Work Text:
Stella leaned her head back on the rough texture of Chuck's grave. It was absurd to think that just a few hours ago, he was going around being a gremlin, cackling away.Now, he rested within the hostel's roof, forever confined within Paradise City.
She sniffled, wiping away the residual tears left on her cheeks. Her last connection gone to Lyra's whereabouts gone. Slipping away like sand through her fingers. But she had to go on, she had to, as long as there was confirmation that her sister was breathing and living, Stella would stop at nothing to return to her side.
Footsteps crunched on the loose rubble beside her. Stella looked up to find Magic holding a bowl of stew in front of her, its steam wafting a comforting aroma. Magic settled herself next to Stella, nudging her to take the food.
"Feeling any better?"
Stella exhaled despondently, accepting the bowl from Magic. "It felt like losing Lyra all over again. But it hurts twice as much."
Magic wrapped an arm around Stella's shoulder, pulling the other closer to her. The two watched as the sun drifted lazily downwards, casting the sky in hues of carnelian and lavender. It's so unfair, Stella mourned, the world's going to sleep so peacefully.
She wanted the roads to quake with the rage brewing within her. She wanted the rivers to flood with grief, to stain the pathways with broken promises. She wanted the winds to howl and shatter windows. The world paid no heed, preparing for another tomorrow.
They sat until the stars started sparkling. At some point, Magic stood up to get ready for her night watch. Stella was alone again. That was until Thomas approached her, holding some worn books and paper in his arms.
Stella flicked her eyes over to the stack he was carrying. Are those..?
"I went to get Chuck's books and notes. Uhm, I don't know if this would help you at all but I thought it might ease the pain a little." Thomas gently set the collection next to her. "He had more in the other chests, but I couldn't carry them all so I got those that seemed more import-"
His rambling was cut off by Stella hugging him tightly. Thomas froze, unsure of what he should do. He settled with awkwardly carding his fingers through her hair, comforting her hiccups and sniffles. Her breathing evened out eventually and she let go of Thomas.
"Thank you." Stella murmured quietly, picking up the closest book from the stack. She flipped it open, thumb brushing across the scratchy handwriting on the page. It seemed to be a daily journal, dating 5 years back, with illustrations and doodles scattered across each page.
"I'll go now. But, if you need anything… please don't hesitate to ask for help. We're all worried for you, even if someone acts like they don't care."
The only reaction Thomas got from Stella was a muted nod. He sighed quietly and trekked over to where Fluixon sat sharpening his weapons.
The man gave no acknowledgment of Thomas's presence. It didn't offend him though. He sat across Flux, he started his own repairs. The two worked in silence, the only noise coming from the crackling of the campfire and grind of metal against stone.
"I know what you're thinking."
Thomas looked up from hammering nails into his shield. "Sorry?"
Fluixon set down his tools, "You're thinking ' Why hasn't Mr Flux talked to Stella yet? Does he not care?' "
"I know you care Mr Flux. You just haven't shown it yet." Thomas rummaged his bag while replying, "Otherwise you wouldn't have gone down to save Magic from Woogie."
Fluixon didn't deny that comment. He would change it a little though. It wasn't that he cared for them out of the goodness of his heart, it was because they were useful. Useful for him to survive. I mean, look at us compared to the rest, we're practically rich.
"Mr Flux, do you have any iron? I think I've used up mine."
Fluixon stretched languidly and passed half a stack to Thomas. He supposed the kid was right, he would feel something if he lost any of them now. He glanced at the silhouette sitting against Chuck's grave. The sky had long darkened, yet she hadn't moved a single inch.
He stood up, grabbing a nearby lamp and walked over to that little shadow. Fluixon pointedly ignored the cheeky smile Thomas sent.
There she was, curled up behind Chuck's grave, her hands rustling page after page as she memorized the words within. Stella hadn't noticed him yet, even with the soft glow of the lamp.
"You're gonna go blind Stella."
Stella flinched, spooked by his sudden voice. Fluixon sat down next to her, settling the lamp in between them.
"So," he exhaled, turning his head to face her a little, "what's going through your head right now?"
"I…don't know."
"Interesting. You don't feel anything at all?"
Stella whipped around and glared at Fluixon. The flickering glow of the lamp made it seem like fire was dancing within her eyes.
"Of course I do. All I'm doing right now is feeling. I want to punch a hole through Woogie's head, I want my revenge. I want to dig up Chuck's grave right now and beg every deity out there to bring him back." Stella ranted, each word coming out more piercing that the last. " But I know, I know, nothing I do now would change how this ended."
Fluixon was unfazed by her outburst. "How would you do it then?"
"Do what."
"Revenge on Woogie. Take me through it."
Stella let out a sharp laugh, "You don't want to know."
Shrugging casually, Fluixon replied, "Humor me."
Running a hand through her hair, Stella contemplated. She gave in to his request in the end, "The most obvious option would be to shoot someone he cares about. Someone from his group. Maybe Jawhn."
Fluixon offered no comments, letting the silence encourage Stella to open up.
" I… imagine. If we get the Atrophos machine to work, we trick Woogie into the wrong side and stack the infection on him. Let him turn into a monster, he already has the makings of one."
She closed her eyes and continued, "I want to drop Woogie in a pit of Infected. The kind that Ish turned into. I want them to hunt him for sport and when he's about to escape, I'm there at the exit to push him back in. I want to see the light leave his eyes as he registers his downfall."
"Mr Flux. Does this make me a bad person?"
Fluixon considered his words carefully. "Have you done anything yet?"
"No."
"Then you're not a bad person. You're just someone going through a rough time."
"But what if I do? What then?"
"Then we figure it out together. All of us." Fluixon gestured vaguely towards the direction of Magic and Thomas. "I'm sure they would have your back no matter what."
Stella chuckled wetly, fanning her face. The tension drained out of her body, leaving her in a state of utter exhaustion. Still, she picked another one of Chuck's books, opening it to a random page. Her eyes fluttered with sleep despite her best efforts and her head started dipping like a fish bait in water.
She felt a warm hand guide her head to a shoulder.
"You should sleep. Don't worry about night watch, we'll take over for you."
Her mind was lulled to a blissful buzz. Despite all the horrors that occurred, Stella knew she was safe. And warm. It reminded her of how Lyra would wrap her in blankets on a stormy night.
"You're secretly attached to us, aren't you, Mr Flux?"
"… Go to sleep Stella."