A/N: There we go. Double update day. Now I'm off to work.
...I don't much like being rushed when it comes to a chapter, but folks were howling for Arcane.
So here we are. Its still not quite ready, but if I put this off any longer, I'll go mad.
Still alive, just couldn't find the right groove for this chapter...until now~!
Now then, we're still following the Ember's Rule here. Sadly, that's no joke. Really, it isn't. If folks don't like this...well, it won't be continued. Every bit of feedback helps. YOU determine what stays and goes. Reviews are the fuel which keeps me writing in these crazy times. With my tight schedule, two jobs, and a load of paperwork. I simply don't have time to write a story folks don't like. Without them, my inspiration cannot take wing and I can't write a word. So by all means, speak up!
Now for your questions, comments, and concerns. We'll keep it short, sweet, and simple this time, since its been a bit...
Q: Update Schedule. GIVE!
A: I'm pushing real hard to update "Enemy" and "Dystopia" Golden Grimm, too. Sadly me muse is fighting me...
It really wants to write another Boys story, one with Naruto smacking Homelander around. After the latest episode, I won't like the temptation is there...
Q:...so whose trap did Naruto and Jinx blunder into? And how the hell is Fiddlesticks involved?! He works with no one!
A: Fiddlesticks was unexpected. No one knew that THING would show up in Stillwater. Ironically, his presence helped them...initially. Less guards to worry about on the inside. But now the trap's been sprung and the Fox is out...well. Its a fight for survival.
Q: Don't do it. Please. Mercy.
A: No idea what you're on about, mate.
Q: Well, he's lost it. Surely this can only end well.
A: Aye, its all sunshine and rainbows here.
Alright, this old man has kept you waiting long enough.
As ever, I own no references quotes, themes or memes.
So in lieu of a long authors note...here...we...go!
"Do what must be done. Do not hesitate. Show no mercy.
Rip and tear, my son. Until it is done.
Until. It is. Done.
~?
Hold Tight
"This has gone too far."
Silco's glass struck the floor and shattered into a dozen pieces. Wine spattered the carpet, staining his shoes a ghastly shade of crimson. The stains would never come out. He ignored them, good eye blazing upon the man before him, or rather, the pistol pressed against his chest. At this range he had no chance to dodge. It would be a clean shot, he knew. A single round through his heart would spell the end of him.
One shot. One kill and likewise, a quick death. Almost poetic, really.
Yet he did not flinch in the face of his impending demise...nor this betrayal. After so long he'd grown accustomed to such. Learned to anticipate it, even. It was in mankind's very nature to betray their fellows; to backstab those in power, drag those above them down the ladder of chaos, drown those who sought in turn to drown them. He'd always known he too would be betrayed someday, sooner or later. He'd feared such treachery would come at the hands of those he came for. Knowing did little to lessen the sting. In hindsight, his prayers had been answered.
"What is the meaning of this...
Because you see, this particularly betrayal had not come at the hands of neither Naruto nor Jinx. Instead it came from someone he'd given precious little thought to lately. Largely inconsequential to the grander scheme of things, yet still useful all the same. He'd underestimated them; and in return, they'd overestimated their own self importance.
...sheriff?"
He should've known Marcus would turn eventually. The fool was bound to find his spine sooner or later. Naruto's interrogation must've pushed him too far. Pity, that. He'd been a useful sort.
And yet for all that, he didn't pull the trigger.
Even now, he hesitated.
Such weakness.
"Imagining yourself the hero?" Silco quirked a brow in spite of his own hammering heart. "One final act to make yourself the martyr you've always seen yourself as? Here. Let me...help you." He reached up, gripped the barrel, and held it steady. With the other he drew him in close. "Well? What are you waiting for?
"You think you'll get out of this, don't you?" He wasn't prepared for the little worm's response. "Your kids won't be coming to save you. Not this time."
That tone...he didn't much like it. His good eye narrowed. "What have you done...?
"What was needed; what was necessary." his killer scoffed, mustache twitching in thinly veiled rage. "I've had enough of you and your brats. That blond bastard especially. They'll die in the trap I set for them in Stillwater, and you'll die here. Then this will all be over." his finger tightened around the trigger. "Today's the day you die, Silco.
So be it. If this was his time, then he would meet the reaper gladly.
"That's a risk I've known all my life." He smiled serenely, closed his good eye, and looked up at the ceiling high above. "But I still believe in loyalty. Unlike you."
"Stop acting tough!" the pistol trembled against his chest. "You're not going to survive this!"
"Neither will you."
...what?"
"Truth is a matter of perspective." he continued smiled into the rafters, steeling himself for what was to come. "Whether I die today or not is irrelevant. My legacy survives. But you?" that lopsided smirk stretched the length of his scarred face; here at last he looked down, lips quirking in a small, dissapointed sigh. "Whatever will your daughter think once she realizes daddy dearest is nothing better than the filth she fears?"
It was the last straw. The pistol barked. Blood ran freely with the wine.
Silco sighed softly in the gunsmoke that followed. "I would have had your daughter killed for this...but I suppose I can be merciful. Your life will suffice."
Marcus looked down with a frown. Coughed. Blinked now, at the slender blade protruding from his chest. It was a perfectly good stab, through and through, so close that the blade tickled Silco's chest. A thin line of blood leaked from the sheriff's lips. Ran the length of his jaw. Dribbled down his pale chin. The sheriff looked up again, unable to understand what just transpired. He was still staring at Silco, still blinking, trying to speak, when his killer ripped their weapon free from his back, planted a palm between his shoulders, and shoved.
His body pitched forward, dead before he hit the floor.
Sevika stepped over him. "Nasty bit of business, that. Should've seen it coming."
Silco ran a hand over his face, stifled a sigh, and willed his hammering heart to still. Yes, he should have seen such. There had been a moment there. A second in which he'd genuinely feared for his life. He'd been all of an instant from crushing the vial hidden up in his sleeve and unleashing the stored chaka within into his bloodstream. An act of desperation, and one that might have doomed him as much as saved him. Who knew what that would've done to his body?
Stalking over to his desk, he plugged a cigar from the tray Jinx had fashioned for him, lit it, and took a long drag.
Perhaps he would die someday. But not this day.
...were you tempted?"
His second was all smiles as she disposed of the sheriff's corpse. "Not for a worm like him. But he won't be the last."
Silco smiled at her remark; it was a pained thing indeed.
"Once you're done, head over to Stillwater. Make sure they're alright...
(.0.0.0.)
The Beast raged.
Anger was all he knew, spite all he felt.
Damn it. Damn him. Damn them all to the blackest pit.
The living monstrosity waged forward, white eyes wild, four tails lashing at the enforcers. They fired upon him to no avail. Bullets didn't even tickle his hide. His claws did far more than that. On and on he stalked, his blood rotting, corpse after corpse in his wake as he awaited...what? What was he waiting for? An itch stirred in the back of the Beast's brain. He was waiting for something. It was very important that he not stray from her body.
But there were some many people.
They Some tried to flee. He gave those a head start before he hunted them down. Their fear fed him.
Had to stop. Needed to stop...couldn't stop. Why stop? She was gone. Everything was ash.
The brief flicker of sanity faded, taking the last of his world with it.
And the jinchuuriki howled anew, screamed one word.
"JIIIIIIIIIIINX!
(.0.0.0.)
"Owwwww...anybody get the number of that anvil...?"
Jinxed opened her eyes with a groan and gasped out a breath.
Blech. She felt like death. No maybe she was death. Heh. Silly thought.
Silence reigned supreme in the prison as she pushed herself upright on one arm. Huh. That was weird. Usually the voices were whispering by now. Instead it was quiet. Or had she gone deaf? Blast mighta knocked out her eardrums for a bit. That...that was bad, right? Now that she focused she could hear an awful ringing interposed over everything else.
So why didn't she feel anything? And why was the floor shaking...?
Grimacing, she rolled over. Her body didn't much like that. Agony sang through her right shoulder-dislocated or broken. She wasn't sure. Only one way to find out. She forced her right hand to open, uncurling from a tight, clenched fist. A tiny vial crumbled in her open palm, turning to so much dust as she looked on. Flickering lights of red and blue crawled through her palm. Cooing softly, she watched them thread down her arm, healing the lacerations there, the last of her injuries perfecting themselves before her aching eyes.
She looked down. Saw the blood. Well that explained the rush.
Right, right. Chakra vial. Pretty potent stuff. Must've saved her life. Singed did good work. Still, she was almost dissapointed. She'd been saving it for a rainy day...
.
..
...wait, wasn't this stuff supposed to be supper addictive? There was a reason she'd not used it until now.
"Aw, booo~!" she pursed her lips in a pout. "I didn't even get to feel the high...
A shadow fell over her. Jinx froze.
Sound rushed back with a pop.
"Jiiiiiinnnnnnnxxxx?"
And she looked up.
Crapbaskets.
Her entire body locked up, and for good reason. She stared into the blank white eyes of a bipedal beast. The Beast stared back, looking just as shocked to see her as she was him. Four fiery tails flashed behind him, red as blood, boiling the very air itself. And yet for all that, he didn't move. Neither did she. A sane woman would've run the other way. Hollered for help. Done something. Anything.
...well, shit."
Jinx hadn't been right in the head for a terribly long time. Sanity was overrated anyway.
She recognized him. She wasn't sure how, only that she did. She'd never seen him this far gone before. It was a leap by any stretch of the imagination.
"Whiskers? That you?"
He dropped a corpse at her feet. It didn't even look human anymore.
She really, really hoped that was him in there. If not...well, best not dwell.
Still the silence stretched on. His brow brew down, fanged maw parting to speak...or bite.
Jinx didn't give him a chance to do either; all but lunging up into his arms to embracing him. Pain! Agony flashed through her at once; the heat of his body didn't just burn. It scalded. The scent of singed flesh flooded her nose and she nearly gagged against it. Not important! She'd felt worse than this. He struggled against her, snarling and spitting. Still she held on. Even as her arms burned raw, she didn't let him go.
"Its okay," she whispered, uncaring as the burns crept across her cheek. "I'm alright. You're alright. We're alright. Breathe."
He made a pitiful noise and looked away, ashamed. "I'm...sorry...couldn't protect you...
"You did, dumbass." she pulled him closer. "Just come back, alright?"
The cloak bled away. He slumped in her arms with a sob.
Jinx held him tight. She always would.
A/N: Jinx comforting Naruto...the spirit of Fiddlesticks is still on the loose, and still neither hide nor hair seen of Caitylnn and Vi.
Well. You'll have to read and see, what comes next, won't you?
As ever, we're following the Ember's Rule here. That's no joke. Really, it isn't.
If folks don't like this...well, I won't continue it. Every bit of feedback helps. Reviews are the fuel which keeps me writing in these crazy times. With my tight schedule, I simply don't have time to write a story folks don't like. Without them, my inspiration cannot take wing and I can't write a word. So by all means, speak up!
As ever, reviews are my lifeblood, my fuel, my sustenance. Without them, I cannot write.
So In the Immortal Words of Atlas... ...Revieeeeew, Would You Kindly?
...I don't have much left in me for previews. World's gone crazy.
Sometimes it feels like I have, too...
(Preview)
"I'm sure she got away. She's out there somewhere. She has to be."
Fe...ar...
The loss of a body meant nothing.
It would build a new shell of corpses and flesh. Of marrow and bone. And it would feed.
"Careful. Chakra's addictive."
"Don't care." Jinx nuzzled his neck, planting a scorching line of kisses there. "Hmm. You're warm."
R&R~!
