Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Fall Day 5

recap;

When Hunter stepped on the porch, looking around she saw nothing particularly abnormal. The farm was quiet, the lamp posts lighting up her crops, her animals were still seemingly inside the barn. She was about to blame it on their paranoia, when she saw a shadowy figure moving to her left.

A chill ran down her spine.

She was about to scream or call the cops or both. When the sound of soft paws landing with thuds on the grass were followed by a Shiba Inu emerging from the shadows.

“Taco?” Leah muttered, pocketing her phone.

“You scared me, boy.” Hunter said, clutching her shirt.

Hunter looked back at where he came from, noticing a spark of something yellow glint in the moonlight, she walked closer to see a screwdriver tossed on the ground. She doesn’t remember having a yellow screwdriver. Hers was red. Weird.

“I’ll drop him off at the vineyard.” Leah’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“Ok, want me to tag along?”

“It’s quite alright. I can handle myself.”

The formality of Leah’s tone sent splinters into her heart. Even if it shouldn't. Why had she thought things would be any different? They’d done what they came here to do, hadn’t they? And now they would go back to how they’d been from the start— perhaps a touch more polite, but still something more than strangers, but less than friends. Less than lovers. And she knew, even if she didn't dare admit. She wasn't satisfied with that.  She didn't want Leah to leave. She wanted to hold her close for the rest of the night. Maybe hear those soft lips, that like her own, were swollen from the hours they’d spent kissing, moaning her name again. But maybe even more than that, telling her something soft and tender, those words she felt almost escaping her lips.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She instead took in a sharp breath. And everything went cold. And she had to accept that after this hot evening things had cooled down. It was back to dark and lonely in the night as she watched Leah’s retreating back, with Taco following suit on the footpath of the sidewalk, wagging the stub of his tail not a care in the world.

She too wished she didn't care.

Fall Day 17

Hunter trotted Spirit around the farm yards –Yes, she named her horse after the movie “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.” which admittedly, was a blatant clichè. Although any horse girl would agree, it was their favorite movie growing up. Nothing wrong with a true childhood classic.

Spirit floated over the grass. She loved his trot; some horses had jarring trots which were impossible to sit to, but not Spirit. His gaits had been smooth from the moment she got him. And the more she learned his rhythm, the more he felt like an extension of her body.

She loved this horse. Not just for the convenience of having him –Yes, it made it easier to get around town, or get the sheep back into pasture. But, she always wanted a horse of her own, and he was amazing beyond her expectations.

Today her work was slow, which to her was actually a bad thing. She was desperate for a distraction. Yet, annoyingly everything around the farm was perfect!

She decided to maybe do more diving, clean the ocean some more. Even though she did that so much the past week, it was hard to see trash float up on the shore as it used to do before. She had already done so much for this city, even their overall town ranking had gone up. But, it didn't feel like enough. Nothing was ever enough of a distraction to get Leah out of her head. She felt proud of her hard work. But, she was tired, exhausted. Yet she was always finding something else to do. She knew she should stop. All she really needed was to simply relent, go back to her cabin and fall into bed. Relax. Sleep. 

But, that was dangerous.

Ever since her bed was used by her and Leah. She felt the woman even more. It was like her smell had lingered on her skin, her sheets, her mattress. No matter how much she washed it. She had lingered everywhere.

So, lying in bed was dangerous, because it only resulted in thoughts of Leah, and that soil was heavily mined. 

Several days had passed since they’d had mindblowing sex in her own bed. And all she did was avoid Leah since then, but somehow not seeing Leah was just as torturous as being in her presence.

Well, she saw her in passing a couple times, refusing to look at her for longer than a minute. Leah didn't seem to even notice. Or care. She did speak to her once. It was the day after the harvest festival, very briefly. Yet the memory played out in Hunter's mind like a scene from a movie;

~~*flashback~~

It was a busy day at the local market, booths adorned with colorful fruits and vegetables. Hunter was immersed selecting the best seeds for the season when she sensed a presence behind her. Without turning, she could practically feel Leah's smirking gaze burning on her back.

Then her teasing words filled the air;

"Farmer Girl, picking out your next batch of disaster crops?" she quipped.

Hunter, gritting her teeth, shot back, "I know what I'm doing, princess."

Leah leaned in, her tone dripping with amusement. "Oh, I'm sure. With your track record, the whole town will be out of vegetables in no time."

As Hunter bristled at the remark, still sour about losing the harvest festival to that asshole Bobby. Instead of coming up with a coherent answer all she did was groan in response.

Leah's mischievous smile softened. “You got a little something here.”

With a slight sparkle in her eyes, she reached up, her fingers lingering on Hunter's cheek, and wiped away a smudge of dirt.

"Don't be too hard on yourself.” Her hand still cupping Hunter's face. “Just between us, I think you should have won.”

It was embarrassing how that simple admission had her feeling like an absolute winner.

~~

She was so lost in thought she only came back to it, when Spirit arched his neck and waited for her command. 

She moved him out to a brisk walk. He covered the way ahead easily. Breaking into an eager trot when she ordered. It helped calm her down a bit, feeling the wind on her cheeks as Spirit cantered in a tightening circle, closer to the small river near the cabin. She easily jumped out of his back, so he could drink some water in peace.

She watched him dip his head. And the water flowing dark above the rocks reminded her of Leah’s eyes.

Stupid. Was how she felt, for allowing this woman to take so much space on her thoughts.

Hunter ran her hand on Spirit’s sides, stroking his soft brown fuzz. 

“Spirit… What would you do if you met a beautiful horse? I’m talking American Paint, like Rain from your movie!” Spirit’s only response was a swing of his tail as Hunter kept talking. “But, then she wasn’t.. let’s say she was a bitch and you really really hated her? But, also she’s so pretty and makes you feel… things. Would you ask her out on a date?” 

Spirit huffed in response, finally looking up, his large brown eyes staring back at her liquid and gentle, as water dripped from his lips onto the ground.

Hunter sighed. Patting him one final time on the back, before turning to walk towards the city. Her hand strayed automatically to her phone, but still nothing from Leah since their teasing exchange after the harvest festival. She’d started and deleted at least fifteen messages since then. All had sounded hollow, and desperate. It seemed like each time she opened a chat to invite Leah over for a drink, her mind told her it was not the right move, or the right time, and every night she didn’t, she slept, exhausted and aching and panicked that Leah was slipping away. 

Feeling her whole body burning. Like a sick fever. Maybe she needed to talk to an actual human being about this. Suki or Alice maybe? Her feet made plans of their own, she found herself walking towards Fishensips. It seemed her brain decided she needed a drink first.

“Well, well, well, if it isn't my favorite farmer!” said Noah when Hunter took a seat at what, over the months, had become her unofficial stool at the bar.

“Hi Noah," Hunter managed a smile.

“What can I get you?”

“Either straight whiskey or… a water?”

“Sounds like a life crisis. I’m getting you both.”

“You have no idea,” She said and rested her elbows on the bar to watch Noah work.

Noah was friends with Alice, they had hung out a few times, and he was always easy to talk to when she visited the bar. He was a very cool dude, always doing his best to please the customers, exchanging jokes with the regulars and making newcomers feel right at home. She felt lucky that the town had a place like this. And that Betty seemed to be leaving it in great hands.

“Mhmm. Care to share?”  Noah said as he circled back around with a glass of whiskey on the rocks, and a frosty cup of water. Weird combo. But even weirder circumstances were happening in her life. So who cared, really.

“No,” she said instinctively, and then, “yes..”

“Tough, huh?” Noah gave the quiet bar, which contained a handful of middle-aged women gathered around a table, a quick glance and then turned his full attention to Hunter. Leaning on the bar, his glasses sliding to the tip of his nose as he smiled at her. “What’s bothering you?”

“Oh, you know. A lot.”

“Whiskey is good for that.”

“I’m not sure it’s going to help with this.” She said, taking a sip.

“Then it really is serious. Love troubles?”

The feverish feeling continued and, half delirious, she looked into Noah’s face and wondered how much she could trust him and what it said about her that she wanted to spill her heart out to the bartender, rather than text a girl that maybe she had grown to like. And that the fact they were plotting to take down a whole evil organization didn't get her half as nervous as the mere thought of texting Leah did.

“Yes.. that too. But, there’s more…” Hunter sighed. “It’s not that simple.”

“What is ever simple in life?” Noah’s expression was serious despite the jokey tone, as he threw a rag over his shoulder. 

“I’d take love troubles over murder mystery. But.. well, I don't have to choose, I have both!”

She stirred the glass, making the ice inside clink, considering the absurdity of her last statement.

“Sorry.”

“For what?” Noah eyed her curiously, his posture changed. Gauging if she was serious or not, but by his crooked smile he had taken it as her being dramatic.

“That was kind of a big thing to blurt out.”

“It’s not the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. Not even the craziest thing I’ve heard this week. Apparently, Frank knows a guy who adds diesel to his beer because, and I quote, ‘it’s the manly thing to do.’ Carries a flask of it around and everything.”

“What?”

“I know, right?”

“That’s—wow. Super disturbing.”

“So, you’re not that crazy.”

“That’s a pretty low bar.”

“Low bars or not, things are never that serious.” Noah said, wiping the counter.  “But, I’m sorry… for whatever you’re going through.”

She appreciated that Noah didn’t ask questions, even as the urge to confess overwhelmed her.

“I never thought I would be this person.”

“What person?”

“The type of messy person who spills their secrets to a bartender.”

“What’s wrong with that? It’s actually a big part of my job.”

“Oh, so is it in the bartender course? A side of over the counter psychology?”

“Maybe..” Noah smiled. “Hang on.” He ducked into the back and emerged a few minutes later without his apron. “Frank will cover for me for a bit. He owes me hours. Let’s go sit outside.”

She nodded, following him through the door.

Seeing the boats rock back and forth with the sea just like it did on her first day here. Sitting at the same table she sat when she first saw Leah by the coffee stand. It should have felt like a pang in her heart. But it felt strangely soothing. Nostalgic. Like if she blinked she would wake up and the past few months would have been nothing but a crazy dream.

She blinked, but her eyes found Noah looking at her expectantly. Not a dream then. She sighed. Unsure if from relief or disappointment. Unsure if it had indeed been all just a dream.. would she do this all over again? 

“Now that we’re not in the bar, I’m not your bartender,” Noah said. “I’m here as your friend, so no need to feel weird anymore.”

Hunter smiled, running a hand through her hair. “You’re too nice.”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I need to ask. Murder mystery, what did you mean? Were you joking or…”

“Well...”

Noah frowned. “Are you… is it something illegal?”

She had two secrets. One was sleeping with Leah no strings attached. Which even if it felt illegal, it wasn’t. The other secret certainly borderlined illegality. Noah should know. At least the Pufferfish thing. Her mess of a love life could wait. So she told him everything. What they found. What they suspected. What they already knew. That pufferfish could only start drilling after they won a vote from the city's population. But, the twist was that to scam their way in, they were buying land in the area in order to get more votes. And that they heard the phrase “wipe records” and finding her grandfather’s pic with the ominous message, made them think that they weren’t afraid to commit a crime in order to get what they wanted. 

“Headquarters in an abandoned building? That’s creepy.”

“That's what I said!” Hunter exclaimed, a little too excitedly. Reliving the memory had her blood pumping. She cleared her throat. “Creepy as fuck.” She added, remembering damn well the chills she got inside that place.

“So.. you think they’d just kill someone if they got in the way?”

“Yes. And they definitely threatened him. He died so suddenly. He was healthy, happy. Then he left the farm behind for no reason, it was odd. And a few days later he…” She couldn’t bring herself to say it. “It was sudden, even the doctors couldn't explain. He had a checkup just the month before. No history of heart issues, and yet..”

“Shit..” Noah didn’t usually curse. Betty hated swear words. And he had always been a very polite man. So if he said that it was shit, it was really shit indeed.

“Yeah.”

“Are you safe? If you need me, just call me. Or Frank. We can pack a punch. He was already down to burn down the entire building. Being called ‘red shirt’ was more than enough reason. Now this? This would make him actually do it, I’m sure. Should I.. tell him?”

“We are trying to find more proof first. I don’t even know if I should have told you but, it’s been eating me alive.”

“Uhm, I get it. Thanks for trusting me,” Noah nodded, sliding his glasses up. “Worst comes to worst we could riot in front of their building until they leave. I know the whole town would agree.”

“Yeah. You're right. We'll get them one way or another.” Hunter managed a bitter smile. She felt a bit relieved to share that. But there was still something deeper that kept gnawing at her insides. Leah.

“I know you came here to start fresh and this is…” Noah started, letting his word fall.

“It wasn’t what I expected to find here, that's for sure.” 

“I’m sorry.”  He pursed his lips, his eyes were soft and tender. “Do you regret coming here? I wouldn’t blame you if you just ran back to Pokyo. No one would.”

She stopped to think. Long and hard, staring at Raj’s coffee stand. She could see a reindeer mug lined with the cups behind the glass counter. She smiled. If she could go back in time. She wouldn’t change a thing.

“No. I don’t regret it. And I would never leave this town behind. I feel like part of it now. I want to help.”

He nodded with a smile. “I’m glad.”

“You mentioned.. love troubles too,” Noad said after a while;

She looked at Noah, doubt thudding in her chest in place of a heartbeat. Pufferfish was not getting away. They couldn't run. And yet, she’d run. Right into the arms of a woman she expressly hated. But why? Because she wanted to punish herself? Because Leah already despised her, so she couldn’t possibly disappoint her? Or because she’d never gotten over that smug look on Leah's face ever since she first saw her? Or because Leah had actually made her frozen over heart burn with feelings after so long? No, that was stupid. She couldn’t feel anything more than distaste for Leah. She couldn’t possibly in a million years actually like someone so cocky and snobbish and privileged and…

“I— Oh god.” She covered her face with her hands and hoped no one but Noah was watching.  “Honestly, it’s so stupid in comparison”.

“Hey.” Noah reached over to rub her shoulder in soothing circles. “It will be ok.”

But it wouldn’t. She was already convinced nothing would be ok. Looking up at Noah though, she almost believed him. His smile soothed the ache in her chest. Like it did on her first day here. She’d fled Pokyo with her tail between her legs and had wound up at Fishensips, sniffing around like a stray dog in search of human connection. And she found him. Then Alice and Suki. Good friends. A found family.

And she had also found Leah, which was… something. Nothing. Everything. She fit in holes in Hunter's heart that no one else managed to fit before. She was distant, far away, yet when she held her, she fit perfectly. Which was why being casual was the right choice, she reminded herself. Leah didn’t want anything from her. That was clear by her words.  ‘I know what I want from life, and I know how to get it’. Leah knew what she was doing, she knew what she wanted and she was taking it. And Hunter was simply letting her. Leah was using her. And Hunter didn’t mind being used. And in a way, she was using Leah too. Even if she hoped it could mean something. It didn’t matter if she got hurt in the end. Heartbreak wasn’t new to her. She knew it well. And these days, the only feeling she could truly count on was the certainty of pain.

She couldn’t tell any of that to Noah.

She forced a smile. “You see? I really am a mess.”

“Again, I’ve seen worse.”

Perhaps a small truth was in order.

“I’ve never been this person before either.”

“Which is?”

“The kind who lies to herself.”

Noah hummed in consideration. “To some people it’s like repression is a virtue. You know what repression is? It’s dumb!”

“But it feels so good.”

“Just ’cause it’s tight don’t make it right!”  Noah sassed.

“Thank you for that visual.”

“Seriously though. Can I give you some professional advice?”

“Sure.”

“Keep lying if it feels good then. But you must remember… the longer you try to suppress and hide everything inside, the bigger the explosion, which means more collateral damage.”

Collateral damage. That’s how she felt all her life. Was it really that bad?

“Well… shit. You really are good at this advice stuff!” She joked, then genuinely smiled; “Thanks, bud.” Hunter said, eyes drifting off to the stars. Unsure if talking about it had made it better or worse. It certainly made it feel more real.

Noah seemed to sense a change of subject was in order.

“Are you going to the Spooky Festival?” He said, tapping his fingers to the table.

“Not sure. You?”

“I’m a bit scared of the spooky part but, I like the games, especially the pumpkin smash which, I’m a beast at, by the way!” Noah boasted. “My family takes festivals very seriously. We already decided on costumes last year. Plus my mom will make moon cakes. You should come.”

Betty’s mooncakes were impossible to say no to. Noah knew that.

“Uhmm, you paint a nice picture. Maybe I can go as a farmer.”

“C’mon, be creative!”

“Indiana Jones then.”

“That’s more like it.”

Fall Day 28 

Haunted like she felt. Halloween was so very fitting right now. She took Spirit for a stroll, tying his rope by the entrance of the festival. She didn't plan on staying long. She groaned when she ran a hand through her head, her hat must have fallen off without her noticing.

The Spooky Day Festival was in full swing. Alice, with wide-eyed excitement, spotted Flynn Rider—or so she thought. As Hunter approached the Sanderson Sisters —Suki as Sarah, Alice as Winifred and Nina as Mary—, who were just finished taking pictures with their Hocus Pocus theme.

“You guys look awesome,” Hunter said as she approached her friends.

"Hunter hey! Nice Flynn Rider costume, I love Tangled!" Alice exclaimed, pointing at her.

"What?! No, I'm Indiana Jones!"

Suki raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Where's your hat, then?"

Hunter winced, fixing the brown messenger bag slung over her shoulder. "Well, you see... my horse was too fast and I... lost it on the way here."

Looking down at her own clothes, she realized that indeed, without the hat, she unintentionally embodied Flynn Rider with her leather boots, fitted brown slacks and lasso hanging on the belt that was tucking a white button-up.

Nina finally glanced up from her camera at her friend's enthusiasm. "Oh my! You and Leah matching?"

“What?”

Spotting Leah nearby, being photographed by the water fountain. Hunter felt her heart drop, along with her jaw. Leah looked stunning in her flowing blonde wig and intricate Rapunzel costume.

Well, wasn't fate just boundlessly cruel?

Hunter was sweating. A lot. Stupid ring tossing game was kicking her ass. With each failed attempt, frustration gnawed at her. She felt the beads of sweat trickling down her forehead. So annoying. She should probably give up, she didn't even know what the prize was. But winning was a matter of principle now. So she tried again. And again. 

The carnival atmosphere buzzed around her, a cacophony of laughter, music, and the clinking of games being played. Amidst the vibrant chaos Lily appeared to her side, and the sight of her friend brought relief to Hunter's ever growing annoyance, a much welcome break. 

Lily, with her jet black hair parted into two braids down her shoulders, wearing a black dress with a white collar, deadpan expression behind her glasses. Wednesday Addams.

"Lily, heey!" Hunter exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and frustration. "I thought you weren’t coming. Glad to see you here. You look great!"

“We need to talk.”

Lily didn't waste a moment on pleasantries, maybe a bit too into character Hunter thought. With a firm grip on Hunter's arm, she pulled her away from the glaring lights and into the shadows near the shrine. There, in the dimly lit alcove, Hunter felt her pulse quickening with anticipation.

"I got into their system," Lily whispered urgently, her eyes darting around to ensure they were alone.

Hunter's heart thundered in her chest, the weight of anticipation pressing down on her like a leaden blanket. This was the moment she had both longed for and feared, it was the culmination of several weeks of planning and scheming.

"And...?" Hunter's voice trembled, barely above a whisper. Her heart stopping. She'd been waiting and dreading for thus very moment.

Lily's words hung in the air like a heavy fog, dense with uncertainty.

"And I found... nothing."

The whole festival went quiet as her ear started to ring. The world seemed to grind to a halt around Hunter, the festival noises fading into a distant murmur. Her heart plummeted, an overwhelming dread dragging her spirits down into the abyss of disappointment. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the ringing in her ears, a cruel echo of her shattered hopes.

"What?" Hunter's voice cracked.

Lily's eyes narrowed with a hint of apprehension as she spoke, her voice barely audible over the deafening cloud of disappointment that enveloped them.

"I don’t know how. They must have found out," she muttered, her words laced with a bitter realization. "They wiped everything. Or… maybe there was nothing to find."

Hunter's mind reeled with the implications of Lily's words. Months of meticulous planning, countless sleepless nights spent hacking into the system, all erased in an instant by the unseen hand of their adversaries. It was a bitter pill to swallow, a harsh reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows.

A surge of frustration coursed through Hunter's veins, mingling with the bitter taste of defeat on her tongue. The world seemed to tilt on its axis, leaving her feeling like discarded trash adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

"No! Fuck that," Hunter said, her voice amping with a newfound resolve. "We'll find another way. Something. Burn their fucking building down. I don’t care. They’re not staying here."

Lily nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the steely determination that burned within Hunter's own gaze. Together, they would pick up the pieces of their shattered plans and forge ahead, undeterred by whatever obstacles thrown their.

“The vote to start drilling is next month. We will stop them before that.”

As the sounds of the festival slowly began to seep back into the air around them, Hunter and Lily shared a silent vow to never surrender. For they knew that true strength lay not in the absence of obstacles, but in the courage to face them head-on, no matter the cost.

“Sorry to spoil your fun.” Lily said, nodding to the ring from the Ring Toss game still in her hand.

“It’s fine,” She said, despite it obviously being far from it, while handing Lily the ring. “Here, give it a try.”

She needed a drink. Or several.

Hunter stumbled her way down the stairs of the city square. An old man with a cheerful yellow vest steadied her. Sunny. “CAREFUL!” he yelled with the subtlety of a hyena. She thanked him and wove her way to the makeshift bar stall, courtesy of Fishensips, cursing under her breath.

Frank was tending to it, and smiled at her brightly as she approached;

“Hey!! What can I get you?”

“Shot. Of the strongest stuff you have,” she said. 

“One Stone-Cold Stinger coming right up.” He nodded, grabbing a bottle of yellow liquor.

“Can you make it two?” asked a voice to her left.

She whirled, almost losing balance, and glared at Leah Barnes. Or… Rapunzel.

“Leah.”

“Hello to you, too.”

Leah’s purple dress draped elegantly around her, revealing her shoulders while covering her arms to the wrist. The wig she wore was insanely realistic, probably cost more than Hunter’s old car. Its luscious blonde strands looked artfully braided as it fell down her shoulder. And her makeup made it clear she was experienced in the art of beauty vlogging —a touch of lipstick, lush mascara, and a contour job that would have made anyone swoon. 

Leah looking gorgeous wasn’t anything new. Leah being able to pull off the blonde look so effortlessly, however, was. Hunter thought she would probably look gorgeous even bald. Which was ridiculous.

Speaking of ridiculous, Leah went all out, even carrying a frying pan around her belt. 

“Nice pan.” Hunter couldn't help but snicker, as Leah picked it up and spun it around grinning, before putting it back.

“Thanks.” Leah looked at her smug. “Someone told me they liked our couples costume, Flynn.” 

Hunter opened her mouth, then shut it, glad when Frank interrupted. 

“Here you are,” He said, placing the shot glasses in front of them. 

“Put it on my tab,” Leah interjected.

“Hold on—”

“Please,” Leah said to Frank, who nodded and backed away. He knew not to entertain a 'who pays the bill' battle.

“Unbelievable.” Hunter mumbled as she picked up the glass and gulped it down without even flinching. The liquor burning in her throat made her feel a little better. She smiled seeing Leah grimacing after taking her shot. 

“I was supposed to be Indiana Jones.”

“Sure.”

“Fuck you.”

“You look nice,” Leah touched her arm so softly she thought she had imagined it.

“You don't look so bad yourself.”

“Obviously.”

Hunter motioned for Frank to pour her another shot.

“Rough day?” Leah asked, eyebrow quirked as Hunter threw back the shot.

“You could say that.” 

Hunter looked around, she couldn't say more around so many people. Which Leah seemed to have caught on. So, Hunter turned to walk towards where Spirit waited for her, half-expecting Leah to follow. She did.

“So?”

“Lily didn't find anything.” Hunter said as they walked.

“Oh.” Leah furrowed her brows, but didn't seem surprised. “What now?”

Now Pufferfish was going to get away with whatever the fuck they wanted. That's what Hunter's thoughts were shouting at her. But, through all that they’d managed to uncover so far, she knew she wouldn't give up.

“I don't know.” Hunter stopped, turning on her heel, which was a mistake. That shot was truly strong, Leah's face was slightly blurry, which felt hilarious, unable to stop the smile that tugged on her lips. She felt her ankle give on her and she tilted sideways.

Leah caught her.

“Easy,” Leah said, and her voice was low and soothing, the same way Hunter would find herself speaking to a spooked animal back at the farm. “We'll find another way.”

Hunter looked at the way Leah gripped her arm, then back at the deep blue eyes staring into hers, and the barest suggestion of a blush colored her cheeks. "We?" She whispered, more to herself than anything.

“Let me take you home.” Leah watched her with an uncharacteristically guarded expression. But the implications of going home together didn't fly over her head. She wanted to say no. Her mind was full of dread for what was to come, she needed to plan their next step, think of new strategies. Yet the way Leah looked at her and her mind cleared instantly and her heartbeat picked up, made everything else go to the back of her mind. It was a distraction. The perfect one.

She couldn't save the island drunk and confused anyway. They still had time. And time with Leah was time well spent. So, you could call it liquid courage or liquid lack of better judgment, when she said;

“Please.” Looking at Leah with a dumb cheeky smile.

She led Leah to Spirit by the hand. The softness of her skin was soothing, and still slightly infuriating.

As they got to the edge of the festival, Spirit immediately poked his head towards them, his ears pricked forward and his lips twitched as if he could already taste the treat she had in her bag for him.

“He’s a huge baby,” she said as Spirit bobbed his head in anticipation. “Here, give it to him.” She pulled an oat cake out of her bag and handed it to Leah, who, holding her palm out flat, smiled as Spirit lipped it up. That smile banished any lingering bad emotions Hunter was feeling.

Leah stroked Spirit’s muzzle and scratched the wide, flat plane of his cheek. “He’s gorgeous.”

Spirit bumped Leah’s chest, and, laughing with unrestrained pleasure, Leah scratched the itchy spot beneath his forelock and let him rub his head against her. He was a sweet gentle horse, while some horses might accidentally knock a human over while vigorously using them as a scratching post, Spirit knew his own strength.

“Wanna ride?” Hunter asked.

Leah looked down at her dress. “I’m not dressed for it.”

“Princesses ride in dresses,” Hunter looked her up and down with a boldness that left heat lingering in its wake. “Though I wouldn’t mind seeing you without it.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“Please do.”

Leah stroked Spirit’s neck again and bit her lip, which seemed to keep her from smiling too widely.

“Doesn’t ‘don't drink and drive’ apply to riding horses too?”

“Not our first time breaking the law. Come on.” Hunter said, nudging Leah's side. “Besides, he is the one driving us. Technically. And he isn't drunk, are you Spirit?”

Spirit huffed at them in response. 

Leah smiled amusedly. “I don't know. The last time I was on a horse was my cousin’s birthday party when I was twelve.”

“Are you scared?”

“No.” Leah crossed her arms, before admitting; “Maybe a bit.”

Hunter didn’t answer, she walked to untie Spirit's rope, and, glad to see the drunkenness didn't completely impair her coordination, she swung on to the horse's back. It was a trick her grandpa had taught her ages ago. It required momentum and upper body strength to execute. The fact she succeeded today in front of Leah, after an extended lapse in practice, was a big victory in her books.

She smiled in triumph, feeling Spirit's warm back seemingly rooting her dizzy mind back onto the earth, or maybe it was simply her muscle memory alone that was enough to guide Spirit, who’s leg-yielded at her command walking forward until he stood parallel to the road.

“Get on then,” she told Leah.

“Absolutely not.”

“Please?”

“I don’t have a helmet.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“You can’t guarantee that,” said Leah.

“Please?” she asked again, she could feel the smile on her face was a dumb one.

Leah wavered. Perhaps she didn’t want to back down, or perhaps she, too, had a sudden calmness washing over her at the sight of Hunter smiling at her. Or, and she hoped at least this was the case, perhaps Leah had thought about how it would feel to sit with her arms around Hunter’s waist.

“Okay.”

“Just slide on behind me. He won’t move.”

Leah nodded, riding her dress up showcasing black shorts underneath, tying it to the side so she could better move. Hunter giggled at the sight.

“Hold my pan.” Leah said, tossing it at Hunter, who almost didn't catch it.

Spirit twitched an ear as Leah jumped and draped a leg across his back and then with a muffled whimper settled into place, her shaky hands grabbed her pan back and secured it into her waistbelt again. Then, slid her arms around Hunter’s waist, gripping hard.

“Breathe,” she told Leah. “We won’t move until you’re ready.”

Leah took a shaky breath and Hunter suppressed a laugh. Spirit waited patiently.

“Don’t do anything crazy.” Leah’s breath tickled the back of her neck.

“You can trust me, princess.”

“I trust Spirit.” Leah joked.

“Good enough for me.” Hunter took them into a walk, her body tuned into Leah’s seat, adjusting her own position and Spirit’s to keep them centered. “Let your hips move with him, and with me. Yeah. Better.”

“Gods, we’re up high.”

“I’ve fallen more times than I can count.”

Leah's fingers dig into Hunter's abdomen. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“It doesn’t hurt as much as you’d think. And I haven’t fallen in.. days. Spirit’s pretty chill.”

“Can we not talk about falling?”

“Sure.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you breathing?”

“Yes.” Leah said the word into Hunter’s ear, and she shivered, now wishing they could get home already, so she could be riding Leah instead. She mentally slapped herself to keep such thoughts away and focus.

“There are different types of walks. This is just a regular walk, but I’m going to move him into a collected walk. Tell me if you notice the difference.” She closed her fingers slightly on the reins, tilted her seat, and put a bit of pressure on the horse's sides.

“It feels… I don't know. Like he’s ready for something?”

“Exactly. And this is an extended walk.” Spirit lengthened his strides at her request.

“Oh, it’s faster.”

“Sort of.”

“Definitely.”

“He’s extending his stride, that’s all. Now this is a faster walk.” Spirit picked up a working walk, and Hunter paid careful attention to Leah’s position. 

After a few more steps, Leah seemed to relax. “Okay, this isn’t terrible.”

“It’s fun, admit it.”

“It's kinda fun. Calm down, horse girl.” 

“Yikes, farmer girl was bad, but that's worse.” She groaned.

“I bet it turns you on.” Leah teased, her arms had loosened their death grip on her waist and settled over her stomach, sending a low heat through her abdomen.

“Shut up.”

She settled into an easy walk, taking the long way home, and enjoyed the warmth of Leah’s body against her back and the press of her knees into her thighs. Leah had trusted her enough to get on a horse, despite being drunk. Leah cared enough to get her home. Leah wanted to spend time with her, even if under this situationship premise. It was something. And she wasn’t sure which thought warmed her more.

They passed by the beach, and she remembered the day they fought by the shore, then the day she found Leah drenched in rain. She smiled at the memory of Leah’s eyes burning whenever Hunter managed to get her pissed. Or when her eyes glinted in delight when she managed to get Hunter annoyed instead.

Leah made her feel like she was on a rollercoaster, limbs numb, body on fire, fingers gripping tight, heart racing, alive. Pushing her out of her comfort zone. Making her brave. And she wondered if she did the same for Leah somehow.  

Before she realized, Spirit was already taking himself into his stable. Smart boy.

The barn was quite simple, cozy. It smelled like horse and hay and fresh pine bedding. The overhead lighting was soft, which she liked, making the whole place radiate warmth.

Her legs shook when they hit the ground. Spirit’s back seemed even higher now that she realized the world was still spinning a bit. She did her best to concentrate, using both hands to get Leah off the horse. Bodies colliding slightly as she stood before her.

Leah looked beautiful. And Hunter felt like her skin was on fire.

“How did it–” She didn't get to finish the sentence, Leah had tangled a hand in the hair at the back of her neck and kissed her deeply. Her body responded to Leah’s tongue with an immediacy that demanded they leave the barn at once. But Leah pulled away too soon. She gasped, and Leah grinned, while Spirit retreated into his stall and resumed browsing for missed stalks of hay.

“It was amazing.”

Hunter took a while to process her words, her lips still burning. Leah walked past her, checking out the space. Distracted. Hunter took advantage of that. Pushing Leah against the stall door with her hips and gripping the bars on either side of her head. Leah smiled at her, wicked, eyes hungry, then hooked her fingers into Hunter’s belt. 

“Do you want–” Leah's words caught on a groan when Hunter captured her lips.

She found it hard to wrap her head around the fact that they were doing this, whatever this was, and how good it felt to lean into Leah's mouth. 

“Let's get to the house.” Hunter mumbled against her lips.

“Lead the way.” 

Walking towards the entrance of the barn. Watching as Hunter took a saddle from the ground. She still couldn't believe she just rode a horse. Didn't suit her character to enjoy something as simple as that, and yet she felt like there was nowhere she’d rather be. She felt free, warm and surprisingly comfortable. And Hunter —she glanced over at the woman, who was hanging the saddle in its place on the wall. Hunter had felt strong and solid in her arms, totally in control in a way that might have pissed her off a few months ago, but instead made her want to bite the skin above her collarbone. Hunter was hot on horseback. The total concentration on her face as she’d climbed on and got him to stop right in front of her and the obvious trust the horse had in her hands was hypnotic. She could have watched Hunter ride for hours.

“What?” Hunter looked at her with a quirked eyebrow.

“Interesting stuff,” Leah diverted, motioning to the wall;

Leg wraps. Saddle pads. Ointments and salves. Fly spray. Horse shampoo. Brushes and combs. Spare barn boots. And, lying on top of a sheepskin saddle pad, a riding crop. Leah must have stared at it for a tad too long. Because Hunter smirked at her, and picked it up, turning it over in her hands.

“Don’t get any ideas,” Leah reprimanded.

“Like what? This?” She took the crop by the handle and brought the leather tip up to rest beneath Leah’s chin, tilting it. Leah’s lips parted in a sharp inhale. “Oh, you like this.”

Hunter’s smile grew as she watched Leah's pupils dilate. 

“Maybe.” Leah raised her hand and, with a look that could have started a fire in the hayloft, slowly unbuttoned the front of her dress, her eyes never leaving Hunter’s face. Her lacy bra showing, the dress falling slightly down her curves. “Do you like this?”

“Yeah.” Hunter trailed the crop down Leah’s throat, tracing one collarbone before letting the tip dip into her cleavage, and Leah felt her whole body react. “Very much.”

Here was the thing about Leah. Leah liked control. Being in control, being in charge. She was her own boss for a reason. She liked saying something and having others fall in line at her command. She liked the sense of security that came with leadership. The only time she could be a hundred percent certain that she was safe was when she was in charge of the situation, completely and totally. There were no mistakes when she was on command. She was meticulous and calculating. She liked perfection, discipline, and she loved control.

But Hunter was a complication Leah didn’t think she could control. It was a taunting reality, something that made her heart pound and her cheeks flush and her throat go dry. Leah liked control, needed it, craved it. It was what gave her a sense of normalcy. But Hunter came crashing into her carefully-constructed world with her big, blinking eyes and her pretty lips and her soft hair. She felt all her resolve crumbling through her fingertips, along with all her inhibitions. Like her whole world was collapsing, yet she never felt safer. Now, she wanted to be helpless, dominated and relinquish herself to everything Hunter so desired. She wanted to be hers for the taking.

Hunter could feel her trembling through the shaft as she followed the curve of breast to ribcage and back. Leah had a freckle above her right nipple. She memorized this, then caressed Leah’s cheek with the crop before flipping it so that she held the shaft instead of the handle. She wanted to touch Leah with her other hand, but something about the way Leah sat, completely overpowered before the touch of the crop, stayed her. Instead, she brought the handle down between Leah’s thighs and swore, reverently, as Leah closed her legs around it and moaned. She pressed it into her. Leah’s hips moved with the slow rhythm. 

And then her eyes flew wide open as a sudden noise sounded outside. A loud bang.

“Shit.” Hunter dropped the crop and stepped back. 

“What was that?” Leah asked as she stood and buttoned her dress back up.

“Maybe my chickens escaped?”

“Wasn't that too loud… for chickens?”

Hunter avoided eye contact, her legs felt weak, and the heat that pooled between her legs was incredibly irritating.

“Let's take a look.”  She said, stepping out of the barn after Leah. 

Outside in the empty field, it was dark. Eerie silent, Hunter instinctively grabbed a shovel from the side of the barn. She could feel herself trembling with fear. This goddamn fear was all consuming. She didn't know what to expect.

Only to turn the corner and be met with a chicken.

“Bok bok.” said the chicken, basically mocking them.

“Not again.” Leah had this hilarious expression on her face that made  Hunter collapse against her in a fit of silent laughter. In that moment she felt like they were teenagers, making out in all the stupidest of places only to get a thrill out of it, and the laughter that bubbled out of Leah's throat was lighter than any she’d heard leave her own lips in years.

“Come on.” Hunter took her hand and was about to drop the shovel to lead Leah towards her house, when another noise came.

BANG!

Then they both saw it.

A shadow luring over the left side of her cabin, just above that wine cellar door she never managed to open.

This shadow was a masked figure, dressed in all black. She felt herself freeze. No muscles in her body responded. Like when you try to scream in a dream and nothing comes out. 

She looked at Leah, her eyes were wide, but she was still conscious enough to take her phone out to record it. Hunter almost rolled her eyes at the sight. Influencers were truly ridiculous, amidst danger and a life threatening situation their first reaction is... film?! But she didn't have time for that train of thought. In fact, she was full on panicking now, the world blurring around her as she mindlessly ran to him. Hitting his back with the shovel, making him fall backwards into the grass.

“Who the fuck are you!?” She yelled, pointing the shovel at the man. He looked back at her, his breaths coming in short gasps, sending clouds of mist up in the chilly air.

He didn't answer, instead he swept his feet kicking Hunter’s leg, making her falter as he got back to his feet and landed a punch into her guts. She felt her ears ring. Air leaving her lungs.

All she heard was a thud behind her, and a flash of blonde hair across her vision.

With her stupid Rapunzel iron pan Leah just halted at the man, he barely had time to see her coming when she landed a strike hard in his jaw. The man stumbled back, the whites of his eyes standing out in the dark. Leah kicked him. And he crumpled to the ground again. Folding like raw, boneless chicken.

When Hunter caught a glimpse of his eyes again, they were wide and dark, the pupils dilated with terror. “Stop! Stop!” Each shout sounds more like a scream than the last. 

“Who are you?” Leah said, her voice scraping her throat. She watched the man cower beneath her feet. 

“I’m Tilly.”

“What are you doing here, Tilly?”

“Just following orders. I- I was ordered to grab something from the cellar here.”

“Cellar? What cellar?,” Leah asked.

“T-There.” He pointed, eyes falling to the wood doors, almost completely hidden by the grass. The man had laid tools around it.

“What something?” Hunter managed to ask, her breaths faltering slightly.

“Karen said it was some sort of folder, I would know when I saw it.”

“That bitch.” Leah murmured.

“How do they even know about it?” 

“We have eyes everywhere in this city.” The man said, almost like a threat.

Leah shoved him. “Perverts!”

The man hissed in pain. “Please, please, let me go.” He begged, clutching to his side. “Karen promised me a promotion, I’m just-”

“Shut up you asshole we are not-”

“Let him go.” Hunter cut in, she didn't know what possessed her to be so calm and collected suddenly. Maybe adrenaline. Or the shock. 

“What?” Leah looked at her like she had grown a second head.

“He's just a pawn.” Hunter said, stepping forward to grab the man's arm in a strong grip, then taking his mask off to reveal just an ordinary dude that worked in the office. She had seen him around town before.

“I know you.” Hunter pointed. “You will testify to this. Help us take them down. Or we will call the cops right now. Your choice.”

Leah grabbed her phone, still recording from where she had shoved it securely in her bra. Probably not her best camera work, but still worth something. She shoved the phone to get a good shot of the man’s face. “It’s all on record!”

“I-” The man was visibly trembling. “Ok, I will do it.”

“Go on then.” Leah kicked the back of his leg. Watching as he stumbled away.

Hunter stood still, letting the shovel fall to the ground. Staring at the wine cellar she never even thought of looking into.

Something was hidden in there, beneath the weeds, waiting. Heart in her throat, she dug until she’d unearthed the door properly. There it laid, caked in dirt. As she reached for it, the salt in the air pierced her lungs as she took short, fevered breaths. But, when she pulled it was still locked. She didn't even think before punching the lock with all her strength. The door didn't even move.

“Fuck!” Hunter got up, kicking the door. Then her muscles froze. Her mouth went dry, and nausea rolled up from her stomach into her throat. Her hands felt wet, she looked down and saw blood dripping from it. And tears started to pull into her eyes.

Leah watched the scene, and she felt furious, at everything, but her anger seemed to swell up upon seeing the state Hunter was in.

“Out of the way,” She warned, grabbing the axe amongst Tilly’s forgotten tools, and lunged it at the door with the utmost force. She let out an enraged yell. The princess was angry. Embodying a rage that Hunter had never witnessed before. She had seen Leah pissed off, sure, but never with this ferocity. And definitely not just breaking open a door like it was nothing. 

They descended into the abyss, with racing hearts, unaware of what was waiting below. As they ventured deeper into the darkness with only Leah's phone as a lightsource, a sense of foreboding gripped them, their footsteps echoing in the silence like a dirge as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

Hunter's hands trembled as she searched for a light switch, the yellow dingy hue flickering while illuminating the room with a sickly glow.

Drawing upon the strength born of desperation, Hunter began to scour the wine cellar, sifting through the dust caked furnitures in search of this folder Tilly mentioned. 

And then, Hunter's eyes caught sight of a glimmer of something hidden amidst the dust—a glint of metal catching the dim light. With a surge of adrenaline, she rushed forward, heart pounding in her chest, and swept aside the obstruction to reveal a hidden compartment—a cache of documents bearing the unmistakable insignia of Pufferfish Drilling Corp, with a sticky note on top that read;

"If you found this, I'm dead. Bring us justice."

ll

"I found it!" Hunter said, squinting at the note, trying to make sense of it.

It was her grandfather’s handwriting, and opening the folder she found it filled with hard evidence that he had been collecting for years.

Coral Island was far from being Pufferfish's first target. They've done this before. Many, many times. Under many different names. Now, everything they needed against Pufferfish was at the palm of her hand.

Her heart rate still felt elevated; her stomach still pained. The evidence was right under her nose all along. Didn't matter if they tried to wipe everything anymore. This was proof of all their forged documents, their threats, assassination attempts. And ...successful assassinations, all categorized with names, places, dates.

“This is insane." Leah muttered.

At the back of one of the papers Hunter saw an url that seemed to have been written in a rush, she tapped the link into her phone and found a collection of pictures.

There were pictures that matched the description of every name on the targeted documents. The first one looked peaceful, like he was just sleeping. But then, there were graphic ones, mutilated bodies, blood tinged walls. Hunter felt all the contents of her stomach threaten to come back up. Her throat ached and burned like she had drank straight-up acid. 

Leah was in front of her, staring at the pictures upside down didn't make it any less horrifying. “Stop looking at those.” She warned.

But Hunter's shaky fingers slid over to the next picture. And she recognized the blue flannel shirt and curly gray hair of the man in it. A pearly sliver of white over his lifeless eyes, foam around his lips, and all the paled features of her grandfather.

Hunter let out a scream, a primal release of pent-up terror. All she held fell onto the floor. She yelled out curses until her voice began to crack. Abruptly, she stopped, gasping for air, and clutched her head with her hands. Her heart ached, she couldn't breath. 

Then she felt a hand grabbing hers. 

“Don’t look back.” Leah said, as she pulled Hunter out of there, up the stairs.

Leah tore from the chamber, pulling Hunter with her. The farmer rushed to bend over herself beneath the palm tree outside, she coughed, fighting the urge to be sick. Leah had her hand firm on Hunter's back, moving it up and down in an attempt to ground her.

 “I’m calling the cops.” Leah told her, phone already dialed, the police picked up fast. Hunter managed to walk towards her porch and sit at the first step. 

Leah’s fingers trembled as she held the phone to her ear, her voice strained as she recounted the events to the police dispatcher. Hunter, feeling helpless, just watched her, noting every nervous gesture Leah made –the frantic run of fingers through hair or the worried bite of her lips.

Just as Leah hung up, her phone rang again, making her jump, almost dropping it with the sudden noise. 

Leah snatched the phone to her ear, answering without looking at the caller ID. Hunter assumed it was the police again. But then she saw Leah’s whole demeanor change. Leah stiffened, her eyes widened for just a mili-second. But it was enough for Hunter to see, she was afraid.

Instinctively Hunter got up, putting a hand on her shoulder trying to get a clue of what was going on. But Leah shrugged her off. Walking further back.

“I understand.” Hunter heard Leah say, voice empty and whispered.

Anything else she said was deafened by the loud ringing of sirens in the distance. Hunter felt her body shiver as the police car started pointing at the edge of the road, as they approached Leah had ended the call. Hunter looked to the cops then back at Leah, choosing to beeline to the girl. 

“Leah? Who was it?”

“No one. I got to go.”

“But–”

Before Hunter could question further, the police car pulled over. Flashing lights painting the scene in red and blue. The policemen emerged from the vehicle, their expressions grim as they walked her way.

Hunter's gaze darted after Leah's retreating figure. A pang of hurt pierced her chest, leaving her feeling hollow, as if Leah had taken a piece of her soul and her whole heart away with her. 

"Ma'am can you take us to the scene?"

The officers' words barely registered as she turned her gaze back to where Leah had been standing moments before. She was already gone, swallowed by the night.

A sense of loss settled in her chest, she felt empty. Tears threatened, but she held them back, refusing to break down in front of the officers. But the ache in her chest remained.

"This way."