Abby could discern that much just from the way he was looking lately, like the whole world was on his shoulders and he just couldn't hold it any longer. She was wondering what she could do to make him feel better…Maybe if she just asked about it? It's not like Alex would lie right? At least not to her…Decision made she started searching around the house for her cousin, lightly calling the nickname she had for him, “Alexbee! Where are you?!” Usually the smaller man wasn't really hard to spot, but it could also be that she wasn't searching in the right places? She huffed and stomped her foot when he didn't call back, crossing her arms under her bosom, “ALEX!!!!” She was tired of searching. That and she was also bored, the need to move was creeping slowly and her foot started tapping rapidly. Gods she hated being still!
Something had been wrong for a while, a long while perhaps, when it had started he wasn’t even sure. Perhaps when he’d first signed up for a cosmic war…perhaps when he’d first killed someone. Maybe when he’d first started dating people. He could blame a lot of points in time though he supposed it didn’t matter really. He just needed to handle things now, because this was one of the few times where the weight on his shoulders was too much, it had been building for some time and now it was taking over his life. At least now he had some help, someone to help him keep his head above water.
Lorcan
Lorcan had been helping in ways he had never planned on but his cousin now knew what was going on in his life, what had been going on. He really felt bad about everything he’d been dumping on his cousin and tonight he was staying in rather than go out and gather energy. He also was still avoiding Rene’s shop.
As he turned the water off, and was pulling a small towel about his waist, he heard the shouting and hurried out of the bathroom and into his bedroom. Dripping wet, and barely covered, the blond managed to dry off fast enough to yank on a pair of loose fitting pants and hurried down the hallway towards the stairs. How his cousin had gotten into his home he wasn’t entirely sure, though he did have a key hidden which she could have found, he shouted back. “I’m coming, give me a moment. I was showering.”
And without much thought to how he looked, heavily tattooed and with scars here and there, he came down into his living room and spotted Aberdeen.
“You don’t need to yell, you’ll just wind up with a sore throat.”
Abby barely paid attention to how the blonde looked instantly pulling him into a hug, “I came to see you today! I heard you were looking pretty down, Mom and Dad didn't really have anything for me to do and I didn't have any shows lined up.” She pulled away, a small pout forming at the fact that he was still moderately wet, “I don't really need my throat for anything anyway so who cares if it gets sore?” She finally took in her cousin’s appearance and placed a small hand to her mouth, “What happened?! And why do you look like a war veteran?! Do I need to call papa!? You know we can hire someone to take care of whoever hurt you like this…” She was darting around like a little hummingbird, all worried and concerned, threatening violence and not so lady-like things to avenge the wrongdoing of her cousin.
She also noticed some other things lately too.
“You know,” she cleared her throat, “Whyyyy are you…Erm…Why are there always….Different people? Around you? Mother says she's seen you with several other people in a more intimate setting or at least she thinks she did.” a small hand waved with dismissal, “Mother is always looking for something to gossip about.” Blonde eyebrows came together in a frown, “That type of thing isn't healthy Alex…Are you at least being safe? If mee-maw heard about it she would flip!” She wasn't sure if their grandmother knew what they were up to and it wasn't like she would rat on him but there was the concern.
Sighing he stood there letting his cousin inspect him, it was almost amusing really, she flitted all about with all that energy she somehow contained within her smaller frame. It was quite the sight really. “If you wind up with a sore throat your mother will call someone to take a look at you, you know that.” He said shaking his head while resting a hand on her shoulder. “I’m fine, most of them are old…and I suppose you could say something like that.” He didn’t lie, not that he didn’t want to really, but he was terrible at it so he never bothered with it. He also didn’t like being dishonest, at least not most of the time, so he might as well answer Aberdeen honestly.
“Grandmother hasn’t a clue, I’ve been discreet with the relationships and dalliances'. I’m surprised your mother even noticed, my own hasn’t. I’ve managed to keep it that close of a secret, though my mother did meet the last person I did date - Mason.” She had been over for tea few times when he’d been around. She also knew that had ended. She had known of Aiden as well and that he had walked out on Alexandre, he hadn’t told his mother why, but she had met him also. There had been time between the relationships and she knew of nothing, and no one, else that he’d either needed or dated.
“Take a seat Abby…” Motioning for her to do so, one of the leather couches as motioned towards, while he took a seat himself uncaring of his own damp body. “I ask you don’t tell anyone what I look like. The ink is the least of my worries, though that wouldn’t do well for people to find out about, I’m more concerned with anyone finding out about the scars. Lorcan found out recently and I did explain it all to him. Hudson also knows.” Of course one of the family doctors knew, especially since he and Lorcan had always been close. They’d grown up together, only a month apart in age, they had gone vastly different paths and they had even drifted apart for a while. They were close again as his words said as much, it was a good thing for them to be close once more. “Lorcan scolded me for not being safe, to be honest, and he’s made sure I’m clean. I fear I’ll give him his first grey hair at the rate things are going. But he did walk into things knowingly, I didn’t just dump things onto him blindly.” Though that things he didn’t say but it was certainly sounding like more than just his sexual health.
Abby reluctantly took a seat on the couch, blue eyes widening after everything Alex had told her. How did everyone know what was going on but her?! “Wait…Hux knows! Lorcan too!?!” She instantly looked at him with the fiercest look she could muster which admittedly….Wasn't as fierce as she thought it was. “Why didn't you tell me?! I can keep a secret, you know that! I mean mee-maw doesn't know about me skipping classes sometimes and neither does mom or dad.” Then comes the pout, “It's because I'm younger isn't it?! Go on, admit it!” No, she was absolutely not offended that the cousin that was like an older brother to her saw fit NOT to tell her about things in his private life…As if she were entitled to it. The urge to stand was apparent when her foot started tapping with the pace increasing every second, however she was trying for her cousin’s sake.
“I'm not a baby anymore you know…I know about sex and stuff! I attended sex ed and everything!” that was the one time she felt the need to go to class, given the fact that her parents would be notified if she didn't show, unlike when she managed to bribe the teacher when she didn't feel like learning something boring that day, like chemistry ugh…Who would want to go through that kind of torture? With the annoyance getting to her, Abby finally stood up and started pacing. “Anything else you deemed fit to keep from me? Ohhhh Hudson is going to hear it from me when I find him today. Did you know he was going to make me cupcakes? They were going to be vanilla and I won't be able to enjoy them because he kept things from me! Stupid big bear! Who does he think he is!?”
She huffed, looking off to the side with all the offendedness radiating off of her. Why did all of her cousins treat her like she was a kid?! She's eighteen years old damn it! The literal legal age for an adult.
“Hudson and Lorcan know because they are involved, though Lorcan only as of recently.” Though he suspected Lorcan really would have preferred to have been brought in on things far sooner, and he wished he had done that as well really. “I’m aware you can keep a secret - this whole family can.” it was how their family had been built and survived, keeping secrets to keep everyone alive and safe, it was something they all learned how to do as children. While other children learned how to play games the children in his family learned the art of secret keeping, gossip, and other such useful skills that would serve them well as adults.
“And really, you sound like some commoner using mee-maw.” Shaking his head as he gently scolded her, mostly because he really was a posh brat himself, Lorcan wasn’t wrong in calling him posh. It wasn’t like he was someone putting on airs which didn’t belong to him anyway, so was he wrong in acting and sounding posh? Far from it and thus he didn’t care one bit.
“I know you aren’t a baby and I didn’t keep it a secret because of your age. I kept it from everyone because I wanted to keep everyone safe - let me do the dirty work sort to speak. Hudson got involved because I had no choice and Lorcan decided he wanted to join in once he found out.” Standing up, slowly, he kept his eyes on his younger cousin while he called out for the other living being in the house. “Katya, can you do me a favor and cover my signature.” She would know what he meant, unlike Aberdeen who would be utterly clueless about this.
Hearing the voice drifting down to him from somewhere upstairs, a confirmation of what he’d asked for, he took a moment to really consider what he was doing. “Hudson isn’t home right now to make your cupcakes, though I am certain he’ll get to making them as soon as he’s home.” He might also scold Alexandre for what he was about to do, and no doubt Lorcan would not be pleased either.
One deep breath and he powered up with ease, the towel giving way to the heavy layers of dark fabric which covered every inch of his skin even his hands as he had gloves. “War, I’ve been keeping a war a secret and my part in it. Lorcan was most displeased with me keeping my varied injuries from him…and allowing unskilled idiots to tend to my injuries.” Of course Lorcan would be offended by that, and would want to take charge of things from now on, and he wasn’t going to stop him. Pulling out his communicator he shot off a message to Lorcan to let him know he had just told Aberdeen, and she knew that he knew before her. Lorcan could use the heads up on this one.
Abby scoffed, “So? I can call grandmother what I want, thank you.” She’s always called their grandma mee-maw and she didn't seem to mind….Much. Well, she started to mind a lot once she got older but Alex didn't need to know that. That would be confirming he was right and frankly she wasn't in the mood to give him the time or day at this given moment. Alex stood up then and she stopped pouting enough to tilt her head, why was he speaking to Katya like that? How did she miss the cat? Usually she was able to find her for pets….What was this about a signature? Like one that was written on a document? Why would a cat hide that?
The voice that drifted down caused her to jump. Was there someone else there? Something was telling her to back up, put some distance between her and the cousin she loves more like a brother than anything. But why would she do that? Alex hasn’t and would never hurt her. “W-Well I could just come back and get my cupcakes then. I-It’s not a big deal…” Unknowingly, the small girl was already backing up to where she thought the front door was. Abby was legitimately scared and could not understand why.
Once fabric seemed to appear magically on the man before her, she really began to panic.
“A-Alex you're scaring me…Why did you change like that?!” He expanded more, talking about a secret war and his part in it, causing more confusion. “W-What war?! Wouldn't that be on the news?! What did Lorcan have to do with this?!” Then instead of answering her questions he pulled out some sort of device she's never seen before, telling Lorcan that he told her what?! More confused than ever, Abby really started going for the door, “I-I'm going to come back later. M-Mother sent me a message and needs me to prepare for an upcoming party okay?” Just a little bit further and she could head home and forget any of this scary stuff happened. In fact she would not even think to question anything Alex did from now on, just so he wouldn't be scary again.
Maybe this had been the wrong way to go about things, though it had worked well with Lorcan, he supposed Aberdeen was a bit too young to have something so directly thrown at her where as Lorcan appreciated something straight forward and honest - right to the point. Sighing he teleported across the room so he could block his door from Aberdeen, keeping her from escaping. “Katya, would you mind coming down here. I think we should explain things properly and Aberdeen might appreciate your company right now.” Because his cousin did enjoy petting his cat, really a mauvian, and it might help settle her nerves.
“Lorcan got involved because he didn’t like seeing that I’m covered in scars and asked about them.” And he’d told him about it, he was still working on sharing everything with his cousin, but Lorcan knew enough to make his own conclusions about things. “The news isn’t about to talk about it, most of the news outlets are likely bought and paid for and owned.” Shaking his head as he leaned against the door, his eyes on his younger cousin, his hands slipped into his pockets.
“I can tell you about it, as much as I’ve told Lorcan, you don’t need to be scared of me - I’m still your cousin.” And that would never change, he would always be her elder cousin who corrected her English from time to time.
Katya had heard her General calling her down stairs and down she came, leaving what she’d been doing in order to help downstairs, as she came down the mauvian headed right to the obviously distressed cousin and stared up at her. “You got lucky with Lorcan you know.” Shooting a look to Benitoite. “He handles things different from most people.” She stated, gently scolding him.
“Now we should all sit down, someone can pet me, and things will be explained properly. Because someone had better give me some attention if I’m going to be down here and not upstairs napping.” That’s what she’d been doing - napping. She had been resting in a very nice fur coat which she’d pilfered from a store for herself.
The teen screamed and fell on her behind [her mother would scold her for being so unlady-like] when Beni appeared right in front of the door looking as if this was just a normal conversation that they would be having any other day. This was so not any other day. She looked up at her cousin with teary blue eyes, “Let me go home please…I wont say anything I promise!” when he started talking to his cat like she was able to do something other than meow, Abby sniffled. Maybe Alex was going crazy? Trauma could do that to a person from what she's read, why else would he be talking about a war no one knew about and pulling magic tricks?
W-Wait….Katya could talk?
Abby looked at the cat, eyes wide as saucers, when could she talk?! Cats don't talk!!! Abby instantly stood then, her breath coming in pants increasing by the second. “Y-You don't talk!” She looked at Alex then, “C-Cats don't talk!” is all that came from her mouth. No, no she was NOT sitting down! She wanted to go home! “I-I'm going home!” This was some weird dream and she was going to wake up the moment she stepped out that door. Alex was just the blockade that was keeping her from waking up. This meant Abby literally tried to bulldoze her way through her cousin to get out the door. He might still be her cousin, but this was a nightmare that she was going to tell him about when she woke up.
Shaking his head he knew when to give up, at least most of the time, and he did step aside. She’d realize it wasn’t some dream and it was real and she’d return. He’d be ready and when the time came, when she did return, he’d ask Lorcan to join him as well as Hudson, it would require family for this and he knew it.
“Come back when you’re ready, Aberdeen.” He knew she’d be back, he knew his little cousin well. Opening the front door, as he powered down, he went to find his cell phone so he could let Lorcan and Hudson know what had happened. It was best they both knew just incase Aberdeen turned up at either Lorcan’s clinic or the school where Hudson worked. She might even turn up at Lorcan’s home. If they did none of those things he knew she’d turn back up at his home and he’d just invite the two to help him with this.
“You’re just going to let her go?” She asked from where she was on the floor looking between the cousins. She knew Alexandre trusted his family, that they were good at secret keeping, but she really did wonder how this young one would handle finding things out like this. It wasn’t the normal way, not a way she’d ever suggest, but the girl would likely still keep the secret like she said she would.
Watching him open the door, and power down, she sighed and moved to lay down on the couch. “Well, if that’s all and we’re not going to be telling her all about the Negaverse then I’m going to continue my nap down here.” Kneading at a throw blanket, which was laying on the couch, the Russian blue did wonder if indeed Aberdeen would return to them and want answers and information. Would she join her three elder cousins and become an officer as well? Would Alexandre bring her in? She was young, though he had been when he’d first joined, but did she have the right mentality and maturity for it? Perhaps not but perhaps she would, in time, with her cousins to help her.
Sleet Tempest Snape
