How's it going, nerds?
Hahaha, I'm just joking.
...Or am I?
Fuck it, I've got nothing to say, and I know a lot of you guys want this chapter, so...
ONWARDS!
The next day was a lot warmer than usual, that odd summer day that somehow ended up in the middle of winter, as if it were lost and trying to find its way home.
Erin groaned lightly, rolling over before getting up. The night team had decided to stay at the stronghold number two, more commonly known as 'raven cloud', due to the tremendous height of the building.
She'd fallen asleep on the couch room with most of the rest of the night team, the couches serving as both a hang out place and the "bedroom" when necessary.
She yawned, rising from the beat couch, before pulling her coat off, which had acted as a blanket during the night.
She looked at the clock, only to have her eyes widen.
She was going to be late.
Again.
She cursed like a rapid fire machine gun, rushing to the bathroom, waking up Dylan and Theo in her frantic actions.
Dylan groaned, going back to sleep, only to have Theo walked over to the bathroom door, "Erin? You okay?"
"I NEED TO GO!" Erin yelled, as Theo heard the shower go on.
Theo sighed, looking at the bathroom door with a confused look, "Why is it that, even when they're in a rush, girls always have to do all of the pretty parts of the morning?"
"Ask a girl." Max sighed, as he rose, walking over to a kitchen-like area, pouring himself some hot chocolate, "I mean, they somehow have time to manage everything."
"Not entirely true." Mathew said, not bothering to get up from his nice cozy spot on the couch, "I can remember many times where Erin was as late as possible."
"But Erin's a tomboy." Luke said back, shuffling over to Max, who gave him a cup of hot...something, "So only some of the laws of girlism apply."
"…You're not calling Erin gay, are you?' Hank snickered, before laughing, "Man, you guys are a riot!"
Mathew gave him a look, before smirking, "Oh yes, why would we call Erin gay when we can all you a cross dresser?"
Hank's face reddened, "W-what are you talking about?"
Max quickly caught on, thanking Oliver in the back of his head, "Well, maybe you should tell us."
"Hankamia." Luke added, laughing.
Theo sighed, "I'm surrounded by children." He muttered, only to hear special knock on the door.
Theo cracked the door open, only to jump back, smiling, "Jake, Jacob! What are you doing here?"
They both grinned, before Jake gave him a bundle of clothing, "Zig said that Erin would need this-."
"-So Kian let us come over to give it to you guys." Jacob finished.
Theo nodded, walking back in, only to have them both say, "Oh yeah, Zig wants to know when you guys will be back."
Before Theo could respond, Hank spoke up, "Well, being how we may be on the brink of an unfair war, I say that us staying here would probably be for the best. Most of the weapons are here, so we need that transported, but, as for the strongholds, we'll need the gang to be manning them."
They both nodded, "You've got it, night boss." They said in unison, before walking off.
Theo blinked, "…Sometimes, I feel like there's really just one of them, and that I'm just hallucinating the other."
He heard Dylan laugh lowly, before Mathew threw in, "We've all thought it once, Theo."
Theo nodded, before the bathroom door popped open, Erin's head on the other side, "WHERE IS MY CLOTHES!?"
Theo tossed it to her, which she caught, before slipping back into the bathroom. Max only shook his head, before looking at Luke, "Women."
After Erin left, Hank did the same, going to get a better bearings of the town, while the day team showed up to help train.
Of course, the mischievous twins were absent.
As usual.
Tyler waved to Theo, a wide smile on his face, "Hiya, Theo!"
Theo laughed, before high fiving him, "Hey, Ty!"
"Let's go and hang out!" Tyler insisted, "I found a cool new lookout point!"
Theo nodded, smiling like the kid he was, "Yeah! Let's go!"
Kian laughed quietly, leaning on a wall near the stronghold with Dylan, watching the two run off, "They grow up so fast, don't they?"
Dylan only nodded, before looking over the boys carrying guns around, "…Kian, I've got a question."
Kian nodded, giving guy an understanding look, "Shoot."
"Do you think it's safer in this gang, or back in the slums?"
Kian could feel this question coming, before he looked at the boys. Each one was working hard, joking around, unknowing of how serious this all really was, "…Honestly? No. It's not safe here at all. Surely you feel a lot more protective of Theo; even I he's not your little brother."
Dylan nodded, a few seconds of silence passing by, before Dylan pressed on, "Then why did you bring and keep Tyler and yourself here?"
Kian smiled, a one of a kind toothless smile, "Simple. It may not be safe, but it's still the best place to be. It's dangerous, yes, but I really can't think of somewhere better to be with Tyler. He may not always be safe, but still, it's better then the factories."
Dylan nodded, leaning back a bit more in the shade. He didn't need to ask about Kian's past, living as a factory worker with Tyler, Cameron and John; how much pain and suffering they must have felt every day. It was nothing like his life before he found rich boy Theo; but it still must have been hard.
As for Theo, from what he could gather, he used to belong to a rich family. He never specified why, but similarly to Erin, he left.
Now that he thought about it, a lot of the leaders had come from slum or factory life, Kian, Tyler, Cameron and John escaping during a riot, Jake and Jacob being sold to work.
Only Max, Luke, Hank, himself and Theo lived otherwise.
Dylan was snapped out of it when something grabbed his hand, looking up to see Kian there, giving him a pointed look, "Hell you thinking about?"
Dylan shrugged, "The past."
"Word of advice, don't dwell on it for too long." Kian pointed out, before smiling softly, "But, I guess memories don't hurt."
Dylan huffed, "Depends." He said, before they both laughed.
Just then, a loud scream sounded, causing the two to look over. A boy had dropped the crate, said wooden box landing on the leg of another boy, who had fallen over, screaming in pain.
"Get help!" Kian shouted, before dashing over, Dylan right behind him. Kian quickly pushed the box off, while Dylan picked the poor boy up, carrying him inside.
The kid seemed to hold it together, lips trembling as he tried not to make a sound, before Dylan placed him onto the couch.
"What happened?" Mathew asked, looking the boy over, before cursing, "We need Oliver, he's got some medical experience."
"It's not that bad," Cameron murmured, "Right?"
Dylan sighed, feeling the ankle, only to make the boy scream again, "…Feels broken." He murmured, turning to Kian, "Get me some bandages, and tape."
Kian nodded, Tyler right behind him, as the two dashed off.
Cameron sighed, "We're on the brink of war, it hasn't even started yet; and we've already got a wounded."
"I'm s-s-sorry, sir." The boy whimpered.
"Oh no, it's not your fault, Farris." Cameron sighed, before sitting on the couch opposite from them, John lying back on the same couch, "John, you feeling okay?"
"Peachy." He said, his voice growing hoarse, before couching into his elbow.
Cameron sighed, "What part of 'don't push yourself' do you not understand?"
Before John could reply, Kian came back in, handing the wanted supplies to Dylan, "Do you know what you're doing?" Kian asked.
Dylan did a little half nod, "I've watched Oliver before, so yeah, I've got the idea down."
Kian nodded, allowing Dylan to work. He couldn't help but think that, if he wasn't careful enough, Tyler may end up in the same position someday.
Dylan finished, before giving the kid, Farris, a look, "You okay?"
The boy nodded, trying to rise, only to fall back down. Dylan sighed, "Don't push yourself. Just stay in here and rest, alright?"
Farris nodded, before Kian and Dylan headed back out.
The weapons transportation was going well outside, no one else had been crushed or killed by the boxes, and Kian decided that it was time.
"Everyone, grab a gun." Kian said in his low voice. Even if it was soft, everyone heard it. It was hard to ignore someone with as much authority as Kian.
As the boys of his team did so, he could see that the other teams were doing the same, Tyler's team attached onto his, John's attached to Cameron's and Theo's attached to Dylan's.
He couldn't help but sigh, a soft smile on his face. Where would the world be without big brother characters?
He then pulled out his own gun, a special hand crafter one that he'd stolen from when he worked in the factories, "Each gun is different, but they all have the same idea."
He spotted a group in the back, joking around as they pretended to shoot each other, the silence enough to make them look up to Kian's collected yet slightly irritated face.
On of the boys gulped, before his friend playing with the gun snickered, "Can we help you, sir?"
Kian's eyes twitched, before he cleared his throat, "Don't play with those."
The boy sneered, the other two trying to give him a warning look, "And why should I do that, huh? I mean, it's just a toy."
"Those 'toys' have taken the lives before." Kian hissed, holding his own, before giving him a look, "I've taken lives with this gun, I've seen lives taken by guns; they are NOT toys, child."
He could feel anger welling up inside him, before a hand came down on his shoulder, "You okay?"
The two words didn't do much, but Kian shook his head, mind clearing, "…Yeah…Yeah, I'm fine."
Dylan nodded, before backing up, his expression staring the kid down, said boy now shaking, "Listen."
The single word made the boy nod furiously, cool and wise brown eyes seeming to glare daggers into the kid's, before Dylan walked back to his group. Unlike Kian's group, Dylan's men were whipped into shape, trained well. Kian, unlike Dylan, didn't like to rule with terror and slight fear.
Truth be told, Dylan was pretty scary. Not quite Zig levels of scary (For no one could reach those levels of scary), but still somewhere up there.
Kian shook his head, before explaining the weapon. As he did so, his mind went drifting. He felt like he shouldn't have let Tyler run off, especially with all that was happening. He didn't like the idea of having the chance of Tyler being caught or killed on sight. From what he knew, only Erin, aka Dusty, was known, and only the gang name was posted on the town bulletin board. There was a possibility that Zig was a name known as well, but he hoped and prayed that Tyler wasn't known.
To be honest, now that he thought about it, all of the leaders were family to him. He was seen as a sort of older brother, always looking out for everyone else.
Max being that cocky and easily angered brother that has a soft spot for only one person. As tough as he acted, he could be a total baby at times. Like when Cameron beat him at arm wrestling.
He cried like a bitch.
Luke was a total troublemaker thanks to Max's influence, but he still meant well.
The twins were just like Luke, but held a lot more mischievous. You'd think that, with a dead mother and a father that left them to die, they'd be more hardened and cold like Dylan could be, but they were the exact opposite.
Cameron, being from the same factory as Kian and Tyler was, he's known the guy for all of his life. He was a natural leader, but could only do so much when John was sick. Cameron meant well, but he'd often come off as very strong.
John, on the other hand, was gentle. Being how he easily got sick, due to the conditions he had to work in during his time in the factory. He tried to be like his brother, but in the end, he just wasn't strong enough.
From what he knew, Theo was like a little brother to everyone. He, whether he liked it or not, acted like a kid. From what Dylan had said, Theo was once from a rich family, but no one besides Erin and Zig know the details. But, he had the mentality and the actions of a child.
Last but not least, there was the mysterious Mathew. Not even Erin, nor Zig, knew much about him. Only Oliver did, and Oliver never said anything about it. From what he knew, Oliver and Mathew were like brothers, but that's all he ever let on. No doubt, Mathew was a good guy, he just never said much about himself. Granted, he was a nice guy and all, but he was just a bit…awkward around new people.
Kian slowly came back to reality, "…And that's how you use a gun."
One boy raised his hand, Kian nodded, "What is your question, Archie?"
"When will we be needing this?" He asked.
Before Kian could reply on all of the dangers of London, a cold wind whipped through the air.
The other leaders looked up, feeling it as well.
Something was off.
"…Do we have eyes on the buildings?"
"Um…No…we had all of the boys on moving and training. Why?"
Before Kian could respond, a deafening cry rang through the air, the sound of a thousand men as one.
Kian turned around, only to have his eyes widen at the wave of men.
They've arrived.
Kian pulled out his second gun, eyes narrowing, before nodding to the others, "you three, go find Tyler and Theo, get them to the base along with John." He murmured lowly, staring down line of buff men, "Get back-up if you can."
The small group of five nodded, before dashing off. Cameron's eyes narrowed, watching the group take his little brother with him, watching John hobble away, before giving Kian a look, "…What are your orders?"
"Yeah, some advice and guidance would be good." Max murmured, backing up into the stronghold, reaching backwards for his rifle.
Kian inhaled, not knowing what to do. Even for his role as leader of the day team, he was either overshadowed by Erin's orders, or, his under leaders gave orders.
Now it was all on him.
Great.
"HOLD THE LINE!" Kian shouted, as the wave of men advanced, "LET NO ONE PASS!"
Erin dashed to the Phantomhive estate, late as ever, while scenarios ran through her mind. What would happen when she told Ciel? Hell, what could she say?
Oh, sorry boss man, I can't come in for work. I'm about to start a war, I've got Trancy, Peter and Crayden on my ass. I can't come in anymore due to the fact that I'll most likely be dead by tomorrow. So, yeah! I could still use that many though.
She shook her head, ripping the gates open, before rushing up to the door, "Oye, lemme-!"
"You're late." She shivered, turning around quickly. Sebastian wasn't there seconds ago! She groaned, before giving him a look, "And the sky is blue. Tell me something I don't know."
Sebastian gave her a look, before leading her in, "The young master is in the music room." He murmured, leading her up, before stopping in front of the door.
Erin nodded, about to go in, only to have Sebastian stop her. She was ready to give him a look, only to see him staring right back. She felt like he was looking into her soul in a very creepy way, the way his eyes wouldn't blink.
His eyes went a different color, to quick for Erin to register, before he smiled, "Sorry, I thought that I saw something."
Erin shrugged, to much on her mind for her to care much, before Sebastian opened the door, revealing Ciel, who sat on his chair like it was a damn throne, a violin on his lap. His cold blue eyes looked them over, before nodding to Sebastian, "Make us lunch."
Sebastian nodded, bowing, before leaving, closing the door behind him. Erin gave him a look, before shoving her hands into her pockets, "Yo."
Ciel nodded, before gesturing to the much less grand chair, "Take a seat."
Erin nodded, sitting down, before looking at the kid over, looking over the two violins in his hands, "So…What now?"
Ciel huffed, before handing her one of the instruments, "I'd…I'd like you to teach me."
Erin gave him a look, "…Eh?"
Ciel sighed, before forcing the violin and bow, "What you were playing yesterday, it sounded nice. I'd like you to teach it to me."
Erin gave him a look, and couldn't help herself from laughing, "Sorry, but I don't teach."
Ciel huffed like a child, "I order you."
Unlike usual, Erin just sighed, before nodding, "Fine." She murmured, before pulling the instrument onto her shoulder, "It's really simple, at least, my version of it is. Think about it as a sort of Morse code; but with a lot of different tones, octaves, and all that jazz."
Ciel blinked, "…How is it simple?"
Erin shrugged, giving him a knowing smirk, before holding the instrument up, "Here, I'll play the 'alphabet' for you." She murmured, before playing swiftly.
Ciel blinked, wondering how such a messy street girl would ever know how to play what sounded like a more complicated "flight of the bumblebee" on such a high class instrument, only to come back to reality with Erin staring at him, "…Well?"
Ciel scowled, "What do you mean, 'well'?"
"Wanna give it a try?"
Ciel's breathing hitched, "How am I supposed to play something as complicated as that without any sheet music!?"
Erin smirked, before shrugging, "I did it, I'm sure that you can too."
The eighteen year old growled lightly, only to hop back, "Fine." He murmured, before casting her a curious glance, "…How has your day been?"
Right off the bat, she knew something was up. Ciel was never like this, he never wanted to openly talk to her, "…Fine, I guess. The sky is still blue, the grass is still green, and you still want information out of me."
"...What makes you think that?"
"You never want to openly talk to me." Erin said simply, as if it was another fact of life, "You act like you can't stand me half the time, why open up now?"
Ciel stiffened, "…Let me be clear, I do NOT hate you."
"Okay, you've got a strong disliking to me."
Ciel groaned, "That's not the point." He murmured, before sighing, "You're just…you're not acting like yourself."
Erin laughed lightly, "Like you know me."
Ciel's eye narrowed, "Come on; you haven't called me Seal once!"
"Oh, thanks for reminding me, Seal."
Ciel groaned, holding his head, "…Look, all I did was notice that you weren't acting like your normal self."
Erin scoffed, crossing her arms, "Not like I can tell you."
Ciel gave her a look, "…What was that?"
Erin shook her head, giving him a look, "Ciel…I know you mean well, but I can't tell."
Ciel gave her a look, "…What are you hiding from me…You pyromaniac?"
Instead of laughing it off, a dangerous gleam caught in her eye, "Do NOT call me that. You don't understand what that title entails."
"Then explain it to me!" Ciel shouted, "That is an order!"
Erin groaned, looking around for a way to escape, before looking over her part of town. Oh, how she wished that she could simply jump out the window, dash back to her home base. She just had so much on her mind, a few front and back flips wouldn't hurt to bad.
But, right as her eyes skimmed over the town, she heard a loud boom, watching a black bloom of smoke.
Over stronghold two.
Erin shoot up, right hand over her gun, the left over her cane, "…Look, Ciel, I was hoping to have more time, but I don't…"
"What?" Ciel asked, confused, before turning around, eyes widening at the smoke, "What happened."
"Fuck, it wasn't supposed to happen today, fuck." Erin growled, before walking over to the window, opening it up. She gave Ciel a look, "Look, Seal…I won't be coming in tomorrow."
Ciel's eyes widened, "And why not? I order you to tell me why!"
Erin could only shoot him a small smile, before doing a little salute, "I'm sorry…young master." She said, wanting to hear the title on her tongue, allowing the boy one victory, "But I don't follow orders."
Erin didn't give him a chance to say anything, before she stood on the window sill, leaning back, arms spread, "Leap of faith!" She shouted, before falling out of his window.
Ciel let out a shout, not wanting to see the crazed girl go splat onto his nice floor, only to look outside, mouth open, while watching Erin jump from tree top to bush, looking like she was laughing crazily.
Yep, said Erin all over it.
But, he could also see her frantic and quickened pace. He didn't like it. Normally, Erin was easy going with the flow person. She was a bit lazy in a way, but was always smiling.
Something was wrong.
Ciel groaned, before closing his eyes, pulling the eye patch off, "…If you won't tell me…" He murmured, opening his right eye, a purplish symbol in the center of it, "…Then I'll order someone else to get it out of you…"
So...
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I hope youy guys enjoyed, leave a review to comment on theories if you like, and I'll see you guys next time!
Which'll most likely be tomorrow!
I think...
So, far, it's beginning to look like that...
...Milamiwaffle...
Till then, bai bai!