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Liam hated Blindhollow.
It wasn't a well-known fact to - well - anyone he spoke with, but it was true. Blindhollow was advertised as a fresh start for humans and hybrids alike. Yet, Liam saw the aftermath of that day first-hand. Most people made it safely to Blindhollow and started their new lives on a clean, fresh slate.
Not him.
He saw how people - hybrids - were slaughtered in the masses. At least a hundred, maybe more. Hunted down and killed like animals. Liam was still haunted by the sight of his family ha-
His hand tightened its grip around his side, the pain of being shot years ago still yet to fully fade away.
He hated Blindhollow.
A mission asked of him by an old friend of his dad had him riding into Blindhollow on the first carriage he could find. The old man was paranoid about his business partner selling his secrets to the town's sheriff. Liam couldn't care less if they were doing that or not - money was money and his ears could pick up all types of gossip.
The fox hybrid easily managed to sway his fee with the carriage driver. Charisma and charm were valuable assets. He shared some rumours of Venompeaks and got intel on the Storm Blades in return. Nothing exciting; plans for keeping the peace between borders and protecting the rights of hybrids.
He had met a couple of the Storm Blade members before. Maybe a year ago? His memory was vague as he was almost most definitely drunk, but the girl with a shaved temple was apparently a drinking professional.
Fay, was it?
Liam shook his head, stepping out of the carriage and onto the main street of Blindhollow. The midday sun had brought out many of the townsfolks: families on their way to church, couples on strolls or bandits trying to find the nearest pub.
Speaking of pubs, he needed a drink.
"Mr Rhodes?"
Liam turned at that voice, sidestepping around a group of excited young boys. His hand found its place on his holster. The man across the street lifted his hat from where it was covering his eyes from the sun, and-
Oh, gods. Virgil Holloway beamed at him, walking towards him with pride in every step.
"Is that really you?" He asked, giving Liam a once-over.
His ears twitch where they lay flat from his hat's wide brim. He was honestly surprised the busy mayor remembered someone like him. A scruffy, cunning fox who would never amount to anything.
Huh. That voice sounded distinctively like his fath-
"I'm surprised you remember me, Holloway," Liam replied, his voice deadpanned as he raised his eyebrow, "It's been roughly five years since we've seen each other, after all."
The mayor gave a hearty laugh at that, pausing to greet some reptile hybrid who passed them both. Liam watched the woman walk away with no fear for her safety. There was no way Blindhollow was actually safe for hybrids - she'd be dead by nightfall.
"You've grown taller than when I first met you, that's for sure!" Virgil smiled, tucking his hands into his trouser pockets with ease, "How's your family? Your mother was expecting a baby last I heard! Gods, they must be at least four or five now, right?"
Liam's chest tightened at his words, his smile his kindness. His heartbeat sped up, threatening to burst out of his chest. "She- Izzy is fine," He replied, his hands clenching at his side - one moved to clasp the pistol grip in a firm hold. "She and my grandma are- they are the only ones left. The rest died the day River Amory ran red with blood. I'm sure you can understand my displeasure in discussing it further. Especially with you."
"O-Of course," Mr Holloway nodded, taking a hesitant step back, "I'll let you continue with your day. Apologies for misspeaking and crossing the line."
As Virgil turned to leave, one hand moving to hold the brim of his hat, Liam couldn't help but scoff. What a shit apology. Virgil Holloway would need to try a lot harder than that to make up for what he had lost.
"Don't think I've forgiven you for what happened to Russ, either."
The older man paused in step, slowly turning to look back at the bandit. Liam could see the grief stirring in those golden eyes. Good. "Y-Yes. What happened to that boy was- it was unspeakable. No one should have to lose that much as a child - especially him."
Liam barked out a venomous laugh. A scoff, full of malice and hatred. How could he talk about it like that? So easy and with not a hint of sarcasm. Russell was- He was-
"Oh, he 'lost so much', huh?" Liam shouted, bordering on hysterical, "He wasn't just- He-- He died, Holloway! It was more than unspeakable, you- You asshole!!"
Holloway turned to face the bandit; his face was horrified by what had just been said. Good. Clearly, Virgil needed more people to tell him how shit of a person he was.
"N-No... No one told you?"
Against his better judgement - the voice in the back of his head that sounded exactly like Russell, screamed at him to be rational - Liam shakily drew his gun from its holster and held it up to Virgil's forehead. The hand was shaky, barely able to keep the sight locked on his target.
"Told me what?"
"He's- Russell's- He's alive," Virgil's eyes searched Liam's face, his expression turning more heartbroken with whatever he saw. "S-Surely, you knew. Right? Someone must've- I- Oh, gods, Liam."
"Prove it." He lowered his gun with hesitance. "Prove it to me, liar." He carefully placed it back into the holster. "Prove to me that Russell is alive, and I won't paint your insides on the sands below."
All Virgil did in response was a small nod, barely more than an up and down. He turned his back to Liam - foolishly - and led him down a side street. The fox hybrid followed close behind. His hands shook with anxiety and adrenaline.
Holloway greeted a couple of people along the way, politely declining any requests for long conversations or drinks at the local pubs. It probably didn't help that Liam was glaring daggers at passersby. He was a hair width away from growling at some of them.
Filthy fucking humans.
He almost walked into Virgil, who had come to a sudden halt. With a glare, and a question forming on his sneering lips, the mayor gestured to the building beside them.
The sign above the entrance was fresh, still bold in colours. Dr Russell Lector's Office. It was weird to see Russell's mother's name instead of his father's name. He could remember the young doctor explaining his reasoning behind a surname switch.
"Do you not like McDermott?"
"It's not that. My mother said there was enough going against my father and me moving to America already. There's only so much of an accent I can hide. Not having a blatantly obvious surname helps too."
"I guess Lector is better than nothing."
"Okay, Rhodes. You might not have the accent for it, but a surname like that gives you away, English."
"Wha- English? What's that supposed to mean!?"
Virgil had climbed the steps towards the office door, giving a gentle knock before grasping the handle. He gave a quick look over his shoulder before stepping inside. Liam trailed after him, hesitance lost in the face of grim fascination.
"Hey, son," Mr Holloway began, causing Liam's eyebrows to furrow. Son? "You're not busy right now, are you? I have a guest you need to see."
The auburn-haired man at the main desk was shuffling papers together, organising them into neat piles. This couldn't be him. Where were his- This wasn't him, this was some sick joke of Holloway, and he was going to blow his brains out the back of his sk-
"No, I just finished with a patient, so I have some time."
He knew that voice. That voice blessed his sleep and gave him the sweetest of dreams. Now it haunted them. This couldn't be right; Russell was dead. He was-
"I didn't expect to hear from you today, Sir."
The doctor at the desk turned to face them, a small smile forming on his perfect lips.
"Is everything oka-"
The words died in his mouth.
"L-Liam?"
The five years had not been kind to either of them. Liam's eyes were drawn to every little detail that was different about Russell. The auburn facial hair that covered his chin was perfectly trimmed and very unlike the clean-shaven look that Liam was used to. His emerald green eyes were dull; shadows had made themselves at home under them greedily. His posture was less confident and more on edge. He favoured leaning on the desk with his left hand because...
His right arm was wooden.
Liam took a step forward, then another, until he was at arm's length. The shaking form of Russell - so beautiful, like always - was beginning to blur. His eyes began to sting as he blinked away tears. Russell's hand (the human one, where was his- who took- what happened to the other one?) hesitantly rested against his cheek, and he couldn't help but lean into it.
"R-Russ," Liam sobbed.
Russell's shoulders curled in on themselves, and- and Liam almost puked at the realisation. Russell didn't look smaller with confidence. He- He--
Liam sobbed, falling to his knees and bringing Russell to the floor with him.
"Oh. Oh, Liam," Russell placated, closing his eyes. His wooden arm came to circle the fox hybrid's back, the solidness digging between his shoulder blades. It was grounding, in a fucked up way, that made him sob.
One of Liam's hands came to rest on the back of Russell's neck, fingers carding through the firey red hair. It was longer than before. His other hand came to rest between his shoulder blades. Between where his- where there should've been-
Russell's back stiffened under the touch.
His hand tightened its grip on Russell's waistcoat; his grip was white-knuckled on the fabric. Russell's arm pulled him tighter, the hand on the bandit's cheek beginning to wipe the tears that ran down his face.
Liam wailed, held tight in the arms of his lover.
He hated Blindhollow, even if it brought back the one man he cared about in this world.
He hated Blindhollow.
Nothing would ever change that.