Mac's Many Muses

.｡.:*☆ “Guess so.” Tris chuckled lightly. That was the Four she knew, and still, she was worried. It was clear that there were things he was holding back. Things she most likely didn’t want to hear, anyway.

“But, Four - promise me to tell what has happened during my absence, at some point - okay?”  

His face fell at her request, resting his forehead against hers. “Please don’t ask me that. Because I’ll tell you.” Four would not keep anything from her that she needed to know, but he wasn’t convinced that telling her about her death would help anything. “Let’s just enjoy being together. This is the safest we’ve ever been.” 

Derek still glared at the man, because it here was one person that he did care about, other than Stiles, of course, it was his younger sister. “Uh-huh. Oh, I pay attention. I know you were talking about my sister and I don’t really like any guy that wants to be her friend. It’s nothing personal, I just know guys can break her heart.”

He scoffed again, more annoyed at his former alpha now. “Your sister and I are friends, that doesn’t mean I was trying to bang her. It was never that kind of relationship.” His feelings had always been for Erica and Isaac, not Cora. That had been strictly platonic. “And its none of your business, but I’m with Isaac now. So if Cora’s around, you will have to kill me again if you want to stop me from being her friend, because that’s what it’ll take.” 

She couldn’t help but smile at his words, even his voice was enough to warrant that reponse from her. “I know. Thomas it is.” Duchess assure with a chuckle. “You don’t have to do that, I am more than happy to pay my half.” The woman mused before nodding, perhaps a bit too eagerly. “I would love dinner and drinks.”

With his usual charm, he offered an arm, winking at her at the same time. “It’s not a proper date if we go dutch. So it’s my shout.” From how well dressed she was, he could assume money wasn’t the biggest issue for her, but that didn’t mean Thomas didn’t want to spoil her. Her money wasn’t why he was interested in her, after all. “Great, it’s a date.” 

Frank sighed softly in relief as he held his son. Sure, it was odd that he wasn’t the young one that he thought but… After everything him and Alice had been through, he was just happy to be there for any part of his life. “I wouldn’t say that.” He muttered before his brows raised. “Really?” Frank smiled widely and squeezed Neville’s shoulder. “Maybe don’t tell your mum that straight away, she might be worried but… I’m so proud of you, son. Did you all do it? Did… Did you stop him?”

Finally hearing the words he’d always wished to hear, Neville’s eyes were filled with tears. Happy tears, of course. “We did. He’s really dead now. Harry killed him. I killed his snake. I got Godric Gryffindor’s sword, apparently Harry’s the only other person who was ever worthy of doing that, and I did it.” Neville hated bragging, it felt unnatural, but it felt so good to know his father was proud. “After the war, I decided I’d become a teacher. I was getting more experience first, so I could take over from Professor Sprout in Herbology one day, and then I woke up here.” 

Victoire smiled shyly at her mother. “I’m sorry.” She muttered and cleared her throat. “I just… It might sound silly but I feel… Almost alone here. Of course, I’m so happy to have my family here but I feel a bit lost. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

Fleur cupped her daughter’s face in her hands. “You never have to be sorry.” She wished she could fix this, wanting her children to be happy. “You can do anything you want to. You know your papa and I will support you no matter what. No one expects you to know who you are straight away. I didn’t, not until I met your father.” 

Lady beamed widely, taking his hand. “Thank you! I’m not… Entirely sure, honestly. It’s a day for couples, I believe. A day for people who love each other to… Show that they do? Or at least, that’s what I’ve been told by people I’ve asked. That’s why all the hearts and stuff are everywhere!”

“Humans are very strange. I would think that every day was a good day to show someone you love them.” He used his hold on her hand to tug her closer, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Sometimes, being human was very nice, because she looked so sweet like this. “And I do love you.” 

Boo shrugged then and closed her book, smiling up at the other. “You don’t need to apologise. I was just so engrossed I didn’t hear you coming. Ah, no worries. I’m a bit like that, truth be told..”

She laughed a little. There was a time she’d been more careful, but dying did a funny thing to the head. “Must be a good book then. What is it?” 

❝ mm, you’ll have to be a little more specific, child, i’ve messed with the minds of many men. ❞that was a given living over a millennium. loki’s brow quirked at her answer, however, the archer and new york… that had been a good while ago. ❝ ah, the barton girl, yes i remember you and your father’s inner thoughts well. but if we want to get into technicalities, i was just as much a pawn in that whole ordeal thanks to a certain mad titan. the mind control came from him, not me. i merely played the part. ❞

That wasn’t the answer she’d expected, but Lila just tilted her head, a bad habit of hers. “Well, if that’s true, I’m sorry that the big purple grape did that to you. He really sucked, and it’s great he’s dead. Or he was dead in my time, but this place doesn’t follow the rules. But if you don’t mind me saying, and well, too bad if you do mind, you’re one of the greatest tricksters in all of mythology. I’m gonna take anything you say with a grain of salt until you prove you’re not here messing with heads. I’d say its nothing personal, but it is, because... duh, Dad.” Lila always had the ability to ramble without hesitation, which she’d done now. “But if you’re not here to be a jerk, then cool. Thor was always awesome, I know he’d be glad you’re okay if he is around.” 

❝ it is, but the same could be said about many things some may consider pleasant. so, how did you end up in it ?? it doesn’t sound like it was by choice. ❞ she’d gone looking for answers and closure, only to find nightmares.

Penny sighed, missing her family. “Yeah, it was by choice, in a way. I didn’t really want to go, but I knew my family did, and the deal was we all go, or none of us go. So I pretended I wanted to go.” She’d always been a good liar, and that had been the most important one, to give her family the chance of a better life. 

chuckling softly at her words, natasha shook her head. when she stood on the cliffs of vormir and stared down that long fall, she knew she would never get to see lila and her brothers grow into adults. she loved those kids like they were her own. and clint, he’d done so much for her, she had to give him the chance to see that. seeing the young woman lila had grown into, made it all worth it. ❝ there isn’t as far as i can tell, that’s what concerns me. it’s too perfect. ❞ she mused, knowing all too well good things rarely lasted for people like her. cupping the girl’s face, she forced a smile. ❝ you don’t need to worry about me, lila. it’s probably just the paranoia of an old woman. ❞

Hearing there was nothing wrong should have been reassuring. But she knew too much about the world, even if she’d always been the stubborn one who chose to see beauty instead of darkness. That was why she’d chosen to dance not fight. “I’m always going to worry about you, Auntie Nat. That’s what families do.” She smiled into the touch, not ashamed that her eyes pricked with tears. She’d missed her so much after she’d died, it’d been the first real loss she’d ever faced. “I’m just selfish enough to be glad our family is coming together. Because whatever’s going on, you know we can deal with it together.”