[hr]
Cass safely made it back to her dreary homeland, though not without a great deal of boredom. She didn’t want to sleep for the first flight and risk not making the change in time, which meant almost five hours of being constrained. At least for the actual one across the ocean she was able to knock herself out for most of it.

The first day home was an absolute whirlwind of activity. She got in early morning, picked up from the airport by Sal rather than anyone from her family- who’d flown home a fair few days before her. They got to catch up on home ground until it was back to her childhood house, and all the chaos that went with it. Her parents hadn’t changed much- her Da asking cursory questions before going back to the TV, and her Ma grilling her about every little thing.

Questions could be dealt with, at least. It was when her Ma told her what she should do that the fights started. Thankfully, it seemed that she was just happy to have Cass home for the first day. That’d wear off… Her brothers were just as enthusiastic and loud as she’d expected. 

Just as she’d predicted, she spent most of the twenty-third and twenty-fourth busy with her family. It wasn’t until it crept into the evening of the twenty-fourth that she got a moment to herself that wasn’t in the middle of the night. Her parents went out right after dinner, Jack had gone for a nap, and the younger two were watching something she wasn’t interested in. 

So she was able to sneak away to her room without worries.

Even though she’d been occupied, she did still find moments to miss Leon. Not [i]just[/i] him- she missed Lelou and the girls too! Trisha and Casey a little bit as well, but they wouldn’t have been around anyway. She wasn’t so clingy that she had to spend all her time with Leon, but they’d basically ended up in each other’s company for most hours of the day recently anyway. So it was a little strange to not have him around… Normally, after only two days away she wouldn’t miss someone quite so much. She’d really gotten used to his company. 

So thank fuck he was free when she was! Sure, a video call didn’t substitute being there- there couldn’t be any cuddling or fondling- but it was better than nothing. 

She had to take a bit of time setting up in ‘her’ room, dragging some boxes next to her bed to prop her phone up on and sneakily stealing some pillows from the living room to get more comfy. So there was a bit of a gap from when she texted to check that he was free, and when she actually called him. 

The video on her end opened up without much in view beyond her. She was clearly sitting cross legged on a bed, leaning back against a bare wall with a bunch of pillows propping her up comfortably. Not that she was staying still enough for it to really matter, rocking back and forth, and from side to side. Though there wasn’t much visible, the difference between what little was and her apartment was stark. She covered most of her walls in posters, after all. 

[color=629c3f]”[i]Baabbbbeee[/i], hey!”[/color] She leaned forward with a grin, legs tucking up against her chest. She was more clothed than she normally would be at home- sweater and long sweatpants rather than shorts… Because it was fucking cold! Enough that it would take too much magic to keep herself warm while wearing as little as she preferred to.

[color=629c3f]”You ain’t missing me too much, are ya?”[/color]

Leon had answered the phone looking incredibly dapper. He was dressed in one of his far more eccentric getups, and looked something like a barbarian mixed with a boardgame cover railroad magnate. He had his jacket [i]buckled[/i] across his neck and draped over his shoulders like a cape, rather than actually wearing the thing like a jacket. The burgundy color of his suit vest played against the gold and black trim characteristic of the Temple’s ceremonial colors. 

He’d been outside smoking something strong when she called, trying to take his mind off the last couple days’ escalations. Lelou was doing fantastic, and he couldn’t hold it against anyone that things just weren’t going well. He was only here now because that’s the kind of game that was being played. Daytime was neutral, and nobody let the Blinds get into any kind of mass danger for fear of whose hands the McGuffin would end up in. The work from Thanksgiving was [i]just[/i] finishing up, which meant a lot of exhausted Adepts pushed to their absolute limit.

Never mind the revelation of the Sycamore Tree… The fortifications had been redoubled, but whose to say that Norm himself wouldn’t get wise and lock the entire thing down under his own power? Enough people respected him, or maybe thought they could take him before he managed to get the snake for himself…-

[color=C67C12]”Miss? Me? Couldn’t be… Did your family like the flowers I sent?”[/color] he asked, having sent what he presumed was a reasonable amount of flowers and holiday themed chocolates to the family with a card that wished them a happy family Christmas.

[color=629c3f]”Uh, yeah, but they were [i]real[/i] confused! And we didn’t have enough vases for ‘em, so we had to get creative.”[/color] Cass laughed, leaning forward even further to really ogle his funky outfit. It would give him a great view of her face, if not at the most flattering angle. 

It had been an incredibly nice gesture, if one that’d put her in a bit of a sticky situation. After all, there’d been a lot of questions. [i]Especially[/i] from her Mum. Thankfully, the note with it hadn’t been specifically from Leon, nor had it been addressed in a way that made it seem like it was from a partner.

[i]To those who've served, and who serve them in turn. A family's bond, and freedom earned. Merry Christmas from the Richoux family to the Wallace family.[/i]

She’d explained it away as being from a really good friend, who also happened to be Trisha’s fiance’s brother- and said fiance had served in the war too. So, there was that mutual understanding there. Everyone had seemed to accept it after she answered question after question to ease their suspicions. 

Maybe she [i]should’ve[/i] just admitted the truth. It wasn’t that she cared about her family knowing- well, her parents, really- knowing that it was from her boyfriend. Just she cared about her peace! Maybe it was anxiety over their reaction, though she didn’t think of herself as an anxious person. Not anymore. But she always found herself reverting a little bit at home, before doubling down and exploding into some painful argument with her Ma. 

[color=629c3f]”Jack ate [i]all[/i] the best chocolates- he said since it said to ‘those who’ve served’ he should get ‘em! Fucking asshole was so smug about it… At least he actually enjoyed ‘em, rather than just snatching ‘em for the sake of it.”[/color] Cass shrugging, grinning and finally sitting back again. 
[color=629c3f]”The great chocolate war aside, it was real nice of you to send ‘em.”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Oh I’m sure that Casey would agree with him. I’m glad it went over… I honestly did it without thinking, and when I sent you that first text, I was freaking out about it. Like ‘Oh shit what if I ruin her whole Christmas now…’. Of course you were cool about it. Cool as ever.”[/color]

He sounded a little tired, which was an understatement. At least the foundation was full of adults who were fairly loose socially, so he didn’t have to pretend that he wasn’t in discomfort. He could joke about it, and people would laugh as they should’ve… Because the whole damned situation was absurd.

[color=C67C12]”Lynette had a parade today. Down the middle of Central and Hisen, right across the financial district and onto Old Town. We’re here at the venue getting set up for our thing, next thing I know, the front of the building is doused in boiling tar… There had to be a hundred or more people that saw. Like… I don’t know what the fuck to do at this point, I really don’t.”[/color]

The parade had been a funerary procession, where she was driven down the road in an open-topped hearse that had her laying in a coffin with a blindfold over her eyes. Many of her most loyal Adepts; faces who were constantly filling the echoing gossip halls of the Temple’s subterranean layers to bask in their Holy Devotion’s light, flanked the vehicle and filled a block of dark clad, gold wielding troopers about thirty deep. Among them, Clarissa, Furio, Doctor Andy, and members of Project Eden who managed to escape the Blade’s execution through their willingness to betray their fellow scientists. 

And behind them still, hundreds more loyal lesser Adepts and members of what the greater Temple organization considered the “Upper Crust”. These people formed the backbone of the “professional” magical community in St. Portwell, though notable absentees included the enigmatic owner of Le Tournesol and his family. Which reminded Leon-

[color=C67C12]”Oh! Babe! Look: I know maybe you don’t wanna think about something like this, but-”[/color]
He waggled his finger at the camera, smiling widely.
[color=C67C12]”-Yesterday, I spoke to Naomi! Y’remember her? Teleported here, brought us the beans, you guys really hit it off?”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Course I remember her, she was sound as fuck!”[/color] Cass nodded, leaning forward curiously.

[color=C67C12]”Well, [i]she[/i] has a spot waiting for you on her boat! Because, y’know, I figured maybe your time was coming up soon? So, she mentioned that she’d be honored to have you down there on the river with her. She says that connecting herself to it alleviates a lot of her symptoms, and she can help you channel it there! Wait, I think she said that when she was here too… But, she said it again! I had to talk to her to make sure that Andre and his family would have somewhere safe in case things got crazy here.”[/color] he offered as if he wasn’t telling her to go to Africa instead of coming back to St. Portwell…

If things went as Andy had said, she’d end up having another proper burnout by the end of February at latest. Though it [i]was[/i] likely to be earlier since there was no way things had stabilised yet. She’d had another bout of Luxal fatigue after providing Trisha with all of her bee growing limbs, but the almost thirty hours she’d spent sleeping for that wasn’t so bad. It meant she was probably in the clear for almost a month with that.

Even though she was absolutely dreading the horrendous pain and dialysis that would come with the full burnout, she didn’t want to go on a [i]boat[/i]. She’d been pretty explicit that she wasn’t interested in that when she first got diagnosed! 

[color=629c3f]”Babe… I ain’t going on a boat! I’d go fucking [i]crazy[/i] stuck on something like that! I already said that… And we gotta couple of months till the next one anyway. Andy said with the medicine the dialysis wouldn’t be so bad either, so it’ll probably only be a few days of pain.”[/color] Cass waved it off without making it about him trying to get her to stay out of the city. In this case, that was the secondary reason for her not wanting to do it. 

[color=629c3f]”I’d rather suffer that than be stuck on a boat for however long it’d be… Doesn’t she spend months on it? Nope, that really ain’t for me!”[/color]

Leon was awash with embarrassment. He hoped that she’d maybe reconsidered [i]a little[/i].

[color=C67C12]”Even if there were more people? She’s doing this big hosting thing were there’s supposed to be a traveling circus or, like, some kind of mercantile thing that goes with the boat along the shore, and just follows the whole course of the river until they reach the ocean? It’s crazy, I mean-”[/color]

He could see her playful scepticism.

[color=C67C12]”-Alright… I just… I do miss you. But, I don’t really think… Well, have you-”[/color]

He paused, biting his lip and looking away before taking another hit from his joint and shaking his head.
[color=C67C12]”Sorry. Nevermind it. I’m stupid for even trying, I’m just gonna ruin shit when I really do miss you so fucking much. I do. Shit [i]sucks.[/i]”[/color] he finished snappily, blowing smoke and steam all at once as his body started to stir magically. A little steamy wisp curled out around his neck and waved down at her sensually.

Cass raised one hand to wiggle her fingers at the Lelou wisp, though her smile turned a bit less bright and more sympathetic. Even though she planned to stick to her guns, it didn’t exactly make her happy to see Leon distraught over it. 

The feeling just wasn’t enough to keep her away. She couldn’t stay away.

[color=629c3f]”I know, Baby- I really miss you too! And I [i]have[/i] thought about it more, I even talked to Jack about it last night. I really did, and I ain’t upset at you for trying or dwelling on it or anything. I get why you’re worried. But… I haven’t changed my mind.”[/color] She said, firmly but with some gentleness to it.

She’d been surprised talking to Jack, honestly. She’d assumed his immediate reaction would be for her to stay away. He’d experienced war, even if he only kindled when he almost died and lost the use of his legs. But as they talked about it, he’d agreed that it made sense for her to go back. Maybe because he’d fought for his country and peace. While he’d been conscripted, there’d been pride in it. 

But he’d pointed out things about how she was that she hadn’t really thought about. Helped confirm her own decision while also understanding Leon’s view a bit more. 

[color=629c3f]”I’m gonna train with him while I’m home. Jack, that is. And there’s some other things I'll do- But, y’know, I get that shit sucks. But I wanna be there with you to get through the sucky shit. And I’m not underestimating how bad it is, I promise.”[/color] She rubbed the back of her neck, leaning forward a bit.
[color=629c3f]”I know you didn’t wanna focus on it, but I promised to think about it, so I really did! I don't think it's stupid you care that much…”[/color] 

Even if she'd still decided it wasn't enough to keep her away. Maybe that was selfish of her. But just like he didn't think he'd be able to live without her, she couldn't live with herself if anyone in their circle died when she wasn't there. 

[color=629c3f]"But yeah, let's not dwell on it. I wanna make the most of the time with [I]youuuu[/I]- both of you!"[/color] She leaned forward, pursing her lips to make exaggerated kissing motions and sounds towards the camera in the hope it'd alleviate the tense mood a little.

Leon smiled solemnly, chest moving as he chuckled at her movements. It was adorable that she tried so hard. So appealing that there was no way he could deny her the chance to cheer him up.

[color=C67C12]”God I wish I had time with you… I think I’m losin’ my grip, Cass. I… It was pretty much impossible getting anything going without you. I don’t know what it is, maybe it just feels wrong without you or something. I’m hoping it’s just how everything’s been going, and that you’re the only one who I can get over that hump for, but… It’s really bummin’ me out! And every time I go to write about you, I start writing about werewolves biting one another under the moon of a black sabbath! Which is [i]sick[/i] but it also wasn’t really the vibe I was going for! Then, I try and write a song about Mom, and it’s… Never right. I end up letting it get too angry, or its dispassionate and distant, and I’m just not sure what the fuck I’m doing in my free time… [i]’Cuz there’s been a bit![/i] I found myself in your apartment feeding your computer!”[/color]

The last part was a joke, but he hoped she would just roll with it like she always did, because that was the kind of comfort he wanted. Someone consistent. Mia and Hari, both Hags underneath Lynette, actually had jobs to do concerning the coming death of Lynette, which was now being treated more and more like a ceremony every day. In fact, the moment Casey left, the entire Richoux clan besides him got a telepathic message of admission that this too had been in the cards. That she had organized them all to this point, and that every action they’d taken had been hers to make.

He thought it was a smokescreen for her mistakes… But what did he really know? He couldn’t even smell his Father’s ghost. Not for fifteen years…

[color=629c3f]”Whoa, you didn’t feed it any meat, did ya?! Y’know how rabid it gets!”[/color] Cass cackled, the image of her computer going crazy and trying to devour anything in its path popping into her mind. The reality would be pretty freaky, but thankfully it could only ever grow teeth if she gave them to it!

Though she easily went along with the joke, she wasn’t sure how he expected her to stay away after he said shit like that. Sure, she’d already decided she was coming back anyway, but she was even more certain it was the right move now. Obviously he [i]needed her there[/i]. He said it felt wrong without her! There was no way she could consider staying away and have him feel worse and worse. Cause it sounded a lil like depression… Situational, maybe, but still shitty!

[color=629c3f]”Y’know, that’s what you should try write a song about… My rabid, starving computer on the hunt for more meat!”[/color] She grinned. Right now, cheering him up a little was on the agenda, since she couldn’t be there to do it in person. 
[color=629c3f]”Then you can get the inspiration [i]from[/i] your time killing computer feeding. [i]And[/i]-”[/color]

[i]BANG[/i].

[color=00fff0]”CAUGHT RED HANDED!”[/color] There was barely a moment to register what sounded like a door slamming into a wall before someone shouted off screen. 

[color=148e67]”I [i]knew it[/i]. I knew it wasn’t just a friend!”[/color]

Cass’ expression morphed into one of annoyance, twisting herself to look over the camera and shout back.
[color=629c3f]”Huh?! You ain’t heard of knocking- No, get the fuck out, don’t come closer, I swear I’ll punch you-”[/color]

Her threats were cut off when she was sandwiched from both sides, each of her arms caught and trapped. 

The two young men that appeared on the video were similar enough to her that they were clearly her two other brothers. They were both a fair bit taller than her, both wearing absolutely shit eating grins. The one on her left had his hair done in a fade hairstyle, with thick curls on the top messily falling across his forehead, shaved from above his ear and all around. He clearly worked out, while the brother on her right was a bit smaller. His hair was kept shorter too, though with enough length that the curly texture was visible. 

[color=148e67]”Whoa.”[/color] Left brother leaned forward towards her phone. 
[color=148e67]”That’s a wild outfit you got there, mate… You dating a rock star, Cass?”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Sorta- wait, how did you jump to dating from me having a fucking video call?!”[/color] Cass easily shook her brothers off, hands flying into the air to smack both of their heads. 

[color=148e67]”He’s writing you a song, ain’t he? That’s pretty romantic shit.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”You were- how fucking long were you listening?! That was a private conversation! Private!”[/color] Cass exploded, shooting up to hook her arms round both of her brothers’ necks. She pulled them down to her level and held on tight- enough that it was uncomfortable for both of them.

[color=148e67]”Just- Just from when he said ‘bout writing songs!”[/color]

[color=00fff0]”Please, Cass, you’re killing me.”[/color] Her other brother groaned.

[color=629c3f]”And you’d deserve it!”[/color] She declared, though she let go of them both. She sighed, shooting Leon an apologetic look through the camera- as best as she could, at least. 

[color=629c3f]”Fine, [i]finnneee[/i]. Leon, these two idiots are my younger brothers. Rob, the second youngest-”[/color] she pointed to the one on her left. [color=629c3f]”-And Tony, the youngest.”[/color] She pointed to the right.
[color=629c3f]”Idiots, this is Leon, my boyfriend.”[/color] 

She wasn’t sure if she should introduce Lelou too- her brothers both had magic, after all. But they hadn’t noticed the wisp yet, and she wasn’t sure if they’d get it if she pointed her out. 

[color=00fff0]”Ooo, [i]boyfriend[/i].”[/color] Tony giggled like they were in the playground, nudging Cass, before raising a hand to wave at the camera.
[color=00fff0]”Yo. Nice to meetcha, Leon [i]Richoux.[/i]”[/color]

Cass groaned. 

[color=148e67]”Your fucking jacked!”[/color] Rob grinned, leaning forward. It was obvious even though Leon was all dressed up- you just couldn’t hide muscles like that.
[color=148e67]”Kinda like all’ve those boxers Cass ‘n Jack have a real thing for. God, the amount’a bulging muscle posters we’ve seen.”[/color]

Leon watched the familiar sight of siblings bothering one another with a warm heart. Warmer than he’d been able to muster in the last twenty-four hours, at least. It didn’t bother him that they hadn’t exactly been alone, since he hadn’t expressed anything that he wouldn’t have openly. In fact, he was a little happy. The distraction brought him out of the defender’s mindset, where he was still struggling with Cass not actually being there and not wanting her there to begin with.

[color=C67C12]”Well, I’ll be damned, Rob… I may, in fact, be one of those guys. Look behind her! The poster on the right!”[/color] he replied simply, having seen a poster with him on it behind her several different times during this conversation.

[color=C67C12]”Which makes me even cooler, right? In a few years, I’ll probably be your brother-in-law too, so you guys can come to America for fun whenever you want. We’ll get you both [i]teleported[/i].”[/color]

He enjoyed leaving an impression, and had one in mind for Cass’ brothers. He wanted them all to think he was cool, genuinely… So, throwing himself around was usually impressive to other people, and he did so autonomously.

Both twisted around to look at said poster, with Tony immediately questioning Cass. 
[color=00fff0]”When the fuck did you put all've those posters up?!”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Yesterday. Stole ‘em from Jack."[/color] Cass waved that question away- she just wasn't comfortable in a room with bare walls! While this had been her bedroom, it was now more like a guest room slash storage room. She'd taken all of her shit with her when she left after all… But she was glad Leon seemed to be perking up a bit. Or at least he wasn't able to dwell on the bad shit since her brothers had barged their way in. If that was the case, she could deal with the annoyance of being interrupted.

Rob was more concerned with the guy in the camera rather than how Cass got her posters up. It was pretty obvious that these two weren't into boxing like the older one was, considering the lack of recognition and ensuing excitement.
[color=148e67]”Shit, mate, did she stalk you? It's alright, you can be honest with us.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"He just talked about teleporting and shit and you're asking ‘bout that?!"[/color] Cass burst out, reaching up to aggressively grab and jostle him again. 

[color=148e67]”Well it ain't like he got anti stalker magic? [I]Clearly[/I].”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"I'm gonna fucking beat-"[/color]

[color=00fff0]”Wait, you said teleporting- That mean you're a teleporter?! Or some kinda magic?!”[/color] Tony interrupted the other twos fighting, attention turning back to Cass' phone with a wide grin. 
[color=00fff0]”A magical boxing brother in law'd be dead cool. And Cass ain't let us come to the states yet!”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"I ain't got the money to fly you all over!"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Which is why [i]I’m[/i] going to make it happen for you boys. And [i]no[/i], unfortunately she wasn’t stalking me before we met. Just writing a bunch of gross things.”[/color] Leon grinned, switch flicking into brother mode as easily as he breathed.

[color=C67C12]”I can’t teleport you personally, but I know a lot of people. We’ll make it work, just you wait and see. I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”[/color] he said, giving his best public smile. 

He did want to get to know Cass’ family, even if it seemed like her relationship in the upward fashion was a tad strained. He could work with [i]strained.[/i] It wasn’t ever gonna be worth killing anyone over, after all. Ol’ Mrs. Wallace was safe.

[color=C67C12]”I’m sure you guys are happy to have Cass back to beat on… Has she shown you any of her new tricks yet?”[/color] he asked warmly, trying to steer the conversation toward positive Cass praise.

[color=629c3f]"Hey, they ain't beating on me! I always give out the beatings!"[/color] Cass protested, though she grinned at that. It wouldn't be fun if her brothers didn't put up a fight or prod at her till she grappled them, after all. 

[color=00fff0]”Yeah cause we're going easy on you cause you're a-”[/color] Tony started.

[color=629c3f]"Finish that sentence and you'll see exactly what a girl can do."[/color] Cass snapped, smile wavering for a moment to something closer to genuine annoyance. She knew her youngest brother didn't mean it in that bad of a way, but even as a joke she didn't want to tolerate her. While none of her brothers had turned out as outwardly sexist as her parents, she saw hints in the younger two from time to time. Especially Tony… Rowan wasn't around to beat it out of them like he had Jack when they were preteens. Rob had gotten a little of it, but Tony was only eleven when Rowan went off. 

At least there was enough external influence that their parents' views weren't blindly accepted by any of them. 

[color=148e67]”What kinda tricks we talking 'bout?”[/color] Rob turned the attention back to that before the two of them started actually fighting… Which could happen. 

[color=629c3f]"Oh! Where do I even start?!"[/color] Cass shook off any annoyance, literally shaking her head like a drenched dog drying itself off, and grinned. She would happily show off her magic to them. Not so much talk about the magical disease that made her have so much Lux to access… Not yet, at least. 

[color=629c3f]"[I]Uhhhh…[/I] Aha!"[/color] 

She swiftly pulled off her hoodie to reveal the loose tank top underneath, immediately performing the Cass special- two extra arms with whole hands growing out from under her normal ones. They all waved.

Though her brothers didn't look all that impressed yet. 

Which wasn't a problem. There was the sound of bones cracking loud enough her phone would pick it up, her legs transforming as she wriggled out of her sweatpants at the same time. Elongating and bending into strong, digitigrade legs. A big wolf's tail thwacked at her brothers backs as strong scales formed across her skin. 

Then just for extra freaky effect, she grew six more eyes like a spiders. Then, she let the extra limbs drop off- one into each brother's lap, the wounds left immediately healing. 

[color=629c3f]"Cool, right?!"[/color]

[color=00fff0]”What the fuck?!”[/color] Tony practically screamed when a limb was unexpectedly deposited in his lap, throwing it away across the room. 

Rob didn't have extreme of a reaction, but he was clearly shocked too.
[color=148e67]”It’s fucking [I]freaky[/I], Cass. You ain't got the same idea of cool- just the animal ears last year were pretty cute. Not eldritch horror-esque.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"You just don't see the vision, cause you're magic uneducated and lazy!"[/color] Cass protested, flinging her arms into the air before pointing a finger at Leon.
[color=629c3f]"Tell ‘em how impressive this shit is! Also what's the coolest thing I can show off, Babe?!"[/color]

Leon was too busy cringing knowing [i]exactly[/i] what the two younger men were going through. She wasn’t obnoxious about it, so much as her wild enthusiasm gave an impression that she was [i]trying[/i] to be obnoxious. Which was more funny when she wasn’t torturing him with the behavior. Watching her go to such lengths just to show off her abilities to shift and change, especially with one brother mentioning her simple wolf ears as a highlight, made him feel like she was going overboard for the sake of it.

[color=C67C12]”You know for a fact that you can’t show them the coolest thing you can do, Babe… That's for [i]us time.[/i] But, it is impressive. It takes a lot of energy and precision to do what you just did with your magic; I’ll vouch for that part.”[/color] he told her calmly, looking at the boys with a grin.

[color=C67C12]”It's good you boys have Kindled too, I hear. It means when you come to the states, you’ll be excited to hang out with my magical family.[/color]

Leon’s calmness in the face of Cass’ insanely freaky transformation was just as impressive to her younger brothers as her magic was. They both stared in awe at him for a moment. No wonder he was able to date her… 

[color=629c3f]”Heh, don’t worry Babe, I’d never shown them [i]that[/i].”[/color] Cass wiggled her eyebrows at him during the brief moment of stunned silence from them, beginning to transform back to normal.

Rob snapped out of it first, shaking his head. 
[color=148e67]”Magical family, huh… Adeptal like ours then?”[/color] 

[color=00fff0]”And y’know Cass kindled [i]last[/i]! I kindled a few months before her!”[/color] Tony piped up, like it was incredibly important to make it clear she was the latest bloomer. 

[color=629c3f]”Yeah, yeah- but they ain’t really like ours! Cause, y’know, none of us knew ‘bout magic till we kindled. Lee was brought up surrounded by it. All’ve the family has magic, and most people around ‘em! Ours skipped a whole generation, and Nana died before she could teach us anything!”[/color] Cass explained enthusiastically, becoming more normal human by the second. 

[color=148e67]”Whoa… Sounds like we could learn a lot from ‘em.”[/color]

[color=00fff0]”A magical family sure sounds like more fun than a mundane one to hang out with! So you better bring us over there, even if you ‘n Cass break up!”[/color] Tony declared, pointing a finger at the camera and completely unbothered by the slap Cass delivered to the back of his head. 
[color=00fff0]”If y’know a lotta about magic and shit, is that why Cass’ doing so much freaky ass but impressive magic? Cause you helped her with it?”[/color]

Leon nodded enthusiastically, enjoying the moment as best he could by messing with them using equal parts fiction and reality.

[color=C67C12]”Well, us and the FBI. Cass has been doing top secret work for our Government, so she’s been training extra hard.”[/color] he grinned widely, looking directly at Cass on the screen to catch her reaction.

[color=C67C12]”She’s kind of a big deal at this point. Saved the world once already. It’s no big deal, really, we’ve all done it… But, she’s pretty impressive. As for you two, of course we’ll still get you to America. It's too much fun here for you guys to never experience it. If Cass says it's cool, maybe we can plan for this summer?”[/color] he asked aloud, almost pleading with his eyes.

[color=148e67]”FBI? Big deal? Cass? [i]Nahhhh[/i], you’re pulling our leg!”[/color] Rob laughed, not convinced even when Cass’ expression didn’t change with what Leon said.
[color=148e67]”They don’t let Brits in on American secret service shit like that.”[/color]

Well, maybe it got a little smug. She [i]had[/i] helped save the world, technically! And it was pretty top secret! So, it was basically true.
[color=629c3f]”You don’t need to believe it, lil bro. It don’t make me any less awesome- but summer would be cool, I ain’t got anything against it!”[/color]

[color=00fff0]”You’re that confident you’ll still be with him, huh?”[/color] Tony teased, twisting away to avoid a jab to the side. 
[color=00fff0]”But a trip to the states sounds dead awesome. It’ll be my last summer of freedom as a student as well! I deserve that kind trip. Damn, brother in law, you’re already cooler than my sister… She ain’t even tried to get us over.”[/color]

[color=148e67]”She hasn’t.”[/color] Rob shook his head with a mock sigh. 
[color=148e67]”I’ve always wanted to visit. So much shit I wanna see and experience, which Cass gatekept from us… At least brother in law ain’t like that.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Again, I- Wait, don’t marry us in your fucking head?!”[/color] Cass’ hands flew up in the air, hitting both of her brothers’ faces- and not on purpose this time. 

[color=00fff0]”Why not? I want it to happen.”[/color]

[color=148e67]”Hear hear.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”[i]Hah hah[/i], since when did brothers get to decide that shit?”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”I think they’re both just highly intelligent young men who know what they want. Right boys?”[/color] Leon grinned.

[color=C67C12]”Now, you call me Leon. Remember it, okay? You’ll need to, because you’ll need to be able to get my attention when we go to concerts, and sporting events, and all the other cool shit we’ll get to know one another over. But, for now, maybe you guys could give me and Cass like five more minutes alone? I’m gonna have to leave soon, and I was hoping to talk about something the FBI wanted us to do.”[/color] he did his best to gently urge them away, if only so he could get the last bit of privacy he’d have the chance for.

[color=00fff0]”Us highly intelligent young men ain’t gonna forget your name- but we also know what you wanna do with our sister! You don’t gotta pretend it’s the FBI.”[/color] Tony laughed, already beginning to shuffle out of frame to handily avoid the next beating he would’ve gotten. 

Not that Cass was a prude about things, it just wasn’t appropriate for her brother to say that shit about her! Plus, Leon really probably only had five more minutes, so phone sex wasn’t even gonna happen.

[color=148e67]”Don’t worry, don’t worry, we’ll leave you guys in peace since you asked, Leon.”[/color] Rob grinned. 

Cass threw her hands up in exasperation. 
[color=629c3f]”But you never do what I say!”[/color]

There was another sigh, though it wasn’t from Cass this time. Her attention turned to the door, and she started absolutely [i]cackling.[/i]

[color=d0e672]"Party’s over? Shame… I was hoping the camera’d be turned this way."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Holy shit! Holy shit! Fuck, Babe, I think I’m losing my no 1 fan status!”[/color] Cass got out around laughter, slapping her leg and pointing. She quickly realised that didn’t help Leon see, reaching out to switch to the back camera. 

Jack had rolled just in through the door, and he was absolutely decked out in Timberwolf merch. Almost all were items Leon would recognise, seeing as he’d sent them over for the other fan in the family. A tshirt, unzipper hoodie, a cap he was obnoxiously wearing indoors… But over his legs he had a [i]blanket with Leon holding a champion belt[/i] printed on it. That [i]was[/i] a gift Cass had gotten him made half as a joke, and seeing it now just made her laugh more and more.

Leon’s face became surprised, then excited. He loved his fans; and loved the superfans more. Part of him enjoyed how much knowledge they usually carried, but the other part was the enthusiasm. Nothing could beat talking to someone when you were their idol, after all. Sometimes, it was a lot of pressure to live up to: A room full of teenage boys and girls who want to learn the sport, or some college where he was a guest speaker… Even interviews about upcoming events had pressure…

But this? 

[color=C67C12]”Jaaaaack! My God, I’m thrilled to see you covered in me! Cass!? You didn’t tell me you got him the Enthusiast print blanket! Dude, do you have the Gravity one too? If not, I’m gonna send it to you. So you have me and my Dad in your corner…”[/color] 

His tone and inflection were like talking to an old friend. The couple of times they’d spoken briefly on the phone made it a lot easier to quickly identify and get down to business.

[color=C67C12]”You get to stay… I’d happily give you the last few minutes I have. Cass was actually supposed to watch the livestream of the event I’m at, if you wanted to stick around with her!”[/color] he added.

[color=629c3f]”I thought that didn’t start till, like, two am?”[/color] Cass looked confused for a moment, before shrugging. Jack probably would stick around however late it was to watch! 

[color=d0e672]"Why d’you think I took a nap?"[/color] Jack joked, moving further into Cass’ room. Thankfully the other two had scampered off, so it was a bit less crowded. Cass shifted her phone and herself around so she was at the edge of the bed, so Jack didn’t have to go through the effort of getting out of his wheelchair and onto her bed to be seen. 

[color=d0e672]"It’s good to see you again, Leon! Glad you ain’t gotten sick of our crazy Cassi."[/color] Jack grinned, reaching over to roughly ruffle Cass’ hair. 
[color=d0e672]"I had to get all dressed up after you sent me all’ve this, y’know. It ain’t everyday a fan gets to show off like this. And I ain’t got the Gravity one! By the time Cass saved for that it was gone, ain’t that right, Cassi?"[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Yeah, and on a bunch’ve resale sites for extortionate prices!”[/color]

Jack nodded, smiling and patting Cass’ arm as if to calm down her anger. 
[color=d0e672]"Point is, I ain’t got it- so thanks in advance for sending it. God, it’s still a dream I get to talk to you like this."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Hey, wait!”[/color] Cass stopped making squeezing motions with her hands as if strangling resellers, looking up with wide eyes and a playful pout.
[color=629c3f]”You’re both gonna make me jealous! My brother talking ‘bout it being a dream to talk to my boyfriend, and my boyfriend inviting him into our private time! Excited to be covering him! [i]God![/i]”[/color]

Leon shrugged and laughed it off.
[color=C67C12]”I have to get in whatever time I can with him. God forbid he comes here, suddenly he’ll have a buddy to hang out with and he’ll forget all about me when the two of them are rucking through the woods like old times. I… He will probably try and make some walking pants for you, my brother Casey. I don’t know how something like that’d make you feel, Jack…”[/color]

Leon hadn’t actually told Casey about Jack. Not in a way that made it seem like they’d be hanging out any time soon, at least. But Leon also knew Casey, and saw how he was with the few combat veterans who were also in the Temple. Leon couldn’t blame the guy for seeking company in his fellows… It was the same as him [i]wanting[/i] to connect with Trisha. They’d seen things in the same way that nobody else had been forced to see. 

[color=C67C12]”Also, I mean, now that I have the chance: Is there anything else the collection is missing? Because there’s one more package coming. I sent it this morning, as I’m kind of clearing out my house of valuables before anything crazy happens here.”[/color] he admitted.

[color=d0e672]"Oh, I'm missing plenty. Most've the stuff I got was gifts from Cass- shipping on a lot've it's real expensive to hear."[/color] Jack responded easily, without much reaction to the admittance of something crazy possibly happening. He already knew, after all. Cass had explained everything… As an older brother he'd worry when she went back, but he also knew there was no stopping her when she put her mind to something. He'd just helped her figure out what to do to ‘alleviate Leon's worries'- which happened to be also not doing the kind of shit that would make Jack the most worried. 

[color=d0e672]"There ain't a lotta space here, so I don't need much more than you've already sent- specially not if something else is coming. Not unless you really gotta clear it out for safety!"[/color] He continued. 
[color=d0e672]"As for the walking trousers… Well, I dunno, I ain't ever thought about it as a possibility! It would be pretty nice to go on a proper trek again, even just once."[/color]

It was the first Cass was hearing about him doing a clear out… Which made sense considering what might happen. But what about her valuables?! Her computer- Oh, it would probably be fine. It was reinforced with enough of her biological magic now that it could probably survive a building collapse. But it wasn't just that- 

[color=629c3f]"Babe, you gotta take down all've my posters and put them somewhere safe!"[/color] Cass blurted out, suddenly super serious. She couldn't lose her collection. 
[color=629c3f]"Make sure to roll ‘em all up carefully, especially the ones you've signed! And the tape you got me- I dunno where it can all go but-"[/color]

[color=d0e672]"Chill, Cassi."[/color] Jack interrupted, reaching over to hook an arm around her neck and ruffle her hair at the same time. 
[color=d0e672]"I'm sure he's got it. He knows how valuable it is and how much it all means to you! Right, Leon?"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Of course! I just… Well, I feel like if I’m packing up your apartment, why not get it all sent somewhere safer for now!? Y’know? Like, why come back here right now if your entire life is in a storage pod somewhere? Especially when you can be comfortable for the next few- Aw fuck it…-”[/color]

Leon broke from what he was saying with a frustrated sigh.

[color=C67C12]”-The only reason I hadn’t done that to your apartment yet is because I figured you were so adamant about coming back that you’d want your stuff out. Since you don’t want it all out, [i]please[/i] tell me Jack convinced you to stay… Jack? Please?”[/color] he softly begged, knowing in his gut that the answer hadn’t really changed… She was just being reactionary, as if he knew there was something bad about to happen to the Cannery and wanted him to act on the feeling immediately.

Jack held up his hands, looking a bit awkward. He hadn't- he couldn't. He knew his sister far too well. And forcing anything on her would only make her push back more, or break everything off… 

[color=629c3f]"I ain't saying to pack everything up! Just the posters! And the tape! Leave everything else! The only other thing I can't replace is my computer, and it'll probably crawl its way outta any danger!"[/color] She shook her head. Even if he did pack everything up for her, of course she'd come back. She didn't care about living in comfort. She wanted to be there for the people, not for the material things she had. She could go without them. 

Timberwolf and Gravity merchandise aside. 

[color=d0e672]"There ain't really any convincing her if she's made up her mind."[/color] Jack admitted calmly, with an awkward smile. Obviously he didn't want his little sister in danger, but he understood why she wanted to go back. 

[color=629c3f]"You're making it sound like I don't listen to anyone else."[/color] Cass let out a soft huff, though she wasn't really annoyed. She wasn't surprised Leon was still trying to convince her. He was worried. But she'd made up her mind. She wanted him to accept that. Especially when he was already struggling without her there! Of course she had to go back. 

[color=d0e672]"I ain't saying that."[/color] Jack shook his head at Cass, before looking back at Leon. 
[color=d0e672]"We talked about what she can do to keep herself safe when she goes back. Like [I]not recklessly throwing herself into danger.[/I]"[/color]

There was a slight shift, his light tone becoming a bit sterner. A big brother lecturing his little sister… Cass scratched her cheek while letting out an awkward laugh. She'd agreed to that! So why was he being so pushy about it! 

Though, none of them could know for sure she'd really be able to hold herself back…

[color=C67C12]”I feel like my inability to trust the process isn’t unjust. And I’m sorry… To you, to your family, for exposing her to this life. Cassie, you’re a grown ass woman. Nobody can stop you. But, if everyone gets on you over the same sentiment… Don’t you think doing something other than paying lip service would help us all calm down?”[/color]

He looked down at the clock on his phone. Five minutes left… He didn’t want to lose her to an argument. But he really didn’t want to lose her to a magical war either.

[color=C67C12]”Seriously, this is making me feel like a fucking psycho. Like I’m crazy for wanting you protected or something. Yet I only have myself to blame.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"What do you mean by that?!"[/color] Cass reached up to tug her own hair in frustration. It was more difficult when he turned it around like this- like she thought he was awful just because she disagreed. It felt almost manipulative… But she knew it probably wasn't. Not from Leon. Not on purpose. He was [I]worried[/I]. 

[color=629c3f]"I've said you ain't crazy for it! You can want that, and I can think that I don't need protected like that. Fuck, it ain't like you coulda kept me away soon as we started dating. And- And what the fuck do you expect me to do aside from ‘pay lip service' or whatever? I know- just not come back. But I'm [I]coming back[/I]. That's my decision."[/color]

Jack didn't say anything, though he frowned as he glanced between Cass and her phone. There wasn't really anything he could say that wouldn't upset one side or the other- and while he would rather Cass was safe, he knew that turning around and agreeing with Leon would only make her double down harder. She'd stop going to him for help too, probably taking an [I]if I don't tell him he won't worry[/I] stance. It would be worse for Jack if she just didn't tell him what was going on.

Leon gave the look of a sad child who didn’t understand the reason they were being punished. It all looked like such a pointless thing to take such an adamant stance on. There’d been a million times where he had the choice between protecting himself and doing something totally insane like walking into an active warzone. And every time, had he the choice without Lelou, he would’ve avoided the violence. Avoided the pain, and the need to defend others in noble and ignoble ways alike. 

He’d been in Sycamore. He’d seen the Temple fight too… It was so romantic to defend ones family and friends, and to defend the principles that surround one’s life. It felt right to do until awful things started happening around it. Terrible loss. Pain takes its toll, and it’d already taken a chunk out of the Richoux children. It wasn’t over yet either. Cass had seen the War for what it had been years prior, and maybe that put her into a more capable mental space, but he couldn’t accept that she stay totally fine.

Because he didn’t know whether or not she really would…

He sighed, shaking his head.

[color=C67C12]”Jack… I’ll make sure the other blanket gets to you in the next couple of days. I don’t know if she told you, but you should have them sent off to be cleaned professionally. That way they don’t fade, and the fabric doesn’t pill up. I’ll cover it for you, if you think that’d help.”[/color]

He didn’t bother acknowledging Cass’ adamance. It was par for the course, after all, and didn’t need any extra focus when it wouldn’t help either of them… Maybe she’d think he was being rude, but he was just trying not to argue. If this is how it had to happen, then so be it.

Cass' face scrunched up, not looking particularly happy that he'd just completely ignored it. She didn't want to fight either, but she didn't want to just be ignored. She wanted to [I]resolve it[/I]... But it just wasn't getting resolved! Why couldn't he understand why she wanted to come back. He would if their positions were reversed! 

[color=d0e672]"Oh don't worry, I got the full instructions! You think Cass'd let me let your face fade off of it?"[/color] Jack answered, trying to break the discomfort in the air. 
[color=d0e672]"It ain't so bad to get for us- Ma's gotta deal with a local place cause've her job. But I'll let you know if I need help with it."[/color]

He smiled slightly, reaching out to pat Cass' shoulder. 
[color=d0e672]"I assume you gotta go for your event soon? We'll make sure to watch it, eh, Cassi?"[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Well, yeah, I ain't gonna miss it."[/color] Cass grumbled.

Leon replied with a solemn nod, blinking sadness out of his eyes as his whole body shifted.
[color=C67C12]”I know it’ll be late for you both, so thank you for staying up, Jack… Cass? Kisses, babe. I’ll call you again as soon as I get a chance, okay? I promise.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"[I]Alllrrrighhht[/I]."[/color] Cass had a slight whine to her voice, though her frown relaxed as she leaned forward to smooch loudly towards the camera. Even though she was still annoyed, she wasn't going to hold onto it. That was just unhealthy for both of them. At worst, they'd sort it all out when she got home. 

[color=629c3f]"Go break a leg! I bet you'd still look super sexy on stage even if you did!"[/color] She rocked back, seeming to relax back into the more normal cheerful, joking Cass. 
[color=629c3f]"I'll miss you- but don't stress too much ‘bout calling! Ima be pretty busy too… But if you call I'll try answer!"[/color]

[color=d0e672]"I'll even cover for you, like the generous big brother I am."[/color] Jack lightly teased.

[color=C67C12]”That’s not something I’m used to having access to. Thanks. Bye for now, you two. See you soon.”[/color]

Leon pressed his thumb against the red button to hang up, and sat for a moment staring at the screen. It was a picture of Cass, which she took with the phone. She was plastered to him, legs around his upper chest with her torso bent against his head to smother him. She was smiling so widely…

He smiled back, if only briefly, then turned and headed back inside to continue rehearsals, leaving the pain of the moment in the cold.
[hr]
[Right][code]December 25th. 9pm UK time.[/code][/right] 
It was dark outside, and there was a bitter breeze in the air. But it wasn't enough to kill Cass' temper as she trudged through the quiet streets away from her house. It had been raining earlier, puddles collecting in all the potholes lining the pavement. She didn't care about avoiding them, stomping right through. 

Fuck! She should've known better than to think shit would be different this year! Just cause her Mum had been fine the day she got home, and barely around on Christmas eve. 

But it had all gone to shit today. From start to finish. She'd been expected to spend all fucking day slaving in the kitchen with her Mom while her dad and brothers got to do whatever they wanted. She enjoyed cooking when she wanted to, but shit like this? No fucking way. But she'd gone along with it for a bit. 

But each time she refused to do something and tried to actually enjoy herself with the family- her brothers, and the cousins she hadn't seen for over a couple of years- it ended up as a small fight with her mum, or her aunt, or even her dad. It was so fucking frustrating.

It was after the extended family had left that everything really exploded. The trigger had been so fucking tiny. Cass suggested her brothers should help out with cleaning up… And her Ma lost it at her. Like that was the worst fucking suggestion ever. From there, she just berated Cass. And obviously Cass shouted back. 

She'd forgotten that Jack had warned her that shit might be bad again this year. Wanted her to [I]stay[/I]. Not just that, to stay and marry some asshole she thought would be good for Cass! Before it was ‘too late.’ Like it didn't matter what she wanted to do or what she had done. 

And it only got worse when Tony brought up that she did have a boyfriend. A boyfriend she'd kept [I]secret[/I] which meant she was clearly doing things she [i]shouldn't[/I]. By her mum's standards, sure, she was. But her standards were crazy! 

[I]”After everything I've done to raise you, you treat me like this! I'm your Ma- I know better than you. Nothing good’s gonna come from living this way, Cassandra. You can't even do the most basic things for your family on Christmas! You've ruined yourself! But if you ain't gonna listen to me, you can leave. Right now.”[/I]
[I][color=629c3f]"But you don't ever fucking listen to me! You just hear what you wanna! You can't accept me and you ain't ever tried. I ain't throwing away my happiness to be like you. I don't want your miserable life! Fuck you, now you want to kick me out?!"[/color][/I]
[I]”Do not speak to your Mother that way. Get out of my house, Cassandra.”[/I]

She hated that she'd even hoped that things had changed. They hadn't changed the past seven years since she left. But she still came back every year to see her brothers, and she still stubbornly stayed in their house and fought with them. But she still loved them. They were her parents. She knew that her Ma loved her… but it was twisted. She didn't love the real Cass. She loved the version she'd tried to force her to be.

So she'd never expected them to kick her out. Not on Christmas. She was pissed. Pissed, and far more upset than she wanted to let herself be. 

[I]Fuck[/I]. As she walked, dragging her suitcase behind her, she pulled her phone out of her pocket. Leon hadn't called since they'd talked yesterday… Busy, probably! She wasn't too worried about it. But she wanted to talk to him now… She missed him. She'd missed him far more than she expected to- and of course it was stronger when she was feeling like shit. Of course she wanted to talk to her boyfriend. 

But she also didn't want to put more shit on him when he was already dealing with enough! Not when she could deal with it herself, really. Just seeing his face would be real nice… Fuck. 

Instead of straight up just calling, she sent him a quick text. 

[code]Heeeeyyy Babe, you up to much?[/code]

On the other end, Leon felt his phone vibrate in his pocket as he shuffled out of the building he’d been in. Talks with the Aberrations of the Temple weren’t going well. After all, with winter came Tamara and Dadonda’s hibernation. The most rational, sensible and strong mind that’d kept the disparate group of angry youths and fear-addled old folks from doing anything drastic had been laid deep in the dirt below the oak they tended to behind the complex, and some were speculating that they may not even bother digging her up when the first warm weather hits. After all, she’d wake herself up when it got real warm, and at that point it’d be easier to deal with her frustration than it would be to deal with her level-headedness. 

After all, these people had been consistently wronged for as long as Lynette had imposed herself upon them. There were few people like Tamara who could accept that what was happening was just part of the world’s ebb and flow, and that it was easier to take peace where one could than fight with blood and bone just to compromise later [i]anyway.[/i] Leon was doing his best to remind them that things were going to be so much different. Hell, he even did his best to help them all get it by revealing Elise’s new “secret.” 

But a good point had been made… Obviously, it wouldn’t be a secret if she wasn’t ashamed of her new status as an Aberration. But, Leon didn’t see it as a problem. Sure, he missed his magic… But at least he was still a part of this life. Better yet, he could keep up. And having seen that his Father’s spirit hadn’t lost its prowess in a fight, he figured Elise would be thrilled. She had always hated being in the background, after all. Yet, she’d not told a soul about it. Everyone had to assume that she was who she had always been, and there was no indication as to how she’d treat those who knew more than she wanted them to.

Sighing, Leon pulled out his phone and unlocked it, pulling the top down to peek at the text without it showing as being read.

[code]Taking break from meeting. Angry people. Not going good.[/code]

He hit send and immediately bit his lip in frustration.

[color=a36209][i]You’re so troubled.[/i][/color]
[color=C67C12][i]Because I’m scared. I can’t even tell her the truth.[/i][/color]
[color=a36209][i]If you did, she wouldn’t change her mind.[/i][/color]
[color=C67C12][i]So I’ll blow up my whole fucking life. Try again in a year when everything is clean and clear. Y’know, ask for forgiveness later, not permission now.[/i][/color]
[color=a36209][i]Or, stop avoiding the inevitable and simply begin to account for it.[/i][/color]
[color=C67C12][i]I can’t… Something happens, suddenly she’s gone: Trisha’s not gonna get over it like Cass would in the other direction. That’s Casey’s forever, basically fucked up because of me. That means I lose my little brother, and he loses his reason for being. Again, all back to being my fault. No way.[/i][/color]

Cass stared at his message for a few minutes, stopping in the street with a slight frown. If he was just out of a bad meeting, he definitely wouldn't want to hear about her shit. It was so mundane! But maybe a call would be good for them both? Just some chill time chatting and seeing each other's faces. 

Well, maybe she wouldn't show hers right now. And as long as they didn't argue this time. 

Hesitation done, she quickly called him. It was a video call again, but all that was visible on her end was a dimly lit street. 

[color=629c3f]"Hey, Babe! Just figured, uh, since I got some time I'd try call… Cause, y'know, I've been busy all day. You've obviously been busy too! But, uh, I'm really glad we're both free now."[/color] Cass rambled. Though she was doing her best to not sound like she was having a shit time, her voice audibly wavered. Like she was choked up. She was, obviously. Even a cheerful person like her would cry after being kicked out. Shit sucked! 

[color=629c3f]"Cause, y'know, we didn't get much time y-yesterday."[/color]

Leon was dressed like usual for how the weather looked. It was snowing [i]just a bit.[/i] The sky above him was gray and cloudy, and what wasn't was an apartment building that climbed up into the frame around him. He had this awful habit of holding the phone so it was almost always looking up at him. Obviously, Cass would’ve been able to remedy that if she was there, as she’d have simply scaled him until they were face to face. 

But, even that felt a little different than this… Because this would’ve felt like he was trying to put some distance between himself and the phone. Distance between them. Though, he looked down and felt immediate confusion. He couldn’t put the scene and the way she sounded together. It was dark, and he definitely heard her voice hitch around the end of her statement.

[color=C67C12]”Well, I’m only free for like ten minutes. But, any time’s better than none. Merry Christmas! All the kids opened their presents, and the parents are a bit emotional. Trying not to make it seem like this could be the last Christmas that ever feels right for some of them. But, other people really don’t seem to give a fuck. It’s like people don’t want to stop fighting.”[/color]

He paused for a moment, really trying to soak in the picture within the frame.

[color=C67C12]”Are you okay? D’you have, like, a cart with you or something?”[/color]

The only queue he was getting was the faint clacking of wheels against the slabs of concrete where one stopped and the other started. And her feet grating, splashing even. She was walking at a brisk pace, and it was pretty wet. At least she was wearing half way decent shoes… He could hear the soles of them hitting the ground with each step.

Of course he heard the suitcase! Dog ears… Fuck. As much as Cass didn’t really want to bother him with shit she could get over herself, she wasn’t going to lie to him either. Not for shit like this. It was pointless when she’d called him in the first place… Cause she’d wanted that comfort. Normally she wouldn’t even need that, cause she was so independent about dealing with shit. 

[color=629c3f]”That, uh, that’d be my suitcase.”[/color] She admitted with a sniff. She couldn’t wipe away the silent, ugly tears persistently crawling down her cheeks either, one hand full with the phone and other dragging her suitcase. 

[color=629c3f]”Merry Christmas!”[/color] She stalled after answering, glancing down at her phone and at his face. It felt further away than usual. His phone was just further from his face, obviously, but it made the distance more palatable. The distance he was trying to convince her to keep… But she wasn’t going to start focusing on that right now. 

[color=629c3f]”Honestly, I ain’t really okay. I will be! But just- Fuck, my fucking parents. I’m walking to Sal’s right now cause I guess Ma decided this was one fight too far. Like I’d just sit and agree that I’m an awful daughter and a terrible influence and I should just stay home and have some arranged marriage like this was medieval times! Fuck!”[/color] She kicked a loose bit of gravel, struggling between being angry and just being sad about it. 

[color=629c3f]”They kicked me out… Hard to feel okay after that, but seeing your face is helping, just like I thought it would!”[/color]

Leon’s face became an instant bundle of frustration. At first, just his bottom lip curled down and out like a horse’s expression, with his top lip following not long after. This grimace only grew stronger as he shut his eyes tightly and let his cheeks curve both his lips back up into a pained grin.

[color=C67C12]”Lord have mercy, you’re joking. You’re kidding, right? Like, haha, it’s actually Jack? And you’re not pulling my leg, Cass?”[/color] he replied tersely, expression moving onto concern as he brought the phone up much closer to his face.

[color=C67C12]”Like, please, I love seeing you don’t get me wrong, this just seems like something right on the edge of what you’d joke about, so don’t get mad, please…”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”I ain’t mad, but I also ain’t kidding! I wouldn’t joke about this shit right now!”[/color] Cass grimaced. She wished it was a joke. Yeah, maybe it was the kind she’d consider making, but she wasn’t so insensitive she’d do it when Leon was dealing with a whole war brewing. 

[color=629c3f]”Jack’s back home- well I suppose it ain’t home anymore- anyway, he’s tryna deal with the aftermath. He was the only one that tried to argue against ‘em, but they don’t listen to him either! Cause in Ma’s head he’s some invalid to just be coddled and treated like a kid- he can do no wrong, but they ain’t gonna listen to him either!”[/color] She let out a frustrated grunt. Finally she flipped her video back round to the front camera, tilting it slightly towards her face. 

It was dark, with only the orange light of streetlamps to see with. But it was obvious she was still crying, though it wasn’t anything dramatic. Her whole face was twisted up into a mixture of anguish and anger, animatedly pissed as she kept talking. It was probably why she didn’t sound like she was crying- there were no sobs, the anger overwhelming more extreme sorrow.

[color=629c3f]”It feels like a fucking joke! I thought shit was better! I didn’t expect them to be fucking delighted about who I am, but I figured they’d at least accepted it. Like, they love me. I know they do! They just can’t see past their fucking sexism and what [i]they[/i] think is right, and suddenly I’m the problem that makes their sons argue with them too! Like it ain’t [i]them[/i] who is! Ugh- [i]Sorry[/i], I really did just call to see your sexy face.”[/color]

[color=C67C12][i]Fuck…[/i][/color]
[color=a36209][i]Get her back here [b]now![/b][/i][/color]

Leon’s grimace only grew worse as he brought one hand up to his face and tried to wipe away the expression of pain and suffering. He really didn’t want things to be this way right now. Now, things were complicated. It wasn’t cut and dry anymore, and he couldn’t look at what was best in a normal situation. Because he knew she was no longer in any kind of “normal” situation. She suddenly had the weight of this debacle on her mind, and if she’d been anyone else in his life, Leon figured they’d give in the towel. But it was Cass. She didn’t give in for a damn thing.

If anything else, she was going to get harder to keep away now, since the tethers keeping her “at home” were now snapped and released to the winds. She wasn’t going to stick around any longer than she had to, and he felt her bridaling without even having to ask. It would’ve been the same feeling he got…

[color=C67C12]”I’m right here, Baby… I’m here. That’s an awful way to end Christmas… Well, maybe not terrible if Sal’on’t mind you bein’ there. Hell, I mean, maybe it’ll even be good! Did you get him anything for Christmas? You need me to get anything sent over there for you?”[/color] he asked, trying to be helpful and present without sounding like he wanted to leave before she had the chance to talk about coming back.

[color=629c3f]”You think I wouldn’t get my childhood friend a present? C’mon, I ain’t that stingy.”[/color] Cass managed a bit of a laugh, though it was fairly choked up. It was difficult even for her to see it as a good thing… Though she knew it’d be fine at Sal’s. His parents were fucking loaded now, so they had a real nice house with a guest room and everything. Sal severing and fleeing to the States had repaired his relationship with his own parents, with them actually apologising and changing. 

Maybe it’d left Cass hoping for the same. 

[color=629c3f]”I don’t need anything I ain’t already got, but thanks anyway, Babe… I managed to pack all my shit up before leaving.”[/color] And it was only another two nights here, though she chose not to say that. It wasn’t like she actually had anything at her parents nowadays, always travelling with the full visit worth of clothing and the like. She wasn’t back enough to want to keep a wardrobe there… So going to Sal’s didn’t mean losing anything physical like that. 

[color=629c3f]”It’s a fucking crappy end to a pretty crappy Christmas, honestly… Ma had me helping cook from early. Which I did cause I figured, compromise! But I guess only I gotta compromise! Not just that, but fucking bend over and break… Shits why I left, but it’s been seven years.”[/color] She frowned, raising the hand holding her phone to rub at her eyes for a moment, giving Leon a great view of just her forehead. 

[color=629c3f]”It’s just not fair, Lee. Just cause I wasn’t born with a dick I ain’t allowed to act like myself? Fuck- Well, thank fuck my brothers didn’t turn into sexist pricks too, I guess. And I got a bed elsewhere… Could be real worse.”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”And obviously, you’d be able to cover yourself even if you didn’t. You’re not broke. You’ve worked hard for what you have.”[/color]

Leon went for independence first; after all, it was something he deeply valued himself. Their father had left behind the wealth to keep them out of the mundane grind, while as far as he knew, Cass had made herself entirely. While not in possession of a vast fortune, she was at least in possession of a halfway decent bank account. If push came to shove, he knew she’d be able to hang idle for a while on her own.

[color=C67C12]”So, you’ll be with Sal the next couple days? Or did you pick up something earlier?”[/color] he asked, silently praying she was staying so he had a few more days to conjure a way of keeping her out of St. Portwell.

Cass shook her head with another round of sniffling- though the tears were starting to dry a bit, she didn’t have a tissue on hand to blow her nose. 

[color=629c3f]”Nah, changing it so last minute’d cost so much. I’m still coming back the twenty-seventh… Sal’s family ain’t got a problem with me staying the two nights.”[/color] She answered. She had considered it, but just because she’d been kicked out didn’t mean she couldn’t see her brothers again before leaving. 

[color=629c3f]”Probably be with Sal mostly, yeah, but me ‘n my brothers normally go to the pub on boxing day… That’ll still happen, I bet, unless Ma ‘n Da lock ‘em all in. I gotta talk to Jack anyway.”[/color] And have a stern word or two with Tony about not revealing shit to their parents she hadn’t said herself. 

[color=629c3f]”I ain’t too happy with the other two but… I get why they didn’t say shit. They still depend on our parents, after all.”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”They don’t have to if you don’t want them to… As it stands, we’ve got a new family member that we’ve gotta take care of. I can’t wait for Trisha and Casey to get back for that one.”[/color]

From what Casey had said, Clarissa and Furio hadn’t told Ivetta about their plans. Only that they didn’t know when they’d be back. She spent the day so far with Lynette of all people, who was showering her with gifts knowing that this would also be her last normal Christmas. The last one without the burden of violence and loss…

[color=C67C12]”I guess, sometime this morning, Furio and Clarissa managed to get in contact with Casey and Trisha. Tried to kill them. Casey’s hurt pretty badly, but Trisha’s alright. The other two are dead. So, we’ve gotta make sure their daughter gets taken care of. Ivy doesn’t deserve to be a victim in all this.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Shit- Is Casey gonna be okay?!”[/color] Any concern Cass had for herself was dampened at that piece of news. She hadn’t heard anything… Then again, Trisha had only texted her once since going away- with a photo of a snowmobile. It had practically been a taunt. She was probably way too busy looking after Casey right now. 

[color=629c3f]”Pretty bad like, gonna slowly bleed out, or like gonna be fine till they get back and to a healer? And fuck, poor Ivetta. Losing her parents to shit that could’ve been prevented! Sure, they might’ve died later, but they attacked two people who weren’t gonna kill ‘em unless they had too!”[/color] Cass shook her head in frustration.

[color=C67C12]”Pretty bad, like he fought a guy whose main method of fighting is deleting parts of reality atom by atom. We’ll hopefully be able to do something about it with a delivery drone, but we’re still trying to get it together to make it out to them.”[/color]

There was green stuff, then there was concentrate. While his enchantments had kept him mostly safe, apparently something had to be given up. By the time Trisha dragged him to the infirmary at the resort, apparently the place was a bloodbath. Not a single staff member was left to greet them.

[color=C67C12]”They stabilized it, at least. And, yeah… Now it's that. Again, definitely a merry Christmas. Real holly jolly…”[/color] he frowned ultimately, looking into the camera at Cass.

[color=C67C12]”It’s gonna get worse. I’m scared of what comes next, Cass.”[/color]

At least Casey was stabilised. That was something… He was going to die, which would devastate Trisha. More than Trisha, obviously. Merry fucking christmas indeed- and a happy birthday for her tomorrow too. 

[color=629c3f]”Well…”[/color] Cass trailed off. She was going to say that they’d deal with it together. But that wasn’t going to make Leon feel better. It’d just start another round of the same argument they’d been having over and over. Especially not after that news, and dealing with her own shit- though it really seemed so small in comparison now.

[color=629c3f]”You just gotta do what you can, Leon. Protect who you can, look after yourself! I- I can’t say any shit to make it less scary, obviously. But I’m really glad Casey’s stable… And the two of them’ll be back, and there’ll be more people on the same side. We- You’ll get through this, I promise.”[/color]

At first, Leon thought that Cass may be winding up to tell him that she wasn’t coming back. Or, maybe that she now [i]was[/i] coming back quicker. Either scared him more. But, there was a little bit of time. Just enough that he’d be able to figure things out before she tried to get to him.

[color=C67C12]”It just makes me more nervous about stuff for our sake. Your sake. Sure, he’ll make it out, but what's the point of it? We’ve all gotta deal with the aftermath of other people’s incredibly selfish choices now, physically and mentally, emotionally, however you can imagine. Like the prize for getting through one nightmare is a-fucking-nother one…”[/color] he lamented in a grating tone, frustrated by the circumstance of the moment.

[color=629c3f]”But after all of this is done, there ain’t gonna be another nightmare! Not like this- I mean I can’t guarantee your life’s gonna be all happy and shit, but so long as I’m around, I’ll try my hardest to make sure it ain’t. And shit really sucks right now, and you shouldn’t have to suffer just to get some happiness… But it is worth it for that happiness! Even if you gotta take the burden of other people being selfish to get there.”[/color] Cass did her best to give a pep talk, though it was pretty difficult for the circumstances. She couldn’t exactly say ‘it’ll be worth it no matter how many people die’ and the like. It didn’t work that way. 

But there was something better at the end. She really believed that. Their future travelling together… And hey, maybe by the end of that she’d happily settle down with him into some kinda domestic bliss. 

[color=629c3f]”The point is he’s still alive- and so are we. So, sure, we gotta suffer, but it's worth pushing through that. No more nightmares after this.”[/color]

She hoped… He did too. Leon nodded along with the lone sensation that the worst was yet to come. He didn’t personally mind, but he knew others would. Others who’d fought too hard to have to go through it all over again. Others who couldn’t handle it like he could.

[color=C67C12]”Nobody hunts for suffering quite like you do, Cass. I love that about you.”[/color] he said simply, wishing it wasn’t [i]so[/i] true. 
[color=C67C12]”I… [i]We[/i] miss you. She and I both. I wish things weren’t so close to the edge.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”I miss you both too.”[/color] Cass responded, stopping walking for a moment so she could hold her phone still. Just so he could see how much she meant it. 

[color=629c3f]”[i]A lot[/i]. I wish shit was better right now too- but we gotta deal with what we get.”[/color] Though it was a bit unfair how much shit was getting thrown at the poor Richoux siblings right now. At least she’d managed to get closer to her normal self- no more wallowing about getting kicked out. Not right now. She’d rant about it to Sal again later.

[color=629c3f]”And you won’t have to miss me for much longer! So both of you just gotta hold on a couple more days.”[/color] Assuming he’d vaguely accepted her coming back.

That statement placed visible discomfort on Leon’s face.

[color=C67C12]”You uh… Know I’m not trying to keep you away because I don’t want to see you, right? It’s not… some cliche bullshit where a tragedy gets used to cover up shitty choices or anything. It’s me loving you, and not wanting you hurt. I’m… I was kind of hoping that hearing about what happened with the other two would make you a little more leery, but obviously I’m stupid for that.”[/color]

Once again, an opportunity to tell her how he was really feeling, and what he was really worried about, slipped through his longing grip into the void of nothingness beyond.

[color=629c3f]”I [i]know[/i] it ain’t cause you don’t wanna see me, I ain’t stupid! I’ve said this… I know why.”[/color] Cass sighed. She’d walked into this one, honestly, where she’d been avoiding mentioning coming back. But she shouldn’t have to! 

They were just going to keep butting heads like this. But hearing what happened just made her even more determined to come back- the opposite effect of what Leon hoped for. Because if Trisha hadn’t been with Casey? He’d probably be dead. It was a horrible though… But it was true. The two of them survived together. Sure, Leon had Lelou, but it wasn’t the same. They were more likely to survive [i]together[/i]. It was fine if they got hurt, as long as they survived.

[i][color=d0e672]"Are you sure you don’t love him yet? Cause you’re sure acting like it."[/color][/i]

Cass glanced away from her phone, the conversation with Jack after the call yesterday playing in her head. It was an explanation, but she really wasn’t quite there yet. 

At the end of the day, she wanted to come back, and Leon couldn’t keep her away just because they were dating. 
[color=d0e672]"And I can be cautious and still come back but… I already know shit’s dangerous. It doesn’t change how I feel, Leon. And I really don’t wanna be arguing about it again."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”We aren’t. We [i]are[/i] both making decisions as adults, however. So, that’s happening. And that’s all either of us can say for certain, since anything else [i]would[/i] be an argument.”[/color]

There wouldn’t be a resolution, as far as he was concerned, unless she resigned to staying out of Richoux business for the time being. He didn’t want her to feel like she couldn’t be there forever, but this period of time was going to be incredibly crucial. He couldn’t afford being distracted, or worse.

[color=C67C12]”But, I will say that uh… Decisions made without regard for others’ feelings would be considered selfish, wouldn’t they? And, it just really strikes me that you’re planning on doing this when, like… We’ve been the people to be respectful and [i]ask[/i] you to do things, rather than just telling you… Yet, you’ve basically [i]told me[/i] over and over again that you kind of don’t care how I’m feeling. Even though that could also affect my overall stability. It’s a question I’ve been meaning to ask you about, but… I didn’t really want to right now considering what you’re going through otherwise.”[/color]

He let the statement hang in the air, almost definitely throwing up some kind of screen of guilt.

Did wanting to go back to the place she now considered her home to help protect the people she loved [i]really[/i] make her selfish? It was difficult to completely deny if multiple people wanted her to stay away- but if it was just Leon, they were both equally selfish, surely. Would he really be less stable with her around? Maybe he felt that way right now. But it was something they could work through. 

Lelou certainly wanted her back. 

And asking people to do things was normal! Telling people- adults- to do stuff, outside of being their direct boss, wasn’t! Not unless you grew up in a crazy controlling cult.

[color=629c3f]”Who’s we, Leon?”[/color] She asked evenly, doing her best not to get annoyed at everything else he said.

[color=C67C12]”Oh, who else? Don’t think for one second I don’t know what it feels like to be an older brother. Do you think I’d want Mia and the girls here if I thought for one second I had a choice? I’d send them away in a heartbeat. The only good thing about this has been Mia’s surprising strength, and I don’t know if it’ll last forever! So, I’m not acting like it will. Just like I wouldn’t act like you’d make it through the trouble this time! Because [i]I don’t know![/i] I’d rather be safe than fucking sorry!”[/color]

He’d started to raise his voice, but quickly looked back at the building then into his phone lens again. Cass would be able to see him starting to move away from his surroundings, the entire sky opening up into gray. 

[color=C67C12]”I had hoped and prayed that talking to Jack would make you want to stay there… That maybe he’d need you like… Anything! Anything, anything at all, it’s a few fucking [i]months[/i], I’m not asking for you to spend an eternity away- Y’know what? No! I’m not doing this with your ass. [i]You[/i] just got kicked out of your parents house. I’m a fucking [i]moron[/i] if I think for one second you’re not gonna show up here. So, show up Cass! But you won’t find me waiting, so you can hang out in your apartment, or take off wherever the fuck you want, because I’m not gonna be there to wait and welcome you into the woodchipper. Be mad at me forever, but at least you’re guaranteed alive for the people who deserve you more than me.”[/color]

He wasn’t evil… He didn’t feel evil for saying any of that. But, Lelou did make him [i]hurt[/i] regardless. A massive headache flooded the front of his skull, and every pump of blood through his veins felt like being stuck inside a kick drum. He grimaced, giving Cass enough time to say something before he hung up.

[color=629c3f]”What the fuck do you mean deserve me more than you? Leon-”[/color] Cass cut herself off. Fuck… She really hoped this was just shit he was saying in the heat of the moment. Because if it wasn’t, and she really got back and he was acting like that? She was going to be more than mad. But she couldn’t shout back at him right now. It’d only get so much fucking worse.

[color=629c3f]”You- We need to cool off. And you can actually think about what you just said.”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Like I haven’t spent the last three days trying to think about what the fuck to say? Bandaid comes [i]off[/i] Cass. I will come find [i]you[/i] when everything’s done. And if you don’t want to be with me at that point, then don’t be. But, right now, I’m not just thinking about how you feel. I’m thinking about how [i]everyone[/i] around you would feel if, God forbid, something happened to you. I’m not crazy, and I’m [i]not[/i] wrong either. I love you, Sunshine. Now, goodnight.”[/color]

And then the screen winked out into the call’s last second before returning to the contact screen where she’d called Leon from initially… It was quiet, and dark, and Cass was alone again.
[hr]
[right][code]December 27th, 3pm. St Portwell.[/code][/right]
After almost twelve hours of flights, and a painfully swift transfer at Atlanta, Cass was already in a bad mood. Though she'd put herself to sleep for the longer flight, it didn't change the fact that she'd been trapped in a seat in a big metal tube in the air for so long. 

So turning up to find out Leon really wasn't there made her feel a whole lot more agitated. She'd hoped that he wouldn't do what he said he would. Even though he hadn't responded to any of her texts since, she mentally made excuses. He was busy, he was thinking about it- Fuck that! He was an asshole! 

She spent the whole taxi ride stewing. She hoped he was waiting at the Cannery, but knew that he almost definitely wasn't. He really was planning to ignore her for fucking months! For what? To protect her?! But she was still going to fucking help- if it wasn't with him, she'd become Trisha's second protector, or the girls'. It wasn't [I]just about him[/I]. 

Her apartment felt cold and empty. She didn't bother spending much time there. Dumped her bags, got changed into fresh clothes, then headed right back out. 

She was going to find Leon and give him a piece of her mind. And if he didn't back the fuck down, that'd be it. She didn't want it to be it. She really didn't… she really fucking liked him! But she just couldn't tolerate this kind of shit, where he decided he was right and forced that on her. 

So she found herself in the weed filled corridor of the front door of the basement apartment. The easiest option was to ask the girls if they knew where he was. If they didn't, or refused to tell her, then she'd just have to manually find him. She was fairly confident she could sniff him out through the city… It'd just take a while. 

Trying her best to look less outright murderous, Cass raised a hand to rapidly rap on the door, before shoving her hands in her pockets with the hint of a smile.

It took longer than was comfortable for someone to answer the door. After another set of more anxious knocking, a bleary-eyed Ed came to the door with a face like someone had done her grave harm. She was pale, pallid, and only after a moments hesitation did she give anything remotely resembling a smile.

[color=66bb6a]”You’re back… I won’t say we weren’t expecting you. ‘Sup? Missing something you need upstairs? ‘Cuz everything’s in a pod underground, I had to scrounge an old coffee maker from one of the other apartments that’ve been vacated, because Leon put the good one into the storage with everything else. [i]Can you believe it?[/i] Can’t even stand the though of the coffee machine getting busted.”[/color]

She was immediately babbling in a not-abnormal way… But the tone didn’t match the look. It was hard to place why that was so strange, but it felt uncanny all the same.

[color=629c3f]"Hey, Ed… Good to see you."[/color] Cass started simply, glancing across Ed and taking her in with a slight frown. She wasn't surprised that she looked so tired… Clearly nobody was having a good time around here. But she was acting weird. That threw Cass off more than any appearance. Not the babbling, obviously, Ed had always been a babbler- like Cass herself. They could easily talk and talk for hours. But it really wasn't right. 

Awkward, almost. 

She did relax the frown into more of a smile. She didn't want her annoyance at Leon to be felt by anyone else, after all!
[color=629c3f]"I ain't surprised with how he's been acting… But yeah, I am missing something. About six foot eight, built like an upside down triangle, punchable face? You seen him?"[/color]

Ed frowned immediately, face sinking into a deeper expression that spoke of conflict and frustration. Of course, he’d been right…

[color=C67C12][i]”You just can’t tell her. Entertain her, do whatever, but don’t make her feel like she should stay!”[/i][/color]

Ed’s teeth ground together as she chewed on the thought. A stupid, stupid thought.

[color=66bb6a]”Y’know, they’re the worst sometimes… My mom, when I was a kid, used to care so much about what Lynette thought of things. And she’d make me do the dumbest things, just sticking shit to the wall to impress people when I didn’t have magic.”[/color]

A misdirecting anecdote… A trick to buy time?

[color=66bb6a]”She’s gone, Cass. That bigger than life bitch is dead. The kids mourn, and I was basically begged to not tell you where he is because there’ve already been retaliatory strikes. But, uh… My Mom’s not in charge of me. Neither’s Leon. Nobody is in charge. For the first time in our lives, nobody is in charge…”[/color]

Pausing for a moment to think about what she was saying, Ed took a deep breath and finally moved forward toward the coffee machine.

[color=66bb6a]”The Temple is, from what I hear, absolutely mangled. There’s supposed to be some sort of interment ceremony. Lynette goes in one of those crazy time caskets, then all of the venerated dead are going to be sent to Lyon. To the family crypts. From all I hear, Leon’s been there. I think he’s protecting the Reliquary, like he used to. Too dangerous for people to get into unsupervised, and Casey needs to get home in order for all the artifacts to be moved safely…”[/color] 

Cass nodded, having followed Ed inside and leaning against a wall as she listened. She knew where the Temple was, at least, but not so much where the Reliquary was. 

[color=629c3f]”I’m gonna need directions to the Reliquary if you can give me ‘em. Otherwise, I’ll sniff him out when I get to the Temple grounds.”[/color] She let out a sigh. At least she knew that Casey was still alive thanks to getting in touch with Trisha herself yesterday… Seeing as Leon was completely ignoring her. She hadn’t wanted to interrupt the couple’s time, but she was too worried to not! But they’d got some goop to him, it seemed.

[color=629c3f]”And, Ed?”[/color] She stepped forward, pulling the taller woman into a tight hug. It was still just as warm as it always was. 
[color=629c3f]”Thanks for telling me… I know it ain’t easy after so long having someone tell you what to do! It takes a while for the freedom to really set in.”[/color]

She pulled back, managing a genuine smile towards someone she truly considered a little sister and close friend. 
[color=629c3f]”What I promised when you and the other two helped me move in still stands. No matter what happens with Leon, I’m still gonna stick by you guys. I’m still gonna be here and forcefully involve myself to protect you all- you're still my adopted little sisters no matter what!”[/color]

She made it sound like she was planning to break up with Leon… Which she wasn’t, not definitely. But if he stuck by his decision and kept acting like an asshole? She couldn’t stick around for that no matter how strong her feelings were.

Ed gave a look of genuine distress. Not in the cry for help sense, rather the look someone gives when they're trying desperately to refrain from feeling a full spectrum of emotions. She wanted to escape or [i]something.[/i]

[color=66bb6a]”I’m good at not doing what others tell me to. But, I’m also really good at being honest… Nobody wants this spilling out onto you. Maybe people are ignorant, or maybe everyone likes you a little too much. But, either way… Nobody [i]wants[/i] you in the middle. They don’t even want [i]me[/i] in the middle. Fuck, [i]they[/i] dont even want to be in the middle. You don’t think it's weird that you’re the only person around here [i]diving in[/i]? Have you even really noticed!?”[/color]

She poured a cup, sliding it across the island to Cass before pouring another.

[color=66bb6a]”I personally like you here. You’re a lot more useful to me right now than you would be to the sad fucks up at the Temple. I’ve been all alone, y’know? And nobody’s keeping me in the loop, so I can’t even know what's happening. Purposefully. They think I won’t worry if I don’t know, right?”[/color] she said calmly, giving Cass a sad expression.

[color=629c3f]”They left you here [i]alone[/i]?!”[/color] Cass’ eyes widened slightly. She was a bit shocked at that, considering Ed was a temple member- and it didn’t matter that she wasn’t in the inner circle, surely she was still at risk? Her relationship with Mia and Hari was well known, after all. 

[color=629c3f]”Fucking hell… Well Leon’s tryna put me in the same situation, so I get it. Not knowing just makes the worrying worse, don’t it? Cause you assume the worst.”[/color] She shook her head, looking at Ed with a sympathetic frown. 
[color=629c3f]”Y’know, I don’t actually want to be in the middle… Not like that. Sure, maybe before, but after talking to my brother- Well I ain’t such a fight crazed maniac I wanna go out murdering people! [i]But[/i] I want to protect the people I love. That’s why I want to dive in, to help and keep people safe however I gotta. And to do that I gotta sort shit out with Leon, whatever the outcome.”[/color]

She picked up the coffee mug, guzzling it down in one go with little care for how hot it was. 
[color=629c3f]”But after I’ve dealt with him, I’ll come back here. I can be your personal, super sexy protector! I’ll even stay down here in Leon’s side, cause it ain’t like he’s using it.”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”I think you should skip him.”[/color] she said very simply, looking at Cass with a hint of mischief in her eye.

[color=66bb6a]”Come to Penrose with me. We’ll blow this joint and gather around a group of people who may [i]actually[/i] be targeted. They’re all Adepts who work in the Aberration outreach program. They’ve been raising a lot of fuss over how the Upper Crust treated the others over the past couple of years. There’s no telling if the Setti have plans for petty revenge or not…”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”After.”[/color] Cass responded simply, reaching over to ruffle Ed’s hair with a smile. 
[color=629c3f]”I gotta get all’ve my anger out at a certain person first! Otherwise it’s gonna eat me alive- I ain’t the kind who likes stewing on shit. But once that’s sorted I’ll come with you wherever you wanna go to protect people who need it. I sure as shit ain’t gonna sit around and mope.”[/color]

Ed’s face changed slightly.

[color=66bb6a]”I think we all would rather you didn’t, honestly.”[/color]

It wasn’t anger, and it wasn’t frustration… It was the kind of stern expression a mother gave a child after they did something bad which they had no frame of reference for.

[color=66bb6a]”You’re angry. He’s depressed. How do you think that’s gonna go, Cass?”[/color]

Cass sighed, rubbing the back of her neck, before giving a completely honest answer. 
[color=629c3f]”Bad, probably. But it’ll be worse the longer it drags out. Maybe that’s selfish, but if I don’t talk him today, there ain’t a chance we work. I’m not like Trisha… I can’t stick around like that. So is it worse that I try give him a chance, or if I don’t and just end things entirely?”[/color]

Ed frowned ultimately, her gaze cast downward as she contemplated how Cass was feeling. Leon had given them the impression that she was more stubborn than anyone else he knew, and it was proving truthful thus far. The glance that came back to Cass was one that screamed “Oh well” high over the rooftops.

[color=66bb6a]”Short of putting you to bed, I can’t stop you. If you show up on the Temple Grounds, he’ll find you… Try and make it quick? Like you said, the longer it drags out, or whatever…”[/color]

She looked a bit like she wanted to cry, but either Ed was an expert at holding it, or the emotion simply wasn’t strong enough to crash through the wall.

[color=629c3f]”I will, don’t worry. I ain’t gonna drag it out.”[/color] Cass nodded, leaning in to give Ed another quick but tight hug. 
[color=629c3f]”Then I’ll come back for you. Even if everything goes great, I’ll still come back.”[/color]
[hr]
[right][code]The Temple Grounds.[/code][/right]
The ride to the Temple wasn’t too bad, giving Cass a bit of time to think more about what she planned to say. She’d been tempted to do away with driving entirely and transform to run there… But there were other hassles with that. Easier just to take the car. 

Irritatingly, she got stopped at the front gate. Which probably meant the crazy barrier was still up, so fucking off and sneaking in probably wasn’t an option. Not unless she tried to use all her magic to shatter it, and she didn’t want to go that far. 

So even when the guards told her there were no visitors allowed and to go away and she didn’t. She did give them her terms- that she’d leave once she’d talked to Leon. They didn’t really seem too keen. At least, not until it had been thirty minutes and she was still there stubbornly standing and absolutely being a nuisance.

She didn’t really want to do this. She didn’t want to bother other people to get to him- but he wasn’t giving her any fucking choice. If her doing this meant he didn’t want to be with her anymore, that was fine- because the alternative meant she’d break it off anyway. She knew herself. A few days waiting for him to realise and reach out she could do, maybe. But weeks? Months? 

Any feelings she had would die. 

Thankfully, they broke eventually, with someone going to get Leon with the request she really did fuck off after his business with him was done. Which she absolutely planned to do, so it was no issue agreeing to that.

It took another fifteen minutes before a car rolled down the long Temple driveway. More of a cart, it was too robust to be for golf and too dainty to be used for off-roading. But, it had four seats, and was driven by someone Cass wouldn’t have recognized. They bundled her in and took off down the path, and the trip revealed some sad sights. 

Dead people lined up under tarps for a few hundred feet. Living people watching them, too. Then there were the buildings, which the lesser of had been turned to smoldering ruins while the larger ones looked more like they’d been hit by bombs. It looked exactly like a perfectly scaled pie slice of destruction that had been wrought by the Luftwaffe bombs during the Blitz.

They brought her further into the woods, dropping her off at a large mausoleum which had even more people standing guard in waiting. Though, they didn’t stop Cass when she made way for the stairs and down… Down into this dark place that smelled like a thousand people were here all at once. It was a long, dark corridor… And at the end was a gentle light shining from one side of the hall onto the other.

Approaching it, turning into the room, Leon was there finally. He was sat on a little chair, so small that Cass wouldn’t be able to see it save for the legs peeking out from under Leon. His elbows rested on his knees, his whole body hunched over as he stared at the floor. He couldn’t look up. Didn’t want to. He wasn’t sure if it was embarrassment, or if he was actually upset that Cass decided showing up here was the best option.

He didn’t even greet her. Just sat, waiting for her to begin her anger as he sat surrounded by a trove of magic so deep and thick that Lelou didn’t even realize people were around. He was effectively alone… 

Cass silently stepped further into the room until she was close enough that her boots would be in Leon's line of sight, but no further. The entertaining tiny chair would've made her laugh her ass off in other circumstances… But not right now. She was pissed off and upset, and him not saying anything didn't help. 

But as much as she'd said to Ed that she had to take her anger out on him, really she was here hoping for a fucking resolution. If he stuck with it and shouted at her, she'd shout back. But the long drive there had at least let the hot anger she'd felt arriving to no one simmer down a bit. It was still there, but it wouldn't control her until he started acting like he had up until this point. 

[color=629c3f]"Explain how this benefits anybody."[/color] She bit out, not bothering with a greeting either. 
[color=629c3f]"I'm here now. In the city. I'm going to help whether you want me to or not. Maybe not you, maybe not here. But there are other people… So how the fuck does you completely ignoring me help when I could still die?! Does the distance make you care less?!"[/color]

She clenched a fist, hand shaking slightly as she forced herself to take a deep breath. 
[color=629c3f]"I'll listen this last time. So explain."[/color]

Leon slowly looked up. He didn’t say anything, but the indignance on his face carried enough weight that words weren’t necessary. For the briefest moment, Leon’s face screamed a single, terribly rude question that his lips had a good enough sense not to clarify.

[color=C67C12]”It shouldn’t count as the last time when you haven’t bothered listening yet. I ask you to do something, you tell me to go fuck myself. I beg you, I try to reason, you tell me to go fuck myself politely. I try and force you to listen, you just show up here and start doing the exact shit I didn’t want to deal with.”[/color]

His head turned back down and away with little regard.

[color=C67C12]”Just… Go do what you want somewhere I’m not responsible for. Before something else becomes my fault too. Leon, the Scapegoat. I never would’ve imagined.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"What?"[/color] Cass' angry thoughts screeched to a halt for the briefest moment, and she held out one hand as if to stop him even though he'd already stopped. 

Somewhere he's not [I]responsible for[/I]? What the fuck did he mean by that? Who the fuck would blame him if anything happened to her? She was clearly here of her own free will. 

[color=629c3f]"What the fuck do you mean by that? Cause so far while I've been listening, I've heard that [I]you couldn't handle losing me[/I] and that me dying would affect other people. So where the fuck is it being your fault coming from? If something happened, why the fuck would anyone blame you for it?!"[/color] She furrowed her brow, still clearly pissed, but feeling like there was a piece she'd been missing beginning to slip into place. Not enough to make anything excusable. But maybe to explain why they kept just butting heads.

It was amazing to Leon how oblivious everyone was.
[I]Oh, why won’t you let Cass come back? She’s great?[/i]

[color=C67C12]”Y’see, I’ve got this little issue. The little issue is about five feet dead, brown hair, brown eyes, flaming temper. Has my [i]only[/i] brother gripped tight by the dick and balls? God… Make me fucking spell it out, like its not obvious… You die; Casey and Trisha get home. Suddenly I’ve got to tell them? Tell [i]Trisha[/i] that you’re dead? Then what? It’s my fucking fault! Mine! So what happens? I lose you, and then I lose my family. Because suddenly it's [i]my fault[/i] that you’re gone. Like I didn’t do enough to protect you when in reality, you’re a stubborn fucking [i]ass[/i] who can’t even bring herself to compromise on something that would’ve been easy! Why!? Why the [i]fuck[/i] is what I want not good enough?”[/color] 

He wasn’t standing, but he was looking at her directly now. His expression was full of frustration and concern in equal parts.

Cass' jaw went slack, and she just stared at him for a moment.

That was what it was really all about? It wasn't just that he was worried about her, but he was worried about Trisha's reaction? And instead of telling her that, he'd kept on pushing about it being all about keeping her safe?! Like the reason tearing him apart wasn't something easily fucking resolved! 

[color=629c3f]"You think Trisha's going to hate you forever if I die?"[/color] She intoned, question purely rhetorical. She knew the answer was yes. 
[color=629c3f]"You really ain't putting a lotta faith in her. Sure, Trisha's got a hot temper and can hold a mean grudge, but she also ain't stupid! You think she ain't dealt with me before?! That she doesn't know what I'm like?! She wouldn't fucking blame you, Leon. She wouldn't- And if you'd told me that days ago, I could've told you that. But how the fuck was I supposed to guess when it's something I know she wouldn't do! I- Well, you won't believe [I]me[/I], will you?"[/color]

She shoved a hand into her pocket, pulling out her phone. 

[color=629c3f]"I'll ask."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Good. Do that. Lord knows even if she did say that she’d hate me, you’d ignore her wouldn’t you? Right… I’m a fucking idiot, because giving you all the things I thought would make a difference first means suddenly I don’t believe in them. My next excuse was going to be that the fucking moon was poorly aligned, literally anything to keep you from being here and reckless. But that's clearly a worthless stance too-”[/color]

Out of everything, the woe-is-me tone Leon was carrying on with wasn’t normal… It was like he was utterly defeated there.

Cass gritted her teeth, doing her best not to rise to the bait. It was so hard, when he was acting like she was being the worst and just doing this because she was some careless fight loving freak. 

[color=629c3f]"Well I'm fucking sorry that I want to be with the person I love and his family!"[/color] Cass snapped, absolutely not registering that it was the first time she said she loved him in a way that clearly meant more than just casual feeling. 

[color=629c3f]"No, no, I'm not doing this. I'm calling her."[/color] 

Rapid fingers had already found Trisha's number, a little nerve wriggling out of Cass' phone to make sure she had good signal even down here. It rang a few times before Trisha picked up.

[color=d1b300]“Cass? Is everything alright? Did something happen when you got home?"[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Everything's fine, don't worry! I don't wanna keep you long, I just gotta question. Say, hypothetically, something happened to me? Who would you blame?"[/color]

[color=d1b300]“What? What do you mean, has something-"[/color]

[color=629c3f]"No, no, sorry, don't worry Trish! Purely hypothetical. If something happened, would you blame… Leon? Or end up hating him for the rest of his life? Cause he didn't do enough to protect me?"[/color]

[color=d1b300]“What? No."[/color] There was barely a pause, though Trisha was audibly confused.
[color=d1b300]“Of course not. I may not be Leon's biggest fan, but I know that you make your own decisions then get incredibly stubborn about them. If you're there and something happens, it would… almost definitely be your fault. I wouldn't hold it against anyone else. I'm not that bad."[/color]

Cass tilted her head up to look at Leon, eyebrows raising. 
[color=629c3f]"That's what I thought… Thank you, Trisha! I love you, try to enjoy the rest of your holiday, tell Casey I said hi! Bye!"[/color] 

She hung up quickly, hoping that the questions hadn't made Trisha too worried. She could assuage those later, or Casey would do it. She had her own relationship to deal with… Though she didn't say anything, just stared at Leon waiting for him to say something. 

He didn’t for a long while. He didn’t believe any of it. Leon couldn’t bring himself to trust Trisha’s words regardless of their sincerity in the moment. He couldn’t imagine a world where she didn’t treat him like he was just some asshole once Cass was gone. He thought about how she’d probably treat her the same way if he wound up pushing her away.

[color=C67C12]”So… What? I’m supposed to be unburdened? I’m supposed to break down and be vulnerable now? Maybe I’m a selfish idiot for still being mad, but I am. I don’t love you less because of it. I’m just really pissed off that you’ve… I… Make a lot of decisions that I think are the right ones. When you’re so adamantly against me, it feels… [i]Personal.[/i] Like it's a fight. You’ve made me feel small. I probably made you feel the same. I’m sorry.”[/color] he explained as best he could without looking up.

Was it enough to make her feel less mad? Not really. But Cass knew herself enough to recognise that she wasn't going to feel less mad unless he begged- and she didn't really want him to do that. He was mad too. Which was fine. They needed time to cool off again, probably. 

[color=629c3f]"You're allowed to be mad. I don't care that you're mad… But ignoring me completely? Planning to for months? I just can't accept that shit."[/color] Cass shook her head, before tilting it back to stare at the ceiling. She wanted to cry more than she expected to. 

[color=629c3f]"I didn't mean to make you feel small, so I am sorry about that. But if we take Trisha outta the equation, we got the same thing on both sides. You love me and are worried I'll get hurt, so you don't want me here. I wanna be here cause I feel the same. The compromise there ain't me staying away! But it also ain't me just coming back and recklessly throwing myself in the middle of everything. Jack gave me a stern talking to bout that- but the compromise is something like me being here, me seeing you, me helping protect people who need it by being there in case someone attacks- but not just wading into the thick of it! Something like that's a compromise, and what I was tryna get at."[/color]

She shook her head again, squeezing her eyes shut, voice trembling a bit. 
[color=d1b300]“We can both be as pissed as we want. But I want to walk away from here knowing we can fucking come back and fix things- [I]soon[/I], not in fucking weeks."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Dude, you-”[/color]

Leon paused, shaking his head and finally standing up to move toward Cass. His arms and hands reached out around her, tugging her close and cradling her as best he could.

[color=C67C12]”-act like it ain’t over… It’s fine. We’re fine. You’re here, I can’t stop you, everything I’m worried about’s in my head… Clearly, I’m just a moron.”[/color] he said, trying to hold her close.

[color=C67C12]”Nothing else to talk about… It’s fixed. You got your way.”[/color] 

Though Cass didn't fully push him away, she did raise a fist to punch his chest multiple times. It wasn't enhanced past her normal baseline, but that still made her strong enough that it would hurt. 

[color=629c3f]"It's not about getting my way, Leon! I just said about fucking compromise-"[/color] Cass choked out. It absolutely didn't feel over. The feeling pushed her over an edge she generally didn't fall over, tears forcing themselves out of her eyes and down her cheeks. Had anything really resolved? Or where they just leaving it in a position where there'd be resentment between them. Maybe not from her, because she wasn't the resentful sort, but surely just rolling over would make Leon feel that way? And what if it just happened again?

[color=629c3f]"Do you understand why I feel so hurt, Leon? It's not the fighting! It's how you acted- how you just made the decision for me… And sure, maybe I'm as bad cause I decided to come over. But you just cut it off and started ignoring me. And I came here because I knew it was the only fucking chance we'd come out still together! Which I wanted! I love you! But you gotta understand that something like that’d kill my feelings within days! It can't happen again."[/color]

[color=C67C12][i]It can’t happen again.[/i][/color]

Being punched didn’t worry him. Being shouted at didn’t even really worry him. But, she’d said the word twice now, and he had to deal with a level of cognitive dissonance that wasn’t normal. If she really felt that way, she wouldn’t just lose it over a couple of days, right? That feeling didn’t just go away. 

She said [i]kill[/i]. Implying that it would be his fault. She wasn’t killing it… Except, [i]she was.[/i] She saw it as a problem that he created, and as he thought about it more and more, he came to realize that he saw it as a problem [i]she[/i] made. Would that breed lasting resentment? The idea that, if they weren’t on the same page, then they were both too fundamentally stubborn to back down from their positions? It made them great as a cooperative duo, but in a situation like this, it was entirely burdensome. 

The least he could do was be truthful.

[color=C67C12]”Honestly? No. I mean, I’m aware of the emotions surrounding your feelings, but in all honesty, Cass… I’m having a hard time fundamentally. Like… Like we’re not allowed to be apart, or whatever. Like, I can’t think of a way I could’ve possibly conveyed what I wanted where you would’ve been agreeable to it, even though in my head it wasn’t any huge ask. The response has been totally unexpected, and I’m desperate to understand why I’m seeing something so differently from you. Because, y’know, I don’t want to. I want us on the same page. Like, I’ll accept responsibility for not handling it better overall, but… I can’t not feel hurt, because again, it really never seemed like a big deal to me to begin with!”[/color]

Cass twisted herself down and to the side, slipping out of his arms easily. She couldn't be having him hold her right now. 

[color=629c3f]"You want to understand, but you can't even think why it might be a big deal?"[/color] She asked, raising one hand to wipe away her tears as best she could. 

[color=629c3f]"I didn't say we couldn’t be apart, Leon. There's a difference between spending time apart and turning around just outright ignoring and avoiding someone… And planning to for months! This isn't me being clingy. This is me having enough self respect to not let myself be treated like shit."[/color] 

It felt awful to put it that way, but how else could she, if he just didn't understand? If he really couldn't see the difference… 

[color=629c3f]"You asked me to stay away from what feels like my home for months. From people who've become integral to my life, who I also might then lose. Months sitting and worrying and utterly powerless to do even a little bit. Can't even be emotional support for anyone. So it was a big deal to me."[/color] She frowned, hands clenching into fists again. 

[color=629c3f]"Your feelings become more important than mine. And I tried to think of a compromise. Thinking, what worries Leon so much?! Really really thinking, and reflecting, and talking to my brother- and I understand that I've been reckless! I get that you're worried I'll throw myself in front of someone without thinking! So, I think of a compromise where I can help without throwing myself into shit like that. Like the fucking dad's army, staying at home with people who need the protection. Sure, I didn't get a chance to properly explain when we called! But I have now, and you just acted like I'd completely won. Because you don't want to compromise- Fuck!"[/color] Cass reached up to rub her eyes again, frustrated that she was practically breaking down over it. She rarely got like this. 

She’d pushed him away, and he felt that more than he felt her words. She hadn’t [i]pushed[/i], but she had escaped… Maybe that was even worse. He’d felt Lelou on the edge of attention, looking into the situation like a beast from the brush beyond, and invited her to come forward. There was wordless refusal, an intimate understanding of the consequences of his actions flowing across the space between them. She would not stand [i]for[/i] him. 

It was worse that he knew he’d done it himself. That his previous concession [i]could have[/i] spared this extra tension. A joke hadn’t landed… Fine! Just move on in a more serious manner, since she clearly wasn’t in the mood to clear things up like that…
[i]For once…[/i]

[color=C67C12]”Cass… I’m… Not used to this. I can’t sit here and give you excuses now! I can’t explain away the behavior, either! It’s the shit I do, and it’s got nothing to do with how I [i]should[/i] handle things. I know I’m wrong, I knew I was wrong doing it! But, just like Trisha, I [i]have[/i] been blamed for people’s deaths. I took it on the fucking chin at nineteen, because you think that some other dumb kid is responsible for not handling their own conflict, but it fucking [i]eats at you![/i] Because I was the one who didn’t give them enough of [i]my[/i] time, and wrote their deaths off as [i]their fault[/i]. My feelings aren’t more important than yours are, Cass, I’m just feeling them real fuckin’ strongly, and rather than leaning on you like I should, I’m being a fuckin’ bastard over it! I’m [i]sorry, Cass![/i] You’re here now, and Goddamnit, I’m not too proud to say I fucking need you! Please! Please, don’t make me fucking beg, because I don’t want this to be how you learn to hate me… Not after you said it…”[/color] his voice started strong, tapering off into a more subdued, almost longing tone by the end.

Cass visibly deflated hearing all of that, like the taut string of anger holding her up had snapped. 

It was what she'd wanted to hear, really. Him admitting that he knew he was wrong. Because they could work with that, and move forward, and hope that the next time a situation like this comes up they'd both deal with it a little better! They'd remember it. She just needed him to acknowledge it and understand a little so that she could know there'd be improvement, rather than them getting stuck in a loop. 

Normally something like this, with the forceful decision making and silent treatment, would be enough for her to end things. She'd suffered through her share of bad relationships, and unlike Trisha she experienced it once and never wanted to again. But she recognised that even if she felt Leon was [I]more[/I] at fault, she hadn't handled things well either. So it wasn't just a one sided thing. And she did [I]love[/I] him, even though she hadn't been entirely sure that was the feeling until she'd blurted it out [I]twice[/I]. 

[color=629c3f]"That's all I wanted to hear, Leon! So I know that next time some shit like this happens, it'll be a bit better. I just needed to know you know you're wrong."[/color] She paused for a moment to wipe away the fresh round of tears, before moving forward to hug him again. She pressed her face and body into him for a moment, practically smothering herself. Just for a second before she pulled her head away to look back up at him. 

[color=629c3f]"I'm sorry too, I could've done shit better too. I get that it came across as me just telling you to go fuck yourself, cause I didn't explain any of the shit in my brain. I'm fine to be here for emotional support, and as some kinda rearguard thing!"[/color] She said, sniffing and still hugging into him. 

[color=629c3f]"You gotta do a lot more than this to make me [I]hate you[/I]... I'd break up with you, sure, but I don't hate easy… Fuck, anyway, it's fine, it's fine, I ain't gonna do either of those things. So lean on me, cause I'm still here."[/color] The anger really was slipping away, though it wasn't really replaced by anything overtly positive. She'd dealt with a lot the last few days, and even someone like her would struggle to bounce right back to super joyful. But her anger was rarely unreasonable. She didn't hold onto it when she felt shit was resolved. 

[color=629c3f]"I guess I did say it… I really didn't plan to like this…"[/color] She grumbled. 
[color=629c3f]"I was gonna cover my apartment in petals and wait naked in bed before boldly declaring my love."[/color]

By the time she was hugging him, he was all too ready to let go of everything he had. Unlike his brother, however, Leon wasn’t a blubberer. Rather, he was fairly reserved about his soulcrushing grief. Cass could feel one hand grip one side of her while the other made the opposite motion. In a single swift twist of his legs, he was on his knees and quite forcefully leaning against her as his face began to leak in grand rivers of tears in a near comedic volume. A wretched third hand broke its way out from under his left arm, crooking backward out of the sleeve to pat himself on the back… It wasn’t [i]him[/i] per se, but there was a level of irony that was unmistakable as Lelou attempted to comfort Leon along with Cass.

At least Cass would be just as used to something like this as he’d gotten to [i]her[/i] rapid limb gain.

[color=C67C12]”Nobody fucking listens to me it feels like. They used to! Because I knew more! Now, it’s all fucking even, and I’m just a moron! I don’t have the gift! [i]She used to praise me![/i] Said if there was ever going to be a male in our line that had our gift, [i]I was it![/i] And now I’m just an idiot!  And nobody gives a fuck, because nobody [i]liked[/i] me being a knowitall asshole except me, and [i]her[/i]! Stupid, stupid jerk… My [i]fucking[/i] Mom: Great memories! Great! And it all gets swirled around you? I’m the [i]archdick![/i] I can’t keep… Please don’t go anywhere, Cass… I don’t want to… I didn’t want to do this alone in the [i]first place![/i] I swear! I swear to fucking God I didn’t, but I’m so fucking nervous at this point! I ain’t ever felt like this in my [i]life![/i]”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"I ain't going anywhere, don't worry."[/color] Cass hugged him tightly, working around the extra Lelou limb. Having a good chunk of his weight against her wasn't a problem, her legs strengthening further with a soft flare of green lux to compensate. One hand threaded through his hair and rubbed the back of his head. It wasn't the gentlest of motions, because it was Cass, but hopefully it was comforting enough. 

She managed to stop herself from half lecturing him, that people did listen but disagreement didn't mean not listening. Like with her, she could disagree and still listen! Sure maybe she was a bit of a bulldozer too sometimes… But now wasn't the time to start saying shit like that which might just be misunderstood as talking down to him. 

[color=629c3f]"Strong feelings make you feel all kinda shit… I know it really ain't the same, but I was sitting in Manchester going ‘damn why the fuck do I miss him so much, it's only been a couple've days', cause I ain't really felt like that before. Ain't such a negative one, but y'know, same source feeling I guess!"[/color] Cass rambled a bit. 

[color=629c3f]"I'll do everything I can to make you less nervous while still being here, Leon! So you ain't alone, but you also ain't so constantly anxious about it. If you want me to spend most of my time outta the Temple, that's fine. I'll come as you need me… But I'm gonna support you."[/color] She leaned forward to bury her face in his hair, rubbing her nose against the top of his head and breathing him in. Fuck, she really had missed him, even if shit had exploded like this. 
[color=629c3f]"I don't like when you're an asshole, but I do kinda like that you're a know-it-all, cause I'm the same with my own shit, ain't I?"[/color]

She could feel his hand massaging back and forth, one squeezing and the other releasing in asynchronous motions as he breathed heavily. There wasn’t much of a response until he finally pulled away slightly, looking up at her with a bright red and piteous face that looked like a small boy doing everything he could to hold back his sobs. Thankfully, they weren’t coming. He was far more conditioned to keep the loudest parts of his feelings put away, and that meant he could deal with [i]this moment.[/i]

Know-it-all asshole was [i]one[/i] thing. He felt that one couldn’t be had without the other, because to be inclined toward that behavior meant something was wrong with the self. There was a confidence issue going on with whoever that person was, and they were just compensating for time spent feeling outside of acceptance. He was compensating… He always did.

[color=C67C12]”I think it’d be obvious that you can go do whatever you want at this point… Me telling you anything just feels like I’m being more of an asshole… I’d love for you to help out however you feel’s best. Stick with me, go to a different location and be there… I really don’t know what’d be most helpful. I can call Elise. D’you want me to? I’m not gonna say no to you being around me either, I just… [i]I get like this.[/i] I know I do something wrong, then the overcorrection starts.”[/color] he bemoaned sorely.

[color=629c3f]"Yeah, I can see that… But I ain't gonna get annoyed at you for overcorrecting!"[/color] Cass responded calmly. Her normal energy was slowly coming back at least, and she'd stopped crying- which was good cause she hated crying like that! So unnecessary!

[color=629c3f]"Don't bother calling her… Just gimme me a bit to think about it! Like, fifteen minutes here with you before I try to figure out how to help. I think we both need and deserve that, right?!"[/color] She looked down at him, lips beginning to twitch towards a smile. She couldn't resist leaning in to give his nose a little bite, before quickly kissing him. 

[color=629c3f]"Ed asked me to help her… I ain't so comfy with her just being left alone either, for more than just safety y'know. So if I don't stay here, I'll go back to her. Like I said, I really ain't looking for crazy action. I just wanna help everyone get through this."[/color] She continued as she pulled away just a little bit, nose rubbing against his. 
[color=629c3f]"But right now I wanna spend some time with my boyfriend who I missed [I]wayyyy[/I] more than I expected to, even if it's gotta be in a room with only a tiny ass chair."[/color]

Leon looked down at the little stool. 

[color=C67C12]”It’s a good thinking chair. We used to have it in the apartment. Never knew I was sitting on a millennia old ottoman. Egyptian. If you’re, uh… I guess if you’re wearing leather sandals, it refits them and tightens them up for you.”[/color]

Such a mundane little artifact, yet it was so old and so unlike modern Orange magic that his Father had kept it as a piece for conversations. At this point, he knew everything there was to know about that damned little stool. Having settled at least slightly, he figured they were both ready to joke a little. But, when she mentioned the stool, he knew that was the case, and quickly jumped back into the water. They were two peas in a pod, after all…

[color=C67C12]”I… Don’t wanna fight about shit like this, Cass. I think, honestly, this is why I ain’t had a good, long relationship. Maybe the other people never end up tellin’ me, but I’ve kinda noticed being around you that… Well, I get annoyed! Not from anything you do directly, just… I feel like I’m never gonna [i]win[/i] again! And I don’t know what the fuck that even [i]means[/i], dude! It’s just, like, I guess I feel like if I want a good relationship, then I gotta do what other people do, and just always say yes and okay. And it was real shitty of me to bring that up, too. But, it’s so fucking weird, y’know? That, to me, it almost always feels like there [i]is[/i] some kind of contest! I don’t want it to be that way… But I don’t know how to fix that!”[/color]

Thankfully, he had no problem getting into the meat of his own issues once the barrier was broken down. Just like Cass, it probably would’ve been a significantly thicker wall to penetrate if he wasn’t deeply, madly, and very quietly in love with this woman. The woman who made not only his heart, but the heart of a multi-thousand year old wolf spirit flutter with excitement and tender desire… He could hear the front guard [i]talking[/i] about them. About her, and about hoping he wasn’t going to start a fight in the artifact room. Thankfully, their worries were unfounded today. He had the chance to introspect about the problems he spoke about, even if he didn’t know when the next flareup of violence was supposed to happen. He never could’ve known actively… 

That was Mia’s job now. To look ahead. [i]A terrible fate, if only temporary.[/i]

[color=629c3f]"That is pretty weird."[/color] Cass said bluntly. It was just like her, but she also had no idea how to even suggest Leon started working on it. 

She didn't really get it or feel the same! She could be crazily competitive when it came to games or competitions, but not life or conversations. For her an argument wasn't about winning… It was about getting to a resolution or sorting out problems. She didn't disagree with shit because she felt like it was a competition, so it was difficult to figure out what to suggest. 

[color=629c3f]"I don't really see shit the same way. Disagreement’s pretty healthy, y'know, cause we're two different people. Different, opinionated people. It's how we deal with that shit that can be unhealthy… But it ain't ever a competition in my mind. I don't disagree cause I'm tryna win anything, I disagree cause've how I feel. And sure, I could get better at not being so stubborn ‘bout my own thoughts… But it ain't cause I wanna win. I mean we do clash cause we're both stubborn asses, but that doesn't mean we can't both resolve shit… But I don't want you just always agree with me either. To me that wouldn't be a good relationship, cause you're suppressing yourself. It'd be as unfair as me having to do the same. I don't wanna fight either, but it'll probably happen. And we'll both be in the wrong at times… Just, y'know, preferably without any silent treatment."[/color] She said, tilting her head from side to side in place of the normal overt body wriggling. She was kinda constrained hugging him after. 

[color=629c3f]"I ain't got many suggestions on how to fix everything feeling like a contest besides… Well, non-invasive magical therapy. Not just cause've how it might affect our relationship but also, y'know, clearly it makes shit hard for you! There's gotta be some healthy way to channel the feelings."[/color]

[color=34ebb1][i]”You always know, Lynette! She wins again, the bitch who can see ahead in time knows what the argument’s about, but she wants to have it anyway!”[/i][/color]
[color=8882be][i]”Say it louder, Max! You know I love hearing you eat shit! Why don’t you go find someone who’ll grovel to you. Maybe they’ll suck your dick how you like it.”[/i][/color]

Leon’s eyes stared at the stool for a moment longer as the memory passed.

[color=C67C12][i]That’s probably a start…[/i][/color]

Still, he managed to hold her tight and bring them both softly to the floor where at least they could sprawl out. He’d bothered vacuuming and dusting the entire vault after moving all his stuff here. [i]Almost[/i] all his stuff. Around the corner, he’d even set up the coffee machine. He didn’t give a shit about it being destroyed, because if anyone attacked this place and made it inside, it was getting either stolen or destroyed. He just wanted the good coffee. His creature comforts. If he was going to be sitting in defense mode until something happened that they needed him for, there was no reason to go without, he figured.

[color=C67C12]”Therapy’s probably good. I… Don’t see anything wrong with going to see someone who uses Pink Lux. If they can identify specific triggers, or create a teaching spell rather than a transformative spell, then I think it’s just as valid. I guess I don’t mind the shock collar.”[/color] he tried to joke.

[color=629c3f]"You'd need a Red adept for the full shock collar."[/color] Cass shook her head at him, twisting around in his lap so her legs could loosely wrap around his torso. 

[color=629c3f]"I ain't gonna argue with that, so long as it's someone you can trust… I don't think it's less valid, it's just more risky! I mean, a bad therapist can fuck you up bad enough, nevermind a magical one! But normal ones got some kinda oversight… I assume magical ones got the same mundane oversight but is there, like, a board for magical therapy?! To make sure they ain't abusing it?"[/color] She tilted her head, looking thoughtful more than anything. It was the kind of shit she just didn't know about the magical world. She probably wouldn't mind a Pink therapist so long as they didn't go in and blast her mind. But she'd done her share of mundane therapy to the point she could work on her issues by herself, really. 

[color=629c3f]"I guess Lelou'd notice if they were tryna pull shit and bite em, though."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”And how… Greyson once tried to slip into my Emotional Field after I adjoined… Passed out!”[/color] Leon grinned, nodding his head.

[color=C67C12]”I can probably get together with Hari for a few sessions. Just to set the boundaries up for myself and get on track with Lelou’s help. Since we’re together like this without the seals, she can actually [i]enhance[/i] the effect of magic on me in the same way that she can negate it. So, if she’s on board, Hari’ll have an easy time.”[/color]

Leon’s inner ear twitched as he heard someone’s heels turn and begin clicking down the hall from the opposite end of the entrance. The tunnel side. They were tall heels, and he could tell the height of the person by the strut. And the fact that feet weren’t the only thing making noise, though one was physical and one wasn’t. A picture was being painted in his head from dozens of feet off.

[color=C67C12]”But, uh… I’m not aware of any kind of Magical Psychologist’s expert panel or board of medicine… Pinkies always just end up doing [i]roughly[/i] the same shit. They crawl into your brain through some abstract-”[/color]

The other sound wasn’t fleshy. It was metallic. That put him on guard, and he leaned forward.

[color=C67C12]”-uh, fuck… Someone’s coming. I want you to act real cool but be ready for anything.-”[/color] he shot the instruction down toward her with great speed, feeling the distance closing in. Then, leaning back on his elbow again, he went back to talking like nothing had happened, except for his pulling her closer, to put his body between her and the open air above them quicker in the worst case.

Cass nodded quickly, muscles tensing slightly. Green Lux flooded through her muscles, strengthening them while hardening her skin. Just in case.

[color=C67C12]”-They crawl into your brain through some abstract method, force you into feeling what you talk about very intensely, and then they detective their way to where it lives, and they fuck with it. Pink Lux psychology one-oh-one.”[/color]

Leon was finishing his spiel as a massive black metal gauntlet rounded the corner of the doorframe, crawling up one side of the wall like a massive spider. It was followed by none other than Lena Zoller: Ex-Hag and Envoy of the Aberrations. Now, just another free agent in the circle of hawks suddenly surrounding Elise. Exactly the kind of person he felt they should be on guard against.

[color=E6C2B8]”Leon Richoux… Elise has been informed of Cass’ arrival. You’re on break until further notice. Rotation. She wants you to go see her.”[/color]

The [i]other[/i] gauntlet stood on its fingertips behind Lena, almost peering over her shoulder as if it had eyes. Leon couldn’t help but stare, as something was so [i]terribly[/i] different about her. He stared, and he stared a little more, as if he hadn’t seen her three or four times in the last seventy-two hours. Then, he started laughing.
Because, suddenly breaking away from the person she’d so desperately tried to be for the last several [i]years[/i] with her time in the Temple, she’d gone back to basics.

Golden blonde hair shone like a beacon in the low light, naturally pale skin no longer augmented with a thin veneer of makeup to make it [i]just[/i] a little more cartoonish… [i]And a thick, no longer hidden arm of a Swastika tattoo peeking up from underneath the neckline of her shirt to cross the right hand side of her collar bone.[/i]
And now, Leon could only laugh. He wasn’t sure if she [i]wanted[/i] that tattoo, or what.

[color=C67C12]”Lena!? [i]Jesus Christ[/i], I thought you got that shit [i]removed[/i] dude! Y’know, it’s only been a few years since the war ended, are you sure this is the cosplay you wanna run with?”[/color] Leon asked, absolutely shocked to see her de-gothed and re-Nazi’d.

[color=E6C2B8]”Oh, kick shit, Mutt. Can’t you be happy with a fuckin’ break? Or does it feel good lingering around the scene of the crime?”[/color]

Cass' jaw dropped, staring at Lena. They hadn't really interacted much, but she'd seen her before. The spitting image of Lynette… But now she had a fucking Nazi tattoo on full display! Obviously that made her feel all sorts of ways. For a start, she'd lived through the Blitz and the war… she'd lost a brother to the Germans! Second, she wasn't white! Sure, maybe she wasn't black enough to get the full racism, but for these people anything was too much. Plus, obviously, racism was disgusting! 

[color=629c3f]"Man, you gotta tell me what you used to get the black dye outta your hair… That's kinda incredible."[/color] She laughed awkwardly. 
[color=629c3f]"Fucking hell… The tattoo really ain't a good look, uh… Really not a good look at all, fucking hell. Specially not with how you're talking- Fuck, dude."[/color]

She looked at Leon, with wide eyes. She was clearly uncomfortable in Lena's presence right now, though there was also the start of a dangerous little spark in her eyes. The kind that meant she'd probably end up punching the maybe Nazi in the face if they stuck around much longer. The only thing holding her back from full on ripping into her for it was her initial shock, and not wanting to make things harder for Leon right now.

[color=629c3f]"Uh, break, then? Though it feels a lot more like being called into the headmasters office."[/color]

Leon gave Cass an empathetic look as he stood up and helped Cass up onto her own feet. 

[color=C67C12]”What’s the pass, Lena?”[/color] he asked, sounding a little annoyed in spite of his otherwise good nature in the face of what he was looking at.

She rolled her eyes in return, sticking her hand out.
[color=E6C2B8]”Just take the fucking Recollection and go bark at the Moon. Both of you dogs…”[/color]

Leon sneered. It was the real Lena, and playing by the rules in spite of being a huge bitch about it… [i]As usual.[/i] Taking her hand in a loud clap, there was a rapid transfer of the conversation that’d happened only a few minutes ago. Elise even addressed him [i]directly[/i], knowing he’d be observing the entire thing as best he could.

[color=f0cd8d][i]”I want to send Mia home with you as well. Come down and see me, both of you.”[/i][/color]

[color=C67C12][i]Yes, Ma’am.[/i][/color]
For the short future, she was the Matron. While many others were already treating her like the seat meant nothing, Leon had every intention of making sure that it held steady until everyone was ready to turn out the lights. She was his [i]sister.[/i]

The Recollection ended without much of a resolution, as the conversation they were having now [i]was[/i] the resolution. It was good enough for him, as she’d even woven the [i]secret[/i] passphrase into the message she sent with Lena. Elise had specifically told him that she’d only be swapping him out once she was ready to send Mia home: So, hearing her say that specifically felt like a direct identifier for him to be guaranteed that this was her decision.

[color=8882be][i]”Every choice, every action, every single thing that you even think about doing leaves a tear in the fabric of Fate, Leon. Don’t make a move unless you know exactly what kind of cut you’re making!”[/i][/color]

The choice to leave Lena wasn’t one he’d make… So, it [i]had[/i] to be approved. Just like Cass’ involvement [i]had[/i] to be approved. Because he knew what breaking that rule meant. Or, what it [i]had[/i] meant.

[color=8882be][i]”More worthless than that dead scumbag! The two of you, like life doesn’t really matter to you! You do whatever it is you want, and I won’t stand for it!”[/i][/color]

[color=C67C12]”Well, good enough for me then. There’s an Italian espresso machine in the vault itself, along with a small television and a set of weights. Feel free, just don’t get them covered in your juices, Hitlena.”[/color] Leon practically shrugged the duty off like it was a heavy backpack on his shoulder. After all, if she was here on order, there was literally no way she could break the agreement. It was her Apparition’s nature, after all, to remain [i]nearly[/i] lawful, so long as they’re following a direct request made by an external individual.

It was an odd quirk, but one that Lynette had used to her benefit for years. The same one that made her a pliable and easily utilized soldier for the psychopathic band of Nazis she was born into. Without a second thought, Leon ushered Cass out into the hall and past the giant metal gauntlet, which backed itself half way up the wall in response to let them pass. As they got further away and rounded the corner, Leon started laughing again.

[color=C67C12]”Jesus, Mary and Joseph… I literally thought she had someone get rid of that tattoo, that’s crazy what a little makeup can do. I wonder how much she spent on it every month to have enough to cover such a big fucking tattoo up. [i]Did you see that thing?[/i] It’s got shit inside it… Fuckin’ runes and shit. No way it doesn’t have something to do with her Apparition, or she [i]definitely[/i] would’ve gotten rid of it.”[/color] Leon speculated with a confused face.

[color=629c3f]"I sure hope so, cause otherwise she's still just a straight up Nazi!"[/color] Cass burst out, hands flinging into the air. Fucking hell… She couldn't really sense any magic in it, but it wasn't really something she could easily sniff out. Just looked like a slightly runic nazi tattoo… And they loved taking Norse runes and using them too. 

[color=629c3f]"Not that I give a fuck what she's like, just that yknow… everyone associating with someone who believes that shit is real icky."[/color] She shuddered slightly. At least they hadn't had to deal with her for long. 
[color=629c3f]"Y'know it's lucky I'm feeling less fighty, cause otherwise I woulda punched her on sight without even thinking! Which, y'know, probably would've cause a lotta problems for you. So thank fuck I got some self control!"[/color]

She clenched on hand into a fist and punched it into the air, before relaxing it and slapping it into his hand to hold it. Or maybe it was the extra Lelou hadn't… she hadn't checked if that was gone and which she was grabbing. 

[color=629c3f]"You ain't in trouble with Elise, are you? Cause if you are, I'll take full responsibility for annoying my way in. Cause, y'know, entirely my fault, as much as it was necessary for us to be alright now."[/color]

Leon shook his head, unable to stop himself from laughing at the irony of Cass’ first thought being to fight. It was the exact kind of behavior he figured would be responsible for her getting hurt. After all, he could tell her to avoid going out and minimize seeing others all he wanted; nothing was going to stop her from hauling off and deleting the first person to approach the Cannery with ill intent except herself. And he didn’t [i]want[/i] that. He didn’t want her even coming close to feeling like violence was the right answer. It was against Dollhouse, but they also entered St. Portwell with no intention of playing nice to begin with…

Up until a few days ago, the shattered pieces of the old Temple had been part of his life. Intimate pieces that, over the course of it, had involved him in ways that he couldn’t forget. He was [i]special[/i], after all. People gave him deference even after he’d become an Aberration. There were some who were [i]afraid[/i] of his peculiar position within the hierarchy of the organization, but ultimately, he found much the same acceptance as he always had. More, after he learned to identify with his contemporaries in a more genuine way… It took a couple of years, but he managed. 

Now, he was outside of [i]all[/i] of it. Lena took a chunk of likeminded Adepts and Aberrations under her own wing, and was leveraging the strength she had against those remaining loyal to Elise by sticking around and playing nice. The two danced in the corpse they made, while Professor Cairo and Doctor Andy had joined up to guide the more radical Adepts whose interests lay in not only the artifacts held within the Temple, but the vast amount of gathered research by both Dollhouse [i]and[/i] Project Eden. And then the equally radical but hopefully more amiable Union of Aberrations who, upon official news of Lynette’s death, submitted a manifesto detailing four demands they had for the remnants of the Temple to fulfill, or there would be consequences.

He had to wonder if any one side perceived his involvement with another as clear cut side-choosing. It wasn’t locked in stone. Nothing was. He wanted everyone to come back together under people who actually wanted to do good and heal, not just profit off of the hard work of those trapped within the organization. His mother and father had turned their Temple into just another social front for a large-scale syndicate-cult. A machine to print money both magically and legitimately, where ten cents of every dollar went back into the coffers of the Richoux Foundation.


[color=C67C12]”No, Cass. I’m not in trouble. It’s just an agreement we had. We’ll bring Mia home with us, and once she’s settled up, we’re gonna go up to your apartment and I’m gonna show you how much I missed you. Very loudly. After all, the whole building’s been evacuated. We could go [i]anywhere.[/i]”[/color] He gave her a wry grin, hoping that at the very least she’d get a laugh out of the vulgarity.

[color=629c3f]"Ooo, anywhere?!"[/color] Cass grinned up at him with a little cackle. 
[color=629c3f]"How about the gym?! I've always wanted to do it there."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Fuckin’ deal.”[/color]