#beyondtheveille

Nikola pressed the doorbell again and ran his hand through Dane’s hair, adjusting the toddler’s position on his hip. “Shh, we’ll be out of the cold soon.” He stood on the doorstep of the last address they had on file for Scarlett, in the middle of the night, the wind hitting his back. Even though Helen was off trying to gather the next ingredients for his treatments, he still had to try this. He had to try.

A little after four in the morning, the streets are near silent, no one but him and drunks staggering home after the bars close up. He locks the bar behind him, stifling a yawn, feet dragging against the concrete as he turns, and         slams into someone.  “   Fuck.” The key slips from his fingers, clattering against the sidewalk as he unsuccessfully tries to snatch it out of the air.  “Christ. It’s a bit early to be in a rush, don’t you think?” 

Even though video called home when he was away - for the people who mattered - nothing compared to seeing them in person. So he lifted a hand and knocked on Scarlett’s door.

(( Hi! :D  beyond-the-veille ))

He'd seen them off, grabbed something to eat from the kitchen and found one of the cleaning products while he was at it. When he'd eaten and the oil was cleaned off all the doors - except any that ended up on Lee's, that could stay there as retribution - he knocked on Scarlett's door. "Hey, they're gone. You can come out or let me in or whatever."

“Listen, Scarlett, this isn’t you. She’s done something. Please!”

“Yeah, I’m awake. What do you want?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

“I’m so out of my depth here. I mean, legally, I’m an adult. But I’m still way, way out of my depth...” Chase bit his lip and wrung his hands together. “Come on, let’s go and get drinks. I haven’t seen Hestia anywhere so she won’t mind.”