Chapter Text
Lockwood was going to pay for this.
It was bad enough that he continued to drag everyone on each new adrenaline-seeking adventure since the Problem faded, but this was a whole other level of cruel and unusual, and he HAD to know it.
"Come on, Luce! I promise you'll love this. Besides, it's not nearly as high as the roof of Winkman's warehouse, and you jumped off that with me into the Thames, no problem. This is gonna be a walk in the park!"
I hadn't even realised I'd frozen, effectively blocking the entrance to the long, mailbox-shaped tent. Lockwood and Flo were already halfway to the benches where a few others I didn’t know milled about, while Quill, Holly, and George were crowding behind me, trying to peer over my shoulder at the monstrosity that took up the entirety of the room.
A giant white net stretched from one end of the tent to the other, curving upwards a dizzying height at each end, with four blue goal-post shaped frames stretching up and over at regular intervals from which everything was rigged. At the far end towards the top, a tiny board was suspended in mid-air, and hanging from the two middle frames were apparatuses that could only be trapezes. My mind was instantly thrown back to that horrible case with La Belle Dame Sans Merci at the Palace Theatre in Stratford...
Seeing Lockwood placidly following the shimmering ghost onto the stage; the feeling of my stomach in my throat as I plummeted down from the balcony; time coming to a crawl as I swooped forward, watching him reach towards his death; crashing painfully to the landing mats, not even knowing if I had made it in time-
"You gonna stand there all day?" Quill’s complaint broke me from my nightmarish memories, causing a full body shiver to course through my body. I surged forward, suddenly uncharacteristically self conscious at realising I had been blocking the doorway.
On the other side of the giant tent, Lockwood and Flo were already talking to some others. A couple had staff shirts on- those must be the coaches, but others looked like they may be here to participate as well. Many of them were doing various warm-up exercises.
Great, there will also be an audience to contend with.
Lockwood came back towards me, taking my hand and hurrying me along to the benches. We stopped in front of a man even taller than he, with a bald head, glasses, and a welcoming smile.
“Eric, this is my girlfriend, Lucy. She’s the one that might be a bit nervous still. Luce, Eric has been doing this for 25 years, and he hasn’t seen nor heard of anyone dying!”
“Gee, thanks, Lockwood. What a comforting thought,”I deadpanned, shaking the coach’s hand. “Nice to meet you. Lockwood, here, knows I’m not a fan of heights, so this particular activity was a bit… unexpected to walk into.” I glanced over towards the offending boy with an icy smile.
We had known each other for going on eight years now, since the day I first knocked on the door to 35 Portland Row. We had been together as a couple for half that time, and my talents had been the last to fade this last May. Even the Problem was practically a thing of the past at this point, and we all had our differing methods to cope with the various losses. George was going back to school, and I threw myself into my art. Lockwood, of course, was hit the hardest with his “loss of purpose,” as he puts it, and has been chasing that rush of adrenaline ever since by dragging us to more and more reckless and ridiculous activities.
It all started with a couple Visitor-themed escape rooms. Then, Flo introduced him- and, by proxy, us- to the local rock climbing community. After he made it to the top of Gritstone (Or, Gritscone, they liked to call it for some reason), he was inspired to acquire a motorcycle licence. He then found a diving class to sign us all up for, which soon turned to parkour, and before I knew it we were urban spelunking just for fun. There were a couple activities we weren’t told about beforehand so Lockwood could surprise us, and apparently they all decided that I shouldn’t know about the treetop obstacle course until we were already there and it was too late to back out. Seems like this had been another one of those times.
A voice rose over the chatter, bringing me back to the moment. “Alright, friends! Feel free to take your shoes off, and put them in the red cubbies over here, along with any bags or water bottles. Once you’re all ready, we’ll give you the run-down of how this evening is going to go.”
By the time I had followed the instructions and sat down on the bench, a couple people had already started the ascent up the dizzyingly tall ladder tied to the side of the rig. I watched them near the top, and swallowed nervously. This was at least twice as high up as the obstacle course. There was no way I would be able to make it all the way up there.
Absolutely none.
Once we were all seated, Eric began to explain the whole process. Apparently we were supposed to hang by our knees on the bar way up in the air, and backflip down??
He paused what he was saying, seeing that the two up on the board were ready, and, after putting some leather gardening gloves on, grabbed a hold of a long, thick, orange rope hanging from the closest frame. I looked up, and to my utter horror, one of the girls was leaning out so far off the impossibly high platform, I didn’t understand how she wasn’t falling. The other swung the bar into her outstretched hand, and after a tense moment, she jumped, grabbing the bar with her left hand just in time to plunge down towards the net. Someone - was it me? - let out a high-pitched squeak.
She began kicking her legs in a rhythm as she swung back and forth, until the third swing forward, when she just let go at her highest point and plummeted down. Landing on her back in the net and bouncing to her feet, she began taking off the lines that had been attached to a blue belt around her waist.
As everyone around me burst out into appreciative hoots and applause, I glanced at Lockwood with wide eyes. Of course, he was just radiating with excitement, his eyes unable to tear themselves away as the coach still on the platform reached out with a comically long and skinny pole with a small hook at the end to retrieve the bar and lines. A quick look around confirmed that everyone else was just as entranced at the performance as he was. The girl came towards the edge of the net nearest us, layed down, grabbed some handles there, and rolled forward, landing on her feet on a mat underneath. Someone else had already begun to climb the ladder.
I suddenly realised that Eric had continued his speech, and was talking about what we were going to be doing once we got to the top of the ladder.
“Once Aurora switches out your ladder safety line for your flying safety lines, she’ll put her hand in the back of your belt, and you’ll be ready to start your take off. We call it a take off because it’s an active thing that you have to do- We won’t push you off, there’s no trap door- no tricks, no surprises, promise.
“So, once Aurora has her hand in your belt, she will show you where to grab on with your left hand, then you’ll place your feet over a couple orange squares at the edge of the board, ten toes off the edge. Now here comes the weird part. You are going to lean your entire body forward, including and especially your hips, while reaching out with your right hand. Everything in your brain and body is going to tell you to keep your weight over your feet, which is normally a good thing because it keeps you from falling off of high places, but today you signed up to jump off on purpose!” He was demonstrating the body shape as he spoke, and anxiety really started bubbling up in my stomach. People do this regularly? For fun??
At this point, the second person lept from the platform, performing similar movements to the first. Except this lady wasn’t wearing a belt, or had anything attached. I stared for a moment, wondering how in the world she was still alive.
Eric explained the movements we were supposed to make for the knee hang, and how it was all about timing instead of strength. Once we brought our legs back down- he paused to pull the lines for one more student- three quick kicks right before letting go would create an automatic backflip.
“Now, whether you do everything perfect the first time or you hang semi-paralyzed with your mouth open for 30 seconds, the ending will always be the same- you will land soft and safe in the net. Are there any questions?”
I looked at my friends, starting to feel sick to my stomach. World’s biggest, coolest swing set, my ass. Is this really something we were doing? How could even Holly and George look excited?
“Great! Let’s get your belts on.” Eric and one other coach still on the ground, Amy, descended on our group with blue belt harnesses, which they cinched to the point where I could hardly breathe.
“Tight means it’s safe!” Amy, affirmed. “Now, who wants to go first?” Once we all had our belts on, she had knelt in front of a small easel-style white board next to the ladder.
The names already there were Emma, Willow, Sawyer, and Onyx. Those must be the others who were already flying. No one was surprised when Lockwood volunteered to go next, followed by Flo. Quill went next, then Holly and George. My name was added to the very end of the list.
At this point Willow (it must be, based on the list) was already on her second turn. I looked up in wonder as she stood at the edge of the platform, one arm attached to the metal ladder-like thing to her left, and the rest of her body leaning out into empty space. She seemed to not need any verbal queuing for her takeoff, nor while she was in the air. She was flying without a belt again, although this time it looked like she was working to add extra power or height to her swing. When she plummeted down to the net, she landed on her back, bounced up, and flipped forward and around to land on her back again. She finished gracefully on her feet.
I looked around, noticing that my friends were already talking and laughing with the other students and Amy. Amy had taken out some crochet, and was working on a beautiful red and black afghan.
“How are you doing?” George, who was never much of one for small talk, sat down on the bench next to me.
“Well, considering this the closest possible thing to one of the worst memories of my life, and Lockwood knows it… Let’s just say that it’s bringing back a lot of unpleasant feelings.”
He nodded. “You’ll be just fine. Remember, you’re strapped in this time, yeah? And there’s a net, so even if you do fall, you’ll still be safe."
"I know, but-"
"Hey," George caught my eyes and held them with his gaze. "Lockwood wouldn't have brought you here if he didn't believe you could do it.”
That made me pause. He was right. Somehow, Lockwood had always known when he could push my limits and when to leave well enough alone. He had never taken things too far, even if it felt like it to me at the time.
Yet, anyways.
I leaned my head back, closing my eyes. "You're right," I admitted. "As always."
I felt someone sit down on my other side. "You okay, Love?" I realised I had been white-knuckling the bench seat when I felt Lockwood’s hand cover mine. l took a deep breath, turning my face towards him and unclenching my fingers. Nervous laughter bubbled out of my throat.
“What do you think? I’m not so sure about this, Lockwood. The tree obstacle course was one thing, but that was only 10 feet off the ground…”
He entwined his fingers with mine, effectively removing my hand from the bench, and gave a small squeeze. “You’ve got this. I know you do.” He brought my knuckles to his lips.
"Alright, Lockwood! Are you ready?" We all looked over to see Amy pulling down the ladder lines.
His eyes twinkled as he turned his face back to mine, unable to help his excitement. “I guess it’s my turn. I’ll be back soon, alright?” With a quick peck on my cheek, he leapt up and dashed over to the ladder.
“There he goes.” George grinned, bumping me with his elbow. “At least he’s wearing clothes he can move in, can you imagine him hanging from his knees with his tie in his face?”
That got me to chuckle, and we watched as he was clipped in and started climbing. Lockwood had started to turn to more casual attire lately. Today was no exception, with a white quick-dry t-shirt and his grey joggers.
He reached the top with ease, of course. Clambering onto the end of the platform, I could see how much taller he was than the coach up there- Aurora, was it? Would she be able to keep him safe?
Once she finished gathering the blue safety lines, she released him from the ladder lines and invited him into the main section of the board. Then… she hugged him? What was she doing hugging Lockwood?? Oh, those must be the flying lines attached to him. And now…
“What is she doing to his belt?” I wondered aloud. He had turned to face her, and she was messing with the straps on his harness. Was that really necessary? And what were they laughing about?
I tried not to let my jealousy get the better of me as I watched Lockwood follow the steps Eric had described earlier. Aurora did, indeed, have her hand in the back of his belt, and I stopped breathing when he reached out for the bar. She seemed to have braced herself with her thigh on the metal rise to her right and swung the bar into his waiting hand. She then grabbed the rise, adjusting her position so she was leaning back in a deep squat.
“Knee hang!” Her voice rang out. “Second hand on-” Without hesitation, Lockwood let go of the rise he had been holding with his left hand, and reached out so both hands were grasping the trapeze bar.
Oh, he didn’t actually look like he was leaning all that far out, maybe it wasn’t that bad?
“Ready!”
A moment later, Lockwood bent his knees.
“HUP!”
One little hop, and there he was, flying through the air on a trapeze bar.
Once he was half-way through his first swing, Eric started reeling in the thick orange rope and called out, “Legs up, hook your knees!”
Lockwood had his feet under the bar and knees hooked securely by the time he had swung back towards the board.
“Hands off! Arch your back and look behind!” Again, without hesitation, Lockwood completely let go of the bar with both hands, holding his arms straight out in front of him and gracefully arching his back. He was suspended for a long moment in that shape at the front of the swing, almost like he was floating, before plunging back down.
“Reach up and grab the bar… and feet back down where they came from. Now, here comes the backflip-” At this point, Lockwood was heading backwards, back in his original position of just hanging on the bar. “Feet behind you… Kick Forward! Backward! Forward! Let go and TUCK!”
After the last kick forward, Lockwood let go of the bar, brought his knees to his chest, and performed the tidiest backflip I had ever seen (not that I had seen many, but still). On Eric’s call of “Open!,” Lockwood straightened his legs, and landed on his back in the net.
We all cheered. I couldn’t deny it, it was a bit inspirational, and I allowed myself to get caught up in the moment celebrating with everyone.
“That was brilliant!”
“I have to admit, Tony, I’m impressed.”
“Well done, Lockwood, was that really your first time doing this?”
Lockwood stood in the net, walked over to where the girl had dismounted earlier, and mimicked her movements until he, too, rolled forward onto the landing mat. Eric unhooked the flying lines, and, moving towards the ladder, pulled them taught in such a way that Aurora could retrieve them with her long hook from up high.
Stepping down to the floor, Lockwood’s beaming smile gave way to a sheepish grin, his hand finding the back of his neck. “I may have taken a class already, to stake out the place and make sure it was somewhere I wanted to bring you all.”
His gaze flicked over to me, and I knew he had checked it out specifically to make sure I could handle it. I stood, reaching out for his hand. “You know how much I hate to stroke your ego, but that really was quite impressive.”
“High praise, coming from you.” He grabbed my hand, one of my favourite smirks spreading across his face. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close for a brief, but intense, kiss.
I won’t say that this particular effect of Lockwood’s adrenaline high is the entire reason I agree to join him on these outings, but it definitely is a perk.
A voice rang out from above, and we all looked to the board where Flo was leaning out into empty space. “Here’s Flo with her first time knee-hang!” Aurora called out. “Second hand on… Ready! HUP!”
We watched in fascination as Flo flew through the air, closely following Lockwood’s earlier movements as Eric shouted out the instructions. It took her a little longer to get her feet under the bar to hook her knees, so she took an extra swing to complete the trick, but even so it’s like she was made for it.
Maybe this was easier than it seems?
“Looks like it’s my turn,” Quill remarked as he sauntered over to Amy and the ladder lines. “This can’t be that hard. You ready to see how it’s really done, Tony?” He looked over his shoulder, a cocky smirk on his face.
“Oh yes, Kipps. Please, show us!” I had already sat back down next to George on the bench, so Lockwood took the spot on the other side of me, reaching one arm across the back of my shoulders and hooking his ankle over one knee. I leaned into his side, resting my head on his shoulder.
I also couldn’t help but notice the look exchanged between Eric and Amy as Quill started to climb.
Quill was reaching the top of the ladder when Flo rolled forward off the net, whoops and hollers sounding from the group on the ground. Her smile was wide as Eric disconnected her flying lines, and she beamed over at Lockwood.
“Where did you find this place, Locky? What a rush!”
“Isn’t it?” He grinned back at her. I felt his arm squeeze my shoulders.
“I never thought I’d actually be flying one day. And the feeling you get as you fall to the net?” She groaned. “Now, if we could do this under an open sky- that would be the dream.” She turned her attention to me. “How are you doing, love?”
I lifted an eyebrow at her, trying to exude an air of confidence I did not feel. “Just peachy, Flo. I am enjoying watching you all go, though.”
“Alright, here’s Quill! First time knee hang!” Aurora’s voice called out from above. They all looked up to see him leaning out from the board, the bar in one hand and his face filled with the same cocky confidence as before.
At that same moment, Eric, who was holding the long orange rope connected to the safety lines, moved a few extra long steps to the left, a bit closer to the ladder than he had been so far.
“Second hand on!” Quill reached out with his second. “Ready…. HUP!”
Quill leapt off the platform, using his strength to pull himself towards the bar with his arms in a rowing motion and jarring Aurora towards the edge of the platform. He seemed suspended in the air for a long moment, then dropped with a hard whump towards the bottom of where the arc of the swing should have been. Eric skidded a whole metre across the floor before regaining his footing, leaning back to take the weight of the fall. I felt Lockwood flinch slightly at my side, but couldn’t take my eyes away.
Somehow, Quill was able to keep his grip on the bar, but you could tell he almost lost it as he struggled to reposition his hands.
“How’re you doing, Quill?” Eric called out as he made it to the top of his first swing forward.
“I’m… I’m alright!” Quill answered, his voice a little higher than normal.
“Would you like to try the knee hang?”
“Uhh, yes. Yes I would.”
“Great, we’re gonna try it on the next swing forward. Are you ready?... Now! Legs up, hook your knees!”
Kipps pulled himself up with his arms and kicked his feet in front of him, but they didn’t come anywhere near the bar.
“Alright Quill, so we’re gonna try those three kicks to get your feet up to the bar.” Eric was pulling hard on the rope every time his student swung forward. “Keep your arms straight this time. Ready? Kick Forward! Backward! Forward! Legs up!!”
Quill’s feet scrambled for the bar, but still weren’t quite able to find purchase.
“Okay, we’re going to go for that backflip. This time, when I say, you’re going to let go and tuck your knees to your chest. On this swing… Kick Forward! Backward! Forward! Let go and tuck!
Quill kicked his legs and let go of the bar, letting his legs extend out into a small straddle as they came up and over his head. One leg caught on the safety line, causing him to twist slightly sideways and come down to the net on all fours with the rope between his legs.
Holly was called to climb the ladder as Quill untangled himself. He moved to the landing mats and, with some instruction, rolled off the net.
“That was quite a leap you took off the board there, are your hands okay?” Eric unclipped the carabiners from his belt with practised movements, moving to give the lines to Aurora.
Quill looked down, slightly flushed from embarrassment. “A little red, and they sting a bit, but yeah, they’re fine.”
“Next time, remember it’s just a small bunny hop off the board, and try to keep your arms straight during the take off. That’ll smooth out that big drop you had at the beginning. Great first try, though!”
“Thanks…”
“Yeah, you really showed me, Kippsy” Lockwood drawled from his seat, as his older friend stepped off the landing mat.
“Sod off, Andrew . How did you and Flo make it look so bloody easy?” Quill retorted.
“Oh, you know I’m just taking the piss. It’s harder than it looks, isn’t it?” He winked. “Not everyone can be naturally talented like me!”
“You’re such a tosser!” Quill reached over, roughing up Lockwood’s hair to a slew of the younger man’s laughing protests.
“Here’s Holly! First time knee hang!”
“Oh, just kiss already, you two, but be quiet about it. I want to watch Holly!” I nudged Lockwood’s side to get his attention. The boys paused, looking up towards the board. Holly already had her second hand on the bar, but her face was revealing her nerves.
“Ready!... HUP!” Aurora called. Holly did a little hop, but didn’t seem to make it off the board. In the same movement, she folded forward at the waist so she was looking straight down. We heard a surprised squeak, and could see more than hear Holly insist to be pulled back. Aurora stayed calm, however, and was soon able to coax her back to a standing position.
“Alright, Holly, you’ve got this,” Aurora called after a few more words were exchanged. “Ready!... HUP!”
Holly made another little hop, this time fully making it off the board. I saw Aurora do a little happy dance as Holly flew forward, a thin scream piercing the air as she reached the peak at the front of her swing.
“How are we doing, Holly?” Eric called up to her.
“This is great!” Holly kicked her feet like she was trying to run on thin air and giggled.
“Would you like to try the knee hang?”
“Yes, let’s do it!”
“Alright, I want you to bring your legs up on this next swing. Wait… Now! Legs up, hook your knees!”
Holly swung her legs up to barely catch her toes on the bar.
“Yes! That’s it, get them up there… That’s it! Great job. Now stay in that position, squeeze your knees, toes down... Wait… Aaand, hands off!”
Holly hesitated only slightly before letting go of the bar, bringing her arms down towards the net and arching her back elegantly to reach back towards the catcher’s trapeze. Of course she would look the best out of all of them so far.
“Great job, Holly. Hands back up to the bar… and feet down. Now, how about that backflip?”
Holly completed the backflip without challenge, and soon was on her back in the net, laughing.
“George!” Amy called.
“Well, here goes nothing.” George said to himself as he stood up, looking back to grin at me and Lockwood.
We watched as Holly rolled off the net as everyone else had done so far, and as soon as she was free she jumped off the landing mat to shouts and cheers.
“Oh my gosh, Lockwood, that was so much FUN!” Holly exclaimed, skipping up to us. “Getting off the platform was absolutely terrifying-” She cut herself off, shooting a glance in my direction. “Sorry, Lucy, it wasn’t that bad, really, and Aurora is so helpful up there- but once you’re in the air, it’s just exhilarating! Thank you so much for bringing us here!”
My stomach dropped, and that buzz of anxiety came back in full force. I’d managed to distract myself watching everyone else go, and had completely forgotten that it was something they were all expecting me to try as well.
And I was after George.
Who was already at the top of the ladder.
Shit.
“Luce?”
My eyes darted to the whiteboard with the list of names, and I could feel my brain going fuzzy as my vision started to blur. This was happening too fast. What happened to all the time I was supposed to have from going last??
“Hey, Lucy?”
I blinked. Lockwood was leaning out from the bench to look at my face, his arms tightening around my shoulders. Holly was still in front of us, looking concerned and slightly guilty.
“Hey. There you are.” Lockwood smiled, a soft smile he reserved just for me. “Come on, now, deep breath.” I did so, closing my eyes as he stroked my hair and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I know this is scary for you, but you are going to be brilliant, I just know it.” I continued to focus on my breathing as he pressed his forehead to mine, effectively blocking out the tent so all I could see was his dark chocolate eyes.
“ You can do this , Lucy.”
“I can do this,” I repeated warily.
The space around us erupted in cheers. George must have just landed in the net.
“Lucy? How are you doing?” I blinked and pulled back from Lockwood. Amy was looking over at me from the ladder, carabiners in hand.
Deep breath.
I can do this.
“Come on, Luce, let’s go” Lockwood stood and held his hand out. After a moment, I reached up to take it. I couldn’t help but notice how much my hands were shaking.
He led me over to Amy, and before I knew it the ladder lines were attached to my belt. “Just take it one step at a time,” she encouraged. “It’s okay to be scared- those feelings are valid and real, but you know you’re going to be safe, okay?”
I looked between the coach and Lockwood.
I can do this.
My hands reached out for the first ladder rung.
“Okay.”