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It wasn’t like they couldn’t hear her, the floorboards were thin. Both boys could hear her frustrated anger, the steam blowing down acting as targets. “This wouldn’t have happened if you just did as she requested.” Lockwood glanced out of the corner of his eye, George was lent up against the worktop with his arms crossed. “I tried to make good out of her name.” He was quick to reply, bitterly, no doubt sooner or later she might break something in the basement..or herself. “You don’t learn, do you, Lockwood. She made it clear. I’ve already said this to you and you’ve done fuck all. You called her an asset ! Who does that?” His eyes returned to the paper before him, shaking it out as if to say he was done with the conversation although it wasn’t that easy. “I misspoke. I already said to let her cool off before talking to her. Wasn’t it you who wanted me to fire her.” The other boy’s brows furrowed, his breath deepened as he took in slower breaths, trying to calm down. George stepped up, moving towards the basement as he mumbled loud enough for him to hear. “You’re a real dickhead, Lockwood.”
He heard him walk downstairs to find the basement, at least he wasn’t with the skull. To be truthful he didn’t quite understand why Lucy was so pissed off at him. He’d done her a favour right? Let her into his home, employed her, saved her bloody life, listened to her conspiracies and protected her from George wanting her gone. The least she could do was be grateful. Maybe hiring a listener was a bad idea, or maybe it’s just her. He recalled George finding her in the bath, clothes on and completely under where she couldn’t breath, the door unlocked where anyone could have walked in, was she trying to… No no, she wouldn’t do that..right?
She had a tendency so far to do quite risky and reckless things. Such as not listening to him the first time he’d told her to come with him when they’d set the house on fire, she’d practically fallen on him just so she wouldn’t end up on fire. Also earlier that morning, with the ring. He’d already been sceptical, but letting the type two into her? She must be insane. Oh but her hands were so warm and hearing the words ‘I love you’ coming from her… Originally they had been. When she first cupped his face, but the more she spoke and the more panic and fear that entered her eyes the colder they became, like the type two was draining the life from her, exhausting her being. The thought of her hands back on his face caused a light blush to spread across, he recalled her face when she saw he was shirtless in bed. Definitely better than seeing George do yoga naked.
“I’m fine, George.” He didn’t budge from his spot, sat on the second to last step of the stairs watching her aggressive, unthoughtful yet slightly graceful movements. “Fine people don’t mutter under their breaths about wanting to throw a rapier at others.” Maybe he should be grateful she didn’t glare at him, he’d been on the receiving hand of her anger a couple of times already, she could probably beat him in a fight. Yet Lucy just slowed down, her rapier lowering yet still in hand as she took in deep breaths, trying to hold everything back. “He didn’t mean it, calling you an asset.”
“I want to hear that from him. Otherwise, every agency is the same.” George didn’t know exactly what happened in her home town or previous agency, she’d only spoken about it in relation to his interest in everything. “For fucks sake George, I woke up after falling from the top floor of a building because he said jump, and he wasn’t there. I could hardly breathe and there was no-one. In the hospital, he wasn’t there. Didn’t even notice, did he.” Now he couldn’t argue with that. She had come back in a scrub and Lockwood had only said that it was an interesting choice in fashion. Lockwood was reckless. The boy heard her suck the air between her teeth, the kind of way so no one hears you cry. He was unsure of what to do, he wasn’t too keen on physical touch let alone hug a girl who’s only been living there for a week. Bit strange. Lucy flinched when she felt him gently, but incredibly awkwardly, pat her shoulder. Like she was expecting something else..
“He’s just a bit of a dick.”
She laughed lightly, agreeing with him. Sure he could be kind, stand up for her when strangers she’d only heard about called her sweetheart but it didn’t excuse the other things. She wished that her and George had bought some pizza back, it was really good and you couldn’t get anything like that back home..no. Back there. “Do you want some tea?” Nodding lightly she followed him up the stairs, asking if she could have an extra sympathy biscuit which was quickly shut down. Biscuit rule always applies no matter what.
When re-entering the kitchen no words were spoken, no glances at least not on her behalf. Lockwood gave glances from behind his paper every few moments, she wouldn’t look at him. George had already accused him of only hiring her because she was pretty, claiming there was a certain way he looked at her, like she was some angel who’d appeared before him. Not that Lockwood believed him of course. That would be unprofessional and outrageous. Really a petty claim. Least George could see the 'please Lucy give me attention' face. The three were snapped out of the awkward trance when someone was knocking against the front door, as if they were trying to break in. The trio took careful looks to each other, there wasn’t an appointment today, not that Lucy would dare step foot out that door with him anytime soon.
Lockwood pulled the chain and opened it to reveal a woman, brown scraped back hair and an expression that he couldn’t place. “Oh it is you! You have my daughter, she ran away the silly thing.” Without speaking the woman let herself in, much to his annoyance, it wasn’t polite to just walk in. Oh yes, just come into my house why don’t you. The woman who was most likely Lucy’s mother bustled her way into the kitchen where the talking was, barging her way in. “There you are child!” Lockwood easily overlooked the woman, watching Lucy’s eyes go wide as if they were back in the house they’d burned down, like there was a ghost about to lock her. It wasn’t the only thing he’d observed. The hand holding her mug tightened, shaking ever so slightly as she nearly split some tea on the floor, the other hand gripping into the worktop behind her, knuckles going white. Her entire body was closed off. “What are you..Why did you let her in Lockwood!?” The woman pursued her lips, brows dipping. Oh god they’d receive a noise complaint won’t they.
“So this is where you went girl! Threw yourself at the first boys who’d have you. God I raised a whore. I have barely anything because of you!” Before the woman could continue Lockwood stepped in. “She’s not a whore. No one’s done anything to her.” Underneath his calm facade he was livid, his blood boiling. Sure he’d heard untasteful words before but only in passing or literature but towards his colleagues, his friends, to her. He’d throw chains at them even if they weren’t a spirit or just use his rapier. His hand tightly wrapped around his handle, prepared to use it if it was really necessary.
“Yeah right. Tell me boy why the hospital called me about a Lucy Lockwood. Knocked her up have you!?” The boy's face went pink, tips of his ears nearly fading into red. He didn’t know she had been admitted to the hospital, let alone under his name. He looked back slightly, she still hadn’t moved, she looked like she’d been ghost locked, just no cloudy white eyes. “George take her up stairs.” The second boy nodded, lightly grabbing Lucy’s arm in order to manoeuvre her around. The mother grabbed George’s arm, holding him aggressively with a strong grip that could bruise. “You really think I’m letting a boy take her to bed. I’m not stupid, I know what goes through pesky teenagers minds.”
“I’m not pregnant. Nothing’s happened and I've been treated with more respect than I ever have been back there.” It was the first words she’d spoken in a while, no stutter, nothing. George let go of her, letting her hands remain at her side whilst the other held onto her rapier, fingers bending around the handle. “Respect? You earn respect. Now come back from this ridiculous excuse of an agency and beg for Jacobs’ to let you back! I need the money.” Lockwood’s eyes drifted from Lucy’s already contorted features to her hand, her thumb was picking at her neatly polished nails, blood dripped from her fingers staining the crevices of her hand red while it dripped onto the floor. Small individual puddles of pure blood. His hand gently brushed against hers, trying to invite himself into her, light touches of their fingers before he felt hers settle against his knuckles and his against hers. Holy shit, I’m holding her hand. “Do you want to go with her, Lucy?”
“No.”
“What about Norrie, Lucy? What if she wakes up and you’re not there? Come on, you want to see her don’t you?” Lockwood could feel the way her fingers tightened, the way her breath hitched as she moved her eyes away to the floor. Lucy oh so desperately wanted to see her again, yet her parents hated her. Blamed her for the whole fiasco. The fact her entire team died because she had run off…because..he closed the door on her. The entire town blamed her. “She already said no.” George had piped in, he had been standing to the other side of her, he was a boy with awful social skills and bad timings. “Do you think I care, child? You are harbouring an illegal agent. Don’t you have to have grade 4 to be employed, last I checked this sorry excuse of a daughter failed to achieve that after her little stunt.”
“He’s right, I said no.” The woman whipped her head around, frowning with malice in her eyes. He was too slow to stop what happened yet they all heard it, the sound of a hard slap. Lucy’s head had moved as her cheek glowed red ever so slightly. Lockwood could feel the way she tensed up, flinched but no remark came from her lips, like she was used to this treatment. “Wasn’t talking to you, brat.” It was his time to hold her hand tighter, his blood boiling more as he tried to regain his composure. Nobody. Nobody was to lay a hand on his friends.
If she really wanted she could get DEPRAC involved, they’d be shut down. Lucy would be removed and George would either be forced to go home or find some other agency. Not like Fittes would take him back. “She can be trained to achieve that. Ma’am if you don’t leave these premises and leave Lucy alone I will be filing a complaint. I don’t take kindly to people who call my colleagues whores. ” His thumb trailed across the back of her hand, hoping to soothe her somewhat. “You’re a child, what could you possibly do?” The sound of metal scraping made both Lucy and George turned their heads, he’d removed his own rapier, not aiming it but pulled it out. “Are you threatening me!? You’re as bad as she is with her disobedient behaviour!” His brows furrowed slightly, trying not to give this woman any satisfaction. “No, I’m giving you a choice, leave or I will threaten you.”
She didn’t move for a few moments, mouth agape as she counted her options. “Fine, keep her! I don’t need to bring that whore home to disgrace me even more! I have other daughters that make me proud, you useless child.” The woman didn’t wait for anyone to let her out, letting herself out and giving the poor door a noticeable slam. The noise caused her to slip her hand away from his quickly as Lockwood sheathed his rapier. “Luce..” Fingers gently brushed against her elbow, trying to soothe her (Which he was generally shit at) only for her to flinch and move herself away from his touch. “Don’t- please don’t.” Her words were barely audible as she wrapped her arms around herself, leaving the kitchen for her room without any other sound. It wasn’t until now that Lockwood noticed the blood that stained his own hand, her blood. He brushed his index finger and thumb together, the warm blood dripped from his own hand as he smudged it even more. I should grab the first aid.
George had already bought her tea and two biscuits, courtesy of his kindness , although he would 100% blame her for running out of them by the end of the week. The back of his knuckle hit against her door, requesting entry. A very quiet ‘come in’ followed. He found her sitting against her bed, knees up to her chin whilst her arms wrapped around them. Her eyes didn’t look into his as she usually did to try and claim her strength in the room, now he could see why she did it. She wanted to be seen for her ability. Lockwood placed the small box of first aid on the bed, noticing that her hand was still bloody, she hadn’t cleaned it. Yet now her other hand was bad. Skin missing from the back of her hand to show slightly bloody raw skin as dried blood flaked at her nails. Offering her his hand, finally she looked up, the red bloodshot puffiness and tears that had dried yet streaked down her face looked into his eyes. When she accepted Lockwood made sure his thumb didn’t push into any open wounds as he led her to her bathroom, turning the sink on as water began trickling out. He looked down to her, as if to ask permission only for him to see a curt nod. Lucy had never been looked after like this.
He felt her flinch slightly when the water hit her hand, it stinging. His hands worked with hers, gently washing away the blood that stained her, he couldn’t deny that they were smooth and soft but now wasn’t time to be thinking about her in any way that wasn’t comforting. Maybe this was the side of Lockwood she hadn’t seen. His caring side. The hand towel that was much cleaner than the one in the shared bathroom had been pressed against her hands, drying them off so he could put some plasters and gauze on them. Still no words had been exchanged between them, only soft glances at each other. “Is she why you didn’t want your name out there?”
Lucy was led down, in some donated clothes from Lockwood as hers were in the wash, a fluffy blanket wrapped around her keeping her warm. Lockwood made sure the gauze was tight enough to be stable but not enough to hurt her, his fingers never leaving hers. Such light touches, too nervous to hold each other again. “Yes.” Now it made sense why she lashed out at him. The reason why was she was so persistent on him not saying anything. “I’m sorry, Luce.” She only hummed in response, Lucy just wanted to sleep today off. “Why didn’t you tell me you were admitted to hospital?” Deep down she wanted to ask if he were stupid, did he not remember them jumping off the top of a building? Or has he done it enough times that he didn’t get knocked out anymore. “You weren’t there when I woke up outside the house, nor were you there in the hospital..I thought you had bailed. I wouldn’t have blamed you I guess, I think if Norrie woke up she would blame me, it should’ve been me that night.” Now he could remember. DEPRAC had found him. Guessed they hadn’t found her. Lockwood could see now why she was pissed, why she had been upset and why George had given him a look that morning like he was stupid. Yet…maybe his original thoughts about her were correct. She blamed herself. For a lot, for things that happened before they met. He’d read the paper. That an entire team had been killed yet their leader survived and the blame was placed upon her. Lucy had already told him the correct version.
“DEPRAC found me, I couldn’t contact you. You’re an illegal agent but I can train you, I didn’t know and Luce, don’t place it upon yourself, I don’t think Norrie would blame you ok..” It had clicked for him for how much of a dick he was, the morning he’d arrived back to 35 Portland Row she had been in scrubs. Of course he just made a remark about how it was an interesting fashion choice.. God. “I would never bail on you, Luce. Never.” As he spoke his fingers interlocked with hers, this time she looked at him dried out eyes, warm and soft. “Swear?”
“I swear.”
She seemed satisfied enough with that. Lockwood stood up, his eyes analysing her as she watched his movements. Lucy watched as his lips parted, already missing the feeling of his hand in hers, there was something that Lucy couldn’t quite describe about Lockwood, with his egotistical attitude there was just..something else. “So you’re not going to fire me?” He raised his brow at her, unsure of what to do with himself. “I heard you and George talking.” Oh..that.. “No, I’m not firing you. I need- We need you here. Not because you’re an asset but because you’re Lucy Carlyle.” She had completely noticed his slip-up as her cheeks flushed pink..he.. needed her? Nobody had ever needed her. Not unless she was making money. The air between them became thick, awkwardly thick. “I’ll uh..give you some space, come find George or I if you need anything.” Lockwood stood there, his mind racing as an idea of what to do…people do such things to comfort others right?
He leaned down, wrapping his arms around her tightly, almost afraid to let go. It didn’t go unnoticed by him when she tensed up, slowly melting into his embrace as she reciprocated leaning her head closer to his. This was..nice..very nice. The thought of kissing her cheek flashed through his mind, quickly dismissing it as inappropriate.
Lockwood left Lucy to her own devices, walking into the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea, George sat at the table, nibbling on a biscuit. “Oh Lucy, I need you. If you don’t live here I’ll simply perish!” He put a hand against his forehead while the other clutched at his heart, George’s voice going up an octave as he spoke. The taller boy looked away, his cheeks going bright red as he sipped on the steaming liquid. “Shut it.”
It had been a month since the scenario that occurred in the kitchen of 35 Portland Row, things had gone back to mostly normal, at least it wasn’t just Lockwood George would yell at anymore. “Come on, it’s not too difficult.” Lockwood offered a hand down to her as she landed on her back. “Mmm yeah, like you didn’t trip my leg.” The words had been muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes at his remark. “Here, let me help you.” Lockwood stepped behind her, using his foot so her feet were in the correct position, a slight bend in the knee. His right hand trailed across her arm, wrapping around her wrist, moving it in a more powerful way to grow her strength, while the other hand rested on the side of her waist. He towered over easily yet he kept his head close to hers to guide her. Which was complete bullshit at this point. There had been subtle touches for ages, the brush of her hair behind her ear, holding her hand under the table, buttering her toast for her, small kisses on her hands. It was even worse on calls. Every opportunity he had he wanted her close to him, clinging to her, either metaphorically or literally, this usually caused George to make faces at them, sometimes in disgust or mocking Lockwood behind Lucy’s back.
“Try again.” He moved back to his original place before her, his own rapier in hand as it slid against hers. “I think you need a ladder.” Her blade hooked onto his, lifting his rapier out of his hand with ease as it lodged into the ceiling. His laugh caused butterflies in her stomach. He’s so..beautiful.
The pair sat in the library, a book in Lucy’s hand as Lockwood held the newspaper. Every few moments he would look over, admiring her features, the way the lamp illuminated her face, how her hair simply glowed. Earlier that morning they’d been sitting on her bed as he repainted her nails, all the marks had healed. Although his nail painting ability needed finesse she appreciated what he had done. There was a radio playing in the back on BBC 2, song after song flicking through. It wasn’t until one song that an idea came into mind, it was risky and it would be awkward if she said no, not that he couldn’t accept it because he could. Lockwood sat up, offering his hand out to the girl in the other arm chair. Lucy looked up with a quizzical expression. “Dance with me?” She thought for a few moments, the last time she’d danced with someone was before the call Wythburn Mill incident..with Norrie.
Her hesitation didn’t last long before her hand slipped into his, gently pulling her up as his hand rested on the side of her waist, her’s on his shoulder. The music filled the room as the pair moved, he was so soft with her, like one wrong move and she’d be gone by tomorrow. Lucy’s eyes met his, giving her a kind smile as the warm glow of lamps washed over his eyes. Her heart fluttered against her ribs, no doubt she was blushing hoping that it was hidden in the darkness of the room.
Their dance was slow with a small spin every now and then, Lockwood could only describe her as absolutely stunning. Too soon enough the song ended while a presenter started speaking, the words were not being processed by either of them as eyes bore into each other. “Lockwood-” His lips pressed against hers, clumsily, a surge or teenagers who didn’t know what they were doing. She quickly reciprocated, standing on her toes as fingers buried themselves into his hair, while one of his still held onto her waist and the other cupped her cheek, ever so slightly were his fingertips hidden in her hair.
“Luce..”
George had hazily walked down the stairs careful to not stand on any that creaked, although it wouldn’t wake anyone up. Grumbling to himself when he saw the library lights on. Oh we have to save George, our bills are getting higher, yet you dickhead leave lights on EVERYWHERE! Pushing the door open prepared to rip Lockwood a new one only to see a sight. Lockwood was sitting in his armchair with both feet on the floor, his head resting against someone else's head. Lucy’s head. She was sprawled across him, legs hanging over one of the arms. Her body was nestled into his as her head rested against his shoulder.
One of Lockwood's arms was behind her back, no doubt it would be numb when they woke up, the other rested lazily on her thigh, just above her knee. Quite snores came from him. George hesitated, Lockwood could wait to be shouted at, he pulled a blanket from the abandoned chair and wrapped it around the couple hoping to keep them warm, it was the least he could do. “Still no trousers?” Lockwood looked at him with bleary eyes as if any second now he’d fall back asleep and forget about the conversation entirely. “Trousers are for wimps.” The other boy just left in his t-shirt, pulling the door to so the couple could have some privacy. Lockwood shuffled his head feeling the tense muscles in his neck, pressing his lips softly to Lucy’s forehead as he mumbled ‘Goodnight, Luce’. Giving her one final kiss on her cheek as his head rested once again against her's, falling into a peaceful slumber.