Author's note: So...this chapter turned into a super long angst chapther without me even noticing, so please if you are not comfortable with depicts of violence and blood, this chapter might not be the best 

I'm going to apologize in advance for killing a character * panic triggers Ahhh * but I did felt like it was needed for Norman's character development and to stick a little bit to the Promised Neverland original story line from the manga  

So...prepare your tissues and good luck my readers 

* I'm so sorry, really * T-T

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" Ok so...let's review the plan - Norman pointed out into the lab's map he drew based on his space memory of the local - first, the enter from here cuz this part of the roof is exactly above where Ray should be so, have you prepared the flame-throwers Oliver? " 

" Yeah, all the flame devises are ready! Me and Zack are going to do it as quick as possible! " Oliver assured Norman as Zack got the weapons ready 

" All, right! Based on that Gilda and Don told us, Ray should be in there so we need to go into the wall away make sure that Vincent or Isabella aren't there and attach the devise Gilda and Don placed on the thank to get him out! Will you come with me, Nigel and Gillian?" 

" But of course, we'll make sure you are protected and shoot any bastard that might appear! Nigel already prepared everything to attach the thank to the helicopter right? " Gillian said with a playful smile as Nigel showed off in a funny way all the cables he placed in the helicopter

" What about you, Lucas, Violet? What are you going to do? " Oliver asked as Lucas turned his hand to face him - he looked quite pensive...was he overthinking? 

" We are going to secure the hallway and make sure anyone break into the room as you attach the thank right, Lucas? That's the least we can do!" Violet said with her usual brute yet confident way as Lucas noodle peacefully at Norman 

" And that's more than enough guys, Don and Gilda left everything ready so I just have to go in s do it! Please make sure that after you finish the mission you rescue Don and Gilda that will be next to the coffeehouse! That's all! Any douts? " 

How ironic, Norman tought, the one with more douts in that room as him and he felt his hands trembling. He sure had already escaped from that place, but now it was almost as asking the government to catch him: the criminals should not appear twice at the same spot and he knew that 

Still, Ray, Emma's brother, which absence hurted her so much was right here. Maybe, he was trying to be a hero and save not only Emma but every mermaid in the lab but still... 

Don't try to be a hero 

Those were Yuugo's words and he knew too well his own limitations. So, when everyone was ready to go and Norman's clock marked 5 am. in the morning he turned to tell to shout his last order for that mission. He couldn't afford to-

" Listen up everyone! You are all forbidden to die! If you die I'll never forgive you guys!" Norman screamed with all his voice, smiling at the sight of the rising dawn on their backs. That legacy sure was the best, you stupid Yuugo 

" Yeah...death that bitch won't take us today! You can start burning everything up, Oliver, Zack!" 

As Gillian gave the permission, Oliver and Zack used the flame-towers to sold the lad's roof top that was already opened from inside ( thanks to Don and Gilda's work at the previous nigh ) As the roof melted and the insides of that terrific place showed up, Norman felt oddly attracted to those flames 

They reminded him of Emma's ginger hair hovering in the tank when they first meet. His heat that beating so loudly that all the strong noises from the outside here erased by the thump of his beating heart. There was no going back from that but danger...

Scared him in a delicious way 

" Ok! It's done! Move it you guys! Time to attach the tank to the devise! Go! Go! Go! " 

As Norman, Gillian and Nigel dived in along with Lucas and Violet using the cables to support them, the lab's ground was getting closer and closer to them. Norman took a deep breath as he assented his feet on the ground and looked into the dark room...where was Ray? 

Norman forgot how to breath for a moment and Gillian and Nigel covered their mounts with their hands. The room was filled with different mermaids that slammed their hands on the glass asking for help. Norman's eyes had a fire inside him. Oh now he was angry for real! 

" What happen here? So many of them? I tough Emma and Ray were the- " Gillian said horrified by the sight as Norman walked by them in search for Ray. Did the government knew they were there? Did they set them up? Were Don and Gillian caught in the process of making everything every for them to escape?

" Yeah...Gillian and Nigel the government might know that we are were so stay alert " Norman said with a calm, cold voice " What? did the plan fail? Did they placed all these mermaids here to persuade us? " Nigel commented as he pulled his gun next to his chest 

" They kept the fact that they had more mermaids from us scientists and now they are playing with my feelings, right Vincent? I got your message of " if you are so smart try me and save all these mermaids if you can, Am I wrong?" 

Nigel and Gillian tensed up: was Norman really talking to him? Was he hiding in that dark room? Where was that bastard? 

" I didn't expected less from you, Norman. I'm glad my message was clear enough for you to understand. I was afraid that you might get to sentimental and let emotions blur your mind but you are objective as ever " 

Vincent was right here standing in from of Norman. He has hiding right behind Ray's tank. Norman smirked at him but he used the corner of his eye to check on Ray. He was quiet at the bottom of the tank. He took a deep breath when he realized that he had no visual injuries that that his skin color seemed all right 

" I just tough that our entrance was to easy for a high security lab, so I took my precautions, Vincent. But showing here alone? Are you so confident of your fighting skills? I always saw you behind those wall bodyguards hiding like the coward you are" 

" That's lovely Norman - Vicent smirked as he approached Norman, Gillian and Nigel were already ready to shot him down - but you see, my body guards and some special agents went somewhere else so check if the hallway was secured..." 

Norman took a loud gulp down his throat and turned pale 

No 

No, that couldn't be happening...there was no way they- 

" Yes, that's right my dear Norman, agent Isabella and the new agent Krone along with Cisclo and my body guards were given orders to shot down everyone that appeared in the hallway...what a pity right? You also didn't know about these mermaids right? Are you going to leave Emma's kind behind? " 

" NO! How did you know that-? This can be Vincent! You're lying to me! You were not supposed to be here! Don and Gilda they - " Norman shouted as Vincent laugh, Ray's tank behind him 

" That's why you're plan didn't work this time Norman. You understood that from the moment you put this plan in action, didn't you? The moment you rely in other people is the moment your plan comes crashing down into the ground...but you still had the hope that somehow..." 

" Shut the hell up! What do you want to achieve with this Vincent? What does the government want? From the start you asked for this, you placed me in from of Emma knowing that this would happen right? That's the point of all this?" 

Vincent laughed to hard this time that Ray woke up and placed his hands in the tanks walls, looking at Norman. He was trembling and sweating to hard but his ocean eyes were still cool and focused, like a storm in a clean cup of water. The shadows of the countless tanks reflected on his silver hair like a lamp of dreams 

* What's him...that's the man that saved Emma ! * 

" Oh Norman, you know that by now, right? Don't tell me you didn't figured out! The propose of all this investigation..." 

Norman didn't wanted to hear. He knew that has hurting in his chest: he wanted to close his ears to the world and wake himself from that nightmare that he was living in. Nigel and Gillian gulped hard enough for Ray to hear  

" Is to develop a technology to mind control these mermaids! Can you imagine that we might achieve using them? We can lure our enemies with their singing hypnotic skills, we can infuse their regeneration abilities to make us humans heal faster! We can use the properties in their scales to make revolutionaries medicines!"  Vincent shouted as he put his hands in the air like a maniac 

" Don't you understand, Norman? You developed a perfect method to get what we want from these mermaids! You are standing up against the evolution you created, ironic right? Don't come now and play the hero of justice when you were the one who started all this!" 

" Shut the hell up you maniac! - Gillian said as she charged her gun at Vincent's neck the tension building up around them - " you better close that dirty and twisted mouth of yours if you don't want your brains to blow up! Norman my ass! You were the one who used Norman's research for your crimes in the wrong name of evolution!" 

Norman's head was dizzy. No...he couldn't blame himself for this! Einstein also invented the atomic boom but he didn't had the fault that they used to explode with two cities, right? He was insecure, he wasn't sure...he was starting to dout himself

I hope my love is enough to give you all the strength you need, Norman

Don't blame yourself for choosing the hardest way and drag people into your mess 

That greed...it's a feeling that will make you feels the most lucky and miserable man alive, son 

No...he was not turning back now Not when he had all those people by his side. They were counting on him, they entrusted him their hopes, life and dreams. They drove him and made him stronger. Theirs souls made their way into his weak body and mind 

He looked at Ray and Ray looked back at him with a smile. His tenderness in this eyes reminded him of Emma and he sighted. It was worth it all along as he formed a sentence silently into his curled mouth 

" Thank you, Ray "  

" Gillian is right, Vincent. Do you think you can drag me down with your words? If it's not me I'll keep going the same right? Using people's intelligence and good intentions for this " twisted evolution" of yours that consists on steeping on others to put yourself on the top" 

Norman shouted as he watched Ray open his lungs and glanced at all the mermaids in the countless tanks. He smiled as Yuugo's words came into his mind. It was time to turn that good kind of pain into power: 

When you put your mind into something, Norman, you can make people bealive that the impossible is in their reach   

" You know that Vincent? I was competing to be on the top not so long ago. I steeped on many people to advance my way and become one of the best scientist and you know that I found? "

Norman smirked as he pointed out to Ray's tank stretching his index finger as if pointing at a star 

" The top is a incredibly empty and lonely place. I rather reach out to those in need and take them to the top with me, even if it's the hardest way " 

As Norman finished his sentence, Vincent felt a incredible loud noise coming from the tanks. When he turned his head he covered his hears from the loud noice of the mermaids singing, this time, an incredible loud melody, which frequency was loud enough to break the tank's walls and drain all the water into filling up that dark, now wet room.

" Norman! You go check on Lucas and Violet! We handle things here with the help of the mermaids!" Gillian shouted as she pushed Norman into the exit door " But if we are going to save them you - " 

" Don't worry man! We have Ray's help and Vincent was been pinned down by the mermaids! We can handle this so please so see if Lucas and Violet are ok!" 

" All right! I'll be back! Call if you need help!" 

As Norman ran towards the door, already swimming since the water level was already quite high, he looked back to see Ray holding Vincent's unconscious arm around the other mermaids. Without knowing why, Norman looked at Vincent and pitied him, when moments ago, his murderess intent  was real. He turned his face towards the exist with the gun on his hand 

* I can't forgive you Vincent but ,for my sake, please don't die * 

The weight of the responsibility for someone's deaf was something he could't carry

Not like this 

And still, when Norman entered the hallway the floor was covered in blood, dripping from the walls, staining the ground. All the air in his lungs left him and his head was so dizzy that he felt the urge to vomit. When was he supposed to wake from this nightmare? 

Vincent wasn't lying...Isabela and Krone did went to take their lifes and now the only evidence of that was their bodies lying lifeless on the ground and the heavy sound of someone crying desperately, a melody of sorrow and pain

" NO! LUCAS! WAKE UP!" 

Norman was afraid: the truth, the reality he wanted to deny was right in front of him and still he didn't wanted to look. He knew to well that he was going to find. Only hearing the beating of his heart over the sound of the world, Norman raised his sad blue eyes, a waterfall of the ocean 

" Lucas...no" 

Violet was missing one arm and one leg, but still, she has holding Lucas' with her right arm, like a mother protecting her son. He had his eyes closed and his ginger hair was covered in blood. The scratches on his body were to much to count. He had a smile on his face, like he was having a very good dream, far way 

His breath was as frail as the wind in a summer's day 

" Lucas...can you hear me! It's Norman! What happen? Are you ok? " Norman shouted as he pated his bloody head " They were strong as hell, Norman! I'm so sorry I couldn't save- Lucas is-" " Don't Violet - Norman looked at her with a serious sad look - you did everything you could and you couldn't have done nothing better. You sacrificed your arm and leg, you are not to blame" 

" Norman...son" - Lucas whispered as he opened his eyes - " is that you, Norman?" 

" Yeah, it's me father...sorry I wasn't here to help you when you needed to most I - " 

" Don't say that, son...just like Yuugo said...don't live your life with so much regrets, all right? " Lucas said as he petted his silver fluffy hair " Ah...your hair is so soft, just like an angel...I'm sorry that I couldn't keep my promise of watching over you, son..." 

" What the heck are you saying? Don't you dare do this to me father! I won't forgive you either" Norman said as tears, long and sentimental tears hit Lucas face like a rain of winter 

" Now...I can finally be selfish and go meet your father...I'm happy you know? Because just like him, I know I can rest now. You are in good hands Norman. You have become the best son someone could ever hope for " 

" No...father don't go...don't leave me alone " he cried, picking up Lucas' cold hand and making little circles in his palm with his finger. Maybe he wanted to memorize the touch of his skin, maybe he hoped he could him with a touch of love and sorrow 

Maybe if he loved him more than anything in that moment, god you bring him back to life 

" Now son, it's time to let me go, all right? You have someone who loves you more than anyone...as long as you are with her, you'll be fine, right? Now I'll be by Yuugo's side once again" 

" He will kick your but when he understands that you went to meet him, Lucas" 

" You're right! I guess I'll be scold until the rest of my life..." 

With that, Lucas closed his amber eyes slowly as he looked at Norman one last time. His hand felt from his silver hair and Norman caught his hand and held it close to his heart. He own him everything: his childhood, his happy life and opportunities, all the tender moments, lullabies and tales that Lucas made up with his wild imagination 

They all lived inside of him, as a memory as dear as a old song, the same feeling of finding an old friend that you forgot about. He wanted to smile laugh in their honor and which them well. Now they were together as they were always meant to be

Lucas and Yuugo

He wanted to laugh from all the jokes they told him 

He wanted to toast to their eternal lifes and celebrate all the things they discovered together( scientific or not )  He wanted to play with them, and spend endless night hunting dreams

He wanted that from the deepest of him heart, but only tears feel out of his drowing chest. Just like that room, he was being filled up with an endless wave of water, salty, cold water what suffocated him. He apologized as he looked into the lab's ceiling 

" I'm sorry...Yuugo...Lucas...I can't smile as you guys asked me to"   

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The helicopter was silent, but their mission had succeeded: Don and Gilda were rescued by Oliver and Zack after they transported all the mermaids into the main river of the capital since they were to many to transport with them. 

Ray, seemed fine and even tough he had the marks of Vicent's hands on his neck, Oliver and Zack were paying close attention to his skin color and vital signs and all seemed fine, according to Norma's knowledge  

Nigel and Gillian were treating Violet's wounds and placing bandages in her cut members as Norman, along with Don and Gilda sat in the corner of the helicopter watching over Lucas's body. Gilda placed a hand on Norman's back as Don huged him from his side 

" Mister Lucas is smiling so dearly... I bet he is having a really good dream, Norman" 

" Oh he is - Norman said as a tear fell out of his forced lovely smile - 

Now Yuugo can scold him dearly for the rest of his life   

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Art credit's go to: nadeneko_B06_32 on Twitter !

Thank you so much for reading this chapter! All the credits for the art , cape and AU ideia and comics of this fanfic are to @stray_tori on Tumblr, Twitter and Instagram! Please go check her fantastic art!

Note: Mika-hime changed her name so please search her art by the new name of her account!

Thank you so much and see you soon!