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Chapter Text

   Ethari took a long drag of his cigarette, stomping it out before entering the station. He was immediately met with cheers and handshakes.

   “Stop, settle down,” he said firmly. The commotion died down, but continued. “Really, I didn’t do much.”

   “You’re too damn humble, Gloaming,” Orwen insisted. “You took down The Ripper!”

   “I already told you, he surrendered.”

   “Because you had him cornered!” Amelia shouted.

   Ethari shuffled past the group of detectives to the interrogation room. He took a deep breath…then entered the room.

   The Ripper, now known as Runaan the Ripper, was sitting in a chair, his hands handcuffed to the table. Ethari sat across from him. He looked down at the table, not once meeting his eyes. Ethari pulled out a pen and notepad from his jacket pocket to place next to him on the table. There was a small recorder radio in the room, but Ethari still liked to take notes

   “Good Evening, Mr. Dusk.”

   “Runaan,” he said almost immediately. “Just Runaan.”

   “Alright then, Runaan, I’m here today to question you about the several murders you’ve committed. Can you start by telling me how many people you’ve killed?”

   Runaan paused for a moment.

   “Around…200?”

   Fuck…not even he knew.

   “My team and I have speculated you may have killed as many as 500.”

   At this Runaan shrugged.

   “You all probably know better than I.”

   “Did you ever keep count?”

   Runaan shook his head.

   “I mean, at first I kind of did. The amount of people I killed would linger in the back of my mind…eventually they all just merged together.”

   “Do you regret it? Killing all those people?”

   Runaan peered up, looking up at him through his long, silk like hair.

   “No.”

   “And why’s that?”

   “They deserved to die. You probably arrested half of them at some point.”

   “Pardon?”

   Ethari froze, not because his response disturbed him, which is most certainly did, but because he knew he was right. He remembered staring down at the dead bodies of men and women that had one point been restrained and handcuffed by him.

   “I may have murdered several people, detective, but know this. Everyone I killed was either a rapist, an abuser, or harmed children in some way. I never killed an innocent.”

   Ethari scribbled notes down.

   “When did you kill your first victim? How old were you?”

   Runaan closed his eyes, as if immersing himself back in time.

   “I was 12.”

   “12?”

   “12. It was my father. I never knew my mother. I don’t even know why my father kept me, all he ever did was beat me when he was sober and beat me even more when he was drunk. One night I got tired of the beating so I just…put some wolfsbane in his beer.”

   Ethari wrote quickly, yet his handwriting remained immaculate. Runaan’s eyes remained closed.

   “What happened to you after that?” He asked.

   “Well, no one cares that a mean old drunk died. Everyone else probably thought it was alcohol poisoning. So I dragged his body out in the street for the body removers to get him and was happy. For the first time in a long time I was happy. I didn’t realize the fact that however vile my father was, he still paid rent. Without him around I was tossed out and handed to the orphanage. The orphanage didn’t treat me that much better than my dad did. One day the headmaster hit me so hard the ruler broke, so that night I stabbed him.”

   Runaan opened his eyes again, but he kept them fixed on the table.

   “Your record claims you’ve had no prior arrests,” Ethari noted.

   “That’s because I was never caught. I ran away that night, wandered the streets for a bit. Then I became a prostitute.”

   “And how old were you when you became a prostitute?”

   “13. I met a man named Viren. He washed me up, fed me, and said all I had to do was pleasure clients for room, board, and money. I told him I didn’t know how to have sex and he…he showed me.”

   “Viren, he sexually assaulted you?”

   “I wouldn’t say that. I never told him to stop, I let it happen.”

   “You were a child, you couldn’t consent.”

   “I…”

   Runaan fell silent. Ethari cleared his throat.

   “We don’t have to speak on that if you don’t want to. I already know of Viren Darkclaw. After his murder he was revealed to have been a large sex trafficking ring. I assume you killed him?”

   Runaan nodded.

   “And I assume it was you who sent in the information that made us aware of his crimes.”

   Runaan nodded.

   “How long did you remain a prostitute under Viren’s care?”

   “Three years.”

   “Did you kill anyone during that period?”

   “After a year I did. Most of the customers were fine, they didn’t overstep the rules. But the others…some were rough, some choked me, some beat me or belittled me. So I made a rule, if I had a good customer then I let them go, if they raped me then I killed them.”

   Ethari felt a twinge of guilt in his heart. He hated imaging a little boy being overpowered and abused.

   “In what manner did you kill them?”

   “There were a few ways. I would either strangle them with a rope we used for bondage or with my hair. I would also slip poisons into the wine I gave them. Overtime I started putting crushed up sleeping pills in my lotions and oils and apply them when I knew I had a bad client coming, it made them easier to kill. There was this small bathroom connected to my room. I kept the bathtub full so that I could-”

   Runaan stopped and shut his eyes again.

   “So that I could drown them,” he finished. Ethari nodded and wrote it down.

   “After the first few months of killing,” Runaan went on, “I realized that even the clients I considered nice were still having sex with a kid, so eventually I started killing them all.”

   “Can’t blame you for that,” Ethari admitted. He knew he probably shouldn’t have condoned his actions, but he felt little pity for rapists, let alone child rapists.

   “How did you get away with all the murders?” Ethari asked.

   “I would hide them under the bed, then get rid of them when my shift ended. I worked and lived in The Slums, nobody really cared if you saw a dead body in the streets. The body removers put them in the wagon and that was that. I would take whatever cash they had on them. Viren took three fourths of your profit. So I gave him what he thought I was paid and kept the rest.”

   Ethari nodded.

   “When did you kill Viren?”

   “I was 16. By then I had enough money to leave that place. It wasn’t uncommon for Viren to have sex with me when he wanted, so I just waited for him and then killed him the same way I killed the others.”

   “We found him with several slash wounds.”

   “Yes, I stabbed him a few times before drowning him. After that I fled again. I met two other kids my age, Skor and Andromeda. I was a few months older than them. We didn’t work for anyone anymore but we still prostituted ourselves to stay alive some nights. Whenever we were really desperate for food. But overtime some of the nearby gangs taught us how to fight. We weren’t scared anymore and started making runs for those gangs. That on top of the odd jobs we did kept money in our pockets. I was 18 when I met my husband, Aleric.”

   Ethari nodded, writing it down.

   “Where did you meet Aleric?”

   “We both worked at a tannery.”

   “When did you two marry?”

   “Three months after knowing each other. He was 25. I was young, dumb, and thought no one else would love me since I was a prostitute. I was hasty to have a ring on my finger.”

   “And how long were you an Aleric married?”

   “Six months. Took three months to marry him and twice as long to leave him.”

   “Was he abusive?”

   Runaan nodded.

   “As it turns out, some people think that marrying someone equates to owning someone. He hit me, a lot. I couldn’t take it anymore so I left. I didn’t kill him, I moved across the city. I still loved him, didn’t have it in me to end his life. And it of haunts me in a way, because what if he’s hurting others?”

   Ethari nodded.

   “I see…you are the legal guardian of three children, are any of them from your first marriage?”

   Runaan smiled a bit, then shook his head.

   “No, I found those angels on the streets.”

   Suddenly Runaan was thrown back to five years ago. It had been roughly a decade since he left Aleric. He’d noticed a young girl rummaging through the trash. He fetched a loaf of bread from the bakery he worked at, wrapped it up, then went outside. He let out a sharp whistle and threw it to her. She stared down at it like it was a cut of steak and scurried off.

   He watched her leave, wondering if he would ever see her again.

Chapter Text

   “Will you please state your name?” Ethari asked, smoking his cigarette. The teenage girl sitting across from him had lips painted the color of deep red mulberries and eyeliner sharp enough to kill a man. She wore a dark blue silk blouse and a coal black pencil skirt. She set her sleek black purse on the table.

   “Rayla Dusk,” she answered, twirling her jasmine white hair.

   “Your age?”

   “15.”

   “Could you tell me how you and your adopted brothers came to be in Runaan’s care?”

   Behind those mascara coated lashes Ethari could see her amethyst colored eyes wandering her mind back to all those years ago, grasping the memory and replaying it in her head.

   “My ma and pa sold me to a pimp when I was nine. That’s where I met Callum. We planned to run away a few months after I was there. It was all too much and Cal was afraid that Sol was gonna start sellin’ Ez to customers. We lived on the streets. After that.”

   “Is Sol the man who bought you?”

   Rayla nodded, fiddling with her scarred hands.

   “They called him Sol Regum. Mean ol’ shit.”

   Ethari scribbled that down.

   “Now, Callum and Ezran are related, but you are in no way related to them?”

   “Yes, sir, that’s right.”

   “What do you know about Callum and Ezran’s parents?”

   “I know his dad died when he was a wee thing. He doesn’t know who Ez’s dad is.”

   Ethari nodded.

   “Do you know the names of Callum’s parents?”

   “Sarai was his mother, I believe his father was…Dylan? Darius? Something with a D?”

   “And your parents?”

   “Tiadrin and Lain.”

   “Do you remember your last name before Runaan took you in?”

   Rayla paused, pursing her crimson lips.

   “Allan. Yes, it was Allan.”

   Ethari nodded, writing on his notepad.

   “How did you come to be under Runaan’s care?”

   “He spotted me one day going through the trash and started leaving out food for me. He never tried to approach me…I think that made me trust him. One day Ezran got sick. Really, really sick. So I went to Runaan and he took us all in.”

   “I see. Did you ever become aware of Runaan’s crimes?”

   “Yes.”

   “Did he ever frighten you?”

   “No.”

   “Has Runaan ever hurt you in any way?”

   “No.”

   “Has Runaan ever threatened you?”

   “No.”

   Ethari nodded, setting down his pencil.

   “Right then. You may go.”

   Rayla rose from her chair, smoothed out her skirt, and left the room, her heels clacking as she did so.

   “Send in Callum,” Ethari said.

—

   “Damian, my father’s name was Damian Smith,” Callum said. Ethari nodded. He’d already asked him the routine questions he’d asked Rayla, if Runaan had ever hurt or threatened him, he said no, just as Rayla had. He’d also asked for his age and name. He was 14 and a half, he put lots of emphasis on the fact that he was almost 15, and introduced himself as Callum Dusk. He was wearing black suspenders, a white button up shirt, and a red bow tie. His hair was chestnut brown and his eyes an emerald green.

   “Do you have any idea who Ezran’s father might be?”

   Callum shook his head.

   “I’ve asked myself that question for years. My mom never told me.”

   Ethari nodded.

   “How old were you when your mother died?”

   “I was six, Ez was just one. She never told me this but I think giving birth weakened her.”

   “Where were you and your brother placed after that?”

   “We weren’t placed anywhere. My mom lived in an abandoned shack, no one came to collect rent, no one came looking at all.”

   “So how did you and your brother survive?”

   “Off of scraps. I fed Ez whatever I could.”

   “No, forgive me, I mean who looked after you and Ezran?”

   Callum stared at him blankly for a few moments.

   “No one,” he answered. “We. Had. No. One. For two years we had no one. Then one day a man named Sol Regum came to our door, claiming that he had a job for me. I was cold and hungry and didn’t know how much food I would be able to get for Ez the next day, so I took his offer. He…I would find out…he was a pimp. I don’t want to talk about what I did, but I wound up meeting Rayla there. We ran away together a few months later.”

   “Rayla tells me you came to be in Runaan’s care once Ezran became sick while living on the streets.”

   Callum nodded.

   “Yes, that’s true.”

   “And has Runaan been your sole caretaker all of these years?”

   “Yes, sir.”

   “I noticed that you and Rayla go by his last name, have you two done that by choice?”

   Callum nodded.

   “Runaan asked us if we wanted to. It would just be easier. Less explaining to do, ya know? People see three kids with a man who isn’t their dad. We also…we wanted to be a family. When Runaan told us we could take on his last name Ez asked if we could call him dad. Rayla and I wanted to call him dad too so we started calling him that.”

   “Do you see him as your father-“

   “Yes. He raised us, clothed us, fed us, loved us. He’s our dad.”

   Ethari nodded and pushed away his notepad.

   “That’ll be all, Callum. You may go.”

—

   Rayla was smoking a cigarette outside the police station. Ezran was drawing with chalk next to her.

   “You know Dad hates that,” Callum said. A puff of smoke escaped Rayla’s lips, the garnet shade of lipstick clung to the white paper of a cigarette.

   “I’ve been craving one since I saw the detective with one. I only smoke when I’m stressed,” Rayla insisted. “Right now I’m real fuckin’ stressed.”

   “Is Dad gonna be okay?” Ezran asked, looking up at Callum with his big blue eyes.

   “We don’t know yet, Ez.”

   “But he only killed bad people! Doesn’t that mean something to them?”

   “Nothing means anything to them,” Rayla spat. “They’re just itching to put someone behind bars and call themselves heroes.”

   “We can’t ignore that he’s a serial killer, Ray. I want him to be released too, but they’re just doing their jobs.”

   “What about when we were getting abused when we were Ez’s age? Were they arresting anyone then? Were they doing their jobs then?”

   The three children fell silent. Rayla took another drag of her cigarette.

   “C’mon, Ez, we’ll go get some jelly tarts down at Barius’.”

   Ez wiped his hands on his shorts, powdering them with chalk, and held Callum’s hand. Rayla walked beside them, tossing out her cigarette as they neared the bakery.

Chapter Text

   As Ethari combed through the cases of Runaan’s victims with Callisto and Ram, he realized that Runaan had never lied. Every single victim had been reported to have been some sort of abuser before or after their death. Sol Regum had been gifted with a particularly gruesome fate. His…male part had been cut off and other parts of his body had been flayed. His throat, like almost all of his victims, had been slit.

   It became clear that Runaan’s method of killing, throat slitting, hadn’t been established until he was older, late teens to early twenties. Surprisingly, most of his victims hadn’t seemed to have been tortured before death. Most were clean and quick, which added up with his statement that he only killed abusers. He wanted them off the streets.

   “The entire public wants us to just let him go,” Ram said.

   “Can you blame them?” Callisto asked. “The guy had a shit childhood and killed shit people.”

   “But we can’t just let him go!” Ram huffed. “And the press is making us look like the bad guys.”

   Ram lifted a newspaper and began reading a section.

   “It seems that Runaan the Ripper has done the job of many of our own police officers,” he scoffed. “Of all the bullshit!”

   “The crime rate went down in Katolis around the time Runaan started killing,” Ethari stated, analyzing papers. “By the time he was in his twenties crime rate was down by 5%. Do you have any idea how much that is for one person?”

   “One person?!” Ram exclaimed. “Ethe, don’t tell me you’re falling for this too. You arrested the fucker.”

   “And I’ve arrested other serial killers. He doesn’t remind me of any of them. His eyes aren’t empty or soulless.”

   “Even so,” Ram insisted, “we can’t just say he’s the sole reason crime went down, not when we’ve worked our asses off.”

   “He definitely contributed to it,” Callisto said. “The man was literally wiping out rapists.”

   “He’s a criminal!” Ram insisted. “And his ass is going to be treated like one in court!”

   “Will ya calm down?” Ethari asked. “You’re acting like he’s gonna take your job.”

   “The problem is that people don’t respect our jobs. If we let this guy go people are going to think they’re above the law. They’re going to try and take matters into their own hands. Runaan doesn’t have a badge, we do.”

—

   Runaan doesn’t have a badge, we do.

   Those words kept echoing through Ethari’s brain as he laid in bed that night.

   Runaan had eluded the police for so long. He knew what he was doing. The only reason he was caught is because one night they were investigating the murder of a man who had once been in jail for molesting his daughter. Ethari was walking down an alleyway and there Runaan was. He confessed immediately.

   But why?

   Why had he done it?

   He would have to ask him the following morning.

—

   His butt was sore.

   His thighs were bruised.

   His neck was black and blue.

   But Viren was drowsy.

   And that was all that mattered.

   Runaan’s braid went all the way down to his ankles, put it wasn’t time for that yet. He reached for his jacket on the floor.

   In his pocket was the knife.

   Viren fought back, but the sleeping pills were able to debilitate him just enough. There was a wound in his leg, three in his stomach, and two in his shoulder. It was the second time Runaan had ever stabbed someone. He felt that same rage, same desperation.

   “How does it feel?” He asked, tears stinging his eyes as he wrapped the braid around Viren’s neck. “How does it feel to be helpless? To be hurt?”

   Viren choked and gurgled. Runaan dragged him off the bed, still strangling him with his braid, and brought him to the bathroom, where a full bathtub was waiting for him. Runaan held Viren’s head under the ice cold water. He held him there until there were no more bubbles coming to the surface, no more struggling, his body fell limp. Runaan carved a small X over the left side of his chest, over the heart he didn’t have, and hoisted his entire body into the tub so that there was no chance of anyone reviving him. He knew it was overkill but damn, his body deserved to swell with water from the boy he had tortured and defiled. Runaan dressed himself, collected his money, and left

   Just…left.

   And he felt so free.

—

   That X was burned in Ethari’s mind. He’d seen that X on so many bodies and now he knew the full reason behind it. He finished writing on his notepad.

   “Runaan?”

   “Hm?”

   “I have something else to ask. Why did you turn yourself in?”

   Runaan kept his eyes cast downward, his white hair acting as a curtain that hid most of his face.

   “I couldn’t keep doing this forever, I knew that. And…I…I just got tired of it. It started wearing down on me. I wanted to get rid of the scum of the world but I couldn’t kill anymore. I never regretted killing them, I still don’t, but I still feel guilty.”

   Ethari peered into his eyes hoping to catch a glimpse of his soul.

   Runaan had done wrong, so much wrong. But he had only done it because he knew how it felt to be wrong and wanted to make things right.

   And to his knowledge, he had done those children right. Even though he had never questioned Ezran he was one of the happiest little boys he had ever seen, smiling and waving at the detectives and police officers. He regretted not having a piece of candy to give him. That day he walked down to the candy shop and bought a fistful of caramel hard candies.

   In his left pocket of his trench coat were the caramels, in the right was his cigarettes, which he pulled out during the interrogation. He offered one to Runaan, who refused.

   “Those things’ll kill you.”

   “We all gotta die eventually.”

   “Believe me, I know that better than anyone. But you don’t seem like a total piece of shit so I’m somewhat worried about your health.”

   “You tryna say I’m a partial piece of shit?”

   “I don’t know, you could be.”

   That warranted a chuckle out of Ethari, whose heart skipped a beat from pure shock when he saw the shadow of a smile overtake Runaan’s lips. That man had only smiled when speaking about his children, his darlings as he called them.

   “I thought you were going to beat a confession out of me,” Runaan confessed. “You’re twice my size.”

   Ethari didn’t want to think about what men larger than Runaan had done to him throughout his life.

   “Even if I wanted to do that, there would be no reason to. You’ve been very cooperative. I’ll be sure to tell the judge this.”

   A sudden somberness fell over Runaan’s face.

   “Will I get the death penalty?”

   Ethari wanted to promise him he wouldn’t, promise him that the judge would take everything he had gone through into consideration…but he couldn’t.

   “We can’t know anything for sure at the moment.”

   Runaan smiled again, sadly.

   “We can’t know anything for certain. But regardless of if that happens or if you’re sent to prison, your children will be placed-“

   “There’s a cabin I bought, in Duren. It’s not too far off from the city. They won’t be placed with strangers or be at risk of getting split up. They’ll go there.”

  There was a long pause.

   “Runaan, how long have you been planning this?”

   “Little over a year.”

   He was certainly a father who looked after his children, Ethari would never deny him of that.

Chapter Text

   For years Runaan wondered what the hell he ever saw in Aleric.

   Then he realized it was because he reminded him of Tom.

—

   Runaan delicately touched the soft petal with his smooth hands.

   “Do you like them?” Tom asked, hugging him from behind as Runaan held the bouquet of red roses. Runaan nodded.

   “They’re beautiful,” he murmured. Tom grinned and started kissing his neck. Runaan placed down the roses before he turned around to kiss him. He felt a certain passion for Tom that he didn’t feel for any of his other customers. 

   Tom was gentle as they made love, whispering sweet things that made his breath stop and his heart skip about seven beats. He kissed him, held, and hugged him like a true lover would. He always bought him gifts like candies and flowers. Tom would also often pay Runaan more than he owed him, as if he were giving him an allowance.

   He loved Tom, loved their time together. And there were so many other customers like him.

   But he knew Tom was evil, evil to sleep with someone as young and vulnerable as him. They were all evil.

   So that night when Tom was left drowsy and weak, Runaan wrapped his braid around his neck.

   Tom clawed at his neck, tried to get away, but his mind was too intoxicated, clouded.

   And Runaan cried.

   Oh, Runaan sobbed.

   “Why?” Tom choked. “Why?”

   Runaan’s tears fell upon his bare back.

   “I did love you,” Runaan lied. The truth was he still did. He dragged him to the bathtub full of cold water.

   He had to die.

   He had to die.

—

   “Detective Gloaming,” Harrow said, “to my office please.”

   Ethari put out his cigarette and walked inside the police station. He followed Harrow into his office.

   “Is everything alright, Captain Pipe?”

   “Yes, everything’s fine. I wanted to speak with you concerning Runaan Dusk.”

   Ethari nodded.

   “I’m going to have to make an a official announcement to the press. You’ve been around Runaan the most these past two weeks, you know him the best. Tell me, does he deserve the chance at a normal life?”

   Ethari took a deep breath.

-

   “Dad!” The three children had cried a week prior, finally being able to see Runaan. Runaan hugged and kissed them all.

   “How have you all been?”

   “We’ve been great,” Rayla insisted. Runaan picked up Ezran, who was holding that…strange frog lizard creature he called Bait.

   “Whatcha got in your mouth there, Sweet Tooth?” He asked, smiling.

   “Detective Gloaming gave it to me.”

   Runaan smiled at him, a silent thank you. Ethari smiled back, giving him a nod, a silent your welcome.

   “Ez scored a 100 on his spelling test,” Callum boasted. Runaan ruffled his precious brown coils.

   “That’s my smart boy. Sketch, show me your drawings. I’ve missed them.”

   Callum pulled his sketchbook out of his bag and began showing off to Runaan. There was one in particular that Runaan took special interest in. He looked down at the paper, then looked up at Ethari smiling.

   He wished he would smile more.

   It was a strange thought that crossed his mind for a split second. He brushed it off almost immediately.

   “You should show that to Detective Gloaming,” Runaan insisted. Callum’s cheeks went red. He hesitantly tore the page out and handed it to Ethari.

   It was a drawing of him, holding a cigarette to his lips, ready to light it. His face was calm, relaxed.

   “This is lovely, Callum,” Ethari said. Callum smiled.

   “Thank you, Detective Gloaming.”

   “No, thank you, lad.”

   Runaan stroked Rayla’s hair.

   “You been keeping your brothers up with self defense, Little Blade?”

   “Yes,” Rayla answered, smiling.

   “Good, do me a favor and stop smoking, my darling. I can smell the smoke on you.”

   Rayla’s eyes went wide before Runaan pulled her into another hug.

   “I’m not angry, just worried.”

   Rayla nodded.

   Runaan placed Ezran down.

   “Detective Gloaming, can you take Ezran out for a moment please? I need to speak with my eldest two.”

   Ethari nodded and walked out with Ezran. Ezran pouted, holding tight to Bait, who croaked.

   “It’s okay, Ezran. I’m sure they’ll only be a few minutes.”

   “There’s something they’re hiding from me.”

   Ethari sighed and knelt down.

   “This can’t be easy for you, Ezran. But you have a loving family, they’re doing their best to look out for you.”

   He handed Ezran another caramel, who took it gratefully.

—

   “Remember the cabin in Duren I spoke to you two about a month ago?”

   Callum and Rayla nodded.

   “You’ll all be placed there after the trial. It’s a lovely home, it’ll be a good place for you all to grow up in.”

   “It won’t be good without you there,” Rayla rebutted. Runaan sighed.

   “I’ve done things, things I need to pay the price for. I’ve put things in order the best I can for you three.”

   “When do we tell Ez?” Callum asked.

   “Wait until the sentencing, the longer he doesn’t know the longer he can find comfort in things staying the same.”

   Runaan looked at his only daughter and eldest son, tears beginning to shine in their eyes.

   “I love you two. I love all my children, so, so much. No matter what happens to me, just know the three of you were the best thing that ever happened to me.”

—

   Ethari damn near cried to that recording. He made Harrow listen to that recording.

   “Runaan was a child, a child failed by everyone around him. He’s done bad things, but what other option did he have but to conform to what the world around him demanded he become? You and I know there’s far worse criminals out there. Jail won’t help him and an execution would just be cruel. He needs rehabilitation of some sort, not punishment.”

   Harrow nodded, his face overtaken with sorrow.

   “I’ll put in the best word I can for him. Thank you, Gloaming.”

   Ethari nodded and left.

Chapter Text

   “Where the fuck are you?!” Aleric roared. Runaan had locked himself in the bathroom and curled up in the bathtub, his arms wrapped around his stomach. Soon he heard pounding against the rickety door. He prayed he would go away, that he would come back when he was sober.

   He would never forget watching that door fly off its hinges, he would never forget the way Aleric stormed in, his already large stature towering over him.

   “Baby, please-“

   Aleric punched him. His head was thrown back against the faucet. The corners of his vision went black. Aleric punched him again.

   “You’re going to kill the baby, you psycho!” Runaan screamed. That didn’t deter him. Aleric went to pull him out of the tub and that’s when Runaan headbutted him.

   Not the best move but it gave him time to race out of the bathroom. Aleric stumbled after him. Runaan ran out of the house, grabbing a pair of shoes as he sprinted out the door.

   There he was, 18 years old, pregnant, and running from his drunk husband barefoot down the street.

   Love was complicated.

   That’s what Runaan told himself as he pushed on his shoes. He let a day pass, spending the night at a hotel. Andromeda had died a week after his wedding and Skor’s ashes had been scattered across a lake three months later. He had no one else to turn to, no one else to comfort him.

   The next day Runaan returned home. Aleric had that same look in his eyes. He looked like a little boy who’d just gotten scolded.

   “I’m sorry,” he said. That was what he always said. And Runaan would take one look in those puppy dog eyes and melt in his arms.

—

   Rayla paced by the radio, biting her nails to avoid smoking a cigarette. Callum shook like a leaf on the couch. They sent Ezran to spend the day with Barius. They needed time to mourn and prep themselves before being able to break the news to him.

   “We can’t go on without him!” Rayla insisted. “We just can’t! What are we going to do without Dad?!”

   “Rayla, it’s going to be okay. Dad didn’t just kill people for no reason.”

   “Try telling the judge that!”

   Rayla was near tears. Callum took a deep breath.

   “Do you remember the night I first met Dad?” Callum asked. Rayla, still distraught, nodded. 

   “Ezran had a fever, he’d been sick for days,” she recounted. “I tried feeding him the food Dad gave me from the bakery but it didn’t work.”

   “We thought we were going to lose him. Then you picked him up and ran off with him. I thought you were crazy, taking him to a man we didn’t know. I was sure he’d hurt us the way we’d always been hurt. But he didn’t. All that time we hunkered down and stuck together was worth it, because in the end we got the best dad we could have ever asked for. I don’t know what that judge is going to decide, but what I do know is that we were strong before we met Dad, and he’s made us even stronger. Nothing’s going to tear us down. Ever.”

   He stood up and pulled Rayla into a hug that locked them together. Rayla clung onto him.

   Finally, they heard the radio.

—Two Weeks Later—

   Duren mornings were quiet.

   It seemed even the birds like to sleep in, Rayla noticed.

   She’d been sleeping in a lot those days.

   She sauntered downstairs, still in her nightgown. Callum was on the couch, doodling away. He was in his nightclothes as well.

   “Is Ez up?” She asked. Calllum nodded.

   “He’s in the garden.”

   Rayla went outside to see a collection of bugs at his feet and in his hands.

   “Hi, little man.”

   “Hey, Rayla. Good morning.”

   “Good morning.”

   Rayla sat next to Ezran in the dirt.

   “How do you feel? Without Dad that is?”

   “Fine, I just wish he was here.”

   “Yeah, me too.”

   Ezran placed a beetle back on the ground.

   “It’s gonna be such a long time before we see him again.”

   “Don’t worry, Ez,” Rayla said, “10 months will fly by. You’ll see.”

Chapter Text

   Rayla paced by the radio, biting her nails to avoid smoking a cigarette. Callum shook like a leaf on the couch. They sent Ezran to spend the day with Barius. They needed time to mourn and prep themselves before being able to break the news to him.

   “We can’t go on without him!” Rayla insisted. “We just can’t! What are we going to do without Dad?!”

   “Rayla, it’s going to be okay. Dad didn’t just kill people for no reason.”

   “Try telling the judge that!”

   Rayla was near tears. Callum took a deep breath.

   “Do you remember the night I first met Dad?” Callum asked. Rayla, still distraught, nodded. 

   “Ezran had a fever, he’d been sick for days,” she recounted. “I tried feeding him the food Dad gave me from the bakery but it didn’t work.”

   “We thought we were going to lose him. Then you picked him up and ran off with him. I thought you were crazy, taking him to a man we didn’t know. I was sure he’d hurt us the way we’d always been hurt. But he didn’t. All that time we hunkered down and stuck together was worth it, because in the end we got the best dad we could have ever asked for. I don’t know what that judge is going to decide, but what I do know is that we were strong before we met Dad, and he’s made us even stronger. Nothing’s going to tear us down. Ever.”

   He stood up and pulled Rayla into a hug that locked them together. Rayla clung onto him.

   Finally, they heard the radio.

—Two Weeks Later—

   Duren mornings were quiet.

   It seemed even the birds like to sleep in, Rayla noticed.

   She’d been sleeping in a lot those days.

   She sauntered downstairs, still in her nightgown. Callum was on the couch, doodling away. He was in his nightclothes as well.

   “Is Ez up?” She asked. Calllum nodded.

   “He’s in the garden.”

   Rayla went outside to see a collection of bugs at his feet and in his hands.

   “Hi, little man.”

   “Hey, Rayla. Good morning.”

   “Good morning.”

   Rayla sat next to Ezran in the dirt.

   “How do you feel? Without Dad that is?”

   “Fine, I just wish he was here.”

   “Yeah, me too.”

   Ezran placed a beetle back on the ground.

   “It’s gonna be such a long time before we see him again.”

   “Don’t worry, Ez,” Rayla said, “10 months will fly by. You’ll see.”

()()

   He wasn’t going to die.

   He wasn’t going to die.

   Ethari rushed to the bathroom to laugh in a stall. In that moment he thanked God.

   He was going to be given another chance.

—

   Ethari watched as Runaan embraced his children, sobbing. He fell to his knees and Ezran wiped his tears.

   “It’s okay, Dad!” He said. Runaan smiled, that beautiful, beautiful smile.

   “I know, baby.”

   Runaan sniffled.

   “Ez, listen, there’s a cabin I bought in Duren. Rayla, Callum, I still want you to move there.”

   “Dad, not without you,” Rayla insisted.

   “I’ll come after my rehab, I promise. I don’t want you around the press. I mostly don’t want you on your own here. It’s dangerous.”

   Callum touched his shoulders.

   “We’ll leave, we’ll be okay, Dad. Promise.”

   “I’ll do what I can to help get their things in order,” Ethari said. Runaan rose to his feet.

   “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “Thank you so much.”

   Ethari wanted to hug him so bad, but he didn’t. Instead he tightly grabbed his hand and shook it.

   “Of course,” he choked out. He felt his cheeks go red from the touch of his fingers. Their hands remained locked for just a moment too long before they broke apart. Ethari then placed his hand on his shoulder, eager for touch again, and led him through the doors.

—

   Runaan sat on his bed, his fingers running across the cheap sheets.

   “You alright?” Ethari asked. Runaan nodded.

   “This is way better than being dead.”

   “Yep,” Ethari chuckled. He closed the door and sat next to him.

   “I’m happy for you, Runaan. You and the kids will be alright.”

   Runaan nodded. How badly Ethari wanted to move the hair away from his face. He was such a pretty man, it was a shame he always hid his face.

   “Will I ever see you again?” Runaan asked. The question shocked Ethari. Runaan didn’t dare look him in the eye.

   “I’ll be visiting to check up on you, see how your progress is going and report back to the station.”

   Runaan nodded.

   “I’ll look forward to seeing you, Gloaming.”

   It was then something struck Ethari in his chest. The fact that Ethari was still a detective, a detective who stood above him.

Chapter Text

   Runaan had been adjusting well. Three months had gone by. He had received a mountain of letters from the children, Ethari had received some as well. The children expressed lots of gratitude towards him and sent him wishes of goodwill.

   He could see how much better Runaan was getting. He was sleeping more, proven by the bags that no longer hung beneath his eyes. He was also eating all his meals and getting along with the other patients. He had been permitted a walk around the city, not just in the backyard of the facility. He was allowed to change out of his white clothes and was given a blue button up and a pair of brown trousers.

   “How do you feel?” Ethari asked as they first stepped outside. Runaan smiled and took a deep breath.

   “Good.”

   And it was then Ethari’s heart stopped with another one his darling smiles. The two began to walk down the street. The sun was nearly about to dip below the horizon.

   “How’s everything been, back in the facility?” Ethari asked.

   “Fine.”

   “Are there any concerns I should be aware of? Is anyone causing you any trouble?”

   Runaan shook his head. Ethari nodded. The two walked in silence for a few more minutes before Runaan spoke again.

   “Do you have any family?”

   “All I got is my folks, they live in another country.”

   “Oh, where?”

   “Xadia.”

   “Did you live there?”

   “Born and raised. Came here when I was 18, thought it would give me more opportunities.”

   “Did it?”

   Ethari laughed. He laughed and laughed and laughed. And eventually Runaan joined him in his laughter once he realized the absurdity of his question.

   “I’m guessing you’re not married,” Runaan said once they calmed down. Ethari nodded, looking down at his five fingers, not a single one bore a ring.

   “Never found the one I guess.”

   “There’s still plenty of time to find her. Or are they a him?”

   “Either or,” Ethari answered, shrugging. Runaan nodded.

   “There could only ever be a him for me. My last him was rubbish.”

   “Was your husband your only him? Did you ever date anyone else?”

   Runaan shook his head.

   “Never saw the point after that.”

   “Have you seen a point as of late?”

   “I think I would like to, but there’s not much hope for someone like me.”

   “You’ll have a new life after this, you could start over.”

   “My mind won’t be new. Some things are too broken to fix.”

   “And what if you don’t need to be fixed?”

   Runaan stopped walking and stared at Ethari from behind his white hair. Ethari swallowed, feeling his cheeks grow warm.

   “You’ve got a good heart. No matter how twisted and tortured your mind is you’ve got a good heart. I know it probably doesn’t mean much coming from me-“

   “It means plenty coming from you. You arrested me, but you still helped me, believed in me. You’ve got a good heart too.”

   And I would give it to you if I could.

   “Thank you, Runaan,” Ethari said, smiling. They began walking again.

   “Will we be able to look at the stars?” Runaan asked. Ethari nodded.

   “So long as we return an hour after sunset.”

   “That’s good. It’s different, getting to stand outside while you look at the stars.”

   Ethari didn’t understand that. Not at first. But when the sun went down and the moon held reign of night he couldn’t help but admit to Runaan that there was certainly something different about getting to look up at the stars while he breathed the night air that was tainted by cigarettes and factory smoke.

   Runaan looked free, not just because he had literally been given freedom, but because he looked relaxed, peaceful, content.

   How often had his children seen that face? When he looked at the three people who made him feel so content for so many years. When he held them close, wiped their tears, attended school plays. How much love had his children felt from that single look?

   He wanted a face like that to come home to everyday, a face like that to hold and kiss, a face like that to fall asleep next to. If Runaan ever found it in him to love again whoever he chose would be lucky. So incredibly lucky.

Chapter Text

   Next week Ethari had said he wanted to take Runaan somewhere, asking him if it was okay. Runaan said it was.

   What Runaan had not expected was for him to be in a place filled to the brim with prohibited alcohol.

   But he sure as hell wasn’t complaining.

   Ethari picked up a Bee’s Knees from off a table, bringing the drink to his lips.

   “There any moonshine here?” Runaan asked. Ethari nodded and picked up a drink from another table. It was an orangish color.

   “Orange juice?”

   “Peach.”

   Runaan took it politely and downed the drink.

   “Is there any straight moonshine?” He then asked. Ethari raised an eyebrow.

   “Man, hell no. No one here drinks it undiluted.”

   “I do.”

   Ethari sighed and walked over to a man with ginger curly hair.

   “Bailey, friend here wants some straight moonshine.”

   “The fuck? Stuff I set out ain’t strong enough as it is?”

   Ethari shrugged while shaking his head. Bailey walked upstairs and came down a few minutes later, a mason jar in his hands.

   “Here. The two of you can keep it.”

   Ethari thanked him and walked over to Runaan, pouring the moonshine into his empty glass. He and Bailey both watched as he drank the moonshine without issue. Ethari poured the moonshine into his half empty glass and downed it.

   The drink damn near went up his throat the moment it went down.

   Ethari could not stop coughing. Runaan grinned and patted his back as he stood slightly hunched over, trying not to spill the jar of moonshine. Runaan placed down his glass and took the jar, screwing the lid back on.

   “How the hell do you drink that?” Ethari sputtered. Runaan shrugged.

   “Had my first drink at 10, that probably has something to do with it.”

   Runaan thought it would be funny, but all it did was make things awkward. Damn it, he’d told Ethari his father was a piece of shit alcoholic, why did he say that?

   “I was 12,” Ethari admitted. “The drinking age where I come from is 16 but my dad left out some a glass of whiskey and I took a sip when he went to bed. That shit burned but not like this.”

   Runaan nodded. People danced and drank and sang all around them. The two stood off in a corner as they spoke. They mainly talked about Ethari’s childhood, which was mostly unproblematic. He learned about his two ex boyfriends, his one ex girlfriend, how he almost broke his neck hopping a fence when fetching a ball from someone’s yard when he was 14, how he came to Katolis with the hopes of changing the world and instead the world changed him.

   Ethari drank more and more, eventually becoming tipsy. Runaan didn’t mind much, Ethari seemed like a man who could handle his liquor well.

   “You’re being selfish,” Ethari said suddenly. Runaan raised an eyebrow.

   “How?”

   “By keeping hair in front of your face.”

   “How is that selfish?” Runaan laughed.

   “Because some of us want to see those pretty eyes.”

   Runaan felt his cheeks grow warm as something he’d never felt before fluttered in his stomach. He brought up his hand and brushed his hair away from his face.

   “Better?” Runaan asked.

   “Beautiful,” Ethari murmured.

   The man was drunk, so he couldn’t take his words to seriously. But then again, weren’t a drunk man’s words a sober man’s thoughts?

Chapter Text

   Ethari had been kicking himself that entire morning. Why the hell had he said that? Why the hell had he called him beautiful?

   It didn’t matter if it was true, didn’t matter if that’s what he thought, he held power over Runaan. He would never do anything to put Runaan in a position where he couldn’t say no, but Runaan didn’t know that. At the end of the day Ethari was the one filling out reports, Ethari was the one who arrested him, Ethari was the one who could still arrest him.

–

   Runaan had no idea why he felt so giddy. His steps felt lighter, his heart beat faster, and he’d spent at least an hour the night before grinning and giggling in his bed at the thought of Ethari.

   Ethari…

   He was better than any of the men he’d been with, better than his husband. That didn’t mean much but it meant something.. He wouldn’t mind falling asleep in those arms, listening to that voice, having his children.

   It was then Runaan’s felt his quickening heart stop. What the hell was he thinking? He couldn’t have a normal life after all he’d done. What he could do is do what he needed to do to get back to the kids he already had, which meant not doing anything stupid.

   That included falling for the hot detective.

   When he was led to the room where he and Ethari would meet he immediately noticed the guilt written on Ethari’s face that he tried to block out with a smile. His heartbeat picked up again. Had someone found out about the alcohol? Was he in trouble? Was he going to be assigned a different detective?

   “What’s wrong?” Runaan asked once he sat down.

   “I wanted to apologize…for my behavior last night. I shouldn’t have said what I said.”

   Runaan bit his lip.

   “I don’t recall what you said, what…what was it you said?”

   Ethari felt his mouth go dry. He cleared his throat and fidgeted in his seat.

   “I called you beautiful.”

   Runaan felt his cheeks flush red.

   “Oh,” he said, feigning surprise. “Well that’s fine, honestly. I’m not offended.”

   “Still, it was inappropriate. I shouldn’t have said that.”

   “Well, I accept your apology.”

   Ethari nodded, offering a small smile

   God, he loved that smile

—

   “You need a date.”

   And that was how Ethari’s morning started.

   “What?”

   “A date,” Ram repeated. “You’re a good guy, and it’s about time you settle down with someone.”

   “Believe me, been there and done that.”

   “Do it again. I have this friend, his name’s Owen. I think you’d fancy him.”

   “Ram…”

   “Will you leave him alone?” Callisto said, rubbing his temples as he stared at a mound of paperwork.

   “Will you at least give it a shot? You’re so consumed with Runaan Dusk I’m worried you might run off with him.”

   “I am not consumed,” Ethari snapped, perhaps a bit too defensively.

   “He’s all you ever talk about. ‘I hope his kids are alright’, ‘this letter that Ezran sent me is adorable’, ‘it seems like Runaan’s getting better’, ‘I’ll have to recheck Runaan’s files so I know when to tell him happy birthday.”

   Callisto raised an eyebrow as he watched Ethari’s cheeks go red.

   “Fine, I’ll go out with your little friend, will that shut you up?”

   Ram smiled and nodded.

—

   “You smell nice,” Runaan complimented as they walked down the halls of the facility.

   “Thank you.”

   “Did you finally get a date?”

   The question made Ethari stop in his tracks.

   “Whatever gave you that idea?”

   “Well, for starters, you smell absolutely exquisite,” Runaan purred, making Ethari’s heart skip a beat. “And I can tell you’ve done something with your hair. It’s looks…fluffier today, like you either put in more effort or used a different product. Same with your skin, it’s glowing.”

   Both were correct. Ethari had swapped out his 5-in-1 shampoo with a fancy ass labeled shampoo and an actual cleanser.

   “And you’re wearing your nicer watch, the same one you wear when you go out with coworkers, you don’t smell as good for your coworkers though.”

   Ethari scoffed.

   “You tryna say I smell bad?”

   “No,” Runaan chuckled. “You always smell nice, like fresh oranges. But today you smell like vanilla and sandalwood.”

   “Which one do you prefer?”

   Runaan fell silent for a moment.

   “Both are nice.”

   Ethari knew he was lying, but didn’t push it.

   “A friend’s making me go,” he said quickly. “I’d taken a break from dating. I’ve never even met this man before.”

   “Who knows, this could be your soulmate.”

   “I don’t know,” Ethari mumbled.

—

   “How was your date?” Runaan asked the next day. Ethari ran his fingers through his hair.

   “Okay.”

   “Why only okay?”

   “He was a nice guy, handsome too. There just wasn’t that spark ya know? He was really talkative, which isn’t a problem, but I really didn’t need to hear about how a pit bull vomited hot dog chunks all over his shoes when he was 12…all while we were eating mind you.”

   Runaan grinned.

   “Will you go on another date with him?”

   “No. I hope the guy finds his special someone, but it won’t be me.”

   Runaan nodded. 

   “I’m sorry it didn’t go well.”

   “It’s fine.”

   The two smiled.

   “I should take you out somewhere,” Ethari said. “What do you like?”

   Runaan stared at him blankly.

   “That’s…not necessary.”

   “I wouldn’t mind.”

   “No, I don’t have good experiences with guys taking me out to eat. Thank you for the offer though, you’re very kind.”

   Ethari nodded.

   “Well you have to let me take you somewhere. I feel bad just taking you to some underground place.”

   Runaan thought for a moment.

   “There’s…one place.”

   “Where?”

   “You’re probably gonna say no.”

   “C’mon, just tell me.”

Chapter Text

   Ethari was catcalled at least 12 times in the 45 minutes it took to get to the dance club.

   “Here it is. The Katol Tavern,” Runaan announced. Ethari tugged at his bow tie and looked at Runaan. His darling face was lit up like a candle. Runaan grabbed his hand and dragged Ethari inside.

   There was music, dancing, and drink. There were shimmery dresses and glittery suits. Suddenly Ethari felt very plain. There was no reason for him to own anything…fun before. Runaan seemed unbothered, perhaps that was because he was wearing the glittering teal suit that he had asked to be stored with a few other of his clothes.

   “Runaan, that you?!” A woman called. Runaan laughed and rushed over to her, giving her a hug.

   “Margo!” He cried. Margo had fiery orange hair and violet eyes, with a freckle on every speck of skin. She smiled at Runaan, then frowned at Ethari. She pulled Runaan closer to her.

   “Who’s this, love?”

   Runaan smiled reassuringly.

   “A friend. Margo, this is Ethari. Ethari, Margo.”

   “Pleased to meet you, Margo.”

   Ethari extended his hand for her to shake it. Keeping one arm wrapped around Runaan, Margo shook his hand.

   “Would you mind fetching me an orange blossom? And Runaan one too.”

   Margo pointed to a table and Ethari walked across the room to it.

   “Are you alright? Has he hurt you?” Margo asked. Runaan shook his head.

   “He’s a friend, Marge. Promise.”

   Margo nodded, unconvinced. Ethari walked back over with their drinks.

   “Ethari’s been kind enough to escort me here,” Runaan said, taking a sip of his drink. Ethari grabbed his own drink from a table, grinning.

   As the night went on, Ethari watched as Runaan came to life. He chatted with others, he laughed, and he danced.

   “Ethari! Ethari! Come dance!” He cheered, his face flushed with alcohol. Ethari chuckled and moved toward him, grabbing his hands as they began to slow dance. Ethari’s hand was on his waist, Runaan’s hand was on his shoulder, and their free hands were clasped together. Suddenly Runaan’s head was resting on Ethari’s shoulder.

   “Thank you so much,” Runaan whispered in his ear. “Tonight’s been so special.”

   Thump thump thump

   Ethari knew Runaan could feel his heartbeat, how couldn’t he with how close his head was to his chest. The pair moved closer together. Ethari’s hand was on his back, Runaan’s head rested on his chest over his rapidly beating heart. Ethari could inhale the scent of Runaan’s feathery soft hair.

   “You smell so sweet, like candy,” Runaan said. Ethari grinned.

   “So you prefer the vanilla and sandalwood after all.”

   Runaan chuckled.

   “I didn’t want to offend you before.”

   “I take no offense. I’ll wear it more often.”

   The two smiled, like two dumb teenagers at a dance. Suddenly, there was a commotion.

   “It’s the cops!” Somebody shouted. Runaan and Ethari stared at each other, blinked, then took off.

   “Follow me,” Runaan said. Runaan led him down a hall, which led to a window. The two climbed onto the rooftop, where they began hopping to the building over.

   “Keep going, we have to get further,” Runaan insisted. The two hopped from building to building until they were a few blocks down and headed down a fire escape.

   Ethari was the first to laugh.

   “Half those motherfuckers are probably my coworkers!” He cackled, grabbing his sides. Runaan began to laugh as well.

   “Now you know what I had to go through!” Runaan laughed. The two began laughing harder and harder. Finally, their laughter died down and the two stood next to each other as they looked up at the stars. Next thing they knew they were holding hands.

   “Ethari, when you called me beautiful that night…did you mean it?”

   Ethari looked into those gorgeous turquoise eyes.

   And his smile disappeared.

   “Ethari?”

Chapter Text

   “Are you sure about this, son?”

   Ethari’s badge lied in front of Harrow on his desk.

   “I can’t do this anymore.”

   “But why? What happened, Ethari? You’ve been off ever since you started working with Runaan-“

   “Runaan has nothing to do with this. This is my choice.”

   “I can tell you’ve been drinking, son.”

   Ethari awkwardly cleared his throat. He’d done his best to erase the evidence of last night. He had a cold sweat, his eyes were slightly red, and all the lights seemed a bit too bright.

   “You’re not in your right mind. Do you have a bad history of mental health? Did something happen?”

   Ethari almost laughed. How riveting was his decision that it was assumed he was having a manic episode?

   “I want to live a normal life. That’s all.”

   “So you’ll hand over your gun-“

   “You can pry it from my cold dead hands after digging me up six feet down and popping open my coffin.”

   Ethari didn’t wait for a response as he walked out of Harrow’s office, then out of the building.

—

   How could he have been so stupid?

   He didn’t eat breakfast, insisting to the nurse that he just wasn’t hungry that morning. She smiled at him and was kind enough to not put it on his record. “A model patient” she’d sworn he’d been.

   “I should take you back.”

   That was Ethari’s response to his question. The two walked back in silence.

   Complete and utter silence.

   Even worse, Runaan had been told that Ethari would be coming in a bit later that day. He came in an hour later, though he wasn’t wearing his usual detective garb. He had on a periwinkle blue sweater and denim jeans. Smiling, he sat across from him.

   Runaan couldn’t dare look him in the eye.

   “I care about you, Runaan. More than I should, more than I thought I would. Which is why I won’t be able to see you as often.”

   Runaan meekly nodded, still keeping his head bowed.

   “I quit.”

   “You what?”

   Ethari was still smiling, smiling as if it were an average happy day. It was now that Runaan looked him dead in the eye

   “I don’t know how things will work out between us, but all I know is that I don’t want you at any point to feel pressured to be with me. I can still visit you, just not for as long as before.”

   “But what about your career?”

   “I never had a reason to stay. I stayed because I never had a reason to leave. I’m glad you’re my reason. Even if we don’t work out, I’m so glad that I met you, Runaan. I want us to have a chance.”

   Runaan felt something warm and wet running down his face. He quickly wiped away the tears.

   “Month four is almost up. Six more. And if six months goes by and you decide that we aren’t the best then we just aren’t the best,” Ethari said. Runaan nodded, reaching for his hand. His hand was calloused and warm while his own hand was smooth and cold.

   When Ethari left, his hands felt empty, so much so it almost left him feeling somber.

   It was then a man entered the room, his skin a bit darker than Ethari’s, with a narrow freckled face. His flowing white hair reminded Runaan of his own except for the tips which were a lavender purple. He welcomed Runaan with a large grin.

   “Hello, I’m Detective Aaravos Starlonis. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Runaan.”

   “Pleasure is all mine.”

   Aaravos sat down across from him and Runaan couldn’t help but inwardly cringe. That was Ethari’s chair.

   “I’ve heard many good things about you. Everyone says you’ve been behaving remarkably since you’ve been here. I’m from a different precinct, my captain believes it’ll be good for me to speak to you in a different environment. So I’ll be taking you out for lunch.”

   Runaan felt his mouth go dry. He swallowed hard, though there was no saliva.

   “I’ll be outside, you can take a few minutes to get ready if you’d like.”

   And with that Aaravos stepped out. Runaan could feel a cold sweat dripping down the back of his neck.

Chapter Text

   Aaravos drove a fork through a piece of lettuce drenched in a nostril burning vinegarette. Runaan stared down at his chicken broth.

   “Has everything been alright? Has anyone been causing you any trouble?”

   Runaan shook his head, a knot forming in his stomach. He forced himself to choke down some of his soup.

   “You seem tense-“

   “I haven’t had a man take me out to eat who didn’t want to sleep with me.”

   There was a brief silence as the two men stared at each other, Aaravos’s fork half lifted to his mouth as he looked at Runaan.

   “That’s all,” Runaan said, shrugging. Aaravos nodded and called over the waiter for the check.

   “I see. I’m terribly sorry to hear that.”

   “It’s fine. I mean, it wasn’t fine at the time but I’m fine now.”

   After Aaravos paid the two left the restaurant. Runaan exhaled a breath he didn’t even know he was holding.

   “Do you feel better? Would you like to go back?”

   “No, no, I’m fine. I’d just like to walk.”

   The two made their way down the bustling street.

   “You grew.”

   “Pardon?”

   “You’ve grown…since we last met.”

   Runaan felt his blood run cold.

—

   “What do you want for your birthday?” Rayla asked while they were on their afternoon stroll. Callum shrugged.

   “You don’t have to get me anything.”

   “Come on, you have to want something.”

   “I want Dad back, and he won’t be here in time for my birthday.”

   “He won’t be here for mine either.”

   The two went silent. They looked at Ezran, who ran ahead trying to catch butterflies in his net. For his birthday they’d done his best. They baked him a cake, made him jelly tarts, did their best to nicely wrap his gifts, strung up some cheap decorations, and sang him happy birthday off key. Runaan sent a letter, which made Ezran tear up.

   “It doesn’t matter, Ez and I will find you something.”

   Callum grinned and chuckled.

   “Thanks, Rayla.”

   “Of course.”

   Ezran was hopping around like a rabbit with his butterfly net.

   “Can you believe he’s 10?” Callum asked. Rayla smiled.

   “He’s grown up so fast. It feels like yesterday he was just a toddler.”

   “It feels like yesterday Runaan gave him a real birthday for the first time.”

—

   “I’m five today! I’m five today!” Ezran cheered, jumping up and down on Callum’s bed. Callum rubbed his eyes and yawned.

   “I’ll be up in a minute,” he mumbled.

   “But you have to come see my decorations!”

   “What decorations?”

   “In the living room! Come ooooon!”

   Ezran practically dragged Callum out of bed and brought him out to the living room, where Callum stared in disbelief.

   There were red streamers taped around the room, a sign with the words “Happy Birthday” perfectly written on it was hung up. There was a cake lathered with white frosting with five red candles sticking out of it. On the kitchen counter there were four gifts neatly wrapped. Rayla sat in front of the TV eating bacon and eggs.

   “You’re up! Runaan’s in the bathroom, he said we can have cake after we eat.”

   Ezran handed Callum a plate of bacon and eggs.

   “Eat! I want my cake!”

   Ezran plopped down next to Rayla as Callum stared down at his food. He clutched the plate in his hands and sat at the table. Runaan walked out of the bathroom and smiled at Callum.

   “Good morning, Sketch.”

   Callum burst into tears. He wasn’t sure why, he was happy. The next thing he knew Runaan had taken him up in his arms.

   “Thank you,” he hiccuped. “Thank you…for…Ezran’s…birthday.”

   A year prior Rayla and Callum had stolen some jelly tarts from a bakery for his birthday. That was it.

   Runaan rubbed his back and held him close, whispering that it was okay.

   When Callum turned nine, Runaan would do the same thing for him but with blue decorations, and when Rayla turned 10 he put out violet ones. Every birthday they felt special.

   They felt loved.

Chapter Text

   “We need towels, blankets, something!” Andromeda shouted. A boy their age was laying on their mattress inside of the little shed that they called home, his stomach was swollen and a mess of liquid flowed from between his legs.

   “Who is he?” Skor asked. A scream from the boy tore through the cold night air.

   “I found him on a street corner. He’s already fully dilated.”

   This wasn’t the first time the three of them had watched someone in labor. There were plenty of expecting parents where they lived, and oftentimes labor meant all hands on deck, didn’t matter who the hell you were.

   “It’s okay, sweetheart,” Andromeda said, holding his hand. Skor lifted his nightgown.

   “You’ll be able to push on this next contraction,” he informed. Runaan grabbed a crate and pulled out a blanket, Skor helped cover the boy with it so he wouldn’t freeze to death. The next hour was filled with screams, sobs, and prayers. Until finally a baby girl fell into Skor’s hands. She didn’t cry or move. Skor handed her to Runaan, who rubbed her back and breathed into her mouth until she cried. The father wept as he placed the baby in his arms.

   “Thank you…thank you,” he sniffled.

   The next day Andromeda walked him to the train station before Runaan or Skor woke up. Apparently he had an aunt who was willing to let him stay with her. He was actually on the way to the station when he went into labor. Andromeda had mentioned his name, but Runaan was paying half attention and hadn’t heard her. He was just another single parent in a sea of loneliness and hardship.

—

   “You had the baby girl,” Runaan breathed. Aaravos smiled and nodded.

   “She was a sweet thing, but the aid you and the others gave me was far sweeter.”

   “The baby, what did you name her?”

   A small, sad smile crept over Aaravos’ lips.

   “Leola. My dear Leola. She’s passed away unfortunately.”

   That statement almost brought tears to Runaan’s eyes. If anything happened to one of his darling angels he knew it would destroy him.

   “She was eight when she passed, such a small little thing.”

   “I’m so terribly sorry.”

   The two walked in silence for a moment. The question of what happened to the little girl wandered in Runaan’s mind, he didn’t dare let it walk upon his tongue.

   “Enough about that. You have three children, tell me about them.”

   Runaan felt guilty, speaking about his children to a man who had none, but he oblidged, his heart swelling with pride as he spoke about his darlings.

—

   Callum sketched Rayla and Ezran chasing each other in a field. He’d sent countless drawings to Runaan and would gladly send countless more. He couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.

   He didn’t have a childhood, not until he met Runaan. Ezran had the opportunity he never did, the innocence that had been snuffed out of Callum so early. Every hand in Ezran’s life was kind, respectful, and loving. Not grabbing and touching and violent. It had been years since he buttoned up Ezran’s in his too big coat and held his hand as they slipped out the door with Rayla. They had no idea where they would go or what would happen to them. They only had each other.

   There they were, only having each other once again.

Chapter Text

   “It’s truly been an honor, Runaan.”

   Aaravos looked at the man who stood before him, donned in a fine baby blue shirt. Blue was such a fine color on him.

   “Nervous?”

   “Extremely.”

   “Don’t be. You’re a free man today. And from what I hear you’ll soon be a taken man.”

   Runaan’s cheeks flushed pink.

   “It’s just a date, a small little date.”

   “It’s small little dates like these that lead to big, big romances.”

   Runaan’s cheeks burned to a deep red.

   “Ethari won’t waste too much time on me.”

   Aaravos grabbed him by the shoulders.

   “You listen to me, Runaan, and you listen to me well. You are worthy of love, worthy of respect. You deserve someone to bring you acts of passion, someone to honor you. Don’t you dare ever assume you should have anything less, do you understand?”

   Runaan nodded. It was with that Aaravos picked up his bags and led Runaan out of the facility. Ethari stood outside, a bouquet of red flowers in his hand.

   “The florist was out of roses, so I got you peonies instead.”

   Runaan tenderly brushed his fingers against the petals as he took the bouquet. He blinked back tears.

   “I never cared much for roses,” he admitted, “these are my favorite.”

   “Truly?”

   Runaan smiled and nodded.

   “I’m very fond of peonies.”

   The two men stood there, grinning ear to ear.

   “Would you like for me to take that back to your hotel room?” Aaravos asked. Runaan nodded and thanked him as he handed over the bouquet.

   “Now, Ethari, you’d better have him home by 12:00…PM,” Aaravos joked before walking away. Ethari and Runaan chuckled, then walked together down the street.

Chapter Text

Okay, so I really do want to update this story but my mental health has been under a lot of strain lately. So from now on I'll be writing chapters out of chronological order, kind of like one shots but they all take place in the same universe/story. Thank you all for understanding.