Apartment Complex

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Awesome nerd

Ellery Advimi




Ellery jumped as Eddie appeared, biting back a yelp and struggling against his bonds. He furrowed his brow, looking up at the officer. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked, clenching his fists. "I told you when we started going out, I don't like ropes. Untie me!" He fought a little more, before he spied the gun. He immediately stopped, looking up to the redhead with an angry look on his face. "You're just like him, aren't you?" he spat.

 

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Eddie Winters

"I'm afraid I don't follow you," Eddie smiled casually, as though they were still teasing each other. He folded his arms and leaned his back against the table as one leg crossed the other. "But that's okay. I'm not interested, anyway. What I am interested in is the Nightingale. I've always admired him, the way he can kill anyone at anytime and in anyway! It's art! I've tried mimicking his style for so long! I got his hacking down right, I even set up my own website to get paid like him! You know, I'm pretty surprised, Ellery," he said while nonchalantly scratching his cheek. "You've got quite a few hits out on you. It's pretty common among famous people. The rest of your band all have hits requested too, but yours is the most requested out of all of them. Don't get me wrong, when we started dating I didn't know the hits were talking about you, and I love the time we've had together, but I'd prefer to put my job first, you know?" He smiled at a sudden thought and moved one hand to the laptop, pressing a random key so that the screen would shine on.
The screen was dim gray, very reminiscent of the standby screens from old time, black and white televisions. Instead of telling the viewer to wait, however, there stood only two lines that read:

NIGHTINGALE.EXE

TRACKING...

"I took the hit, but I decided to spend most of that money paying the real Nightingale to kill you," Eddie said, his tone light as though he were talking about what he ate for dinner the other day. "I'd get a great chance to see how he kills, and I'd get paid for it, too! Don't worry about Daniel, by the way. I'll take care of him. Who knows? Maybe I'll teach him to be an assassin, too?" he laughed just as "TRACKING" turned into "LOCATED".

 

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Awesome nerd

Ellery Advimi




Ellery kicked his feet, struggling wildly against his binds. "Let me go! He's not going to accept it, he won't. I know it! I-" He stopped as the tracking changed into a different word. Each letter filled his mind as he read it, and he started to fight harder. "Eddie, let me go right now. You don't want to do this. The Nightingale is dangerous, and he's always ten steps ahead. If he thinks you're watching him, he'll take you out. There's still a chance for you to get away. Just untie me and we can forget this."
Meanwhile, Ellery tried to remember whether or not he agreed to Eddie's rule of not bringing is phone, praying that if he'd brought it, it hadn't been taken away. Even more so, he prayed that Fredrich wouldn't actually kill him.

 

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Eddie Winters

"Oh wow, you seem to know a lot about the Nightingale," Eddie mused while making no attempt at helping Ellery. "Whatever you've read, you're wrong. I may be just a mimic assassin, but I've followed him closer than anyone else. I've copied his virus perfectly, I can kill people several different ways, and I can even erase all the evidence by working as a cop." He snickered and winked. "I feel bad for Detective Waltz. He's spent years on the case only for one of the killers to be right in front of him." He glanced at the computer, brightening. "Oh! He's found you! I asked for the standard killing, so he should shoot you any minute now. I wonder how. Through the head? With a sniper? I can't wait!"
The sound of a gunshot came, but it didn't touch Ellery. Eddie blinked slowly, his smile stuck in place as he had yet to comprehend the bullet shooting out of his upper left arm. He slowly looked down at it, his smile cracking into a surprised frown. "Wh-Wha-" Another bullet shot through his right shoulder, causing him to stumble forwards. He gripped his shoulder, wincing at the pain from both arms, a pain enough to numb his thoughts. Why was he the one getting shot?
He turned as he saw something in the shadows. A tall figure with a long coat. In its hand was a smoking gun. Was that the Nightingale?
Eddie's somewhat hopeful eyes turned into a mess of confusion and curiosity as the figure stepped out of the shadows to reveal itself to be Detective Waltz. The usual stoic expression on Fredrich's face was gone and replaced with angrily narrowed eyes.
"D-Detective Wa-" Eddie fell to one knee as his right kneecap was shot by the gun Fredrich was holding.
"Don't bother talking," Fredrich grunted. He strode over towards Eddie and kicked him in the jaw, using enough force to send the man flying into the table beside him. Unsatisfied, Fredrich grabbed Eddie by the collar of his shirt and lifted him up, though the man's legs were still limp on the ground.
"I always knew there was something off about you," the detective started. "To think that you copied everything from me. My family, my job, my virus, my killing methods."
A few words began to register in Eddie's mind and his eyes widened. "You... You're the Nightingale?" he coughed.
Fredrich answered with a swift punch to the side of the man's head using the butt of his gun. "Use your brain, you waste of space," he spat. "Why would a detective with my record be unable to find any clues on the Nightingale for years? You were so absorbed in your work that you didn't even bother to think, did you? Mistakes like that land you in situations like this. And this-!" At the last word he threw Eddie back on the ground and began to punch his face repeatedly. "You pathetic copycat! You couldn't even think of your own ways to kill?! And you were going to murder him?! Even though you were convinced you loved him?! Trash!" With each punch his fist became bloodier.

 

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Ellery Advimi




Ellery growled in anger. "Trust me, you have no idea who you're messing with. If you don't let me go right now, I can't be held responsible for what your stupidity will bring down on you!" he barked, then stopped as he heard the news. He was coming? Really? What was he going to do, shoot him through the head? Or was the heart more appropriate? Ellery jumped at the sudden shot, then closed his eyes and waited for the blood to wet his shirt, only to find it wasn't his body that had been shot. He opened his eyes again, strange but strong emotion filling him as he realized Fredrich had protected him after all.
He took a brief moment to appreciate the detective's appearance, smiling softly before turning his attention to releasing himself. He knew the man could handle himself, although he did pause as Fredrich spoke. He glanced upwards, watching the attack. Fredrich was usually so calm and collected, rarely letting himself get this enraged. Even when he was fighting Lock, even when rescuing Ethan from the Bard, he'd never been like this. Maybe, despite everything, the man still-
No.
Ellery stopped himself, returning his attention to freeing himself. It wasn't easy, since the binds themselves were pretty tight, but he persevered. Fortunately, only his arms had been tied, and even then, he'd remembered what he'd been taught the last time he had been kidnapped and had tensed what muscles he had when being bound. It made for a small, but still present, opening, which he took advantage of. It took a lot of wiggling, but soon enough, Ellery had freed himself, safe except for a few rope burns on his arms. He rubbed his forearm before walking over to Fredrich and Eddie. He stood silently to the side, then set a hand on Fredrich's arm. "Fredrich, that's enough," he said as calmly as he could, before gesturing to the gun. "If anyone is going to kill him, it should be me." He bent down a little, stunning green eyes glaring at Eddie's. "I don't care that you wanted to kill me, but my son? You will not turn him into a second rate murderer like you. I want him successful, not sloppy."

 

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Eddie Winters

By the time Ellery escaped the binds, Eddie had been reduced to a bloody pulp. His face was so bruised and swollen that it was hardly recognizable. If he hadn't been stopped, Fredrich might have beaten the man to death.
The detective paused when Ellery spoke to him, then slowly let go of Eddie and straightened up to look at him. His gaze was unsure, but he handed him the gun anyway.
Eddie spluttered and coughed in response to Ellery. It was hard to tell whether he could even see him or not.

Fredrich Waltz

 

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Ellery Advimi




Taking the gun, Ellery took a moment to adjust to the weight. He wasn't used to holding guns, even less used to firing them, but he didn't have much of a choice this time. The man knew about Fredrich's secret occupation, and more than that, he knew that the Nightingale had a family. He had to go. The songwriter looked over the gun, the shining, cold metal new and entirely foreign to him. After this, he was going to have Fredrich take him shooting. Would he even want to? After all they'd been through, would Fredrich want to stick by him again? There was only one way to find out.
"You know, I've never killed anyone before. I always insisted on keeping my hands clean. After all, someone in the house had to be legit. When my relationship fell apart, I figured I had a chance to have a normal life. But you had to take it away from me, Eddie. That was a mistake." He held the gun in one hand, bringing the muzzle towards Eddie's head and resting the cold tip on his forehead. "You threatened me, you threatened my son. You threatened the man I loved. I'm not a murderer, Eddie. But for you?"
He placed his index finger on the trigger.
"For you, I'll make an exception."


BANG!

 

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Eddie Winters

Eddie's body twitched for a second before becoming limp as a pool of blood collected beneath him. Fredrich gazed at him for a solid minute then pulled his phone up. "Cameron," he started."Come to the rooftops. I've got a body your father will want."
He hung up then looked at Ellery, holding his hand out for the gun. "Are you okay?" he asked, his face a stoic mask with concerned eyes.

Fredrich Waltz

 

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Ellery Advimi




Ellery stood in silence, staring down at the man he'd just shot. He'd never gotten his hands dirty before, and although he didn't like it, he felt right for what he did. However, no matter how right it was, it didn't take away that feeling in his stomach. Hearing Fredrich's question, he handed the gun back and continued to stare at Eddie's body. "No," he answered. "I'm not."
Taking a deep breath, Ellery turned his eyes upwards towards Fredrich. "I just wanted a family so badly, I didn't care who I had one with, even if it meant leaving you. I could live without love if it meant being the parent I always wanted to be. Because of my own blindness and stupidity, I put Daniel in danger. I'm sorry, Fredrich." He remained calm and collected, as stoic as the man he loved. It was strange to see such an emotional and open person like Ellery be so emotionless, but the shock would soon pass, leaving him inconsolable.

 

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Fredrich Waltz

In this world, one cannot say anything without proof to back them up.

"It can't be helped," Fredrich said while pulling out a handkerchief to clean the blood off the gun. "People often lose their common sense when their wants and needs get too strong. I've seen enough requests to know that." He put his gun up then turned, starting to stride away. All he came here to do was stop Eddie. As far as he was concerned, Ellery still had his own life to live.

Without proof, you'll never catch me.

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[Mayah Playah]

Awesome nerd

Ellery Advimi




"Fredrich, please."
Ellery turned to face him as he walked away, although he kept his eyes on the ground. He slowly closed them, horrified by the memories of the night and opening them again before looking back up to the detective. "Please don't make me beg." He stood very still, praying that Fredrich would have mercy on him. He was alone and scared, with a child to protect and a big world that clearly wanted him dead. How long would it be before another assassin came after him? What if they were as sloppy as Eddie and got Daniel too? The very thought brought tears to his eyes.

 

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Mayah_Playah

Fredrich Waltz

In this world, one cannot say anything without proof to back them up.

Fredrich stopped, but didn't turn to look at the songwriter. "Beg for what?" he asked rather harshly. "You said so yourself, you're blinded by this need for a family, and no matter what trouble you get into I won't satisfy those desires. Or do you want a glorified bodyguard? I'm monitoring assassins so they don't go hunting for you. Eddie was the only one.
"Why don't you go find someone else? Every trouble you're going through, being a single parent, being a target. These were all by your decisions and yours alone. I can't hold your hand through this one and solve them for you."

Without proof, you'll never catch me.

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[Mayah Playah]

Awesome nerd

Ellery Advimi




He shook his head, roughly wiping away a tear that had fallen. "I don't need one, I just wanted one," he corrected. "And I don't need you to solve problems, I just-" Ellery stopped himself, raising a hand to his forehead. "What do you want me to say, Fredrich? What? Do you want me to just give you Daniel? Because you can protect him much easier than I can. Do you want me to admit that I still love you? Because I do. I loved you when you told me you loved Ethan, when you told me we could never expand our family, when you dumped me in our son's room, when a man stood here and explained to me that he was going to let you murder me. I loved you and I trusted you every step because I knew your actions were the best fro the situation." He stopped again, dropping his hand to his side as his voice grew quieter.
"And I know you love me too, because if you didn't, you wouldn't have beaten him like you did and you wouldn't be monitoring assassins for me. My spirit is beaten, Fredrich. I don't want a larger family anymore. Just let me come home to you."

 

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Fredrich Waltz

In this world, one cannot say anything without proof to back them up.

Fredrich stayed silent throughout the entire confession. He didn't even look over his shoulder to acknowledge the musician. In fact, it looked like he didn't even listen.
Even when Ellery had finished talking, Fredrich remained silent. The wind that howled from so high up pushed at his coattail, as if urging him to do something. But he didn't. Finally, he made a noise. It was a noise between a "tch" and a snort.
"You still have the key, I presume?" he murmured, though he still didn't look at Ellery. "Never mind. The door will be unlocked."
And he left.

Without proof, you'll never catch me.

................................................................................................  

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~~~

Arthur adjusted his scarf as he walked down the hallways, in high spirits as he made his way to his boyfriend's apartment. Little hearts floated around his head as he smiled dumbly, thinking about everything he'd do once he saw Aki. It was funny, ever since he dated Aki he felt his problems drift away. A lot of things drifted away, actually. His worries, his problems, anything he thought about everyone else. He was kind of obsessed with Aki. Did Aki really like him? He wasn't interested in anyone else? Nobody else looked way better to him? If Arthur wasn't thinking that naturally then Envy was whispering it to him every chance he could. Still, whenever those doubts reached a peak Aki found a way to soothe them. Just like now!
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