WHO: Amycus and Alecto WHAT: A conversation about living arrangements WHEN: Recently WARNINGS: TBD STATUS: Complete when posted
Amycus knew that he’d put this conversation with his sister off for as long as he could. He didn’t want to have it but with everything that had happened he just didn’t see where he could continue ignoring the problems. It was starting to really affect his daughters and he couldn’t ignore that. They were his world and he didn’t want them growing up this way. He’d talked about it at length over the phone with his parents while the girls were down from their nap and they agreed - it was time for him and Alecto to live apart. It would be healthier for everyone involved. He sighed as he finished washing up after dinner and turned around with a smile on his face as he looked at his daughters. “Alright loves. Why don’t you go play in your rooms for a bit? I need to talk to your Auntie about boring grown up things. Take Aslan with you, maybe you can get the bonnet on him now that he’s a little mellowed by dinner.” He said, keeping his tone light even as he turned his attention to his twin sister.
He waited until they were out of the room to pull down two glasses and the bottle of alcohol he kept on the top shelf of the cupboard. He didn’t drink much but he had a feeling this conversation was one he’d need a drink for. Possibly more than one. He sat down opposite Alecto and poured them both a drink before setting the bottle down between them on the table. “We need to talk.” He said, making himself as comfortable as he could.
***
Alecto had been feeling off kilter, a little like someone that had gotten too close to a bigger planet and been pulled off her orbit. Part of that was the shift in the way things were with Amycus and part of that was what had been going on outside of him. She was far more aware, slowly, of the seriousness that came with her dreams. Maybe she didn’t admit it all the time, but she was more than aware that the people she considered to be friends could be people that she killed. Sirius wasn’t hers, but anyone else could be. Remus could be.
She’d decided against telling Amycus everything on the off chance that it would go poorly for him and because she wasn’t entirely sure how to talk to him these days. She couldn’t pinpoint all the parts of her that seemed to be doing things wrong, but that seemed to be the case.
“That’s not ominous at all.” Then again, sending the girls off in the first place was enough of a hint. And the drinks. For all her drinking, Alecto didn’t feel like it right now, so she just stared at it for a while before spinning the glass a couple times.
*** Amycus took a sip of his drink before responding to her. “You can’t be all that surprised Alecto,” he said looking at her as he set the glass down. “Things aren’t working out with you living here are they?” He asked her softly. “Not the way we’d hoped at least.”
***
Alecto stared for a long moment, keeping her expression neutral. It was easier than allowing any of the feelings going through her body show on her face. But he wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t working. “Does this mean we’re never going to speak again?” Because that was the main concern. She couldn’t lose him entirely. “But no. I guess not. I’d been thinking about moving out. I thought it might be easier.” She’d wanted to be able to invite people over and to do whatever it was she needed to do...and maybe that would be easier living on her own. Maybe if Rebekah didn’t have an apartment yet, she could find something with her. She could live alone. She’d done it before, but she didn’t really want to.
***
“That’s what I was thinking too. That it might be easier if you found a place of your own. I love you Alecto but - I don’t want to raise my kids like this. It’s not healthy for them having to deal with us fighting all the time. With the insults and the tension.” Amycus said, finding himself slipping into that cautiously neutral place he used when facing a difficult to read client at work. “And I’m going to pretend you didn’t ask me that utter ridiculous question. Just because we’re not living together doesn’t mean we won’t talk. It’ll just mean that when we get mad at one another we can hang up.”
***
Alecto couldn’t help the question. A small part of her was worried that he was outgrowing her, that somehow she’d ended up as the person that felt more. She didn’t like being left behind and the idea of Amycus actually leaving her behind made her panic. Naturally, she was forcing it to stay where no one could see it. Feelings were difficult. She nodded at his response, still for a long moment after that before she stood up and sat next to him. “You still smell like boy feet,” she said, her way of letting him know it was okay. If her leaning against him wasn’t enough of a show of it. “I’ll start looking around, see if anyone needs a roommate.”
***
Amycus slowly wrapped an arm around her to give her a loose hug as she leaned against him. “And you still have icky girl cooties,” he teased gently. “I figured I’d give you a month or two to find a place to move to. It’s not like you have to be out of here tomorrow. I’m not heartless Alecto.”
***
“Some people like my icky girl cooties,” she said with a hint of amusement. But she decided against making it into something more suggestive than she already had as she made herself comfortable. “I’m going to need an x-ray to prove it.” She didn’t bother with a serious expression because she was only joking. “I hear something in there, but it might just be a bat trapped inside your chest.” She looked up at him. “Sorry for...being difficult.” She didn’t think she was the only one, but she guessed she could apologize for her part. Maybe it would help something.
***
Amycus laughed and shook his head at her comment about the bat, taking another sip of his drink before answering her. “Shh. Don’t go blabbing about that. I don’t want everyone to know my secrets. Then my clients might start claiming to be dealing with a blood sucker. I’d rather them continue calling their managers that. I’m happy being a...public image maid for grownups.” He said, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.
“You’re not being…” He cut himself off because he wasn’t sure that he could finish that sentence without it being a lie on some level. “We’ve grown into different people Alecto. Different priorities. I’m sorry that…” That what? He cared about his children’s safety and wanted to meet people before they were brought around his daughters? He wasn’t sorry about that. It was one thing for their nanny to have taken them to meet her brother. She’d known him her entire life after all. Alecto hadn’t even been dating this guy six months and wanted to bring him into the house to hang out with her nieces without him meeting the guy? No. He wasn’t going to apologize for not being okay with that. Or for getting upset over feeling ganged up on and attacked and lashing out when he wasn’t being listened to by her or Rebekah.
“I’m sorry that this didn’t work out.”
***
Alecto arched an eyebrow at that. “I might just tell everyone.” She probably wouldn’t, but it didn’t stop her from saying it. “You clean up their messes.” She snorted lightly at that. She was glad she didn’t have to clean up people’s messes. Not even with their lives. She wasn’t all that good at cleaning things up, though it was considerably less troubling now that she had magic. She didn’t know everything, but she spent more than enough time testing out spells and magic.
She noted the pause, keeping herself from frowning. It hadn’t been easy. Mostly the misunderstandings between arguments. She knew Amycus didn’t want her bringing strangers around the girls, but she hadn’t intended to. She’d intended to go for a walk with the dog. The one they hadn’t had at the time. But there wasn’t really a point in arguing about it until they couldn’t be around each other. It wasn’t worth it.
“Things happen.” After a moment, she stood, stretching slightly. “I should probably start looking to see if there’s anywhere semi-reasonable. I still have a few work things to finish up, too.” ***
“I’m not saying you have to be out tomorrow. I’ll give you time to find a place Alecto.” Amycus said, watching as she stood up. He waited until she left the room to pour himself another drink. That hadn’t gone as badly as he’d been expecting. It hadn’t been easy by any means but in his head for some reason he’d been expecting it to go a lot worse.