Attention Locklyle/Lockwood and Co fans!
my good friend (who I will call Big Dubs) wrote a very angsty hurt/comfort locklyle fanfic that you can read below. All creds go to Big Dubs!
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There’s another rare type of ghost called a parasite, that can take a host through one’s most powerful sensitivity. It’s a type two ghost but it can make a full convo after getting a host, and can spread itself. Lockwood falls victim during a case.
We got a job at a small mansion, told that there was a hall occupied by a visitor. The kind? I have no clue, all we know is that it’s a type two. Lockwood was ecstatic and eager as he always is for a job. We packed everything we needed and headed out. The house was bigger than expected, but it was nonetheless easier to find the hall. Filled with spiders, and covered with dust. The walls were lined with shelves of family portraits, nicknacks, and dead flowers. As we moved through the darkness, torches in hand. I was in the back George in the middle and Lockwood in the front, hand on his rapier.
“Here, ghosty ghosty ghosty.” George called,
“Did the client say what kind of visitor this was?” I asked.
“No, all we got was that it almost got their little boy … and that he’s been trying desperately to come back.” Lockwood said ahead, looking in a mirror. Look in pretty boy, you’re mine noooww.
“Lockwood.” I said warningly, but He was ghost locked.
“Lockwood!” George pulled out his rapier,
“Get him out of the way! The ghost is in the mirror!” As I rushed to get Lockwood out of the way. He stumbled back fumbling with his rapier, but it was too late the ghost was straight in front of him, inches away from his face. Lockwood gleamed of sweat. However, he couldn’t move otherwise he would be ghost touched. The visitor opened his mouth mirroring Lockwood, a bright stream of orange light pouring from its mouth into his own. Lockwood eyes rolled back,
“It’s a parasite!” George yelled, snapping me out of my shock. “Cover the mirror with the silver net now! It has to be the source!” I quickly pulled the net from my bag and thrust it atop the mirror. Immediately the parasite vanished, leaving Lockwood pressed against the wall. Frozen, he slumped to the ground. I rushed to him,
“Lockwood? Wake up, Lockwood… Lockwood!” I was panicking the more he was unconscious.
“We need to get him out of here.” George said calmly, but I could hear him shaking. Placing his rapier back in his belt George gently pulled Lockwood upright and on his back.
“Oof! He’s a lot heavier than you’d think he would be.” We went as fast as we could out the house. Me in the back to watch if anything additional followed.
Back at the house, George placed Lockwood in his bed. Taking off his boots, coat, and tie. I asked,
“What are we going to do if he doesn’t wake up?”
“…I don’t know. We could call Kipps? He must know what to do. Being the top superstar with the highest mortality rate.” He groaned. “But until that happens we need to keep working to get enough money to pay the things Lockwood usually pays for.”
“Right. I’ll go call Kipps, and you get Lockwood comfortable.” As I was leaving the room, I could hear Lockwood muttering something in his sleep. I pretended not to notice after all worrying would only cause me to slip on a job.
Kipps was an asshole, making a big deal of him helping us… again, but he also sounded genuinely worried so I gave him crap about that.
“Just get your ass over here before I stab it.” I told him through the phone. I hung up and went to the kitchen where George was making breakfast for dinner.
“Good, I was just about to call him back and tell him he’s a lazy bloody bastard.”
I scoffed, “Just give me my egg. Policeman please.” The egg was delicious, but I was to stressed, thinking about was Lockwood was muttering. He sounded in pain, Parasites were particularly nasty. Like type threes they could talk, not just in loops either. Usually they would destroy the spirit in their host and replace it with their own, but they could also make room for themselves and use their host for whatever they want. Since they have the ability to look in one’s mind and memories.
“I’m going to check on Lockwood.”
“Alright.” George said absentmindedly as he was going to town on his third egg.
As I opened the door, I immediately looked to Lockwood in the bed. He was pale, sweating. He had a fever, I gathered the materials to treat it. Dapping the sweat from his brow. His eyes opened, I gasped.
“Hey! It’s alright you’re home, in your room. Me and George are getting you help.” I said softly. He nodded, his eyes were bloodshot. He went to the side of the bed to where I was sitting in the chair beside it.
“Stay in bed.” I said, standing up to push him back down, but he stand standing.
“Luce…” he said putting a head over his head, “I don’t feel the best right now-“ he toppled over me.
“Lockwood!” He chuckled standing back up, my stomach dropped to my toes. His eyes opened revealing his irises were orange instead of his usual dark brown, his pupils were white as they studied me. He sighed, and looked down at his hands then back at me.
“Interesting, the boy has … disgusting feelings for … you. Though I don’t see why.” My face flushed despite my horror. He suddenly pushed me into the wall behind the chair with a bang. I heard George coming up from the stairs, knocking on the door but unable to open it.
“Little George can’t help you right now.”
“Perhaps I could use you to use Anthony… yes that would work greatly. He scared he’ll lose more of everyone he loves.”
I glared at him. He smiled even more, his usual room brightening grin replaced by coldness. He took my chin in his hand, studying my face. I shook him off.
“Come now, I know you wish he would do this to you without me here.” I darkened my glare, I may have wished for him to join me when I read in the library but I never wished for something like this … yup.
He stared at me with a gleam in his eye, he thrust his hands to my neck, chocking me. I gasped, reaching for my air banging on the wall I was pressed against. His grip tightened as he lifted my feet off the floor until they were just barely scraping the ground. My vision started blurring, the corners of my eyes growing dark until it enveloped my sight fully. I felt my arms fall to my sides.
It felt like he woke up when he blinked seeing Lucy unconscious in his grip, he cried out in panic, she dropped limp onto the floor. Lockwood staggered back, heaving in air, his hands were shaking.
“What did I do?” He whispered to himself. He lunged towards Lucy, heaving wanted to shake her awake but he was scared he would hurt her more.
“GEORGE!” He cried “George help!” George burst through the door at last seeing the scene, he started to pick up Lucy by her shoulders,
“Lockwood help me get her to her room.” Lockwood shook his head violently,
“No, I can’t, I won’t. I won’t touch her.” He backed up into the corner. George gave him a worrisome look as he pulled his friend out of the room, and into her own.
My throat hurts, I immediately thought as I woke in my room. I heard Kipps yelling at someone downstairs. The memories started coming back, Lockwood had choked me, no not Lockwood, the parasite. George came into my room as I sat up, moving to my bedside.
“You want to see him don’t you.”
“Well you’re not until your throat feels better.” I glared at him. He sighed and went back to the door. Pausing,
“Kipps said he can help, but it’ll take some time.” He walked out. Immediately I defied his words and got up to see Lockwood.
I could hear George and Kipps in the kitchen, and knew she could easily move to Lockwood’s room without being noticed.
I entered the room, Lockwood was pacing, his hands shaking. As soon as he saw me he rushed into the corner. Panic rising in his face. I walked to him,
“No, Lucy you need to stay over there.”
“And why is that?” He paused for a moment, he wouldn’t meet my gaze.
“Because I don’t want to hurt you. Alright, so stay over there and I’ll stay here.”
I ignored him and went straight in front of him,
“Lockwood, look at me. You could never hurt me, -look at me, that wasn’t you. It was the parasite.” He stared at my bruised neck and sighed rubbing one of his shaken hands down his face. His hair was disheveled and the dark circles under his eyes were even darker and his eyes were wet and red.
“Have you been crying?” He quickly rubbed his eyes,
“No.” I gave him a small smile, which he returned it by hesitatingly taking my hand in his. I sat on the bed guiding him to do the same.
“Can we talk about it? The more we know the more we can help you.”
“Yeah ok.” He took a shaky breath.
“The parasite can control me like you… witnessed and while that was happening I could still see everything. Like how I grabbed you and uh yeah.” I noted everything in my mind.
“When I was asleep he was going through my memories, but to me it felt like I was dreaming of them. He knows everything about me Lucy, he knows how he can manipulate me to do what he wants. He can whisper in my ear when I’m conscious.”
I stared at him, his hand was growing tighter around mine I squeezed back.
“He knows I’m scared.” Normally when Lockwood’s scared he doesn’t show it other than acting even more reckless, him acually telling me what was happening with him was a first and I felt proud that he told me.
“We’re getting you help Lockwood, he won’t get to you after that. Besides if it happens again know that it’s not your fault.” We stared in each other’s eyes, we started to lean into each other, the moment was ruined when Kipps came through the door. We immediately separated.
“Lucy! Why are you in his room? George told you not to.”
“Fine, I was just leaving anyway.” I looked back to Lockwood before I left the room, but he was talking to Kipps.
It was a long day, George had to do all the jobs that night because he forbid me from leaving my room, Kipps was with us the whole time and would not stop making complaining about his work days. When I tried to sneak back to Lockwood to check in, Kipps would somehow always be there. I felt like I was trapped in my own home.
George finally showed back up at twenty-seven past one. Sweating, tired, and bruised.
“Dreadful, a phantasm made me throw up then chased me down a hall. So yeah not the best job I’ve done… are you making tea?”
“Oh, yeah I was. I was going to give some to Lockwood and Kipps though Kipps prefers coffee.” I trailed off. George was already pouring himself a cup taking off his specks as he did, placing them on the table.
“Kipps is going to try to find the supplies to get the parasite out of Lockwood tomorrow… or is it today? What time is it?” I looked at the time,
“Alright I’m going to go to bed.” He wandered off with his mug. I carried Lockwood’s mug to his room. He still winced whenever he saw my bruises but he gladly took the tea.
That afternoon we didn’t have any jobs so Kipps came over to do the “exorcism” as he called it which seemed appropriate. We started to get Lockwood ready, T-shirt and old trousers Lockwood was tied down to the floor over where Kipps had drawn and wonky circle.
“Is tying me up really necessary?” Lockwood said making a face at Kipps,
“Yes, we don’t want you to go possessed and run out of the house do we?” Lockwood went quiet,
“Let’s get started shall we?” Kipps said handing me and George a candle each.
Stand opposite from each other with Lockwood in between. We obeyed, Kipps looked to his Fittes Book of Exorcism, charming. He began to sprinkle salt and iron filings onto Lockwood, which smoked when touching him. Me and George exchanged glances. Lighting our candles, Kipps decided t was a good time to say the after affects last minute.
“So, after the exorcism Lockwood will be ghost locked for a little bit, but he will come back. Lucy stop giving me a bloody death glare.”
“Why would you only tell us now Kipps!?”
“What? I said he would be fine and I mean it! Whatever let’s just start.” I stayed quiet, giving Lockwood reassuring looks.
“Here we go.” We started to circle Lockwood waving our candles in an infinite motion, it started working, Lockwood cried out in pain. His eyes switching from orange to brown, orange,
“STOP LUCY YOUR HURTING ME! PLEASE LUCY!” I looked away, this was the parasite talking right?Salt couldn’t acually hurt a human. I almost stopped as his cries got louder but Kipps urged us on. One second Lockwood was writhing in pain and in the next there it was, the parasite, hovering above Lockwood. He couldn’t make conversation anymore without Lockwood so this would be easier. I took out my rapier from my side and killed it, it wouldn’t come back since the mirror was covering.
Lockwood was still, his eyes were closed and his hair was even messier than it was before. George lifted his eyelid and sighed.
“He’s ghost locked, let’s get him back to bed.” This time I helped him carry Lockwood, he was much heavier than i thought, like George said. We got him back and I placed a cup of water on his bedside table.
Weeks went by without Lockwood waking up, Kipps sometimes came to help with taxes and money things and me and George would make the money by being our usual agents. When we’d get home I would tell Lockwood what happened and hold his hand for a bit before going to get supper. Today was different. I had been too quiet without him, no kettle whistling every other hour and no long coat in sight. I was by his side as usual since we killed the parasite, I was holding his hand kneeling on the floor.
“I lost Norrie this way, I can’t lose you too.” I paused “If only this were a fairy tale.” I whispered, “I could just give you a kiss and you would wake up.” I thought of Norrie, how I couldn’t help her whereas I can help him. I hesitantly got up and moved closer to Lockwood’s pale face, I gave him a small kiss on the forehead, nothing. I sighed and moved back to where I was, George came in,
“OK, coming.” I gave Lockwood’s hand a final squeeze before leaving. I saw George give him a look before following.
As Lucy and George were eating Lockwood stirred. He blinked, light pouring in from his open window. Sitting up he felt the warmth of his one hand from Lucy, he smiled bright and warm. He coughed and reached for the glass of water by his side, but his shaking hands dropped it.
“Shit.” He said. Both lucy and George heard this and ran up the stairs as Lockwood moved to the side of the bed to pick up the fallen glass.
I burst through the door, hope at its highest point. Lockwood was awake, he saw me flashing his smile reserved for me. He tried to get up but fell forward, I caught him laughing and hugging him tight as if I let go he would disappear. He hugged me back, hesitant but firm. His head fell onto my shoulder, all I could see was him. We gazed at each other beaming, his head moved first, but I knew i wanted this. We leaned into each other, his lips were dry but I didn’t care, they were his. I noticed George in the doorway and stopped, I felt my face flush the darkest red in the world and Lockwood’s face matched mine. George was smugly smiling, and walked out of the room backwards. Lockwood looked at me and I looked at him, stunned. We started laughing, real and full. He threw his head back and fell on the bed, my stomach was cramping and I leaned on the table. For that moment we knew, we never had to say it but it was true. I fell on the bed beside him, the laughing had ceased.
“Did you notice me by you every day?” I asked studying his messy hair.
“Yes, I also heard all your stories.”
“When you gave me that small kiss? Yeah.” He beamed at me, his cheeks were still rosy from before.
“Starving. Is there tea downstairs?” He laughed.
“No, but we can make all the tea we want.”
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*Author Note*
”hope ya’ll enjoyed this. I was thinking about this for days perfecting it while trying to make myself sleep and finally write it on a car trip. Thanks to Sketchy Skittles for helping me edit and for encouraging me to write my idea out. Love you bestie”
