twice blessed.

Connor had rocked up to work a little later than usual today, slightly hungover – but, hell? he owned the shop, and it was only five minutes. He came to the conclusion it wouldn’t matter.

He opened up the store, making himself a large cup of strong coffee before sitting behind the register, nursing his hangover as best as he could. 

He answered a few emails, reorganised a few things – today was a quiet day – something Connor’s small shop experienced from time to time. His eyes shot to the door as he heard it opening. He didn’t recognise the man straight away – he knew he looked familiar but couldn’t place where he knew him from. He quickly closed the grimoire he was reading from – “hey there, what can I do for you?”

“is there something specific you’re looking for?”

“Hi,” Wyatt greeted casually, smiling softly at the other male. Instead of going to look around for himself, he went towards him. A raise of his brow at the other’s question. 

May as well be honest. It’s what he was striving for with his aims after all, right? If the man were to attack him for it, for what he was, what he was looking for -- Wyatt could just kill him. He smiled slightly, a little darkly to himself, and at the other man. “I hope you can.” He’d rather not kill some random shop owner if he could help it. “I was looking for..” Wyatt glanced the book on the counter the other had been reading, and his smile widened. “Something like that, actually.” he pressed his finger down on the counter in front of the book. 

“Something, a book maybe.. that could tell me about fates, and.. whether you can change them, or not. The future. Whatever. Do you think you can help me with that? ”

sms to; wy halliwell - That’s what you get for going to a psychic! sms to; wy halliwell - I could’ve read your palm for you. Would’ve told you more than yikes, but nope. ;c Serves you right, Halliwell. sms to; wy halliwell - Oh, you’re very narcissistic, btw. Totally narcissistic. :D <3 

sms to; wy halliwell - ……… sms to; wy halliwell - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA. sms to; wy halliwell - Are you serious?! She said ‘yikes’?!?!?!?!?!?! sms to; wy halliwell - #brb #dying :D 

“No, Wyatt. You don’t get to pick and choose when I have always told you everything.” She was surprised at the force in her own voice, but it was all true. Hadn’t she done everything right? Hadn’t she deserved to know what was happening? Somewhere inside Melinda understood his need to protect her and Chris, she would have felt the same way, but she was overwhelmed by her own feelings - by the fear of not knowing just what danger they were all in. “You’re right. There’s magic and creatures here I never even dreamed of, and a lot of them want to hurt you and you can’t decide for us when we’re better off shut out. We all need protect each other.” His next words were like a punch to the gut. Had he really spent all that time calling and texting her just to turn her away now? “I can’t go home, Wyatt. I left home behind to follow you.” She knew that wasn’t what he had meant, but she had missed the manor more than anything. She had missed their normal lives. “I’m not a child and I don’t need you to tell me when to go in. I’m staying here. If you don’t want to talk to me now, fine, you go home.” The retort sounded exactly like that of the small child she was claiming she wasn’t, but she didn’t care. She loved her brother unconditionally, but she wasn’t going to sit by quietly while he kept her in the dark. She was going to make as much noise as possible.

His sister’s voice caught him off guard, but he carried on walking -- after a slight stumble -- as if nothing had happened. This is why it would be better if she’d stayed home. She wouldn’t have to worry about the creatures and magic she’d ‘never even dreamed of’. It didn’t matter that they all seemed to want to hurt him. The fact that they could hurt him, without even hurting him. “They hurt me if they hurt you. Physical pain means nothing. Not anymore.” He muttered the last part. He’d been through his fair share of it. That’s why he’d run here. Without them. Wyatt’s pace quickened, almost like he was trying to get away from her. Maybe he was. Why was it she had to question him? Call him out on his bullshit? Why did people keep DOING that? “Why did you, Mel? Why did you follow me?” Wyatt asked, stopping dead in his tracks and turning around to face her. “You were safer at home. Mom and dad are there. Chris.. should be there, too. Why did you come?” He didn’t know why he asked. He didn’t know why he was doing, or saying ANY of this. She was one of his favourite people in the WORLD and he was trying to push her away? And for what? To what end? So he could end up completely and unmistakably alone in this gigantic, over the top palace he’d created? “I started something here. I have to see it through, and people are going to DIE because of it.” It was the simple truth. There was no getting around it. The ball had made that much obvious. Laura had made that much obvious to him, too, and he didn’t know how he felt about that. 

After coming to the conclusion that there were more people than he initially THOUGHT after him, it seemed natural for Wyatt to need help answers. Something to aid him. Something that could.. tell him who he could trust? Even if it was revealed that the only person was HIMSELF. Either way, after the events of the ball had gone the way they had, Wyatt needed something. He didn’t KNOW WHAT HE NEEDED, truthfully. He was still working it out. His head was a mess, and in all honesty, his heart felt heavy. 

Which he could not have. 

❝WOULD YOU STOP BEING SO JUDGY?❞ Laura made an attempt to give him a serious look, but the twitching corners of her lips kind of ruined that plan — and she stood no chance at hiding her laughter when he poked his fork at her. ❝What is wrong with you?❞ She questioned, but it lacked disbelief or annoyance ; because she was practically beaming at him. ❝You are underestimating me, Halliwell. I know how to fix a burger.❞ The mustard was almost gone, just the way she liked it. ❝Dragon breath, he says.❞ The hybrid scoffed playfully, right before she took another bite. ❝What did you expect? Not everyone has the original Salvatore recipe.❞ As a matter of fact, she was really grateful for the fact that she did. Bolognese had always been one of her favorites, but it was the simple truth ; Nothing compared to Stefan’s. ❝Maybe you should start ordering something else. If you actually want Bolognese you just have to give me a call, you know? I think I proved that I know how to use a kitchen. Unlike you, I might add.❞ She added quietly, but loud enough for him to hear it, which was… definitely the plan.

Every time she had heard someone accuse her brother of orchestrating the whole thing she had denied it, and she would defend him to her dying breath, but on the inside of course she had wondered what exactly happened. She had felt out of the loop far to often for her liking lately. “I don’t know anything. You don’t tell me anything.” She was so close to snapping at him. To yell, or to scream, to get all of the frustration and anger out, but she couldn’t. She sounded more wounded and hurt than angry, and that only added to the anger and frustration. “Why are you throwing extravagant parties, and scaring people?  Why did you move to Mystic Falls? What’s here that we didn’t have at home? People keep talking about you, and I don’t even know how to reply anymore. You talk to me, but you don’t tell me anything.” 

“I do, I do tell you things, I --” he shook his head at her, his words were defensive. She was RIGHT and he knew it. “There are some things a big brother doesn’t tell his little sister.” Wyatt said softly, frowning, flinching away from the memories inside his head. It wasn’t because he didn’t think she could handle it. It was because Wyatt didn’t want her to have to. He didn’t want to put that on her. Or put her in any more danger than she already was. He absently pulled on the sleeves of his sweater, his thumbs tucking in the holes he’d created there for himself to help keep his wrists and the marks from his imprisonment hidden. He stared at her, waiting. Melinda was kind, and soft, but she was like any of them. She had a temper, too. She had a right to be angry at him. And he knew it. And he HATED it. “There are things here.. there’s magic here that we don’t have at home. There’s things I need to do. To keep you safe. You and Chris.” His jaw clenched. It was his fear for himself that crept up on him now. It made him twitch. He shook his head. Just like that, a sheet of ice seemed to go up, shrouding the genuine emotion he felt from view. “It’s not safe out here. Not right now. Go home, Melinda.” 

In all honesty Melinda wasn’t prepared for any kind of confrontation, so when she recognized the voice of her eldest brother she felt relieved - and then conflicted. She hadn’t exactly been avoiding him, but ever since the party she didn’t know what to say or think or feel about Wyatt. “Yeah.” Was all she replied at first. She would have been content to just leave him with that and go on about her walk but there was so many questions and words trying to fight to the surface all of the sudden that she knew she couldn’t just walk away now. “I guess ever since the whole bloodbath and beyond event you threw I’ve been a little preoccupied.” Not preoccupied, just trying to spare his feelings. This was awkward. 

Wyatt wasn’t particularly good at reading people’s emotions. He’d struggled with it for a long time, and it anything it only seemed to be getting worse over the years. Something seemed off, though. It wasn’t just the lack of texts he’d received from his sister.. now there was this too. Wyatt frowned, looking at her as they walked. His frown only deepened as the youngest Halliwell continued to talk. There was something accusatory about her tone.. About her words. She couldn’t possibly think.. Could she? “Mel.. You know I didn’t have anything to do with what happened, right? I wouldn’t.. not with you there, Melly. I swear.”

LAURA LEANED FORWARD WHEN THE SCENT OF FOOD FILLED THE AIR, but her excitement was replaced by amusement when the waiter arrived — and caused Wyatt to complain. ❝Uh, Wy, that’s not…❞ Okay, damn it. She was laughing too much for this. ❝That’s not yours, that’s mine.❞ The hybrid finally told him and she waved the poor guy off before she switched their plates with a grin. ❝That’s not even a bottle of mustard on a plate, you drama queen.❞ Although it was a bit much for her liking as well ; but that was nothing that couldn’t be fixed with some magic. ❝Now shut it and enjoy your food. Think you can do that?❞ She questioned, still grinning while she brought the burger to her lips to take a bite from it. 

@ofviolentdelight