Chapter Text
"Right, then. Lockwood, did you bring the flares?" Kipps' voice was low, crouched down behind a few crates. His shoulders were tense, his stormy eyes glancing over the edge of the boxes every so often to make sure they wouldn't be discovered. His uniform was covered in dust, a cut on his cheek crusted over with the muck. Lockwood didn't look any better, his hair a mess, unlike it's usual kept style. His trenchcoat was torn, scratches flecking his face. The agent dug around in the small bag he brought, doing his best to hurry.
"Type One, my ass." Kipps' voice again. Lockwood yanked out a box of flares, shoving some into Kipps' arms. Both boys stood, Lockwood flicking his lighter desperately at the fuses of the flares.
"Sometime today, Lockwood." Kipps clenched his jaw, his eyes darting around. The two had made the mistake of accepting a untrustworthy job, while being unprepared. Everything seemed to have been going wrong that dreary Thursday evening.
"Fuck, Kipps, my lighter's out." He said, throwing it down.
"What? What do you mean, 'out?' Anthony, we're surrounded!" The blonde started digging in his pockets as Lockwood pulled out his rapier, doing his best to fend off the plethora of Type Twos closing in on the duo.
"Hurry up, or give up, Kipps!" Lockwood's voice shook slightly as he swallowed hard, his eyes a little wide.
"Shit," Kipps threw the flares down, unsheathing his rapier. "We still have salt and iron bombs, or don't tell me we also forgot those." He said, his breathing speeding up slightly.
Lockwood let out an airy laugh, digging in his coat pockets. "I snagged a few." He said, a slight grin on his face. "Alright, I'm gonna count to, let's say 3, yeah? I'm gonna throw all 4 of these at once, and we run. Ready?"
Kipps whipped his head over to his colleague, letting out a yelp. "No! What, are you mental? There's too many of them, stupid!" He said, turning back to the ghosts drew nearer.
"One."
"Anthony Lockwood, you listen to me, we are NOT doing that! We'll find another way!" Kipps made a grab for the bombs, Lockwood shoving him off.
"We don't have time to find another way! Two!"
"If you throw those, then-"
"Three!"
The bombs flew through the air, exploding and creating a small gap in the ghosts. Lockwood grabbed Kipps' arm, bolting for the gap. Immediately, the brunette realized there would only be enough time for one to get out. He shoved Kipps forward, ensuring he got through before it snapped shut again.
"Lockwood!! What the hell?!" Kipps barked, starting to jab at the shadowy figures. "Get the hell out of there, what are you doing?!" He shouted, his sword being knocked out of his hand.
On the inside of the circle, Lockwood quickly made a larger bomb out of what he had in his bag, tying it shut hastily. "Kipps! Get out of here! I'm right behind you, mate!" He said, his hands shaking as he held the massive thing.
Kipps hesitated, before bolting out of the room. As soon as Lockwood heard the footsteps receding, he tightened his expression, and with a shout, he threw the bomb at the ground.
Something inside of the bomb had gone wrong. Instead of just wiping out ghosts, the room exploded, sending Kipps flying into the wall of the hallway. Fires burned on the wooden floors and staircases, Kipps covering his mouth and nose with his shirt. "Lockwood!" He yelled, his eyes stinging from the heat and the smoke. "Lockwood, where the bloody hell are you?!" He covered his head as a mini explosion went off in the kitchen, his shoulders wrecked with labored breaths.
A beam snapped in the roof above. rocketing down and hitting Kipps square on. The blonde's eyes were teary, from the smoke or Lockwood was unknown to him as he clawed at the scorching floor, panting. He covered his head again, shaking as a bunch more beams began to fall. He was suddenly aware of the pain in his legs, turning to see the blurry outline of a flaming beam crushing him. His weak arms tried to pull himself up, just for a sharp pain to radiate from his head, and the world to go dark.
Kipps' eyes fluttered open, the sound of an air machine in his ears. His head was throbbing, so were his legs. He blinked slowly, his eyes adjusting to see he was in an ambulance, and IV hooked in his arm. He wheezed as he breathed, unable to move.
"Tony..." He muttered, his eyes slowly looking around. He grit his teeth as he moved his head, seeing only two DEPRAC nurses inside with him. His stomach sank with panic, and he winced as he moved a bit. This caught the medicals' attention, one checking his vitals, and the other asking his questions.
The blonde furrowed his brows, grabbing at a nurse. "No, no, where's Lockwood? Anthony Lockwood?" He rasped, his throat raw.
"Sir, are you aware of who you are? Do you know what happened?"
Kipps shook his head. "Shut up. Lockwood, he's still- he's still in there." He said, trying to pull out his IV. "I need to go back, he's in there."
The two women exchanged glances, one pursing her lips. "We're sorry, Mr. Kipps."
Kipps blinked, a confused expression on his face. "No, what? It's fine, we just need to turn around, and-"
"Mr. Lockwood's body was found."