Lockwood and Co: Before the Company

Chapter Five: My First Secret

After that night, though the recklessness didn't fully cease, you could clearly see that he had made progress. Now, his risks were more calculated, and they never endangered his teammates. There were even times that his risks were taken just to protect his team. After several years working with Sykes, you could tell he was shaping into a fantastic leader. In fact, the next time he gave me any real trouble wasn't even on a case at all. It was when he discovered I had a boyfriend outside the agency that I didn't tell him about.

He was furious.

I'm not sure if it was because he felt betrayed by my lack of telling him or the fact that he was part of another agency, but Lockwood didn't like it nonetheless. It was the first secret I had ever kept from him.

I had met Tom Jennings while purchasing supplies for a case. I was looking through the different magnesium flares when he entered the building. I could immediately tell that he was part of the Fittes agency from his silver jacket, but his demeanor did not reflect that status. He was much less imposing and snooty than the other Fittes agents. They generally had an elegant and stuffy air about them, but Tom seemed warm and friendly. He approached the flares, where I was, and we immediately hit it off. He told me he was grabbing a few extra odds and ends for his case that night, but he had some time beforehand. We went to a cafe down the road and chatted for hours. He left in an embarrassed rush when he realized that he would be late if he hadn't left, but we arranged to meet up again after that. The meetings became much more frequent, but we made a mutual decision to keep it discrete. Many agencies frowned upon fraternizing between agents from opposing companies.

Lockwood grew suspicious of my constant sneaking off during odd hours of the day. He hated the feeling that I was keeping something from him because I told him everything. One night, Tom and I had arranged to meet at a park in the heart of London at dawn. This would be before any sane person was out and about, but the Visitors would be waning and the ghost lamps would still be blazing strong. Everything was going smoothly except for the fact that (and I was oblivious to this at the time) Lockwood followed me.

"Tom!" I called out happily. I saw the boy leaning against a tree ahead of me. He smiled. He wasn't abnormally tall, nor was he especially muscular or anything, but I swear that when his eyes sparkled like they did when he greeted me, it was like rainbows crossed the sky, flowers spontaneously bloomed, and unicorns frolocked about all at the same time. He had magic in his chestnut eyes.

"Evelyn!" He met my advance and took me in his arms. We kissed, as couples do, and that's when I heard the twig snap from behind us.

We were vulnerable where we stood, yes, but we were also agents, and we were careful. We both took our rapiers out and stepped cautiously towards the source of the sound. We reached a bush on the outskirts of the park, and that's when I saw him. Lockwood.

I blushed. It was like my little brother had just seen me making-out with my boyfriend! I was mortified!

"Lockwood?!" I shouted, "What the bloody hell are you doing here?!"

He rose from behind the bush. He had grown a lot over the past years. Now, when he stood, his eyes were about level with mine. He had a smug smile on his face. He was proud to have caught us in the act. "I should ask you the same thing," he said, crossing his arms and adopting an authoritative stance.

"I can do what I bloody well please with my life, thank you very much," I stuck my nose up in an attempt to regain the height advantage that I welcomed when I was telling him off in the past.

"If you believed that," he started, "You wouldn't have to sneak about to do this."

I knew he was right, but I wouldn't admit it. "We are not sneaking!" My tone wasn't very convincing.

"So you wouldn't mind if I went back and told Sykes," Lockwood started proudly, "after all, you aren't sneaking."

"Lockwood, is it?" Tom interjected hurriedly. "We don't mean any harm. We're just," he looked back at me, wondering what to say next, "enjoying the pleasure of each other's company." Tom attempted his most charming smile, but it could not match the wolflike grin that now spread across Lockwood's face.

"I don't know, Ev..." Lockwood started, keeping his gaze firmly on Tom, "he seems like trouble to me."

"This is exactly why I didn't tell you, Lock!" I said in a huff. That got him to turn and face me. "I knew you would be upset! You'd think he was trouble just because you didn't know him!" I shouted.

"Did it ever cross your mind that I could be right?" he responded.

"Would everyone please calm down? Let's just-" Tom tried to interrupt, but I immediately cut him off.

"No!" I started, "No, it didn't because you are still a kid. Whether you like it or not, I'm older, and you have no idea about stuff like this!" His grin was long gone. He was getting mad. "I care about Tom! Someday there'll be someone who makes you want to break the rules, too, but until then, you have no right to judge me for this!" Lockwood's hand moved to his rapier hilt. Acknowledging this, I said, "You really want to do this, now?"

"You know, I think I do." We both drew our weapons.

The silver of our blades flashed throughout the park, catching the shreds of sunlight that had begun to emerge. The match only lasted a few moments. After all, Lockwood was good, but I was better.

With a swift, swirling motion of my rapier, I sent his weapon whirring out of his hand. It wasn't a training blade anymore, either. His blade was just as nice as mine, but it didn't help him. I trained him. I knew all of his tricks and best moves because they were mine, too. I kicked at Lockwood's legs. Now, he lay disarmed and stunned in the grass of the park, panting like a dog.

"Tell Sykes if you want, Lockwood," I stated, sheathing my blade. "If it brings you joy to ruin this one thing I have outside of the agency, then fine." He hadn't looked at me. His eyes remained fixed on the sky. "It'll show where you stand."

After that, I walked off with Tom. He was quite shaken by the altercation, and was worried that we might be exposed, but at that point I couldn't care less. I didn't even look back at Lockwood lying there. I hadn't hurt him, I knew that. He was just being dramatic. There were few people in London who could beat him with a rapier. I was one of them.

Part of me always knew he wouldn't tell anyone about that night, but it was still a pleasant surprise when I arrived back home and wasn't greeted by the wrath of Sykes. In fact, Lockwood didn't even bring it up to me. We just ignored it and went on like nothing happened. I kind of felt bad that I beat him so badly, but he'd be fine. He wasn't a baby anymore.