#guest muse; lazentis

[rebelichor]

To her genuine surprise Enok not only occupied a seat at the table, he even fixed himself a plate.

This wasn't the same man as last evening. The man who deafened himself to the room and sat far off in his own private meeting, eyes a constant orange of calls that glanced over to her like a watchful hawk. The man who refused to sit and share in the family meal.

He was hesitant, and he hardly ate with the same appetite that she remembered, but he made the effort to prove he wasn't going to be a fracture between his girlfriend and her family.

Ariadne could feel some of her own tension easing. So much had happened... honestly, she had been doubting whether she'd invite him to her next family visit. Then he decided to step up. He even thanked her family.

Lazentis sat up a little straighter. Xemos took a long sip of their coffee. Vergil had no reaction, almost as though he had ignored the other man.

Of course it was Lazentis who answered him. "It has been a pleasure to have you and Ariadne in our home once again. I do hope we will be seeing you again soon."

That fragile alliance had been laid on the table. It wasn't perfect, and there would never be a perfect solution, but it was the best thing both sides could have for now.

Ariadne cleared her throat. "Right, I need my old chip number. Lost all my contacts. Want it back."

There was another awkward pause at the table. Though Vergil was looking up.

"Hello?" Ariadne looked around. "My old chip number? While I'm at it, all the shit from my apartment too. Something's gotta be left."

Xemos pushed to stand. "I will arrange to have those boxes brought up from storage. They will be here, in your room, you can sort through them at a later time and decide what you want to keep." The King pulled their daughter up from her chair for a massive hug and a kiss to her head. There would be no arguing the delivery of Ariadne's belongings to one of Enok's apartments. He had taken quite enough already.

Vergil finally cleared his throat. "I'll get your chip." He dodged his parents concerned looks and pushed away from the table, momentarily leaving the room.

Ariadne looked to Enok then. Even twitched a small smile, though didn't give much else away.

When Vergil returned with her chip, it was pristine, and not completely hers. "Your chip is out of date, doubt it would do much if you slotted it now. This is the upgrade. Everything is in tact. I... I could scan your contacts for you. File out the out of service numbers into an archive folder, search for updated numbers... wipe the inactives..."

The offer was genuine. Ariadne almost refused... but something in her twins voice swayed her. "Sure. Give me a jingle when it's done?" He nodded and found himself pulled into a squeezing hug. There was a promise he'd do his best, which everyone understood clearly. Her decade-old contacts were not going to look the same.

Then it was Ariadne and Enok sat across from her father. Everyone had made busy work for themselves, and it was almost odd that the workaholic blond was completely the opposite. "You are welcome here at any hour of any day. Both of you. Please, don't be strangers... it is good to have you home."

Ariadne's expression softened. "We'll be back... just, we're about to go visit Enok's folks too. I won't promise to come tomorrow since I don't know how long the drive is to camp anymore, but I'll keep you updated, yeah?" It was another difficult goodbye. She hugged her father tight and managed a laugh when he sent them away with little baggies of leftovers to enjoy.

When she and Enok left the penthouse and entered the elevator she could feel her throat all tight and choked up. They barely even left and she already missed her family. "... thankyou."

Enok couldn’t shake the tension. Even if he tried to - for Ariadne. But it was hard. She had her own plans. SHe would make calls that would end in voice mails. Messages that would get a reply telling her they forgot about her. It would hurt. She would go through pain again.

And there was nothing he could do, other than being at her side.

The same as he was at her side at breakfast - though it was more like she was at his side in that.

Enok did not dare to look up much. And he kept his mouth shut in her family’s presence. Every word could destroy that delicate and fragile cease fire.

And he truly was hungry. He hadn’t tasted those waffles in years - and they were still amazing. Berries on top with chocolate sauces - he loved those. He added the caramel sauce because Ariadne had subtlety demanded it.

The first few hesitant bites and swallows had made him nervous - but he relaxed a bit, as soon as it was clear he wouldn’t die choking on his blood the next few minutes. Still. He couldn’t let himself fall like back then. He had joked and laughed so much with Vergil all those years ago. Now they were both broken men, with a cat-and-mouse-game that had lasted a decade.

Still… he didn’t forget his manners. Having finished, Enok dared to speak up, though his glances at the Nihilis family were only very brief.

“I thank you for this breakfast. And your hospitality.”

For not having broken into Ariadne’s room during the night to drag him off.

For not having hacked his systems.

For not having used his presence here to attack his crew.

His eyes stayed at Ariadne beside him, asking, questioning. Anything else? Was she okay? Was she happy with him?