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[awesome_lilly]

Lilly is dreaming, again. But it's not her death this time. It's Veronica's. Lilly knows this in the way you just know in dreams, that this is Veronica's death but it hasn't happened yet...

Veronica is trapped in some kind of metal box, and Lilly's in there with her, seeing the red-lit fear on her best friend's face as she gasps something into a walkie-talkie clutched desperately in her hand. Veronica is panicking, pounding on the walls and the smell of gasoline is everywhere. And then there is a soft whoomph, and crackling and it's getting hotter and Lilly and Veronica have the same expression of helpless terror on their faces.

"Veronica!" Lilly is screaming now, in the dream and out loud. "VERONICA!"

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[awesome_lilly]

Aaron looks at him.

"Who, Lilly Kane? What, were you one of her boyfriends? Missing your piece of ass, are you?"

He laughs, and there's something wrong with it.

"Even if that were true, you think she's worth this? I'm one of the most powerful men in Neptune, you really want to get into something with me over some stupid sixteen year-old bitch who's been dead for nearly two years?"

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter appears to think about this for a moment.

And then a smile spreads across his face, and there's more than a touch of battle madness in his eyes.

"Yes," he says simply, and advances on Aaron, poised and ready for a fight.

[awesome_lilly]

Aaron always wins his fights. Always. Of course, the people he's fought up till now have been Hollywood stuntmen and occasionally, his son. Still.

He swings wildly, and Peter dodges easily, but Aaron follows it with a quick punch that connects solidly with Peter's shoulder.

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter snorts at the look of triumph in Aaron's eyes.

His knee jerks up into Aaron's stomach, doubling Aaron over before Peter's fist rams into his jaw again.

[awesome_lilly]

Aaron stumbles back, winded, hands protecting his famous face.

"Is this really about Lilly?" he gasps. "She's not worth it, there's a million spoiled blonde princesses around here, you could have your pick. Hell, you give me that gun and I can introduce you to a dozen girls that would make you forget all about Lilly Kane."

[awesome_lilly]

Veronica's free, and Mr. Mars is breathing. Veronica runs into the cabin, dials 911 and everything seems under control with them, more or less. Lilly moves to the front of the cabin, worried about Pete, and stops cold as she hears Aaron Echolls, her killer, dismiss her casually.

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter grabs the front of Aaron's shirt, lifts him into the air, and slams him against a tree.

"Apologise," he snarls. "Apologise for your whole miserable, worthless life, scum. Apologise to Lilly. Do it now, or you will be on your knees begging me to let you apologise within five minutes, if you're even capable of speech."

[awesome_lilly]

Aaron Echolls has played a lot of fight scenes. He knows how they go. He's the hero, momentarily at a disadvantage, but only momentarily. Toss off a trailer-worthy quip and get in a surprise punch and suddenly the fight's going his way again.

"Apologize to Lilly?" he sneers. "We're a little far from the cemetery, is it okay if I take a raincheck? Or maybe I could get away with sending flowers, Celeste did just have that wonderful birthday memorial for her. Either way, it doesn't really matter because neither did she."

[highking.livejournal.com]

"Have it your way," Peter says.

And then he slams Aaron back against the tree several times in quick succession, his head bouncing off of the trunk with a series of sharp cracks.

[awesome_lilly]

This is not how it's supposed to go. Aaron gasps, fighting the searing pain in his head and reaches out blindly, hands clawing for Peter's throat.

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter lets go of Aaron's shirt, dropping him the foot or so to the ground, and grabs his wrist, snapping it with one smooth twist. Aaron collapses to the ground and Peter is immediately crouched over him, holding him down with one firm hand at Aaron's throat while the other punches him, over and over.

[awesome_lilly]

Aaron's got nothing left, he can't even move with Peter's hand on his throat and his broken wrist is agonizing and he curls into himself, trying to ineffectually to cower away from Peter's fist.

[highking.livejournal.com]

And then Peter lets go of him and stands up - but before Aaron can even begin to feel relief, there is something cold and sharp pressed to his throat.

"If there is any god you wish to beg to save you from the hellfire you deserve, now is the time." Peter's voice is utterly cold and unforgiving.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly sees Rhindon shining silver and deadly against Aaron's throat, and part of her wants to stay quiet, let Peter kill the man who killed her and beat Logan and nearly killed Veronica and Mr. Mars...

She sighs, and moves down the steps.

"Don't kill him, Peter."

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter's head jerks around and he is staring at her, although Rhindon holds steady at Aaron's throat.

"Are you sure, Lilly?"

[awesome_lilly]

Aaron is in pain he never thought possible, and not fully conscious but still he could swear he hears the British boy with a sword, a fucking sword, to his throat speak to... Lilly? It's not possible.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly moves silently across the grass, and her gaze stays fixed on Peter. She nods.

"Yes. I don't... I don't want you to have to kill anyone, Pete. Not unless it was absolutely necessary, and it's not. Veronica's calling the police, everyone will be fine."

Except her, but that was decided a long time ago.

[highking.livejournal.com]

"I have killed before, Lilly, and for less reason than this pathetic excuse for a man has given me. Wouldst thou yet have me spare him?"

[awesome_lilly]

"I just don't want you to kill him," Lilly says. "He's a movie star, Peter. His whole life is built on charming people, making them like him, love him, tell him how wonderful and amazing he is. Can you imagine what it will be like to see them all learn the truth? For him to have everyone who ever even pretended to care about him run the other way? To spend the rest of his life rotting alone in a jail cell?"

Her smile is cold.

"I don't think that's sparing him at all, really."

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter nods, his smile just as cold, and then turns back to Aaron, sheathing his sword and bending down to hiss in Aaron's ear.

"Listen to me, Aaron Echolls, and listen well. I spare your life this night only because the Lady Lilly requests it of me. But doubt not that I will be watching you. Give me the merest hint of a reason to do so, and not even Lilly's pleas will stop me from returning and severing your head from your worthless body."

[awesome_lilly]

It's finally gotten through to Aaron that whatever the fuck else is going on, this kid isn't joking. He says nothing, eyes closed, hoping like hell that all of this will just go away.

In the distance, a siren wails.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly's head lifts as she hears the siren, and she turns away from Aaron.

"We should go, Pete. There'll be police here any minute. I don't think Mr. Echolls is going to be answering any questions any time soon, but still."

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter nods, redraws Rhindon, and hits Aaron on the top of the head with the hilt, sending him into an unconscious state that he won't be waking from for a good long while.

Then he stands, putting Rhindon away, and turns to face Lilly.

"What now?"

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly looks back to the cabin, where Veronica is kneeling over her father, back to them.

"Veronica's safe. Her dad's hurting, but he'll be okay. They're going to be able to put Mr. Echolls in jail now. So that's Veronica's life saved, and murderer brought to justice checked off the list. I think... I think we go back now, Pete."

[highking.livejournal.com]

"And there's nothing else you want to do while we're here? Nobody else you want to go see?"

His voice is surprisingly gentle, considering his cold murderous rage of only moments before.