A little later then I would have wanted to post, but I finally got it.

Enjoy.

In the office, Luka was laughing as was another man with him. The other man was his height with straight black hair and a few pieces sticking up on his head, and orange eyes with a faded scar on the side of his chin, while wearing a black suit with a white under shirt and a red tie and shoes.

"Goodness, Stephan! I thought Markus grew a few feet when I saw you! I was about to congratulate him," Luka said.

"Ha! I'm sure my brother would have been ecstatic about that. Yes, I came up here for him, and had some unfinished business anyway. Must be confusing when people keep accidentally calling me 'Lord Gerissen' huh? Anyway, I'm glad you came! I'm sure Markus would be glad to see you especially," Stephan said.

"Yes, let's go see him then since our business is done. Come on," Luka said as he let Stephen walk ahead of him.

Luka then quickly inserted a usb into the computer that was there as he set files to download and then spilled his drink on the floor.

"Oh dang. Stephan I got too excited, man," Luka said as Stephen stepped back in and saw the mess.

"Eh, don't worry about it, I'll get someone to clean it up. Come on now," Stephan said as Luka followed him out.

The guys talked and laughed as they headed to the party to greet Sarah and Amelie, and Luka introduced Sarah to Stephan.

"Wow, you got a pretty girlfriend, Luka. Congrats," Stephan said as he nodded towards them.

"Thanks, man. So um… where did Lily go, Sarah?" Luka asked.

"Well apparently Markus decided to take her for a dance for a while," Amelie answered instead as they turned to not see them on the dance floor.

"Eh?!" Amelie said, as Stephan pointed and said, "Oh hey I think they went to the balcony."

While they watched, Sarah whispered to Luka, "I think that Markus guy likes Lily or something. He wouldn't let her hand go unless she danced with him."

"Sarah, he is the Lord of this house and estate, if he likes Lily, he… may not want her to go," Luka whispered back as Sarah's eyes widened.

"We got to get Lily away from him then!" Sarah still whispered.

"I need a little more time to extract the data, but I'm sure we can-" Luka said as he stopped speaking when he noticed Amelie turn towards them.

The intensity in her eyes made Luka aware that she knows they were whispering though not what it was about, but enough to know she was bothered by it.

"Well, let me go say hi to him them," Luka said but Stephan stopped him and said,

"Oh wait, before you do I need your opinion on something for a moment."

Luka, not wanting to be suspicious decided to listen to him and change his plan, as Sarah also had no choice but to follow Luka as his date. Amelie watched them, and then went ahead slowly to where Markus and Lily were.

Meanwhile, from outside hidden behind bushes on the land laid out before the balcony, a few allies were hidden and watching as one of them, Freddy, was grinding his teeth. Foxy occasionally had to nudge him to calm down, but it was difficult since his eyes were already darkened by anger to see this man holding Lily's hand when he led her out to the balcony.

"Captain, calm yerself down. If that is one of those brothers, it's best that we can see em from here if we need ta help. And you know Lily is a strong lass," Foxy whispered to him.

"…" Freddy said nothing as he stopped grinding his teeth and just watched, and Foxy sighed at least knowing he wasn't going to jump out now.

"Don't worry, Freddy! We're here as back up just in case so there is nothing to fear!" Andie said from next to Freddy as he jolted a bit and looked towards her.

"How long were you here?" Freddy asked.

"The whole time. I figured you like Lily so I thought it may bother you to see this guy with her. I'm sure that you have nothing to fear, my friend! I don't think Lily would want a relationship right now any way since we are on a mission, and they are technically the enemy. So don't fret! We can just beat them up anyway," Andie said, as Freddy felt a sense of relief as his eyes softened from the dark gaze.

"Thank ya lass," Foxy said to her as Andie grinned and nodded.

Up on the balcony, Markus and Lily talked for a while as they realized they had a handful of things in common.

"I believe you built them but please, humor me by showing me your hands. You see mine are a bit scarred from burns and cuts from metal work I was doing. How about yours? Is that why you wear gloves?" Marcus said as he showed her his palms to reveal faint burn marks and a scar on the bottom of his thumb.

"Well, if you insist, but I'm sure you might be disappointed," Lily said as she took off a glove.

She showed her hand as Markus' eyes widened to see not one scar on it. She showed both sides and then took off the glove on her other hand, showing not one scar.

"Wow, you really are so careful, Miss Lily. I'm impressed," Markus said as he took her hand and looked it over.

"I try my best and take care of any cuts I may get in the moment," Lily said.

"My my, you take care of wounds so well… how about this one though?" Markus asked as he pointed to her shoulder.

Her eyes widened as she looked towards him, and he smirked as he raised her shoulder cover to reveal faint scars of four circles.

"I noticed when we danced and I spun you around. You wore this specific dress to hide it, huh? And I noticed you have the same mark behind, right? A stab of four right through? That must have been quite painful, huh?" Markus said, his voice low as he carefully watched her reaction with interest.

"How did that happen, Miss Lily?" He asked almost in a sultry whisper.

Lily took his hand off her shoulder and fixed her shoulder sleeve back down in place as she said, "I was trying to protect someone precious to me and I ended up getting hurt in the process. I only wanted to keep them safe, so the scars were worth taking for them."

"… Noble, lovely, and strong. Why must you be so amazing, Miss Lily?" Markus asked.

"I am who I am I suppose. Protective," Lily replied.

"Ahh, and who were you protecting? They must be very important to you," Markus asked.

"I'd rather not disclose that unless I know you well enough, considering you forced me to divulge this memory without my permission," Lily replied as her eyes narrowed and his widened.

"Forgive me, Miss Lily. I overstepped my boundaries by revealing that… I'm deeply sorry," Markus said.

"… I'll forgive you if you answer me this question," Lily said.

"Anything you wish," Markus said.

"Why are you helping them?" Lily asked.

"Hm?" Markus asked.

"Why are you part of the Plastic Works department?" Lily asked, more serious then before.

Markus examined her expression thoroughly, seeing the authenticity and sincerity of her question, and then replied,

"My father owned it, and after he passed away my siblings and I took the wheel. It was separate from our own businesses and that was what he wanted. It was for his memory we held onto it, and for a friend of our family who now owns the Engineering Corporation that builds and supplies needs for corporations including Tall Skies inc, Funtime Land, Fazbear Entertainment, and all that jazz."

Lily's eyes widened a bit when she heard Fazbear Entertainment.

'The organization we are after is that Engineering Corporation… They must be the ones who build up the animatronics with the supplies given to them from Plastic Works and Luka's uncle's business. So to find the source of the animatronics and what they do, we need to stop that corp… but they don't only do that considering that Tall Skies inc builds buildings… something is weird about this...' Lily thought.

"You seem deep in thought, my dear. Are you alright?" Markus asked as he took a step towards her.

"… I will forgive you then. I am sorry for your loss," Lily replied, and Markus smiled.

"Thank you, Miss Lily. I appreciate that."

"Thank you for being so kind to me, Mr. Markus," Lily said, as Markus's smile widened.

"Of course, my dear. You company has been very refreshing for me. I've been working a lot lately and haven't had much time to relax what with this whole meeting arrangement… and that group destroying a few businesses my partners oversee," Markus said as he observed Lily carefully as she blinked once.

"Destroying? As in they took business from them as competitors?" Lily asked, feinting ignorance since he wasn't necessarily specific.

"Ah. No I actually meant destroying as in breaking their assets. Animatronics to be exact. For the little attractions and restaurants. It's quite a good business if it plays it's cards right, but can get a little expensive if things don't go right. Though now my partners have no business from losing theirs. I'm sure that group must have a pretty good reason… and good cover up. They leave barely any remnants behind besides the damage to the animatronics themselves. Fascinating isn't it? A rogue group of…" He carefully eyes her, "Heartless vagabonds taking away the happiness of innocent children and adults… as my associates said."

Lily couldn't help but twitch an eye as she tried to blink in order to cover it from her anger at the hypocrisy, but seeing a small smirk play on his face as he quickly hid it made her realize that he was baiting her with the comment. She also realized that he was more observant and knowledgeable then he showed under his kind exterior, but the amusement he hid made it apparent that he was enjoying this exchange in some way. Maybe because he liked her? But even so, she may need stronger means of persuasion in order to avoid possible capture and to escape from here while protecting her friends.

He was in a complex situation considering his job, his curiosity, his investigative instincts, and his attraction towards the perspicacious lady that stood before him. Though he was supposed to set up this meeting to silently tell certain district leaders to keep an eye out for the group who were breaking the animatronics, he felt compelled to keep silent knowing that this lady may be connected to them. He couldn't let her go just yet until he learned a little more, but he felt like he should let her be because he didn't want to compromise his feelings for her with trying to find out if she works for the group. He couldn't help but have fun at the same time though since he noticed that irritated twitch she made and he couldn't help but smirk at that triumph.

"… Must be terrible for all of you to lose business like that. But why though? Why are they so insistent? They could be caught and hurt… why take such a risk?" Lily asked as she looked away from him.

"I wouldn't know. Maybe they have a grudge or something. Maybe they think animatronics were scary as kids and want revenge or something. I just know my associates aren't too happy and I'm getting curious of how this group operates so well," Markus replied.

"What if that curiosity leads you into trouble? You may get hurt," Lily said with a small bit of concern.

"Oh? Are you worried for me, my dear?" Markus asked.

"… I admit I am worried for you. You have your own business, you take care of your family, and you seem like a very amicable person. I wouldn't want you or anyone to get hurt," Lily replied as she looked towards him, her sincerity clearly showing to him.

"… That's very sweet of you, Miss Lily. Very sweet," Markus said, he felt his pulse increase, though he felt a tinge of sadness as his mind lingered on her last sentence, realizing it could be interpreted differently.

They looked out towards the land and noticed the light leaving the skies as the stars began to show themselves. In this silence, both of them realized the predicament they were in, and that it would be hard for them to have to face the other since they can see the other isn't necessarily bad. They are both following paths that they feel are right not just for themselves but for people important to them. Though getting to know your enemy and realizing they are the same as you made it more difficult for them, which is why they needed this silence to collect their thoughts and calm their feelings. Especially because in a moment they'll have to confront one another since one of them needed to leave and the other didn't want to part just yet. With a synchronized breath in and out, they both regained their inner composure and began.

"Now that I think about it, what brought you all the way over here, Miss Lily?" A playful smile on his face hiding his inner intent.

"... For a friend. They invited me and Sarah over to visit them, and then we happened to meet Luka," Lily replied, her hand resting on the green wrap trail on the side of her dress, readying herself.

"Oh? ...That's quite interesting actually," Markus said, his smile growing more mischievous as his eyes narrowed.

"How so, Mr. Markus?" Lily asked, her grip tightening.

"Well, Luka is on the run from his uncle and the only person I can think of that he has had contact with besides myself is Angela. So for you guys to just so happen to meet Luka isn't necessarily the case because I'm sure he sought you two out. So this friend is most likely Angela, and from what I've seen, Angela has been on a mission of her own lately by extracting documents from various locations as I've discovered..." Markus said as he walked away from the edge of the balcony, almost circling Lily as they kept eye contact.

He takes his hand and hovers it just below Lily's chin as she raises her chin a bit up to not let his hand make contact, and yet making him smile more as if he had an invisible power that made her follow his movement.

"It's very interesting… I heard of traitors somewhere among us, and seeing how odd Angela has been more then usual lately… you could be working for her to take information from me by acting as a distraction? I mean after all, Luka and I were her students and friends, so they know that I'd let them get close and do so because I know them. Though it seems like your plan was at a fault or different since Luka would have approached me himself. So I assume the greeter must have mistaken me and my brother with who went to the office as you may have confused me for my brother… And surely you must be needing to leave soon to escape, right? I'm sure Luka may have convinced my brother to help him as a favor that my brother owes him to get the code for the information to download… Though I have a feeling I'm close, aren't I?" Markus asked, his eyes darkening with the color of his irises seeming to glow as he spoke, as if seeing the plan laid out before him as he looked into her surprised eyes that she tried to keep as calm as possible.

Lily closed her eyes and lowered her head, as Markus removed his hand from under her chin as his smirk widened in triumph of figuring it all out. His eyes then widened when he heard a click and looked down to see a beautiful ebony magnum aimed at his chest.

"… I'm sorry. You are more insightful and intelligent then I realized. You figured out so much in such a short amount of time that I can't take anymore risks by staying longer. I am sorry, Mr. Markus. You were very kind to me and I'm sorry that it has to be this way," Lily said softly and held the gun firmly.

Markus assessed the situation and then raised his hands up as his smile softened and his eyes softened towards her though they were still dark.

"Miss Lily you are something else. So sweet, so intelligent, so lovely, and yet ready to shoot me in the chest with some heavy firepower… I can't help my feelings any longer. Dear Lily, please be mine," Markus said, his eyes glazing with affection as Lily took one step back though she kept her gun aimed.

"You may be helping Angela and Luka but they are my friends. We can let bygones be bygones, and you can even work with me too. I can promise you there will be no trouble. All I ask is for your hand," Markus offered.

"… I'm sorry, I must decline. I am not looking for a relationship now, and I have too much to do and too many people relying on me now," Lily rejected as she raised the gun up a little more.

"… That magnum," Markus commented as he looked down at first from hearing her answer but then noticed the gun type.

"…" Lily awaited his inquiry.

"The millimeters on a gun like this… the same as the ones in certain animatronics… usually the leaders to inflict a final blow or a first strike. I was able to create a casing from the bullet wounds in the metal to determine what kind of gun was used from a mold…" His smirk widened.

'… who is he?' Lily thought.

"You're part of that group aren't you? The ones destroying the animatronics… maybe even the leader, right?" Markus said, as Lily's eyes narrowed.

"If that's the case, then lower your weapon," Amelie appeared with a handgun aimed at the side of Lily's head.

Lily held her gun upward to Markus' chin, the aim towards his head, as Amelie grit her teeth.

'She is not afraid for her life...' She thought.

"Oh do impress me more, Miss Lily. So calm and cool even with a gun directed at you? Makes me wonder how many times you were in this situation," Markus said.

"That doesn't matter Markus! She is the enemy here!" Amelie said to him.

"Not the only one," Sarah appeared with her handgun aimed at Amelie's head.

"... Curse you guys," Amelie said as she eyed Sarah angrily while she just smiled.

"Lower your gun and we'll walk out of here with no trouble, alright?" Sarah insisted as Amelie bit her lip since she knew she would have to concede.

"Now hold on a moment," Markus said as he aimed a gun towards Sarah that came from his sleeve.

"Wh-What?" Lily was surprised since it wasn't there before.

"I'm always prepared, my dear," Markus said to her with a wink as she grit her teeth.

"Now we all have guns! Isn't that swell? Although you two ladies shouldn't necessarily have them even though that's more understandable… but I believe I gave a direct order for you not to carry a gun but a knife and chain, Amelie," Markus said as he looked towards her.

"What?! Markus! It's a good thing I did! You're at gun point you fool!" Amelie said.

"Amelieeee. I gave you a direct order, sister. Look, I know you found it to be ridiculous since you want to protect me your beautiful pure boi brother, but I can assure you everything is fine. There's no need to worry," Markus said.

"… Are you serious?" Amelie asked with a twitch of her lip, as Markus smiled at her nicely, and then turned to Lily.

"… Those lovely green eyes. So you must be one of them that Angela mentioned to me. Two of green. Which indicated to me that Sarah isn't your real sister, is she?" Markus asked.

"… No. It was just an extra measure to not look suspicious that I was invited," Lily replied.

"I see… Put your gun away, Amelie. It's alright," Markus said as he lowered his gun from Sarah.

"What? But-" Amelie stopped when Markus eyed with a head tilt and a smile.

Amelie knew that look, and she knew she could trust him each time he showed it. Although very much worried about her brother, she lowered her gun and put it away. Sarah glanced towards Lily as they made a silent exchange with their eyes and nodded to one another. Slowly Sarah lowered her gun and put it away.

"So I was deceived, and yet not by you, Miss Lily. You never said she was your sister," Markus said.

"You didn't ask much about us, but I assume you may have suspected we weren't related. You're very perceptive, and in a way I am glad that I didn't have to lie to you," Lily said.

"As I am glad to have met you, my dear… And that is why I have decided to let you go. You two and Luka. Go on, we won't pursue you three, I can guarantee that. I do hope that I'll be able to see you once again soon, Miss Lily," Markus said as he took a step back with his hands up higher.

"… You mean that?" Lily asked as she slowly moved her gun down.

"I do, my dear. You've left such a good impression on me and made this party so much better. Go. I won't let anyone stop you. It was a pleasure to have you all as my guests," Markus said with a bow of his head as he closed his eyes.

"… Thank you, Mr. Markus. I'm glad to have met you too. Farewell," Lily said as she and Sarah quickly left while she concealed her gun.

The two siblings watched the ladies leave as Markus put his hands down and smiled as he opened his eyes to watch them go.

"Are you sure you want them to go, just like that?" Amelie asked.

"Of course. Though… I never said anything about not following their driver," Markus said with a widening of his darker smile, as his sister's eyes widened.

He's not done yet. I'll have the next one as soon as I can.