A/n: Would arcades actually even work because of the Problem? I mean, electricity does exist still, but there hasn't been that much technological development so I'm assuming that the types of arcades that do exist are more like from the 90s or whatever. Which means that any descriptions of the games or the arcade itself is gonna be what I get from movies and stuff, I rarely play video games as it is.
"An arcade?" Lucy asked again, skeptical.
"Isn't it great?" Lockwood grinned. "The owner said that some of the games have been acting up, but the electrician he brought in said nothing was wrong so he suspects it might be of psychical origin so he's called us in to take a look around. Apparently, he's just gotten a shipment of vintage comics and toys to display and sell in an upcoming auction so it might be from there. I told him we'd be over tomorrow to take a look around. It'll be fun, we'll make a day of it," he added excitedly.
Lucy had to laugh. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen Lockwood so enthusiastic. He'd been so tired and stressed lately, cases upon cases coming to them because of their growing fame as well as all the paperwork Lockwood had to deal with now that he finally had enough money to pay off that stack of bills he kept hidden in his desk drawer he thought they didn't know about. It was nice to see some of his energy returning.
"But what about the Molesley case? Weren't we going to look into their estate tomorrow?" Lucy hated to burst his bubble, but as happy as he seemed to be right now, she had to make sure he wasn't going to make things worse for himself later. They didn't exactly have enough time for the amount of work they had to do to take a day off, as much as they might need it.
As it was, Lockwood just shrugged, unbothered. "I planned to go visit the estate today instead. I was going to call ahead and see if the change of plans was okay before I left and i'm sure George can fit in the research for the Molesley case along with the rest of his work today if he wants to join us tomorrow."
"But aren't you forgetting - " Lucy started, but Lockwood just frowned.
"Lucy, do you or do you not want a half-day off to spend at the arcade with me tomorrow?"
"I do," she said slowly, and he stepped closer, holding a finger to her lips.
"Then trust that I have it all covered, Luce. I haven't lasted this long without knowing what I'm doing," he said, giving her a small smile so different from the easy, charming one he usually gave but to the same effect. Lucy's breath caught in her chest and she hoped he didn't notice.
"Okay," she managed to breathe out, and he moved his finger away.
"Good. Now, are you coming with me to the Molesley estate, or are you going to stay here and worry about the ten other things you think I've forgotten about," he teased as he walked down the hallway to the phone, and she rolled her eyes.
"Speak like that and I might just up and leave one day."
She'd meant it as a harmless retort, but he paused, turning back to her but avoiding her gaze. "Don't. Don't say that. Please."
She froze, before she nodded. "Alright then. I'll have to settle for beating your arse at some videogames tomorrow then," she amended, keeping her voice carefully even.
Lockwood breathed out a laugh and looked up at her this time, hint of a smile on his face even as he pretended to look skeptical. "I wouldn't be so sure, Luce. You might pay for underestimating my abilities," he called behind him as he continued on to the phone in the hallway.
"We'll see," Lucy laughed, but she couldn't shake the image of him as he'd turned to her after she'd said she might leave. He'd gone back to normal as soon as she'd changed her threat, but that expression on his face - the mix of pain and sadness and fear - would haunt her for the next few nights at least, that she knew already.
As it turned out, Lockwood was notoriously bad at most of the games at the arcade. The only one he was decent at was Pac-Man.
"In my defence," he'd started, when Lucy and George confronted him about it. "I have not touched any video games since before I went to live with Sykes."
"Oh, and we play every day is it?" George had retorted, and Lucy giggled.
Lockwood frowned. "Mr. Carvolth must be right. It's a poltergeist and it's messing me up."
"Lockwood, it's okay," Lucy laughed, putting a hand on his arm as he crossed them and slouched grumpily in his seat.
"Yeah, that poltergeist must have something against you, personally then. What did you do then, Lockwood? Disgraced it by coming into this arcade and setting the standard so low on all the games so it's too easy to get a high score?"
"Oh, stop it, George," Lucy chided him, hitting him on the shoulder as Lockwood groaned and slumped even further in his seat in shame.
"You know what it is?" Lockwood began again, sitting up a bit straighter. "It's because you two have forgotten that we're here to scout out the place, and I've been too busy doing just that while you both have been too focused on actually playing."
"I'm sure," George said dryly. "Says the one who dragged us both along saying 'think of it as a day off to have fun and relax'," he imitated Lockwood in a ridiculously high and nasal voice, earning him a nacho to the face. "Oi!" He retaliated, tossing an olive back in Lockwood's direction and before soon, Lucy was having to put on a serious face to stop them from overturning the table.
"Boys, stop it, people are starting to watch," she whisper-shouted. "Including our client," she added pointedly, flashing what she hoped was a reassuring smile to the owner, Mr. Carvolth, across the arcade.
The mention of their client prompted an immediate change in Lockwood, and he quickly straightened, readjusting his suit and tie and flashing a definitely reassuring and charming smile to Mr. Carvolth, who still eyed them suspiciously but smiled politely back before returning to work.
There'd still been an hour left before the arcade closed, so - with Lockwood refusing to play anything anymore and resorting to watch and cheer Lucy on when she versed George - they made the best of their time, and by the time they got out their work bags, all three of them had smiles.
It didn't take long for the Visitor to reveal itself. The second Mr. Carvolth left, they'd gotten to work looking through the boxes of vintage specimens he'd left in the back. He'd insisted that they wear gloves when handling them, being very adamant that any damages to the merchandise that wasn't a Source would come out of their pay check and - if need be - their pockets.
Most of the things in the boxes were old figurines - many of which George was all too happy to handle and nerd over - but there was a good collection of toys, video games, and comics. It was one of these comics that grew freezing cold as the lights flickered and winds erupted from nowhere within the arcade.
"Well, what do you know? It is a poltergeist," George remarked, and Lockwood looked way too happy with himself at that.
"Lockwood…," Lucy started nervously, but Lockwood's hand found hers and he squeezed it reassuringly.
"It's alright, I'll distract it. You help George figure out which comic it is and contain it," he ordered, already getting up and pulling away from her.
"Lockwood, be careful," Lucy said, and he paused, turning to look at her again like he had the day before, but instead of that deep sadness she'd seen then, he only smiled at her reassuringly. Not the flashy smile he used to reassure clients, but the little genuine one that she loved to see so much more.
"Just reckless enough, I know," he murmured.
"Oh, just kiss already," George muttered, and they both turned to look at him in shock. He looked up at them with wide eyes. "I meant - I was reading the comic - " he stuttered, pointing to the open comic in his lap.
Thankfully, the poltergeist saved them all the awkwardness and created a mini-cyclone in the main room, all of the arcade machines rattling and tilting side-to-side.
Lockwood coughed. "Well, George, I would suggest reading your comics later, unless that one is the Source. I'll be right back."
"Right," George nodded, avoiding Lucy's gaze which was perfectly fine because she had already started looking through her own stack of comics in an effort to avoid him.
They could hear Lockwood shouting and taunting the poltergeist in the other room, no doubt jumping about to dodge whatever the Visitor was trying to chuck at him.
"Got it!" George said, pulling out one of the comics from his stack. At the same time, they heard a thud and a groan in the other room, the mini-cyclone making its way towards the back room as George held up the comic. "Lucy…," he said nervously, eyes on the cyclone.
Lucy brought out the chain net from her bag and quickly covered the comic and George's hand with it, the mini-cyclone dissipating just outside of the doorway. They both sighed, before they remembered Lockwood and scrambled to find him, George setting the Source down carefully with the net wrapped around it.
"Lockwood?" Lucy called, trying not to let any panic into her voice.
A groan came from their left, and they both turned to see Lockwood slumped against the Pac-Man game. George laughed.
"Lockwood, did the ghost knock you into the Pac-Man game?"
Lucy glared at him as she crouched next to Lockwood and he shut up. "Lockwood, are you okay?" She asked.
Lockwood sat up, frowning as he rubbed the back of his head. "I'm fine. I can't say the same for my ego, but I'm alright, Luce."
"Can I laugh now?" George asked Lucy, and she just sighed, meeting Lockwood's dark eyes sympathetically.
"Oh, shut up, George," Lockwood grouched.
Even Lucy had to laugh at that as she helped him up. "It is ironic, you have to admit."
Lockwood glared at her. "Not you too."
"Do lighten up, Lockwood," she smiled, and he scowled, mouth open to protest but Lucy put a finger to his lips to stop him. "You can't be good at everything, you know." she finished, and before either boy could have a chance to react, she pecked him on the cheek before going to grab her stuff from the back room.
A/n: See, I saved it from being just a Lockwood & Co. bonding fic and made it more of Locklyle. They deserve some cuter, chill days without some angst sometimes (ignoring that teensy bit at the beginning, I couldn't help myself because if you've read the books, you know…). Also, we all know George was not reading the comic and reacting to the sexual tension in the book (Georgie dear, they knew it too, the comic you randomly flipped open was open to a very obvious fight scene).
Anyway, hope you enjoyed it. Stay safe, be nice, and see ya soon.
- CrowofArcadiaOaks