Requested by @EnderJem99

~~~~Lukas's POV~~~~

"So why are we in the Order Hall again?" Radar shifts, sighing when he looks at the empty pedestals. Lips scrunching up at them; I'd wager he's upset that they're gathering dust in the storage room. A very secure storage room.

"We're meeting someone, two someones actually." I check my watch again, worms of anxiety wiggling into my thoughts.

"Okay, right, yeah I know that." He adjusts his glasses, squirming restlessly. "But why in here? Generally any town official stuff we hold in the Beacon, not in the Order Hall. Is this an informal meeting perhaps?"

"Definitely not informal, but Romeo built that place when he was an Admin. Sure, it is a little hard to access because the stairs are the only way in and out, but there's too many places to hide in that place. Too many places for someone to listen in. The Order Hall is the most secure."

Radar hums and fiddles with his figures, I swear I'm only getting anxious because of him. "That's comforting to know you think that. We only have our jail in there and where we store all of our documents."

"See, no, that's not a problem." I check my watch again, sighing quietly. "Because anyone running away will be caught due to the limited exits, I'm more worried about Beacontown learning who it is we're meeting."

"Well, who is it we're-"

The Order Door opens, but my shoulders drop when only Aiden stomps in, hunched up in his causal dark blue sweatshirt. He throws a scowl at the door when it slides shut, bristling as he comes to us by the stairs.

"I can't believe people sometimes!" He scoffs angrily, thrusting his hands out of his pockets to jab at the air. "Whoever this jerk is, he needs to stop ruining houses so people stop blaming me for it! I just can't believe-"

I raise an eyebrow at him. "Aiden-"

"I mean, I've been a part of the police for over a year now!" Aiden throws his arms up, definitely yelling by now. "What more could I do to win back their trust? It's not like I've done anything against them personally, and I've already apologized a million times for the whole Sky City thing. That and I've done days worth of community service! So for them to-"

"Aiden!" He growls, but holds his tongue to turn to me. "You still need to get a better grip on your anger. It's the main reason why you haven't been prompted yet. Just calm down will ya?"

He lets out a gravelly sigh, flopping down on the stairs. "Sorry, okay? Some stupid group of people started blaming me for all the break ins and assaults. Again. I'm getting sick of it." He sighs again, properly looking at us. "You guys haven't gotten any closer to sniffing him out yet have you?"

"We're actually about to have some secret meeting." Radar huffs, raising an eyebrow at me. "If only Lukas would tell me who it is."

I sigh, glancing down at my watch again. "Well they're late. If they take another ten minutes I'm suspecting foul play. I've been told he's never late, but things happen."

"Lukas, stop dancing around the question. Who?" I turn to Aiden, ready to snap something back to him-

When Romeo walks in, zipping his black jacket and heading for the door. "Hey guys, and Aiden. I'm heading out to-"

"Romeo, wait." The red haired man stops, turning to me and showing off the chocolate cupcake still on his face. "First of all, wipe off your face. Second, stay here. You probably shouldn't be going out now."

"What? Why?" He rubs his mouth on his sleeve, still ready to walk out. "I need to get the blueprints done for the new town square in soon, lunch break's over now."

"I have to agree with Romeo on this one Lukas. That deadline is fast approaching, and with you working on this case most of the time lately, he's the chief architect working on it." I gesture to Radar, letting him know that while I heard him, he should be quiet now.

"Aiden came in here because people were blaming him for being our slippery criminal. It's probably not a good idea for you to go out too Romeo."

The ex-Admin rolls his eyes, crossing his arms. "Please, it's been five years since that happened. No one's openly hated me for months now! Besides, most people have this... tolerance for me."

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. Most of me is super glad Romeo's been so involved with developing new buildings, centuries of creating buildings has made him superb with designs and architecture. Yet while it mostly continues to humble him, he's gotten so much better at working with other people, but Romeo still gets a bit snobbish when something stands in his way.

"Aiden, would you care to explain?"

Aiden pats next to him on the stairs. "You're not winning this one R, everyone's been super relied since that octopus house was completely ransacked and almost lit on fire. Besides, apparently there's some secret meeting in here you wouldn't want to miss out on."

"I wish you would stop calling me that...." Romeo grumbles, but takes a seat next to Aiden anyway. Part of me wishes to join them, but Radar hasn't stopped twitching yet. With that and these people already late, I'm too worked up to sit right now.

"Lukas?"

"Yes Radar?"

"Are you going to tell us who we're meeting, or...?" He trails off, curiosity laced in his squeaky voice.

"Yeah Lukas," I sigh when Aiden chimes in too, thinking that perhaps I can at least tell them now that they're all together. "Don't leave us in dark, tell us."

I hold my hands up in surrender, caving. "Okay, I didn't want anyone to know because I'm pretty sure it'd freak you out."

Romeo huffs, muttering. "Well this is going to be fantastic...."

"But the person we're meeting is Cassie Rose."

"What?" Radar jumps beside me, eyes and jaw wide open. "The murderer? You invited her here? Into Beacontown! We already have one criminal on the loose and you just-"

"No, I did not invite her here. Supposedly, Dan's the one who's her guard and supervisor. I asked him to bring her here... exactly six minutes ago."

"Um, I'll be the one to ask, who the heck is Dan?" Aiden glances at Romeo and Radar. "Or am I the only one who doesn't know here?"

"Nope, I've never heard of this 'Dan' person before either." Romeo shakes his head, keeping his eyes on me.

"He's Stampy and Stacy's friend, the other survivor from Cassie's murder mansion. He took it upon himself to be her guard once she got out of the endermites pit, and I asked him here to make sure she hasn't snuck out in the decade or so he's been guarding her."

"He's not a threat, right?" Aiden shifts in his seat, face tightening. "He must be pretty good at fighting though if he's keeping an eye on someone like her."

Romeo huffed, crossing his arms. "Does that matter? He, or this girl, can't so skillful as to take on any of us. This person is a thief, sticking to the shadows. I doubt their fighting overpower ours."

"We aren't exactly being 'strong' right now, this criminal is really showing us how crafty they are." Radar grumbles, readjusting his glasses. "I wish Jesse was here, no one would dare do this with him around."

"Ha! I'd vouch for that." Romeo's eyes glazed, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Just a little glare and he'd send people running."

"This guy is an professional though," Aiden rolled his eyes, "he's broken into the toughest builds. He even broke in here. The only place he hasn't gotten is the Beacon because we've buffed up security."

"The fact it has only two entrances also makes that-"

Radar's cut off when the Order Door opens up, two people strolling in. I quickly cover my surprise as I go to meet them, Cassie doesn't seem to be held down at all. Not wearing cuffs, wearing nothing to distinguish her as a murder. The only thing that says 'Stay Away' is a bite scar under her left eye, probably from the tiny super sharp teeth of an endermite.

"Dan. Cassie." I decide not to stick my hand out, I don't really want to shake Cassie's along with Dan's. "Thanks for coming on such short notice."

Dan smiles, his hair a rusty brownish red. "Not a problem, life was getting a little stagnant anyway."

"Really?" Radar squeaks, fumbling with his words. "You have a boring life? How can that be possible? If I were in your shoes I don't think I could handle it at all-"

"Now why's that little one?" Cassie grins at him, Radar squeaking again. Turning my head to Radar, hopefully to reassure him, when Aiden steps up to Cassie. Arms crossed and a scowled planted on his face, Romeo behind him with an equally suspicious glare.

"Listen lady-"

"Cassie Rose." Cassie smiles at Aiden, and while it does look mostly sincere, a chill prickles my back. "Now I know about the infamous Admin who couldn't best Jesse, it's practically legend, but I don't think I've heard anything about you. Mind telling me your name?"

"Aiden." He growled, narrowing his eyes further. "I'm part of the police here."

"Am I-"

Dan snaps, cutting off Cassie. "Wait a moment, the Aiden? Like, the Aiden from the one Stampy told me about? Or maybe you're diff-"

"Yes, I destroyed an entire town. Yes, I got caught up in jealously. Yes, I thought I was right because I used to bully Jesse so I could do whatever I want. Yes, I'm that Aiden. But like I said, I'm a part of Beacontown's police. Do anything illegal, and I'm going to hunt you down."

Romeo takes a step forward, the air around him tense. "Trust me lassie, you don't want to be caught. If he catches you, then you're messing with me. And I know a lot of ways to make you suffer."

Cassie huffs, then a suppressed giggle bubbles out, until she throws her back and laughs. Radar gasps next to me, hunched up and coiled in a tight ball of nerves. Although I can't help but relax a bit when a small smile tugs at Dan's lips. If he's not worried about Cassie's crazy laugh, it can't be too big of a deal. Hopefully.

"I knew this trip was going to be worth it! Finally, I don't have to be that 'one', not when this whole room's filled with people like me. Ha! Oh this is great, purely fantastic."

Both Romeo's and Aiden's mouths snap open, but I quickly intervene. "Okay Cassie, I'm glad your excited and everything, but do you know why you're here right now?"

Dan waves his hand. "Oh yeah, don't worry about that. I've told Cassie and I can absolutely say that she isn't your guy. We haven't even been in this world before today."

"Sure," Aiden grumbles, crossing his arms. "unless you're her accomplice."

Cassie dramatically rolls her eyes at him. "I have a cat y'know. I can't be here and take care of him."

"It's a cat, it can damn well take care of itself."

"My Winslow is very smart." Cassie hums, nodding to herself. "Maybe he followed me and is about to attack you any moment for being so rude."

Aiden scowls, snapping at Dan. "Aren't you suppose to be her guard? Why are you just letting her act like this?"

Dan snorts back at him, I should properly step in at some point. "Excuse me? You're the one who destroyed a whole town. You aren't the only one who's turned their life around."

Aiden opens his mouth again, but Romeo sharply elbows him. Grumbling to the ground, he thrusts his hands back into his sweatshirt. Radar's still a tight bunch of nerves next to me, but the air doesn't feel hostile anymore. Despite that though, we're no closer to figuring out who this criminal is. Probably would've been too easy just for Cassie to be him and then the whole thing would've been over and done with.

"Well then," I clear my throat, "I'm sorry then for dragging you two out here. You can go, stay, do whatever." I turn to Radar, who's still staring at Cassie with wide eyes. "Radar, get the papers on damage from the last break in and the supplies we have. We're going to-"

"Help!" The Order Door staggers up, a crazed citizen running in. "There's been another break in and the criminal left it exploding! The fire-"

Aiden bursts towards the door, rushing past the shocked citizen. Romeo right at his heels, and after giving a quick nudge to Radar that propels him forward at light speed, I begin to follow. Only to hesitate and glance at Dan and Cassie, who are both looking a little lost.

"Hey-" I manage to send them a small smile. "-the more the merrier. We could use all the help we could get." 

They glance at each other, a suppressed smirk in Dan's face and an excited grin on Cassie's. She lets out a whoop, chasing after the others with Dan and I right behind her.

"So we really don't-" I suck up a deep breath, bumping up my speed. "-have to worry 'bout her?"

He shoots me a smile, his now black black falling in his eyes. "Nah, she's wild but she regrets what...." He keeps talking, but with his pants and the shouts of the city, it all blurs. People whispering on the sidelines, a surge of firefighters and police running with us, people running to their houses. It's even worse than normal.

That statement rings truer when the house comes into view. Windows shattered, door long gone, hungry flames licking at the wood. A fresh black cloud clawing its way to the heavens.

"Hey!" Romeo's loud voice booms out, catching scattered fears. "Put out the fire on the bottom first, that's where the stronger flames are!"

Aiden rushes up to me as firefighters scramble to listen the former Admin of chaos. "We don't know if there are people still in there or not! No one knows if the family went out for lunch or stayed home and now hopelessly trapped."

"Hopelessly? Please." I begin to jog with him to the house, feeling grateful that I've been wearing my armor lately. "Have you learned nothing Jesse? Get stretchers on standby for me."

I run into the building, my body buffering at the sudden wave of heat and smoked light. Flames trying to eat at me as they whittle under the spray of water pouring in. My lungs burning with the thick smoke and steam as I run through the smoky house, straining my ears for anything other the sizzling flames. I try to shout for anyone, but only end up coughing. Probably should've thought this through.

"Anyone?" I cough again, heart thumping madly to snatch up any oxygen and send it off. "Is someone in here?"

Smoke festers against my eyes, tears blurring everything into orange or gray. The heat, the burning heat, driving into my body. Could be worse, could not be wearing armor and burning my skin off. Focus, focus on the people.

"Any-"

"help"

A scratchy whisper carries over the crackling flames, and I rush through the hallway to it. The skin exposed on my neck and face shrieking under the heat, but my lungs wither at the demands of oxygen when smoke plagues the air.

The flames try to eat at me when a run through the door, eyes straining to just give meager shapes. I collapse to my knees, eagerly sucking in the more oxygen rich air and trying to find the voice again.

"Hello?" My voice breaks, rough as if the smoke clogged up my airways. "Where are you?"

"Here."

I race to the closet, flinging its doors open despite how close to the flames I am. A child, hair burnt to its roots or just about, curled with clothes. Hopefully this won't hurt them more.

I scoop them up, just big enough to where I have to hold them on my shoulder. Steam begins to mix with the smoke as I sprint back outside. I don't care how much oxygen my legs are crying for, I am sprinting out of here.

The child weakly cries on my shoulder, but I'm so close now. Just get out and get the child to a doctor and ask if there was anyone else inside.

My legs wobble as I burst out into the fresher air, lungs and heart eagerly sucking up the oxygen. My smoky tears fall quickly, letting me finally see the world again. Someone, a first responder hopefully, takes the child from me, saying something about I should take care of myself. Which I am, I'm supplying myself the oxygen it so desperately needs.

"Easy Lukas," Romeo grabs an arm, slinging it over his shoulder and dragging me somewhere. "You definitely shouldn't have just ran into a burning building like that. There are other people that do that."

I cough, ash and smoke flying from my mouth. "They wait too long."

"And they're idiots. Heat rises, obviously. Put out the fires on top the bottom ones are just going to relight them until the building is too damp to catch on fire or there's nothing left to burn, both are pretty ineffective methods."

Romeo sets me down on a bench, a cloud of dust and ash falling from my clothes. I blink rapidly and look down at my armor. Singed, but it's definitely gone through worse and it was definitely a good idea to wear it today.

My fists clench and flares of anger shoot from my heart. I shouldn't wear my armor on a daily basis, I shouldn't need to. I shouldn't have expected something to happen when I put it on, this shouldn't be happening. This guy, girl, whatever, they need to go. This criminal needs to be kicked out, before other people can get hurt.

"Hey, you okay?" I lift my head up to see bight orange on top of Dan's head. "Pretty brave of you just to run in like that."

"I get it from Jesse." I decide not to shoo him away as he comes closer to peers at my neck. "Did I get burned or something?"

"Yea, it'll probably blister, but it's not too bad."

"Of course it's not too bad, Lukas barely got hurt after I pushed him off of a void. A fire has nothing on him." Aiden sits down next to me, handing me a water bottle which I instantly drain.

Dan glances at him, raising an eyebrow. "Excuse me? Aren't you a policeman or something? Shouldn't you be helping?"

"I was," Aiden gestures to the crowds watching in a horrified fascination. "Until people were jeering at me that I caused the fire. My chief officer told me to back off."

Romeo huffs, and I think my heart rate is finally backing off. "The firefighters told me the same thing. Got quite a few glares thrown at me."

"Aw great," I jump as Cassie Rose springs from behind, smirking as she walks in front of the bench. "I would feel lonely if I was the only one the firefighters kicked away."

Aiden snorts, "Let me guess, since you're a stranger they-"

"Guys, shut it." The blunt words leave silence, determined thoughts streaking across my head. The firefighters, the police, me and Radar, we haven't gotten anywhere with this. We're just responding to everything, reacting to it. "I think instead of complaining we need to change our game plan."

I raise my head, meeting the very diverse sets of eyes looking back at me. "It's time we catch this criminal."

****

Whelp, it's finally posted. Sorry for taking forever on completing it, but better late than never? 

Regardless, it was pretty interesting. These characters aren't exactly normal, so it was a nice change of pace for me. Especially with them interacting, poor Radar can barely handle being near Cassie.

So yep, I still got some other things to finish up, so stay tuned until I turn up again. Buh bye!