#bechloe vincenzo au

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (26/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

All Best Laid Plans (Chapter Preview - Read the rest at ao3)

Chloe chuckled as Dr. Mitchell recounted a tale of the nervous intern that came in with his doctors to check on him the other day. He was so rattled when the doctor asked him a question about an equipment that he mistook as for the shelf of Dr. Mitchell's bedside table. The doctor looked unimpressed, and the medical intern was all the more shocked with his own antics when he realized what had happened. Chloe wasn't sure how to feel about a medical intern messing up big time, but at least it didn't happen during a surgery or when a patient needed emergency assistance.

Currently, they have been taking turns to visit Dr. Mitchell at the hospital. Aubrey would visit with Emily. Sometimes she would go there with Chloe. On rare occasions it would be the three of them. But it was usually Beca who Chloe accompanied. Beca would mostly delegate herself with speaking to his doctors in private, checking in on how the staff on the floor was doing to make sure she gets on their good side and have them take good care of Dr. Mitchell. Her concern for him was genuine, that much Chloe could see, even when she tried her best to hide it. She couldn't really understand why, but it only made her love her even more.

ADMIRE, Beale, you admire her, not love her… you're not actually in love with Beca, right? Maybe have some stupid crush, but not actual falling in love kind of LOVE, right? Chloe chastised herself as she caught her thoughts slipping.

She didn't let Dr. Mitchell catch on, however. Or at least she hoped he did not.

Aubrey was not with them for their current visit. She was busy trying to de-escalate the situation with Kimmy Jin. The situation being that Chicago had wanted Beca arrested for the stunt she pulled. However, Beca was lucky. There was no proof it was her doing. Beca even put on her best acting chops on display as she said that she truly did hate Chicago, that's why he enjoyed in seeing him humiliated and drenched in pig's blood, when questioned by the police, but that it was not her who did it. She added in an "I wish it were me though, that would have been incredibly satisfying," to drive home the point of her innocence.

But of course, Chloe knew it was her. They all did. Beca was just incredibly crafty. She had hired actors assuming the names of the tenants show up at a sold-out theater show, using that as their alibies, so that they wouldn't even be considered to be part of her schemes. The actors were of close resemblance, at least good enough for the security feeds that Stacie may or may not have altered to fit closer to each of their builds and physiques. Beca personally ushered them in and said goodbye to each of them – as caught by the feeds as clear as day, while their beloved tenants carried out their assigned tasks – and Beca being late for the talk with popcorn was proof of her travelling from the theater and to the university. She also spent most of the last few days in highly popular areas with CCTV footage. She was no where near the university building. Unfortunately, the university also didn't have camera footage, whatsoever, for the auditorium, which means no evidence.

Kimmy Jin was still upset, however, by the antics, and they believed Aubrey was best equipped in talking with her about their next set of plans. They needed her for this, after all. Beca was cooking up something to serve Chicago and Babel on a silver platter for her.

"Is anything wrong?" Chloe asked after noting the few minutes of silence between her and Dr. Mitchell. "Are you alright?"

He nodded and smiled wistfully. "I was wondering, if it wouldn't be too much, if you could accept this gift from me," he then said, pulling out a paper bag from underneath his right bedside table.

Chloe stood up to try and help him, but promptly sat back down as he had managed to do the task by himself. She smiled a little, seeing that he seemed to be truly getting better. If only even by a little. Chloe accepted the paper bag and saw a beautiful blue knitted scarf inside, along with a folded white paper. She was about to reach in to grab it when Dr. Mitchell placed a hand on hers and shook his head to stop her.

"Oh, come now, please, it would embarrass me if you would read my letter right in front of me," Dr. Mitchell then said.

Chloe chuckled and nevertheless agreed. "Did you make this by yourself?"

Dr. Mitchell nodded in response. "I'm not one for television shows," he said, nodding towards the small flatscreen TV hanging on his wall. "And to be honest, I feel sensitive to some sounds and bright flashing lights from the screen sometimes. I don't know if it's the medicine or the cancer," he replied with a sigh. "But one of the night nurses, she knits by the info desk when it's not too busy and she talks about her knitting projects when she comes in to check on me. I told her I used to knit myself, and she started bringing her yarn and knitting with me at night, to keep me company."

"That's so sweet of her," Chloe commented. "Thank you," she added. "But I'm impressed. I wouldn't have guessed you knitted."

Dr. Mitchell laughed, a hint of melancholy in his tone. "My wife died young. And my daughter had a bad habit of tearing her clothes a lot even when she was still very little, I don't even know how she would manage it. I started to learn how to stitch and mend the tears myself, got curious and tried out knitting her simple things. I tried out a small sweater, and a pair of gloves. A beanie too. I never managed to give her a proper scarf, I was always worried she would somehow get tangled in it and hurt herself."

"I didn't know you had a daughter," Chloe admitted, giving Dr. Mitchell a soft smile. "Aubrey mentioned you had a child before, I was always curious if they ever tried visiting you or not. You kept insisting you didn't have any family left, and I wasn't sure if it's because of the case, if they had cut ties with you."

Dr. Mitchell shook his head. "I had to give her away because of my first cancer diagnosis. I had no other family who could take her in. Last I heard, she's been adopted by some other family already. She was very young when it happened. She's probably forgotten about me, or maybe she resents me?"

There was a crack in Dr. Mitchell's tone as he asked the question, and tears in her eyes. It was enough for Chloe to get rather glassy-eyed herself. She couldn't help but feel for him. She was already trying to figure out a way, if possible, for her to help Dr. Mitchell reach out to his daughter because of it.

Because it was too painful to think about, Dr. Mitchell dying without any resolutions with this matter, or even if he does survive his illness, going back to a world where you were nothing but a stranger to your own family?

Because losing her father still stung a little, and Chloe still regretted not making any amends with him before he had gone.

"Maybe she doesn't," Beca replied as she leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest, looking out the window. Chloe hadn't even realized she had gotten back. "Maybe she's fine and happy. You shouldn't think that she resents you. Stop feeling so guilty about it. You did what you had to do to be sure she had a good life, right?"

"Y-yes," Dr. Mitchell replied wiping his tears away.

Chloe was about to say something when Beca's phone rung. She watched as she looked rather amused to hear who was on the other line as she spoke.

"Who was it?" Chloe couldn't help but ask.

"I have to go, I'll have Lilly pick you up, I think it's best I go alone on this one," she replied.

"Wait, why? Who was it? Beca!" Chloe cried out as she watched Beca make haste to leave.

"I'll tell you all about it later!" Beca cried back, "I promise! I'll buy you dinner and tell you all about it, alright? It's just safer this way," she replied. In her eyes, Chloe could see that she was asking her to trust her about it.

And trust her she did.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (20/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Chapter 20: Fingertips Away - Preview (Read the rest on ao3)

The third thing that Beca Bella did that night to piss him off was finding her alive in the middle of the street. His team of five henchmen all wiped out on the road. In her hand was a gun, and in the other was a white phone.

She was hunched over one of them when they arrived, the lights of Chicago's car on her. Beca took notice and stood up, unfazed. She didn't need to be alarmed or curious of their arrival, but that was mostly because Chloe practically jumped out of her seat in the car to run towards her.

It almost knocked the breath out of Beca's lungs when Chloe reached her, arms readily wrapping around her for a tight hug, Chloe refusing to let go.

Chicago wasn't sure when he got out of the car himself. He was a bit on auto pilot. He was taking it all in. He wasn't sure if his hench men were dead, but Beca managed to take them all out unscathed. Then there was Chloe who only started to breathe again when she finally saw her alive. Jessica and Emily were quick to rush towards them but stopped midway to give them a bit of space. A flash of surprise graced Beca's face before it was replaced with concern.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, almost ready to reprimand both Chloe and Emily.

"What are you doing here, you idiot?" was Chloe's reply. "Why didn't you tell me about this plan? We're partners, aren't we? You could have died, Beca!"

"I…" Beca started to say, looking a bit lost. Chloe still hugging her tightly, burying her face in the crook of her neck. "I'm sorry, I didn't want you to get worried or do something reckless if you didn't agree. Besides, I knew I could handle it. But… I… I promise I won't do it again. I promise."

It was only then that Chloe let her go, shooting her a pout before heaving a heavy sigh. She looked around, "Are they dead?"

Beca shook her head. "No, they're no good dead."

Chicago steadied himself after hearing that. They don't know him, the real him. They haven't seen his face. He could let them be the collateral, captured and interrogated, and whatever else Beca had in store for them. He was cleared.

"So, is Babo one of them? You challenged him directly in your video right?" Chloe asked.

"I don't think so, but," Beca then said before turning her attention to the phone she had on one hand. She had it pressed against her ears, probably calling someone.

That's when the ringing occurred.

Of course, Chicago had his phone on silent, the one he used to call his henchmen, but apparently Beca Bella's ears were sharp and she could pick out the sound of it vibrating in his jacket pocket.

Chicago could feel his heart pounding loudly against his chest and hoped that Beca couldn't hear that as well as she took each step closer to him. He took a deep breath and acted the way he normally did.

He wasn't about to let Beca win.

He wasn't about to let her unmask him.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (24/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

The Guillotine File - Chapter Preview (Read the rest at ao3) Aubrey was doing her best not to laugh, and look as stern as ever, but Beca was making it very hard with her theatrics. She was currently oh so forlornly leaning towards one of the pillars in the middle of Cynthia Rose's restaurant while shamming the residents for doubting her intentions.

To be fair, they were right to doubt. But Beca was the rightful owner of the gold, so can she really blame her?

"I can't believe, that I did something out of the kindness of my heart for all of you, to show my gratitude, and you think… that-that I am some dastardly villain who would lie to you," Beca said, looking incredibly dejected.

"We're so sorry, Beca," Flo then said.

"We didn't mean to," Jessica and Ashley chorused.

"Yeah, lil consigliere," Amy then chimed in.

"It's not that we thought bad of you, but you know, gold can get to a person's greed," Cynthia Rose followed.

"I don't think, I can be here right now," Beca then said, with a sniffle, before dramatically stomping off to leave. Luke excused himself, shaking his head, explaining he was going home.

"Now look at what you've done," Chloe then chastised them before following Beca.

"Shame on all of you for thinking Beca would betray you all," Emily then said, before stomping off to.

Aubrey simply shook her head and sighed. "So much for a fun weekend with all of you," was all she said before shortly following her friends back to the office.

They have so many questions for Beca after all.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (25/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

The Way of the Mafia (Chapter Preview - Read the rest at ao3)

The day for the seminar where Chicago was going to give a keynote address rolled in, with the days leading up to it going by relatively fast. Chloe and her friends have been hard at work in ensuring this was an afternoon to remember, and she was looking forward to how things would unfold.

She found a seat on the second level of the college auditorium where the seminar was going to be held, Aubrey right next to her. The two of them were mostly left alone on that seating level with only a scant few others scattered about in their level, and most of the audience sitting on the first level. Aubrey focused on her phone and coordinating with everyone else from the tower working with them on their "mission," leaving Chloe to her thoughts. She was a bit peeved that she didn't get the chance to see Beca earlier that day, as she claimed to be busy with a surprise, so she was looking forward to watching Chicago flail on stage when they enact their plan even more. She was, admittedly, also both curious and looking forward to the surprise Beca had promised her.

It was ridiculous. They see each other every day, but since she's moved back to her own place, she could feel the absence of Beca's presence grow intolerably more and more each day.

Chloe huffed when she saw Chicago walk in surrounded by her posse of the Kommissar, Pietro, and his bumbling brother, Theo. He was dressed in some chic business casual ensemble, a light gray coat looking suit paired with the same-colored pants, and a white shirt underneath matched with a pair of white sneakers. He was giving off a humble but wealthy aura, which was what he wanted his image to be in the first place.

Chloe sick to her stomach seeing him again in person now that the truth has become known to them. She's managed to avoid him for the last few weeks since he's been silent on his end from the moment Beca uncovered who he really was. She simply can't believe that she ever considered him a friend. Who would have thought he was someone so sinister underneath the charming and goofy persona he evoked.

It didn't help that his outfit looked so clean and pristine when she knows just how stained his hands were with the blood of the innocent people he had hurt. From RDU-90, to BLSD, and pretty much everything else Babel. It didn't sit well with her how easy he had washed his hands off of any responsibility for his actions and avoided – more like bought – his way through facing any semblance of justice as a consequence to his actions.

They were introducing Chicago when Beca arrived, dressed all suave in a blue suit and a black long-sleeved shirt underneath. She paired the suit with the pants, and shirt with her sneakers just like Chicago and Chloe couldn't help but think how they were such polar opposites of each other. Beca was a mafiosa who could rule the underworld if she wanted and Chicago a – wrongfully – celebrated CEO basking in the glory of living in the light, with a – false – reputation and image everyone would want to have. Yet here they were, the villain was fighting for the people, and the person one would think to be a white knight was the true evil master mind.

As Beca sat down, she offered Chloe some popcorn from a bucket she didn't realize Beca carried in one hand. Where she got the popcorn, Chloe wasn't so sure of. There weren't any outside.

"Is this your surprise?" Chloe asked and Beca quirked her eyebrow at her.

"This isn't even nowhere near it," Beca replied. "I'm hurt you think I'll disappoint you like this, Beale."

Aubrey cleared her throat before Chloe could even make any witty comebacks. "Am I invisible here or are you going to offer me some popcorn too?"

Beca chuckled and handed her the bucket. Aubrey grabbed a handful before passing it back to Chloe who did the same, all while Chicago started prattling on and on about leadership, innovation, and how Babel would like to save the world with its endeavors starting with their plans of developing new electric vehicles from renewable resources. He snapped his fingers at the projectionist in his own room a level above where Chloe, Beca, and Aubrey sat to start a recorded video promoting Babel Motors latest projects and showcasing their electric vehicles.

Beca smirked when the feed started rambling. Aubrey looked at a message on her phone and confirmed Chloe's suspicions on why.

It was showtime.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (17/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

These Grand Schemes - Chapter Preview (read the rest at ao3)

"Why are you even here?" Flo asked dryly as the tenants, minus their beloved lawyers and Emily, all gathered in her canteen for their weekly informal gatherings.

Who was she asking?

Bumper, Donald, and this random guy who was constantly on a unicycle that they just happen to call Unicycle.

Amy has been just as curious as Flo herself. The last few days, they've seen the three of them keeping a low profile and working on opening an office in the tower. Now, Bumper was here with a basket of fruits and a stack of calling cards.

"I think we should just call Beca and the others," Jessica then noted.

"Nonononononono," Bumper quickly rambled on. "Please, we're here to make peace not war. We're actually opening a travel agency, here," he went on to say, handing each of them a calling card.

"Bye Bye Balloon?" Ashley asked sounding incredibly confused.

"Yes! We're the premiere travel agency for those wanting to escape the country… I mean travel via hot air balloon, weather permitting." Bumper then said.

"Why?" Stacie then asked just as dryly as Flo did. "What new ploy is this to kick us out?"

"Not a ploy, ma'am," Donald then said.

"Do I look like a ma'am to you?" Stacie then asked with a raise of an eyebrow.

"No, no, s-sorry," Donald quickly apologized.

Bumper asked his associate to step aside and walked towards Amy and her fellow long-time tenants. He bowed down and muttered his apologies.

"We got off to a bad start, and that's probably because we were bad, but we're good now, I promise! We had a chilling epiphany, let's just say. And we're totally against Babel now too. So please, forgive us! Find mercy in your heart!"

"They seem sincere enough," Amy noted, and Bumper all but beamed at her with tears in his eyes. "But you'll have to understand, we're still a little wary. It's gonna take time for us to accept your sincerity."

"Oh, we know, we know! We're willing to do anything to prove to you all our sincerity. I for one surely am eager too!" Bumper then replied.

"Anything you say?" Amy then said.

"I still think you guys have an ulterior motive," CR then noted.

"Maybe they heard about the gold," Benji then let slip.

To which everyone else responded with "Shhhhhhhhhh!"

Lilly specifically looked about ready to slice and dice him up for opening his mouth about it.

"Gold?" Donald then asked, looking incredibly confused.

"It's just a tall tale," Denise quickly then said. "Buried treasure in the building or so they say, but it's all totally fake."

"Well, we don't know about any buried gold, but I do know a prospector if you all need help. To show you our gratitude, I'll connect you to him, and if he does find any, you guys don't need to share with us!" Bumper then said. "Just, let us stay here with you guys, please!"

"But the gold doesn't exist, it will be a waste of time," Stacie argued and Lilly all but nodded fervently in agreement. Amy herself wasn't so sure about what the hullaballoo about the gold was but the two of them were sure acting suspicious about it.

The rest of the tenants discussed it, however, eager to prove to themselves whether or not the gold was real.

"You're on probation," Flo then said.

The three former Trebles looked incredibly relieved. Amy wasn't sure where all this talk about prospectors and gold will lead to, but looking at Bumper, she could at least guarantee that there will be colorful days ahead of them.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (16/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Revelations From the Heart - Chapter Preview (Read the Rest on ao3)

While Beca didn't want Chloe staying over thanks to the mess Inzaghi made, she did have another reason why. She didn't want Chloe taking a closer look at her, at her life. Beca had to keep her guard up, she had to keep a safe distance with Chloe. Especially as she was starting to grow more and more aware of how easy it was to indulge herself and open up to her.

But try as she may, she would always lose that fight. It was as if it was the very laws of nature dictating its will. Beca could not resist relenting to what Chloe wanted – sleeping on the couch together – and she couldn't help but open up to her, as if her heart was asking for relief from the weight of the scars it carried.

A part of Beca braced for judgement, but Chloe said anything.

The one thing that Beca couldn't answer directly, however, was the same thing that now haunted her when she woke up that morning.

She couldn't tell Chloe the truth, she felt too ashamed to admit it. She never killed anyone who never had it coming, but her hands were stained scarlet, and somehow Beca couldn't let those stained hands of her touch Chloe or taint her either.

At the same time, she truthfully was afraid, that Chloe would change if she knew despite the fact that deep down, Beca had a feeling Chloe would accept her as she was.

But Beca decided not to think much about it. They had problems to solve, people to save, people to take down.

No news on who sent the assailants, as they simply admitted to entering Chloe's homes as burglars, protecting who it was that hired them. Beca's guess is that it was either Babel or DSM, particularly the Kommissar, but she didn't want to take action without understanding the whole picture first.

And so, the day droned on with its usual pace.

Then the night came. Beca made peace to sleeping on the couch by herself that night, giving Chloe her room. But Chloe would not have it. And whatever Chloe wanted, Chloe got, as much as Beca hated to admit it.

Chloe was slowly drifting to sleep next to her, facing Beca, one arm around her waist. Beca on the other hand was as stiff as a board, keeping her eyes fixed on the ceiling. If it wasn't the fear or guilt of the things she's done, things she wouldn't proudly tell Chloe, it was the fact that Chloe was sleeping mere inches away from her that would.

Beca was praying for Inzaghi to come as a distraction, a reason to excuse herself to get up so she could feed him, and maybe mosey on to the couch after. But the damned pigeon dared not come.

What did happen was that Chloe snuggled up closer to her and Beca all but squirmed, surprised by the sudden movement and practically non-existent distance between them,

What is wrong with you, Beca chastised herself. It's not like she's never done more than just sleep with someone under the covers before.

But Chloe was something different.

Chloe conducted a different beat, making her heart sing in ways it never did before.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" Chloe mumbled all but sleepily, sensing Beca's nervousness.

"Nothing," Beca replied.

"They why do you keep fidgeting?"

"I-I'm not," she lied, rather unsuccessfully.

Chloe laughed. "Beca, did we not cuddle last night on the couch, can you please just relax?"

"Y-yeah, but that was on the couch," Beca pointed out daring to sneak a glance at Chloe

"And?" Chloe asked, her eyes were still closed but she was definitely chortling.

"This is my bed," Beca pointed out, turning to face her.

"And?" Chloe asked, trying to stifle a yawn, eye's sleepily fluttering open.

"It's different," Beca replied almost breathlessly. She didn't expect Chloe to look so naturally beautiful that way.

"Are you telling me you've never had a beautiful woman in your arms, underneath your covers before?" Chloe asked amused, looking Beca directly in her eyes.

Beca moved about again so that she was staring up at her seeking once more, feeling incredibly flustered. The answer would be no. However, she never had anyone like Chloe Beale in her bed before. That in itself made all the difference.

"Wow, full of yourself much?" was the response Beca settled for. She wasn't going to lose this fight to Chloe. She already lost so many others since last night.

Chloe chuckled, pulling Beca closer with the hand around her waist. "Are you really telling me you've never done anything more scandalous than cuddle with someone before?"

"N-no," Beca mumbled as a response, turning to look away. She wanted to fully turn around but Chloe's arms around her had her fixed on her position.

Because the truth was this felt all to intimate.

Intimate in a way that Beca's never been with anyone else before.

Intimate in a way that felt so pure and innocent and sincere that it was about to make Beca's heart feel so close to exploding.

"So, what's the problem with you?" Chloe softly asked. But Beca dared not reply. She didn't want her voice to betray her. She didn't want her words to slip up and tell the truth.

That this moment felt so soft, and Beca felt so vulnerable when Chloe was around. That she's never felt this way before and it scared her of what it might mean. Of how Chloe made her feel. Beca Bella was someone who doesn't even fear death, but thinking back to everything that happened last night, thinking about the truth of how she felt the past few days, she knew. She's realized, that she now has one thing that she feared she would lose, someone she would give even her own life for… Chloe.

And Beca didn't want to think about what that meant. Of how that might change her, of how it could affect her grander schemes.

"Beca? I'm talking to you and not Inzaghi outside," Chloe then said.

"He's not even outside," Beca argued, finally turning around to face Chloe again as she tried to recompose herself. "Nothing's wrong."

"So, then hold me, please," Chloe softly said.

"W-why do I have to?"

"Because," Chloe provided as a vague reason.

"Because?"

"Just cause," Chloe insisted.

"Nuh-uh. You have to tell me, use your words, Chloe. You're a lawyer, aren't you?" Beca then teased.

"And you're using yours?"

Touche.

"You make me feel safe…" Chloe then admitted before Beca could even come up with a witty retort. She could see the sincerity in Chloe's eyes when she said it too, and what else could Beca do but oblige? It was almost like her hand was moving on their own volition, placing them around Chloe's waists as Chloe continued to speak. "When you hold me, I… I feel the safest," she admitted in a whisper.

As soon as Chloe felt Beca's arms around her tighten, she pulled Beca closer and buried her face in her chest. All Beca could do was hope that Chloe couldn't hear the loud banging of her heart right then and there.

And so Beca held her safely in her arms.

She was happy to be a safe zone for Chloe, even when she doesn't even know, even when Beca wouldn't admit it.

That in her dangerous life, she's found her safe haven in Chloe too.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (23/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

In the Shadows of Obscurity - Chapter Preview (Read the rest at ao3)

It's been a busy past few days for everyone in the tower. Flo's head was spinning with all the new information.

One was who their real enemy was. Charles Walters, Jr. or rather, the person who they believed to be Chicago Walp. Someone who had walked the halls of the tower a few times over the last couple of months, either with Chloe, as her intern, on official business back when they were both still with DSM, and by himself, as Chloe's friend, when he was visiting Chloe after she had gone.

He had always been so cordial and nice. Discovering who he really was felt like a betrayal for everyone in the tower, maybe except Beca and Aubrey. Lilly didn't seem to care either way.

Two was the discovery about Beca being a… what was the term again?... mafia lawyer – Flo decided to stick with that term – something they found out when she got back with Aubrey and Chloe who managed to sort things out. How? They wouldn't say, but Beca made no attempt to deny it was the truth. Who knew mafia lawyers could be so cunning and dashing? So kindhearted too? The rest of the tenants had started spewing out their own ideas about what she could be doing in the tower, the most popular opinion was that she was hiding from someone, but Amy seems insistent that she had personal reasons to be there.

Third was, of course, the rumored hold in the tower. No one had forgotten about that. Since the truth about Beca had come out, the tenants thought it would be best if they told her so that Beca, with all her underworld connection, can help them. They even offered her a share of the hidden treasure. Beca scoffed at the idea but Lilly managed to convince her. She promised she would look into it and came back three days later saying that it seemed to be nothing but a myth. She said she tracked down Norman and he doesn't seem to recall the story he told the tenants, so perhaps, it was just nothing but a made-up tale he gave them in exchange for some food.

Four was the current plan to out Chicago. Beca had gathered all the tenants in Denise's dance studio and, together with Chloe and Aubrey, brought everyone up to speed with their fight against Babel. They had offered to help, after all, because they all wanted to fight hard for their home and show they shouldn't be trifled with, no matter how rich and powerful their opponent was.

The major focus of the meeting was how they could get Chicago to come out and admit who he was. It was the only way to bring him to justice, after all. Charles Walters, Jr. was behind everything, and so Charles Walters, Jr. had to be found guilty by the court of law and imprisoned for his crimes. He might use Theo as a patsy if he isn't brought to light.

How will they do it?

Beca seemed to already have a plan set in motion. It started as soon as she found out who he was, when Beca broke into his home and attacked him, promising she would eventually get him.

It seemed to do the trick in scaring Chicago, as Beca's intel indicated that he was currently staying in one of their vacation houses out of state. He was currently hiding away in coastal North Carolina, Wilmington to be exact.

"So, what does that mean? What's the plan exactly? Do we attack him there? Give him a scare? I can google up ways of effectively torturing someone…" Denise then said.

"Um, no, no we're not gonna do something that extreme," Beca then said, dialing down the situation. Aubrey shot Denise a disapproving look but Chloe seemed to consider it.

"If we need extra help, my Uncle Mauricio…." Flo then volunteered before Beca stopped her with a raise of a hand. She shook her head.

"I just need a few of you," Beca then said. "Lilly's coming with, but how about you Cynthia Rose? Ashley? Jessica? And Benji? I need a hand with somethings. We'll be going on a road trip."

"Count us in!" Jessica and Ashley chorused.

"Sure thing," Beca replied.

"How about me?" Jesse then asked, eagerly volunteering his services.

"Someone needs to run the restaurant while I'm gone," Cynthia Rose then responded.

"And we need capable hands to stay here while we're gone, just in case they plan another attack," Chloe added.

"It's also the reason why we decided that Bumper, Donald, and Uni stay behind," Aubrey pointed out, nodding towards the three new additions to their group staying at the back of the room.

"You can count on us!" the three reformed Trebles then chorused.

"Alright, sounds good and all, but what exactly do you have in mind, Beca?" Stacie asked, a fair question Flo thought. It doesn't seem like Chicago would give up his advantage quite easily.

Beca smirked. "People like him, they have dreams of grandeur and excellence. He doesn't really care about anything else, other than getting what he wants, even when he stays in the shadows. Even when people never find out that the success he wants Babel to have, it was all because of him. But that comes with a price… We'll make Chicago come out of the shadows and step into the light, by using the one thing a man like him fears."

"And what would that be?" Flo found herself asking out loud.

Beca gave a knowing smile.

"Fading into obscurity," Beca then replied. "His ego would never be able to accept that."

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (2/?) | Bechloe Mafia AU/Bechloe Vincenzo AU/Bechloe Lawyers AU

Questo Edifico È Mio  Bumper cleared his throat. “Listen, pipsqueak. Buzz off, go look for your mommy or daddy, or something, and leave the talking to the adults.”

Beca sighed, “You don’t really wanna piss me off. Take the hint and take your goobers out of here. I can’t even take you guys seriously as goons or henchmen. Your outfits and color coordination hurt my eyes too much.”

“Okay you know what, that’s it,” Donald said, and threw the first punch at Beca.

Or at least attempted to. But Beca was quick at blocking him, twisting his arm, bending and pulling it off in a direction. Chloe wasn’t sure what just happened but it seemed like Beca Bella might have dislocated his shoulder thanks to that movement.

All hell broke lose in the next minute, possibly less, as the rest of the Treblemakers attacked Beca, but she deftly handled each an everyone of them. A kick to the shins, a precise hit on the nape of the neck, slaps to the ears, a punch or an elbow to the nose. There were about twenty of them, twenty one if Bumper was included, and all dropped like flies as Beca danced around and countered their movements with ease.

“Are we done?” Beca then asked.

Bumper, not wanting to look like a fool in front of his men pulled out a switch blade and attacked Beca. But Beca quickly disarmed him, broke his nose and then flipped him over and tossed him over the railing. Bumper hung out it by the scruff of his neck, Beca clenching on his collars with her right hand, the left one anchoring the other. Despite her frame, Beca was strong. Very strong.

The Trebles shook themselves off and tried to help their leader as Bumper screamed and cried for help. Beca released one finger from her clutch on Bumper’s collar, halting them all where they were trying to stand or crawl. Bumper tried to reach out to the railing but Beca simply warned him to do so by stabbing the knife she took from him on the spot where his hand would have landed.

“Do I have your attention now?” Beca asked through gritted teeth. It wasn’t without a lot of effort that she was holding onto Bumper in a delicate position. “Or will my hand get tired and completely let go of you. The drop doesn’t look to bad. You might have a few broken bones though but I think you’d match perfectly with Luke. You can be hospital buddies, if you want.”

“N-no, no, please. I’m listening, just don’t let go, please, please,” Bumper pleaded.

“Good,” Beca responded. “Get out of here then, scram. And I better not see you here again or next time I’m dropping you from the third floor.”

“B-b-but Babel,” Bumper argued.

“Questo edifico è mio (This building is mine),” Beca said. “Capisce?”

“Uh, uh, yes? Yes, whatever you say, just pull me up,” Bumper cried out.

Beca offered her left hand to Bumper and helped him up. Once over the railings, Bumper tried to steady his shaking legs, asking for the Trebles to help him out.

From the tenants, Chloe heard Stacie ask CR what Beca just said since she knew Italian. CR simply said it was something like “Long live Italy.”

“That doesn’t sound right,” Emily commented, but Lilly saved CR from explaining herself by clapping and cheering on Beca.

The rest of the tenants followed suit.

“So, you’re really not with them,” Ashley asked. Beca looked like she took offense to that question.

“She meant we’re happy you’re here to help,” Jessica then said afraid that Beca would get mad at them.

After the commotion died down, Beca finally took notice of Chloe standing behind her, “And who are you?”

Chloe found herself a little bit speechless in response, still processing what she saw. The cool and suave way Beca handled the Trebles, the prowess and strength she displayed. She didn’t really know what to make of it. Read the rest at ao3

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (22/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Secrets - Chapter Preview (Read the rest on ao3)

It's been three days since the incident. The incident being another attack at the building and the last broadcast that the rest of the tenants were apparently no longer a part of. Aubrey assured them that everything was being handled and that there was no need for anymore broadcasts. Cynthia Rose was curious as to why, but Beca said that she had the info that she needed and that she will handle things from there, and Cynthia Rose dared not argue back.

They were all still all kinds of bruised up and sore, but other than that, everyone seemed to be in high spirits. Either Aubrey or Chloe would update the tenants daily, even when there was little progress, just to loop them in. They were all in this together now after all.

That noontime was the first time they ended up all gathered up at Cynthia Rose's restaurant since the incident, further giving Cynthia Rose the feeling that they truly were one unit now. A strong team raising hell against Babel and fighting for justice. Even Beca was there, having been dragged along by Chloe. This of course gave Cynthia Rose all the motivation she needed to make a wonderful meal for everyone. She wouldn't dare disappoint Beca, not after she started sending her to culinary school.

They all pushed the tables together, eating together as one family – dare Cynthia Rose call it that? – for lunch, but no one touched their food until Beca was served hers and had a chance to taste it. When she gave Cynthia Rose a thumbs up, everyone released their breathes, relaxed and started eating too.

Most of the conversations during meal time were focused a little less on the business with Babel and more on the happenings on their personal life. Chloe had gone back to her father's home, Aubrey was busy tidying up legal matters on their recent assault while juggling things for Dr. Mitchell's case. The rest of the tenants had rallied behind him since the incident with Calamity and her parent's financial firm getting tied up with Babel. Chloe and Beca had been the one checking in on him recently, making sure he was okay. From the sound of it, he had some kind of complication. Surgery was nearly used to mitigate the situation. Cynthia Rose did her best to follow the jargons. Despite not understanding most of it, she did know that Dr. Mitchell is okay, and the treatment they administered had worked without the need for surgery.

After lunch, Cynthia Rose served everyone some tea and coffee and a plate of biscuits. Flo commented how this was the first time they had a proper get-together with no meetings and no schemes being plotted. Jessica noted that it was nice. Ashley suggested that, if they weren't all too busy, they should do this more often. Denise thought they could throw in a little bit of fun and have a game.

"What do you have in mind?" Benji asked.

"Oh, how about a game of mafia?" Bumper suggested.

And for whatever reason, Beca started choking on her coffee. Chloe laughed and Aubrey gave out a chuckle.

"No one's actually a member of the mafia in the game, Beca," Aubrey then said trying her best to keep a straight faced. Cynthia Rose would be lying if she said this wasn't the first time she had seen the attorney look so amused.

"It's technically like this," Emily then piped up as she tried to hurriedly explain the rules. "We write down different roles on a piece of paper and draw lots. Someone gets to be the narrator, or the game master, whatever you want to call it. They tell us if it's night time. If it is, we all close our eyes. Then they would ask for the mafia members, at least one or two, to open their eyes and pick a target by pointing at them. That target dies when morning comes. The narrator then gets the mafia to close their eyes and asks the doctor to open theirs, pick someone to save, and then close their eyes again. Lastly, the detective is asked to open their eyes, they point to someone they suspect and the narrator will confirm if they're part of the mafia or not. There's also a judge but they don't do much at night. Everyone else get to just be citizens. When morning comes and we get to know who is killed, we all get to discuss who we think is a mafia member and vote someone out. The narrator will confirm if we got it right or not and then a new round starts. If the doctor saves the right person, then they don't die. The detective, meanwhile, can't reveal their role but if they find out who the mafia are, they can direct the conversations and push on voting someone out. If the judge is killed, the mafia automatically win."

"I think I get the gist of it," Beca replied. "But maybe I shouldn't be the narrator, I don't want to mess It up."

"Then I'll take on that role for the games today, how about it?" Cynthia Rose volunteered. "And next time, we can draw lots for it."

"Great idea, CR," Aubrey agreed and so did the rest of the tenants.

And so, the games begun and the tenants drew lots.

They drummed on the table as the narrator talked about how it was night time and it was time for them. The two members of the mafia ended up being Beca and Lilly. They were pretty much in sync in selecting their victim, with their first being Bumper.

The doctor ended up being Bumper, who tried to save Amy. That was a good kill for the pair, Cynthia Rose thought, as the doctor can't save anyone. But the citizens still have a shot. She sat next to Aubrey saw she drew the judge role. She was partly worried they'd win in one go if Beca picked Aubrey – and she did consider it. She smirked before she finalized her decision on Bumper and Lilly quickly agreed. Cynthia Rose couldn't help but wonder if that smirk meant she had a feeling that the judge was Aubrey. Beca sat opposite her across the table, and Lilly was far down the left so neither could have known. Either way, Beca's instinct sure was spot on.

The next was the detective, who happened to be Jesse. He picked Bumper as his first suspect to which Cynthia Rose shook her head to clear him off suspicion.

Doesn't matter, he's dead anyways.

Cynthia Rose had everyone open their eyes and was getting ready to reveal who was out of the game, having been killed by the "mafia" when all of a sudden a group of four men walked into the restaurant wearing suits. They showed everyone their badges – FBI – and revealed a document. A warrant for the arrest of Beca Bella.

Things happened too fast for Cynthia Rose to follow after that. They read Beca her rights. They were arresting her for some trumped up charge, she figured. Babel had to behind this.

Why on earth would someone arrest anyone for being… What did they say again? Con-woman? No, that didn't sound right… it was more like corn salad?

What the heck does that even mean?

Beca looked unfazed, and was cooperative. Emily looked panicked. Jesse started rambling excuses about needing to go to the bathroom for an emergency really quickly. It would seem lunch didn't sit so well with Jesse. Or perhaps he gets anxious around law enforcement personnel? Aubrey and Chloe quickly scrambled on their feet. Lilly looked like she was about to murder someone and Emily was quick to reassure her. It would seem that Lilly was very passionate to prove Beca's innocence. In truth, all of them were.

But for now, what could they do, but hope that their trusted pair of attorney's would set things straight and set Beca free.

She was, after all, one of them now.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (7/35) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Vincerò - Chapter Preview (Read the rest at ao3) Chloe was quick to discover that when Beca promised something, Beca always delivered.

The following night, Beca, Aubrey, Lilly, Emily, and of course herself went out to "pick up" the first of their two targets. Aubrey and Emily waited in their ride, a shiny new Cadillac SUV that Beca bought that very morning, while Chloe and Beca infiltrated some underground gambling ring. Chloe felt like they honestly stood out like a sore thumb, mostly because of Beca who was dressed in her usual fashion. Tonight's look was a rather dapper dark blue suit ensemble, suit vest and pinstriped tie included. She at least wore comfortable loafers instead of heals. Lilly, also in a dark suit ensemble, very bodyguard-like, was also somewhere in the room, close to a different exit, watching everyone's movements while enjoying a cup of instant coffee. There, they kept watch of a portly young man named Justin. The two of them stayed at their own table, pretending to be immersed in their own game, and waited until Justin stood up to go to the bathroom before Chloe and Beca followed.

"Wait here," Beca said in a hushed tone towards Chloe.

"You're not going in there alone, are you? That's the men's room," Chloe pointed out. Beca gave her a deadpan look in response. "What if they gang up on you in there?"

"Then you make sure no one else enters, and I make sure I politely ask them all to scram before I put the fear of God in them."

"Your kind of too cute to be making those kinds of threats, you know," Chloe insisted, blushing a little at her admittance.

"Then they'll learn hard and fast that looks could be deceiving," Beca replied with a chuckle. "Lilly's not far, if you're worried."

"I'm not worried," Chloe insisted.

"Then would you mind letting go of my hand? You're kinda holding it too tightly," Beca then said. Chloe didn't even notice that she had instinctively grabbed a hold of it – with both hands – until Beca made a comment about it.

Chloe simply nodded and Beca wasted not time in infiltrating the men's room. Chloe heard nothing in the form of protests and saw nothing. Barely a minute past and Chloe hears things smashing, wood breaking, and some rough grunting. She was concerned, half wanting to check in on Beca, half wanting to call for Lilly. It was as if Beca's bodyguard was a mind-reader because as soon as Chloe thought about it, Lilly showed up right next to her. "You're not a ninja, are you?" Chloe ended up asking out loud, but Lilly gave no response.

The noises inside stopped, and Beca stepped out, fixing her suit. "He's unconscious on the floor," she then told Lilly. "But you can pick him up by the legs to drag him out the back exit if you want. We'll set things up in the next location."

Chloe, in the meantime, spent the time Beca was giving Lilly instructions to look for any scratch marks or bruises on her, but other than the ones still healing from her accident, she couldn't find any other.

"Come on, we've got a lot to do," she then heard Beca say to her as she placed a hand down Chloe's back and ushered her out.

Chloe simply nodded in silence, impressed.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (5/35) | Bechloe Mafia AU/Bechloe Lawyers AU/ Bechloe Vincenzo AU

The Last Straw (of Hope) Chapter Preview - Read more on ao3

"What are you doing here?" she heard Beca say. Chloe was surprised to see her with a black umbrella standing just a few feet away.

"I could ask the same about you?"

Beca hummed. "Your father asked me and Aubrey to come join him for a drink at the pub three blocks away, his favorite place I think."

"The hole in the wall place at the corner of Main?" Chloe asked with a chuckle. "Why, is he drowning his sorrows away?"'

Beca shrugged. "That's what I thought initially, but he called me for a favor on my way out to pick up a pack of cigarettes for him here," she said, nodding towards the convenience store. "His mood seemed lighter than you would think based on what's on the news if you ask me."

"Could it be that he's finally lost his marbles?" Chloe asked, more to herself than to Beca. She shook her head before turning her attention back to Beca who had an expectant look on her face.

Chloe quirked an eyebrow at Beca.

"You never told me what you're doing here," Beca pointed out.

"It's raining, I needed shelter," Chloe remarked and Beca gave her a look.

"Really, Ms. Beale?" she asked with a deadpan expression on her face.

"I honestly don't know," Chloe then said. "I guess I just miss having my dad but I'm not really sure he misses me," she admitted.

Beca nodded. She looked at her watch and excused herself to finally buy the pack of cigarettes, saying that she might be running late already.

Chloe was a little bit disappointed to see her go. It didn't take too long, however, for Beca to re-emerge again. "Well, I'm off," she said. "If you want to know the answer to whether your dad misses you, I hope you know you can join us. You know where we are, and if I'm being honest, I don't think he would mind if you were there."

"But I don't have an umbrella. I'll get soaked," Chloe then said.

"Well, you'll never know, the rain might just stop," Beca commented with a chuckle before heading on ahead, waving Chloe a goodbye.

"And what if it doesn't?" Chloe asked, calling out to Beca who was heading on ahead.

But Beca didn't stop to respond. How could she? She probably didn't hear her.

Chloe shook her head, if Beca's offer were genuine, then she would have at least offered to walk with her. She did have an umbrella after all.

She probably didn't want to get her suit all soaked and soiled, Chloe thought to herself.

"Excuse me, miss?" she then heard someone call out to her. Chloe looked over to the entrance of the store where once of the clerk stood, holding a new umbrella. "Here," he said, handing it to her.

In her misery and with all that had happened today, she was the idiot who didn't realize she could buy an umbrella at the store she was standing in front of. Chloe had hand it to the clerk, he knew how to make a sales pitch.

"Right," Chloe then said, "I should probably pay for it inside."

"Oh, no, you don't have to," the clerk said much to her surprise. "Your friend, that girl in the suit, she already paid for it."

Chloe gingerly took the umbrella in her hands in disbelief. Moved by the simple yet kind gesture she didn't expect from Beca. She thanked the store clerk, who returned to work soon after, as she stood outside the store front for a couple of minutes more, collecting her thoughts.

Maybe Beca was right.

Maybe her father had a point.

Maybe even Chloe did too.

And perhaps, together, with all their different ways and approaches, they could right the few wrongs.

Chloe only hoped that it wasn't too late for that.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (4/35) | Bechloe Mafia AU/Bechloe Lawyers AU/Bechloe Vincenzo AU

Conflict of Interests - Chapter Preiview (Read the rest at ao3) Beca was far more simply dressed than Chloe was expecting when she saw her. She wore a simple white blouse that Chloe thought was still probably worth a few thousand dollars and a light blue suit ensemble, although the blazer was folded over Beca’s arm at the moment, the weather a little bit on the warmer side. She wore a simple pair of loafers as well, sunglasses covering her eyes that Beca refused to remove until they were inside. Chloe chuckled, her assumption about the hangover seemed to be correct. Although once inside the café Chloe picked, she wished Beca would put on the sunglasses back. At the very least to spare her from the judgmental look Beca was giving her over her Iced America, or Iced dirty water if she was going to use the term Beca gave her with her earlier comment about how the drink is called in Italy.Chloe didn’t waste any time in chatting her up, talking about the new lawyer that joined the firm with her commanding presence, her reputation, and even her quirky Zumba lunchtime routine. Beca’s eyebrows furrowed with every detail that Chloe gave her. “And I should care about this because?” “She plays dirty, Beca,” Chloe noted. “She finds out your weakness and finds a way to use it against you when things don’t go her way in a trial. Pieter wanted the two of us to work together on the Babel case but since the trial was about to wrap up anyways, I refused. It didn’t get me fired but that damned valkyrie got me off the case. You’re working against her now.”“Okay?” Beca replied. “Sorry but I don’t really care about who’s representing the opponent when I intend to win anyways.” “I don’t think you understand how ruthless she is,” Chloe warned. “You’re worried about your father?” Beca then realizes and Chloe nodded. Beca smirked, Chloe didn’t need to say much for her to realize that there was something more to the trial going on. She was conflicted about this, and she knew the risk in case Beca read the unspoken thing between the lines that Chloe chose not to say – aka the missing researcher – but her father’s safety was still above her job. The Kommissar was one to live up to her reputations after all and Chloe couldn’t shake off the ill-omens she has been feeling since they met. “I guess that means there is still hope after all,” Beca thoughtfully said out loud.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (3/35) | Bechloe Mafia AU/Bechloe Vincenzo AU/Bechloe Lawyers AU

From Italy, With Love Chloe nodded, processing the information as she scanned the room until her eyes finally landed on event’s mastermind herself, Beca Bella, standing hidden by the shadows on the second-floor balcony, watching the festivities below. She was wearing a suit blazer, but Chloe couldn’t make what – if anything – she wore underneath. It didn’t take long for Beca to take notice of her. The effortlessly mysterious new tenant raising her champagne flute, doing her best Gatsby impersonation, to acknowledge Chloe’s presence.

Chloe felt compelled to walk towards where she was. She excused herself from Aubrey and good made her way to the second floor where Beca awaited her. She stood by the railings, her elbows resting where she had flung Bumper over just the other day. She turned around to face Chloe, running a hand through her hair, sweeping most of it to one side to reveal a shining brilliant feather earpiece studded with diamonds adoring one of her ears. Chloe felt her throat dry up when she realized that Beca wasn’t wearing anything underneath the suit blazer, the skin of her neck and breastbone exposed, the neckline that was formed by the closed suit going down in a “V” midway down her chest. Beca paired it with a pair of black shorts, silky black stockings, and black stilettos that boosted her height to meet Chloe’s. She looked rather chic if Chloe was being honest, and it only dawned on her then how attractive Beca actually was.

Beca smirked, pleased on the effect she had on Chloe no doubt. Chloe had to clear her throat as she tried to regain her composure.

“I don’t know what to say,” Chloe said. “I was kind of expecting war to break lose the next time I see the Trebles here. Glad to know you’re full of surprises.”

Beca chuckled. “War is won by the sharpness of your brain, not brawns,” was Beca’s reply. “Besides, I don’t want a messy affair here, at least for as long as I can help it.”

Chloe nodded, “I was worried. I guess having you around can alleviate my worries then.”

“Thanks,” Beca replied. “Why are you here, though? You’re Luke’s friend, but how you know each other is a mystery. I’ve never heard him mention you before. I tried to google you too, but nothing. Do you know how many Beca Bella’s there are out there?”

“A good few thousand,” Beca replied amused. “I don’t like social media.” “Clearly,” Chloe responded. “But seriously, why are you here? Why are you helping my dad? The tenants? This is above and beyond.” “What is it with you and your father that makes it so hard to believe that I’m doing this in behalf of the kindness of my own heart and in behalf of a dear old friend?”

“Well, are you?” Chloe threw back. Beca didn’t reply. Instead, her stormy blue eyes met Chloe’s head on. She could only guess what was going on behind them. Chloe decided to press her on. “You’re wearing bespoke tailored suits, that much I can tell. Expensive perfume, the watch on your wrist looks bespoke too. Those earrings must cost a fortune, not to mention the fact that you are friends with the Italian ambassador. That means you’re someone with great importance and influence, and you’re just what? Chillaxing in this old tower?” “I guess you can say I’ve fallen in love with Barden Tower,” Beca replied with a coy smile. Read the rest at ao3

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (14/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Underhanded Tactics - Chapter Preview (Read More at ao3) Calamity rode horses and had her own horse in a local stable. She would go horseback riding from time to time. Under the disguise of new stable hands, Aubrey, Chloe, and Emily watched as Beca rode into the scene with her own horse, looking incredibly dashing with an expensive scarf looking like a free-flowing cape behind Beca.

Who knew Beca could ride horses?

"Chloe, you might want to close your jaw a little, you're practically drooling," Aubrey teased, snapping Chloe back to present day as they cleared out hay in the distance.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Bree," Chloe replied, nevertheless wiping the corner of her mouth now that Aubrey made her feel self-conscious.

Aubrey chortled next to her, still keeping surveillance of Beca as she made contact with Calamity.

Chloe did the same. It looked like Calamity was taking the bait, she seemed quite smitten at Beca – or rather Bea Bee, because apparently, she liked one syllable names; Beca on the other hand, looked absolutely mortified at the name that sounded more like "baby" than anything.

Chloe's grip on the pitch fork tightened as she watched Beca pet Calamity's horse. Calamity on the other hand started touching Beca on her arms. Chloe was quietly keeping count, pouting by the time it reached ten. Calamity seemed very touchy feely. And then, as planned, Beca's scarf loosens, and Calamity catches it as they had hoped. Beca then tied it around Calamity's neck, paying her a compliment that it suited her.

"Chloe, please focus on the hay instead, anymore and smoke will start coming out of your ears," Aubrey teased yet again.

"Oh, shut up," Chloe replied, stabbing the hay with the pitch fork. "I'll check on things inside, see if I can do anything there," she then said with a huff.Chloe spent the next five minutes trying to figure out what she could do to help in the administrative side of things before she remembered she probably shouldn't. She knew nothing about running a stable and the only reason why they were allowed to work undercover was because Beca charmed the owner enough to let them.

Snap out of this, she thought to herself as she marched into the stables to find Beca sitting on the fence of an area where the horses were kept so they could gallop around, looking deep at thought.Chloe made her way towards her, and as soon as she placed a hand on her shoulder, Beca all but jumped up.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"She wants to have drinks tonight," Beca replied rather monotonously. "I don't think I can do it, Chloe. Just thinking about it makes me shudder. Do you know what she said earlier? I asked if I could ride her horse, and she said he was a wild one, but I can ride him. When I asked why have a wild horse, she said she enjoyed breaking them in. That's her idea of flirting, Chloe," she then said, mortified.

Chloe was too.

And Chloe very much wanted to tell Beca she didn't need to do it. She could stop. But that would mean that Babel will grow more powerful. That would also mean they would miss up on a chance in finding a way to help Dr. Mitchell with his case.

"You don't have to, Beca," Chloe settled on as an answer. "But it might be easier to win her heart if she's drunk. Plus, if you can fake drinking, you can have the upper hand. We'll be close by too."

Beca shook her head vehemently, trying not to speak so loudly. "Nope, nope, I can't do this. No."

Chloe grabbed Beca's shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. "You're the mafia's lawyer, right? Cool-headed and strong. You never let go of your target. You're charming and smart and capable. Think of all her victims? Her and her family? Only you can catch her in your trap. If you can't, then who would?"

Beca visibly gulped and nodded along. "I can do this, I can do this," she then said as she excused herself from Chloe's company, not wanting to keep Calamity waiting.Chloe took a deep breath. She didn't want to, it sucked, but she had to bolster Beca's confidence. She can't let her waver, because at the end of the day, this whole mission isn't about the two of them at all, but all other people who could benefit seeing the so-called powerful pay for their crimes.

"That's right! You can do this Beca!" Chloe cheered on, running around to where Beca was facing, trying to be cheerful.

To her surprise, Beca grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her close to an accidental hug.Chloe stilled for a moment. This was probably the closest she has ever been to Beca, and she didn't know how to act. She didn't even know what prompted that reaction.

"Horses spook easily," Beca replied. As if the horses wanted to prove the point, one of the horses behind Chloe who was tied outside the fences and who was turned away from Chloe, neighed. "It's not safe to startle them from behind, they could kick you, so be careful."

Beca took a step backward and Chloe nodded. "I guess we shouldn't be horsing around here, then," Chloe then said and Beca shook her head and laughed a little before leaving.That little encounter was enough to power her through for the evening.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (19/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

In this War, What is Truth? Chapter Preview - Read the rest at ao3

Aubrey wasn't exactly sure what she was expecting when Beca said it was time to do things her way. Technically speaking, they were already doing that. She wondered briefly if it meant that the gloves were coming off, if the childish schemes and pranks, the unorthodox way of doing things, were about to end. But no, Beca still had her drawn lines. She just expanded them.

"They deserve a lifetime of misery, after all," Beca had said when she had explained her plan the night after they found the victim's family.

The police insistence on barely investigating and chalking things up to suicide was highly suspicious. Beca was convinced they've been paid off, and quite possibly they too were paid off back when Chloe was arrested. If anything, they've probably been on Babel's payroll for a while. Aubrey couldn't help but agree.

Lilly came back with info after a bit of digging. The two detectives in charge of the case had been living a rather lavish lifestyle, at least compared to other police detectives. Beca figured they were probably being paid cash in secret, because their banking records showed no anomalies. Still, they were spending more than what they earn, even when they took into account their respective spouse's income.

Chloe did some of her own sly digging. She was fueled with a new desire for taking down her former law firm. She reached out to her old co-workers, trying to figure out who was getting fed up or frustrated with how things were being ran. She hit jackpot with Jack, a lawyer who entered the firm the same year she did. Jack did a lot of impressions during company parties. Apparently, the Kommissar had taken a liking to them and he has been turned into her personal jester, making impressions whenever she wanted.

Jack was instrumental to their current revenge plot. Chloe invited him for coffee. As pre-planned, Aubrey arrived soon after, after Chloe and Jack had gotten the pleasantries out of the way. Basically, if Chloe sensed that Jack would crack and inadvertently help them, Aubrey would arrive, and Beca soon after, to make a deal. Aubrey was going to appeal to his morality, and Beca was going to deliver him an offer he can't refuse, because, as Beca said, everyone had a price, and Chloe knew that Jack dreamed to be part of the legal team of a multi-national company. If he didn't, then Chloe would subtly text Aubrey to make a change of plans and it would be Lilly convincing Jack to help them while on his way home.

Thankfully Jack was so done with everything at DSM that he sang like a canary and spilled tea.

He hated how they were basically doing grunt work. He didn't know of the more nefarious – or rather, under-the-table politicking – that was going on with the firm until the Kommissar dialed it up to a thousand.

Aubrey didn't even have a chance to butt-in with her impassioned speech of why Jack should help them. She didn't need to. He fessed up that Kommissar had sent him to pay police detectives for some recent cover up without being prompted to. He wasn't sure what it was about, just that he needed to make the deliveries for the payment twice at the abandoned 7 story parking lot of the old, also abandoned, mall that Aubrey, Beca, and Chloe had once upon a time used as well.

Jack was still going on and on about his plight when Beca arrived.

And Beca being Beca, managed to smoothly take over the one-sided conversation. "You know, I have a friend in Lamborghini saying something about an opening in their legal team. Someone willing to move to Milan."

That was all Beca needed to say for Jack to be all ears.

Aubrey would be lying if she said she wasn't at all impressed.

Which brought them back to the old abandoned mall. On the seventh floor of the parking garage, to be specific.

They set up a sting operation wherein Jack made the drop and the detectives came to pick up the dough. Emily was ready to snap photos for proof before being sent home, Aubrey reasoned, she didn't need to be involved with what happened next.

What happened next was that Lilly knocked the two detectives out, and Beca had Justin and Tommy tie them onto two swivel chairs separately. Their legs were tied in such a way so that their feet could barely reach the ground. The chairs were also raised up to maximum height to help do so. Afterwards, the two chairs were tied together, back-to-back, and they were carried up towards the seventh floor where the old barricades that surrounded the enclosure of the parking garage had worn out. They were placed a few meters away from the now open ledge.

Beca always dressed in black when she meant business, at least, that's what Aubrey had observed. She had worn an all-black suit ensemble, paired with sleek black oxfords, and her long brown hair tied back. Aubrey watched her as Beca stood in front of the detectives, waiting for them to wake up, once again fiddling with the lid of her lighter. The sound it made Aubrey soon associated with Beca's scheming. That and her personal brand of justice.

She stood a few feet away from Beca, arms crossed. To her right was Chloe who looked deep at thought. Aubrey could tell she was still upset by Babel and DSM's latest schemes. She would worry more about how things are taking a toll on Chloe if her best friend didn't have Beca by her side. The two of them had still been living together, despite Chloe receiving a call recently that the work being done to her home was completed. Whether Beca knew or not, Aubrey wasn't sure. What she did know for certain was that Beca Bella cared a lot about Chloe. She could anticipate the redhead's needs beforehand, always three ready with a cup of coffee, or water, or snack, and anything else that Chloe needed, especially during the last few days they've been working together to give Babel what's coming for them.

Beca smirked and stopped fiddling with the lighter once the two detectives stirred awake and started trying to free themselves.

"I wouldn't bother if I were you," Beca then said.

"This is illegal!" cried one of the detectives.

"This is insane!" cried the other.

"What's illegal and insane is two officers accepting bribes to cover up a murder and present it as a suicide," Aubrey chastised. She couldn't help it.

"You have no proof!" the older of the two detectives said.

"Oh, we do," Beca then replied calmly. "We have all the info we need about your extra-curricular activities." Beca sighed and placed her hands in her pockets, before walking towards the two detectives. She placed a foot on top of one of the swivel chairs. "If you die here, we can pin it all on a exchange gone wrong. You're names forever besmirched by your corruption," she then said before kicking the chair lightly towards the open edge of the seventh floor.

As soon as the chair started moving, the detectives panicked and tried their best to stop their tracks. But when their chairs started shaking, almost toppling over in their efforts, they stopped and prayed they don't reach the edge. They did not.

"A seven-story drop would be fatal, I believe," Aubrey then commented and marched towards them and gave the chair a light kick, making them barely move a few inches closer.

"They were, in a way, accessory to the crime of murder, it wouldn't be hard to believe that whoever they helped would have done them in too," Chloe then said, moving towards the detectives and giving their chairs a hefty kick that sent them speeding to one side, stopping a few feet of the edge of the building.

"You're not really going to kill us, are you?" the younger of the two detectives asked, fear clearly evident in his tone. "P-please, I have a wife. He has a wife too, a-and kids, please, please, don't kill us."

Beca walked towards them and placed a foot on one of the hand rests. If she gave it her all in the next kick, Aubrey surmised that she would send them careening towards their doom.

But instead of giving a kick, Beca started applying pressure in the chair, rocking it back and forth. Before stopping. "How about I make you a deal?" Beca then asked. "You answer our questions, and you'll be free. Fair?"

"Y-yes," they both replied and gulped.

"Who hired you?" Beca asked. "We already know it's Babel and DSM, but I want to know who gave the order. Who's on top?"

"We don't know that, w-we just got a call from the Kommissar. She handles all the business. Before it would be Pietro who called us," the older detective replied.

"Y-yeah, and we only get instructions, we don't ask why," the younger detective then said.

"Who killed them then?" Chloe asked, with barely concealed contempt in her tone. "Were you the hired killers too? Or do you not know who you are covering up for?"

"Hangers, their called. A gang, real bad rap sheet," the older detective said. "We were instructed to clean up their mess and how, but we weren't asked to kill anyone."

Chloe huffed and marched towards where Beca stood, she raised one of her legs with force, about to kick the chair. Aubrey panicked a little, and was about to rush to stop her, but in the end she didn't.

Mostly because she didn't have too.

"Chloe," Beca said, her tone so soft. She gave her a look before shaking her head.

Chloe huffed again and put her foot down. "I wasn't going to go all in," she mumbled.

Beca chuckled. "Don't wear your heart on your sleeve," she then said. "Your enemies will exploit it, you know."

Chloe huffed once more before walking back to Aubrey. She seemed a whole lot calmer after that exchange.

"And piece of advice," Beca then added towards the detective. "You may think you're above it all, because you wear a badge as your shield. But that badge doesn't stop monsters like me from exacting justice on people like you. What goes around comes around, and you can never beat someone who's not afraid of death in this dangerous game you're playing."

Beca took her foot of the seat and turned around. She signaled for them to walk away, and so they did.

"Hey! Are you not gonna set us free? We delivered our end of the deal!" the older detective shouted.

Beca stopped on her tracks and raised two fingers, before bringing it down to one. "What deal? You had no other options. You were never in the position to make any bargains. Be thankful you keep your lives," she said before raising her second finger again. "I'm sure, you can free yourselves if you try really hard. We said we'll let you keep your lives, not free you. Understand the terms of your agreement before signing onto them."

Beca smirked and then turned to leave again. The younger of the two detectives cried out this time, "How about our money?" he asked but Beca made no attempt to stop.

Chloe shook her head. "We decided to donate it to a better cause," she said before following Beca.

Aubrey bid the two farewell, her mind onto the next phase of their mission. "Hopefully we don't meet again, detectives."

She caught up to Beca, thinking about the Hangers. She has indeed heard of the gang. If they were to use them to nail Babo down, that would mean they were up against really dangerous enemies. They had to prepare. Besides, from what Aubrey has heard of them, some members were also officers in the police department. She assumed she could rule out the other two who cracked so easily under their intimidation tactics.

This also meant they would have to further push the boundaries of what they were willing to do if they were going to make them crack.

Aubrey had a lot to prepare for.

"You could be a consigliere, you know?" Beca commented. Aubrey hadn't realized that the two of them ended up matching their pace, letting Chloe lead the way back to Beca's car.

"I assume that's a compliment?" Aubrey then asked.

"Make of it what you will," Beca replied with a smirk.

"Just make sure no one dies in the same room as the person who will be covering up for you," Aubrey retorted.

"At this point, death will be a mercy, an escape," Beca commented before she sighed. "The only time any of them will die is after they've suffered in agony, that much I can promise. But if I can help it, let's take away all they hold precious and bring them to justice."

Beca picked up her pace after that, leaving Aubrey alone with her thoughts. Beca's words echoing in her mind.

She wondered if it would ever be truly possible to do just what Beca promised without any one dying in the end?

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (1/?) | Bechloe Mafia AU/Bechloe Vincenzo AU

Until We Meet Again Beca scanned the room, the recorder seemed slightly off at an angle from where it was placed. Otherwise, nothing else was misplaced. She stepped only a foot outside her bedroom door to peer at her front door. She used the mirror on the consul table in the foyer to study her locks. The door was shut close but the locks were no longer on. Beca calmly shut the door to her bedroom. She only had a few minutes to think and act fast. On her bed she fluffed her pillows together and covered them with the blanket. Next, she reached out for a book on her desk, its contents hollowed out, for a small hand gun and a silencer, her eyes scanning the reflective surfaces of the glass doors that led to the balcony and the mirror on her vanity table as she put them together. She drew her curtains close, but not fully so that the light outside still illuminated the room. Once that was done, Beca turned off her lights in the bedroom and the master’s bathroom before she quickly hid in her walk-in closet. The lights were off as well but she did leave a tiny bit of gap open so she could watch things unfold. It didn’t take long for two men to carefully open her doors, guns at the ready as they entered the room. Silencers were attached to the muzzle. The shot at the pillows, assuming it was Beca underneath the sheets, before turning on the lights. The two exchanged looks before ripping off the sheet to reveal the now punctured pillows. Beca took that as her chance and shot them as she stepped out of the bathroom. Two shots, two bullets, and two dead assassins on her floor. From outside her bedroom, she caught a glimpse of two more shadowy figures move. Instinct took over and before they could raise their weapons, they were left bleeding on the floor. She might have to move her plans a few hours ahead of schedule. Read the rest at ao3