revolutionary

“I knew. We all knew.” Justus would make the case that even Felicity had known but decided to turn a blind to it but he could see Callum’s perspective. Perhaps they were great liars to themselves. After all Justus for the longest time had refused to accept that their family was as fucked up as everyone else made them out to be. “You think Felicity has ever listened to me? Besides the one time that I helped her because our siblings had fucked up. Niche. Nothing. Singer held priority over me and then it was Everett.” Whoop there it was. Why Justus always felt second best to the entire clan. Now why was he deciding to disclose to Callum was beyond him, though most of the blame was to be put onto the truth spell that was going around right now. “Felicity thinks we’re all idiots and we’re just here living in it. I told Felicity not to date Everett. Tried telling her it was too soon since Thea had come back and confessed she was still in love with. Told her that it was stupid to just run with love and forget the fact that she was dealing with Thea, a sister. Did she listen to me?” Justus wasn’t going to feel bad with how things had played out. He had taken Felicity’s side, he had told Thea she had fucked up the relationship with Everett and just to leave but he was well aware with who he was dealing with. He did his best to tried and protect Felicity, but you can’t protect someone that doesn’t listen and always thinks they know better than you. “At least Alejandro and Preston are both smart enough not to be involved in all this,” he hoped that they stayed wherever they had decided to go and not come back, he couldn’t take another family member coming back. “I am aware of that. Now you know that you have a war coming soon. Not to mention I’ve heard horror stories of Juliette pre Callum Miller – and yes they actually do use that as a history time period. With Mellie gone, who do you think got the transfer of power?”

Juliette sighed as she sat up on the mattress before looking over to her husband, “The sparknotes are the following: Mellie is gone. Everett has a doppelganger, Jeremiah has feelings for Thea, and apparently our child is not going going to make it because I kind of shitted on Ester and Victoria’s plan on hurting your family by saving Ezri – though your brother has said that losing the child made no difference in their relationship so really me deciding to be a decent person has fucked us over – all caught up?” The frustration was in no way directed towards him but rather the situation. The fact that she had hoped Ben would’ve told her that the loss had affected them; that her action had meant something – anything but no it had meant nothing and now she was about to lose the second more important person without meeting them, “I think I can go around it but I can’t promise both of us. Right now they’re busy figuring out their love lives and I’m – I don’t know.” Then there was Thea’s friendship that was surviving so she decided to just put it out there, “Thea says she’s willing to help – of course with the truth spell in effect I told her we didn’t want it and that she should stick to being loyal to Ever – Jonathan.”  

Callum raised an eyebrow at her, “Even if I believed that, it doesn’t,” he said, “if the spell is affecting us, it’s done by someone in one of the great families.” Only they had the ability to do something like this. At Juliette’s remarks that people were told the truth and informed about things, he almost chuckled. Instead he tilted his head to the side, “how did we go from that to the entire town being under an honesty spell?” he asked, “honestly I thought my family dinners were bad but at least we just tortured each other.” Then again the Millers had always been intensely private, it had only gotten worse after everything in their magic changed from their greed. The Clarks and Abels were far more splashy and the MIkaelsons put all of them to shame. He looked at her sharply as the words came out of her tongue. “What?” he said, “Why do you think that?”

“To be fair, I try not to think about any of your family members fucking. I like to imagine you all just appeared one day,” he said. Even though he said it as someone who had fucked a Clark, fucked and married one. He still didn’t like to think about the rest of them doing the nasty. “I don’t think you can blame anyone for assuming that the two of them are together again since you all have been running around hiding Jeremiah together,” he gave a simple shrug, “it baffles me why anyone would want to date Felicity. But it was obvious to anyone not blinded by that your cousin wasn’t over Thea,” he smirked, “don’t tell me you didn’t see it too. You’re smarter than that,” he folded his arms, “or did you know and just decide not to say anything so this would happen? That’s a level of manipulation I’d respect to be honest.” He doubted it though. Justin seemed to have to be pushed very hard to make moves against his own family in such a blatant way. Though his most recent actions would say otherwise. “Honestly the only other member of your family that I’ve met is Alejandro. Briefly. But I don’t see much in common between any of you.” He could see why Justin wanted there to be things in common with them. That lingering love of family. “Actually maybe all of you are just very good at lying to yourselves,” he offered, “I suppose that’s something in common after all.” Callum wasn’t surprised to hear that Jeremiah’s plan was to come after him and Juliette, it made sense in how Jeremiah acted. “I guess your brother does want a war after all,” he said, “since we both know if anything happens to our child, he’ll have killed the closest thing our covens have to an heir. And they won’t stand for that a second time. No matter what any of us say.” It would be unfortunate to go to war but Callum knew it was nearly inevitable at this rate and with the shit the Clarks kept pulling. 

After her dinner with her entire family plus Thea she stopped at Ben’s office, mostly because if anyone was going to take an attack against Jeremiah it would be him, and he would be in the right then she came straight home. Changed her clothes as she slipped into a night gown and slid underneath their bedsheets, it was strange how she feared the next conversation that they would have. Saving Ezri years ago managed to kick her in the ass in so many ways that if she had to do it again she was not sure if she would. Trading spaces with the Banshee had messed with her and pushed her into a marriage with Jacob which almost cost her the man laying beside her, her husband – her happiness. Now as punishment from high above their child was facing the possibility of never being born and the threat was not even from Jeremiah himself. Not even a little; her brother apparently had been in love with Thea all this time and now was here to make things right? Whatever that meant. She didn’t have the heart to wake up Miller, not when he looked at peace and she knew she wouldn’t be able to hide this from him – not like she wanted. They were always honest with each other even when they hated it. Needless to say Juliette didn’t get any sleep that night. It was until early dawn when Miller open his eyes and she caught them that she knew she would have to say something, “I love you.”

Callum had been raised in an old witch family, he understood the school of thought. Family meant you got everything, but there were strings attached. Always. Friends were different. Life had taught him that friends could also be divided between those you trusted and those you didn't. “Yes but we’re family,” Callum pointed out, “now anyways. And besides we haven’t always chosen each other.” There was no malice in his voice, there was no need for any. He was aware of how life and people changed. Unlike most of the people he associated wth, Callum knew how to let shit go. “I guess if you look at it a certain way he was always going to betray one family member to protect another.” Callum had his own complicated relationship being torn between two siblings. He din’t envy Justin’s position and he didn’t like how it seemed familiar to his. “It’s not a great position to be in any way you slice it.” Juliette was the newer sibling but she had done more for Justin than most of his family. Though Callum supposed sometimes old loyalties trumped what you knew was good for you. “I’m not disputing that is a way out of this,” Callum said, leaning against the wall, “but I know you. You could regret doing something like that.” One of the great bloodline abilities of his coven was the ability to shield. However it only worked if they person stayed away from the other. He hadn’t even know he activated the ability because the second he turned his back from Juliette she went running to her family. “Believe me, no one wants to see most of your family dead more than I do,” Callum said, “but I know you. After everything Jeremiah did you still mourned for him. I don’t want to see him dead at a cost to you.” He couldn’t believe he was arguing at all for something other than just murdering the man who had caused so much trouble. “But Jeremiah is a symptom of everything. If you want to eradicate him you would need to be prepared to eradicate your cousin as well. And you would probably lose Thea in the process if what you’re saying is correct.” Losing a friend would probably hurt just as much considering how she valued her friendship to the Adolph, “I’d support you either way but I would prefer you not to get hurt in the process again.” 

“Welcome to the club,” Juliette tugged her lower lip as she placed the pen she had been holding onto the entire time down. There was so many angles in this that she wished that Everett would’ve killed her instead, no one would bother to bring her back and all of this could’ve easily been avoided. Which was a selfish thought all around because it didn’t take longer than a minute to realize that this life that she was living was a blessing; it was a damn miracle. Having a husband that she was in love with and that he did love her and didn’t see her as a pawn to more power – never had she thought it was possible and now all that was at stake. Looking at him she clasped her hands together, “I know you are,” it was strange how comfortable she was in their relationship, how secure she felt in it even with this turmoil. Walking over to her fridge she pulled out two water bottles, sliding him one as she opened hers, “Thea was here not too long ago. I gave her a pass – her not showing face or a text all these years. Told her I had been the one that had changed and I understood her adventures and all – and she knew about Jeremiah then because she had just finished seeing Everett – she stood there and didn’t say nothing,” by this point she should be used to the low blows she was getting, it was nothing different, “Jeremiah wanted to kill Justus, you know? When everything blew up and I said no and Justus knew and met you for classes – but the cherry on top,” she laughs as she leans against the wall, “— the fucking cherry on top is everyone stopped me from killing Everett when I was ready to do it and now everyone wants me to play which family member am I killing while risking…” she didn’t finish it. To kill any of her Clark member she would need to go back, back to her roots, “I am going to destroy them all. Every single one.”

“And if you went back further I am cleaning up Felicity’s mess too. If she would’ve left Everett and Thea alone then Everett might not had fucked up – granted he is responsible for his share but when he was with Thea he didn’t fuck up.” Jackass stayed a vampire and was actually – dare he say helpful, it seemed that the moment that he got his magic back he lost all the brain cells he had once had. But here was where Miller would say something to defend Felicity and everything would even out on who had whose back, it was pointless to get people to see that Felicity fucked up as much as Everett and Thea in this giant mess, that was Justus’s perspective and he was not going to be changed from it. “Probably will be the only smart thing I say,” according to him. People only thought what made them smile or all warm in all the right spots was smart it was probably why his best friends were animals and not people; at least they didn’t go around thinking they knew everything like everyone in this town. “Things might change soon when it comes to that regard, just have to make sure she kills the right Clark in all of this.” Or at least find out who had actually brought back Jeremiah, that was what was important but it was probably lost in the mess, “Yeah I didn’t get the Adolph trait. I rather be with someone that wants to be with me. Makes you know – the relationship work,” And it doesn’t violate anyone’s rights but hey each to their own apparently. “Well he is responsible for it. I already know that,” It wasn’t hard to connect the dots after Jay was having his mental breakdown which ended up bringing clarity about the two of them, “Jeremiah’s powers are pretty much equal to Juliette’s right about now – since she refuses to let herself go well you know –  is what I heard when I was snooping so probably best to keep her from going to see him by herself. He ain’t that happy about your union.” 

“I don’t think I have enough information to have an opinion past ‘this is bullshit’,” Callum said, “but we both know I think that about most of your family’s behavior.” Callum had never held a high opinion of anyone but his own family, and he didn’t particularly have a high opinion of them anymore. Not as a whole. But his opinion of the Clarks was very low. Which wasn’t his fault, they did a lot of stupid things and tended not to take responsibility for their actions. Leaning against the desk, Callum looked at her, “you know you don’t have to lie to me. I am on your side in all of this.” He could say his loyalty to her and their kid was on par for his loyalty to himself. He had to keep his eye on all the pieces but if he was going to follow someone with any level of blindness it was her. Her and his brother. Which would put him in an odd position if they were on different sides of this--but he would jump off that bridge if it came to it. “I’m not going home, I can wait outside your office if you would like to be alone,” he offered, "or I can help if you'd prefer that." 

“And that is the problem. It was easier when I was an Adolph the messes I had to clean were Alejandro’s or Preston’s.” Things were similar, he knew where to put his loyalty in and who to protect against everything. Now everything was just a giant mess. “I think the only one that knows anything is Jeremiah and perhaps Thea,” That was perhaps the first comment that was not protecting Thea that he would say but how was it that when she came back everything else followed? Had the egg or the chicken come first? That was the question that was lumped in his head right now. “Well everyone is either pissed off at me or not talking to me so I can understand how that is lost.” Justus rubbed his head as he shrugged, there was nothing to lose here. He didn’t believe he knew that much but to be fair he was too busy running around and avoiding certain places that maybe he did managed to overlook some facts that she should not have, “Probably not. Just like she probably won’t let anyone kill him now that he is alive,” Though e didn’t think it would be the smartest decision for her to just go storm down to Everett’s place and demand to talk to Jeremiah. “Friend? – yeah well that is over.” Which sucked, but it was what it was – now he could understand why Alejandro didn’t chase Christal for the longest time. “When? It was when Everett was in Panama and then he got a call from a chapter in Peru and had to go there and check it out – a couple of months ago, almost a year. Why?”

Juliette had been arguing for trusting her family and giving Everett chances, right up until Jeremiah had been revealed. She would probably still be arguing for it if this hadn’t happened. When Callum had been turned away by his family, he had sworn it wasn’t a lesson he needed to be taught twice. But Juliette’s faith had been inspiring. Most things about her were. Even her kicking everyone out, or maybe that was because he liked seeing her take charge and not be a pawn in their games. When the were around the Clarks he aways stepped back, he didn’t want there to ever be confusion about who was in charge. Not that his bloodline made it a possibility, but sexism still existed throughout the world. Even now when she ordered them out there were a few eyes that flicked towards him. Callum ignored them, his focus was on her. “I’m not sure the blood would go with the colors,” he remarked as they all departed, finally pushing himself up and approaching his wife, “you’re going to have to decide what to do with him sooner rather than later. I’m sure your Elders have their own plans they'll move on unless you head them off.” He knew Juliette was not doing well, but the question still needed to be asked, “while I’m saying useless obvious things, how are you doing?”

“An appeal, sure, but it never seems to make things better,” Callum remarked, “in my experience it just makes them worse. Your cousin and my brother had to learn that the hard way.” Callum said. Listening to Justin tick off family members, Callum couldn’t believe he would say that he didn’t know who his family was. “It sounds like you’ve got more family than you know what to do with,” he said, “I guess you have to decide which direction you want to go in--if you want to go in any direction at all. I’ve found that figuring out what you want in all this is helpful, but I’m getting the feeling you’re not quite there yet.” Justin had a very weak sense of self, which Callum could sympathize with. When he had lost his family and his magic had shifted, he had to learn who he was without the things that had defined him for his entire life. “You’ve been lumped in with the people who know a lot,” Callum pointed out, “but I guess no-one is taking the time to figure that part out. Nuance gets lost in situations like this.” It was much easier to draw a hard line in the sand when it came to almost war. And no matter how much the word was that they should wait to see what Jeremiah was going to do, that he was different, the underhanded way this had played out made it very hard to trust that sentiment. “I don’t know that she would have let me if she was in her right mind. Jeremiah was poisoning her until there would be nothing left of her. It was impossible to contain so I undid the things that were linking them together. I sent him out of her head. Your hybrid friend made sure he didn’t go into yours since you were the most likely next candidate. If his powers played a role in this, we might be in more trouble than we already are,” he folded his arms, “what do you know about when he came back?” 

“Accountability, trying it out I suppose.” Nothing he said was going to make this better, and he had known that when he made the choice to not say anything. Justin half wished that Thea hadn’t told him about the information but he couldn’t blame her for trusting him, that was what siblings did with each other was it not? “My side? This is a first,” Not like it would change anything. As he scratched the side of his nose, “Nothing I say is going to make you think I was right – fuck I don’t even know if I was right but Thea is my sister and at that she’s my baby sister, even when she is misguided she is my sister,” And that truly was the entire reason that he hadn’t said anything, because she had asked him. Had it been anyone else and he would’ve spilled the beans right away he had no loyalties to Everett. “I gave my word to Thea I wouldn’t say anything till she gave me the ok.” He didn’t expect for Callum to accept that as a reasonable story but he figured it was best to just be honest, just like he had with Felicity. In a twisted way he had actually enjoyed the talk between the two but he knew that withholding the information would put that in danger and at the end of the day he did protect Thea more than he should’ve perhaps, but this is Thea – the one he protected since he was young. “I can get lost. Just – if you can tell Juliette I am sorry.”