#was between this and Troy stabbing his hand to protect Nick

[keyh0use]

happy hearts day or whatever, here's the most romantic scene to ever exist

[hitchell-mope]

(Second film. At cotillion. Part three. After Mal’s been pulled into the water by huma)

Ben: where is she I can’t see her?

Carlos: how long can she hold her breath

Jay: I. I don’t know

Ben: not long.

Evie: what?

Ben: our first date. She thought I drowned. Went in after me and

Jay: you saved her. I remember. Now we gotta save her again.

Ben: I know to oh boy

(Just then the water bubbles furiously and Uma rises from the surface the lower half of her body octopoid and at least the same height as Ursula was during her final battle, perched on her should is Harry. And bound in a tentacle, barely conscious is...)

Ben: MAL!

Doug: Uma stop this now! You’re acting crazy!

Uma (voice booming): oh no dear. Spiteful vindictive

Harry (having the absolute best time of his life): INCREDIBLY LARGE!

Huma: but never crazy!

Uma: now on to business

(She drops Mal into the ocean and begins trying to capsize the boat)

Elsa: time to put that rusty old wand of yours to work headmistress. Children! Jay Evie Jane Ben. With me

Jane: what’re we doing

Elsa: we’re going to stop this boat from becoming the second titanic. On three. 1...2...3!!!!

(They’re eyes all glow and the boat steadies)

Evie: how the

Elsa: the beauty of a crisis. Now Ben. I assume you’re about to do something heroic and foolhardy

Ben: probably

Elsa: try and make sure that nobody gets hurt.

Ben: of course. I might have a plan. Doug is Agrabahn silk shrinkable

Evie (sternly) and Doug: yes

Ben: ah. Ok then how about this

(A flick of his wrist and he’s back in his vk outfit with a few small differences)

Evie: what happened to the jacket

Doug (tired dad mode): and the undershirt

Ben: they’d weigh me down. Jay could you hold this please?

(He hands Jay the crown)

Jay: sure but oh jeez (Ben’s jogging to the railing) wait wait wait

Ben: yes yes yes?

Jay: first of all stop that. Second of all. Here (he summons Maleficent’s sceptre our of thin air and hands it to Ben). Take this. It should help her

Ben: thank you so much woah head rush. Ahem woozy. Hm. All better now

Jay: yeah that’s because it recognises your magic but not you

Ben: I love being a hybrid

Adam: a WHAT?!?!?!

(Ben uses telekinesis to shove his father out of the way into the corridor)

Ben: blow it out your ass dad. Wish us luck. Imma coming honey!

(He launches himself over the side and into the water. Just barely missing Uma’s tentacles)

Doug: his magic will protect him right

Jay: possibly. If not. Hope you like the throne

Carlos (hitting his arm): not funny.

Jay: sorry

Doug: genies can breathe underwater right?

Jay: yes

Doug: Ben has five minutes. Then you’re going in after them

Jay (phoney British accent): as you command. My liege

(Under the water Ben’s swimming to Mal who’s sinking fast. He keeps dodging Uma’s tentacles. Finally he reaches Mal and put her mothers sceptre within arms reach. The moment it touches her hand her eyes open)

(Back on the ship)

Elsa: can anyone see them and Dizzy please stop throwing canapés at Uma

Dizzy (conspicuously giving Merida the food): it was Merida (innocent giggle)

Elsa: remember that I have a younger sister.

Doug: Hook seems to be having some sort of religious experience up there

Evie: yeah. He sorta reminds of someone

Devie (looking at each other in recognition): Troy McClure

(The waters bubbling again)

Jay: come on guys. Come on. Don’t let her win. Not like this

(Ben and Mal come shooting out of water. Mal’s now a dragon. Ben’s perched on her back laughing and shrieking his head off)

Ben (at the top of his lungs): WAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!! MY GIRLFRIEND’S A DRAGON!!!!

Devie: donkey from shrek

(Mal climbs further up into the sky. Ben slips. And falls off her).

Harry: He not gonna make is he?

(Ben plummets through the clouds but pulls up out of it just barely skimming the water)

Harry (fed up): of course he did

(Ben shoots up into the sky. His clothes melt away. From blue and gold to green. He lands on the railing still sopping wet. Now clad in green skelton leaf)

Ben (at the top of his lungs): COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!!!! (He strikes a power pose, fists on hips and turns to the others on the boat) that was amazing!

Jay (laughing): wow. You look

Carlos: like Pan.

Evie: HAHA! Harry’s in the drink. Again. (She cackles)

(Harry’s fainted dead away off Uma’s shoulder and crashed into the waves below)

Evie: lets boil him

Jay and Doug: no

Evie, Carlos and Dizzy: aww man

Ben: alrighty then. Anyway.

(He flies up to the girls and puts himself between them)

Ben: This isn’t the way. Both of you know that letting whatever happened years ago influence your actions today won’t solve anything. The best thing to do is to keep moving forward and

Uma: back off flyboy

(She swats Ben away and he gets knocked into a pole)

Uma: c’mon Mal let’s finish this once and for all

(Cecealia vs dragon fight begins)

Evie: and that only took twenty minutes to happen

Carlos: yeah. I woulda thought it’d happen the moment ma turned up not dead

Devie, Jay and Dizzy: yeah

Lonnie: we have to help him

Evie: right. Jay get a ladder. I’ll climb up

Lonnie: no. Not Ben. He’s fine. Look

(Ben’s currently trying to help Mal. Setting up shield after shield against Uma’s tentacles)

Lonnie: I meant the other one

Evie: no.

Jane: we should at least try. It’s the right thing to do

Doug: usually is be inclined to agree but you’ve not seen him in action

Carlos: I say we let it drown

Devie: ditto.

Jay: we’ve gotta fish it-him-out.

Carlos: why?

Jay: because if we wanna get Uma on side then the mollusk has to live. No matter how much he deserves to be lost to the depth

Carlos: I hate it when you’re right

Gil (Boyce quivering): please. Please don’t let him die. Please?

(Carlos looks at Gil stony faced. And relents)

Carlos: have it on record that I WILL stab him at the first opportunity. No matter how much the human golden retriever begs

Jay: so you’re not against Evie and I fishing him out

Carlos: against as in anti harry? Yes. Against you doing what’s gotta be done. Reluctantly no

Jay: love ya C

Carlos (giggling): you are now officially out of the doghouse.

Jay: Melody could you?

Melody (now in a lovely ice blue crystalline dress courtesy of Elsa): yes?

Jay: wow nice threads. Anyway. I have it on good authority that you carry around a certain family heirloom?

Melody: Ja

Jay: don’t know what that means. I’m not danish.

Melody: yes I’ve got my grandfathers trident. So I can help you however you want

Adam: miss Boisen I absolutely forbid you help them

Melody: I do not take orders from you Adam. Never have. Never will. Because I am not part of your staff. I am a student teacher. I am my sisters assistant until such time she graduates. But I am not your employee. So yeah. I’m helping my students. Jay. What do you need

Jay (massive grin on his face): we’re going squid fishing

Melody: where do I aim?

(She juts our her hand and the trident spears)

(At the buffet table)

Vision!Harry: sup losers

V!Ben: oh fuck off you no handed blunder

V!Harry: two hands. Numbnuts

V!Ben: keep talking. See what happens. I would love to dismantle you like a Lego Death Star and immolate your bones with you skin still on them

V!Harry: and the bitch says Uma means nothing to her

V!Ben: no. It’s the island Mal doesn’t care about. If Uma meant nothing to Mal. I’d still be jay.

V!Lonnie: ok I’m completely lost

V!Doug: we change when the closest person to our one changed. I used to be Evie. Tall ghostly pale and terrifying used to be Gil. And our “esteemed” leader. Used to be jay.

V!Carlos (smugly): I’ve always been like this

The other soul guides (sans Lonnie): yippee for you

(V!Carlos smiles indulgently)

(Back to the action at the railing)

Jay: so you’re sure you know how to do this without killing Uma?

Melody: oh my friend. With a fun and grin it works fine

Jay: what

Melody: yes. Yes I do know how to do this without hurting my second cousin

Jay: I’m sorry. Did you say second cousin?

Melody: yes. Ursula is my mother’s aunt. That makes Uma and my mother cousins. That makes her and I second cousins.

Jay: I am so sorry

Melody: why would you be sorry? So I’m related to a villain and her daughter. So is Ben. So are you and your little found family. Let’s help your friends.

(She throws the trident in Uma’s direction and it nicks the tentacle that was about to knock Ben out of the sky. Uma bellows in pain)

Uma: WHO DID THAT

Melody: hey! Hey you! Giant scary girl! Listen to. Ben. Or you know, me. Either one will do so

Jay (aside to her): not helping

Melody: yeah thought not

Jay: ok here’s what we’re going to do. Evie. Carlos. Fish the creature from the black lagoon out of the drink. I’m gonna help Ben.

(With that he flies up to where Ben is)

Jay: hey buddy. Need a little help?

Ben (still desperately dodging the tentacles): yes please

Jay: then grab a tentacle

Ben (scandalised): what?

Jay: you heard me. If we don’t do this then the student body will be a human interest story on the news tomorrow morning

Ben: ok

(They dive down and grab one of Uma’s tentacles. Below them in the water Harry’s screaming at them to let her go. Uma for her part does a good job of fighting them off. Mal just hovers there confused)

Jay: and lift

Ben: oh dear

(They fly upwards past Mal and drag Uma along for the ride. Harry grabs on to a tentacle and refuses to let go. But then he slips and lands painfully on the railing)

Carlos: finally. The Hook family line has ended

Harry: I HAVE TWO SISTERS

Carlos: who the fuck cares! Lonnie. Doug. Would you be dears and drags that on to the deck. I’ll get the carving knife

Doug: should we

Lonnie: quiet I don’t think we’re allowed to talk

(They deposit Harry in the deck and Carlos stands over him knife in hand)

Carlos: what do you want me to do Jay!

Jay: keep him there. And E! Keep those force fields up. Otherwise the first thirty rows WILL get wet

Evie: what are you gonna do?

Jay: this (to Ben) DROP HER

(The king and the genie let Uma fall into the water and the impart would’ve reflooded the deck if not for the shields. Unfortunately. This only serves to make Uma mad again. And she channels this anger by ensnaring Ben in her tentacles slowly choking the life out of the king. Jay’s had enough. His body assumes its golden lustre and he flies up into Uma’s face)

Jay: THAT. IS. ENOUGH. YOU KNOW THIS ISNT THE WAY. YOU KNOW THIS WILL ONLY SERVE TO FURTHET ALIENATE YOU. IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE YOU NEED TO STOP ACTING LIKE A PETULANT CHILD AND START PLAYING THE GAME RIGHT. OTHERWISE IT WILL BE JUST YOU AND THAT THING THAT IS SPEWING TWICE SWALLOWED SEA WATER ON EVIES MANOLOS LEFT ON THE ISLAND TO ROT

(On the deck Evie jumps out of Harry’s range)

Jay: SO WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE. A TANTRUM OR ARE YOU GOING TO USE THE BRAINS I KNOW YOU HAVE

(Uma’s face silently crumples. She (surprisingly gently) puts Ben back on deck, soaked to the bone and retching slightly from the choking but none the worse for wear, plucks up Harry and swiftly disappears beneath the waves leaving Ben’s ring behind)

Jay: well. That was surprisingly easily handled

(He flies down to the deck and hands Ben back his crown. Mal flaps back down, purple and green smoke surrounds her and she’s back in human form, except her hair’s undone, her dress is purple green and black and she’s holding the sceptre in her right hand. She smiles weakly at the crowd. The promptly spins around and vomits over the side. Loudly. For two full minutes. Jay rushes over to her)

Jay: hey you. Now. I got you a cap of mouth wash. And a breath mint. There you go. Now. (Loud whisper) a dragon. A giant fire breathing scaly ass mother fu

Mal (taking his face in her hands gently to shit him up): I know. I know.

Jay: how?

Mal: that I don’t know

Jay: oooh the sceptre.

Mal: that’s probably

Jay: now. The king awaits. Shall we?

Mal: we shall

(They walk down the stairs to where the series is. She and Ben smile at each other. Then he scoops get up and plants one on her. Carlos, not one to be outdone, scurries over to Jay, dips him and plants a longer one in him. Which gathers an even bigger cheer from the crowd. Especially Gil who can be heard over the others)

Doug: it’s about damn time.

Mal: hey jay. Stop by my room later. We gotta talk

Jay: well let’s see have you talked with Doug yet?

Doug: no. No she has not

Jay: you first then me. Capiche?

Mal: capiche

(On the chaperones platform Fairy Godmother is tight lipped)

Elsa: they’re teenagers headmistress. They will kiss.

Fairy Godmother: oh it’s not that your majesty. I can smell something unpleasant

Elsa (sniffing): you know what. I can too

Merida: it’s rotten skeleton leaves. What our dear little boy king is wearing.

Elsa: Oh. Queen Mother. Your turn

Belle: Ben?

(Ben doesn’t answer, he’s still looking at Mal in reverence, until Mal clears her throat and cocks her head to Belle’s location)

Mal: it seems that your clothes are rotting away dear.

Ben: is everything

Mal: oh yeah. But your shoulders are exposed

Ben: right. Ummmm. Wait right here

(He teleports to his mothers side. When the smoke clears he’s back in his vk outfit. Still without the beanie jacket or undershirt)

Ben: better?

Mal: ooooh so much better

Belle: the tuxedo was so much more

Evie: don’t worry Belle. The silk used is shrinkable. So this is preferable.

Belle: ah. Ok. Now Ben. I and the others adults are going to the yachts bar. Lumiere is going to be here as damage control. But you are in charge. Understand?

(Ben nods emphatically. The four women turn to go but Mal catches up with them before they leave)

Mal: Fairy Godmother. Do you think I could get my spell book back from the museum? Tomorrow I mean. Only that the last few days did a number on me and made me realise I can’t not use what I have. It’s not healthy and it’s not right. Is any of this making any sense to you at all?

Fairy Godmother: of course dear. It’s your property after all. Just say the word and it’s yours

Mal: please?

Fairy Godmother: where would you like it to be?

Mal: Jay’s room. Bedside cabinet. With a protection spell on it so only Ben and I can use it. Because. I have helluva lot to teach him

Ben: I very much look forward to learning from you

Mal: and. I’m sure Ben would agree. Magic classes. For those that want them. I know I would. No. I know that I need to learn more control WOAH!

(Ben’s scooped her up in a bear hug)

Mal: I take it you like that idea

Doug: when you were >ahem< out for the count Ben decided that it was time that magic be fully reinstated

Mal: I LOVE THIS BOY

Belle: I can see that the kingdom will be in very safe hands with you two and you are on his back

(Mal’s clambered onto Ben’s back and she’s stroking his hair away from his face)

Elsa: Queen Mother. I believe this is our exit cue

Merida: aw but I wanna dance

Elsa: the bar has Guinness whiskey

Merida: PEACE FECKERS

(She runs off)

Belle: that was easily handled

(As they’re leaving)

Belle: Verna could you get me the family lawyer please

Verna: of course ma’am. Uhhhh. Heh heh. What for?

Belle: I need to see mr Hartcourt about divorcing Adam and adopting that young man

Elsa: Gil? You want to adopt Gil?

Belle: yes. Problem?

Elsa: none whatsoever. In fact I’ve got an idea I’d like to run through with Ben. When the cotillion is over tomorrow of course

Belle: I assure you your majesty you shall have the full unwavering support of my son and I

Elsa: god save the king and his mother then

Belle: indeed

(Back at the cotillion)

Carlos: alright. ALRIGHT! Everyone. The ones of the hour. My parents! King Ben. Lady Mal. Take it away old man

Ben (laughing): I’m only two years older than you C

Carlos (a “I’m cute so I can get away with it” look on his face): still older

Mal (chuckles as she tilts Ben’s crown): I think what Carlos is trying to is: let’s party

(She uses magic to levitate the electronic equipment above the deck and they all start dancing)

(This is when “it’s time” happens)

[lyraparadigm]

Troy Otto One Shot Series #5

Chapter 5

Arya lay on her back in the dirt and grass as she waited to be let into the Ranch. She looked a complete state, with blood and dust staining her face and matting her hair. Apparently the helicopter with Jake, Charlie, Luciana and Alicia hadn’t arrived at the Ranch yet. Troy had told them all to get out of the truck the instant he had found out. Whilst Nick and Maddison had been miffed, Arya had thought this time away from Troy as a much needed respite. She had spent the better part of the night in the same truck as him. She had fallen asleep at one point and had woken up to find her legs had somehow been stretched across his lap. She had flushed a deep red before quickly correcting her position, pulling her knees in against her chest. They had stopped at one point to switch drivers and Troy had asked her if she wanted to sit inside with him. She hadn’t even bothered replying, choosing instead to lay back in the space he had vacated. He had scoffed and sat in the front, leaving her be.

So now here she was, being made to wait for permission to enter a Ranch she hadn’t even wanted to enter in the first place. Nick and Maddison were arguing about something before Nick rather awkwardly hugged his mother. Arya’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion but she turned her head away, deciding she didn’t care to observe their strange behaviour. A few minutes later Nick crouched down beside her.

“I haven’t had a chance to thank you properly.”

Arya rose on her elbows to address him, “You don’t have to. I just lived up to my promise.”

“No.” He shook his head, “Not about Luciana.” He continued, dismissing Arya’s frown.

“You were about to escape. You could have slipped away so easily when my mom had a spoon to Troy’s eye. No one would have even noticed you leave…but you stayed to help. You stayed and made sure Luciana got on that helicopter and now you’re here, at this Ranch because of us. So I’m sorry.”

Maintaining her furrowed brows, she commented, “Didn’t you start the speech off by thanking me? And now you’re sorry? Which is it?”

Nick snorted, “Both.”

“Alright. Don’t sweat it.” Arya nodded, with a hint of a smile on her lips.

“You and your mother got a plan to leave yet?”

It was Nick’s turn to furrow his brows now, “What?”

“Please.” Arya rolled her eyes as she sat up, “You look angry enough to guide a heard of Walkers through this place, just out of spite. So what’s the play?”

Nick shook his head and motioned for her to walk towards a set of benches where Maddison was sat. Once there, Arya observed as Mother and son argued back and forth on tactics. Maddison wanted to stay so Travis and Alicia could find them. Nick wanted to go looking for them. It was clear to Arya that Maddison didn’t trust her but that didn’t bother her much. Who was she to judge others on having trust issues when she herself slept with a dagger tucked under her pillow.

All three of them straightened up as an older man wearing a cowboy hat walked towards them with two cups of coffee. Maddison and the man, Jeremiah, shared a weak joke before they started discussing the helicopter. Arya and Nick stood a distance away, letting Maddison smooth things over with the owner of the Ranch. She saw both adults look towards her and Nick, before Jeremiah addressed the both of them. He motioned for the Ranch gate to be opened, allowing them entrance, before he commented, “Arya. Am I pronouncing that right?”

Arya flattened her lips to suppress a snort of laughter erupting. As if this old cowboy was being mildly racist to her whilst standing opposite the white woman that stabbed his youngest son in the eye.

“Yes Sir.” She mocked, “Arya Reva.”

“Yes, Troy’s told me…a lot about you. He said you were part of the Militia. Thank you for your service.” Jeremiah smiled warmly – well, as warmly as he could manage to fake.

Once they were all inside the Ranch, Jeremiah proceeded to show them all around as he explained how the place ran on solar power and home grown crops. Maddison and Jeremiah exchanged a few passive aggressive snipes at each other with Nick joining in but Arya chose to remain blissfully ignorant of the tension brewing between the Clarks and Otto Sr. choosing instead to observe the environment she was in. These people were sheep, she realised, as she observed how everyone went about their ‘normal’ lives. Sheep were harder to handle than a pack of wolves.

Once Jeremiah had shown the Clarks their house, he led Arya away to a much smaller cabin.

“We don’t really welcome people, much less single folk from the outside.” He said as he showed her to her small cabin.

“Yeah, well, my bad my family’s dead.” She muttered sarcastically under her breath.

“You got a problem with me young lady?”

“Yeah. All your subtle comments about me not being white is really pissing me off. Why not just be blunt about it?”

He seemed angry for a second before he swallowed it and stood taller, “Well we’ve just never had your kind on the Ranch before.”

“My kind? As in humans? Cos I mean, there’s one right there.” She pointed at someone walking past.

Jeremiah’s eyes narrowed at Arya’s sarcasm.

His voice turned frosty as his eyes darkened, “Most people would be damn grateful for being allowed to stay here. It’s the safest place around for miles. But if you want to leave, then be my guest.”

Reigning in her pride, she shook her head, “It’d do me good to stay here. I’ve got nowhere else to be.”

Satisfied, Jeremiah nodded, “Good. You decide to stay, you contribute. We don’t tolerate free loaders here.”

Arya held her breath and refrained from snapping back at the bigot. Instead, she smiled, nodded and waved him goodbye.

Upon entering the cabin, the first thing Arya did was take a shower. She spent an ample amount of time making sure every last drop of Walker blood and guts were out of her hair. Getting dressed in a pair of jeans and a tank top left on the bed for her, Arya made sure she looked presentable before stepping out of her cabin. She needed to assimilate, if she wanted to get the run down of this place. So she put on her best fake smile and left her cabin, ready to face the sheltered people of Broke Jaw Ranch.

It took about twenty minutes for Arya to realise that people were treating her differently and she wasn’t so sure it was because of the colour of her skin. They either stared at her or scurried away the second she was even in a 20 foot vicinity of them. She felt like Moses parting the damned red sea as she walked through a parted crowd. Just as she was at her wit’s end, about to give up and stalk back to her cabin, she noticed people running in the direction of the gate. Curious, she jogged along. Once she realised what all the commotion was about, her pace picked up till she was all but running beside Nick to get to Luciana. Her heart thudded loudly as she realised Luciana was unconscious and had to be carried back by Jake and Alicia.

“Where’s Charlie?” Arya blurted out as a lump began forming in her throat. She didn’t want to face the possibility that Luciana was dying, so her mind grappled to focus on anything else. Charlie, the blonde haired idiot, was nowhere to be seen. Her stomach lurched a little as she realised it was because he was dead. Jake informed Jeremiah about the helicopter being shot down by people – the same people also killed Charlie as the group recouped in the pass, overnight. Arya didn’t have much time to mourn Charlie before other things caught her attention - things like Troy and Nick squaring up against each other.

“We take her to the infirmary, she may turn. It’s against policy.” Troy got out his gun and began walking closer to Luciana.

“It’s your fault she’s like this! You shot her.” Nick was aghast with disbelief.

“I was defending my men.” Troy callously stated with a shake of his head, “Step out of my way.”

Both men were chest to chest, staring down each other; one determined to kill Luciana and the other determined to protect her. Arya’s eyes closed as she heard Troy cock the gun. Her body felt numb as the only sound she could hear was her rapidly beating heart. Luciana was going to die. Troy was going to shoot her.

“I’ll do it.” She heard Nick’s voice and her eyes snapped open. It was odd, in her opinion, for Nick to give in so easily. Arya figured Troy’s train of thought was similar to hers as he too scrutinised Nick.

“I’m allowed this.” Nick pushed with a stern voice.

“Troy.” Arya found herself blurting out, as she approached him. “You promised you wouldn’t hurt her.” She muttered so her voice didn’t travel. His eyes shot to hers and he found himself sucking in a quiet breath as she whispered, “Please.”

Gritting his teeth, Troy handed over the gun to Nick and walked back to Jake and his father. Arya stayed rooted to the floor, her eyes staring at Luciana’s unconscious form. She felt like an utter failure. She had tried her hardest to save the girl but it wasn’t enough. She heard a round of gasps, forcing her to look away from Luciana. Her eyes widened as she saw Nick with his gun pointed at Troy. His voice shook as he pleaded for them to let Luciana in. Even Maddison had tried persuading her son to put down the weapon but to no avail.

“Go on, listen to your mommy.” Troy taunted and Arya sent a scathing glare his way. Jeremiah stepped into the line of fire and managed to handle the situation, promising Nick to let Luciana in and get her the treatment she needed, so long as she had a pulse. Arya was the first to kneel and feel for a pulse.

“She’s alive.” Her voice was hoarse as she shouted, “Its weak but she’ll make it.”

Once the gun was taken out of Nick’s hand and medics rushed to get Luciana in, the crowd started to disperse. Arya was the first to leave, her shoulder hitting Troy’s chest as she stormed past him. He scoffed in annoyance, his feet following after hers till they reached her cabin.

“He had a gun pointed at me!” Troy fumed, angry at her petulance.

“You mocked him Troy! God would it kill you to show some compassion!?” Arya rounded on him as she stood on the threshold of her cabin.

“Coming from you!?” His voice was pitchy as he shouted back.

“Yes, coming from me.” She spoke through gritted teeth, “You knew she was important to me.”

“It’s policy-”

“I’m not mad about that!” Arya snapped.

“What are you mad about then?” Troy barked, “I’ve done nothing but listen to you and save you-”

“Save me?!” She fumed, “I don’t need saving Cyclops. If it wasn’t for me, Madison would have blinded your ass. And I don’t know what your definition of ‘listening’ is, but pointing a gun at Luciana and being trigger happy doesn’t count!” She screamed before slamming the cabin door shut in his face.

“Bitch!” He kicked the door with his foot before stomping off and leaving her be.

////

Arya spent a good half hour pacing her room angrily. Erratic thoughts collided in her mind as she wondered why she was truly pissed at Troy. His entire attitude towards Luciana’s life and death raised Arya’s heckles. The logical side of her brain understood that the Ranch had a policy to which Troy was trying to adhere to. Even Jake, the bleeding heart, hadn’t tried stopping Troy so then why was she in such a strop with him?

Unable to come to any decent conclusion, Arya settled on the fact that it was just all things ‘Troy’ that she angry at. Maybe she had finally hit her tolerance limit with him. Maybe that was all it was. Suppressing her doubts and warring emotions, Arya sucked in a deep breath and decided to not bother with assimilating just yet. She didn’t have a patience needed for that endeavour – not now anyway. Instead, her feet took her towards the infirmary where Luciana was being treated. She had to see it with her own eyes that the girl would survive.

She entered the room to find Nick by Luciana’s bedside. Her brows furrowed as she noticed the handcuffs on Luciana’s wrists, binding her to the hospital bed. Nick scoffed, noticing what her gaze fell upon, “Yeah they put those on the second she was on the bed. They’re afraid she’ll turn.”

“And? How is she?” Arya asked as she sat on the other side of the bed.

“She’s ok for now. Can you…can you check the chart and see they’re not…you know, sabotaging her recovery?” He asked in a soft voice, his eyes pleading with hers. Arya licked her lips uncomfortably and shook her head, “I’m not a Doctor, Nick. I wouldn’t understand any of it.”

“But you treated her at the base.” He blinked in surprise.

She sighed heavily as she explained, “I just have experience in stitching up cuts. My youngest brother got into fights a lot in college. We all hid it from my Dad – who was a Cop, by the way, so you know,” she shrugged, “I just got really good at patching him up and covering for him.”

Nick chuckled unexpectedly, “Your Dad was a cop?”

“He was a Lieutenant of the LAPD.” She mocked in a serious voice, reminiscent of how her brothers used to imitate their Dad’s proud voice when he reminded them all whose children they were.

“Woah.” Nick laughed, “What was your childhood like?”

Arya snorted, “Rebellious. I was the youngest of four children and I was the only girl.”

“What about your Mom?”

All amusement stripped from Arya’s face as she blinked and stared at her hands.

“Yeah she died years ago.” Her tone was flat and left no room for questions. Nick remained quiet and stared at Luciana’s sleeping form instead. Sighing, Arya rubbed her face as she rose to her feet. “I’ll come back later tonight.”

“You don’t have to.” Nick shook his head, “I don’t…I don’t know why you’ve been helping her. At first I thought it was because you hated Troy but I’ve seen how you are with him.”

Arya’s eyes narrowed at his tone and his words, “How am I with him?”

Unintimidated, Nick replied rather bluntly, “It’s fucked up. You argue with him and I’ve heard your arguments with him- it sounds like you genuinely hate him in those moments but then a few hours later you’re both civil to each other again. I don’t get it.”

Arya mulled over his words as she realised Nick was more observant that she had thought. He hadn’t figured it out yet- her relationship with Troy - and for that she was thankful but she knew she had to give him some explanation for now.

“He tried to kill you and Lucy right? That’s your problem with him.”

“Uh yeah!” Nick grunted sarcastically.

“But you’ve been out there- you’ve seen what it’s like, how people are now. They use this entire situation as an excuse to behave like animals. You can’t trust anyone apart from your family. It’s kill or be killed.”

“You can’t seriously be justifying his actions!” Nick rebuked.

“I’m not” Arya calmly stated, “But I’m saying you wouldn’t hate him if it was someone else in that basement instead of you and Lucy. You wouldn’t hate him if he was doing these things to protect you and your family. You would tolerate his actions, just like the people in this ranch.” She scoffed, “You think they don’t know what he does? It’s all voluntary, Nick. The people here turn a blind eye to it because all they care about is keeping the community safe. Troy does that for them. These people need Troy because guess what? The whole damn world is for the taking and it’s only the wolves that come out on top.”

Nick laughed in incredulity, “You can’t honestly believe there aren’t any good people out there anymore.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.” She shook her head, “Sure they exist, but being good doesn’t get you very far in a world like this. You’re lucky you still have your family with you. Protect them any way you know how. Not all of us get second chances.”

Her parting words to him as she left the infirmary gave him a better understanding of her character.

“If staying on this Ranch and making nice with the Ottos means you and your family get to stay safe, then grab that opportunity with both hands Nick. It’s not about being good or bad anymore. It’s about surviving now.”

As Nick mulled over her words, it struck him that she still hadn’t answered his question. Why did she care so much about Lucy anyway?

-/-/-/-

“Hey there! I’m Gretchen Trimbol. Just thought I’d introduce myself to you.” A very perky looking blonde teenager introduced herself to Arya as she was making her way back to her cabin.

“Uh…hi.” Arya blinked in surprise, finding it surprising that someone from The Ranch was actually speaking to her. Trimbol, her mind recalled and she nodded in understanding.

“You’re Mike’s sister.”

“That I am!” The girl continued to beam, “And you saved my brother’s life!”

“Uh..yeah…not so sure-”

Gretchen cut off Arya as she looped her arm with the other woman’s and began walking. Arya stared open mouthed as she let the girl drag her.

“Troy and Mike told us all about you. There was a meeting in the hall before Jeremiah let you guys enter the Ranch. Jake spoke about the Clarks and what a great family they were – that they’d fit right in here – and Troy and Mike spoke about you. Troy said you’ve been travelling alone for a long time? That you lost your family…I’m really very sorry.”

Arya nodded, her mind soothing as she felt a genuine concern emanating from Gretchen.

“Troy said you fought with the Militia and took down three walkers without any guns! That’s so rad.”

Arya felt herself chuckling at the complete absurdity of the situation. This girl thought it was ‘rad’ that she killed 3 walkers.

“He said they took you in and that you’d be a really valuable member of the community.”

“So why has everyone been staring at me weirdly all day?” Arya blurted out, not quite believe what Gretchen was saying.

“Uh cos they’re scared of you? You killed three-”

“Yeah I get that but it’s not a big deal-”

“To us it is! Most of us haven’t even set foot outside the gate ever since this all started but we’ve seen one before. You know, alive-dead.”

She means walker. Arya scoffed internally. They’d seen one since the whole debacle began.

“It scared us all so much. Troy took care of it though. The Militia do stuff like that to keep us safe and I guess now we have you too!”

Arya clicked her tongue and nodded as she mumbled, “I guess you do.”

“So uhm how old are you?”

“What?” Arya blinked at the abruptly random question.

“Your age.” Gretchen pushed, with an ever present smile on her face.

“24…”

“Ooh…I guess we can make an exception this one time.”

“What-”

“We have bible study every evening and you need to be a certain age to get an invite but you’re cool so you’re welcome anytime.”

“Listen.” Arya untangled her arm from Gretchen who was seemingly appearing weirder and weirder.

“I’m not Christian or Catholic…or…well, if anything I was sorta raised a Hindu. ”

“That’s fine! We’ve got the Gita in the basement-”

Arya’s eyes widened in surprise, “You do?” Frankly she was surprised the teen even knew what the Hindu religious book was.

“Of course we have it! Oppenheimer was inspired by it! I am become death, the destroyer of worlds”.

Arya laughed openly and genuinely in that moment. “Not tonight, Gretchen but some other time, I promise. I have someone I need to see now, but it was really nice meeting you.” She smiled as she parted ways with Gretchen.

///

It was late evening now and Arya felt oddly serene as she walked the grounds of the Ranch, searching for Troy. She found him tending to horses in the stables. It was bizarre for her to watch him be so attentive and tender as he stroked the horse’s coat.

“You gonna say something or are you just gonna stare at me, Doll?” His head turned to her, a small smirk on his face.

Licking her lips, she approached him slowly. With folded arms, she leant against a wooden beam and asked him plainly, “Why?”

He groaned, “I told you, it’s policy-”

“Not that, Troy.” She huffed, “I meant what you told people here about me. I met Gretchen earlier…she told me what you and Mike did.”

“You gonna complain about that now?” He mumbled aloofly as he finished grooming the horse and started walking towards her. His stance reflected hers as he too folded his arms.

“No,” She narrowed her eyes, “I’m asking you why you did it.”

He shrugged, “I invited you here, so it’s my responsibility to make sure my people accept you. That you’re liked and a part of the community.” His expressions were sincere enough and for a long moment she just stared at him in amazement. He had an incredible ability to mimic emotions.

“Ok. So what, you’re saying you care about me fitting in here?” She asked as she too walked closer.

“Yes. You’re my friend.”

Arya snorted, “Ok, let’s cut the bullshit. What’s the real answer?”

Troy appeared wounded. “That was the real answer.”

“No it wasn’t.” Her response was clipped, “Nothing you ever do is just out of the goodness of your heart. Every action of yours is pointed. Your spiel to the people here was pointed. You specifically told them about how I killed Walkers with knives. You told them I had survived on my own on the outside for a long time.”

“All of which are true!” He argued, getting irritated.

“Sure they are but that’s not what you tell people if your aim is to endear me to them!” She spat back. “You told them all of this so that they’d fear me. I just can’t figure out why.”

“Now you’re just delusional, Arya.” He muttered heatedly.

“You’re a manipulative little shit, Troy, I can spot my kind, so just tell me why.” She demanded.

His features were schooled now, all traces of irritation wiped away. Then slowly, as he leant his head down, his lips parted to a smirk.

“I like this about you.” He confessed, his eyes boring into hers.

She rolled her eyes at him, “Of course you do. I bet me calling you out on your bullshit is a real turn on.” She snarked sarcastically.

“It is.” He bluntly admitted, causing her to jerk backwards in shock. Except, in doing so, she found her back thudding against the beam she had previously been leaning against. Her pulse quickened as she noticed their deplorable proximity. She could count the various shades of blue in his pupils from this distance and it unnerved her.

“I don’t give a shit about my people liking you but I do want them to accept you. They need to see you for what you are. They need to see you the way I see you.” His fingers traced her jawline, twisting strands of her thick locks, tucking them behind her ear.

“How do you see me?” Her heart pounded as she inhaled his scent yet her eyes didn’t shy away from his.

“You’re a survivor, Arya. You get this world and you’re willing to do whatever it takes to protect whats yours. I want this place to be yours – these people to be yours because I know you’ll do whatever it takes to protect them.”

Her breath hitched as she realised this was what he looked like when he was being truly sincere; his eyes were wide with intensity and his jaw was clenched in determination.

“Why do you want me to protect this place?” She was caught off guard by his assessment of her. She hadn’t seen it coming. A warm flush burst from the base of her spine and spread across her body as she realised he had been paying attention to her.

“It’s the wolves of this world that have to protect it now and you, Arya, are a wolf” His thumb brushed over her pulse point as his lips stretched to a sardonic smile. “I can spot my kind.” He mocked gently as he leant closer still, till his breath washed over her cheeks.

“What are you doing?” She mumbled faintly, her mouth turning dry as his nose nuzzled her neck. Her palms felt moist as a shiver crawled up her spine.

“Troy,” her voice shook as her palms rose to grip the lapels of his shirt. She was all but waiting for the panic attacks to start; for the flashes of memory to being reeling across her mind and for her vision to go blurry but all she could seem to focus on was the coarseness of his stubble rubbing against the smooth expanse of her collar. Her eyes fell shut as his lips pressed feather light kisses from the corner of her jaw to the tip of her chin.

He pulled back all of a sudden and her eyes snapped open to watch a crooked grin stretch across his face. His eyes twinkled as he murmured, “Guess you are attracted to Cyclops.”

And with that taunt he left Arya alone in the stables feeling frustrated and frankly, pissed.