#i originally meant to include more isaac but i was loving the angst too much

[canary-warrior]

Hournite angst feat. Isaac hypnotizing Grundy

Beth paced back and forth, gripping her goggles in her hand. She couldn’t believe that after all this time, her closest friend could keep something this huge from her. 

“How could you not tell us?” How could you not tell me, was what she wanted to say. “We’re your friends, Rick!”

“I know, Beth,” Rick replied, in that soft voice he started using ever since they defeated the first ISA. That voice that always got to her- it was filled with gentleness and care. But now it only reminded Beth of the betrayal she felt. 

“You told me that I could talk to you, remember? And I did, I opened up to you, and I thought that you trusted me too!” Beth recalled how sweet Rick was when she found the divorce papers at home. 

“I did, I do trust you, Beth, I swear,” Rick pleaded.

“Then why didn’t you tell me that Grundy was out there? Why let us all think that you killed him? I can respect letting him live, but you let him go out into town! And you didn’t tell anyone! Why?”

“I don’t know!” Rick ran a hand through his hair, making it messy. “I was trying to protect you, all of you! Grundy killed my parents, and I thought if any of you were near him, he may hurt you!”

“That wasn’t your choice to make, Rick! We found the ISA as a team, and we took them down as a team! How long did you think you were gonna keep this up?”

“I don’t know,” Rick repeated, “I was going to tell you, I swear!”

“It’s been over eight months since we beat the first ISA, Rick,” Beth deadpanned. Her heart ached, she wanted to believe him, hell she did believe him, but she was still understandably upset. “I think that’s more than enough time, Rick. There are more secure places in the world that Grundy could’ve been held in, all you had to do was tell us!”

“I’m sorry, Beth,” Rick said. He sounded awful, tired. Like keeping this secret was a weight on his shoulders that he carried around every day. “The last thing I wanted was for you, or anyone, to get hurt.”

Beth let out a self deprecating laugh. “I can’t believe that I believed you when you said you got a dog. I also can’t believe that you would lie to my face, over and over again. I thought we were… I thought we were best friends, Rick.”

“We are, Beth, I lo-” Rick was cut off by the heroine.

“Then why didn’t you tell me? You didn’t even ask me how I found out, Rick.” At his confused expression, Beth continued, too angry to stop. “Isaac, of all people, found Grundy and he used his violin to put him in a trance. I literally ran into him and Grundy while I was walking here. The only reason why I am still standing here is because Isaac made sure that Grundy didn’t hurt me. But now, the ISA has him and they can control him.”

“Shit, Beth, I’m so sorry,” Rick said quietly. Beth could tell that he felt guilty about everything and dare she say it, he felt guilty about her potentially almost dying. 

Beth felt the exhaustion coming over her. She got that rant out of her system but now she was just tired. “I know, Rick. And we will deal with whatever this is,” she motioned between them, “later. First things first we need to tell the others and come up with a plan. We may not be able to stop the whole ISA in one night, but maybe we can rescue Grundy.”

Rick nodded. “Okay, Beth, I’ll do anything. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

Beth didn’t need the lie detection skills of the goggles to know that Rick meant every word.