[ i missed this au so much tbh

warnings: language, actually getting into the blood and weapons bit I THINK

stay safe,
lew. ]

———————

After a rather brief search, Chase and Logan find Ezra in the backseat of the car, pouring over his journal. It's Chase that knocks on the door, and Logan that asks: "When was the last time you slept, man?"

"It doesn't matter. I'll sleep either when I get my answers or when I'm dead," Ezra snaps, closing the book and climbing out of the car. "And- Next time, don't assign the plant fucker to watch me. I'm a fucking adult."

"Someone pissed in his Cheerios," Chase mumbles as she rubs the back of her neck. Logan shoves her shoulder lightly, trying to keep himself from laughing.

He clears his throat, then says, "They've got the kid doing the protections now. It's a waiting game after that. Z won't let you do anything 'til he wakes up."

"He should've been done hours ago," Ezra comments, giving Chase a dirty look.

Chase, of course, can't leave things alone, so she glares right back at him. It's comical, given both Ezra and Logan have almost a foot of height on her. "Listen here, dickhead. Bailey needed to sleep. Not everyone can stay awake for days on end. Plus, it was the first time the poor bastard could sleep since he got attacked. Give him a break."

As soon as the words leave her mouth, she knows they're a bad idea. She and Ezra are like fire and gasoline, but luckily, Logan's there to put out the flames before it gets worse. "Whoa, guys. Just focus on the task at hand, and wait until you're back on the road to kill each other."

——

Harry and Z are both nice. Bailey doesn't mind working with them, hearing their quiet chatter as they draw.

One of them, ages ago, got the idea to paint the walls with chalkboard paint, so they could just wipe the sigils and symbols away once they were done. It's brilliant, and Bailey almost wishes he had a place to call home so he could do the same.

It's been tough since Chase and Ezra saved him. He's had a little bit of time to think, and it's clear that his stupidity is the reason he doesn't have an actual home anymore.

-

Bailey's boyfriend told him about this place where someone was granting wishes. He wanted money, and suddenly, an elderly relative gave him their entire fortune.

Bailey, being a naïve eighteen year old, wanted one thing more than anything else: his parents' love. But right as he set foot inside the bar where this person was supposed to hang out, two strangers stormed the place.

Being early in the day, he and the owner were the only two there. He didn't think much of it, until the strangers pulled out guns. The guy focused on the owner, and the girl focused on him.

Obviously, he was scared out of his mind, so his course of action? Curl into the fetal position and cry.

After a bunch of weird chanting, growling, and even some screaming, there was a hushed argument between the two strangers, ending with one of them gently resting their hand on his back as they crouched beside them.

"Hey, kid. I know this is really scary, and I apologize, but you're gonna hafta come with us."

"But- I-"

"Listen, buddy, it's either come with us or Ezra's gonna put a bullet in your head. I'd suggest coming with us."

-

"Bailey? You okay?"

Slowly, he blinks, swiping away the memories he always dredges back up. Z sits in front of him, knees pulled against her chest as she studies his face. "You've got something heavy on your mind. After we deal with the angel situation, you and I should talk."

"How do you know?" He asks softly, focusing on the wall behind her head. Harry's gone, he notices, probably finding the rest of them or something.

She gives him a smile and says, "It's clairvoyance. Or being a psychic or something. We don't really know. I see possible outcomes to things sometimes, and occasionally I get general ideas about what someone's thinking."

"That's really cool," he replies honestly. He stands up, then offers her his hand to help her up. "Why's Ezra gotta talk to this angel?"

Once she's on her feet, she carefully looks him over again. "You don't know. When Ezra and Chase first started working with us, Ezra had this boyfriend. Related to Harry, a real sweetheart. Such a nice guy. Somehow, an angel twisted him into giving consent to be possessed- and now we're here."

——

"You're planning on pretty much exorcising the angel?" Harry asks, giving Ezra a dumbfounded look. "Do you know how dangerous that is?"

"Your cousin, my boyfriend, might still be in there somewhere. Isn't Ronnie worth the risk?" Ezra shoots back.

"Listen... if things go wrong, you're putting yourself and seven other people at risk. Plus, you might not like the end results."

"I'm doing this with or without you. Make your choice."