Chapter Text
Mugs rubbed his eyes again.
“Knock that off. You’re only going to make them raw,” Cup said, not looking at him.
“Sorry,” Mugs muttered. They were at the target location. It was a picturesque farmhouse nestled between a lake and the woods. Large windows with heavy shades and shutters looked out on the idyllic view. The second story had the perfect advantage on anyone who wanted to approach from the front. A classic wraparound porch with a swing seat set on chains hugged the circumference of the first floor. Budding flowers and cheerful leaves and grass hid Mugs and Cup from sight. For now. The bird songs around them allowed them to speak just above a whisper. Marcus was going to go around to the lakeside. They had a few minutes of reprieve from their companion. Cup was spending it watching the house and counting heads. There wasn’t much they could see with the windows so well covered.
Mugs on the other hand was trying to calm his breathing and remember the plan. Marcus was going to cause a distraction. He would manage the brunt of the fighting including anyone that tried to escape. Cup and Mugs would infiltrate the house and find the contract. They’d dispatch anyone except the target family. The debtor, his wife, and their two children. Once they collected the contract and whatever stipulations were there they would regroup with Marcus at their campsite to hand over the goods.
Then this nightmare could be over. Until next time.
But that was for another time. Right now he had to focus. First the house, then the contract. His eyes itched again, but he ignored it. Damn that angel.
“Mugs, I could taken care of the-”
“I’ve got this,” Mugs said. “‘Sides, you won’t be able to read it.” Cup had offered to lead three times now. Mugs understood he was worried, but it was starting to get on his nerves. “I don’t need you to be a cussin’ hero.”
Cup pursed his lips, eyes still fixed on the house instead of Mugs. He gave a nod. “A’ight. I’ll follow, but you better be careful. We-we need to talk after this. So just—keep your head. I got your back.”
Mugs shot him a curious glance, but Cup was as readable as stone. Another thing for later then. “Thanks. I will.”
Another nod. Mugs didn’t say it but it was a relief he didn’t have to do this alone. Cup was a lot of things, crass, selfish, hot-headed, but he was also dependable. If there was anyone he wanted at his side at this moment, it was him. Even with the problems they’ve been having. Mugs opened his mouth, but a loud ringing pulled his attention back to the house. A bell of some sort was going off along with shouts.
“That’s our cue,” Cup said.
“Let’s go,” Mugs pushed through the brush. He and Cup crept carefully through the trees and grass to the porch. Mugs’ heart pounded the moment they left cover. His eyes swept the windows and corners, his hand was up and ready to fire. The chaos on the other side of the house sounded like a warzone. Gunshots and shouting could be heard. Something exploded back there. Cuss Marcus! The door was thrown open and Mugs’ elbow met the man’s face before he could even make eye contact with Mugs. The man fell back, his shotgun going off deafeningly, blasting a hole in the door. Mugs lifted his finger and shot before the man had a chance to get his bearings and try to aim. Mugs glanced up to meet three more guns pointed at him. He dashed to the side in a cloud of smoke just as bullets went ballistic.
Cup made eye contact with him from the other side of the door. Mugs nodded. They’d done this numerous times. Mugs had only gotten a single glance at the narrow staircase set next to a hallway. Three doors on the left side, an open foyer, and two more doors on the right. One shooter on the stairs, one in the hall, one in the foyer. None were the target. The bullets paused. Cup moved to the entrance.
Mugs dodged to the hall beside the narrow stairwell, just behind one of the shooters. He slammed the shooter’s head into the wall and fired a bullet at the one on the stairs. The one in the foyer shouted, “James!” He turned to shoot, but Cup was already in the doorway of the house. Cup’s bullet nailed him in the chest.
Pounding boots came rushing for them from above. Cup stepped over the body at the entrance and took a position in the foyer. There were blood-curdling screams from the back of the house along with gunfire. Marcus was keeping most of them busy.
There was a groan under Mugs. He lowered his hand and fired a bullet before stepping back. He shoved the door open. It was an empty washroom, Mugs took cover there and readied for the next attacker. There was a head-ringing crack from outside and the house shuddered at the impact.
Damnit Marcus! Was he planning on bringing the whole place down on them?
“Move! Move! James! Bernie! What happened?” A gruff shout came down the stairs. Neither Cup nor Mugs answered him. “Sunblazin’ damnit! Answer me!” There were more footsteps. “James!” He gasped. The boots went down the first two steps.
“Wait!” Another voice shouted. It was too late. Cup let out a huge charge shot. Flames filled the stairway. Mugs could hear their cursing. Mugs took a deep breath and moved. He dodged onto the stairs, ignoring the heat. Two men on the stairs, two more beyond them. The nearest was on the floor, swatting madly at his burning legs as his friend was dragging him back.
The third made eye contact with Mugs. He opened his mouth to shout a warning, a bullet stopped him. Mugs snapped his fingers as the fourth man raised his shotgun, the second was in his way. Blue light changed to red. Mugs fired a spread shot into the group. The men howled. Blossoms of blood appeared on clothes. A gun blast went off. Mugs jumped against the wall. There was a partly open door on the other side. The second man had dropped the first to lift his gun. Mugs dodged in a poof of smoke.
“What the cuss!”
“Don’t let your guard down!”
“Magic! More sunblazin’ magic! That cuss’a ain’t alone!”
“Where is he!”
Mugs reappeared in the doorway. He slammed the door open in their confusion. The fourth man, the one now closest to Mugs, spun. There was a crouching man by the window in this small bedroom. Mugs was surrounded.
Mugs shot the one in the room. There was a blue flash behind him. He turned. The man was dead. Cup was on the top step of the stairs. “Damn you!” The burned man on the floor swore. He fired. Cup ducked as a blast shattered the wall above him. Mugs fired. In seconds, it was over.
Even outside had grown quiet. They didn’t relax. Mugs and Cup went room to room. They hadn’t found the target or his family yet. There were a number of bodies in the other rooms, men with bullet holes and knives. Marcus’ work from outside. His aim was terrifying. Blood spattered floors, furniture, and walls. There was a smoking hole in one of the walls. Wood splinters had impaled the poor cussers and the walls behind them. The lake beyond the hole was just as idyllic as before. Marcus was probably still out there, waiting for anyone who would try to make a run for it.
Just as Mugs had the thought he heard a cry and begging from out there. Marcus had found someone. Poor cusser.
They checked the attic before heading back down to the first floor. The farmhouse was exactly how Mugs imagined a farmhouse to be like. Cheery wallpaper that was now stained, rooster decor, horse shoes, rustic but clean wooden furniture. Quilts, tools, boots, laundry, and signs of day to day living. Cup changed bullets. Frost fogged around the icy bullet. “What if Marcus sees?” Mugs whispered. They were still keeping the ice lance bullets a secret and Mugs didn’t want to give Marcus any more cussing leverage.
“He’s backing off. The rest will be up to us. He’s not planning to come in here,” Cup assured. “‘Sides, we can’t kill the debtor but he’ll definitely wanna kill us.”
Mugs considered his words. He switched his bullets and fired a few green chaser shots that drifted around them lazily. Mugs looked out a back window on a first floor bedroom. There were a number of bodies around the back porch. One man curled around his rifle like a child sleeping with a favorite toy. Another was sprawled on the stairs, knives embedded in his stomach and head. Stars, Mugs swallowed at the pieces that were scattered across the backyard up to the blood spreading in the lake. A disembodied hand still clutched a rifle. Someone’s entrails made a grisly path into the darkened shore of the lake. Pools of blood dotted the yard around the pieces. The smell of burnt hair and blood was suffocatingly thick. What a cussing horror show. Still nothing of the debtor. The bullets didn’t react either. Not a soul was left alive. Of course not. Not if Marcus was involved. Had the family gotten away in the chaos? No. Maybe they weren’t even here, but Mugs doubted Marcus would make a mistake like that.
“Damnit,” Cup swore. He covered his nose and mouth in distaste. “Maybe in the shed outside.”
They were about to turn when Mugs heard a hiss. He looked at the dresser and the burn mark of one of his bullets. Mugs grabbed Cup’s shoulder, stopping him from leaving, and signaled for him to wait. Another chaser gently drifted to the wood and burned the wood with a small hiss. Mugs looked at the legs. Scrap marks. He waved at Cup and pointed at the dresser. Cup nodded. There was frost on his sleeve and he seemed to be shivering from holding the freezing bullet.
Mugs was going to shove the dresser and Cup would fire. One shared look was all they needed to be on the same page. Mugs leaned his shoulder back and squared his legs. He deepened his breathing and shoved. The dresser toppled with a crash.
A spray of bullets jettisoned out from the hidden doorway. The pictures and upholstered chair across the room were shredded in lead. Mugs and Cup pressed against the wall and let the stream of bullets cut short.
“Make a move and you’s lose whatever the hell twitches, ya hear me ya slimmy pit cussa’s!” A man growled.
Mugs frowned. Cup opened his mouth but Mugs beat him to it. “It doesn’t have to go down like this Nolan!”
Another spray of bullets. Mugs pulled a few inches back from the splintering doorway. “Cuss yous! Ya don’t gets ta walk inta here and just-”
Cup leaned and took his shot. There was a heart-stopping second the gun went off, but Cup had already ducked away. “Sunblazin’ hell! What the cuss is this scum? Get’t off me!”
Mugs and Cup shared a look. Mugs tilted his head. He was going to look. He carefully leaned into the doorway, staying low. Nolan had his arm frozen to the wall, a tommy gun rendered useless in his immovable grasp. He was clawing at the ice with his other hand. Swears flew from his gritted teeth. Nolan Banner wasn’t much to look at. A man in his early forties with thinning hair and rolled-up sleeves. His square jaw and bent nose would have looked intimidating if he wasn’t acting like an animal in a trap. He was squat and hefty looking with thick hairy arms. His feverish eyes glanced up and met Mugs. “Damn you!” He reached behind himself. Mugs took his shot.
Mugs’ bullet hit his leg. The man cried out and fell to a knee, his arm held up by the ice. Mugs didn’t wait for him to recover. He stood and lunged for the man. Mugs twisted his free arm behind his back. He pulled out the pistol Nolan had tucked in his waistband at the small of his back. He also found two knives, but not the contract.
A bright blue bullet flew past him and hit something with a clang. A woman cried out. Mugs glanced up to see Cup glaring behind him. He glanced back to see a woman had dropped a club. The center of it was smoking and burning. She was a willowy thing, in a simple skirt suit and pinned-up hair. Her dark locks had a few grey hairs that were carefully styled under a hat that complimented the suit. She didn’t have shoes on, allowing her to move quietly across the floor. She was near Nolan’s age with a sharp chin and large doe eyes.
“Dalila! Don’t touch her ya cuss’as! She has nu’in’ ta do with this! Ya hear me! Nu’in!” Nolan roared and tried to struggle. He couldn’t do much with a frozen arm and a wounded leg though.
“Nolan!” Dalila shouted, her voice cracking. “Let him go, you brutes! Leave him alone!”
Stars above.
“Don’t make a move or I shoot. I don’t miss,” Cup warned her. He slowly approached. Dalila was pressed against the wall, glaring at them fearfully. The room beyond was half hidden, but it appeared like a small storage space. “Well?” Cup asked without taking his eyes off her.
Mugs’ shook his head. “Where is it, Nolan? You don’t want it to get worse for ya, do ya?”
Nolan twisted his head to glare daggers back at Mugs. “Cuss ya both! Ya can both go slink back inta the hell pit yous crawled outta. I ain’t sayin’ a starfallen thing, ya hear me? Not a sunblazin’ thing!”
Cup smirked. “I’d rethink that, pal. Your fingers are freezin’. If ya don’t get outta that soon, your gonna end up losin’ that whole hand.”
“Nolan,” Dalila looked at him worried. “Just give them the money or goods or whatever it is! It’s not worth your life.”
Ouch. She had no cussing clue. Damn, did any of the cussers in here really know what they had been fighting over? What they had died for? What lies did this man tell his grunts to get them here ready to go to war?
“Talk or it’ll get ugly,” Mugs warned.
Nolan shook his head. Cup sighed. Mugs frowned. “You check the room, I’m gonna get him singin’.”
Cup gave him a surprised glance. It was a quick thing, a flicker. Usually, Mugs let Cup do this, but this was Mugs’ choice and his responsibility. He didn’t want to just hand off the worst of it to Cup. After half a beat, Cup did as he was asked without comment. Dalila made a noise of alarm and shrunk back. Cup scowled. “Don’t. Move,” he said icily. She froze and paled. Cup passed her and entered the room, keeping an eye on her, but his hand ready for any surprises in the room. Dalila looked on in helpless terror. Crashing and banging started up as Cup went about searching and destroying the room.
Mugs meanwhile took a deep breath and prepared himself. He kept Nolan in the arm lock he had him in. He placed his foot over Nolan’s shin where his bullet had gone through. “Where is the contract, Nolan?”
“Cuss you!” Nolan growled. Mugs pressed his boot down. Nolan howled in pain.
“Nolan!” Dalila’s head snapped back to them. “Stop it! Please!”
“We ain’t leavin’ without that contract. You can hand it over and stay in one piece or not,” Mugman warned. Nolan shook his head back and forth violently. Mugs ground his foot down, twisting his heel into the burned wound. Nolan thrashed and bucked, but couldn’t escape as he bellowed. Dalila covered his ears with her hands and started to cry.
“Ya d-don’t scare me,” Nolan wheezed, his head bowed. “Do yer cussin’ worst.”
Mugs lifted his hand and snapped his fingers.
“Wait!” Dalila threw out her hands. She took a step toward them. Mugs pinned her with a warning glare. “Please, we-we have a hidden safe! Documents, money, whatever yous want. Just take it! Please, and leave.”
“Dalila! Don’t!” Nolan barked.
She shook her head, tears bled her makeup. “I can’t watch this, Nolan.” Her eyes went back to Cup in the other room. “Please, I’ll show you! Stop.”
“Dee! Ya don’t know what yer doin’!” Nolan tried to turn to face her, but Mugs tightened his hold. Nolan grunted.
“Fine, show him,” Mugs said. Cup had paused in his search to reappear in the entrance of the room. There was a look in his eyes, a wariness, but Mugs couldn’t ask here. Dalila bit her lip and nodded. She turned, Cup at her back, and led Cup back through the passage and into the other room. They passed Mugs and Nolan, too close for comfort in the tight hall.
Nolan jerked. “Dalila! Stop! Wait! You-” Mugs yanked him by the collar, choking him silent for a second. Dalila looked over in fear. Cup cleared his throat, urging her to continue. Mugs wasn’t happy to lose sight of them, but he could hear them leave the room and he trusted Cup to take care of himself.
“So what the cuss did you tell your men so they’d all die here today?” Mugs asked.
Nolan tried to give him a heated glare. “That you cuss’as were comin’ ta take everythin’ we’s worked for away. Rival cuss’as that think they can just throw weight around,” Nolan spat. At the angle he was stuck at, the spittle hit the other wall instead of Mugs, but the intent was there.
“So, you were ready to kill them all to save your own skin.” Mugs sighed. He wasn’t really surprised. It was typical for people like Nolan in the criminal smuggling world. “Well, the game is over. You’re done.”
Nolan turned away so Mugs couldn’t see his face. “Ya don’t get it. Looks, I’ll do anythin’. I can give ya anythin’ if ya just go. I-I’ll even renew it! Double what I owed. I’ll give ya anythin’—everything even! If ya just let me and my family go.”
Mugs shook his head pityingly, knowing the man couldn’t see it. It went like this, the begging, the bargaining, the anger, the despair. “I ain’t the Devil. Don’t expect any deals from me. I’m just doin’ the job.”
“Please. If ya have any mercy—I-If ya coulds just make an expectation-!” Nolan begged, choking up. “This one time ya turn a blind eye.”
“Look, your wife ain’t a debtor. As long as she doesn’t do anything stupid, she’ll be fine,” Mugs said, hoping the man didn’t see the assurance as something exploitable.
“No! You don’t-” Before Nolan could finish, they had come back.
Mugs looked at Cup questioningly. Cup held up the roll of paper in his hand. Thank cuss. Mugs didn’t want to spend all day turning this nightmare scene upside down looking for it. Dalila walked in, her face much paler and glared at Mugs. “Well? You have it! Let him go! Free him!” She gestured at his frozen hand. The skin had paled horribly, and the ice was beginning to melt slowly.
Mugs let go of Nolan’s arm and twisted. He brought his foot up and then down to crash against the ice. To his surprise, it didn’t break. It was stronger than normal ice. Huh. And ow. His heel was going to bruise.
“Here.” Cup tossed him the contract. “You go over that, I’ll deal with this.” Dalila glanced around them all nervously. She was shaking. Maybe in shock from seeing how things were outside of this room.
Nolan was slumped in defeat, shaking his bowed head slowly, muttering to himself.
Mugs took a couple cautious steps back, making sure to keep an eye on the group while Cup went about melting the ice. Dalila watched Mugs warily.
Mugs unrolled the scroll and frowned. The scroll appeared how they typically did at first. A blurry mess of lines, something that was definitely written. He knew they were words, but the ability to piece them together into anything coherent or even a recognizable shape slipped from his mind like smoke between his fingers. Impossible to grasp and comprehend. Then slowly, like his eyes had a pair of lenses over them, his sight was able to focus and the words slowly shifted into something clear and legible.
The board under Mugs creaked as he scanned over the legal jargon for the details he needed. The deal, from what Mugs could piece together, was a rather simple one. At least at first. Success in all of Nolan’s endeavors for the amount of five years and then a repayment expected to double in ten years. On failure of repayment, all assets from the Nolan claimed in the five years of prosperity would be forfeited including any increase built on those assets in the ten-year repayment. This included health, luck, investments, businesses, trade, production, inventions, discoveries, and romance. All assets of these endeavors are claimed as the Devil’s including spells, medicines, machines, products, trade routes, wealth, business contracts, and children . These items will be claimed on either collection of the contract or the acquisition of the soul upon failure to uphold the agreement.
Mugs lowered the contract. He felt like he was going to be sick. He knew what Marcus wanted. It wasn’t some cussing business contracts or money. Damn him. Damn it. Cussing damnit! Mugs’ hands were shaking. No wonder Mr. Banner wouldn’t break. No wonder he’d lied and set up a war zone and fought tooth and nail and begged.
Sunblazing damnit.
Then he heard it again. A small creak in the floorboard. But he hadn’t shifted. He looked down. “Hey.” Mugs looked up to see Cup watching him. His face was carefully blank, business as usual, but Mugs knew he was worried.
Mugs took a deep breath. He swallowed, trying to get the weight in his stomach not to shift into sickness. He started to kick the broken shelves and cans away.
“W-what are you doing?” Dalila’s voice cracked in alarm. Of course it was. She hadn’t handed over the contract to just stop Mugs from hurting Nolan. She had wanted to stop Cup from searching the room. It was under a barrel near the middle of the space. “Stop! You have what you want! Stop!” Dalila went to go around Cup, but his brother’s arm shot out and stopped her. Dalila looked at him in fear, but then moved anyway. “Stop it!”
“Oi!” Cup went to grab her, but Nolan wrapped his free arm around Cup’s leg. “Hey!” Dalila slipped past while Cup fought to free himself.
Mugs had already moved the barrel. His hand on the trapdoor. He yanked it open. Dalila moved to shove him. He let her approach and grabbed her knees.
“Mom!” Two voices cried out in terror. Mugs twisted so she fell away from the hole and onto the floor instead. He turned on his ankle and set himself above her, a knee on her back. He felt the air leave her lungs. “Mom!”
Mugs looked up to see a girl maybe ten years old glaring at him. She was halfway out of the trapdoor. Her hair was pulled back in a loose side ponytail, she had her mother’s doe eyes and dark hair. “Let her go you, creep!” She ordered without a spot of fear. Her hand was already reaching for anything to throw at him.
Nolan bellowed. “NO!”
Just as Cup appeared. He looked from Mugs to the girl who was lifting a can over her head. They stared at each other for a second of surprise before she screamed. “Go away!” And threw the can Cup’s head.
“What the cuss!” Cup swore and duck. “Oi! What the hell?” He shot Mugs an annoyed glare that disappeared the second he made eye contact with Mugs.
“Hold her,” Mugs ordered, nodding to the now struggling Dalila.
“Leave mom alone! You jerks! Go away!” The girl stood up. “Or else!” A little head poked out of the hole. A shock of light hair and watery eyes. A boy of maybe seven.
Cup warily grabbed the woman. Mugs stood up and approached the children. The small room felt too crowded for this. The girl puffed out her chest and lifted the broken shelf piece to throw next. Mugs caught it easily. That made her pause. “Come with us and your parents will be left alone.”
“NO!” Nolan howled from the hall. “Leave ‘em alone! Take me! Kill me! But leave them!”
“What-what do you want with my babies?” Dalila gasped from the floor. “Leave them alone. They’ve done nothing. Please. If you want a hostage, take me. I won’t fight. Please!” She sobbed.
Mugs grit his teeth. He swallowed again. The girl glared at him. “You won’t hurt them anymore?” she asked.
Mugs nodded.
“Can it just be me? Can Paxton stay?” She asked.
“Both of you,” Mugs said. “We won’t hurt you either.”
“I don’t believe you,” she sneered. Her fists balled in her little dress. She had ripped a hole in her stockings climbing out of the trapdoor. “Why should we do what you say?”
“Please, please. Not the children. Anything but my children,” Dalila sobbed.
“Mommy,” Paxton’s eyes filled with tears hearing his mom’s cries. He crawled out of the hole.
“No Pax, go back,” the girl grabbed his shoulder before he could go to his mother.
That was as much as Mugs could handle. He lunged down and swept both children over his shoulders. They let out screams of alarm. “This is it. Them and the contract.” Mugs turned to Cup expectantly.
“I’ll catch up,” Cup shouted over the wailing of the children and mother.
“Paige! Paxton!” Dalila screamed.
Mugs ignored the flailing hands and legs. Nolan was leaning in the way, trying to rip his hand free. He tried to trip Mugs, but the dish nimbly hopped over his desperate attempt. “Wait! Please! Take my soul, my life, my wealth, but the children are innocent! Let them go!”
Mugs shot him a cold glare. “Then you shouldn’t have signed.” His voice was low and harsh even to himself.
“Daddy! Mommy!” The children yowled and wailed as Mugs left. He inconveniently climbed out of a window so they wouldn’t see the bodies. Paige clung to the window sill, determined to fight Mugs every step. Mugs made sure to avoid the backyard at all costs. They didn’t stop wailing as they entered the woods. They fought, clinging to branches and trees. Little fists continued to pound his back as he walked. The camp felt like an eternity away.
Paige quieted after some time. Paxton continued to sob and weakly swing his legs.
“What do you want?” Paige asked suddenly. She lifted her head, turning to give him a piercing stare. For a moment, she looked like Holly in her determinant, sending a shiver of unease through Mugs.
Mugs pursed his lips grimly.
“If it’s money, dad can pay you,” Paige said. “You don’t have to take us.”
“No,” Mugs said. “Your dad did a very bad thing.”
“Liar!” Paige hissed.
“Paige, I’m scared,” Paxton cried.
“Shhh, it’s okay Pax. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. Big sis will protect you.” Paige said.
“B-but Daddy! And M-mommy was crying,” Paxton sobbed.
“It’s okay. Remember what he said? That man won’t hurt them. We’ll see Mom and Dad in no time! This is, uh, an adventure! Li-like the evil wizard’s tower! Remember that?” Paige asked.
Paxton’s sobs quieted. “The brave knight saved the day.”
“R-right. Right! And right now we’re the knight’s best friend! And Mom and Dad are the knights! They’ll definitely come to save us.” Paige promised.
“But I want to be the knight,” Paxton sniffled.
“Uh, um, you can be the knight next time. I’ll even be the dragon,” Paige promised.
“But you hate being the dragon,” Paxton murmured.
“It’s not that bad,” Paige said.
“So, he’s the evil wizard?” Paxton whispered. There was a quiet pause. Mugs glanced back and met the girl’s eyes for a second.
There was fear there, wariness, but that fierce bravery still shined brightest. Then without looking away, she said. “Yeah. Yeah, he’s the evil wizard.”
Mugs snorted. The children flinched. They were starting to feel heavy, but if he set them down, he’d have to deal with them trying to run. “So we’re going to the tower?” Paxton asked.
“I dunno. Hey, where are you taking us?” Paige demanded. Mugs grit his teeth. “Hey! I asked a question. It’s rude to ignore people.”
Why would she care if anything he said was a lie? “A tower,” Mugs muttered.
“Liar,” Paige said flatly. Mugs decided to drop her. Not suddenly, he put her on her feet. “H-hey!” She stumbled.
“Follow.” Mugs ordered and kept walking.
“Oh and I’ll listen to you, why?” Paige stomped her foot.
“Paige!” Paxton’s arms lifted, reaching for her. “Let me down too! Let me go.”
“No.” Mugs glanced back at her. “You can stay there, but you’ll be leaving him alone.” Mugs pointed at Paxton.
Paige’s eyes widened. Fear and anger filled her eyes before she nodded. “Okay,” she said. “Lead the way.”
“No! Run away Paige! Escape while you can! I’m the brave knight! I can take care of myself!” Paxton swung his arms and legs.
Paige forced a smile. “I know you can, but I can’t go alone. I need you. I’m scared of the woods.”
“You are? Since when?” Paxton asked.
“Since forever!” Paige declared.
“Don’t worry Paige. I’ll protect you from the woods! Yeea!” Paxton smacked a branch. It flapped up and down, leaves rustling.
“Good job!” Paige praised with a forced smile.
It continued like that. Paige obediently followed, talking and distracting her brother from their situation as they went further and further into the trees.
“Why are you doing this?” Paige demanded again.
“Your father did a very bad thing,” Mugs said again. “He’s a bad guy.”
“Nu-uh! You’re the bad guy!” Paxton wiggled on his shoulder. Little fists banged on his back again.
Mugs sighed. He needed a distraction. “Well, I have done some good things too. Actually I don’t know if I’m on the naughty or nice list this year.”
Paxton gasped. “Naughty! Bad guys like you are naughty!”
“And what about you?” Mugs asked. Paige gave Mugs a narrowed-eyed glare.
“I’m nice! I’ll get a bunch of presents this year after mom and dad save us.” Paxton said. “But Paige won’t.”
“Hey!” Paige gasped. “Nu-uh!”
“Did she do something bad?” Mugs asked, a small smile on his lips.
“Yeah-huh! I saw her steal that cookie! Then you blamed the cat!” Paxton announced.
“Hey!” Paige stomped her foot.
“Uh-oh. Now she’s mad,” Mugs said.
“Don’t worry. I can handle her,” Paxton said.
“No Pax! He’s the bad guy!” Paige snapped.
“Oh yeah!” Paxton gasped. “I forgot!”
“And you stop being nice!” Paige demanded. “I know you’re evil.”
Mugs sighed. “Sorry to be evil. Can’t help being nice about it.”
Paige snorted. “If you were really nice, you’d take us back.” Mugs didn’t have an answer for that. He kept them talking and distracted though. He could tell Paige was trying to cook up an escape and the more flustered she got, the less he had to worry. Paxton seemed to start even having fun. He had a big imagination to match his energy.
Cup caught up, his expression was as closed off and indifferent as before. He had a few drops of blood on his coat and a wet spot on his sleeve. “Hey,” he greeted. “Freed him and left them at the house.”
Paige stared at him uneasily. “You didn’t hurt them, right? You promised.”
Cup glanced down at her before looking at Mugs. What? Had he? Was he deciding if he should lie or not? Mugs couldn’t imagine they’d just let him leave without trying to follow. He had to do something to shake them. Then again, Nolan’s leg had been pretty messed up from Mugs’ bullet. That left Dalila.
“No, I didn’t,” Cup said. “Mugs set the kid down.”
Mugs paused. Cup had used his name, so they weren’t being as careful. “Why? We’re almost there.”
“Exactly,” Cup pointed out. Mugs frowned. He turned and set Paxton down. The little boy grabbed his sister’s hand instantly. Paige faced Cup with a raised chin and a determined glare. Her narrow chest was puffed up like she was ready for a fight. “Listen up, I’m gonna give ya advice.”
Paige frowned. “Why would we listen to you? You’re bad guys.”
Cup gave Mugs a look. Mugs raised a brow, not sure what Cup was up to. “Well, we do try to help where we can.” Mugs said.
Cup narrowed his eyes at the girl. “‘Cause it’s the only way you might ever get ta see your mom again.”
“Cup,” Mugs muttered, surprised. What was he thinking?
Paxton’s eyes got big. Cup continued like Mugs hadn’t said anything. “Your dad made a bad choice. His choice got you in trouble. That’s why we’re taking you away from your parents.”
“He didn’t-”
“Shut up!” Cup snapped. Paige flinched.
“Cup,” Mugs put a hand on his shoulder. Mugs turned to the kids and dropped to a knee to be at their eye level. Paige glared at him still, Paxton stared at him with wide trusting eyes. “Look, my brother Cup here can be really cranky.” Cup growled at Mugs, which Mugs ignored. “But if he is trying to help, he puts everything he has into it. Like a knight.” Paxton’s eyes lit up. Paige’s face darkened.
“Really?” Paxton asked.
Paige opened her mouth but Mugs beat her to it. “Yep! Now, your dad did do a bad thing. That’s why we came. Because you’re all in trouble.”
“But we didn’t do anything wrong,” Paxton said.
“And you’re liars,” Paige muttered.
“No, you didn’t,” Mugs agreed. “But you’ve gotten in trouble for something someone else has done before right? Like one of you broke something and you both were punished?” Paige’s scowl softened a little. Paxton held her hand tighter and nodded. “This is a lot like that. It’s not fair and you don’t deserve it but you are in trouble because of what your dad did. Now if you listen to Cup, you might be able to get out of trouble.”
The children blinked at Mugs. It seemed they understood, even if just a little. Mugs stood and nodded to Cup.
Cup sighed, watching the kids warily. “I don’t got a lot of time, so listen. We are gonna hand you off to someone else. They are gonna take you further away. If you ever want to get back to your family, you have to make sure of something.” Cup crossed his arms. “Whatever happens, you can’t sign your name on a contract. If they try ta get ya to sign your soul away, you have ta say no. Every single time. Your soul is you. If ya sign, you’ll never get ta see your mom again. You’ll never go home.”
Paxton’s eyes spilled over with tears. “Never?”
Paige pushed Paxton behind her. “What does that even mean? Mom will get us!”
Cup frowned. He pointed at Mugs. He gestured for Mugs to pull out the contract which Mugs did. “That’s my little brother.” Both kids looked from Mugs to Cup. He took the contract from Mugs and unrolled it. “A long time ago, we were kids like you. We signed away our souls on a contract that looks like this and now we’re bad guys.” He held up the contract for both children to see. “You don’t want that. You want to stay good, right? And go home? We never got to see our mom and dad again. so don’t sign anything. They’ll promise you whatever you want. They’ll tell you it’ll grant you any wish you have. Don’t listen. They’re liars. Okay? As long as you don’t sign, your mom will come for you. You have to be patient and wait for her.”
“And if we don’t, we turn into bad guys?” Paxton whispered.
Cup nodded.
Paige narrowed her eyes. “Why? Why are you being nice?”
Cup’s brow twitched. “‘Cause I wish someone had stopped me.” That seemed to give Paige pause for thought.
“Cup,” Mugs whispered, surprised. It was good advice. They couldn’t get into a worse bind as long as they didn’t sign anything. Their mom might call the police or get some legal team together. It was going to be finding them and trying to prove they should be under her guardianship that could get tricky with that contract, but if it was just that, maybe she had a chance. She was the mother after all.
Cup rolled the paper back up. “C’mon, we don’t have a lotta time. The sun is sinkin,’ and I don’t wanna be walkin’ around in the dark.”
Mugs pursed his lips, taking the contract back. They started walking again, cresting a hill. Cup wouldn’t look at Mugs, his face carefully neutral. The kids tried to run away once. Mugs dodged in front of them. Paxton had gasped. “You are an evil wizard! With evil magic!”
Paige had paled. “Magic.”
After that, Paige had questions around the contract and magic. Mugs did his best to answer. They reached the camp shortly after that. Marcus stood by the dying fire with a welcoming smile. His suit was clean and fresh looking, not a hair out of place. He tugged his white gloves and patted his fedora under his arm. “Welcome! Ah excellent work gentlemen! I knew you could do it.” He grinned.
“Who are you?” Paige demanded.
“Oh, a demanding one. Look at the spirit in those eyes!” Marcus chuckled. He put the hat on.
Mugs’ stomach plummeted. Everything in him just wanted to grab the kids and run. “Where are they goin’?”
Marcus lifted his eyes to Mugs. “That’s none of your business. You collected the assets.” He held out his hand expectantly. “Now, you go home until your next job.”
“We wanna go home,” Paxton told Marcus. “Please let us go home.”
Marcus raised his brows. “Oh little fella.” He put a hand on Paxton’s shoulder. Paige tensed next to her little brother. “You don’t have a home anymore. You don’t have a choice either! You’ll do exactly as I say or I’ll hurt your sister.”
Paige pulled Paxton away. She backed up into Mugs’ legs. “Leave him alone! Our mom and dad will find us!”
Marcus straightened with a chuckle. “Oh dear girl! Your dear daddy is the reason for all of this! He won’t be saving anyone. He sold you off to the Devil before you were even born! Don’t you worry though, you’ll have a lot to do where you’re going.”
“Marcus,” Mugs could hear the plea in his voice. “They’re just kids.”
“Good observation,” Marcus smirked. He stepped to the side and leaned into Mugs’ face. “What is that glare? Do you want to save them, Mugsy? You look so defiant right now. Well? Are you going to act on it Mr. Knight? Be a hero?” Marcus’ voice turned mocking.
Mugs clenched his fists.
“Can’t we stay with him?” Paxton asked Marcus, pointing at Mugs. His heart twisted. Marcus grinned.
Cup took a step forward. “Oi, Mugs ain’t g-”
Marcus held out a hand to stop Cup without looking away from Mugs. “No Cup. This isn’t your time. You have always tried to take the lead, be the rebellious one so Mugs didn’t have to suffer anything until you both fell into line, but now it’s his turn. He gets to choose now.” Marcus spun on his heel.
“Let’s see little boy! What will Mugman choose? After all, your father was a wicked man, trading your lives for his. Maybe Mugman here will save you!” Marcus grinned. The two children look up at him, hopefully.
“You’ll help? Right?” Paxton’s lip trembled.
“Please?” Paige asked.
Marcus was behind the kids, a hand on each of their shoulders pulled them back “Go on then! Which will it be? The children or your love? You don’t get to have both!”
Mugs looked at Marcus in horror. Cup stiffened. This damned angel. This starfallen cusser. He was a real monster. It was impossible. He had an idea of the hell those children were about to face. He’d done it himself. They weren’t magical but just as Marcus dismissed their ages, he was sure the Devil would have use of them. The damned boss always figured out how to use what he had at his fingertips. He couldn’t betray Cala Maria either. He loved her, he promised to protect her and get her free from this nightmare. He couldn’t have both. He couldn’t choose. Damnit! Damnit! He was going to be sick.
“He’s not.” Paxton suddenly said.
“Hm?” Marcus tilted his head to the young boy. “What’s that son?”
Paxton scowled up at Mugs with tear-stained cheeks and a running nose. Fresh tears built up on his eyelashes as he let out a big sniff. He pointed at Mugs. “He’s not a knight! He’s not! He’s a bad guy! Knights are good guys! Knights are heroes! He’s not a knight! My mom is a knight not him!”
Marcus threw back his head and laughed. Paige squeezed Paxton’s hand. “Shh! It’s not-” She looked at Mugs pleadingly. “I’m sorry. Please, take us home! He didn’t mean it.”
Mugs lowered his head. “Just—go already.” Mugs grit his teeth.
“What was that?” Marcus asked. “Speak clearly now Mugsy, look us in the eye.”
Mugs steeled himself. “I ain’t takin’ them back, so go already.”
The children’s eyes widened. “No!” Paige lunged forward, a hand reaching for him. Marcus’ hand on her shoulder stopped her. “Please! Please! Take us home! Take us back! Please! I’m sorry! Paxton didn’t mean it! Really! I’m sorry! Don’t be angry! Save us!”
Paxton burst into sobs again. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I want Daddy! Mommy! I-I-I wanna go home! Y-you can b-be the knight! Please! Mommy!” He rubbed his eyes, trying to get the tears away before he gave up and just stood wailing.
Marcus smiled and shrugged. “Well children, that’s twice now that you’ve been traded away. Two lives for one. The irony! Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. Wicked people are everywhere. Now, let’s go see where you’ll end up with a new guardian! Aren’t we excited!” Marcus said cheerfully over their wails and begging. He pulled them back a step. A dark, familiar portal opened up behind them. “Until next time Mugs. I look forward to the next game. Ta!”
Marcus tilted his hat and took a last step back. The children’s wails cut off as the three vanished. The gate to Hell vanished. Mugs and Cup stood in the camp ringing with silence after all the screaming. The sunset pulled shadows out long and grotesque across the ground and trees. Reaching branches turning into twisted hands and claws.
Mugs didn’t know how long he just stood there. Their pleas and screams echoed in his head.
Cup shifted beside him. “Mugs-”
Mugs balled his fists. Burning hatred coiled inside, boiling over. Heat spread through him. Mugs howled and spun on his heel. His fist came up, bright blue fire ignited around his hand. There was a deafening crack as his fist collided with the trunk of a maple tree. The area bloomed with brilliant shades of blue before dying down. The tree groaned, a large sizzling hole in its center. It gave a last shudder before it cracked and toppled away from Mugs and Cup, crashing into its kin before hitting the ground with a thunderous quake.
“Mugs! Mugman!” Cup rushed up to Mugs’ side. Mugs fell to his knees, still screaming. “Mugs!” Cup grabbed his shoulder. “Damnit! Look at your hand! You broke it!”
Mugs grabbed the collar of Cup’s shirt with his other hand. “I’m gonna kill him! I’ll cussin’ kill him Cuphead! I swear! The next chance I get! I’m going to rip him to pieces! Damnit! I’ll kill him! I’ll shoot him! I’ll-”
“Mugman! Mugs!” Cup’s brows furrowed. He gritted his teeth and looked terrified. He gripped Mugs’ shoulder and held Mugs’ arm gently with the other hand. “That’s exactly what he wants!”
“I hate him!” Mugs snarled. He clenched his hands, not caring about the pain. “I hate him so cussin’ much Cup! Sunblazin’ damnit! I hate him!” He felt like he was suffocating.
“I know. Me too,” Cup said gently. “Don’t do that. You’ll make it worse.” Cup tried to loosen Mugs’ fist. “Look, you couldn’t have saved them. Even if ya took them home, the boss woulda sent someone else for them. You know how he is. We gave them the best chance they got.”
A chance? Stars, they were going to go through hell. Paxton was right. He wasn’t a hero. He was on the wrong side. He’d traded children! His heart shriveled with loathing and guilt and hatred. “The soul contracts. You warned them,” Mugs muttered. Cup gently worked Mugs’ hand into relaxing. It throbbed horribly and was already swelling. Mugs didn’t look at it, he was watching Cup.
“I gave Dalila a note with the number ta the Upper. Figured the angels might be able to help,” Cup muttered.
“What?” Mugs’ eyes widened. “That’s how their mom is getting help? The angels agreed not to interfere with soul contracts.” Why would Cup involve those people? Other than to get under Marcus’ skin. It was risky as hell!
Cup shrugged and frowned at Mugs’ hand. He started to remove the glove gingerly. “Better wrap this ‘fore we leave.” He muttered before explaining, “yeah, but Dalila ain’t a debtor and those kids didn’t sign moonrocks. She might have a chance to demand their return-”
“As long as they don’t sign,” Mugs said dazedly. “Holy cuss. That might actually work.”
Cup shrugged again. “I dunno, but it’s a chance.”
A chance! Mugs’ shoulders started to shake in a repressed sob. All this and Cup was still the one to save the day. To handle the situation best. To take the lead on what was most important when Mugs had no idea what to do. It made him feel so starfallen useless and stupid. He thought he could do all this himself. Instead he had practically tricked two kids to trust him enough to listen to their warning and sold them out. Marcus was right. He wasn’t someone deserving of trust yet they always did. It was his gift after all. It made him sick.
“Hey, you handled that better than I would have. They listened to you . . . trusted you or started too. I’m . . . I’m sorry. I know you hate that.” Cup’s voice cut through the turmoil in Mugs. Had he read Mugs’ mind? He didn’t want coddling! He didn’t want cussing pity! It didn’t change anything damnit!
Mugs jerked his head up, glaring at Cup. “You have to be cussin’ kiddin’ me!” Cup blinked, staring at Mugs in surprise. That just aggravated him more. “Don’t play dumb! I know you wanna say it! You were right! Marcus is gonna just toy with me until it’s too much! He’s going to make me do the things I hate most to the least deserving people! There’s nothing I can do to save Cala! But I’m gonna keep fightin’ because I’m an idiot and I love her! And Cala and I-we’re both-we’re both-we-”
“Oi, hey. Wait.” Cup squeezed his shoulder. “No Mugs.”
“Don’t patronize me Cup!” Mugs barked. “We both know-”
“I’m not givin’ up so why the cuss are you?” Cup snapped. Mugs fell silent. Cup huffed. “Look. It’s bad. I know it is, but neither of us is smart enough ta quit. Even if it turns us into monsters. We protect our family.”
“Us? Our family?” Mugs whispered, dumbfounded. Had his ears been affected? Had Marcus hit him in the head?
Cup gave him a half smile. “What? You don’t think I’d leave my sister-in-law out ta dry, do ya?” Mugs stared at him uncomprehendingly. Cup’s smile fell. He sighed. He took Mugs’ hand and led him to the tents. “I . . . wanna apologize. I shouldn’a said any of that stardust. I knew you loved her. You’ve liked her for a long time. I shoulda seen that you’d do for her what I do for you. I can’t blame you! I shoulda helped ya from the start instead’a bein’ a schmuck to you both . . . so I’m sorry. If ya wanna punch me, you can, just don’t use that hand. Lemme wrap it for ya first.” He pulled out a first aid kit.
Mugs stared at him. “Who the hell are you?”
“Oh c’mon!” Cup scowled. “I’m tryin’ here Mugs!”
I wanna try. For those good people! - But I keep screwing it up!
Mugs furrowed his brows. He really was trying. Starfallen damnit. Guilt, resentment, admiration, and a touch of joy added to the mix of raw emotions pulsing through Mugs. He was buzzed and exhausted at the same time. Mugs sat and stiffly offered his hand to Cup. Two fingers were bent at odd angles and his knuckles were bleeding and busted up. It wasn’t pretty. “Thanks,” Mugs said, half meaning it, but he put in the effort to sound genuine.
Cup shook his head. “I shoulda said congrats.”
“I didn’t really give ya the chance.” Mugs muttered.
Cup gently took his hand and started to wrap it so his fingers were held straight and firm. Mugs winced. “I’m sorry I made you feel like you couldn’t.”
Mugs stared at him. Cup was focused on his work. He looked tired, mature, like a leader. How did he do it? Well, he didn’t really have a choice. He did it so Mugs wouldn’t have to. “I’m sorry too. I felt like you couldn’t help with this because of Cala and how you felt and . . . well.” Marcus. “I just want to take responsibility for my own choices. To be able to . . . to take charge.”
“Oh, you did.” Cup smiled. “Don’t worry about that.” Mugs shook his head. Cup frowned. “Mugs, it’s cussin’ Marcus. There’s no real winnin’ with that monster. You handled that better than anyone could have. Better than I could have, I cussin’ mean that. There was no way to avoid it.”
Mugs wasn’t sure he believed that. “I don’t think I’ll get those screams outta my head.”
Cup could only nod to that. He pulled Mugs into a quick hug. “We’ll get outta this. Somehow.” He tapped rims before he pulled back and continued to wrap up Mugs’ hand.
Mugs sighed. Another thought bothered him. “I’m still angry about what you did to Holly.”
Cup pursed his lips. “So we’re done talkin’ once we get back ta the house.” He sounded resigned.
Mugs shook his head. “No, I think this has gone on long enough. You know I want you to apologize to her and explain yourself. You know I don’t ever want to hear you hurtin’ one of our friends again. Or you’ll deal with me. I think that’s enough.”
Cup looked away. “You know why.” He finished the wrap and let Mugs go.
Mugs narrowed his eyes. “That doesn’t justify it!” Mugs’ voice turned steely.
“No, it doesn’t,” Cup agreed and sighed. “Glad you’re talkin’ ta me at least. I did one thing right.”
Oh Cup. He didn’t see it. He gave hope to a mother and a chance at freedom to two kids. He was going to help and support Mugs in protecting Cala. He was protecting the house and the sick and the quest with everything he had. He was going to stand against the Devil so the machine would be finished and the cure was created. He was a leader and Mugs’ hero. In so many starfallen ways Cup had always been Mugs’ hero. A knight. Even when he was so frustrating to deal with and too ready to take a bullet for the people he cared about. Even hot-tempered and short-sighted and blind to his good qualities. Mugs had always seen them in his big brother. He’d always looked up to Cup. “You do a lot more good than ya think bro,” Mugs said.
Someday Mugs wanted to be a knight. Just like his brother.