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thatoneweebsworld · 10 days

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Wenna literally out here getting *all* the tea

Ch. 102 // How Do You Feel? // Day 78

Contents (Warnings): Sum up what's left (Angst, character and monster info as always). Read full chapter on A03

Wordcount: 2,000+

Song I correlate to this Chapter: definitely not Mariah Carey's all I want for Christmas is you.

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(Dec. 20th, Tuesday)

Lynette

It had been nearly two weeks since the incident.

After we were collected, given immediate care, exchanged our testimonies, and debriefed, we were allowed to go home.

Most of it was mashed together in my mind. I figured it was due to how fast everything happened. Working at the pizzeria is a testimony to that statement.

I knew there were mass casualties—most of the people in the basement were recovered, and Andras, along with Victoria, were in custody, most likely going to be put to death.

I didn't know the extent of the C.P.P.A.'s legal system and wanted to avoid asking Wicks. Despite claiming he was okay, I knew he wasn't.

Lately, he was antsy. He'd check on me every hour, and each time he did, he'd offer me sweets—far more than usual. His excuse was that he had to dispose of the ever-increasing keep-away-from-Lentils stash.

And before I left today, he made me promise three things.

"One, you won't go out with anyone, monster or not, unless Charletta, Mom, Dad, or I go with you."

It felt fair for now. I hadn't made any human friends.

"Two, IF anyone bothers you after you tell them to leave or you feel uneasy about them in any way. Use your knife."

I received it after finishing my training last week. I currently had it strapped to my belt, concealed behind my jacket at my back.

I was afraid to admit that even thinking about seriously stabbing someone scared me.

It'll get more manageable if I keep training with Garter. I assured myself.

"Three, if you get in a coworker-related trouble again at any point, you're quitting."

It was the only compromise I'd give him. It wasn't their fault. Neither Claudia nor Drake expected that to happen. I convinced him to agree, but I wasn't sure if I'd go back or not.

"Here's your pretzel," my sister said. She unconsciously hummed the current Christmas song on the speakers: ' All I want for Christmas is no copyright infringements.'

We were at the mall together, getting last-minute Christmas gifts for the family. All we had to do was wait for Wenna to arrive.

I still think dragging me along with them is a bad idea. I thought.

After what happened, Drake wasn't permitted to be around me for the next month. Because of the extreme stress of being constantly deprived of energy and drinking my blood back to back to back, he got addicted.

From what I understood, if a vampire was under pressure and continued to drink from the same person, their body deemed no other "resources" available, so it'd become possessive and protective over that "resource." That'd also mean they'd exclusively crave that being's blood.

So, Drake would be drinking animal blood for the next month to 'reset his palette.' This apparently happened to him with Elise, Viola's partner as well.

Wenna assured me she'd stay at Viola's house after she left the mall, so Drake wouldn't have exposure to my scent either.

It made giving him a birthday gift a little more complicated. I said in my head as I took a bite of the pretzel while we walked. Charletta happily tore into hers beside me.

We had yet to walk into any festively decorated storefronts, but seeing them made my smile come alive. Not that I hadn't been to the mall in a while—Wicks and I'd come here at least once a month since the rock climbing place we visited every week was next door.

The adorning wreaths and garlands in cahoots with the cinnamon and pine scents delighted me. I loved buying gifts for people, and this was the holiday with the biggest and best excuse to spend my money on it. I hadn't had a reason to use much of the money I'd made at the pizzeria.

This realization brought me back to what I should do. If I stayed, I planned on going back after Christmas.

After I finished my pretzel, I threw away the napkin, and Charletta tugged my arm.

"Hey, we should sit at those chairs you like." She slipped her phone back into her pocket.

Before she continued to drag me, we waited for the excited kids to run by to see Santa at the huge, well decorated, Christmas tree.

"I remember when you and Madre had to put up with me pulling Wicks to Santa." I chuckled as I plopped onto the chair, feeling the motionless massagers underneath me awaiting my money. I also noted the other person using one behind mine.

Charletta fell back on the one next to me and laughed, too: "That first time he was put on his lap. He was bawling and begging for Mom to get him."

I whimpered, "I still feel so bad. I thought you guys knew who Santa was!" I put a dollar into her chair and mine.

"We had a monster similar to Krampus back on Yexodele, but no Santa." She said with a shake of her head.

A monster similar to KRAMPUS? I would have asked further, if the other part of what she said didn't get my attention too. "On Yexodele?"

"We lived there before we came here." Charletta closed her eyes and relaxed back. "We should get a massage at one of the shops with Wenna."

"Then why did you..." It had been so long since it was mentioned to me, but I remembered what Drake said.

"I never saw it, though, Yexodele. I was born on Earth." [...] "There was a big war that broke out between the strongest nations, and now nearly all of it is uninhabitable."

"Oh, right." I sheepishly replied.

Despite Charletta's smile, her face contained freckles of concern. She asked, "have you been told about it?"

"Yeah, Drake told me some things about the war."

"It was crazy. I was thirteen when we came here." She bustled with laughter and waved her hand around, seemingly to avoid the topic. "You know how hard it was not to use any of my tricks in front of people and to be around people that looked like me."

I didn't press her. "I think it's similar to how I feel knowing about everything now." It was disorienting to see some people at the mall, knowing one could be a giant monster living here peacefully or, like Andras, not so much.

I followed her lead and shut my eyes, too. Beneath my eyelids, the images of what has happened so far, the good and the bad, fluttered about. It's been, what, a little over four months?

"Speaking of things you can't always see," Charletta nudged my arm with her elbow. "What's on your mind?"

I flinched as the massage chair got to my neck. I pulled away from it for a moment and sighed.

"What should I do?"

"About?"

"You know…" How could I explain it?

Charletta turned her attention to mean, leaning up in her chair. "What do you feel you should do?"

I shrugged and played with one of my curls. "I don't know. Claudia's nice, and Zilla's not bad. As long as she's not using me in some hair-brain scheme, she's fine. Lev is Lev, Drake... I don't blame him for what happened." It was all Andras. He abused us both and manipulated Drake. I'd attempt to treat him the same; even with the incident at the festival, he was the only one who acted friendly and genuine to me.

"And Alexander," my thoughts sank. There had been so many things dwelling under the surface of my mind. Yet Alexander's face stuck out the most. I had never seen him like that. He was always annoyed, unbothered, or hungry, never terrified.

"I-I never had someone look at me like that before." I kept vividly hearing his raspy, hard breathing and seeing his body shake and stammer in retreat. "He looked afraid of me when he's the scary opposing one-" I don't understand how Andras could derive satisfaction from it. It made me feel sick and overwhelmed with the need to chase him. I wanted to know why he ran away from me and refused to accept what I said.

"From what Wicks told me, things went down, and Alexander had other complicated feelings at the time," Charletta said calmly.

I didn't know Wicks talked to you about it. "That's why I was trying to get it through to him. He went back to help Wicks!"

"Knowing you, of course, you did," Charletta said as she paid the chairs for us this time when they ran out. "You shouldn't fret too much about that big softie. He'll be fine."

I did a double take and choked on my spit. I coughed, "wha-" I continued the fit for a little longer. "He's not a softie!"

Charletta pursed her lips together to hold back her giggles, then popped them when she got a handle over herself, "I did my own investigation during Thanksgiving because Wicks wouldn't stop complaining about him."

"Huh?" That's right. She sparred with Alexander during the party. "that's why you fought him?""

She tilted her head, "duh." She rested her hands behind her head momentarily before she realized the robotic massage went up to it. "I wanted to know if he was as stupid and rude as Wicks described. "

He's blunt and abrasive. I didn't know whether I'd call him dumb or not. Just not as receptive?

"I think he's pretty simple," she scoffed. "He's definitely quick with magic and a lot more trusting than I imagined." Charletta rested her head back, "even after I threatened him."

"Threatened?"

She brushed her wavy brown locks from her face. "What? You think I'm not a little peeved that he might not treat my little sister respectfully?" She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. "It worked out well."

"I guess."

"Do you think otherwise"

"I wouldn't fight someone for that reason," I muttered quietly.

Charletta flicked her hand from mine and pushed my chin up, "And there's your answer."

I didn't move from the position she put me in, "not to fight people?" I could have told you that.

Charletta tipped her finger off my chin. "You decide what you do." She put her hands flat over her chest. "I can say what I think is best, same as I'm sure everyone else has or can for you, but we aren't you."

She pointed at me. "You're going through everything, Lyn. You know what you can handle and what you can take. And if you don't know yet, you'll learn."

She's right. I was afraid to make this decision alone—why did I keep fighting with Wicks then? I don't want to give up, do I?

"It's your decision, not theirs," she said, teasingly poking me. "I know it can be tough, especially with Mom and Wicks always coddling you."

My smile wavered. I let my head fall, staring at my knees, going over the side grooves in my jeans with my fingers, "What if I fail again?"

"You don't fail if you try. You fail when you give up and stop trying entirely. If you leave or stay now and leave later, that doesn't mean utter defeat. You tried, and you can work elsewhere if it doesn't work out there." She leaned closer; our chair timers were up. "Like, does it make you a failure at rock climbing if you can't do a wall?"

I shook my head. "No. I'd do a different one until I get good enough to do the one I couldn't."

"Exactly, or you might never go back to that wall again. It might not be your style, fit your groove, or it'll change. So, you aren't a failure unless you stop entirely and deem yourself one."

I puckered and relaxed my lips, still brushing the seams of my pants, while in thought. I do plan on working more after the year. I want to get better at art so I can make silly animations.

My hands rested on my thighs. And if I do quit, I will still do what I can to make that dream a reality. I'll work anywhere else and keep saving.

I looked up at her. "Thank you."

"We're always here for you, Lyn. We'll support you no matter what," she popped up from her chair and offered me an arm up, too. "just don't drive us too crazy, okay? Unless you want Madre and Wicks to seal you away like a Rapunzel forever."

Wicks is already doing that, I thought as I took her offer. "I'd also like to make another thing clear." She brought me close and sharpened her gaze. "When you ask yourself what you want, don't think of the money as a way to pay us back."

"But,"

"We're here for each other. If things didn't work out between Ulysses and me, you all would be there, showering me with everything under the sun. It's no different from us to you, no matter what your brain tells you. Got it?"

"O-okay"

"Good." Charletta glanced at the chairs back to back with ours. "Are you going to hide there all day or give us hugs?"

"Sorry!" Wenna popped up from the chair.

My cheeks were red with embarrassment. People passed us during this conversation, sure, though none were listening. Knowing Wenna was there the whole time, my cheeks were hot.

"I didn't want to ruin your sisterly moment." Wenna came around the chairs to us.

"You're allowed to join them being our sister and all too."

Wenna squealed and grabbed me first in the hug, then Charletta. "Yeah, I am!" Because of Wenna's height to me, we were nearly cheek-to-cheek.

I glanced up at Charletta as she squeezed us back.

My mind was still wrecked, trembling when I thought of what had happened so far, but for some reason, whether it be my stupid determination or the feeling of wanting to prove myself, I wasn't keen on making a decision until after the holidays.

…

Hey, you, thank you so much for reading. I'm glad I put out a story that people can enjoy! I hope you continue to enjoy it as WE have a LOT more to go! YOU BETTER KEEP PROSPERING! (Nonnegotiable, as always~).

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thatoneweebsworld · 24 days

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Ch. 101 // This Doesn't Change Anything // Day Off

Contents (Warnings): What's left but to give thanks... (Angst, character and monster info as always). Read full chapter on A03

Wordcount: 4,000+

Song I correlate to this Chapter: these music has no words but yet it's very expressive (sad chill music mix)

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Wicks

His body slogged on the verge of collapse.

It threw a Molotov of fatigue in rebellion, hoping to slow his movements. I can't rest yet. His thoughts fought the desire to catch his breath.

Andras had drained exponential amounts of energy from the two. If he had failed to make contact that would have been it.

He pulled away and staggered. His legs didn't expect it—he caught himself nonetheless. Once he planted his feet firmly down, he spoke, not looking away from the headless body. "Are you alive, Alexander?"

"Yeah," Alexander replied in a huff.

The shirtless male was somewhere behind him. Wicks didn't know where precisely.

He swallowed back the sizzling bittersweet victory on his tongue, and his thoughts were directed at Andras. Ya terminaste.

Most mimics consumed someone whole, and then their form processed the information and acted as them based on their previous experiences and responses. They were nothing more than animals, consumed and procreating for survival.

While Andras wasn't—Wicks knew of only one other case like him: a mimic overtaken by another person's will. Those mimics became people, no longer bound by their basic instincts. When that happens, they become intelligent, cunning, and heavily capable—and nearly impossible to find.

He finally shifted his eyes and hazily swept the area. Shattered wood, glass, stone—everything lay around them. The ceiling groaned in its attempt to hold under the weight of the broken floor above and the numerous, slowly growing cracks.

"Did you human case him at the end?" Wicks asked as he followed the rigged cracks down one of the wall faces. He did so until he landed on the blonde. He had closed the distance between himself and Wicks.

"I couldn't without my-" Alexander sharply threw his hand at Wicks.

Wicks grabbed it, but Alexander swung him by his sweater and out of the way.

Wicks heard a gag. He fumbled and twisted to the foe.

He's not dead.

"It seems neither of you knew you had to burn the body to kill a mimic." Andras's chuckle rumbled gutturally while he held Alexander's throat.

Its gargling notes furthered the fact that his head hadn't fully recovered.

Wicks's hue struggled to spark. He didn't have enough energy for a prolonged fight. He put up his hands besides that and steadied himself.

"Don't move, Diageo, or I'll kill him." Andras cooed.

His brows came down, pushing together in unbridled frustration. Andras could drain Alexander's remaining energy and go straight for Wicks. He's not confident he'll win that, though, is he?

To Wicks, they were at a standstill. Andras couldn't let them live. He'd been hiding this secret for who knows how long, and if they escaped, the C.P.P.A. would be on high alert, purposefully watching for unregistered mimics.

He wants me within range to kill us both.

Alexander grabbed Andras's arm that held him and snarled, "Fuck it, and kill him."

Andras's throat bubbled with laughter, "So suicidal, aren't you, Short Fuse? You should have given yourself to me if you didn't value your life." He purred with a darkening grin as he leaned closer.

His hushed tone still pittered against the walls loud enough for Wicks to hear. "Because, unlike you, I wouldn't waste your potential wallowing in your own inhibition."

Wicks could tell that Andras's words struck a nerve. Alexander's indignation faltered, and in response, he tightened his grip almost with urgency as if what Andras said would bring forth something that would hunt Alexander.

I can't do that. Wicks wouldn't sacrifice him.

Wicks used what he could to form a cloak around Alexander and ran at Andras. Andras broke the cloak with a quick drain but couldn't take all of Alexander's energy. He had to worry about Wicks's impending assault.

I can't kill him. I don't have enough left.

Wicks still braced to hit, and Andras reached out for him.

Suddenly, it didn't matter. A portal opened and consumed up to Andras's forearm. The portal snapped shut and severed it before he could pull it back. Another opened above them and dropped it.

The user took the confusion and distraction as their entry point. Behind Andras, another portal appeared. He had grown back his limb at this point but didn't have enough time to dodge her.

She threw her palm into his neck, directly at his seal. One of the most useful for monsters to hide amongst humans was also one of their greatest weaknesses.

Because spells directed into them, especially those affecting the mind or physicality, worked best at it.

Soon, Andras's eyes rolled back, his shoulders slumped, and his body fell forward with a thud in front of Wicks. Normally, it wouldn't work so effortlessly, but all of them were weakened.

The woman with splotches of white across her darker skin sighed heavily. Her jack-o-lantern irises slacked in disappointment. "Wicks." She walked over Andras's body and stopped at him.

"Ma'am."

Fortunately, Olivia was his boss, the leader of his Chaos Protection and Prevention Agency branch. This meant that it was considered big enough to garner her attention. It would have been worse if that being had not killed those coming out of the building.

"I've seen the carnage outside," the middle-aged woman said. She stood shorter, but her presence was still chilling. Not that she was harsh or cruel, just powerful. She was a magus that far exceeded Wicks. "Why did you engage on this base without calling for backup?"

Wicks's eyes darted down. He didn't know how long the body below his feet would remain sleeping. "He had my sister." Wicks's lip curled, and with his minimal energy, he wanted to spend it erasing his body.

He had to seize. It's happening again, he reminded himself. His stained folly resurfaced. It wasn't something he considered while he was here. He hyper-fixed on the enemy and killed him. He didn't see what actually happened to Lynette. He figured it out out of fear.

Is she okay? Is it like before? What did he do to her? Will I- no. He didn't want to think about repeating the past. He shook away the past look on her face, the fear in her eyes, the refusal to follow him. It was so vividly painted in his nightmares.

He tilted to move, and Olivia's call finally reached him. "Wicks."

The clawed pangs in his heart tried to steer him toward where his sister would be, though he kept his eyes on Olivia.

Her sympathy reached him. She put a hand up and onto his shoulder. "I understand," she said. She was one of the few who knew the extent of what he did. Every detail he reported. "Even so, the people we usually help are part of families too. We have protocols for a reason." She directed him to the Andras, "What if I came too late? Neither you nor...your friend looked safe."

Wicks couldn't argue. He glanced back at Alexander, and discomfiture settled near his heart. His lips pursed, seeing his failure. The side of Alexander's head, in particular, once obscured by the way Andras held Alexander, showed the shaved part of it. Wicks nearly killed him.

He almost forgot to answer. "He's a 'brother' to the one who married my older sister, Charletta. He's a registered hybrid."

Olivia flicked to him.

"I'm Alexander." He answered.

Wicks studied the rest of him.

Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose, "so you called him in and not for backup?"

Wicks turned his head to her. "I followed him into this. He was at the crime scene first, and he was the one who found Andras."

Olivia let her hand fall. "And you ran in without notifying the C.P.P.A. as well?"

Alexander turned away, huffing. "I did."

She took a deep breath, then exhaled loudly and pointed behind them. "Both of you leave this building and meet with Garter, who's watching the others. Other agents will take care of this. Get yourselves fixed up to go into questioning later," she ordered. Wicks could tell her wrath was directed more at him.

Rightfully so. Wicks thought. He was trained for this, after all.

They both listened to her order, and Wicks made himself walk, no matter how antsy he was to see Lentils.

Side by side, he nearly gave into impulse and read Alexander's thoughts. That's enough.

"I'm sorry I let that happen. I may not exactly like you, but I'd never do that without a reason," Wicks said, his head hanging in shame.

"It wasn't you. That was Andras." Alexander replied. "You don't have to apologize for shit."

Wicks made his way over a few piles of stones, separating him and Alexander further. "I do have to apologize. I should have been more careful and expected something like this."

Due to the rubble, Wicks could only see the top of Alexander's head. They were heading toward the same opening. "Isn't that their whole thing? You don't know something's a mimic until they pop out and get you."

What Alexander said was true. Few monsters were gifted with the ability to distinguish if someone was a mimic or not. His best friend, Garter, was one of them. At least he could use his third eye with more training.

"It doesn't excuse it," Wicks said as they met at one of the holes he had created using Andras's body. "I'm still sorry and grateful that you saved me."

He grunted in response. They waited for the other to go first. Wicks ushered Alexander, and the blonde did the same.

The two seemed to become annoyed with each other. "If you're that worried about it, don't let it happen again." He pushed his hand up where his glasses usually were and grumbled.

"I won't," Wicks promised, standing near him at eye level. Now, you first."

Alexander squinted harder, and Wicks couldn't tell if it was to see him better or if he was out of refusal. Regardless, Alexander gave in and went to step over the threshold.

Then Wicks looked down. He slapped a hand across Alexander's bare chest so he didn't keep walking.

"What?!"

"Zetsu!!" Wicks called when he crouched down. Because of their 'you go first' waiting game, he didn't pay attention to what was in front of them. At the threshold, there was a hand limply hung over the rock. And behind it, Zetsu's body. "Why are you here? How..." A million questions flooded in, and all of them went unanswered. Zetsu was unconscious.

"A friend of yours? I found him partially impaled earlier. Then healed him and went in to see you and the freak."

"He kind of was? We chased him before I got the text about Lynette and followed you here." Wicks looked to Olivia in the distance, containing Andras. It was a perfect line of sight to where they fought him earlier.

You were the one who did the human case on Andras at the last second, weren't you? Why?

Wicks picked up Zetsu's limp body. He was still breathing and had energy, which were both very important. Alexander offered to carry him—Wicks denied him. You can't take all the glory.

He said it more as a joke. "Did you really go inside out of concern for me?"

Should I be insulted or worry about his intentions.

"I went in for Andras."

Then why aren't you mad at me more? Or, Wicks silenced the voice in his head. He let the fresh, dust-free air blow it all away instead. Let everything go for now.

...

Lynette

I thought I got away from all that. I shivered as Drake stood in front of me. Or, more so, he partially put his head on me protectively while growling at Garter.

"We're fine," I said—it didn't alleviate Drake's anger. He was still bound and fighting in those binds.

"I did it so you guys wouldn't run away, too," Garter explained for the tenth time.

He had swallowed Drake and me after our failed attempt to follow Alexander. I wasn't happy about it, but Drake was pissed.

He snapped and threatened Garter the whole time, mainly when he ate me. The C.P.P.A. seemed to arrive, so Garter released us.

All I want is to see and know everyone gets home safe, then go into a coma. I thought with a smile. I attempted to cheer myself up.

However, Drake and Garter's bickering was making it worse. I took a deep breath, stepped away from Drake, and positioned myself between them.

"I appreciate you both for helping me. Okay? We should be focusing on the others and hoping they come back..." My voice hitched. I saw Wicks nearing us, holding someone.

I didn't fully process who he was; I was too overwhelmed seeing him. I ran at him immediately. Neither could nor would stop me this time.

"WAIT LENTILS!!" Wicks yelled. He quickly set down who I soon recognized as Zetsu.

Drake said he left.

The thought stayed for a second, and the next Wicks crashed into me and squeezed me like a stress toy.

I had to tap his arm to get him to loosen up and to make sure I didn't add a broken spine to my list of problems. When he stopped hugging me, he grabbed my face.

"Are you okay? Did he do anything to you? Where's the jacket and shirt I gave you this morning?" Wicks frantically said, pulling at the one I was wearing from Alexander.

Is he okay, too?

I saw that Drake seemed to have the same idea as me. He was not that far from us and was exchanging ideas with Alexander. Physically, he looked fine—at least as fine as my brother did—until I saw him turn his head.

Why didn't he fix it?

My eyes went back to my brother. "I'm okay. He, I," my eyes swelled. "I'm happy you're okay." My lips trembled as I studied Wicks. "Are you hurt?"

Wicks nervously laughed, "Lentils, I'm great. There's no need to worry about me." He hugged me. "I'm sorry it took me so long."

I gripped his sweater tighter. I didn't like that as I sank into it. I smelled blood and felt his fatigued body quiver. You're a terrible liar.

"Shush," I pressed my head deeper into his chest. "Don't say you're sorry for any of this," I told him. "You helped save us."

"Garter and..." he faintly uttered, "Alexander did a lot, too." His hand tenderly petted my current tangled mess. "You have dust in your hair."

"And your ponytail isn't holding much back," I muttered, looking up at him.

After he released me from the hug, he thanked Garter for watching us. Alexander propped Zetsu's body against a tree while Drake and him bickered.

Neither of them looked mad. Alexander looked at me, too. I didn't know whether he felt me staring or if it was a chance. I saw the hunger in his eyes and something else, almost like an ease. It appeared sympathetic.

Is he relieved that it worked out?

Using the other hand that Wicks didn't hold, I tugged at the shirt's fabric. This might be a bad idea. He's probably more hungry than anything.

I clenched my nerves and tugged lightly from Wicks.

"Lentils," his voice warned.

"One second," I said and approached Alexander. As I did, my unsteady nerves told me to return to my security, Wicks.

"Lynette, it's not a good time," Drake attempted to discourage me.

I stopped at a reasonable distance and looked up. His gaze bore down on me, but I didn't let it hold me back. "Thank you, Xander!" I said it with as much meaning as I could.

His eyelids slacked. "For what?"

Huh? I tilted my head. Why do you sincerely look confused?! "for going back." I said. I could feel the emotions flooding in more than prior. "For helping Wicks, whether he needed your help or not." I held myself from blinking.

Briefly, not only did his annoyed expression fall, but he quickly adverted his squint from me entirely. "I just wanted to kill Andras."

My heart thumped. What? I looked to Drake, who appeared pained by Alexander's response. What is he talking about? I peered up at Alexander again.

I stepped closer. I didn't know whether it was the anger from the situation, my helplessness, how easily Alexander deflected it, or that he thought I was too dumb to recognize what happened.

Is it selfish of me to think like this? I didn't care whether he said, 'You're welcome' or not. I cared that he understood how important it was. You didn't just come here for that. I wrote myself off most of the time, too. So it resonated deeper inside me than I realized. Is this how Wicks feels about me?

"Xander," I said in a way that made his body jump.

"What do you want?" He snarled in a low hum. "Unless you're offering yourself, don't get any closer to me."

I didn't move. "Stop disregarding this!"

He snapped his head back. "I went for my own fucking gain. There's nothing to thank."

You didn't... Wicks grabbed my hand. I firmly held his reminder as to why I was so mad. I stayed ahead of Wicks and prevented him from intervening.

And with a hard wheeze, I shouted at Alexander in anger.

"You're a liar!"

...

Alexander

His senses were in disarray. He didn't know what to feel—worn out, content, hungry, annoyed, or angry. His head throbbed, trying to contain them all. He hadn't expected it to go this way.

Alexander thought everything would be worse. Anytime he involved himself, it always was.

That's when she moved closer. He wanted to ignore her, then he hoped she'd ignore him.

The compulsion rose, and his digits twitched anxiously. Alexander's body wanted to shift itself to eat her, much like any time he was around her. His lack of energy made it harder to control.

When he panned to the shirt she wore, his body eased slightly, not by much, but enough for him to respond to what she said. He wanted to convince her that what she tried to say was nonsense. Alexander even snapped at her.

Get away, you idiot.

She was persistent. Not that he wasn't learning that. It vexed him to no end. I'm a monster; I eat humans like you.

He didn't vocalize it like he did several times before. She should have...

What did she call me?

His ears were ringing, and his mind went blank.

They had argued about many things. Lynette called him names, and he did the same to her, yet she had never said anything so serious —something that hurt like she slapped him across the face.

"I saw the way you looked at Drake. You didn't want to leave him. You wanted to stay. He's your best friend, practically your brother," she continued.

Her usually sheepish pasture-green hue looked harsher, like an inferno directed at him. As far as she was concerned, he was the only one that mattered.

Alexander took a step back, and she took another step closer. She didn't let him create any distance and let go of Wick's hand to do so.

"And you still went back!" she hiccupped between her strangled breath, her throat still dry. "You didn't have to. You could have stayed with us and waited." Tears fell from her eyes. She didn't wipe them.

You're- His thoughts couldn't come together seeing her.

"I know you and Wicks aren't on the best terms." She winced and still refused to cusp her aching throat.

Stop looking at me like that.

"I didn't do anything." That was all he could say, and it wasn't nearly as loud as she spoke. Thus, she denied he ever said it.

"You have no idea how much it means to me that you did that." Lynette wouldn't give up.

His head ached, and his mind was becoming inundated with memories—pathetic things he wished he had forgotten.

He wanted it to stop. He wanted to shut her up. But Andras had to start this. Alexander had to get involved. He didn't expect her to be like this. Most people would leave him alone after he shut them down.

Leave already.

He didn't understand why it was so hard to speak. Not until his breathing was shallow.

"Because I couldn't. I couldn't do anything if he needed me. So," He attempted to bring his hand to his chest. She snatched it and held it between both of hers. "Don't stand here and lie to me, Alexander."

His exhale wouldn't leave.

"You're owed as much thanks as everyone else here, especially from me, and I won't let you go without acknowledging it!"

His thoughts could no longer hold back what he once wanted.

"Mom!" He ran to her after he finished his homework at the table. He almost forgot to tell her what he realized today. She had her back to him, occasionally poking the cooking beef on the stove. Alexander didn't judge. He knew it was hard for her since Dad did all the cooking before he left for the war. "Yes, Alex?" She always crouched to meet him. She was much taller than him. And taller than his dad. She had gentler eyes most of the time, too. "I think I know what I want to do." A childish joy lit up on his face. In school, they talked about what their parents did for a living. Since his mom didn't work, he talked about his dad. They classified him as a combat nurse. "You do?" She questioned, smiling. He nodded. "Yeah!" His grin widened. "I wanna be just like dad and help people." "A hero like your dad, huh?" His mom laughed. It was contagious. "He really is super, isn't he?" "He is!" Alexander bounced in his socks, nearly slipping on the tile floor. "I can't wait for him to teach me magic stuff when he gets home." "I know he'll be so glad to hear you say that." She perked back up as grease sizzled from the meat onto her arm. She flung her attention back to the pan. "How about you write down all the stuff you want Dad to teach you when he comes back?" And he did. He made a long list of things. A list he never gave to him because he ripped it up after his body changed forever.

For a brief moment, it hurt again. Lynette reminded him of that.

He heaved. Both of the hands in front of him, the one she held and the one he used to pry hers away, were covered in blood.

It wasn't real. He wasn't there anymore. Yet his body acted like he was. He couldn't focus on her. Everything was blurring. He mistakenly thought he was spinning.

That's how his steps felt. No matter how well his feet were on the ground, he couldn't hold them there. He squeezed his eyes to escape.

"Xander."

Her worry stung.

He opened his eyes once more, pulled away completely, and turned around.

Then, he did the same thing he always did.

He ran.

...

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What I’d do for a Livable Income Part 2 (Synopsis/Chapter - List)

#why are you running #why are you like this #i love him #but jesus fucking christ

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