke and he remained silent for a beat after you finished. You rubbed your arm. Between talking about the topic and your nerves, there was a compulsion to do something with your hands. He broke the silence, “The other day when we had our…falling out, you had been watching Charlie and Vaggie because you saw them touching one another? That is why you mentioned being envious?”

You nodded, closing your eyes as you took a breath in an attempt to calm yourself.

He smiled. His fingers rubbing the edge of his teacup as he gazed into it. He knew those feelings all too well. “That…makes sense.” You open your eyes to look at him, noticing the look on his face. He noticed your movement and looked up to you, giving a lopsided smile.

Lilith had been absent for 7 years.

Your eyes widened at the possibility and dared to pose the question, “You too?”

Lucifer stiffened a moment, took a breath and nodded. “Yes. Even I have those days.”

He took a sip of his tea and looked out the window. You picked yours back up and mimicked his action.

“I’m sorry…” you said after a few minutes of what you felt was relatively comfortable silence. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you the other day. It wasn’t fair. I was tired and already feeling…exposed? Hmm…sensitive is probably a better word…”

“Regardless, I knew I was tired. I should have asked to shelve the conversation once I realized it wasn’t something I couldn’t handle right then and there. I’m also sorry for not actually hearing you out once you started since I didn’t ask to stop. I’d like to try discussing it again if you’re willing.”

You spoke while looking out the window. Seeing him shift his attention to you from your peripherals you keep your eyes trained to elsewhere. After you finished, you turned slightly to look at him from the corner of your eye.

The conversation that followed supplied far better results than the last. He clarified how all of his barbs had been an attempt to be playful since he didn’t know you well but, understood how hearing it over and over had manifested as a passive aggressive accusation on your end. You apologized for having taken it that way and not properly addressed the issue before it started to fester as anger. The compromising being he wouldl stop trying to interact with you in that way with the caveat being if he slipped up or tried something new that you didn’t appreciate, you would address it before resentment could build.

At the end, the both of you  sat on the bench sipping the last of your tea looking out at the city. At some point, Lucifer had opened one of the windows. A light caress of warm wind slipped in scattering goosebumps up your arms despite it not being cold and you brought a hand up to rub them, hoping they rescinded quickly.

Lucifer’s eyes slid to the motion. “So how long has it been since you had, I guess, consistent contact with someone?” 

You blinked, thinking about it. “A couple decades.”

“Decades?” he gasped out. He realized just how loud he had been and he coughed with a smile to cover up his reaction. “I mean. Decades. That’s… awhile.”

“Yeah, well…” uncertain on if he was genuinely surprised at the length of time or found it underwhelming and was being sarcastic, you weren’t entirely sure what to make of his reaction. “Most sinners don’t bother with libraries. The hellborn who do, don’t want to interact with a sinner and avoided me, opting for one of the other hellborns working. So I got left alone most of the time.”

You shrugged your shoulders and turned your attention back out the window. Thinking about it now, it hadn’t bothered you then. You suppose you might have just been ignoring that downside though. It had always been easy to check yourself out emotionally and just get through what needed to be done. Not contemplating what you wanted or what could be. Only focused on what was.

“Has…” you start and then stop, wondering if you should ask. You glance over to him seeing he hadn’t redirected his attention to you. “How long has it been for you?”

“Consistently?” he asked as he pondered the question he had posed to you. “A decade? Maybe a little longer. Lilith and I…” his eyes roamed down to his ring. “We had more downs than ups well before she left but I still got some affection in between when we had a good stretch.

A sad tone had seeped into his voice. He gently rubbed the ring with his middle finger, a sense of melancholy filling the room. You watched. Never having had an extended relationship with someone before, you couldn't pretend to imagine the feelings that lingered. You took a breath and then scooted over on the bench seat pulling him from his thoughts. You extended an open hand to him. He stared. He hesitated before slowly reaching out, his decision wavering for a split second before he placed his hand in yours. 

You gently took hold of his hand and looked back out the window. He was far warmer than you had expected him to be. His skin soft. You sighed softly feeling far less unsettled by the sensation than you had thought, regardless of how intimate the action could be seen. It was mindless for you as your thumb began to lightly caress the back of his hand. Lucifer fidgeted next to you, though he didn’t retract his hand.

You weren’t sure how long the two of you sat there. The sounds of the city echoing off the walls of his room with hell’s consistent warm breeze enveloping the two of you in wave after wave. Each of you basking in the warmth of the other, no matter how little it was. It wasn’t until you noticed Lucifer starting to nod off that you smiled and squeezed his hand.

His eyes fluttered open to find you looking at him with a bemused smile. The softest you had looked at him to date. “You’re tired.” 

“I’m not.” he mumbled, a well timed yawn slipping from his lips. You raised a brow with his response being a ‘tsk’ noise.

You slowly, reluctantly, pull your hand from his before pushing yourself to a stand. A stretch had a few of your joints popping. “Would be an awful idea to fall asleep like that.” 

He stood next to you with a noncommittal hum. As you reached for your cup and saucer, a snap of his fingers dispensed of both his and yours. You nod at him before you look over towards the door and then back to him. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. That kind of magic is thoughtless to me.” he said, misinterpreting your meaning.

“I meant for talking things over and spending your evening with me.” 

He burbled out a laugh. “Oh well don’t mention that either. Literally. Don’t mention this to anyone. I have a reputation to uphold. King of hell and all.” he grinned at you with his characteristic saccharine smile.

“An exchange of secrets then?” You asked, entertaining a little bit of his playfulness. 

“Ah, still worried about me spilling the beans?” he asked, walking you to the door. “An exchange then. I won’t share yours if you don’t share mine.”

“Deal.” The response was quick and sharp. He opened the door and you stepped through the threshold, pausing and turning around. “Thank you again. I… enjoyed this. Most of this anyway.”

“My pleasure.” his hand did several circle motions as he performed a mock half bow. 

You rolled your eyes at his dramatics. “Goodnight Lucifer.” you say beginning to head off before you add, “Let me know if you would like to do something like this again. A tea time or something. I’ll make sure to keep it drama free.”

He grinned leaning against his door frame. “I’d enjoy that.”

[sweet-marigold]

Pages 2 and 3!!

[atttwoood]

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[luna-naoffcial]

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|| 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐍𝐄 || 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 || 【 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 】 ||

     ∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐢�� 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐬 (𝐘/𝐍), 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝟑𝟐, 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫, 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. "𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐠𝐨𝐭!" 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝, 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫, 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧. 𝐇𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥. "𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐬! 𝐖𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬!" (𝐘/𝐍) 𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲.

"𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐝, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭. 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐈 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐬 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲," 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

(𝐘/𝐍) 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬. "𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞?" 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧.

"𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞," 𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. "𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬," (𝐘/𝐍) 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐠, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞?" 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐩𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐝. "𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦 𝐚 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲," 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞.

"𝐎𝐡 𝐦𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞!" 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬. "𝐈'𝐦 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮," 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲. (𝐘/𝐍) 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. "𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥? 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲," 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

"𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬," 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬. "𝐍𝐨! 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞!" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐝. "𝐇𝐦𝐦, 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞." 𝐇𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐦, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫, (𝐘/𝐍) 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐭, 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝, "𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭?" 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬, 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝐓𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐣𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞.

"𝐇𝐦𝐦, 𝐈 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐭, 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠," 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐞. 𝐄𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦, (𝐘/𝐍) 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝, "𝐈'𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮!" 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝. "𝐀𝐡, 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮," 𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

"𝐘𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲," 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬. 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞. "𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥," 𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞.

𝐀 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. "𝐘𝐚𝐲!" 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐞. 𝐀𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐱 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦. "𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝟓𝟎, 𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧," 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝, 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬.

"𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈'𝐦 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐈'𝐦 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝," 𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭. 𝐇𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐱, 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞. "𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧, 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮," 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥.

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 (𝐅/𝐂) 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞. 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤. "𝐀𝐡, 𝐚𝐡! 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫��. 𝐈'𝐦 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬."

"𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭? 𝐍𝐨! 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧-" "𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭? 𝐎𝐡, 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐨 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐲 𝐢𝐭," 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭

𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲, 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞. "𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡," 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, ��𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬. "𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥," 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐝. "𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤. 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤… 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬." 𝐇𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐬. "𝐒𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭," 𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫. "𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫." 𝐇𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬.

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬. "𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞? 𝐈 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝." 𝐇𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬.

𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐱𝐲𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐝, 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐱𝐲𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

"𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞! 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠!" 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐝.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧. 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲.

"𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥." 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐲.

"(𝐘/𝐍)?" 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥. "𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝.

𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡.

𝐇𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲. "𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠?" 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝. 𝐇𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲.

"𝐇𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐥." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝.

𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐣𝐚𝐰 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. "𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲, 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞…"

𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝.

"𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭." 𝐇𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐝, 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬.

"𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞… 𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠."

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞.

𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲

"𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠?" 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲.

𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐇𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬.

"𝐈 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐭, 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝. 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥... 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞. 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲," 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲, 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝.

"𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐲? 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞?"

"𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈'𝐦 𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲. 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐈 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 ���𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚. 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐯𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐞... 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈'𝐦 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧... 𝐬𝐨 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩. 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮... 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝.

𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥, 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲, 𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 (𝐇/𝐂) 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐌𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮."

"𝐀𝐥, 𝐈 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈'𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭.

𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

"𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭, 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩... 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬," 𝐇𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲.

𝐀 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬. "𝐈𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐥, 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐈'𝐦 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞. "𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨. 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭." 𝐇𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐝, 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞. "𝐖𝐞'𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠." 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡, 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞.

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧, 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐘/𝐍)'𝐬 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐚 𝟏𝟎𝟎%! 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝.

"𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭!" (𝐘/𝐍) 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝, 𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐦 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐝-𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥, 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩.

"𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤. 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲," 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞. (𝐘/𝐍) 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐀𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐩 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐲.

"𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥," 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝. "𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐑𝐞𝐠?"

"𝐓𝐢𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞," 𝐑𝐞𝐠 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 (𝐘/𝐍)'𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤'𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞-𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦, 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐭.

"𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐈-" 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧 (𝐘/𝐍)'𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐇𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞.

(𝐘/𝐍) 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤'𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞. 𝐑𝐞𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐧. 𝐑𝐞𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞. "𝐅𝐮𝐜𝐤!" 𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞. 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤'𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐑𝐞𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐞. (𝐘/𝐍) 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧. 𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐠, 𝐣𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬. 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐠, 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

𝐑𝐞𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧. "𝐅𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡!" 𝐇𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫, 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤'𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫. "𝐑𝐞𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞." 𝐇𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝. 𝐀𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐑𝐞𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞. 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐇𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠; 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡.

"𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞," 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐠𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩. (𝐘/𝐍) 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞. 𝐀𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐮𝐩, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝.

"𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬? 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐒𝐨 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝. 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲… 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞…" 𝐇𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝.

"𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐠?" "𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲. 𝐒𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚, 𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭?" 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐬.

"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮!" 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝. "𝐍𝐚𝐡, 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲. 𝐈 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚." 𝐇𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫.

"𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫." 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝, 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. "𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧." 𝐇𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. "𝐍𝐨, 𝐧𝐨, 𝐧𝐨." 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝.

"𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞." 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮… 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝.

"𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤, 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭? 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞?" 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐮𝐩. "𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭? 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐩! 𝐒𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟…"

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧, 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

𝐀𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧, 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐮𝐩. 𝐀𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬.

"𝐍𝐨…" 𝐇𝐞 𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐜𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝. "𝐒𝐚𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞," 𝐑𝐞𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝.

𝐇𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚����𝐝 𝐮𝐩 ��𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫, 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬.

"𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬," 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐀 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬, "𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮." 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭.

"𝐍𝐨, 𝐍𝐎 𝐍𝐎!" 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐱𝐲𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟, 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐤. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐭. 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐚 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐤, 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝.........

𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐍𝐄 : 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐘

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✦ 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄 ✦

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𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐖𝐎: 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑

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✦ 𝐔𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 ✦

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[haunted-headset-alt]

𐙚𓏲⋆ ִֶָ ๋𓂃 ⋆ᡣ𐭩 pretty little psycho

summary: Vox, Lucifer, and Blitzø finding out that you killed someone when you were alive

warnings: murder (obviously), mentions of abuse, angst(?), swearing, mentions of alcohol, mentions of Valentino, suggestive nicknames from Blitzø, Blitzø's section is less angsty?? idk

a/n: hello! i had this idea after coming home from a council event about substance abuse, bullying, etc. (oh the duality of man), and i wanted to write it :) let me know if you want a part two!

tags: (as always, just tagging a few people i think would be interested in this, please let me know if you would like to be on or off of the taglist!) @o-kye @zuuriell @strangleetomz @xxtalulahlovesyouxx@ax-y10 @stars-around-scars-collective@blu3-lemonad3@myheartticks@mochamuff1n@unbeleevable@danvstheworld @radio-to-trenchcoat-demons @average-vibe @back-totheoldhouse

📺₊ ⊹𖦹 ׂ ⋆☆๋࣭ ⭑—Vox

(he had no idea lmao)

You had rushed out of Val's studio after you felt a panic attack creeping up on you, the long, sharp claws of anxiety piercing into your mind and body. Why couldn't you just get over it? It had happened so long ago, so why did it still matter to you now?

You ran into Vox's office, the closest room nearby, and sat in a corner, your trembling arms wrapping around your frame as you struggled to breathe normally. Your blurry vision tried to look for water, food, something to distract you, but it was just monitors and cameras. Your nails dug into your forearms as you paced around the room, shaking your head occasionally to try and get rid of the ringing sound in your head.

"What the fuck was that about?" A booming voice echoed through the room, making you freeze and hold your breath. You slowly stood and turned your head with wide eyes and was greeted with the sight of an enraged Vox.

"Jesus, calm your tits," Vox scoffed. "I just want to know why you ran out like that."

"You're not mad?" you stuttered, blinking away the tears in your eyes.

"I couldn't give two fucks," Vox said, "but Valentino's pissed. He wanted me to ask you since he was busy screaming at the tech crew." Vox took four steps closer to you and you went five steps back. "Tell me why you left."

"Why do you care?" you said shakily, your eyes still wide. God, you probably looked like a wild animal.

"Did you not hear me?" Vox snapped. "I said, I don't care, Valentino cares."

"I-it's nothing important," you lied, forcing a smile. "Just tired. I'll be back out in ten."

"Bullshit," he laughed bitterly. "People don't start trembling and sobbing because they're tired. Be serious."

"Why can't Valentino just ask me later?" you asked, slowly removing your nails from your skin and rubbing your fingers over the crescent-shaped imprints.

"Because you know he'll hurt you," Vox muttered, "and I don't want that to happen."

"Why not?" you arched a brow.

"Do you not remember the...transaction we've had for the past few months?" Vox sighed.

"Where I pretend to date you for publicity?" you replied.

"Yes, that," Vox said. "I know it's all for the media, but that doesn't mean I want bad things to happen to you." He paused and cleared his throat, moving away from the softer demeanor he had. "If Valentino hurt you, your face would be all fucked up for the cameras. Wouldn't want to date ripped-up flesh."

You sighed and shook your head. "I know my way around makeup, Vox, I'll be okay if he hurts me."

"Tell me."

"No."

"Tell me or I'll tell Valentino exactly where you're staying," he said, a malicious smile creeping onto his screen.

You froze as your blood ran ice cold. No. No, no, no, no, no. No, he wouldn't. Vox wouldn't do that. He'd promised. He wouldn't...right?

"You promised you wouldn't," you said shakily. "Y-you said you wouldn't tell him that I was at the hotel with Angel. You promised me."

"You think I give a shit?" Vox barked out a laugh. "I'll gladly tell Val." Vox noticed you backing away again and he wrapped his sharp claws around your forearms. "Tell. Me."

"FINE!" you shouted, causing his eyes to widen. "You wanna know why I freaked out? You wanna know why I panicked?" When he said nothing, you raised your voice. "Do you?" Before he could say anything, you screamed, "Because I didn't want a knife pressed up to my throat because I wasn't in the mood to remember that I killed my shitty excuse of a husband after he tried to kill me!"

Your words echoed into the otherwise silent office, your tears plinking against the cool tile. Vox stared at you for a long while, his expression nearly unreadable. After what felt like forever, he unwrapped his hand from your trembling arms and stepped back.

"I'll, uh," he said quietly. "I'll....leave you be."

As you watched him walk away, you thought he wouldn't tell Val. Val would use that to torture you for sure.

But as you moved to the door to leave, you saw Vox talking to Valentino, who had a ruthless smile on his face.

He knows.

˙ . ꒷ 🍎 . 𖦹˙— Lucifer

(he knew, but he didn't know why)

You two had been dating for a little bit, around three months, and he already knew so much about you. He knew the way you liked your toast, he knew your favorite color, he knew the line in your favorite book that always makes you cry, he knew that you said you loved horror movies and yet you always cover your eyes and squeal at the scary parts. He knew it all.

And yet, he didn't know who you killed or why you killed them.

How could he not know? You were a powerful overlord, and people knew that before you were an overlord, you'd proudly tell the stories of the person, or people, you'd killed while you were alive. Nobody could quite remember whom it was, though. Was it your friend? Your friend's mother? Your own mother?

As far as he knew, Alastor was the only one who truly knew (much to Lucifer's disgust), but Alastor didn't tell a soul. Figuring you wouldn't mind too much if he asked, Lucifer very casually asked you one day while you were getting dressed.

"Oh, just a few people," you replied, matching his tone despite the way your heart had dropped to your stomach. You hated talking about it. You hated that people knew you as "the pretty little psycho" or the "murderer overlord" because there was more to you than your past trauma.

"I gathered, dearest," Lucifer stuttered, "but may I know who in particular?"

You froze, your finger still lingering on the buttons of your dress. The mystery of whom you had killed was a mystery you preferred unsolved. It wasn't pleasant to think about. The relief you felt after was immense, disgustingly so. He'd think you were insane if you told him so.

"Hey, hey, darling," he said softly. "You're overthinking. I can tell. I won't be mad at you in the slightest." He paused. "Unless you killed a duck or something," he laughed. "You know I like mysteries."

"Less a mystery unsolved than a secret well kept," you said, hesitantly trying to switch the topic.

"Being vague and poetic won't get you out of this, I'm afraid," Lucifer chuckled, "but it is very attractive."

You sighed shakily and finished buttoning your dress before facing him.

"When I was alive," you started, "I had a husband. He manipulated me into thinking he was the best guy around, and I thought we were in love." You smiled sadly before it faded as you said, "We weren't." You took a breath as he nodded. "He was abusive, crass, cruel...I couldn't handle him anymore. One day, after he'd attacked me--" "What do you mean, 'attacked you'?" Lucifer asked.

"He asked me to cook a full meal for his friends an hour before they came," you said. "I said that couldn't be done, with the things he was asking for. Enraged, he...battered me up." You cleared your throat before continuing. "When his friends came over, I'd served them a casserole. I had added poison to it," you said more quietly, "but it must've not have been the right amount. In a blind rage, I grabbed a steak knife and..."

You stopped before continuing, Lucifer's wings wrapping around you in a protective embrace.

"He should've gone to Hell, not you," he murmured. "I'll make sure to hurt him like he hurt you when I find him."

.𖥔 ݁ ˖🔪𖦹🌹⭒°｡⋆ — Blitzø

(he knew who you killed, he didn't know why)

You stepped through the portal into the I.M.P office after a mission, your uniform clinging to your skin and sticky with blood. You wiped some blood off of your cheek with the heel of your palm before meeting Blitzø's gaze.

"Hey there, bitch," he said, a wide grin plastered onto his face. "You look sexy like that."

"Hello, sir," you sighed, slumping into a chair near Loona's desk and letting your head fall back.

"Who're you throwin' your head back for?" Blitzø said, the smirk audible in his voice.

"Leave them alone, sir," Millie chuckled. "They're tired from the mission! We all are!"

"They're used to it from killing her husband," Blitzø muttered.

Your head snapped up to glare at him. Millie and Moxxie froze. Loona gave Blitzø a look before looking at her phone again.

"Don't talk about it," you snapped.

"Why not?" Blitzø laughed. "It's why I hired you! Well, that and those rockin'—"

"Not a good time to be commenting on how hot you think I am," you scoffed.

"Why did you kill your husband, anyway?" he asked. "Wasn't good in bed?"

"He was an abusive piece of shit," you snapped.

"Oh."

He didn't really bring it up again after that after seeing how upset you got.