Y'all I am soooo sorry. I was gonna post this ages ago, but I wasn't too content with what I had because some parts felt forced...and I was falling a littleeeee bit behind in some of my classes. Then the writer's block hit. It hit me hard, yo.
But anyway! The delay allowed me to plan for more stuff, add a few things, etc. Also, I'm so eager to start the next arc, so that's super exciting. Hope you enjoy this little build up, I know some of you have guessed what happens next ;)
Also! Shout-out to Respire-Sodastone for volunteering to be my beta! Without my favorite bot and their encouragement, this chapter probably would've taken even longer to get published. All thanks to them and all the wonderful reviews I got last chapter, they keep me motivated to continue.
Chapter 11: Rewriting What's Been Done
Getting through the past week of school certainly proved to be a challenge, but somehow Alfred prevailed. After his encounter with Carlos and his former teammates, Ivan made it a personal goal to remain glued by his side, and truthfully, he found himself grateful for it rather than annoyed. The majority of his classmates kept their distance since, and while their judgmental and pitying sidelong glances were initially uncomfortable, Alfred was able to shrug them off naturally. It took some deep contemplation, but in the end, he was able to come to the conclusion that none of their opinions and insults toward him mattered.
His sole priority now was survival — for himself and those close to him.
Still, he felt disturbed by the dark thoughts that had swirled inside his mind when he approached Chris and Carlos. To be honest, it was downright terrifying that a person like him could even think about donning the intent of a merciless killer, even if for a moment. It was becoming increasingly clear that this game was taking its toll on him as he suspected, yet despite that, he was determined not to be corrupted. He refused to lose his optimism and become a heartless killer.
He refused to become like Sixth.
Rather than go through another crisis when it was crucial he stayed on guard, he did what was easiest and suppressed his unsettling emotions. This wasn't the time to confront that massive baggage, he still had a couple of months and nine other contestants to get through. Not only that, but it was especially important he appeared normal now that both his parents were home for the weekend, where the slightest rouse of suspicion could easily result in disaster. Fortunately, it was easy to pretend he was living a mundane life as he lounged on the couch in the family room, scrolling through memes on his laptop while half-paying attention to the football game on TV.
"Honey, sit up. We have guests, remember?"
Taking a deep breath as he closed his computer and set it on the end table, Alfred did as he was told. Ivan, whose shoulder had been supporting his head, pouted childishly while Alfred straightened his posture, a weak violet glare directed toward Madeline for ruining his moment with his beloved as she exited the room.
"Bonjour, mon petit chou." Francis passed through the doorway and embraced his cousin, planting a quick kiss to his temple before locking eyes with Ivan. Standing up straight, Francis coughed into his fist awkwardly as he regarded his student. There'd been no violent outbursts since the incident with Kevin many months ago, yet he always found it hard to relax around the other. "Ivan," he greeted politely.
"Mr. Bonnefoy, you are well-dressed, as always," Ivan complimented sweetly with a gentle smile.
"Oh, why thank you!" With a weakness for flattery, Francis was temporarily alleviated from his discomfort. Combing through Alfred's hair in an effort to flatten his unruly cowlick, he continued. "And your brother? Where is he?"
"Probably with Tim in the kitchen or helping out dad," he responded as he playfully swatted the other's hand away.
"Mon dieu, I better get there quickly if I want to save dinner from your father," Francis said callously, making Alfred snicker as he took his leave.
Turning to Ivan, he gave the other a doubtful look. "Since when do you care about fashion?"
"I have no reason to dislike him, do I? I want your family to accept me. That is how relationships work, da?"
Alfred raised a brow. "We're not in a relationship," he stated as a fact. Sure, he had feelings for Ivan, but they weren't boyfriends or anything. Besides, there was a part of him that really didn't want to date the other as they were technically enemies. Nothing good could come from it, only heartbreak or betrayal — it was bad enough they already considered each other friends .
Ivan was unfazed by his answer. "But we will be," he replied firmly.
Giving the other a blank stare, Alfred decided to backtrack rather than start an argument. "You don't even like my brother."
Ivan scowled. "That is his own fault for trying to keep us apart."
Shrugging impassively, Alfred knew he couldn't fight that. No point forcing two people to like each other — Matthew had been trying to do that for years with him and Carlos and look where that ended up.
Actually, no. He didn't want to go there.
"Hey, Alfie." Jeanne smiled at him as she entered the room with Madeline following closely behind. They promptly took their seats on the opposite end of the couch. "Has everything been good lately? You doing well?"
"Oh, you know it," Alfred replied dryly.
Jeanne chuckled. "Wonderful." Turning to his mother, she switched to French and suddenly became serious. "Did Francis go outside?"
Madeline nodded, raising a brow with intrigue. "Yes, my sister called."
Now, Alfred's French speaking skills weren't the best, but he'd grown up surrounded by the language. A casual conversation like this was not hard to eavesdrop on. Staring hard at the television screen, he made it look like he was oblivious to his environment. If they switched languages, that only meant the topic was serious and oh boy, he just could not help himself when people started spilling tea. It was very likely the reason why his diary was brimming with juicy content when it wasn't stuck in survival mode.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, Jeanne averted her gaze. "Probably to ask for a favor again or money. That's all she ever cares about."
"Money? Why does she need money? I thought she got herself a wealthy husband specifically for that reason."
"Ha, that's funny." Jeanne released a bitter snort as she tucked a stray strand behind her ear. "No amount of money is enough for her, especially now that she's trying to live through her daughter. She's investing a lot into Lucille's modeling career, but doesn't even want to dip into her own wallet! As if the woman needs another Louis Vuitton." Jeanne rolled her eyes. "So, she expects that by giving Francis attention, he will forgive her and help out, and you know that of course he will."
Shaking her head, his mother was very dismayed by the revelation. "And I thought she was finally turning over a new leaf…I wish I could help, but I've been on a tight budget as of late, what with visiting my mother and how I might have to take my 'little one' back to the doctor."
Alfred almost shot his mother a furious glare, but instead he hardened his gaze on his dad's favorite team making a successful play. How nice of her to avoid calling him out by name and risk drawing his attention, but unfortunately for her, his plans for getting out of therapy were already in the making.
"Oh, no, I wouldn't ask you to do that for us!" Jeanne sent Madeline an apologetic look. "However we may have to move here to make ends meet if this continues, if that's okay?"
"Of course that's okay!" His mother abruptly sat up straight which caught Alfred's eye. " You know you two always have a place here. I haven't touched Francis' room at all since he left."
"Thank you so much! I'll keep you updated on how things go from here."
And then the conversation shifted to something trivial and Alfred immediately lost interest. Glancing at Ivan, he noticed the other studying him due to his sudden tenseness from before. Pretending to be at ease, he shot the other an easygoing smile.
"It always amazes me how you do that so effortlessly," Ivan murmured into his ear, almost sending shivers down his spine.
Squinting his eyes in confusion, Alfred whispered back. "Do what...exactly?"
"You are so perceptive and calculating, yet you hide behind silly smile and no one ever suspects a thing."
Alfred pursed his lips before letting out a small snort. "As if I don't catch you doing the same."
"Nyet. I learned by watching you, though perhaps I am still learning. People never seem to trust me. I fail to have same effect..." Ivan trailed off, sporting a small pout as his brows were drawn together.
Chuckling, Alfred shook his head. "That just means you gotta get good," he said as he pushed himself up to his feet. "C'mon, I'm getting hungry. Time to see if any burgers made it off the grill."
With Ivan beside him as they entered the kitchen, he saw Matthew and Tim leaning against the counters and snacking on appetizers, chatting idly before fixing their gaze on the two newcomers. "Did you hear about who's supposed to appear in the half-time show? You're gonna lose your mind," Matthew informed him before popping a cherry tomato into his mouth.
"Yeah, only the whole internet is talking about it." Alfred grinned widely. "It's the only reason I'm watching." Searching the table for burgers and buns, he gasped with joy once he finally set his eyes on them. Undoing the plastic twist-ties around the bag, he glanced at his twin. "Also, is dad still grilling? Doesn't he care that he's missing the Super Bowl? He's the only person in the family who actually gives a shit about it."
Matthew let out a snicker. "No, his tablet's out there with him."
Ivan gently tapped Alfred's shoulder. "I will be in the bathroom," he said in a soft tone only Alfred could hear, taking out his phone for clarification and showing it to the other. "Check up."
Instances like this were common as of late, where Ivan would sneak off to someplace secluded yet within distance to make sure nothing was off in the other's future. Ivan always refrained from doing it in front of others if he could help it, like he didn't trust anyone — not even Alfred's own family. Lips quirking into a slight frown, Alfred couldn't help but feel Ivan was maybe a bit too cautious, though he wouldn't complain since it wasn't like it was a big deal or anything.
"Well, you know where it is. I'll be here," Alfred answered as he set two buns down on his plate, now feeling an anxious urge to check his own diary. In fact, that's exactly what he ended up doing since unlike the other, he actually knew his family wasn't capable of harming him.
February 3 19:03 [My Kitchen]
Matthew laughs at me because I took a bite out of one of dad's vegan burgers. It tastes disgusting.
Well, fuck that future. Alfred made sure to carefully inspect the patties before placing them on his buns.
shhHHBBBTTT-
While he cringed at the ear-piercing noise of familiar static, Matthew and Tim both jumped in alarm, whipping their heads around to stare at him with wide eyes.
"Jesus Christ, what was that?" Matthew squawked.
"What was what?" Alfred feigned ignorance as he tucked his phone into his pocket. No more messing with futures in front of the fam, but in his defense, that was an emergency .
"Don't play dumb. That sound." Matthew's eyes darted toward his pocket. "Was that your phone?" His gaze flicked back to Alfred's face.
"Oh, yeah...that's my new ringtone. It's great, isn't it?"
"No! God, that's horrible!"
The back door opened slightly and their father peeked his head inside. "Hey, can one of you grab me something from the cooler? I can't handle being nagged by your cousin without some help."
"Yeah, Al can go with his possessed phone," Matthew volunteered on his behalf. "He got a new ringtone straight from hell." Their father rolled his eyes playfully while shaking his head before shutting the door.
Fixing up the rest of his burger and taking the plate with him, Alfred made his way toward the garage only to come to a halt when he heard two women conversing with a very particular Russian in the dining room. Curiosity distracting him from his mission of fetching his father some booze, he made his way toward the archway and saw Ivan seated at the table with Jeanne beside him while his mother leaned over his shoulder, both women pointing toward different things in an open book before him.
"Oh, I remember this." Jeanne smirked with amusement as she tapped an old photo. "This was from the time you took the Beilschmidt boys and I to camp with you."
"Look, there you are building a sandcastle with Matthew," Madeline cooed with a nostalgic gleam in her eyes. "And here's Alfred with Ludwig. He got that poor boy into all sorts of trouble back in those days." She pointed to an image of the two boys kayaking. "They got stuck in the marshes shortly after this was taken. I believe I have a picture on the next page…"
"That was funny," Jeanne reminisced, stifling a snort as she shot Ivan a sly expression. "They both fell in and were covered in mud. If you know Ludwig, you'd know he wasn't a happy camper..."
"Ah, I see," Ivan responded with a nod, squinting in contemplation. "I hadn't known they were friends..."
"This was a while ago, back when we'd invite Gilbert to keep Francis company during family trips. We always invited Ludwig too since I felt it would be nice for the boys to have a friend their age, but I haven't seen him in a long time," Madeline explained before flipping the page. "Oh, here's Alfred when he was four!"
Ivan's eyes brightened as his smile returned. "He's so cute!"
"Isn't he? My little troublemaker." She gestured toward an image of Alfred as a toddler with chocolate ice cream all over his mouth, chin, and hands, all while donning an innocent expression.
"I see no change," Jeanne teased fondly.
Alfred crossed his arms as he entered the room, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Mom, what are you doing?" he accused in an even tone.
"Showing Ivan photos of your childhood, honey. Is there something wrong with that?"
He cleared his throat with an exaggerated grunt as a way to convey his irritation. "Why?"
"Well, why not? It's not like he's complaining."
"I am enjoying this very much, thank you," Ivan assured Madeline sweetly, exchanging an innocent smile with her.
Taking a distrustful bite out of his burger, his purpose for leaving the kitchen now forgotten, Alfred stood behind the empty chair beside Madeline and kept his gaze trained on the photo album, deciding that the situation needed to be supervised. It'd been a while since he went through it, who knew what sort of pictures his mother kept stowed away in there?
"Oh, here's Alfred and Matthew going trick-or-treating with an old family friend." Madeline pursed her lips in thought as her gaze lingered on a teenaged brunette with shoulder-length hair. "He hasn't visited in a while though...I invited him for Thanksgiving dinner, but all I got was a text telling me he's been very busy lately." She let out a dejected exhale. "I hope he isn't distancing himself from us…"
"You and I both know he's not like that." Alfred sent her a comforting smile. "He's a workaholic and gets carried away at times. I'm sure we'll see him soon."
Nodding, Madeline found herself convinced by her son's reasoning, both missing the eyes regarding them cautiously. Mid-way through flipping the page, Madeline began bursting into giggles with Jeanne soon joining her.
"What?" Alfred sat up in his seat and tried to peek over his mother's arm. "What is it?"
Sending him a mischievous grin, Madeline laid the page down to reveal a new set of photos. As he scanned their contents, Alfred's face had flushed a bright red when he saw none other than a picture of him and Kiku sharing a bath when they were nine. The image was taken at an angle where the tub concealed their lower halves, but it still was not an image he wanted the man obsessed with him seeing!
Speaking of Ivan, he was quiet and staring at the image blankly, his expression completely unreadable. Though this normally would've been discomforting, Alfred was too overwhelmed by his embarrassment to think much of it.
With a sudden reach across the table, Alfred slammed the photo album shut, glaring hard at his mother. "What is wrong with you?"
"What? It's cute—" Madeline attempted to defend herself through stifled chuckles.
"Mom! Stop ," he pleaded, his pitch raised and holding an edge of desperation.
Analyzing her son, Madeline's eyes softened while she smiled at him apologetically. "Alright, alright. I'll just put this back."
"Thank you." Alfred exhaled in relief, watching his mother store the album in a nearby bookshelf. From over her shoulder, she sent the two boys a wink before heading toward the kitchen for some hors d'oeuvres. After a moment, Alfred shot Ivan a glare. "I thought you were going to the bathroom ."
"I was." Ivan pouted at the accusation. "But I was called over."
Alfred turned his accusatory glare to Jeanne, who raised her hands in surrender. "Your mom and I were talking about that time we went to Nantucket, but we couldn't remember if it was you or Matthew that fell off the tube," she explained as Alfred recalled the incident. An impish glint shone in Jeanne's eye as she attempted to conceal a growing smirk. "It was you, by the way."
"I could've told you that." Alfred scoffed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head in annoyance.
"Yeah, but the picture was funny." Jeanne grinned as she stood up, pushing her chair in. "I'm getting hungry watching you eat that burger, so I'm going to get one myself if you don't mind."
"I do mind, unless you take the vegan ones." Alfred took a final bite of his burger as Jeanne bit her lip to suppress a grin.
"Maybe. I suppose I owe you one, huh?" Hearing Alfred grunt in affirmation, she chuckled before taking her leave, waving the two boys off. "Fine, fine."
With a heavy exhale, Alfred faced Ivan, only to be taken aback by how lost in thought the other was, head resting on his knuckles with a clouded gaze beneath furrowed brows, his lips pursed and posture dejected. "Iv, you okay?"
Blinking out of his stupor, Ivan sent him a hesitant nod. "D-da. Why?"
"That's reassuring," Alfred answered sarcastically. "What's up?"
"I just thought...well, you look so happy in these photos. With your friends ." Ivan crinkled his nose distastefully. "It caught me off guard that you have history with all these people...especially Ludwig."
Alfred shrugged with uncertainty. "I don't know. We might've hung out in the past, but I never knew if he liked me or just came along because he had to...I've always been a handful and you know how he is about rules and order. To be honest, I have no clue why he still sits with me at lunch."
This intrigued Ivan, who raised a brow. "Really? How interesting…"
"Uh, I guess?" Alfred frowned. "Why is this bugging you?"
"Well, you haven't known me very long, but you mean everything to me." Ivan averted his gaze with a scowl. "If these people mean something to you, then…"
"Are you feeling insecure?" Alfred's brows shot up wide. To be honest, he was quite familiar with the feeling, often questioning how deep his bond with someone was compared to others, which was usually more superficial than he'd hoped. It wasn't uncommon for him to muse over having deep bonds and friendship with more people, just as he had with Matthew and Kiku. Who could blame him? After a lifetime of being an outcast, all he wanted was to be loved and accepted for who he was. Unfortunately, not many people even liked the confident version of himself that he pretended to be, though it was significantly much better than what he had originally...he just couldn't win.
But to think Ivan cared that much about their bond? He never had someone be so protective over their friendship, it was flattering to be that important to someone.
Ivan had yet to answer, instead sulking with his glare fixed on the photo album resting on the shelf as though it were mocking him. Taking in a deep breath, Alfred continued. "Listen, you're fine. You mean a lot to me too, okay?" Ivan turned to him, his eyes glistening. "You're my hero, Iv. You've always been there for me when I needed you and I don't even deserve it. There's no way I'd be where I am without you. We're a team, right? Nobody can take that away from us."
Chewing on his lip as a light blush bloomed on pale cheeks, Ivan became the definition of coy. "I suppose, because if they tried…" Suddenly, his gaze hardened as he shook his head. "Nevermind. I answered my own question."
"...So, you're good?" Alfred asked unsurely.
Ivan responded with a resolute nod. "Yes. Thank you, sunflower."
Hearing the back door shut and his father's booming voice join in whatever conversation the rest of his family was having, Alfred's eyes widened while he stood abruptly, realizing he'd gotten distracted. "Shit, I need to go get dad his beer! C'mon, let's go." He patted Ivan's shoulder reassuringly before heading off toward the garage.
Amused, Ivan pushed himself out of his seat as well, but cast a final skeptical glance at the photo album before following his love.
.oOo.
The 11th was a Monday, two weeks since starting up school after everything that had happened. It was becoming a bit easier for Alfred to get used to his surroundings. His anxiety was lessening, but it still had yet to dissipate. It was easy to ignore the gossip about him and his hostage situation with a smile. When people saw that their jabs didn't phase him, they died down much quicker.
But they did phase him and they hurt a lot. If he spent more than a few seconds thinking about it, he could feel angry tears gathering in the corner of his eyes, therefore he did everything in his power to minimize the opportunity. The amount of peers he interacted with nowadays could be counted on his fingers, there was no point being friendly with people who talked shit about him behind his back. Reputation be damned.
This was starting to feel very much like his childhood. The only thing missing were his visits with Deus, though he supposed the few extra friends and survival game made up for that.
Kiku was one of few people who'd been by his side the longest. If he were to willingly trust anybody with his life, it would be him. Aside from Matthew, Kiku was invaluable to him and Alfred actually considered him to be family. There may have been a time their relationship almost took a more romantic path, what with their brief experimental phase and being each other's first kiss, but that was before they mutually agreed a platonic love suited them best: Alfred had a habit of being too clingy while Kiku was very distant. It was quite possible the only reason Alfred had his crush in the first place was because he had been the only non-related person to tolerate him. To be fair, there was a time he would've thrown himself at anyone who paid him the slightest bit of attention, hence all his past failed romances.
God, he really had been pathetic...or perhaps he still was, considering how he loved the way Ivan made him feel long before he took the time to truly get to know the other, but the romantic in him sincerely hoped that Ivan was his soulmate. At least Ivan seemed genuine about his intentions and was always there to protect him. It was proving to be very difficult not to catch feelings for him because...well, when Alfred fell for someone, he fell hard.
Maybe it was already too late.
As he approached his best friend's locker, Alfred broke free from his thoughts and smiled when Kiku reacted with surprise at the unexpected gesture. Normally it was Kiku who met with him, not the other way around since Alfred's locker was closest to their homeroom.
Eyes catching sight of the messily wrapped present in Alfred's hold, Kiku sent him a fond smile as he understood the sudden change in ritual. "Arigato, Al-kun," he said bashfully while taking the gift.
"Happy birthday!" Alfred cheered with a bright grin, bouncing on the balls of his feet in anticipation. "Open it! I wanna see your reaction!"
Kiku gave him a small smirk as he slid a finger beneath one of the folds and began to neatly unwrap his present, resulting in Alfred huffing and tapping his foot impatiently. Ugh, it was maddening! Kiku knew he was a very impatient person, but the suspense made Alfred's reaction all the more satisfying.
"Oh, wow." Observing the nendoroid figurine from an anime they enjoyed watching together, Kiku's eyes widened considerably. "I thought these were sold out."
"I stalked every website until one said they were taking orders again, then just jumped on it before they could sell out." Alfred sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he remembered the hassle he went through. "I mean, I know he's your favorite character and all…"
"Well, he does remind me of you," Kiku admitted with a chuckle.
Blinking in surprise, Alfred lowered his arm slowly as he processed what his friend meant by that. "Wait, seriously?"
"Ah, Fedya! There you are," Ivan announced his presence from behind Alfred, startling him.
Staring at Ivan as he calmed his rapidly beating heart, Alfred managed an acknowledgement in return before turning back to his best friend. "Do you want me to come over later?"
He completely missed the worried look Ivan sent him, almost begging him to recant the offer.
Kiku gave him a wide-eyed look, ignoring the sudden violet glare fixated on him. It wasn't like Ivan could hurt him. "Your parents are okay with you going out with a murderer on the loose?"
Smile growing tight, Alfred had to resist the urge of saying his parents really didn't care what he did, since he'd almost been killed three times the past month and spent most of his time with a vigilante.
"If you come over, my parents will make you spend the night," Kiku warned. "If you are alright with that, then be my guest."
Alfred made a face. Ever since his best friend told him about the spirits that lived in his house, he hadn't had a good night's sleep there. "Ugh, fair point. Maybe once all this madness is over, we can find a day to hang out and make up for it?" If such a thing was even possible in the near future.
"Sounds like a plan," Kiku regarded him with a nod, but scowled at the intense aura suddenly surrounding Ivan like a warning. Not wanting to start a new conflict, but wanting to be able to open his locker in peace, he turned to Alfred. "Have you gotten your books yet?" Seeing the other shake his head, he continued. "You should go do that. I'll meet up with you when I'm done."
"Alright, see you in a few," Alfred responded as he turned, heading toward his locker with Ivan by his side. Noticing the other seemed to be down, he felt the need to explain himself. "Sorry, it's his birthday today so I thought I'd do something special for him. I should've told you I wasn't gonna be at my locker."
Raising his brows at the other's concern for his feelings, Ivan felt his cheeks heat up with a blush before he averted his gaze. "Oh, I see. Birthdays have always meant a lot to you."
Lip curling into an unsure smile, Alfred noted that Ivan made an interesting observation about himself he hadn't really considered. It was true, birthdays did mean a lot to him, perhaps more than the average person, though he wasn't sure if the other knew why...had he revealed those details yet? He didn't think so.
Deciding to change the subject, Alfred voiced another curiosity. "Well, when's your birthday?"
"December 30th," Ivan answered automatically.
"Oh, fuck!" Smacking his forehead in frustration, Alfred remembered how he distanced himself from Ivan during that time. Ivan had spent his birthday all alone. Filled with remorse, Alfred felt the apology flood from his mouth. "I'm really, really sorry. I should've been there for you, but I'm such a selfish, piece of—"
"Is alright, I never celebrate it anyway," Ivan interrupted Alfred's rambling with a shrug.
Alfred narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Wait, like, you've never celebrated it? Or you just don't anymore, cause there's a very big difference."
"I never had one," Ivan clarified. "I almost did once, but I…" His eyes glimmered with regret as they became downcast. He clenched his fists, trembling like the beginning of an earthquake. "I ruined it," he spat.
This revelation was just more fuel for Alfred's theory that Ivan was an experiment raised in a lab his whole life. It explained both his incredible abilities and why he struggled with social interaction, he was basically a real-world Natasha Romanoff with a twist. The only thing that confused him was that picture of him with his sisters...perhaps that happened before he was discovered by the government or some secret organization then? Anything was possible.
Alfred turned to Ivan with a bright grin. "I have an idea!"
Suddenly awestruck, Ivan grew flustered, "Y-yes?"
"Valentine's is in a few days, right? We can do something special to make up for your birthday!"
As his blush deepened, Ivan smiled affectionately. "I'd love that."
.oOo.
It was about 5:04 in the morning when Alfred awoke. The birds outside began chirping and cawing as he got up from his bed cautiously, desperate to not make a sound that would wake up his twin. Checking his phone entries, he saw that he'd be successful in sneaking out, but it was best to follow the instructions and stick to the schedule presented to him. Getting dressed, he was able to quietly descend the steps and reach the front door, silently shutting it behind him and rushing to Ivan's parked impala just ten minutes before his twin's normal wake up time.
He sighed in relief as Ivan put the car in reverse. He felt bad for skipping school. Matthew and Mr. Edelstein would no doubt rip him a new one the next day, but what was the point of getting an education anymore when he could be killed at any moment? It wasn't like he'd see graduation. The only reason he didn't argue too much against being forced to go to class was that it gave him an opportunity to see his friends, especially since Kiku wasn't allowed to visit him until things settled down again. Who even knew when that'd be? Would it even happen at all?
No, he had to enjoy things as they came. He needed to enjoy the present. It was bad that he'd become so tense lately, even Ludwig had asked the other day if he was being followed. Those were the first and only words he said to Alfred since the raid over a month ago. Hell, Ludwig wasn't even conversing with Feliciano anymore, so it was alarming he took the time to mention this to Alfred at all. That meant others were catching on to his paranoia, which would only single him out as a target. He needed to make himself less obvious and prove he was a normal civilian.
Once Matthew started spamming him with worried messages, he muted his cellphone. Alfred pursed his lips as they entered the movie theatre. It wasn't an original idea for a date, but there wasn't much to do in his neighborhood this time of year. Fortunately for him, Ivan had never experienced going to a cinema before, so Alfred let him pick whichever movie he wanted while Alfred covered the cost of tickets, food, and drinks. They had garnered some weird stares from the staff, likely suspecting the two teens were playing hooky, but Alfred knew that as long as he maintained a cool demeanor, he and Ivan could easily pass themselves off as college students.
The theatre was almost empty, they noted and took their seats in the far back. Resting comfortably and sipping on his cola, Alfred watched as Ivan gently shook their popcorn bucket cautiously, hoping to properly distribute its contents without spilling them.
"I kinda went overboard with the butter..." Alfred grinned bashfully, turning his cheek and scratching it to conceal a pink tint.
"Yes, but—" Ivan smiled at him reassuringly. "As long as you are enjoying it, I do not mind."
"Trust me, it's good!" Alfred took a handful and plopped a few into his mouth.
Ivan was unconvinced, but smiled politely. "I will take your word for it."
Alfred brought the last piece in his hand close to Ivan's lips, making his eyes widen as his cheeks flushed red. "C'mon, try it. It's part of the movie experience! Just one bite and if you don't like it, I'll take the popcorn off your hands. Deal?"
Nodding, feeling slightly dizzy, Ivan leaned in so Alfred could feed him. As he slowly chewed his food, Alfred beamed once he saw him nod in approval. "So?"
"It is rather...addicting." Ivan picked out a few from their shared bucket and chewed on them, watching as Alfred's hand grabbed for more. "I feel it is very easy to overindulge and wind up sick."
"Boo, that's the best part." Alfred tossed a piece into the air and attempted to catch it with his mouth, only for it to hit his cheek and fall off. Looking down and seeing the piece had disappeared into the void between the seats, he realized it was a lost cause. "Fack."
Ivan giggled as he held a new piece between his fingers. "A replacement?"
"Huh? Oh, thanks—"
Just as Alfred reached for it, Ivan's arm swerved and pressed it against his lips.
"My turn!" Ivan beamed. Alfred's eyes darted from the snack to Ivan. "I take care of you now," he continued.
Alfred chuckled. "Damn, beat me at my own game." He opened his mouth and accepted the piece, his smile growing more coy once he caught sight of the adoring look Ivan spoiled him with.
There was a peaceful silence between the two until the lights of the theatre dimmed. Left alone with his thoughts, Alfred found it hard to concentrate on the movie screen. Each day that passed was a day closer to the end of the game, to the end of the world . There hadn't been any incidents as of late, but just how long would these carefree moments last? Time was ticking.
Glancing at Ivan, Alfred was put at ease by the other's calmness, his gaze fixed on the film as he idly ate popcorn. Whatever Ivan's history may be, Alfred was glad he at least had a chance to know what it was like to live like as a normal teenager. To have a friend.
Feeling a heavy gaze on him, Ivan turned to Alfred, expecting answers. Giving Ivan a gentle smile, he reached for Ivan's hand and clasped it gently before resting his head on Ivan's shoulder, just relieved that he wasn't spending these last few months alone. These distractions and companionship were probably the only things keeping him sane.
Elated by the sudden affection, Ivan leaned into the touch, nuzzling into a crown of golden hair and squeezing Alfred's hand gently.
When the film concluded, they moved on to the next phase of Ivan's birthday-valentine combo. Nearby the cinema was an indoor recreation center featuring a roller skating rink. Alfred led Ivan toward a section in the back and introduced him to an arcade.
Exchanging some money for tokens, he handed Ivan his own cup. "Go wild." Ivan stared at him with uncertainty, preferring to follow his lead like a lost puppy. "Just pick whichever game you think looks fun and put in however many tokens it tells you."
It took a few minutes of meandering down the aisles until Ivan stopped by the motorcycle racing simulators and glanced back at Alfred.
"Oooh, these are fun. You don't get any tickets for winning though," he informed as he slid on his own bike. Ivan followed suit and inserted his coins into the machine as Alfred selected his avatar and map.
After a few races, they moved on to other games in the arcade. Ivan's inhuman reflexes scored them multiple jackpots and tickets rained down, there was enough for them to get one of the more expensive prizes on display. After much bickering between the two over how the other should pick, Alfred eventually settled everything by telling Ivan to just get the drone since it was the only thing that seemed worth the money. However, convincing Ivan that the prize was his since he'd won it and that it was technically a belated birthday present was a whole other debate. As a compromise, Alfred offered they could share the drone despite having no interest in using it. Sure, he could take some interesting footage with it, but why bother starting a project when he already had so much on his plate? If Ivan could find some use for it in the few months remaining, Alfred would be seriously impressed.
After grabbing an early dinner, they patrolled the recreation center for a new activity until Ivan pointed out an area they had yet to explore. "What is that?"
Alfred let out an excited giggle and caught Ivan's attention. "Laser tag."
Grabbing Ivan's arm, Alfred led him to the counter so he could purchase tickets for them to play a few rounds, as well as ask the staff if they could watch their drone. The staff gestured for them to enter the next room where they were met with some young adults and other teens who were putting on their vests and equipping their guns.
Ivan cocked his head to the side and turned to Alfred. "What is laser tag?"
Picking up a vest off the rack, Alfred handed it to Ivan before getting his own. "So basically we just shoot the other team where these lights are on our vests and protect our base, but we also have to invade their base and take all their points. It's pretty simple."
Ivan raised a brow. "This...is a game?"
"Yeah, it's fun! Trust me. Just don't go overboard. You can't touch other people. You just shoot, and if you lose all your life points you have to go back to your base and recharge. Watch your corners and be on the lookout for kids because they can be real assholes."
Nodding slowly as he took in all this information, Ivan tightened the harness around his waist.
As they waited for more people to join and the game before them to wrap up, a video further explained the instructions for Ivan while Alfred inspected the other team and mentally pitied all the people who wore white or bright clothing. They would stick out like a sore thumb in the black-lit room they were about to enter.
The doors to the arena opened. The room was dark save for the multi-colored lights roaming around as the speakers blasted techno. Quickly they and the rest of their team synced their vests with their base. Feeling a familiar hand grip around his wrist, Alfred smirked as Ivan pushed forward and surveyed the area.
Finding an advantageous corner and pulling the other in, Ivan turned to Alfred. "We should attack from here."
"What?" Alfred frowned disapprovingly. "That's camping, we can't do that. Scummy strat aside, it's boring as fuck and I paid for us to have fun."
"You want to go on offense?" Ivan clarified with a raised brow.
"Sure. I think that one couple was gonna hang back by the base anyway so someone's gotta push. We can watch each other's back."
Staring at the other pensively, Ivan eventually broke out into a small grin. "Sounds perfect."
Seeing the other pull his phone out of his pocket, Alfred placed his hand over Ivan's and shook his head. Earnest blue eyes met a surprised violet. "Let's just forget about the survival game, okay?"
With a single nod, Ivan tucked the diary away. "Understood."
They forced themselves into enemy territory back-to-back with Ivan taking lead as Alfred kept an eye on any pursuers. Noticing a laser land on a nearby teammate, Alfred glanced toward the source.
"Shit, sniper!" He aimed at flashing blue lights and landed a few shots before the vest went dark, signaling that it needed to be recharged at its home base.
Clearing a way to the blue team's base, Alfred kept watch and shot at any enemies as Ivan drained the tower of points. With a quick high-five, they proceeded to push into green territory until Ivan noticed an upper platform that overlooked the base. Forcing their way through, they were able to dodge behind a pillar and secure the advantage.
From his angle, Alfred shot at the green tower while Ivan took care of the rest of the team's defense. Once the tower deactivated, Alfred glanced down into the arena, only to notice many green and blues rushing into red territory. What the hell was the rest of red team doing? Did everyone just decide to go offence instead? Fine by him. He needed to reload anyway. With a heavy sigh, he signaled for Ivan to retreat with him to the lower levels.
As he led Ivan through the maze, using his remaining bullets sparingly, he flinched when a laser from the side temporarily blinded him. Ivan rushed to his side and took out the other opponent and pushed Alfred out of the way and into a corner. Peeking over the edge, Alfred spotted a nearby reloading station as Ivan kept watch. Ignoring the 'no running' rule, he made his way in and raised his gun to the sensor until it was at full ammo. As Ivan took advantage of their time at the station, Alfred made sure to take out the few blue and green enemies that hoped to overwhelm them while they were vulnerable.
Driving back the two teams from their base was much more difficult that he anticipated, considering the rest had abandoned post and were in enemy territory, except for the few players that had been hit and were heading back to base to recharge. The two teens were crouched on opposite sides of a path, hoping to catch their opponents in a crossfire. It was time to move forward, Alfred decided as he turned the corner, eyeing his partner to make sure they were on the same page.
A laser had only narrowly missed Ivan's shoulder. Gaze flickering back, Alfred realized that it belonged to a child donning a smug grin. Their little bodies always gave them an advantage to sneak up on people, Alfred scowled in annoyance. Seeing the child's trigger finger curl, he rushed toward Ivan.
"Look out!"
Ivan raised his head in alarm, only to be knocked back just as the lights of the arena turned on, the music coming to a sudden halt.
"Oof!" Alfred landed across Ivan's chest. The other was pushing himself up with his elbows, wincing as he did so while checking to see if Alfred was alright. Turning his head, Alfred made sure their gazes met before he waggled his brows and prepared the most suave voice he could muster. "I guess I really fell for ya, huh?" He sounded ridiculous, but that didn't stop him from making awkward finger guns.
Cocking his head to the side as he took everything in, Ivan suddenly burst out laughing. A genuine, full belly laugh. It was so contagious that Alfred couldn't help but join in as he moved off the other, completely captivated by the sight. Seeing Ivan so happy felt like an accomplishment for him. The smile on his face only grew when their gazes reunited. Ivan wiped away a few stray tears before becoming quiet, staring at his hand in astonishment.
Alfred noticed the sudden mood change. "What's up?"
"I never laughed so hard before," Ivan admitted with a heartfelt smile as he got to his knees, gaze darting back to the other. "It felt great. Thank you for this, Fedya."
Alfred let out a dry snort. "If I knew cringy puns were gonna make you lose your shit, I would've made one sooner."
"No, it was bad. However, the execution...you are so silly, it's adorable."
"What can I say? It's a gift," Alfred bragged as he stood up and extended a hand toward him. "Now let's go check our scores."
After pulling Ivan up, they made their way to the leaderboard. Eyes roaming the screen, Alfred was glad to see that red was above blue before checking the details. Ivan was in first place with zero hits and Alfred honestly couldn't have expected anything less from the other.
What surprised him, however, was that he'd been trailing not too far behind from Ivan. Normally he did pretty well in shooter-type games, his aim had always been a strong suit, but the lack of hits against him was new. Ivan did a pretty amazing job watching his back. In fact, they were super compatible as a team. It almost felt natural.
After a few more rounds resulting in similar results, their tickets expired. Fortunately, it was around the time the recreation center was due to close, especially with the curfews in place over their neighborhood. After heading back to the car, Alfred opened the back door to put away the prize they'd won, letting out a small sigh.
"Is something the matter?"
"I don't really want to go home yet," Alfred confessed as he shut the door, hoping he could delay the inevitable earful that awaited him at home a little while longer. Maybe he'd avoid it altogether if their outing pushed past Matthew's bedtime.
Ivan smiled. "I understand. What would you like to do instead?"
Glancing around, the park the two of them had walked through weeks ago came into view. "Let's go there," he suggested while pointing to the clearing. Ivan sent him an approving nod before they crossed through the parking lot, entering through the baseball fields. Alfred reminisced over all the time he played catch with his twin, almost certainly ruining Mattie's chances of ever having children…
Collapsing onto the ground, he spread his arms and legs wide like a starfish as he gazed at the night sky above him, analyzing all the stars in the system. If he became god, he'd have the power to create whole new worlds and possibilities, to explore the stars and galaxies, to experience what lied beyond his world. Hell, he'd never even set foot outside his own country. The possibilities would be endless.
Ivan approached him, squatting beside his body, his face over his own with the night sky as a background. It was quite the view with his serene smile and beautiful violet eyes that watched him so fondly. Breath hitching, Alfred wondered how perfect it would be to have Ivan by his side as he traversed the unknown.
But that couldn't happen. Only one of them could survive this game, it was becoming increasingly more difficult to accept that.
Patting the ground beside him, Alfred managed a grin. "Join me."
Ivan did as he was told, laying beside his beloved and gazing at the stars, humming with delight. The grin on his face was so genuine, it almost made Alfred's as well. "To think that this whole time, we've been staring at the same moon," he said with a giggle.
Alfred's lips quirked into a smirk as he focused on the luminous orb. "I never thought of it like that. Yeah, I guess we have been."
"Counting the same stars. Under the same sun," Ivan continued softly, his hand slowly reaching into his pocket. "I used to look up at the sky often and wondering if there was someone out there waiting for me, wishing for the same thing…"
Pausing, Alfred furrowed his brows in thought. "Wishing for what?"
"A friend," Ivan said, beaming.
Chewing on his bottom lip, it frightened him how Ivan's words hit too close to home. Two lonely boys on opposite ends of the world, just wanting someone to understand them, someone to be their friend...only to finally be connected in a survival game, of all things.
It was tragic, to say the least. The whole situation only upset Alfred. Every time he was happy, when he had something he enjoyed, it always had to be ripped away. Like it was his punishment for existing.
Meanwhile gloved fingers clenched around the small box in his pocket, a sudden spark of determination welled up inside Ivan's core as he rolled onto his side and faced his love. "Fedya, I— "
"You know, when I was little I wanted to be an astronaut." There was a nostalgic gleam in his eyes that reflected the moon and stars. "Deus...he used to make the Cathedral all these new planets and galaxies, then Tony and I would travel to them. But as I got older, I realized just how disillusioned I was. Reality is shit," he grumbled before turning to the other. "Sorry, what were you gonna say?"
"Nevermind." Ivan relaxed his grip and removed his hand from his pocket. Now wasn't the time. "What do you want to be now?"
"Not like any of it matters." Alfred shrugged half-heartedly, averting his gaze.
"Please tell me?"
Anxiously pulling grass from the ground, he relented. "All my applications I sent in were for drama or film. It's always been easy for me to pretend I was someone else. Or to be the one behind the camera, just watching, not being a part of anything. I shouldn't even exist, and it feels like my whole life is just constantly trying to remind me of that." Alfred sat up, wrapping his arms around his knees and hugging them close for comfort as he stared at the ground. "Nobody likes the real me, but to be fair, not many like the fake me either...at least then I'm not constantly reminded how much of a fucking burden I am ," he spat, the admittance of his true emotions leaving a foul taste on his tongue.
It was only when his vision blurred and eyes stung that he realized he was on the verge of tears. Shaking his head in an attempt to dissuade them and appear unperturbed, he turned to Ivan with a slight smile to mask the pain he felt, but the quiver in his voice betrayed him. "Okay, this is not how dates are supposed to go. I fuck everything up. I'm so sorry, Iv. I didn't — "
"You are not a burden." Ivan frowned as he pushed himself up. "Not to me."
Alfred's tone turned desperate. "Even when you're constantly risking your life to save my dumb ass? That doesn't bother you? At all?"
" Never ." Cupping his jaw, Ivan forced him to look up into the storm in his eyes. "All I have said, I meant. Truly. You do not need them when you have me, you are perfect just the way you are. Forget about what others think because you are mine , Fedya. And I am yours. Forever ."
There was a sudden overwhelming urge for him to lean forward and plant his lips on the other's, but everything was just too confusing. He was falling in love with a man who swore he'd protect him until the end, but there could only be one survivor. There could only be one survivor. The words playing like a broken record in his mind, he broke free from Ivan's hold and rested his forehead on the top of his knees and obscured his face from view. This wasn't fair, none of this was fair! Whether he lived or died, all that was certain was that he'd be alone again, either in a grave or as a god. There was never any point in his life he asked to be a contestant, all he ever asked for was a friend and apparently so did Ivan…
Honestly, fuck Deus. Fuck this game. Fuck everything .
Leaning into Ivan's touch as the other massaged his back, Alfred only felt emotionally exhausted by everything. It'd be so easy to make this night romantic, but who was he fooling? Why were him and Ivan setting themselves up like this, for a heartbreak that'd only hurt them both? But to be honest, he really didn't want to be alone. There was no way he could survive without Ivan. He really had no choice in what to do, everything just seemed too cruel.
"Ivan, what are we going to do? We know how this ends," Alfred voiced his thoughts aloud, wondering what he thought of everything. Forever just couldn't exist.
"We are going to enjoy every moment we can together." Ivan smiled softly, fingers gently combing through golden threads. "I will take care of everything at end. Do not worry, you will have everything you ever wanted. I will make sure you are happy."
Glancing at the other, Alfred frowned. "I won't have you."
Eyes widening in surprise, Ivan grew silent as he gaped at Alfred. A light pink dusted his cheeks at the unexpected answer.
Coming to his senses, Ivan chose his next words carefully. "We do not know for certain how this will end, but we may be surprised. You could decide to let this world perish or that you do want to become god. Whatever it may be, I will grant it."
True. Maybe he did have options, even if they weren't ideal. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see then."
Placing a kiss on his temple, Ivan smiled happily. "It will be alright. Let us focus on the now rather than future, yes?"
Responding with a nod, Alfred agreed it was probably for the best to not think ahead. Anything could happen between now and then. No point dwelling on it.
To be honest, he felt a bit better. Not great, just better. With Ivan by his side, everything felt more comforting. For once, he felt secure, and he longed for everything to stay like this forever. A memory preserved for an eternity.
Alfred didn't know when he had nodded off, but he was in a sauna when he woke up. Sweating, he was curled against Ivan's side with strong arms shielding him from cool winds. It wasn't wise to sleep outside when it was only February, but somehow Ivan produced enough body heat to warm up a house.
Glancing at his phone, he saw that it was almost 1 AM.
"Shit." Alfred immediately got onto his feet, noticing Ivan staring at him in alarm. "It's late and we have school tomorrow. We should really get going."
Nodding in agreement, Ivan stood and led Alfred to his car before starting the engine. The drive wasn't long, but allowed for enough time to recover from their sleepy haze. Once they were in Alfred's driveway, Ivan moved to turn off the ignition, only for Alfred to place a hand on his arm, halting him.
"You should go home too."
Ivan frowned, narrowing his eyes. "Why?"
"The light's on so Mattie might still be awake. If that's the case, he might be in a bad mood since I skipped school and ignored him all day."
Ivan chewed on his bottom lip anxiously. "Are you sure you don't want me to go in with you?"
Alfred nodded. "Knowing him, he'll just be passive-aggressive as fuck. I'd rather you not deal with that. It's easy to ignore, but still pretty annoying."
After a brief moment of contemplation, Ivan placed his other hand back on the steering wheel. "Very well."
"Okay." Alfred grinned as he opened the door. "I'll see you in a few hours. Give Vodka my love."
Ivan chuckled at that. "Da, I will." Watching Alfred's back turn, his tight smile faltered as he grew concerned.
Opening the door, Alfred peeked inside his home. There was a good chance Matthew was asleep and he didn't want to risk disturbing him. Seeing that the coast was clear, he entered the foyer and focused on closing the door as quietly as he could, not at all noticing the individual standing beneath a doorway with his arms crossed.
"And where have you been? Do you have any idea what time it is?" Matthew's voice crashed like thunder, loud and filled with a fury that left Alfred wide-eyed and frozen in fear. His twin almost never snapped, but when he did…
"It's 1:17 in the morning, by the way! Five hours past curfew! Why the hell do you keep sneaking off and coming back late? Where are you even going?"
Alfred paused before facing Matthew, doing everything in his power to keep calm while thinking of an excuse. "I was with Ivan," he admitted with a frown. "Why does it even matter?"
"Well, in case you've forgotten, we still have a serial killer on the loose! And here you are, acting like there's nothing to worry about, tempting fate just because you've survived a couple of close calls…" Matthew was able to notice the slightest quirk of discomfort on his lips, the only giveaway to his brother's guilt. Alfred had always been a great liar, almost too good, but it was hard to fool someone with the same face. "Unless there's something you aren't telling me?" He growled in frustration.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Alfred huffed at the accusation. Matthew's blood boiled at the audacity.
" You said I would never find the serial killer," Matthew reminded him. "Why on Earth would you have said that unless you knew better?"
"Because you're not a detective, Mattie." Alfred rolled his eyes as he hung up his jacket. Anything to avoid his brother's perceptive gaze.
"Alright, sure. I'll give you that. But how do you know that cop? I want the truth, not some bullshit excuse. And what about that woman who subbed your Spanish class coincidently once your teacher went missing ?" As Alfred's head turned to him with complete dismay, Matthew crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. "Yes, I know ."
"W-wha? How did you — "
"Doesn't matter. What matters is that not only have you been keeping secrets from me, but you've been lying to my face. I thought you wanted to be a hero, Alfred. Don't you realize that this information could bring justice and save people? Don't you care at all about what happened to Emma?"
"Of course I do!" Alfred's voice cracked at that. How dare Matthew insinuate otherwise? Nothing could compare to the guilt he felt over her death, how she had just been one of the many unfortunate individuals sucked into his mess. She was the perfect reminder for why he couldn't let anyone else get involved in the survival game, he was simply too weak to protect them.
"Well, you sure have a funny way of showing it," Matthew snapped. "From the way it sounds, it's almost like you're trying to cover up her murder! What is it you know, Alfred? Just what exactly are you hiding?"
Alfred averted his gaze; Matthew had him cornered. There was no way he could risk his brother's safety. Matthew was too precious to him — he was his rock. The whole world be damned! He couldn't lose Mattie, but he was just too perceptive for his own good. "I..." he said in a small, defeated voice before letting out a nervous laugh, anxiously scratching his cheek. "S-so, you know about those imaginary friends I had?"
Matthew blinked numerous times, not processing what Alfred said because of the abrupt topic change, but then his eyes narrowed in rage.. "You... asshole !" he strode toward him and gripped his shoulders. Alfred tensed, holding a deep breath while his eyes widened in alarm. "This is Emma we're talking about. Emma! " The hold on his shoulders tightened and shook his body. " A real person, our friend, is dead while you're going on dates with that creep without a care in the world! This isn't your fucking fantasy world, Alfred! This is real life! Quit being a selfish brat all the damn time and grow the fuck up!"
Overcome with emotion, Alfred found the strength to shove Matthew off. "You always ask me to open up to you, and when I finally do you shut me down every time! Has it ever occured to you that maybe the reason I like Ivan so much is because I've finally met someone who doesn't think I'm crazy?" Attempting to stifle his tears only made them fall harder, aggressively he attempted to wipe them away with his sleeve but to no avail.
Matthew paused as realization donned on him: Alfred was being genuine. He'd actually been about to come clean before he fucked everything up. 'No no no-'
"You don't think I'm scared all the time? That I know I can die at any given moment? Do you know how hard it is for me to keep it together so I don't freak anybody out. So that I'm not a burden to you or our parents? I'm trying, Mattie. I'm trying so damn hard! I'm sorry I couldn't be perfect like you, maybe I just shouldn't have been born at all!"
"Al, I — " Matthew reached for his brother, but Alfred evaded him swiftly before storming up to his room, door slamming shut shortly after. Rubbing his hands against his face, Matthew felt regret swallow him whole. Now Alfred definitely wouldn't be opening up to him anytime soon, he pushed too hard and the entire foundation crumbled as a result. Rebuilding it would take even more patience and effort than the last time, but he supposed that was just the price he had to pay for losing his composure.
With a heavy sigh, he wondered just how many pints of ice cream it would take for Alfred to start forgiving him.
.oOo.
Stuck at his desk all day for weeks, Zwingli found himself stressed with the new piles of workload presented to him. Covering up the confrontation with Sixth had been very taxing, not to mention finding the means to give a criminal access to his data and resources. These alliances, though useful, were certainly the cause of many white hairs springing from his scalp...
But keeping the peace was worth it.
Third, a serial killer, and Sixth, a powerful, ruthless mafia lord, were now forever barred from attaining godhood thanks to their efforts. It would be a terrible world should someone like them be left in charge. He was relieved that at least a few of the other diary holders were in agreement.
Rummaging through some files on his desk and comparing them with the entries in his diary, he noted that the leads Ninth had sent him were promising, but also very premature and lacked enough clues to piece together. The one with the most data collected was probably Tenth, who they both were able to deduce was the recent serial killer in charge of the canine attacks — information that was still undisclosed to the public. They didn't need to attract any attention to this, especially when the previous serial killer still hadn't been caught from a civilian's perspective. A panic at a time like this would only lead to chaos, the rest of the population couldn't know that the fate of the world rested in the hands of twelve individuals, some of them having been sociopaths. As much as he'd like to wrap up Third's case, it was hard to cover up a story when there was no body left as evidence. If he could find the identity of this copy-cat, he might be able to pin the blame on them as long as he executed his plan properly.
Speaking of the copy-cat, he glanced at the clock. It was about time he packed up for the day and got ready to pick up his little sister from university, especially since it was nearing dusk and he didn't want her out alone past curfew. If need be, he could come back to the office later for some late-night investigation, but Lili's life was too important to risk — she was the only family he had left.
Well, perhaps that wasn't true, but...moving on.
Organizing his paperwork and neatly setting them into his file cabinet, he tucked his phone into his pocket before making his way out the door and locking it behind him. There were still a few others in the precinct, stuck at their cubicles as they did their assignments, politely regarding their boss and making small talk. There was one face he noticed was missing, coincidentally that of someone he sent out to get coffee many hours prior.
With a heavy sigh, Zwingli pinched the bridge of his nose. 'Not again.'
Searching through the halls for a certain young adult who was his responsibility, he came to a stop outside the office of his retired superior, a familiar mop of blond hair garnering his attention.
Crossing his arms impatiently as he stood beneath the doorframe, Zwingli observed the student intern before speaking up. "Kirkland, I asked for a coffee four hours ago."
Arthur didn't spare him a glance. "Sorry," he replied insincerely in his posh accent, green eyes roaming over documents he more than likely lacked the clearance for.
Narrowing his eyes, Zwingli stepped forward and held out his hand. "I don't recall giving you access to those. You'd be lucky if I don't report this."
"You won't," Arthur answered with certainty, placing the papers down onto the desk in defiance before meeting his eyes. "You need me."
Feeling his eye twitch in annoyance as he lowered his hand, Zwingli couldn't help but feel that Arthur's arrogance reminded him of another difficult teen under his wing — God forbid the two ever meet. "Be careful with what you say, I could easily end this internship of yours with one call," he warned, not out of spite, but as a mentor telling their trainee that this sort of behavior wasn't tolerated in their disciplined field.
"You don't usually accept internships." Arthur grinned. "Yet you took me in."
"I saw potential in you. You have a sharp mind, but you are an intern. Don't let it get to your head. You need to earn respect here."
"Bringing you coffee won't bring me any respect, especially when I know there's cases out there that still need to be solved. Lives are at stake, officer. You're running out of time."
Lips quirking into a frown, Zwingli knew he couldn't take that statement personally or else he'd reveal private information. Arthur was very much like him when he first started out, too cunning and observant for his own good. It'd be wise for him to put those skills to some good use. With a resigned sigh, Zwingli sent him a nod. "I'll see what I can find for you tomorrow."
"Or perhaps I can shed some light on what I found today." Arthur patted the files on the desk. "You should have told me your old boss is a dog-lover."
"I fail to see how that's relevant."
"Canine attacks. Local. All at his own son's university…" He tutted. "No wonder he's been able to get away with so much, especially since you've been disclosing sensitive information to him. He knows your every move."
"You wouldn't suggest— " Zwingli paused and shook his head at the thought. "No. That's absurd."
"You told me that nothing should be ruled out without proper investigation, no matter how outrageous the thought," Arthur chastised in all seriousness. "And I'm telling you, I've investigated every trail he's left behind. I have him cornered, if we could just— "
"Kirkland, you do realize what you're accusing a former officer of, right?" Zwingli raised his voice. "Do you have any physical evidence to support your claim?"
"Well...not exactly, but— "
"That's not good enough, Arthur," Zwingli scolded. "You can't just rely on instinct. This isn't some sort of gamble. A man's whole reputation is on the line. I need facts, not feelings."
The two gazes clashed with frustration; one over not being heard, and the other trying to instill advice onto his stubborn pupil.
"I know it's him," Arthur growled. "With or without your help, I'm getting to the bottom of this."
"Well, should you provide sufficient evidence, I will provide backup. Until then, my hands are tied."
"Let's just hope there's no more incidences, otherwise that blood is on your hands, officer," Arthur warned before stalking out of the room, leaving Zwingli alone in his predecessor's office. Feeling uneasy, he shook his head to dispel any rogue thoughts before making his way out of the precinct and to his car. His former boss as the new serial killer? As Tenth? It made no sense. He'd known the man since he was a child, having been raised alongside his nephew.
But...isn't that how many of these cases started in the first place? You think you know someone, but he's seen too much to know that there's always more within the human psyche behind closed doors. Arthur's claim may have sounded ridiculous at first, but now that he was able to think about it deeply and mentally cross-reference it with the other evidence presented to him, it was a solid lead. Perhaps it was worth looking into those files his intern had gathered.
-SHHHHHZZZT-
Wasting no time, he pulled out his diary to check the most recent entry, only to freeze on the spot when he read the text on screen. He slammed his foot on the gas pedal. Sirens blared as he weaved between cars.
Now that he was onto Tenth, the game was truly getting started.
.oOo.
Jeanne rustled her short blonde locks as she stood from her desk, exhausted from another day of stacked classes. Originally she thought philosophy would make an interesting gen ed, and for the most part it was, but the teacher was just so monotone and dreary — he was essentially reading straight out of a textbook. The fact that it was at the end of a very busy day was just the nail on the coffin. She couldn't wait to go home and just watch tv with her boyfriend and maybe even pass out shortly after. Homework could wait.
Gathering her books and placing them in her bag, she followed a few other students out the door before heading down a different hall. Since she'd been on campus since 9 in the morning, she'd gotten a parking spot close to her AM class, though unfortunately it was a bit of a ways from her most recent one.
It was 6:32 PM, only twilight, but she was eager to get to her car before it got too dark. With all these recent animal attacks happening around her campus, it was natural to be worried about becoming the next victim, even if she made sure she stayed far away from the woods.
Exiting the humanities building, Jeanne walked past the main pick-up/drop-off zone and paused when she saw a familiar face lost in her work whilst sitting on a bench, a gentle breeze swaying the loose strands of her bob. Smiling, Jeanne approached her old lab partner. "Lili? Is that you?"
Startled, the girl glanced up before returning a gentle smile of her own. "Oh, hello, Jeanne. I haven't seen you since last semester."
"Yeah, biology was such a nightmare," Jeanne groaned, recalling her struggles. "I don't know why they made the exams so hard. I'm surprised I passed that class with a B!"
"Me too! I suppose we did very well on our lab assignments to make up for it." Lili giggled, covering her mouth. It was then Jeanne noticed something brightly colored displayed on the Lili's lap.
"Oh, what's that?" Jeanne gestured toward the tablet, resulting in Lili to move her arm to the side. It was a digital landscape painting of some swans on a blue lake with many majestic mountains in the background with vibrant colors that complimented each other in a way Jeanne had no idea was even possible. It held such a distinctive art style that left her mesmerized. "Woah, that's incredible!"
Blushing, Lili zoomed out of her painting with her fingers. "It's just a project I'm working on for my brother...it's supposed to be Lake Lucerne. I was hoping to get this finished and printed by the end of the semester for him, but with my classes, I'm not sure if I'll be able to."
Jeanne raised a brown. "What's your major? Did you switch out of liberal arts?"
Lili nodded. "I'm in graphic design now." She let out a wistful sigh. "I love it, but I feel as though I rarely have the time to paint the things I want anymore. Right now I can since I got out of class early, but days like this are rare…"
"Oh, if you got out of class early, do you need a ride home? I just finished myself."
Shaking her head, she gave a thankful smile. "No, but I appreciate the offer. My brother should already be on his way, so I don't expect it to be too long of a wait."
"Alright then. Don't be afraid to text me whenever you have free time, okay? I'm sure we can find a good time to hang out."
"Sounds like a plan." Lili smiled brightly. "We can compare schedules later."
"Definitely! I'll talk to you later!" With a wave, Jeanne continued her way across the parking lot, finding her car and putting her things away before sitting in the driver's seat, releasing an exhausted sigh as she cracked her knuckles. It was Friday, and she could finally relax now that the week was over.
That was before she saw shadowed silhouettes weaving between the cars.
Tensing, Jeanne sat up straight and surveyed the area, wondering what the hell it was that she'd just seen, and whether it was real or just a figment of her sleep deprived imagination. Just when she was about to let her guard down and brush it off, she saw another flash of black.
A loose Rottweiler had just run in front of her car.
For a brief moment, she felt sympathy for the poor creature that was probably lost and panicked without its owner. Before exiting, she hesitated. Multiple shadows garnered her attention in the first place. It was quite possible this was a stray and part of a pack.
Then she recalled the recent string of animal attacks in the news. As much as she loved dogs, it wasn't like canine maulings were anything new. In her car, she was safe. She had to report this, Jeanne thought as she rubbed her temple, gritting her teeth. Enough of these crimes happening in her life. This was the second time this school-year alone! Why couldn't things just be peaceful?
Her motions came to a sudden halt as it dawned on her that the dogs seemed to be pursuing something. Glancing back, she noted that they were headed in the direction she had come from.
Lili.
Putting the car in drive, she swung over to where she had last seen her friend, only to suck in a breath when the other was missing. She prayed that Lili's brother had picked her up like she said he would, but her peripheral vision caught sight of something she hoped she'd never see.
That wasn't red paint sprinkled on the cement.
Covering her mouth, Jeanne attempted to keep it together. This was no time to panic. Things would be alright. Lili's brother would be here soon.
A familiar, distant scream drained the blood from her face. Not soon enough.
There was no way in hell was she going to let Lili suffer, she had to do something. Adrenaline taking over, Jeanne reached for her softball bag in the back seat, rummaging for a metal bat. Taking hold of it, she rushed out of her car and toward the source of the cries for help, just hoping she wouldn't be too late.
It wouldn't be for another ten minutes before Zwingli found the two girls with an ambulance on the way. There was a burning sting in the corner of his eyes as blood-soaked hands applied pressure to open wounds. His body shook like vibrating glass moments before it shattered.
This was personal.
So who's Tenth? What happened? How long will I keep you waiting for the next chapter? Not long, I hope, but only time will tell.