Roleplay City
Infusco => INFUSCO: Enter The Shadows => Municipal Library => Topic started by: pinkroses on February 07, 2019, 07:01:49 AM
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As was to be expected, the library was quiet and peaceful. At this time of night there were hardly any visitors and on the top floor, after the books which had been scattered throughout the day had been tidied by the librarian, there was silence. It was far away from the computers on a lower level which were being used by frantic students trying to finish essays before 8am deadlines the following morning, and those who had no money and nowhere to go for the night generally stayed in the fiction or magazine sections on the ground floor, where there was safety in numbers and community.
Ichabod was curled up in the corner of a comfy sofa on the top floor, a book balanced on a cushion which rested half on his thighs and half on the arm of the chair. He’d come to get a copy of the book, Chuck Palahniuk’s Invisible Monsters for a class he was doing, but whilst he’d been inside the skies had opened, so Ichabod had decided to stay and make a start on it rather than get himself and the book completely soaked. If it didn’t stop before he had to go then he’d just have to get wet, but for now he was content where he was.
He’d left the apartment not long after sundown, but taken a meandering route to the library, feeding on the way from a mortal who now had only a fuzzy memory of a conversation, maybe someone asking directions? Ichabod had found the book on a lower level without needing to look up where it would be and then, having spotted the turned weather through the large glass windows, he’d made his way up here. It wasn’t like he’d feel the cold, despite wearing only a t-shirt and jeans, but it was more the concern of getting the book wet and ruining it which kept him inside. Besides, James was studying tonight and Kerr was with Ben doing… something, so it wasn’t like he had anywhere to be.
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The glass doors swished open and a statuesque blond vampire entered. He wasn't soaking wet in spite of the barrage of rain for he'd been outside in it for a mere second. He'd been dropped off in a limo out the front by his latest conquest and keen-worshipping-mortal, Eric. Lazarus had called him 'round for a drink and a fuck, then had Eric drop him off here. It was the third place he'd investigated so far, looking for someone extremely specific. This particular quiet boy liked very particular quiet places, and this particular quiet boy had a very familiar scent - one that he could still detect on this lower level, which meant the youth had passed through here not long ago.
Found you, Lazarus thought, and prowled through the banks of shelves filled with books, looking for a teenager who was no longer a teenager - but had been one when they'd first met. Now he was sired - but not by him. He'd thought about it, though, if only for a fleeting moment, and then Ichabod had rebelled a little too much and... well, the past was the past and there'd been nothing left for them - but now they had a future!
It took him a good ten minutes for him to pick up Ichabod's scent again, and he followed it like a hound followed its prey; nostrils flaring and smile curling and surprisingly eager to dredge up the past. There had been mostly good times. There could be good times again.
He wondered if he would be able to sneak up on Ichabod. He wasn't making a sound, but he was hardly hiding either. Would Ichabod's vampy-sense alert him to the ancient's presence? He hoped so. He was approaching from the front, seeing Ichabod's focus on a book. He wanted those eyes on him, and to see the other's reaction. He hoped it would be good.
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He couldn’t say exactly what it was that caught his attention, but the hairs on Ichabod’s arms prickled and his eyes lifted from the page, widening instinctively at the sight of the blonde in front of him and taking in a sharp breath. The other blonde who had caused him so much grief.
Go away, go away, go away.
His entire body has tensed up and Ichabod forced his eyes down to his book again. He couldn’t read though and his shoulders hunched up of their own accord as he drew back against the cushions. Lazarus craved attention, maybe if he pretended he wasn’t there then he would just walk on by. That look on his face though, the way he was heading right towards him. Ichabod knew he wasn’t just going to walk away.
If it had been a couple of years ago Ichabod would have been reaching out mentally to Kerr, or his hand would have gone to his phone to text him. But Kerr had been gone so long that seeking his protection wasn’t his first instinct any more. And his body hadn’t gone for fight or flight, it was definitely going for the roll over, pretend you’re dead and maybe it’ll leave you alone.
-
The library had clusters of chairs gathered for reading, yet Ichabod had managed to find a chair that didn't have any beside. On the way over, while watching Ichabod's reaction, Lazarus picked up one of the low-backed metal framed chairs one-handed and took it with him as he strolled to the young man who'd once been his lover. He set the chair down slightly at an angle to Ichabod, close enough that their knees would touch when Lazarus sat. When he did lower himself onto the cushioned seat, he shifted to the side so his legs extended past Ichabod's feet and he could lean on the arm towards the young vampire who was doing a bad job of pretending not to know him.
"I wonder what would've become of us if not for Kerr and Ben?" he asked. Melancholy wasn't his usual flavour, but he wanted to be on Ichabod's good side right now. "If I'd kept you around a bit longer. I probably would have fledged you myself."
And that was about where the reminiscing would end, because it was very likely they'd still be here right now, with Lazarus fondly looking at Ichabod, and Ichabod pretending not to know him. He and his many, many fledges had never parted on good terms.
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Ichabod firmly kept his eyes on his book as Lazarus positioned himself, but they flickered towards those long legs as they stretched out in front of him, suddenly making him feel claustrophobic. He should have moved straight away, now he was trapped. Maybe long by a couple of legs, but Ichabod knew the strength behind them and the rest of the slender figure.
He finally lifted his gaze to meet Lazarus’ at the blonde’s final comment, raising an eyebrow in surprise. What the fuck was Lazarus talking about?
You probably would have killed me.
“I doubt it. You were bored of me well before any of that.” It had been obvious Lazarus had been sleeping around before Ichabod had anything to do with Kerr. He’d been there, a faithful puppy, besotted and knowing he was being used, but unwilling to lose the little attention he did get. He’d been so swept up in everything.
If Lazarus had sired him, it would have been a spur of the moment thing, all Lazarus’ decision and Ichabod had no doubt it would have been terrible. No proper teacher. No one to make sure he was safe against the new dangers he would face. He’d be a wreck now, or dead.
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Lazarus didn't argue, Ichabod's words had the ring of truth to them. He didn't remember being bored, he only remembered being jealous that Ichabod had snuck away to have sex with Kerr. He couldn't recall why Ichabod would do such a thing but his whimsy for reminiscing was past.
"And look at you now, you're flourishing. You always did have a bit of chatback, that's what I like about you."
He had faint memories of a surly, rebellious boy. Had that been Ichabod? He thought so... but if Lazarus had got bored with him, that meant Ichabod must have always given in.
"I hear your sire's done a Lazarus," he said, then laughed. He'd been saving that joke.
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Flourishing? Not really. It made Ichabod uncomfortable that Lazarus was talking about him in a way that made it seem like he knew anything about him though. It wasn’t like he’d paid much attention to anything Ichabod had been interested in when they’d been together, so why the sudden interest? But, that comment made it pretty obvious he was just taking a stab in the dark and didn’t really know much at all.
Ichabod didn’t laugh at Lazarus’ attempt at humour, but watched his steadily. If his heart still beat he knew it would be pounding in his chest with fear, but he hoped it wasn’t showing too much. He slowly closed his book and clasped it on his lap so that hijs hands would have something to grip onto, just in case they shook.
He wanted to tell him not to talk about Kerr. Kerr was a hundred times more caring, more appreciative, more loyal. Kerr really cared about the people he surrounded himself with and they’d thought he was dead. It wasn’t something to joke about. Ichabod wanted to get up and leave, but he wasn’t brave enough to try to escape from Lazarus by just standing and walking away. If Lazarus wanted something then he wouldn’t allow that.
“What do you want?” he asked quietly, scared of what the answer might be.
-
"I wanted to talk to you, love," he said. "I miss how we used to chat."
Lazarus poured it on thick, but was there any other way? By Ichabod's instant reaction to his words, he knew he was losing him. They both knew Lazarus didn't miss talking to him. Fucking him, maybe. He barely remembered what it had been like to bed the boy, it was so long ago.
"Alright, I'll cut the shit," Lazarus shifted from grandiose charmer to serious predator in a second. He twisted in his chair some more so he was practically sitting on his hip, clutching the chair arm closest to Ichabod and leaning all the way over, so that his face hovered roughly over Ichabod's lap. "You live in the Capital, still. I know it because you're on the Central District records. I'm...
a Harpy
...second in line to the leadership, so you come under my rule now. Put the past in the past and show me some respect."
He flicked his hair.
-
Ichabod couldn’t help but roll his eyes at Lazarus’ declaration that he missed their talking. Bullshit, complete and utter bullshit. If Lazarus was just going to make up shit about their past maybe he didn’t really have any other aim than to harass him. And as scary as he was, this was starting to feel less dangerous.
Until it suddenly did.
Ichabod drew back against the sofa as Lazarus’ face was suddenly much closer. He pressed his lips together, watching him warily.
Ichabod hadn’t ever really paid much attention to the politics of the city. He’d known what Kerr did, knew the basics, but after Kerr had died none of it had seemed important. He hadn’t gone out breaking any rules, he’d barely even spoken to other vampires.
Fuck, he wouldn’t be having this conversation now if he had the choice.
There would probably be some permission needed for the Academy, but Ben was always better at that kind of thing, knowing who did what and how to get things out of people. Maybe there was something about it in the paperwork Ben had emailed him, but Ichabod despite making progress Ichabod hadn’t read all of it yet.
So he wasn’t sure who was first in charge, who the fuck would give Lazarus any kind of position of power. Why would anyone do that? He was an overgrown child, and a demanding one at that.
“What’s this, third time now? And you still don’t know how respect works?”
You couldn’t just demand respect and expect it, it had to be earned. No, Ichabod didn’t respect Lazarus. He was terrified of him, but there was no respect. Maybe it hadn’t been wise to point that out though.
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Lazarus snatched the collar of Ichabod's shirt, twisted his hand in it and pulled him forward so they could be nose to nose. The book on Ichabod's lap fell harmlessly to the floor.
"I can still drain you dry," he hissed, "only difference is it wouldn't be pleasurable for either of us."
He shoved Ichabod back onto his chair and moved off his own, kneeling before Ichabod on one bended knee like a lover about to propose - except his hands stiffly gripped the younger vampire by the thighs.
"Is there anything you want to say to me?" he challenged. "Because you only got a fucking glimmer of my rage last time. I recall the way we met - you threw yourself at me without a clue who I was, because that's what they all do. Since you don't want to fall for my lover routine, you can deal with the asshole instead. Is this better?"
-
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Ichabod let go of the book he was using as a crutch as Lazarus suddenly grabbed hold of him and the book fell to the floor with a quiet thump which no one but he and Lazarus could hear.
Ichabod could feel Lazarus’ words against his skin despite no contact being made and a shiver ran through his body. His dark eyes squeezed shut until Lazarus shoved him backwards. As the blonde rearranged himself before him, Ichabod’s hands dropped to claw at those clutching at his legs, fruitlessly trying to pull them off and failing miserably, until they dropped to just rest on top of Lazarus’, poised and ready to feel for any hint of a lessened grip. If he had longer nails they would have been digging into Lazarus’s cool skin.
A part of him knew that Lazarus’ threats had to be an empty. Surely, they had to be. Lazarus had come looking for him, found him here and approached him – what would be the point if he then just wanted to kill him? What would have been the point of the “lover routine”? Hurting Kerr? Taking him in with a stupid act or killing him would have the same effect.
So what would he want with him alive? An apology might be what Lazarus wanted, but Ichabod knew he couldn’t play along with that sort of act for long enough to make it believable. He wasn’t that good at acting, or using people. Not like Ben. So there was no point trying to soothe him.
But Lazarus wanted something enough to do the whole act. That meant he didn’t want him dead. He tried to ignore the comment about their past – Ichabod had been so much younger, more naïve. He had grown up since then.
“I don’t have anything to say to you. You came to me. You want something, what is it?” he said, repeating his earlier question. Any pink in his skin from feeding earlier had drained away. If he killed him here, what would it achieve? It would hurt Kerr, James, probably Ben would feel some relief despite them starting gradually to work together.
-
He expected a quivering, apologetic mess. What he got was a rebellious, (albeit trembling) verbal smack in the face. He was starting to remember now, what his brief time with Ichabod had been like. Tendrils of regret clawed at him the same way Ichabod clawed at his hands - finding no real purchase and not strong enough to change what was happening, but still making its presence felt. He should've hung onto Ichabod a little longer, got to know him a little better.
"You got balls," Lazarus told him. He admired it, but at the same time Ichabod needed to suffer for it. Humiliation would do. Quickly, because the youngling wouldn't be able to keep up, Lazarus lifted a hand and struck him with an open palm across the face. It made a sharp 'smack' and wouldn't hurt Ichabod in the slightest, though would force his face to the right, then he gripped Ichabod's leg again.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see a few people looking up at that sound, wondering what was going on between the two men - except Lazarus' bended-knee pose gave them doubts about what they thought they'd heard.
"An apology was obviously too much to ask for," he crooned, and in his jeans he could feel the starting twitch of an erection. Was he enjoying this? Why yes, yes he was. "How long has Kerr been back?" he asked conversationally.
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Ichabod gasped at the feel of the smack across his face, more of surprise than from pain. But then he was surprised at himself for not expecting some kind of reciprocation for his question.
Lazarus’ mood seemed to have changed though, now he’d got that out of his system. The obvious threats were gone… for a moment at least.
Then back to Kerr. He must be something to do with Lazarus’ end goal here. Was it a week? Time seemed to have lost meaning. The last eighteen months were a blur of mourning and now, that had been pointless.
“I’d’ve thought you’d’ve known, you being so important and all,” Ichabod snapped, his instincts for self-protection disappearing at the questioning about Kerr. He didn’t want to play Lazarus’ games, but he had little choice in the position he was in. It was all a game to him.
-
Lazarus pulled a face at Ichabod's continuing rebellion. C'mon, seriously?
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Lazarus hissed. "Do you want me to kill you? Is your existence so dreary?"
The position he was in was surprisingly comfortable. He could stay here all night with Ichabod pinned to the chair. Of course he would want to move soon, but not while this pup barked at him. He moved his face closer, risking the chance Ichabod might clock him with his head.
"Why so angry?" Lazarus asked, his voice dropping to something gentle. "You were hostile to me when I played nice. You were hostile to me when I didn't. Do I trigger you, love? Is there something about me that you can't get over?" he smiled wolfishly.
-
No, he didn’t want to die, but even though he was worried Lazarus could do him serious damage, Ichabod was fairly confident he wouldn’t actually kill him.
And Lazarus’ change of tone implied he was right, but the soothing tone did nothing to help Ichabod’s nerves.
“You don’t give a shit about me, you just want something,” Ichabod said, frustrated that Lazarus could so easily play these games, refusing to tell him what he needed, and there was nothing Ichabod could do about it. Just like he’d been so helpless when Kerr had gone, and now he was back. Fuck, he hadn’t even seen him without Ben hanging around nearby.
Maybe if Lazarus did actually do something to him Kerr would pay a bit more attention.
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"For fuck's sake, just tell me how long Kerr's been back and I'll leave you the fuck alone."
His backside buzzed. Actually, it was his phone. Jake had given him one to use and he released one of Ichabod's thighs to check the message on it.
Jake:
We need to talk about Ben
He shoved it back into his pocket without replying and faced Ichabod again. "So? How long's he been back? And what's going on with you and Ben?"
He hadn't intended on tacking on that last question, but Jake seemed to want to know more stuff about Ben, so he asked. Ichabod was starting to piss him off, though. Lazarus was thinking about dragging him into the public darkroom. He could see from here that the door stood open and the red light was off.
-
So Kerr was the aim behind this conversation. Yes, Lazarus had mentioned him before, but it had just been in that playful tone. Surely it couldn’t hurt telling Lazarus how long Kerr had been back for, but since he’d refused to answer before a part of him wanted to refuse again.
His eyes flickered down towards Lazarus’ phone as it appeared then was hidden away again just as quickly. He blinked in surprise as the conversation suddenly included Ben as well. That threw him off and made him want to get out of this discussion even more. Yes, he and Ben had agreed to try to work together, but there was still eighteen months of resentment to get through. And he didn’t want to accidentally say something about Ben which could maybe be used against them.
“A week. It’s been a week. There’s nothing going on between me and Ben, we hardly see each other.”
Hopefully that would be enough to make Lazarus leave him alone, but Ichabod had the feeling there would be more questions. Lazarus could have found out about Kerr elsewhere.
-
Lazarus wasn't having fun anymore. His semi-stiffy had softened and he was feeling put out. Ichabod had finally answered his questions, but that wasn't why Lazarus had deflated - if anything he was vindicated to get what he'd been after. Hostile questioning was tiring! He much preferred it when people draped themselves over him and offered him all kinds of information. That wasn't going to happen here.
He knew Ichabod and Ben didn't hang around together. Nobody had ever seen them together; what he needed to learn more about Ben was to find someone that did hang around with him, and he was hardly going to enter that incestuous little nest of...
Hang on.
"What about Ben's friend? The journalist one. The one that wrote the demon article? Do you know where he is?" Then, after a moment, "What was his name?"
It had been something like Muppet Hotel, but that couldn't be right.
-
“Murphy?” Ichabod asked with a confused frown, before abruptly shutting his mouth as he realised what he’d done. He didn’t like what Ben and Murphy had done together, and what it had led to, but that didn’t mean he wanted Murphy to be in the same situation Ichabod was in right now.
As little as he liked him, Ichabod didn’t want to put anyone else into something like this. And that would also risk Lazarus finding out something about Ben he would use against him and Kerr.
“I don’t know.” He had to get out of here. He had to call Ben and tell him Lazarus was looking for information on him, although fuck knows why.
“Why are you looking for information on Ben? What’s he done?” This time? He hesitated slightly before trying to soften his tone.
“Maybe if you tell me what you’re trying to find out, I could help more.” He gingerly shifted his hands to rest them on top of Lazarus’. He was no actor, and he didn’t know whether he’d be able to get anything out of the ancient, but maybe it would be useful to try.
-
At Ichabod's confusion and accidental name drop, all at once he had the name. The whole name. Murphy Hilton. That was it. He hadn't seen it in the papers for a while, which meant he'd probably lost his job. It seemed strange that the journalist would lose his job over the biggest scoop of the century. Perhaps he'd been a sacrificial lamb to save the paper itself from a bigger backlash.
Lazarus focussed on Ichabod at the questions about Ben. What had he done?
"He's done nothing, love. Nothing yet, anyway. He's circling the wagons like he always does."
It had been Lazarus' doing, bringing attention onto the young vampire. He missed Ben. It was always different, with him. First he'd been curious and compliant, next he'd been ruthless and rebellious, last time he'd been easygoing. Lazarus hadn't seen him in a while - perhaps he'd be different again.
Ichabod might not think he was the greatest actor, but Lazarus wanted him to cooperate, and because he was finally doing so, the blonde relaxed and the corners of his lips turned upward. He decided to feed the youth some information, if only to angle the conversation more properly in a direction he wanted.
"Did you know Ben has a boyfriend? It might be over now, with Kerr back, or it might not. We both know what Ben's like." Lazarus had no idea if Ben was a cheater or not, but he was fairly sure the Sacramentum wouldn't let that pretty prize go. "He's been banging one of the District Leaders and it's making the other leaders nervous."
Maybe he should've led with that.
-
Circling the wagons? Ichabod had no idea what Lazarus was talking about, but then he hadn’t made any attempt to find out what Ben had been doing during their time apart, and they hadn’t really talked all that much since Kerr’s return either.
“No, I didn’t know,” he said, vaguely wondering if Lazarus was talking about Vincent. As much as he wanted to hold it against Ben, they’d thought Kerr had been dead for so long. You couldn’t mourn forever. And now he was back? Ichabod didn’t really want to get involved in whatever their relationship was doing
Then Lazarus went on to mention the District Leaders. Ben had been sorting out stuff for the academy, so he was bound to be moving in high circles. Lazarus’ way of describing it was weird though, boyfriend one moment, then “banging”. Either way, it sounded like Ben was getting too close, but Ichabod always found himself leaping to the worst conclusions when it came to his brother.
“I haven’t seen either of them much – you probably know more about what’s going on them I do,” Ichabod said, hating admitting it to Lazarus, but knowing from that smile on the blonde’s face that this method was at least getting him somewhere in finding out things. As long as he didn’t fuck it up and say something he shouldn’t about Ben.
“Who was he with? Is it your…” boss... First in Command? Ichabod paused for a second, struggling to remember who was his District Leader. It wasn’t that he didn’t care what happened to the city, just… ok, well, yes, for the last eighteen months he hadn’t cared about much at all. “Jack? Is he the leader? Is he worried?”
-
"Jake McCloud rules your district," Lazarus drawled, not really surprised that Ichabod didn't have a clue. If the boy was the type to squirrel himself at a library (was that we're they'd met? He couldn't quite recall but it didn't feel right - except there'd been hushed tones, so if not a library, then where?), then certainly he wouldn't involve himself in the squirrely world of supernatural politics.
Lazarus' thumbs started stroking the soft flesh of Ichabod's legs over his jeans before his hands began caressing instead of holding. It was a subconscious movement because now he was having a conversation with a handsome boy instead of verbally fighting with him. Being told he knew more than Ichabod also helped, and he conceded that he probably did know more.
"You know what your fledge brother is like," Lazarus soothed, "always close to power. You think that's a coincidence? That he beds a District Leader once Kerr's out of the picture? Jake's too smart to fall for that ploy, and he can see what's happening," he said proudly. "Has Ben ever said anything to you about wanting a district for himself?"
-
Ichabod felt a wave of nausea as Lazarus’ hands moved so gently on his thighs. Did he think that was pleasurable for Ichabod? That he’d get more out of him? Or did he just not care that two minutes ago he’d been threatening to drain him dry. He resisted the urge to try to pull away though, he still needed to find out what was going on.
“Who do you think he was with?” Ichabod asked quietly. All the District Leaders had to be powerful to get where they were, so which would be worst to concern the others?
“No, I don’t think he’d want that,” Ichabod said, frowning slightly. Ben had plenty of other things going on and Ichabod couldn’t imagine him trying to lead a district. And he was still so young, who would follow him? He didn’t exactly make many friends from what Ichabod knew of him.
-
Lazarus was on the same wavelength as Ichabod; he also didn't think Ben wanted a district - but it didn't mean he wouldn't get one. Lazarus had been handed the Luminary's position because he'd slain the previous one. What if the Shrivelled Shriek decided to give Ben a District Leader position because he didn't flinch when looking at that horror?
Weirder things had happened. "He was with the Sacrament. You know that hunched over bat-monster? Yeah, him."
He let that sink in before he hummed a sigh then stood, placing his hands on his hips and looking down at Ichabod. On a whim, he picked up the book Ichabod hadn't meant to drop and handed it back to the younger vampire before grinning down at him.
"So, love, now that we've ended on a good note, want to fool around in the darkroom?"
-
“Oh,” Ichabod didn’t really know what to say about that. Why would Ben do that? Maybe he had been looking for security in Kerr’s absence. It was weird though.
He felt wave of relief as Lazarus released him and stood up. He took the book as it was offered to him and pulled it back against his stomach like it was a shield against the ancient.
Maybe Lazarus thought they had ended on a good note, but Ichabod didn’t have that feeling at all. He felt dirty, like he’d lowered himself by pandering to Lazarus, even though it meant he knew a bit more than he had before. No doubt Ben would be pissed at him for getting into that situation at all.
“No, I…” would rather have you drain me, “... don’t think that would be a good idea.” He hesitated for a moment, then stood up, finding himself too close to Lazarus unless the blonde stepped backwards, but feeling the need to move now he could.
“Are you going to talk to Murphy about this?”
-
"Of course!" Lazarus announced. "Do you know where he is?"
He liked that the boy had stood up so close to him - he took it as a positive sign, even though it came on the heels of a rejection. But was it even really a rejection? He'd said 'not a good idea' as if he knew something Lazarus didn't know. The blonde stood as he was, crowding Ichabod and trying to work out what clues Ichabod had received that made him think some fun sexy times wasn't a good idea? Because... had he guessed Lazarus and Jake were sleeping together? It wasn't an exclusive relationship.
-
“No,” Ichabod said quickly, initially in response to Lazarus saying he was going to try to find Murphy, but then shaking his head and trying to turn it into a response to the query on knowing where the human lived and hoping Lazarus didn’t notice it had been a touch too quick for that. "No I don't."
He knew where Murphy used to live and with everything that had happened Ichabod doubted the human would have been able to move anywhere better in the following years.
“Sorry I can’t help more,” Ichabod added, trying to side step out from between Lazarus and the sofa in a slightly wobbly motion as the backs of his legs rubbed against the sofa. If Lazarus let him then Ichabod would start walking towards the stairs, still clutching his book. He wasn’t about to risk getting caught in a lift with Lazarus.
-
Lazarus let him go, but not without a parting shot: "I'll see you around."
Because he would see Ichabod around. He wasn't going to let this youth walk out of his life again. Maybe at Venture, because there were no other clubs for younglings to drink at, or maybe if they kept missing each other, at his apartment, because he knew where Ichabod lived.
-
Ichabod hurried down the stairs, not looking back at Lazarus, despite the temptation. As soon as he was down a floor Ichabod scrambled to get his phone out.
Lazarus is trying to get information on you, what’s going on? He might go to Murphy next. He texted Ben quickly, risking a glance upwards as he sent the message to Ben and was relieved not to see Lazarus looking over the bannister or following him. Fuck, he needed a drink.
-
Ben's texted reply came back fast.
I've just been thrown out of Jake McCloud's car after he waved a sword in my face. Did you know he's your district leader? Something big is going down. Maybe you should move into the beach house with me for a while.
-
Ichabod frowned at his phone as the reply came just as he got to the bottom floor. He had been having trouble remembering Jake’s name upstairs, but having heard and now seen the full name again he was remembering a couple more details about him. He’d been District Leader for a while now. He’d threatened Ben with a sword?! What the fuck was up with these people?
Lazarus is working for Jake. I don’t know much about him though. You ok?
He paused then, starting to type a couple of things but deleting them. Questions about Charon, about if Ben had considered trying to become a District Leader, but texting was definitely not the right way to bring up those things. They probably weren’t even true.
Thanks, but I’m going back to mine. James lived near there and he had a key – if James showed up there when Ichabod wasn’t around he’d make himself comfortable and then if Lazarus showed up… it wasn’t worth thinking about. And besides, Ben and Ichabod living together rarely turned out well.
Lazarus is going to go looking for Murphy. You should get him to go to the beach house.
-
A long pause, then another message binged.
I'll send Murphy a text, thanks. I'm fine, I'm in an Uber heading back to my car for now. How do you know Lazarus is working for Jake? And that he's going after Murphy? Has Lazarus been bothering you?
-
He was asking questions about you and how long Kerr had been back. Lucky everyone seems to know we were avoiding each other. But he knew Murphy might give him more than I did.
Bothering him? Yep. Threatening to kill him? Check. But right now Ichabod just wanted to go home without Ben asking him over again, or worrying Kerr.
I didn’t tell him where he lives, don’t know how quickly he’ll look for him.
Ichabod had dumped his book on a restocking trolly and paused near the entrance. It was still pouring and If he’s had human eyes the street lights didn’t do much to illuminate the way. But Lazarus would soon be leaving and he felt better about going out where he knew the blonde definitely wasn’t. For now at least. He shoved his phone back into his jeans and headed out into the night, hunching his shoulders against the rain and not looking back at the brightly lit library.