Guns and Gems { Theodore & Briarwood }

[Briarwood Dayarm]

Briarwood stood at the edge of the bustling marketplace, her keen eyes scanning the crowd with the confidence of a woman who had built her empire from the ground up. Her leather satchel, expertly crafted and adorned with intricate designs, hung at her side, containing a trove of precious gems that sparkled like stars. The air was thick with the scent of saltwater and the distant sounds of merchants haggling, but Briarwood remained unperturbed, every inch the master trader.

Across the table, a burly figure leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he examined the gems laid out before him. "These are exquisite, but you know they come at a price," he grumbled, his voice low and gravelly. Briarwood met his gaze without flinching, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. She had faced far worse than this man in her rise to power, and his bluster was nothing more than a diversion.

“Is that so?” she replied, her tone smooth and confident. “Let's not waste each other's time. You know the value of what I offer.”

Just as the negotiation seemed to sway in her favor, the atmosphere shifted. A commotion erupted from the edge of the market, drawing her attention. A group of rough-looking men pushed their way through the crowd, their eyes glinting with malice—local thugs known for their intimidation tactics. Briarwood’s demeanor didn’t falter; instead, her heart quickened with the thrill of the challenge.

“Your gems won’t be going anywhere today, Dayarm,” the leader sneered, stepping forward with a swagger that betrayed his bravado. Briarwood’s eyes narrowed, a cool smile playing on her lips as she assessed the situation.

“Is that so?” she replied, her voice steady and laced with defiance. “You must not understand who you’re dealing with.” She straightened her posture, exuding the unshakeable confidence that had gotten her this far.

In one fluid motion, she reached into her satchel, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface of an enchanted crystal. But alongside it, she also pulled out a sleek, polished gun, its metallic surface gleaming in the light. The thugs froze, the air thick with tension as Briarwood aimed the weapon with precision, her gaze unwavering.

“Let’s make this clear,” she said, her voice steady and commanding. “I’m not afraid to defend what’s mine. Nor am I afraid to take a life easily” She activated the crystal, sending a call through to the man who will be pissed she was doing this alone. “Theodore, I need assistance. Now.”

The thugs hesitated, clearly taken aback by her boldness. Briarwood seized the moment, her glare piercing as she faced them down, gun steady in her hand. She would not let them take what rightfully belonged to her. She was a force to be reckoned with, and she had no intention of backing down. As she awaited Theodore’s arrival, the marketplace buzzed around her, but in that moment, it was clear: Briarwood Dayarm feared nothing and no one, and she was prepared to fight for her empire.

[Theodore Tilden]

Theodore adjusted the worn strap of his utility belt as he leaned over the blue-lit holographic map spread across the cracked table inside the Revenant Order’s outpost. His fingers tapped methodically against the map, analyzing trade routes, supernatural activity reports, and the latest rumors of Valtheris' unrest. There was always another deal to make, another threat to neutralize. This city wasn’t like the old world... no, here, everything had a cost, including trust.

Valtheris was a powder keg... supernaturals and humans barely holding onto civility with fraying strings. The Revenant Order had to be sharper, quicker, more ruthless to survive. Especially now, with more eyes watching them, alliances cracking in secret corners of the world. Theodore’s mind was already on a dozen things at once, and the weight of responsibility hung heavy across his broad shoulders.

He was just reaching to pull a fresh communiqué from the encrypted drive when the relic at his hip pulsed, a subtle vibration only he could feel... a warning. His comm crackled to life a second later.

“Theodore, I need assistance. Now.”

Briarwood’s voice.

His entire body went rigid. Every damn instinct he had screamed into action. Without hesitation, he shoved away from the table, barking a sharp order over his shoulder. “Cain, Vargas... you’re with me. Now.” Within seconds, his two most trusted men fell into step, armored jackets and weapons glinting under the low lights. Theodore didn't waste time explaining. They knew: if Briarwood was calling, it wasn’t a request. It was a goddamn need.

The market was a few streets over. Even from this distance, Theodore could already hear the distant sound of a crowd stirring... fear rising like smoke. His boots slammed against the cracked stone streets as he closed the distance, his pulse a steady war drum in his ears. Every step he took, he called on the Azure Relic secured at his side. He could feel it surging under his skin, feeding strength into his muscles, sharpening his senses until the world around him crackled with electric clarity.

When he broke through the press of panicked merchants and scattering civilians, the sight that greeted him sent a flash of fury through his veins. Briarwood stood poised, gun in hand, facing down a half-dozen thugs like a queen facing her court of fools. Defiant. Fearless. Reckless. Theodore came to a stop just behind the mob of thugs, his jaw tight, his expression a thundercloud ready to burst. His piercing gaze locked onto her... beautiful, maddening Briarwood... and for one heartbeat, the chaos around them fell away.

He spoke low, dangerous, but loud enough for her to hear. “Are you out of your damn mind, Briar?”

He didn't even look at the thugs. Didn't acknowledge them. As far as Theodore was concerned, they were already dead. His full attention was solely, fiercely, on her. Briarwood smirked faintly, that infuriating glint in her eyes... the one that had both driven him mad and made him fall for her. Without moving his gaze from hers, Theodore gave a subtle flick of two fingers... barely noticeable. But to Cain and Vargas, it was the kill order.

All hell broke loose.

Cain surged forward like a battering ram, smashing the nearest thug off his feet with brutal efficiency. Vargas moved quicker, more precise, a blur of strikes that left another thug gasping on the ground, clutching his side. Theodore himself stepped forward, the Azure Relic crackling at his wrist, threads of cobalt energy weaving invisibly around his limbs. The thugs barely had time to react. They had come expecting a simple shakedown. They hadn’t come prepared for the Revenant Order. 

Theodore moved with lethal grace. One thug lunged at him, blade flashing. In a blink, Theodore caught the man's wrist, crushed it with a sickening crack, and hurled him across a vendor’s table stacked with woven fabrics. The marketplace erupted into full panic... merchants abandoning stalls, mothers grabbing children, screams echoing through the air like broken glass.

Another came at him from behind; Theodore spun, the Relic’s energy flaring briefly. His fist connected with the man's chest... amplified strength sending the thug flying backward into a row of pottery with a shattering crash. Theodore’s mind remained cold, calculating even in the midst of violence. Protect Briarwood. Secure the territory. Leave no threat breathing.

He caught another glimpse of her from the corner of his eye... still standing her ground, still ready to fight. Pride swelled unexpectedly in his chest. She didn’t need saving. But damn it if he wasn’t going to save her anyway. A final thug tried to flee. Theodore drew his gun in a single, fluid motion and fired... one precise shot to the man’s leg, dropping him to the ground with a howl of pain. He wouldn’t kill unless necessary. Briarwood hated needless bloodshed, even if he didn’t always share her mercy.

Within minutes, it was over. Theodore stalked through the wreckage, stepping over groaning bodies, his expression dark as a storm. He holstered his weapon, the Relic's glow dimming slightly as it settled back into dormancy against his side.

He finally stood in front of her, close enough now to lower his voice. His hand reached out, rough fingers briefly brushing her forearm as if to reassure himself she was whole, breathing, alive. “You pull a stunt like this again,” he said, voice a low growl edged with something dangerously close to fear, “and I will lock you in a safehouse until you come to your damn senses.”

Theodore's gaze was fierce, protective, unrelenting. He didn’t care about the stares from the market-goers. Didn’t care about the mess they had left in their wake.  All that mattered was her.

She was his empire, whether she realized it yet or not.

[Briarwood Dayarm]

Briarwood stood poised, a force of nature in a world that thrived on chaos. One thing she knew for certain: if she called him, he would come. There was no doubt in her mind. They were forged from the same coin, bound by an understanding that ran deeper than any relationship could define. He was her downfall, the only man capable of shattering the unbreakable queenpin she had become. 

As she felt the ground tremble beneath her heels, Briarwood playfully licked her painted lips, her head tilting slightly as one of the men dared to inch closer. “Now, now, I wouldn’t do that, deary. If you wish to keep any part of you intact, that is,” she warned, lowering her gun just enough to let her gaze lock onto his. A smirk, one that sent her minions scurrying, danced across her lips. “I knew you would come when I needed you. If not for you, Jethro here would have easily dealt with these idiots. But really, who’s out of their damn mind? This merchant thinks he can get my goods for a pittance.” She gestured dismissively toward the trembling man behind the booth, who was likely regretting his life choices at that very moment. 

Her eyes, fierce and unyielding, remained fixed on the feral male before her. It was a primal energy that stirred something deep within her, though she would never admit it. As chaos erupted around her, Briarwood tucked away her gun—Jethro—stepping aside to watch a frantic mother flee with her children. “They’re giant puppy dogs, I swear,” she quipped, tossing a wink to the wide-eyed child peering over his mother’s shoulder before turning her attention back to the merchant, who was now fully aware of the storm he had unleashed. “Next time, I expect you to meet my asking price.” 

The sudden crack of a gunshot pierced the air, and the tumult settled into a tense silence. Briarwood's heels clicked against the cobblestones, a sound that resonated in the aftermath of chaos. No other woman would dare navigate these stone markets in heels like hers; how she hadn’t broken her ankle was a mystery even to her. She glanced down at her ostentatious watch, the glint of it standing out in this rough-and-tumble place. “Oh, five minutes, guys. Almost beat your best time,” she remarked playfully, directing her light tone at Cain and Vargas, knowing it would set them on edge. 

Briarwood's gaze remained steady on him as she moved her hand to rest over the fading glow of the relic. “Is it really a stunt if I knew you weren’t far away?” she purred, trailing her nails affectionately down his arm. Rolling her eyes at him, she turned her attention to the men who were now rendered harmless. “Lock me in the safe house, and I’ll drive you to your wits’ end.” 

She approached one of the wounded men, the pain evident in his eyes, and pulled her phone from her pocket. With a swift tap, she pressed send. “Cedric, tagging,” she announced, marking him and another with a gesture. “Tell Kane to find out who sent them and how they knew where I would be.” As she hung up, the men vanished, leaving her dusting off her hands as she strolled back to him, the click of her heels echoing in the quiet aftermath. “I need a drink,” she declared, her tone nonchalant as if she were the one who had just fended off a gang of thugs. 

Taking a few steps toward a tavern she favored but seldom frequented, she leaned in closer to Theo, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I think I have a leak.” With that, she made her way into the dimly lit establishment, finding a booth in the shadows and ordering drinks, ready to unwind amidst the storm that swirled just outside.