viii, goodbye my dear friend.

     It had only been four days before the men and women all decided to meet at one of their favorite bars. Well, it was Yusuf's and Lina's who both visited every 70 years.

     They had been deciding Booker's fate and what to do with him. The team had very different ideas. Yusuf, was the one who wanted him gone for over 200 years, still a very angry about him shooting Lina (he still hasn't apologized to her).

     Lina, along with Nicolò had been silent, but they were still observing. The two were the ones who would suppress their anger and disappointment not knowing where to put it and let it simmer until they exploded or it died down.

     Whatever the group would agree on Lina just hoped Book would contact them if he was in danger.

     Walking over to the table she sat on the end handing the wine to Nicolò and keeping a whiskey in her hand for herself.

     "What about 100 years," Nicolò put in his input, Lina looked up to him and when they looked towards her for her input she added, "I agree, and when if it does come down if something happens we find him and help him." Nicolò nodded, agreeing.

     Yusuf looked out the window looking towards a drinking Booker. Nile has been outside, leaving shortly after suggesting that he just apologize, which made Yusuf chuckle in disbelief.

     Lina hoped at some point everyone would forgive Booker. Lina had barely seen him in her time home. And now she'll have to wait? She let out a sigh looking at the whiskey and downing it.

     Andy nodded before speaking, "That's it then. 100 years," she nodded, and she kept no emotion in her eyes as she stood taking her empty cup of mezcal to the bar.

     Lina breathed out as she dropped her head into her hands. She didn't want him to leave, hell she thought of the man as her little brother. She hoped they wouldn't go through with the full 100 years.

     She felt a hand rub her back knowing it was Yusuf's she leaned into it. Roughly she rubbed her eyes hoping to feel something other than betrayal. She felt horrible for doing this.

     "Ne siamo sicuri?" Lina asked staring out the window.

     Yusuf stares hating that she was feeling what she was, "cos'altro potremmo fare?" Yusuf asked.

     Lina sighed looking down at the table, she didn't know what she was feeling but it wasn't good.

     "Spero solo che sia lì quando Andy..." Nicolò trails off. Lina nods, she didn't even think of that, people only love so long. She was brought out of her zoned out mood when Andy came back.

     "Let's go. I'm going to talk to Book and then we can go see Copley." She left no room for discussion as she left the old bar.

     The three stood Yusuf leading them out of the bar and waiting on the stone steps near the car. Nile joined them as Andy spoke to Booker about what his punishment will look like.

     Yusuf held tightly onto Lina's hand. He hated how she was feeling, how he felt as well. She squeezed his hand as her thumb ran over his knuckles. Andy hugged Booker before stepping back and walking towards the four.

     Lina's eyes met Booker's as she sent him a reassuring smile and nod before she turned and lead the now five immortals to the Jeep she managed to guilt-trip Keane into giving her.

     They all got in, Lina driving with Nile in the passenger. The entire ride Lina and Nile bickered over the radio. While Lina had convinced that the driver picks the music, Nile now did it just to be annoying.

     Hard rock played as the Jeep pulled into the building Copley sent them too. "Wait," spoke Lina, making everyone pause looking towards the girl.

     The songs beat suddenly dropped as a large goofy smile grew on her face. A large smile grew on Nicolò and Yusuf's face as they stared at the woman before shaking their heads and leaving the car.

Lina groaned as the music stopped, getting out of the car and pocketing the keys. She put her hood on her sweatshirt up cautious of cameras as the group entered the building.

They explored until they found the man of the hour pinning up a picture to a board. Lina scanned it mildly confused with furrowed eyebrows. Is this man a stalker?

He greeted them as she observed him, doesn't seem like one. Yusuf had explained who the man was seeing she showed up late to the party.

The glare like face, but she was just concentrating, was broken as the man held his hand out to her. She observed it as he introduced himself, "I'm James Copley, great to meet you."

She looked to Yusuf as if to say should I shake his hand? He nodded, making Lina begrudgingly take her right hand and shaking his slightly sweaty hand.

"Ermellina Accorsa, everyone calls me Lina," she introduced herself, her hand tightening around his enjoying the way his face flinched while everyone stared at the wall in front of them.

He winced pulling his hand away first, Lina let out a quiet scoff like breath, that's what you get asshat.

Albeit slightly dramatic she had reasoning. The man sent soldiers into the safe house SHE designed and tore it up, along with kidnapping her loves.

She moved her hard stare to the wall looking over the picture of herself. There was one of her in 1918, dressed and ready for what would be world war 1.

There was another that was a recreation of a painting with her and Napoleon. (She didn't like him much, he hated the cat she owned at the time.) And then there was one of her and the two men holding a child close shielding her from gunfire.

She looked over to Yusuf who gave her a small smile, remembering the little girl as well. They ended up raising her, and eventually 'dying' when she was 18. When Lina later asked around about her she had made a name for herself as an actress.

"This is only what I've found going back the last 150 years or so," Copley put in his input, "When you think about how old you are, the good you've done for humanity becomes exponential."

"Maybe this is the why, Andy," Nile spoke. Andy looked at her before speaking up.

"It's nearly impossible to disappear in the world we live in today. There are too many people like you who can bend it to your will. Too many with bad intentions. We don't have all the answers, but we do have purpose. And you're going to help us," she spoke.

"When we leave a footprint in the sand, in the snow, in the ether, you're going to sweep it. You're going to protect us from those who want to put us in cages, and you're gonna help us find those jobs... that are best suited to us," she told him. Lina smirked turning around, this would make everything easier.

"She's not asking," Yusuf threatened when the man wouldn't answer.

"I'd be honored," he answered, and if you think about it there's only one option he could choose.

"Then let's go to work," Andy smirked, making Lina's smile widen.

VIII, GOODBYE MY DEAR FRIEND.
unedited.
words: 1314

AN | what's up guys.
do y'all like longer chapters or shorter?
ALSO two more chapters left!
no need to worry it's pure fluff— even though I haven't started it I can already tell it will be.
the last one will be a character profile.

I LOVE THE ENTIRE CAST THEY ARE SO PRETTY AND I WANT TO MARRY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!!!!!!

I love this man with my whole being