Chapter Text
“Ever seen a devil with a halo?
Ever seen an angel with some horns?
Everybody got their own demons
Everybody fightin' their own war
I can be an angel sometimes, I can be real fucked up
I miss you only sometimes, I give you real tough love
'Cause I'm a devil with a halo”
Fezco didn’t believe in God or religion, but karma? That he believed in. Believed it was more powerful than anything. If you did enough good, the universe would pay you back. That’s why when he stopped selling to Rue, he hoped it meant somethin’. Hoped it bought him a little grace. And maybe it did, cause not long after, Lexi Howard showed up like an angel outta nowhere. The fact she stuck around after he beat the shit outta that Jacob’s boy? Yeah, he figured that meant he’d racked up some serious good karma.
Ashtray? He believed in different shit. Fez knew his lil bro believed in grindin’, force, hustle, makin’ shit happen. Fez always knew Ash was built for fightin’, not feelin’. After their grandma died, it got heavier. Everything did. Fez tried to guide him best he could, but Ash always carved his own path.
Shit, he was watchin’ that kid grow into a man. Ashtray grew taller and was startin’ to stand on his own. Bein’ a dad and holdin’ it down for Gia healed somethin’ in Fez he didn’t even know was still cracked. Maybe now, at 19, it was Ashtray teachin’ him how to grow up.
When Ash got arrested, it shook Fez to his core. Was it karma comin’ back for the blood they spilled? The choices they made? The guilt festered in him. Then Lux was born, and for a moment, it felt like balance. That little boy brought joy to all their lives. Holding that baby, watchin’ his brother cry. Man, that was some magical shit.
But then Rue relapsed. And it felt like the universe was tryin’ to whisper something he couldn’t quite hear. Like shit was about to tip again and this was just the start. Somehow, he had a role to play. He just wasn’t sure what it was. But he knew one thing, it was time to step up.
He didn’t talk to Rue in a while. And knowing he wasn’t there when Ash and Gia needed him most? That shit ate at him. Lexi said it wasn’t his fault but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was.
So he pushed it down and focused on his girl. Lexi was fucking smart, beautiful, and his. They been datin’ a while and he still couldn’t believe she was his. They were with each other damn near every day. Only thing was, Lexi had this rule, no sleeping over unless they were drunk, which barely happened. Ash thought it was kinda weird since she was a non-practicing Jewish girl and they was already fuckin’, but Fez ain’t stress it. People gotta believe in somethin’.
Fez picked himself up and went to see Rue, even though the thought scared him. After all these years, he still remembered how skinny she used to be, how glassy her eyes were. He never wanted to see her like that again. But when she opened the door, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
She looked good. Healthy. A little more ink now, he clocked the skeleton hand tattoo and thought it was dope, suited her whole vibe. The quiet androgynous, non-binary energy, always surrounded by smoke like a ghost that couldn’t be caught. It hit him then, how much she and Ashtray were alike. Same shadows in their eyes, same inked-up skin, same cool, unbothered confidence. Same rizz too, no doubt.
Rue’s kind of rizz? Wild. When they started talking about people they’d been with, she definitely had him beat in a few categories. When she said she was messin’ with a stripper, Fez damn near choked. But honestly? That was hella on-brand for Rue. She was always drawn to fire, always chasing something that could burn her.
Sittin’ with her on the balcony, smoke curling into the night, he felt grounded. Like maybe she really was gonna be alright. Man, if she was going to alright then maybe Ash was too.
Still, that pit in his stomach didn’t go anywhere.
After the proposal, he doubled down on security. Yeah, he was out of the game, but the game don’t just leave you. He installed multiple Ring cameras at the house and across all his businesses. Lexi called him paranoid. He just laughed and told her to really look at Ash’s setup.
His little brother didn’t leave anything to chance. Ash had ADT, reinforced glass, hidden safes, and two concealed guns stashed in places only he knew.
Ash told him how Gia flipped when she found out about the guns, but he stood firm. Said that shit was non-negotiable. After everything they’d seen, he wasn’t about to get caught slippin’. She eventually conceded, and Ash signed her up for gun safety classes himself.
That boy wasn’t playin’. He meant business and Fez was takin’ notes.
Lexi was different. She moved different. Thought different. Felt different. And he let her call all the shots. Didn’t even hesitate. Whatever she needed, whatever she wanted, he’d give it. That’s why he kept shit tight. That’s why he protected himself.
So when he wasn’t watchin’ his back, he kept busy. Smokin’ a little, puttin’ in work to get The Diary and The Milk II all the way solid. Business was movin’. The expansion was already pulling in business, which meant more hiring, more interviews, more background checks. Shit was a process, but he wasn’t about to let some half-ass fool mess up what they built.
His birthday was the one day he let himself breathe.
Twenty-eight. Sounded grown as hell, but he was grateful to see it. Good energy, no drama. Surrounded by the usual crew: Gia, Ashtray, Rue, Maddy, and Lexi. It was pretty lit. Lexi got a table at a chill spot that had live music and great food. He and Lex showed up early, snuck in some quiet time, just the two of them.
After 20 mins, Maddy and Rue came through. Yeah, them two was on a whole different frequency now. Whatever rough patch they hit, it was behind ‘em. They walked in together like they owned the room.
Maddy had on this pink satin mini dress that caught the light every time she moved. Tight at the waist, short at the hem. Heads turned from the bar to the back kitchen, but Maddy didn’t even flinch. But what really caught Fez’s eye was Rue right behind her.
Rue had on a loose white linen short sleeve button down, half the buttons undone like she didn’t even think twice about it. Slouchy trousers, and a single gold chain that laid on her neck. Fez realized, right then and there, he had never seen Rue’s chest before.
So, naturally, he did what any self-respecting big bro would do.
Fez smirked, eyes on Rue. “Shit, I thought it was my birthday. I need to start showin’ more skin or somethin’.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Rue laughed, their arm snug around Maddy’s waist. Yeah she was real comfortable. Like she was done apologizing for who the fuck she was.
Maddy rolled her eyes, but the smile creeping onto her lips gave her away.
“Happy Birthday, man.” Rue stepped away from Maddy just long enough to pull Fez in for a hug.
“Thank you.” He grinned, genuine. Lexi stood to hug both of them too.
“Y’all are definitely giving!” she said, grinning from ear to ear.
“Thank you. Y’all look great too,” Maddy replied as Rue pulled out her chair like a damn gentleman.
Shit, she wasn’t lying. Fez had gone all out, a navy suit, gold chain, gold watch. Lexi matched him in this silky navy dress that hugged her curves just right. Watchin’ her walk teased him and if the material didn’t stain easily he would have ate himself some dessert before dinner. The ring on her finger shined, showing the room she was his.
Gia stepped in like a calm breeze, nude dress, strappy heels, hair laid. He peeped the new tattoo on her wrist, Lux’s name in clean script. Her husband held her hand right beside her. Ash had on jeans and a light blue button-down, with minted sneakers. They looked dope.
“Sorry, for being the last ones. Lux was a little fussy.” Gia explained, hugging everyone.
“No need to apologize, we didn’t order or anything.” Lexi responded warmly.
“Happy Birthday, bitch.” Fez shook his head and hugged his brother.
“Glad you made it, man.”
Then, classic Ash, blurted, “Rue, you got boobs?”
Lexi facepalmed. “Ash!”
Rue didn’t miss a beat. “Nah, I sold them to charity. These are chicken cutlets.”
Gia groaned. “God, y’all are so embarrassing.”
“I love you too, G,” Rue winked.
Dinner was a good time, full of laughter and too many shared appetizers. One of the highlights? Watching the waiter subtly flirt with Maddy, and Rue handle it like a pro.
Fez clocked it quick. Homeboy couldn’t help himself, kept hovering, smiling too hard.
Lexi leaned in next to him, whispering, “Is it me, or is the waiter crushing on Maddy?”
“Nah,” Fez said, not looking away. “It’s not just you.”
Maddy didn’t feed into it, but Rue? Rue leaned all the way in.
“She’s hot, right?” Rue asked, smirking.
The waiter hesitated, then gave a cautious nod.
“Cool. My girlfriend and I are looking for a third to help with rent. You in or nah?” Rue said it so casually, like she was asking for extra napkins.
Fez damn near choked on his water.
Ash choked on his spit and started laughing. Gia covered her face. Maddy didn’t even blink, just reached for her drink like Rue hadn’t just flipped the table. And the waiter? The waiter stood there stunned, mouth half open, then stammered something about “checking on the entrees” and bolted to the kitchen. Man dipped so fast, you’d think someone pulled a gun on him.
“What if he said yes?” Maddy asked, arms folded, eyes on Rue amused.
“I’d have asked if he was into pegging,” Rue shrugged, like she was talking about ordering dessert.
Fez couldn’t help it. “Yo…”
Lexi smacked his arm, trying not to laugh. Maddy rolled her eyes, but a smile broke through. She tugged gently at one of Rue’s braids, then leaned in close to whisper something that made Rue bite her lip and blush.
Ash was still catching his breath for how hard he was laughing. He panted out, “You wild for that.”
“Shut up. You would’ve done worse.” Rue laughed. Fez nodded at this.
“Touché.”
The table split a bottle of champagne, with Gia and Ash sneaking a glass when the waiter wasn’t lookin’. Lexi and Maddy definitely got the tipsiest, leaning into each other, whispering, giggling. Rue looked surprised that Maddy was drinking, but he didn’t want to ask about it. Fez caught Lexi giving him that look more than once. If she didn’t quit he would drag her to the bathroom to do something about it.
Before he could say a word, she beat him to it.
“Babe, let’s dance.” Her smile had mischief written all over it.
He smirked and stood, offering his hand. “Say less.”
He excused them to the dance floor, pulling her close. The band was playing something upbeat. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, her chin resting gently on his chest. Her body in tune with the music, as it brushed against his. The whole world got quiet for a second, just her and him.
“Keep lookin’ at me like that, I’ma have to do something about it,” Fez whispered in her ear.
“I’m not doing anything” she replied playing coy.
“Keep playing” he warned.
Out the corner of his eye, he saw Maddy and Rue join them on the dance floor. Without warning, Maddy spun herself into a twirl, Rue caught her waist like it was nothing. Like muscle memory.
Gia was laughing, sitting on Ashtray’s lap back at the table. They all looked so happy.
The beat shifted to something slower, smoother less of a party song, more of a late-night groove. Rue grabbed Maddy by the hand and pulled her close, no hesitation. Maddy curled right into her like she belonged there.
Fez just shook his head, smiling.
He’d never seen Rue like this. Not ever.
This Rue? She was present. Like Maddy grounded her. Like she found something she didn’t even know she was missing.
Fez looked at Lexi. She was already looking at him.
“You happy?” she asked softly, barely audible over the music.
He didn’t answer right away. Just pulled her in tighter, hand settling on the small of her back.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “I really fucking am.”
*****
By the beginning of October, the wedding was mostly planned, and Fez’s businesses were finally starting to run themselves. He still popped in on the boxing gym renovations now and then, usually when Ashtray needed help sorting shit out. The gym was coming along—it was another thing Fez was damn proud of.
The convenience stores were joint ventures, but this gym? That was all Ash. Like he had two kids: Lux and this place.
After squaring away the paperwork, Ash took his time with the rebrand. He brainstormed names, played with logos, sat in on paint samples like it was church. Months went by. He didn’t start the big renovations until after Fez’s birthday. Clientele dipped, yeah, but it was going to be worth it.
Fez unlocked the front door and stepped into a blast of bass-heavy music echoing off concrete walls. The air smelled like fresh paint, sawdust, and lingering sweat. Half the mirrors were still covered with drop cloths, and a few punching bags leaned against the wall, waiting to be hung.
Under the glow of temporary work lights, Ash and Rue were already deep in their zone.
Ash, wearing a mask and black gloves, was tagging the back wall with bold, sprawling letters: K.O. Zone in red and black spray paint. The name popped against the fresh matte-gray wall behind it.
Rue was perched high on a ladder, masked up too, her braids swinging behind her SnapBack. She wore a long-sleeve thermal rolled at the elbows and cargo pants dusted with drywall. Wires snaked out of an open panel nearby, and she was focused, twisting them with precise, practiced hands.
Fez leaned against an unfinished drywall panel near the entrance, letting the moment settle.
It was wild seeing his people build something real.
When Rue wrapped the wire with electrical tape, she happened to glance down and jumped.
“Yo, you gave me a fucking heart attack!” she yelled, heart racing.
“My fault. I wasn’t tryna scare you. That’s why I stayed quiet,” Fez said with a lazy grin.
Rue climbed down the ladder and hugged him quickly, still slightly breathless.
“Let me test this connection real quick.” she said more to herself.
Then she jogged over to the electrical panel, flipped the breaker and the overhead lights flicked on clean and bright, no flicker, no delay. Just steady power.
Ash paused his work and turned, letting the spray can dangle at his side. He walked over, nodding in approval. He wore a black Adidas jumpsuit, now speckled with red paint. His hair had grown out a little, the top thick and loose while the sides stayed clean. His trademark brow slit was still there, but his face was a bit leaner since Rue’s birthday. He looked older but in a good way.
“Yo, Fez. Appreciate you pulling up,” Ash said.
“No problem. Shit’s looking good in here,” Fez replied, eyes scanning the space, unfinished but full of potential. “You think you’ll be ready to open by Halloween?”
“No doubt. I’m planning a dope grand opening,” Ash said, then turned to Rue with genuine gratitude. “For real Rue, thanks for the lights. That flickering was driving me crazy.”
“Anything for my favorite brother-in-law,” Rue said, brushing dust off her sleeves.
Fez chuckled. It still winded him sometimes, they actually were family now. One that was expanding. Rue and Maddy with a baby on the way, he knew Rue was working overtime, stacking up for a new spot.
“We just gotta replace a few outlet covers and mount that final light box. Then you’re good,” Rue added.
“Good looks,” Ash said with a nod, then stepped back to admire the wall again. “This place gon’ be sick.”
“Rocky’s been waiting to take some boxing classes.” Rue added.
“Word? I’ll make sure he has a spot.”
Rue’s phone buzzed near her toolbox. She peeled off her gloves, and picked the phone.
The screen said Princess.
A soft smile tugged at her mouth as she swiped to answer. “Hey, babe.”
Maddy’s voice came through the FaceTime, low and sleepy. “Are you still at the gym?”
“Yeah, just finished working on the lights. Fez just pulled up”
Maddy laughed faintly, but there was a quiet pause after.
Rue stood straighter. “Everything okay?” she asked.
Another pause.
“Yeah, I just…” Maddy’s voice cracked slightly, tired and honest. “I miss you. My back hurts and this baby won’t sit still. I just want you home.”
Fez looked away, giving her space. But he heard Rue’s tone go warm and sure: “Say less. I’m already grabbing my keys.”
She hung up and slid the phone into her back pocket.
“You out?” Fez asked, though he already knew the answer.
Rue nodded, grabbing her jacket. “She just needs me.”
Fez smiled, small and knowing. “Go do your thing.”
Fez chuckled as the door shut behind her, the room a little quieter now.
“Man,” Fez muttered under his breath, “that girl’s in deep.”
Ash responded . “Ain’t we all?”
Looking at the vast space, Fez got a little choked up.
“Can’t believe you did all this,” Fez finally said, motioning around the gym. “It’s real now.”
Ash shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable under the weight of praise. “Yeah. Just tryna give folks somewhere to throw hands without ruining their life.”
Fez looked at him for a beat. “You alright?”
Ash flinched like he’d been asked something too intimate. “I’m good. Got a lot in my head.”
Fez, unfazed, toed off his slides and stepped onto the mat. “C’mon. Put your gloves on. Let’s work some of that shit out.”
Ash rolled his eyes. “Man, you tryna get folded”
Fez popped his gum. “You talk too much.”
They circled each other on the mat. Slow at first, looking for weak spots. Ash’s footwork was sharper, cleaner, but Fez’s defense had gotten tighter. They traded light jabs, the sound of padded fists thudding in the open air. Just two brothers in rhythm.
Fez took a few hits but held his own. “I remember when you couldn’t even reach the cabinets without standin’ on milk crates.”
“Yeah, and I remember when you used to cry every time you heard sirens.”
Fez chuckled. “Still do. Just on the inside now.”
They kept at it for a while, until sweat made their shirts cling and breath came harder. Eventually, Ash let his arms drop a little and stepped back, signaling a pause.
Fez watched him. “You been havin’ those dreams again?”
Ash’s jaw ticked. He didn’t answer right away.
“Yeah,” he finally admitted. “Different though. It ain’t the blood. It’s what came after.”
Fez just nodded. He knew better than to push.
Ash sat down on the mat, arms resting on bent knees. “Like ending that guy was fine. It was weird how fine I was, but that’s ’cause I’d do anything to protect this family. But then getting locked up, that shook me up. Like I’m out and the case is done… but my body still remembers the hours in that cell. The fear of not coming home.”
Fez sat beside him, the silence between them steady and warm. “You are out. But that don’t mean you forget. You just learn how to carry it different.”
Ash was quiet.
“You talk to Gia?”
“She was pregnant at the time, and she didn’t need more fear. I wanted to give her a little peace. I just didn’t know how to bring it up again after Lux came.”
Fez looked at him and rested his hand on her shoulder. “That girl loves you. She has seen a lot of shit. G can handle it, trust. Don’t forget that girl is related to Rue.”
Ashtray smiled slightly and nodded.
Ash looked over at him, then down at his gloves. “Think I’m ready to teach?”
Fez didn’t hesitate. “Hell yeah. You ain’t tryna teach ‘em how to fight. You tryna teach ‘em how not to get lost in it. That’s different.”
They put in a few more hours at the gym before Fez swung by the Milk II to check on things. Everything was running smooth—music low, floors clean, regulars nodding in respect. That was, until a man walked in.
Fez clocked him immediately.
Buttoned-up posture, eyes scanning like a scanner, movements too controlled.
Cop. No badge in sight, though.
Fez straightened slowly. “Can I help you?”
The man was white and had about 6 feet of authoritarianism as let his gaze wander around. Fresh paint. New heavy bags. The soft hum of upgraded lights. All of it spoke to recent investment, to purpose.
“Just checking in,” the man said, casual like. “Heard there’s a new corner spot going up. Some of the guys mentioned it at the precinct.”
Fez didn’t answer, just crossed his arms.
Definitely a cop. He was fishing.
“Looks good,” the man added, eyes landing on Fez now. “Real professional setup. You the owner?”
Fez kept his stance easy, but firm. “This your jurisdiction?”
That made the cop pause. Not long. Just enough to clock. “Just askin’ questions.”
Fez let a beat pass before replying. Voice low, clipped. “Everything’s filed. We’re good.”
“I’m not sayin’ it’s not.” The smirk that followed wasn’t friendly. “Just curious who’s investin’ in the youth these days.”
Fez’s jaw tensed, but he didn’t budge. He could feel it the implication.
“You good with the neighborhood?” the cop went on. “This street’s seen its fair share of activity.”
Fez didn’t blink. “All clear here.”
The cop studied him, like he was trying to peel something back. Then gave a tight nod.
“Hope so. Would be a shame if trouble followed you in here.”
And just like that, the mask slipped.
Threat delivered. Message received.
Fez didn’t flinch. But inside, every wire was live.
There it was, the other shoe just dropped.