#mary swtd

[sukipershipper]

Could we potentially see O'Connor and Mary singing ‘Oro Mo Bhaidin’ together? I miss the guy

HC: He hears Mary singing that to him when he's stuck in the pontoons literally on the verge of insanity...this man has been through it (Recovery AU ending under the cut!)

[milestonekestrel]

Me n' some folks on discord came up with a bit of a 'swtd survives au' crossover, and I wrote somethin' for it!

ft:

Caz Survives (by me)

Flesh to Fabric (@thisbeartblog and @pickleddandelions)

Survivor Davros (@thisbeartblog and @pickleddandelions)

Man of Moths(@wild-pontoon-lad and @pickleddandelions)

and just general au help from @pickleddandelions (their endless ideas and contributions are NOT to be understated.. they're so cool..) @lunarcatto235 and @anonyskit!

[marythekumquat]

O'Connor lost his glasses but they're in his hand and he's angry but then Mary grabs them and snacks him on the head with it before giving him a kiss....please??

AHAHAHAHDGDBSJDNDBDHDHDHDBDGDGFHFH

Sooooo damnnnnn cuuuuuuuute. I love these two, just love love them! I kinda changed it up a bit with the glasses around the neck, I hope that’s okay!

Thank you for the ask! I enjoyed this one!

[beauisoffline]

Imma be annoying lol but if you're still doing requests can you do an O'Connor with Mary?? He's angy cause he can't find his glasses

lolz (im hoping ye didnt mean ur recovery au oconnor cause that was my first draft of this drawing)

[thesleepyfable]

~ SWTD: Still Here AU Part 5 ~

Memories in the Pictures:

Here we are at Addair's chapter. This one was so hardest to write because I tried to make sure everyone had a role to play, and I'm now focusing on the world around them for lore purposes, which is making the chapters longer. Don't be shy to give feedback.

Tw: Car accident and hospital.

Part 6:

O'Connor held his breath, his body stiff as a board as he hid under one of the walkways.

Addair was here. Or what used to be Addair.

He locked eyes with a member of Engineering, who had their mouth covered and were clearly too scared to move. The man has been in the same hiding spot for over an hour. They'd watched Addair's body be cocooned by The Shape after it latched onto his arm before sinking into a simple papercut. It twisted his flesh, cracked his bones, and melted his lips. All that was left of him you could recognise were the features from his face. Addair was nothing more than a blobfish-like flesh creature with misplaced lumps of what looked like his organs or muscles trying to escape. He didn't have legs, completely relaying on the twenty or more tendrils he had for movement.

O'Connor thought he could return to the Protective Relay with ease. He'd spotted the engineer as he made his way back from fixing the Mud Handling fuse and tried to get him to leave. Being in the same position for so long had his calf muscles contort and prevented him from moving. Then the noises of metal ringing and a mix of howls, snorts, and gurgles made the pontoon leader realise just how much shit he was in. Finlay had warned him, but he took his chances and willingly went alone. O'Connor was never scared of Addair until now.

As the minutes ticked, O'Connor became restless. He wasn't going to die hiding. If he was, then it'll be of old age in a shitty retirement home with Mary by his side, or trying to keep the rig safe. He locked eyes with the engineer and motion him to stay. The man nodded. Don't need to tell him twice. O'Connor went to move, but a sudden bang from above made him freeze. His eyes followed upwards where Addair rested a hand on the platform mere inches from his face. Blood dripped and the sound of the fleshy mass could be heard as Addair searched for his victims. After a few seconds, the tendrils shot out and he moved away.

'Don't fuck with my engine.'

'Well, that's too fucking bad.' Even in a life or death situation, O'Connor had to backchat him, even as a whisper.

O'Connor crawled from his hiding spot, taking extra care to avoid the blood. The lights had little visibility, but that wasn't an issue. He knew this place like the back of his hand, and Addair was so loud that you could see him in the dark. The steps up to the Protective Relay weren't far. He moved across and into the same hiding spot as the engineer whilst Addair began another lap. There was plenty of room for both to fit, but it was also big enough for Addair. It was as if the infection dissolved all his bones because they watched him slide between the overhanging pipes that could only just fit a child.

'Pipes always rattling. Fucking place.'

O'Connor gave the man a thumbs up and left. He grabbed a red flask and tossed it towards the door. Addair took the bait. A chirping noise escaped him and he quickly moved. Now or never.

O'Connor hurried to the steps, noticing how the cabinet had fallen, leaving only a small opening to crawl through. Not much further. He had to do this. Bruce and Fergus were waiting in the battery cabin and Finlay waited alone across the room, having sent the rest of Engineering to find Roper and his team in Marine Control. Still, this was no time to get comfy. The Shape was still alive, and who knew what was happening on Deck.

'Nothing.'

O'Connor tried to be quiet. He was so close, but it felt so far. Only ten steps away but Addair could reach him in five. When he reached the door, he let out a small sigh of relief. He crouched down and began to crawl.

'No. No. Please. Stay away from me. Addair!'

Addair cornered the engineer, who had tried to escape. He didn't get far. In fact, Addair pushed him further into the room. Whether it was because he made a noise or was just too slow was anyone's guess. A gurgling chuckle escaped the him whilst his jaw began to unlock and drool dripped between his teeth. The poor man huddled as much as he could, a blood curdling scream escaping him.

O'Connor didn't think. He got to his feet, removed his hard-hat, and threw it at Addair, hitting him on what should have been the crown of his head.

'...What?' Addair moved back. His many eyes glanced at the hat, then towards the Protective Relay. Spotting O'Connor in the dim light made him growl and move away from the engineer, who dashed for the exit.

'Oi, you National Front fuck!'

'O'...Con...nor...'

'You look better like that!'

Addair charged. O'Connor dove into the room and dashed for the control panel.

'Just stay calm, O'Connor. Don't think about him.' Too bad Addair wasn't on the same page. The moment, O'Connor put his hand on the lever, he slammed against the windows. It rattled the room and knocked O'Connor flat on his back. Several books on the shelf above fell. One being a photo album.

Another slam. Then another. The glass began to crack.

O'Connor gritted his teeth and stumbled to his feet.

Slam.

He jumped forward and clung onto the panel where he saw Addair going at it again with a distorted roar. Fed up, with the fear becoming genuine annoyance towards him, he roared back in a mocking tone. His hand clung to the lever, and he pushed it upwards just as Addair used all of his strength and charged the window.

The glass shattered. The lights flickered on. O'Connor went flying back and hit the wall, slumping down as all the air from his lungs vanished.

'Good job, O'Connor. Now get back up here!'

A tendril just missed his head. Addair began to crawl inside. O'Connor smiled and began to say a prayer. He knew he was done for. He was trapped. 'Ah well,' he thought. 'It was a good run.' He closed his eyes and waited. Mary ran through his mind, and he imagined her beside him, stroking his face and kissing his forehead. He was at peace.

But nothing happened.

O'Connor frowned and opened his eyes. Mary vanished. He saw Addair staring down at the photo album. For once, he was quiet. Calm. His body relaxed, and there was a softness in his eyes. To him, O'Connor didn't exist. A tendril turned the page. Pictures of certain children throughout the years greeted Addair with smiles. Four boys in school uniforms. Four boys playing football. Riding bikes. Eating birthday cake. But one stood out. The eldest boy, alone in a picture, was trying to make a fried egg on a rusting stove. A low whimper escaped Addair.

'..T...Tommy.'

The fog had been lifted. Memories of his wife and his children came back to him. Good and bad. But the worst was when a week ago, he received a letter. Tommy had been riding his bike home from the shop when a drunk driver ran the zebra crossing. Now, his life hung in the balance, deep in a medically induced coma with doctors and nurses surrounding his bed hospital every day. The feeling of helplessness washed over Addair, who did something no one believed he was capable of doing. He cried. He wanted to go home. He couldn't do two more weeks. He wanted his wife. He wanted his sons.

O'Connor took this as a chance to leave. He slowly got to his feet and moved for the exit, where Bruce, Fergus, and Finlay waited by the generator. They were relieved to see him. The engineer he found had clearly told them what happened as he sat on the floor, trying to process nearly being eaten alive. Bruce patted his shoulder in an attempt to calm his nerves.

'Alright, O'Connor?' Finlay asked in her usual firm but fair way. 'Hope Addair didn't give you any trouble?'

'Eh, some, but what's new?'

'Let's just get out here before water or that thing reaches us,' Fergus hissed.

But before anyone could take another step, a shape formed behind and above O'Connor. Addair appeared from the shadows. The engineer held his head and began to shiver. Bruce and Fergus looked in a mix of confusion and disgust. The engineer told them what he had been turned into, but seeing him in person still brought up a raw reaction. They all noticed the photo album he had wrapped in the tendrils and how close he held it to what should have been his chest. Addair didn't look at any of them. Just looked ahead with a scowl. The tears had gone and replaced with a silent rage.

'Where's Rennick?'

There was a silence as the group awkwardly moved towards the under rig. Addair led the 'charge', and whilst he'd never say it, he was to make sure no one else touched The Shape. Not because he cared, but because the last thing The Beria needed was more infected wandering around. That and he wanted to reach Rennick first. He wasn't subtle about it. Any broken silence was either Addair mumbling to himself or him pushing debris away in a rough manner. It made the others wonder if he was making the structure worse. The latter was confirmed when they reached the doors and watched Addair literally flatten one and ram the other so hard it came off its hinges and flew into the North Sea below.

'Okay, Addair,' Finlay said. 'I think you've made your p-'

The rig began to shake. The sound of bending metal rang through their ears. Everyone held onto what they could and waited for it to stop. Like Muir, Caz, Trots, and Gibbo, Addair felt a sensation leave the back of his mind. His many eyes looked towards a section of The Shape above them. He didn't know if it was because they were in a different place with natural light, but it looked discoloured. There wasn't a glow to it. It looked sick.

When it stopped, he pondered for a moment and looked at the others.

'You lot just feel that?'

'What the rig nearly throwing us to Atlantis?' O'Connor felt like he's been patient enough. An entire seven minutes was a new record. Of course, he asked sarcastically with that grin Addair wanted to rip off his face.

'No, you fucking muppet. Something in your head? If anything was there to begin with.'

'No,' Bruce quickly answered before O'Connor could make himself a bigger target than the doors. He continued. 'Look. Let's just find anyone else and go from there.'

'Aye. Accommodation will be our best bet,' Finlay replied, now taking the lead as she began walking up the stairs to the deck. She noticed the helicopter still sitting in place and figures through the slowly lifting fog that turned to snow. Good. This means Archie and the rest of the chopper crew didn't do a runner, but flying in this weather was going to be a setback. She turned back to O'Connor and Addair. 'You two pricks can kill each other when this is done, alright?'

'Okay, but look at it.' As much as they all hated Addair and vice versa, they had to agree. Something was off about The Shape. Not only was it discoloured, but its pulse was starting to slow. They all watched in silence. How could something like this just exist in the sea? Why and how did they find it? Pure luck to The Shape, but what was it? The Beria hasn't drifted away in the years it's been here, so how did they not awaken it sooner?

'Maybe it doesn't like the cold?' Fergus shrugged.

'It was doing alright before,' the engineer retorted.

Finlay glanced to Addair. She was willing to hear him out so she could understand something of this entity. 'Addair, what did you mean when ya said something in ye' head?'

'Exactly what I said. I just felt something slip away, and I could focus more.'

'That makes a difference,' O'Connor muttered under his breath.

'I can see clearly, too. Whenever I got near this shit, my vision began to distort and go fuckin' weird.'

Finlay nodded. 'Right, well, let's get inside and regroup with any other lucky bastards.'

As they climbed the stairs, whilst Addair climbed the general structure, the group noticed Caz and Brodie enter Administration. They didn't see them, however. Still, it was a relief to know they weren't the only ones left. Then they reached the deck and instantly saw what was now Muir in the distance. Of course, they all knew deep down that Addair wasn't the only infected. Heck, Finlay knew Gibbo had been, but it still left them stunned.

'HEEEEY!' Innes' voice called out. He waved. 'Everyone's in Administration. Go there.'

[viisforvalentine]

Do you happen to have any headcannons regarding O'Connor and his friends? They live rent free in my head right now

Gotta admit, i do really hope they release maybe like a dlc or a short part two game that just focuses on the crew and their lives, because O'Connor and Gibbo, despite having only a few lines actually seem like they have lots of cool lore! Especially Gibbo (him talking about beasts, flashing lights etc)

Anyways! Heres a few headcanons of Gibbo, O'Connor, Trots, Finlay and Caz! **SPOILERS!!**

O'Connor

- i think lots of people think Mary is O'Connors wife, but I actually think hes talking about his daughter! Someone on the SWTD reddit said the ones who turn into The Shape are sort of traumatized or broken in some way, and the shape seems to lure/sedate its victims by making it think someone they care about is talking to them, so my mind immediately goes to O'Connor had a wife who either died or left and Mary is all he has. Poor guy :(

- I feel like he would be the type to go up to Trots when they first meet and ask if he can "see how blind" Trots is by trying on his glasses lol (he means well though!!)

- Poor man has night terrors like nobodies business. I like to think hes had night terrors the week leading up to what happens in the game about The Shape, but in very vague ways. Has probably told Trots or Gibbo about them as a joke.

Gibbo

- Again, a lot of people on reddit speculate that people who are traumatized or broken, I think his father left him or maybe just isnt a very great guy, since he tells Caz to tell his mom he'll be home soon, and since his ramblings sometimes sound like something an angry/neglectful father would say to a kid. I think Gibbo def gives off mamas boy vibes

- BIG. OLE. SOFTIE!!!! Definitely is the one who hung up all the christmas decor, and helped Dobbie with decorating their shared cabin.

- Definitely has seen some weird shit that Rennick has told him to stuff down, the "flashing lights" in the ocean, creatures that come up that he chalks up to being weird sea creatures so he can sleep peacefully at night

- I feel like in a weird way, he would survive the explosion and make his way to the main land, maybe to see his mom again or to try an find help

Trots

- I personally fucking adore Trots, he feels like the dad friend of the crew, the type that goes up to the crew when Rennick is up their asses and tells them to stand up for what they think is right.

- Always making passive aggressive comments around Rennick, Caz and Roy are always having to break the two up when they get into heavily heated arguements

- In his infected form, i think it shows a lot about the stresses he has as a union person and as a person in general. He feels like hes always having to clean up peoples messes, make sure things are working the way he should be, I feel like he puts on a composed face infront of everybody but is heavily stressed by his duties to keep everyone from getting killed

- I think he likes melancholy music :] soft and sad tunes that you can take a nap to while it rains outside

Finlay

- Can throw back shots like nobodies business, Caz and Muir are constantly doing drinking games with her and she always wins (though the hangover afterwards for her is more of a lose than anything)

- Constantly messing with Addair by getting into political battles and not giving him any satisfaction in seeing her get angry or anything, will sometimes just throw in random hyper-exaggerated takes to see him get mad

- As we seen from the paper, an absolute fucking wizard at darts, like, to the point where if shes drunk as all hell shes still able to hit multiple middles in a row

- Has nightmares too, but about her son. I cant imagine how hard it was for her to make it past the Shape hearing her son singing and calling out to her :((

- I feel like shes also pretty close with Roy, goes out for smoke breaks with him and stuff like that

Caz

- Double jointed. Maybe im just projecting onto him but the way his legs hurt from like THE SMALLEST OF FALLS is some double jointed problems shit. That being said, he totally does that bending-finger-back party trick for the crew, Trots tries to warn him against doing it but the look of disgust and suprise on the crews face will always make him do it again lol

- Was accidentally the first person to find out about Muir and Innes's relationship. He caught them kissing in the mud room, ever since then hes tried to be like,,,, overly accepting to the point where every time Innes and Muir are walking together he gives them a thumbs up like a dork

- Keeps his hair long despite Rennick and Addairs comments because Suize likes it that way (you cannot tell me Caz doesnt like getting his hair pulled lmao he is WHIPPED for that lady)

- I like to think his afterlife is him haunting his house, i know that may sound shitty but i want that man to be able to watch his weans grow up :(((

[milestonekestrel]

Heyy!! Do you think if you can you can do an O'Connor and his Mary for me??? Need lots of O'Connor's because he's been rotting my brain lately lmao

Maryconnor means a lot to me,,, all because of you tbh so thanks <333333

[sukipershipper]

Hope you don't mind, but Mary meeting Oil O'Connor?

Hehe, Gladly!

Always happy to do something with these two darlings! Oil Infection AU belongs to @thesleepyfable!

[sukipershipper]

Could you please do a dialogue piece of Mary finding infected O'Connor?

Ask and you shall receive Anon! "MARY!...M-Mary...w-where are you...?"

(footsteps coming towards him, barely able to see who it is) "Cilly?...Cillian?" "G-Go Away...Go Away, Caz..."

"Oh my god...*tearing up* ...Cillian...w-what happened to you?" "Go Away I said!...*sob* P-Please...I just want my Mary!" "Cillian, my darling it's me...it's Mary...can't you see?" (O'Connor continues to write around slightly in pain and Mary can only stand there and cry as he watches her beloved in pain) "O-Oh...Oh my darling...My poor, poor darling...*sobbing*...I-I'm so sorry..." (She cups his face, her thumbs caressing his cheeks) "I-I should've been here...We should've gone together...I never...I never thought..." (She sighs and shakes her head as she places a gentle but hesitant kiss on his nose. Slowly, O'Connor's eyes spark back to life and tears pool, beginning to stream down as he recognizes the familiar touch) "...M...Mary?" "...Cillian?" "Mary?" 'CILLIAN!"

"MARY!" (She wraps her arms around her and kisses his forehead) "OH...OH MY LOVE...YER BACK!...O-Oh mo ghrá…I never thought..." "Mary...O-Oh Mary! I-It's you!...y-ye didn't forget me!" "I could never forget you...Grá mo chroí thú, Tá mo chroí istigh ionat Mo chuisle..." (cue the two sobbing as they hold each other tightly before Mary pulls away and examines O'Connors face) "Ye didn't shave yer stubble off, hm?" "Hah, It gives me character, woman!" "Hm, well...I can allow it...seeing how much ye went through already though I think ye've got enough character to last a lifetime, heheh..."

[rubus-yunnion]

HELPDJHFHSGAEGDG THIS IS BRILLIANT

Recovery AU Muir is even more of a menace than before because he can and WILL grab the nearest infected and fling himself into you with them in his arms. He cares not the consequences. Also Dobbie is fine if that's what you're wondering

[thesleepyfable]

~ SWTD: Still Here AU Part 19: ~

No One to Dance With?:

Originally, I was going to have Trots reveal he didn't have any living relatives, so no one would come to see him. But, then we learned about Simon's deleted existence. Hopefully, I do him justice.

TW: One mention of Anti-LGBT and underage drinking.

Chapter 20:

5 years ago.

The Golden Eagle Pub was lively. Filled with its final patrons before Christmas. Singles and couples left it at standing room only. Music blared in the background of the smoke-filled building. Some couples danced in an open space. Teenagers, who were clearly underage, purchased their first beer. The Barmen didn't care. As long as they were getting money in the till. And nestled in the corner was Trots.

His tired eyes watched the couples, and he felt a sense of loneliness. Gibbo didn't come this evening because Jack was sick, and O'Connor went home with Mary last week. He looked away when his eyes locked with a woman and accepted that this was going to be another empty Christmas. Now, he stared at the half-empty glass of beer, unable to find the energy to drink it.

Yep. Another empty Christmas.

'Maybe I should have stayed on the rig?'

No one gave Trots any thought, but he felt unwelcome. Everyone in high spirits, he was the ominous cloud. The Ebenezer Scrooge. With a small sigh, he got up to leave. Then he heard a glass of beer being placed on the table.

'Thinkin' too much?' Trots didn't reply. He was too surprised by the stranger's handsome appearance, his eye widening and his jaw going slack. The man raised a brow. They both knew. 'Mind if I sit here?'

'Oh!' Trots said a little too loud for comfort. He recoiled, forcing his eyes to look away. Thankfully, the music and noise from the other patrons drowned out his voice. He coughed as a way to compose himself. 'Not at all.' The man didn't hesitate to sit down, but he kept a small distance. You had to. Unless you wanted the world to know your 'sinful secret.'

'So, you didn't answer my question.'

'Well, I guess I am,' Trots said with a shrug, his finger absent-mindedly tapping the glass. 'Christmas isn't the best time of year for me.'

'That's a shame.' The man took a swig of his beer. 'Christmas should be the best time of year for everyone.'

'Well, if I'm not here, I'm in the middle of the North Sea.'

'And, why would you go there?'

'For my job. Oil rigs need someone to keep them from tipping over.'

'And that's where you come in? Sounds like Hell on Earth.'

'Aye, and you're not wrong there.' This was a nice change of pace. 'What about you?'

'I drive a bus, so not nearly as exciting as you.'

'At least you stay on land.' The pair shared a chuckle. Trots still couldn't bring himself to finish his now flat beer. He was too enamoured by the man, but his eyes lingered back to the dance floor when another song began to play, making the locals dance and cheer again.

'No one to dance with?'

'No one to dance with.'

'Same. I mean. If we could, we should.' Trots was taken aback by the stranger's forwardness, despite himself being so quick to mention his work. He was stunned. Good thing they were huddled in the corner. It was especially good for him because Trots felt his face go completely red. He ran a hand over his face and mouth, but he couldn't stop himself from looking at the man, who was clearly finding it amusing. 'What's your name, handsome?'

'J-Johnathan.' Trots hadn't noticed the man had moved closer to him until he touched and played with his ear. Why did that make him feel good?

'Well, Johnny. How about we go and find somewhere we can dance?'

'Okay,' Trots replied, his voice breathless. The edges of his mouth formed a tiny smile. 'But what's your name?'

'...Simon...'

After what felt like an eternity, the pair broke eye contact. Simon's eyes lingered down to where The Shape had taken Trots. The look of shock turned to one of sadness. Maybe guilt. Guilt for not being there. His eyes were transfixed on the veins that pulsated through the discoloured flesh and small bubbled pockets of fat that appeared between the creases. He didn't know what to think. Trots began to understand how Muir felt last night.

'I know how this looks.' Trots stuttered through his words. In his panic, he thought he saw Simon take a step back, causing him to let go of the shovel and fall into the snow. In reality, Simon only shifted his weight because he wasn't correctly dressed for the snow. 'Fuck,' he muttered. What a sad state. He quickly reached for the shovel and pulled himself up whilst he adjusted his glasses. He could use his tendrils, but he didn't want to scare Simon off. The man didn't like surprises, and he certainly got one already. 'Look. I-I know I'm disgusting to look at, but-'

Simon approached and pulled Trots up by wrapping his arm under Trots' armpit. It certainly silenced the Health and Safety manager. He didn't think Simon would touch him, but he was so relieved he did. Simon wrapped his other arm around his chest, touching his exposed ribs. He didn't recoil though, just moved his hand further up when he noticed Trots shiver. 'Did you lose weight?' That broke the tension. Trots' look of surprise slowly vanished to relief. A smile graced his lips. He held back a laugh.

'No. Simon. I'm serious.' His smile didn't weaver though, and Simon picked up on that, who leaned his head against him before sneaking in a kiss on the cheek. Trots felt his heart melt.

Together, they made their way back to the porch. Trots sat in the rocking chair whilst Simon leaned against a beam. Seeing Trots struggle to do something as simple as getting into a chair stung. A knife to the heart.

'What the fuck did you get yourself into this time?'

'Well, it's not like I did this on purpose.'

'Then what happened?'

'I needed a new way to get the Union going.' A terrible joke with a forced smile. But Simon didn't smile back. Nor did he laugh. He kept his arms crossed and waited. The time for jokes was currently on pause. Trots' smile dropped, and he shuffled in his chair. 'I...I don't really know.' Simon listened to Trots tell his story from his perspective. From how the drill had hit something, to him hiding in the crew lounge, then finally his infection. How The Shape took his wrist when he went to see what was wrong at the window, moving up his arm as parts of it dug under his fingernails. The rest entered his mouth, turning him into a puppet before everything went black for several minutes. He had no idea why The Shape gave him a slug-like body and not something akin to Rennick or Addair. The only thing Trots could be thankful for, was that it gave him his upper body back.

Throughout it all, Simon's face turned into horror. How? How could something like that happen? And, why Trots? What did he do to deserve this?

'Eventually, Caz found me and then I saw myself. What I'd become. I want to be sick. The smell was awful. P-Probably still is.' It wasn't. 'I was just angry at everything. My mind was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.' A whimper escaped his mouth and Trots' hands began to shake as he recounted his memories. It was an eerie blur. Moments of clarity quickly came as they went, and it scared him. The Shape knew he was frustrated with the working condition and how messy the crew were, but Trots knew looking back that wasn't him. Somehow, it had twisted him into something he couldn't recognise. 'I wanted to hurt people, Simon.'

Simon quickly moved and knelt besides his lover, who by now, was fighting tears. The look of horror became a mix of pain and sympathy. Like telling a child their parent had passed away. Trots' glasses began to fog. Simon removed them, only to now get a good look at the glossed and grey hues that replaced the deep blue. 'I called out for you, but you didn't answer.' Now, the tears began to flow. 'You weren't there.'

'But, I'm here now, Johnny.'

Simon pulled him in for a hug. Trots clung to his coat. He didn't want to let go. If he did, would he vanish? They stayed like that for at least thirty seconds before Simon broke the hug, moving his hands to rest on Trots' shoulders. His soft smile returned. He reached and played with Trots' ear to help the man calm down. It worked, and that feeling of Trots' heart melting, whilst his face went red, returned. Trots held Simon's wrist. His head leaned into his hand, and he closed his eyes for a moment.

'I'll never go back. I promise.'

'Good. I missed you.'

'No one to dance with?'

'No one to dance with.'

A sense of calm wrapped the pair up like a warm blanket. All their worries disappeared. Neither of the men thought of what might happen in the future. Trots will never live a normal life again. They both knew that. But, right now, who cares? The warmth brought them close and in for a kiss.

Trots cupped Simon's face in his hands. Simon wrapped his arms around Trots' chest, and just for a minute, reality vanished around them.

[thesleepyfable]

~ SWTD: Still Here AU Season 2: ~

Prologue:

And here we are at Season 2. It's good to be back, and wanted to give you all a little gift for Christmas Eve.

Season 2 Part 1:

The sun hit Suze's face. It shined through the highest window. Her nose twitched before her eyes opened to the small piece of warmth she could feel. She groaned, feeling her head pounding from the amount of red wine she drank last night, and slowly turned to see Caz still sleeping beside her. A small smile graced her lips. Slowly, she ran a hand through his hair. Caz didn't stir. The man could sleep through an earthquake.

She touched his cheek and began to stroke his face. He didn't react. Suze almost forgot that despite all the bruises and cuts Caz endured from his former career and the stubble he had, his skin was soft. Quietly, she shuffled and rested her head on his chest, using the crown as a pillow for his chin.

Now. A question.

Why were they in the barn?

Cait and Maidie weren't. Suze remembers tucking them into Muir's childhood bed and kissing them goodnight. Her mind began to slowly wake up, allowing her to put the pieces together. Suze didn't drink much. She could never hold her alcohol. Nothing came to mind.

Her eyes scanned the barn. She heard Muir's light snores behind her at the door, saw Gibbo and Jack huddled in the corner, and Addair was back on the upper floor. She couldn't see Jennifer or his children. Trots wasn't here. Probably inside with Simon. As for Rennick, Suze quickly realised that it wasn't a hay stack they were using as a pillow.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw Rennick's giant head facing the other way in a deep sleep. Turns out the man's bubbled flesh was very comfy.

The robin, Ruby, was sleeping on a bean above. The barn cats slept beside the former manager, fighting for a spot around the married couple. Suze made it easier for them and moved away to sit up with a roll of the shoulders.

'So much for staying in the hotel.'

After giving herself a moment to check her watch - 7:45am - she stumbled to her feet, trying to find her balance, then tip-toeing to the door. Until she noticed Cait and Maidie out of the corner of her eye. Turning, she saw her daughters huddled together, resting against Rennick, who held them close with one of his mantis-like arms. She didn't know why, but the sight made Suze tear up. In a good way. Her heart felt light again, and her mind wasn't fuzzy. Well, it was, but the wine was to blame for that.

The joy blocked out any anger she'd usually have towards the girls if she learned they had snuck out during the night. It reminded her of the few times the girls stayed with her late father whilst she and Caz worked. They'd return to find the three on a rocking chair fast asleep as Mary Poppins blared on the television with Cait and Maidie in each arm.

'They've been here for most of the night,' Rennick whispered. He only used his eyes to turn to Suze, not wanting to disturb them. 'I don't think they knew I was awake.'

'I can take them if you want.'

'No, it's fine. They're no bother.'

Suze moved and knelt in front of Rennick. 'How are you feeling?'

'Better, thank you. Think I needed that cry.'

'Everyone's does sometimes.'

'Don't tell the others, though.'

'Not a word. I'm going to make a coffee. Want one?'

'Why not? Just black though, please.'

'Okay.'

Suze walked back to the doors and opened them, trying not to wake everyone with the creaking that echoed off the walls. A sharp chill from the breeze caressed her face. Something told her that 1976 was going to be a good year for the McLearys. Just two more days to go.

Zipping her coat up to the neckline, Suze tucked her hands into the pockets and walked into the snow.

Rennick slowly shut the doors behind her. Never did he think that Caz's wife would be his main supporter. It was nice. She helped him feel calm. He sighed, glanced at the girls, and closed his eyes. Just ten more minutes.

'Black, huh?' Caz snickered. 'Jesus, no wonder you were such a cunt all the time.'

'Shut the fuck up, McLeary.'

[thesleepyfable]

~ SWTD: Still Here AU Part 26: ~

The Throne That Never Was:

And here we are. There is only one more chapter to go. It's been a wild ride, hasn't it? I also want to thank @sukipershipper for knowing about this chapter since the Operation Spy arc.

The Finale:

The air was filled with the smell of Roy's cooking. It always brought comfort to the crew when they came inside from heavy lifting or battling the elements. For Suze, Cait and Maidie, it was always a special treat to experience his cooking, especially at Christmas, and even if Suze labeled him as a cook and not a chef, she had to admit, he was a far better cook than she'll ever be.

As Roy, Trots, and Simon made the final touches and began to get the plates warmed up, Addair, Raffs, and Brodie returned with their hands and tendrils full.

'Did you lot teardown half the woods?' Innes joked.

'It's better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it,' Addair answered, as if he was expecting the question.

Caz and Gibbo came appeared from the garage with the crates of beer and wine, ready to be dug into the snow as a makeshift fridge. 'Right, let's-' Caz stopped himself and did a quick head count. Someone was missing. 'Where's Rennick?'

Everyone frowned and turned their heads to check themselves. Cait, Maidie, and the other children were inside watching television with Irene, who was reading her book. Jennifer, Suze, Mary, O'Connor, Innes and Muir sat in and around the porch. Caz turned to Addair's group. 'He wasn't with you?'

'No,' Brodie answered with a confused look on his face. 'We thought he was with you.'

'Last I saw him, he was right here.' Literally. Caz was standing in the exact spot he last saw Rennick. 'He tried calling his son again.'

'Well, he couldn't have gone far without anyone noticing.'

'Right...' Caz paused, setting down the alcohol. He tapped his thigh and thought, but it didn't take long for him to figure out where Rennick could be. His eyes glanced to the barn. 'I'll go get him.'

'No,' Suze stood from her spot on the porch steps. 'I'll go. You lot just get everything ready.' She and Caz shared a look, and of course, Suze was right. If something was troubling Rennick, then maybe it was best for someone he had no previous grudges with to talk to him. A clean slate. 'Just save some food for us.'

As she wandered off, the crew shared a guilty look.

Suze approached the back of the barn with great caution. The swollen and bubbled flesh of Rennick could be seen above the stacks of hay, but what made her jump was one of the cats appearing from seemingly nowhere. Seems they didn't mind a giant head making their home his. If only she knew they gravitated towards Rennick like a magnet.

'Davey?' Suze didn't know what she was thinking. How can she help Rennick? She never met him until this afternoon. Caz never mentioned him in their calls that eventually turned to letters. Or, would that help? Carefully, she approached, making sure not to step on him.

Rennick tucked himself into the corner, facing the wall. Still, Suze could see he was making a motion of having his head in his hands. His upper body twitched. He knew she was there, but he had no energy to tell her to leave or scare her off. With one final hop over a tendril, Suze sat on a hay bale.

'Everyone's waiting for you.'

Rennick scoffed. 'Tell them not to bother.' Suze was quick to notice how fragile his voice was. It was literally broken.

'Why should I do that?'

'Because I'm a monster.'

'And, who told you that?'

Slowly, to avoid getting himself stuck, Rennick turned to face her. Suze instantly noticed his eyes. They reflected raw pain and guilt. She shared a look of sympathy and went to hold out a hand for comfort, but Rennick slowly pushed back. 'No one. Just me.'

'Well, from what I gather, you still look like Davey Rennick.'

'Heh,' he sniffled. 'What a fuckin' shame.' He couldn't bring himself to look at her. Rennick stared at the wall, because he knew that if he looked at Suze, then the floodgates will open. When a barn cat approached, the man had to look away, as much as he wanted to hold it close. 'Just go away.'

'I'm not gonna leave you here, Davey, but you have to tell me what's wrong.' The usual loud and boisterous voice Suze carried with pride became soft and quiet. 'Is it to do with your son?' Rennick's body quivered. He forced himself to look at her, but that didn't last long, and he quickly looked away. His eyes focused on the hay, then the floor. If he caught a glimpse of himself, such as a tendril keeping him balanced, he moved it from his sight. A part of him wondered if he stayed quiet, then Suze would leave, but he forgot two things. One, Suze was a mother and had plenty of patience, and two, she's married to Caz.

'I finally got through to him. My son, Callum. At first, I wasn't surprised he didn't answer me, but when he did, I tried to tell him everything. And, do you know what he told me?' Suze didn't answer. 'To stop calling him, and to stay away.' A small whimper escaped Rennick's lips, and he forced a small smile to try and be strong. He made a small yet empty laugh. 'Said I never cared before, so why should I now?' It must be a McLeary curse because Rennick found himself opening up to Suze like he did back on the helipad. 'But, I did care. I made sure he got his private education, put a roof over our heads, and I refused to let him starve. Where did I go wrong?' Another small yet empty laugh. 'He didn't believe me. Can't say I blame him. And, it took me to become a giant fuckin' head to realise that's been the case for years. I haven't seen my son in nearly a decade. I've only seen my grandson once, and now I'll never see him again.'

Rennick knew all along this would be the outcome, but deep down, he thought everything was fine. But, at the same time, he knew his ex-wife played a part. A bitter and messy divorce, and having more custody than him, Rennick knew she fed Callum poison. But, he never tried to correct it. He just hoped he could give his son a wealthy lifestyle, and then all would be fine. How wrong he was. 'I thought if I controlled the men, the entire Beria, then I wouldn't lose anyone. And look how that turned out. I don't...' He sighed. 'I don't know when I became such a prick.' He was never a king. Just a sad man who wanted to be seen.

Trying again, Suze reached forward, and this time, Rennick allowed her to rest a hand on his cheek. That gave him the courage to look at her. Her soft smile calmed Rennick, but he still felt the same.

'Do you know what Caz told me? That, if it wasn't for you, then no one would have made it past Bernard. Tell me, Rennick. What do you want?'

'To not be alone.'

'Then why are you in here?'

It clicked. It finally clicked in Rennick's head. And now, tears began to flow down his face. A tendril wrapped around Suze, pulling her up and into a hug whilst he leaned his head into her chest. Rennick didn't cry quietly. He sniffled, wept openly, and had to catch his breath numerous times. It was a little awkward for Suze, who could feel her coat getting wet from his tears that were as big as her fist. Still, she let him cry and stroke his forehead for comfort. As the years of guilt, anger, and stress washed away, so did the King of The Beria.

All that was left was David 'Davey' Rennick.

[thesleepyfable]

~ SWTD: Still Here AU Part 27: ~

No Hard Feelings:

And, here we are, the final chapter for season 1. Yes. You read that right. There will be a season 2, but it won't begin until after Christmas. Until then, I have another announcement and I'll be focusing on my own project as well.

I also want to thank everyone who's been following this story, and hopefully will continue to do so going forward.

What if...? Part 1:

The glow from the fire pit greeted Suze and Rennick. Caz waved them over as Trots and Simon began to serve everyone. Suze headed for her husband and took her spot on the steps. Rennick awkwardly sat between Gibbo and Roy, unable to look them in the eye. He wanted to be with Suze. In just ten minutes, she had become a source of comfort for him. Letting out all his feelings and washing away his 'King' façade, which was both a blessing and a curse, because now he was just Davey Rennick. But, who was Davey Rennick?

Gibbo handed him a bowl of casserole, which he took with a quiet 'thank you.' He could feel everyone's eyes on him. Soon, they all took their seats around the firepit. Small chatter filled the air. Rennick stared at his food. He didn't have the appetite. One last thing weighed on his mind. Now, it was his turn to be brave.

'I know,' everyone stopped and turned. They saw the anxiety in Rennick's eyes. Too late to go back now. 'I've been more than a shit manager to all of you. And, what I did has caused us all to be here. Because of me, you lot,' referring to the infected. 'Will never be the same again, and I can't fix that. You all had to deal with who I was for so long, and, looking back, I'm surprised you didn't throw me overboard.' An empty joke no one laughed at, but Rennick made another empty chuckle. It was his way of finding strength. 'And I'm sorry you had to deal with who I was for so long. I just...' A sigh. 'I dunno. Turned into something you all had to see.' He paused to catch his breath. 'I don't want to be that man anymore, but I don't know where to start. And-'

'And we want to apologise.'

Rennick flinched when he felt someone touch the top of his head. It was Gibbo. That surprised Rennick. He thought Gibbo would never speak to him again. The last time he did, he split his cheek and brow open.

'...F-For what?'

'For not supporting you. You got us here, and we never thanked you for it.'

'No. You don't need to-'

'We're also sorry for not noticing how you've been feeling,' Brodie interrupted. 'We're in this together, and we should have seen what you're going through.'

Rennick was stunned. He glanced to Gibbo, then to everyone else. He didn't understand. He saw their kind eyes, causing his to widen. No one's looked at him like that in a long time. He didn't know what to say.

'Ah, King Rennick,' Roy hummed, breaking the silence. 'Well, if he's officially gone, then...' He moved to grab a beer, opening and handing it to Rennick. 'I'm happy to finally meet you.'

He accepted with a small yet genuine smile. 'Let's hope this one isn't a prick, eh?' They tapped the bottom of their bottles together before taking a swig. Still weaker than piss. The robin flew and perched on Rennick's arm, softening his eyes. Everyone noticed, and seeing their manager smile, whilst different, was nice to see.

'Okay then, Davey, tell us a bit about yourself?' Trots smirked.

'What?'

'Oh God,' Caz snickered under his breath.

'We do it with anyone who joins the friend group.'

It took Rennick a moment to realise what they were saying, and he just laughed. Yet again, it was different but nice to see.

'So, we know you like to laugh,' Trots joked. 'Good to know.'

'Oh, and what about you, Campbell?'

'He's trained in ballroom dancing,' Simon answered without hesitation, causing Trots to snap his head to his lover and nudge him in the arm. Everyone except O'Connor, Mary, Gibbo, and Irene was shocked. They knew he was into classical music from the 40s, but he never told anyone that he swayed around on the dance floor.

'And you never told us,' O'Connor teased, causing Trots' face to go red, who now realised he's been played at his own game.

'So, you do have a personality outside of a Union,' Gibbo continued.

'Come on,' Addair encouraged, putting on a terrible Scottish Accent. 'Do a little jig.' For once, everyone agreed with him.

'Okay, next!' Trots yelled a little too loudly, making Simon laugh, earning another small nudge. 'You're on the naughty list,' he whispered.

'Oh, you tease,' Simon whispered back, before sneaking in a small kiss on the cheek.

'Well, actually...' Raffs got to his feet and went inside the house. Rennick didn't expect anything and just thought the young lad was going to get more drinks. Until he returned with a dart board in his hands. 'We'd like to know if you can play?'

For some reason, that got Rennick to laugh again. He didn't know where it came from. Was it nerves? Maybe. But, the man was happy, and his smile grew wider.'Got any darts?'

The crew and their families had learned three things about Davey Rennick.

One; He loved to laugh. Sometimes, it fell into a mischievous giggle, which was rather infectious.

Two: He adored the bird. A tendril was always stroking the top of the robin's head, and she didn't seem to mind. Roy, however, had a feeling he was an animal lover. The food he always gave him would quickly vanish with a clean plate, knife and fork, and seagulls loved to perch around his office.

Three: He was really good at darts, beating Brodie's score with flying colours, causing everyone to cheer and hug him. Something else for Rennick to be surprised by, freezing up his body and just allowing it to happen. His mind wandered back to the final night on the rig, when Caz confessed what he did to Billy. Although he wasn't there, he completely understood Caz's feelings and the high spirits everyone felt. It then flashed to when Brodie won the darts. Again, he understood the feeling. How wonderful it was. No wonder he was jealous. Thankfully, it wasn't a mosh pit, but he, too, had to hold back his tears again.

'Alright, get off. I need another beer.' That wasn't going to be so easy. Muir, just like he did with Brodie and Caz, lifted the man up above his head as if he was holding a cat under their arms. Rennick yelped in surprise before begging to be put down. Wish granted. He moved away from his crewmates, who were now setting the dart board up for another round, because Brodie wasn't losing his title after working so hard to get it.

With a content sigh, Rennick sat near to the firepit and watched from afar. The robin landed on his nose. A beer came into his peripheral vision. He turned. It was Caz. Rennick accepted whilst the leccy pulled reposition a chair and sat beside him.

'Thanks.'

'Nae bother.' They tapped the bottles together and took a swig. 'I see Suze got through to you.'

'Aye. You chose her well.'

'Nah. She chose me, and I nearly fucked it up.' Caz felt Rennick wrap a tendril around his shoulder for support. 'But, I think we're back on track now.' He then noticed the robin still resting. 'What's her name?'

'Still debating on that.' They watched the bird fly and nestle on the crown of his head. 'But...' Rennick didn't have any personal memories of her, but the name was fitting. 'I like the name Ruby.'

'Ruby it is then.' Another tap of their beer bottles. 'See, Rennick?'

'What?'

'Does this mean we're okay, like? No hard feelings?'

Rennick was quiet for a moment. He looked at Caz. Deep down, he expected some feelings to bubble to the surface. The hatred and anger he felt when he read the letter. That feeling of betrayal from someone he did respect. His blood boiling. How he wanted to give the leccy the same treatment he gave Billy during their 'meeting.' How he wanted to crush every bone in his body when he chased him throughout Administration. But, none of that happened. Not even the pain from transforming entered his mind. The man was content. Finally at peace. The pair turned back to watch the darts game.

'Aye. No hard feelings.'

[thesleepyfable]

~ SWTD: Still Here AU Part 25: ~

All Together:

And we're in the final 2-3 chapters. Sorry this one took so long to be published. Work has been draining as it approaches the Christmas period, but hopefully, the next chapter will be up by Sunday.

Part 26:

The farm was heaven for the children and the horses they watched from a safe distance. Their field was the biggest - not even Addair and Raffs could find the other side to fix the fencing - with a now frozen stream running through. The herd weren't huge fans of the number of strangers watching, and we're not interested in getting close. Muir, however, had a bright idea.

Despite his size, the horses didn't seem to notice or care about him creeping around. Maybe it was his smell? Could they tell it was Muir, despite the obvious?

In just a few days, Muir had mastered how to be quiet and not make a noise, compared to the metal echoing with each step he took back on the rig. Like a predator stalking its very lackadaisical prey with no survival instincts, he pounced when he got close, making a noise as he charged the horses, causing them to gallop away. He didn't follow and allowed the children to see them run across the field, throwing up the snow under their hooves, creating a mist.

The children were in awe, cheering as they ran.

'It never gets old,' Muir said with pride.

'Do it again!' Geroge yelled.

O'Connor watched further down, leaning against the fencing alone. Innes and Roy stood beside the children. He tapped the top fence panel and smiled at the sight. It didn't remind him of home. Like everyone else, O'Connor was a city bloke through and through. The change of pace and the scenery naturally made him happy, bringing a smile to his face, but he felt a little out of place. He turned to walk back to the house when a tendril suddenly grabbed his coat. In all fairness, it did pull him in the way he wanted to go, but O'Connor only had a second to process it. Rennick finally grabbed the old man.

In the shock, O'Connor didn't notice Mary until he was able to catch his breath, and even then, he noticed Rennick first. The giant head of a man left him dangling an inch off the floor.

'Rennick, you old -' Then, he saw her. His queen. His love. His hazel green eyes widened, and his jaw slacked. 'M-Mary?'

'There he is,' she said with a chuckle. 'Mo ghrá...' Like a child kicking his feet on a swing, O'Connor swung to get out of Rennick's grasp, reaching out for his wife like he did when he returned home from France. When he saw her waiting for him as he stepped onto the station platform. Even with a broken leg, he put his entire being into reaching her again. His manager got the hint and gently put O'Connor down before leaving the pair in their tight embrace. Just like with Trots and Simon, and Caz and Suze, reality briefly vanished around the couple.

O'Connor towered over Mary. He couldn't rest his head on her own or her shoulder, and neither could she, settling to nuzzle into his chest. Fingers ran through her soft hair before O'Connor leaned down for a kiss. Old age hadn't altered their love for each other. It's as strong as it was forty-five years ago.

'I missed you,' Mary said.

'I missed you, too,' O'Connor replied. He took a deep breath and let out a sigh as they embraced again. Both of their grips tightened, trying to keep the warmth they've not felt in months. He squeezed Mary. She began to sway. He followed, and together, they broke into a small dance, going around in a continuous circle. 'I'm done with rigs.'

'Thank fuck for that.'

'Mary-' O'Connor tried to hold back a laugh. 'So unladylike.'

'Oh, shush you, and tell me what happened.'

Caz and Suze passed the couple and approached Roy with a tap on the shoulder. He turned and instantly noticed Maidie with her head still buried in Caz's shoulder. 'Is she alright?'

'Yeah,' Caz said. 'But, a hot chocolate would help.'

Roy smiled and held his arms out for Maidie. Caz went to lift her from his shoulder but quickly noticed how heavy she was. Didn't take long for them to realise she'd cried herself to sleep. Poor thing. 'Well, maybe when she wakes up.'

'You didn't notice her missing?' Suze asked. She wasn't mad, but how can anyone miss Maidie walking off by herself? Even if it was dusk.

'She said she was going to the toilet. Didn't think anything of it,' Roy admitted. 'I'm sorry, pet-'

'No, it's fine.' But, it clearly wasn't. The thoughts were still lingering, and it projected into her voice. A mix of tiredness and just being plane fed up, despite how happy she was to see Caz and his barnpot of a best friend again. Nothing was easy anymore, and she missed that. But Roy wasn't as big of a barnpot as Suze thought. He quickly put two and two together.

'How much did she hear?'

'Enough,' Caz answered. 'But, we'll sort it.' His eyes moved past Roy and to Cait, who was stroking one of the horse's muzzle whilst Jack awkwardly tried to balance himself, with Innes ready to catch him if he fell. 'Is everyone getting ready?'

'For what?' Suze asked.

'Raffs and Brodie are heading back to Skye first thing tomorrow morning. We wanted to give them an early New Years celebration.'

On the other side of the cattleguard, Irene and Jennifer pulled the outdoor chairs from the garage, forming a circle around Gibbo, who was setting up the firepit. Addair, Raffs, and Brodie ventured into the Highlands for wood. Simon, with permission from Muir, went into the attic to find some Christmas tree lights to hang around the porch beams. Continuing his work from this morning, Trots had shovelled the snow so the chairs and firepit could have balance and was now helping Simon. By sitting down with a cup of tea and giving small comments on how the lights weren't level. They were, but Trots loved to annoy Simon with small things. Simon responded by throwing snow into his drink. Everyone's spirits were high, whether they knew Raffs and Brodie or not. All that was needed was Roy's famous chicken casserole.

What everyone failed to notice was Rennick wandering off towards the barn. He silently walked through the thick snow, where traces clung to his trailing body and tendrils. That all too well-known look was in his eyes again; distant and tired, but this time, there was sorrow. They looked to the ground until the barn doors came into view, and even then, the only thing that got him to avert his eyes was a small chirp. The robin watched and hopped towards the man, who stood frozen in place. Sadly, the sight of her didn't bring Rennick any joy. The smile he gave was weak as it was fake. He reached to give her a small pet but stopped himself. She didn't fly away, though.

They say robins are the souls of loved ones. If that was the case, then who was this? Rennick didn't have an answer, and that broke his heart.

Without a word, he opened the doors and went inside.

[thesleepyfable]

~ SWTD: Infected By Oil AU: ~

Oil Inside the Veins:

Here we go. The Halloween Special. This is a singular chapter for the holiday. Enjoy!

TW: Body horror.

Part 23:

Caz walked slowly down the leg. Each step could be his last. The metal stairs rocked between each step he took. The Shape loomed over him like an omen, providing the only source of light next to his torch. A beautiful mix of yellows and orange. Like magma. He'd just escaped Addair, but what else could be down here?

The long catwalk wasn't a comforting invite. Caz hesitated before he found the courage to keep going. He just needed to get to the other side, and then he'll be back on the Lower Rig. Yes. Easy. That's all he needed to do. Caz still kept his head low and practically crept along. He had to remind himself to keep breathing. The second set of connecting stairs and the door came into view.

Just two five more steps. Nearly there. Just two more-

'Mary?'

Caz froze on the spot. His eyes scanned for the location of the voice.

'Mary?'

The torch began to flicker. Caz's heart sunk.

'Mary?'

The voice rang in his head. It had invaded his mind. O'Connor. Another step. A mistake.

'MARY!'

There. Caz turned and saw the looming thing that was once O'Connor. He was hard to completely make out in the dark, but the faint outline revealed how massive he was. How he could even fit in the room or how Caz didn't see him was anyone's guess. The noise of bones breaking and something akin to coal burning on an open fire filled the room. O'Connor's chest opened. His ribs parted like the Red Sea to reveal his chest was glowing magma. It was enchanting. The room temperature soared, yet Caz stayed motionless. Their eyes locked. Hot magma that were now his tears rolled down O'Connor's cheek and dripped from his jawline. He couldn't open his mouth. Caz saw him try and fail. His head jerked forward with each attempt. His teeth had broken through his oily skin and locked themselves into the flesh.

It wasn't O'Connor anymore. Caz knew that, but he still saw him, hidden deep within. It was the eyes. They were O'Connor's.

'Oh, Christ, pal. What happened to...No. Snap out of it, Caz.' Without losing eye contact, Caz took a step back. 'I'm sorry. I have to go-'

A sudden burning pain ran through Caz's chest. All the air from his lungs vanished. He looked down and saw a shard of oil. It had punctured his layers of clothing and severed the line to the torch. Now, it sat under his skin. It moved. Caz tried to pull it out, cursing and pleading, but his gloves were too thick, and the shard was too fast. It burrowed its way into his flesh, sealing the wound behind. The veins rose to the surface as a solid black colour, which slowly began to spread. He couldn't describe the pain. Was there any pain? The shock had taken over his entire being.

In a panic, Caz turned and ran for the stairs. O'Connor didn't follow. With one final look back, the leccy saw his friend vanish back into the shadows. He didn't know how he did it, but Caz knew O'Connor had infected him.

'Fuck. Fuck. Fuck...'

Thirty seconds left.

Everything began to get warm. Too warm. The heat under Caz's skin began to burn. First, it felt like mere heartburn, but as the seconds ticked, it just got worse. His body became a chore to move. He couldn't even find the energy or ability to collapse to his knees. His muscles ached. His bones went stiff. Organs went into a frenzy. His blood boiled. A kettle became a volcano.

Twenty seconds left.

It became too much to bear. A few grunts turned into screams of agony. All Caz could do was run his hands down his face. He reared his head back and continued to scream. Steam began to pour out of his nose, his mouth, his ears. His gloves filled with steam that escaped under his fingernails. His vision began to blur.

Seventeen seconds left.

His eyes popped. The heat fried them like eggs on a pan. That caused the most pain. Caz wandered blindly along the catwalk. The juice trickled down his face. His body lurched forward, and he reached out, grabbing the railing. It broke under his weight.

Thirteen seconds left.

Caz's skin turned black. It burned. Everything burned. He heard his heart in his head. He heard his blood boil. He heard his bones sizzle. He couldn't adapt to this pain. He couldn't think. It had been less than thirty seconds, but it might as well have been thirty years.

'Kill me...Kill me...' He wanted it. Caz just wanted his heart to explode. 'PLEASE GOOOOOD!'

Ten seconds left.

And just like that, Caz melted. His body had been consumed by the infection. What was once a man was now a puddle of oil on the floor. It didn't drip through the metal and fall into the water below. It seemed to stay in place. It was alive.

An arm shot up from the puddle and clung to the catwalk, with its long, spindley claws. Then another. An arched back grew, shrinking the oil as whatever was being born emerged. A head with magma hair rose up yet stayed low. A flurry of boils grew from the left cheek. With its arms, the figure crawled forward to allow the waist and hips to grow. It arched its back even more as a dorsal fin sprouted, followed by a pair of pelvic fins growing just below the hips. The figure grunted but kept moving. The gill obliques opened up to show magma replicas. Legs were flippers with no feet and were longer than the rest of the body. Like all the others, the figure sprouted tendrils from its back and side. They levitated the creature. It opened its new, glowing eyes. The mouth opened to reveal sharp fangs. There was nothing inside. No organs. No bones. No muscles. No blood. Just magma. A gift from The Shape.

It was Caz.

The transformation was complete.

Once again, he reared his head back, but it wasn't in pain. He sighed. Steam left his mouth, which became a smile. The pain was gone, replaced with a literally warmth that ran through his body. He could feel The Shape. It was everywhere and nowhere. A light song hummed to him. It was calm. It was welcoming. Why was Muir in so much pain? Why were Trots, Addair, and Rennick so aggressive? O'Connor didn't need to hide.

Caz felt light. All the tension was gone. His mind was at peace. No longer was it racing for a finnish line that didn't exist. He felt young again.

'See? That wasn't so bad, was it? All that fuss, there was no reason to be scared. I don't think you realise, how good I feel.'

The fog was in his brain.