|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 4:54 pm
It was getting close to Halloween and Orin was getting stir-crazy. His father had given him the approval to go trick-or-treating with Millicent, and while he was excited to see the girl, he didn't want to wait until the thirty first. It was so far away!
…There were so many youma to take care of! He had already decided he was going to work his hardest to make sure that there were as few of them on the streets as possible come Halloween. Which meant teaming up with a friend to figure out what worked best.
Millicent was not only a close friend, but also a very powerful senshi—and as such, he was going to go with her.
Trotting over to her house after admiring every last Halloween decoration along the way, he rolled on his heels as he rang the doorbell.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 10:09 am
When the door opened for Orin, it wasn’t Millicent who answered, but her mother, Bellatrix. The woman blinked at the boy on the doorstep and frowned just slightly. She knew that he was coming over to go trick or treating in a few days, but that didn’t really explain why he was here now.
And to be perfectly honest, Bell still didn’t quite know how to deal with him at the moment. Sure, Orin was a sweet boy, and it was always such a relief to see Millie playing with children her own age instead of chasing around older people like Jett, but…
But Orin was the one who clued Bellatrix in on the fact that Millie was a senshi and was running around, potentially getting hurt. “Orin. You’re a few days early, aren’t you? I thought you weren’t coming over until Halloween?”
She tried to sound cheerful, she really did. But it might have come off as just slightly…rude. Or upset. Or something.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 11:03 am
Orin was fairly absentminded and didn't always pick up on social cues, but something about the way Bellatrix spoke made him look up at her with a hint of worry. "Oh, well I…finished all my homework and Dad's not home yet, so I was kind of hoping that Millie and I could hang out for a little bit. I was going stir-crazy at home and I don't really have all that much to do since my chores are done, and…"
He cast Bellatrix a quick look to try and see if she looked mad at him. She had sounded happy enough, but something had just put him on edge.
He was probably just being oversensitive. Bellatrix was wonderful! Maybe she'd just had a long day at work, or hadn't had time to clean up and didn't want him around to see a mess. "I mean, if Millie is busy or something, I can just go home."
But, he really wanted to see her...And he wasn't at all good at hiding it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 2:02 pm
Bellatrix sighed, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Orin, she’s out with another friend right now, but she should be home soon. Or at least I hope she is. What did you have in mind…were you going to patrol with her or something?”
She stepped aside, motioning for the boy to come in if he chose. “How is she doing with all of that, anyway. I still haven’t found the courage to bring it up with her…” The woman gave another sigh. “I’ve made some cookies if you want to come in and have some. If not, that’s fine too. But I suppose I would like to talk some. Plus, you can wait for Millie inside.”
She wasn’t completely heartless. She wanted to make sure that he was doing all right, and that her daughter was as well. If anything, Orin was a good person to get information from. A very good person indeed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 4:03 pm
Orin nodded slowly, initially rather disappointed that Millicent wasn't there. He knew he should have made more of an effort to contact her before just prancing over, but he'd just been so confident that he'd find her here. "Well…"
How could he turn down cookies?
He cheered up a bit, though still seemed slightly on edge. "I mean, if you're inviting me to, I'd really like to. But if me being here is going to make anything weird, I can just head home. I really did just want to spend time with Millie," his mind flashed back to the kiss and he quickly turned his gaze to the ground sheepishly. "It seemed like a good time to go run around, maybe hang out at the park."
He'd been interested in patrolling, sure, but he would have been fine just playing tag or chasing squirrels. "Nothing dangerous. I don't try to do anything dangerous—and I mean, I wouldn't do anything to try and put her in danger. So, you know…"
Orin's voice tapered off and he shrugged. "I mean, she's doing fine. She's always doing good."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:52 pm
Bellatrix shut the door when Orin had come inside and led him to the kitchen, fixing up a plate of cookies and placing a glass of chocolate milk in front of him. “Millie told me you like chocolate milk better than normal, so. Ta-da.” She brushed her hands free of the crumbs and sat down at the table, helping herself to a cookie.
“You’re sure she’s not up to anything dangerous? I just don’t know what to do, Orin. I haven’t told her that I know yet, and I’m still completely unsure how to bring it up. But I’m terrified that the ‘right moment’ will be when she’s in the hospital because some negaverse creep shoved a sword or a knife in her gut.”
She buried her face in her arms on the table and just shook her head. She had been having nightmares ever since Orin first told her about Millie’s double life, and they weren’t getting any better. Finally she looked up. “I don’t want to be the overbearing mother that tries to hold her daughters hand through everything…but this isn’t walking to school. This is fighting in a very real war. A war where I’ve seen people die. And I don’t want her to be among those people. I don’t ever want anything bad to happen to her. Or you, for that matter.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 11:15 pm
Orin could hardly hide the excitement from his face when she presented him with chocolate milk; he was proud that Millie and her mother would remember such a thing and he took a generous sip before he helped himself to a cookie.
He couldn't help but feel guilty that he was sharing secret information on Millicent with her mother, but at the same time…Bellatrix only cared for Millie. It wasn't fair to lie.
Plus, it wasn't like she'd find out—and if he wasn't careful, maybe Bellatrix would wind up telling his father…
And Orin really didn't want to deal with that. He didn't want to disappoint his father or have to admit that he had been sneaking out and hadn't been at all truthful about what he was up to.
But this wasn't just about snitching. This was about Bellatrix, and her very real concerns. And this was about Millie, and making sure she was safe.
"I…I'm pretty sure she's really good at taking care of herself," Orin offered hesitantly. "Millie is really strong. She's basically the strongest person I've ever met. And I think she's really careful—and I am, too. I almost never go out without telling someone where I'm going—and most of the time I go out with someone, anyway. I…I'll keep my eye out for her, if you think that'll help, but…I notice people usually aren't so bad to me. Maybe it's because I'm still a kid or something, but the only thing I really have to watch out for seems to be youma. But…I don't go looking for fights with people. "
He was visibly shifting in his seat, obviously uncomfortable with something; he just kept replaying in his head how badly he didn't want his father to find out what he was doing when he powered up.
"And…I'm sure she doesn’t, either. You know Millie, she's a good girl…"
She was the best senshi he knew—and she was pretty amazing even when she wasn't powered up.
…Not that he could just come out and say that…
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 10:50 pm
Bellatrix nodded and gave a little smile and a heavy sigh. “Well, you’ve seen her out on the field…and I’m glad that you have the sense to go out with someone.” She gave a little laugh. “I need to get back into that habit as well, to be honest.” She wanted to ask for Millie’s name. What name she used when she was a senshi, but it almost seemed like that was prying too much into her daughters life. No. When Millie was ready, Bellatrix was sure that she would tell her everything…and until then…well. She’d just have to be supportive and helpful with whatever she could.
“Orin, you know if anything happens, you can come here, or call me or anything. If you ever get hurt, I can make sure that I take care of you…that way your father won’t ask any questions of it. Or if you need the hospital or anything, I can make the excuse that you’re over here, just please.”
She looked at the boy and gave a smile. “Just keep me in the loop with everything, no matter what it is, all right?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:00 pm
Orin quickly looked up at her, reassured by her offer. "I really appreciate it," he said, though the idea of going to the hospital or keeping a lie that big from his father…
He wasn't sure if he could do it. It made his stomach flop and his skin crawl and he hoped he never had to go to the hospital. Swallowing, he forced a cookie into his mouth and then down a good portion of his chocolate milk. It kept him quiet for a good few seconds, but as soon as he could talk he continued, "I'll keep you in the loop. You know—Millie loves you," he said hesitantly. "I know she does. But she's probably just worried like I am. Everyone told me I couldn't tell my dad…so I have no idea if he's secretly a knight like you or something. I always thought he was so busy working that he couldn't be, but what if he's really out there powering up or something? …But what if he's out there doing the same thing as me and we just keep bumping into each other?"
He sighed and flopped backwards, thinking for a few seconds before he shook his head and laughed. "Nah, not my dad. He's too clumsy and works too hard to keep me happy. He always wants to spend time with me and he's no good at secrets. He'd have told me if he were a knight."
There was still a lump in his stomach from thinking about it, but he added a few seconds later, "I'll tell him, one day. When I'm a little older. Maybe when I know he won't worry so much about me. Maybe Millie's just waiting for the same reasons I am?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:30 pm
Bellatrix nodded. “Well. Just be careful, Orin. He could end up not being anything, or he could end up being a knight like me…but there’s always that chance that the Negaverse got to him first…so it’s really not worth the risk of telling him, I don’t think…”
It was a scary thought, but it was really one that Orin had to realize. At least for herself and Millie, there was a middle person who knew that they were both on the side of Order. “If I run into him out in the world, I will let you know. If I find out that he’s a knight, I promise that you’ll be the first one that I tell. If that makes you feel any better.”
Or maybe one day she would just confront him. Ask him flat out, and she would take the risk. There was no way that she was going to let Orin risk all of that just so he didn’t have to keep secrets from his father. She was going to protect this boy at all costs. Even if it put herself in danger.
But really, that wouldn’t be for a long time. Maybe she would meet Dresden out in the night one night, and it would all just be okay. That would be the ideal thing, anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 10:55 am
Orin looked horrified at the suggestion that his father might be a Negaverse agent. "He's not," he quickly insisted. "I mean, I'm happy you'll keep an eye out to see if he is a knight, but trust me—I don't know anyone nicer, and there's no way my dad could be a bad guy. He's the type of guy who is worried if I don’t call him to let him know I made it home from school all right. He worries about everyone. I don't think he could be a Negaverse agent because he just doesn't have the heart to hurt anyone! I get that from him, though I think I'm a little tougher because somebody has to stand up for him."
He shrugged a bit and crossed his legs. "He needs someone to look after him. He's probably not a knight," the boy said, and while he sounded a bit disappointed, it was only for the briefest of moments. "But he's still my hero, so it's not like it even matters. Dad's a good guy. But…I mean, if you do happen to find anything out…I would really like to know. If he's had to keep it a secret from me…than it must be eating him up as much as it's eating me up."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:47 pm
Bellatrix gave a little smile. “All right. I’ll take your word for it, then.” She reached over and ruffled his hair. “And if I do run into him one night, I will tell you. You have my word, and I know he would want you to know. And he would want to know about you too.” She smiled, then stood up. “Millie should be home soon, if you want to go wait in the living room you can watch some television. I’m going to start cleaning up the kitchen, so please make yourself at home.”
It wasn’t that she was too eager for the conversation to end…she just wanted to ask more than she wanted to admit, and it wasn’t fair to Orin to keep pestering him. One of these days she would talk to her daughter, and things would straighten themselves out.
Until then, she would just have to make due with knowing she was all right. And that was that. Patience was something that she was working very hard to have.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 12:16 pm
Making himself at home was easier for Orin to do than it should have been; Millie's house had always felt like a different sort of home—safe. And why shouldn’t it be, with a knight and an eternal senshi? Even Orin could power up if he needed to, but the security wasn't just from power; there was a certain comforting love lingering in the air.
"Okay," he said, quickly downing the rest of his chocolate milk. "But if you need any help in the kitchen, I'll come help! Keeping the kitchen clean is one of my chores at home, so I'm pretty good at it."
Standing up, he deliberated for a short moment before he moved to the woman and gave her a quick hug. "Hey, thanks for looking out for Dad for me. And for looking out for me. I feel a lot better about a lot of things now that I met you and Millie, so I just…wanted to say thanks."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:48 pm
Bellatrix blinked, surprised by the hug, but after a moment she returned it, giving Orin a little squeeze. “Oh honey. You don’t need to thank me. To be truthful, I almost think of you as a son of mine. You’re here often enough, and I worry about you almost as much as I worry about Millie. So, why shouldn’t I treat you the same?”
She pulled away from the hug, then ruffled the boy’s hair. “Now go on. I don’t need any help. I’ll be in there in a few minutes, either that or Millie will be home in a few minutes, whatever comes first, you won’t be alone for long.”
The woman bustled over to the sink and gave a smile when her back was to the boy. Well. That had been unexpected and very nice. Orin was a very good boy. And she was glad that she got to be there for him. He did bring a brightness back to the house when he was over, and she liked that. Plus, she really liked how friendly Millicent got when he was around. Whatever the case, having Orin as Millie’s friend was a win-win situation, to say the least.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 12:42 am
"Okay!" the boy piped up. "Thanks!" he said before retreating from the room; even if he had come here to see Millie, he couldn't help but be grateful that he'd run into Bellatrix first. She was just nice, and if he'd been having doubts, she soothed them. He fixed his hair as he settled onto the couch; he didn't care so much about watching television but he didn't want to just be sitting around awkwardly until Millie came back so he flipped on the television as he settled in.
Bellatrix thought of him as a son. Well, almost, but who cared about the trivial little details.
That just meant it was okay if he thought of her as almost a mom.
She filled the role well—looked after him, was affectionate, and gave good advice.
Chewing on the inside of his cheek, he couldn’t manage to wipe the smile from his face.
Even knowing what he knew about the war—even knowing how dangerous things could be, Orin couldn’t imagine being any happier with the way things had turned out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
