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With All My Love, Crumpet

Summary:

London, England 1800s

A runaway stops at a local tea room for a cuppa, and sees a cute paperboy selling newspapers in the rain. A close friendship ensues over cakes and tea, but what happens when the family comes for her? And what will it mean for their relationship?

 

(Bro this sounds so dramatic, like a bad tv drama lol) Find out next time on JOURNEY TO THE WEST KAI-

Chapter 1: Tea and Paperboys

Chapter Text

"Father, You can't be serious?"

"You need to learn your place."

"He's twenty-four years my senior!"

"He's the head of the second-largest trading company in all of England!"

"He's ancient!"

"He has money, power, and prestige. If you are my daughter, you will make this sacrifice."

"Sacrifice? You are sending me halfway across the country to marry an old geezer just so you can grow your company!"

"This is for the good of our line."

"There won't be a line if I marry him."

"How dare you. You are my only child. It's bad enough you are a woman, but now you are saying you won't even do the one thing you were created for?" His fat fingers crumpled the papers on his desk, "Why are you even here in the first place?"

You stumbled back, fists clenched by your sides as you gritted your teeth. 

"You are going to marry him. That's final."
_______________

You looked out into the rainy streets of London as the waiter brought you a fresh pot of tea and a new plate of scones. The little tea room you had found was quiet and cozy, with a good atmosphere to think and have conversation. You sighed into your cup, the dredges at the bottom swirled clockwise as you moved your hand. The fireplace crackled near you, filling the room with warmth that the streets outside lacked. There weren't many people taking afternoon tea today, probably because they didn't want to step foot in all the puddles or ride in carriages prone to slipping on the cobblestone roads. The parasol you had brought today wasn't going to keep out the rain, so you were stuck for a while until it let up. Although, being stuck in a tea room on the other side of London was better than being 200 miles away in your father's house.

You looked out the window you sat next to, seeing a paperboy working hard in the rain. He was drenched but still had a big smile as he yelled out the latest news. It was... peculiar. You flagged down a waiter, asking him to grab the paperboy from outside. You saw them talk for a minute before the boy turned over the waitstaff's shoulder and peered at you through the window. You gave a small wave and a smile, and he smiled back, picking up all his papers to sell for the day and shuffling across the road to the tea room. You heard the heavy wood door open behind you and heard him shuffling around, putting his coat up on the rack and his papers by the fire to dry. The waitstaff threw an extra log onto the fire, warming up the place just a touch more. 

"Hello, Ma'am." 

You looked over, seeing him clearly now. He looked bright and cheerful and rather cute too, with rosy cheeks and stars in his eyes. 

"Hello, Would you like to join me for a cup of tea?" You gestured to the empty chair in front of you. 

"Yes please, ma'am." He slid the chair out on the hardwood floors with a light squeak. He sat rather precariously, his long legs trying to find room under the table where your large skit had taken up most of the space. You asked for an extra cup and plate of scones for him, and they were quickly set on the table. 

"Please, eat." you gestured. You watched the short rays on his head unfurl like the petal on a flower, almost like they were fluttering with excitement as he got a look at the lemon cake that had been placed in front of him. He dug in rather quickly, making a mess on his face as he ate. You tried not to laugh, but a few chuckles escaped you anyways. He looked a bit sheepish, frosting on the corners of his mouth, but you just handed him a napkin to clean him up a bit. 

"So, what's your name?" you asked. 

"It's Sun, but everyone calls me Sunny."

"Hello Sunny, I'm Y/N."

His eyes were a bright blue, almost pulling you in, "That's a lovely name, ma'am."

"Thank you." You sipped your tea, your unoccupied hand resting on the skirts of your dress. 

"Can I ask why you called me over?" 

"I am terribly bored and wanted to speak to someone. You were soaking in the dismal rain but still smiling so brightly. I was intrigued."

"Intrigued? By me? Oh, stars." He laughed it off with a shake of his hand, bashful. 

"Tell me, are you always smiling?"

He pondered for a moment, "It's my job to deliver news to people, so I try to keep a happy face even when things are down."

"What could be down this week?"

He leaned forward on the table, elbows propping him up as his voice lowered into a whisper, "Most recent news is that there will be a merger between two of the largest trade companies in England. If they do, then even the great East India Company will have some competition." 

You paused at the sentence. He was definitely talking about your father's company, "Oh really?"

He nodded, "Yea, it will bring in jobs and goods into the Empire, but it sounds like a few of the nobles aren't happy with it, though."

"Why not?" You leaned in.

He paused, smiling again, "I think I might need more than just a cake for that information, ma'am. I may be a paperboy, but I know a good story when I see one."

You paused, seeing his crafty expression, and then laughed, the teacup shaking in your hand. "Okay, Okay, how about two cakes?" You flicked your wrist to the waitstaff, who quickly brought out another slice of lemon cake. You saw his rays flutter again, but you knew it wouldn't be enough. "And... I will buy the rest of the papers you have in the stack by the fire."

"What, really?!" He sat up in surprise.

You nodded and watched his gaze fight between you and the cake. 

"Ma'am, there are at twelve papers in that stack still. What are you going to do with all of them?" 

"Well, I'll buy them from you, and then take one to read, and then give the rest back to you so you can resell them."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

He looked suspiciously at you, "Why?"

You sighed, "I am new to London, and I don't know much about the area. I'd like a friend, and having someone who knows the ins and outs of the local happenings is rather good."

He looked at you, contemplating before a bright smile crossed his face. "I'll be your friend!" He reached out his hand over the table, and you shook it.

Chapter 2: Bright Smiles and Mysteries

Chapter Text

You sat at the window seat once more, a fresh pot of Darjeeling waiting for you. You took off your gloves and scarf, setting them down on the table. There was no parasol with you today as you looked out into the rare sunlight piercing through the clouds. You were halfway through the pot when you saw Sun across the street. He looked to you and waved, that big smile still on his face, and you motioned him to join you. He held up a hand, motioning for you to wait while he shouted something out to the people on the sidewalks. A few gentlemen swarmed him, tossing coins and grabbing papers. Within seconds his stack was depleted, with only one paper left in his hands.

He jogged across the street, weaving through carriages and people until he walked through the doors of the tea room. You ordered a fresh pot and some cakes, this time indulging yourself as well. He pulled out the chair and sat down, feeling like he was a lifelong friend with that bright smile and cheerful personality.

"Hello, Sunny."

"Hello, Ma'am!"

"What was that all about? Those people swarmed you like flies."

His chuckle radiated through the room, light and airy but still excitable and happy. "The Drop Gang robbed someone again. Their papers always sell like hotcakes."

The Drop Gang. An infamous group of scoundrels famous for committing various kinds of crimes in the streets of London. They didn't really have one specific crime they committed; they just sort of branched out into a little of everything.

"Who did they rob this time?"

"A house on 21st street. Word is, the owners went back on a deal."

"A deal? Who would be silly enough to make a deal with the Drop Gang?"

Sun shrugged, his excitement palpable when a slice of chocolate cake was placed in front of him. He rolled up the sleeves of his white button-up to his elbows, exposing light freckles on the yellow metal casings of his forearm. You noticed two red ribbons tied around his wrists, with small bells attached.

"What are those for?" you asked, pointing to the ribbons.

"Oh! These!" He held them up, shaking his wrists gently, the bells ringing gently, "They're for my brother. He's blind in one eye, so wearing these helps him hear me around the house."

"You have a brother?"

He nodded enthusiastically.

"That must be nice. I am an only child."

"He can be a real pain, but I love him more than anything." He smiled wide as he dug into the cake, stuffing his face like it was his last meal before death row.

"Is chocolate your favorite? I can make sure to order it when I come in the next time," you said.

He looked up at you, eyes big as his rays furled and unfurled again and again. You didn't even need a verbal answer after seeing his expression. You ate your cake, taking bites in between sips of tea. When Sun finished his, you pushed over a teacup and filled it for him. He took his tea with sugar and a lot of milk, something that didn't really surprise you all that much, considering his love for cakes.

"So, Sunny, I believe we never finished our conversation from yesterday."

He looked up at you, confused slightly, before a small smile crossed his face, "Yes, ma'am."

"Can you tell me now?"

"Of course, it's only fair since we made a deal." He took a sip, "The Southside Burdock Trading Company and the East England Company are set to merge."

You nodded. The Southside Burdock Trading Company was your fathers, the one you were supposed to inherit, or rather, your husband.

"The nobles are a mess about it, " He continued, "They say a monopoly will form and taxes on goods will increase."

"Makes sense."

"A small group is trying to protest the merger, but they aren't getting very far."

"Because everyone else has been bribed?"

He nodded quickly.

"Interesting," you said. "Say Sunny, whenever news comes up about the trading companies, could you tell me?"

He nodded again, "Sure, ma'am, but why do you want to know about those?"

"It's just a business venture I'm looking into."

You had spent the afternoon just chatting with him about the most nonsensical things. The conversation flowed smoothly, discussing everything from the right kind of frosting on cakes to the new works in the newspapers.

"I adore a good mystery, all the whodunit crimes and murders, especially ones investigated by Mister Sherlock Holmes," you said.

"I love reading him!" Sun's rays fluttered, "Hound of the Baskervilles and a Study in Scarlet are my favorite."

"Really?"

He nodded excitedly, "Mysteries are just a thrill to read, I'm not exactly great at solving them, but my brother is."

"Your brother likes Sherlock Holmes too?"

He nodded again, "He's fascinated by Mister Holmes's observations."

"Oh wow, I can't blame him; they are intriguing." you chuckled.

"If you want, I can bring him tomorrow?" he said.

"Really?"

That bright smile returned to his face, "He'd love to meet you."

"I'd love to meet him as well." you smiled. The sky had turned orange by the time you waved goodbye to each other, watching him as he took off down the street.

Chapter 3: Hello, Moon

Notes:

I'm sick, so it looks like I'll be writing a lot more for the next few days <3

Chapter Text

You were walking on your way to the tea room when you noticed a small bakery off to your right. It was quaint, with a little display of cakes to choose from. You walked through the door, noticing a few chocolate cakes and some lemon cream ones as well. You grabbed three, not sure what Sun's brother would like. They were placed in a small box, cute ribbon and all, and you took it with you on your walk. As you entered the door to the tea room, the waitstaff was there to take your overcoat. You set your parasol to the side next to your coat instead of taking it to the table with you, and thank the heavens above you did because Sun came rushing at you. He was excited, his rays furling and unfurling as a big smile graced his face. 

"Ma'am!" 

"Sunny! Hello, dear," you were surprised by his sudden onslaught, but it wasn't unwelcoming. He stopped just shy of crashing into you, taking your hand and gently kissing the back of it with a slight bow. He was nearly a head taller than you, especially with those rays on his head, so you had to crane your neck a bit to see him as he stood fully.

"We are a little early, sorry," he whispered.

"Don't worry, Sunny. I picked up a few cakes for you and your brother, but I wasn't sure what he liked." You gestured to the box in your other hand and saw Sun's eyes go big at the prospect of more sugar. You laughed and allowed him to walk you to the table. You had worn a slimmer skirt today, and thank heavens you did because Sun's brother was built exactly like he was, lanky limbs and all. Sun ran up next to his brother, introducing him with a flourish of his wrists. 

"This is my brother, Moon."

You smiled at Sun's silliness and held your hand out. Moon took it, shaking gently. 

"Sun has told me quite a bit about you. It's nice to finally meet you, ma'am." His voice was quiet and soothing, like a melody from a music box. 

"I've heard much about you as well. It's good to put a face to a name now."

The three of you sat down, and you put the cake box on the table, "I didn't know what kind of cakes you like, so I just bought two of my favorites." You opened the box to a chocolate cake, a lemon cake, and a vanilla honey sponge cake. You watched Sun's eyes get big again as you pushed the chocolate one to him with a laugh. You gestured to the two other cakes and looked to Moon,

"Which one would you like?"

"What is your favorite?"

You pointed to the sponge cake dripping with honey. He grabbed the plate and pushed it in front of you. You stuttered for a moment, a bit taken aback when he pulled the lemon cake towards himself.

"I will take this one then." he hummed with a small smile. It was sweet. Sun made no qualms about jumping into his slice, causing a bit of a mess as he did so. Moon watched as he devoured it, a wheezy chuckle escaping his lips. You grabbed the napkin by your side and pushed it over to Sun. Moon took it in his stead, lifting him by the chin and taking the napkin to his face. Moon's eyes were soft as he cleaned him up, wiping gently at his faceplate. 

"Are you the older brother, Moon?" you asked.

He looked up to you and nodded, "I am."

"By how much?"

"Only a year."

"Really? You seem so much older?" you chuckled. 

Moon let out another soft laugh as Sun piped up, "Because he carries too much on his shoulders."

"I do not."

"You do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Okay, boys, calm down," you laughed. 

"You know, ma'am," Sun leaned forward, a smile forming on his face that spelled trouble, "I have quite the collection of funny stories about my darling older brother here."

You heard Moon groan softly, looking away while Sun brushed it off with a laugh. 

"Well, I'm all ears."

"This one time, when we were small lads, there was this paper mill we used to play in."

You heard Moon groan louder, recognizing Sun's story.

"There was a large vat that housed ink for the mill. One of the workers tossed a half pence coin in the vat and dared Moon that if he could find it, he could keep it. He dived in, sloshing ink around everywhere. Completely ruined his clothes. Our father beat him so bad his backplate had to be replaced. The worst part was, he never found the coin." Sun laughed, and Moon scoffed a bit, the corners of his mouth curling just a bit.

"I can still taste the ink. It's why I can never be a paperboy."

"You aren't a paperboy like Sun? What do you do?" you asked.

He paused, "I do some accounting work for a small business on the East Side of London."

"That's quite a feat."

Moon shrugged.

"Oh! That reminds me!" Sun piped up, "I heard more about those trading companies you asked about."

"Oh, really?"

He nodded, "Rumor has it that the merger is paused for now. There's a disagreement between the companies. I can't say why, but a few people in the factories say it could break off the entire deal."

You looked off to the side, thinking. 

"Are you interested in the SouthEast Trade Merger?" Moon inquired, leaning over the table, elbow to elbow with his brother.

"Is that what they are calling it?"

He nodded, "Since it's the Southside and East England Companies, it became shortened to SouthEast in the press."

You nodded slowly, "I see. And yes, I am interested."

"Can I ask why?"

You nodded, "I know it might sound silly, but I'd like to own them one day, or at least the Southside Burdock Company."

"Own?" Sun's rays spun. 

"Yes."

"That's a lofty goal to have." Moon mused, "Why do you want to own a trading company?"

"You could say it's in my blood." 

He sat back and took a sip of tea, gazing at you from the other side of the cup.

____________

Y/N.

Age Unknown. Birth Place: Unknown. Father: Unknown. Mother: Unknown. Current residence: Renting a 2nd-floor room in a townhouse on 212 Baring-Gould Street. 

Moon looked over the information his watchboy had gathered over the course of two days. There was barely anything on the paper. You were as blank as could be. You dressed like a noble but you acted with politeness uncharacteristic of the noble class. Your interest in the trade companies was suspicious. A big trade merger and that talk about it being in your blood?  You had lofty ambitions, goals that were difficult to achieve for even the best man, but your eyes looked so stern as you spoke about them. He couldn't deny that he liked that look in your eyes, but he barely knew anything about you other than what Sun had told him. It didn't help that Sun was a romantic, lost in the throws of a skirt or in the frosting of a cake. It was his job to look after his brother. To protect him and keep him well-fed. Sun's safety would always come first, no matter what.

Chapter 4: Bright Blue Eyes

Notes:

I feel like ✨garbage✨
Also, I love your comments <3 I thrive off them, like a parasite.

Chapter Text

You were walking through a park near the townhome you were renting. It was small but still very green, with couples walking and children playing with small dogs, bundled up in many layers. A chill had swept through overnight, taking the temperatures to near freezing. Your scarf was wrapped tight around you, and your overcoat was layered nearly as heavily as your skirt. Your breath floated in the air, turning into white clouds as it left your mouth.

"It's a bit chilly, isn't it, ma'am!"

You turned around, seeing Sun behind you.

"Sunny! What are you doing here?"

"I just finished picking up the papers to sell today." He lifted up two stacks of newspapers held together with twine.

"Ahh. It's cold today. Will you be warm enough?" you asked. He was wearing his usual brown pants rolled at the ankle, with brown shoes that weren't meant for the possible snowfall of the heavy clouds overhead. His white button-up and brown vest peeked through the large brown overcoat he wore, and his knit fingerless gloves were in tatters. Such few layers would have left you freezing.

"Don't worry, ma'am, there's no cold when it comes to the news!" He chirped, his breath turning to icicles as his cheeks and nose flushed a rosy red in the cold. You sighed and then unwrapped the brown fur scarf you had been wearing. You stepped closer and tossed it over his head, wrapping it around his neck before throwing one end over his shoulder. It would keep him a little warmer, at least.

"Here, take this," you said, patting the scarf around his neck. You looked up to see his face, only to be met with the brightest blue eyes you had ever seen. They stood out in stark contrast to the cold winter grey skies, so bright and full of life. His mouth was open like he was gaping but didn't quite make it all the way. You leaned forward just a bit, getting on your tiptoes to see his face closer.

"Are you alright, Sunny?" You watched the red on his nose explode on his face, covering him as he stuttered out something that vaguely sounded like words.

"T-Thank you, ma'am!"

"Of course. I don't want you freezing to death out in the streets."

You watched him gulp, spiking your curiosity just a little. His reaction was honestly cuter than you had expected, getting red and nervous. Maybe you'd gift him more things. After all, you did have a hefty amount of funds seeing as you raided your father's safe before you ran away from home. You watched as he reached up, pulling the scarf over his mouth, hiding the lower half of his face.

He looked off to the side, "Are you going to be at the tea room again today, ma'am?"

You nodded, "Of course."

His gaze flickered back to you, burying himself further into the scarf, "Can I sit with you again?"

You smiled, "You don't have to ask Sunny. You are always welcome."

A bright and goofy smile covered his face, and his rays fluttered. "I will see you there then, ma'am!"

"Okay," you laughed, "I'll see you soon."
___________

The scarf smelled like sweets and black tea. So wholly you that when it was around him, he almost wanted to melt into the ground. You were so nice to him, so kind, and so sweet. Sure, Moon told him to be careful, but you were just so lovely.
____________

You walked into the tea room and hung up your coat. You ordered a Lavender Earl Grey tea and some scones with jam. You had gone through two pots this time when you finally saw Sun walk down the street.

"I just heard a rumor I thought you might like," Sun said, excitedly sitting at the table.

"Hello again," you chuckled.

He braced himself on the table, "It was leaked that a marriage is the deal brokered between the SouthEast merger."

You looked down into your cup, "Really?"

Sun nodded quickly, "Southside is sending his only child to marry the leader of East England Company."

"Oh wow."

"But the thing is, the daughter ran away. She's been missing for weeks now, and apparently, her father couldn't keep it hidden anymore."

The news had been stifled for longer than you had initially anticipated, but that helped you plenty. Your father was a prickler for how the family looked in the public eye, and having a runaway daughter would bring shame to any family, even the royal family.

"He's been on a nationwide manhunt, but no one can find her. There's even a rumor going around that he placed a bounty on her for her capture and safe return."

You looked up in shock. A bounty? Seriously? Was he crazy? There were many risks when bounties were placed on runaways, especially when those runaways were females. All kinds of people came out of the woodwork, trying to capture them for the monetary sum, but usually, those runaways ended up in worse conditions than before their capture. You frowned into the cup, catching Sun's attention.

"Are you alright, ma'am?"

"Yes... I'm fine. Thank you, Sunny."

Chapter 5: Make a Plan

Chapter Text

You were back in the room you had rented in a small townhouse on Baring-Gould Street. It was cozy, feeling like a home due to the ever-present and lovely landlady, Madam Tuppet. She kept the hallways clean and the lobby quiet. Every morning, she would make breakfast for the residents. Small plates of biscuits and eggs, sometimes even salted ham if she could procure it. You had gifted a few jam jars to her as a thank you for her hospitality, but it took quite a bit of convincing for her to accept them.

You walked to the cracked four-pane window, a cold breeze drifted through the glass, trying to seep into your warm room. You sighed tiredly as you watched the people outside, running to a job or walking with a friend. A few couples walked passed, held together by the arm, while gentlemen tipped their top hats to each other. A few men had rather nice canes, sturdy wooden ones decorated with golden heads. You fixated on them. One cane, in particular, had a close design to the one your father used. Sturdy and black, used to hold up his massive weight on his bad knees. The rich life had poisoned his diet, turning him from the hard-working tradesman who had built up a company by himself into a fat, lethargic bastard who would sell his daughter for a mere noble title and a few extra gold coins in the coffers.

You needed a new plan. Something that could get you out from under your father and into a strong position of power. A marriage to a high-class noble would be the easiest solution, but chances were it would be just as bad a marriage as one to the East England Company's head. You could create a company yourself, but that would take years. You looked over to the newspaper you had picked up that morning from breakfast. There was no new news about the merger or your father. You flipped the pages to the stock index, running your gaze down the inked text of shares for different companies. You hesitated at the Southside Burdock shares. They were lower than usual, trading at only seventy percent their usual worth. It was probably because of all the rumors.

You could buy up a good amount of shares. If you bought enough, you'd be able to be on the board of directors and have influence in executive decisions. But... if you purchased enough shares... you could own the company. A hostile takeover. It would be difficult. You'd need to find out the names of all the shareholders and then buy their shares. You'd also need a loan from the bank. You might even need to go so far as to get a patron. With the shares at the current price, you'd be able to buy quite a few with the money you already had. You pondered for a moment, looking back outside your cracked window. You'd need to go to the bank.
___________

Darjeeling tea drifted from the pot and into your senses, its mellow smell calming you. Today's cake of choice was a cherry marzipan slice, honestly not all that bad, but not your favorite. You looked out the window, watching people walk past as you waited. You had sent a letter to the bank, asking for a lump sum loan for a few thousand pounds from one of your father's companies. You had asked for the loan under an alias, a businessman close to your father the regularly took out money for the company to purchase trading equipment. With any luck, it would go through, and your father wouldn't question the transaction. You asked the bank to deliver the final decision and money via a messenger boy you had paid off to keep it a secret. You had told him to run around town for a while, confusing any tailers or followers with the back alleys and stops. He knew the tea room was the final drop-off, but you were still going to have to wait a while. You took another sip from your cup when you heard the door open behind you.

"Ma'am!"

You tuned to see Sunny walk up to you, Moon following close behind.

"Sunny! Moon! It's good to see you."

Sun was enthusiastic, waving his hands around as he talked; meanwhile, Moon just gave a small bow and a slight smile. You motioned for them to join you and the waitstaff brought out more teacups and cakes. At this point, their appearance had become so regular that you didn't even need to ask the waitstaff for anything anymore. They both sat down across from you, gratefully accepting the tea you poured.

"How have you been, ma'am?" Sunny asked, a cute smile on his face.

"I've been well, thank you. And how are you two?"

Moon went first, raising the cup to his lips, "I have been well, thank you."

"I've been great! Thank you for letting me borrow the scarf. It was very warm." Sunny said, taking the scarf from around his neck and putting it on the table, pushing it over to you. You looked at him and pushed it back.

"It's yours, Sunny. I gave it to you as a gift."

"A gift? For me?" The same red from earlier popped back onto his cheeks, darkening them.

"Yes, dear." You sipped your tea, glancing at his reaction over the cup. He got even brighter if it was at all possible.

Moon looked from his brother to you, "Thank you, it's rare for him to get such lovely gifts."

"Oh, of course. He looked like he would freeze in that light jacket of his. I was only doing what I thought would help."

Sun pulled the scarf back to himself, his hands fiddling with the soft fur and a soft smile on his face. You heard the door open behind you again. This time, a young boy entered, carrying a large clasped bag. He shuffled around a moment before finding you, running over quickly and setting the bag down by your feet.

"Here you go, ma'am!" He was a cute, cheerful little boy, holding out a cream envelope. You thanked him, tossing a coin his way before taking the envelope. You opened it quickly, scanning through the contents. The bank had accepted your loan under the false name and gave you the requested amount in full. You looked down at the bag and opened it carefully. Large stacks of notes were bound together. You quickly counted the stacks, careful to not take them out of the bag, and then thumbed through the notes. It would definitely be enough, more than enough, actually. You had intentionally overestimated the sum you'd need by a few hundred pounds, but there was more than just one use for money than buying shares in a company. You clasped the bag shut and then pushed it back under the table, hiding it between your feet under the skirts of your dress.

"You have quite a look on your face." Moon hummed, "Did something good happen?"

You looked at him sheepishly, forgetting to hide the expression on your face when looking at that kind of money currently under the table.

"Something very good happened, yes."

"May I ask what?"

You hesitated but went forward anyway, "I asked for a loan from the bank to buy up shares in the Southside Company, and they accepted!"

"How much did you manage to get?" Sun asked.

"Quite a bit, actually."

"That's good," Moon hummed again.

You nodded, "Hopefully, I'll be able to buy up a good chunk of shares with this."

"When are you planning on buying?"

"Tomorrow morning at the earliest convenience."

"I'd recommend waiting until the day after tomorrow," Moon said.

"Really? Why?"

"I've got some information saying the share price will take a hit."

"It's already low. What else could be happening?"

He looked into the teacup and sloshed the liquids inside it, "Who knows."

You looked to Sun, confused, but he just leaned forward and put his hand on yours, gently squeezing, "Trust Moon. He knows what he's talking about."

You looked between them before gently squeezing Sun's hand back, "Okay."

Chapter 6: Phase Two

Notes:

Good news! I no longer feel like I'm dying. Your comments revived me <3

Chapter Text

SOUTHSIDE TRADE CO WAREHOUSE ROBBED, THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF GOODS STOLEN!

You read the title over and over again. A warehouse had been robbed on the Southside Docks, where the shipping lanes for the company were. It was one of the main warehouses, heavily guarded by police security. How did this happen?

You flipped to the stock index page, and just like Moon said, the shares were another twenty percent lower. You grabbed your bag and ran to the closest share broker office. There was a flurry of commotion, but you slammed your money bag on the table and shouted into the crowd,

"How many shares of Southside can I buy?"
_____________

You walked down the street, your money bag significantly lighter. You stuffed the bag into the deep pockets of your dress, making sure to hide it safely in the heavy layers. You managed to buy all the shares on the market in one quick swoop. The broker estimated that with current shares in the company, you had managed to become the proud owner of thirteen percent of them. It was an incredible feat, so uncommon by an unknown businesswoman that he had wanted your full contacts to release to the press as a news story for his brokerage firm. You denied him the story, telling him if he sold it, you'd take your shares and never buy from his company again. He looked between you and your bag and then decided to keep your customer loyalty.

You tipped him handsomely for his work and then made your way back into the streets of London, hopping into a carriage that took you to the shopping district. You'd need to get a new dress and jewelry for the next part of your plan. You'd need to look like an overtly wealthy businesswoman, dripping with arrogance and cash. You walked into a boutique, the white marble floors polished to a high shine as the gold decor screamed high-class. A young man walked up to you, bowing politely before asking,

"Hello madam, welcome. What can I interest you in?"

"I'd like to see the most up-to-date catalog you have."

He nodded and walked you to a sofa where tea and biscuits were brought out quickly. A thick binder was set on the table in front of you, with hundreds of sketches of dresses and fabric swatches in its pages. You flipped through, finding a few you liked until you turned the page to one specific dress.

"This dress. I'd like to see this one."

You were brought to a dressing room, where a few young women helped you out of the heavy ensemble you were in. You were careful to take the skirt off yourself, keeping the money close to where you could see it. You were down to your corset and underskirt when the other dress was brought in. The girls helped you, cinching the fabric around your waist and letting the skirts fall where they may. It was a deep blue dress with black ribboned frills at the bottom of the skirt. The bustle of the skirt really did you justice and while the neckline was deep, it was still something a respectable noblewoman would wear. The sleeves were tight until your elbow and then fanned out to your mid-forearm, black lace spilling from under the sleeve. A pair of short black lace gloves matched the dress well.

The girls shuffled around you, pinning the dress to match your form. One added a hat to the ensemble, completing the outfit. It was the same blue as the dress, with a thin black mesh draped over the face, giving you some cover if you needed it. It would be suitable for when you went to acquire more shares, just in the event that someone could recognize your face. You placed a hand on the skirt, brushing lightly, and found the pockets in its folds. They were small. You turned to the girls,

"Can you grab the tailor?"

The girl nodded quickly and left the room, returning with the tailor in tow.

"Good Morning, Madam. How might I assist you?"

You turned to him, pointing to the pockets in the skirt, "I will be buying this dress, but I will need the pockets lengthened considerably."

He nodded quickly, taking your measurements and then leaving. You paid for the dress, asking for it to be delivered to your rented room on Baring-Gould Street when the tailor was finished before walking out the door. As you went to hail another carriage, you saw a small store selling knit goods. You walked over, seeing a pair of brown knit gloves, and thought of Sun in those tattered fingerless gloves of his. You picked up a pair that seemed to match his hand size and saw another pair underneath, black as the night, and you grabbed those too.
________

Another log was tossed onto the fire, crackling merrily in its hearth. You sipped the Lady Grey tea you had chosen for the day, the notes of citrus peel dancing on your tongue. Matching the tea was a citrus tart, complete with a candied orange peel as decoration. The wind had picked up outside, turning the rather good weather day into a windy and cold one fast. You breathed in your cup, taking a minute to relax in your accomplishments with a smile.

"Ma'am!"

Your smile widened, "Hello, Sunny."

Sun joined you at the table, sitting down with an enthused plop. You noticed Sun wearing the scarf you gave him, and as he got settled, you brought out the brown gloves you had bought.

"Here," you said, pushing the gloves across the table to him, "I bought these for you."

He looked down, staring blankly for a second before shooting back up and leaning over the table towards you, "For me?"

"Yes."

"But you've already given me your scarf. I really can't take any more gifts."

"Just accept them. I don't like seeing you in the cold without proper clothing."

You watched him fumble with his hands, and you sighed lightly, "I bought a pair for Moon too. That advice he gave really helped."

Sun's rays perked up, "You bought a gift for Moonie?"

Moonie? That was an adorable name.

"Yes." You watched his rays flutter, excited about his brother getting a gift. Cakes and teas were brought to the table quickly. You motioned for him to eat, "Come now, just accept the gifts and eat up, my dear."

Sun froze, his face coloring just a bit.

"M-my dear," he squeaked out.

"Do you not like it? I can continue calling you Sunny if you are uncomfortable." Genuine worry crossed your features, not wanting to upset him or make him feel uncomfortable. He shook his head quickly, his arms waving frantically and the bells releasing soft noises.

"No! No! I was just surprised, is all! I like it! I really do!" He leaned over the table again, almost like he was panicked that you wouldn't believe him. His insistence had you stifling a laugh so as not to embarrass him.

"Okay, my dear."

You watched as he let out a relieved smile, a soft red blush coloring his cheeks.

Chapter 7: Bowties and Blushes

Notes:

Your questions will be answered... but first... an outfit change for the boys!!!

Chapter Text

Moon joined Sun and you the next day for tea, probably spurred on by Sun asking repeatedly. You had brought his gift with you, just in case, and thank heavens you did. As he sat down, he once again went to thank you for gifting Sun something again, but you just silently pushed your gift towards him. His sentence fizzled out as he got a look at them, realizing what they were. He looked up at you, his red eyes just a bit wider. You smiled and took a sip of your tea. He slowly placed a hand on the gloves, his fingertips tracing the knit weave. 

"Thank you," he said, soft whirrs coming from him. 

Sun was all smiles as he watched Moon receive his present, looking excitedly between you and Moon before the cakes came out, and his attention was drawn elsewhere. Now that tea time had become a regular thing, Sun no longer dived head-first into the closest slice of chocolate cake he could find. He still ate quickly, but he would take the time to savor the dish. You watched as Moon gently took the gloves from the table, trying them on carefully before putting them safely in his pocket. 

"I'd like to thank you for what you said the other day about waiting to buy the shares. I will admit I'm a bit suspicious about how you knew, but I won't look a gift horse in the mouth."

Moon looked up, "You have already thanked me enough, ma'am."

"I really haven't. I am now the proud owner of thirteen percent of all of Southside Burdock. It is an incredible feat that I wouldn't have been able to have done without you. So... I would like to buy the two of you both some new clothing as proper thanks." You sipped your tea again, seeing Sun's rays perk up just a bit while Moon's head tilted to the side in slight confusion. You pushed, "Don't you dare say you don't need any new clothing because you wear the same two outfits every time I see you."

Sun looked down quickly at his own outfit before looking back to you, "How did you know?"

"It's relatively obvious."

Sun was always wearing one of two white button-up shirts, and you knew there were only two because they both had stains on them, one had a small stain on the wrist, and the other had one under his elbow. Meanwhile, the pants he wore never changed. Moon was always wearing the same black pants with suspenders strapped across a white shirt and vest. Moon's hat, a black tweed newspaper boy's cap, changed more than his outfit did. Not that they didn't look good in their get-ups, but you were near desperate to see them dressed in other clothes.

"Please say yes."

"Are you sure, ma'am?" Sun asked.

"Positively sure."

By the next hour, you were standing inside a men's clothing store, sifting through the catalogs to find something that would suit them. You landed on a lovely brown buckled overcoat for Sun and a thick black frock coat for Moon. You added an extra pair of pants and shirts for the both of them as well as a new vest for each. You had wanted to buy suits for them as well, but they would have no occasion to wear them. Sun walked out of the dressing room first. His pants fit him perfectly, the dark brown playing well against his yellow plating. A matching dark brown vest was overlaid on top of a crisp white long-sleeve button-up. You walked him over to the ties and compared a few against his face and vest. The close proximity had him heat up a little, with you fighting an urge to call him 'my dear' again just to see what would happen.

You picked out a thin brown bowtie that matched his vest and wrapped it around his neck for him, tying it in a neat bow. You heard a small whirr escape him, and you looked up to see him staring down at you with stars in his eyes. 

You smiled, "Do you like it?"

He nodded quickly, and you chuckled. Moon came out soon after, drawing your attention. He looked really good in his outfit, almost too good. Tall black slacks covered his long legs, with a sleek vest pinched at the waist. A white button-up shirt peeked through the vest with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His outfit wouldn't need a tie or bowtie, it was perfect as is. 

"You both look very handsome," you said, walking over to Moon, pretending to dust some dirt off his shoulder and righting his vest. You heard Sun's whirrs pick up and noticed a slight smile on Moon's face. 

"Thank you, ma'am," he said. 

You paused, "You two don't need to call me ma'am anymore. We are close now, are we not?"
___________

You walked through the front door of the townhouse, greeting Madam Tuppett on the stairs with a polite smile. It had been a good day, making purchases for the boys while you got to play a little bit of dress-up with them. They had treated you to a bag of candied nuts from a nearby cart, feeling that your generosity was quickly becoming too much for them to handle without payback. You popped a few cinnamon dusted almonds in your mouth, crunching on the roasted shell, when you noticed a letter under your door frame. You bent down and picked it up, closing the door behind you.

It was a plain cream envelope, sent from -L. L stood for Laurette, your childhood friend who also happened to be the only person who knew where you were. You had kept in careful contact, asking for updates on your father via paid-off messenger boys and a sneaky networking system you devised on the fly. For weeks she had managed to hide your location, telling your father that you had run away to America in search of your independence. It was a good plan, running off to the new nation to seek your freedom, but you couldn't deny the warmth that London could give sometimes, especially when that warmth was in the form of two very lovable animatronics. You opened the envelope quickly and pulled out a telegram inside. 

He knows you are in London.

Chapter 8: Festival on the Thames

Chapter Text

You walked to the tea room with your eyes watching your back. You were nervous, carefully scanning every alley and face you passed, scared that hands would grab you from the darkness and force you back to your father's house. By the time you got to the tearoom, you were late. Sun and Moon were already sitting at the table with a pot of tea steaming. You sat down quickly, apologizing for your tardiness.

"Is everything okay?" Sun asked, leaning forward, concern showing in his expression. 

You wrung your hands together, biting your lip, not wanting to lie. 

"Is it about the shares you bought?" Moon asked, his voice low in a whisper. Sun poured some tea into a cup and pushed it towards you. They both looked nervous, which probably meant you looked a hundred times worse. 

"I got some bad news yesterday." You wrapped your hands around the cup, feeling its warmth around your icy hands. Sun and Moon reached over, placing a hand on yours in reassurance.

"Is there anything we could do to help?" Sun asked.

You shook your head, "No, No, this is my problem. I got myself into it."

"Can you tell us what's wrong? We are good listeners." Moon said. 

You looked up, glancing at them both. You had been friends long enough to trust them. Spilling your heart out didn't feel scary, but you were still nervous. "I ran away from home. My father is looking for me... and he somehow found out that I'm in London."

"Can you just run away again?"

"I could, yes, but then I'd have to be on the run for my entire life. He's not the kind of man who would stop just because one deal fell through."

"A deal?" Moon paused, then looked away for a second lost in thought before turning back, "You're the Southside heiress." He said it low, whispering close so only the three of you could hear it, but that didn't stop you from panicking and quickly scanning the room for sharp-eared observers. 

"It's okay, don't worry," Moon said, bringing his other hand to your arm. "We won't turn you in. You are safe with us." 

Sun nodded quickly, but your leg had started to nervously tick, bouncing up and down under the table. 

"How did you know?"

"You said so yourself. It's in your blood."

Your breath caught, the tick momentarily halting before you sighed dejectedly into the cup, not believing that such a simple line caused your unravel. "I see why Sun said you are better with mysteries now."

Moon hummed while Sun leaned in closer, "If you want, we can help you."

"Help me?"

He nodded quickly, "Moon and I can guard you, walk with you to where you need to go, help protect you from people who might want to hurt you."

You looked between them, worried, "But you could get hurt."

Sun smiled, "We've been in our fair share of fights." 

Moon nodded, "Let us protect you."
___________

You walked down the stairs of the townhouse, giving Madam Tuppett a wave goodbye on your way out. Today was a special day. The river Thames had frozen over, and there would be a festival, called a Frost Fair, on its icy flow. Sun had asked you to go with him and Moon, making a little date out of it. You were dressed in warm furs, taking care to grab the heaviest boots you had for the ice. You were boiling inside, but once you stepped outside, the cold air balanced you. 

"Good Morning, Angel."

You looked over to see Sun and Moon leaning against the wall, dressed in the clothes you had bought them. Angel was the name they had picked for you after some heavy debate, stating that you were so kind and beautiful you must be from somewhere other than earth. Their angel, sent from the heavens. 

"Hello, my dears."

Moon reached out a hand, helping you walk down the stairs before they looped your arms around theirs. They hadn't left your side since you told them about your situation. Anytime you needed to go anywhere, they were there, waiting to walk you. As a result, you had gotten used to hanging on to their arms, holding them close as the three of you traversed the streets of London. 

You had to walk a while to get to the river, but once you did, it was worth every step. Fat snowflakes drifted down from the skies, peppering the landscape in white. Small stalls and booths were set up on the river, selling treats and goodies. Kids ran around, laughing and screaming as they chased each other without a care in the world. 

You stepped onto the iced flow, hesitant at first.

"It's alright, Angel. We'll catch you if you fall!" Sun looked down with a bright smile, his eyes bright blue against the white backdrop. 

"Thank you, Sun." You squeezed them against you a little, hearing a chuckle from both. Your relationship had turned saccharine, and you relished in every soft word and look they gave. The three of you walked down the river, passing stalls of caramel apples and candied nuts. A few people bartered prices over goods while others stuffed their faces with the sickly sweet popcorn being dished up over a precarious fire. 

"What would you like to see first, Angel?" Sun piped up, his eyes excitedly jumping from stall to stall.

"I'm not sure. What do you want to do, Moon?"

He looked down at you with a small smile and patted the hand you had wrapped around his arm, "Whatever you wish to do is what I wish."

His soft words could melt the ice that covered the river. You pondered for a moment, scanning around before noticing a patch of empty river space. You pulled them as you walked, picking up the pace when you realized what it was. Children and adults alike were skating on the ice with each other, balancing precariously and falling down with laughter. A few people were jumping and performing tricks, gliding so smoothly you would almost believe they were fairie folk born from the snow. 

You pulled your boys to the skate rental stand, renting out three pairs with an excited smile on your face. You loved skating, not that you were very good at it. When you were small and your mother was still with you, she would take you to the lake on your father's property and skate with you on its frozen sheets. They were some of the best memories you had of your childhood.

You walked the boys over to a bench, handing them the shoes before excitedly asking, 

"Have the two of you ice-skated before?"

Moon nodded yes while Sun groaned. 

"What's wrong, my dear?"

Moon chuckled, "He isn't good at skating."

"Moon!"

"You aren't."

"Don't just say it. You'll make me look bad."

You raised an eyebrow with a smile, "Nothing the two of you do could make you look bad in my eyes." 

"Nothing?" Sun asked.

"Nothing." 

Sun's hands fidgeted together, and Moon just took a second to stare at you. You looked between them, clearly seeing a secret that they weren't telling you, and you sighed before taking their hands and pushing them onto the rink with you. You were the first to take off, a little unsteady and a little unsure. You hadn't skated in a while, so it took you a minute to get back into the swing of it. You turned around to see Moon gliding on the slick surface, swaying lightly as his hands rested comfortably behind his back. Meanwhile, Sun was like a baby deer, hands out to balance while his knees buckled inward, trying to keep him upright as he stared at the ground. Moon quietly laughed under his breath, and you didn't need to be close to hear Sun yell for him to shut up. You skated over to him, gently grabbing one of his hands and calling for him.

"Sun darling, look at me." 

His eyes were wide, fighting to keep his stability but also fighting to keep his gaze on your smiling face. You gently squeezed one of his hands and then helped steady him, getting close so that he could straighten out his legs. It was difficult, especially with him being so tall, but you couldn't say you didn't love it. When his legs straightened out, he had both hands clasped in yours.

"Follow me, Sun. Little steps, like you are walking." You gently pulled him, watching him fumble and shake as he got used to the new way of walking. Eventually, he became steady enough to take short strides, a big smile on his face when he completed the first one. You helped him out until his legs nearly gave out, him begging to just sit down for a while. You laughed gently before helping him over to a bench on the side of the rink, where he plopped down with a whine. You chuckled.

"You did great." 

You placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, pulling away quickly to see his reaction. It was beautiful, red as roses and with eyes as big as saucers. He began stuttering something you didn't understand, but you just smiled and did it again. Moon slid up next to you, seeing Sun reduced to a pile of mush. 

"He might need a minute to cool down, Angel."

You turned, seeing his hand extend towards you. 

"Would you like to skate with me?"

You smiled and took it, giving one last look to Sun, who was shooing you off with one hand while he attempted to cover his eyes with his other, the embarrassment getting too much for him. Moon led you back onto the rink. You skated a few laps, hand in hand, before he pulled you off to a small side space, sliding in front of you. You looked up, seeing a small smile on his face as he placed a hand on your waist. He turned you, gently gliding across the ice, and you realized that he had pulled you into a waltz. You placed your hand on his shoulder, and he hummed. The two of you danced, albeit lazily, on the slick surface. He was warm, and the melody he hummed filled you. 

"I didn't know you could dance, Moon."

"Do you not like it?"

"I never said that." 

He looked down, eyeing you before chuckling softly, "I've never had a reason to show you before."

"And now you do?"

"Well, I couldn't let you suffer at the hands of Sun's awful skating for much longer."

You laughed, "He isn't that bad, just unpracticed."

He hummed again, "Angel."

"Yes, my dear Moon?"

He looked deep into your eyes for a few seconds, debating with himself, "You said.... that nothing we did could make us look bad in your eyes."

"Yes?"

"Did you mean it?"

"Of course."

"But what if we were secretly terrible?"

"Secretly terrible? Like what?"

He pulled you closer, with a devious smile, "What if we were monsterous shapeshifters sent to trap young mortal souls?"

"Would you try to trap me?"

"Of course."

You looked to him and smiled slyly, "I think I'd let you."

Moon gasped in mock surprise, "Naughty Angel."

"Maybe I am. So what?"

"Okay... well, what if we were part of an evil gang? Sent to rob people and steal?"

"Would you steal from me?"

"Only if you wanted us to." 

"Well, maybe I'd be okay with it."

"Angel, do you have no moral compass?"

You smiled, eyes innocent, "Can I buy one? I have quite a bit of money."

He looked down, laughing as he pulled you into another turn. The skirts of your dress fanned out, swooshing along as he swayed you in his arms.

"Honestly, Moon dear, I'd be okay with most things. So long as the innocent, you, Sun, or I don't get hurt, I don't really mind."

"So you'd be okay with Sun and I being in a gang?"

You felt a few pieces click into place in your head, the 'accountant for a small business' and his warnings about the stocks. It made sense for at least Moon to be a part of something a little less than government-approved. However, for Sun to be included did surprise you just a bit. They weren't ever injured when you saw them, and it looked like they were getting good sleep and being fed well, so you figured you wouldn't push them. They were healthy and happy, and that's all you needed to know. 

You hummed out a yes and watched him let out a small breath he had been holding.

"Thank you, Angel."

Chapter 9: A Kiss for Moon and a Share for You

Notes:

I've written 3,000 words today, and you get to read them all. Featuring: A double upload!!! <3

Chapter Text

"Here, Eat this." Moon pushed a napkin towards you. You looked into the palm of his hand, confused, until you noticed a piece of sponge cake dripping with honey. Your eyes must've gone wide cause he started chuckling. You gratefully accepted it with as much patience as you could muster before shoving the entire piece into your mouth. It was positively soaked in honey, dripping down your throat as you went to heaven from the sweetness. 

"Careful Angel, you don't want to choke." Moon reached up, wiping up some spilled honey from the corner of your mouth. You watched as he brought his thumb up to his lips, licking the honey off. You gawked as he just smirked as if it was no big deal. You couldn't stand it. You tapped his shoulder, grabbing his attention, and made him lean down close to you. You put a hand on his shoulder, drawing him in, and then quickly kissed him. His lips were soft, tasting vaguely of honey, but that might've been you. It took only a second, but that smirk was wiped off his face, replaced by a furious blush and the sounds of his processors whirring like there was no tomorrow. He was redder than when you had given Sun a forehead kiss. You let his shoulder go, watching as he processed his emotions in absolute glee. Your relationship with Moon was an equal one. If he made you flustered, you would make him flustered. Meanwhile, with Sun, it was more of complete adoration on both of your parts. Speaking of Sun, he had just walked back with three bags of different candied nuts and popcorn. He saw Moon's red face and picked up on the situation rather quickly. He walked over, nudging Moon with his elbow, 

"You look a little flushed, Moonie."

Moon glared daggers at Sun, making you laugh. You reached for the bags Sun was carrying, not wanting the candy to fall in the event they started to brawl, but instead, Sun just picked out a candied almond and held it up to you. You looked up at him, seeing his innocent face genuinely wanting to feed you, and almost cackled. You leaned forward, eating the almond from his fingertips, and watched as his rays spun. 

"Thank you, dear," you said.

"Of course, Angel! Are they any good?"

"Very." you hummed.
__________________

Mister Deleclease will accept an appointment post-haste in regards to the selling and purchasing of his shares in Southside Burdock. 

You re-read the letter and smiled. Mister Deleclease was the owner of a sizable chunk of Southside Burdock stock. He was known for entering into businesses quickly, swiping up a majority stock, and leaving as soon as he made enough profit. He was one of the worst kinds of investors to have when it came to running a business, but that worked in your favor. You had sent him a letter the day before, asking if he was interested in an acquisition of his shares, and his response was certainly exciting. 

Sun and Moon were busy today, not telling you what they needed to do, but you had understood. They had asked you to stay home, but this deal was too good to pass up. You got dressed quickly in the blue dress you had ordered. It had been delivered days ago, all of the alterations fixed to perfection. You stuffed your moneybag into the sizable pockets of your skirt, rearranging the skirts of your dress to conceal it. You grabbed a few coins from your smaller coin purse, walked on your merry way outside the townhouse, and hailed a carriage.

Mister Deleclease's house was sizable, especially for property in the heart of London. When you arrived, a butler answered the door with haste, taking the letter you had in hand and escorting you to a sitting room by the front door. He said that his master would be with you shortly before bringing in a pot of tea and some biscuits. You nibbled on the biscuits, too nervous to actually consume anything. It didn't take long for Mister Deleclease to arrive, throwing open the double doors to the sitting room while an assistant rushed in with a stack of papers and a pen. You stood up, brushing crumbs off your skirts as he stuck out a hand. You put yours in it, him gracing its back with a light kiss as he bowed lightly to you. You bowed your head with a small curtsy, fulfilling the polite protocol you both were forced to do. 

"Well, Madam, I am very thrilled to see you." He started, his glasses almost falling off his wrinkled face. He was thin and tall, looking like a strong gust of wind could snap him in half. His wrinkled face and white hair showed his age, but his green eyes were feisty, filled with the vigor of a stockbroker. 

"As you know, I am looking to sell all of my shares of Southside." 

"Yes."

"So, might I ask how many you are willing to buy?" He looked to his assistant, who was busily drafting supporting documents for the sale. 

"All of them."

You watched Mister Deleclease's face light up, "All of them?"

"Yes, all of them."

He clapped his hand together, jovial at your response, "Well, let us get started then! The current market price is 46% normal stock value. These stocks have done nothing but cost me, so I am happy to sell them to a woman as bright as yourself." 

The compliments he gave were two-faced at best and the exact thing you wanted to hear.

"Oh, of course, You know my brother said the stock would go up after this marriage I've heard so much about." You fibbed.

"Ahhh, yes! The marriage, of course! I bet it will be a beautiful wedding." He laughed loudly.

The marriage had been on hold for weeks now. Any good investor worth their salt would know it most likely wouldn't pull through. Making you look like a stupid dewy-eyed investor with too much money, something that you needed to appear as. The assistant was still furiously writing, finishing up a few papers and handing them to Mister Deleclease. He scanned over them, taking a pen out. 

"This here is the acquisition of shares from my name to yours." He scooted the paper along the desk to you, showing that all of the Southside Burdock shares would undergo new ownership. "And this one is the purchase receipt. All forty-two percent of my shares will be transferred into your name, for one thousand, six hundred pounds, placed at market value." He scooted another paper towards you. One thousand six hundred pounds. That could buy you rent in a mansion in the heart of London for years at that price. But it was your freedom. And you were prepared to pay it. 

"I accept." You pulled out your money bag, setting out sixteen of the twenty-one stacks you had left. You pushed them to the assistant, who quickly counted the money up before nodding to Mister Deleclease. He let out another jovial laugh before he signed the paperwork, turning it to you before you signed it as well. He sealed his signature with a wax imprint of his family's signet ring, making the sale permanent. 

"Congratulations, Madam. I'm sure you will have a lovely time at that wedding." He said with a smile, quickly grabbing at the money. You smiled back, taking the papers and putting the rest of your money into your pockets. As the two of you stood up to say your goodbyes, the door burst open. A handful of large rough men kicked open the door. They threw the assistant to the ground with a cry before making their way to Mister Deleclease. One of the men walked over to you, pushing you into a corner by the fireplace where he forced you to stay. Your heart was beating out of your chest as you watched them shove Mister Deleclease's face into the couch you were just sitting on, screaming at him for money. It was a robbery. 

You stood shaking. You had finally bought your way out of an arranged marriage and a lifetime of regrets only to get robbed and possibly worse if they found out who you were. You looked up to the man keeping you in the corner with his back turned to you. He looked like a brawler, tall, with a fist that could probably crush your skull. There was a lot of commotion, the robbers yelling about where he kept his money, while Mister Deleclease shouted for the police. You stood there, locked up in that corner for ages. At one point, they picked the assistant off the floor and punched him square in the jaw, telling him to stop his crying and take them to the safe. You watched a few leave, only for more men to come in and replace them.

At least fifteen people were in the house, rough, dirty, and ready to kill someone. You wrapped your arms around yourself in a tight hug while you watched men tear the house to pieces. They ripped paintings from the walls, tossed decorative vases from the mantel, and slammed extravagant dishware onto the floor. Mister Deleclease stayed quiet, not spilling where he hid his money. A man like him probably had more than one safe anyways, so his assistant was probably leading the men to the backup safe they could rob. You waited and waited and waited, and they came back, tossing the assistant back onto the floor. 

"Where the fuck are the papers, old man?" One of the men said.

"What?"

"WHERE ARE THE PAPERS?"

"What papers? I don't know what you are talking about!"

"THE PAPERS." The man, another large brawler, picked him up from the couch and swung his fist, connecting with his stomach. Mister Deleclease gasped in pain, clutching his stomach as he doubled over. 

"WHERE ARE YOUR SOUTHSIDE PAPERS." He shouted.

You froze, looking to Deleclease as he turned to see you trapped in the corner. You pleaded silently, praying he wouldn't say it.

"I don't own Southside anymore." 

No.

"She does."

No. No. NO.

Everyone in the room turned to you, and time stopped.

Chapter 10: A Robbery

Chapter Text

"We don't wanna hurt you, so give us the papers." The man who just beat Mister Deleclease walked closer. His hands were stretched out like he was trying to calm down a scared kitten in a dark alley. It was dehumanizing but also exactly what you felt like right now. A small, scared, shaking animal surrounded by furious beasts who want nothing more than to kill you. You pushed yourself tighter into the corner, looking for an out, looking for anything to defend yourself with. There was a fireplace poker to your right and a window to your left. Maybe you could stab the man blocking you in the corner and crash through the window onto the street below. 

You lunged for the poker, managing to get a hold of it before a fist punched you in your side, knocking the breath out of you. Two hands grabbed your wrists, forcing them behind your back as they pushed your head down. You tried fighting against it, but his grip was like a vice. The poker fell at your feet, useless. You cried out, the grip on your wrist getting tighter as the pain from the punch bloomed up your side. You tried kicking the man holding you from behind, but he just swept your feet, slamming your knees onto the ground. 

"We said we don't wanna hurt you, lass. But we will if we have to." The man who punched Deleclease stood before you, gripping you by the hair and pulling your face up to see his. His rough hands tugged without mercy, sending a burning sensation through your scalp that forced tears to well up in your eyes. 

"Just tell us where the papers are." His voice took a lighter tone like he was almost doing you a favor, but it was dampened by the knife he pulled out, running it along your cheek. Blood welled up from the cut, stinging as it dripped from your wound. Your chest heaved as he moved the knife lower to your neck, pressing it into the soft tissue. You cried out again as pain bubbled to the surface. Your freedom, or your life. You had to choose. 

The doors slammed open once again, startling everyone in the room. 

"Why is this taking so long?" 

You looked over and saw your boys.
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"They should have been out ages ago," Sun said. Both he and Moon were sitting in a parked carriage in front of the Deleclease estate, waiting for the small gang they sent in to come out with a few bags of money and the shares of Southside that Deleclease owned. For days they had been picking up scraps of shares, snagging them up from random shareholders they managed to find. They had wanted to help you, get you enough shares that you didn't need to be scared of your father anymore. They wanted you to be free, free to live, and free to love them. They both craved your attention, the small touches you gave, and the bright smiles. Everything about you was as sweet as the cakes you would indulge in at tea time, and they were addicted. 

The fact that they had found Deleclease was sheer luck. They had paid off a local share broker who had access to the names of the shareholders of Southside, and Deleclease owned a whopping percentage. If they successfully completed the robbery, you would have the freedom you desired. But it was taking too long. 

"We should see what's happening," Sun said. Moon hummed in agreement, and they stepped out of the carriage and into the busy streets. As they walked up to the mansion and through its doors, they heard muffled screaming and cries. Moon kicked open the doors. 

"What is this taking so long?"

"Angel?"
___________

They ran to you, shoving the two men who held you out of the way. When you were released from their grip, you gasped. The hold on your wrist had been tight, pulling at the muscles in your shoulders. You felt your hair fall onto your face, getting sticky with the blood that dripped from your cheek. Moon's hands rushed to help you stand up, and Sun pulled out a handkerchief, pressing it to your neck to stop the bleeding. Moon moved the hair from your face, taking out his own handkerchief and staunching the wound on your cheek. The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. 

"Angel... we are so so sorry. We didn't know you were here. We didn't mean for this to happen." Sun said, pleading as he gently held one of your hands against his chest. 

"We are so sorry," Moon repeated, taking your other hand in his own and holding it tight. You looked between them, your emotions running high as tears started running down your face. They panicked further, hushing and cooing as they wiped them away with the hands they had been using to hold yours. 

"Please don't cry, Angel." Sun sniffled, almost on the verge of tears himself. You were conflicted. You wanted to sink into their arms, but at the same time, you wanted to smack them both. 

"Boss, we didn't know, we swear." One of the men said. Moon growled, pulling back to face him. He was furious. You watched as he reached a hand to his belt, seeing a knife tucked into his pants. You immediately went for his hand, stopping him from pulling it out. He looked at you, confused. You sighed, pulling his hand from its original trajectory and instead holding it in your own. There was so much you wanted to say, so much you wanted to ask, so you settled on your first and most simple question.

"Boss?"
______________

They froze. They weren't ready to tell you yet. In fact, they were trembling in their boots at the thought of doing so. Sure, maybe you were okay with them being in a gang, but what if you weren't okay with them being its leaders? What if you left them? What if you left forever? They heard you sigh, causing their hearts to race with uncertainty. 

You slowly pushed their hands from you, their hearts breaking as you pushed them away. Neither could say a word to stop you. It was your decision whether or not to stay. It wasn't up to them, but it hurt so much to see you make it. They watched as you stepped between them, walking over to the couch where Timothy, one of their purse-snatchers, was still holding Mister Deleclease down. You motioned for him to let the man go, and he did so, letting the old man stand back up again. They watched, pained, as you brushed off Mister Deleclease's shoulders, fixing up his outfit and apologizing for the mess that they had caused. He was still too stunned to do anything but fume angrily at the people who broke into his house and robbed him. 

They felt ashamed of themselves. Putting you in a position where you felt the need to apologize for their heinous actions. Moon clenched his fist by his side, and Sun bit his tongue. They watched as you promised it would never happen again, stating that this was a big misunderstanding, and they hated it. You shouldn't be the one apologizing for what they did. They both stepped forward to stop you, to take responsibility for what they had done, but just as they did, they saw you rear back and land a fist in his face with a vicious thwack. 
__________________

God, it felt good to punch that guy.

You cradled your bloodied hand. You had managed to break his nose, watching him bleed out onto the floor while crying. Mister Deleclease was an asshole, and you felt no remorse. Leaving you to the dogs like that, how rude. 

You turned around to see Sun and Moon gaping at you, they had come closer, probably trying to stop you, but the looks on their faces were exquisite. Maybe you'd do it again, just to see their silly expressions. You walked up to Sun, who shot up as still as a board, taking the handkerchief from his hand and placing it over your bloody knuckles, wiping away what you could away. 

You looked around the room, taking note of who was standing around. The men who had robbed the place were all staring between you or Sun and Moon. Meanwhile, the assistant and butler were frantically trying to assist Mister Deleclease. It didn't take a genius to see the situation for what it was.

"Sun. Moon. We need to have a long conversation." 

Chapter 11: Talks

Notes:

Once again I have written 3,000 words and we are back with another double upload <3

Chapter Text

You were back at the tea room after a rather stressful carriage ride with Sun and Moon sitting silently. You sipped your tea slowly, tossing a few coins over to the waitstaff with instructions to not let anyone sit near you for a few hours. 

"So..." You set the cup in the saucer, "Would you like to explain what happened?"

Sun was antsy, fiddling with his teacup, "Angel, we didn't know you were there. We promise."

"We are past that, Sun. What I want to know is what you two were doing there."

They looked at each other, Moon deciding to take the lead, "We wanted his shares."

"Why?"

"We've been gathering them. We... wanted to help you buy your father's company." They looked sullenly down at their cups.

"You have been purchasing shares?"

"...In a manner of speaking."

You raised an eyebrow, "Did you kill anyone to get them?"

"No! No! Angel! We wouldn't do anything that could put you in danger like that!" Sun was quick to dismiss the claim, "We just ummm... maybe beat a few people up in a back alley."

Sweet lord, these boys. You sighed, moving on to the next question you had, "They called you Boss."

Moon answered, "We are the bosses of the Drop Gang."

You damn near spit out your tea. Sure, a gang was one thing, but the Drop Gang? What were they thinking??

"By choice?"

They looked confused by your question, but Moon pushed forward, "Our older brother created the gang years ago when we lived on the streets. We took over about two years ago."

"You have an older brother?"

They nodded, "His name is Eclipse. He lives on a sailing ship, traveling around the world."

"I see," you murmured into the cup. "The Southside Warehouse Robbery. That was the two of you, wasn't it?"

They looked surprised, but they just nodded again. Everything they had done had been to help you. You couldn't say it wasn't sweet, but you were still worried, and maybe a little bit mad. 

"We managed to get a few shares for you." Sun perked up, trying to appease you. You looked at him, head tilting before asking, 

"How many?"

"Around eight percent."

"Eight percent? From random shareholders? How many people did you rob?" You were flabbergasted. Eight percent of shares pulled from the general public was insane, especially considering finding someone of the working class with even half of a percent of a company was a rarity. They looked away in opposite directions, hesitant to answer you. 

"Nevermind," you said. If they gave you the eight percent, plus the forty-two percent from Mister Deleclease and the thirteen percent you already owned, you would be at sixty-three percent ownership of the company. Even if the eight percent didn't transfer over, you still had the fifty-five percent you managed to buy. You set your cup down, the reality finally sinking in. You had done it. You owned Southside Burdock. Your father couldn't force you to marry anyone anymore, especially not when you were the majority shareholder now. 

"Stand up," you said.

"What?"

"Stand up, quickly now." 

They did so, confused. You stood with them, stepping around the table. You looked them both in the eye and then rushed them with a hug. You felt their surprise in the ramrod straightness of their spines and the small breaths they let out. You squeezed them both tight, taking the opportunity to kiss them both on the cheeks. 

"Thank you," you said. 

"You-You aren't mad at us?"

"No, loves, well actually yes, maybe a little, but I'll get over it."

You felt them hesitantly lean into your hug, both of them placing a hand on your back. You squeezed them tight before letting go, keeping an arm around them. You lifted your hands up to cup their cheeks, watching as they both tried not to melt in your hands. You pulled Sun in first, kissing him softly, listening to his whirs as his rays spun. Then you pulled in Moon, seeing him already flushed before you could even kiss him. When you pulled back, you were met with two blushing bots filling the room with their content whirrs. 

"I love you both so much," You said, hearing their breaths hitch, "But if I get another knife to my throat, I swear I'll kill someone."

You watched them nod quickly, happy to see them agree wholeheartedly. 
___________

You walked outside the townhouse, seeing your boys waiting for you. There was another handful of men waiting there, too, looking nervous. You looked at them, recognizing them from the Deleclease's mansion. 

"Angel." Sun's voice was light, almost reverent as he took your hand. 

"Hello, my loves."

You walked down the stairs, Sun and Moon on either side, as you looked at the men currently staring at the ground. They were beaten up and bruised. Two of them, in particular, were black and blue. 

"We apologize, ma'am. We didn't realize you were important to the bosses. We never would have touched you had we known. We are truly sorry and will accept any punishment you give."

You squinted slightly, tilting your head to the side, "You're the one who punched me." You watched him flinch, still not looking you in the eye. You looked to the left, seeing the other badly beat-up man next to him, "You must be the one who cut me." He held his breath, his face becoming a bright shade of red as his fists clenched by his side. 

"You two look like shit."

"Angel!" Sun gasped.

"Such naughty language," Moon said, trying not to smile but failing spectacularly.

You squeezed both their arms against you, shrugging with another huff, "It's true. How badly did the two of you beat them?"

They looked away, not saying anything. You reached down for their hands, seeing small scratches on their knuckles. Sun even had a small dent in his left hand. 

"You two, I swear," you murmured. You looked over to the men who were watching your interaction with their bosses. Their faces showed confusion and just a hint of fear. Sun and Moon probably acted incredibly rough when they were playing the part of bosses; seeing them soft like putty in your hands must have been terrifying. 

"I'd like your word," you said to the two brawlers, "That you will never hurt me again." They nodded quickly, agreeing fast, but you weren't finished yet, "Because if you do, I will do things to you that would make God cry." You watched everyone pause, and you smiled sweetly, "Goodbye now."

You tugged Sun and Moon along, walking past the small group of men and down the street. When you were far enough away, you spoke, "I don't want those men beat up anymore. They've obviously paid enough for their crimes."

You heard Sun and Moon murmur their agreements before feeling Moon's stride straighten out, leading the two of you. "I can't believe you said that, Angel. You scared poor Richard."

"Poor Richard needed scaring."

"Well, what about us?" he hummed, "What if we need some scaring?" He had a smirk on his face and a devilish look in his eyes.

"Moonie, that's dangerous."

"Why, Angel?"

"Because I just might tie you up while I play with Sun instead."

You heard Sun exhale as if someone punched him, wheezing as his face flushed. You pulled them along, laughing as they sputtered.

Chapter 12: Stand Tall Angel

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

"We need to talk to you about something important."

You wiped some frosting from the corner of Sun's mouth, "I'm listening."

"Angel, please," Moon said. For the last two days, you had been absolutely doting on them, sitting in their laps and feeding them sweets. Yesterday, you were in Moon's lap, covering him in small kisses while you fed him small biscuits. Today, you were in Sun's lap, feeding him chocolate cake and watching as he struggled with where to put his hands without his face erupting in a furious blush.

"It's about your father."

You paused, turning to see Moon's worried expression as you felt Sun still beneath you.

"He's arrived in London."

"Has he?" you said quietly.

Moon nodded, waiting for your reaction. You smiled and leaned forward, asking for his hand. He placed one in yours, and you brought it up to your mouth, kissing the back of it. You heard his processors pick up, whirring filling the tearoom that you had rented for the day.

You sighed, flipping his hand over and placing his palm against your cheek, "Sun, Moon." You heard them both perk up. "He will try to drag me back to his house and force me to marry."

"We can protect you, Angel."

"It will most likely be a nasty fight."

"We know."

"Can you stay by my side?"

"Of course. We love you."
________________

A large mansion stood out before you, with white marble walls and imposing columns. You took a deep breath and let it out slowly. You felt a slight squeeze in your hand and turned to see Sun smiling reassuringly, "It will be alright, Angel. We are here."

You smiled, squeezing Sun and Moon's arms close to your chest. You had gotten the letter from your stockbroker that a shareholder meeting was going to be held today, focusing on the share shifts and the company's fate moving forward. You had realized your father had come to London for the company, not for you; but that just made things easier, even if it hurt more.

You walked through the gates, the black mesh veil of your blue hat pulled down over your face. You brought copies of all your stock documents, nestled safely in the pockets of your blue skirts. Sun and Moon were by your side, dressed in suits you had convinced them to wear. They looked absolutely dashing. As you walked up to the doors, a butler greeted you, requesting your invitation to the meeting. When Moon handed it over, he led you through large hallways of gold, filled with incredibly large and ornate paintings. Statues of Greek gods lined the red plush carpeted hallways. This was elegance incarnate and wholly uncomfortable.

The man was kind enough to open the door for you to the meeting room, the three of you walking in together. Already seated at the table were a handful of people, chatting about the weather and local investment opportunities. A few more people were standing in small groups, consumed in conversation. Your father was nowhere to be seen.

Another servant guided you to the table, directing you to sit at a chair with your nameplate. When you originally purchased the shares, you had used an alias, a Madam Burkett, but this morning, you had gone to your broker, transferring all the shares into your legal name. You pushed the nameplate with your alias off to the side.

Sun pulled out the chair for you, guiding you to sit down while they stood behind you. It must've looked odd because a few stares were tossed your way. You elected to ignore them, instead preparing yourself for what was to come. It didn't take long; the double doors opened with a grand flourish as your father and a few close business partners you recognized walked in. They made their greetings to everyone and then sat down, with your father sitting at the head of the table, just six seats down from you.

"Good evening to you all." Your father started, his loud voice echoing off the walls. He sounded rather cheerful for someone whose daughter was missing. "I can't thank you enough for your attendance." The room clapped, you following hesitantly. "As you know, we have many things to discuss: quarterly earnings, the newest shareholders, and the company's future. Here with us today is Count Altus, the head of the East England Company." You looked over, your father's words drowning out as you got a good look at the man you were supposed to marry. He looked conniving, the kind of person a parent would tell their child to stay away from.

A few servants came in, passing out plates to everyone. This meeting was also a dinner, complete with brandy and wines. A steak covered in a wine reduction was placed in front of you, complete with potatoes au gratin and barley rice, all staple foods that Southside Burdock imported. You sipped lightly at the wine, feeling it burn down your throat. You tried eating, but the veil you wore made it slightly difficult, not to mention that your stomach was flipped repeatedly, resolving you to just push the food around the plate before giving up entirely. Your father talked jovially, consistently saying that this quarter's earnings were the biggest yet. The plates were taken away, and you could almost feel the glares that Sun and Moon gave to the servant who had leaned in a bit too close when grabbing your plate.

Cigars and bourbon were passed around, and you rejected to take either. The meal was over, and now the actual meeting had begun. Your father dove into it quickly, going over how great the quarter's earnings were even with the pesky robbery of the warehouses in the south of London. You tried not to give anything away, but you were one wrong word away from a snicker. Then he quickly moved to the merger between Southside and East England, stating that the marriage was still on track and that you, his daughter, were just experiencing pre-wedding jitters.

"What if your daughter doesn't come back?" One shareholder asked. Your father glared at him, the same glare he used to give you when you had done something bad as a child.

"She will not have a choice. After all, she is just a woman." Count Altus laughed. You were shocked. Were his ideas on rights as old as he was? The rest of the table laughed, and you fumed under your veil. You could hear one of your boys shuffle behind you, probably infuriated at his statement. You sighed under your breath, listening as the conversation turned.

"We still need to introduce the newest shareholders." Your father clapped. The table went silent once more, and he pulled out a piece of paper from his suit pocket. He unfolded it, "First, we have Mr. Abernathy, who joined the company shortly after our last shareholder meeting." Mr. Abernathy stood up, quickly bowing to everyone as they clapped a welcome.
"Next is Lord Enders, who joined four months ago." Lord Enders stood up and bowed politely. "And finally, one Madam Burkett. Who is our newest shareholder but has been making great strides in the market, purchasing a rather large amount of shares in a single day."

You took a deep breath and stood up slowly. You gave no curtsy or bow, "I am humbled to be a part of this company. As the majority shareholder, I look forward to seeing where our decisions lead the company."

You heard murmuring, and your father paused. Did he recognize your voice?

"Madam Burkett, I must apologize, but what do you mean by the majority shareholder."

He didn't recognize you. You weren't sure why, but it stung a little.

"Just a few days ago, I purchased all the shares from Mister Deleclease. I own sixty-three percent of all Southside Burdock stock."

The table rippled with murmurs, the men debating amongst themselves.

Count Altus had a ridiculous smirk, "Are you sure your husband would be fine with you taking his money and purchasing shares like this?"

"I am unmarried."

"An unmarried woman!" he laughed incredulously, "What is an unmarried woman doing in a man's business?"

"Just doing what my father taught me."

"What a terrible father you have. He should have raised you to know your place."

Sweet lord, what was in this man's head.

"You can complain to him all you like, but that still won't force me to marry you, Count Altus."

You watched him pause, confused. Sun and Moon moved behind you, ready to grab you and run out quickly if things got ugly. You glanced at them from the side of your veil, reassuring them that you were alright. You slowly lifted the veil from your face, pinning it back with a small flower pin from your hat. As you looked up, you watched your father become red with rage.

"Hello, father."

He was so furious you were worried he'd have a heart attack right then and there.

"I've come to announce my emancipation." You pulled the copies of all your share paperwork from the pockets of your skirt. "I'd also like to include a, well... not a threat per se, but rather a persuasion that if you don't accept it, I will be doing what I please with the company, seeing as I now own it."

Your father's rage bubbled to the surface, slamming the table with his fists as he rose from his chair.

"WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL IS THIS?!" Spit flung from his mouth, his fat chin bouncing as he seethed.

You stood tall, feeling Sun and Moon both place a hand on your lower back, telling you they were there.

"I am just doing what you taught me, father. You brought this upon yourself." The line came out a bit snarkier than you intended, only infuriating him further. You watched as he picked up a candlestick and threw it at you. Luckily, his aim was awful, something you knew well from living in the same house for years.

"DO YOU THINK I WILL ALLOW THIS?!"

"You don't have a choice."

"YOU SCAMP. YOU WHORE. YOU ARE JUST AS BAD AS YOUR MOTHER WAS."

His words turned to white noise, quickly falling away like it always had. He continued screaming, tossing whatever he could while the other investors at the table dogged flying glasses and gawked at the behavior. To think a man who cared so much about his image would devolve so quickly. You sighed and reached down, grabbing your glass of wine and taking a long sip. It burned, but at least it was distracting you from the monkey show playing in front of your eyes.

"The merger with East England can still go through, it just won't be on the condition of marriage," you said to the table, ignoring your father.

It was Count Altus's turn to fume, standing up on rickety legs and shouting at you to learn your place in the world, which was apparently at his feet. You blinked, the words slipping right past you. You motioned behind you, feeling Sun and Moon lean forward. It felt nice, them having your back. Your father's ramblings turned even louder. You pushed your hand back, giving Sun and Moon a signal, and they shouted. The double doors into the room burst open, and a small army of Drop Gang members walked in. Two of them grabbed your father, slamming him down into his chair, while one man pushed the Count into his. The other investors panicked at the sight of nearly two dozen rough men surrounding the room. Everything finally quieted down.

"Please calm down. These men won't hurt you unless you do something stupid," you said, primarily to your father but also partially to the investors that looked like they were going to try and make a break for it out the tall windows.

"You can no longer force me to do anything, father. The quicker you realize that the quicker I can hand the company back over to you."

You watched his face morph into confusion, and you elaborated, "The magistrate will be arriving at your home shortly to retrieve all financial and business documents concerning the company. As approved by the London office, they will be under my control." You pulled out another paper you had picked up that morning stating the change of head for the company. You handed it to Richard, still black and blue from his earlier beating, who then walked it over to your father.

"I am the sole owner of Southside Burdock Trading Company. All business henceforth will go through me."

You felt the table itch with questions.

"If you have an issue with it, you can take it up with my future husbands." You motioned to Sun and Moon, who both growled at the table. You walked out of the room, Sun and Moon trailing behind you as the rest of the men soon followed. As you walked out of the mansion, you felt the tension in your body start to dissipate. A carriage was already waiting, and you stepped in, Moon closing the door after Sun entered.

The ride was quiet, with you asking to go to a nearby park. When you got there, the three of you walked for a while in silence, listening to the crickets play their hearts out. Sun pulled you to a small stand, grabbing a bag of candied nuts. He fed them to you, taking a few to eat himself.

"How are you feeling, Angel?" he asked.

"Exhausted."

"Do you want to sit down?"

"I am too pent up to sit down but too exhausted to keep walking." you sighed.

Moon chuckled, "What a dilemma our Angel has."

You smiled. "Speaking of dilemmas, what were the two of you doing earlier?"

"What do you mean?" Moon hummed.

"You growled."

"Like this?"

They both let out low gnarly growls, and you felt goosebumps run up your neck. When they saw your face, they both had devious little smiles.

"Its looks like Angel likes our growls." Moon hummed.

"Well, she did call us her future husbands," Sun said.

Moon looked from Sun back down to you, an eyebrow raised, "Angel didn't even ask us, just decided all on her own."

You looked between them. "I do not appreciate the two of you ganging up on me like this."

They chuckled, both wrapping an arm around your waist.

"We are only teasing you, Angel," Moon said, low and melodic.

"It's how we show our love." Sun leaned in, kissing you lightly on the cheek.

"I don't know if I like that," you murmured.

A smirk formed on Moon's face, "We can make you like it."

"Moon! That's scandalous." You playfully batted him, and he smiled.

"How else are we supposed to show you how much we love you?"

You laughed, watching their smiles grow wider. You kissed them both softly, hearing their processor's whirr, and continued walking down the park path, hand in hand under the starry night sky.

The End.

Notes:

Thank you loves <3 I really wanted to write a Victorian England-type fanfic so I'm happy I got to write this one. I keep getting more and more fic ideas so I'm just gonna keep crafting up stories. I hope you stay tuned and love them!