James Burke and Myra Flores
Location: Cedar Ash Inn.
Interacting With: Each other.
He wasn’t sure what the hell he was doing, but something deep within him told him it was the right thing to do. Because the right thing to do was never easy, and this was leagues beyond a walk in the park. Steeling his nerve, James waited an ample amount of time after his wife left to speak with her brother before he came out from his hiding spot and entered the Inn once again. He could practically smell the tension in the air left behind between mother and daughter, though the pheromones he was picking up from the mother in question didn’t at all seem too bad. Maybe… just maybe, they had reconciled, at least a little bit. That would make this indefinitely easier.
Slowly coming into the room, James’ bright eyes landed on his mother-in-law, though he gave her a wide breadth as to not impose on any personal space. And she couldn’t hit him from over there.
”I know you don’t like me,” James started. He had rehearsed this speech over a thousand times, though each time it seemed to lean towards the introduction of her distaste towards him.
”but I love your daughter very much. I always have. It was not our intention to hurt you, or your family. I don’t know what she’s said to you, or what the two of you talked about, but for my own peace of mind I hope she was coming from an apologetic place just as I am. But if not, just know that her heart is coming from a good place.”Myra watched her daughter walk out the room, before turning away from the door, to the window. She looked out, even though she knew she probably wouldn’t be able to see her children, even as she strained to see. How long had it been, since she saw them together? The soft sound of footsteps caused her to look over her shoulder, her heart leaping- had Sombra returned? Her expression hardened as she saw who it was, and she turned to face him, crossing her arms.
Would everything have happened, if Sombra hadn’t been entwined with James? She knew it was purely… unreasonable to place all the blame on James- no doubt Sombra would have found someone else to take to the abandoned mill- but she was a mother. She could be unreasonable. Maybe it was.. .but she didn’t let her thoughts go there, steeling her mind, and keeping her gaze on James, silent.
Finally, she broke her silence.
”Oh, yes. I had heard that you’ve been quite busy, Burke. With my daughter. After running away. For five years” her tone strained, Myra thought about just walking out, preferably after doing damage to him. But she wasn’t going to give Sombra any more reasons to leave again. Although hitting him was still an option she’d gladly consider.
”what about your own family? Did you not only come back because of your sister, and yet, here you are”.
James rolled his shoulders a bit uncomfortably. He had forgotten just how chilling Sombra's mother could be with even just the tone of her voice. But the permanent disappointed look on her face didn't exactly help, either.
"We have our reasons for coming back." he told her softly, as to not appear that he was arguing with her. He had no idea just what Myra knew yet and he wasn't about to be the one to spoil it.
"I do plan on going to see Miranda. I do. I've missed her like you wouldn't belie- Well... I suppose you would. There are just a few things we have to do first. And I'm glad you found us, found her. I don't think she would have come to you on her own."More than pleased that she could put him at ill ease, Myra didn’t let it show, instead she watched him in silence as he spoke.
”Just like you had your reasons for leaving. With no contact at all.”. She said in a mild tone,
”You are lucky I know Sombra can handle herself- or I would have had a manhunt after you”. Although, Myra had been tempted to do so anyway. And probably would have, if she didn’t know Sombra could have foiled even that attempt to find her.
Despite herself, despite what Sombra had told her, what she knew, Myra said
”I suppose I’m just waiting for you to do something wrong to her, to start the manhunt. The “I love her so much” Isn’t an excuse for everything””I would die for her.” James took a step forward towards Myra, his jaw clenching as a fierce determination came over his features.
”Look, I screw up all the time, okay? I’m not perfect, and she knows it. Sometimes I leave the toilet lid up and sometimes I complain when she asks me to take out the trash. I leave my beard trimmings in the bathroom sink and sometimes I hang out with my friends a little too late. So go ahead and send your manhunt. Aside from the petty things, all they will find is our absolute devotion to one another when it really comes down to it.”Ah. Anger, something Myra could understand. And it was always good to know how to push someone’s buttons.
”Words mean nothing” Although if actions meant anything, she’d never get anywhere with Sombra.
”And your actions have been quite poor”James shook his head. Clearly she knew nothing of the supernatural world, or the real reason as to why they had come back home. She was trying his patience, but he refused to give in. What good would it do? He wanted nothing more than a good, healthy relationship with his in-law family, especially with the baby on the way. He would try until his last breath. But a relationship went both ways.
”They may have been, and that’s on us. I’m willing to take full responsibility for that.” Even if it had been Sombra’s idea to run away. He supported her decision. He was just as guilty.
”Our being here is an action. My attempt to reconcile with you in an action. And our business here is possibly the most important action. But you don’t see any of that for what it is - only what you want to see.””All of which means absolutely nothing when you both ultimately leave again” Myra shook her head, and would have liked to do more than simply stand there- if only to see how he reacted. Perhaps she’d let her restraint lapse.
”What would be the excuse this time- given that you can’t really use “To protect everyone else” and “it was for the best”, what, with the attack last night and all”James hesitated. Okay, so she knew about an attack. It didn’t mean that it had anything to do with his little sister’s attack. He still didn’t have the full details on that.
”I’m not leaving until I know that Miranda is okay. And even then, I’m not even sure when I’ll have the peace of mind to leave her again. You would do the same for your siblings.”Myra was silent for a moment, thinking. Did he not know, or was it another ploy. She suspected he’d been listening in on her and Sombra, but maybe not. Perhaps the benefit of the doubt was necessary here. And maybe not.
”Oh, I’m sure she’s fine now, Zoè is looking after them, and there were no deaths” She said.
His eyes narrowed. Okay, she
definitely knew more than she was letting on. He took another step closer to her, his nostrils once more flaring though only just slightly.
”Them?” Who else had been attacked? As far as he knew, Zoé was the only wolf in Klamath Falls when they had left aside from the one that had attacked himself and Sombra. Maybe… it was the same wolf. God… were there two packs now? One belonging to his aunt-in-law, and the other to… He didn’t want to think about it.
”Where is my sister, Myra? I need to see her.” His expression softened, his eyes glistening with near-tears as the reality of why he was back in Klamath Falls in the first place really began to set in.
”Please...”Myra sighed softly,
”I don’t know where she is right now, but most of the teens were cleared to go home. You might try and call her. I’m sure Sombra could find the number if you don’t have it” She said, turning away from him, looking out the window once more.
”I know she could. She could even GPS it and take me directly to her.” James told her, maintaining his voice at a calm level.
”I was just hoping a mother would be willing to want to help her daughter’s husband.” So what if Myra hadn’t picked up on the fact that he and Sombra had been married? They were both wearing their rings, and Myra
was a cop. But he didn’t care if she had missed the obvious. He was done. It was more than clear that Myra just didn’t like him, and it was going to stay that way, no matter what he did.
He shook his head and turned away from her. He wasn’t even going to say goodbye. He did more than enough on his part. He was done trying for today.
Myra turned away from the window, using the momentum from the move to yank him back towards her, her free fist snaking out to slam into him, not caring where she got him,
”Thank you for reminding me just how much I’ve missed in my daughter's life” she said, her expression deadly,
”What would you have had me done, put traces on them all? They kinda frown on putting illegal traces on minors. Call Zoè? She has enough to deal with without me bugging her. Your sister went home. I could take a guess as to where she is, If she’s a better person then you, she’s probably checking on her friends who are still at the hospital, could still be at home, or maybe she decided to brave school”The pull backwards to turn his body surprised him somewhat, but not as much as the severe pain and flooding warmth he felt as Myra’s fist came into contact with his nose. He staggered back, blood running down from his left nostril. At least half of his nose was broken, but James made no indication that he was bothered by the action.
He raised his arm to wipe some of the blood from his face and onto his forearm, keeping his eyes on Myra. He had known for years that Miranda had a few run-ins with the law before, meaning that Myra would have access to her records - her phone, specifically. But again, there was no point.
”Tbhank you for your tbime in hearibng me out, Mbyra.”The blood from his nose kept him from speaking clearly, perhaps another reason why he simply just didn’t want to argue with her anymore. He watched her for a moment, making sure she wouldn’t try and hit him again before he once more turned his back to her and left the room. It seemed he would have to do this the usual way.
”Nothing is ever good enough, is it?” Myra muttered to herself, turning away, back to the window. She wasn’t sure why she even gave a damn, except perhaps that he’d tell Sombra she’d been “unreasonable”. What did they expect her to do? Do something that would take her twice, if not three times or longer to do? She pressed her forehead against the window, thinking that it seemed that no matter what she did, she wasn’t going to get any bit of Sombra back.
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