Summary: She may succeed in rescuing her sister, her father, her life, but along the way, she will fall – and he will be there, lifting her up, saving her. [Slight AU, Emily Twinfic]

"I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain – and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,

But not to call me back or say good–bye;
And further still at an unearthly height,
One luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night."

Acquainted With The Night, Robert Frost; 1928

Disclaimer: I don't own Dishonored, only any original characters and plots.

Invictus
02: The Good Doctor

Maeve sits by the window, a book in her lap, as she lays her head against the glass pane. With a hand on her novel to prevent her from losing her place and her eyes following the figure of her sister and their "gracious" host Wyman, a flare of jealousy erupts from within her.

It is foolish to blame them, that much Maeve knows. She isn't even attracted to the young teen, not like Emily is. Yet...it hurt because there has been no one for her – no one is attracted to her, not like they are to her sister. Although the twins are identical, their personalities aren't – where Emily is more soft-spoken and gentle, Maeve is gruff and headstrong. Where there are rows of blue, purples, and colors of that sort in Emily's closet, Maeve's has only black leathers, beneficial for her training.

She hears Emily giggle at something Wyman says again, and seeing this, sighs and turns away. What's the point in watching her sister get courted? It'll only upset her anyways.

Maeve tries to return to her novel but her mind will not let her – she is too distracted by her thoughts and the bitterness of her jealousy. Slamming the book closed, she stands up and begins storming down the hall, much to the dismay of the butlers and maids within the castle.

Yet, no matter how far she walks, her sister's giggling and Wyman's obnoxious laugh torment her every step. She is at her limit, and seconds later, her control breaks.

"Screw this!" she screams before throwing the book across the room. It lands with a soft thud on the carpet, and as Maeve turns around with anger fueling her steps, a cough interrupts her.

"Um...Your Highness?"

Scowling, she turns around and sees a boy staring at her, the book she had thrown in her sudden moment of frustration in his hand. They are similar in age, around fourteen – although he is taller, much to her shock, as she stands taller than most her age – and he walks over to her, handing her back the novel. "While I don't know where your frustrations come from, I don't think it's wise to damage anything in the castle. Wyman's father will have our heads."

Maeve crosses her arms across her chest with a scoff, leaning heavily on one leg as she tries to gauge what the boy in front of her wants. "Well, he certainly won't have mine."

"Yes, but he'll have the maids killed and the butlers tortured for even the smallest of scratches on any of his possessions."

"...Who are you? I don't recognize you from any of the courts."

He laughs, but there is nothing amusing about it – she can hear the disdain in his voice, anger dripping from every word as he proceeds to say, "You wouldn't find me anywhere near those functions. My mother refuses to acknowledge my existence and my aunt would rather admit to debt than to let me spoil the family name."

"I...oh." Furrowing her brows, Maeve releases the tension she had kept in her shoulders as she adjusted her stance. "My apologies."

"Nothing to be sorry about." Then, in an over-exaggerated bow, he introduces himself. "I'm Jack Boyle, son of Esma Boyle and the disappointment of my family lineage." Although she knows she shouldn't find the words amusing, he says it with a smile and a mischievous glint in his eyes that causes a struggle to stifle the laugh that threatens to leave her mouth – although, she can't help but snort before bowing and doing the same.

"I'm delighted to make your acquaintance, Sir Boyle. My name is Maeve Kaldwin, second to my sister and to the entire Empire."

Their eyes meet and a bond forms between the two through their insecurities and anger at the world around them.

The Good Doctor

As Maeve opens the doors to the deck of the ship, she sees a woman smoking as she leans against the metal railings all around them. "Um...good afternoon." She walks slowly towards her, noticing the lack of a crew. "I take it you're Meagan Foster and this is the Dreadful Wale?"

With a final drag, the woman drops the cigarette onto the ground and crushes it with the heel of her boots. "That I am."

There is an awkward silence between them as Maeve can't help but stare at the woman before her. There is something familiar about her that she can't place her finger on why – it's almost as if she's seen her face before. Yet, it'd be impossible to forget the person standing here, as she is missing an arm and an eye, something she'd have trouble forgetting.

"I...thank you, for saving me." She's unsure of what to say – although she did make the request to meet with Corvo, that didn't mean the woman could be trusted. "May I ask why you wanted to meet with the Royal Protector?"

With a nod, Meagan turned towards the sea as a distant look overcame her. "I came to Dunwall to warn Corvo but…" The Captain looks at her but immediately turns away, but during the one second their eyes met, Maeve saw enough. She saw anger, caution, and guilt within them. Now, whether that was directed towards her was to be seen. "I was too late."

There are a few seconds of silence once more before she asks, "I was told that you could help me." It's unwise to bluntly ask someone she knows nothing about for help, but at this point, Maeve is desperate. After an attempted coup, and her face certainly being on thousands of wanted posters all across the Empire – and more as printers release additional posters in the upcoming days – there is nothing more that Maeve wants other than someone who will aid her in her mission.

"Yes. I work with an old ally of yours – Anton Sokolov."

"Wait, Anton – my old teacher?" Her eyes widen at the new information.

Meagan nods her head and motions for her to follow. "Yes. I was with him down in the south when we learned of the possibility of a coup. That's why I came here, to warn your father."

There is heavy silence between them that lasts a minute, and when Maeve looks up, she sees the distant figure of Dunwall Tower. It represented her legacy, her family, her life, and in a blink of an eye, she lost it all. "...My father and sister are gone, turned to stone by a witch who claims to be my long-lost aunt." Closing her eyes, remembers her family turning to stone as the events of that day continue to haunt her. "Everybody in the Throne Room was massacred. The bodies, the blood…and all I could do was run." Her voice comes out a whisper, shame and anger rushing through her veins.

"I don't know if this is something you'd like to hear but sometimes, Lady Maeve, the only thing someone can do to help is run." Megan looks over the to the setting sun. "By escaping, you're given the chance to change things, to save this country before it's too late."

"Even so, it doesn't make the guilt any lighter." Maeve takes one last look at her home before turning towards the Captain. "But thank you for saving me. I know you're risking a lot by letting me stay."

Megan snorts before waving her hands. "No one will notice the Dreadful Wale, not as long as we're moving. So on that note, where to, Your Highness?"

"Delilah mentioned that we were hiding behind the murders of the Crown Killer...I need to head to where those started." The southernmost city in the Empire and the birthplace of her father. "I need to go to Karnaca. It has to be where it all started."

Where it was once known as the Crown Jewel of the Nation, after the death of the previous Duke, his son, Luca Abele, managed to destroy everything his father had worked so hard for within a few measly years. That man is a conceited, selfish, power-hungry man that does not care for the lives of his people.

She's never liked Luca Abele, and the events of the past week cause her to hate the man even more.

"It'll take a couple of weeks, even by traveling through the canal but...okay, let's go."

The Good Doctor

"Maeve, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes, Father."

Corvo frowns at the sight of his fifteen-year-old daughter before him. "You will be giving up the life that your mother would have wanted you to have instead, you do realize this right?"

Maeve looks down, the death of Jessamine still a painful topic for her. "...Yes," she says, guilt coating her voice.

"Then why?" He places his hands on her shoulders and makes her look up at him. "You are a princess, you should be learning how to talk to diplomats and the way a government runs should something happen to Emily."

He sees a flash of anger in her eyes before it disappears, her blue eyes masking away her emotions so carefully that even he has trouble nowadays interpreting what her actions mean. "Being an Empress, if it should come to it, means nothing to me. I know it's selfish but I don't want to be forced to marry a man I do not know or to realize how corrupt our government truly is. All of these issues...Emily is far more knowledgeable about them. Even as a child, Father, while we were being taught by tutors, they never cared much for me. They always doted on her because it was always Emily for them." The bitterness in her voice does not go unnoticed by Corvo, causing him to frown even more. "To me, being able to protect my sister would be a better fitting role instead of a Princess."

He locks his jaw in thought before releasing a breath. "This life, Maeve, if you become a Protector...it will be hard, even more so because of your gender."

"I know."

"You will be ridiculed and not taken seriously. The men will harass you and I will not be able to do anything about it."

"I know."

"And I hope you know that the royal court will not accept your choice to do this."

"I know."

"But if this is what you truly want–"

"It is, Father," she pleads with him. "Please."

Corvo takes a deep breath and nods his head. "Then I will enroll you in the program to decide my successor," he says against his better judgment.

The Good Doctor

"Lady Maeve."

"You need to stop Delilah," the Outsider says to her as she grips her newly received gift – her mother's heart.

"...Lady Maeve?"

"I didn't understand any of the things I saw that day," she argues. The mark on her hand continues to burn, particularly in his presence. The still figures of those who usurped her sister's throne were still behind her and the smile that adorns Delilah's face fuels her anger. "So you expect me to take back my sister's throne how, exactly?"

"You will have to figure that out on your own." He walks towards her and bends down to look at her in the face. "But I'll let you in on a secret; she has her sights on a much greater prize," he whispers, his face revealing nothing.

"Lady Maeve! Are you even listening?"

Maeve blinks at the towering figure standing in front of her. "I'm sorry – also, don't call me Lady Maeve." She shudders at her title. "Just call me Maeve."

"Fine." Megan points to an article containing information about the Crown Killer. "Now, will you listen?"

"Sorry sorry, I was just distracted."

The woman narrows her eyes before scoffing. "Anyways, as I was saying, Sokolov was taken by the Crown Killer, and I've traced clues to where I think the both of them are."

Maeve can't hide the frown as she asks, "You know, it's been eating at me, but what exactly were you and Sokolov doing here?"

Megan takes a breath of her pipe before answering. "The old man...he loves Karnaca, but he caught wind of a conspiracy linked to the Crown Killer. We came here to find out for certain and...well, he was taken before we could move on the information we got."

"That's why you came to Dunwall instead," she answers for the woman. Megan nods her head silently. "I had read about the tension here in Karnaca but...everyone in Dunwall believed that it would be fine, that the local authorities would be able to handle the violence and corruption here."

"Sokolov was smart...he's the one that concluded that the Duke was the head of the conspiracy." She looks at the picture of the said man as Megan recounts the past few months. "And then...he came in here looking shocked – and I'm sure you know that's unusual – so we planned to go straight to Dunwall that night."

"...But the Crown Killer came here and took him before you left."

Megan took a long look at her before closing her eyes. "The hatch was ripped open and I heard a scream. All I was able to see was a figure carrying him across the deck. I followed for as long as I could and the end result?" Maegan slams a pin into the board, marking… "Addermire Institute."

"Addermire? As in the research facility?" Without waiting for a response, Maeve continues her ramble. "That place is run by that alchemist – what was her name..." She stands up and begins tapping a finger against her leg. "Um…"

"Dr. Hypatia?"

Whirling around, she points to Megan. "Yes." Despite the smile on her face, her stomach turns with the information. She doesn't like where the turn of events are leading – there is something wrong and her instincts are telling her the same. "There's got to be more to this story though. It just...doesn't sound right. You think that the Duke is using one of the doctor's patients, I'm guessing?"

"Um, yeah...that's exactly what I thought."

She shakes her head. This is not adding up. "But I read reports on Dr. Hypatia. She would never let the Duke use a patient of hers like that. She cared for her patients, always helping the workers from those silver mines." Letting out a sigh, she rubs her neck in slight frustration. "What are the reports on her now? Her current locations or movements?"

"They've closed down Addermire to the public and it's the same for Hypatia – she isn't seeing anyone, not anymore. She's practically a prisoner there if you ask me. But that's all the info I got – the Duke's being very quiet about it."

"...I won't find out more until I get there. So the plan is for me to go to Addermine, find Sokolov, and if possible, stop the Crown Killer."

"Pretty much."

"Sounds easy," Maeve says sarcastically as she stretches her arms. "So how do I get there?"

"I'll take you as close as possible with my skiff. I'll have to drop you off in a dock near the place though; the security surrounding Addermine is too tight for me to take you there completely." Megan then proceeds to list out the Guard Towers Maeve will have to take down in order for her to get a ride home, a plan that she agrees to.

"Great." Picking up the crossbow that she was given, Maeve sighs. "Let's go rescue the old man. It's about time for a reunion."

Fifteen minutes later, Maeve has a sense of foreboding as she looks at the dark, ominous building that is the Addermire Institute of Infectious Disease. The captain then warns her as they reach their destination that wearing a mask would, in fact, put her in danger from the Grand Guard. Making matters worse, the hood she wore will most likely get even the civilians talking – but to ensure that Maeve wouldn't be recognized, she'll take the risk. Taking heed of her warning, Maeve takes a step off of the skiff and watches as her only companion return back to her boat. Although the sky was clear and sunny, she could feel the tension within the area as she walked around.

"What the hell? Why are you wearing a mask?"

Ignoring the man, she allows her feet to carry her somewhere and unconsciously stops in front of the dead whale at the end of the port. She feels her mother's heart pounding harder and harder as she inches closer to the creature.

Ah, she sees it, the thing causing this abnormal beating in the Heart.

Reaching down, Maeve takes the whalebone. The moment her hand touches it, she feels...powerful. She has felt this before when she received the same item from the Outsider all those nights ago. Despite being quite large, there is barely any weight to these bones – something she is quite grateful for as she pockets it.

Standing back up, she now does what Megan told her to do earlier. She finds the Blackmarket.

After searching for a few minutes, she finally finds the image of the two hands and follows the arrows, which leads her to an apartment building. She buys what she needs – albeit, at an expensive price she never would have had to pay in Dunwall – and leaves the building from the way she came in.

She scouts for a few minutes, which allows her to conclude that she has two methods – one which allows for a direct approach through the Wall of Light and another that takes her through the bloodfly infested apartment. But before she can make a decision, the voice of a man begging for his life reaches her ears. She rushes to where the plea originates and observes the scene playing out before her – two Grand Guards, harassing a local citizen for being reported.

"I warned you what would happen Rapollo –"

"Please, I-I had too –"

"– And you're going to have to pay." Maeve knows what the Guard is going to do and before he can throw the civilian through the Wall of Light, she instinctively reaches out her hand and...freezes the people around her.

"W-What?" She looks around before slowly turning her head down at her hand, only to see her mark glowing through the black leather of her makeshift glove. It is to hide the mark of the Outsider – she will not allow herself to be taken by those Overseers before her work is finished.

"You are able to freeze time, although not for long," a familiar voice whispers into her ear. "Use it wisely." She whirls around, expecting to see the Outsider, but there is no one. She ignores the slight feeling of disappointment and digests this new information. "Your time is running short, Your Highness."

Shaking her head, Maeve rushes to Rapollo and grabs the man before he is pushed into the Wall of Light. She can already feel the draining effect of freezing time and quickly stabs sleeping darts into the two Guards. She barely reaches the civilian's body before her power gives out, returning time back to normal.

He holds his hands in front of him, slightly disoriented by what she did. "W-Who are you?" he asks a few seconds later. "W-Where am I? I w-was over t-there not even a second...a-ago…" His eyes widen and before she a word can leave her mouth, the man's eyes roll back into his head and he collapses onto the ground. She blinks once before sighing.

Today...today is going to be a long day.

Before she can continue on her path, the sudden pounding that comes from her mother's heart stops her in her tracks once more.

There is another rune nearby.

Following her instincts and the beating of the Heart, it leads her to the building next to the Wall of Light. She moves to go through the front door but...she can hear Overseers.

"Damn it," she mutters, realizing she must find another way to reach the runes. It does not surprise her that the Overseers have found the same items she is after – they find objects worshipping the Outsider all the time, particularly in the high-end of Dunwall.

She rolls her shoulders before using her Far Reach – that is what she has begun calling this teleporting power she has – to reach the open patio, which lands her directly behind an Overseer. She quickly knocks out the two unsuspecting Overseers before reaching the room that contains a...Shrine.

This is new, the only time she has seen this is when she was in the Void. She had heard of the existence of these Shrines, but to actually see one in person – and not in the Void...

Maeve touches the runes and somehow, she knows that the Outsider will appear before her. When he does, he talks of the story of Karnaca, of how the Duke destroyed his father's work. But afterward, he asks her if she will be the final step in destroying this city, or if she will become its savior.

And as the Void and it's occupier disappear, Maeve does not know how she feels about that.

The Good Doctor

She's right – today really is a long day.

"Hypatia, you must listen –"

"Hypatia...isn't here right now," Grim Alex growls at Maeve, the hand that is wrapped around her throat tightening even more. The creature slams her head onto the linoleum floor, causing Maeve to lose the grip she has on the doctor's arm. All she needs a little more power to activate the time but if she does not get rid of this damn hand on her throat, she will not be able to use it because she will be dead. There has got to be something…From the corner of her eye, Maeve sees her sword in what seems to be within arm's reach. She reaches for it but her weapon is too far away.

This is it, she's going to die.

Her eyesight starts to dim as the room around her darkens. With one last blink, she turns her head back to her sword and instead, sees...him. He stands by the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest as he looks at her.

"Maeve."

For some reason, this gives her strength.

With the last of her energy, Maeve turns back around and swings her head up to meet the Crown Killer's, as pain flares all around her forehead. Immediately, air flows back into her lungs while Hypatia is knocked off of her body. She coughs, her throat burning with excruciating pain, and as much as she wants to lay there to drink in the sweet air, there is no time to rest. She blindly grabs her sword and reaches for the fence on the second floor. She lands face first, unsteady on her feet from a combination of a lack of oxygen and her lack of power.

She groans as she tries to stand. "Where are you?!" the monster roars out below her.

"Get up. Your fight is not yet over Maeve."

And she does exactly as the Outsider tells her too. She stands and leans against the wall, pushing herself to the door. She is not exactly quiet, however, and knows that in seconds Grim Alex will find her. She barely makes it in time; as she closes the large doors that lead her to this accursed place, she sees the rage on the Crown Killer's.

Hoping that the doors remain shut, she slowly returns back to Vasco's lab to create the cure that will return the doctor back to her original self.

After sneaking around the guards – and saving the poor Joe Hamilton from his torture – Maeve was able to successfully create the antidote for Hypatia, thanks to Vasco's notes. And while it was a struggle to find some way to inject the serum into the doctor, she is successful. Within minutes, the faint whispers of anger disappear from the Crown Killer as color returns to Hypatia's face.

While the doctor recovers, Maeve takes it upon herself to explore the spacious office – if one could call it that. She tries to find anything that she will be able to use to her advantage, any knowledge that will help against her fight against the Duke. It is when she is looking at the map that she hears a voice from the other room. "W-Where am I? W-What happened?"

"Doctor Hypatia?" she calls out carefully, walking slowly out of the office.

"Uh...yes?" She reaches Hypatia and slowly, but surely, she lends a hand and waits to see if the doctor will take her hand.

And she does – Hypatia takes her hand, and with a weak grip, Maeve helps her stand and allows her to lean on her for support as the doctor recovers her balance.

"You're okay now, I've healed you."

"I was...sick?"

Maeve is careful to hide it, but there is a lump in her throat at the surprise in the question. "Someone was poisoning you but...I've put an end to that."

"I...I can't remember but...if that is true, I can't thank you enough." Hypatia gives her a smile as tears pool around her eyes. She quickly wipes them away and if it is out of embarrassment or out of shame, Maeve does not know. "I don't know why I'm crying but...I feel as if you have saved my life."

"It was the least I could do for you." Maeve removes her mask and pulls down the hood she wears, smiling at the doctor. A few seconds of silence pass before she reaches out and places a hand on the doctor's shoulder.

"Y-Your Majesty?"

Maeve shakes her head and at this, realization settles into the woman's eyes. She now knows that the woman who stands in front of her is not Emily Kaldwin – no, it is someone far worse, someone who will shake the foundations of the world. It is someone who will go to the ends of the Earth – and beyond – to save those she loves. She will break every rule to reach her end goal, no matter the cost. How Hypatia knows this, she does not know. Yet, what she does know is that there is a part of her, hidden so far down that there is no chance of it ever seeing daylight again, that is...afraid. Is this fear she feels something good, something that will save not only her but the Empire, or should she be afraid of what life will become?

"Would you like to come with me?" Maeve asks, bringing Hypatia out of her thoughts. Seeing the questioning look on her face, the former princess continues. "I'm staying on a ship and it might help to clear your mind a bit to be away from all of..." She motions to everything around them. "This."

"I think that will be a good idea." The doctor grabs the hand on her shoulder and squeezes it. "Thank you, Lady Maeve," she says with gratitude.

Maeve smiles in return. "I have someone waiting for me by the docks." She helps the doctor out of the room and they slowly walk through the Institute – thankfully, with the guards all still unconscious – as a sense of unease comes over her. "Doctor Hypatia, may I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"While you stayed here, was there someone that came here to check on you? To make sure that you did what you were being told to do?" Maeve asks as they reach the kitchen, leading the older woman to a chair. "I know I'm asking questions that you may not want to answer, but to ensure both of our survival, I need to know."

However, Hypatia is relaxed – or, as relaxed as someone who just went through her ordeal can be – before giving her a warm smile. "It is okay, Your Highness, it's the least I can do." She takes several deep breaths, her fingers twitching as she tries to remember the events of the past few months. "A lot of things I can't remember but I think...I remember the Duke. He comes here sometimes."

"Is he alone?"

Hypatia shakes her head. "No, there is...a young man. Always a young man with the Duke. He still comes sometimes, by himself. It usually then when I fall asleep."

Maeve mutters a quiet curse before asking, "You wouldn't happen to know who this young man is, would you?"

"N-No, I'm sorry." Suddenly, the doctor asks what day of the week it is, and when Maeve answers, a look of resignation shifts onto the woman's face. "If I remember correctly...he should be coming today."

"Today?" Shit. "Did he come already?" Maeve asks but she already knows the answer, and as Hypatia responds with a no, she understands why her instincts are acting the way they are.

It is because whoever that young man is, he is coming, right now, to Addermine.

"We need to go, now." Maeve, seeing no choice, turns around and tells Hypatia to get onto her back. "It might be slightly uncomfortable and I'm sorry if I cause you pain, but this is the fastest method."

"I understand."

Grabbing an Addermine Solution from the shelf, she downs the entire bottle before rushing towards the exit that is, thankfully, near the kitchen. But before she can open the door, she can hear a sudden boom that comes from somewhere within the Institute that is soon followed by the thundering of boots.

...Well, there's that young man Hypatia was talking about – and it seems like he brought company.

Throwing the door open, Maeve looks around. With the watchtowers down and the guards all around it still unconscious, the only obstacle left that may be preventing her escape is the Grand Guard behind her.

"...her!" She hears a shout that is...too familiar to her. Wait a second...it couldn't be…?

"Lady Maeve, you must hurry." Taking a deep breath, she rushes down the stairs as carefully as possible.

"Megan, we need to leave now, there is a group of soldiers –" The captain helps move Hypatia off of her back without even questioning why the doctor is with her once Maeve reaches the small skiff. There is barely any more time and Megan knows it. The former protector moves to take a step in the boat when she hears a shout.

"Maeve!" Whirling around, she sees the one person she had hoped she would never see again. Her mind goes blank with shock and she is frozen, unable to move.

"...Jack?" her voice breaks as she whispers his name. Her voice disappears within the wind, her words never reaching the man. Instead, he points to her, giving a set of orders to the guards behind him before turning back to her once more.

Why? Why? Why would he do such a thing?

"We need to go!" Megan suddenly grabs her arm and pushes her into the boat. "We don't have time for you to start reminiscing about the damn past!" There is no protest from any of the passengers as she starts the boat, pulling away from the dock.

As they speed away, Maeve feels...guilty, and somewhat raw, just like the day she had said goodbye to him. But Jack, that rage-filled look on his face...it made him seem as if he was an entirely different person – a person she can no longer recognize.

"Who was that Maeve?" Megan quietly asks from behind her. They have been speeding through the ocean water for a while now, but the heaviness in the air is not just from the famous Karnacan humidity.

Maeve refuses to turn around and continues to look over the horizon, the sun setting over them. While she feels the telltale burn behind her eyes, she refuses to let a single tear fall at the thought of the man she saw earlier.

" Jack Boyle...my former lover."

The Good Doctor

"My father will kill you if he catches us."

"I know and that's part of the thrill, don't you think?" The young man brushes his hand against her cheek. "But don't worry, no one will catch us."

She gently slaps away his hand before turning towards the window. "They will, I know it. My father...he will definitely find out."

"And what? Get mad?" He scoffs. "Corvo barely pays attention to you outside of your training – it's always about your sister to him." She could hear the venom dripping from his voice as he mentions her father.

"Don't talk about him like that." Maeve whirls around angrily. "My father tries his best to balance time between Emily and I… It just so happens that at this current moment, she needs him more than I do," she defends.

And it's true – just last week, there was an attempt on Emily's life. Corvo blames himself for not being with her that day, allowing the assailants to get as close as they got. Luckily, Emily is not weak – as many believe her to be – and Alexi stood by her that day as she showed not just the attackers but the entire Empire that she is to be taken seriously.

No longer do they call her the Child Empress – no, since then, the Empire acknowledged her maturity, now calling her for what she is: their Empress.

"...Hey, I'm sorry, okay? I just don't think it's fair how he treats you – how everyone treats you." He holds her face with his hands as their foreheads connect. "One day, when our training is all over and they choose the Royal Protector – which won't be us – I want you to know that..." He kisses her on the cheek before continuing. "..That we will be a family – hell, we'll have a family – and I promise you that I will love our children unconditionally while loving you."

"Jack…"

"No, listen." He pulls slightly away but looks into her eyes. "I hate the way they treat you here like you don't matter. The only reason why I'm here trying to become a Royal Protector is that, well, my aunt forced me too. You were there for that, remember? The only reason I remain is to be by your side – the only woman to ever be accepted into the program that will choose the next Royal Protector. You defied everyone's odds by, well, beating everybody up."

"Don't forget – I beat you up too."

He groans before pulling her into a kiss. "I love you," he says as they pull away.

I love you too, Jack."

Five years later...

"Maeve, what did you do?"

The twenty-year-old pulls her arm away from his grasp. "I was chosen, Jack, to be the next Royal Protector."

"No no no, you promised that –"

"That what?" Tears run down her face as she crosses her arms over her chest. "That I'd turn down the one thing that will allow me to protect my sister? To be with my family? The one thing that I have worked my ass off to be able to do?"

"If you take that job...we can't be together, you know that!" he pleads with her. "We made promises...we talked of a life outside of the tower!"

"I...I know, Jack, and I would love to be able to do those things with you but –"

"But what then? Why are you choosing them and not me? Why are you choosing to stay here?"

"Jack, please –"

"Why, Maeve?

"She's family, that's why!" At this point, she is sobbing. She is barely holding herself together in front of the man she loves. "I watched as men tried using her as a pawn ten years ago. I will not allow myself to stand by like I did then if something like that were to happen again."

Never again.

Jack punches the wall to his right. "It doesn't have to be you though, Maeve. There are ten other candidates that they can choose from – so why do you have to be the fucking Royal Protector?"

"I love you, Jack." Maeve makes him meet her eyes. "I do, but...I love my sister, too."

"Please...don't do this," he begs. "I love you so much, so please, don't go."

"Jack...I can't, I have to." She reaches for the clasp on her chain necklace – a necklace that carries two different rings. She pulls off the silver ring and looks at it on her palm. "You have made me so happy Jack, you have given me the happiest five years that I can think of."

"Don't."

"But...I choose to protect my sister and if we are together, I can't protect her. I can't protect the Empress" She places her engagement ring onto his palm before closing it. "But I will always love you." Immediately, the sudden rage that fills his face scares her – it is a look she has never seen on him before.

"If you walk out that door, that means you are choosing the fucking crown over me."

"I…"

"I will never forgive you if you do this."

"I'm sorry, Jack." Taking one last look at the man who was supposed to be the next chapter of her life, Maeve turns around. "But Emily...she is my priority. Despite what you may believe, she is always there for me. She struggles – we both do – but I love her."

"Don't do this Mae, don't."

"I hope one day you will forgive me for this choice." Without another glance, she walks out of the room, her steps feeling heavier and heavier the farther away she goes.

The Good Doctor

The Outsider

Maeve cries when she is alone. She cries for her father, for the man that was supposed to protect her. She cries for her fallen sister, for a fallen crown. Yet, she mainly cries because of her anger – because she holds herself to blame for the fall of the Empire. If I paid more attention, she whispers to no one. If I had been stronger, she sobs, tearing herself open to the shadows in her room.

But...he does not think her weak.

So when Maeve cries for the third time this week, he is there. He places a hand on the side of her face, destroying the images that torment her in her sleep. He lightly brushes a finger upon each eye, hoping that they will see nothing but peaceful bliss as she dreams – and he then kisses her forehead, hoping that she remembers the strong woman she is. The powerful person that has, in a literal sense, defied all the odds that are placed against her. So no, she is not weak.

Never a word she should be associated with.

He looks at the open diary on her desk when he hears a shifting in her bed half an hour later. "You're here." Turning around, he sees her sitting up, removing her blankets.

He openly stares at her before moving beside her bed. "Sleep, Maeve."

The following days will be hard on her, both physically and mentally. There are several paths in the decisions she will have to make, and the consequences of said decisions will shape the way her journey will end, the way her vengeance will take her.

"I can't." Standing up, she shivers at the cold that is seeping into her feet from the metal floor. "There is too much on my mind." He remains silent as she leads him out of her room. They walk together to the deck, the early morning air much cooler than the warm, humid air during the day.

"...I'm tired," she whispers into the air a few minutes later. Her eyes are closed as she stands tall, a strong pillar in the wind that brushes past her as her hair, let down for once, flutter in the wind behind her. When her eyes open, the conflict within her brown eyes is like a raging flame, causing the darkness within them to shine. "But I have to save them."

"You do not have to save them all, Maeve." He stands next to her, facing the same direction. "You owe these people nothing." He sees their greed, their selfishness, their cruelty. They do not deserve her help.

A soft laugh with hints of understanding breeze through him. "...My sister loves them. She loves the Isles and her people. Even if they may die, thinking she hates them – she will always love this Empire." Maeve smiles at him. "And if she loves them, then it is my duty to save them."

"You are your own person."

"I am – I know that, but...there is a part of me that also wants to save these people. They are suffering because Dunwall turned a blind eye, as long as we got our silver. I owe it not only to Emily...but to them. I wonder if any of us actually looked at where we got our stupid silver, could we have avoided some of this? Would these people be suffering less?" Her voice is small, he can easily detect the slight tremor as she asks the question she already knows the answer to.

And because of this, the walls she so painstakingly built around her crack – and they hold, her sheer stubbornness and anger acting like a glue. But the slight damage it creates is enough for him to see the guilt weighing heavily on her conscious.

"You are not weak." He forces her to look at him. As he stares into the deep brown of her eyes, he realizes that he has not interfered with those he has touched like this...in over two millennia. "I know what weakness in humans is like, and it is ugly, a brutal creature in the darkness of all minds. But within you, while there is fear, there is no weakness." Tilting his head a little to the side, he allows himself to place a hand against her cheek. He sees the blood flush to her cheek as he says, "...Be strong, Maeve. The strength that resides within you is magnificent, one of a kind, and it is this strength that will save your sister, your father, and one day, yourself."

"I…" She stays silent, at loss for words, before standing on her toes to reach his height. She slowly brings her face closer to his and for the first time in four millennia, there is warmth upon his face as her lips gently touch his cheek. "Thank you," she whispers to him.

And as the sun shines over the ocean and onto the ship, he disappears back into the darkness that is associated with him. There is longing within their eyes, and as they look at each other for one last time, she gives him a smile. Nothing too much, just a simple tilt in the corner of her mouth, but it is enough for them both.

Because of his interference, she is happier, lighter – and despite his personal rule of never interfering with the future, his decision tonight now guides her down a different path, and it is a path with an ending even he cannot see.

02 – The Good Doctor
End

A/N: The storyline I have planned will follow Dishonored 2 with Emily's playthrough but sporadically, I will insert random OC's and I have probably one entire chapter that will be devoted to an original chapter that I created. Certain events/missions will be changed for the AU I have planned!

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