Eli likes puzzles. (dashdotdash) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-07-10 23:35:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, brother athelstan, eli |
Who: Eli and Athelstan.
What: Collecting Athelstan for safekeeping.
When: July 2nd.
Where: The Logan/Eli/Velma household.
Rating: PG.
Status: Complete!
Athelstan had texted Eli to tell her he was at home; they’d discharged him from hospital and called him a cab. It was nice to be home, despite his itching stitches and his unease. He’d told Eli he was fine, and physically, he was, but he couldn’t help but feel wary. What if those things could climb, or break down doors?
His phone buzzed, and he looked down at Eli’s return text. “Look out your window?” he said aloud, raising an eyebrow.
He did so - and saw a pair of eyes looking back at him.
“Jesus Mary and Joseph!” Athelstan yelped, jumping to his feet. But then his eyes narrowed, and he realized the form was neither blue nor big. “ ... Eli?”
She waved, smiling and attempting to sit modestly in her thin blue dress. “Open the window?” She mouthed the words as to not scare him more, feeling guilty for having done so at all.
Immediately he was over there and opening the window. “What in ... what on God’s green earth are you doing out there?”
“I wanted to check on you, but I didn’t want to have you come downstairs to invite me into the building. So I climbed.” Eli blushed a little. “I am sorry to have scared you.”
“Oh. Oh!” Silly, maybe, but he’d honestly forgotten about that bit of things. “It’s all right. You may come in, Eli.” Athelstan said grandly, gesturing with a rueful smile. “I thought you were one of those things at first.” Truthful, but hopefully not betraying his real fear.
She hopped into his room through the window, shaking her head. “I don’t think that they can climb.” She shut the window anyway, latching it and drawing the blinds. Seeing his stitches made her eyes go a bit darker, and she moved to kiss it gently. “I would have killed more of them, had they been there.”
“I know.” Athelstan went to hug her, pulling her close but not too hard. “I’m glad you’re here; were you in the neighbourhood or did you run over?”
“I was coming to check on your flat anyway. Kitty drove me over.” Eli smiled to herself, sheepish. “I missed you.”
Athelstan smiled, though he still didn’t let her go. “I thought about you a lot, in truth. You saved my life, you know.” He had no illusions.
“I meant what I said. I’d have turned you so you would have had more time to decide if you wanted ... nature to take its course or not.” She wrapped her arms around his waist a little more tightly, biting her lip hard to keep herself from weeping.
He felt her body go stiff and shook his head, shushing her gently. “It’s a moot point, my dear. The doctors said the wound is clean. I won’t turn into one of them, I’m even back to where I was before the attack in terms of blood supply and all that. They don’t even think I’ll scar.” That didn’t, however, go into how nervous he was, how scared he’d been to be alone. He was hugely glad she was here.
“Well. I am going to take you back to the house to stay with me until this passes. You will be safe there.” Eli looked up at him with serious, tear filled eyes.
“Are you certain? Your father will ... be displeased.” He didn’t actually think Logan Howlett would turn him out, but still, he didn’t want to make waves.
“It is to keep you safe. And we won’t get up to anything. And even if we did, he has no room to talk. I am more worried about him scandalizing you!” Eli wrinkled her nose.
Athelstan blushed. “I ... oh?”
“It’s very disconcerting.” Eli shook her head.
He had to laugh, despite his embarrassment. “Well, he does have a lady friend who lives there, doesn’t he? I think you told me.”
“Yes, but I do not need to see them having sex inside the refrigerator.” Eli folded her arms. It had made her shriek and throw an empty water bottle at their backs.
Athelstan crossed himself, shaking his head, though he couldn’t help but be amused. “Good Lord. I’m not one to judge” - premarital sex was everyone’s own business - “but that would have been ... terrifying.”
“I simply wanted a drink.” Eli’s nose was permawrinkled at this point.
“Poor thing.” Athelstan had to ask. “Perhaps we could stay here? Or would you not feel safe enough?”
“I would like to have a room that is completely dark, and access to Papa where I can still keep an eye on you.” She did need to eat, and God only knew how long the monsters would stay. “My bedroom is sound proofed.”
“Ah. I suppose that’s fair, then.” Athelstan looked down. “Could I ... maybe I should pack a bag. I’d like to stay with you.” He’d feel safer having her near regardless of where they were, but her house might be the best idea.
She nodded, looking down a little. “Want help?” She couldn’t help but be excited at the idea of being in the same room with him for long periods of time.
“All right.” Athelstan reached for his underthings drawer, figuring she could get his school things together, or the things in his closet. “Perhaps five or six shirts, two or three pairs of trousers?” Trousers could be worn more than once, obviously, and he’d do his own laundry. “I do hope this doesn’t last long, despite the unexpected perk.” Her company, in other words.
Eli nodded, moving to his closet to collect the clothes and fold them neatly. She smiled at him over her shoulder, apples blooming in her cheeks. “I am looking forward to seeing you as well.” She wondered if he’d let her snuggle up to him in her sleep sometimes.
Athelstan dealt with his underthings, heading into his bathroom to get his toiletries. “You just need to be the one to talk to your father.” He was trying to joke.
“Of course. But I do not expect he will be too upset with me, I’m simply keeping my loved ones safe.” She hoped that he wasn’t upset by her phrasing.
He wasn’t. Athelstan came over to her when she spoke, wrapping his arms around her again. “I feel the same way, you know.” He looked down at her. “I think I’m beginning to, at any rate. Just ... saying so when under the influence of several grams of painkillers would cheapen it.”
Eli looked up at him, tiptoeing up to kiss him. “I just ... I was faced with the idea of a world where you no longer existed and I cried so hard I thought I wouldn’t have any tears left.” She stroked his cheeks with her fingertips.
He kissed her back, sighing. “I can’t apologise for what happened, as I don’t think I had any part in causing it, but I am sorry it happened, obviously. For you, but also for me.”
“You didn’t. It is not your fault that there are monsters. I should have been watching you.” For she was more of a monster than anything else, or so she thought at times.
“Eli. You can’t devote your life to following me around.” He stroked her hair. “Besides. I am not afraid of death. I don’t welcome it,” Athelstan added hurriedly, “but I have faith. If it happens to be my time, so be it.”
“No,” she murmured. “It is not.”
“I meant if.” Athelstan soothed. “You mustn’t worry so.” He still kept stroking her hair. “I certainly don’t ask you to agree with me, but at least accept that I believe God has a plan for us all.” If it had been his time, he would have gone. Eli had been there, so it hadn’t been his time.
She nodded. “I’m sorry, I still... it’s like I can still smell you bleeding in front of me.” Like the scent of him wasn’t leaving her nose, was cloying and clinging.
“It does you credit, but think of it this way. I’m coming home with you now. I’ll be safe with you.” It was as much for himself as for her, that he said that.
She nodded. “I’m glad I do not have to sleep in the shower in your hospital room during the day,” she chuckled. She’d gotten a terrible crick in her neck.
“I feel lucky that no one surprised you in there.” Athelstan shook his head, smiling a little. “It would have been most awkward.”
“Oh, they knew their patient was in there. Why would someone hide in the bathroom?” Eli chuckled to herself.
“I suppose that’s so.” Athelstan chuckled. He let her go, kissing her again once more. “Let me gather my school things and then we should be ready to leave.”
“Perfect.” Eli grinned at him, hugging one of his bags to her chest. She loved kissing him. “I hope the house will not bore you. But you can meet my dog! You have not seen him yet.”
“Oh, that’s true.” Athelstan rather liked dogs. He’d never gotten to have one of his own. “What kind is he?”
“He is a Valhund - a dog from Sweden. That is how I found him, he was at a pet shop, crying in Swedish when animals were talking. I promised him I would save him.” She looked down at her feet, sheepish.
“A Valhund?” Athelstan echoed, smiling. “What manner of dog is that? Like, is he small? Tall?”
“He’s about the size of a corgi, but he has wolfish stock as well. He is very noble, my little Gardar.” Eli smiled, obviously a proud mother.
“His name is Gardar? It sounds very Swedish. Very warlike.” Athelstan puffed up his chest, wanting her to smile. “I will look forward to making his acquaintance. But I think I’m ready to be off now.” He’d shifted his bag onto the uninjured side of his neck.
“Gardar was the Viking that discovered Iceland. I wanted him to have a warrior’s name.” She reached out for Athelstan. “May I carry you again? It is easiest to avoid them that way.”
He didn’t particularly like it, but his pride played second fiddle to his safety. “Yes, it’d likely be safest.” He only had two bags, and he could lift them both. “It isn’t too much weight?”
Eli just grinned at him, picking him and the bags up. She went back out through the window, since she still wasn’t ‘allowed’ in the apartment complex itself. Once the window was shut and bolted from the outside, she looked at Athelstan. “Close your eyes?”
He’d locked the door already, so he just clung to her and closed his eyes. “Ready when you are.”
Eli climbed up to the roof of Athelstan’s apartment building and then started off toward the home she shared with Logan and Velma. She took the rooftops, mostly, running and jumping with alarming speed.
Athelstan tried to do basically the same thing he’d done the last time he’d experienced this; not move overmuch, and run over prayers in his head so he wouldn’t open his eyes and realize how high up they were. Hopefully it wouldn’t be all that long.
It wasn’t. Within three minutes, she was gently setting him down on the front stoop. “I am sorry, but it is so much faster.” They’d neatly avoided any of the blue things.
“It’s all right.” Athelstan dusted himself off, shaking his head and making sure everything was still in order. “Better safe than prideful. This is your house?” It was rather nice, expansive and firmly settled. It looked very secure, somehow.
“For now. We are having another built. It belongs to one of Velma’s friends.” She opened the door with the key, smiling when a small, low to the ground but powerfully built dog ran up to her and bounced. “Där är du, min lilla älskling!"
Athelstan didn’t understand the Swedish, but did smile when the dog came running. “Oh my goodness, what a handsome thing! Hello, Gardar!”
The dog bounced up at Athelstan’s legs to be picked up, only stopping when Eli told him to sit. Granted, it was in Swedish, but the dog obeyed immediately. “You see why I could not leave him there.”
“He is rather stately.” Athelstan chuckled, holding out a hand for him to sniff and deem Acceptable. “Your father just said yes? You didn’t have to petition?”
Eli smiled. “Papa isn’t a monster, you know. He just does not want you to get me pregnant or something, which is really a moot point anyway.”
Athelstan blushed. “Oh, I ... well, he’s just protective. I don’t blame him, despite your gifts, you are his little girl. So to speak.”
“I know my own mind. And I assure you, should we ever... I will be willing, if not the instigator.” Eli blushed as well, patting her thigh so that Gardar would follow her to her room in the basement.
That made Athelstan laugh and blush deeper. He made to follow Eli and the dog. “Where are your father and his lady friend? Out helping?”
“I do not know, but I expect so.” The basement was windowless, but decorated in Eli’s old-fashioned taste. Gardar moved to flop onto his dog bed, and Eli smiled after him. “I made Papa set up the air mattress for me, telling him I might bring a friend over.” She was sure that he’d been expecting a girl, but oh well.
“I still appreciate it.” Athelstan rather hoped the man was out helping save the world or whatever it was; he hadn’t quite understood what had happened. “I’ll just be glad to have a safe place to sleep. And a guard dog, to boot.”
She smiled and sat down on the bed, curling up and feeling suddenly shy. “Make yourself at home, as they say.”
Athelstan sat on the corner of her bed, looking over at her. “My dear Eli, I don’t bite.” It was unheard of to even sit on a bed with a girl before for him. He was likely more nervous than she was.
She laughed at that, at the irony of him telling a vampire those words. “So much more’s the pity for me, I suppose.” She moved to sit by him, resting her head on his shoulder. Her dog was snoring quietly. “I hope you do not find the lack of windows oppressive.”
“No, I don’t. It reminds me of a monk’s cell, to be honest. Very peaceful.” Athelstan froze when she snuggled, but at the same time, he liked it. “You don’t need to worry about me, dear.”
She smiled and took his hand, squeezing it gently. “I always will, Athelstan.”
“Only worry if your father decides to growl at me.” Athelstan raised her hand to his lips, kissing it gently.
“If he does, growl back. He is a large teddy bear,” she murmured, turning his head so she could kiss him when his lips were raised back up.
He was used to this, even on a bed. Athelstan kissed her back, smiling, scooting a little closer. He felt himself relax once she was close; he simply felt better here. It was safe (Eli’s father notwithstanding) and cozy.
Cozy and safe was one of the things that Eli had insisted that her room be. She stroked his hair as they kissed, feeling completely content.
Eventually Athelstan had to breathe. He brushed Eli’s hair away from her face, smiling. “I’m glad to be here with you.”
“I’m glad you’re here too. I would’ve worried so much about you if you were not here.” She wrapped her arms around him, smiling as she leaned against his chest.
“Hopefully it will not last long - not because I do not approve, but because it will be difficult being cooped up anywhere.” Athelstan pulled her close.
“Well, you do have the run of the remainder of the house while you are here.” Eli smiled, squeezing his hand. She liked being close to him, and she snuggled a little closer.
“Oh? What about your father’s lady friend?” Her father was probably fighting the monsters, but he knew nothing at all about the woman. “Are we just going to hide my presence?” He grinned a little.
“No, she knows I brought you by.” Eli grinned impishly. “You are ... important to me, Athelstan. Why would I not tell my family about you?”
That touched Athelstan on two levels. “You effectively introduced me to your family in absentia?” He chuckled, pulling her closer again. “You think of them as a family; it’s lovely.”
She blushed - she was still capable despite her vampirism. “They are my family. Papa is adopting me, so I am changing my last name. And Velma is ... very much my mother, despite the fact she doesn’t know it. And I love you. It is important to me that they know.”
Athelstan blushed just as hard. “I didn’t know you were changing your name. That’s ... really wonderful, Eli.” He loved how close she felt to them. “I’m just glad you have people who understand you and accept you. Apart from myself.” Hopefully he understood her.
“Just the last name. Eli Howlett will be easier for people to spell anyway.” She ran her fingers through his hair, smiling to herself. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I am glad to be here with you. Safety and wonderful company all at once!” Athelstan closed his eyes. Despite the danger, he’d be happy to stay here for ages.