InsaneJournal

Who: Laurence and Pidge
What: Laurence got killed by Paradooms
When: last month
Where: Their apartment
Rating/Warnings: Character death, blood, gore, a panicking teen
Status: Complete when posted



Laurence was uneasy after the events of yesterday. He didn’t have much cause to navigate by starlight in the modern world, but he had still noticed, late the night before, the subtle shift of the stars in the night sky; it was no doubt caused by the strange towers that had appeared over the earth.

He didn’t know what today would bring, and he hoped that it would not be much. Whatever it was though, it was important to at least attempt to keep to a schedule that resembled normal, which is why he was now cooking breakfast for himself and Pidge - big, fluffy omelettes filled with spinach and cheese, bacon and toast.

“Breakfast is just about finished, Pidge,” Laurence called, certain that Pidge would be able to hear it from their bedroom, and hoping that they’d be able to put aside whatever they were doing to come eat.

***

Pidge had woken up early to shower and get dressed before diving back into their project. They didn’t really hope that the recreation of the bracelet Murphy had let them take apart to study would work the way they wanted it too because they couldn’t exactly replicate everything with technology at their disposal but it would be a start. And they could keep working on it. Maybe invent some of what they’d need to make it actually work.

They heard Laurence calling them for breakfast and put their work down, remembering as they stepped toward the door to go back and turn off the lamp. It was one of the things that they were adjusting to. Remembering lights and to not just leave their work everywhere in their room. But they did it. Most of the time.

“What’s for breakfast?” They asked, going to the fridge to pull out the milk and the juice.

***

“Omelettes,” Laurence answered, and then frowned in concentration, pulling the pan back sharply so that the omelette flew out of it, flipping in the air. He couldn’t help but smiling when he caught it in the pan again. “I think I may head into work today, to see if there is anything that I can help with. I do not like the look of those machines that have popped up.”

He scooped the omelette from the pan, placing it on the table with the hashbrowns and fruit he’d already arrayed the plate with, and then placed it in front of Pidge. “Will you be alright by yourself today?”

***

Pidge poured a glass of milk for themself before setting it on the table and then sitting down in their seat to wait for their plate. “I was actually thinking I might head into work myself. I should probably spend a few hours at Godfrey Industries working on site instead of remotely like I have been. Make sure Roman doesn’t regret hiring me.”

***

Laurence frowned out the window as he laid the plate in front of Pidge; he didn't like the look of those clouds, and it was hard to say if this round of strangeness would be limited to just the clouds and the oil rigs that had suddenly and unexpectedly appeared around the world.

"So long as you're careful," Laurence said slowly. "I should hate to think of anything happening to…"

He squinted then, because it looked as though there was something flying in the clouds, though it was unlike any bird he'd ever seen.

***

It had taken a while for Pidge to get comfortable with having someone worry about and look after them but now it didn’t bother them anymore. Laurence just wanted them to be safe and Pidge just wanted the same for him. The man had become family to them. Their mom hadn’t gotten why Pidge had decided to stay with someone other than her friend at first but they’d finally figured out how to explain it.

“I was thinking I’d take a cab instead of the bus. Get there faster.” They said, their gaze following Laurence’s to the window. “...Is that a person out there flying?” Anywhere else that thought would be impossible.

***

“I don’t -” Laurence said, squinting against the morning light as whatever it was got closer. It wasn’t quite human, no, though it was human-like, with a red body and coal-black skin, white hair and grey horns sprouting from its face, elbows, and shoulders.

He grabbed Pidge, shielding them from the spray of glass as the creature flew through the window, and he was already running, half carrying Pidge as he went, toward the nearest weapon - the fine Chinese sword he’d received from his dreams, which he kept displayed above the mantle in his living room. For the first time, he cursed the fact that he didn’t keep a firearm in his apartment.

***

Pidge froze as they realized whatever it was was about to crash into the apartment window. All thoughts of ducking or running past what they were capable of at that moment but they were able to get their legs under them and moving as Laurence moved them into the living room. None of their devices were going to work on whatever this was, definitely would need to talk to Roman about trying to invent something that would.

Pidge disengaged from Laurence to hide behind the couch as they saw him heading for the sword. Mind starting to circulate through plans again as they tried to figure out a way to their room to call for help. They’d discovered the police band on their radio the other night so figured they could use it to get help fast.

***

Laurence wrenched the sword from the mantle and turned to face the creature. He had never had much occasion to fight with swords in this world, apart from some fencing lessons when he’d been a boy, and this certainly wasn’t a fencing sword, but he found his body moving of its own accord, the experience he had in his dreams evidently training enough. He lunched for the creature, striking it, and was horrified when the sword glanced off its skin without so much as a scratch.

He only had a moment to marvel at it before the creature had him in hand, and it was pulling at his arm as if it meant to tear it off, and then, horrifyingly, it did with a spray of blood and sinew, and Laurence screamed.

***

The sound of Laurence’s arm ripping off hit Pidge’s brain before they could process the sight in front of them. Blood hitting their face in the moments they were frozen, staring at Laurence. Their body started moving on autopilot, running toward the front door without even bothering to grab a pair of shoes. Or their phone as they fled out the apartment with no idea where they were going at first.

They were halfway to Godfrey Industries before they realized where they were going. Roman’s business was the only other place they had actually found to feel safe. Blood spattered on their face and robe as they opened the door and stepped inside.