#you wonder if your work shatters into the pieces if you’ll resist the lure of what I died to experience

[jackkin-memories]

crazy how im gonna start philosophizing about this immediately

[singledarkshade]

In The Dark

Part Two

The quiet of the house was shattered when the backdoor burst open and the three people who lived there hurried in carrying an unconscious fourth they placed on the table.

“Grace,” Rip ordered, “Boil water and get me clean cloths. Smith, I need the brown leather bag from my study.”

Both hurried away and Rip looked down at the unconscious man. The blood coming from the bite was bad but it was the poison sac injected into the man that worried him. Taking a deep breath he pulled out his penknife and grabbed the bottle of alcohol he had sitting on the shelf for something just like this.

Pouring the alcohol over the blade, he knew he couldn’t wait for the boiling water, and using the tip of the blade slid it into the man’s shoulder. Rip frowned feeling resistance and knew it was the small sac of poison which would burst, killing the man, if Rip wasn’t careful.

“Here,” Smith appeared with the bag dropping it onto the chair beside Rip.

Rip nodded and pulled open the bag searching for the tweezers, “Grace, hurry up with that water.”

He poured alcohol over the tweezers and, taking a deep breath, Rip slid them into the wound to try to catch the small sac of poison. Gently he pulled easing it out, breathing a sigh of relief that the thing came out in one piece.

Grace appeared with the water and cloths cleaning the wound while Smith brought over an empty glass bottle. Gently Rip pierced the skin and the poison drained into the bottle. Smith closed and sealed it before adding it to their stocks.

“Well that was a bloody spectacular failure,” Rip noted, dropping into a seat in his study once their guest was settled in the spare room.

Grace placed a cup of tea beside him, “We had no way to know he was going to walk past tonight.”

“I know,” Rip rubbed a hand over his eyes, “Alright, have the kids look out for any signs of the creature. We need to find a way to get close to it without it seeing us.”

Grace nodded, “Get some sleep. Smith is watching over our guest.”

Giving her a quick nod back Rip watched the young woman leave the room. Once alone Rip stood and walked over to the cabinet that held the core, the only connection he had left to Gideon. Opening the cabinet he gently stroked the casing, thinking back to the conversations they’d had after a mission had gone wrong.

He could practically hear her tell him to go and get some sleep before he fell down.

Rip missed his room on the Waverider. Not only because he had installed the most comfortable bed he could find in place of the torture device the Time Masters had left for him but mostly because Gideon would make the room perfect so he could sleep.

And if he couldn’t she would read to him.

Rip knew the Legends and the Bureau wouldn’t give him a second thought after everything but he hoped that she thought of him every so often while he thought of her every day.

Closing the cabinet Rip quickly drank his tea before heading to get some rest.

                          *********************************************

  “Grace, you need to widen your stance,” Rip noted looking over at where she and Smith were training with wooden swords, “Otherwise you’ll be easy to overbalance.” Turning back to his work Rip rechecked the connections for the weapon he was making to hopefully destroy the creature they were currently after. Unfortunately their last attempt had meant it had disappeared for the moment.

A whine coming from the weapon made him frown and as it increased in volume he cried, “Get down.”

Both Grace and Smith dropped to the floor, Smith protectively covering the young woman when the, admittedly small, explosion happened. Standing, waving away the smoke Rip stared down at the table.

“I need better materials,” Rip sighed, “Are you both alright?”

They nodded all turning when the doorbell sounded. Rip checked the viewfinder he had set up to see who their visitor was, sighing in annoyance at who was standing there.

“Mrs Browning is at the door,” Rip grimaced.

Grace elbowed Smith who was trying not to grin, “I’ll make some tea.”

“Change first,” Rip reminded her, “The last thing we need is questions about why you’re dressed in trousers.”

Grace nodded before disappearing while Rip and Smith headed up stairs.

“While I’m trapped with my guest,” Rip told the other man, “Check with the kids to see if they’ve found anything yet.”

Smith headed for the backdoor and Rip took a deep breath forcing a smile on his face when he opened the door.

“How wonderful to see you,” Rip greeted her, “Please come in.”

  “She’s trying to marry you off to one of her daughters,” Smith noted amused letting Rip know he’d returned.

Looking up at the other man Rip rolled his eyes, “Luckily I’ve so far managed to escape meeting them.”

“I doubt you’ll manage for long,” Smith replied, “She is determined.”

Rip frowned at him, “I don’t suppose you have any actual information for me?”

“Two of the boys have seen the same slime trail down by the docks,” Smith told him, “It sounds like the creature we’re looking for.”

Rip nodded, “Alright, we’ll do some reconnaissance tonight and this time we form a proper plan which will trap it somewhere that we won’t almost get a passer-by killed.”

“That wasn’t your fault,” Smith reminded him.

“Grace has made dinner,” Rip ignored him, “Get something to eat and be ready to leave at dusk.”

Smith gave a slight nod before he left Rip alone once more.

Rip knew he was lucky to have both Grace and Smith to help him these days. Grace was a passable cook but she was strong and determined, learning everything she could for fighting the creatures like the one that had almost killed her. She was also compassionate, very like Miranda in many ways and had taken on the duty of making sure he looked after himself in a way that would make Gideon proud.

Smith reminded Rip of Jax in a lot of ways. Both were smart, loyal with a tendency to jump to protect their friends. Smith had learned to be quiet because of his large size but he was a very gentle man who Rip could see adored Grace although Rip wasn’t sure on what capacity yet. He wasn’t very good at deciphering his own feelings to begin with, trying to work out other peoples was something he actively tried to avoid. Smith had also become a big brother figure to the kids that were their intelligence network throughout the city.

Despite everything that had brought him to this place Rip would never regret meeting his two companions.

                          *********************************************

  Rip grimaced in distaste as they made their ways into the tunnels that had been created beneath the dock. He had been surprised to discover that there were even worse smells to be found than the normal miasma that hung over the city but, thanks to the creatures he was hunting these days, he had learned a whole new range.

“Liam said it stays deep underground during the day,” Smith said from his side, “But most nights it comes out to feed.”

Rip sighed, “Hopefully it doesn’t decide we’re tonight’s main course.”

Smith chuckled slightly but remained silent as they continued through the tunnels.

Rip wondered if anyone was noticing the small aberrations he was making here, true he was fixing them almost as fast as he made them but it was something to let them know someone was here and they should come looking.

Rip knew leaving would be hard, if he managed to, because he had become extremely fond of his two companions but he wanted to get back to Gideon.

A disgusted noise from Smith made Rip focus again on the present and he grimaced as well seeing the pile of half-eaten corpses.

“Rip,” Smith called, “It’s not here.”

“That means it’s out hunting for its next meal,” Rip frowned, “We need to bring it back here and destroy it.”

“I thought tonight was reconnaissance only?” Smith asked worriedly.

Rip shook his head, “Unfortunately if this thing is killing then we need to stop it now. And I think I know how to lure it back here.”

Smith sighed, “I really wish you hadn’t said that.”

With a slight smile at his valet Rip pulled out one of the grenades he had made, since he’d used the time core to power it then it should be enough to lure the creature back to its nest. Resetting it to emit a constant stream of energy instead of the quick blast he had designed it to do before he set it carefully in the middle of several corpses.

“Now we wait,” Rip told Smith.

  They crouched in a corner of the creature’s lair, trying not to think too much about what they were standing in, waiting for the thing to return.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Smith asked as they heard a hiss come from deeper along the tunnel.

Rip shrugged, “Of course it’s not but we can’t let thing go after any more people. We can’t let it get one of our kids.”

He shocked himself as he said the words, Rip didn’t realise how involved he’d become with this world. It wasn’t the same as the Wild West because he didn’t have the Waverider sitting waiting for him. Rip knew it was unlikely anyone would pick up the energy from the Time Core for years or the aberrations he was creating but he had to try. He had to at least make an effort to get back to where he belonged...with Gideon.

“It’s coming,” Smith’s voice pulled him back to the present.

Rip nodded, “Alright. You know the plan.”

“Just be careful,” Smith told him, “Grace won’t be happy if I let anything happen to you.”

“Same here,” Rip replied moving to take his position.

He heard the hiss as it came closer, it was in some ways like a snake but it had legs with sharp claws, the front two had the ability to inject poison into victims. Rip gripped his gun tightly, hoping the charge held.

It appeared suddenly, sniffing the ground as it tried to find the source of the time energy Rip held his ground when the red eyes looked up and fixed on him.

“Please work,” Rip murmured to himself as it moved closer, finally it hit exactly where they needed it to be and Rip fired at the same time Smith started the fire behind the thing before using his own weapon.

The creature squealed at dual assault as the fire began to take hold.

“Don’t stop,” Rip yelled, feeling the heat from the flames on his skin.

The creature gave one final squeal before it fell over dead its carcass still burning.

  Walking out of the tunnels Rip collapsed the roof so no one else would be able to go inside again.

“Let’s go home,” Smith said in relief.

Rip caught sight of one of the kids and sighed, “Not yet.” He motioned the little boy over to them, “Is everything alright, Robert?”

The boy shook his head, “She needs help.”

“Who?” Rip asked gently.

“Beth.”

Rip glanced at Smith who shrugged before he turned back to the boy, “Okay, take me to her and I’ll try to help. Smith, head back to the house and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Robert nodded and began to run through the streets with Rip following on behind. It looked like his night wasn’t over yet.

Part Three

[thedragonswillreturn]

Silent Night: Part 7

Masterpost with all parts here

An hour later, after covering all the windows and smashing any electronics they had, turning off the electricity, heat, running water, and huddling up in the living room, did they decide that they were safe from Anti. For the moment, at least. Schneeplestein and Marvin sat on couches across from each other, and Chase sat on the opposite end from Schneeplestein, still not speaking.

“Jackieboy vill be fine.” Schneeplestein said, jerking his head towards the operating room, the door cracked open to reveal a sleeping figure, and next to it, a shattered flower pot on the floor.

“You sure?” Marvin asked, stroking Pricilla, his cat, on his lap.

“He is superhero! Zhey heal faster than normal people. And...vatever the hell you are.”

Marvin glowered at him.

“Just saying.”

“What about Jack?” Chase whispered, speaking into his knees.

Schneeplestein hesitated for a second before covering up his doubt with a grin, “he vill be fine! Probably. I mean...he’s not dying. Yet. He’s just...catatonic. Some kind of coma, I zhink. He’ll vake up eventually probably.”

Chase looked back at the floor and seemed to recede even further in on himself.

“I mean, ve could always try to jump-start his brain by hooking vires up to his ears and electrocuting him! Zat would be fun!”

“Schneeplestein!” Marvin spat.

“C-Could that work?” Chase asked, leaning forward, suddenly hopeful, “like...in theory?”

Schneeplestein glance to the side. “Ah...no. In theory his brain vill fry and he vill combust. But science can always be wrong, yes?”

“Jesus.” Marvin muttered, while Chase seemed to deflate. “Look, we need an actual plan. We need to kill Anti, get Jameson back, wake up Jack, and we need to do all of it fast. Does anyone have any suggestions?”

Schneeplestein shrugged. “I mean, my personal favorite idea iz to get a woodchipper and chuck it at Anti’s fucking head.”

“Alright, idea time over-”

“Vell do you have a better one!?”

Marvin took a deep breath and leaned his head back, closing his eyes. “Jack was always the thinker of the group,” he muttered, “then Jameson. Then Jackieboy. All of whom have conveniently decides to fuck off right when we needed them.”

“Oh please.” Schneeplestein muttered, “at least two of zhose people are about to be saved by my excellent doctoring skills, so really-”

“Since when was Jameson marked higher than me?”

Schneeplestein screeched, Marvin started, and  Chase barely reacted as Jackieboy entered the room and surveyed them all, grinning. He sat down gingerly beside Marvin, still stiff from his wounds, but for the most part looking okay. Marvin had to admit that it looked like Schneeplestein had been right about Jackieboy’s healing abilities, apart from a few injuries he seemed better off than all of them, which was saying something as an hour ago he had more wounds than all of them combined. Well, it was either Jackieboy did heal faster than regular people, or he actually had been miraculously saved by Schneeplestein’s ‘excellent doctoring skills’, which Marvin refused to accept.

Jackieboy was dressed in more casual clothes now, a sweater and hoodie, but he was still wearing his blue mask, which he pushed had pushed up onto his forehead. He grinned, his eyes darting from face to face, and clasped his hands together, “what did I miss?”

“Marvin iz an ass.”

“FUCK OFF!”

“Ah. Nothing’s changed. That’s a little inconvenient, but honestly y’alls dependability really keeps me going.”

“Shut up.” Marvin grumbled.

Jackieboy chuckled slightly, then leaned back and sighed, his cheerful aura dipping. “So,” he finally said, “we need a plan. You guys seem to have worked that out, which is great, but we need a little bit more than that. I don’t think there’s anything we can do with Jack right now, unless you think we should take him to a hospital, Henrick?”

“A hospital? A HOSPITAL!?!” Schneeplestein screamed, suddenly looked outraged, “he is in ze care of ze good doctor! He could not be in better hands! Hospital iz full of crazy people! ZEY HAVE STETHOSCOPES THERE!”

“Says the one who got his doctorate from a cereal box.”

“VELL AT LEAST I HAVE A DEGREE, CAT BOY! And besides,” He added, whipping back around to face Jackieboy, “ve have all the medical equipment ve need here! Ze hospital cannot do anything zat I’m not doing right now! It iz either he lies like a useless sack of garbage here, or at hospital, nothing vill change.”

“Except we’ll have to explain to the doctors what happened to him,” Jackieboy said, half talking to himself, “which would be...bad. So he’ll stay here for now. And that’s all we can do.” He looked back up at the rest of them and clapped his hands, “so that leaves Anti and Jameson. We should be safe from Anti here, but he’s probably out hunting for us, so we need to be prepared. Henrick, you’ve beaten him before. Do you have any of the stuff you used last time?”

Schneeplestein shifted, suddenly looking uncomfortable “yes, but zis time it vas...less effective. I vill have to revisit it.”

“Okay, do that. I’m sure you’ll come up with something. As for the rest of us, we should focus on rest for now. Once we’re more healed, we can come up with something. Personally…” Jackieboy shifted a little, “I think it would be best to lure him out, you know? Make sure we can pick the place of the fight, and the conditions. Until then-”

“I want my mask back.”

They all turned to look at Marvin, who met their stares evenly.

“Jackiboy, you still have your mask, Schneeplestein you still have that stupid doctor thing, Chase has the mask he hides his true feelings behind, I want my mask back.”

“What happened to it?” Jackieboy asked, “didn’t it break?” Marvin nodded. “Then...how are you going to-”

“I’m going to find the pieces and put it back together.” Silence. Schneeplestein rolled his eyes and Marvin resisted the urge to strangle him. Instead he sighed and clasped his hands together, “look, at least let me go back and look for it. If it’s not there, then I’ll forget about it, alright?”

“This iz a lot of effort to go through for a piece of your fursuit.”

“SCHNEEPLESTEIN!”

“Alright, alright.” Jackieboy said, “calm down, both of you.” He looked back at Marvin, “I don’t think you should go back there alone.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“What if Anti comes back?”

“Then I’ll deal with him!”

“Ze last time you tried zat your wand turned into a fucking atomic bomb.”

“FUCK OFF! That won’t happen again,” Marvin spat, glaring daggers at Schneeplstein. He took a deep breath, pressing the tips of his fingers together, and squeezed his eyes shut. “Look. You guys all need to stay here, protect Jack, wait for Jameson, that sort of thing. I’ll be gone for like ten minutes, and I’ll come back. I’ll be fine.”

Jackieboy looked like he was going to argue, but then seemed to decide against it. “Okay. But be careful, and come right back afterwards, and if you’re not back in an hour-“

“I’ll be back! Jesus Jackieboy, you’re not my goddamn father!”

“Well I still care about you!” Jackieboy said, looking a little hurt, and for a second Marvin wondered if he should apologize. But the moment passed and the look disappeared from Jackieboy’s face, replaced with firm determination. “Okay. You’ll do that and Schneeplestein will work on his medicine. Cool.”

“Vat are you going to do?”

“I…” Jackieboy took a deep breath and shook his head, “I’m going to pay a little visit to Sam.”

Masterpost with all parts here