Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Oh, come on,” Lupine groaned, dangling her legs from the railing of the balcony. “How did you guys even find me?”

Standing below her were Ensorcel and Spectra, both of whom looked very cross - although Spectra’s face held some amusement.

“You set a building on fire,” observed Ensorcel. “It wasn’t that hard.”

Lupine raised an eyebrow, even though he couldn’t see it - not with the distance between them (about twelve feet) or her mask. “That was ten blocks away.”

“Xelqua told me,” he admitted.

“Seriously? Traitor. I’ll have to have a talk with him later.” She inspected the sharp claws attached to the tips of her glove fingers, letting him know exactly what that meant. “I’m assuming he wanted payment. Your power?”

“Yup. Something about throwing Canary off a roof.”

“And why aren’t you helping bird-boy?”
“I probably should, but to be honest, he deserves it.”

Lupine shrugged. “Fair.” She grinned. “Well, it’s been nice talking to you.” She leaped off the railing just as Spectra struck, having teleported behind her while Ensorcel worked as a diversion. “Get some new tricks!” she called over her shoulder as she landed.

She saw Ensorcel out of the corner of her eye, summoning a glowing purple rope. “Like this?” he shot back, whipping it towards her. It wrapped around her bicep, yanking her towards him.

“Yeah,” Lupine panted, “that works.” she wrapped one hand around the bond and tugged, slicing through it. As far as she knew, her claws were the only things that could break Ensorcel’s ropes.

Stumbling to her feet, she surveyed the two self-proclaimed “heroes”: Ensorcel, covered head to toe in various colorful fabrics sewn together in what barely resembled a disguise - although maybe that was just her opinion - with a spray of cyan hair poking out above his mask, and Spectra, who had teleported back down from the balcony.

Lupine thought Spectra looked just a little hot in her silly costume.

Dark purple and form-fitting with silver accents, her outfit gleamed in the moonlight as she strode forward. Spectra’s mask covered the top half of her face, like Lupine’s partner Xelqua’s did, but unlike the mimic, hers showed her narrowed emerald eyes.

“Why are you like this?” The hero demanded. Lupine grinned charmingly at her.

“Why not?”

Ensorcel was suddenly behind her, grabbing one of her wrists. She spun and slashed her other hand toward his face. He ducked, getting a laugh.

“Quick tonight, eh, mate?” she wrenched her wrist out of his grasp and dove to the side as Spectra lunged for her.

Time for the show-stopper. Lupine whirled on them, a wolfish smile spreading across her face - quite literally, as she transformed into the creature she was named for. Tail high, Lupine threw her head back and howled.

All at once - although it actually took a few moments - the two heroes were surrounded by dogs of all sizes. Terriers, Pitt Bulls, a Great Dane or two… a fox had come as well.

“Oh, for-” Ensorcel cursed. “Since when can she do that? ”

Spectra sighed. “So that’s what you meant by ‘trick up your sleeve’,” she called to Lupine, who cocked her head innocently. Who? Me?

And then she ran.

Lupine was reckless, but she wasn’t stupid (most of the time. She was never going to be allowed to forget the Frog Incident, but in her defense, it had been 6AM at the time). She wasn’t going to risk anything more just to hang around and taunt her rivals.

She didn’t know how long she ran, but she knew when she had to stop. Panting, she returned to her human form and leaned against the wall of the alley she had ended up in.

“Where are you off to?”
Lupine cracked an eye open. Spectra was standing in front of her, arms crossed.

She yawned theatrically. “I dunno. Maybe my girlfriend’s place, if she’ll let me crash.”

The green-eyed woman’s eyes darted from side to side. Seeing if we’re alone.

“I’m sure she will. She might be a bit angry at you for blowing something up when she’s probably told you to stop several times.”

“I set something on fire. It’s different.”

“It’s definitely a choice.”

Lupine smirked. “See you.”

“In about twenty minutes,” Spectra muttered.

She got there before Gem did, and was sitting on the couch flipping through channels on the TV when the door slammed. Her girlfriend stalked into the room and flopped down on the couch beside Pearl, head in her lap.

“You’re a menace,” the redhead groaned. 

“You love me,” Pearl shot back, absentmindedly running her fingers through Gem’s ginger curls.

“I do. But you’re still a menace.”

“And you’re predictable,” Pearl informed her, setting down the remote and tapping her nose. “Having Sor distract me so you can sneak up? You’ve pulled that a dozen times over.”

“It works. ”

“It didn’t tonight.”

“...touche.”

Pearl laughed. “Popcorn?”

“It’s eleven o’clock at night, Pearl.”

“Yes. But do you want popcorn?”

“Yeah.”

Chapter Text

“I’m home, dumbasses!” Pearl called as she unlocked the door to her and her brothers’ apartment. Jimmy glanced up from the couch.

“Rude,” offered Grian, sitting cross-legged on the floor.

“Miss me?”

“Never.”

Jimmy rolled his eyes at the shorter man. “You were just saying that it’s boring without her.”

“Boring doesn’t mean bad! Boring can be peaceful!”

“Aw, you did miss me!” Pearl plopped herself on the floor next to him, wrapping her arm around her brother’s shoulders. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

“Out of sight, out of mind,” he grumbled. “So where were you last night that you ended up crashing at Gem’s?”

“Maybe I just wanted a break from you.”

“Ha ha.”

Pearl smirked. “Nothing important.” You led Sor and Spectra to my exact location, you bitch. Grian shrugged. Stupid back-stabbing telepath. “Well! I’m guessing there’s no way you guys remembered to let Tilly out of my room.” she stood up, brushing off her legs. Grian insisted that Tilly had to be locked in Pearl’s room at night, after one too many times waking up to her scratching at his door.

Jimmy winced. “Oh. Oops.” Pearl rolled her eyes and stalked her room, closing the door behind her and leaning against it. Tilly jumped off the bed and trotted over to her for head scratches, which she received. Pearl dropped her hood and let her ears transform into those of a wolf.

“Is she pissed?” Jimmy asked from the living room.

“Oh yeah.”

“I mean, you did betray her.”

“We’re villains! It’s what we do!”

"But just to knock me off a building? Really?"

"It was fun."

Pearl stiffened in shock. What are they talking about? She opened the door, letting Tilly run out ahead of her, and stalked down the hallway, leaning against the wall to glare at her brothers as they looked up.

"Oh. Uh. Hi?” Jimmy stuttered.

"Grian," she said with a growl, "Why are you talking to Jimmy about this?"

Grian winced. “Pearl-”

“ Why? ”

“He deserves to know,” Grian blurted, looking very much like he’d come up with it on the spot. “He’s living with two supervillains, for fuck’s sake!”

“ That doesn’t mean you tell him! ” Pearl snapped.

Jimmy raised his hand. “Do… I get to say anything?”

Pearl glared at him. “No. I’m heading out. Don’t get yourself killed while I’m gone.” She snatched her hat off a hook on the wall and stormed towards the front door.

“Your ears are still out,” Jimmy called. Pearl froze.

“I knew that,” she snapped. She had not known that. She put her ears back in and slammed the door behind her.

Oh, joy. Her third annoying brother was accounted for.

“What doing, Joel?” Pearl asked with a sigh. The shorter man craned his neck to smirk up at her.

“Can’t I just visit my dear siblings because I feel like it?”

“No.”

He scowled. “Hey!”

Pearl shrugged. “It’s true. You obviously want something.”

Joel sighed. “I’m really stressed, okay? I need to talk to my boys.”

“Ah, yes,” she agreed dryly. “Your silly little ‘bad boys’ club I’m not allowed in. ”

Joel raised his eyebrows. “Yeah, just like we’re not allowed to be part of the Nosey Neighbors.”

“Grian is!” She objected, but he was already walking past her and entering her apartment. The nerve!

Pearl rolled her eyes. “Fine. Be that way, Mayor Beans.” She stomped to the elevators.

“Eeeffoooo!” She called, knocking impatiently on his shop’s door. The white-haired man opened it irritably.

“What?” He asked.

Pearl grinned, holding out a stack of letters. “Mail!”

Etho stared. “Who the hell is sending me all that?”

Pearl flipped through them. “Um, bils, bills, Bdubs’ ex, probably should talk to him about that - bills, ooh, superhero department!” She smiled up at him. “Interesting!”

He snatched his mail away from her. “Gimme that.”

She tilted her head with a smirk. “What? Do they still want you back?”

Etho glanced around. “We can’t talk about this here,” he reminded her in a quiet voice.

She sighed. “Right. Mr Secrets here.”

“You’re one to talk,” he reminded her, promptly shutting the door in her face.

Pearl spluttered indignantly. “You can’t do that, man! I’m just trying to be friendly!”

Etho shrugged at her through the glass door, walking away and ducking behind a rack of clothes. A short, dark-haired man emerged from the backroom, spotted Pearl, and grinned big, waving. She sighed affectionately and waved back.

Nope, not getting any answers out of Etho today. A shame.

Chapter Text

Scar looked up as the bell to his bakery rang. With a smile, he waved to the tall brunette.

“Why hello there,” he said cheerfully. “Welcome to Red Velvet Keep!”

“Cut the crap, Scar,” Pearl told him dryly.

Scar saluted. “Yes, ma’am. How’s Grian? Has he mentioned me?” He added with a smirk.

Pearl sighed heavily. “I can’t handle you right now.”

“What?” He asked innocently. “What happened?”

She threw her hands up. “Mysteries upon secrets upon riddles! How is a girl supposed to work under these conditions?”

“Yikes. Cookie?”

She gave him a suspicious look. “This isn’t going to be like last time with the Elven Kiss, right?”

Scar snickered as he remembered that - just one of a hundred antics to get Grian to notice him. “Nooo, of course not!”

“What about the time before that? With the ones laced with laxatives?”

He blanked. “That does sound like something I would do. But no! Just a normal cookie, courtesy of our new employee, Grian’s boyfriend .” He said the words with a hint of snark, trying not to let his jealousy show.

Pearl’s head shot up. “Grian’s what ?”

Oops. “Um, I said nothing!” Scar announced hurriedly, shoving her cookie at her. “This is on the house if you don’t murder me!”

“It’s not you I’m going to murder,” she muttered. “Thanks, Scar.”

And Pearl was gone.

Scar watched her leave warily.

Was she a suspect?

Probably not, but… one could never know.

She wasn’t quite tall enough. And her eyes were blue.

But the way her gaze sparked when she was angry…

It was probably nothing.

But it could always be something.

“Grian has a boyfriend.”

Cleo looked up from her phone with a smirk. “About time. Is it Scar?”

Pearl rolled her eyes, sliding into the booth across from her friend. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for that too.”

“Fallen for what?” Cleo asked. “Scar’s head-over-heels.”

Pearl shook her head in disbelief. “I swear it’s an act.”

Cleo shrugged. “Guessing it’s not Scar then. Mumbo?”

Pearl stared at her blankly, wracking her singular brain cell for a /Mumbo/… “Um, Jumbo? Wow, I haven’t spoken with him in three years. Don’t think so. Some new employee at Red Velvet Keep. He makes cookies.”

Cleo froze. Like, every muscle in her body visibly seized up. Her jaw clenched.

Pearl swallowed. “Ohhh. You know him, then?”

“Mmhmm,” Cleo confirmed tightly. After a moment, she added: “His name’s BigB.”

That was all she deigned to say.

And now Pearl had a name she just needed to put a face to.

“BigB” was not getting out of this unscathed.

Chapter Text

“Hello.”

The dark skinned man started, looking around.

Lupine stepped out of the darkness.

“Oh.” He visibly relaxed. “It’s just you.”

She was thrown. Just you ? “ Excuse me ?” Lupine snapped, baring her teeth.

BigB shrugged. “You’re Pearl. My boyfriend’s sister. And you won’t actually hurt me unless I hurt him first.”

Lupine straightened from her attack crouch. “Oh. That’s - how did you know that?”

He smirked. “Always watching.”

“That’s not weird or vague at all,” Pearl muttered, dropping the supervillain persona entirely.

“Weird and vague are my specialty,” BigB said cheerfully, holding out his hand.

“Manners,” Pearl muttered, taking it. “That’s ne- aahck!” He tightened his grip and then she was flying through the air, landing hard on the concrete floor with an “uhf!”

Pearl wheezed for a moment, trying to get her breath back. She stared up at BigB, standing over her with a cruel smirk.

She burst out laughing. BigB’s smirk turned into a genuine grin, and he offered his hand to help her up.

“Nope. I'm not falling for that again.” Pearl scrambled to her feet, still laughing as she dusted herself off. “Okay, that was good. I respect that. Probably should’ve had my guard up.”

“You should’ve,” he agreed smugly.

“I like you,” Pearl decided.

“Go away, Xelqua.”

He pouted. “Why?”

“You betrayed me!” Lupine crossed her arms irritably. “Besides, you never wanted to be my partner anyway!”

He sighed. “Let it go, Lupine.”

She stuck her chin in the air. “No. To both parts.”

“No honor among thieves,” Xelqua reminded her, flaring the parrot-like wings he’d obviously stolen from Canary. “You know that better than most people.”

Lupine sighed, raking her claws through her hair. “I’m still allowed to be mad at you.”

“Are you ever not ?” He teased, whacking her with a wing. She yelped and ducked too late.

“Hey!”

Her brother giggled and soared to the next rooftop, sticking out his tongue.

“Oh, you are on ,” Lupine growled, and ran after him, shifting mid-way so she could make the jump.

Okay. They were okay.

“Why hello there.”

“Shit,” Pearl muttered, spinning around. Sure enough, there he was; HotGuy.

More like Average-JoeGuy , She thought irritably. Sure, it wasn’t very creative, but she was under a lot of stress! The city’s poster boy hero, right there . She subtly tucked her hair behind her ears to make sure they weren’t still wolf-y.

HotGuy grinned charmingly at her. “Good citizen! We’ve had reports that this area is where the dastardly villain-” Dastardly villain? Really? This idiot sure had a flare for the dramatics. “-Lupine was last seen. Have you noticed anything… suspicious?”

“No.” Realizing that might be a bit strange, Pearl smiled wryly and added, “Then again, I wouldn’t notice if a freight train barreled down Main Street.”

Was it just her, or did his smile falter, his brow furrow slightly? “Of course,” HotGuy agreed slowly. “Well, if you do see anything strange, you know where to find me!”

“Do I?” She muttered, as he sprinted away.

That was… worrying, to say the least. Did HotGuy even realize how close he’d come to actually catching Lupine?

She hoped not. That man was dangerous - and not just because he was a hero.

playlist

Chapter Text

“Fuck off, unicorn puke!” Lupine dived for Ensorcel’s legs, sweeping them out from under him.

He stumbled, trying to right himself, and slung out a rope of light to anchor himself to a lamppost. “Oh, we’re back to that nickname?”

Lupine shrugged, grinning cheekily. “We are on memory lane, after all!” In reality, it was called Red Name Lane, and it was the same street she’d made her debut, attacking Ensorcel in broad daylight while he was training his new sidekick.

Speaking of which - where was Spectra?

“Hey there, Wolfy.” Strong arms wrapped around Lupine’s shoulders, flipping her over and pinning her to the sidewalk.

Lupine couldn’t help but laugh, even though she was sure that would leave a bruise. “Wow, we’re really going back, huh? Wanna give me that spiel about ruling the world again?”

Ensorcel’s boots appeared in front of her face. “I can’t believe you still think you’re the good guy here.”

“I never said I was the good guy,” Lupine pointed out. “I said I want to keep you from ruling the world. If I have to be the villain to do that, so be it.”

Ensorcel sighed. “Whatever you need to tell yourself. Spectra, get off.”

“What?” The redheaded hero’s grip tightened if anything. Despite herself, Lupine felt heat pool in her stomach at being pinned by Spectra. She clenched her thighs together. Spectra noticed, and her breath brushed Lupine’s ear as she whispered, “Slut.”

A shudder ran through her. Oh, that was not helping. Spectra was playing mind games here.

“ Get. Off ,” Ensorcel repeated, snapping Lupine back to reality. “I have an idea.”

She could feel Spectra’s eyeroll as she reluctantly scrambled off. Lupine held in a whimper once the weight was gone, reminding herself they were in public and Ensorcel was right there and no matter how much she wanted Spectra to throw her against a wall and ruin her, it was not happening. At least not right now.

“What do you think you’re-” Lupine started, pushing herself up, but Ensorcel cut her off by summoning another rope, this one green - she had never seen him use any color but purple - and throwing it at her.

She tried to dodge, but it stuck her right in the chest.

Searing pain ripped through Lupine, and she heard a faint keening sound. It took a moment to realize it was her, screaming. She couldn’t breathe. Oh, maybe because she was screaming. She gasped for air.

She was on the ground. Why was she on the ground again? She’d gotten up. Ensorcel must’ve knocked her down. What had he even done? She’d been hit by his power before, and the ropes had always wrapped around her. But this time it had looked like it plunged into her chest.

Which was gross. She didn’t want any part of him in her.

The pain was fading now, not quite as fast as it had come, but close. Lupine pried her eyes open and met emerald green ones.

She giggled. “Hi.”

Spectra’s brow creased with concern. “You okay?” She whispered.

Lupine felt her lips curl into a slightly loopy smile. “Mmhmm. I’m staring into the eyes of the prettiest woman on Earth,” she murmured back.

“You flirt,” Spectra hissed, but she looked relieved.

“Can’t help it.” She sat up with a grunt, shoving the redhead away. “Get the fuck away from me!” Lupine added, louder now. This was more for Ensorcel than Spectra. They needed to keep up appearances.

Spectra backed off as Lupine stood and faced Ensorcel.

“Mind explaining what the hell that was?”

He grinned. “ That took away your powers.”

Lupine’s eyes widened, her lips parting slightly in shock. She reached up, and her fingers brushed her wolf ears.

She snorted. “Yeah, no. Still there, unicorn puke.”

He rolled his eyes. “I can’t get rid of hybrid traits.”

Lupine stared at him. “Wow, you are stupid, aren’t you? You think I walk around with Lupine’s ears stickin’ out of my head? I would’ve gotten arrested years ago, mate.”

Ensorcel frowned. “...oh.”

Spectra sighed. “Ensorcel, please let us leave before you embarrass yourself more.”

He scowled, but turned and sprinted away. Lupine shot Spectra a grateful look.

The way she looked back - almost hungrily - stole her breath away.

In an instant, Spectra was standing in front of her.

“We,” she whispered, “will be talking later, puppy.”

Yup, breath gone. Possibly forever.

Spectra hesitated, glancing around, and then added, “You’re really okay?”

“Yup,” Lupine answered a beat too late.

The hero raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

She looked away, face flushing. “I can’t think when you’re looking at me!”

“Aw, Lu,” Spectra cooed. A finger hooked under her chin, forcing her to look the shorter woman in the eyes. Lupine’s brain turned to mush.

“St-stop that,” she protested weakly.

“You don’t want me to.” Oh, she was right and Lupine hated it. “But I do have to catch up with Ensorcel.”

“Aw.” Lupine pouted, trying to save some face. Spectra giggled. “Oh, fuck you.”

“That can be arranged.” Spectra smirked. Before Lupine could form words, she’d disappeared.

“Shit.”

When Pearl got to Gem’s house, she was already there, standing outside the door with arms crossed and an expression that made her stop in her tracks.

Don’t be a whore , she reminded herself, but her thighs rubbed together against her will.

Gem smirked, and Pearl whimpered.

“Inside. Now.”

Chapter Text

“Pearlll. Get up.”

“No,” she mumbled. “Sore.”

“I’m sorry,” Gem said softly, and Pearl opened her eyes to look at her.

“Hey. Don’t be. That was great.”

“I hurt you!” Her girlfriend protested, looking so devastated Pearl felt her heart breaking.

“It wasn’t your fault.” Pearl grabbed Gem’s wrist and dragged her back under the covers. “More sleep. I get to be the big spoon this time.”

“You have to go to work!” Gem protested, wriggling. Pearl frowned. Gem didn’t care about her work; she still felt guilty.

“Nope,” she decided, pulling the redhead close to her chest. “I’m calling in late today. Need more Gemtime.”

“ Your entire life is Gemtime,” Gem pointed out crossly, although she relaxed slightly in Pearl’s arms.

Pearl gave a satisfied hum. “Because I love you a lot.”

“Why are you wearing a collar?” Cleo asked, eyebrow raised.

“What?” Pearl frowned.

Looking amused, Cleo pointed to her neck. “That dog collar. You’ve had it on the whole time. Thanks for the bills, by the way,” she added dryly.

Pearl’s hand went to her throat. Sure enough, her collar was still there, light enough that she’d forgotten about it.

“It’s a fashion statement,” she blurted. “Like. Um. I just… think it looks cool?”

“Mhmm.” Cleo was not convinced. “Were you at Gem’s last night, by any chance?”

“That,” Pearl snapped, pointing at her, “is none of your business. Good day !” She added, just to be funny, spinning around and skipping grumpily away from Cleo’s house. She could hear her friend’s laughter behind her.

Pearl considered taking the collar off. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

It was a piece of Gem, to carry with her.

And if it was because she’d gotten her brains fucked out the night before?

Well, that was no one’s business but her own.

“So, have you figured it out yet?”

Lupine sighed, spinning around with ears pinned to her head. “Figured what out?”

“What my rope actually did,” Ensorcel said impatiently. “I worked it out ages ago.”

“Hmm.” She tipped her head to the side, pretending to think. “Made you look ridiculous?”

“No.” He rolled his eyes. Then he punched himself in the arm.

Lupine hissed, clutching her own as dull pain echoed through it. “What the heck?”

Ensorcel looked smug. “Now you can’t attack me, because it’ll hurt you.”

It took her approximately thirty-seven seconds to process this. Then she laughed. “You severely overestimate my self-preservation skills and severely under estimate my pain tolerance, man.”

Ensorcel growled under his breath. Then he said, “Did you get mugged last night or something?”

“What?” Did Ensorcel really think so little of her?

“I’m covered in bruises,” he grumbled.

Oh. Lupine was very glad her face was covered, because she was sure it was as red as the hair of the woman who’d given her those bruises. “Yup. Um. Ah, no. That didn’t… I did not get mugged. At all.”

Ensorcel blanched. “Ah. Um… I don’t want to know, actually.”

“Mhmm! I’m gonna go now! Goodbye!”

She leapt to the next rooftop before he could protest.

Chapter Text

“What’s up with you?” Jimmy asked.

Pearl glanced up at him. “Plotting. Ya know. Supervillain things.”

Her brother wasn’t convinced. “You’re never this quiet.” He sat down on the couch next to her. “Spill.”

“Nooo,” she whined. “It’s too many things and you don’t want to hear about any of them.”

“Give me the least problematic one,” Jimmy demanded, leaning his chin on his fists. “C’mon, let me be a supportive brother!”

She gave him a dry look. “The least problematic? Alright. Ensorcel’s now informed about my sex life.”

He stood up. “And I am out!”

Pearl grinned. “Knew it.”

“ Canary ?” Lupine stared at the golden-winged hero. “What are you doing?” He never bothered with her when she was alone.

He shrugged, feathers puffing up. “Xelqua’s pretty worried about you, and it’s no fun fighting him while he’s distracted.”

“Xelqua’s always worried about me,” she grumbled. “Kind of his job as my - partner.”

Canary grinned. “It’s pretty obvious you’re siblings, by the way.”

“If it’s obvious to you , that’s concerning,” Lupine observed cheekily.

“Hey!” He flared his wings. “Rude.”

She smirked. “What can you do about anything, anyway? ‘S not like you can fix Xelqua by annoying me.”

Canary sat down on the edge of the roof across from hers, legs waving back and forth. “I can help you.”

She cocked her head, one ear twitching back. “What, you want to listen to me rant?”

“Mhmm. Go ahead.”

She sighed. “My girlfriend’s avoiding me, Ensorcel’s becoming an actual threat, and the world’s most incompetent vigilante is bothering me.”

“Hey!” Canary cried. Lupine giggled and sprinted down the stairwell of the building - luckily abandoned, or else she might’ve gotten trapped.

“ Get back here! I am going to help you whether you like it or not! ”

Canary managed to tackle her on Clockers and Judy.

“Let - me - help - you!” He grunted,  narrowly avoiding her claws. Lupine decided she didn’t like being pinned nearly as much when it wasn’t Spectra doing it.

“Get off me!” She rolled over so he was crushed beneath her. Canary let go in surprise, and she scrambled to her feet, kicking him where it would hurt for good measure.

He let out a strangled groan. “What the - what was that for? I’m trying to help!”

“I don’t want your help!” She shouted, stumbling back. “Go away !”

Lupine shifted, dropping close to the ground and snarling at him.

Canary raised his arms. “Fine! Talk to someone about it, would you!” He stumbled to his feet and sprinted off.

Finally.

Okay, as much as she hated to admit it, Canary was right; she probably should talk to somebody. About everything.

She made the executive decision to go to her bestest of friends, Scott Major. Unfortunately, she never made it to his house.

Pain shot through her chest, and her shout of surprise caught in her throat. The sting faded to a tug, leading her in one direction - the direction she was heading.

Something inside her said that was the way to Ensorcel.

Oh, she could not deal with that today.

Maybe this was some side effect of whatever Ensorcel had done - she had a built-in radar for him, now? It would be useful for antistalking, at least.

But Pearl wouldn’t be able to visit Scott today, so she would just keep everything bottled up. She had experience in that.

Chapter Text

“I didn’t know Gem was coming,” Cleo said.

Gem sighed dramatically. “I was dragged .”

“This is your punishment for avoiding me,” Pearl informed her, shoving the redhead into the booth and blocking her exit.

Gem shot Cleo a pleading look.

“I’m not getting involved,” Pearl’s friend said, amused.

“Why hello there!” Scar interrupted, delivering a tray of cakes and coffee. “I gave you the family discount, by the way.”

“We’re not your family, Scar,” Cleo reminded him dryly.

He grinned mischievously. He pointed at Cleo - “Mom” - Pearl - “Grian’s sister” - and Gem. “Grian’s sister-in-law. Family!”

Gem looked away. Scar’s face fell.

“Oooh. Trouble in paradise?”

“She’s being a nugget ,” Pearl said grumpily, elbowing the nugget in question.

“ She’s being stubborn ,” Gem shot back.

Cleo sighed. “Where’s Scott when you need him?”

As if on cue, Cleo and Pearl’s phones dinged. Pearl glanced at her lockscreen.

Gatekeep: sorry guys, somethin came up =(

Scar sniggered. “Comedic timing.”

“I wonder where Scott had to go,” Gem mused.

“Don’t know, don’t care,” Pearl said with a shrug.

“That’s rude! You were excited to see him and you know it.”

“Maaayyybe,” she admitted.

“Good. Now, while you’re in an agreeable mood, apologize for calling me a nugget.”

“Only if you apologize for being one!” Pearl shot back.

“How am I being a nugget?” Gem demanded.

“You know how.”

The redhead sighed in frustration. “Fine. I’m sorry for being a nugget. Happy?”

“ Sore-y ,” Pearl mocked. “Ow!” she added as Gem punched her.

“Slug bug,” she said innocently.

“Suuure.” Pearl glared pointedly out the passenger window.

“You still haven’t apologized,” Gem observed.

“Fine. I’m sore-y for calling you a nugget , GemGem,” Pearl said with her best puppy-dog eyes.

“I hate you.”

“You love me!”

An unholy screech echoed from the hallway. Pearl sighed. “Tilly!”

The German Shepherd came running into the living room, jaws open in an adorable doggy smile. Grian trailed after her, clutching his arm dramatically.

“She mauled me!” He cried.

“Aww, she just doesn’t know her own strength,” Pearl cooed, patting her lap. “Isn’t that right, baby?”

Tilly hopped up onto Pearl, scratching her arm in the process. Pearl hissed, then grinned, remembering that Ensorcel had felt that, too.

She scratched behind her dog’s ears. “Good girl, Tilly,” she murmured. Tilly’s tail thumped against her leg.

Grian stared on with obvious confusion as Pearl continued to lather praise on her dog and blood dripped down her arm.