First Come Smoke

Arthur and Circe lay entangled in each other's arms, as the morning sunlight filtered through the curtains. Neither spoke, their minds still reeling from the intensity of the night before.

Circe shifted slightly, trying to extricate herself from Arthur's embrace without waking him. But Arthur stirred, his eyes fluttering open as he realized she was moving.

"Morning," he mumbled sleepily, his voice husky with sleep.

Arthur hesitated, sensing her discomfort. "Not really," he admitted, shifting to sit up and rub the sleep from his eyes. "I was thinking maybe we could grab some breakfast or something."

Circe nodded, grateful for the distraction. "That sounds good," she agreed, moving to stand and stretch her limbs. But as she reached for her clothes, she felt Arthur's hand on her arm, stopping her.

"Hey," he said softly, his gaze searching hers with a mixture of warmth and uncertainty. "About last night..."

Circe's heart skipped a beat, the memories of their passionate encounter flooding back to her in a rush. She swallowed hard, her cheeks flushing crimson as she struggled to find the right words.

"Let's just... leave it in the past, okay?" she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "We both needed... something, and we found it in each other. But now... now we move on."

Arthur nodded, his expression tinged with sadness as he released her arm. "Yeah," he agreed quietly. "We move on."

With that, they dressed in silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they prepared to face the day ahead. But as they left the room together, a palpable tension lingered between them, a silent reminder of the night they shared and the unspoken emotions that still hung heavy in the air.

Later that Day:

Arthur and Circe exchanged a glance as they entered Damian's bar in Newham, London. The atmosphere was lively, with the sounds of chatter and laughter mingling with the clinking of glasses and the faint strains of music in the background.

Damian spotted them immediately, a wry smile playing on his lips as he approached. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the dynamic duo," he greeted them, his tone tinged with amusement. "You two work fast, I'll give you that. Slowing down their productivity is no small feat."

Arthur chuckled, a hint of pride in his voice. "We do what we can," he replied modestly, though there was a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

Circe nodded in agreement, her expression serious as she considered their next move. "We've made some progress, but there's still work to be done," she said, her voice firm with determination.

Damian raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Oh? Do tell," he urged, motioning for them to take a seat at the bar.

As they settled in, Arthur and Circe filled Damian in on the details of their recent investigation—the warehouse stakeout, the discovery of the Essence production line, and their plan to dismantle the operation from the inside.

Damian listened intently, his expression unreadable as he absorbed the information. "Impressive," he remarked finally, a hint of admiration in his voice. "But you'll need to tread carefully. The Devil isn't one to be trifled with."

Arthur and Circe exchanged a knowing glance, their resolve firm. "We know the risks," Arthur said firmly. "But we're willing to do whatever it takes to stop him."

Damian nodded, a flicker of respect in his eyes. "Well, you've certainly proven yourselves capable," he conceded. "Just remember, I'll be here if you need me. But for now, let's raise a toast to your success so far."

Arthur leaned back in his chair, his mind swirling with thoughts of the night ahead. The weight of their mission hung heavy on his shoulders, and he knew he needed something to lift his spirits. With a sigh, he turned to Damian.

"Mind if I have a drink?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of resignation.

Damian nodded, pouring Arthur a glass of whiskey with practiced ease. "Of course," he replied, sliding the glass across the bar. "Liquid courage, as they say."

Arthur took a sip, relishing the warmth that spread through him with each swallow. It was a small comfort in the face of the challenges they were about to face.

Beside him, Circe declined the offer of whiskey, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thanks, but I'll pass," she said politely, her gaze meeting Arthur's.

He chuckled, a twinkle of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Yeah, Circe here is more of a pumpkin spice latte kind of gal," he quipped, flashing a mischievous grin.

Circe rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Hey, nothing wrong with a little pumpkin spice now and then," she retorted, her tone teasing.

Damian raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Of course not," he replied with exaggerated sincerity. "But just remember, too much pumpkin spice and you might turn into a walking cliché."

Circe laughed, unable to suppress a chuckle at Damian's playful jab. "Noted," she replied, shaking her head in mock exasperation.

Despite the tension in the air, Arthur couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with his companions. They may have their differences, but they were united in their determination to see their mission through to the end.

Circe leaned forward, her curiosity burning brightly as she locked eyes with Damian. "Why did you choose to become such a big name in the underworld?" she asked, her voice soft yet insistent.

Damian's gaze drifted into the distance, his thoughts drifting back to a time long past. "It wasn't so much a choice as it was a necessity," he began, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "You see, I grew up in a world where power was everything. It was survival of the fittest, and if you weren't willing to fight tooth and nail for what you wanted, you'd get trampled underfoot."

He paused, a shadow passing over his features. "I had dreams once, aspirations of a different life. But circumstances conspired against me, and I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into the darkness of the underworld."

Damian's voice was tinged with a mix of nostalgia and sadness as he recounted the tale of his parents. "My mom and dad... they had a love that transcended the boundaries of their respective worlds," he began, his gaze distant as he delved into the depths of his memories.

"My mom was an angel, pure and radiant, while my dad was a human and half-demon with a heart torn between two worlds," he continued, his words carrying the weight of a lifetime of longing and regret.

"Their love was forbidden, condemned by both heaven and hell. But they defied the odds, risking everything to be together," Damian explained, his voice growing softer with each passing moment.

"Despite the dangers and the opposition they faced, they clung to each other fiercely, unwilling to let go," he added, a note of admiration creeping into his tone.

"But in the end, their love came at a price," Damian concluded, his expression clouded with sorrow. "And I... I am the product of that forbidden union, a living reminder of the consequences of defying fate."

Arthur ask Damian if he had any regrets. Damian's admission hung heavy in the air, his words laden with regret and remorse. "Very few regrets," he began, his voice tinged with sadness. "But my biggest regret... is not being there for my daughter, Luna."

As Arthur and Circe listened intently, Damian's gaze drifted to a distant point, lost in the memories of his past. "I didn't know how to be a proper parent," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "So I left... and in doing so, I became an even worse father."

Circe couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Damian, the weight of his regret palpable in the air. "I'm sorry," she offered softly, her voice filled with genuine compassion.

Damian nodded, his expression pained. "It's a burden I carry every day," he admitted, his tone heavy with sorrow. "And to make matters worse, my ex-wife Cassandra... she was only with me for my ability to give her a child capable of heavenly and demonic magic."

Arthur and Circe exchanged a knowing glance, understanding the depth of Damian's pain. "You can't blame yourself for everything," Arthur offered, his voice gentle yet firm. "You're trying to make amends now, and that's what matters."

Damian nodded, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes. "Perhaps," he conceded, a note of uncertainty lingering in his tone. "But some mistakes... they can never be undone."

He glanced at Circe, a flicker of something akin to regret in his eyes. "But enough about me," he said, shaking off the weight of his memories. "What about you, Circe? What led you to this point? What drives you to keep fighting, despite the odds?"

Circe's childhood was marked by a tumultuous blend of crime, drugs, and magic. Her father, deeply entrenched in the underworld, was a mysterious figure who operated in the shadows, catering to the whims of powerful individuals with his illicit dealings. Despite his involvement in shady activities, he was not a bad father to Circe, always providing for her and instilling in her a sense of resilience and independence.

However, tragedy struck when Circe returned home from school one day to find her father's lifeless body. The police ruled it a suicide, but Circe refused to accept their explanation. She knew her father better than anyone and was certain that he would never take his own life. Consumed by grief and determined to uncover the truth, Circe embarked on a quest for justice, driven by a fierce desire to honor her father's memory and uncover the secrets that had led to his untimely demise.

This traumatic event would shape Circe's future, instilling in her a deep-seated distrust of authority and a relentless determination to seek out the truth, no matter the cost. As she navigated the murky waters of the criminal underworld and the clandestine world of magic, Circe would draw upon the lessons learned from her father and the strength forged in the crucible of adversity to confront the shadows of her past and forge her own path forward.

As I sit here, pen in hand, I can't help but reflect on the journey that led me to this point. My upbringing was not typical, to say the least. I was born into a world of privilege, surrounded by opulence and luxury. My family name carried weight, our status elevated above that of most others in our society. But even amidst the trappings of wealth and power, there was always a sense of emptiness, a longing for something more meaningful than mere material possessions.

It was during my formative years that I first met Lancelot, my closest childhood friend. Despite coming from vastly different backgrounds, we shared a bond that transcended social status. Lancelot was the son of a humble blacksmith, his hands calloused from years of hard labor. Yet, beneath his rough exterior, there burned a fierce determination and an unwavering sense of honor.

Together, Lancelot and I roamed the streets of the city, our youthful spirits unbound by the constraints of our station. We witnessed firsthand the stark disparities that divided our society, the vast gulf between the haves and the have-nots. And while others of our ilk turned a blind eye to the plight of the less fortunate, we refused to remain idle.

It was this sense of duty, this innate desire to help those who couldn't help themselves, that drove me to pursue a career in law enforcement. While my family had other plans for me, I knew that my true calling lay in serving the greater good, in fighting for justice in a world plagued by corruption and greed.

And so, I dedicated myself to the rigorous training and education required to become a detective, honing my skills and sharpening my mind for the challenges that lay ahead. Along the way, I encountered countless obstacles and adversaries, but with Lancelot by my side, I faced each trial with unwavering resolve.

It was during one of our many investigations that I first crossed paths with Circe, a talented and resourceful investigator in her own right. Drawn together by a shared sense of purpose, we quickly formed an unlikely alliance, pooling our skills and knowledge to combat crime and injustice wherever it reared its ugly head.

Together, the two of us embarked on a series of daring adventures, navigating the treacherous underbelly of the city in pursuit of truth and justice. And though the path we tread was fraught with danger and uncertainty, we faced each challenge head-on, our bond of friendship and camaraderie serving as a beacon of hope in a world shrouded in darkness.

As I set down my pen, the memories of those early days flood back to me, filling me with a sense of nostalgia and gratitude. For it was in those formative years, alongside Lancelot and Circe, that I discovered the true meaning of honor, sacrifice, and friendship. And though our paths may have diverged in the years since, the bonds we forged remain as strong as ever, a testament to the enduring power of loyalty and kinship.

As the conversation with Damian drew to a close, he fixed Arthur and Circe with a steely gaze, a sense of determination evident in his voice.

"Be ready for tonight," he instructed, his tone brooking no argument. "Meet me here in a few hours. We have work to do, and time is of the essence."

Arthur and Circe exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. They knew that whatever Damian had planned, it would be crucial to their mission. With a nod of affirmation, they acknowledged Damian's directive and prepared to depart.

As they made their way out of the bar, the weight of Damian's words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the dangers that lay ahead. But Arthur and Circe were undeterred, their resolve strengthened by the knowledge that they were fighting for a cause greater than themselves.

With their minds set and their hearts determined, they set out into the night, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them in the hours to come. For in the darkness of the city streets, they knew that their true test lay waiting, and they were determined to emerge victorious, no matter the cost.