#Archie a kid is dead | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

wenigstenshabeichesversucht · 5 months

Text

A Christmas Carol 🕯️ Anthony Lockwood

Pairing: Anthony Lockwood x fem!Reader

Summary: It only takes three ghost (one form the past, one from the present and one from the future) and one Anthony Lockwood for you to realize that you maybe don't hate Christmas as much as you had thought.

Warnings: angst, trauma, grief, mention of suicide, English is not my native language

Word Count: 11k

A ghost from the past

As a kid you had loved Christmas. In winter the nights were long, and with The Problem everybody had to stay inside, but Christmas was the part of winter, which made it endurable. However, this was before your family sent you to die by signing you up as an agent. This was before you had to watch your whole team die last year in the Christmastime. Now you hated it with burning passion. Winter was, by far, the worst season, and not even Christmas made any difference to you.

As an agent the Christmastime was shit. Thanks to the long winter nights you had to work overtime, and even on Christmas Eve the ghosts didn’t stop their hauntings, so you couldn’t sit under the Christmas tree and drink eggnog. Furthermore, Christmas was the time of year when most people committed suicide. That meant less time to rest for you and every other agent in London.

A week and a half before Christmas your team had a job a few miles outside the city. The town was small, and everywhere you looked you saw Christmas decoration.

As you walked by a glowing snowman you wanted to puke. Your not-so-subtle gagging noises made your team laugh. You were working together for less than a year, and they couldn’t reach your old team. But your old team was dead, and they were here, so point for them, you guess?

Reaching the waist tall wall, which separated the town from the surrounding fields, you stopped. The mayor of this small town had reached out to Fittes, because a few kids had seen two visitors on the field. From the description you guessed that you would have to deal with Gallows Wraiths. Not your favourite type of visitor but your team would handle it.

“That is bad”, Archie, your researcher stated, as he came to stop next to you. “The books stated that the gallows were next to a tree.”

However, far and wide was no sign of a tree. What a fantastic start to an awful night, and the sun hadn’t even set yet. After the description given be the mayor and Archie’s finding, that back in the days the gallows had stood here, it wasn’t a hard guess that you were searching for remains of said gallows. Therefore, every member of your team was equipped with a shovel. But without a tree you didn’t know where you had to start digging, not to mention that the field was large.

Thoughtfully you tilted your head. It was your call what the team should do. After last Christmas nobody, least of all you, had thought that Fittes would give you an own team, but here you were. Normally you also had a supervisor, who would say what to do in such situation. But after he gave you a car ride to this town, Frank decided that it was too cold outside for his old bones, and therefore he stayed insight the mayors house, letting you fend for yourself.

Feeling that you were getting nervous you glanced at your watch. In maybe half an hour the sun would set. Until then, you needed a plan, and an iron circle for protection.

“Stephen you will set up an iron circle on the other side of this wall, Archie please check our bags, that we really brought everything, and Hanna, you and I will try to find a clue, where the gallows was standing back then.”

At least your team didn’t hesitate to follow your order, and everyone set into action. Hanna’s Talent was touch while you were a listener with surprisingly good touch. Therefore, it was always your twos job to localize the source. Leaving the shovels back by the boys you both climbed over the wall.

To find the old gallows wouldn’t be easy even with your talents. The last light of the sun still touched the field in front of you and suppressed the energy of the source, making it almost impossible to discover it. There was a reason why agents worked at night.

“Let’s split up”, if Hanna and you would stay together you would need the whole night to search the large field, that wasn’t an option.

With your ears perked up you wandered off to the left side. But all you heard was the crunch of your boots on the frozen earth. Disappointed but not surprised you glanced to Hanna. She was kneeling while her hand touched the soil. Hopefully she found something. Spending the entire night in that field wasn’t on your to-do list. It was already cold, and your Fittes uniform didn’t help to keep the chilling air at bay. You didn't even want to imagine how cold it would get when the sun went down, and the ghosts came out to play.

“Please tell me, that you found something”, by the sound of your voice Hanna jumped. Apparently, she didn’t hear you coming.

“Doesn’t this look awfully close to root remains to you?”

Crouching down, you had a closer look at the ground. All your life you lived in big cities and with The Problem, you weren’t a big outdoor fan. Therefore, you weren’t exactly sure, but one thing was certain, the soil here looked different from the rest of the field.

Closing your eyes, you took a page of Hanna’s book, and also laid your hand on the frozen earth. The first thing you felt was- not surprising- the fucking cold. But there was something else, deep inside the earth it had taken root. It made you tremble, a sick feeling spread inside your stomach and let a winning smile appear your lips. You found the place, where the gallows had been standing. Maybe this night would be tolerable.

You barely managed to set up a double circle of iron chains around the spot before the night started. Like every good team, you took turns digging. After one and a half hour of just switching who was digging, finally something happened.

You were just, taking a sip out of your thermos flask as Stephen next to you reached for his rapier. He was the Seer of your little group, and often he saw the visitors before the dreadful feeling, signalling their presence, washed over you. This time was no difference. Following Stephens gaze you discovered them. There were two of them, ghost mist had formed at their feet as they slowly floated towards you. You knew from experience that they could go much faster, but the fight just started.

The kids who had the sighting reported, didn’t lie. From the look of it, both ghosts were male, their heads were in such a weird angle that you got goosebumps. You hated Wraiths, why did they have to look like the way they died, that was disgusting.

Seeing their broken necks, you couldn’t help thinking about the last time you encountered Gallow Wraiths. The case had been at Mallows End in Wimbledon and Quill Kipps Team and your team had joined together. Because your team leader and Quill had been very good friends, you often had worked together and every time it had gone well. This time had not been an exception, fast you had rounded up the cluster of Wraiths, had neutralized the source and also had saved the team of Lockwood and Co. A victory like it was written in the books. You could still hear the sniggers of your best friend as you had spotted the team of Lockwood and Co. covered in earth and salt. Back then, that night, you had felt on top of the world. Now, not even a year later everything had changed. Your life had been better in the past, and while your friends stayed there you were forced to life alone in the present. If you could turn back time, you would do it without hesitating. Your life had been so much better before that night and every minute, with every breath you took, you missed them like crazy.

“Y/N, what should we do”, the sound of Stephens voice brought you back. Closing your thermos flask, you pulled out your rapier.

“We fight them off, of course”, to give Archie and Hanna more time to find the source. Lifting your rapier higher you took a deep breath before stepping outside the protection circle. You already lost one team; it wouldn't happen to you a second time.

Wraith, especially Gallows Wraith, were an aggressive kind of Type II ghosts. After only ten minutes of fending one off, the second one was handled by Stephen, you were soaking with sweat. Flinging a salt bomb, you watched breathless, as the ghost vanished, before you could hit him. Shame about the wasted salt bomb, but that could only mean one thing.

“We contained the source”, Hanna yelled from the hole she had dug. Relieve flowed through you and your body suddenly felt tons lighter.

“Great work everybody, let’s pack up everything and get back, I’m tired as fuck.”

Within a few minutes everybody had gathered his stuff, and you were on your way back to the little town. By the wall, Stephen rolled up the iron chains, he had left there, and then you all climbed over and wandered into town. With your thoughts you were already home ready to climb inside your bed. The last month had been hard for you, and your team, and now you wanted nothing more than to fall into your bed and sleep till noon. But hearing a loud yell thwarted your plans.

“Did you hear that?”, you turned to the others to make sure, that this wasn’t something you picked up with your talent.

“I think it came from this house?”, Archie pointed to a plain town house, and you all exchanged glances. It felt wrong to just ignore it. What if there was a ghost problem? But it wasn’t just your choice to made, your team also had to be on board.

“I know we are all tired, but we should check that out”, the other nodded approvingly and with that it was decided. Picking up your rapier, your hearth started to beat faster. Of course, you were nervous. You knew what could go wrong in your field of work, and what the consequences could be. To walk inside an unknown house without knowing what was waiting for you, could be a death sentence. But there was a person in need and your old team would be turning in their graves if you just walked away.

“We don’t know what will be waiting inside for us, so be alert and stay together”, you reminded your team while walking up to the house. Stopping in front of the front door you checked a last time, that everyone was ready, then you tried to open the door.

Unexpectedly the door wasn’t locked, but that wasn’t the biggest surprise. When you saw the chaos in the hallway, your eyebrows shot up and your mouth felt open. Was that George Karim lying under a fallen cupboard? From his colleagues Anthony Lockwood and Lucy Carlyle was no trace to be seen. The only other presence, beside Karim and your team, was the ghost, who was hovering over Karim. Slowly the ghost was reaching out and George tried desperate to free his hands to protect himself.

You on the other hand had seen enough. Grabbing a salt bomb, you hurled it at the ghost and with a wail it vanished. Losing no time, you rushed over to Karim.

“Help me”, you voiced to Hanna and Archie, before you threw Stephen a look, “Cover us!”

The three of you managed with a lot of huffs and complaining -manly from Karim- to free him.

“Where are the others and what are we dealing with?”, you gave Karim no time to recover from his time under the cupboard. This was a possible life-threatening situation, and you needed information to ensure the safety of your own team.

“Lucy is trying to find the source and Lockwood was locked in the cellar by a series of unfortunate events.”

Sceptical you exchanged glances with Hanna. A series of unfortunate events? This was Lockwood and Co, what did you expect? Without asking what he meant with this, you viewed your team and Karim. You needed a game plan, fast.

“Hanna please find Carlyle and help her by her search”, you began and with a nod she went in the direction Karim was showing her. “Stephen, Archie you both will hold the ghost at bay, and you and me, Karim, we will free Lockwood.”

You had enough fighting for one night and of course, you couldn’t miss your chance to free Lockwood and to gloat while doing it. You and Lockwood weren’t enemies but also not exactly friends. In front of your inner eye, you could already see Lockwood’s face, when he realized, who saved him. Oh, that would be so good. You couldn’t wait. Your mood was, for the first time this month, sky rocking.

“Please be not too hard on him, Y/L/N”, Karim begged you, while you two were on your way to the cellar. You just threw him a wink which made him massage his temples.

“You don’t understand, he will be unbearable.” That sounded like a problem for Karim, not for you.

When you reached the basement, you understood, what Karim meant with a series of unfortunate events. Several pieces of furniture had tipped over and were blocking the door. At this sight you were glad, that you took Karim with you. You were tired and would have been damned if you had to move all the furniture yourself.

“Lets the fun begin”, you stretched, before taking on the first furniture, a shelf. In silence Karim and you removed the furniture and when you pushed the last piece of furniture away sweat stood on your forehead and your arms hurt. Unfortunately, Karim beat you to it and opened the door. You took advantage of this and wiped the sweat from your forehead.

“George, what took you so long, I was-”, stepping through the door, Lockwood abruptly stopped when he saw you. As a reaction you only send him a bright smile. That made him blush, which only increased your smile.

“What are you doing here, love?”, awkwardly he cleared his throat.

“My team and I were just passing by, when we heard you needing help, pretty boy.” You didn’t know when you began with the nicknames. Thinking about it, you were sure, that Lockwood started it.

“We had everything under control?”

“This is what you call this chaos?”, amused you looked directly into his deep brown eyes. For a moment you just gazed at each other, till he looked away. A total win in your books.

“Do you both want to continue to flirt, or should we go back to the others?”, Karim chimed in and with this he succeeded in making both Lockwood and you blush.

“We weren’t flirting!”

“We flirting? Stop joking Karim!” You both yelled at the same time.

“Whatever help you both sleep at night.”

You met the others in the hallway, where you left Archie and Stephen. It looked like Carlyle and Hanna had found the source and contained it. Perfect, so now, after your small detour, you could find Frank and take the van back to London. Nobody looked hurt, which elicited a sigh of relief from you. After what happened last year around Christmas, every time your team finished a job unhurt, you felt a weight lifted from your chest.

“Good job everybody”, without missing a beat Lockwood shifted in the role of a leader, long forgotten was the awkward situation in the basement.

“We did most of the work, so we should get the payment for this case”, he continued, and you couldn’t help but roll your eyes. Without your team, Karim would be ghost-touched, and he would still be rotting in the basement. But you were too tired to argue with him and frankly, you didn’t care. Your team already finished a case this night, and you wouldn’t get paid more by Fittes by finishing another.

“If that makes you happy, why not?”, you stated, and it looked like your team agreed with you. Thanks god, the last thing you needed right now was, that one of them started to chew you out, for letting Lockwood and Co. keep the source.

“Why, thank you love”, he threw you a wink and for the second time in only a few minutes you rolled your eyes.

“Keep that up, and you can’t catch a ride with us back to London”, you shot back and before Lockwood could say anything stupid, Carlyle butted in.

“Please, it would be great if you could give us a ride back. I would kill to sleep in my own bed and not here.”

Maybe you miscalculated a little bit. Maybe the van was a little bit too small for one adult, seven teenagers and all your equipment. Stephen was the lucky one and got the front seat next to Frank, while the rest of you were seated in the two rows in the back.

You ended up pressed between Lockwood and Archie in the middle seat. The only problem was that the middle seat was too small, that you were actually sitting either on the lap of Lockwood or Archie. This was a lose-lose-situation. Archie was thirteen years old, and you worked together while Lockwood was Lockwood.

At the end you opted to sit half on Lockwood’s lap and half in the empty space between the two boys. But you quickly realized that this wasn't a good solution either. Frank wasn’t a calm driver, he hit every pothole there was, and every time you nearly went flying. Only Lockwood’s arm around your waist stopped you from getting injured. Afterwards you always had to shuffle around, to find your seating position again.

After the third pothole Lockwood had enough. Without warning, he pulled you against his chest, that you were completely sitting on his lap. You couldn’t help to blush profoundly, and you were glad, that it was dark inside the car. At least you had stopped your startled yelp before it could escape your mouth.

“That’s easier”, he whispered against your ear and his breath on your skin gave you goosebumps. You always had liked pretty boys and Lockwood was exactly this, a pretty boy. Your old team had known this. They always had teased you about it, but this banter had died with them.

“Admit it, you just want me closer”, there was a bold smile on your lips as you tried to steady your heartbeat.

“Oh yes, totally”, you could hear the smile in his voice. And after a brief pause, he added, “Thank for helping us tonight, love.”

“For you, pretty boy, always.”

A ghost from the present

Tomorrow marked the anniversary of the worst event of your life. While everyone around you got into Christmas spirit by singing Christmas songs and buying presents, you were slowly becoming only a shell of yourself. More often than not you woke up screaming and soaked in sweat. Thankfully with your promotion to team leader you also had got your own room in the Fittes dorm, so you didn’t wake anybody else up with your screaming. All the sleep loss was gradually wearing you down, and it would have been a smart choice to request sick days. But who said that you were smart? At least not you.

This led to you finding yourself in a small one-room apartment in south London. The last tenant, a young woman, had committed suicide, and now it was your job to ride this flat of her ghost. After a quick talk with the landlord, who was a total asshole, and only interested to get the apartment ghost-free, so new tenants could move in and pay him money, you joined back with your team.

They already set up an iron circle, a precaution Fittes dictated their agents to do if there was a chance that the ghost would be a Type II. As one of Fittes prestige teams you always got the cases with Type II visitors.

Stifling a yawn, you were tired, and it wasn’t even four o ‘clock, you looked out of the window. It was a sad sight; the grey smog was hanging low and obscured the setting sun. You imagined how it was living here all alone. Without any friends and family, without anybody who noticed your disappearance. Nobody had thought about checking on her till the surrounding tenants had reported an unnatural chill at night. She was found one and a half week after she killed herself. Nobody deserved such a fate.

The first two hours nothing happened. Your team was sitting inside the iron circle and was sharing Christmas cookies Hanna had baked with her mother. You had to admit this was one of the few perks of Christmas.

Snacking one of the cookies you listened to your team talking. They were chatting about their private life, something you didn’t want to get involved in. Your old team had been like a family to you, and you lost them all. It wouldn't happen to you a second time. You always tried your best to ensure the survival of your team but at the end, so many agents died even without making any mistakes. That's why last year, as you had stood at the graves of your best friends and family, you had vowed never to let another agent get close to you again. You couldn’t feel this pain again, you wouldn’t survive this.

“Do you think I should ask Lucy Carlyle out for a date?”, questioned Hanna, and first you wondered why she was asking the team this question and not her friends, but then you remembered, that Stephen was Hanna’s best friend. They started together at Fittes and since then they were always putted together in the same team. Sometimes they remembered you of your best friend and you. For their sake you hoped that their friendship would have a different ending.

“Isn’t Carlyle dating Lockwood?” confused Stephen wrinkled his nose. Taking a sip of your tea you pricked your ear. That could be interesting.

“I’m not sure, hopefully not”, uncertain Hanna shrugged her shoulders.

“In the van Lockwood cuddled up to Y/N”, Archie chimed in, and you choked on your tea. This snitch!

“She was sitting on his lap, and they were whispering and giggling”, oh you would kill Archie. With joy, you would wring his little neck. Suppressing your murderous tendencies, you stood up.

“I will check the temperature again”, you declared, and no one dared to question you. In this situation your old team would have already pulled jokes. But you painfully remembered that this wasn't your old team.

The Fittes Manuel for Ghost-hunter stated that the temperature should be taken in all four corners and the centre of the room. A cold spot in a room could help to find the source.

You were just checking the third corner when you heard it. It started with a soft crying, which only got stronger the longer you listened.

Then her misery hit you like a brick. Her sadness was coming over you like a wave, pushing you down and now matter how hard you tried you couldn’t resurface.

She was so lonely; nobody would miss her.

You saw a glow out of the corner of your eyes and without thinking you took a step towards it. There she was floating in front of you, she was beautiful, forever frozen in time. Seeing her, opened your eyes. You were lonely, you were sad, your grief would never vanish. She did the right thing, and you should also do it. Then you would be finally reunited with your chosen family.

Fumbling you tried to pull your rapier free. But before you could follow through a salt bomb exploded between you and the ghost. Your lips escaped a startled yelp as Stephen pulled you back into the iron circle. That was enough to break the ghost-lock. Without realizing you had started to cry.

“Just breath, we handle it”, Stephen whispered, before he stepped out of the iron circle to distract the ghost so Hanna and Archie could find the source. And you? You did exactly what he told you to do. Taking a deep breath, you couldn’t stop crying. You knew that you had been ghost-locked, it hadn’t been your emotions you had felt, but why did it still hurt so much? Death was ugly, you had realized this at the fatal night one year ago while clinching to your life and since then you saw it every night at work. Therefore, you didn’t want to die. Sometimes you just wanted that all the pain stopped. Digging your fingernails into your hand, you tried to ground yourself. The chilling air around you made it hard to remember, that you weren’t back there, that you had survived this dreadful night. And you would survive the following two years till you were eighteen and could stop working as agent without needing the approval of your awful parents first. You couldn’t wait to leave all of this behind.

Even while standing in the iron circle, you could still feel her pain and sadness. You were drowning in her never-ending despair. You tried to distract yourself but only when your team managed to secure the sources your tears dried. Seemingly shaken up you walked towards Stephen.

“Thanks for saving me, I wasn’t myself.”

You couldn’t help to feel ashamed; you were the oldest and most experienced out of your team, but you had been inattentive and had got ghost-locked.

“We are a team, you would have done the same for me”, Stephen reassured you and his words left you with a warm feeling inside your chest.

“Are you alright?”, he followed with a question, you could never answer honestly. Because you weren’t alright, since a year ago you hadn’t been alright, and sometimes, when your loneliness overwhelmed you, you wondered whether you would ever be alright again.

“Yes, why not?”, the lie came easily to you and if Stephen saw through you, he didn't dare contradict you.

“What is the source”, you successfully tried to change the topic.

“A picture of her and a boy, we found it under a loose floorboard”, Hanna butted in while still holding the silver net.

“I can bring it to the furnaces”, you offered, and you could see your team exchange looks. Most of the time you gave the source to your supervisor, and he took care of it, but sometimes an agent of a team did it. Right now, you needed it. You needed to bring her story to an end. Besides, you couldn’t go back in your lonely room, you just couldn’t, not after all what happened.

“We can join you”, Stephen volunteered, but you just shook your head, you had to do this alone.

The furnaces were owned by Fittes, therefore, you didn’t have to wait too long, not like the agents from other agencies.

As you stepped outside it was long past midnight, and it was snowing. You couldn’t help but remember the last time, it had snowed. The snow had spread over London like a thin blanket and for a brief moment had drowned out the loud buzzing of the city. It had just been you and your best friend. You had been on your way back from a case and only had stopped to watch the snow falling. First you had your face turned to the sky, then you had been laughing and dancing together. Back then you had been happy and only eight days later she was dead, and you were fighting for your life in the hospital.

You weren’t realizing that you were crying till you felt something wet dripping from your chin. Not wanting somebody to see you this way, you hastily wiped your face. But you just couldn’t stop. Everything had been too much. Ashamed you looked around before fleeing into the shadow of the building. There you slid down the wall to the ground. Not minding the cold, you cried miserably. Today was the one-year anniversary of their death and you felt so alone. While everyone around you was getting into Christmas spirit you were grieving. Fighting this ghost had only shown you, how lonely you really felt. But you couldn’t help yourself, you couldn’t risk it again.

You didn’t know how long you were sitting there. The cold had already creeped inside your bones and left you shivering. First you didn’t hear him coming. Only when he stopped right in front of you, the snow crunching under his converse, you realized that you weren’t alone any more.

“What are you doing here, love?”, you recognized his voice immediately. Gazing up, you heard Lockwood taking a surprised breath as he looked at your face. You could imagine how you were locking, red rimmed and swollen eyes and a runny nose. Without a doubt, you had seen better days.

“Oh love”, he muttered so quiet you almost didn't catch it. Then he started to shred out of his coat. You just could gape like an idiot.

“You must be freezing”, bending down to you, he put his coat around you.

“I can’t-”, he stopped you, before you could shake it off.

“I insist!”, he threw you one of his charming smiles and in the middle of your attempt you froze. Even you had to amid, that this was nice. His coat was still warm from his body heat and smelled just like him. You had to force yourself not to bury your face in it.

“Let’s get you out of this cold, love”, grabbing your half-frozen hands, he pulled you to your feet. He didn’t comment on how cold they were, which you were thankful of; you were already ashamed enough. Furthermore, he didn’t let go of your hand, till you reached your destination, a small café that was still open.

As you entered the café you scanned the customers. Thankfully beside a few kids from the night watch it was empty.

While Lockwood went to the counter, he insisted on paying, you looked for a place in the farthest corner. You were still shivering when Lockwood returned with two steaming cups of tea.

“Why are you so nice?”, you asked as the was taking a seat on the other side of the table.

“Why shouldn’t I?” Not knowing what to say, you just shrugged your shoulders. You weren’t exactly friends; he didn’t have to be nice to you.

“I know what day today is, how are you feeling?” Surprised your eyebrows shot up. You didn’t expect that somebody would realize it.

“Why do you care?”, you repeated yourself.

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“Because nobody else cares.”

This confession silenced both of you. Not able to bear his gaze, you looked down at your tea. For a few moments you both were silent, only the Christmas song playing was heard, before you spoke up again.

“Tonight, we had to handle a ghost of a young woman, who killed herself. She had no one and was only found one and a half week after she killed herself”, you started, and your voice wasn’t more than a whisper. Lockwood had to lean in to hear you.

“I could feel her never ending sadness”, you deliberately left out the fact that her spirit had successful ghost-locked you, “and I couldn’t help to think, that nobody would miss me. If I were her, nobody would have found me.” It hurt to speak it out loud. But it was the truth, and you knew well enough, that the truth hurt.

“I would miss you, love.”

No, he wouldn’t.

“You’re just saying this, because it’s expected in this kind of situation.” Joyless laughing, you looked up for the first time. He was still gazing at you, and you could see the pain behind his eyes.

“Do you remember the first time we met?” he changed the topic breathless, and you weren’t sure. Did you meet before he started his own agency?

“I’m not sure?”, you muttered.

“It was at a rapier competition held by Fittes. You did well, but eventually lost to an older opponent. An older boy tried to comfort you, but weren’t sad, you were just glad that it was over.”

That sounded like you and if you had to guess you would say, the older boy had been Sasha, your old team leader. Oh, how you missed him.

“I have seen you at this day and since then I always saw you.”

For a moment your heart stopped, nobody had ever said something like this to you. Damn you, Anthony Lockwood. You had made a swear to yourself. Why did he have to make it so difficult for you?

“I have sworn to myself to never let another agent in. I don’t want- I can’t feel this pain again”, you told him and while doing this you put all your cards on the table. First you thought he wouldn’t understand it. That he would call you too dramatic. But he surprised you.

“After I lost my whole family, I decided to never get close to somebody again, so I wouldn’t leave anybody behind when I died.”

Hearing that made your heart clench. It looked like both of you knew too well, how it was to get left behind.

“And how is this going for you?”, you had seen him with his team, he would die for them. That was anything but keeping everyone at a distance.

“It gets lonely fast and is totally not worth it”, he confessed, and you scrunched your nose. Somehow you couldn't shake the feeling that you were missing something in this conversation. But what was it?

“So, what do you want to say? That you would like us to be friends?” Lockwood hesitated for a moment, and you feared he would turn you down. But then he presented you with a smile, which made his brown eyes shine.

“I would love to be your friend.”

When you came home, you could barely keep your eyes open. Turing into the hallway where your room was, you huffed in surprise. You didn’t expect to find Quill Kipps leaning against your door. It looked like, he felt asleep while waiting for you to come home. This gesture elicited a small smile from you. Squatting down you shook his shoulder to wake him up.

“What time is it?”, he mumbled, still half asleep.

“Around four in the morning. I want in my bed, and you’re blocking my door.”

That woke him finally fully up.

“I heard about your case”, he told you while standing up.

Unlocking your room, you kept the door open, so Quill could follow you inside. Moonlight was falling through your window, illuminating your room. Without turning on the light, you stepped up to your desk.

“Considering what day we have, I wanted to ask you how you're doing.”

Looking down at the only picture which was on your desk, the corners were worn out, and the paper was curled from tears, you remembered, that you weren’t the only one, who lost them one year ago. Quill had been Sasha’s best friends. Sometimes you wondered if Sasha and Quill had been more than just friends. But Sasha was dead, so it didn’t matter any more.

“You are the only person, who worries about me”, besides Lockwood, it seems.

Back then, Quill also had been there for you. He had been with you in the hospital, as you had woken up after this fatal night. Not your family, him. He had been with you, as you realized that it hadn’t been a nightmare, as you realized what your new reality was and what was missing from it.

“That’s not true. Your team also worries about you otherwise they wouldn’t have told me, what happened tonight.”

“They aren’t my team, my team is dead”, maybe you shouted this out louder than you intended. And when Quill recoiled, you immediately regretted it.

“If you continue to push everyone away from you, you will end up like the ghost you fought tonight, alone”, Quill snapped and without waiting for your response he turned on the spot and stormed out of the room.

A ghost from the future

The ghost was mocking you; you were sure of it.

But let’s start at the beginning. There were only four days left till Christmas, Quill was still not speaking with you after your latest slip up, and you really regretted what you said. You would even sing a Christmas carol in front of all your colleagues if that meant Quill forgave you. It wasn't until he stopped talking to you that you realized how much you actually needed him. Yeah, you and Lockwood were now “friends”, but since this one night you hadn’t seen each other. Without your daily small talk with Quill, you felt totally alone.

Your case was at an old hotel which was undergoing renovations. With every step the floorboards creaked, and the fact that the visitor had already killed one worker didn’t help to calm your nerves. Your team had started your investigation at the site of the murder. But none of you had picked something up expected the unnatural pulsation which you felt in the entire building.

Therefore, you had decided to split up. While Hanna and Stephen went in one direction you and Archie walked in the other. Shining your flashlight down the dark hallway, you closed your eyes to hopefully pick something up. Yet all you heard was the tapping of Archie’s feet.

“Please, could you just stop”, you snapped, perhaps a little harsher than you intended.

“I’m not doing anything.”

O hell no! These words were enough to fasten your heartbeat. Trying to keep your panic in check, you once turned around in a circle, while shining your torch everywhere you could reach. But no visual sign of the ghost. Nobody could tell you, what kind of ghost was haunting the building. This putted you on edge. Maybe it was a type of ghost short of any kind of visual apparition, like a Screaming Spirit or a Poltergeist, and without you knowing, the ghost was close by. Back in your head you knew that this was highly unlikely, because, except the unnatural pulsation and the tapping, you hadn’t picked anything up. No chill, no malaise, no miasma and also no creeping fear.

“Let’s continue”, you said and turned to the spot where Archie had been standing a few seconds ago.

But now it was empty.

You couldn’t help but curse. What was Archie thinking? He couldn’t just vanish.

“Archie, that’s not funny”, you called into the empty hallway. Your heart was pounding, and you could feel how the flashlight in your hand became slippery from sweat.

“Archie?”, you echoed again and tried not to show your growing angst, not wanting to trigger the ghost.

“Archie?”, he didn’t answer and never before had the silence been so devastating. Pulling your rapier, you started to jog in the only direction he could have vanished. Every room you passed, you checked for him. But he left without a trace.

“Archie?”

Then you heard it. The tapping. With raised rapier you spun around, and there he stood. First you didn’t want to believe your eyes. However, if you had learned one thing, then that you could trust your gut feeling. And the sickening feeling inside your stomach told you, that in front of you stood a ghost. His figure was slightly transparent, while an otherworldly light radiated from him.

“Why are you so afraid, love?”, his voice was soft like velvet. You were torn between running to him and fleeing. But most of all you were confused.

“Y-Y-You are-“

“-dead? Yes”, he finished what you couldn’t say.

“Why are you surprised? Anyone you get too close to dies”, sneered Lockwood.

That wasn’t true! You also wanted to say this, but the words got stuck in your throat. This couldn’t be true. He couldn’t be dead. Overwhelmed tears started running down your cheek.

“I never wanted this”, you sobbed. But that was the thing about guilt, good intentions didn't save you from it.

“I am dead, and you are responsible for it.”

Your first instinct was to apologize, but then it was like somebody had turned a switch. Lockwood would never say something like this to you! If he died, he would solely hold himself responsible. At this moment you finally realized what was happening. You were facing a fucking Fetch. But why did the ghost choose the shape of Lockwood? Did he want to call you out for not having other friends?

Angry and a little bit embarrassed you finally started to fight this motherfucking ghost. All it took was a few hits with your rapier for the Fetch to disappear. Shaken up you took a deep inhale. Sometimes you really hated your job- scratch that- most of the time, you hated this job and cases like this showed you, that you were right in doing so. With the ghost gone an invisible weight lifted from your chest, and you could finally breathe again. Now you just had to find Archie. After what just happened, this should be a walk in the park. Picking up the flashlight you didn’t even knew you had dropped, you tried to listen to your surroundings. First you heard nothing, then slowly you picked up a sobbing. To follow a sobbing in a haunted house always bore a risk. Easily you could stumble in the next nightmare, but you had to risk it. It paid off, turning around the next corner, you saw Archie kneeling in the hallway. Rushing to him, you pulled him into a hug.

“Are you OK? Did it touch you?”, your eyes darted over him in panic.

“My mum”, the younger boy sobbed, and you knew what the Fetch had shown him.

“It wasn’t real, that was a Fetch”, you tried to comfort him, but it didn’t help. Archie was caught in his own world of despair.

“We have to find the others to warn them.”

Continuing to cry he didn’t listen to you. Overwhelmed you rubbed your face. You couldn’t leave Archie here. Even if you would put an iron circle around him, you couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't just step out when the fetch appeared again. But you also couldn't carry him around with you the whole time you were looking for Hanna and Stephen. What should you do? There was only one solution you could think of.

“Get up”, using all your strength, you pulled Archie to his feet before slinging his arm over your shoulder. His entire weight was on you as you navigated your way to the stairs. After only a few meters you were already sweating like crazy. Archie was heavier than he looked.

That was also your downfall on the stairs. Unable to keep both of your weights upright, your leg gave way beneath you. A startled yelp escaped your lips when you felt down the stairs. For a moment it seems like your world was burning. There was pain everywhere. Not wanting to attract the ghost, you bit on your tongue to stop yourself from screaming. Was this how you were going to die? Getting ghost-touched after you felt down the stairs? You couldn't accept that; you owed it to the others. Picking yourself up in burning pain, every breath hurt like hell, you staggered towards Archie.

“Please stand up, please”, you begged, and you could have cried as Archie struggled to his feet, groaning.

“Why did you throw me down a stair?”, whined Archie, you couldn’t help to laugh, which hurt, by the way, like hell. At least he was responding again. The rest of the way to the foyer you supported each other. As you entered, Frank your supervisor, who was waiting in an iron circle, looked up.

“What happened?”, he asked alarmed, and you could only imagine how wrecked you both looked.

“Nobody told us it would be a Fetch; we weren’t prepared, and it succeeds in separating us.” This was only the short version of the events, but it was enough to paint the picture.

“I have to go back and get the others”, you declared while helping Archie to sit down inside the circle. Maybe Fetch were rarely aggressive, but they were so confusing that they could be dangerous. They often mimed a loved one and therefore one could easily try to touch them. Everybody knew that touching a ghost was a catastrophic idea.

“Do you have a guess where and what the source is?”, Frank asked and ashamed you had to shake your head. You had no plan.

“So, two of my agents are hurt, two are missing, and we don’t know where the source is?”, summarized Frank, and it was as bad as it sounded. You gritted your teeth in frustration.

“I will call for back up, they will get Stephen and Hanna.”

“Stephen and Hanna could be dead by the time they get here!”

You just couldn’t accept Frank’s decision. Not if it were your team members who could be dying as you were speaking.

“You are hurt, going back could easily be your dead sentence.”

“I know, but I have to do it.”

“OK than go.” He didn’t have to tell you twice. With a grateful nod you hurried of.

Every breath you took felt like inhaling smoke, it burned like hell. Maybe you sprained one or more ribs by your fall. But you didn’t let the pain slow you down. Quill would throw a fit if he ever found out, that you went back injured to possible face the ghost. But hopefully he would never find out.

“Stephen? Hanna?”, you yelled and tried to keep your voice emotionless. Ghost fed of strong emotions like anger or fear, and you didn’t want to give the ghost more fuel. You stepped inside a windowless hallway and hectic your flashlight darted around. But beside you nobody was here.

��Stephen? Hanna?”, you tried again, and finally you got a response.

“Y/N?”, you heard Stephen.

Fastening your steps, you ignored the pain. Of course, this could be the Fetch, who was toying with you. However, you were desperate. In your mind you were back in the house were your whole team died. But this time you could make the difference; you could save them. This time you would save them. Following the sound of Stephens voice your sprinted around a corner to crash right into him. Before you could fall, he caught you. If he were the ghost, you would be dead now.

“It’s a Fetch, the ghost is a fucking Fetch”, you told him breathless and with newfound horror Stephen returned your gaze.

“I lost Hanna!”

What did he mean by lost? Did they get separated or was she dead? Dreadful you waited for an explanation. But you never got one.

“Is she-“, you couldn’t say it. But you didn’t have to. Without waiting, Stephen turned around.

“Hanna?”, he yelled and that could mean only one thing. She wasn’t dead, yet.

Following Stephen, you grab his hand.

“You can’t just run off, we have to be focused”, that was rich coming from you, but Stephen didn’t know this.

“You are right, I’m just-“, lost for words Stephen ran his hand down his face.

“It’s OK, where did you see her the last time?”

“Not far from here.”

“Can you show it to me?” Stephen nodded curtly. Without saying another word, he started to walk. While trailing after him, you tried to pick something up, some clue. Fully concentrated you ran your hand over the slowly peeling wallpaper. But you only heard the creaking of the floorboards. You couldn’t help but to asked yourself if you would be too late. Hanna was a good agent, but so had been your friends. Hopefully could you spare Stephen the pain you still felt every day.

You didn’t know how long you were wandering through the labyrinth of hallways. One moment you just heard the creaking under your shoes, the next you heard a tapping. That familiar sound made your blood run cold in your veins. The ghost was close.

“Hanna? Hanna!”, Stephen yelled in front of you, before he took off.

Not wanting to be left behind, to get separated again wasn’t an option, you sprinted after him. Turning the corner, you just barely stopped before crashing in Stephen. Peeking out from behind his back, you saw what had caused him to freeze.

There was Hanna facing the ghost.

“I’m sorry”, she uttered, before she reached out and touched the ghost.

This was enough to get you moving. Before she could do something even stupider, like hug the ghost, you threw a salt bomb. It exploded between them and covered both in salt. While the ghost vanished, Hanna collapsed to the ground.

“Hanna! Please no!”, with a heart-wrenching scream rushed Stephen to his best friend. You were just standing there, unmoving. This couldn’t happen, not again!

“Y/N what should we do? We can’t let her die!”, he cradled her against his chest, while looking to you for help. But your mind was blank.

“Y/N, help!”, this pulled you finally out of your stupor. It wasn’t too late to save her, you just had to hurry.

“We have to get her to Frank”, maybe your supervisor already called an ambulance to tend to Archie and you. Hopefully he already called one, because this was the only way to save her.

While Stephen was carrying Hanna you both ran like the devil was hot on your heels. The way back to the foyer felt like one of these never-ending streets you normally encountered in nightmares. As you finally reached it, you could see through the windows the flashing lights of the ambulance.

“She was ghosted-touch”

“Help, we need help”, Stephen and you yelled at the same time and everyone in the foyer, which was crowded by Fittes Agents, looked up to you. For the second time in a short period, you had to run down a stair. But this time you didn’t fall. While a few agents came to help Stephen carry Hanna to the ambulance none other than Quill Kipps rushed to you. You met in the middle of the room, and he pulled you in a bone crushing hug. You couldn’t help but let out a painful yelp. Quill immediately let go of you.

“Never do something like this again, do you hear me?” Exhausted you could only nod.

“You are the only thing I have left of him! When I got the backup call and realized that it was your team, which was hurt, I got a heart attack. Never do this to me again!“

"I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry for everything, you must believe me.” The tears had just dried, and now you were crying again, great.

“I was a total bitch. I was acting like just I lost them. But you also lost them and nevertheless you were there for me”, ashamed you looked down at your feet. You hadn’t been a good friend the last year and that you were grieving wasn’t a good enough excused.

“I lost Sasha, you lost them all, I could never be mad at you for the way you're grieving. And now let’s get you to the paramedics.”

Carefully, as if you were made of glass, Quill laid an arm around your shoulder and pulled to the ambulance. The flashing lights illuminated the night and there was no sign of dawn coming anytime soon. As you stepped outside, one of the two waiting ambulances drove off, probably to take Hanna to the hospital. Also, you didn’t see Stephen anywhere, hopefully he had been able to accompany Hanna.

By the other ambulance Frank and Archie were already waiting for you. “There she is”, Frank told the paramedic, before setting his eyes on Quill.

“Mr. Kipps, shouldn’t you lead your team by the search for the source?” Caught Quill nodded.

“You make sure you're feeling well again, I'll take care of the spirit, and we'll talk tomorrow”, he said to you, before he vanished inside the haunted building. Looking after him, you surrendered to your fate and climbed into the ambulance, to get checked up.

If somebody had asked you in the past, whether you see yourself as a lucky person, you would have laughed. But after this night in the hotel, you couldn’t deny it. Your whole team had got lucky. Hanna had survived the ghost-touch, Archie had escaped with a minor concussion, and you had only sprained one rib. This case could have ended much worse, and you were so glad, that it didn’t.

Since three quarters of your team was unavailable for action, you were given paid leave over Christmas. You weren’t sure what to think. Quill had to work, so you didn’t have anybody to celebrate with. And to spend Christmas alone wasn’t an option. Your last cases had shown you, that you were your own worst enemy.

As agreed, you and Quill met up at the next day. There were only three days left until Christmas and both of you knew what that meant.

“We should go together to the Fittes Christmas Party”, Quill stated, and you choked on your tea.

“The party is tonight!”, last year you didn’t attend, and you were sure, that you wouldn’t fit inside your dress from two years ago.

“And? If I’m not mistaken you love these kinds of parties.”

You had loved these parties, when your old team had been still alive, and you had gone together. Most of the time Quill had joined you, and you had to lie, if you would say, that it hadn’t been fun. But without them? It wouldn’t be the same.

“I have no dress.”

“Kate also needs one, she’s going to go dress shopping in an hour, you could join her.”

Suspiciously you narrowed your eyes. Was he trying to set you up like a toddler for a play date?

“Are you hoping Kate and I become friends through dress-shopping?”

“Would that be too bold?”

“Possibly not.” You could need some friends. Some friends which you saw on regular basic, not like Lockwood. Besides going to the party could be nice. And you loved dress-shopping. It would be good for you to get a bit of normality in your life again.

“OK, I’m in.”

Dress-shopping with Kate was more fun than you expected. In the past you had underestimated her. You had always seen her of one of Quills shadows. But she was nice. So nice, that you decided to get ready together for the party.

Twirling in front of Kate’s mirror, in the first time since ages, you looked nice. There was colour in your cheeks you had long missed. Finally, you resembled more your old self than a half-dead corpse.

“Are you hoping to meet someone special tonight?”, Kate asked out of the blue and your first instinct was to deny the question. But as she was asking you saw his face in front of your inner eye. So, denying the question would be a lie.

“Maybe?”, you weren’t exactly sure, why you were thinking about Lockwood right now. Since the Fetch took his appearance, he wouldn’t leave your mind.

“OK who is it?”, leaning forward curiously Kate stopped applying her mascara. While you had had a good time with Kate you were torn if you could tell her your “dirty” secret. If Quill ever heard about it, he would kill you.

“You must swear that you will never tell anybody, what I will tell you now. Especially not Quill!” you demanded while playing nervously with your fingers.

“I swear”, solemnly Kate put her hand over her heart. But it didn’t help calm your nerves. You couldn’t help but wonder if Kate would make fun of you. However, you had to tell it somebody.

“It’s Lockwood”, you confessed and could watch how processed the news. First, she looked shocked then something like understanding flashed in her eyes.

“Quill will kill him if he ever hears that you fancy him.”

“I would exactly say that I fancy him.” He just haunted your thoughts like a ghost, but in a good way.

“Do you like somebody?”, you tried to shift the attention away from you.

“I can’t, you will laugh!”, awkward Kate shuffled in her heels.

“I told you I maybe like Lockwood; your crush can’t be worse.”

“Almost every girl at Fittes likes Lockwood, at least until he opens his mouth. So, you can’t compare this.”

Of course, you had seen how some of the other girls at Fittes eyed Lockwood. Who could blame them? Lockwood was good-looking, that was a fact. And technical speaking you were a wrack and had no chance. But maybe you could talk a little bit tonight, like friends did.

“I will not make fun of you, so spill.” You told her who you liked, so it was only fair, if she told you too. Wasn’t that like a rule in the girl code? You were a bit rusty when it came to this. Your only friends had been your old team and back then you hadn’t had any secrets from each other.

“Fine, it’s Stephen, happy now?”

“Yes and no worry, I will not tell anyone. But Stephen is very nice and there is no shame in liking him.” Maybe he would also like her back. They deserved happiness. In your field of work many passed away far to young. You should make most of your life while you still could.

“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas”, filled the air. Around you people were cheerfully chatting and laughing away. Standing beside Quill and Kate you sipped on your champagne. Both were looking magnificent. You tried to appear happy, but your memories were overwhelming you. You couldn’t help but to think about the last time you attended the Christmas Party, about all the fun you had. How you had kissed Joey, one of your team members under the mistletoe, how your teeth had crushed, and you hadn’t stopped laughing for ten minutes.

“Everything alright, Y/N?”, Quills voice brought you back from the past. With a sad smile on your lips, you turned around to face him.

“Yes, just thinking about all the fun we had at this party.”

“Being here, I also miss them like crazy. But they would want us to have fun.” In the past you hated this phrase. Nobody knew what the dead really wanted. But when Quill said this, you could only agree with him. They would want Quill and you to have fun.

“Let’s dance!”, emptying your glass you took Quills hand and pulled him to the dance floor.

“Oh no”, he tried to protest, “Sasha warned me to never dance with you if I value my feet.”

“Too late”, you just laughed, and after a short second Quill joined in your laughter. This was the moment you spotted Lockwood. Your eyes met from across the room. Still laughing you gave him a big smile. But this little exchange came to an end when Quill took your hands and started to spin you around the dance floor. Closing your eyes, you tried to just live in this moment.

Quill and you danced to four songs, before you agreed that you needed a quick break. While Quill made a dash for the refreshment table you started to wander around aimlessly. That’s how it happened that you ended in front of one of the famous relic columns. The otherworldly light illuminated your face, while you watched the ghost floating around. You never really like the columns; they were far too flashy.

“Hi”, a raspy voice sounded next to you, and you would have recognized that voice anywhere.

“Hi”, you breathed out, while turning around to him.

“Ahm-“, he cleared his throat and a small blush began spreading on his face, “-you look amazing, love.”

“You too, pretty boy.”

The word “Amazing” came not even close to how you would describe Lockwood’s appearance. You only knew him in his suit and coat but toady it looked, like he had put in a lot of effort and was wearing his best suit with a Christmas tie.

“You look happy and-“, nervous he looked away before he stopped in the middle of the sentence. Following his eyes, you understood why. There was a mistletoe and you and Lockwood were standing right under it. With wide eyes you glanced back to him, only to see him already looking at you, or looking at your lips. Unconsciously you licked them. If it was possible Lockwood’s pupils dilated at this sight.

“I-I”, you started, not really sure what you actually wanted to say. But Lockwood beat you to it. Not waiting he cupped your face inside his hands. Your heart was beating so loud, that he must hear it. And then finally he bridged the distance and kissed you. The kiss tasted of mulled wine and cinnamon. At this moment you could have died happily. But all to quickly Lockwood broke the kiss. With a red blush on his cheeks, he ran his hand through his hair, and you were sure, you weren’t looking anything better.

“I-I-I think G-G-George called me, I-I-I have to go”, he stuttered and without waiting for your response he dashed away.

Confused you got left behind. What was this? He couldn’t just kiss you and run away. Friends didn’t do something like this to each other.

Angry and embarrassed at the same time, you started to search for Quill. You wanted to go back to your room, but you weren't going to let Anthony bloody Lockwood ruin your fucking evening.

When you stormed to Quill, he was already looking at you. Without a word he handed you his champagne glass. Thankful nodding you downed the whole thing.

“Do you want to talk about it”, Quill asked carefully, as if you were about to rip his head off.

“I don’t exactly know what this was”, ashamed you gesticulated back to the column.

“Do you like him?” Still flustered you nod.

“Look, Tony is the biggest idiot I know, but he isn’t an asshole. Just talk to him.” Talk to him? After he left you standing there like an idiot? Hell no!

“Ether, you talk to him, or you both will be so ashamed, that you will avoid each other. Do you want that it ends, without getting an actual shot at it?” Did you want this? Of course not. However, it was easier to say than to do. He kissed you, that should count for something. Nervously you played with the rim of your dress.

“Maybe I should.”

It didn’t take you long to find him. He had his back to you and was talking frantically to Lucy and George. You couldn’t hear what he was saying and as you got closer, Lucy spotted you. She said something to Lockwood which got him to stop talking. Then he turned around to face you and for a moment you forget how to breath.

“We will be over there, watching -ahm- the paintings”, without waiting for your responses, Lucy grabbed George and pulled him away.

You had rarely been more nervous in your life than at this moment. You didn’t know what you wanted to say. Accuse him to left you standing back there like an idiot?

“I’m so sorry, love”, Lockwood whispered just loud enough from you to hear, forestalling you.

“I’m so sorry. I purely panicked. You were standing there looking absolute beautiful and me idiot just kissed you without asking. I’m sorry if I ruined our friendship. I know you don’t want to be something more than friends and, in the future, I will respect your wish, if you forgive me. So please love, forgive me”, rambled Lockwood nervously on.

You could just stare at him. He liked you? A giddy feeling started to spread inside your entire body. He liked you! Gathering all your courage you took a step towards him.

“I’m going to do that thing in the film where I shut you up by kissing you. Sound good?”

Perplexed Lockwood just nodded.

“Great”, without further ado, you grab him by his tie and pulled him down to kiss him. Your lips moved in sync, and you could feel Lockwood smiling into the kiss. This time nobody backed away. Only when your lungs screamed for air did you break the kiss. Never before in your life did you felt this amazing. Just kissing him made you feel warm and flustered.

You had just enough time to take a deep breath before he kissed you again. This kiss was more heated. If it were up to you, you could kiss Lockwood all day long.

But the sound of someone clearing his throat made you part. “The kids nowadays”, an old guy muttered, while passing you.

However, instead of sinking into the ground in embarrassment, you could only beam at Lockwood. You were far too happy to let a random old man destroy it. Still with your arms around his neck, you gazed up to Lockwood. You were all too aware of his hands on your hips, pressing you tightly against him.

“You don’t know how long I waited for this, love”, Lockwood muttered while laying his forehead against you. You silently had to agree with him, you also waited far too long for this.

“It looks like we have a lot of kisses to catch up on”, you laughed, and Lockwood didn’t need to be told twice. Smiling like a madman he pampered your face with light kisses, while you couldn’t help but giggle.

Christmas Carols were playing in the background, and you felt happy like never before. As a kid you loved Christmas, and maybe you could start to love it again.

A/N: I wish you all a wonderful Christmastime! The story is only vaguely based on a Christmas Carol, I hope you still enjoyed it.

#anthony lockwood #lockwood & co #lockwood and co #lockwood & co fanfic #lockwood netflix #anthony lockwood x reader #fanfic #lockwood x reader

65 notes · View notes

sensei-venus · 8 months

Text

Serpent-Cide (2/?)

(Unedited) (IDK what to tag for this chapter.)

(Part One|Part Two|Part Three|TBA|)

Veronica’s gaze seemed to stare into my soul to a point thought she was trying to read my thoughts. Though she wouldn't find many at this point. My only thought in the moment was trying to find a way out of this shitty situation.

“Reader can you please come over here, I have a list of students for you as well. You will need to show them around for the next week or so until they are acclimated.” she said with a serious tone. She waved a piece of paper around, pointing it in my direction. I chewed on the inside of my cheek. A few drops of blood welled in my mouth as I looked at her, but I knew people where looking at me now. I could feel their states, from both sides of the room.

This is what I dreaded about even doing this stupid thing.

Now I really did wish I would have just skipped this whole gawk feast.

I gently clawed at my backpack straps and walked over to them. Archie stepped out of the way so I could reach the other girl. I quickly and quietly took the paper from her hand. She gave only a small almost emotionless smile. It was like there was nothing there. No real feeling behind the borderline dead smile. Girls like Veronica, like Cheryl, were really good at faking those little smiles.

Just looking at her like that made me shiver a little. I tried my best to suck it up and pretend I couldn't tell it wasn't real.

Cheryl scoffed from a foot or so away from us and rolled her eyes.

“Oh of course you guys had to get tubby involved in this mess. Can't believe you talked Little Miss Lard Ass into coming out and helping you with this little degenerate fest your having.” she laughed. It echoed through the hallway. A few people laughed alongside her but I didn't pay much attention to it. It wasn't the first time she or any of these other assholes made a fat joke about me. Wasn't the first and wouldn't be the last time she heard it out of one of their mouths. I simply rolled my eyes and kept reading the paper I was given.

“Yeahhhh Cheryl, Lard Ass is just a tad bit warmer than the soul-sucking succubus that you are these days. These people came to get an education, not to get their souls ripped from their bodies in order to feed your ever-growing ego.” I muttered. It was loud enough that she scoffed in pure shock. A few people around me laughed, Betty paled a little while Veronica smirked a little. Archie’s seemed to zip his lip at the comment.

I looked up from the paper to find Cheryl glaring at me, her face turing that classic cherry red of hers. She almost looked to be steaming which was a sight for sour eyes. Digging myself into a hole with one of the biggest people in town was horrible to think about, but at this point, I didn't want to think too hard about it. Staying out of the spotlight was my thing, but dipping my toe into some drama every once in a while to piss someone like Cheryl off was worth it.

Being able to infuriate a girl like Cheryl Blossom was a treat.

A small look of genuine confusion seemed to cross some of the newcomer's faces. I didn't expect them to understand how my words burned the other girl so badly. But they would eventually learn the food chain of the school. It was just a matter of time. I could only imagine what SouthSide High’s food chain looked like. It was probably even more nasty than the one here. We had to deal with rich kids and steroid junky jocks.

They had to deal with gangbangers and regular junkies.

Both Reggie and Cheryl made a loud exit as they grew board of their surroundings. Realizing their little game was getting old for the time being.

“Any of you do a thing out of line, I'll know about it.” She hissed. Soon enough she was storming up the stairs with a group of cheerleaders. Reggie smirked in my direction. I felt like gagging at the sight. He was quick to follow Cheryl, some of the jocks close behind. The sound of their voices boomed up the staircase.

My attention was drawn back to the paper in my hand.

I felt kinda of lucky after reading over the list, I only had about four people to look after. I did find it comical that they decided to stick Jughead with me. Poor guy was already a student, he left a few weeks ago and now he's back. It's as if he was never even a student at the school, treating him like some no-name transfer student.

Said once and I'll say it again, this school blows.

The next few minutes went by in a blur as the new students flooded the table. Snatching up paper after paper until the whole table was completely picked over and cleaned. Not one single schedule or map was left. It was only a few minutes later that the excitement started to slowly die down. Small groups of southsiders started to line the hall, talking with each other and going over their schedules together. It was clear that most of them seemed to be hoping to stick together.

Wishing to be put into the same classes as one another. I could feel for them in that since, being stuck into a new school surrounded by kids that hated them already. Not just because they where in a gang, but because they came from a different side of town that was labeled a shit hole.

I tried my best to not look at them with pity, but it was hard. It was hard not to feel bad for them.

I sighed to myself and looked at the paper one more time. There was only a small scene of relief that filled me as I found one particular name, it stuck out like a thumb.

Jughead Jones, types in a bold black font.

My eyes where quick to scan the small crowed, finding his iconic beanie. That thing was like a beacon. The guy has been wearing that things since…forever? I can still remember seeing him in middle school wearing the same exact hat. He occasionally switched some of the pins on it every once in a while. But I could tell that it was the same one.

Jug and me where decent acquaintance, possibly better then my relationship with Betty. JugHead didn’t bother to make a friendship with me what so ever. He hardly asked questions, didn’t try to insert himself into my business and didn’t make a big effort to go out of his way to bother me.

Sitting in silence was good enough for the both of us.

Which was just what I wanted.

My feet carried me over to him and the little group he was talking to. Four of them stud talking about something in a small circle in whispers. As soon as I made my presence know they separated.

Looking at Jug I raised a brow, no longer did he act like the guy I knew. His stance and posture were looser than usual, more toned. He stood taller with his shoulders proud and strong.

Did Jughead grow more of a backbone sense I last saw him? Maybe hanging out in the southside did something for him. Out of nowhere I got a feeling, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stick up. Maybe Jughead finally ended up following in his dad’s footsteps. It wasn’t that out there of a possibility.

“Really can't believe they roped you into doing this. What did they threaten you with this time? It's got to be something big to get you to hang around anyone in this school.” Jug mused as he looked by way. His eyes filled with a bit of amusement. His natural sarcasm seemed to ooze out. I rolled my eyes saying “ They threatened me using the stupid ass volunteer hours, apparently I don't have any for this semester. It was either I do this or they pull something out of a hat to get me with at the end of the year. And as you can tell, no one was exactly jumping to get this opening.” I crossed my arms. He didn't say mush to that, only giving a small nod. The guy behind him, the one with the tattoo on his neck didn't seem to get it.

“What are you to scared of us? Like the rest of you shitty northsiders!” the guy almost barked. Once again rage seemed to flare up inside him, quickly bursting out of the seems. He definitely had some minor anger issues going on. His brows knitted together and his adams apple bobbed. I tried my best not to flinch at his harsh tone. Jug looked like he wanted to say something but it died on his tongue.

I snapped back “You think I really fucking care? Half of these kids have only heard about the southside, they haven't even left the this side of the tracks their whole lives. The only reason why they make a big deal about it is because it's a chain reaction of the rich people on the northside wanting to show off how classiest they are. You think I've been to the southside?” the guy was silent.

“Iv seen a bit of it but have never actually been. Last time I checked, Southsiders don't make a huge habit of coming all the way over here for fun. Iv never done anything to you guys and you haven't done anything to me. So, once again, why the fuck should I care about any of you so long as you aren't messing with me?” my tone was slightly aggravated with a sense of boredom backing it. It wasn't every day someone tried to pick a real fight with me.

Then again I had never actually met a real southside serpent before.

There was a long pause of silence between all five of us. We all just stud around, not another word being uttered. Jughead cut the act for a moment and scratched at the back of his head. Seeming to be a bit embarrassed at the other teens outburst, even the girl next to him seemed annoyed. Unlike Jug she seemed to be more use to his outbursts, she simply rolled her eyes at him.

“Reader I-”

“No I get it Jughead, they're being cautious. But-” I paused and looked at the taller boy “Just know that I probably dislike this school and the people in it just as much as them. I don't like this school, I don't like the kids, and most of all I don't give two shits about this town. If you want to start something, take that crap to the jocks not me.” he stepped back a little bit. His face was ever so slightly relaxed. Just enough that the crease in his brow disappeared. I could still see the way his ears flushed under his dark black locks. His gaze shifted from me to the guy beside him, the shorter serpent gave him a hard look. They stared at each other for a good minute before he finally relaxed.

Jaw locked hard as he just looked back in my direction.

Shuffling a little I handed the paper still held to Jughead. He took a moment and looked it over before handing it back.

“So you got me and these guys.” he threw a thumb behind him.

“Im guessing, if you have a Toni, Fang and Sweet Pea??” I said with a little bit of question at the end. I wanted to question the name Fang but I also wanted to know the reason behind Sweet Pea. Fang was an interesting name, to say the least. But Sweet Pea? That was both sweet and odd. It wasn't a very comment nickname to my knowledge, maybe a sweet endurance kinda of thing. Never had I met someone who actually went by the nickname before on a daily basis. The girl tried to hold back a snicker, covering her mouth with her jacket sleeve which didn't go unnoticed by the others. She was quick to cough trying to cover her slip-up.

“If we could just all chill out for one second, please. Reader isn't a threat to the serpents, I can cover her on that.” Jug said looking back at his friends. They all kinds looked at each other, thinking on if they could actually trust his word. Seconds later it looked like they had reached some sort of unspoken argument. The other three nodded to one another before looking back at me.

“So do you want my help or not? Knowing you Jughead, this is a cake walk being you have already gone to school here. Do you want me to help your little friends or not? I still have to do something to at least look a little busy like I'm actually helping you guys out.” the idea to leave all of that stuff up to Jughead crossed my mind. He was smart, he could do all the stuff the school wanted me to help out with. But then it felt kinda of mean to just dump it all on him. There were three different people he would have to show around school and then to all their classes. I may be a ass in my own right but…it just seemed wrong.

“How about we split it? I already know where all of my classes are. Let's check their schedules, I'll take who ever has most of my classes and you take the ones who have more of your classes. Deal?” he quirks a brow my way. I give a small nod and watch as he collects the other's class schedules. Stepping over to me we both check over their papers.

A spark of hope went through me as I noticed only one of them seemed to have a good portion of classes with me.

Sweet Pea.

“Seems like I'll be taking Sweet Pea off your hands then.” I gave a half smile to Jug. All he did was him before stuffing the other papers into his friend's hands again. Looking over them again my eyes land on the girl. She gave me a smile but before I could even give one back, my hopes of being stuck with another girl were dashed.

The tattooed boy stepped out of the group and walked closer to me.

I could feel my eye begging to twitch behind my eyelid.

Why the fuck did “Sweet Pea” have to be what looked to be a six-three-tattooed man. One who just minutes ago was trying to get into my face.

“Well this is Sweet Pea. I'll trust you will be as nice as YOU can possibly be right. No bumping him in the hallway when you get tired of him. I know your way.”

“Please tell me you're not still mad when I left your ass in the gym that one time because you wouldn't take the hint to leave me alone.”

“Maybe I am, just a tiny bit.” he said with a bit of annoyance. Leave it to Jug to be still pissed about such a little thing.

“Now Sweet Pea, try not to bite off her head. We will meet you at lunch.” He said looking up at the other boy. Sweet Pea rolled his eyes as he watched Jughead start walking off. The girl who I could only now assume was Toni patted him on the shoulder before following Jug. Fang grinned at him and just laughed, giving him a hard slap to the should before jogging off to catch up with the other two. Sweet Pea grimaced as he watched them leave. His eyes trailed down the hall until they disappeared around a sharp corner. I couldn't help but do the same, watching them go.

“So are you going to show me around this place or what?” his voice made me shiver. It was deep and echoed. It wasn't thick but rang in my ear as he spoke. The angriness from his voice had long died. Now all that filled it was sarcasm and mischief. It was laced into a simple statement.

“Your going to be a pain in the ass aren't you?”

All he did was smirk before ripping his schedule from my hands.

I can't have nice things can I.

(Don't worry y'all, Sweet Pea will have more attention next chapter promise! We just have to work up to it. This is a slow-building fix.😚)

#riverdale #riverdale imagines #riverdale fanfiction #riverdale headcanons #riverdale x reader #riverdale sweet pea #sweet pea #sweet pea x chubby reader #sweet pea x reader #riverdale x chubby reader #chubby!reader #chubby reader #loner!reader #southside serpents

77 notes · View notes