DISCLAIMER: I own nothing
"No more shooting up!" Rhia scolded him. "I looked the other way after we got the Blade because you had it under control. But you've got a meeting with your lieutenants day after tomorrow and you need to be on the top of your game for it."
"Don't you have Finals to study for," Crowley grumbled in reply.
"I finished those last week. Shows how much you pay attention." She rolled her eyes. "Since you're obviously oh so busy, I'm going to go dance."
He waved her off, never looking up from the book he was reading. It'd been a few months since she'd moved back in and he was starting to get on her nerves again, ignoring her the way he did. Scowling, she went upstairs to dance off her frustrations. She had a new routine to perfect anyways. She was going through her stretches when Crowley wandered in, collapsing onto one of the bean bag chairs, book still in hand.
"Never thought I'd see the day the King of Hell willingly sat in a beanbag chair," Rhia mused. "What are you doing up here?"
"Getting my fix," he replied easily. "Your dancing is the best drug on the market, pet."
She scoffed, leaning forward to stretch out her calves. "Sweet talk will get you everywhere."
"I know," he said smugly.
She stuck her tongue out as she went to turn on the music. Jasmine Thompson's cover of Almost Lover filtered through the speakers and Rhia centered herself in the middle of the room before she began to dance.
Your fingertips across my skin The palm trees swaying in the wind Images You sang me Spanish lullabies The sweetest sadness in your eyes Clever trick Well, I never want to see you unhappy I thought you'd want the same for me
It was a very ballet centered dance, If she hadn't been doing proper stretches, both at Jake's insistence and her determination to get back into acrobatic dance, she wouldn't have been nearly as graceful in her transitions.
I can not go to the ocean I cannot drive the streets at night I cannot wake up in the morning Without you on my mind So you're gone and I'm haunted And I bet you are just fine Did I make it that easy to walk right in and out Of my life?
Crowley was trying to decide if she was using this song to send him a message of some sort or if she'd just randomly chosen it. He'd have to think of a way to ask without actually asking.
Goodbye my almost lover Goodbye my hopeless dream I'm trying not to think about you Can't you just let me be? So long my luckless romance My back is turned on you Should've known you'd bring me heartache Almost lovers always do
She finished and turned to look at Crowley expectantly. He always had some something to say after she danced.
"Well done pet. But could you pick a more depressing song?"
"No, not really. I liked this song. It had the right mood for the choreography I had in mind," she shrugged. Then she laughed when the realization hit her. "You didn't think that was about you, did you?"
"Now why would that thought ever cross my mind?" He was suddenly interested in his book again.
Rhia started laughing harder. "You did! Trust me, yours was a lot less resigned and a lot more hurt."
"I'm actually rather curious to see this dance now."
"Of course you do," she smirked. "You can't get enough of my dancing. What'd you call it? 'Best drug on the market'? I fully expect to get paid after this."
"Rest assured, pet, you'll be receiving full payment."
"Good." She sauntered over to the stereo and changed the music, snagging a snapback off the hatrack in the corner.
Sitting here feeling kinda crazy But not just any crazy It's the kind you feel when you love somebody And I know that my baby Is calling somebody else baby And I can't sit still Look how gone it got me
It was definitely a different kind of dance. Crowley could somewhat understand why she picked such a song, but it didn't mean he had to like it. He didn't like the entire situation in general.
Who knew that my heart could have a bruise? You see this scar here on my chest? I'm hurting and he don't even care It's 4 AM and my lover won't answer He's probably somewhere with a dancer Sippin' champagne while I'm in his bed It's 4 AM and I think I might lose it This mo'fucka thinking I'm stupid He must've bumped his head Don't he know it's 4 AM
"That was… something else, pet."
"Yeah, I'm not too happy with it but it served its purpose," she said dismissively. She plopped down into his lap, making him grunt at the sudden weight. "So where's my payment, demon?"
He captured her lips in a searing kiss, his hand buried in her curls. Pulling back with a smirk, he asked, "Will that do as payment?"
"Mm, for now," she decided.
He patted her thigh make her get up. "I've an appointment with my tailor, pet. Someone has commandeered all my dress shirts and had their pup tear one of my last good suit jackets to shreds."
She shot him an innocent look. "Who, me? Never."
"Really need to work on that, love. Are you coming or staying here?"
"Coming, of course. I need a new dress."
"Go change then," he told her, giving her a swat as she passed. She looked over her shoulder with a cheeky grin and darted off to her room.
Rhia was the one to handle reserving the penthouse at the Humboldt Hotel in Cleveland. Crowley was amused by watching her run around in her new Camilla Sequin Dress playing hostess.
Your guests are here
Bring them into the conference room, pet.
The sound of her stiletto heels clicking against the polished wood floor preceded her entrance with his lieutenants. She gestured for them to take a seat at the table before placing a hand on his chest, murmuring, "I'll go get refreshments, yes?"
"That would be appreciated, pet,' he nodded before turning to begin his spiel.
Rhia made her way out of the penthouse to retrieve the bottle of Glencraig she'd ordered from the front desk. They'd offered to deliver it but with the meeting going on, it was best for her to leave the room and get it herself. The elevator opened at the lobby but before Rhia could step off, she was pinned to the back wall. Abaddon stepped in, smirking.
"Little wolf, I'm so glad I found you. Seems like I'll have guaranteed leverage after all." she purred as she clipped an odd collar around Rhia's neck. "There, now there's no calling for help with that little Bond of yours or shifting into your fur coat. Can't have you ruining my grand entrance, now can I?"
"Fuck you," Rhia snarled. "I can't wait to see you dead."
"Now is that any way to talk to your queen?" Abaddon asked calmly, pressing the penthouse button as the pressure increased around Rhia's throat.
Rhia snarled, unable to move her limbs an inch.
"Oh look, we're here." Abaddon said carelessly.
She grabbed Rhia by the inscribed collar and the Familiar felt as powerless as a newborn pup being carried by the scruff. She could hear the end of Crowley's speech.
"Spread the word- the King is back and the kingdom is once again on sound footing. So, all those with me, say 'yo'."
"Yo," Abaddon called from the doorway, holding Rhia out of sight. "I mean, I'm literally here with you, not with you with you."
"You betrayed me? No one in the history of torture's been tortured with torture like the torture you'll be tortured with."
"Relax, everyone. You did the new queen a solid. You're sitting at the popular kids' table. Now, Crowley," Abaddon tossed Rhia into the middle of the room, snapping the bones in Rhia's left arm with a wave of her hand. Rhia suppressed a pained cry, glaring at the redhead. "Let's talk turkey. I know you helped the Winchesters get their hands on the First Blade, yes? And I'm hearing that one of them also as the Mark of Cain- all bad news, since the Blade is the one thing that can bring about my-"
"Utter destruction," Crowley finished with a growl. He helped Rhia to her feet, removing the collar from her neck and healing her shattered bones.
I'm going to enjoy destroying her corpse.
"To be indelicate. But here's the thing, pet- same goes for you. And once I'm gone, who do you think's next on those cute boys' list?
"To be clear… I'll not be joining you ever. Except at your death scene, where I shall burst into song. Goodbye. You have no hold over me." He made sure to keep a hand on Rhia as he said that.
"Oh no?" Abaddon snapped her fingers and a curly haired man a few years older than Rhia appeared. "Gavin, honey, say hello to daddy."
You have a kid?!
He died in 1723, dammit.
"How did you-"
"I know a spell or two, Crowley," Abaddon said smugly.
"Are you mad? This is your big card?" Crowley scoffed. "The boy and I loathe each other. I made that clear in the past- I don't care what happens to the little bugger."
"No, but that was before… Wasn't it? See, I know all about your little problem- bingeing on blood, going right to the edge of being human- all those human feelings."
"I'm clean."
"But after that touching little display with your pet wolf here, I'm willingly to bet that there's a smidgen of humanity in there somewhere."
"Not a chance." Shit.
Probably shoulda left me on the floor. I've dealt with worse.
Too late for that now.
Abaddon made a gesture with her hand and Gavin began to bleed from his eyes. Rhia made a sympathetic face, she remembered that one from her days with Master Lyons. Poor boy started to scream. "I'm blind! Help! I beg you!"
Rhia couldn't help it. She stepped forward to put a hand on Gavin's face, trying to offer some sort of comfort. She knew it wouldn't last much longer, but that didn't mean it wasn't still torture for him.
"You know these ghoulish party tricks don't impress. Seen worse, done worse."
"No!" Gavin cried. "Please!"
Abaddon made another hand gesture and Rhia, out of Crowley's protective hold, crumbled to the floor as her organs began to rearrange themselves. A whimper escaped but she refused to give Abaddon the satisfaction of her screams.
Don't you dare give in to this bitch, Crowley. I've had worse.
"You're playing a weak hand, Red!"
Another gesture had hot blades carving the inner lining of Rhia's uterus. Her scream echoed off the walls, a sound that shook Crowley to his core, more so than the sight of his son in agony, begging for the pain to stop.
"You've made your point. Now stop!"
"Sure," Abaddon said easily, one final gesture putting Rhia and Gavin both back to normal. Rhia glared at the redhead as she shakily made her way over to Crowley. She could still feel the phantom pain of the knives.
They all sat down on the leather sofas, except for Gavin, who was trying to puzzle through everything. Rhia curled up against Crowley's side with her feet tucked under her, trying to control the tremors running through her frame.
"You are not my father," Gavin told Crowley. "My father was Fergus MacLeod, a simple tailor. A drunk, a monster."
Fergus?
Originally from Scotland, pet. I've told you this.
"Sounds about right," Abaddon snarked. Rhia was trying her best to ignore the redhead.
"He looked nothing like you, and I buried him," Gavin continued.
"Now I'm curious to know what you looked like back then," Rhia murmured.
"Wore a kilt and very athletic calves. A lot can change in 291 years."
"What?" Gavin asked, perplexed.
Rolling her eyes, Rhia sat up and removed the shade from a nearby lamp, turning the bulb off and back on. He slowly approached it, frowning.
"Can you cook a pigeon on it?" he asked after a few moments.
Rhia groaned and Abaddon noted, "Not terribly quick, is he?"
Crowley gestured and the window opened, the sound of distant sirens filling the air. Gavin's entire face lit up. "Holy mother of God. We're amongst the stars! Are we in heaven, then? You must be angels!"
The other three exchanged incredulous looks, animosity momentarily forgotten in the wake of such sheer ignorance. "Wow."
You sure he's yours?
Unfortunately.
Rhia stretched out on the couch, her head on Crowley's lap as he explained everything to his son. Bored, she traced the lines of her lotus tattoo, exposed by the high slit of her dress.
"You sold your soul?!" Gavin cried in outrage. "Sold it?! For an extra three inches of willy?!"
Rhia snickered, making Crowley cover her mouth with his hand. "Priorities change. I wasn't the bon vivant that I am now. I'll simplify- my soul did a stint in Hell, where it was demonized. I then had to possess another person so I could traffic with the living. Any of this sticking?"
"I- I can't be consorting with a demon! And you," he said to Rhia, "You're already bound for Hell dressed like that… being such a- an immoral woman."
Rhia sighed heavily in irritation before shifting. She rolled off the couch and began stalking towards the young MacLeod before Crowley ordered her to heel. Giving an annoyed huff, she jumped back onto the couch before shifting back, resuming her previous position.
"Forgive her. She's a bit tetchy at the moment. And not just any demon. I'm the king- the King of Hell! And there you were, worried the old man wouldn't amount to much."
They continued to talk and bicker, until Rhia couldn't stand it for much longer. She was about to put in her earbuds when Crowley asked a question that tempted her curiosity.
"Why do I hate you?" Gavin repeated incredulously.
"I mean, I beat you, starved you, came home drunk, beat you some more, woke up hungover, and yeah, I beat you. In all fairness, I didn't really have any role models. My mother was a witch!"
You really did all that?
Told you I wasn't a good man, pet. Human or demon.
"I grew up thinkin'- knowin' I was less than nothin'. You worked me harder than the horse! You never let me go to school. To this day, I can't read!"
"It's overrated," Crowley said carelessly. "Most of Europe couldn't read. You want to read?" He leaned over to touch Gavin's forehead. "Read."
Gavin glanced at the newspaper. "Some Buccaneers beat the Saints? Can this be… I can read."
"King of Hell. Plenty of perks," Rhia chirped.
"So… If you're a king… that would make me… Prince?"
"And you say I've never given you anything, Crowley said brightly. "A title!"
"And if I was to accept you as my father, you could keep me from eternally burning in hell? No matter my sins?"
Okay, he might possibly be yours.
"You're negotiating with me?" Crowley chuckled. "That's my boy."
"This might work out. For the first time in my entire life, I can see possibilities, a future… Just as soon as you take me back to my own time and I can board that ship for the new world."
"Uh, about that ship…" Rhia trailed off, glancing at Crowley.
"What about the ship?"
"It's not important," Crowley cut off. He turned to the guard that had been with them in Abaddon's absence. "You can tell Abaddon I'm ready for that chat."
As fun as catching up with your son is, who's older than me by the way, even without the 291 year time difference, I hope you have a plan. We need that bitch gone
Of course I do, duckie. And why so worried about age all of a sudden? You're with a demon possessing the body of a publisher in his 40's.
But that was before your now ALIVE and OLDER THAN ME son was in the picture. It's just weird.
We'll deal with it later. Time to play nice with Carrot Top.
Rhia made a face as Abaddon walked in, walking to the kitchenette to make a drink. She watched as Crowley pulled out his phone, supposedly to call the Winchesters and get the ball rolling. The two demons shared a conspiring glance, making Rhia roll her eyes. Once Abaddon left, Rhia curled up in Crowley's lap and Gavin used his newfound reading ability to skim through the newspaper.
"So, Rhiannon," he asked after a while. "Are you my sister?"
"Um… no." This was awkward
"Oh. Stepmother then?" He seemed so blasé about it.
"Not quite and you said that way too calmly. You do know you're older than me right? Like, in how long you've been alive, not just the time difference." She rolled her shoulders, feeling just wrong.
He shrugged, going back to his newspaper. "It's not uncommon back home for a man to find a young bride after his wife passes. And since Father is a demon, it made sense."
Rhia shut her jaw with an audible snap. God this was weird.
Told you, pet.
Still weird and uncomfortable.
Before Crowley could reply, his phone went off. He held up a finger as he shifted to get it out of his coat pocket. "Hello?"
Damn it Crowley, the grave is guarded.
"That's absurd," he replied, looking at Rhia, who shrugged.
A Hellhound!
"No no no, she was collected."
Like hell she was!
"Time was, no one would dare disobey the King," He grumbled.
"They didn't. I think she ate them," Rhia mused.
I'm gonna put you on speaker!
"Juliet? It's Papa. Stand down." Rhia had a smug smile on her face, remembering how he;'d told her long ago not to spoil the Hound. Now look. "You're welcome," he told the Winchesters before hanging up. He grabbed a newspaper from the coffee table, holding Rhia's waist to keep her from tumbling out of his lap She must have dozed off because next thing she knew, she was alone in the armchair and they were over by the bedroom, arguing.
"What're you talking about? Of course I'm boardin' the ship when I go back! I want to go back to my life!"
"It's not a good idea.'
"I'm goin' to the colonies. I'm workin' my way across. I've given my word!"
"Gavin, listen to your father. I know what's..." Gavin slammed the door in his face and Rhia hid a grin. "...best for you. Kids."
You did use the most hated phrase. Like ever.
He answered his phone instead of her. "Squirrel I hope you were nice to your father… You do? Well you need to get it here at once. Cleveland, Humboldt Hotel. Penthouse, of course. When you get here, I'll take you to Abaddon. I'll draw her out, and then you can skewer the ignorant hag. Just selling it," he murmured to Abaddon before returning to his conversation. "Oh, and Dean? You need to get a move on. It's a good day's drive from Poughkeepsie...Yeah, like I said you need to leave Poughkeepsie right away." He hung up and headed back for the armchair.
"Nice. But here's the thing," Abaddon said. "You've been plotting with those boys for some time now. When they get here, it'll be you and your little pet, the Winchesters, the First Blade, and little old me, in one place. Now, I don't mind stiff odds, but… Let's be reasonable." She shot him in the shoulder. Before Rhia could shift and attack, Abaddon broke every bone in her hands and forearms.
"Ahh! You lost your mind?"
"Little trick I learned from Henry Winchester. Pulled the same stunt on me. I had a devil's trap carved in the bullet. You're not seriously damaged, just powerless. And I had to break the little wolf's bones to keep her from pulling it out or interfering."
"Bitch," Rhia growled, instinctively curling in around her wounded limbs.
"I'm pretty sure that's you, sweetheart," Abaddon said with a smile.
They sat like that for the hours, waiting of the Winchesters to get there. Rhia had managed to scoot over enough to rest her head against Crowley's thigh, drawing some small comfort from the contact. She'd never been so happy to see Dean Winchester as she was when he crept through the door with the First Blade in hand.
"Hello, Dean. Love the crazy bloodlust in your eyes," Crowley greeted. Dean's eyes narrowed as he took in their injuries. "Let's not waste time. I'll take you to Abaddon. It's not far."
He used his eyes to gesture at the demon who attacked just moments after. Dean stabbed him, but was thrown into the wall by Abaddon's powers.
"A boy and his Blade," she sighed. "And still no match for the new Queen. So first... You'll die... Painfully. Then Crowley will watch his son and his bitch die- ditto- and then the king himself. And the Blade destroyed. That's quite a to-do list."
This is something out of a Star Wars Movie Rhia sent through the Bond as they watched Dean and Abaddon's battle for dominance.
And there goes poor Squirrel, lost to the Mark Crowley noted as Dean began stabbing Abaddon's corpse.
"Dean! Dean!" Sam yelled, rushing into the room. "Dean! Stop! You can stop!"
Dean dropped the Blade, everyone staring at his bloody hands in shock. After a few minutes, Sam handed Crowley a large knife to dig out the bullet. He tried to help Rhia but she'd yelled out in pain the moment he'd touched her.
"You could- ahh! - At least help me with this," he grunted at the brothers as he did his best to dig out the bullet.
"We didn't kill you, Crowley, even though it would have been very easy. Isn't that enough?" Sam sneered. "I would just so you could heal Rhia, but then she'd tried to bite us so it's best for now that you do it yourself."
"You owe me. Do I get no credit for warning you this was a trap?" Sam looked perplexed so he kept going. "'Poughkeepsie' ring a bell?"
"I sense drama," Rhia muttered painfully. She could feel the tears finally start to burn her eyes. She could only ignore the pain for so long.
"I still can't get over the fact that Crowley has a son. How's he doing, by the way?"
"Ow," Crowley yelped as he got the bullet out. "How do you think?"
He quickly took Rhia's face in his hands and started repairing the damage to her arms. She breathed out a shaky sigh of relief as the pain ebbed.
"You get that he's got to go back, right?" Dean asked. "To his own time?"
"If the lad goes back, his destiny is to board a ship bound for America. That ship went down in a storm. All hands were lost. He had one chance in this world to change his life. You want that to all end in tragedy?" Crowley told them as he helped Rhia to her feet.
"Well, I don't know what to tell you," Dean said callously. "Them's the rules. He goes back."
"The lore all says the same thing- you change any one thing in the past, the ripple effect impacts everything that follows," Sam added.
"Please," Rhia said, rolling her eyes. "No one bends the rules like you two bend the rules."
"He's one misfit kid," Crowley continued. "He impacts no one."
"You don't bend that rule, okay?" Sam said. "You don't. We'll take him back to the Bunker, figure out the spell. That's the way it's gotta be."
Kidnapping him from the Winchesters?
Of course.
"Can we at least say goodbye?" Rhia asked, already heading to the bedroom.
"I'll cheer the day when the last trace of humanity leaves me- feelings," Crowley sneered, following after her.
He closed the door behind them with his powers before grabbing them both by the arm and porting them to a field.
"The ship went down?" Gavin asked, as he reoriented himself. "Well that's a good fit with the rest of my life."
"Mustn't snivel Gavin. It might fit the old life. This one could be different."
"I don't know the first thing about the 21st century!"
"You'll be fine. Just void cheap whiskey and cheap hookers."
"Look at you, getting all fatherly," Rhia teased.
"So this is goodbye, then?"
"Yes. Forever. Unless, of course, I catch you smoking, in which case, I'll smack you stupid."
"He's not joking," Rhia added.
"Goodbye then. And thank you Rhiannon… father."
Gavin gave her a hug and then went to hug Crowley but Crowley stopped him. "Whoa whoa. Easy easy. As you were."
"Only I get to hug him," Rhia muttered to Gavin.
"Goodbye, Gavin. Oh, uh, don't go mentioning the whole 'Prince of Hell' thing. Doesn't play too well in most circles."
Rhia waved one last goodbye and Crowley took them home, where he decided to thoroughly check her over for any more injuries.
"I'm fine," she reassured him, pushing at his shoulders to get personal space. "Just phantom pains that'll fade in a few hours."
"You're sure? I need you in top shape to help me get Hell back under control."
"Yes," she insisted. "Go change and we'll go handle your demons. You've a bullet hole in your suit."
"Ma'am yes ma'am," he said mockingly, heading upstairs.
"Mm, a girl could get used to that," she mused. "Hurry up! We got a little Hell to raise!"
"That's my line!" he shouted down to her.
The sound of her laughter was his only reply.
Another Chapter done. Video links to see what Rhia's dress and her Dances will be on my profile. Let me know what you think in a review :) ~WK