spiders are our friends

Completed Series 🕸️˚₊🕷₊˚🕸️˙

Adrian Chase x fem! reader:

Sometimes She Cries - 40 chapters | 273k | ao3 | slow burn, childhood friends to lovers, reader is a waitress at fennel fields, reader has an abusive husband, smut, sub Adrian, dom Vigilante.

You're a real keeper! 7 Chapters | 20k | ao3 | zoo keeper! reader, fluff, awkward crushes, mentions of past high school and workplace bullying, insecure! Adrian, mutual pining.

Never fight a man with a perm - 5 Chapters | 15k | ao3 | tattooed reader, hairdresser reader, smut, dnd references, sub Adrian, dom Vigilante.

A Little Birdie Told Me - 4 Chapters | 11k | ao3 | agent reader, reader owns a bird, awkward crushes, office romance, checkmate setting.

Scout's Honor - 4 Chapter | 14k | ao3 | rivals to lovers, boy scout Adrian, girl scout reader, reunions, time skip, mutual pining, checkmate setting, competitive Adrian.

Up On Your Mistletoes- 3 chapters | 21k | ao3 | xmas themed fic, tall! reader, works at fennel fields as a chef, fluff, smut.

Money Honey - 1 chapter | 2.8k | ao3 | girlboss reader, loser bf Adrian, smut. (Trophy Husband can be treated as a sequel or on it's own)

Trophy Husband - 1 chapter | 2.3k | ao3 | girlboss reader, loser bf Adrian, smut, pegging.

Secretary Fantasy - 1 chapter | 4k | girlboss reader, loser bf Adrian, sub Adrian.

Basement Noise - 1 chapter | 2k | ao3 | quiet sex, smut, slight exhibitionism.

Chasing Butterflies - 1 chapter | 2k | ao3 | butterfly! reader, reader death, hurt and comfort.

Plank till completion - 1 chapter | 2k | ao3 | mutual masturbation, voice kink, sub Adrian.

Bad Attitude Shuffle - 1 chapter | 2.3k | ao3 | epileptic reader, hurt/comfort fic, seizures, college au, fluff.

Renfaire Rendezvous - 1 chapter | 3.1k | smut and fluff, renfaires, virgin Adrian, first times.

John Economos x fem! reader:

Million Miles Away- 2 chapters | 5.5k | ao3 | fluff, long-distance relationship, established relationship, secret eelationship, insomnia, smut in chapter 2

Baby stay with me - 1 chapter | 840 words | ao3 | dom drop, drabble, comfort.

Christopher Smith x fem! reader:

Cry Tough- 1 chapter | 2.4k | ao3 | fluff, chronically ill reader, sick day, comfort.

Emilia Harcourt x fem! reader:

Atomic Blonde, Go Nuclear - 1/? chapters | 2.1k | mutual pining, tsundere!emilia, black cat/golden retriever personality dynamis, misunderstandings.

Kiss Me Deadly - 1 chapter | 900 words | kiss prompt | adrenaline kiss, angst, bar fights, agent reader.

WIPS 🕸️˚₊🕷₊˚🕸️˙

Adrian Chase x fem! reader:

Checking You Out- Chapter 16/? | 76k | ao3 | librarian! reader, stalking, psychopaths in love, Adrian Chase being Adrian Chase, voyeurism, masturbation, mutual pining.

Precision Above All Else Chapter 9/? | 53k | ao3 | reader is Chris' little sister, ASPD! reader, mercenary reader, casual sex, canon typical violence, eventual romance, childhood trauma

Stress Relief Part 8/? | 30k | ao3 | smut, dom!Adrian, argus agent! reader, office shenanigans.

Once smitten, twice shy - Chapter 4/? | 11k | ao3 | autistic reader, shy reader, forensic entomologist reader, fluff, awkward crushes, eventual smut.

Pocketful of Sunshine - Chapter 2/3 | 8k | ao3 | fluff, short reader, bubbly reader, workplace bullying, eventual smut, jealous Adrian.

Snitches Get Stitches - Chapter 1/3 | 2.4k | ao3 | cosplay reader, reader owns a hobby craft shop, Adrian ruins his suit and asks for advice, crushes, misunderstandings, tsundere Adrian.

Red Flags and Long Nights - Chapter 1/? | 4.5k | ao3 | stalker! reader, nurse! reader, metahuman! reader, stalking, voyeurism, masturbation, pining, unrequited love, obsessive behavior, hospitals, medical procedures.

Adrian Chase x male ! reader:

Let's Get Physical! - Chapter 2? | 3.1k | ao3 | personal trainer reader, pining, gym sessions, misunderstandings, oblivious Adrian, eventual smut, friends to lovers.

Christopher Smith x fem! reader

Edge of a Broken Heart - Chapter 1/? hurt, comfort, argus agent reader

John Economos x fem! reader:

Malibu Nightmare - Chapter 1/? | 2.7k | ao3 | cam girl reader, streams, long distance relationship, eventual smut.

synopsis: You have known Adrian Chase since middle school and you now work together at Fennel Fields. There has always been a spark there, something unspoken between the two of you. But unfortunately there has always been a major hurdle in the way of exploring your relationship any further, namely your abusive husband. While Adrian is none the wiser believing the lies you've been feeding him that you are happy, now that Chris and the crew are starting to stir things up in Evergreen, they begin to bring some things to light about you and Adrian...

Looking outside the window, you weren't in the suburbs but instead a forest was blurring past, dense tree lines, in the middle of nowhere. You'd scream but Adrian had tied a cloth gag around your mouth so all you can do is hum out a small protest.

“Morning sleepy head!” Adrian said in a sing-song voice, eyeing you from the rearview mirror. 

“Don’t worry, we're out here in the woods  to have a little picnic breakfast and discuss my terms.” He reassured you. “I'll untie you a little soon, we're almost there!” 

After finding a good spot to park, Adrian swings the door open and unties your feet first, hands admiring his own knotwork for a little too long at your calves and thighs before starting to undo them. 

“You look really fucking pretty like that…” He murmured, pausing to take a photo of you bound and gagged in the back of the Sebring on his phone, full flash and volume. 

Ugh, this guy is such a total freak.

Involuntarily your body traitorously shivers at his touch, it's too gentle at your skin while feeling the strength behind those hands, gripping the ropes forcibly to untangle them. He leaves the cords at your wrists, zip ties securing them together.

Rolling up to a clearing, there's nothing for miles except brush and leaves, Adrian leading you out further to a small spot, all while swinging a picnic basket. 

Sure he's removed your gag, but in his own cheery words nobody could hear you scream anymore out here so you don't even attempt it.

“Here we go! Isn't this pretty?” Adrian announced, pointing out to a small pond, ducks bathing in it. 

It's beautiful and idyllic with enough of a vantage point to see the mountains in the distance with a settling of fallen leaves like mosaic on the lush green forest floor.

“Yeah it is.” You manage to choke out, watching as he's spreading out a cliche red and white picnic blanket.

Adrian had made a full spread of breakfast, pancakes, cut fresh fruits, porridge, halloumi, eggs and bacon, with pitchers of orange juice, coffee and tea. As you sit down it uncomfortably dawns on you just how long you must've been unconscious for him to achieve cooking all of this.

“Dig in!” He exclaims, flicking out a switch blade scares the fuck out of you before he uses it to cut your wrist zip-ties.

Somehow when Adrian casually hands you a butter knife and fork that makes it all even scarier. He's not in the least bit scared of you trying to turn these utensils as a weapon against him. Because he knows there is nothing you could pull to fight back against him right now.

Disgustingly that churns not only your stomach but a coil bright hot in your core, damn what was wrong with you? This was anything but sexy, the man is literally holding you captive.

“Want me to spoon feed you some?” Adrian offered holding up a small ladle of porridge, a wry smile on his face, green eyes watching you closely. 

There's a frank awareness glimmering behind them, he's utterly comfortable with you like this, no hint of regret or shame, only a fine wire of impulse, one you'd rather attempt to balance on and not see snap.

“N-no, it's fine.” You quickly start buttering some toast and crunch on it.

Adrian nods and slaps some porridge into his own bowl, blowing on the spoon adorably for far too long before taking a bite. You get a little more relaxed, settling into eating the banquet, it's frustratingly delicious. 

“So I'd like to make some ground rules.” Adrian announces, tapping a tea cup with a spoon as if to get a full room's attention.

“Ground rules?” You were hoping number one was not to pick a burial spot in the woods.

“Yeah for our ongoing relationship. For instance I don't really like touching skin. The three L’s latex, leather and lace though, that's nice.” Adrian explained abruptly as if that was a normal way to begin. 

“How about some rules around the arrangement?” You quickly tried to steer the crazy in another direction, pretending your heart wasn't beating a little louder at what that implied.

“Right, that was just an example. Okay so my mom is on a yoga trip for a week, which means I have full reign of the house. You'll stay there for the duration and we can see if this relationship can work out.” Adrian thumbed his switch blade, using it to peel an apple. 

“No trying to leave the house or contacting the neighbors. Trust me, I'll find out.” He cored the apple with such force and precision, hucking it away that you nodded instantly.

“Of course, I wouldn't dream of it.” You reassured him, relieved when he smiled goofily in return.

“Great. Clear on rule numero uno then. No phones, I've cut the wires to the landline, internet and cable.” He replied cheerfully. 

“Next, I'll only be home for a couple days. Then I have to go back to work. Stupid Harcourt wouldn't give me an entire week…” These were less rules and more an unfiltered stream of consciousness you realised. 

“How frustrating for you, uh so about my business…” You tried to placate him and Adrian quirked a brow at that.

“Don't worry, I put a sign up. You've had a family emergency and need to close up shop for a week.” Adrian replied simply.

“Cool…” You certainly were going through an emergency right now. 

“Alrighty, time to head back. Now stay still, I've gotta tie you up again.” Adrian popped the trunk of his car and got out a fresh set of ropes.

“What why?” You asked. “Didn't I agree to all of the terms and conditions?”

“The locks in the backseat don't work too well and you could try and roll out to escape.” Adrian stared, his expression hinting that he wasn't going to ask twice. 

You put your arms behind your back and laid down on the back seat hating how intimate it felt when Adrian's hands touched your hips, waist legs, arms, stomach, he was everywhere with a corded rope. Seriously you hoped nothing weird would unlock inside you from getting tied up. 

He was much too experienced at this for it to be the first time. “I was in the boy scouts, that's where I learned all the ropes!” Adrian said, as if reading your mind. “And finally, a blind fold!” 

Adrian was smarter than he looked, not wanting you to be able to figure out the street his mother's house was on. This time he had forgone the gag though.

“Let's brighten the mood a little huh?” Adrian grinned back at you all tied up.

Lesley Gore's Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows started blasting off the stereo. 

“Sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows! Everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together!” Adrian sang along, head bobbing side to side.

It all started to get a little too real as the woods blurred and suburbs came into view. This psychopath had you bound in the back of his car and you'd have to try and prove yourself to him in this house for an entire week. 

“Come on, join in!” Adrian barked over his shoulder. 

You followed the order and hiccuped along, trying to not let the tears show. “b-brighter than a lucky penny, when you're near the rain goes, disappears, dear…” 

Were you going to be like a raindrop, disappearing into nothing upon impact?

“Aww such a cute singing voice!” Adrian said back not noticing your clear distress as he drove you back to the Chase residence. 

“And I feel soooo fineeee. Just to know that you are mineeee!” He sang along chirpily. 

You tried to keep track of how many turns he took for your own sanity but it was useless, you didn't know where the heck those woods were so there was no familiar starting point.

Parking in the garage didn't give you any indication of the exterior of the house, Adrian took your hand and led you down some steps, wooden, they creaked loudly, seven in total. The blind fold was then suddenly torn off you and it took a moment to adjust to the flickering basement lights.

“Here we are!” Adrian announced as if he'd taken you to a boutique suite and spa. 

“What about clothes for the week? Can we swing by my place?” You hoped for an opportunity to leave something or contact a neighbor in your apartment. Anything to escape this strange arrangement.

“It's okay, you can just wear my mom's old clothes from the 80s. She never threw anything away.” Adrian explained, dragging out some old plastic tubs. Sure enough there was a wardrobe and then something of puffy sleeved dresses, high waisted jeans and bright coloured tees.

“Oh…” You trailed off, not really thinking before spouting out, “that's kinda weird.”

Damn it girl do you want to die?! Your brain raked your stupid tongue over the coals.

“Hm well to make it less weird, I'll wear my dad's old clothes then. I meant it when I said she never threw anything away. Total hoarder.” He got out a gaudy sports jacket and shrugged it on.

“Hello wife, I'm not going to leave you for another man like my father, don't worry!” Adrian posed hands on hips and laughed his head off at the strange joke.

“Right, that makes it less weird.” You opted for the dialogue choice that would hopefully not result in a bad ending.

“Also wear this.” He mumbled, looking embarrassed.

“A necklace?” The large gaudy heart was interesting to say the least, made of plastic with pink wiring around it. 

Wait it sort of looked like a prize, a heart from a magical girl anime you'd been eyeing off in the local arcade modded.

“Yeah I made it for you, put it on and open it.” Adrian ordered, looking slightly annoyed.

Inside was a timer in bright red, ♡ 168 ♡ flashed on the screen. 

“Seven days starting from…” Adrian pressed the button beneath the timer, “now.” He grinned.

“Obviously the time is for you to prove you can learn to love me and won't reveal my secret of being Vigilante.” Adrian continued, prowling around the basement, trying to get everything neat and tidy.

“Right…and if I don't?” You squeaked out, this was horrible. Did Vigilante actually put a ticking time bomb on you? 

Probably best not to think about that.

“I know I can't force you to love me! HAHAHA you should see the look on your face.” He pointed at your fearful now bewildered gaze, “it's about chemistry, I know that. I'm not a total psychopath or anything.” Adrian tipped his head back for a manic belly laugh.

“Of course not…” You joined along, trying your best to force a smile.

“Buuut you can prove that you totally won't reveal my secret and earn my trust.” He determined, thoughtfully rubbing his chin, “ I can do that right?” Adrian wondered aloud, as if about to rescind his whole offer for you to live.

“DEFINITELY.” You insisted, “you're a great judge of character. After all Vigilante hunts and judges criminals every night on patrol!” Playing into his ego and skewed logic seemed to work, Adrian was blushing with a silly grin spilling across his face.

Then he took you on a full tour of the dingy serial killer looking ass basement, leading you by the hand.

“I found my mom's old sewing machine down here too. I set up a little work station for you next to mine. Cute right?” He stared at you expectantly. 

“Super cute.” You quickly agreed. 

“These are my beanie babies!” He announced, opening a closet filled head to toe with TY merchandise. “I've been collecting them since 98, they're totally worth a fortune now, but I'm waiting till the market really bounces back. Same with my GameStop shares.” 

“That's so smart of you, you sound really good with money.” You replied robotically.

“Nope! I'm flat broke, but that's late stage capitalism for you.” Adrian started to complain about his rent after moving out.

“If my rent isn't paid, my landlord will notice I'm gone.” You offered weakly.

“It's only a week, remember. I'll pay it.” Adrian replied, his grip on your wrist becoming a fraction tighter.

“As for where you'll sleep…I'd rather not have you in my mom's room. Guts old room is her pilates space and my old room is her art studio.” 

“So I dragged out the old spare bed and got it set up for us to sleep down here.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.

“Thank you, I– wait for us to sleep here?” You winced, 

“Boyfriends and girlfriends sleep in the same bed. Despite what old reruns of I Dream of Jeannie may claim.” Adrian informed you, as if he had only just learned that fact for himself quite recently.

You tried not to cry, but it was spelled out on the face how scared you were by the prospect of sharing a bed.

“Is there a problem? We need to know if our sleep schedules work together. I won't do anything inappropriate obviously.” Adrian said.

“Obviously. No, no problem…” You whimpered. 

“Coolio. If there is, tell me and I'll sleep on the fold out couch.” Adrian shrugged easily, showing you the old couch and for whatever reason that made you relax ever so slightly.

“You don't have to love me by the way. Or be my girlfriend. But I do have to trust you, that you'd never tell anyone my secret. If the world found out I was Vigilante, my life would be over.” Adrian reminded you of the strange rules he'd concocted, seemingly on the spot.

“Now this is like a fun aside, a side project to our trust bonding exercise.” Adrian drummed his fingers on your workbench, a sheet covering something. 

“Ta-dah! You can patch up my Vigilante suit down here!” He beamed, holding it up to you like that was some great honor.

“Wow, that's uh fantastic!” You replied, trying to match his enthusiasm. 

“I love your work on r/cosplay. I just know you're gonna fix this suit up good as new. It means so much to me, I spent ages on this and don't want to replace it. Like we've been on all these adventures together and I sew him up good as new. But this time it was an acid monster thing with these claws and I'm just not good enough a seamstress.” Adrian rambled on, and you couldn't help but see the boyish glimmer return to his expression, like when he would visit your store.

Still this man was dangerous and you were going to play his insane game to keep yourself alive and escape. Nothing more.

“Of course I can fix your beloved Vigilante suit for you! It'll take me the entire week at least, maybe I could get an extension…” You stopped when Adrian's brows knitted at that suspiciously, “I mean yeah a week is great!” 

“Great, how about we watch a movie?” He suggested, gesturing to the couch. It had an old television on wheels set up in front and some DVDs to select from.

“Wow every Star Trek movie, Die Hard, The Mummy, Legally Blonde…” You hadn't even gone through the Nicholas Cage movies or animated films. The horror flicks were too real right now, despite how much you liked Silence of the Lambs or Jigsaw, it was a bit much.

Watching the SpongeBob SquarePants movie was a nice distraction from whatever the hell situation you found yourself in with Adrian. You guys even sang the Goofy Goober song together. Surely he couldn't kill you now with such a strong powerful bond right? Right? 

“That was so cool, you have great taste in movies Adrian.” You kept trying to butter him up in the faint hope that maybe he'd just let you go.

“Awesome sauce! Well let's head up for dinner, I made tacos.” He gave a lazy stretch, his T-shirt riding up to give you a full look at his happy trail. 

When he realised that, Adrian shrugged it back down with an awkward lingering glare like you were the real creep around here. 

“Head up?” You asked, you had assumed with the creepy tour that you'd be relegated to the murder basement.

“Uh yeah, to the dinner table. You're so funny.” Adrian gave a barking string of laughter, opening a drawer at his workstation to procure a set of handcuffs. 

Slapping one on your wrist and another on his own, was a surprise. “Better safe than sorry.” He said mostly to himself, heading upstairs you had to up the pace to avoid being tugged along. 

“These are delicious!” You weren't even lying, the tacos were surprisingly dope. Despite how difficult it was to eat them one handed.

“Thanks I got the recipe off my buddy Ads!” Adrian beamed, chomping away. 

He kept rambling on about his friends and you paid close attention, hoping for something that might help you figure out a strategy to get Adrian to let you go. 

As soon as dinner was over and you'd both washed and dried the dishes together, you were starting to get the hang of this whole being handcuffed together thing. 

“Gotta brush our teeth now and I'll put my retainer in for bedtime.” Adrian was like clockwork, there wasn't a spare moment available to catch your breath.

“Could I maybe have a shower first?” You asked hopefully, watching him chew that suggestion around in his cheek for a moment. 

“Yeah of course! I'll stand outside the door.” Adrian nodded and you were finally relieved to get the handcuffs off.

But he didn't fish the key out of his pocket, simply leading you up the stairs to where the bathroom was. “Then we can switch and I'll shower.”

“Okay wait, huh? The door as in the glass shower one?” You winced, hoping you weren't right.

“Yeah, you should be able to wash yourself one handed okay but I bought a loofa you can use too!” Adrian wasn't seeing the problem, because of course he wasn't.

“Uhh actually I'm more of a morning shower gal.” You lied.

“Neat-o, I can get bars on the windows then and won't have to worry about you escaping.” Adrian hummed cheerfully, brushing his teeth diligently.

You got yourself ready as well, staring into the mirror, it was kind of eerie just how normal and domestic it appeared, bar the handcuffs obviously. 

Getting changed was difficult one handed, back to back and you tried to not think about what was touching what, eyes squeezed tight.

There were fluffy pink pyjamas pants and an old Garfield shirt for you to wear, not at all revealing. Meanwhile Adrian was in a full teal flannel set, with a pair of bed socks that had seals on them.

The mattress was pretty lumpy and uncomfortable, but he'd tried to pad it out with some comforters and blankets at least. Awkwardly laying down, the mood was anything but sexy as Adrian had both his bright blue mouth guard in and nasal strip on.

“Night night!” Adrian muffled out and moved to turn the lamp off.

“Uh goodnight, can we please lose the handcuffs? It's kinda hard to lie down with them on and I roll around in my sleep." You suggested.

“Hmm…okay.” He thought about that and shrugged, unclasping them at long last. The basement door was locked, no windows, escape was basically impossible.

Shaking your tender wrist for circulation, you turned for a glass of water and heard faint snoring already. With Adrian it was head to pillow when it came to sleep it turned out.

You tried to fall asleep to help preserve energy, closing your eyes, but it wasn't much use. 

Then Adrian started up a chainsaw beside you, snoring so loud, you knew that sleep wasn't going to be an option tonight.

The weirdest part about all of this was that you weren't as scared as you should be peering over at him. Without his glasses on, Adrian's expression was neutral and restful, putting you at somewhat ease, he'd even placed a barrier of throw pillows in between you two. As he put it, to not let any ‘funny business’ go down.

Thinking his behavior over, you figured that Adrian likely hadn't dated anyone before. He also kept a very regimented routine, something you could try and use to your advantage here.

A faint beep alerted you down to the heart necklace again. It read 162. Great reminder that you were stuck here for another 162 hours with this lunatic.

Testing the waters, you slightly inched yourself off the bed, just to see how deeply Adrian slept. He didn't notice you drawing off the blankets, shifting across the creaky spring mattress either.

But when your foot touched the ground, two firm strong arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you back towards him.

He luckily was still fast asleep so you tried not to gasp when his fingers explored further down your hips, lest he figure out you had attempted an escape. 

“Mmmnngghh…” Adrian grumbled lowly when his hands felt bare skin, pulling your pyjama pants up above the hip.

Huh he wasn't lying about the whole disliking skin thing then. Must be a sensory issue of his.

Then his hands went right up and curled around your clothed chest, and Adrian’s mumbling sounded much more pleased. 

“Hmmm…” Adrian hummed, contentedly pawing at them like a cat making biscuits. 

Huh so he was a boob guy? You wouldn't have really guessed. But still this had gone on long enough. 

“Adrian, wake up.” You whispered, yelping when saying his name had the opposite effect. 

He made a near-growl half-whine sound, pressing his hips against yours and there was something prodding behind that made you elbow him awake.

“H-huh? Oh shit!” Adrian's eyes snapped open, staring down at his hands cupping your breasts and his erection like it startled him more than it did you.

“Sorry, that's super not chill of me.” His face was bright red, leaping up from the bed, stumbling until he got his glasses on.

Adrian was really blind without them, you noted. Maybe that could help you escape? 

“I really didn't mean to make you uncomfortable like that, I was dreaming about, well…” He trailed off, looking genuinely upset at himself.

“That's okay, I'm just a little shaken.” You replied truthfully, hating how honest you were to a fault. 

His face fell at that, but he nodded, appearing guilty, remorseful even. “I'll sleep on the couch tonight.” Adrian took one of the blankets and his pillow, tossing them on the couch. 

“I've got to go to the bathroom first though. Take care of something.” He added and you looked down to see the reason why still standing up at attention. 

“S-sure.” You replied awkwardly, unsure of how to react as Adrian waddled up the stairs.

He hadn't even bothered to tie you up or use handcuffs so as soon at the door locked shut, you began exploring the basement. 

None of his weapons were accessible, all locked with security combos. Even his tools at the workstation were locked away. Outside of the beanie baby collection, the only other thing you could open was a metal filing cabinet. 

The drawers were labeled in some kind of weird code. SGS/V. With what looked to be dates and themes.

Flicking through, you kept an ear out for footsteps, judging by the last time when you witnessed it, Adrian didn't take too long to finish. Inside were newspaper clippings, fliers, advertisements and web print-outs.

With a sense of dread you realised they were all about your store, placed neatly into folders. Like someone had archived your professional life in Evergreen ever since the store opened three years ago.

SGS/V- Snitches Get Stitches/Vigilante. 

But that wasn't the worst of it, another drawer was labeled AC x Y/N. Inside this one were your failed attempts at dating apps, men who never turned up, ghosted you, and suddenly skipped town.

All of them had been taken care of one way or another over the last couple years by Adrian. Usually dispatching them as Vigilante, some due to minor crimes he punished them for, some unpaid parking tickets, graffiti, loitering. Others genuinely weren't great guys with former assault or DV charges. 

Others he stalked as Adrian Chase and psyched out to leave you alone. Several secret admirers you didn't even know you had he was responsible for chasing off and written about in detail. You just thought you'd lost a customer, never suspecting your curly haired regular was scaring them away.

This whole time you'd given up on dating thinking you must be cursed or something, just not what guys were looking for. 

But that wasn't true. Adrian had liked you a lot longer than he admitted earlier, following you home for his so-called patrols. That thing about your VPN was also a casual lie. 

You knew this guy was insane, but why did his one-sided crush annoy you so much? Why couldn't he have approached you like a normal person? Asked you out on a date, instead of taking out all the supposed competition and not even acting on it?

Likely you would've said yes! 

Okay, clearly you were clearly getting way too sleep deprived thinking like that. 

A scrape at the door spooked you, followed by jangling of keys hitting the floor. “Dang it!” Adrian muttered, scooping them up. You panicked, trying to get all the files back in order and rushed to jump back into bed.

Pretending to be asleep, your heart rabbited away when the door finally opened, his heavy footsteps creaking on the steps. 

Adrian checked over the room with a thoughtful gaze, but didn't see anything amiss until a photograph nearly met his Sailor Mercury slipper. It was a prized copy from the cabinet, you at a Yugioh duel event held at your store, dressed as Dark Magician Girl.

Picking it up he frowned back at you, but couldn't judge if you were faking or not, looking so cute either way asleep. 

“...I know you probably think I'm a total freak. That's why I never attempted this before. The whole quote unquote dating thing.” He murmured, opening the cabinet to put back the photo of you in its rightful place. 

“But I want to try it out, because I think I really love you. And that's scary, I don't know if Vigilante can afford to have a girlfriend.” Adrian sighed, sitting on the edge of the mattress, he gently moved a lock of hair from your brow.  

“All those other guys were total assholes by the way. Especially the one who tried to force himself on you outside of the club.” 

Your bottom lip quivered at that, despite trying to keep totally still. Vigilante had saved you last year, it's why you initially made that Sailor Senshi Vigilante cosplay. 

It's also why hopefully despite everything, you clung to the hope that he wouldn't truly hurt you. Because Vigilante worked under the strict code of killing criminals only. 

“Don't worry, I totally made his suffering last the longest.” He whispered, standing up to go sleep on the couch, before he could leave you snatched at his wrist.

“Stay with me?” You asked quietly.

“You sure?” He asked, eyes widening when you nodded.

“O-okay.” Adrian replied, shuffling tentatively back under the covers. 

Back to back, you finally fell asleep in the warm certainty that the man who tried to assault you had known nothing but pain in his final moments. 

Even with Adrian's snoring. 

======

The topic of adoption was left on the table, but it became a source of tension, the forms were overly complex and rigorous police and family checks could expose Adrian as Vigilante with all of the details you needed to provide.

On your end, your families criminal history was a detriment to your own adoption papers, also it could bring up your husbands, fathers and mothers suspicious deaths.

Too many questions would be asked that you and Adrian needed to keep buried. Their black cloud it seemed followed you no matter wherever you went.  

It was tough, small reminders left you and Adrian feeling lesser or empty for not being able to have children. Going into a store and seeing an adorable owl onesie or walking past the spare room turned nursery that you both decorated tirelessly.

The room was painted with ocean themed walls and cute lily pad cushions spread out on the ground where you were supposed to read out all the story books stacked by the cot, bought while trying for a baby.

Distracting yourselves with work and hobbies only did so much to dull the pain, but at least you still had each other to take comfort in. 

Both of your second jobs at Checkmate also kept you plenty busy, especially with how Rick Flag Sr. and Lex Luthor were rambling up their anti-meta human agenda and throwing anyone into a super jail that they could justify.

You usually helped out with recon, paperwork, comms or with your handy experience now with being a vet surgeon, a freelancing medic.

But today you were firmly working at the clinic for day surgery and wouldn’t be home until late, Adrian was the same way with Checkmate.

Tonight Adrian was on a mission to try and assist with a Luthor meta-human lab that was going to be purged, one of hundreds others that were swept under the rug. But a lead from Sasha’s old contacts in A.R.G.U.S. ensured that hopefully Checkmate could get there first.

However, the intel seemed to be a bit stale.

"Well you guys gave me the super boring lab to infiltrate. Nothing but dead bodies, hm more dead bodies...and uh," Adrian poked a man in a lab coat but got no response, "yeah more dead bodies." He yawned over the radio.

"Jeezus stop poking corpses Adrian!" John snapped at him over the comms. “You’re gonna make me throw up my dinner again!”

"That intel Sasha gave us was old. Guess we were too late..." Harcourt agreed sadly. "I also have no survivors here on my end, only casualties." 

"Meet in the middle?" Adrian suggested. 

“Yep.” Harcourt replied.

Interesting enough there was a small wad of paper wedged in the scientist's fist. Yanking it out and hoping to find treasure or some cool code that would give him super powers, instead it was only two words.

Protect Lily.

"Protect Lily...I don't get it. Darn I'm terrible at riddles. Too bad you're dead and can't just tell me the answer." Adrian lamented and then stared at the corpses lab coat pocket pens. 

"Wait but you don't have a red pen but it's in red ink..." On closer inspection, Adrian realised it was blood. 

"Sealed in blood...woah killer! I feel like I’m in a Resident Evil game right now." Folding it up, he popped it into his utility belt and kept snooping around.

“Don’t you dare unleash the T-Virus Adrian…” John bemoaned over the radio.

Then a wailing sound from the far corner of the lab made him draw his gun. "Oh shit I think that's a meta monster or some crazy lab experiment down here! It's so loud!" He held his gloved hands up to his Vigilante helmet.

“What did I just fucking say?!” John was actually scared now. “Damn I should not have had the nachos…” He reefed for the bucked by his desk.  

"Adrian...wait up that sounds like a baby." Harcourt responded on the radio. "I'm nearly at your location hang tight okay? Don’t do anything stupid!" She stormed down the hall.

"Holy shit! You’re right." He gasped over the comms.

Adrian saw the little girl, a toddler, for only a moment, then she vanished. But not fully. She had a camouflage to trick the eye like a frog or chameleon.

The blood she was drenched in head to toe speckled across her chubby face, blending in with her hiding spot, behind a wall of dead bodies. 

"Hey there, are you Lily?" Taking off his helmet, Adrian knelt down to her level, putting away his weapons. 

When his glasses were on he could see the outline of her sitting cross legged, thumb in mouth, give him the tiniest of nods.

"Neat trick you got there Lily. Did you know that glass frogs can also become translucent just like you?" He asked her gently, ever so slightly moving closer.

A small shift in the camouflage, maybe a shake for no. She seemed scared.

"Do you know what sound they make?" He tried to keep his voice friendly.

Another more definitive shake of the head. Hm so she likely hadn't been exposed to the outside world then, he surmised.

"They go...ribbit!" Adrian began frog hopping around and heard the cutest sound in the whole entire world. 

Lily giggled. 

When she kept laughing, the camouflage dropped, her guard down. Then he saw for the second time in his life a set of dazzling eyes that made him stop in his tracks. He was in love, a paternal love that made him scoop the adorable toddler into his arms and shield her from the horrific scene she was in.

Adrian understood the note now, protect Lily. He'd make that his new Vigilante mission. 

"I'm Adrian, can you say Ayy-dr-iii-aaa-n?" He stretched out the vowels for her.

"Ade!" Lily chirped back. 

“Close enough!” He didn’t mind the nickname.

"Adrian! You okay in here? Oh my god!" Harcourt walked into the lab and assessed the massacre that had taken place. 

"This room is the worst of it...I think I'm going to be sick." She noted overt the comms. Her boots squelched against the viscera.  "It's bad, worse than an abattoir...the smell is bad even with the gas mask." 

"Hey, this is Emilia! Emilia, meet Lily!" Adrian waved at her, gripping Lily’s small hand to wave alongside him.

"Emmie!" Lily announced loudly. 

"Hi...Adrian we need to get her out of here! She's covered in a gallon of fucking blood!" Harcourt snapped in a harsh whisper and winced when her tone made Lily cry again.

"Hey it's okay Lily, don't pay attention to mean stinky Harcourt! How about some more frog facts huh? Frogs like sitting on lily pads, that could totally be your nickname! Lily-pad!" His cheerful voice and infectious smile won her over again, tears subsiding. 

“Let’s go Adrian.” Harcourt ordered him. 

"Boo! Stinky rude Harcourt." Adrian poked out his tongue at her but followed along. Lily eventually fell asleep in his arms in the van ride back and he stared down at her. How could something this little make him feel this much? 

He'd burn down the entire world if anything bad happened to her.

When they got back to Checkmate, Adrian was less than impressed with his colleagues priorities. How to find out who did what whenever for the lab was pointless, they were dead. Lily was not. But then finally as she was brought up they only bickered over her meta abilities. Not who was going to look after her, make sure she was fed, washed and cared about.

"She's a little girl!" Adrian shouted over the top of all their squabbling. "A LITTLE GIRL." 

"She's also a meta-human like I am. We don't know the full extent of her powers or what Lex Corp created her for." Sasha interjected. "Let's hand her over to a better equipped agency." 

"Her name is Lily. This note says to keep her safe. It was in the hand of a scientist that Flag and Luthor had executed in front of her. Along with a lot of other innocent people."

"Exactly Adrian, she's seen too much, when you're three memories start imprinting and likely some real physiological issues have formed from witnessing that..." Harcourt added.

Adrian slapped down the note. "The fucker wrote it in his own blood, a dying wish. Read it!”

“Protect Lily.” He spelt it out for them all, underlining the words with a gloved finger.

“He must've cared about her. You don't deny this kind of thing or abandon a little girl because she might have some issues or whatever. Newsflash mother fuckers, WE ALL HAVE ISSUES HERE!" He wouldn't back down on this. 

Lily was the answer you and he had been looking for, the missing puzzle piece. Adrian wasn’t going to just let her go off to another lab or some random people who couldn’t understand her problems. You and Adrian had been through so much, knew what that trauma felt like, and would never make her feel wrong for being different.

This felt right and not many things did to Adrian, that feeling of certainty and clarity was rare. Resolution outside of killing criminals, being with you, having his friends. Now protecting Lily. It all synergised.

“And who is going to look after her? This isn’t a day care Adrian.” Harcourt retorted.

"I'll raise her, we both will." Adrian insisted. "She's the kid we've been wanting these past three years! It's perfect. Destiny even." Why couldn’t they see it his way?

"Buddy we know it's been tough on you guys but don't rush into something like this on impulse okay?" Chris said, trying to reach out with a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Impulse? Don't talk to me like I'm an idiot. You're meant to be my best friend." Adrian roughly shoved his hand away. "And you don't know what it's been like so don't fucking say you do!” He shouted, green eyes blazing with a fury that the room felt.

"If he wants to give her a home I say why not? I certainly know way worse parents than those two." John begrudgingly brought himself into the conversation. "She'd be loved. Spoiled rotten even."

"I agree with John, yes she might have abilities and some trauma but that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve a normal childhood!" Adebayo argued. “Isn’t that what we are fighting for here? To not be like them?" 

"You're right." Sasha admitted, setting her gaze down at the little girl.

“Aren’t you all forgetting to ask someone?” Langston reminded them all. You weren’t here, working a late night in surgery at the vet clinic.

“Thanks Dad.” Adrian nodded at Langston, “Yeah, I’ll take Lily home tonight and talk it over. At least she will have the nursery to sleep in, no whatever horrible dog cage or cheap ass IKEA SNIGLAR you guys are gonna trap her in here at the office.”

“We are not going to put her in a cage Adrian.” Harcourt sighed, coming around to the idea but not wanting to give Adrian the satisfaction.

“Well where is your Leander wooden cot and owlet baby monitor? Or my Mom on speed dial?” Adrian said, cradling Lily in his arms gently.

“Well I only have that last thing.” Langston chuckled. Most of the crew nodded that they did as well.

“Why do all of you hang out with my Mom so much?!” Adrian snapped, but then quickly quietened down when Lily faintly threatened to cry. “Whoopsies, shh gotta be quiet…” He shushed himself and everyone marvelled at that.  

Adrian had never regulated his volume like that before for anybody. Not even you.

“Okay give him the kid.” Harcourt was fully on board. She could save so much money on her annual Advil purchases if Adrian learned to be quiet.

When you got home, Adrian wasn’t back yet which didn’t really surprise you with the mission he had described in the morning. Heading to bed and trying not to worry too much, you fell asleep for a few hours until a soft weight was put onto your chest. It felt nice, warm and soft. Opening your eyes, Adrian’s wide green eyes were peering down at you, holding a sleeping toddler on you. 

“Woah!” You tried to not shout but found yourself in total shock. He was still dressed in his Vigilante gear, stained in blood. Whereas the little girl looked recently bathed and in a pair of duckie pyjamas you'd bought one day and cried over with Adrian on the couch recently. 

“Whose kid is this?” You asked in a sharp whisper.

“She’s ours! I found her at the lab job tonight.” Adrian explained, like it was the simplest thing in the world. 

“Adrian…did you steal a baby?” You had told him before that wasn’t an option, no matter how tempting swiping a lil bundle of joy from the maternity ward was.

“No I didn’t! That would totally be a crime and now they like air tag the newborns apparently, so you’d be caught right away…” Adrian lamented and then grinned when he saw you admiring Lily sleeping away.

"Her red hair is gorgeous, a cute little carrot and her eyes! So vibrant...blue and green like-" You gasped when she opened them and smiled at you, before nestling back in for a nap.

"Teal!" Adrian grinned back at you. 

"Guess what her name is? It's so perfect!" He was so excited to share, biting his lip down to not blurt it out.

"Adrianne?" You offered.

"Nope!" Adrian shook his head.

"Abigail?" 

"Nuh uh!" 

"Loretta?" You guessed.

"Thank fuck no!" Adrian sighed in relief.

"Lee?" 

"No!" 

"Emilia?" 

"Nooope!" 

You tried your own name.

"No even better!" Adrian exclaimed and you frowned at that with a pout.

"Her name is Lily." He announced, holding her cute sleeping form up to you close. Somehow even with his yelling, she was still asleep. Or maybe Lily was pretending to sleep, you saw a cheeky half-smile on her face.

"And she's got orange hair, so she's our orange lily." Adrian gazed lovingly from her up to you, his eyes begging the question if you agreed.

Your favorite flower, the one that symbolised your love for Adrian over the years. It was perfect.

"Oh Adrian...you're right. That is perfect." You felt the wet tears drip down your cheeks before actually noticing you had been crying.

"She's perfect." You kissed the top of Lily’s head and she cuddled you back, nestling her face into your chest. 

With that and returning to the Checkmate office to fill out some paperwork, helpfully doctored by your hacker friend John, you had fraudulently adopted your child at long last.

Lily Chase.

You were both incredibly lucky to have Mrs. Chase, Loretta, in your lives. It was only when you and Adrian took the plunge to adopt Lily that both realised just how much. She was always there to make a meal when neither of you could, teetering on exhaustion from trying to raise a toddler with meta human powers. Loretta had an infinite patience, this was nothing, she’d hum away to you when Lily used her abilities and hid around the house to avoid bathtime or getting in trouble for breaking the television set.

She had raised Adrian Allen Chase after all. This was nothing.

Every day with Lily in your lives, a hole had been filled that was threatening to drive you and Adrian apart. The universe made sense, she gave you both a purpose and love that washed over any hard times that tried to come your way.  

Getting ready for work in the morning, it was Lily’s first year of kindergarten somehow the past two years fleeting by unfairly. Adrian was sitting at the kitchen island, Lily on his knee, the two of them reading through a big animal fact book.

"Oh my sweet Lily pad, did you know that frogs tongues are three times as big as their bodies?" Adrian pointed at the fact and stuck his tongue out, trying to get it to touch his nose, making her giggle.

"Did you know Daddy that groups of frogs are called armies?" Lily told him, striking a muscle pose with her little arms.

"Woah! Maybe we should get a shiitake mushrooms tonne of frogs and make ourselves an army then?" Adrian grinned back down at her, snapping the book shut. He refused to swear around Lily and got hilariously grumpy with his friends if anyone slipped up.

"Yeah!" Lily agreed, and that was that.

"Where are you two going? It’s nearly time for school and big kid school, work!" You didn’t want to be a wet blanket, but the clock was ticking.

"Frog hunting! We're going to make an unstoppable army!" Adrian exclaimed, helping get Lily’s teal gumboots on.

“When we have a frog army, lame school and work can’t make us go!” Lily insisted. She made a fair argument.

"Room for one more?" You asked and the two grinned the same wide goofy smile.

The three of you were inseparable, Lily loved learning about animals, the real facts from you working at the Vet Clinic and the sometimes rather exuberant facts that Adrian found on Reddit. Adrian also loved telling her Vigilante stories for bedtime, often replacing the murder making the criminals buy everyone ice-cream upon your insistence.

After taking your daughter to work day, Lily had her day split between seeing Paws a Moment with all of the animals, and then at Checkmate where Adrian worked in the office. She told you in the car ride home that his work seemed a little bit boring compared to yours, and Adrian looked like he was going to burst into tears at the steering wheel.

"Hey Daddy guess what? I'm going to be something even cooler than Vigilante when I grow up." Lily announced one morning and you saw your husband's face fall. 

"What do you mean?! I thought you were gonna be my ward, my protege! My little Vigilantess!" Adrian had dropped his spoon right into the bowl of cheeriohs. He looked so disappointed like this five-year-old had plucked out his heart and stomped on it.

"Let her finish Adrian! Go ahead sweetie tell him what you want to be when you grow up." You gave Lily an encouraging pat on the shoulder. “You’ll love this!”

"Well okay, but I fail to see what could possibly be cooler than Vigilante..." Adrian pouted.

"I want to be a batrachologist!" Lily announced proudly.

"What and study bats?" Adrian frowned. "So you do think Batman is cooler than your old man..." He was absolutely devastated.

"Noooo Dad it's a frog expert!" Lily exclaimed with a large, exasperated sigh.

Adrian's green eyes widened from pure sadness to joy within mere seconds.

"Oh fudge you're right, that is so much cooler than Vigilante!" Adrian whet his lips with excitement. "So you'd know everything about every kind of frog like ever to exist?" 

"Exactly!" Lily proclaimed. “And I’ll have the ultimate frog army and become the world frog general-queen.” Well she certainly had her where do you see yourself in five years plan figured all out.

"Killer, I'll get the money for your college fund sorted. How much is a degree anyway?" Adrian turned to you. He still had no idea on anything financial, all major purchases were made through you, the bank. Just like the game Monopoly.

"Expensive but we'll make it work if that's your dream sweetie." You replied fondly.

"It is!" Lily nodded. 

"Anything for my girls!" Adrian nodded, that was his favourite phrase these days.

And it was true, Adrian was the ultimate girl dad and doting husband, he somehow did it all for you both outside of working for Checkmate and being Vigilante on the side. 

The Vigilante of it all had taken a few steps back though, you didn't point it out, but Adrian had seemed to feel the need to go on patrol less and less as the years went by. A slow ease into retirement you wondered but never said aloud. 

Turns out he didn't need Lily to be his protege, Abby had that covered. She wanted to take up the mantle of Vigilante and Adrian was more than happy to teach her the tools of the trade. Despite how much it drove his older brother Gut up the wall.

"I thought that everyone would see us as heroes now..." Adrian had once lamented, desperately wanting the world to recognize him as a hero. 

But nowadays he didn't care in the slightest, his two special ladies saw him as their hero and that's all that mattered. 

Your ten-year anniversary crept up on you and Adrian. Lily was somehow in grade school now, Abby was wrapping up high school. Where the hell had the time gone?

"Holy shit we are getting fucking old." Chris chuckled, walking over with a pitcher of beer and glasses.

"Speak for yourself old man." Emilia snapped at the love of her life like he owed her money. 

Knowing Chris he probably did.

"You know I used to ask myself all the time when I was younger, is anything we're doing making a difference?" Adebayo said. 

"But now I just think hell yeah we are, and we're actually trying to fight back. Look at what we've built here, all of us together like this after all this time. The 11th Street Kids and Checkmate. Our family." She smiled over at you and Adrian.

"Yep our little fucked up found family." John raised a glass to that. "Wouldn't trade the world for it." 

"Aw getting sentimental on us Gandalf?" Chris cooed, using his new nickname for John, who had embraced the greys in his beard.

"Okay I'd trade you in a heartbeat." John retorted with a playful eye roll. 

"Can you even imagine now that ten years ago when those two dorks weren't together?" Chris said amused watching you both order drinks at the bar, hands linked. 

"Yeah and ten years ago Emilia hadn't made the worst decision of her life." John agreed, making her snort and nearly choke on her dirty martini.

"Heyyy! Don't laugh at that babe, you'll actually hurt my big dumb feelings." Chris pouted.

"Sorry Chrissy." Emilia gave him a smooch on the lips to make up for it.

"Ughh ewww it's still like watching my parents kiss." Adrian announced your arrival to the table. "Makes my skin all itchy." 

"Nothing ever changes with this guy." John laughed. 

"Speaking of, I hear that Langston and Loretta are going to head out on a big honeymoon to the Bahamas?" Adebayo said.

"Don't remind me. She won't shut the hell up about it or how she's finally experiencing someone appreciating her womanhood..." Adrian sighed, sitting down with a disgusted expression written on his face.

"Well I'm happy for Mrs. C, she deserves only the best for her womanhood!" Adebayo chuckled at the grimace she got in return for that statement.

"What were you guys talking about before we got here?" You asked round the table.

"Oh just how we're all getting seriously old." Emilia laughed. "Well maybe not Rip, I don't know how he doesn't age. Must be karate bullshit." 

"Old?! No way we so are not!" Adrian snapped, looking thoroughly insulted. "We've still got plenty of ass kicking years left in us, well maybe not for John as much but..." 

"Hey, I'm not that much older than you." John grumbled into his beer.

"Ass kicking? Dude you take spin classes now and drive around in a soccer mom van." Chris snickered at his best friend.

"It's great cardio! And all of Lily's friends can hop in the Chrysler Pacifica. I still have the Sebring and the Chevy Malibu they're just in the garage to keep them pristine!" 

"Uh-huh...and I still totally have all my hair." Chris said, brushing back his hair anxiously. 

"You gotta admit Adrian, we're starting to slow down a little." Emilia added. 

"No I don't." Adrian poked his tongue out at her. "I haven't even begun to peak yet." He insisted, patting at his stomach, which was a little less flat or washboard in the abs these days. But you liked the dad bod on him it was hot. 

"Honey bear. It's not a bad thing, we all own a major stake in Checkmate, and it'll eventually be the next generation to take over what we've built up." You explained gently running a hand through his curls.

"Hmm...I suppose so sugar bear." Adrian appeared to have conceded but then continued with, "But even if all of you guys are slowing down and get super old don't worry Vigilante will be there to stop any criminals trying to commit elder abuse!" His line of sight was directly on John for that last line.

"Gee whiz thanks Adrian." John rolled his eyes.

“Now if you’ll excuse us, it’s our anniversary, not our funeral! Let’s all fucking dance already.” Adrian announced, sweeping you off your feet onto the dance floor. Loretta arrived with Lily and danced adorably together next to you two.

“Hi sweeties! Happy anniversary.” She beamed and Adrian gave her a hug. Over the last few years, he had found a lot more understanding and affection towards his mother.

“Thanks Mom.” You smiled back at her as Loretta drew you in for a group hug.

"Hey, Mom did you ever have another husband before Dad?" Lily asked suddenly. 

The question made you all freeze uncomfortably. “Oh sorry, she’s asking that because I told her about Charles what with me and Langston getting married…” Loretta winced.

But you shook your head without a care in the world. "Nobody worth mentioning." You smiled up at Adrian. 

"Yeah, just some loser what's-his-face." Adrian agreed with an impish laugh. 

Then a familiar guitar riff sounded out through the hall and Chris gave you both a nod in solidarity, aux cord in hand before going back to throwing it down with Emilia.

Missy don't think she's pretty no more Starin' at the stars through her back screen door

You remembered all the lonely drives to and from Fennel Fields in that shitty car of yours, flooding back to a decade ago now, it felt like a lifetime ago now.

She tries and tries to make it all work out No matter what she does She's left standin' in the middle of doubt, oh yeah

That feeling of hopelessness was a numb remnant, difficult to even pinpoint anymore. Love had replaced it, leaving you warm and full whenever it tried to rear its ugly head.

And in a lonely night And in the pourin' rain You can count on me…

The one bright light was when you got to see Adrian at work, a crazy fact up his sleeve, always ready to try and make you smile.

"Mom what is this song?" Lily asked turning to you. "Are you crying?" 

"Oh it's happy tears sweetie." You told her, wiping them away with a bright smile.

Sometimes she cries When she's alone at night Sometimes she weeps Oh, when she's feelin' cold and weak

"This is our song. It's called Sometimes She Cries by a killer band by the name of Warrant." Adrian explained, his green eyes also misting.

His curls were starting to get a few foxy grey streaks through them at the temples. They sparkled under the light and against his new frames, the prescription had to be upped and he now wore large gold-horned serial killer glasses. 

"If it wasn't for this song, we might not have gotten together." You realised out loud. 

"Nah, I definitely would've worked up the courage eventually to see how you were really doing and tell you how I felt..." Adrian lied, grinning back at you sheepishly.

Sometimes the pain It just tears her up inside Sometimes she cries Ooh-ooh, I wonder why

The great big smile on his face you loved crinkled a couple more lines at his cheeks. But he was still just as handsome as he was that day Adrian knocked on your window in the Fennel Fields parking lot to see if you were okay, and when you'd first met in school, gone to prom, fought off a butterfly invasion, travelled across parallel universes, got engaged, married, adopted Lily and everything else in between. 

Livin', lovin' Give it everything you've got

And after all the heartache Maybe give love just one more shot, yeah!

You were so glad that you both took that one more shot, persevered through it all and decided to stay together. Imagining life anyway different was impossible.

Lily frowned at your answer and stared back up at you two, "I thought your song was that one that goes hoa hoa hoa~" She sang loudly. 

"True is our song as well! We have lots of songs." Adrian explained proudly, waltzing with you across the dance floor, Lily joining in between you two on his feet.

“Some would say way too many, I think the right amount.” You added with a soft laugh.

After True by Spandau Ballet had echoed out, the aux cord was brought over by John who had exhausted the catalogue of Hanoi Rocks.

"What should we play after this one?" You asked.

"Little ladies choice!" Adrian said, handing her the aux cord.

"Gotta be Queen Britney!" Lily announced.

"Ooooh great choice! But which one?" Adrian pondered alongside her.

"How about Stronger? We haven't had that one yet!" Lily exclaimed.

"Excellent choice little Miss! You're right we haven't had that one." You grinned down at Lily. 

“We really did raise her right.” Adrian nodded, looking teary eyed as you both giggled down the dance floor together. He cleared his throat and excused himself to get a glass of water.

Watching back at you and Lily singing together off key and more flailing than dancing now that he wasn’t around to keep steps, Adrian sat back on a bar stool for a moment, letting himself fully relax.

Contentment, not having a hundred voices yelling in his head, buzzing with indecision, compulsion or violent impulses firing off trying to fill that dark void within. 

There was no longer a void. Only a warm embrace. 

This was what it felt like to be fine with just sitting by a bar, watching the woman he had loved all his life and their wonderful light, their child be happy.

And he loved every moment he got to experience it.

Maybe it would be time to hang up the Vigilante costume in a few years for good after all. But he'd still keep the suit for you and him in the bedroom obviously. 

Chris saddled up next to him, a couple of old man drinks, gin and tonics in hand for the both of them. “You okay there best buddy?” He asked. 

Adrian took a long sip, taking off his glasses to pinch the tears out of his eyes. Then he readjusted them back up his nose and clapped Chris on the shoulder before replying,

“Yeah, I’m all good, best buddy. I just really like seeing her smile.”

============================