you could have my heart (and i would break it for you)
-or-
be gay do crime
By: Aviantei
Moriarty Manor Daily Life, Act Two:
"imma jump headfirst (into smoke)"
Summer, 1863
"You've been real quiet lately, Jamie."
"Mn. You think so?"
That summer had been mild in comparison to days past, the whole of the season in excellent condition for gallivanting out and about. Plenty of other children had that sort of idea, too, the usual play area in Whitechapel filled with many of them running around in a massive game of tag. Jameson sat on a discarded crate, knees hugged to his chest with a distant look in his eyes. Beside him sat Jim, one of his closest friends.
Which was to say, the last friend who hadn't gotten bored of him for the stretch of months he'd done nothing but cry.
After Mama had—
Jameson whimpered at the thought, on the verge of tears all over again. While Miss Penny had allowed him to stay in the lodging house and everyone had taken care of him—meagre meals and all—it didn't change the fact that his mother was gone. He buried his face in his knees, but Jim was too busy watching the others. Jameson was grateful.
"Yeah," Jim was saying, "you're kinda quiet when you don't know people, but once you get to know them, you talk a lot. We've known each other fer a while, so it's just all weird seein' you like this." Jameson bit his lip, but it wasn't enough to stifle the sniffle that spilled out of him. "Hey, wait. Are you cryin'?"
"I…I can't… can't help it! I just… I… I miss Mama!"
Maybe it was stupid to go crying to someone who'd never known his parents in the first place, but Jameson couldn't stop himself. Some days, he managed to be alright enough to go eat and help around the boarding house, and some days he was so sad that he couldn't stand it.
Most of the time, he was just so empty that nothing else mattered.
Why did Mama have to die? She was so nice. Why did God let that happen? Was it my fault? Did I do something wrong?
"Aw, come on, Jamie, it'll be okay." Jim hefted himself up onto the box, almost knocking Jameson over in the process. Lucky for them, both boys stayed upright, and Jim pulled Jameson into a tight hug, even as some of the other kids playing nearby gave them weird looks. "I know it sucks, but people die in these parts all th' time. It gets real rough on the kids who are all alone, but we all take care of each other! No matter what happens, you're always gonna have me on your side."
Jameson peaked out over his knees, meeting his friend's pale blue eyes. "You promise? You promise that, no matter what, you won't leave me alone?"
"Of course I promise! We'll always be together!"
But those words, just like those spoken by his mother before, turned out to be false.
February, 1875
That weekend's morning had brought with it another trip to Whitechapel, though it had a few marked differences from Jameson's first escapade there.
The first such difference was that there was very little of his prior anxiety. After all, he knew now that he was welcome there, Miss Penny always happy to see him again. With that in mind, Jameson had been anticipating the visit—after all, there'd been just so much they could catch up on the first afternoon. And while Jameson knew it wouldn't replace the time he lost (nor would he tell everything he'd experienced since then), it was a pleasant feeling to know there was someplace he would always be welcomed.
The second, but no less important difference was that Albert had joined their procession.
William and Louis were striking enough on their own, and even Jameson would count himself as attractive enough to catch attention. However, adding Albert's pure handsomeness—even in less refined dress and his hair out of its usual slicked aside style—was enough to tip their collective impression in an even more notable variant.
Even with less than a month in the household, Jameson knew better than to try and dissuade Albert from accompanying them, so they made their way through the streets on foot. Albert gave passing smiles to those who noticed him, but still kept in a close step with his brothers, the lot of them behind Jameson leading the way. Whenever they at last made it to the lodging house, Jameson was grateful for the warmth of the indoors in comparison to the crispness of February winters.
"Welcome in," said the young woman working the counter—the same one that had been up front during their last visit. The recognition was mutual, as her expression went from "entice the customer" to "the bare minimum of politeness." Jameson couldn't blame her in the slightest. "Here to see the Madam again, are you?"
Jameson returned the pseudo interrogation with a smile. "That's correct. We even have an appointment this time." After all, there was no knowing whenever Miss Penny might be otherwise occupied, so Jameson and Miss Penny had agreed upon a time in their last exchange of letters.
"Then I can't stop you from heading upstairs then. You know where to go." The young woman's dark eyes roved over the Moriarty brothers. "Your escort there all coming along, too?"
"Just me, if I could so impose," Albert said, his smile winning in every perceptible way. While she hadn't reacted all that much to William and Louis before, the tips of the young woman's ears turned pink; Jameson couldn't blame her for that, either, and then she waved them on without any issue.
"In which case, we'll take our time in the dining area," William said, as if they hadn't already agreed to this arrangement. "Shall we, Louis?"
"Yes, Brother."
The young woman working the counter seemed at least somewhat pleased that they would be purchasing something. While a lot of it went into maintenance costs, Jameson knew the extra income from serving meals helped supplement everyone's quality of life. I'll have to see if I can convince Miss Penny to allow me to at least see the potential repair plans so I know things are going alright…
While Jameson was lost in thought, Albert had finished waving at his brothers, and Jameson was the next target of that perfect smile. "Well then, I'll be counting on you to take me where I need to go."
He nodded and did just that, doublechecking his pocket watch to confirm the time as he made his way down the hall. Miss Penny called them in after a knock, and Jameson went to sweep up Miss Penny in a hug as soon as he could. She returned the gesture with a just as enthusiastic greeting, and they exchanged the usual pleasantries.
It didn't take long for Miss Penny to notice Albert sticking by the door, though. "I see you've brought a different man along with you, boy." In Albert's blind spot, she squeezed Jameson's arm, a silent question to make sure everything was alright.
"Do pardon me for intruding, ma'am. My name is Albert James Moriarty—I believe you've met my younger brothers, William and Louis?" Though his politeness was impeccable, Miss Penny maintained her grip until Jameson gave her a nod and a reassuring look. "I apologize for imposing on this meeting, but as the head of the household where Jameson is staying, I thought it might be best to introduce myself."
Miss Penny's raised eyebrow indicated her surprise at Albert being the Earl whom Jameson had written about, but she didn't bother to put that much into words. "Not many folks in your position talk polite to people like me, you know."
"Be that as it may, I couldn't bring myself to disrespect someone whom Jameson holds so dear." He pulled his hat off, holding it to his chest in a clear show of respect. Jameson was just glad Albert had taken the advice to choose a different route than any use of flattery. "If I could be forward enough to ask for your permission to continue caring for him?"
Did he choose that phrasing on purpose? Judging by his amused smile, the answer to that was yes, and Jameson had to hold back his sigh. Miss Penny would grill him about that later—but for now all her attention was focused on scrutinizing the man before her, as if confirming for herself that there was no danger. Fortunate for Jameson, Miss Penny was an excellent judge of character.
And just as much if not more fortune for Albert, his character was of an upstanding sort.
"Very well," Miss Penny said, and Albert's relief seemed genuine enough to hurt. "I said it to those other boys, and I'll say it to you, too: I don't care if you're noble stock or what. If I hear a single word about anything happening to Jameson that he doesn't approve of, then you better watch out. I'm sure the nobility would be very interested to know about an Earl associating himself with the likes of us prostitutes, now wouldn't they?"
The irony was not lost on either of them, but Albert managed to keep his smile strong as he said, "I shall strive to avoid putting myself in such a situation where such a fate will befall me."
And all Jameson could do was remind himself that there was nothing that could be done about the past, not whenever Stratford was already buried in the earth and his manor was burnt to the ground.
While they had spent three-quarters of an hour on hashing out business logistics (in which Jameson proposed a number that was too high and Miss Penny proposed a number that was too low and in the end they found a compromise in the median that Jameson would accept for the time being), the excursion hadn't been to do just that. No, Jameson and Miss Penny had plenty of lost time to make up for, so spending some time on shopping and dinner had been part of the itinerary. In fact, it was in part because of that that Albert had volunteered to be the escort for the day; such indulgences were more his prerogative than his brothers', so he didn't mind accompanying them in the slightest.
Besides, said approach allowed William and Louis to check into other concerns in the meantime.
That said, Albert didn't have any intention of interfering in the time between Jameson and his former guardian. It was an almost novel situation from his perspective to see someone care so much about the people who had helped raise him. Jameson's affection in that field became all the more obvious as he and Miss Penny reminisced about Verity, Jameson's mother.
Albert couldn't even imagine caring about his own relations that much. Of all things, Jameson's bond with Miss Penny seemed all the more important because it wasn't bound by blood. Albert for one felt that way about his relationship with his brothers.
But he didn't say anything of the sort, instead listening in as Jameson and Miss Penny chatted over the dinner table in a local tavern. As much as Albert enjoyed indulging in fine dining, the sort of fare provided there wasn't against his palate at all. Though he knew it was something he said from a place of privilege, a part of him couldn't help imagine what his life might've been like if such occasions were his day to day, if he could slip away from the aristocracy and into obscurity.
It was, like all fantasies, an idealistic distortion of the reality, but he couldn't stop himself. Still, just throwing away his resources wouldn't solve anything, so it was better to use them in a way that could help others—much the same way that Jameson was doing with his own wealth.
They couldn't have asked for a better addition to their family, all things considered.
Said new addition went to stand up, offering an apologetic smile as he excused himself to the restroom. Albert waved him on with no concern whatsoever. Perhaps, with Louis's own concerns, it would have been better to accompany him, but Albert didn't see the risk of escape as a potential problem, not with Miss Penny still at the table. Besides, fostering trust was far more important for the time being; that was the approach he had chosen to take.
Whether or not that intention held any ground against the piercing look Miss Penny was giving him from across the table was another matter. Yes, she'd studied him before, but not to such an extent. As he'd practiced so many times, Albert kept his own polite smile in place, using a casual tone as he asked, "Have I done something to displease you, my lady?"
"Nothin' yet. Doesn't mean you won't, though." Ah, there was the sharpness of tongue, though it was her choice of word more than her tone that was cutting. Albert knew more than enough about working women to understand that one didn't become in charge of such establishments by being weak-willed and having a silver tongue. "You're a tough one to read, boy. You make it look casual, but that pleasant smile isn't as natural as you want it to look."
Albert did the best response he'd found for such situations, which was to continue smiling as if nothing was wrong. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."
"Don't be daft. Of course you do. If you didn't, I'd be able to read you like an open book." Ah, so it wasn't a mistake on his part; most people wouldn't have noticed. Still keeping her grey gaze locked on him, Miss Penny propped her hand on her chin. "Look, I'm not accusing you of doing anything wrong. I know that life may be cushy in the upper classes, but it can be difficult to become an Earl so young. So if you need to hide your true feelings or whatever, it ain't any of my business."
"Except where it concerns Jameson, I assume."
"And you assume right." Albert almost went to take a sip of his drink to save face, but he abandoned the task, knowing that Miss Penny would just see it as the cover of his discomfort that it was. "I didn't say it in front of him, because I know it's something he doesn't like to be reminded of. But that boy's been through a lot, even as a child living in a place like this. He's…lost a lot of people, and I thought he at least had some stability with that Viscount picking him up. But to lose him on top of everything else…" Good thing that Miss Penny was looking down, otherwise she might have noticed the grimace that Albert hadn't been able to contain. "That boy doesn't deserve to be alone all the time. And keeping him here with us isn't going to change anything, since it's dangerous in Whitechapel these days. So at the very least I want to ask that if you want to keep an eye out for him, that you do your best not to abandon him. He was a wonderful child, and I'm sure he's become an even more wonderful man."
It was a rare occasion that Albert's mouth would go dry, but it happened in that moment. They had yet to discuss the matter with Jameson in full detail, considering that he was still adjusting to the day-to-day life before him, but the Moriartys' plan was to dismantle the class system and change the future of the country they lived in. However, it was not so simple as acting from the shadows, and, one day, all three of them had agreed they would make the ultimate sacrifice to assure their goals. That was part of their bond as brothers.
That would, in effect, mean that Jameson would one day have to face the deaths of his new family or join them. And while Albert nor William would ever ask such a thing of Jameson, it didn't change the fact that those two outcomes would both violate Miss Penny's requests. Saying any of that, though, would open the possibility that Miss Penny would let Jameson know in advance, and then what would happen? He might leave, which Louis would consider a liability, and they'd all be in a worse mess than they started in. But lying wouldn't help matters, either, not with how sharp the instincts of the woman before him were.
So Albert abandoned all such thoughts and said, "Jameson is very lucky to have someone like you caring for him."
That much, at least, was the truth.
Miss Penny regarded him for a bit longer—and then her expression snapped back to that lovely smile that must've dragged in plenty of customers to her bed. At first, Albert thought she was satisfied with his response, but then he realized Jameson was heading back to the table, and the matron was prioritizing keeping her concern from him over everything else. Not wanting to create a fuss over the matter, Albert did the same. "You came back too soon," he said to Jameson, "I was just about to hear all about your embarrassing childhood secrets."
"That would require me to have embarrassing secrets in the first place," Jameson said with a surprising amount of confidence. The effect was rather ruined by Miss Penny raising an eyebrow, though Jameson didn't falter in the slightest as he sat back down in his seat. "Miss Penny would never do that without my permission, so I know that's not what you were discussing. Albert, can I hazard a guess that you were the one being sneaky and discussing the recent abduction incidents around here, then?"
It was an inaccurate guess, but it was a matter of discussion that Albert had been hoping to get to, so he didn't mind letting the conversation swerve in that direction. "Not quite yet, but I was hoping to get your opinion, ma'am," Albert said, keeping his tone light despite the topic at hand. "Considering that such occurrences put you and the rest of your charges in danger, you'd be aware of it."
"And you living up in the nobility have nothing to worry about at all." It was a fair counterargument, and Albert didn't even bother to smooth things over. Instead, it was the concerned look on Jameson's face that made Miss Penny relent, the woman continuing, "But, yes, there have been more abductions than usual. That sort of stuff hasn't ever stopped in these parts, but it's still concerning to see it so close to home." Though he kept the grimace off his face, Albert couldn't help but feel that guilt that was always niggling at him, that just by the luck of birth Albert had far less worries about his health and safety.
This is why we wish to change this world, but even with that ambition, knowing that things are like this…
There was a reason Albert had enlisted William's help in reforming the world so long ago.
"Did you know any of the people who've gone missing?" Jameson asked, keeping his voice lower even amongst the chatter of mealtime.
"Only a few in passing. Moreso I know people who knew people. None of my girls have gotten taken yet, but we can't ignore that possibility, so what are you gonna do?"
In an ideal circumstance, stop it is what we're going to do. Their family's ambition may have been to change the country as a whole, but Albert, William, and Louis all agreed that they didn't want to stand by while people trampled over others perceived as weaker than them.
Jameson's frow was furrowed. "Do you think there's any chance there was some connection between victims, then? Or does it all just seem random?"
"Seems random to me, but I could be wrong. What you mean to ask is more whether or not you think any of us are in danger, right?" Jameson nodded, almost looking chastened by the inquiry. Miss Penny gave him a warm smile in response. "We're just as at risk as anyone else, sweetie. You know that better than anyone." Because they were sitting beside each other, Albert was able to see Jameson grip onto his pantlegs, but there wasn't an opportunity to ask as Miss Penny continued, "You're just as kind as ever, Jameson."
"If I can do anything to use my resources to protect you as much as you protected me, then I see no reason to do so, yes?" Jameson's smile was both pristine and tinged with a bit of sadness, but Albert didn't have the heart to call him out, not with Miss Penny's words earlier.
He's…lost a lot of people.
If that were the case, then that was even all the more reason to take care of the issue before it became worse.
"I know this may sound like mere platitudes, but we would like to help if it's as all possible," Albert said, and Miss Penny's gaze turned back on him. It wasn't as intense as her look from before, but it was still clear that she held a clear sense of disbelief at that statement. It wasn't the first time he'd received such a reaction, but that familiarity didn't make it any more pleasant to come face to face with. "We know it won't change everything, and that there will still be issues. But I don't think that is reason enough to sit by and do nothing whenever there's something we can do."
"But is there something you can do in the first place?" The question wasn't accusatory, and Miss Penny seemed almost sad that she had to ask it. "We don't have any clues as to who's responsible, and you can't just throw your money around to accomplish finding them. I wouldn't say no to anyone stopping this mess, but I like the idea of Jameson dropping himself into trouble even less. Or was it just lip service about caring for him?"
"That's not it at all!" Albert's mouth had half opened, but Jameson's emphatic interjection cut him short. "Miss Penny, I asked for this. I just wanted to help out, so I thought I'd ask Albert and the others to look into it for me. I promise that we're going to be safe, but I can't just sit by and let people get hurt. I mean…everyone here in Whitechapel…they're someone's friend or family, right? If they go missing, or something worse…"
Miss Penny reached across the table, grasping Jameson's hands in both of her own. "Oh, Jameson," she whispered, and Albert felt very much out of place in that moment. Averting his eyes didn't seem like it would be enough, so he just sat there in silence. "It is rough. But sometimes all we can do is accept that we may lose." Jameson went to speak again, but Miss Penny squeezed his hands before he could protest. "I'm not saying that we should just give up. But no matter how much you improve the world, there will still be tragedies. That's all I mean."
"I know." Jameson swallowed, and Albert couldn't help but think how much Jameson understood that better than most. He may have been "saved" from Whitechapel, moved to loving in the lap of luxury, and yet he'd endured so much suffering. "But based on what you said before, if I don't put myself in danger to solve this, there's no problem, yes?" And then he flashed that brilliant smile of his, the one that Albert was sure helped him attract the eye of many others.
No wonder William hadn't been able to resist the offer before him. Albert wouldn't have been able to.
It seemed to have achieved a similar disarming effect on Miss Penny, who sighed. "I'm sure no matter what I say, you won't change your mind. But if you find something out, at least alert the Yard instead of getting in a mess yourself. You tried to throw away far too much money on us already, so take what I didn't accept to bribe them if you have to. I…may be used to loss by this point, but that doesn't mean I want to see anything happen to you. You're as good as my own boy, you know?"
"I know," Jameson said again, his voice even more subdued than before. "I promise I'll be careful, but I won't be alone. Albert and the others want to help out, too, and they'll keep an eye out for me. And if they don't, you know them well enough to give them hell for it, okay?"
Miss Penny snorted. "I'd be giving you a piece of my mind first."
"Albert, do you think it's okay for me to be doing this?"
After an afternoon of much more pleasant conversation, the two men had dropped off Miss Penny at the brothel. Sunset hadn't quite started yet, but it would just be a matter of minutes before the sky started to tint to orange and then to dark. Louis and William were not present in the boarding house's dining area, so Albert and Jameson had chosen to head back to the streets to wait for them, rather than have any sort of conversation within earshot of Miss Penny or those who would report back to her. His ears tucked closer to his shoulders to ward off the heat, Jameson stared out onto the streets, those jade green eyes not quite seeing any of the passers-by milling about before him.
"Why wouldn't it be okay for you to be doing this?" Albert asked in return, causing Jameson to frown.
"Because I feel like I'm throwing my weight around—and it's not even a weight I've earned." The dissatisfaction in his expression melted away, replaced with a self-depreciating smile. "I'm able to help Miss Penny and the others with money, but I just picked that up from my patron—and that was also thanks to William and your help. Even with looking into this problem, I'm just relying on what your family can do. I don't think I have a right to act like some sort of saviour, not whenever I can walk away from this—" there he gestured to the streets, indicating Whitechapel and all the danger and poverty it contained "—whenever I like."
"But you're trying to help. In fact, you're being careful to ask what kind of help would be acceptable, instead of just forcing your idea of salvation onto them." Albert had made that mistake himself in the past, and some of those incidents still stuck with him, though it had been well over a decade since their passing. "It may be unfair that we've been able to enjoy more safety and comfort due to nothing but the circumstances of birth or coincidence while others are left to struggle. But all our efforts are working to change that. Who else will make that change possible if we're not in good enough condition to keep doing the work?"
Jameson blinked, taking a moment for the words to process. "I'll…admit I hadn't considered that. I suppose that since we've won our positions and privilege through nothing but happenstance, we might as well take advantage of that to continue making the changes that we can." His posture became more at ease as he smiled. "Thank you, Albert."
"Don't thank me. William was the one to say it first. I felt just as conflicted as you did after those two joined our family." He still felt that unease some days, though that was for a very different set of reasons. None of that could change his fondness for his brothers, however, and his smile seemed to widen Jameson's own. "This is a difficult path we've chosen, but it's one that has to be done. That's part of why we're more than happy to help you with looking into this incident. Besides, if it came to our attention, we would have done something about it, even without your presence in our lives. So there's no need to feel as if you're imposing yourself on us, either."
Jameson breathed out a laugh. "You're rather good at reading the thoughts that go through my head. I do appreciate the reassurance, though." Good. Albert hadn't trodden on some unknown landmine in the process of trying to help. "However, I'd like to add something," he said, piquing Albert's curiosity. "William may have been the one to come up with those words in the first place, but the fact is that you understood my worries enough to share them with me, too. As far as I'm concerned, thinking of me as worthy of receiving such kind words is just as important as coming up with the thoughts in the first place. So don't sell yourself short, Albert."
Being the eldest brother, a military officer, and an earl of growing high esteem in public, Albert was not used to receiving comfort from others. Even in more intimate times of sharing a bed with whoever might wish to join him, Albert had a sort of aura that seemed to prevent those outside his family from thinking of him as anyone even capable of doubting himself. And even at home, with his brothers who knew him well, there was something that kept him from admitting to any such concerns.
He could admit that he liked being relied on, liked feeling as if he was making a noteworthy difference for others by being a rock they could count on.
But Jameson had noticed the deflection, and he'd even gone far enough to tell Albert that it was alright to take more credit for his awareness and choices—and that meant more than he'd expected. "Thank you, Jameson. I'll strive to remember that." He would give it the effort that he could, if nothing else; however, Miss Penny's words from before still lingered in his mind. "Jameson," he said, catching the other man's attention with no effort at all, "can you tell right now whether my smile is genuine or not?"
He'd expected an inquiry, some sort of question as to why Albert would ask something like that in the first place. But instead, Jameson fell into a contemplative silence, his eyes serious as he looked into Albert's face, as if he were paying careful attention to every last detail, from the flecks of colour in his eyes to the shape of his cheek bones. It wasn't often that Albert felt flustered by such attention—in fact, he often invited it—but Jameson seemed to be taking to the task with such utmost seriousness that Albert couldn't help but feel at least a little self-conscious, especially considering that he hadn't paid as much mind as usual to his appearance so as not to stand out as someone of noble upbringing whilst trying to blend in.
Near two minutes had passed before Jameson at last looked away. "Albert," he said, his tone just as serious as his study had been.
"Yes, Jameson?"
"It's in poor taste to ask questions that you'll be dissatisfied with no matter the answer you receive."
Which was more than fair enough.
"After asking some questions and taking a careful observation of the scene, this is what we've found."
Whilst Albert had been escorting Jameson on his time to catch up with his former guardian, William and Louis had been busy gathering information on the recent disappearances. It was a difficult process, considering that not a lot of people were trustworthy of strangers—a fair reaction given that people had been going missing in the first place—but it wasn't all that difficult to still get answers if you knew what you were doing.
William liked to think that, after so long as a consultant of all kinds, he knew what he was doing.
"In short, there doesn't seem to be a larger connection between the types of victims. However, all of them who went missing, while not living in the same areas, did often frequent or pass through the same couple of roads. This overall suggests that the perpetrators are far more focused on getting quick results rather than any sort of particular target."
Having all assembled in the manor's basement, William and Louis had prepared a rough chart of the disappearances on a rough map. They could have used an official map of Whitechapel for more accurate results, but time was a much more pressing concern, so they would have to make do with the sketched-out version. Jameson, finished with the paper, passed it over to Albert, who conducted a much more careful study.
"Given that you haven't said there were any suspicious buildings in this area, it seems the perpetrators have at least some sense to them," Albert said. "I take it that the real note of significance is because it's close enough to the river, and they use that as a way to transport who they abduct." Jameson leaned over to observe the chart again, his expression lighting up in understanding.
Louis nodded. "That was the same conclusion we reached. Of course, that means that we didn't have as much success in finding a potential hideout as we would've liked, but it's an important clue. If we can keep an eye out in that regard, we'll have a much better chance of identifying who's responsible and where they're taking the victims."
"…Do you think they'll be alright, though?" Jameson asked. "I mean, I know we can't force ourselves to find them sooner based on pure willpower, but the people that have gotten taken…what do you think has happened to them?"
His concern was obvious, and William wished he had a better answer to give. "It's difficult to tell. There haven't been any bodies found, so it's possible they're still alive. Of course, we can't discount the possibility that they've been disposed of…or that instead they've been pushed into worse situations." Human trafficking wasn't uncommon, and Jameson, while his process of getting there had been different, understood what could be waiting whenever one's life was put into someone else's hands. "That's why it's imperative that we act with diligence. We can keep watch on the area and tail them whenever we see a case occur. Louis, I can count on you to continue looking for more clues while Albert and I are busy with work, yes?"
"Of course, Brother. We can't let something like this keep happening."
"I'll help, too," Jameson said. "We're all in this situation because I asked you to be. It wouldn't be fair if I didn't do my fair share of the work." Louis didn't voice an immediate protest on the matter, though the subtle set of his eyes indicated that he was somewhat displeased by the concept. However, it was the best move, and Louis would understand that, so William didn't see the point of harping on the matter, though he would follow up on it in the event that it caused more issues. "I'll do anything you need me to, so please let me help."
"Jameson," Albert said, before either of the other brothers could even start to speak, "you're already here and helping us. So long as you wish to participate, we'll be happy to have you. After all, this is part of our crime consultancy, too, though it may be a somewhat different case."
William nodded. "If this is a situation that can be solved by normal means, then we shall just enable that to happen. But if it's not, we are more than capable of solving this in a way the law would frown upon." And while it would be for the best if things did not turn out to be such a case, William couldn't deny that he would be more than ready to eliminate those who would trample on those who were weaker than them.
Hell is empty, and its devils are here.
And as one of those devils, it was time to fulfil his duty.
Jameson yawned in the library, the effect of the several past days of late-night stakeouts starting to get to him. In the remains of winter, dusk still fell early and dawn still came late, so they were long stake-out sessions that involved trying to catch sight of anything happening in the dark. So far, nothing suspicious had happened, which was good, but it did have Jameson worrying that perhaps they'd ended up in the wrong space and were hunting for nothing. If it hadn't been for Miss Penny not reporting any further incidents in her recent letters, it would have felt like they were chasing after ghosts.
Isn't that what I'm doing anyways, though? Between his mother and Jim, Jameson had seen the bodies of people he loved before, had been forced to deal with the reality that he'd lost someone he cared about at the hands of someone else, for no real reason whatsoever. Was trying to save people now just a way to try and make up for what he'd failed to do? To try and prove that he was different from the child that had existed before?
"You look as if you could use some rest."
Jameson looked up to see William approaching him. Having also been on the same lookout the night before—and several of the nights before that—William was sporting faint bags beneath his eyes. What was most unfair, however, was that he still looked gorgeous, even with them. Given how tired Jameson still felt, it was rather impressive that he didn't just outright say so, instead settling for, "I could say the same about you."
William chuckled, not taking any outward offense to the comment. "Perhaps, but I do still need to be present in the lecture hall, so I'll have to make do." Jameson couldn't help but frown, but William flashed him a reassuring smile. "Don't feel as if this is your fault, my dear. I'm afraid this sort of pattern is rather common. Though I've just started teaching as of late, I had the same issues juggling both my consultant work with my studies as well. I'm more than used to operating on odd hours." Given that Jameson also tended to work on a minimal amount of sleep—though for very different reasons—he supposed he couldn't protest all that much. "If you're concerned, I'll be sure to slip in a nap before night falls. You, on the other hand, don't have as strict of a schedule as the rest of us, so you should head to bed, at least for a little while."
It was a little bit surreal to be told to go to bed without any innuendo attached to it. "I'm worried that if I rest, I shan't get up at all." The late nights combined with the general concern over the safety of Miss Penny and the others had kept him on high alert and worn him down, and the idea of slowing down in even the slightest seemed as if he would stay down until he was filled back to capacity—in other words, far too long to make a difference. "I don't want to leave things up to you three without contributing. In part because I don't want to become a burden, and in part because I want to prove to myself that I'm still capable of making a difference with my own hands."
Had it been his own strength that had allowed him to burn down Aldborough Manor?
Had it been a fluke that he'd managed to murder Charleville with his own hands?
Would he be able to have the resolve to repeat the act with Westmeath, with the remaining regulars?
I hope I have that resolve.
I need to have that resolve.
And while hunting down an abductor wasn't the exact same as murdering those who had hurt him, it was still something not everyone could do, it was still something that would prove he was standing on his own. He didn't have to do everything by himself, but that also didn't mean that he couldn't give his all to the case.
A gentle hand rested on his shoulder, and Jameson looked up as William said, "Well I have every faith that you are capable. After all, you set this case into motion, did you not? That's already much more than would have happened without you." Jameson felt a surge of emotion; he had, in fact, managed to make a difference.
"Even so," Jameson said, clutching at the blanket on his lap. "It seems unfair that I have such an opportunity to recharge while you all are pushing yourselves for me." If nothing else, he felt he should at least put himself through the same sort of strain, just to make up for everything he was asking of William, Albert, and Louis.
"Be that as that may," William said, tilting Jameson's head up so that they locked eyes. Combined with William's gentle smile, the effect was enough to make Jameson forget half of his worries in one fell swoop. "All of us are used to this sort of lifestyle, so it's not as if we mind at all, and all the more so if it means helping others. But on the off chance that this continues on for some time, we might be affected. That's why it's even more important for you to rest up so you can keep an eye out for us."
"Oh." Having not thought of that before, Jameson supposed it made some sort of sense, but there was one flaw he could see with that: "You trust me to handle such a thing?"
"Whyever wouldn't I?" He must've been able to predict the litany of answers that Jameson had to that (and he was certain Louis would share at least half of them), because William continued, "This is something you asked for because you wished to protect the matron, yes? There's no reason that you would want to sabotage us in this endeavour. So, yes, Jameson, I trust you. Is that so strange?"
"…Not when you put it like that." That way, at least, it sounded logical—but it was still a rather odd feeling, given everything that he'd gone through beforehand. Even so, the idea that he could be useful was an appealing one, though it would require that Jameson would rest as soon as he could. "Yes, you win the debate. I'll be sure to rest once I clear my head out." They were scribbled messes of pages, but Jameson had found that emptying any possible thought he had onto the page made it much easier to fall asleep, so long as he wasn't in an overwhelmed state of mind concerning…other matters. With the current situation, Jameson had been too distracted for any such recollections to emerge. "If on the off chance that you return home and I'm still busy here, you have full permission to scold me and entreat me to lie down."
"Well, if that's the duty that you're offering me, I'll be sure to fulfil it. Of course, you'll have the chance to ensure I lie down as well in that case." William's lips remained parted for a moment, as if he were about to add something else, but he chose not to elaborate, instead pulling out his pocket watch. "Ah, I'm running short on time, so I'll have to cut our conversation short. I'll see you later today, Jameson."
"Have a good day at work, William."
And Jameson found that it didn't take him very long at all to empty his mind upon the page and feel tired enough to go to sleep.
Louis did not have much that he prided himself on. That was not to say that he didn't have confidence—William first and then Albert had worked very hard to encourage him throughout the years—but he still felt strange feeling prideful about anything, to have such confidence in himself that he felt self-assured in it, no matter who or what may happen. After all, with brothers as exceptional as William and Albert, Louis was more than well aware at how much other people could surpass him in every possible way.
But when it came to efficiency in executing William's plans—well, Louis didn't have any intention of giving up his position of being the best at that to anyone.
Hence, though it was the fifth successive night in a row of staking out Whitechapel, Louis remained vigilant from his vantage point atop one of the few buildings in the area that reached three stories. The cold didn't matter, nor did the long hours. William had arranged for them all to keep an eye on the abductions, and he wanted to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. So allowing for mistakes wasn't going to be acceptable.
If William asked him to, Louis could do anything.
So the long hours weren't an issue at all, though it was the dark of night. With enough time having passed, Louis went to shift positions to continue his patrol, his chilled muscles protesting yet welcoming the movement at once. It wasn't long before he was back to his usual pace, his eyes roving across the streets below.
It had been a long time since he and William had lived there, but Louis had not forgotten what living in Whitechapel was like. Though they'd been fortunate to have the safety of different orphanages to return to, nights were difficult when you didn't have a home, and even the abandoned bookshop they'd stayed in for some time had been a blessing. For many others, if you couldn't scrape together the wage to afford a permanent home or a lodging house like the one Miss Penny ran and Jameson had grown up in, there wasn't much other choice than to sleep on the street. When that exposed you to the harsh weather and the chance of having someone steal your belongings—or abduct you, as it were—was it any wonder why people would steal money or pool their funds together to rent rooms together, why women would offer their bodies for the opportunity to have a roof over their heads?
That was the world that the Moriartys wished to change. But until then…
It was essential to stay vigilant, no matter how much of a challenge that might end up becoming as the nights wore on. The slightest moment of inattention could lead to someone else going missing, could lead to any number of atrocities. And it was because Louis understood that that he was able to recognize the moment whenever there was a short scuffle in the shadows of the street and a couple of dark figures slunk off towards the riverside.
Louis squinted through the dark, keeping pace as best he could. It was difficult to make out any details from such a distance, but he felt confident that was who they were looking for. The faint traces of fog didn't make pursuit any easier, but it wasn't the first time Louis had done such a thing, and his training as a child had been much more strenuous than anything of this calibre.
Within the space of what couldn't have been longer than five minutes, they'd reached the waters, and Louis stopped on the roof, reaching for the covered lamp they'd set up long in advance. The flame inside was still burning, and he flashed out a series of signals: the first for Jameson and William down and waiting on the docks, and a couple more to signal Albert further back on his own patrol rotation. That job done, Louis squinted into the dark again, able to make out the shape of the probable abductors. It seemed they were making short work of restraining their quarry before loading them into the boat.
Many other people would hesitate at the idea of letting someone get captured without putting an immediate stop to it. Such choices made William hesitate—he might not have shown it, but Louis knew, nonetheless—and Jameson had looked uncomfortable at the concept whenever William had announced it as part of the strategy. However, when the logic had been explained to him, he went along with it with no issue.
Louis had no such qualms on those matters.
So long as his brothers were safe and well, Louis could justify almost anything—and whenever it was just a sound move from a strategic perspective, that made it all the easier. If following the abductors back to their base was the best way to find where the other potential victims were, then so be it. Once they knew which direction they were going on the river, their group would follow in pursuit.
Yes, this will finish tonight, without a doubt.
Jameson and William were at a distance so as not to alert the abductors on the water, so, as the first to reach the higher vantage point, it was Louis's job to determine the route. His body already aching with the energy of pursuit, Louis schooled himself into patience. By the time the abductors got themselves together, Albert had rendezvoused with him, and the two brothers watched in grim silence until they got the result.
Downstream.
Of course, flashing a light in the dark of night in the direction their targets were heading wasn't the smartest move, so they waited at least until the shadow of their quarry was out of sight before signalling down to the docks. That done, Louis and Albert began the process of scaling down the building to the ground level; William would have recognized the signal and already started moving, so it was their job to follow. With the river being dark, it would be simple not to be noticed so long as they kept their distance. A coal-powered ship would have also attracted attention in such an area, so it seemed the abductors were rowing along. Catching up would take very little time at all, and it worked out that pursuit was much easier. From there, the plan was to find the base and collect essential information: the size of the operation, the number of victims, and the best time to try and make a move.
If it were small enough, the incident could be over that same night. If not…
Well, our intention is to take on this country in its entirety. The idea of faltering at anything less than that is laughable.
Yes, Louis did not have much that he prided himself on, but the places he did, his pride was unmatched by anyone.
Between Albert and Louis, there was no need to communicate in words what needed to be done, so they remained in silence as they moved with the river's current. Louis couldn't help but regret that the arrangement meant that William was alone with Jameson—there was a low chance of him sabotaging the plan, but still, that was his brother—but there was no time to fester in those thoughts. Soon there was the flashing of signals from William's vessel, and it wasn't long before all of them were docked and continuing their pursuit. They'd come closer to the nearest port, which suggested any number of things, but there was no conclusive evidence in any way, so there was no point in speculating.
No, what mattered most was the pursuit, their two pairs close but separate in the event that one of them was noticed. Seeing that Jameson had next to no training in such matters, he and William kept to the ground, while Louis and Albert followed along from above. The two abducting figures kept at a decent pace, but it was never enough for them to get out of sight, though their dark clothes blended into the night. Jameson was doing well enough at keeping pace, it seemed, though the concerned sensation in Louis's stomach wouldn't go away; all it would take was one mistake for something to go wrong.
But in the meantime, things were proceeding well enough, until the two abductors split up. Louis frowned, but he waited to see what choice William would make; whichever one he didn't choose to follow, Louis and Albert would go after, since letting Jameson run off on his own wouldn't be advisable since he had no combat ability should an emergency arise. As Louis had suspected he would, William went to follow after the abductor who was holding onto the victim, and Albert struck off first to follow the other with Louis following the next moment. From what he remembered of the area, there didn't seem to be any particular buildings that stuck out as potential hideouts, but anything was possible. Squinting to sharpen his vision, Louis kept an eye out, though whenever their target turned yet another corner in short succession, Louis's stomach twisted even further as it dawned on him that this path was heading right back to—
"Brother!" Louis whispered, and it felt like a miracle that he hadn't shouted the words. The abductor he and Albert had been following had looped back around behind William and Jameson, cornering them between two opponents. Louis scanned over the situation as his target pulled out some sort of weapon, and Louis's hands grabbed for his knives as he prepared to drop down to the ground level. It was Albert's firm grip on his arm that held him back, though it was with great reluctance.
"We don't want to give ourselves away if we don't have to," Albert murmured, the authority in his voice obvious even in his quiet tone. The other abductor had taken the moment of their comrade's attack to place down their kidnappee, also joining into the fray as William drew his sword without hesitation. Jameson had backed out of the way, but Louis was far less concerned with that fact. "William can handle himself against two people without any issue, even with looking out for Jameson. We need to keep the vantage point in case they make a break for it."
It was difficult to follow such logic whenever William was in danger in front of him. Louis struggled against Albert's hold, trying to pull free. The look his eldest brother gave him stilled him, but his pulse was hammering as he watched the scuffle down below.
That said, Albert's assessment of the situation was more than accurate. All three of them had gone through intense training from their master at a young age, and they'd all maintained their condition ever since. After all, physical aptitude was helpful in many different aspects for their plans. Handling a couple of opponents—whose movements seemed to be somewhat practiced but overall unsophisticated—wouldn't be much of an issue at all, no matter that Jameson was very much a liability, but still—
With a wide swing of his blade, William managed to knock one of the abductors out back, giving him plenty of opportunity to bear down on the other. While they weren't against killing to achieve their goals, it would be best to keep at least one of them alive to find their base, so that would be a slight handicap.
And perhaps it was because of that impetus to holding himself back that William didn't manage to react in time to the third abductor emerging from the dark and driving a knife straight down at his back.
Louis's stomach lurched, and he was leaping down from the rooftop before Albert could do a thing to stop him. Lucky for him, it was a much shorter building than the ones he'd been on before, and he rolled to ease the impact. His feet and legs still vibrated, but he was moving, his onward charge closing the distance between him and the enemy. In the distance, he could see at least one of the figures running off, perhaps to warn the rest of their group that they'd been found, but Louis was far more tunnel visioned on stopping the one that had injured William, and his knife found its target with brutal efficiency, blood splattering to the ground as he yanked the blade out for a follow up attack.
If the first strike hadn't killed the abductor, then the second one guaranteed it, and the man's body fell to the ground. Louis had every intention of doing the same to the second, except it seemed that William had already handled it, despite being injured—
Except, as Louis observed his brother shake the blood off his sword before sheathing it, he realized William wasn't injured at all.
"Jameson," William said, and that was enough to remind Louis that the other man had been there at all. He was propped up against the closest wall, his breathing sounding ragged. Louis wondered if it was just the adrenaline, but then he recognized the way that Jameson was grasping at his shoulder. It wasn't difficult to put the pieces together: Jameson must've stepped in to protect William from getting injured. "Jameson, you didn't need to do that."
"I…I wanted to." Jameson's voice was strained, but it was rather impressive that he didn't cry out from the pain, though he did start to sink lower to the ground. "You're…much more useful than I am. You should go. One of them ran off, and we don't want to lose them."
"I'm sure Albert is in pursuit." William didn't call out Louis for abandoning his post. "Use has nothing to do with it. We need to take care of you while you're injured."
"I'll handle it," Louis said, the words flowing out of his mouth before he could think better of them. The fact that neither William nor Jameson had an immediate response was enough to make their surprise on the matter clear, but there was no time to explain anything at all. "Brother, you'll be best to figure out our strategy for moving forward, so you should keep going and help Albert. Besides, if the rest of their group realizes something's happened, we might lose our lead."
And, he didn't say, the idea of leaving the two of them alone any more than possible bothered Louis far more than it should have.
William must've seen the logic in the situation, because he soon stood up. "Very well. I'll be going on ahead. I'm counting on you to take care of him, Louis. Jameson, there's no need to worry. We'll be sure to wrap this up tonight." And then William ran off in pursuit of the escaped abductor, leaving just Jameson and Louis alone.
I didn't quite think this through.
While Louis had accomplished the goal of keeping William and Jameson separate, that meant he needed to now take care of Jameson. His distrust made him still feel reluctant to do so, but William had asked him to do so, so there was no real option in that matter. If Louis were to pride himself upon helping William achieve his goals, then he would execute this latest request with the same efficiency.
"You heard Brother," Louis said, crouching down on the ground before Jameson. If the man didn't mind Louis not trusting him, then there was no need to act polite whenever neither of his brothers were there to watch. "We should get that wound wrapped up as soon as possible. I know it's cold, but you'll need to put up with taking off your jacket so I can get a good look at it."
While Jameson hadn't protested to William leaving, he flinched back as Louis reached out. "I-it's okay. I'll manage until we get back to the manor—"
"You will do no such thing." If it were anyone else, Louis might have held Jameson down and pulled the jacket off himself, but even he had restraint understanding what associations the other man would have with such an action. "For one, you don't want to lose too much blood. If you pass out, you'll make it so we have to carry you on top of everything else. For another, if you expose yourself to this much dirt, there's a chance you'll infect the wound. I at least need to take a look at it to tell how bad the situation is. Brother asked me to take care of you, and that's what I'm going to do."
Louis had hoped at least the last point would get Jameson to relent, but he just shook his head, clutching his hands closer to his chest. It was a bit difficult to make out in the dark, but the lighter colours of Jameson's lower layers contrasted with his dark jacket, indicating that the injury hadn't just impacted his shoulder, but about halfway across his chest as well. That there was so much more injury was even more of a reason for Louis to treat him, but it also seemed that was what Jameson was far more concerned about than anything else.
If he didn't want to undress, he could at least let me wrap up the injury, but if he doesn't want that, then…
The thought occurred to Louis in a moment, and his mouth opened without any sound. It was a long shot, and not very probable at that. But if his hypothesis were the case, then Louis was finding that he perhaps understood Jameson far more than he had ever expected to, and he didn't know how he felt about that.
Regardless of his feelings on the matter, though, Louis's goal was still the same, and that meant the best possible way to solve the issue…
Louis at last dropped his knife to the side and went to tear open his own jacket.
Despite the escaping abductor getting a head start, it didn't take all that long for William to catch up, in no small part because he'd already memorized the area's streets. When it came down to it, there were a limited number of routes that one could take, and it was easy to guess whereabouts his target was going based on that information.
That and Albert had managed to pursue the abductor with ease and had decided it was prevalent to restrain the man. That also helped.
"Will," Albert said, the inflection in his tone indicating surprise that it was William who had followed rather than Louis. Curious as he might have been, though, it was clear they had much bigger priorities at hand, so he saved the inquiries in favour of reporting, "I saw more people moving up ahead, so I believe we've narrowed down their base of operations. I figured it was best we didn't give ourselves away, so…" He gestured to the abductor crumpled on the ground, which was plenty of explanation enough, all things considered.
"Yes, that's fine. I would've done the same." The goal was to break down the operation, after all, and that same night at that—waiting any longer would run the chance of allowing more people to get hurt or sold off. And while it was impossible to recover everyone that had been lost, they would save as many people as they had in their reach whenever possible. "I take it you saw enough to at least make a guess at their numbers?"
"Judging by the people they have patrolling the perimeter and the size of the building, I'm willing to guess around ten. If we're being pessimistic, around fifteen." William frowned. If Louis were there, such a number of opponents wouldn't be an issue at all; with just the two of them, it was still doable, but much more of a challenge. "Of course, three of them are out of commission thanks to us, so that will help. Do you want to go back and get Louis before going forward?"
"If we do that, we'll have to leave Jameson unattended to." Jameson, who had gotten hurt for William's sake. Jameson, who had been so worried about the child they'd seen almost get stolen from their life with no remorse. "I'd rather proceed with just the two of us. You've been working on your stealth operations have you not, Brother? This will be the perfect time to put those to the test."
Albert's lips grew into his usual broad smile. "I suppose it will be. So, we kill them all, then?"
"Yes. And we'll be done by dawn."
It may have just been a side effect of the pain, but Jameson didn't know how to process the situation in front of him. After all, there must have been some logic for Louis to decide to shed his outer layers in the middle of a February night, when the air still held a biting chill that didn't abate in the slightest. And of course, Louis James Moriarty, the youngest brother who viewed Jameson with a well-deserved and practical scorn, wouldn't start to unbutton his vest and shirt beneath that as well?
Or perhaps the situation didn't make much sense even barring the pain. That was an option, too.
"What—what are you—" The question stilled as Louis had pulled apart his top to put his chest on display, the light of the moon up above in combination with his pale skin enough to make the barest of visibility possible. While Louis was well-toned—not to the exact extent as William, no, but close enough—it was clear that was not what he'd intended Jameson to look at.
It was the scars.
There were but three of them, and they were all thin, the one in the centre of his chest so pale that it was little more than a wink of silver. The line was neat, suggesting it was the remnants of some sort of operation, but that didn't seem to be the point. The other two were just as precise, though they were thicker, the scar tissue deep enough that it was unsure how recent they were and if they would ever heal in full.
And their placement, each right below the pectoral muscle. Jameson may not have been well versed in the subject, but he understood enough about human anatomy that such incisions wouldn't be useful in reaching anything further inside the chest cavity.
"Oh," he said, his voice so quiet that he wasn't even sure he'd spoken in the first place. "That's why William didn't say anything then." William hadn't needed an explanation for Jameson, because his own brother was the same.
"Quite," Louis said, his tone still clipped (but, perhaps, not quite as acerbic as before?). "Now, if you understand, stop fighting me and let me tend to your injuries." Still feeling dumbfounded, Jameson nodded, letting his hands fall to his side. Seeming to be beyond impatient, Louis started to undo Jameson's jacket for him—a shame, it had just been bought for the operation, but it was already ruined—and he didn't bother to offer to undress himself. Too many things were clicking into place: William's kindness and utter lack of judgement upon Jameson's declaration of being a man, the way he'd known how to handle Jameson's menstruation, the fact that he already knew a doctor that provided such services without even needing to research the matter. "Lucky for you, it doesn't seem to be too deep, but we'll still want to wrap it up. At this point, tearing up your shirt is going to be the best bet, seeing as it's already ruined."
"That's fine." Jameson's chest wrap was a little loose from also getting cut, but it felt pointless to be self-conscious about such things whenever Louis was also— Jameson took a shaky breath as Louis took his knife to Jameson's shirt with precision, the sound of tearing fabric leaking through the air. "I…I've never…met someone like me before." He didn't even have the words to describe the feeling, as overwhelmed with emotion as he was, but he knew it felt important.
There was a brief pause in Louis's hands at the admittance, but he was back to work soon enough. "I have. It's not often, but…we're not alone in feeling this way." They weren't alone in feeling that their bodies and their minds didn't match. To know that was such a relief that Jameson felt tears start to slip from his eyes. "…I always knew. Ever since I was young. And Brother—he told me it was alright, and he'd help me in any way he could. Albert didn't even think otherwise, considering how we met, but he accepted it once he knew."
"Me, too." It felt strange to talk about such a thing out loud, especially whenever he hadn't even told William yet, but it also felt right. "I mean, Mama had been thinking it would be safer for me in the slums if everyone thought I was a boy, anyways, so she didn't mind how I dressed. And when I told her I wanted to be one, she and everyone else let me. She…even renamed me when I asked." Jameson swallowed, but there was no point in trying to hide the fact that he was crying from such a distance, so he leaned his head back and against the brick wall behind him and stared into the sliver of sky visible up ahead. "How did it feel? When you…"
"Incredible." Louis's voice was just as soft as Jameson's by that point, but he could still feel every ounce of genuine emotion in that word. "I felt…lighter. Like a huge weight had been taken off me." Just the thought of that alone was enough to make Jameson sigh with longing. "It's still…there are still things I would change about myself if I could. But it's closer, and that's what matters." Considering that Jameson had never expected that he'd be able to achieve even just closer, it sounded like a dream. Louis patted Jameson's uninjured shoulder once. "That should do well enough until we can clean the injuries at home. Can you manage the buttons on your own?"
"Yes, I think so." Given the tight wrapping around his shoulder and upper chest, his movements were a little tight, but it was possible to reassemble his layers, albeit in a sloppy fashion. Satisfied with the progress, Louis stood, having reassembled his attire as well in the process, and he offered Jameson a hand. "I…feel a little weak, but I'll be able to walk." Compared to being forced to totter from one bed to another while on the brink of exhaustion, moving about with just a shoulder injury seemed like child's play.
Louis surveyed Jameson for a few more moments, his gaze even sharper without his glasses to get in the way. "Very well," he said, turning away to pick up the still unconscious child lying on the ground. With what seemed like very little effort at all, he'd hefted the boy over his shoulder. "If you feel dizzy or anything, let me know at once. It will be a bit of a walk before we can make it back to our carriage."
Jameson replayed the words in his head twice to ensure that it wasn't already dizziness that was interfering with his ability to understand. "We're going all the way back? But what about the abductors?"
"And what, pray tell, do you expect to do about it in your condition?"
"I may not be able to do anything, but you can."
"Yes, and that would involve leaving you and this child unattended to. And, given your injury, carrying them back on your own would be inadvisable. So, no, we will not be following that course of action." The worst part was that Jameson couldn't even argue the matter; insisting would just mean putting the child in danger, and that would very much defeat the point. "My brothers are very skilled and can handle themselves, and they know when to retreat if things become too much for them to handle. Qualities I cannot say that you share. Now, if you're so concerned about it, you'd do best to let me drop the two of you off so I can go assist them. Any other objections?"
None that were effective at any rate.
So Jameson shut his mouth and started to walk.
[Author's Notes]
This chapter was one that fought me hard. I knew what I wanted to do, but getting it all to work out was rough. But I persevered, so we made it through, and we got to a very important reveal! Louis and Jameson have now started the very long, very slow path to being trans buddies, please stand by while they sort themselves out.
Anyone else having a blast with The Remains chapters? There's so many good smiling Williams in the new chapter; it's a blessing to see him so happy, like wow. I even ordered the Jump SQ issue from Japan to get the special clear folder, and it's super gorgeous, what a great investment.
Title of the chapter is from Willyecho's "Smoke."
Next time: Moriarty Manor Daily Life, Act Three. Please look forward to it!
-Avi
[04.15.2023]