Archive of Our Own

Never Bet Against a Fiddler

Summary: Johanna Lynn is a lot of things, a Fiddler being one of them, and if the humans knew one thing it was to never bet against a Fiddler. Luckily for her Grimalkin and Majiri didn’t know that and Johnny was the last Fiddler in Palia, that she knew of. When the men who hold Zeki and Reth’s contracts come to town and organize a poker tournament after weeks of her waiting for news about Tish’s singing stone idea she gets her own idea. She has a week to not only get to their table, but to win both contracts and then lose just enough money to fool them into thinking it was just the luck of the draw. But Johanna Lynn was a Fiddler and no one bet against a Fiddler, not even themselves.
Warnings: Spoilers for both Tish and Zeki’s level 4 Friendship Quests! Spoilers for all of Reth’s Friendship and Romance Quests! No Zeki Bashing! Leave the poor Mama’s boy alone! Zeki is Player Character’s Shepp! Named Player Character! Probably best if you listen to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels either before or while you read this! Fix It Type Story!
Ships: Reth x Female Player Character!
Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters, plots, or locations do not belong to me! I am writing only for entertainment, not money or fame!
~ Let the Story Begin! ~
After everything that had happened, everything she had learned, Johnny had taken to spending most nights in the underground, sitting across from the bar and playing her fiddle. It had been a gift from Sifuu and Badruu, a thank you for all she’d done for them, for Kilima, since she’d come to town. She and Badruu played together at the inn sometimes, but she got the most practice sawing on it in the underground. It wasn’t the fiddle she learned to play on, and it certainly wasn’t the solid gold fiddle that had been passed down in her family for generations, but it helped her remember her roots and she’d cried when they’d given it to her.
She couldn’t go with Reth on his deliveries, Zeki would probably chain her to the bar if she tried, but seeing him when he got back and knowing without a shadow of a doubt that he was alright settled her more than he probably understood. She was also able to keep an eye on Zeki, the closest thing to family she had in Kilima, and the Grimalkin may have acted like he didn’t care but she knew deep down that he was honored to be her Shepp and that she cared so much for him.
It had been a few weeks since Tish had had her plant the singing stone in Zeki’s bedroom, something that made her feel guilty for abusing his trust but she knew it was for a good reason- Tish was focused on getting Reth out of his contract but Johnny hoped they would find a way to get Zeki out of his too, when she came into the Underground to find a crowd of her fellow humans gathered around one of the walls not too far from the line of Heavy Metal Chapaa games. At first she assumed someone was on a high score run, but then she noticed that everyone would only stay for a couple of minutes before moving on. Confused, she made her way over to Zeki’s counter, her hip popped out as she crossed her arms over her chest, “hey, Zeki.”
“Hey, kiddo!” Zeki greeted, a smile on his face, “guess you're here for that fiddle o’ yours.” He bent over and pulled the case from under his counter, no one would even think about stealing something they thought was his after all. He placed it on the counter between them. “I’ll be honest I’m gettin’ kinda used to the sound of you playing every night.”
Johnny smiled at him, “I think Reth is too.” Zeki nodded, rolling his eyes slightly at the thought of her boyfriend. He thought she could do better- that she deserves someone who wasn’t wrapped up in all this mess, but he had stopped trying to talk her out of it when she’d given Reth her pin. “So, what’s that mess all about?” she asked, nodding at the crowd she’d noticed earlier.
Zeki glanced over before sighing, “poker tournament. Head honchos are coming to “check in on their investments” before the Watcher shows up. More like they want to put the fear of Maji into Soup Boy so he doesn’t get any ideas about turning himself in along with any information he has.”
“And you,” Johnny sighed, the words bitter in her mouth like Reth’s last knapweed soup experiment.
“And me,” Zeki agreed with a huff.
“When you say “Head Honchos” do you mean the men who are holding your and Reth’s contracts?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Zeki nodded, “the top of the pyramid. Look, I already talked to your cook and told him what I’m about to tell you. If you’re going to be down here while they’re here don’t be stupid and wear those pins where they can see ‘em. We don’t need to give them any more ammunition against us then they already have.”
“I assume I’ll have to get used to you calling me “Johanna” then?” she smirked.
Zeki nodded, “it’s just for a week and then everything will go back to normal.”
“How long is the tournament?” she asked.
“It’ll last the whole week,” Zeki told her, “every night everyone will have to win their way up. The lucky bastard who beats everyone else gets to play the last round of the night against the Head Honchos.”
“When do they get here?” she asked, the gears already turning in her head.
“About a month from now,” he told her. He frowned, “why?”
“Trust me?” she asked, it was a stupid question.
“You know I do, kiddo,” Zeki huffed.
She smiled, “got a pen?”
Zeki frowned, “what?”
“Got a pen? I have a poker tournament to sign up for,” she repeated.
“Johnny,” Zeki warned, his tone reminding her of her father’s when she was pressing her luck when it came to her dating.
“I thought you trusted me?” she pouted. Zeki sighed, knowing he’d lost, and handed her a pen. She made her way up to the sign up sheet, the few human friends she had easily letting her through, and quickly signed her name on the first open line. The name “Johanna Lynn” glowed with a spark of flow for barely a second before the ink returned to its normal black. She quickly returned Zeki’s pen, grabbed her fiddle, sent a wink at her cook, and headed over to set up so she could play.
Reth brought her over an ale, “saw you signed up for the poker tournament, Sweet Tooth.”
Johnny hummed, “we’ll have to talk about it later, talk about a lot of things later. Our spot? 4 am?”
Reth nodded, “sure thing, Sweet Tooth. Did Zeki mention his thing about the pins?”
Johnny nodded, “as much as I hate the idea of those girls seeing you without it, he’s right. We don’t need to give them anything else to hold over your head.”
Reth nodded and pressed a kiss to her cheek, “yeah, I can agree with that. I got a delivery here in a few minutes…”
“I’ll be here when you get back,” she promised, getting a smile out of him.
The rest of the night passed as they usually did: Reth made it back from his delivery with only a bruise on his arm that he’d play off as being clumsy and bumping into one of the barrels in the storeroom, Zeki sold off some furniture he’d commissioned Tish to make for triple what he paid her for it, and Johnny sawed on her fiddle as she watched from her corner, making sure no one dared to hurt her family. Zeki left around two as he normally did, after telling her goodbye, and a couple hours later Johnny packed up her fiddle for the night and placed it back under Zeki’s counter before following Reth up into the storeroom of the inn.
“So, what are we talking about?” Reth asked as he sat down at the little table in the corner.
Johnny hopped up on the table and smiled at him, “I may or may not have an idea for this tournament.”
Reth frowned, “what idea, Johnny?”
“Look, I’ve told you that old superstition about my last name, but I may have forgotten to mention that it has roots in truth,” she sighed, running a hand through her hair. “My family, for a reason I can’t remember, has a deeper connection to flow then any other human. That connection is what led to my family getting the reputation we did. The only people who know I’m a Fiddler are you, Zeki, and a few human friends that have no idea about the Underground, let alone the tournament. If I do this right I can get you and Zeki out of this mess, but I’m going to need you both to trust me.”
“I don’t like this, Johnny,” Reth sighed, “I don’t like this a damn bit…But I know how stubborn you are, and I know that you’ll do it anyway, even if I ask you not to. What do you need from me?”
Johnny pressed a kiss to his forehead, “I need you to trust me, trust me to know what I’m doing and that I won’t forget to make sure Tish is safe too.” Reth nodded, he could do that easily. “I also need you to listen really well to this next part,” she told him. He looked up at her with determination in his eyes. “If I get to that table I’m going to act like I can’t stand you. I’m going to act like Tish is a friend, but you mean nothing to me. That isn’t the truth, you know how much you mean to me, Reth, and I promise that anything you see me do or hear me say while sitting at that table, is a lie. Do you understand me?”
“You’re going to flirt with them, aren’t you?” he asked.
Johnny sighed, “I want to say no, but I know that it may come down to it if I need to distract them.”
Reth nodded, “alright, Sweet Tooth, I won’t hold anything you say or do while at their table against you.” She smiled and kissed him. “You will be making it up to me once they’re gone though, especially if you do what you think you will,” he told her.
“Happily,” she giggled. Reth kissed her again, but they quickly separated. He needed sleep and she needed to get home. She had a month to raise enough money that when she lost the Adders would buy that she’d just had a streak of good luck and they’d gotten carried away while drunk and distracted by her pretty face.
By the time the tournament came around she’d saved up 300,000 gold just for the tournament, it was probably enough to pay Reth’s debt, but not enough to cover Tish’s treatments after that, and it certainly wasn’t enough to pay both Reth and Zeki’s debts and that was her goal. Her goal was to save her father figure, the love of her life, and the woman she one day hoped to be lucky enough to call sister. It was going to be a long and stressful week, but hopefully by the time the Adders left Kilima they’d never have to worry about them again, or the Watchers.
The first night was easy, just some good clean fun. She won a couple of hands, laughed and talked with the people at her table, but quickly lost. She played it off as just a bit of bad luck and no big deal before she left the table to grab her fiddle and move to her corner, making sure to walk passed the Adders’ table as she went while swaying her hips in a way that always made Reth groan and call her a tease. She felt eyes on her the rest of the night and knew the plan was working just as it should.
The next morning when she went to Zeki’s store for some butter, however, the Grimalkin was spittin’ mad and dragged her into the back room with a glare that told her that he’d seen the hand she’d had before she lost last night, and knew she should have won. She let him rant and rave at her until he finally huffed, crossed his arms over his chest, and glared at her silently.
“Do you trust me?” she asked.
“With my life,” he answered easily, still frustrated.
“Then trust me in this,” she told him and squeezed his shoulder. “What is it you’re always telling me? You’ve got to spend more to make more? This is me spending more. This has to be done just right or it will be on all our heads. Just have a little faith, Zeki, and I’ll let you know when it’s time.”
Zeki sighed and cursed under his breath, “fine, kiddo, I’ll let you take the lead on this one, just promise me you’ll be careful.”
“Always,” she promised, “now, can I get my butter?” Zeki laughed and led her back out into the front of the store, letting her finally get what she’d come in for and leave.
That night she played for longer, climbed her way up about halfway to the Adders’ table before dropping out and going to play. She knew she was being watched most of the night, the tallest Majiri at the Adders’ table had even traded seats with one of his fellows to keep her in his sight when she moved to her corner. Good, if he was interested he would be easy to distract and play like the instrument she was named after.
The next night she played her way all the way to the Adders’ table and she could see Reth and Zeki holding their breath as they waited for a signal that this was it, but she gave them the smallest shake of her head and they relaxed just slightly even if they watched her like a hawk. The Majiri she’d caught the attention of introduced himself as Julkin and flirted with her as their game progressed. She played it up, made him think she was drunker than she really was and he had her flustered, and quickly lost.
“It’s too bad,” Julkin hummed as he eyed her, “I hate to see you go so soon.”
“Oh, I’m not goin’ too far, hon,” she giggled, “it was gettin’ a bit too quiet in here for my tastes anyway.”
“Yes, I’ve seen you playing that fiddle of yours,” Julkin smiled, “you’re quite good. I’d love to get a…private show some day.”
Johonna hummed, “maybe one day.” She stood then and went to play, swaying her hips as she walked. She had him right where she wanted him, now all she had to do was snap the trap shut and play it cool the rest of the week.
The next day when she was selling off her extra tomatoes to Zeki she smiled at him. “Are we still on for that poker game tonight?” she asked sweetly.
The Grimalkin studied her for a moment before he caught her meaning and nodded, “if you’re sure you’re ready to lose, kiddo.”
Johonna laughed, “never bet against a Fiddler, Zeki, not unless you’re prepared to lose.”
Her next stop was the inn, which was luckily empty save for Hodari and Hassian and Auni for their daily card game on the back deck. “Hey,” she greeted her boyfriend, leaning over the counter to press a kiss to his cheek.
“Hey,” he smiled at her. He’d steered clear of the Adders’ table last night, but she could tell that he’d seen the way Julkin was watching her and how much he hated it.
“So, are we still on for tonight?” she asked, shooting a glance at Hodari so he’d get her meaning.
His eyes widened a bit when he caught on, but he nodded his head excitedly, “definitely, babe! I can’t wait!”
“Good,” she smiled, “I’ll talk to you later, I’ve got a couple things I have to get done before then. Meet me at Zeki’s around eight?”
“Sounds perfect,” he smiled. She beamed at him before she left, waving at Hodari as she passed him.
At eight Zeki and Reth met her in Zeki’s back room, both looking at her like she was crazy but at the same time that she’d hung the moons and all the stars. “So, it’s tonight then?” Zeki asked.
She nodded, “I’ll have to play all my way back to their table, but then that’s when the fun will really start. When I get to their table I’ll need you to start making their drinks stronger than usual, Reth.”
Reth nodded, “no problem at all.”
“When it starts looking like they’re going to back out, come over and bring me something, anything, and say it's from someone random at the bar. I’ll be standoffish, but that should be enough to get Julkin to put your contract in the pot. Once that hand’s won they’ll be really looking for a way out, but they’ll also be looking for a way to win you back.”
“That’s when I come in, ain’t it?” Zeki asked.
Johonna nodded, “it is. You’ve been callin’ me Johonna all week, but once I’ve won Reth’s contract, find a way to come over and call me Johnny. They’ll realize who I am and that I’d be very interested in your contract. They’ll most likely make it the final hand of the night, all or nothing, but don’t worry I won’t lose. Tomorrow I’ll make my way back to their table but lose big and the last two nights I’ll barely get anywhere close. They’ll leave thinking it was nothing but some good luck and Julkin got a little too drunk and got carried away trying to get a girl.”
“You’re sure about this, Johnny?” Reth asked.
“You don’t have to do this, kiddo,” Zeki told her for what felt like the thousandth time.
“Trust me,” she told them, “I can do this.”
Grimalkin and Majiri looked at each other before sighing and agreeing to go along with her plan. It was a long shoot, but it was the only shoot they had.
That night she went to the Underground in the sluttiest dress she owned, a gift from Jel when he had learned about her and Reth, with her hair pulled up in an elegant twist and her makeup done like she was going on a date. She had hoped that the first time she wore this dress it would have been on a date with her cook, but needs must. She knew Reth was pouting when he saw her and that Zeki was gearing up for the rant to end all rants the second it was his turn to approach her, but so long as everything went smoothly she’d make it up to both of them happily.
She easily played her way up to the Adders’ table and flashed Julkin a flirty smile as she joined them, “I was hoping I’d see you again tonight.”
Julkin’s eyes raked over her and she felt the need to scrub her skin raw until she couldn’t feel them on her anymore. “I was hoping the same, Johonna.”
The game began and slowly but surely she won everything they had on them and they were starting to shift in their seats. Reth came over then, a slice of blueberry pie and another round of drinks for the table. He’d kept them coming steadily and had flirted with her each time he’d come over, but she’d brushed him off, keeping her eyes on Julkin which made the other man smirk. “And this is for you, Sweet Tooth,” Reth said as he set the pie and a fork at her elbow, “from the redhead at the bar.”
Johonna glanced over Julkin’s shoulder to catch a glimpse of a pretty little redheaded human woman sitting at the bar. Of course Reth would choose the only redhead at the bar as the random person sending her this pie. It definitely was from a redhead at the bar, it was just the one manning it instead of sitting at it. “Send her an ale on me, but tell her I’m not interested. I’ve got my eyes on something…bigger tonight, Soup Boy.”
Reth pouted at her choice of nickname and left, muttering about her always being so mean to him. Julkin’s eyes followed Reth before turning to him, “you know our little…errand boy?”
“You could say that,” Johonna rolled her eyes. “He’s a horrible flirt that doesn’t know how to take “no” for an answer. I’m close friends with his sister though, she’s the sweetest little thing.”
“Funny you should mention his sister,” Julkin hummed.
“Oh? What’s Tish got to do with anything?” she asked.
“You never learned why he was here?” Julkin asked.
She shrugged, “I figured that was his own problem. If he wants to be a moron and live his life working off a debt to you, that’s his business.”
Julkin laughed, “the errand boy has a noble heart. His sister was sick and I was the only one who could help, his debt is from me saving her life. Of course he’ll never be able to work it off completely, she’ll need her treatments the rest of her life and they are quite expensive.”
Johonna hummed, “as interesting as that is, Julkin, what does that have to do with me?”
Julkin studied her, “You've won everything we brought to play with, Johonna, would you let us try to win it back if we offered Soup Boy’s contract?”
She had him, hook line and sinker, Einar would be proud. She hummed, “as lovely as spending more time with you sounds, Julkin, as I said Tish is a friend. I may not get along with Reth, but I couldn’t hurt her.”
“What if I insured she kept getting her treatments?” he asked, “That is if you win. I’ll personally insure she gets her treatments, free of charge, until- say- she gets married?”
Johonna hummed and thought it over, she knew Tish would think it a small price to pay for her brother’s life and this would probably be her only chance. “Deal,” she smirked, “but I want it in writing, with all of you signing it.”
“Smart and pretty,” Julkin chuckled, “you’re just the whole package, aren’t you?” She just hummed. “Fine,” he nodded and turned to look over his shoulder at Reth. “SOUP BOY!” Reth looked up with wide eyes. “Bring me a pen and some paper,” Julkin ordered. Reth nodded and rushed to do as he was told. Soon the contract was written out and signed by the whole table, Johonna made sure to read it over three times to make sure there were no loopholes before she signed it. Her mother was a lawyer, so she had faith that there was no way Julkin could get out of this.
It didn’t take long before Johonna was laying her cards out on the table for the men she was playing with to see, she’d won. She could feel the flow running through her veins. She hadn’t lied to Reth, but she might have still been holding back a bit.
When she’d first come to Kilima and had gotten to know Jel, Tish, and Reth the tailor had asked her why she preferred to be called such a masculine name like “Johnny”. She’d told him it was what her Grandfather had called her and he’d let the subject drop, but the truth was that even among her family those named after the original Fiddler, who’d won that fiddle of gold all those years ago, were even more connected to flow then the rest of the family.
Her grandfather had pushed and pushed for most of her mother’s pregnancy for her to be named Johnny, he wanted her to get the best of their legacy, but her mother resisted. When her parents learned that she was a girl they thought her grandfather would give up, and he did- for a while. Then he came back with Johonna and the nickname Johnny. Her father had been the one to come up with the compromise: Johonna Lynn, which used the names both his wife and his father wanted. Her mother gave in, but had only ever called her Lynn unless she was in trouble. Her father had called her JoJo, but her grandfather had always called her Johnny. Now, as she inspected an amethyst the exact color of her eyes one of the men had tossed into the pot over an hour ago as she waited for Zeki to make his way over, she was grateful that Poppaw had gotten his way.
“Johnny!” Zeki hissed, pulling her out of her thoughts.
She turned and smiled at him, “Zeki, lovely to see you!”
“Johnny, what the hell are you wearing?! You got that- that- that napkin you’re calling a dress from Jel, didn’t you? Why when I get my paws on that tailor-!” Zeki ranted.
Johnny rolled her eyes and waited until her Shepp’s rant turned into frustrated mutterings. “Zeki, darling, I’m a big girl,” she told him, “I can dress however I please.”
Zeki let out a hiss, “you’re barely older than a kitten, Johnny!”
Johnny rolled her eyes, “can we talk about this later, Zeki? I’m in the middle of something…” Zeki huffed and stomped off. Johnny giggled, “sorry about that, gentlemen, Zeki can be overprotective sometimes.”
Julkin eyed her for a moment before licking his lips, “so you’re the Johnny Zeki’s told me so much about.”
Johnny hummed, “I suppose I am. Zeki’s the closest thing to family I’ve got now.”
Julkin’s eyes sparkled, “is that so? Well, I think I’ve got an idea on how to carry our game on for just a little while longer.”
“Oh?” Johnny smiled, “And what’s that?”
“One last hand, all or nothing,” Julkin told her, leaning towards her.
“I’m intrigued, but you still need to sweeten the pot,” she teased.
“Zeki’s contract is old,” he told her, “nearly lost its usefulness. I could throw it in.”
Johnny pretended to think it over, “very well, Julkin, one last hand, all or nothing for Zeki’s contract.” She paused for a moment, before holding up the amethyst in her hand, “except this. I think the blacksmith could turn it into the prettiest necklace for me.” She held it down over her cleavage, leaning closer, “don’t you?”
Julkin swallowed and nodded in agreement before turning to look at Reth again, “Soup Boy! Another sheet of paper!”
“And another round!” Johnny called, a smirk on her lips. Reth hurried to bring the drinks and paper over, and after once more inspecting the contract for any possible loopholes their game began anew.
Less than an hour later Johnny was shaking her head sadly at Julkin, “sorry, hon, looks like luck just ain’t on your side tonight.” She packed her winnings into her bag, making sure to keep both contracts in her eyesight as the men around her got up, muttering under their breath. Soon it was just her, Reth, and Zeki left in the Underground, and Julkin was walking with her up the stairs towards Zeki’s backroom.
“I do hope this won’t be the last we see of each other,” Julkin told her as he stood at the doorway.
“Don’t be silly,” she giggled, “there’s still three more nights left in the tournament.”
Julkin smiled, “I suppose there are. I shall see you tomorrow, Johnny.”
“Tomorrow then,” she nodded and watched him leave. She waited, just to be sure he was truly gone, before turning and going back to the bar where Reth and Zeki were waiting. She led them silently up to Reth’s storeroom and locked the door behind them before she finally looked at them.
“Well?” Zeki asked. She stayed silent, but passed him both contracts with a grin. Zeki read them both over three times, just as she had, before grinning up at her like the palcat who’d caught the canary. “You did it,” he laughed, “you actually did it.”
Reth snatched the contracts out of Zeki’s paws to read for himself. “You really did it, and made sure Tish would still get her treatments.”
Johnny rolled her shoulders, still feeling the flow rushing through her veins, “we aren’t in the clear yet. There’s still three more nights and you both still need your runes removed.”
“Yeah,” Zeki nodded, “that’s gonna hurt like a bitch.”
“For you more than me,” Reth agreed, “you’ve had them a lot longer then I have after all.”
“You’ll both be in a lot of pain, probably for a day at the least,” Johnny told them, “but it’s worth it.” The two men nodded it agreement, a little pain was worth being free- especially with a Watcher on their way next week.
The next morning Johnny took the amethyst she’d won from the Adders to Sifuu along with a few bars of silver to have her make her necklace, it would be the perfect touch for what she had planned tonight. Sifuu was happy to make it for her, and didn’t even bother to ask where she’d gotten the supplies. Johnny was part of the miner’s guild after all.
That night she played her way up to the Adders’ table one last time, it was harder than she thought to fight the flow she had embarrassed so freely just last night especially when Julkin was so distracted by the necklace fresh off Sifuu’s anvil, but by the end of the night she’d lost big enough that she hopped it was believable that her luck had run out. “Lady Luck can be such a cruel mistress,” she sighed, watching Julkin pull the pot towards himself.
“Indeed she can be,” he smirked.
“At least I still have this to keep me warm tonight,” she told him, playing with her necklace.
“Are you sure you aren’t up for one last hand, Johnny?” he teased.
“Oh, I wish I was, Julkin, but I’m no fool,” she told him, “I know when my luck’s run out.”
“Will I see you tomorrow night?” he asked.
“I’ll be here,” she told him, “but the cards will land where they may.” Julkin nodded and watched her as she left.
The next night she barely made it halfway to their table before losing and going to her corner to play. The final night of the tournament she dropped out before the first ten hands were up, but before she went to her corner she headed over to Julkin and tapped him lightly on his shoulder.
“Johnny,” he grinned, “how is your luck tonight?”
“Worse than last night, I’m afraid,” she laughed, “I’ve already been bested.”
“Oh? Too bad, I was hoping to play you one last time,” he pouted playfully.
“There’s always next time,” she shrugged.
“Yes, next time,” he grinned. “I suppose this is goodbye then?”
“Not so fast,” she smirked, “you still owe me.”
“Do I?” he asked, frowning.
“You still need to remove your tracking runes from Reth and Zeki,” she told him, “I won them fair and square, Julkin, you’re not going to back out on a deal…Are you?” She looked at him with the biggest, most innocent eyes she could.
“Oh, right, of course. How could I have forgotten,” the man chuckled nervously.
“We’ll meet you at Beachcomber Cove tomorrow morning?” she asked.
Julkin nodded, “our ship leaves at 5:30. We’ll meet you at five.”
“And Tish’s treatments?” she asked.
“I’ll make sure they’re delivered here on the first of each month personally,” he assured her.
Johnny nodded, “I’ll see you in the morning then.” She left him to his game after that, going happily to her corner to play as she watched over Reth and Zeki.
The next morning she was at the cove no later than 4:30, watching and waiting for the rest of her party to arrive. Zeki and Reth arrived together at 4:45 and greeted her with only silent nods, which she returned. Reth and her had discussed it when she had informed them of where and when to be for their rune removal and neither of them had worn their pins today either, though they had brought them with them.
Time passed agonizingly slowly and Johnny was soon pacing the beach as they waited. Five o’clock came and went, but still no sign of Julkin or the Adders. Johnny looked up at the sky and growled, “they’re late. They ship leaves in fifteen minutes!”
“They’ll be here,” Zeki assured her, “not keeping their end of a deal would be bad for business.”
“Indeed it would be,” Julkin’s voice agreed as he and the others made their way towards them. “I apologize if I have angered you, Johnny, it was not my intention. I am normally not late to such important meetings, but someone,” Julkin glanced at one of the Majiri behind him, Johnny hadn’t bothered to learn his name, “seems to have over celebrated last night and overslept.”
Johnny hummed, “we should get moving, or your ship will leave without you.” Julkin nodded. “Zeki first,” she told him. Julkin nodded and waved at Zeki, glaring at the reason he’d been late. The Majiri stepped forward and was quick to do his job. When Zeki nodded at her Johnny nodded at Julkin, “Soup boy’s turn.”
Julkin hummed and nodded at the man who moved forward and grabbed Reth’s arm in a grip so tight Johnny was sure it would bruise come dinner time. When the man released him Johnny could see that the runes had vanished from Reth’s arm, but still she waited until he nodded before she turned to Julkin. “You’ve held up your end for now,” Johnny nodded, “you should get going. It’s nearly a ten minute walk to the docks from here.”
Julkin nodded, “until next time, Johonna.”
“Until next time,” she nodded. She watched them until they were out of sight before turning to the Grimalkin and Majiri behind her. “It’s over,” she breathed, “it’s finally over.” Both men collapsed in a mix of relief and pain and she rushed over to them. “Reth, roll down your sleeves, and put on your pin, we don’t want anyone getting too suspicious,” Johnny told him and he rushed to do as told. Johnny looked Zeki over and cursed, he’d passed out. She looked up at Reth, “you’re going to have to help me carry him, just until we reach Hodari’s place. Hopefully by the time we get there Auni will be dropping off the mail and we can send him to town for Nai’o.”
Reth nodded, “what…What’s the story?”
“Just tell them you and Zeki were out here talking about me but you can’t remember what happened,” she told him, “I’ll take care of the rest.” She was lucky that she’d already talked to Zeki about their cover story last night when he walked her home. Reth nodded and they carefully picked Zeki up and slowly made their way towards the Pavel family home.
They had just barely reached the lake in front of Hodari and Najuma’s home when Reth’s body gave out and Johnny was forced to the ground under the two men’s combined weights. Luckily, just as she had hoped, Auni was at the Pavel’s mailbox. “AUNI!” she screamed, not caring if she woke the Pavels.
The young blonde turned quickly and his eyes widened when he saw the state she was in. He ran to her side, “Johnny! What happened? Are you okay?!”
“Auni, listen to me,” she told him, gripping his shoulder, “go back to town, get Chayne and Nai’o, hell get anybody to help me get them back to town, okay?”
“Chayne and Nai’o, got it!” Auni nodded, dropped his bag at her side, and ran back towards the gate leading back into Kilima. Johnny hadn’t realized how much faster he was without that backpack on.
Her yelling had apparently gotten Najuma’s attention because she could hear her voice screaming “DAD!” as Johnny turned her attention to Reth. He was out cold, just like Zeki, but it seemed the fall, luckily, hadn’t hurt either of them.
Hodari was the first to reach her and he looked them all over with worry before turning to her. “What happened?” he asked.
“I-I was up early, looking for a Rainbow-Tipped Butterfly for Jina,” Johnny whimpered, “I found them out at the cove! I was there just an hour ago, but they weren’t. Reth was trying to get Zeki back to town but he was hurt too. We managed to get this far before Reth just collapsed! Auni was delivering the mail, I sent him for Chayne and Nai’o. ‘Juma must have heard me yelling for Auni’s attention and went to get you.”
Hodari nodded, “it’s gonna be alright, Johnny, we’ll figure out what happened.”
“Oh, Phoenix, what happened?” Johnny cried, “why were they even out here so early?”
It took only a few minutes for Auni to return, Chayne, Nai’o, and Ashura following behind him. “Johnny, what happened?” Chayne asked as he knelt between the two men, looking them over.
“I-I don’t know!” she cried, “I found them on the beach, at the cove. I had been there just an hour before but must have just missed them! Reth was trying to get Zeki back to town, but was hurt too. We got this far before he just collapsed!”
“Did Reth tell you what happened?” Ashura asked, studying her seriously.
“No, he said he couldn’t remember, just woke up in pain and Zeki was out cold next to him!” she told him.
“We need to get them back to town,” Chayne told them, “I can’t find any obvious injuries, but that doesn’t mean much. They’ll need to be monitored for at least the day. Hopefully Zeki will have some answers for us when he wakes if Reth does not.”
Ashura and Nai’o carefully scooped Zeki and Reth off the ground and Chayne helped Johnny to her feet, letting her lean on him when she realized that she’d twisted her ankle in the fall. When they got into town Tish was the first to see them and her ear piercing scream of her brother’s name got the attention of the other residents, though neither Reth nor Zeki even twitched.
Chayne let Tish take Johnny as he went with Nai’o to ensure Zeki was comfortable while Ahsura, Tish, and Johnny took Reth home. Ashura told Tish what Johnny had told Chayne as they walked, Sifuu of course overheard and was off like a firework to inform the rest of town. Tish settled Johnny on the couch while Ashura put Reth to bed, but soon both were staring down at the human woman with arms crossed and a serious look in their eyes.
“What happened, Johnny?” Tish asked.
“The truth this time,” Ashura demanded.
“There was a poker tournament,” Johnny sighed, “every night this week I’ve been in the Underground playing cards. The men who held Reth and Zeki’s contracts were there.”
Tish sucked in a breath as her eyes went wide, she glanced through the open door to look at her brother, relaxing slightly when she saw he was still breathing. “What happened, Johnny?” Ashura demanded.
Johnny looked at Tish, “it had been weeks and I hadn’t heard anything about the singing stone so I…I came up with my own plan. It worked too.” Johnny laughed as tears clouded her vision, “It worked. They’re free, they’re both free.”
“What are you saying, Johnny?” Tish whispered.
“It’s over, Tish,” she told her friend, “it’s all over, nothing but a bad memory.” She reached into her pocket and held out Reth’s contract to her.
Tish took it with shaking hands and read it over once, twice, three times before she threw herself at Johnny and cried into her shoulder. Ashura carefully took the paper from the crying carpenter and read it over for himself. Ashura frowned at Johnny, “so what happened this morning?”
“They had their tracking runes removed,” Johnny told them. “We knew it would affect Zeki worse since he’s had them for so long, but we didn’t expect him to be out cold like this. Reth helped me get Zeki up to the Pavel’s before he passed out.”
“Thank you,” Tish whispered. “Thank you so much, Johnny. I know I’ll never be able to say it enough for what you’ve done, but thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Tish,” Johnny smiled, “I love him too.”
There was a knock on the door and Ashura tucked the contract into the pocket of his apron, “that will be Chayne to check on Reth.”
“Hopefully he’ll have something for your ankle too,” Tish told Johnny.
“I just twisted it,” Johnny told her, shaking her head, “give me an hour, I’ll be fine, I’m more worried about Reth.”
“When aren’t you?” Ashura asked as he went to the door.
“When aren’t all of us?” Johnny huffed. He couldn’t argue with that and let the healer in. Chayne looked Reth over before coming over to look at Johnny’s ankle.
“Zeki’s comfortable at home, and just like with Reth I can’t find any obvious injuries,” Chayne told them. “Hopefully their memories will come back to them with time, but until then we will just have to keep an eye on them.”
“And Johnny?” Tish asked.
“Johnny’s ankle should be good as new by tonight with some rest and perhaps some ice,” Chayne told the blonde before standing.
“Thank you, Chayne,” Johnny smiled, “if you say they’ll be alright I know they’ll be just fine.”
Chayne nodded and left, leaving Tish and Johnny alone. Tish hesitated to leave Reth and Johnny alone when they were injured, but Johnny shooed her out the door, telling the blonde that they just needed rest and that she was going to join Reth in bed. Tish didn’t leave until Johnny was curled up next to Reth in bed, but she did finally leave for work, her body lighter than they had been since learning Reth’s secret.
It was nearly noon when Reth finally awoke, he was confused for a moment at what had woken him only for his attention to be drawn to Johnny when the woman shivered and cuddled closer to him without waking herself. Reth smiled, this beautiful, confusing woman had done the impossible. She had freed him from the cartels while ensuring that Tish wouldn’t pay the price, the fact that he and Zeki had to lie about not remembering what happened on the beach that morning was a very small price to pay for that. Reth couldn’t even begin to think of how he would thank her for everything she had done for him since she’d entered his life, but he could start with helping her warm up.
Reth carefully got out of bed and gathered Johnny into his arms so he could pull the blankets down. He was just rejoining her in bed and pulling the blankets up over them when Johnny yawned and opened her eyes, blinking sleepily up at him. Dragon, she was adorable!
“Reth?” she whispered, confused for a moment, before she remembered what had led them to sleeping together and she sat straight up and turned all her attention onto her cook. “RETH! You’re awake! Are you okay? How long have you been awake? Why are you out of bed?”
Reth chuckled and pressed a kiss to her forehead, “breathe, Sweet Tooth, I’m alright. I just woke up. I was getting us under the covers and then I was going to cuddle my amazing girlfriend.”
Johnny blushed and pulled him down next to her, immediately cuddling up to him and resting her head on his chest. Reth laughed and wrapped his arm around her waist while the other moved up to play with her hair, something he had found she enjoyed and if he did it long enough could actually get her to purr like a palcat.
Johnny’s hand found the forearm around her waist and her fingers started to gently trace the pattern of the runes that had been there only yesterday. It was something she had done when they had been able to steal a few moments here and there to just hold each other and enjoy the other’s company, mostly in the early hours of the morning- before the sun was even up- in the storeroom of the inn.
“Ashura and Tish know what really happened,” Johnny told him, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Tish so relieved.
“She’s not upset about not being able to get married to keep her treatments?” Reth asked.
Johnny shook her head, “she didn’t say anything about it at least. I’ll talk to her about it later, right now I just want to enjoy being in your arms on the first day of your life as a free man.”
Reth smiled and kissed her forehead, “we can do that, for now, I’m sure you’re going to run off to check on Zeki before long.”
Johnny hummed as she relaxed into his side, “not until Tish gets home, she’ll probably drag Jel over for their nightly design talk and if I’m not here when she gets here I’m pretty sure she’ll tie me to the bed. I figure when she has you to fuss over I can sneak out and go check on Zeki.”
“And why would Tish be so upset about you being out and about?” Reth asked.
“Besides leaving you alone you mean?” Johnny giggled, “I may have twisted my ankle when you passed out and we nearly fell into the Pavel’s lake.”
Reth’s eyes widened, “Dragon, Sweet Tooth, I’m so sorry!”
Johnny shook her head and sat up, cupping his cheek in her hand, “it’s okay, Reth, it’s just a twisted ankle, no harm done. I’ll be right as rain in a couple of hours.”
Reth turned his head and kissed her palm, reaching up to pull her hand to his chest, holding it there, “I can’t believe you did it, Johnny, you actually did it.”
Johnny kissed his cheek, “believe it, honey, because you never have to worry about the Order or Eshe ever again.”
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough,” Reth sighed, kissing the knuckles of the hand he still had a hold of.
“You don’t have to thank me, Reth,” Johnny hummed, “but if you want to thank me I can think of a couple things.”
“Oh?” Reth’s smile turned then from soft and sweet to something flirtatious and teasing, “and what would those things be?”
“Kisses,” Johnny giggled.
“Easily done,” Reth smirked before he leaned in and claimed her lips with his. Johnny leaned into the kiss, her free hand coming up to clutch at his shirt. “What else?” Reth asked when he pulled back, resting their foreheads together.
Johnny hummed and bit her lip, glancing down at her left hand, still held in Reth’s own, “a ring.”
“A ring?” Reth asked, frowning slightly in confusion.
“A ring,” Johnny nodded, smirking up at him, “maybe in a year or so? I think if Tish can’t get married herself we should at least give her one to help plan, don’t you?”
Reth blinked at her for a minute before a beaming smile lit up his face, “Dragon, Sweet Tooth, you just blew my mind. Yeah, give me a year to save up the gold for it and I’ll find the prettiest ring you’ve ever seen”
“I’m sure I’ll love whatever you find, babe,” Johnny giggled and kissed his cheek. Reth was grinning like a lovesick fool, as he pulled her back down against his chest as they relaxed. It wasn’t long before they had drifted back to sleep with only one thing on their minds, their future together free of the cartel.