Lovecraft AU (Cats)

[thehonorablebat]

 

John Bradford sometimes wondered how he got here. Fighting timeless horrors with an exiled light being trapped inside a human body. Or how said exiled light being ended up his roommate.

Oh, he knew all the events leading to this, but if he tried to explain it out loud to someone, they’d ship him right up to the Asylum.

Will tugged at his shirt at that thought. The wisps of…what he could only describe as thoughts of light agitated at the edges of his mind.

Bradford rubbed Will’s back.

Having a partner who’s main mode of communication being psychic thought was odd, but he was getting used to it. Didn’t really mind it. He suspected he should. Anyone would tell him letting an alien conscience in your head had to be bad idea. He’d have agreed three years ago. Now though?

He kissed the top of Will’s head.

The other mumbled something that almost approximated words. He lifted his head, blinking at him. He pulled the blankets tighter around them to help ward off the winter chill before settling down down, sprawled across him like an overgrown cat.

Bradford smiled at the ceiling.

–

Arkham was not a town of norms. In some ways it was a world all its own. Bradford suspected he’d be a fish out of water if he ever left.

As things stood, the hoard of cats outside his and Will’s favorite restaurant barley warranted a raised eyebrow.

All the cats stared hard at Will, tails swishing, but did not stop them from entering.

The other patrons didn’t so much as glance at them. They could see the cook in the back preparing food. The waitress, forever tired, but trooping onward smiled at them when they took their usual seat in the back corner.

Will’s long legs didn’t quite fit into the booth, but in that shadowy corner no one could tell his legs brushed against John’s. Not always unintentionally.

All seemed well.

John discreetly checked his gun under the table.

The light at the edge of his mind turned liquid. He didn’t always understand what Will was trying to say, but he had deciphered that at least part of that meant ‘be calm’.

The waitress gave them water and took their orders.

A cat hopped onto the table. This one pawed at Will’s hand until he scratched behind its ears. It’s rumbling purr felt a blessing.

Will smiled. Honored.

“They just showed up,” The waitress put her pencil behind her ear. “Darndest thing. Good thing I ain’t allergic.”

–

Bradford followed Will who followed the cats. They lead them down the alley behind the restaurant.

The cats stopped in front of a basement door he had never seen before. He’d already had his hand on his gun, but that realization made him take it out of his holster. He’d been down every twisted back alley in this godforsaken alley enough times to know an old door he’d never seen before spelled trouble.

Will went down the steps to the door after only taking a second to assess the situation.

Bradford didn’t hesitate to follow.

Will ran his hand along the wall beside the entrance. When he couldn’t find a switch, he fished out his lighter from his jacket pocket.

Something skittered in the darkness.

He squinted his eyes in the dim light. Shapes of crates and shelves served only to help conceal. Bradford took one step further into the room, skin pricking.

Three years ago he chased creature through twisting corridors of his ship. His friends and fellow crew members blood staining the floor. He’d chased it into a storage room…

The light near his mind reflected a memory of Will holding him tight, humming to him a melody as beautiful as it was unearthly.

Will was right. That was three years ago and this wasn’t a US Navy ship. Bradford calmed and stepped further into the room.

A large claw came at him from the darkness.

A quick spell from Weir put it off balance, giving Bradford ample opportunity to dodge. He spun around, revolver up and firing.

As the thing roared, Will threw the lighter. It lit up a familiar gaping mouth before falling uselessly to the floor.

He was going to need something little bigger than a revolver. Shame he left the dynamite in their apartment.

A burst of light let him know Will conjured another spell. Bradford cringed. The memory from the aftermath of the Shoggoth fight still too fresh in  his mind.

Will faltered.

Bradford reached into his coat, pulling out a flask. He ducked a claw. Not quick enough to save his hat, but enough to keep his head on his shoulders. He unscrewed the flask and splashed the liquid on the creature.

It roared.

He couldn’t see it, but he heard the Holy Water sizzle it’s flesh. The already putrid smell of the thing turning unbearable. Bradford gagged.

Enraged, the thing swung around, mouth open to swallow him whole. Bradford fumbled his footing. He hit the ground hard enough to knock the air from his lungs.

Will grabbed him by the leg, pulling him out of the way. He grabbed Bradford’s revolver off of him and aimed down the creature’s throat. By the time the clip emptied, the Gug lay dead.

They exited the basement with their arms wrapped around another. Bradford gulped down lung fulls of fresh air.

When he opened his eyes he found the alleyway full of cats. All the ones guarding the dining area of the restaurant. They stared at the pair of them, purring.