A/N: Okay, here we go. One of the foreshadowed things is in this chapter; the more obvious one. You'll probably have an 'ohhhhh' moment once you recognize it. The other one is in the next chapter, but it's very subtle and the clue was super easy to miss.
Thank you for the kind reviews! I appreciate you guys sticking this story through even though it is so damn weird! Thanks for the support and lovely words and I know it's been a long wait, but I honestly do appreciate you all giving me the time I needed to work out the kinks. My exams went well (I hope), and now I'm just trying to relax and finish up some stories. That being said, I'm sowwy! :/
Disclaimer: I do not own GMW otherwise Maya would be kicking asses for real.
Lucas stared at the ceiling, chewing on his blade of wheat slowly, listening to the sounds of a bird outside the window of Maya's bedroom. It was peaceful, a quiet morning, a deception considering the turmoil that would soon be brewing. In any other life, Lucas would have relished in the calm—even enjoyed it—and for a second, he almost let himself believe that he was in another life.
He squashed the thought before it could fully form in his head, spitting the blade of wheat out over the side of the bed. His life had ended before he'd had the proper chance to even begin it. Fifteen years of holding onto a grudge that had torn him apart from the inside out and left him a shell of his former self, filled with nothing but his bitter desire for vengeance and the fury that had taken over his life. He'd made his resolve more than a decade ago to get his revenge.
But that had been before meeting Maya.
Lucas sat up with a sigh, glancing down at her as she slept by his side, snoring softly, her thumb partially in her mouth and tangled hair splayed out all over her pillow and covering part of her naked back. There were dried tear tracks running down her cheek and she looked pained even while sleeping. She must have been exhausted. Aside from growing fatigued after their activities, he knew her injuries must have been causing her pain to the point where she was worn out and worn down. He didn't know what had happened when she'd gone to Bull's Sleaze with her mother, but judging by the fresh injuries on her face, he knew it hadn't been easy. She deserved this rest after suffering the past few stressful days.
Lucas stroked her bruised cheek gently, feeling for the first time hesitant over what he would have to do. She sighed in her sleep, snuggling further into her pillow, her face loosening up as she relaxed. He hated that Maya had such power over him, that she made his resolve waver. He wouldn't lie. He wanted to stay—for her, for Billy, for the people he cared about. He could have a new life. He could start over, get the chance to restart his life away from his past and all the bloodshed and pain and longing for revenge.
But he couldn't let go of his quest.
He wasn't that mellow or forgiving that he could just let Jed get away after what he had done. There was one bullet in Lucas' father's pistol, and it was screaming Jed's name. And Lucas intended for it to end up lodged in that bastard's head.
Lucas kicked the covers aside and got off the bed, stooping and picking up his discarded clothing from the small pile beside her bed. He made quick work of putting them on, keeping his gaze decidedly away from Maya. It was an asshole move to leave her in the middle of her sleep, but he knew if he woke her up and talked to her again she would try to keep him around in some way. And he knew she would succeed because he cared about her a lot.
But he wanted his revenge more, and if he didn't get it, whether he stayed with Maya or not, he would never be able to move on from his past and his rage would eat him alive. And he'd never make Maya happy if he was so jaded. She didn't need a revenge obsessed nut, as she'd called him.
Fifteen years he'd waited for this chance.
Fifteen years he'd wanted to avenge his family.
He'd thought that maybe he would feel more satisfaction, but most of what he was feeling was regret. Maybe if circumstances were different…
But they weren't. And he had to do this.
He took his black cowboy hat from the floor but didn't place it back on his head. Instead, he set his hat beside Maya in the vacated spot on her bed and leaned down, kissing her head softly. He straightened and made his way out of the bedroom, not daring to look back once.
Lucas headed downstairs fairly quickly to the parlor, snatching his jacket from the sofa and pulling it on. He reattached his holster to his hip before picking back up his father's pistol, staring at it for a few seconds.
"So you're leaving."
He glanced over his shoulder where Katy was sitting on the sofa, watching him without expression as he made his preparations to leave.
"I have to."
"Where's Maya?"
Lucas looked away. "She's sleeping."
"…So I take it she doesn't know you're leaving?"
"Better that I leave now than prolong the inevitable. And I can't let her distract me from this." He turned and faced Katy completely. "Maybe if things were different, I would be able to stay. But I know how Jed works. I'm sure he's going to run, and I'll be damned if I lose my opportunity to end the man that ruined so many peoples' lives. And I doubt this is something I will survive. Maya deserves someone who can stay for her. So I said goodbye."
"You know… Billy talked a lot about you. He obviously cares about you more than you can imagine. And he said you're a good person. I didn't understand why, considering you're the reason Maya is the way she is now. But believe it or not, I think I get it now. There's this part of you, no matter how misguided and dark, that only thinks of others. And it's not hard to see. No matter how revenge craving, you have a big heart and you're sacrificing yourself so everyone can find peace from Jed. That's commendable.
"And Billy was right about your eyes when you talk about Maya. You care about her. So I'm forgiving you for putting my baby girl in danger and letting her get so badly injured when you were supposed to protect her." Katy's eyes narrowed. "But I won't forgive you if you break her heart."
She stood up with a groan, rotating her shoulder as she slowly made her way out of the parlor.
"I don't know if this changes anything," Katy said, pausing near the doorway, "but she was falling in love with you, Lucas."
Lucas didn't respond, glancing down at his father's pistol. It felt heavy in his hand.
"You're right you know… Maya does deserve someone who can stay for her." Katy sighed, leaving the room. "I'm looking forward to hearing that Jed is dead, Lucas. I expect you to return to apologize to Maya."
Lucas slipped his father's pistol in his holster, headed to the back door to prepare to leave and finish this once and for all. As he walked onto the back porch, he caught sight of Billy leaning against the wall, staring out at the horizon, listening to the birds tweeting before the early rays of morning light reached the earth.
"You know Jed probably planned a trap or an ambush for you, right?" Billy muttered, eyeing him from the side. Lucas knew. "Are you really doing this?"
"Yeah."
"Alone?"
Lucas said nothing, joining Billy against the wall and staring at the two untouched bottles on the balcony's banister.
Billy sighed, shaking his head in disdain. "I've followed you through everything, Lucas. I'd follow you to hell and back because I know you'd do the same for me. You're making a mistake. We made a pact. We'd said we'd stick together no matter what. You've got my back, I've got yours, remember?"
"I watched my parents die in front of my eyes, Billy. Watched my mother get stabbed in the heart by someone I trusted and then dropped to the ground like a rag doll. I've had nightmares about it since I was a child. They've never gone away, even now. Every time I meet anyone, I keep imagining them ending up in my nightmares too." Lucas crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Do you remember eight years ago when we got caught by the bandits and you were almost stabbed?"
"Yeah. You let yourself get stabbed for me instead."
"You know why? Because I saw an image of you bleeding out and dying. And then I saw my parents crumpled on the floor, bleeding out, no life in them, and I knew I couldn't watch someone else die in front of me. I didn't want to stand there and let you die. That's why I jumped in front of you." Lucas turned to Billy. "I don't want to lose the people I care about anymore. I don't want them to get hurt. But that's all that ever seems to happen in my life. That's why I can't let you come with me. This is between me and Jed. And there won't be any unnecessary deaths, Billy. Especially not your death."
"…You're my only family left, Lucas," Billy said quietly, his jaw clenched.
He shook his head. "That's not true. You still have Missy."
"Yeah… I guess."
They were silent for a long while, stewing in their own thoughts. But Lucas knew he would have to get going soon.
"Do you remember before our grandfather died and we were getting ready to move, and you saw me cleaning my gun?" Lucas asked. "I told you about my old life. I told you I didn't have anyone to talk to or rely on. No siblings. No friends. No family. I said I was alone."
Billy snorted. "And I told you you weren't alone anymore. That you had someone to rely on. That we were brothers for life."
Lucas nodded. "We're brothers for life."
"Yeah." Billy smiled. "We're brothers."
He threw an arm around Lucas, hugging his longtime partner and best friend, and clapped him briefly on the back before pulling away.
"It's on you now Billy," Lucas said. "You know what to do, right? Make sure you let the townspeople know what Jed was planning with the brothel town."
"That's a lot of pressure." Billy chuckled.
"I know you'll be successful. They'll look for Jed, but he'll be long dead by then. We can finally put this fifteen year revenge ploy to bed," Lucas responded seriously. "Finish this job. Get married to Missy and lead a long and happy life, Billy."
"Lucas, take this with you." Billy reached into his holster and handed Lucas one of the silver throwing knives. "Maybe it'll help. And if it doesn't, then at least you know that I'm with you in some way. Good luck. We'll be waiting for your return."
Lucas took it from him with a rueful smile and pocketed it in his own holster, though he didn't respond to Billy's last words. He knew he wouldn't be returning.
"Billy. Thank you for saving me."
Lucas walked off the porch and headed around the side of the house where they had left the horses to graze. He untethered and climbed up on the saddle on one of the horses, tugged on the reins, and raced off towards the place where he had left Lucas Carson behind.
It was time to end this.
~.~.~
Lucas brought his horse to a calm trot as he approached the secluded wooded area he remembered from his childhood. It hadn't changed much. The towering trees, the roaring of the rapids beside him, the jagged rocks near the shore of the river. A sense of déjà vu drifted over him and for a moment, he saw himself as a child, struggling against the hold of Jed's goons, kicking and screaming and trying to escape his certain fate.
But not today. No escaping. It was do or die.
As he hopped off his horse, footsteps crunched on the dried leaves at a slight distance. Lucas didn't have to look to know Jed was standing there with his trademark treacherous smirk on his lips.
"I was beginning to think you wouldn't show, Lucas."
Lucas smacked the horse on its rear, and it whinnied loudly, setting off on a rapid gallop away from them. Then he turned around, his expression blank as he laid eyes on the man he wanted nothing more than to kill.
"Let's get this over with," Lucas growled, pulling his father's pistol from his holster. "What do you propose for this duel?"
"Old fashioned way, of course. One bullet each. One shot each at any distance. If either of us fail, we load up and try again."
"Fine by me."
"Then let's begin."
Jed took out his gun, cocking it and aiming it at Lucas. Lucas cocked his own pistol, but walked towards Jed, his hand resting beside his leg. Jed rose a brow, the demented smirk on his face growing in amusement.
"You sure you want to get that close?"
Lucas said nothing, continuing his steady approach, undeterred, his fist clenched tightly around the pistol.
"Suit yourself," Jed said, aiming lower, his barks of laughter cascading through the air.
Jed pulled the trigger and took his shot. The bullet imbedded itself in Lucas' thigh, but he barely reacted save for a slight grunt as fire sprouted through his leg. He kept his steady gait though, stalking towards Jed, cold anger running through his body. Jed watched him indifferently, tossing his gun aside and waiting for Lucas to approach. When Lucas reached him, he twisted his hand in the lapel of Jed's shirt, yanking him forward until they were face to face and holding the cobalt pistol right at Jed's temple.
"Fifteen years waiting for this moment." Lucas muttered, his finger itching to pull the trigger. "You've got a one way trip to hell. Any last words, motherfucker?"
Jed's shoulders shook with his chuckles. "You really think it's that easy?"
Two shots rang out through the air, and Lucas' breath caught when he felt two sudden sharp stings erupt in his back. He stiffened, his body temporarily in shock, the trickle of liquid slowly trailing down his back as pain shot through every ounce of his body. He could hear the violent beating of his heart in his ears as the pain nearly crippled him. His hand slowly loosened from Jed's shirt as the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.
"Shoot him in the head this time, Clay. I want to watch his eyes lose that defiant spark as his brain splatters all over the ground," Jed said darkly, licking his lips slowly. "And when you're dead, I'm going to find that blonde whore of yours, Maya, tie her to a tree and fuck her all day and night until I've broken her and she's bleeding all over my cock."
Lucas grit his teeth, struggling to reach into his holster for Billy's knife. There was a ringing in his ears as his body fought every one of his motions. He could barely focus or keep his hand still as he pulled it out. Lucas closed his eyes momentarily, letting out a shuddering breath as he concentrated on listening to the sounds around him. When he heard the clicking of a gun being cocked, he threw Billy's knife at an angle behind him as hard as he could towards the sound. The high pitched whistle of the knife pierced through the air before it stopped abruptly. Lucas heard a strangled cry of agony, and then something heavy fell into the river, the splash resounding through the air.
Lucas' arm fell limp, and he staggered forward, falling on Jed and leaning heavily on him when his vision swam with dark spots, going in and out of focus.
"Nice shot." Jed mused, a psychotic grin on his face. "You would think someone on death's door wouldn't be able to aim right."
He spat up blood, watching as it dripped out of his mouth, pooling on the dusty grass below.
"I'm not… dead… yet…" Lucas grumbled, the earth nearly spinning beneath his feet as he took a few slow, deep breaths.
"You've lost, Lucas. You made the mistake of trying to get close." He laughed maniacally. "Honestly, for being my son, I'm surprised you've picked up Jesse's habits for not using common sense."
Lucas froze and glanced up at him slowly. "…What did… you just… say?"
"Oh c'mon, Lucas. Don't tell me you've never noticed the difference between you and Jesse. Haven't you ever wondered why we have the same damn eyes?"
Lucas inhaled sharply, an agonized groan leaving his lips when Jed suddenly drove a knife brutally into his abdomen, twisting it sharply, a feral glint in his gaze as he watched Lucas choke up blood. Lucas rasped for breath for a few seconds, his breathing laboured as he slouched against Jed, his body shaking from the pain as he tried to keep himself upright.
"Lilli was certainly a feisty one. I hadn't had that much fun in years. She tried to stab me, you know? I thought she would put up a longer and better fight, but she gave up. It wasn't that much fun after that, but at least she lasted longer than the others. I don't think I'll ever forget how tight her pussy felt. I had her whenever Jesse left her alone." He muttered, chuckling to himself. Lucas' eyes widened, a hot rage running down his back. "She pretended like you were Jesse's because she couldn't live with the shame or humiliation. Jesse would never have believed her anyway. That idiotic brother was always warned about me and told not to trust me and be wary. Did he listen? No. I fucked his wife every chance I got and conceived his child and even stole gold from him, and he never once suspected me of wrong doing, even though his own son had the same eyes as his brother."
"Y-you… bas… tard…" Lucas said shakily, groaning slightly as blood dripped from his lips, his limbs heavy.
"And when Lilli discovered my edict for our town and threatened to out me and reveal your true parentage to Jesse, well, I got rid of the bitch. Your father was collateral damage for trying to protect her. A fucking idiot to the end."
Lucas couldn't breathe properly, each of his breaths coming out in short rasps, growing more ragged and strained with each passing second. He could feel nothing but agonizing pain from his abdomen. Everything was on fire and each breath he took only worsened the sharp pangs of pain in his back.
"You've always been an innately good shooter. Who do you think you picked up those genes from? Your irrational and explosive anger and temper? Your bloodlust? Your attraction to feisty wenches? We're the same Lucas! You are me! Could you kill your own flesh and blood, Lucas? Could you really kill your own father?"
Jed cackled loudly, twisting the knife further into Lucas' abdomen. Lucas let out a shuddering breath, trying to force his mind to focus when his vision blurred again. He coughed, blood dripping from his lips as his finger trembled on the trigger. He was losing his grip. His vision was growing cloudy, and he could barely stand on his feet anymore much less hold himself up.
Lucas glanced up at the sky.
Through the fog of his gaze, he saw the Matthews and the Minkus family. He saw his father's face, with his kind blue eyes and the conviction and determination he always had. He saw his mother, graceful and gentle and nurturing, always with a ready smile on her face to console him. He saw Jonah, standing proudly in the horizon, showing Lucas how to hit a moving target. He saw Billy, caked in mud and laughing after they'd managed to snag a wild boar for dinner.
Then he saw Maya, her eyes alight in mischief. He saw an irate Maya, the condescending sneer on her face she tended to give him. He saw a flustered Maya with cheeks painted in a blush, her breathing coming out in shallow pants as she clung to him, her soft whimpers of pleasure music to his ears. He saw her tear stained face as he held her, her mouth spewing venomous words the exact opposite of what her eyes were saying.
He chuckled to himself. She'd never been a good liar.
Lucas struggled to lift the pistol, using the last of his strength to shove the barrel into Jed's mouth, forcing it past his lips and teeth and forcing Jed to open his mouth. Jed gagged, choking on the metal and shouting in surprise. Lucas' lips curved into a genuine smile through the blood dripping from his mouth, the first one in what felt like forever. He sucked in a weak, raspy breath as his vision went black.
BANG!
As the sun lifted over the horizon, painting the sky in an orange hue, two bodies fell to the ground.