Lockwood & Co. Oneshots and AUs

Rivalry

~ Originally posted to my Tumblr, I really liked writing this one. I decided to add it to Wattpad. ~

He followed her everywhere. Everywhere.

You think the author would be talking about Lockwood, right? Well you'd be wrong!

Quill Kipps, while being their ex-rival, was now the overprotective dad of the group. Especially for miss Lucy Carlyle. It was almost funny how he followed her like a cat following its kitten. Though, it wasn't for good reason. She was small and young. Doubtlessly, she'll do stupid things. As well as he has trust issues of other guys around her age. You see, Lucy was extremely dense. Like, really really dense. She still had yet to admit that she did have romantic feelings for Lockwood.

Not that Kipps thought she should be in a relationship with the twat. He was young, immature, and quite reckless. Obviously, he would not provide a stable relationship.

Of course, all of this excessive following Lucy around and socializing with her would naturally turn heads.

Specifically Lockwoods.

Kipps was getting a little too friendly with Lucy for Lockwood's taste. He dreaded to think what Kipps was trying to do. Not only was it illegal at her age, but Lucy deserved better in his mind. Someone who would offer her something exciting. Maybe not complete stability, but certainly events to remember.

George had once joked saying "Kipps is still your rival, Lockwood. Now you two are just fighting over Lucy instead of the Times."

Reminder, this was a joke. He didn't expect Lockwood to take this literally.

But any threat to his relationship with Lucy (that he didn't have, they were just friends) was taken super seriously.

So they were back to being rivals. Well, Kipps didn't know about this, he was too busy being a father-figure to Lucy to pick up on the hints.

Eventually, Lockwood confronted him about it.

"Quill, I hope you know what you're doing is disgusting." Lockwood scolded one night.

"Pardon?" Kipps asked, looking up from making coffee.

"Don't play dumb! You know what I'm talking about!" Lockwood barked. Tears threatened to spill. He really was trying to take away his Lucy? Lockwood needed her! He was a wreck without her! She ment the world to him!

"No, Tony... I don't know what you're talking about." Kipps turned away from his task to face Lockwood. "Is this about a case?"

"Don't mock me!" Lockwood scoffed. "You know what this is about! You know what you're doing is illegal, right? Its illegal and gross!"

Kipps was honestly baffled. What was he doing that pissed Lockwood off so much? What was illegal? Being a supervisor in the Fitties agency required him to memorize the laws as if he were studying to be a member of the police. He knew them all by heart. And honestly, he couldn't find anything that he was doing illegal. Or gross. What the hell was Lockwood going on about?

"Don't think I haven't noticed!" Lockwood shot. "You're always around her and you never let her go anywhere near other guys!"

Kipps looked up, still thoroughly confused.

"You're disgusting! Horrid! Absolutely the worst! She's not yours!" Lockwood hissed. At the mention of possession, something clicked in Kippss mind.

He was talking about Lucy.

Now it was really funny. Did Lockwood actually think that Kipps was trying to woo her? Did he really, honestly think he was trying to be romantic with her??

Kipps started to laugh. A chuckle at first, but then her hung his head and began hissing out laughter. It's what he did when he found something funny when it really shouldn't have been.

"What are you laughing at?!" Lockwood demanded. "What's so funny?!"

Kipps couldn't handle it. He burst into full laughter. He covered his face and began to tremble. It's strange hearing Kipps so loud, but that's what his laughter was; loud, coming from deep within his chest. And his laughter only pissed Lockwood off even more.

"T-Tony..." He attempted to catch his breath and calm himself. Lockwood waited since it seemed like he was planning on giving a response.

"Y-You... You really think that I..." He had managed to reduce himself to snickers, but still couldn't catch his breath. "Lucy and... M-Me and her..."

He couldn't help himself. He burst into full laughter again. Lockwoods face grew red with anger.

"Th-That's gotta... That's gotta be the dumbest thing I ever heard!" He continued to laugh. Lockwoods hands curled into fists.

"Really? Because that's what it looks like you're trying to do." He seethed. Kipps shook his head.

"Y-You got it all wrong." He said, finally recovering from his laughter. "She's like a daughter to me. I follow her around because I don't want her doing something that could hurt herself. And I don't let her go near guys because most of them are creeps."

"How do I know you're not lying." Lockwood growled.

"Tony, why would I?" He finally looked back at Lockwood. "If I were dating her, I'd rub it in to show how much of a coward you are. And besides, I'm not interested in a romantic partner. If I was, I wouldn't spend so much time with you."

Lockwood seemed to shrink into himself. Really? He wasn't trying to get with Lucy? Lockwood was wrong?

Okay, that last question wasn't so strange to ask, he's wrong a lot, thought he'd never admit it.

But at least one thing made Lockwood ease; it was still possible to make Lucy his.

"If you're that scared of losing her to another man, hurry up and confess your bloody feelings." Kipps ordered, turning back to his coffee.

Lockwood thought for a moment. Maybe he should tell her. After a heated self debate, he left the kitchen. He was determined to make Lucy his, and his alone.