The League [Phan AU]

Chapter 39

Katie sat across from Phil at the counter in Joe's apartment. They hadn't wanted to stick around the Hideout, so they left to find somewhere to talk. Joe placed a steaming cup of coffee on the counter for Phil, who thanked him as he handed Katie a hot chocolate.
"You can stay here, Phil, for as long as you need," Joe offered. "The couch pulls out. You could even take my bed and I'll take the couch."
"Thanks, Joe," Phil nodded.
"I can't believe he'd do something like that," Joe wondered aloud. "I mean, Marcus was our friend. Do you think it was those voices?"
"Either that or he really is just like his father," Phil sighed, playing with the ring on his finger. He brushed over the D carved into it over and over again. His movement was interrupted when Katie put her hand on top of his. He looked up and she offered him a small smile, which he returned.
"When Dan told me about the voices, he mentioned something about them taking over. I think that's why he asked me to look out for him, because in some way they were trying to take over him," Katie told them.
"So you think that really isn't Dan?" Phil asked.
"I've known you two for as long as I can remember," Katie replied. "And this just doesn't seem like something he would do. Killing Marcus is a deed he would only do if the need arose, and he easily could just knocked him out or talked him down; you both saw the surveillance video. And attacking the police isn't a good move strategically, and Dan never does something without thinking. He's smart."
"So if he's been taken over by these voices, then how do we stop them?" Joe questioned.
"I don't know," Phil sighed. "But I can't give up on him. My Dan is in there somewhere. I know it."
----
Eren walked through the wreck that was now the police station. He had to find Levi. He had stayed late last night to help Jean and Marco on a case. He had to be alive. He had to.
Eren entered their office, seeing Levi leaning casually on a desk, with his arm in a sling. Eren's heart sank and he let out a cry from his throat. Levi saw him and stood up, letting Eren hold him tight in relief.
"I was so scared," Eren whispered. Levi held onto him with his uninjured arm.
"I'm okay," Levi replied. "I'm alright."
"Are Jean and Marco okay?" Eren asked when they parted.
"Since when did you care about Jean?" Levi asked sarcastically. Eren gave him a look that told him not to joke around. "They're okay, Marco's pretty banged up though. They sent him to the hospital, but last I heard he was going to survive."
"Good," Eren nodded. "Do they know who did this?"
"See for yourself," a voice said. Eren turned and saw Quinton Norwood standing a few feet away from him. The man beckoned the two of them over and pointed them to a computer screen. He pressed play on the video that was pulled up. On it he saw a face he recognized.
"Hello there, Mr. Quinton Norwood," the man in the video said. "I would like to kindly ask you to stay out of our fucking business. London is our territory, and you will never take it from us. Enjoy cleaning up our mess."
"That was..." Eren started.
"Daniel Howell," Quinton finished. "You arrested him and then released him, why?"
"We had his fingerprints on a knife that his partner's blood on it, but they didn't know anything about that," Eren explained. "I knew they were lying, but I didn't know why."
"I happen to think this Howell character is leading the LSTI," Quinton told them. "And I know you've been trying to track them down for years. I'm a bit short on investigators after tonight's incident, so what do you say you two help me out?"
"Are you serious?" Eren asked enthusiastically. Quinton nodded. "Yes! Of course!"