#rhss13

I'm a Hunter.

That means I kill stuff for a living.

It also means sometimes I relocate them, but I will more often than not just kill them.

Especially when they're being bad and killing humans.

I have a partner too. I can't be a Hunter on my own, can I?

It's not the best idea anyway.

Especially when your partner also happens to be your best friend, your boyfriend, your lover, and your everything. Because then you become overprotective over him and shit happens.

For example, this one time he almost got killed and I almost went crazy. This other time the idiot managed to hurt himself while we were hunting- it's not my fault that he refuses to set his trackers!

But I love him. 'Til the end.

I distinctly remember how cute it was when I met him. And how funny he seemed to be.

Don't take me wrong, he's really funny, but sometimes he's just plain dumb.

My dumb boy.

But anyway, back to hunting. We've been Hunters for over two years now. Cool, huh?

You'd probably be wondering by now what do we hunt. Nope, we don't hunt deers or bunnies. No, we go a lot better than that.

You'll see.

"Ray." He didn't react at all. Joel rolled his eyes and tried again.

"RAY!" He added a small nudge to his shoulder, but to no avail. The younger man just groaned and rolled over, hugging his pillow more tightly. On one hand, Joel wanted to chuckle and just cuddle with him.

On the other hand, they had a task at hand. 

"Ray if you don't wake up right now I'm bringing the cak--"

"I'm awake, I'm awake!" Ray mumbled hurriedly, immediately bolting to a sitting position with half-lidded eyes and messy hair. He flashed Joel with a sleepy smile and a chuckle.

"Morning Joel."

This made the older man laugh. "Morning Ray." He offered him a hand and Ray took it to pull himself out of bed.

"Dude, what is it with you waking up so early?" The younger complained, rubbing his face and glancing at the clock, which currently marked 5 in the morning. "This is fucking insane." He added in a low grumble, making a poor attempt at fixing his hair - but to no avail.

"Well, if you went to bed early, this wouldn't happen." Joel retorted, smirking as he sat on the bed, watching Ray walk around the room, trying to get dressed.

"Guh- shut up old man." he grunted.

"Make me." Joel's smirk widened as he spoke the words. Ray just glared at him for a second before rolling his eyes.

"Not now, let me get dressed."

---

"So, what is it this time?" Ray asked between mouthfuls of cereal. Joel didn't say anything; instead, he tossed a folder on the table, which Ray lazily opened. "Hmm. I see." He mumbled after a pause, absently chewing his breakfast.

"Yeah. The Ramsey's are having trouble again." Joel added curtly while nibbling on a piece of toast.

"They were at that party, weren't they?" Ray asked, a small frown forming on his face as he looked up at Joel. 

"Yeah. You made good friends with Gavin, remember?"

"Oh, right." Ray chuckled. "Well, is this why we got up so early?" He asked, smirking at his partner. Joel nodded with the same smirk on his face.

"Showtime." He muttered.

They left their apartment after they finished, packing in the back of their car all the tools they needed for the extraction. They sat quietly in the car while Joel drove, Ray fighting the sleepiness by humming every song that came on the radio.

"You really are like a fucking jukebox, Ray." Joel grunted after the third song, chuckling under his breath.

"Hey, it's not my fault that they play that song a hundred times a day." The younger man immediately defended himself, making Joel laugh louder.

"Don't blame it on the radio! You know every single song you hear. How do you do that?" Joel insisted. Ray just looked down at the gun sitting on his lap and smiled shyly.

"Well, y'know, we spend a lot of time in the car, listening to the radio--"

"Yeah, but you and I together, yet I haven't memorized a single song."

"Because you drive!"

And so they continued debating until they reached their destination. 

This was not a rare occurrence; as soon as they were properly awake, they'd normally start arguing about anything and everything, and not because they were actually fighting. That was just the way they'd get along.

"Okay. Remember to set your trackers--" Joel started saying. Ray rolled his eyes at him.

"What? I'm not the one that forgets to set his goddamned trackers!" He immediately retorted.

"I know it's hard for you to set the trackers because it's technology--"

"Bullshit! You're the dumb one with technology!"

"But I will be more than glad to assist you with it and help you if you need it." Joel continued talking, making Ray shake his head.

"You are one of a kind."

"That's why you love me. Now, are you ready?" Joel asked, his voice much more serious now. Ray's expression darkened and he nodded, gripping his gun tightly. "Let's do this th-- oh fuck--"

"LLLLLLLLET'S P--"

"NO."

They laughed together before leaving the car, walking up to the front door and knocking lightly.

A blue-eyed man opened the door slightly and glanced suspiciously at them.

"Who the fuck are you?" He asked.

"Joel Heyman, Ray Narvaez Jr. We're here because--"

"Griffon!" The man called, turning away from them before Joel could finish talking. "Did you hire dumb one and dumb two for anything?"

"Who?" A blonde woman walked up to him and glanced curiously at the two men standing at their front door. "Oh! Hello guys." She greeted cheerfully, immediately reaching to hug them both. The man next to her just stared dumbfounded at them.

"What the fuck?" He grunted quietly. She just laughed and turned to look at him. 

"You don't remember them? Joel and Ray? They were at the party!" She explained, smiling fondly at her husband.

"The. . . Oh! I remember now. Hey, what's up guys?" He mumbled after a small pause, shaking their hands. "Geoff Ramsey."

They both nodded as they shook hands with Geoff.

"So, what is it?" Ray asked once they were let in the house. Griffon sighed a bit too dramatically as she sat on the couch with Geoff, who was quick to wrap his arms around her slim figure.

"Well, it's a big one. . ." She began to explain. "The bastard got stuck in our basement. He's been trashing the area ever since." Joel nodded quietly while Ray wrote the information on a small notebook.

"Okay. Do you know the aproximate size? How about the age?" He asked absently.

"Ray, you know that's not entirely necessary--"

"Shut up."

Joel rolled his eyes and shook his head, flashing a small smile at his partner. Griffon squinted and tapped her chin.

"About. . . 30 years, maybe? It - I mean, he looked young but not too young. He was large." She explained softly, looking at her husband for some reassurance.

"Yeah, I'd say around his thirties. Quite a large dog." He added, nodding at her and kissing the tip of her nose. This made Ray almost drop his notebook.

"What? A dog? You said it was a--"

"Ray." Joel interrupted him, squinting at the younger man. Ray immediately stopped talking, biting his lower lip in confussion. Griffon and Geoff exchanged a worried look.

"Yeah. . . Just a dog." Geoff emphasized cautiously, glancing at the door behind them.

"That's what your kid knows?" Ray asked quietly. They just nodded and the hunters sighed heavily.

"So, no retiring the dog while we're in here, correct?" Joel asked in the same low voice. Geoff nodded again. "Okay. Good. Ready, Ray?"

"As ready as I can be." He grunted begrudgingly, getting to his feet in a lazy manner. "Don't worry if you hear any sort of weird noises, okay?" He added, winking at the couple. Griffon snickered weakly and nodded, motioning for the door that led to their basement.

"Good luck guys."

"Easy to say." Ray mumbled as soon as they closed the door behind them. Joel hushed him and pulled out his gun, slowly walking down the stairs. Not a single sound could be heard, but they could distinctly feel the presence of a creature down there. A large, heavy mammal, apparently. Joel grimaced as he reached the end of the stairs, and he made a gesture at Ray, pointing at the trackers on his belt. Ray reached to grab his own trackers, just to realize he had, indeed, not set his trackers.

"Fuck." He hissed, immediately starting up the little device.

Joel rolled his eyes, and as he looked down to check his own tracker, a large, heavy body crashed against Ray,

"FUCK!"

Joel's first instinct was to shoot him; of course, the creature being on top of Ray made this impossible, because Joel knew that if he missed, he'd regret it forever. But he also knew that if he didn't act quickly, and judging by the grunts that were coming from the two of them, the monster might--

There was a loud crack, a whimper, and then silence.

"Ray?" Joel immediately kneeled and blindly reached towards the large, limp body of the beast. "Ray?" He asked more urgently.

"This has to be the worst capture, ever. Of all- ngh. . .Time." Ray croaked. Joel pulled out his flashlight and aimed it at Ray's face. Joel went pale and gaped in horror.

A long, deep gash could be seen going from Ray's eyebrow to his neck. Upon further inspection, the wound looked like many small segments.

Teeth.

"Oh no. . ."

"Ouch."

"Quit whining, I'm almost done."

"AGH! Watch it, damn it!"

"Ray, just sit still--"

"Don't tell me how to live my life, Joel!"

"He's right though. You pulled one of the stitches--"

"That's your fault, dude!"

The doctor sighed heavily and pulled away from Ray, giving him a meaningful look. "Really? That's my fault?" He asked, clearly amused. Ray just huffed and glared at him some more. Joel just shook his head and kissed Ray's forehead.

"Just let doctor Haywood finish the stitches, Ray." He mumbled against his hair. The younger man huffed again and whimpered.

"But Jooooeeel..." He began. Joel whispered something against his ear and Ray flinched. "Okay. Fine. Carry on, doctor." He said flatly. Joel smiled crookedly at him and nodded at the doctor, who smiled in return and continued healing Ray's wound.

"So, doctor. . .Do you think he's gonna--?" Joel began to ask. The doctor just nodded.

"Yeah. he's gonna be a werewolf now." He mumbled absently. Ray and Joel physically winced at his words, making him chuckle bitterly. "What were you expecting? A werewolf bit you."

"Fine. Whatever. Is there anything I can do to avoid it?"

"Kill yourself."

"Bite me."

"The werewolf already did that for me."

Joel bursted into a fit of laughter that forced him to look away.Ray glared at his partner and rolled his eyes.

"Fine. What should I do then?"

"Well, no heavy lifting for a few days while the wound heals. No sex--"

"WHAT?!"

"Why, were you planning on getting laid tonight?" The doctor wiggled his eyebrows at Ray, who looked at Joel with a sad pout. Joel, however, pretended to be very interested in what his nails looked like, so Ray couldn't see the small smile plastered on his face.

"Fine. Okay. How long?"

"I'd say a week, maybe two."

"And then there's the full moon thing--"

"You have a full month to prepare for that."

Ray groaned heavily and buried his face in his hands. "Any suggestions?"

Doctor Haywood tapped his chin and frowned. "Well, unless you wanna be locked up in my basement like I did with Edgar. . ." He began to say with a crooked smile. Ray immediately shook his head, eyes wide in fear, making the doctor chuckle. "Thought so. Then. . . Not really. Just. . . Try to stay away from the people you love." He said this with his eyes fixed in Joel who continued watching the wall, deep in thought.

"Okay."

Two weeks later.

"God fucking damn it, doctor!"

"I told you to stay still!"

"I told you it fucking hurt!"

"Ray, be nice to the doctor!"

"But Joooooeeeeeeeel--"

Joel's lips crashed against his, effectively interrupting him mid-rant. "But nothing." He hissed when he pulled away. "Be. Nice. You're almost done." He cupped Ray's face for a few seconds and kissed his forehead before backing away. Ray was left sitting there with a dreamy face and a silly smile.

"Okay." He mumbled. The doctor chuckled under his breath and continued removing the stitches.

"There. All done." He announced after a few more minutes. Ray grimaced a bit, testing the new sensation on his face.

"Well, that feels a lot better." He stated. "Thanks doctor."

He nodded with a smirk. "No problem."

Joel grabbed Ray's hand and, after thanking the doctor once again, they left his office.

"So, how do you feel?" Joel asked when they got in the car. Ray just shrugged.

"I guess I could be worse." He mumbled absently, reaching up to touch the scar on his face. Joel frowned at the gesture and tutted. 

"Don't touch it. It's still sensitive." He indicated, his hand reaching to grab Ray's. This made the younger man smile at him.

"You're so cheesy sometimes."

"Am not!"

"I got us a new case." Joel announced a few days later. Ray looked up at him from his breakfast - which now consisted mostly of raw meat - and squinted.

"What is it now?"

"Vampire. Another youngling." Joel scoffed at his choice of words and handed Ray the papers with all the information. For a while they said nothing, Ray carefully studying the text while Joel watched him expectantly.

"Okay." Ray muttered after a while. "Sounds good."

Joel squinted.

"What's wrong, Ray?" He asked cautiously. The younger man shrugged in response.

"I don't know. I feel weird today."

"Weird?"

Ray nodded.

"It's been almost a month." He added non-chalantly. Joel didn't say anything. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"

"Mhmm."

"You've been counting the days."

"Mhmm."

"When--"

"Tomorrow."

Ray shivered. "Are you worried?"

"Not really, no." Joel shrugged.

"Just. . .Promise you won't let me kill anyone?"

Joel didn't reply.

"Joel. Please?"

"Okay."

"Okay what?"

"I. . .I promise."

"Good."

Silence fell between the two of them. "Ray?"

"What?"

Joel leaned close and kissed his lips sweetly.

"I love you."

"I love you too Joel." Ray smiled weakly.

Little did they know.

Little did they know that on that same night, while hunting a vampire, Joel would make a mistake and miscalculate the days that were left for Ray before his first transformation.

Little did they know that on that night, Ray would lose control.

Little did they know that, right before Joel managed to kill the vampire, the werewolf would catch him, effectively pinning him to the ground.

Little did they know that, on the last of their struggles, Joel would refuse to kill Ray, only to be fatally wounded by the young werewolf.

And then, when everything seemed to be close to ending, little did they know that Ray would recover some sense, enough to realize what monstrosity he'd done.

Enough to realize that he'd brutally murdered his one true love.

"Joel . . ." Was the last sane thought the young wolf could muster, before losing himself once again to the heat of his state.

"I love you Ray." The older man muttered before giving a final strike to the werewolf's head.

----

What was a world without a hand to hold or lips to kiss? The heartbreak of seeing the person you had your eyes on for years, marry someone who couldn’t care less for them was common. They said there was a wall, an invisible glass wall, that thickened as hearts grew fond for one another until it was too thick to see through and love was only a fantasy.

Falling in love was like taking hands with the Devil, at least that is what they wanted them to think. What was love anyways? Only the storybooks knew.

As any law, there were the few to break it. They shattered the glass wall and kissed the red lips they craved for. Behind the dumpsters, in the alleyways, in high school bathrooms, anywhere they believed would be safe. No one was safe, no one was safe from the electric current that was embedded in the ground, and as soon as the lovers were caught and held back between their will, a stab to the neck with a neon blue coloured medication was sufficient to erase the emotion.

It wasn’t any different at the Rooster Teeth Productions office in Austin. Laughter echoed in the rooms and hearts beat louder than any screaming that was heard. Of course, the glass walls were thicker than anything in a company that formed bonds stronger than wood with super glue. Glances were shared in the offices, with heat forming in their chests and their groins as they passed and stared.

One in a while, the men in white suits would push through the front doors and drag away an employee, and no matter how much Michael wanted to reach out for Lindsay when they came for her, he couldn’t and he would later be found crying in the bathroom. Her big blue eyes were no longer the angelic skies he once knew and admired, they had gone cold along with the silver ring around her finger.

“How is he Linds?” he would ask when they finally got alone. He took her hand in his, fingers going around the band. She wiped away any tears that were forming.

“He’s alright, we’re both awkward, but, it’ll be like our parents. Emotionless and forced,” she explained as she sniffled. Michael wanted nothing more to kiss her and beat up her new husband. He couldn’t, it was all illegal and if he wanted to keep his job, they would forever be separated by the glass wall and now the silver ring. He pulled her in his arms. They were alone, and if his heart didn’t beat more than it already was, they would be in the clear. After all, she was a married woman now and he was a threat to her life. They separated and went back to work.

Gavin’s heart ached when he saw his best friend cry over Lindsay’s marriage. It was unconstitutional; marrying two people against their will. He had kept his heart closed for many years. Even Dan couldn’t break through when they were back home in England, and now Dan was married to a girl they knew in high school. Gavin wasn’t in England when Dan had been taken away to be forcefully married and therefore, wasn’t there to hold him in his arms and let him cry it out.

“We have to do something, Ray,” Gavin had told him after work one day.

“What can we do? We’re two people against a global organization,” he had explained. Geoff wished there was something we can do, anything. In a way, Ray was right. First world countries were hit the hardest as there was a large enough population to keep in check. There was something much larger, larger than any governmental organization can control was the voice of the people. Would a government kill their own people when their own people see the wrong?

The glass wall had begun to form between Ray and Gavin over a year ago. Light touches though had continuously cracked it. It had all started with a few laughs, and then the familiar feeling of loneliness of their hearts. They knew they were in the wrong to crack the glass. Ray was hesitant at first, but he couldn’t help himself and the wall was cracking.

“All we need is a spark to start a flame,” Gavin spoke. Ray looked at him in worry. His heart beating a mile a minute. He gulped, trying to keep his heart from setting off the police.

It started with Gavin grabbing into Ray’s hand during recordings much to their co-worker’s yelling to stop. The few who were married were jealous but caught on quickly. Burnie, who still wasn’t married, had told Gavin that if he continued, he’ll have the police running into the offices and rebuilding any glass wall that was once broken.

“I don’t care, this is absurd, we cannot live like this anymore,” Gavin told him.

“Fine, then go get arrested and stabbed with the blue liquid, why can’t you just conform to social norms?!” Burnie yelled.

“Why conform when I can marry who the hell I want?! Why sit back and watch my friends cry as they get married off to someone they don’t know?!” Gavin yelled back before exiting the room, slamming the door behind him. He was determined to start a fire of love and passion. His heart beat violently in his chest as he walked back to the Achievement Hunter office, catching glances of co-workers that overheard the argument. They all knew what he was going to do and prayed for his safety.

Things changed for the worse in the blink of an eye when men in white suits came into the office for the second time that week. They entered the office where Ray was editing. Gavin ran into the office, they were trying to take him away but he fought against them. Ray wasn’t the strongest ever but he kicked with all his might. Gavin pulled at the arms of the men with the white suits. He wasn’t going to let them take Ray from him.

For the brief moment that Ray was able to kick back a man back far enough, he grabbed Gavin’s hand and run out of the office and into the streets. The sun was hot as their sneakers slapped the asphalt as they ran. Anywhere was better than the office. They could hear sirens behind them. They twisted into alleyways and ran until their lungs burned. Their hands still tightly holding on to each other. They finally stopped in a residential alleyway. The walls of the apartment complexes were covered in green vines and birds chirped in the trees. It seemed all too peaceful and beautiful for a dystopian town. They were finally alone as they sat against the foliage covered brick wall in the shade of the trees.

“I didn’t think they would come this early,” Ray confessed. Gavin squeezed Ray’s hand in comfort. It wouldn’t be long until they would be on the run again for how hard their hearts were beating for each other. The glass wall was crumbling down when Gavin leaned in to kiss him.

Kisses were compared to hard drugs, extremely dangerous and addictive. They couldn’t be more correct when their lips touched; they never wanted to pull apart. The first hit was awkward, lips pressing into the other’s like they were testing the waters and then they plunged in, tasting the other’s mouth. Ray gripped onto Gavin’s shirt like they were going to take him away. They heard sirens in the distance and pulled apart.

“If this what love is, I’m addicted to you,” Ray told him, out of breath.

They hid in alleyways, afraid that they were wanted now for going against law enforcement and many other things. They were holding hands the entire way, when they were stopped by a girl in red hair and black framed glasses.

“You’re running too?” she asked. They nodded. They could see the pain in her eyes. “You two, will be our revolution. You need to break the system. Rarely has ever married publically before. There are a few who still do it.”

Their attention was all on her. She spoke of the last priest in Austin who married people under God. She spoke of secret divorces and marriages that happened under the government’s nose.

“No one wants to die a bitter old soul, now go, you broke your glass wall, they hear you,” she whispered as she passed by them. Ray assumed she was running from her marriage like he was.

The church was located in Northern Austin. They let go of each other’s hands as they walked in public. Their glass was evidently broken to those who walked passed them. They kept their heart beats as soft as they can so they can blend in with the people they passed. It wouldn’t be a long walk.

Gavin at one point decided it would be best to call a taxi. It would be a long walk and if any men in white suits were nearby, Ray would surely be in trouble. They stepped into the taxi and Gavin told him an intersection close to the church the girl described.

“You’re the two running from the cops,” he addressed as he started to drive.

“How do you know?” Ray asked. His heart rate was anxiously increasing.

“Your faces are up on every building, on every social media right now, everyone knows who you are and what you’re doing,” he explained. Gavin leaned back in the seat. They were done for. Ray was done for. They would get the blue syringes in their necks and they would never feel anything remotely close to love ever again. They would turn into their parents, loveless and pessimistic.  Doomed to procreate life with a woman they had never met before, or left to be alone with another man for the rest of their days.

“I’m not going to call the cops on you kids, calm down,” he comforted. “If anything, you’re getting the country’s support right now. Check your phones.” They pulled out their phones and their feeds were exploding. Articles after articles about the boys who fought the men in white suits and were now on the run for love. It was cheesy and overly romanticized as they described forbidden love that would only be possible in fiction in an Utopian world.

“You guys better hurry, the electricity in the ground is going to find you sooner than you think,” he told them as he dropped them off at their destination. They went through the streets, looking for the right door.

“There it is,” Ray said pointing at the door.

“Wait,” Gavin exclaimed as he pulled Ray back. There was worry in his eyes. “Do you really want to marry me? Committed the rest of your life to a bloke like me?”

Ray was silent for a moment before smiling. “You’re asking me this after we travelled across town from the police and the men in white suits. After we broke down the glass wall into a million pieces.” Gavin smiled back. “If that was your proposal, then yes, I’ll marry you.”

They knocked on the door. They heard a voice on the other side. Ray gripped tightly at Gavin’s fingers. This was it, this what anyone couldn’t do in normal society. If it didn’t work, well, they didn’t have a Plan B.

An old Reverend had opened the door, his eyes looked up and down at them and sighed.

“I’ve been expecting you two. Forbidden Lovers huh? That’s what they’re calling your story? Sappy as hell,” he commented. They followed him inside. It was like a miniature chapel. Perhaps it was. “I haven’t married anyone in 40 years.”

He sat them down, two silver rings in their hands. They were buzzing.

“We’ll pretend you’re marrying against your wills,” he chuckled. He had medical equipment beside him. They didn’t expect any surgery, then, again, no one really remembered what happened when they were taken away. Lindsay described it as terrifying, mind numbing. Her finger was sore, he neck was sore. She had to sign papers by force.

“Now, I calibrated the rings so they override Ray’s marriage status and yours. Now, these won’t protect you from authorities because what I’m doing is beyond illegal,” he spoke. “Now calm down, yours hearts are going to send them right to my front door. Give me your fingers,” he asked of them. Ray went first, his hand was shaking as the Reverend took his ring finger and cleaned it with some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball. He marked a few dots with a marker and took the ring in his hand. It was obviously too large for him and the way it gave an almost inaudible buss sent shivers up his spine. He took deep breaths to settle his heart. He couldn’t hold Gavin’s hand, or else their touch would send an electric current to their location.

“It’ll only hurt for a few minutes,” the Reverend warned him. Ray would feel the vibrations of the ring as he slipped it on and in a second, it seemed like the ring had grown spikes and they pierced his skin and into his nerves to fit him. Ray cried in pain as he wanted to pull his hand back but the Reverend only held onto his wrist to clean up the blood that dripped down his palm. Gavin watched in pain. It was terrifying and very much disturbing to see a ring that was supposed to mean love and promise turn into a torturous device that had a noise to it.

It was his turn. His own hand turned cold and sweaty as he gave him his hand. Ray was rubbing his finger, trying to lighten the pain. The spiked weren’t evident until the Reverend lightly squeezed the sides and it trapped around his finger. The spikes felt like sharp knives hitting against his bone. It shook the nerves in his hand and he could feel a pulse in his head. He didn’t scream like Ray did. He had closed his eyes shut and swore. He watched as the Reverend cleaned up the blood around his finger.

It was done, they were married. There was no flowers, no suits, no champagne and no mass. If they can call sitting in an empty chapel with headaches and sore bodies a wedding then, they’ll take it.

There was banging on the door and sirens were heard.

Gavin Free and Ray Narvaez Jr. Please present yourself and we won’t harm you.

They were caught. The Reverend stared at them, not knowing what to do. The doors were coming down and they had no where to run. Gavin and Ray were about to get up when they were cornered by policemen with guns. They were handcuffed and brought out into police cars. They looked at each other in the eyes and whispered apologies.

“I’m sorry Ray, I didn’t think it would end this way,” Gavin whispered low enough that the policemen didn’t hear.

“It’s okay Gavin, I’ll always love you,” he smiled. Gavin smiled back.

“I’ll always love you too,” he replied.

The car had come to a hard stop. Gavin and Ray looked up to see what was going on.

There was a protest, a very large one in fact in front of the police station. There must’ve been the entire town there and more. They all had signs in their hands.

Love is love!

Love cannot be forced!

Give Us Freedom!

It was beautiful. People surrounded the car, shouting to let them go.  Shouting for a revolution. Shouting for a change. The policemen swore because they couldn’t pass. It was beyond anything anyone could’ve imagined.

They could’ve gone to jail, have their rings ripped from my fingers and then injected with the mysterious blue liquid. The glass wall would’ve rebuilt itself and they would’ve forgotten what it was to be in love.

They were dragged out of the car, ready to be prosecuted, but they couldn’t reach the front door.

If you arrest them, you have to arrest us all.

A million kisses were shared. A million glass walls shattered all at the same time. The buzzing in the ground shook under their feet and rung in their ears. Millions of rings vibrated because of the surge of power. The street lights flickered and the buzzing in the ground suddenly stopped.

Anchored

She loved the ocean. Ever since she’d moved to Austin, the warm weather and trips to the beach were something she always looked forward to. There was something endlessly relaxing and calm about it all, and through her days in busy city life she needed that escape, like another world waiting for her to pluck her thoughts and submerge them in waves, to watch them float away from shore and be forgotten until the next tide.

Today was one of the days that she needed to escape, and sitting among a collection of rocks almost forming a cave in a forgotten part of the beach, she let the tears fall from her eyes and let her thoughts fall overboard, drifting away with the gentle rhythm of the tide.

She concentrated only on the warm path of tears across her face and the water surrounding her feet, she concentrated and the sun setting down into what seemed to be the depths of the ocean, and the gentle, night-time breeze that was on the brink of being too cold, but was keeping her mind clear all the same. Besides, she was used to a far colder climate than this. But she didn’t notice the small splash of water just a few feet away. The sound blended into the scene, the rocks dotting the shoreline, the odd swirl of water where fish were feeding or fighting, Barbara never had a second thought about it.

The girl sighed, wiping the tears from her eyes and fiddling with the smooth stones in her hand, dropping them to the floor and giving up with the idea of skipping stones. She just wanted to sit and forget about her career, her friends, family, her relationship, well, failed relationship. Barbara didn’t need to skip stones to achieve that.

She listened to the water, and finally that unusual splashing resonated once again, this time closer, and the girl looked up, wiping a stray tear and furrowing her brow. The sea wasn’t that rough...it was fairly peaceful. Maybe it was a stray piece of debris, washed up and battling against the rocks as the ride pushed up against it? But it didn’t seem so aimless. It almost sounded purposeful. Barbara’s stomach dropped as she wondered if someone had found her hiding place at the far corner of the beach, and she wiped her eyes and sniffed to rid any evidence of crying incase someone found her.

Pushing away her hesitance, she awkwardly called out to see what was making the noise.

  “Um, hello?”

There was a sudden splash, like a rock being quickly submerged underwear and then silence. Barbara’s heart began to race. What the hell was that noise? She shifted on the almost flat rock she’d been sat on, slowly coming to her feet and clutching her shoes in one hand, making her way around the rocks in ankle-deep water, but she couldn’t see much. It had gotten a lot darker than when she’d arrived. She stopped for a moment, resting her shoes precariously on a rock and digging around in her jacket pocket for a small, handheld torch she’d bought at a gas station once, pressing down on a button and watching as a stream of light erupted amongst the darkness. It shone and shimmered across the shallow water, and all too soon that almost frightened splash of water filled her ears, but this time she could pin it down. It was further out, where the water gradually got deeper. Against her better judgement, she picked up her shoes in one hand and kept the torch on her feet, advancing on the deeper end of the ocean, occasionally standing on a rather slippery rock submerged in water, and cursing as her shoes nearly dropped out of her hand twice.

Soon enough, there were no rocks surrounding her and the water was now half way up her shins, threatening to soak her jeans which had taken her far too long to attempt to roll up, and were now slipping back down, stretched and probably ruined, but she didn’t care.

Barbara took the torch and watched as it danced over the gentle waves, but she couldn’t see even remotely under the surface, and chose not to go any further. She looked around, trying to spot any rubbish in the water or even an active school of fish somewhere, but she was met with nothing. She sighed, suddenly feeling very tired as her worries began to wash back onto shore again, the odd noises giving her nothing to concentrate on anymore.

Just as she was about to turn and head back to try and catch a taxi, she heard a small splash. Almost annoyed, Barbara swung herself around, torch pinned in the spot where the noise had been.

  “Who the hell is it?” She asked, and then froze.

Her eyes were pinned onto two wide, brown ones, staring up at her from the water like a rabbit caught in the headlights. There was a fraction of silence as Barbara stared down at the girl floating in the water just a few feet away. She was pretty, with an oddly curious stare, dark hair damp and cradling her features. Barbara felt her stomach flip and tried to will away the heat rising to her cheeks. In a split second of catching the other girl’s gaze, every thought, every worry seemed to vanish. Not just fade away for a short period of time, but disappear completely.

Barbara found that she didn’t know what to say or do, and apparently neither did the other girl.

But eventually Barbara found her voice, and after clearing her throat and watching as the other girl dipped lower in the water, almost out of fear, she spoke up.

  “Um...are you okay? It’s a little bit late to be swimming, right?” She said, laughing quietly at the end and smiling. The brunette stayed quiet and looked around almost nervously, and Barbara began to get worried. They were acting more than a little strange, and by the sound of things this girl had been following and watching her for a fair while.

  “Did you hear me?” Barbara asked, raising an eyebrow and taking a step forward, but the second she moved it was clear she’d made a mistake. The girl’s eyes widened and she disappeared into the water with lightning reflexes, but that wasn’t what made Barbara let out a small scream. Just a moment after the girl disappeared beneath the water, she was met with the sight of fins flicking up out of the water before vanishing altogether, plunging into the darkness and out of sight with ripples in the water the only sign that anyone had been there at all. Barbara stumbled back with a yelp, only just managing to keep steady on the rock behind her, but her sneakers fell into the water and slowly drifted to the shallow sea floor.

Barbara’s breath was coming out in ragged gasps, and she quickly got her senses back and shone the torch across the ocean in jerky movements. But she found nothing. Nothing but inky black waves shimmering under the light of the torch. She could feel her heart hammering against her chest, and without even thinking she dunked her hand into the water and retrieved her sodden shoes, darting away from her reclusive spot on the beach, and for the first time since living in Austin, wanting to get as far away from the place as possible.

…

Barbara was quiet at work the next day. She sat quietly in her office, filing papers and phoning clients but never really paying attention. Her thoughts were elsewhere, miles away where the ocean was and an array of rocks dotted the forgotten end of the shoreline. Her thoughts were not filled with the stress and strain of work, the painful emotions of her break-up, nor the messages from her friends asking if she wanted to go out that night. None of it seemed important. But the girl. The girl was there, filling every crevice of her mind and leaving no room for her daily work.

She ignored the yelling from her Boss when she forgot to write letters that needing sending that day. She ignored the odd looks from her co-workers as she distantly stared out of the window. And she only seemed to become herself again when the clock hit six, and she was left to take some work home, only to be out the door a mere half hour later, mini-torch in her pocket, shorts on rather than jeans despite the night-time chill that was beginning to settle across the city. She caught a cab and made her way back to the beach, paying the driver a little extra and ignore his confused stare as she got out, instantly making her way across the sand and disappearing from sight from the lack of lighting.

She removed her shoes as she approached the rocks, putting them in a messenger bag she’d brought along and shuddering a little as the water hit her feet, carefully navigating through the shallow water she’d visited what seemed to be a million times before.

Barbara had no idea what she was even planning.

Work had been stressful and upsetting, but that wasn’t new, nor were the almost angry texts from her ex asking when they could pick up some of their belongings, there was nothing for her to escape from today because it was just so normal. But something was drawing her back.

Though she was certain that it was probably exhaustion and stress that had caused her to see what she had, she almost hoped it wasn’t like that. Something inside of her yearned for escape, some other world to drag her away from her own, and something like that...like what she saw.

Barbara took in a breath and tried to pinpoint where she had been last night, and eventually found the rock she’d fallen backwards into and lost her shoes, which were now at home on the radiator after being washed, hopefully drying.

She shone the torch across the ocean, and wasn’t surprised when she noticed nothing out of the ordinary, but was disappointed instead. Barbara sighed, running a hand through her hair and moving it out of her eyes, almost feeling upset. It was stupid...but she’d wanted something to be there. She didn’t want it to be an hallucination.

But there she was, stood in a shallow pool of water in the middle of the evening and looking out into dark water, hope crushed. Still, she could use the time wisely. There was no point going home. She’d work into the early hours and finish her paperwork, like always. Barbara’d never be able to relax if she didn’t. Her sleeping schedule was shot but it was the only way to clear her head for a few hours.

With a heavy heart, she sat down on one of the rocks, staring out into the water with visions of another girl between the waves. There was something about what she’d seen that she just couldn’t shake. Barbara sighed, feeling her eyes water a little and she lent her elbows on her thighs, covering her face and breathing deeply, willing away the apathy that she hated so much but couldn’t shake these days. Everything was just so monotonous, and now the glimpse of something unusual and strange had been prematurely crushed.

She almost gasped when she heard a small splash in the water, and her eyes darted upwards with a new light flourishing in them.

  “Hello?” She called out, praying that it wasn’t just someone taking their dog out for a late night walk, or some couple trying to find privacy, thinking the whole scene was romantic. Barbara clicked her torch back on, and began wading further into the water. Praying above anything that she’d see something...wishing more than she’d ever done before to see the glimmer of bright, curious eyes, the sudden flicker of fins…

Silence overcame the scene again, but still Barbara searched among the rocks and water, the waves now lapping just above her knees, and just a few feet away, she was being watched.

Below the surface, a pair of bright eyes stared up at the slightly blurred figure, the torch occasionally coming too close and startling her, so she moved further down before coming back up. Just to watch. Just to see if she could catch a glimpse of the woman. Her hair drifted with the current, strands splayed around her head in silky tendrils, an auburn colour in the artificial light of the torch. She wanted to surface...for the human girl to notice her, but she was so scared. So very scared of the stories she’d once heard.

She watched as the girl above the surface clicked the torch off, and sat down defeatedly, and something constricted in her chest. A horrible ache. Above the gut-wrenching fear of being caught again, she moved out of the girl’s line of sight and surface as quietly as possible, the air crisp and almost sharp in her lungs, but manageable. She put her hands on the rock she was hidden behind and lifted herself up carefully so she could see the girl, and her heart melted.

She was crying. Her blonde hair was framing her face as she stared down, obscuring her features but she could hear the slight hitch in her breath. She frowned, opening her mouth but the nerves swallowed her words back up and drowned them.

She didn’t know who she was. She didn’t know a thing about this human girl. But her heart was breaking just seeing her so upset.

The brunnette plucked up her courage and swam closer to the girl, and spoke quietly.

  “Why are you crying?”

Barbara jumped and looked around, but couldn’t see far.

  “Who was that?” She asked quietly.

There was another silence, and Barbara wondered if she was going mad, but soon enough a voice mumbled a reply, muffled from behind her hiding spot among the rocks.

  “I’m called Lindsay.”

Barbara’s eyes widened, and she stood up, trying to wade out further into the water, to be able to see something, but Lindsay was perfectly hidden.

  “You shouldn’t be here so late...the tide could come in and you wouldn’t see until it was too late.” Lindsay mumbled, her voice almost meek. She heard the click of Barbara’s torch, and submerged herself a little further into the water.

  “If I shouldn’t be here, neither should you.” She replied, a small smile creeping into her features. She moved the torch across the water slowly. “Hey, where are you?”

  “I’m always here.” Lindsay replied, her voice getting more bold, though she avoided Barbara’s question. “Um...what’s your name?”

  “Barbara.”

  “Bar-ba-ra…” Lindsay replied slowly. “I’ve never heard that before.”

  “You must have. It’s not that uncommon.” Barbara said, the water now creeping up to her thighs.

  “I don’t talk to other human’s like you much.” Lindsay said truthfully. She’d never talked to a true human at all before. There’d been a time where you heard about their kind befriending humans almost as the norm, but soon it seemed befriending them was not enough, and horrible stories had erupted of humans trying to capture them, trying to kill them.

But somehow, Lindsay trusted this girl. There was something so captivating about her, even if she seemed so down.

  “Humans like me? What’s that supposed to mean.” Barbara laughed, pushing what she’d seen the other night for something more realistic.

Lindsay realised then and there that this girl wasn’t wise to what lay beneath the surface of the ocean, and the fear began to bubble up again. Would she be scared? Would she attract others? Humans who wanted to hurt her? She’d have time to flee, surely, if something happened. The sun had set and other humans would be scarce. Slowly, Lindsay swam slowly from behind her rock, closer to Barbara but still out of reach.

  “You didn’t answer my question before…” Lindsay mumbled, and Barbara wheeled round to see those curious eyes once again, and her stomach flipped once more, her torch now shining in her direction. “Why were you crying?”

Barbara was dumbstruck for a moment, realising that she wasn’t just hallucinating or going mad. She could see the girl in plain sight, submerged in water and hovering so steadily that she couldn’t understand how she was staying so still. The water wasn’t deep enough where she was to simply stand up. She couldn’t have been paddling.

  “What...are you?”

Lindsay felt her face flush and she moved a little closer. Slowly, Barbara could see the intricate crimson scales adorning the girl’s arms, fading into pale skin in increasingly late shades of pink, her forearms free of any of the bright colours. Barbara’s heart was beating against her chest. She could barely understand what she was seeing and above all she was frightened. This was a something out of a children’s tale. A myth. But she couldn’t stop herself from moving forward in the water, her shorts becoming soaked, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care. Lindsay was glued to the spot, and flinched when Barbara held out her hand.

  “Can I...see?” She asked quietly, looking at Lindsay’s scared expression, suddenly feeling quite guilty for reacting so shocked, but it was absurd. How could she not? There was this...this creature in front of her like someone plucked a myth from thin air and put it straight in front of her. Lindsay plucked up all her courage and reached out her hand to Barbara who took it gently, staring in disbelief at the light pink fins adorning the tops of her palms.    

  “Mermaid…” She muttered, and Lindsay suddenly squeezed her hand.

  “Don’t tell anyone, please.” She asked, her voice almost panicked. “I don’t want to get hurt.”

Barbara couldn’t believe her ears, after all, it was she who was shaking, scared of being dragged under the surface of the water by this thing...by Lindsay. She nodded quickly.

  “I won’t...I just...you’re not real. Surely you’re not real.” She whispered, and Lindsay felt herself relax.

  “If I’m not real...then how are you holding my hand?”

Barbara’s eyes widened and she pulled away slowly, mumbling an apology.

  “It’s just…this is like something out of a story. Mermaid’s are a myth...you’re a myth.” Barbara ran her hand through her hair, noticing how damp it was. Every sensation seemed to be screaming at her that she was conscious. The water extra cold against her legs, the sound of the wind and waves so loud and the Mermaid...Lindsay was in plain sight. Every sense was telling her that she awake and fully conscious.

  “We’re not a myth...you just wrote stories about us and forgot over the years.” Lindsay explained, putting her hand back beneath the water, feeling oddly cold and empty. “We’re in hiding.”

  “I wouldn’t call this in hiding.” Barbara said with a weak laugh, and Lindsay smiled sheepishly.

  “I get curious sometimes. It gets boring down here.”

Barbara scoffed a little, almost bitterly. “You want to try being human. You’d know what boring really means then.”

Lindsay nodded slowly, clinging onto every word.

  “At least you have others to talk to.”

  “Why...aren’t there more of you?”

Lindsay looked confused for a moment, before shaking her head.

  “Well, there are a few of us, but we don’t stick together for too long. I haven’t spoken to another of our kind in years.”

  “Years?”

Lindsay nodded again.

  “I guess that really is boring...even if I hate it...well, up here, I have people to talk to.”

Lindsay looked a little sad at that, and Barbara frowned.

  “Well...you have me now.” She said, the words feeling slightly odd but somehow the right thing to say, and Lindsay seemed to think so too, because she smiled brightly.

  “I’ve never talked to a human before, I always thought you were dangerous.”

  “We are, probably.” Barbara said, and Lindsay’s eyes widened in panic, more than ready to flee. “No, not like that- sorry, I mean, people in general are kind of assholes. I wouldn’t hurt you, I promise.”

Lindsay’s expression seemed to soften at those last words, but her curious nature couldn’t stop her from asking:

  “What’s an asshole?”

Barbara stared at her unblinking for a moment before bursting into laughter, covering her mouth with her hand and chuckling. For a moment, Barbara was going to try and explain before Lindsay’s features broke into a mischievous smile.

  “Just kidding. I’ve learnt more than enough about humans from listening to them.”

Barbara was in a fit of giggles, but eventually sobered enough to clear her throat, and ask what she’d been meaning to since seeing Lindsay.

  “Um, I’m not sure if this sounds rude or anything but, could I see, y’know-”

Without another word Lindsay nodded, almost flattered at Barbara’s interest and she leant back in the water, pushing her lower half up and revealing her tail. The caudal fin was almost transparent, a faint, pastel red colour leading into an array of crimson scales, and just like her arms, the scales grew larger but faded gradually across her pale stomach, cradling her waist. Without realising, Barbara gasped, shining her torch onto the tail and Lindsay looked worried for a moment, but the feeling soon left.

  “God, that’s amazing.”

Lindsay laughed, submerging her tail beneath the waves again and practically beaming up at Barbara, who looked just as awestruck. Barbara didn’t want to leave. She wanted to stay until the sun rose and then some, ask questions and realise that she really wasn’t dreaming, because it still seemed like something she’d conjure up in her sleep, but it was so late and the prospect of work was looming over her. She still had paperwork to sort, and even if she left now she might not have time. A frown riddled its way across her features and Lindsay’s smile dropped.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I need to go...it’s late and I have work in the morning.”

  “Oh.” Lindsay said quietly. She swirled her fin in the water, almost like a person would shuffle their feet, and nodded. “Will you be back at all?”

  “Of course I will!” Barbara said, almost appalled Lindsay would ask. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Well you did think you were hallucinating.” She shrugged, and Barbara chuckled.

  “It’s not exactly every day you meet a mermaid of all things.”

  “We’re not all that interesting when you get past the fins and scales.” Lindsay chuckled, but some kind of anxiety settled behind those words.

  “Don’t be silly...I’ll be back tomorrow if you’re, well, gunna be around?”

Lindsay nodded and smiled, subconsciously swimming a little closer, but soon enough Barbara had turned her back and was carefully making her way through an array of rocks and pebbles, back onto the beach. Her shorts were soaking wet and the cab driver gave her odd looks all the way home, she didn’t have time to finish her paperwork, and she woke up late the next morning.

But Barbara couldn’t recall being so happy in a long, long time.

Even if her mood would shatter into pieces the next day.

…

  “You are not in any way motivated to be a part of this company, and now you’re blatantly refusing to fill in for work you chose not to do in work hours. And on top of that, you’re late.”

Barbara’s boss was furious, his cheeks were stained red with shouting and he was pacing angrily in his office whilst Barbara was sat in the guest’s chair, staring up with wide eyes and trying to hold back angry tears. She’d been fifteen minutes late. Fifteen. She’d never once been late in the years she’d worked there, never once missed out on work she didn’t have time to do in her allotted hours, and her Boss was acting as though this was a common occurrence.

  “Sir, I honestly didn’t mean to miss the work. I’ll stay on unpaid overtime to get it done tonight. And I missed my train-”

  “And now you come to me with excuses? Excusing the fact we now have three clients waiting for their orders, excusing the fact you’re trying to cut down your hours by claiming to be late? The biggest mistake I ever made was hiring you, Dunkelman. Collect your things and leave.”

Barbara’s stomach dropped and she stared up her Boss, mouth moving but no words coming out.

  “Did you not hear me? Get out.”

  “But, Sir, I really didn’t-”

  “GET OUT!”

Barbara seemed to be on auto-pilot as she left, going to her computer desk and looking at the things dotted around the desk. She steadily attempted to fit her belongings into her messenger bag, leaving behind anything she didn’t particularly care about. But most of all she didn’t feel...she was numb. She’d tried so hard in the company and built her way up. Still never at the position she quite wanted...but she’d gotten somewhere, she had a decent wage and now…

Barbara felt eyes on her back as she left, dumping the paper’s she’d half-filled into a bin on her way out the door. She pressed her lips together tightly, refusing to let out any tears as she headed into the elevator. She ignored one of work colleagues asking what was wrong. One of her old work colleagues, and darted out of the lift on the ground floor. The sun was bright as she headed outside, and the street was busy. Several people bustled past her, knocking into her without so much as a backwards glance, ignoring her imminent breakdown.

She hesitated for a moment, stood among a crowd of people and feeling utterly lost. For ten minutes she attempt to hail a cab, and when she did her thoughts had cleared and home was no longer in there. The taxi drove her towards a station downtown, and she caught the next train to head towards the beach. To see Lindsay.

Even if Barbara was still convinced that it was all some strangely realistic dream, it was the only comfort she had.

…

Lindsay was at the bottom of the ocean floor just as Barbara came off the train, idly sifting through the sand in search of shells and rocks. She tried to lie and say it was some old hobby she’d had for years, a very typical hobby of her kind mind you, but in reality she was just looking for something to give to Barbara, it was almost like she should thank her for not hurting her, and there wasn’t much you could find in the ocean that had any use for a human girl.

Eventually, she came across a pearl-coloured conch shell settled against a small reef just off the shallower end of water. She picked it up and jumped slightly as a rather large crab was nestled inside, who left its home the second she disturbed him. For a moment, Lindsay felt guilty, but decided it was probably ready to find a bigger shell either way. She looked the shell over, sighing a little sadly, and began to swim closer to shore, still out of sight from the rather crowded beach but wanting to listen all the same. If anyone did see her, they’d just assume she was one of the many swimmers out that day. Lindsay attempted to distract herself with the swimmers, with the people on the beach, with the conversations she could vaguely hear, listening to it as though small talk was the more interesting thing in the world. But her thoughts kept coming back to one awful idea.

She was worried that Barbara wasn’t going to come back.

Since the minute the girl left her last night Lindsay was gut-wrenchingly frightened of the possibility that she’d scared Barbara off. She swam back to the place that Barbara always seemed to visit. It was vacant and quiet, and Lindsay swam over to a rock, resting her arms across and leaning her head on them. She felt as though she’d dozed off, because it took her a moment to realise she could hear footsteps among the pebbles and sand, and even longer to open her eyes and lift her head sharply.

Her panicked stare melted into a grin, and she perked up the second Barbara’s frame came into vision, but instead of calling for her, she disappeared under the water for a moment whilst Barbara sad down on one of the rocks. Lindsay hadn’t quite noticed just how sad she’d looked, and even as she resurfaced a few feet away, leaning back and bringing her tailfin down onto the water, she never noticed. Barbara jumped visibly and yelped as a cascade of water came down on her, and she was about to angrily curse until she saw the creature a few feet away from her, giggling cheekily.

  “Not funny.” Barbara said, wiping some of the salt water from her face but struggling to confine her smile.

Lindsay shrugged and started to swim forward, movements fluid and natural, and in the sunlight Barbara could make out the true, bright colours of her scales shimmering and dancing under the clear water.

  “I thought it was. How come you’re here during the day? I thought you worked.”

Barbara moved her eyes away from Lindsay’s and sighed, running a hand across her cheek and trying to keep herself together.

  “I got fired.” Barbara mumbled, voice cracking a little but still keeping herself together. Lindsay’s mouth dropped a little and she stared up, brows knitting together.

  “I’m sorry.” She said, swimming forwarding and ignoring that the water was becoming a little shallower than she was used to. At a loss of words, she looked at the shell she’d collected earlier and reached out, pushing it up onto the shore, just a foot or so away from Barbara’s shoes. The blonde-haired girl looked down and laughed, choking slightly before she picked up the shell.

  “That’s so sweet.” She mumbled, and Lindsay’s cheeks flushed a little, matching the pink and red hues of her fins and hair, she felt a little silly, like a child offering one of their arts and craft pieces to someone they liked, but Barbara’s eyes seemed to have lightened, and Lindsay was grateful.

  “There’s not many things in the ocean that humans can make use of.” She explained, laughing a little. “I wish I could help you.”

  “Don’t worry about it. My Boss has always been an ass, it was only a matter of time until he found an excuse to fire me.” Barbara explained, standing up and placing the shell gently down on a rock, before attempting to roll up the black trousers she always wore to work. Not that it mattered if they got ruined now. Slowly, she began to wade out into the water, finding it relaxing. Lindsay watched carefully, noticing how much Barbara seemed to relax the instant she set foot in the ocean and smiled to herself.

  “What you smiling at?”

Lindsay felt her cheeks grow warm, but she wasn't embarrassed, instead she just grinned.

  “Nothing.”

Before using her hands to splash the other girl, who feigned shock and proceeded to do the same as though the water bothered Lindsay.

And she didn’t bother to say otherwise.

…

The two developed a pattern.

Almost every other day Barbara made her way into a cab, to the train station and to the beach. Never caring that she wasn’t looking for a job, never caring that she was using most of her savings on travel costs, because seeing Lindsay just seemed so worth it.

She was blocking out reality at all costs, because whenever she went to escape the city, Lindsay would always be waiting below the surface of the water, all bright smiles and cheeky grins, showing her caves that people rarely found along the coastline, letting Barbara wrap her arms around her neck and swim her along without fear of the water being too deep or rough, giving her only the prettiest seashells she could find because she didn’t know what else to cheer her up with.

She listened when reality began to seep back into Barbara’s subconscious. She listened about how she didn’t want to go back into a job, how she didn’t even want to be in the city anymore, that she was tired of her ex trying to cause problems for her. She was there for it all, good and bad, and still practically glowed the second she managed to see Barbara turn up on the beach, teasing her, comforting her, helping her try to forget.

Lindsay had known for a long time that she had fallen for her, but she would never speak a word of it.

Not out of fear, or embarrassment. She was confident if not flustered easily sometimes, but above all she couldn’t lose Barbara, and she endeavoured to never do so. But some days it was hard not to admit it, not just to herself, but to Barbara.

…

  “I wish you could hold your breath longer and actually be able to open your eyes underwater. There’s some cool reefs around here with cute little fishies.” Lindsay said, pinching her index finger and thumb together and pouting as she spoke. Barbara let out a laugh, making sure her clothes and bag were hidden away and above the water on the rocks. She’d decided to bring her swimwear for the day, and Lindsay was excited if not a little disappointed at how fragile humans were when it came to water sometimes.

  “Coming from the cute little fishie herself.” Barbara said with a grin, making her way into the water until it was just above her chest.

  “You flatter me.”

  “Gill-ty as charged.” Barbara said triumphantly, and Lindsay laughed, putting a intricately scaled hand over her eyes.

  “Not this again Barbs, please.”

  “Aw, what’s the matter Lind-sea?”

  “Lind-sea? Really?”

Lindsay’s eyebrow was raised as Barbara swam out with possibly the world’s proudest grin on her face. She’d found out all too soon that puns were kind of Barbs thing, and it was kind of cute she supposed. She tried not to think of that much though.

  “You love it.” Barbara insisted, and Lindsay felt something flip in her stomach, almost guilty. She ignored it, and tried to act normal as Barbara gestured her arms out to the other. Lindsay complied and turned away from her, letting the other girl hang on around her neck whilst she swam across the shoreline. Eventually they came across a fairly shallow section of water with a small coral reef. Barbara could see the fish swimming around in small, colourful shoals, if not a little blurred. After a moment of staring at the bright colours, Barbara sighed and Lindsay could feel her physically deflate, like she’d lost all energy.

Lindsay turned her head slightly, and she vaguely saw Barbara half-heartedly smile.

  “I really wish I was like you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Like a mermaid...it must be so peaceful down there, right?”

Lindsay nodded slowly, and began to get nervous, though Barbara was unaware of the reasons.

  “Yeah...I suppose it is. We never seem to get bothered much by predators, there’s nothing much to worry about at all apart from humans.”

Barbara nodded, watching the fish dart this way and that beneath the surface of the water, absentmindedly clutching closer to Lindsay.

  “I’m jealous of you.”

Lindsay laughed. “Don’t be. It gets boring, believe me.”

  “Do you think you could ever live up here? That’s if you wanted to. It’s pretty damn awful.”

Lindsay stiffened slightly, but not out of anger. There’d been many times where she’d wondered what it would be like to make the transition between mermaid to human. It had been spoken of before by others she’d befriended a long time ago, but she’d never seen anyone transform, of heard of anyone who had.

  “I think I could. Life gets so...dull. I mean, up there it’s busy and fast-paced and, I don’t know, more alive. Underwater there’s not much to do, nothing, really, apart from watch you guys and hope you’ll notice us one day...and not want to kill us.”

Barbara chuckled at how blunt the words came out, but then she slowly stopped and furrowed her brow.

  “So you really could live on land if you wanted? Not just as a mermaid, but...change?”

Lindsay didn’t say a word, and Barbara’s grip loosened around Lindsay’s neck and let go..

  “Could you?”

Slowly, the other turned around, a sheepish look on her face and swirling her tailfin around in the water like a child being scolded.

  “There’s always been...talk...of a ritual that could turn us into one of you. But honestly it could be just a myth. It’s never spoken of now.”

  “Lindsay, up until a while ago I thought mermaid’s themselves were myths. I highly doubt a ritual is too.”

Lindsay sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine. It’s something about making a bond with a human, kind of like soul-mates, but we have to have a lot of trust in the human because if that bond isn’t there, we’d, well, run out of air, like fish do after so long on land. Which is kind of gross but I guess that’s what we are, really. Just funny looking fish.”

Barbara ignored the attempt at humour, and her stomach suddenly dropped.

  “Lindsay...that’s not why...we’re friends is it?” Barbara asked quietly, moving back a little so she could stand on the ocean floor rather than tread water. Lindsay’s eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed for a minute.

  “No! I hadn’t even thought about it, I-”

  “You were always saying how you wanted to leave the ocean though, right? Because it bored you?”

  “Barbara that doesn’t mean I’d ever try and use you as a tool to get there!”

Barbara realised all too soon how upset Lindsay seemed, and that panicked look that she’d seen the first time they’d met was back.

  “Sorry, Lindsay.” Barbara sighed, and Lindsay’s features softened instantly. “I’m sorry. It just scares me to think you’d want to live up here anyway.”

Lindsay watched with wide eyes.

  “It’s so horrible, Lindsay. It really is. I’ve lost my job...I can barely pay for my apartment...no one cares about you, they don’t have time to care about you. You’re alone even if you have a thousand friends and it’s so stressful. I wouldn’t ever want you to live somewhere so...ugly. I care about you too much to see you get ruined by it.”

Neither of them said a word, and Barbara felt guilty for letting the stress of her life outside of the beach out on Lindsay again, but soon she felt hands curling around her waist and pulling her close, and heard Lindsay whisper something in her ear, words she never caught.

Silence encased them for the longest time, and Barbara had to ask...had to know, even if was just to keep her hope alight, the chance of something better for her waiting if things got too rough.

  “Lindsay? Could I ever be one of you?”

The mermaid didn’t let go of her embrace, but her features saddened and eyes lowered.

  “Yeah. Yeah, you could. But please don’t ask me, Barbs. I don’t know if I could bring myself to do it. It’s too dangerous.”

Barbara nodded, though her heart dropped a little, it was enough to hear those words.

…

Lindsay felt, rather than knew, that something was wrong the next day.

Something inside of her was riddled with worry, and she actually made her way up from the ocean floor to see if there was something happening. She just had this gut-feeling that something was going horribly wrong, she just couldn’t pinpoint what. As she resurfaced, Lindsay took a glance around the beach, making sure to stay hidden incase of any swimmers nearby. But the beach was deserted, even for a morning. She supposed it was the weather. Oddly dark clouds drifted overhead and she, even if previously accustomed to colder waters, shivered.

She frowned, and took another look around, half-expecting Barbara to be somewhere among the rocks, another day turned sour for her in the human world. But Lindsay was alone. At the first drop of rain, the mermaid sunk below the surface, frowning and feeling agitated.

…

Barbara wasn’t upset. She wasn’t angry. She simply felt nothing. There was a gaping hole where her emotions should have been, and her world which had been crumbling ever since moving to the city, had crashed and fallen around her, leaving her to trip among the debris with no one to guide her through the wreckage. Early that morning, she’d been woken up to her landlord practically knocking the door down, and she didn’t even have to ask to know what it was about. She’d failed to keep a job after her old one, she simply could not bring herself to wake up every morning with the expectation to feign happiness, to feign enthusiasm for something she loathed, for something that gave her no joy anymore.

Barbara had been late for her payments, and her landlord had had enough.

She’d been given merely three days to pack her things and be gone, so he could rent the place to someone who could keep a job, who could function like the rest of society and be a part of the work force, to someone who could pay him every month.

Barbara had smiled, had nodded, and had said she understood and would be gone as soon as possible, that she’d drop the keys off when she did. The minute the door closed, she pressed her back against it and let the tears fall, even if in her heart there was not an emotion to be found. Outside, it began to rain, and Barbara did the only thing she could think of to console her, to make her feel something through her monotonous haze. She hailed a cab, and made her way to Lindsay.

The rain seemed to worsen as she came closer to the station, and there were threats of delays as wind had blown trees onto the track, but Barbara finally managed to catch one, and in what seemed to be mere minutes she was at the beach. The water was incredibly rough, and for a moment she felt a twinge of nerves. Even if Lindsay had insisted that she was used to the water being rough, and that it felt like nothing to her, Barbara couldn’t help but worry. But the feeling wasn’t enough, and Barbara ignored the odd looks she received from rushed passersby, and ignored the signs that had been put up along the beach to ward off the public. She had to try and see Lindsay, there was nowhere else for her to go.

She headed across the beach, shielding her eyes from the violent spray of water, but her sights were set on the rocky area in an abandoned part of the beach. Barbara had no doubt Lindsay would be there, she always was. Lindsay was her anchor, her light in the dark, and if anyone could save her from the emptiness encasing Barbara, it would be her.

She slipped several times among the rocks, and was forced a lot further back than usual. The waves were violent, crashing against the rocks and causing a white spray to drench Barbara as well as the rain crashing down. She began to realise all too soon that she was making a mistake, but she couldn’t physically draw herself away from the ocean. She needed Lindsay to be there, she needed that comfort, to ignite some kind of life back into her, to replace the light that the city had stolen from her over the years.

Barbara’s foot slipped on the rock she was forced up onto, and her heart gave a jolt. Lindsay was nowhere to be seen, she couldn’t even see the flicker of crimson beneath the waves meaning she was scouring the ocean floor. She could see nothing but the white edge of oncoming waves - and they were getting bigger by the second. She was beginning to panic and tried to crawl to her left, away from the incoming tide, and Lindsay’s name found her lips in a cry.

Before she could finish, she slipped and fell into the water, trying desperately to clutch onto the rocks, to keep her above the surface, but soon enough her world became a flurry of blue, red, then black.

…

She felt...light. As though she was floating. And it was warm...endlessly comforting. Barbara felt as though she could lay there, suspended, for the longest time. But curiosity got the better of her, and slowly she tried to open her eyes. The feeling was odd, and for a moment her eyes stung horribly, but the feeling passed as soon as it started, and she looked around sluggishly, waiting for things to come into focus.

The first thing she saw were Lindsay’s, curious and worried stare, her hair drifting the water’s current like a halo, and everything inside of Barbara seemed to ignite with happiness. She lifted a hand up to Lindsay, who took it, smiling even if she looked on the verge of tears, and proceeded to swim down to her, pulling her into a hug.

It was only then that Barbara realised the gravity of what had happened, and Lindsay seemed to be able to read her mind.

  “You fell in and you were almost gone...I didn’t know what to do, Barbs, the waves were so strong. It’s the worst storm I’ve had to deal with. I just didn’t want you to go…I’m so sorry Barbara.”

Barbara moved her lower half, and though the action was foreign it somehow felt...right? Her arms tightened around Lindsay’s neck, and she smiled.

  “Don’t be sorry. Don’t be sorry at all. I can finally get away from it all...spend my time with someone that matters.”

Lindsay pulled away slowly, smiling softly and Barbara took the chance to expect the changes. Her tailfin almost matched Lindsay’s own, but instead was an array of gold and silver tones. She looked up at Lindsay, and the rush of affection for the girl was overwhelming. She leant forward, hands clasped across the other’s neck and pulled her close for a kiss. Lindsay’s heart surged against her chest, and she moved ever closer.

Neither spoke a word as they reluctantly pulled away. They simply smiled. Because deep down they knew that if their bond hadn’t have been so strong to begin with Barbara wouldn’t have been where she was in that instant.

Suddenly, Lindsay began to grin to herself, and Barbara cocked an eyebrow.

  “Hey...I guess you could say you’re a Barbacudda.”

Barbara let out a string of laughter, clutching onto Lindsay’s hand tightly and falling into her side.

  “I’m so proud.” She giggled.

…

Barbara loved the ocean. Ever since she’d moved to Austin, the warm weather and trips to the beach were something she always looked forward to. There was something endlessly relaxing and calm about it all, and back in her days of busy city life she needed that escape, like another world waiting for her to pluck her thoughts and submerge them in waves, to watch them float away from shore and be forgotten until the next tide.

But now she had Lindsay.

She had her anchor.

Gavinofree has signed in.

The message popped onto the screen, a polite chime accompanying it.

“Aaaand, I’m gonna cut here,” Ray made a verbal note to himself, before navigating to the menu screen of the game he was playing and saving his progress. Usually when he was recording an Achievement Guide he’d set himself to busy, but if he was recording in the afternoon there was a chance that he and Gavin’s schedules would sync up despite the 5 hour time difference.

Ray and Gavin had known each other for nearly 3 years now, originally meeting online through the Rooster Teeth community. Ray had been doing mainly freelance work for them at that part and Gavin was just a face that popped up in the odd video or podcast. They had chatted a few times through the boards, but they referred to each other by their screen names, and mostly kept conversations to “Hey, how hard was it to get that achievement?”

“Hey, Brownman. How the hell did you get Mile High Club that fast? I swear I sat there for at least three hours before I finally got it. – Gavinofree”. Ray had received a few comments like this so far after he updated his achievement list on the site. Most were of disbelief, but after he uploaded a screenshot of the achievement pop they quieted down. He’d spoken to this guy a few times before though, so he felt a small sense of obligation to reply.

           “Guess I’m just naturally talented, dude. Get on my level. :)” He wrote back, and smiled to himself as he hit the send button.

Eventually their nearly business-like comments turned into quips and snarky comments, and comments turned into private messages, which turned into late night chats on Skype. Late night chats quickly escalated into late night Skype calls, and those escalated pretty quickly into breathy moans and questions like “What are you wearing” and even one eventful “Shhh, you’re going to wake my dad up” when Ray’s headset broke and he was forced to use his laptop mic and speakers.

        “So, what are you wearing?” Gavin’s playful tone had an edge to it, but Ray just rolled his eyes. “Day old boxers and a Misfits tshirt, y’know, my sexy outfit.” Ray muttered. His headset had broken the week before and he wouldn’t have enough cash to replace it until his next unemployment cheque came in, so used the built in microphone on his laptop. His dad was asleep in the next room, so Ray was trying to keep his and Gavin’s conversation volume to a minimum.

        “Oh baby, you know how to rile me up,” Gavin laughed, and despite the distorted sound offered by Ray’s speakers, the noise managed to warm his heart a little. “No but seriously, I’ve had my hand down my pants for the past 5 minutes, just kind of wanking to your voice.” Gavin admitted, not a hint of shame in his voice. Ray’s immediately shot up from his chair, and closed his door as violently as he could without making too much of a ruckus.

        “Dude, shut the fuck up. My dad’s asleep and I’m pretty sure the last thing he wants to wake up to is the sound of his son and his ‘internet buddy’ jerking it in the next room.” Ray stage whispered, grabbing his laptop and flopping onto his bed.

        “If our Snapchat history is anything to go by, we’ve gone past the ‘internet buddy’ stage there, mate.” Gavin laughed, and Ray blushed. Gavin was going to be the end of him. And yet, when the pop up asking if he was willing to accept the video chat came up, he didn’t even think about it before hitting accept. He inhaled sharply as a not-too-blurry image of Gavin appeared on his screen. Leaning back in his bed and clearly not wearing anything but a grin and a lopsided headset. Ray’s heart skipped a beat

        “Now get the headphones from your iPod and plug them in, that’ll keep down some of the noise at least.” Gavin instructed, and Ray grabbed the earbuds from the bedside table and wondered why the hell he hadn’t used them before.

        “Because you’re a pleb, that’s why,” Gavin said before Ray even noticed that he’d spoken his thought aloud. He just sighed and plugged in his headphones before leaning back.

“Now let’s start with taking off that shirt Narvaez,” Gavin’s voice purred into his ears, and Ray had no choice but to comply.

Ray sat for a moment, lost in his own memories and daydreams before he noticed the incoming Skype call demanding his attention. He hit accept quickly and smiled at the now familiar face that came into view on his monitor.

“Took you long enough,” Gavin mocked, “If you’re too busy to talk to me then that’s fine.” He sighed, and slowly began to close the lid to his laptop.

“No stop! Stop! I was just thinking about that time when my headset broke and my dad walked in on me with my hands down my pants and your stupid face on my computer.” Ray cringed at the memory; it had been pleasant until that part. Gavin laughed and fixed his laptop.

“God the look on your face,” he choked, “you looked like he’d caught you chopping off the head of a prostitute.” Gavin wiped the tears from his eyes before straightening out.

“Reminiscing about our awkward Skype sex life isn’t why I called though, Ray,” He said, suddenly serious. A flash of panic shot down Ray’s spine. Gavin rarely looked like he wasn’t about to crack a joke.

“Um, okay. What’s up, dude?” Ray asked, trying to keep up the facade of being a completely calm and in control dude.

“Well uh, shit,” Gavin ran his fingers through his hair nervously, “Well, Geoff offered me a full time spot at Achievement Hunter, I start next month.” Ray let out a breath he didn’t realise he was holding.

“Fuck Gavin, I thought you were dying, or breaking up with me or something,” Ray said, “Seriously though, congratulations, I’m fucking jealous. I’ve been hounding that dickbag for a full time gig for ages. But how are you going to do that while you keep up with your camera stuff over there?”

Gavin sighed, before reaching across his desk and grabbing a small piece of paper. He held it up to the camera for a second, letting it focus on the words “Heathrow” and “Kennedy” before pulling it back. “I’m packing up and moving to Austin!” He said, letting out a small huff.

Ray sat there, speechless for a minute. Gavin. In America. Permanently. They’d been able to meet a few times times over the years, but the idea of Gavin being in the States full time, even if he was so far away was just- “Wait, why are you flying into JFK if you’re going to Austin?”

Gavin giggled, he fucking giggled, “You know, everyone says that I’m the dumb one, but sometimes you are just so damn dense. I wanted to see you first you idiot. I haven’t seen you in ages and my loins are aching for some good Narvaez lovin,” He waggled his eyebrows as Ray definitely did not let out a girly shriek.

“Ah fuck, when do you get in? Forward me your booking confirmation. I’m going to have to make sure Pop’s out of the house that afternoon so we can fuck.”

“Aww, you sure how to make a boy feel special,” Gavin fluttered his eyelashes and laughed.

Ray sat at the arrivals gate, biting his nails and tapping his foot as he stared at the flow of people coming and going.  Businessmen getting off with a small suitcase and their phone out, tired parents just looking relieved to be in an open space, anxious families waiting for their loved ones to walk through the door… and then something perfect. For being an incredible dork and having just been on a plane for nearly 7 hours, Gavin really looked far too good. Skinny jeans slightly wrinkling over a pair of converse, a tshirt that clung almost a bit too close to his thin frame, and a pair of aviators nestled in the stylish mess of his hair. It took Ray a moment to realise that he was just sat staring before he pulled himself up from his seat and jogged over and wrapped his arms around his boyfriend in a bone-crushing hug.

Gavin dropped his bags to reciprocate, closing his eyes and just breathing in everything that was just, Ray, trying to make his brain take in every detail. The way the fabric of Ray’s shirt felt in his hands, the weight against his back from Ray’s arms, and the sound of Ray’s fast, almost relieved breaths. Nothing felt better than Ray nuzzling his head into Gavin’s chest slightly while mumbling “Missed you, Vav”. They stood there for a moment, simply wrapped in each other before the seconds passed, and they parted. Ray wiped at his eyes, even though he definitely had not been crying, before reaching up and grabbing the sunglasses off of Gavin’s head.

“What kind of asshole wears sunglasses on the plane? Worried about the fucking paparazzi or something?” He joked, putting them on over his own glasses and grabbing one of Gavin’s bags.

“Shut up, it was bright on that flight and I wanted to sleep. I didn’t want to be all tired and grumpy when I landed.” Gavin explained, and Ray decided to let it slide. They headed to catch a cab, Gavin chattering about how glad  he was that this visa and immigration business had finally been sorted out while Ray just nodded and half listened, still not quite over the fact that Gavin was going to be in America full time from now on. As they loaded their stuff into the ab, Ray leaned forward to give his address before Gavin interrupted him, giving the name of a hotel downtown instead. Ray turned and raised an eyebrow, and Gavin blushed slightly.

“I figured that I’d get a hotel. That way we could hang out there instead of annoying your dad with… us,” He trailed off slightly before motioning back and forth between him and Ray.

“You clever bastard.”

Gavin just laughed before intertwining their fingers, slumping slightly in his seat so that he could rest his head on Ray’s shoulder, closing his eyes slightly.

“Hey, I thought you said you slept on the plane? Don’t pass out on me now Gav.” Ray chided, but didn’t move. Gavin sighed, “I did, but I thought I’d take a quick nap anyway. Just because you’re comfy.”

Ray looked up briefly and met the eyes of the cabbie through the rear view mirror. He simply shrugged in a ‘What are you gonna do?’ manner and the cabbie smiled, shaking his head fondly.

“You two remind me of my daughter and her boyfriend,” He explained, “He goes to school a few states over and every time he visits he does the same thing. Says that he’s wide awake to make her happy but just passes out immediately.” He chuckled slightly, “Travelling can take a lot out of you.”

Ray nodded, untangling his hand from Gavin’s to lightly stroke his hair as he snored lightly, “Yeah, but it’s worth it.” He half-whispered.

A few minutes later Ray shook awake a sleepy Gavin, who pulled out his wallet with his eyes closed, letting Ray pull out their fare. He thanked their cabbie before dragging Gavin out of the car behind him to grab the luggage from the trunk. Gavin shivered slightly from the quick awakening, but perked up soon enough, breezing through his check in with a smile. Soon they were at the door to Gavin’s room. Gavin now wide awake, swung the door open and walked in with long strides, putting his bags down in the closet and letting Ray take in the view.

“Christ Gavin, how much did you pay for this room? The view is insane!” Ray ran to the window out to the balcony, marveling at the cityscape before him. Slender arms wrapped their way around his waist as Gavin pulled him close.

“It’s a view I didn’t think you’d mind waking up to,” He said, letting out a breath and placing a kiss on Ray’s neck. “You like it then?” He asked, placing another kiss behind Ray’s ear.

“Hmm? Yeah, but I think I like where this is going even more,” Ray sighed, letting Gavin spin him around before bringing their mouths together.

Ray brought his hands up to Gavin’s hair, running his fingers through the locks and letting his nails gently scrape against Gavin’s scalp.

Gavin moaned slightly at the contact, and pressed his tongue against Ray’s lips. He grinned as Ray opened them, letting Gavin breach his mouth with his tongue. They stood like that for a moment, kissing against the New York skyline like a postcard, before Gavin pulled away. He yanked off his shirt and Ray quickly did the same, both tossing their clothes into a corner before making their way to the bed. Slipping off their shoes and socks along the way.

Ray tumbled backwards on the bed and Gavin crawled on top of them, both scooting up the bed slightly. Ray ran his hands across Gavin’s chest lovingly, letting his fingers curl in the mass of hair there. Gavin shivered at the touch, before leaning down, and placing a chaste kiss on Ray’s lips. From there he moved downwards, placing wet kisses down Ray’s neck, biting and nibbling as he went. Ray squirmed, his hands running up and down Gavin’s back in attempt to keep himself under control. Gavin smirked against Ray’s skin, and moved down lower. He made sure to leave a hickey on Ray’s collarbone, whispering “Mine”.

He soon made his way to his destination, unzipping Ray’s jeans in a hurry before pulling them off. Gavin quickly began to take his own off afterwards, shimmying awkwardly to get out of his skinny jeans, pulling the lube and condom he’d stashed in there at the airport bathroom and tossing them onto the nightstand. Both men kicked off their boxers, Gavin tossing them into the growing pile of other clothes with a triumphant cheer. Ray snorted at the sight, bringing Gavin’s attention back to him, and where he left off.

Ray laid back as Gavin brought his face to Ray’s thigh, placing soft kisses there. He slowly moved inwards, biting playfully at the soft skin of Ray’s inner thigh before licking a strip from the base of Ray’s erect cock to the tip. Ray let out a small gasp as Gavin continued to lick him like a lollypop. He placed a kiss on the tip of Ray’s cock before beginning to swallow him down, one long arm reaching up to the nightstand to grab the lube. He removed his mouth for a split second to squirt some onto his hand, before returning to work. He swallowed eagerly while letting one slim finger dip into Ray’s hole. Reveling in the moans coming from his boyfriend at the small intrusion. He crooked his finger slightly, searching and probing until he finally hit that spot, and Ray shuddered, squeezing his eyes shut.

Soon Gavin added a second finger, scissoring gently while giving Ray a slow, almost lazy blowjob. Ray’s hands fisted themselves in Gavin’s hair now, not sure if he wanted this to last forever or if he just wanted to cum now. Gavin finally pulled his mouth off of Ray’s erection with a soft pop, reaching up to give his lover a deep kiss, while gently adding a third finger. Again, Ray squirmed, but Gavin’s kiss had a soothing effect. He arched up slightly, craving the contact that he’d so suddenly lost. Gavin just chuckled before fully removing his hand, grabbing the condom on the nightstand and quickly rolling it on to himself. He leaned back to examine the sight in front of him. Ray lay there, eyes open now and pupils blown wide. His hair stuck to his forehead and he was panting slightly.

“Christ you’re gorgeous,” Gavin muttered, and reached down to kiss Ray’s forehead, pulling down a pillow to prop under Ray’s back. Gavin leaned back, spreading Ray’s legs and positioning himself at Ray’s entrance. He looked up to meet Ray’s eye, silently asking for permission.

“Oh just fucking do it, Free,” Ray snapped, not unkindly, and Gavin barked out a laugh before slowly pushing himself in. Ray hissed slightly, clenching and unclenching his fists at the burn. Gavin waited for his breathing to normalise before pushing in further. It was almost cruelly slow, but finally he had reached his hilt. He stayed like that for a brief moment, enjoying the feeling of filling Ray to the brim. Then he began to pump slowly, Ray wanking himself to the rhythm that Gavin was setting. Soon Gavin’s thrust grew faster, pounding harder. He leaned down to latch on to Ray’s neck, biting and kissing and nibbling frantically. Ray’s tugs and pulls became more frantic, one hand clamped on to Gavin’s ass and pulling him closer with every thrust. Their bodies rocked together the room filled with the sounds of their moans and sighs. it felt like all too soon when Ray felt that familiar feeling pooling in his stomach, his toes curling and his head rolling back.

“I’m gonna - fuck, I think I’m going to -” Was all he managed to get out before spurting out against his and Gavin’s chests, his hand shakily jerking every last drop from his cock. Gavin detached himself from Ray’s neck to crash their mouths together. Their tongues fighting for dominance in this strange tango. Ray grunted, finally spent, and the sound drove Gavin over the edge, spilling into the condom and collapsing on top of his boyfriend, detaching his face from Ray’s in order to drop his head against his shoulder. They lay like that for a minute, Ray tracing invisible patterns along Gavin’s back as they both fought to catch their breath. Eventually, Gavin slowly pulled himself out, Ray wincing slightly at the burn. Gavin got up to toss away the condom, and came back with a damp washcloth. He cleaned off his chest quickly before placing it on Ray’s stomach, lovingly wiping him clean. He placed a small kiss at Ray’s belly button and smiled, saying “All clean now” before going to throw the washcloth back in the washroom.

When he came back Ray was sprawled out, stretching his sore muscles and looking out at the city.Gavin flopped next to him, a content smile spreading across his face.

“So, wanna go to the Met and do touristy stuff?” He asked. Ray looked down at him and smiled back.

Chapter 1

It all started with Barbara’s plea of “One more night, c’mon, Linds, gimme one more night out on the town before we go back to Austin.” 

The two had decided to fly out to Vegas over their long weekend break, since neither of them had been there before and they both wanted to experience Vegas once. It was a mutual bucket list trip that had ended up being more of Barbara getting absolutely plastered at night and Lindsay kicking ass at Texas Hold’em during the day.

Reluctantly, Lindsay had agreed, and that was how she found herself in the third shitty bar of Barbara’s choice on their bar-hopping rounds.

Barbara was very drunk.

This was an observation made by Lindsay as she downed her own Coors Light and watched Barbara lean over the counter towards the poor, unsuspecting bartender. 

“You’re… like a donkey. Which makes that ass spectacular!” Barbara laughed, and Lindsay winced at the confused look on the bartender’s face. Finishing off her beer, Lindsay decided to step in. 

“Hey there, Barbs!” She sing-songed the name as she took Barbara’s forearm and pulled her away from the relieved and still very confused bartender who had been the target of Barbara’s pun-based affections. 

Barbara blinked owlishly at Lindsay a few times before leaning against her friend. “Hey… Linds…?”

“Hrm?” Lindsay had found them a booth in the bar/restaurant and lightly pulled Barbara in after her, letting Barbara rest her head on Lindsay’s shoulder.

“We should get married- like for realizes.” Barbara’s foot tapped under the table, and her thigh nudged against Lindsay’s.

The alcohol coursed through Lindsay’s system and she hummed, lying her head on top of Barbara’s. “Hey, why not? You find a preacher, we’ll call it a ceremony.” She laughed, and Barbara found herself laughing along, even though she wasn’t sure what Lindsay was laughing at. 

One drunken stumble out of the bar, a few fumbled taxi cabs, and a set of slurred instructions later, they were in a church.

Church being a relative word- it was a small ramshackle building tucked in alongside an even shoddier bar on one side and what was definitely not a clean strip club on the other.

The minster, a younger man, took the money that Barbara handed him, who had plucked it from Lindsay’s pocket. He counted the bills as Barbara leaned against Lindsay, Lindsay’s arm wrapped around her waist.

Satisfied, the minister tucked away the money and began the ceremony. Somewhere, tinny organ music played and Lindsay and Barbara shuffled forward, a mass of limbs and drunken smiles. 

“Do you take Barbara to be your newly wedded wife?” There was no feeling to the words, the man was only doing his job, but Barbara liked to think she heard sincerity in Lindsay’s answer.

“Yes. Er, I do.” Lindsay laughed and pulled Barbara closer to her. It was cold in the church, and their jackets had long been forgotten in one of the taxis.

“And do you take Lindsay to be your newly wedded wife?”

Barbara took longer to answer, looking up at Lindsay and pressing her forehead against Lindsay’s shoulder before speaking. “I do.”

“I now pronounce you wife and wife. You may kiss… the bride. Each other.”

It was a sloppy kiss, Barbara reaching up to shove her hands into Lindsay’s hair and wrecking what was left of the styled locks. Lindsay leaned down, her hands slipping down to rest on Barbara’s ass and tug her up. They both missed each other’s lips and ended up with their heads on each other’s shoulders, before Barbara turned her head and crept her lips up the side of Lindsay’s neck, seeking out her lips. Barbara found them, and tightened her grip in Lindsay’s air and they sucked the breath out of each other, Lindsay biting at Barbara’s lower lip and Barbara moaned-

The minster cleared his throat, and they broke apart only at the lips to turn their heads towards him, fixing him with slow, half-lidded looks. 

“There’s a hotel the next block over. I’ll call a taxi for you.”

It took a moment to register the information, and Lindsay was the first to respond, nodding and pulling Barbara along next to her towards the door. “Thank you!” She called behind her as they left, exiting the warmth of the church and entering the crisp night air of Vegas. 

True to his word, the taxi soon arrived and the pair tumbled into the backseat, lying there- Barbara on top of Lindsay- and the driver just smiled and drove on to the hotel.

They had to be poked awake, and with tired laughter, Lindsay paid the driver who guided them to the front door of the hotel. It was nothing short of seedy on the outside, but the inside proved to be welcoming. The girl at the desk gave them the rates for a room, and Barbara slipped her hand into Lindsay’s pocket where Barbara had put her own money. The bills were slid across the counter, and they received a key and pointed directions which they sleepily followed.

There were only two floors to the hotel, and they had been placed on the first. Lindsay held the key tightly in one hand, Barbara’s hand in the other as the blonde counted off room numbers loudly.

“67, 68, 69-!” They dissolved into fits of muted laughter at that, continuing their stumbling journey down the hall. “72! Here’s our room!” Barbara made a grab for the key as she spoke, but Lindsay grinned and waved it just out of her reach before shielding the lock with her body and sliding the key in. It took three fumbled attempts, but finally the door clicked open and they weaved in, the keys dropped on the floor as shoes were kicked off and shirts shed.

They collapsed on the bed, Barbara hooking a leg around Lindsay’s waist and pulling her closer to kiss the top of her head. Lindsay laughed softly into the cushion of Barbara’s breasts as Barbara’s hands ghosted across her sides.

“You’re ticklish.” Barbara observed, and Lindsay raised her head, face flushed red and mouth open in a laugh.

“Yeah-“Another giggle as Barbara dusted her fingers across Lindsay’s sides, and Lindsay nudged lightly at Barbara’s shoulder with her head. “C’mon, quit it.”

Barbara obliged, skating her hands down to rest on Lindsay’s hips and curled her fingers through the belt loops on her jeans. “Y’know something?”

Lindsay kissed down the side of Barbara’s throat and into the crook of her neck, leaving a wet trail in her wake. “I know you’re drunk.” She muttered, then revised her statement. “N’ I am too.”

Barbara laughed, a clear sound through the haze over both of them and gave a tug on Lindsay’s belt loops, grinding up against her and drawing out a gasp. “You’re pretty.”

Lindsay turned redder and buried her face into Barbara’s shoulder with a soft moan as Barbara repeated her previous action. “Barbs…”

“Yes, Linds?” Barbara smirked and bowed her head to nip at the shell of Lindsay’s ear.

“Fuck me.” The command was whispered, barely passed from Lindsay’s lips to Barbara’s ears, and Barbara was more than happy to obey.

The pants were quickly shed, jean material being more trouble than it was worth. It was no competition between the two of them. Lindsay kissed slowly and sweet, Barbara’s hands running down her back and leaving red nail marks in their wake as Barbara whimpered softly at another sharp tug of her lip by Lindsay’s teeth. Barbara kissed rough and fast, all sloppy, demanding tongue as she pushed Lindsay onto her back and straddled her, bending down as to not break the kiss until Lindsay had to push her away to catch her breath. Barbara didn’t give her the chance, biting at the soft flesh of Lindsay’s neck and leaving bright red marks that were quickly soothed away by gentle kisses.

A slow bite to Lindsay’s collarbone soon turned rough as Barbara rolled the flesh between her teeth and snaked a hand down to press two fingers against Lindsay’s clit. Lindsay’s cry was soft and she shuddered, a plea falling from her lips “Fuck, Barbs, please-“

Barbara pulled her mouth from Lindsay, lips wet and the bruise on Lindsay’s skin shining with spit. “Please, what, Tuggey?” She whispered, moving her fingers slowly in a circular motion and causing Lindsay’s hips to buck upwards. 

Lindsay took in the sight, Barbara’s hair completely out of place and a gleam in her eyes as she worked her fingers against Lindsay, and Lindsay sighed happily as she ran a hand up Barbara’s back and into the wild strands of hair. “Get me off.” She made her voice low as possible, pulling Barbara up into another slow, quick kiss. “Please?” 

“A’course.” Barbara pressed a kiss to Lindsay’s cheek before wiggling out of her grasp and pushing Lindsay’s legs apart. Barbara kneeled between them, pushing the thin sheer of Lindsay’s panties aside to press a single nail to the nub of Lindsay’s clit and flicking it.

Lindsay moaned loudly before yanking her wrist up to her mouth and biting on it to muffle her noises. “Christ-“Subdued words made their way past the makeshift gag and spurred Barbara on.

Barbara was no stranger to getting herself off, and she used the same techniques on Lindsay now, using her nail to toy relentlessly with Lindsay’s clit and following the twitch of her hips. A particularly loud cry paired with the quiver of Lindsay’s thighs let her know Lindsay was close, and she pressed just a bit harder. 

Lindsay felt the heat pool in her groin and she shook, tossing her head back against the pillow and canting her hips, panting out Barbara’s name. She hit her high with a strangled scream, and felt Barbara work her through it, removing the direct pressure on her clit and rolling the nub lightly between her fingers until Lindsay pulled her hand from her mouth.

Lindsay groped downwards, catching Barbara’s chin in her hand and dragging her up to kiss her, missing and pecking her on the nose.

Laughter pealed from between the two of them, Barbara still lightly petting across Lindsay's clit until she was still and softly tugging Barbara's hand away. 

"Here, Barbs, let me-"

Barbara batted back at Lindsay, grasping her chin firmly in order to not miss as she kissed Lindsay. "No, it's fine. You just watch." She winked and slid back on the bed, kneeling as Lindsay sat up and crawled towards her. 

It didn't take long for Barbara to throw her head back in pleasure, but she didn't expect to feel Lindsay settle down behind her and place a hand over Barbara's, mimicking the circular rubs of earlier. 

“Shit, Linds-“ Barbara gasped out, and the rest of her cries were muffled by Lindsay slipping her fingers into Barbara’s mouth. It was over fast, and Barbara slumped back against Lindsay, panting. “M’sleepy.” Barbara mutters, and Lindsay guides them both down to lie on the sheets, Lindsay spooning Barbara as Barbara drags the thick comforter up over them both. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 2

The next morning comes quicker than either of them like, the harsh rays of the morning sun waking them up as it slats across their faces. Barbara stirs first, rolling over and sitting bolt upright when her hand brushes bare flesh. It only takes a glance to identify the red hair of Lindsay, and Barbara internally groans. Shit. 

It takes a few gropes before Barbara realizes her phone is not on the bedside table, and she has to gingerly slip out of Lindsay’s clingy grasp to drag the pile of clothes close and she roots through the various garment until she finds her jeans and pulls out her phone. A piece of paper come with it, but she doesn’t read it until after she’s checked the time. “Shit.” She finally voices the sentiment that’s been running through her head as the words on the paper register themselves into sentences.

Married.

Lindsay Tuggey and Barbara Dunkleman. 

Married.

Married.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To say the least, Lindsay was not happy when she woke and saw the paper in Barbara’s hands. 

At least she didn’t yell.

Instead, it was a quiet anger as she plucked the paper out of Barbara’s hands, read it over and then clutched it so tightly her knuckles turned white and the paper crinkled. There was a near deafening silence that hung over both of them before Lindsay spoke. 

“Get your things, find your own way home.”

“Linds, I’m s-“

“Go!”

Barbara couldn’t argue after that, not when she saw the way Lindsay shook. She gathered her clothes, slipping back into them and confirming everything was there. The silence from before had descended again, and it followed Barbara like a heavy black cloud all the way to the door until she rested her hand on the door knob and threw a ray of light at it. 

“I love you, Lindsay.”

And then Barbara was gone, the door shutting behind with a final click before the cloud was watered down by the soft sobbing of Lindsay as she collapsed on the bed and let the tears stain the paper. The ink blurred and ran, while outside Barbara flagged down a taxi and didn’t look back.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was three days before they spoke again. 

Day one was spent traveling. Barbara canceled her original flight and booked an earlier one back to Austin. Lindsay canceled and booked a later one. 

Day two was spent calling in sick to work. They had no energy in them to work up the strength to go in and see the other’s face.

Day three was when they both came back to work. It was clear from the moment Barbara got there that something had happened in Vegas, but the death stare and lack of puns scared off anyone who had thought they had the balls to ask about it.

Lindsay had never been so glad her desk was next to Ryan’s. One look at her, and he had simply nodded, given a soft smile and said, “Wait here.” 

The last thing Lindsay wanted to do was move, and so she settled down in her chair, idlely clicking at her screen until Ryan returned and a warm mug was pressed into her hand. She sniffed and smiled- coffee, with sugar and cream just the way she liked it. “Thanks, Ryan.” She managed, and he rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. 

“Of course. If you need anything else, I’m right here.” And then he’d sat down and slipped his headphones back on, giving Lindsay all the space she needed.

They both thought they’d be able to avoid each other, but they’d forgotten about RWBY. When Michael was sent to get them after he was done recording his Sun lines, he regretted ever agreeing to work at RT. Lindsay had fixed him with a near murderous look and actually snapped the handle off of her coffee mug, and Barbara had thrown a stapler at his head. It was not a good day to be Michael Jones.

The two finally met face to face again just outside the recording studio, Lindsay with a barely contained disgust on her face, and Barbara with a distant, blank stare. “Lindsay.”

“Barbara.”

Kerry, who needed to get by, squeaked his apologies and ran past the two.

“Listen, Lindsay, I-“

“Oh no, I’m not dealing with your apology bullshit-“ Lindsay fought to keep her voice down, and not to wince at the pained look that flashed across Barbara’s face. 

“I’m not going to apologize, I just want a second chance.”

“Well, if that… what? A second chance at what?”

“Showing you that I love you. Sober. Please, Lindsay.”

There was a heartbeat of silence between the two of them as they finally met each other’s eyes. Then Lindsay sighed and reached into her back pocket, pulling out the crumpled paper from the morning after. “Did you really mean it? The ‘I do”?”

Barbara’s eyes light up with hope as she looks from the paper to Lindsay and back to the paper again. “I did. I was drunk as all hell, but I meant it. Nothing would make me happier than to be married to you.”

The paper was left folded, and Lindsay gently took Barbara’s hand, pressing the certificate into it. “I believe you. Just… give me a day, alright? I need to think everything over one more night.”

Barbara closed her hand, careful not to crush the contents and nodded. “One more night. Thank you.”

The rest of the day passed quietly, the mood of anger dispelled and instead replaced by a mix of anxious giddiness and nervous pondering.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They didn’t speak for most of day four, Lindsay catching Barbara as she was about to leave.

“Barbara.” 

She froze at the sound of her name, fingers wrapped around the halfway turned door handle, and a dryness stuck in her throat. “Lindsay?”

“I love you too.” It was said with meekness, but it hit Barbara like a tidal wave, crashing over her and soaking her to the bone. She dropped her bag and dragged Lindsay into a tight hug, burying her face in Lindsay’s hair. 

“Will you come home with me tonight, Lindsay?” 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One night at Barbara’s turns into two, and then three, and then it becomes every night. Lindsay’s stuff has mostly all migrated into Barbara’s apartment. 

They have a real wedding a month later, and Lindsay sells her apartment to move in with Barbara. It’s a nice place where they share a bed, but they share so much more too. Every inch of the apartment is a memory now- a joke sits on the dining room table, the lingering static of a kiss takes up the laundry room, and the living room is made of intertwined fights and the way they make up afterwards.

But at the end of the day, it’s always the same. It doesn’t matter who says it first, the answer never changes.

“One more night?”

 “You're a dirty fucking cheater!” screeched Gavin, jumping to his feet and pointing accusingly at Caleb who sat on his bedroom floor.

Caleb threw his hands up as he insisted, “I didn't cheat! I won fair and square!”

Gavin turned to the doorway, where one of his permanent guards was standing, and declared, “He was screen looking again, wasn't he Robert?”

A small amused smile came over his face. “I couldn't tell Mr. Free.”

“Liar,” Gavin replied.

Caleb just watched, a fond smile on his face, as the Prime Minister's son walked around the room asking the guards if they had seen the Denecour cheat.

As he began to approach the secret service, Caleb declared, “Now that's just pathetic. They're on my side, why would they agree that I'd cheated?”

“Because even American's understand that screenlooking is a dick move,” Gavin shot back. Caleb couldn't help the laughter that bubbled from his throat. “What about you Arthur?” He put his hands on his hips as he leaned close to the secret service agent. “Do you think the first son is a screenlooker?”

Arthur kept a straight face as he answered, “I don't think first son is the correct term.”

Gavin threw his hands in the air, “I just can't win with you American's and your presidency and your-”

He was cut off by his bedroom door slamming open and the ease with which guns came out and pointed at the door hardly surprised him.

Caleb followed the line of Arthur's barrel to the intruder.

The boy in the doorway was wearing a simple sweatshirt with grass stained jeans. Brown curls spilled over the edge of the beanie he wore, curling around his ears and his eyes were glinting with anger.

“You,” he growled, Caleb was surprised to hear a Jersey accent rather then an English one, and lifted a finger to point at Gavin.

He heard Robert sigh before saying loudly, “Arthur, you can all stand down. He's one of Mister Free's friends.”

“I'm going to rip your intestines out and feed them to you,” the boy hissed, lunging forward and grabbing the front of Gavin's shirt.

None of Gavin's men made a move, most still putting their pistols back in their belts. He thought he heard one of them whisper, “That's the least creative one yet.”

Gavin was laughing, holding his hands out in front of him, “I didn't do anything, Michael! I've been in England all week.”

“You lying sack of shit. The two of you were all over the Russian news!” the boy, Michael, screeched. “Geoff told me I could have him for what he did to Lindsey. You had absolutely no right to-”

“I had every right!” Gavin screamed, finally standing up to the other. Caleb felt his eyes widening a bit, unused to hearing his friend this angry. Michael apparently felt the same behind he let go of Gavin's shirt. “You're so caught up catching him that you don't do anything else anymore! You don't talk to me or Ray anymore, Jack says the only time you talk to him is when you think he's got information, and Ryan hasn't seen you since September! All we wanted to do was help you, Michael.”

Michael stared at him for a long time before taking a step back. He nodded towards Caleb, “Whose this?”

Gavin took a deep breath then answered, “Caleb Denecour. He's the son of-”

“President Denecour. Yeah I know who she is, Gav.” Michael pursed his lips. “I should go.”

“Stay!” Caleb insisted, when the boy began backtracking towards the door. He heistated when the boy actually focused on him before saying, “I've been in London for almost two weeks now waiting for my mother to finish her business. It's nice to have a slice of home and from what little I understood of that conversation, you could use some video games to let out a little bit of steam.”

Although he looked just as surprised, Gavin nodded in agreement. “Caleb is right. You should stay a while Michael.”

Michael glanced between them for a moment before flopping down onto the floor. “Alright but we're not playing that fucking Mari0 shit. You're an asshole with the portals.”

“I keep telling you there's no point in owning the mashup if you aren't going to use the portals!” Gavin squeaked.

That was the first time Caleb Denecour met Michael Jones.

He fell a little bit in lust with angry eyes and dirty jeans that day. In exchange, Gavin gave him a full name [“Michael Jones, he's from Jersey”] and a phone number.

(----------------------------------------------------------------------) You [2:35pm]: Hey

Michael [2:37PM]: Who is this?

You [2:37PM]: Oh sorry

You [2:38PM]: It's Caleb. Gavin gave me your number

Michael [2:39PM]: Why??

You[2:40PM]: I asked for it

Michael [2:41PM]: Why??

You [2:45PM]: No reason really. I had fun playing video games with the two of you so I thought it would be fun to talk again.

Michael [2: 46PM]: huh

Michael [2: 51PM]: Hi btw.

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

You [2:34AM]: FUN SLEEPOVER GAME: Play COD in the middle of the night at the white house and see how long it takes for Secret Service to burst in on you in your boxers.

Michael [11:00AM]: Sounds Brilliant

Michael[11:00AM]]: Is it always like that?

You [11:05AM]: Not usually. They’ve been on edge lately though.

Michael [11:06AM]: Any idea why?

You [11:07AM]: Not a one.

You [11:08]: Hey do you have Mile high Club? I’ve been trying to get it all night.

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

Michael [4:36PM]: Hippophobia is the fear of horses

You [4:37PM]: You’re lying

You [4:40PM]: I just goggled it. Sorry I called you a liar

You [4:42]: How do you even know that though?

Michael [4:45]: I read random fact websites with I’m bored

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

Michael [3:12PM]: When I was little by brother puked up a rainbow after eating too many sour gummy worms.

Michael [3:14PM]: I still think it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.

You [3:16PM]: There’s something wrong with you. Didn’t anyone ever teach you that nothing your sibling does should ever be cool?

Michael [3:17PM]: Everything an older sibling does seems cool.

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

You [6:48PM]: Did I tell you that the first time I met Gavin I thought he was eating the Canadian Prime Minister’s daughter out?

Michael [6:50PM]: ????????????????????????????

You [6:52PM]: I was meeting them to have lunch, Barbara and I kinda grew up together so I would take a plane up when we were in the northern states for campaigns, and he was under the table trying to find a fork.

Michael [6:56PM]: I don’t know if it’s more shocking that you thought Gavin was straight or that you’re timing could actually be that horrible.

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

You [3:23AM]: We’re friends right?

Michael [3:25AM]: Why?

You [3:35AM]: My dad gave me a speech earlier today about how I should be more careful with who I talk too because some people like my mothers title more then me.

You [3:35AM]: So we’re actually friends right? It isn’t just in my head?

Michael [3:37AM]: Yeah we’re friends.

Michael [3:39AM]: Did you know that there are 336 dimples on a regulation gold ball?

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

Weeks later, Caleb pushed open the door to the roof and sighed as he bare feet hit the cold concrete and wind pushed against his face.

They were in New York for his mother to give a speech and Caleb had found it all too exhausting to be President Denecour's son rather then Caleb Denecour the seventeen year old. Rooftops were one place where he could get away from all of it without having his security detail stuck to him like a shadow.

He padded across the roof, phone heavy but silent in his pocket, and looked for a place to sit.

“You’re going to get hypothermia.”

Caleb’s head snapped up to stare at the speaker.

Sitting on the air conditioner was a boy Caleb recognized from news articles, online fanclubs, and the folders on his mothers desk.

Mogar wore bright yellow pants with brown stitching around the pockets and light brown kneepads. His boots came up farther in the front to act as shin pads. Spiked black cuffs signified the end of the actual boot. On his torso he wore a peach shirt with a sleeveless hoodie over it. The actual hood of the garment had bear ears and a nose. He had a pair of elbow pads and gloves which matched the pads on his knees and boots respectively. A bright orange visor shielded his eyes and the microphone that typically fell near his mouth has been pushed down.

The files on his mother’s desk called Mogar a pyrokinetic.

The online communities called him the real life love child of Johnny Storm and Bruce Banner.

“I’ll be fine,” Caleb said after a moment, when he had shook away the starstruck feeling. “It’s not too cold yet.”

“This is New York,” the superhero answered. “The temperature is gonna drop soon and it’s not gonna be so warm afterwards.”

“But you can’t get hypothermia instantly so I’ll be fine.” Mogar made a sound in the back of his throat but didn’t say anything else. Caleb found himself staring at up at the superhero for several moments before he asked, “Why are you up here?”

“Do I have to be fighting monsters every moment?”

Caleb shrugged, “That’s all I ever see you do.”

He didn’t know where the sudden courage came from, not that he was exactly afraid of a superhero but this was for all intents and purposes a total strange, but he grabbed the edges of the ladder and made his way up to sit next to him.

There was silence for a while after he had sat down next to Mogar, but soon the superhero said, “Did you know that the sperm of a mouse is actually longer then the sperm of an elephant?”

“Nope,” Caleb answered after thinking about it. “How’d you know that?”

Mogar shrugged, “I read random fact websites when I’m on stake outs.”

Caleb hummed, kicking his feet, before questioning, “Are you on a stake out now?”

The other froze for a second before saying, “Not exactly. My fiancee…My ex-fiancee got hurt in an accident a while ago and she doesn’t remember me anymore. She lives across the street. I don’t normally come up here to watch her, for the record, but she’s got a date tonight and I just want to make sure he treats her right.”

He nodded a bit. “Why don’t you just tell her about the two of you instead of letting go of her?”

“Because she got hurt because of me,” the superhero answered, without a trace of hesitation in his voice. “I refuse to let it happen to her or anyone else again.”

Caleb was quiet for a minute before saying, “Then I'll be your friend. What's your phone number?”

“I just said I wasn't going to let people get hurt because of me so why the fuck-”

“Even if I was your friend,” Caleb declared, “I wouldn't get hurt because of you. There are lots of people who would try to hurt the President's son.”

Michael clicked his tongue, looking away from Caleb and at the ground, “Who said I wanted to be friends with a twerp like you?”

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

You [5:34AM]: I met a superhero last night

Michael [6:13AM]: Uh huh

You [6:17AM]: No really! Mogar was on my hotels rooftop.

Michael [6:20AM]: I didn't say I didn't believe you dumbass

Michael [6: 25AM]: Do you have all of the achievements in Gears of War? I need help with one.

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

Michael [5:34PM]: Gavin is gloating about having had the Olympics like six years ago.

Michael [5:36PM]: Tell your mom to get her people on fixing that.

You [5:48PM]: I don’t think it works quite like that xD

Michael [5:50PM]: Dumb.

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

You [1:49AM]: MCIHAEL SAVE ME. OTLSAT IS REALLY SCARY

Michael [1:52AM]: Why do you always text me at absurd times?

Michael [1:53AM]: What the fuck language is that asshole

You [1:56AM]: THE LANGUAGE OF A SCRAED BOY PLYIANG VIDEO GAMES.

You [1:58AM]: MY HANDS ARE SHAKING REALLY BAD.

Michael [2:00AM]: You’re such a god damn wimp.

Michael [2:03AM]: Gimme a fucking sec and I’ll call you so we can talk until you calm down enough to pass out.

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

Michael [12:45PM]: If you took a standard slinky and stretched it out it would measure 87 feet

You [1:21PM]: That seem fake

Michael [1:24PM]: Maybe the average slinky isn’t one of those shitty arcade ones.

Michael [1:26PM]: What took so long for you to reply?

You [1:28]: Lunch with Mom.

You [1:31PM]: We’ve gotta put them up for “Family time” now since she never sees us.

Michael [1:34PM]: I see. And how do you feel about your mothers distance?

You [1:36PM]: Ask me again when you get a degree.

Michael [1:38PM]: Snappy.

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

“Caleb!” The boy looked up from the sandwich he was making, slathering mayonnaise along the toast as an egg sizzled in the pan, to find his mother strolling towards him with a bright smile on her face. “Making an egg sandwich?”

“Mhm yeah,” he said. “I was hungry.”

“What about I make us some potato salad to go with it? I haven't gotten to cook in years,” she shuffled around him to the kitchen.

He hummed, “It's fine. You've got work to do.”

His mother visibly deflated, “Oh. Are you sure? You used to love it when you were younger.”

He shrugged, “Things were different when I was younger.”

“Honey please-”

His mother was cut off by a loud rumble above them.

(-)

“-leb! Caleb you idiot! Where the fuck are you?” Caleb forced his eyelids open, something hard was covering his back and something soft laid under his stomach. His head pounded and his vision blurred in front of him. “Caleb!”

He struggled to wiggle free of the weight on top of him for a minute before giving up. He took a deep breathe and tried shouting, “I'm over here!”

Overhead he heard the sound of approaching feet before the weight was lifting off him. Two arms wrapped around his shoulders, yanking him up.

There was a tumble for a minute before they halted. The person behind him groaned. “God I hate you so much.”

Caleb blinked several times, trying to figure out where he had heard that voice before it hit him. He whipped around, staring into familiar brown eyes. “Michael?”

“Yeah.” Michael reached forward and flicked Caleb's head. “You scared me, asshole.”

Caleb bit his lip, glancing around at the rubble before saying, “What happened?”

“Bomb. The blast mostly just took out the roof but everything falling took the rest of the place down too. Your mom and you were the only ones we hadn't found yet.”

“You haven't found my mom?” Caleb shoved away from him, climbing to his feet as his heart raced. “We've got to-”

“Shut up you idiot. She's right there.” He followed Michael's finger to were two secret service agents were lifting his mother from the hole in the rumble that Caleb had just been pulled out of. “I'm guessing you threw yourself over here when the ceiling came down or something.”

“I don't remember....” Caleb turned his attention back to Michael. He was quiet for a minute, before his brain registered the orange visor pushed to Michael's forehead and the colors of the outfit he wore. “Hey Michael.”

“Mhm?”

“Why are you wearing a Mogar costume?”

Michael blinked several times before questioning, “Are you a fucking idiot?”

“No!” Caleb squeaked. “At least I'm not the one wearing a superhero costume way before Halloween!”

“I'm not wearing it for shits and giggles dumbass! I'm Mogar.”

“Oh.” Caleb stared at him for a minute before screaming, “What?”

(----------------------------------------------------------------------)

You [10:35PM]: What are you doing?

Michael [10:37PM]: Stake out with Ray. Geoff says we can't kick ass until we're certain they're the ones behind this shit.

You [10:40PM]: That's the Lazer right? And he's in charge of you're little ring of teenage superheros?

Michael [10:42PM]: Something like that, yeah.

You [10:45PM]: I still cant' believe you're a superhero.

Michael [10:50PM]: Is it really that surprising still?

You [10:52PM]: It's not the kind of thing you get used to overnight!

Michael [10:54PM]: It's been six months.

You [10:56PM]: Oh shut up.

You [10:57PM]: So stake out. Read any interesting facts?

Michael [10:58PM]: A few.

Michael [11:01PM]: The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley’s gum

Michael [11:03PM]: The shortest war in history was between Zanzibar and England in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes

Michael [11:05PM]: Since 1978, 37 people have died by Vending Machine's falling on them.

You [11: 07PM]: All very interesting. Got anything else?

Michael [11:10PM]: Yeah. There's one I've been wanting to tell you for a while.

Michael [11:13PM]: You're my best friend.

You [11:15PM]: You read that on a random facts website? XD

Michael [11:24PM]: No but I did read that one in four people say they married they're best friend.

Michael [11:26PM]: And I happen to be very close to DC

You [11:18PM]: Are you asking me to elope with you, Michael?

Michael [11:21PM]: I'm fine with a date first if you'd prefer.

You [11:25PM]: Ice cream?

Michael [11:25PM]: Sure

Legacy of Succession

Slash! Thrust! Parry! Steel struck steel as the swords rang out in the arena. The entire population turned out for this tournament, for it was to determine more than the Enderman Isle’s champion. No, this year’s champion would be given a quest by their queen, as well as a fabulous unknown prize. The two finalists, Miles from the Luna Island, and Kerry from the Queen’s Isle. Sparks flew as the two combatants fiercely danced around each other, slashing, thrusting, and parrying.

The two warriors stand a bit apart, neither willing to move. Studying their opponents carefully, waiting for the right moment to strike. Miles sizes up Kerry, noting the man’s superior size and smaller height, giving him the edge in strength and maneuverability. He glances around to find any vantage before seeing a small beam of light through the clouds. Angling his sword, he reflects the light directly into Kerry’s eyes. Blinded by the light, the young lad drops his blade and blocks the light, only to be swiftly knocked over and a sword placed against his throat.

“Surrender.” Miles said, his voice grim and his expression stern. Kerry says nothing but raises his hand above his head, signaling a surrender. Miles’ expression softens, his scowl being replaced by a goofy smile as he sheaths his sword and extends his hand to help his friend and rival up.

Trumpets heralded his victory as the doors opened and the royal guard stepped out, followed shortly by the queen. Dressed in a regal black gown, bearing a tiara adorned with amethysts, no woman in the whole country was as breathtaking as Queen Lindsay. She gracefully walked the stone pathway to the arena dubbed by the citizens as “The Thunderdome” and waited patiently for the gate to open. As it did, she gently stepped into the arena and proceeded directly towards Miles and Kerry. Both men kneeled as she approached, awaiting her statement.

“Rise, warriors. You, Miles, have proven your worth. You shall be awarded three items.” She motioned for her aide, who handed her a small scroll. “The first award is you are now the Duke of your island. The second is you shall be given a sword held by my family for generations. And the third -” She took a brief pause “- is you shall be given a quest, as is the rite of passage for those who win the Ender’s Game. Rise, Duke Miles Luna.”

Miles was shocked at this. He was made a duke?! He didn’t know he’d get any titles out of this. He kept his head down, graciously accepting his newfound title. Lindsay smiled and grabbed his hand, leading him out of the arena. As they walk back to the palace, Miles stares in awe at the inner sanctum of the palace, an area few ever get the priviledge to step foot in.

As they approach the throne room, Lindsay takes seat on her throne, picking up a sword above it. “Miles Luna, you have been chosen to carry this sword, which has been safeguarded by our family for generations. With it, you shall travel to the other kingdoms of Achievelandia and collect the pieces of the legendary Tower of Pimps to bring peace to our world. Do you accept and understand this duty?” She asks, staring directly into Miles’ eyes.

“Yes my Queen, I do. I shall take the sword and do as you’ve commanded.” Miles said reverently, knowing this was a vital task entrusted to him.

Lindsay smiled. “Thank you, Duke Luna. In two weeks time your vessel shall set sail. Please say the necessary goodbyes.”

Miles stood up, replacing the sword upon his back with his new one. He walked out of the throne room, contemplating what had just transpired.

Goodbyes and preparation were brief, but planned carefully. After all, Miles was to go alone once they reached the main continent of Achievelandia. The voyage was smooth sailing, with only one night of rough seas caused by a storm. Miles cursed himself for being seasick and stayed in his cabin for the rest of the trip. Finally, they docked in the eastern kingdom of Mogaria, the land of fighters. It was here that King Michael first fought the forces of darkness and decided to establish it as his domain to raise warriors to their strongest in constant battles. Miles thanked his crew as they bowed to him and set sail to return to the Enderman Isles. Looking towards the city, he made his way in.

Merchants assaulted him from every angle, shouting their wares and trying to convince him to shop there. Miles was in no mood to shop. Every step was determination, until he finally reached the stairs leading to the castle. He walked up them, using his badge of office and title as a foreign dignitary to trick his way into the castle. Upon arriving in the throne room, he saw no one present.

“Where’s the king?” He wonders aloud. Looking around, he finds a steward dusting off antique and ornamental weaponry. “You, steward, where is the king?” He says approaching the man with a brisk pace.

The steward looks up, unfazed by such aggressive behavior. “The Colosseum.”

Miles dashes out of the throne room and rushes to the Colosseum, only to be met with two guards at the gate.

“Who dares intrude on the Colosseum grounds?” Asks the red-faced bulky one, drawing out his massive warhammer.

“None may enter so long as King Michael says so.” The thinner, brunette man follows, placing his hand on a large broadsword at his hip. Neither guard was willing to let Miles past, which suited him fine.

Miles drew his blade, earning multiple laughs from the guards and spectators who gathered to watch the scene. Miles, confused, looked at his blade. It was a large claymore, five feet in length, gleaming as the polished steel picked up the sunlight. However, the blade had an oddity about it: four large square holes about six inches apart from each and an empty slot in the hilt.

“What the heck?” He blurted out amidst the laughter. The guards composed themselves long enough to summon the police force to arrest him. Miles sheathed his sword and began to run, trying to escape the guards, and before he realized he had run out of the city gates.

“Dang it to the End! How can I get the artifact if I can’t get into the Colosseum!” Miles shouted, kicking a rock. The rock rolled until it landed at the feet of a large man. Wrapped in a brown cloak which conceals all but his lower jaw, lined with brown stubble, the man picked up the rock.

“You can enter the Mogaria World Tournament.” He said, walking towards Miles. “The winner gets the honor of facing King Michael in one-on-one combat for any prize they desire, as long as it is within his power.”

“Who are you?” Miles asks, putting his hand on his sword. The man did not look dangerous, but anyone who stands that tall is no normal man.

“Me?” The man chuckles. “I’m just a vagabond. The name is James.” He said, extending his arm to shake, revealing massive callused hands. These were hands that worked. Miles knew better, but he was too nice to distrust anyone without giving them a chance.

“Nice to meet you James, I’m Miles from the Enderman Isles.” He says, replying with a hearty handshake. “So tell me, what is the World Tournament?”

James chuckles. “You really are from those isolated islands. The Mogaria World Tournament is a yearly event that attracts fighters from all over the world. Usually the only person from the Isles is the winner of your own country’s tournament.” He retracts his hand back under his cloak. “I’ll be more than happy to lead you there.” He replied, walking back to the city. Miles follows James, taking the wizened man’s advice. A brief explanation of the tournament rules later, Miles steps behind the gate he was assigned to, alongside all the other contests. Each year, the format is different, and this year was a battle royale. Only the best of the 200 contestants would be allowed to face Michael in single combat, for the prize they wanted. The gates opened as the contestants poured out, and upon arriving on the battlefield, already began to fight and kill one another.

Miles deftly dove through the masses, striking small blows here and there, enough to incapacitate, but not kill, as that was not his way. As fighters slowly went down, Miles felt more at ease as it became more sparse. This calm left him as a giant shadow loomed over him. The hulking behemoth looked more beast than man, and came bearing down on Miles with a giant axe. Miles panicked and brought his sword up to block, catching the axe just in time. Miles let the slash slide to the ground, plunging the axe deep into the earth. He rolled around and leapt upon the giant’s back, slamming the flat of the blade into his neck, toppling him and knocking out the giant and all the competitors beneath him. With the resounding thud, Miles, leapt atop the fallen warrior to search for others. Before he could scan the arena, a bell rang out. All of the sudden, the cheering stopped, and one of the guards from earlier stepped out onto the balcony.

“Contestant 58 is the winner! You may have one hour to rest before your challenge begins.” A voice rings out. Miles sheaths his sword and walks back to a gate, as a crew of people begin clearing the injured and dead out of the arena.

“Very good, Miles!” James says, clapping as he approaches the young man. Miles nods his head, patting his sword. “But why were you so hesitant to draw your blade? It seemed uncomfortable in your hand.”

Miles draws his blade, revealing the holes within the gold blade. James’ eyes widen as he pushes the blade back into the sheath, grabbing Miles’ hand and dragging him into a secluded hallway. As he was pulled, Miles felt an odd tingling sensation as James gripped him tightly. The arrived in the hallway and James came very close to Miles’ face. Ordinarily, Miles would panic at the breach of proximity, but there was something about his piercing blue eyes, the heavy sound of his breathing, that made Miles stay calm.

“Do you know what that weapon is?” James said, whispering in his deep, baritone voice. Miles, conflicted over his calm, only managed a nod. “That is the Sword of Pimps, the artifact which was used to seal the Ender Dragon at the end of the Ender Wars. Those slots are to hold the pieces of the artifact that was once the Tower of Pimps, and they grant the powers of the kings to those who wield them. However, only those who possess power can utilize the sword. So what’s your power Miles?”

Miles looks about frantically, trying to figure out what sort of power he could possibly have. James let out a low chuckle. “I’ll teach you how to activate your power. Focus on your mind, feel everything around you. Let it flow in.” Miles does as James says, closing his eyes. “Look into your heart and soul, and let the energy within flow out of you.” Breathing steadily, Miles begins to faintly glow, his body outlined in a dim white light. Miles opened his eyes, looking deep into James.

“So . . . what now?” He asked, unsure of what he just did.

“You’ll be able to use it when you need to, since you don’t seem to have active control, it must be a passive ability controlled by your subconscious.” James said. “I hope you can use it against King Michael, the physically strongest of the Six Kings. Be careful Miles. You cannot afford to lose this battle.” He finishes, putting a comforting hand on Miles’ shoulder.

Miles nods, walking back to the arena as James returns to the spectator stands. As he walked out of the gate he noticed a man standing at the opposite side who barely appeared older than him. The man was decked in bear fur boots, bandages going up his legs, and yellow shorts. Upon his upper body was nothing more than a vest of bear fur, likely from the same bear as his boots. His freckles, cherubic face, and curly mess of hair did nothing to make him look intimidating, save for the angled glasses adorning his face. The crowd roared to life as they began to chant ‘King Michael’.

“So you’re King Michael? You don’t look as old as you should be.” Miles quipped.

“Age is just a fucking number shithead.” Michael spat out, fingers twitching. It was very obvious he wanted to start the fight. “State what you want if you win, so we can get this over with.”

Miles unsheathed his sword, pointing it right at Michael. “I want your piece of the Tower of Pimps.” The audience quickly and abruptly ceased cheering and became murmurs and hushed whispers.

Michael’s expression soured. “Who are you? What do you want with the Tower? ANSWER ME!!!” He bellowed across the Colosseum, ending any and all chatter.

“I am Duke Miles Luna of the Enderman Isles, entrusted with the Sword of Pimps by my fair lady Queen Lindsay!” He shouts, pointing his sword into the sky. Taking a battle stance, he brings his sword down.

Michael merely smiles and takes a more aggressive, almost feral, stance. “Let’s bounce, bitch!” He roars, charging Miles. Miles barely brings the sword up in time to block the punch before getting railed by a kick to the side, sending him flying across the arena.

Miles got up, using the sword to steady himself as he rose. He collected himself long enough to see Michael charging him. Miles dodged, then realized there was nothing there as Michael suddenly flew by and slammed face first into a wall.

“How the fuck did you dodge that!” Michael roars as he swings at Miles, who blocks or dodges every single one.

“I can see his moves before he does them! Is this my ability? I can see a little into the future?” Miles wonders, blocking more blows and dodging others. He jumps back and begins to go on the offensive, making minor strikes at Michael. Michael dodges with astounding speed, sometimes actually punching the blade away to prevent being cut. However, it wasn’t enough and Miles landed a strong slash across Michael’s chest.

Michael jumps back, clutching at the slash, eyes burning with anger. He slams the ground with his fist, sending a shockwave all the way to Miles. Miles leaps away only to be met by a fist in his face.

Miles flew into the stands, sending rocks flying and the audience scattering, except for James, who remained unfazed. Rather, his reaction was hidden beneath his cloak. Miles turned to James. “What is going on? How did he get so strong and fast? Why could I see his moves before he moved?”

James chuckled. “The Warrior King Michael. He has a power, just like the other kings. His is rage. When he gets angry, his speed, strength, reflexes, everything is enhanced. But be warned, if he unleashes his real power, not the one granted by the piece of the Tower of Pimps, you are in real trouble.”

As James finishes, Michael assumes a more beastial stance. Letting out a violent roar, all the fur on his body begins to fuse with him as his hair grows longer and shaggier. His body increases in size until he stands one-and-a-half times Miles’ height. His eyes deepen and his glasses fall, as his face has become that of a real bear. With claw-bearing hands, rather, they were paws now, Michael let out a triumphant roar.

“The real power of the Warrior King Michael, his transformation into Mogar, the Colossal Bear. He retains his rage-enhancements, but they are further augmented by his animal physique. You’re going to have quite a time winning this.” As they talked, the stands had emptied, all the citizens of Mogaria fearful of their king’s rampage. “The only way to stop him is to strike him down. When the beast dies, it reverts to his human form to turn the body into energy to revive Michael. You have to kill him twice to truly end his life.” Miles feels relieved that he won’t kill Michael if he goes all out.

Jumping back into the arena, Miles positions himself as far away from Mogar as he can. Holding his sword high above his head, he tightens his muscles and closes his eyes. Mogar roars and begins to charge at Miles, nostrils flared as he rushes towards the man. Miles senses Mogar’s approach and times his slash with his precognition. “Lunar Isle Secret Art! Finishing Blow of the One True Sword!” He cries out as he brings the blade down right as Mogar reared for an attack, carving a massive slash through his chest, toppling the beast.

As he lands, Miles cautiously backs away, unsure if it was enough to stop Mogar. Suddenly, Mogar’s body lights up, shrinking back into that of a man. As the light stops, Michael stands up, his wounds from the beginning of the battle healed. Miles panics at the thought of having to fight the Warrior King once more, placing his sword in front of him, but Michael smiles and holds his hands up.

“You slew Mogar, a feat only one other has done before. You have bested me at the peak of my strength and for that I shall award you the piece of the tower you seek.”

Michael reaches for his necklace, a small golden circlet. Ripping the chain off his neck, he presses it into his hand, causing a blinding golden light to emit from it. It begins to expand, until it becomes a large cube of solid gold, perfectly sized for the holes in Miles’ sword. Miles takes it, fitting it into the top slot of the blade, instantly fusing them together, as they stood there talking, James merely hopped down and walked towards them.

“Well done Miles! You bested the beast and attained the first piece!” He said, chuckling at his pseudo-rhyme. “But alas, we must go. For you need to collect the remaining pieces. King Michael, we bid you farewell. Shall we depart Miles?” He asks in earnest.

Miles nods, sheathing his sword. “Yeah. But first, what does this new piece do?” He asks Michael.

“Each King’s piece grants you their primary ability, but the ascended king mode is exclusive to them. You now possess the Fists of Rage. As you get angrier, all your physical traits will increase.” Michael says. “Once you collect all of them, the sword will regain its full power. Wielder of the Sword of Pimps, travel northwest, to where The Rose King lives. There you will find the next piece of the tower.”

Miles bowed his head. “Thank you, King Michael. I will gather the pieces and save the world from whatever is out there this time.” He turned to depart, following behind James.

As they walked away, Michael put his glasses back on, watching them leave. He focuses on James, taking note of his massive stature. “It couldn’t be him . . . could it?”

A brief stop by the closest stable and market, and they were on their way north through the forest beyond the beach.

The sandy terrain soon gave way to dirt and grass as the horses pounded forward. Open sky turned into dense forest as Miles stared around in utter awe. The brush and foliage was nothing like the tropical islands Miles lived on. His thoughts turned homeward as he followed James on the beaten path.

“So, James, what’s with you? From what I was told, kingdoms tend to stay isolated from one another. So why are you a vagabond?” Miles asks, wanting to know more about the man he was to spend a long time with. A man who happened to appear at just the right time. A man who knew exactly what Miles’ sword was, and who knew the true power of King Michael, a power most people didn’t know he had.

James paused for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. “I’m a scholar by nature. I explored ancient ruins and learned dead languages in order to learn about the time before the Six Kings. In it their abilities were recorded by those that witnessed the events. I learned them and decided to wander the continent, learning about each king and their kingdoms individually. We are those who survived the war, and we must cherish our lives and the history of our land, named similar to the First King’s base: Achievelandia.” He finished, looking into Miles’ eyes. “The fact that each kingdom believes it is best to remain isolated proves that we are not truly free, for even under the reign of the Ender Dragon we were as one in fear.”

Miles stared in James’ eyes, listening intently. He could see them light up as he spoke of the ruins, and the way they dimmed when he spoke of what has become of the people. The anger at how they refuse to co-exist. He couldn’t help it, he was intoxicated by James’ eyes and deep, soothing voice. He was so entranced he didn’t notice the low-hanging branch that slapped him right in the face. He fell off his horse with thud, eliciting a loud laugh from James. Miles got up, jumped on to his horse, and the duo started up again.

After days of travel, the duo slowly noticed the trees becoming sparser as the path led through a large meadowy area, lined with roses and other flowers, but mostly large roses that seemed to be three times the size of all the other flora. Miles looked at all the mysterious plants around him, never seeing much but sand and palm trees. He stopped and got off his horse, staring at the flowers. He suddenly started sprinting through them, laughing like a child.

“James, I’ve never seen such colorful flowers except in the Queen’s garden! I didn’t know they grew everywhere here!” He said, spinning in circles.

rest is meadows in accordance with King Ray’s edict.”

Miles stopped frolicking and returned to his horse. “So he can only be in one place, huh? James got off his horse, picking a rose. “Yes, roses, dandelions, poppies. All those flowers considered rare on the Enderman Isles are quite common in this land, the kingdom of Juhblait.” He said, smelling the freshly picked rose. “The citizens of this land are far and few, as it is the most rural of all the kingdoms. The entire population lives within the castle city, and the Let’s go!” He shouts, digging his heels into his horse to spurn it onwards at a rapid pace.

The small wood and stone city of Narvaez, named after it’s founder, was not a far ride. A brief stop by an outpost to tie their horses and they began to walk to the castle, again using Mile’s status as a foreign royal to bypass most of the guards, who didn’t see to do much checking. They walked through the halls of the large meeting room, to a large rotunda with a glass ceiling.

At the far end was a lanky tanned man, bearing a fair amount of stubble, not quite enough to be a full beard. Unlike King Michael, King Ray had on a formal suit and a rose attached to his lapel.

He raises a hand, waving at the new people. “Sup? I’m Ray, what’re your tags?” He says, reclining in his chair and staring at the roses surrounding him.

Miles, in a state of confusion at such a lax ruler, is at a loss for words. James, however, is not, and quickly takes control, forcing Miles to kneel as he drops as well. “I am the vagabond James and this is Duke Miles Luna of the Enderman Isles. We have come to ask for your piece of the Tower of Pimps, as Duke Luna has been chosen to wield the Sword of Pimps.” James stands up, nudging Miles to unsheath his blade.

If Ray took note, he didn’t show it. “Alright, cool.” He said, taking the piece out of his coat pocket. “But first, you guys have to stay for dinner and stuff. Our old chef passed away but his son, Carl Jr., is just as good.” Miles and James looked at each other, before nodding in agreement.

The dinner was modest, befitting Ray’s kingdom. Nothing more than salads, hamburgers and burritos. The only drink offered was water, and since the king had no love of alcohol, his subjects abstained as well. The meal was simple, but delicious.

“Your new chef is amazing, King Ray!” Miles exclaimed, licking his fingers. “I can only assume such a fine meal can only be followed by a dessert of equal quality. I’m guessing a cake.” The whole table goes silent as James puts down his silverware.

Ray stares at Miles. “What did you just say?” He asked, venom dripping from his tone.

“Yeah, like a big chocolate cake or maybe some lemon cake or anything?” He says, his eyes and mouth smiling.

Everyone seated at the table runs out of the room but Miles, James, and Ray. James simply lets out a long sigh as he turns towards Miles. “Ray, the Rose King, who possesses the power of florakinesis, or flower manipulation.”

As he finishes the statement Ray pulls a handful of flowers and their roots out. They begin to twist together and form a large whip with a rose-like spiked bulb. He swings the whip down, slicing the table and sending plates and silverware flying. Miles and James jumped away just in time.

“THIS KINGDOM GOES CAKELESS! HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST IT IN MY COURT!” Ray shouts as he swings again, only for the slash to be blocked by Miles’ blade. However, the slack curves around the blade and grabs Miles’ throat. He drops his sword, clawing at the the vines around his neck. His vision starts to fade when the vines fall.

He turns to see James wielding a large axe. But what amazed Miles is the material of it. The color of the blade was a mix of aqua, black and purple, arranged in a spiral pattern, with a keen black edge. The handle appeared to be made of . . .  well, Miles wasn’t quite sure. It was pure yellow and seemed . . . warm? That didn’t make sense but Miles didn’t question it.

He took a deep breath in. “You didn’t tell me he could freely control the path of the flowers.” He said, picking up his blade and taking a battle stance.

James turned his hand and placed the axe upon his shoulder. “That’s what manipulation means! To control freely!” He said, rather annoyed.

Miles rushed at Ray, leaping into the air to get a stronger slash when a wall of plants appeared before him, slamming him and stopping his momentum. Ray retracted the wall before taking some in his hand and forming a sword as he slashed at Miles, who dodged and struck back. They were evenly matched, as Ray, like most other people on the mainland of Achievelandia, had very little experience facing off against the combat style of the Enderman Isles. Ray soon pulled back, jumping backwards up a series of plant platforms.

Dropping his flower sword, he pulled the rose out of his lapel, before throwing it up in the air. The flower burst into a flurry of petals as Ray spun in a circle. “Transform!” He shouted as his suit began to turn brown and roses bloomed across his arms as he spun in a circle. He finished in a ridiculous pose that just stunned Miles.

A faint odor began to waft through the air as Miles hold a stance, staring right at Ray. Miles notices his focus fading as he loosens his grip on his sword and starts wandering around, looking for food. James, instantly placing his cloak above his nose and mouth, walks over to Miles.

“The Rose Kings true power, the ability to turn the scent of any flower into a potent hallucinogen, making his opponent virtually incapable of fighting back.” James says, staring at Miles who has begun eating a still intact burrito. As Miles slowly lies down and starts to fade out of consciousness, as James stands against Ray.

When Miles awakens, he finds himself in a bed, with his sword sheathed and his shoes by his bed. He quickly put them on, buckles his sheath, and runs out looking for people. “James? James?!” He shouts throughout the hallway, panicking at his missing friend. He rushed to the main court where he was James and Ray sitting at a table, eating quietly. They turned to see Miles standing there, panting.

“Miles, dude, come sit with us!” Ray said between bites of his waffles. “James here explained everything. Eat breakfast and you’ll get your piece and be on your way!”

Miles barely registered Ray’s statement. James was safe. Moreover, James had saved him again. He felt the weight in his chest and stomach vanish at the sight of the older man. Miles sat down and ate in silence, feeling at ease now that James is near.

Ray tosses an item at Miles. “Hey Miles, look alive!” He shouts, as the mystery item sails across the room. Miles catches it, grabbing the cube out of the air. Looking down, he sees it is the second piece of the Tower of Pimps.

“You’re just giving this to me? After the fight and everything?” He asks, unsheathing his sword and placing the block within the next slot, the block fusing itself to the blade.

“Nah, it’s cool. You should probably head west to the Houselands. Old Jack’s out there and he shouldn’t be an issue. You guys want a cart and supplies? You can take whatever you need.” Ray replied, still acting like nothing happened.

Miles, not wanting to push his luck, graciously accepted and by noon they were rolling out on a supply wagon with four powerful horses, reigned by James. “You alright back there Miles?” He says, turning back to see Miles cleaning his sword. The steel hue of the blade shined brilliantly as he polished every surface.

“Hey James, why are there only five pieces of the tower if there are six kings?” He asks, tracing the empty slots in the blade.

“The sixth king wielded the blade itself, for he was the most skilled at magic and sorcery. He found the way to imbue the tower, sword, and the kings themselves with their powers using the power of redstone and other items not found in this world. Using these powers and weapons, they banished the Ender Dragon.” James says, keeping his hood low and his head bowed. “We owe so much to men who fought so hard for no reward.”

Miles sat in somber silence reflecting on James’ words as the carts wheels click as the dirt gives way to cobblestone. “We’re approaching the Houselands, realm of the Bearded King Jack. He’s going to be far different from the other kings you have or will encountered. He is one only king to marry and start a family. However, due to the immortality he gained from the imbuement of powers, they aged while he did not. They died and he did not. He watched everyone he loves die, and nothing could stop it. So he left his kingdom and simply began building. He began building massive structures in memorial to the family he never got to live and die with. So he builds and builds and hopes to forget.”

Miles sheaths his sword, still silent. The clacking of the road increases as they approach a land of nothing but large wooden structures. “Welcome to the City That Never Lived, a testament to those who bear a burden too great for them.” James says. “King Jack built it to memorialize the life he lived and the life that should have ended years ago. To those that come here seeking penance, they cannot stay long, for the King refuses to allow these houses to be populated.” Miles simply stretched and grunted in response.

As they wandered the streets, they heard hammering and movement. Cautiously, they tied the horses up in a stable and walked towards the noise. A massive wooden mausoleum loomed ahead, doors open and the noise echoing out of the entryway. They walked in, seeing a large man laying planks and nailing them together. Upon a beautiful marble pedestal a golden block hovered, rotating under a brilliant light.

“Uh . . . King Jack?” Miles said, unsure if the man was who he sought. The man turned his head, revealing a massive red beard and sunken eyes rimmed red. Miles moved forward. “I have come to ask for your piece of the Tower of Pimps.” The bearded man gets up, revealing his massive height and girth.

“Take it. Just take that accursed item and go. Leave me be with my memories.” He turns back to the wall he was building. Miles, speechless, takes the block, places it into the sword and turns to leave.

“James? You coming?” Miles asked, now standing at the entrance of the structure.

“It’s too dark to travel, find a house to stay in. I’ll meet you by the cart in the morning.” He said, staring at Jack. Miles shrugged, leaving to a room. James began to leave, pausing at the entrance. “The return has been foreseen, and the boy is the key.” He said, in a tone far darker and serious than he has ever spoken. As he walked out, Jack stopped nailing planks together to stare at him. “You can’t be him . . .”

The night was long for Miles, who simply stared at the blade. “Which king made you? There’s no legend surrounding your existence. Nobody even knew you did. Nobody but Queen Lindsay and whichever king gave you to her. I’m sure of it. Unless . . . Queen Lindsay one of the Six Kings? Ridiculous. She’s barely older than me . . .” He stared at the blade until he fell asleep, unaware James had come in and taken a bedroll to the floor.

The two woke up, had a light breakfast, and were on their way west, to the Kingdom of Eglentine, the Beast Sanctuary. The cart was much quicker than walking and soon the houses faded as the path turned to a smoother stone and much more bizarre natural structures appeared, such as floating land masses. As they went further in, the path curved in directions that didn’t seem physically possible.

After what seemed like an eternity of going down and ending up on a mountain or going straight and ending up sideways, the horses stopped moving. They began frantically spinning in circles, confused and scared. James quickly detached the yoke from the cart and the horses ran off, eventually vanishing over a hill.

“Looks like we’re going on foot, Miles.” James said, peering into the cart. Holding back a laugh, he sees Miles upside-down, covered in maps and dried meats and other various supplies. “You need a hand there Miles?” He asked, extending forward to help Miles out of his predicament. Instead, Miles pulls him into the cart, tangling them even further. They had a good struggle before tumbling out of the cart, with Miles atop James. The laughter continued as they got up, walking and talking, arguing about how they managed to go every direction despite never straying from a straight line.

“I’m telling you, we just have to keep walking for- oof!” Miles was quickly cut off as he walked face first into a cobblestone wall. A modestly sized house stood before them, surrounded by five other houses. A dirt shack, a stilted wooden house, another wood house, a small dirt shack surrounded by martial art tapestries, connected to a massive stone monolith reaching to the heavens.

James helped Miles up. “Eglentine, originally known as Achievement City, was where the Six Kings first gathered and constructed their base.” James recited. “It was here that they gained their powers, causing massive spatial distortion within the area. The Chaos King, Gavin, resides here to this day, but no man dares set foot in here. Only beasts and Gavin himself.”

As if on cue, a door swung open, revealing a thin, disheveled man, with wild blond hair and adorning nothing but speckled green, as if attempting to become a Creeper. “Hello lads!” He chirped in an accent unheard in any kingdom. “Care to come in for a cup and kip?”

Miles and James exchanged confused glances. “Ye . . . yes?” Miles said, unsure of what to make of this oddly dressed fellow.

“That’s top, lad.” The man replied, before leading them into his house.

The stone house was decorated with massive amounts of art and fine sculptures. Somehow it was bigger inside than outside, but considering the land the house was in, neither of them questioned it. On a large pedestal on a wall was a cube of solid gold, with a large sign above saying ‘Gav’s Lovely Room of Tower and Gubbins’.

Miles stopped still. “You’re King Gavin?” He asked, unable to accept such a silly, childish, person could be a proud warrior.

“Yep, that’s me!” He said, jumping and kicking his heels together. “Good King Gavin, at your service!” He dipped into a graceful bow. “So what can I do you for?”

Miles kneeled before Gavin. “I am Duke Miles Luna of the Enderman Isles. I come to request your piece of the Tower of Pimps so I may save the world from the crisis foreseen by Queen Lindsay.”

“Sure.” He said. “But you have to pass some trials which I don’t really want to set up.” He continued. “So how about you and your buddy over there face me in battle and if you win, you get the piece?” He concluded, grinning like an infant.

“I will accept this task, King Gavin.” Miles rose, leaving the house.

“Wait!” Gavin shouted. “Have some tea first.”

Miles blinked and stood there, before deciding to accept Gavin’s offer. A light meal of mushroom stew and tea, and they were in the courtyard, weapons ready. Miles had his sword unsheathed, the three pieces within glowing softly as they resonated with the piece indoors. Miles stared hard at Gavin’s weapon. It was an odd shaped cable connected to a large cube attached to his back. The tube led into a smaller tube, which was mounted on his right arm, with a small grip in his hand. James stood upon the small shack attached to the monolith. Raising his hand, he cried: “Let the duel begin!” and quickly ran off to avoid being dragged into the conflict.

Gavin raised his arm, aiming at Miles as a small crosshair popped up. “Get glowed, you wanker!” He shouted as fireballs launched from the end of the cannon. Miles screamed as he ran out of the way, activating his precognition power to find a safe path through the blasts. He came in close and took a slash at Gavin, who blocked with the barrel.

“Not happening, you mincy little prick!” Gavin shouted as he shoved Miles away, then twisted a knob on the trigger. A small jet of flame shot of the barrel, turning it from a gun into a fire sword. Gavin began swinging at Miles, who dodged easily and effectively, but unable to land any damaging blows. “Stand still you silly sausage!” He bellows as Miles dodges yet again.

Gavin jumps back and begins to fire his blasts randomly into the air, which begin to spin around him. “My power is I can control fire! Get bipped!” He shouts as he swings his hand towards Miles, sending all the fireballs at him. Miles does his best to dodge but the fire’s ability to change direction mid-air made dodging near impossible. His sword too large to block all the fire, Miles decided to perform a desperate move.

Charging through the flames around him, Miles spun around in a circle, holding his blade as low as possible. Gavin began to fling fireballs at Miles, but the combination of his speed and spinning managed to deflect all the blasts aimed his way. Within moments, he was within striking distance and sliced down. Gavin brought his cannon up to block, but the blade came down with such force that the cannon, and Gavin’s forearm, came off as a massive slice rent his chest open.

Panicking, Miles pulled back. “Oh man I’m so sorry! Is there any way we can . . . huh?” He said as he noticed Gavin begin to spasm.

Four long black legs shot out of Gavin’s back and his skin turned into the same speckled green as his shirt. The flesh on his severed arm melted away, becoming nothing but bone, which Gavin then reattached to his stump, moving his fingers and wrist. His eyes turned red and he lets out a loud screech.

James, seeing the transformation, runs over to Miles. “This is the power of the Chaos King. He takes on the traits of animals in the world. The limbs of a spider. The night vision of a wolf. He even used the fact that he can become a skeleton to reattach his severed limb. Truly an enemy worth fighting. But there are limits to his powers. If you can make him overuse his energy or last the night, where a vast majority of his abilities are rendered dormant.” He exclaimed, wrapping his cloak tighter as the energy from Gavin’s transformation caused small gusts of wind.

Miles was about to reply when Gavin came flying at him. He panicked and raised his blade to block, but the pieces of the tower light up, creating a barrier in front of Miles. Gavin crashes into the barrier as it vanishes. Miles looks at James. “James . . . what was that?”

“Your possession of the Tower of Pimps has afforded you new abilities. Apparently one of them is an energy shield.” He says, pointing to the three blocks in the tower, which had stopped glowing. Gavin flew through the air, landing with a resounding thud, his spider legs in directions that were impossible even for them.

The limbs retracted into his back as his right arm began to be covered in flesh again. He blinked, his eyes turning back to their normal shade of brown. “Bloody heck . . . guess I lost.” He quipped getting up to his feet.

Miles and James walked over to Gavin, who happily walked into his house, and returned with the piece of the tower. “Here you go Lads!” He exclaimed, handing the piece to Miles, who inserted it into the blade. The four pieces of the tower began glowing, resonating softly with each other.

“Alright! I have all the pieces of the tower!” Miles exclaimed, dancing happily.

“Not quite Miles.” James said, rather sternly. “Look at your hilt.” Miles looked at the hilt of his sword only to notice once again that there was a small gap in the hilt as well. “You need the tower base, the Obsidian Pedestal, held by the First King, Geoff.”

Gavin looked at James curiously. “You seem familiar . . . have we met before? When I look at you and you speak, I get a funny feeling in my heart.”

James remained unfazed. “You must have me mistaken for someone else. I’m nothing more than a vagabond who decided to assist this man on his quest. Now, we must go. The last piece of the tower is going to be the most difficult to get.”

“Why’s that?” Miles asked, looking at the stern look on both men’s faces.

James turned to Miles. “The location of the Citadel, the city of The First King Geoff, is unknown. He vanished from history once the Ender Dragon was sealed in what would later become ‘The End’.” James said, visibly annoyed.

“Oh, he’s under the Altar of Pimps, in the center of the continent. There’s a series of bricks that look like stone that hide the entrance. You should find it easily with the other four pieces!” Gavin exclaims, pointing towards what could only be assumed as towards the Altar.

“Much obliged, King Gavin.” Miles said, his smile beaming as he stares in the direction Gavin’s pointing. He starts running in that direction, but stops. “Come on James, let’s go!” He yells back to the other man, before continuing to run.

“Such a child, but he is the hope of the world.” James said, walking past Gavin. As he walked, he made eye contact with Gavin, which put an expression of shock and fear on the king’s face.

“No . . . impossible . . . but you’re  . . . I thought I had lost you . . .” Gavin mumbled as he fell to his knees.

After an agonizing trek out of Eglentine and more than the occasional run-in with creepers and skeletons, the duo arrived at the base of the Altar of Pimps, a massive stone pyramid that extended up to the skies.

Miles let out a loud whistle. “So somewhere on this mountain is a hidden door that leads to King Geoff. This will be one long search.” He said, looking at Ryan.

“Not necessarily, my dear Miles.” James said. “Do you recall the ability of your sword? The pieces of the tower resonate with one another. This means it should lead you to the path towards the final piece. Draw your blade and focus. Like your precognition, let their power flow through you and see the piece through the world.”

Miles drew his sword and held it out in front of him, closing his eyes and drawing a deep breath. His grip tightened as the pieces in the blade began to glow and a faint golden outline surrounded the blade. His eyes shot open, glowing gold. He began to walk forward, towards the altar, letting the blade make contact with the base. Miles began to walk along the base, the blade tracing an invisible line, like an artist on a canvas, seeing patterns normal people cannot comprehend.

Eventually he stopped, and pulled the sword back, pressing on a block that looked slightly different, having a smoother texture than the others. The block sunk into the altar, causing other block to recede and open a path inwards. The glowing stopped, and Miles blinked excessively.

“Wow, I did it!” He said, looking to James, who merely nodded.

It was no sooner than they stepped foot into the altar that an iron cage sprung up and trapped them both. Two large gray beings approached them and Miles’ jaw dropped. The beings were 9 feet tall and made entirely of iron, with glowing orange eyes.

“You are in violation of Rule Three Eight Dash B: Unlawful entry of The Citadel. You are under arrest. Please present identification.” The being said, staring down at Miles and James.

The two guards grabbed the cage, hoisting it to their waists, and proceeded to march the cage to the city. Miles once more was amazed by the kingdom as it came it view. A city made entirely of iron, gold, diamond, and other precious materials. The citizens were dressed in plain robes colored orange, green, and black. However, Miles had no time to sightsee, for he was brought to the main building immediately. They marched the cage into the building, walking down a long, ornately decorated hallway, with tapestries depicting six warriors fighting tall, black, sickly looking creatures that sent chills down Miles’ spine. He looked over to James, who simply kept his head bowed and the hood over his face.

The iron-clad giants descended down a stairwell, before a opening a large steel door. Within the room were prison cells, each carved of some unknown white substance. The cage was placed against the cell, and the two were forced into it. As the guards left, Miles turned to James.

“James, what were those things?” He asked, looking more scared than excited.

“Iron golems, the guards of the Citadel. They alongside snow golems were created by the kings as guards that never tire.” James answered, leaning to sit against the wall.

Miles sat in silence as he watch James relax. Eventually two more golems came with a cage, ushering James in. “King Geoff, the First King, has demanded your presence. You shall be judged by King Geoff and your punishment determined. Step into the cage or you will default to execution.” One of the golems said.

James silently got up and entered the cage and they whisked him away, leaving Miles alone with his thoughts. “What if they kill him? I can’t lose James! He’s been my friend and guide this whole time! He saved me from King Ray! He taught me about the other kings! He’s probably on of my best friends ever! I can’t let him die here! Not when we’re so close!”

His inner monologuing was cut short by the return of two golems, who weren’t bearing a cage. As they opened the cell door, one of them iterated: “You are hereby pardoned for your crime against the crown. Please follow us to King Geoff.” Miles walked forward as he followed the constructs in silence.

Eventually, they stopped in a large, elaborate throne room upon which sat a man wearing green armor. He stood up, revealing his massive height. “So, you’re the guy that was caught with this other guy?” Geoff says, pointing to James, who is standing nearby, hood still drawn.

Miles kneels. “Yes, King Geoff. I am Duke Miles Luna of the Enderman Islands and I have -” He stops as Geoff clears his throat.

“Save the stuffy crap. James here explained everything.” He says, holding an obsidian block. “Here’s your piece. Let’s take a walk.” He throws the piece to Miles, who grabs it and follows Geoff.

They walk towards a large dark room behind the throne room. Two golems flipped switches that revealed a massive frame in the ground. Geoff walks over to it and motions to a podium. “This is the End Portal, which takes you to the dimension the Ender Dragon is sealed in. Once you insert the last piece into the sword, you’ll be able to use it as a key to open the portal to the End and slay the dragon once and for all!” He proclaimed, staring at Miles.

Miles gulps and pulls out his swords, placing the last block into the hilt. The block fuses with the hilt, extending the hilt out and turning the steel of the blade into solid gold. Miles approached the podium and inserted the blade into the slot, causing golden energy to flow down conduit wires towards the portal. The 12 Ender Eyes within began to glow as the empty space within the frame filled with inky darkness and specks of white. Miles stepped back and looked at the active portal.

“So I can take the sword out now and slay the Ender Dragon?” Miles asks Geoff, who replies with a smile and a nod.

“Go for it dude.” Geoff replies. Miles goes to draw out the blade when a black sphere hits him in the back, knocking him over.

“I’ll take it from here, boy.” James said, stepping forward. Geoff rushed to draw his blade, but he became snared by black chains. “Poor, poor Miles.” He said, casually walking over to the podium.

“Golems, stop him!” Geoff yells as the golems surge to life and move to assault James. Before they even get within striking distance, they are cleaved in half.

“Antiquated toys, nothing more.” James says, not breaking stride. He walks to the portal, placing tiny objects on each piece of the frame.

Miles struggles to his knees. “James . . . why?” He asks, desperate to know why his friend has betrayed him.

James laughs, before turning to face Miles. He grabs his cloak and pulls it off. Hidden beneath the cloak was a fine white shirt beneath a black blazer. His shoes were formal, but functional and black leggings as well as a curious plaid kilt. “Did you forget? There are six kings? The First King Geoff Ramsey, the Warrior King Michael Jones, the Chaos King Gavin Free, the Bearded King Jack Pattillo, the Rose King Ray Narvaez,” he says, punctuating each one by extending a finger. “And of course, there’s yours truly, the Mad King James Ryan Haywood.”

Miles tries to form words, but cannot. His shock at this revelation has drained his ability to speak. Ryan simply starts to laugh again. “I shall now go to the End, claim the power of the Ender Dragon, and rule this world as it once did. I thank you for opening the portal, dear Miles Luna. Farewell.” He jumps into the portal. As he descends, he flicks a switch in his hand, causing the devices he placed to beep and explode, shattering the ender eyes, disabling the portal.

The shadow chains binding Geoff vanish. “No! Damn it!” He cries out, punching the wall.

“King Geoff, what is going on?!?” Miles screeches, trying his best not to break down.

“Looks like Ryan’s suspicions were correct after all.” Geoff said, looking at his destroyed golems. “He noticed a new darkness growing in him, and believed it to be a shard of evil from the Ender Dragon. He then put a plan into motion to ensure the dragon would be stopped. I don’t know his plan, but he said he trusted one who was outside the view of the end.”

“Yes he did.” Both men turned to look at who said those words. Standing in the doorway were the four other kings, with Queen Lindsay in front. “Yeah, Ryan came to me years ago and told me what might happen. That’s why I had the Sword of Pimps, and some sweet powers he gave me.”

Miles was stunned yet again. To hear his noble and beautiful queen speak like so casually was something he never dreamed of. “Queen Lindsay, what are you saying?” He asked.

Lindsay flashed a smile and pulled out a deadly scythe. She closed her eyes and spun the scythe, her dress flowing into the same inky darkness as the portal and Ryan’s magic. When she stopped, her body was covered in a skin-tight suit of the speckled darkness and her hair was down. “This is the form the Mad King bestowed upon me: The Ender Queen!” she declared, leaping at the portal frame. She swung with her scythe, carving a massive slice not in the stone beneath, but in reality itself. “He gave me his dimensional teleportation power in case the portal was disabled. Come on, let’s go kill a dragon and save Ryan!” she cried, leaping into the portal. The other four kings followed suit, leaping in without hesitation.

As Miles looked on, Geoff pat him on the shoulder. “The real Ryan’s got to be in there still. Let’s see if we can’t get him out.” Geoff said, drawing the Sword of Pimps out of the podium. Miles took the blade, nodded, and jumped in, with Geoff right behind him.

When they exit the portal, they found themselves standing on an unknown yellow stone, surrounded by absolute darkness. “King Geoff, what is that stuff?” Miles asks, peering off the edge.

“I don’t know. Ryan’s the smart guy. But my guess is don’t fall.” Geoff says, scratching his head. Suddenly a massive column of black light shoots up, and the party runs towards it.

There, surrounded by a legion of Enderman, stands Ryan, perched upon a throne of rock. His skin seems to be paler, with black lines running down his cheeks. “Welcome, mortals, to the End . . . and your end.” he said in a voice that was not his own. “While I regret that I cannot slay you directly, this puppet has served his purpose.” he finishes.

Miles draws his sword. “You won’t get away with this, Ender Dragon! We’ll kill you and save Ja - Ryan!” he cries out, his sword glowing once more. “King Geoff, the sword is trying to tell me something, I can feel it. Can you guys hold off the Enderman?”

“No prob dude. Hey, dickheads, up and at ‘em!” Geoff shouts, drawing his diamond blade. The remaining kings and Lindsay ready their weapons and shout their names.

“I am Mogar, the Warrior King!” Michael roars as he becomes his bear form.

“Gavin, the Chaos King!” Gavin cries as he becomes a medley of creatures, shooting fire from his twin fire launches mounted on his arms.

“Transform! Rooooose King!” Ray sings as he gains his wood armor and his whip.

Jack clangs his hammer and pickaxe together. “I am the Bearded King! I will fight to rid this world of it’s curse!” Jack shouts as he stand up, his body stiffening as it becomes stone and iron, growing in height as he beats his chest, turning into a living golem.

Geoff draws his blade, his armor expanding until he’s completely encased in a full suit of orange armor. “The First King, Geoff Ramsey, leader of the Hunters, is going to finish you off!” He says, jumping into the air, floating as his cape billows. He reaches into a bag hanging from his hip, pulling out a black ball. “Eat fire charges you lanky cocksuckers!” he screams, throwing the ball at an Enderman, immolating it before it could teleport away.

Gavin began crawling through the horde, shooting fire as they teleport away. Michael begins rushing through as well, while Ray makes large sweeping slashes with his whip. Jack slams the ground with his hammer, causing stone turrets mounted with cannons to appear and begin firing at the Enderman. However, they were unable to make contact as the enderman kept warping away and striking with their elongated limbs.

The only one having marginal success was Lindsay, who was using her own teleportation powers to keep pace, appearing where they did to slice them up. As the six of them did their best to hold off the Ender legion, Miles was at an extreme disadvantage.

Ender-Ryan was wielding mighty blades of pure energy, which made it impossible to get cover. Fortunately, the Sword of Pimps and the energy shield he acquired from the pieces. As they danced the dance of death, Ryan jumped backwards, growling in anger. He reformed the blades into a large broadsword, and stated in his cold, otherworldly voice: “You cannot stand on my level, boy. Kneel beneath the Ender Dragon.”. A large wave of black energy sweeps the area, causing Miles’ shield to dissipate. As it approaches the kings, they feel a draining sensation as Geoff falls to the ground and Michael reverts to human form.

"What's going on?" Gavin asked, spider limbs receding.

"That cocksucker dragon must have blocked our powers." Geoff said, swinging his sword at an Enderman, slicing its legs off. “Fight like before we got crazy powers!” he cries, rushing the Enderman.

Once more Miles is placed on the defensive, dodging slashes as Ryan grins psychotically. “You cannot win human.” the dragon declares. “Die and be reborn as one of my Enderman slaves!” he shouts as he swipes down with both blades.

Miles brings the blade up to catch both, their edges mere inches from his face. “I won’t give up! I will win! I will beat you and rescue my friend!”. The Sword of Pimps, as if reacting to Miles decree, begins to glow with a brilliant light.

Ryan falters, his blades dissipating as he stumbles backwards. “My grasp . . . no! I can feel it slipping! This cannot be! Nooooooooooo!” Ryan cries as his eyes glow golden. He collapses and the black lines on his skin vanish. All the Enderman stop moving.

Miles runs to Ryan. “Ryan! Ryan wake up!” he says, gently shaking him. Ryan’s eyes flutter open, revealing their usual piercing blue.

“Ugh . . . what happened?” he clutches at his chest. “I don’t feel the darkness within anymore. Miles, you did it!” he says, patting him on the shoulder. “Now the Ender Dragon can’t unlock his seal!”

As if just to taunt him, the massive throne behind them shattered, revealing a large black-and-purple egg. The egg began to rumble and crack before a massive jet-black dragon with glowing purple eyes. It flies into the air, roaring as it breathes purple fire. It perches upon a stone tower, glaring at Miles.

Ryan turns to Miles. “You’ll need a steed to catch it.”. He pulls out a pickaxe and breaks a pile of stone, which immediately converts into obsidian ore. The obsidian forms a rectangle, creating a purple vortex within. A writhing, skull headed snake-like creature flew out of the portal, landing at Ryan’s feet. It hissed loudly and stared at Ryan with its three heads.

“This is Edgar, my wither steed. Ride him and bring the dragon to the ground. I shall assist the other kings.” Ryan said, turning to face where the other six were fighting. He formed black magic in his hand again, before sending another shockwave, rejuvenating the others. Their powers reactivated and they once more tore into the Enderman as Ryan, drawing out his axe, began striking Enderman down as well.

Miles had no time to witness the Six Kings in their full combat glory, as he had to slay the dragon. As soon as he sat on Edgar, the Wither took off and began firing wither heads at the Ender Dragon, which promptly begins to shoot fireballs and acid at Miles and Edgar. Fortunately, Edgar was a skillful flier and was able to dodge all the attacks. Miles began swinging his blade, firing gold energy with each arc. The dragon grabbed a pillar, spun around on it, and launched back at Miles, mouth wide open, ready to devour.

Mustering all his courage, Miles leapt from Edgar, rising above the dragon. He came down with a mighty slash. The Ender Dragon, moving too fast to stop, could only watch as Miles came down and landed upon his back.

“This is for what you did to Ryan, Geoff, Lindsay, and all the others! This is for all the pain you’ve ever caused! DIE FOUL DEMON!!!!” Miles roared from the top of his lungs as he impaled the dragon’s neck with the blade, the gold energy coursing through the beast as it fell to the ground and collapsed. Streaks of white energy began to erupt out of it as the dragon exploded, sending Miles and the blade sailing into a wall, knocking him unconscious.

When Miles awoke, he was in a large bed, stationed in a large, ornate room. He got up, dressed, and buckled his sword on. He walked around aimlessly until he smelled steak. He followed the smell to the dining hall where the six kings and Lindsay were being served a meal of steak, eggs, and stew.

“Thank you Caleb.” Geoff said, dismissing the servant who brought him his meal. “Oh hey, our champion is awake!”

The others turn to face Miles before clapping and cheering. Ryan gets up. “For slaying the Ender Dragon and uniting the kings once more! A toast to Miles Luna, Champion of Achievelandia!”