Noctis shoved open the front door of their hideout. Lucy and several of her subordinates followed close behind him. He could barely put into words what was going on inside him. He should have been satisfied. The Boss was dead. Finally. But instead of relief, all he felt was burning rage.
It drove him insane that the damned bastard hadn't died by his hand, Vincent's, or Isaac's.
Instead, he had been killed by some stranger whose identity was still completely unknown.
That piece of shit hadn't even suffered. After everything he had done, he should have spent every single moment of his final seconds in agony. Instead, he had died so quickly that he probably hadn't even felt the slightest hint of pain.
If Noctis ever got his hands on the fucking asshole who had stolen their revenge from them, then he'd better be prepared for what was coming.
"We're back at headquarters," Lucy said, addressing Vincent.
They were still connected through a shared call, just like Isaac, Noah, and Ashe always were whenever they went on a raid. Having a private line no one could enter uninvited was simply practical.
"Good. Gather in the office. Moz and I will be back shortly as well. I just need to speak to the cop for a moment."
Although Vincent spoke in his usual calm voice, Noctis could hear how irritated his brother was. He gave Lucy a nod and quickened his pace slightly.
"So he's really dead?" Noctis asked as he strode purposefully down the hallway toward his room.
"He is," Moz confirmed. "But we still don't know who did it. He's talking to the cop right now. I can't give you any more information at the moment."
Noctis paused briefly. How was he supposed to tell Isaac about this? The Boss had died only minutes after the police had taken him into custody. They had no idea who had done it, and they didn't have a single lead yet.
Whoever it was hadn't just stolen revenge from Noctis and Vincent, but from Isaac as well. If anyone had earned the right to punish the Boss with his own hands, it was him.
Noctis ran a frustrated hand through his hair and continued on his way. He would think of something. Grand speeches or carefully prepared explanations had never really been his strength anyway.
"Lucy, go to Ashe and put her on it," Vincent said over the line. "Have her check the traffic surveillance and find out which recordings the police have already uploaded into the system. Maybe the reporters caught something useful too."
But when he reached his room, no one was there. Neither in the bedroom nor in the bathroom.
Damn it, where the hell are you, Isaac?
"I was going to put her on it anyway. The sooner we find out who did it, the better," Lucy replied.
"Already done," Ashe snorted, suddenly cutting into their line.
Noctis frowned.
"Ashe?" Noctis asked, genuinely surprised. "Since when have you been listening in?"
Honestly, it shouldn't have surprised him that she could tap into the line whenever she wanted. What did surprise him, however, was that she already seemed to know everything that was going on. It was still early in the morning, and after the last few days, he had expected her to at least sleep in for once.
Ashe let out a tired snort.
"We saw the news, so we're pretty well informed on the official side of things. There's not really much from unofficial sources yet, but what I have found, I already don't like."
"We? Is Isaac with you?"
"We're in Isaac's room," she answered.
"I'm coming over."
Without waiting for a response, Noctis ended the call.
So Isaac already knew everything. Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair. On the one hand, at least he wouldn't have to explain everything to him now. On the other, he was a little worried about what state he would find Isaac in. Ashe's voice hadn't given away anything about his mood.
Though knowing Isaac, he was probably either in a terrible mood or overthinking all the bullshit that had happened yet again.
"Fuck…" he muttered quietly as he turned around and headed toward Isaac's room.
At least it wasn't far from his own.
When he reached Isaac's room, he paused for a moment. Should he knock? The very second the thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it again and simply opened the door.
What awaited him was an Isaac pacing restlessly back and forth, while Ashe sat cross-legged on his bed, hammering away at her keyboard in concentration.
At that moment, Ashe barely registered in his mind. Instead, his gaze was—as usual—completely captivated by Isaac.
He looked angry and frustrated. The dark circles under his eyes didn't escape Noctis, and for a brief moment he wondered if Isaac had slept badly. Though it was more likely he hadn't slept at all. Isaac had a tendency to think too much, and even the night before he hadn't exactly been thrilled about being forced to stay behind.
An unpleasant tightness spread through Noctis' chest. It hurt to see Isaac like this. Even more, he hated the thought that Isaac would now never get the chance to carry out his own revenge. Still, Noctis couldn't stop his gaze from lingering on him for a moment.
He memorized Isaac's expression. Even angry, he looked irresistibly hot and desirable. Noctis would have loved nothing more than to help him relieve some of that stress, but unfortunately that would have to wait until later.
He forced his body to calm down as a treacherous tingling sensation was already beginning to spread through him.
Taking a deep breath, he let his impatience take over again and threw Ashe out of the room so he could take care of his beloved in peace.
"Noctis!" Isaac said the moment he noticed his presence.
His gaze swept over him carefully, almost frantically checking him for injuries. Only after convincing himself that Noctis was unharmed did he let out an audible breath. Isaac completely closed the distance between them, rested his forehead against Noctis' shoulder, and pulled him tightly into his arms.
"You're not hurt…" he murmured in relief.
Noctis wrapped his arms around him as well and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of his head. For a brief moment, all the noise in his mind fell silent.
"Nothing happened to me," Noctis said quietly.
Isaac abruptly pulled away from him and stared at him in disbelief.
"Is he really dead?!"
Noctis nodded slowly. Instantly, Isaac's fingers dug painfully into his shoulders.
"Who was it?!" he demanded sharply. "One of our people?!"
"No," Noctis answered. "We still don't know who it was, but it definitely wasn't anyone from our side. The Websters follow their orders, and besides that, I assume quite a few people hated the Boss or were after his position."
Isaac cursed quietly under his breath. For a moment he said nothing, then slowly exhaled.
"I can't believe someone killed him before I could punish him myself," he growled angrily. "Luck is seriously never on my side."
"At least he's dead," Noctis said. "That's all that matters in the end."
Even if that fact irritated him beyond belief.
Isaac looked at him as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"How can you accept that so easily?" he asked in disbelief. "You've spent seventeen years working toward this moment!"
"Because he's dead, and that was our goal," Noctis said honestly. "Believe me, darling, I hate this just as much as you do. And honestly, I would've preferred it if you had killed him with your own hands."
Gently, he brushed a hand over Isaac's cheek.
"We'll find out who did it," he promised quietly. "And then we'll kick that bastard's ass properly."
Though it definitely wouldn't stop at a simple beating.
"Even Ashe hasn't found anything yet!" Isaac snapped at him. "What if we never find that fucking asshole?"
His gaze burned angrily into Noctis for another moment before he abruptly turned away. He released Noctis' shoulders only to wrap his arms tightly around himself instead.
"Sorry," he muttered more quietly. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."
Noctis exhaled slowly. He understood perfectly well why Isaac was so upset.
"It's just…" Isaac began hesitantly. "I finally learn what that bastard did to me all those years… and now that I finally could've taken revenge, he's just… dead."
Every single word sounded bitter. Noctis stepped closer and pulled him back into his arms. While holding Isaac tightly, he briefly lifted his gaze toward Ashe and silently motioned for her to leave the room.
She made an annoyed face. With a dramatic eye roll, she shut her laptop, gathered her things, and finally disappeared from the room. The door clicked shut softly behind her.
Isaac didn't even seem to notice that she had left.
"At least he didn't disappear," Noctis said quietly. "It would've pissed me off a lot more if he'd gone into hiding somewhere."
Isaac clenched his hands into Noctis' sweater.
"In that case, I would've turned the entire city upside down to find him," he growled. Then he buried his face against Noctis' shoulder. "Damn it… what am I even supposed to do now that he's dead?"
"Let's just leave," Noctis suggested softly.
Isaac let out a tired snort.
"Your brother definitely won't let us disappear while the chaos in the city is still out of control."
"Then we'll just stay here in your room for a few days," Noctis replied without the slightest shame. "We'll force Moz to provide us with everything we need. That way we're reachable at all times, and at the same time I have a good reason to annoy that idiot."
A quiet laugh escaped Isaac.
"You really can't stand him, huh?"
Noctis shrugged.
"His reactions are just too entertaining."
Isaac leaned even closer against him.
"I don't want to see him any longer than necessary. He still killed Noah, and I can't just forgive him for that," he murmured. "Though part of me is glad Noah doesn't have to witness all this bullshit."
So he did notice Ashe leaving after all?
Noctis slowly ran a hand through his hair.
"He would've lived in constant fear," he said calmly. "Whoever's trying to seize power now would've hunted Noah for the rest of his life. And even if he had survived, there would always be people lurking in the shadows, waiting for the day he took over his father's business."
Isaac let out a heavy sigh.
"A break from this endless chaos would really be nice," he said quietly. "I'm tired of fighting or always having to stay on guard. Going on vacation still sounds like a dream."
"Soon, darling," Noctis promised, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Just a little longer."
For a moment, silence settled between them. Then Isaac slightly lifted his head.
"Noc?"
"Hmm?"
"Can we pick up a few things from my apartment?"
Noctis immediately frowned.
"Your apartment is still under surveillance," he said in surprise. "What is it that you absolutely need to get?"
Isaac briefly avoided his gaze.
"Just my brushes. Maybe the paints too… and a few paintings."
At once, Noctis pictured all the brushes, paints, canvases, and finished artworks filling Isaac's studio. There was no way they could remove all of it unnoticed—or in a single trip. Isaac's apartment might have been stylishly furnished and far from cluttered, but the same definitely could not be said for his studio.
Because even if those things weren't all immediately visible, Noctis knew exactly what was hidden inside the cabinets. Even if the apartment wasn't under constant surveillance, this still wasn't something they could simply manage on a whim.
"Darling…" he began carefully. "We can't go to your apartment right now. It's too dangerous."
Isaac's shoulders immediately tensed slightly.
"I can get you new paints. New canvases. Anything you want," Noctis continued calmly. "But please promise me you won't go there."
Isaac briefly pressed his lips together.
"Why not? Those are things I'm really attached to… even just the brushes would be enough… please, Noctis…" he pleaded quietly. "I need something to distract myself with every now and then."
For a moment, Noctis seriously considered Isaac's request, and yet it still wasn't possible. Even if the Boss's men were no longer watching the apartment, there was still a high chance that Levi had people keeping an eye on it.
He couldn't exactly allow Isaac to walk straight into his arms. After all, Levi had made it more than clear that he wanted Isaac—for whatever reason.
"What if Levi has your apartment under surveillance?" Noctis asked quietly.
Isaac immediately stiffened in his arms. The change was subtle, but obvious enough for Noctis to notice.
"It's fine, forget it… I want to avoid running into him," he muttered. "Though I still have quite a bit of money hidden in my apartment that I can't get to anymore…"
Isaac really didn't need to worry about money. Noctis had more than enough, and they still had access to Isaac's bank account anyway. He just needed to go to the bank once and have a new card issued.
"Just write me a list," he said calmly. "Then we'll send Moz out to get everything."
Isaac nodded slowly.
"I miss my studio," he said quietly at last. "If I had known all this would happen, I would've started clearing everything out much earlier."
Noctis gently stroked his back in reassurance.
The night had been exhausting. Right now, he would give anything to take a quick shower and then crawl into bed with Isaac afterward. He would spend a little while touching him to his heart's content before eventually falling asleep in each other's arms. Noctis loved living in the moment—as long as that moment allowed him everything his heart desired.
Isaac wasn't the only one who needed a break from all of this. He could use one just as badly.
"When all of this is over, we'll find a new apartment. Maybe somewhere outside the city with a breathtaking view we can admire over a cup of coffee at any time of day. You'll get a new studio, and all I'll ask in return is that you keep our beautiful home clean while I occasionally go out and kill the odd bad guy."
Isaac smirked.
"That almost sounds like I'd never have to deal with other people again."
"You wouldn't have to," Noctis replied with a grin. "You could just paint and sell your pictures like you always have."
And for once I wouldn't have to worry about something happening to you.
The thought remained unspoken. Noctis was tired of seeing Isaac suffer. Tired of constantly fearing he might lose him.
"Besides, you could finally learn how to use your magic properly in peace," he continued. "That card set you made for me is slowly running out."
Isaac's expression softened a little.
"I'll make you new cards," Isaac promised quietly. Then his fingers dug more firmly into Noctis' sweater. "What if I get bored?"
Noctis couldn't help but grin.
Oh darling. I definitely wouldn't give you the chance to get bored.
He already had a fairly precise idea of what their life together could look like.
"You seriously think I'd leave you enough free time to get bored?" he asked, amused. "In that case, you could always come along on a mission too. Though the Webster clan tends to take assassination jobs rather than thefts."
Isaac grimaced slightly.
"…I still can't quite believe I'm part of a clan of murderers."
"Technically, you're part of my life," Noctis replied dryly. "Everything else is irrelevant. The Webster clan is your family, but that doesn't mean you have to become a murderer too."
Isaac let out a quiet snort, but Noctis could feel at least some of the tension leaving his body.
"Take all the time you need, darling," Noctis said softly before kissing him gently. His fingers brushed over Isaac's cheek. "How about you simply aim for a peaceful life? No Boss, no stress, no danger. Do whatever you feel like doing, and let's figure out together what kind of life we actually want."
Isaac nodded slowly.
"The world suddenly feels so… big," he murmured thoughtfully. "Now that I don't constantly have to be on standby anymore."
Then he lifted his gaze and looked directly at Noctis.
"A life without the Boss… fuck, I still can't believe he's really dead."
Stressed, he ran a hand through his hair and pushed the strands back from his forehead. Noctis understood him all too well.
"I feel the same way," he admitted honestly. "Come on. We should go see the others. Maybe Vincent knows more by now."
"Okay." Isaac pulled him down once more and briefly pressed his lips against Noctis'. "I'm really glad you didn't get hurt last night. Will you tell me later what happened?"
Noctis immediately grinned.
"After a shower and a bit of exercise?" He kissed him again, this time slower. "Unfortunately, I barely moved at all last night. My muscles are craving a little activity."
Isaac raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"You do realize I've barely slept in the last four days?"
Noctis made a dismissive gesture. "At this point, day five won't make much of a difference."
Isaac snorted softly.
"Then you should put in some effort so I don't fall asleep halfway through," he replied with a challenging undertone.
Noctis' grin widened further.
"Was that a challenge?" His hands slowly slid over Isaac's hips. "I thought you were in desperate need of a distraction."
He leaned closer to him.
"Who knows. Maybe this time I'll make a special effort to satisfy you."
Isaac laughed quietly, and that sound alone made Noctis' heart feel a little lighter.
"Your kind of distraction is more than welcome," Isaac murmured. "I can't wait."
It annoyed Noctis that they still had to go see his brother. Ideally, he would've pounced on Isaac right then and there. But if they wanted more information, they had to meet with the others and hear what they had found out.
So Noctis reluctantly forced himself to be reasonable.
At least for the moment.