Retribution (Garrett / Reader)

Doll Hands

I walked over, balancing the teacup on a small platter as (y/n) started to wake, tossing and turning in frustration. When her eyes finally shot open, they darted around the area in panic. When she noticed me standing and looking down at her, her eyebrows burrowed, anger filling her face.

"I guess you'll get the 10,000 pretty easily, congratulations." she said in a bitter tone.

"Relax, I'm not going to turn you in. That is unless you give me more trouble than you're worth." I said, helping her sit up and untying her hands.

"You're joking right? There's no way you can turn down 10,000 in coin." she said, rubbing her wrists.

"I prefer to work for that kind of money. And handing someone into the Watch isn't typical of me. Now, I want you to meet somebody." I said, as she accepted the small teacup from my hand.

Her hands were strange. They were shaking from the cold, but were clear and looked untouched, no soot or cuts in sight. Almost as if she was a doll who was carefully maintained by a collector. She noticed me staring at them and shot me a dangerous glare. I looked away and walked over to the Queen of Beggars. She followed behind, a look of surprise on her face once she saw the blind woman playing chess.

"Hello dear, please, have a seat..." The Queen said gesturing to the chair across from her.

She reluctantly sat down, not looking at the Queen, but kept an eye on me. It was clear that she didn't trust me one bit, and why should she? That mistrust would most likely keep her alive in this city.

"(Y/n) was it? It's nice to meet you." The Queen of Beggars asked, as if she was oblivious to the matter at hand.

"It's nice to meet you too ma'am. And you are?" (Y/n) asked, cupping the tea tightly in her hands for warmth.

"Such nice manners, you could learn a thing or two from her Garrett...I have many names, but most call me The Queen of Beggars." She said, sipping from her teacup.

I rolled my eyes as (Y/n) noticed herself slouching and immediately sat up, taking a deep breath through her nose.

"Some habits are hard to break, especially ones imprinted on one since birth. The birth of a young princess." She said in her usual cryptic manner.

(Y/n) winced at her statement, as if she resented who she was with all her spirit. Placing her teacup down gently she gave a small nod.

"I just nodded by the way..."

"She knows." I said, crossing my arms.

"Well...What are we doing here?" She asked, embarrassment brushing across her face.

"I just had to ask a few questions abo-" I started.

"About what the Thief-Taker General knows about you being in the city..." The Queen interrupted as I shot her a strange glance.

A squeaking noise filled the air as our attention was drawn to the entrance of the graveyard. Two beggars walked in, carrying a carage of the dead, which seemed slightly more than usual for today. On the top of the pile lay a guardsman, his helmet barely on his head and his stomach covered in a dark red. I glanced over to (y/n) who didn't take her eyes off the scene. Her eyes looked blurred and she grew pale before she snapped herself out of the trance.

"He knows that I killed one of his men...And that if a few deaths is what this city needs in order to change...So be it." She said in a darker tone than before.

I looked at her with firm eyes...I did not approve of killing, although she had good reason. The guards where going to harm her so she did what was necessary to stay alive. I noticed her starting to shake as she tried to cover her demeanor with a firm face. This may have been the first person she's killed...and has seen die. 

"Now dear...I know many things, the city is full of secrets...but you are foreign, a gem from the golden district, and I employ that you make the right decisions...for the sake of both cities and the people that reside in them..." 

She held her hand out to (y/n), who was skeptical before reaching underneath. Then the Queen of Beggars dropped something in her hands.

"A knight?" (y/n) asked, inspecting the ebony chess piece.

"Now, I suggest you two get going before dawn. The shadows are your allies, keep them close." The Queen said, eyeing (y/n) as she said the latter statement.

I nodded as we walked towards the front gates of the graveyard, passing the pile of the dead. (Y/n) walked ahead of me, eager to get out of the dreary atmosphere. Before I left, I felt a boney hand grab my shoulder.

"She may have good intentions, but she will make mistakes and get lost. You are there to help her and also to make sure she doesn't lose herself...Because she will." The Queen of Beggars said, closing the gate behind me.

I nodded and turned to follow (y/n) down the alley, staying hidden in the shadows. I took a deep breath.

This was going to be a nightmare.