Fic: Ashes to Ashes (R) Veronica/Logan - 6/11
Title: Ashes to Ashes - 6/11
Authors: moire2 and fickledame
Pairing: Veronica/Logan
Rating: Strong R for violence.
Word Count: Around 15000 in total.
Disclaimer: We just noticed we aren't Rob Thomas nor are we in anyway affiliated with Rob Thomas. Thought y'all should know just in case you decided to throw money or loose change our way. Apparently, that is frowned on by RT's lawyers. Now, if you want to do a strip tease or flash us, that is a whole different story. Or, send us your panties in the mail... feel free. Actually - no. Hygiene issues. Panties in mail bad. Take pictures and email them. Oral sex also helpful. No, I mean... feedback. Is this becoming the longest disclaimer ever? I think so. So, to recap, lawyers who take our money bad, sex feedback good.
Summary: From the authors of Mala Fide comes a brand new thriller. A serial killer is rampaging through Neptune. Nobody is safe! The babies, the kittens - just lock them all away, it’s for the best! Okay, so the fic is kinda dark, contains some violence and possibly has character death in it. Okay, perhaps everyone dies. What? If it is good enough for Hamlet, it is good enough for us. (Not everyone dies. Come back! Read it! Why is everyone clicking X?)
Spoilers: Up until episode 13 of season two.
A/N: One of the authors is American, the other English. The spellings reflect that.
Thanks: Our never ending source of gratitude goes to semby, ethereal_65 and taken_with_you for their wonderful beta skills. They are the bomb diggity and we have a tiny shrine dedicated to them, but not in a creepy way. Or a stalker way. In the, we like their mad beta skills way. Additional thanks to skk670 for putting up with our mad ramblings about this fic. And yes, we do really have stalker-ish shrines dedicated to you all. You love it and we know it.
Special Note: This fic takes place a little while after current events - and some of it is AU. (e.g. Felix’s killer is possibly AU, not spoiler.)
Chapter One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four - Part Five
It was a beautiful, sunny day, and that seemed wrong on many levels. Veronica stood shoulder to shoulder with her classmates. She glanced around, taking in the carefully coiffed group of 09ers. Black slacks, black dresses, black sunglasses… It seemed like she could drown in a sea of black.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…”
The minister held a large, gilded Bible open as he, with a voice soothing as fingernails on a chalkboard, droned on about Cassidy being in a ‘better place.’ Better place my ass, Veronica thought as she stared at the gleaming black coffin. A spray of white roses rested on the top, and she watched while Dick and his mother moved forward. Each took a rose from the spray, and stepped back. Veronica couldn’t look away from Dick’s dull eyes as the coffin was lowered into the ground. The crowd turned, beginning to disperse, but Veronica stayed. The crowd moved around her as if she was a stone in a stream. She watched Dick’s mother place a gentle hand on his arm, but he shook her off. The diminutive, blond woman shrugged and turned to leave. Dick stood still, glaring down as his brother’s coffin came to rest. She watched as he dropped his rose, letting it fall deep in the earth with Cassidy.
Veronica’s eyes narrowed as Logan moved up to stand beside Dick. Behind him, was a tall, svelte woman whose black dress seemed to be cut a little too low for a funeral. Logan stood silently to Dicks’ right, looking down at the hole in the ground. Veronica glanced back at the woman as she pulled off her dark glasses and instantly recognized Kendall. The gold digging bitch slid her arm through Dick’s, whispering something in his ear. Dick nodded mutely, and turned toward Logan. Kendall dropped her arm as Dick and Logan gave each other a quick, tight hug, and Logan caught her eye over Dick’s shoulder.
“You ready to go?”
Veronica looked up at Wallace who’d been standing quietly at her side. His kind, brown eyes looked at her carefully. She felt like he was searching for cracks in the veneer. The cracks were there, but she’d be damned if she’d let them show today. Veronica nodded, giving her friend a grim smile.
“Yeah, let’s head back.”
***
The bell rang shrilly and the class began to file out. Veronica’s brow furrowed as she tried to recall what the lesson had been. She glanced down at the desk and was surprised to see a neatly written page of notes on mitosis. Sighing, she shoved it in her bag. At this rate she would need to spend tons of extra time going over the work again before finals - time she didn’t have.
A flash of blonde caught her eye and she looked up to see Madison enter the room.
“Here’s the assignment, sir,” Madison said, holding it out for the teacher to take.
“Thank you, Madison. I’m counting on all future assignments from you actually arriving on time,” he warned, adding it to the pile in his hands. He stalked out the classroom.
“Madison!” Veronica called, just as the 09er reached the door. Madison turned around with a look of distaste on her face.
“What?” she asked, casually flipping her hair over her shoulder.
“Thanks for the gift in my locker. I can’t say I appreciated the thought, though.”
Madison’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about? I haven’t been in your locker.”
“The drugs,” Veronica said dryly. “I know you bought some from Sean.”
If it had been anyone but Veronica - they probably wouldn’t have noticed the small flicker of fear that appeared in Madison’s eyes and quickly disappeared. Madison’s hand came up to her chest and she let out a small gasp.
“I confess - I did it!” she said dramatically. “Now prove it. I wasn’t in school the day you were arrested, but have to say, the pictures I’ve seen were funny. I didn’t put the joints in your locker, so take your little theories and shove them up your ass.”
“So who were the drugs for?” Veronica asked, ignoring Madison’s words. “I mean - you’re stupid - but not enough to risk your perfect little nose caving in,” she smirked, as she tapped her own nose.
“Why the hell would I tell you?” Madison asked, her arms folding across her chest nervously.
“Because I have it all on video - and it could just end up accidentally in Clemmons’ inbox.”
“They weren’t for me; it was a favour. For my boyfriend,” Madison admitted reluctantly, before hissing, “If you send it -”
Veronica cut her off abruptly. “I don’t think you are in the position to be threatening me. See you around, Maddy.”
Veronica shot Madison a self-satisfied smile as she let the door shut behind her. Madison’s own words had cleared her. Joints hadn’t been left in her locker at all.
***
The church looked like Thomas Kinkade had painted it. All it needed was candlelight gleaming from the windows and a thick layer of snow. Of course, the snow was out of the question in sunny California, but she’d bet her last dime there were candles set on every window sill at Christmas. She shook off the irrelevant thoughts, and moved a step forward. Logan’s broad shoulders blocked her view of the crowd snaking up the church steps in front of her, and she fought the urge to reach out and touch him. The rich, dark fabric of his suit draped perfectly over his shoulders, and she let herself be distracted for a moment at the sight of him. He turned, hazel eyes unusually concerned and she smiled. God, why was she smiling?
Looking away, she shifted from one foot to the other. The line went outside the church and wrapped around the building. They were finally edging closer to the steps after waiting to pay their respects for the last half hour. Afternoon light spilled bright on the mourners as the sun hung low on the horizon, edging the pink clouds in gold. A few hours ago, they’d been gathered in the church’s cemetery around another hole in the ground. She’d been dressed in black -- again. Now she stood with Wallace behind her and Logan in front and she shuddered as Logan turned to brush his hand down her arm. It had been a closed casket service. The crowd was still whispering, guessing as to why. Tears gathered in her eyes, and she blinked them away. The large group of teenagers moved sluggishly forward, and she was at the door. Mac’s family stood off to the right of the door receiving condolences with dazed looks on their faces. She watched as Mac’s biological mother gave her respects only to break down in a low, keening wail. Her husband stood with tears in his eyes as he squeezed his wife’s hand. He guided her past Mac’s adoptive parents who wore similar tear-stained faces. They weakly greeted the next person in line, whose feebly-murmured platitudes barely rose above the sobs of Madison’s mother. Veronica was briefly distracted by Madison’s confused expression as she stood at her parent’s side. Veronica could feel her face twist into a frown as she fought the urge to shame the girl who had treated Mac so badly. Wallace grabbed her hand and squeezed.
“You OK?”
She swayed slightly and Logan grabbed her other hand. She made a gasping noise, and tried to choke back a sob. Logan squeezed harder, but it did no good. Her face felt wet, and she realized she was crying. Wallace turned, wrapping his arms around her. She stiffened in his embrace and then relaxed against him. She didn’t want to cry, or at least she didn’t want to keep crying. Taking a deep breath, she turned and directed a half smile up at her friend. One by one she was losing the people she loved. She glanced at Logan who was studying her reaction intently. As she stood between the pair, she realized she couldn’t lose anyone else. She no longer had the strength to take it.
***
The horizon was a pale line of blue when Logan knocked on the Casablancas’ front door. He turned, looking with disinterest to the sky in the east which was a velvety black. Logan glanced at the long drive that curved up to the house. It was empty of cars, reminding him briefly of what it had been like when his mother had died and everyone had gone home. Aaron had disappeared, probably off fucking one of the many women loitering around his mother’s memorial service. The women had reminded him of vultures waiting for the chance to swoop down and pick at the remains of his mother’s family. Logan snorted softly at the thought, kicking the side of the house as he remembered. He’d been feeling a little desperate when Dick stopped by. He didn’t say a word, just hung out playing mindless video games until the sun peeked up and Logan had made it through the night.
The door opened and electric light spilled out of the rectangular frame, outlining Kendall’s curved form as she stood waiting. Logan blinked, eyes adjusting as he nodded hello. Her dark eyes travelled up and down Logan’s body briefly before she dismissed him with a shrug.
“He’s in the back.”
Logan didn’t reply, walking through the house and out to the backyard, if that is what you would call it. Dick’s backyard was more of a pool area lined with polished, smooth stone. Tossed on the stone, forming a curved, sporadic line, were empty bottles of beer which Logan decided Dick had dropped like some bread crumb trail Hansel would have left to follow home.
He blinked as a breeze came up. A fine mist of cool water hit him as he followed the bottle trail past the fountain, past the gleaming spot lights focused on the artful spray of water, past the rows of reclining patio chairs to where Dick sat on dew soaked grass, leaning against a craggy,
retaining wall.
“Want one?”
Dick didn’t look Logan in the eye as he shoved his hand inside the cardboard packaging and pulled out a Corona. Logan reached out and took the slippery bottle, wiping the condensation on his jeans.
“Got an opener?”
Dick didn’t say a word, but threw his key-chain to Logan.
Logan snatched it out of the air, and used the ever present bottle opener on the chain to open the beer. It made a slick metal sound as he tossed it back to Dick and he hopped on the retaining wall.
He took a drink. The silence washed over the pair as Logan leaned back and began counting stars.
“Wanna talk about it?”
“Fuck no.”
“Wanna go get drunk and get laid?”
Dick didn’t say anything for a moment.
“Not tonight.”
Logan nodded before leaning over and pulling out another beer.
***
Feedback is awesome! Thank you!
Part Seven...
Authors: moire2 and fickledame
Pairing: Veronica/Logan
Rating: Strong R for violence.
Word Count: Around 15000 in total.
Disclaimer: We just noticed we aren't Rob Thomas nor are we in anyway affiliated with Rob Thomas. Thought y'all should know just in case you decided to throw money or loose change our way. Apparently, that is frowned on by RT's lawyers. Now, if you want to do a strip tease or flash us, that is a whole different story. Or, send us your panties in the mail... feel free. Actually - no. Hygiene issues. Panties in mail bad. Take pictures and email them. Oral sex also helpful. No, I mean... feedback. Is this becoming the longest disclaimer ever? I think so. So, to recap, lawyers who take our money bad, sex feedback good.
Summary: From the authors of Mala Fide comes a brand new thriller. A serial killer is rampaging through Neptune. Nobody is safe! The babies, the kittens - just lock them all away, it’s for the best! Okay, so the fic is kinda dark, contains some violence and possibly has character death in it. Okay, perhaps everyone dies. What? If it is good enough for Hamlet, it is good enough for us. (Not everyone dies. Come back! Read it! Why is everyone clicking X?)
Spoilers: Up until episode 13 of season two.
A/N: One of the authors is American, the other English. The spellings reflect that.
Thanks: Our never ending source of gratitude goes to semby, ethereal_65 and taken_with_you for their wonderful beta skills. They are the bomb diggity and we have a tiny shrine dedicated to them, but not in a creepy way. Or a stalker way. In the, we like their mad beta skills way. Additional thanks to skk670 for putting up with our mad ramblings about this fic. And yes, we do really have stalker-ish shrines dedicated to you all. You love it and we know it.
Special Note: This fic takes place a little while after current events - and some of it is AU. (e.g. Felix’s killer is possibly AU, not spoiler.)
Chapter One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four - Part Five
It was a beautiful, sunny day, and that seemed wrong on many levels. Veronica stood shoulder to shoulder with her classmates. She glanced around, taking in the carefully coiffed group of 09ers. Black slacks, black dresses, black sunglasses… It seemed like she could drown in a sea of black.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…”
The minister held a large, gilded Bible open as he, with a voice soothing as fingernails on a chalkboard, droned on about Cassidy being in a ‘better place.’ Better place my ass, Veronica thought as she stared at the gleaming black coffin. A spray of white roses rested on the top, and she watched while Dick and his mother moved forward. Each took a rose from the spray, and stepped back. Veronica couldn’t look away from Dick’s dull eyes as the coffin was lowered into the ground. The crowd turned, beginning to disperse, but Veronica stayed. The crowd moved around her as if she was a stone in a stream. She watched Dick’s mother place a gentle hand on his arm, but he shook her off. The diminutive, blond woman shrugged and turned to leave. Dick stood still, glaring down as his brother’s coffin came to rest. She watched as he dropped his rose, letting it fall deep in the earth with Cassidy.
Veronica’s eyes narrowed as Logan moved up to stand beside Dick. Behind him, was a tall, svelte woman whose black dress seemed to be cut a little too low for a funeral. Logan stood silently to Dicks’ right, looking down at the hole in the ground. Veronica glanced back at the woman as she pulled off her dark glasses and instantly recognized Kendall. The gold digging bitch slid her arm through Dick’s, whispering something in his ear. Dick nodded mutely, and turned toward Logan. Kendall dropped her arm as Dick and Logan gave each other a quick, tight hug, and Logan caught her eye over Dick’s shoulder.
“You ready to go?”
Veronica looked up at Wallace who’d been standing quietly at her side. His kind, brown eyes looked at her carefully. She felt like he was searching for cracks in the veneer. The cracks were there, but she’d be damned if she’d let them show today. Veronica nodded, giving her friend a grim smile.
“Yeah, let’s head back.”
***
The bell rang shrilly and the class began to file out. Veronica’s brow furrowed as she tried to recall what the lesson had been. She glanced down at the desk and was surprised to see a neatly written page of notes on mitosis. Sighing, she shoved it in her bag. At this rate she would need to spend tons of extra time going over the work again before finals - time she didn’t have.
A flash of blonde caught her eye and she looked up to see Madison enter the room.
“Here’s the assignment, sir,” Madison said, holding it out for the teacher to take.
“Thank you, Madison. I’m counting on all future assignments from you actually arriving on time,” he warned, adding it to the pile in his hands. He stalked out the classroom.
“Madison!” Veronica called, just as the 09er reached the door. Madison turned around with a look of distaste on her face.
“What?” she asked, casually flipping her hair over her shoulder.
“Thanks for the gift in my locker. I can’t say I appreciated the thought, though.”
Madison’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about? I haven’t been in your locker.”
“The drugs,” Veronica said dryly. “I know you bought some from Sean.”
If it had been anyone but Veronica - they probably wouldn’t have noticed the small flicker of fear that appeared in Madison’s eyes and quickly disappeared. Madison’s hand came up to her chest and she let out a small gasp.
“I confess - I did it!” she said dramatically. “Now prove it. I wasn’t in school the day you were arrested, but have to say, the pictures I’ve seen were funny. I didn’t put the joints in your locker, so take your little theories and shove them up your ass.”
“So who were the drugs for?” Veronica asked, ignoring Madison’s words. “I mean - you’re stupid - but not enough to risk your perfect little nose caving in,” she smirked, as she tapped her own nose.
“Why the hell would I tell you?” Madison asked, her arms folding across her chest nervously.
“Because I have it all on video - and it could just end up accidentally in Clemmons’ inbox.”
“They weren’t for me; it was a favour. For my boyfriend,” Madison admitted reluctantly, before hissing, “If you send it -”
Veronica cut her off abruptly. “I don’t think you are in the position to be threatening me. See you around, Maddy.”
Veronica shot Madison a self-satisfied smile as she let the door shut behind her. Madison’s own words had cleared her. Joints hadn’t been left in her locker at all.
***
The church looked like Thomas Kinkade had painted it. All it needed was candlelight gleaming from the windows and a thick layer of snow. Of course, the snow was out of the question in sunny California, but she’d bet her last dime there were candles set on every window sill at Christmas. She shook off the irrelevant thoughts, and moved a step forward. Logan’s broad shoulders blocked her view of the crowd snaking up the church steps in front of her, and she fought the urge to reach out and touch him. The rich, dark fabric of his suit draped perfectly over his shoulders, and she let herself be distracted for a moment at the sight of him. He turned, hazel eyes unusually concerned and she smiled. God, why was she smiling?
Looking away, she shifted from one foot to the other. The line went outside the church and wrapped around the building. They were finally edging closer to the steps after waiting to pay their respects for the last half hour. Afternoon light spilled bright on the mourners as the sun hung low on the horizon, edging the pink clouds in gold. A few hours ago, they’d been gathered in the church’s cemetery around another hole in the ground. She’d been dressed in black -- again. Now she stood with Wallace behind her and Logan in front and she shuddered as Logan turned to brush his hand down her arm. It had been a closed casket service. The crowd was still whispering, guessing as to why. Tears gathered in her eyes, and she blinked them away. The large group of teenagers moved sluggishly forward, and she was at the door. Mac’s family stood off to the right of the door receiving condolences with dazed looks on their faces. She watched as Mac’s biological mother gave her respects only to break down in a low, keening wail. Her husband stood with tears in his eyes as he squeezed his wife’s hand. He guided her past Mac’s adoptive parents who wore similar tear-stained faces. They weakly greeted the next person in line, whose feebly-murmured platitudes barely rose above the sobs of Madison’s mother. Veronica was briefly distracted by Madison’s confused expression as she stood at her parent’s side. Veronica could feel her face twist into a frown as she fought the urge to shame the girl who had treated Mac so badly. Wallace grabbed her hand and squeezed.
“You OK?”
She swayed slightly and Logan grabbed her other hand. She made a gasping noise, and tried to choke back a sob. Logan squeezed harder, but it did no good. Her face felt wet, and she realized she was crying. Wallace turned, wrapping his arms around her. She stiffened in his embrace and then relaxed against him. She didn’t want to cry, or at least she didn’t want to keep crying. Taking a deep breath, she turned and directed a half smile up at her friend. One by one she was losing the people she loved. She glanced at Logan who was studying her reaction intently. As she stood between the pair, she realized she couldn’t lose anyone else. She no longer had the strength to take it.
***
The horizon was a pale line of blue when Logan knocked on the Casablancas’ front door. He turned, looking with disinterest to the sky in the east which was a velvety black. Logan glanced at the long drive that curved up to the house. It was empty of cars, reminding him briefly of what it had been like when his mother had died and everyone had gone home. Aaron had disappeared, probably off fucking one of the many women loitering around his mother’s memorial service. The women had reminded him of vultures waiting for the chance to swoop down and pick at the remains of his mother’s family. Logan snorted softly at the thought, kicking the side of the house as he remembered. He’d been feeling a little desperate when Dick stopped by. He didn’t say a word, just hung out playing mindless video games until the sun peeked up and Logan had made it through the night.
The door opened and electric light spilled out of the rectangular frame, outlining Kendall’s curved form as she stood waiting. Logan blinked, eyes adjusting as he nodded hello. Her dark eyes travelled up and down Logan’s body briefly before she dismissed him with a shrug.
“He’s in the back.”
Logan didn’t reply, walking through the house and out to the backyard, if that is what you would call it. Dick’s backyard was more of a pool area lined with polished, smooth stone. Tossed on the stone, forming a curved, sporadic line, were empty bottles of beer which Logan decided Dick had dropped like some bread crumb trail Hansel would have left to follow home.
He blinked as a breeze came up. A fine mist of cool water hit him as he followed the bottle trail past the fountain, past the gleaming spot lights focused on the artful spray of water, past the rows of reclining patio chairs to where Dick sat on dew soaked grass, leaning against a craggy,
retaining wall.
“Want one?”
Dick didn’t look Logan in the eye as he shoved his hand inside the cardboard packaging and pulled out a Corona. Logan reached out and took the slippery bottle, wiping the condensation on his jeans.
“Got an opener?”
Dick didn’t say a word, but threw his key-chain to Logan.
Logan snatched it out of the air, and used the ever present bottle opener on the chain to open the beer. It made a slick metal sound as he tossed it back to Dick and he hopped on the retaining wall.
He took a drink. The silence washed over the pair as Logan leaned back and began counting stars.
“Wanna talk about it?”
“Fuck no.”
“Wanna go get drunk and get laid?”
Dick didn’t say anything for a moment.
“Not tonight.”
Logan nodded before leaning over and pulling out another beer.
***
Feedback is awesome! Thank you!
Part Seven...