Just in Case

We're back!

I hope you're all doing well.

The next two weeks are going to be very busy for me with the end of the semester and finals, but I will endeavor to update as frequently as I can!

Enjoy!

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Enid sipped on her mug of hot chocolate, holding a book with her other hand.

She was in one of the large sitting rooms, tucked into an armchair by a fireplace.

Dante was stretched out on the couch to her right, fast asleep with his abandoned book folded across his chest.

Soft snores filled the room and she smiled.

Alexander smirked at her from the armchair across from his, pantomiming a hammer-jack motion in time with Dante's snores.

She hid a giggle behind her mug, shaking her head at him in amused disapproval.

The door opened and Theodore stepped into the room, rolling his eyes as he took in the sleeping mass on the couch.

His obsidian eyes met hers and he winked at her before the book from Dante's chest and smacking him in the head with it.

"Enid?" Dante sat up quickly, his eyes darting around in confusion.

His voice was deep and thick with sleep.

"No, that was me, you otiose sloth." Theodore smirked as the man whirled around to look at him.

"You could have woken me up nicely." He grumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"What's the fun in that?" Alexander chuckled, clapping Theodore on the back as he walked past.

Theodore's lips quirked up into a half-smile as he approached her.

With a soft tug, he pulled her up from her seat and stole her spot.

His hands spanned across her hips as Theodore pulled her down onto his lap.

Enid poked him in the chest with an exaggerated look of offense.

"Excuse me sir, you could've asked." She admonished him, unable to stop the smile that was creeping across her face.

He merely shrugged, brushing his nose against hers with affection.

"I just thought you might find my lap more... comfortable." His voice was low in her ear and she flushed.

"I believe we have something to discuss with Enid." Alexander gave Theodore a pointed look.

She glanced at each of them in curiosity.

Any last remaining grips of sleep left Dante's forest eyes.

He cleared his throat, running a hand through his messy brown hair.

"We'd like to start training you in self-defense, little bird. A certain... threat has entered our radar. We'll do everything in our power to keep you safe ourselves, but I think we'd all feel a little less worried if we taught you some basics." Dante explained, lacing his fingers together between his knees.

Enid's eyebrows furrowed.

"What threat?" She shifted slightly to look up at Theodore when the other two kept their mouths sealed.

His mask was in place as he stared down at her, a slight shadow of stubble covering his jaw.

The grip on her hips tightened before he sighed shortly.

"There's a man named Oscar Flynt. We have a long and difficult past with him. He's an extremely dangerous man. He's been overseas for a few years, but he returned to America yesterday." His explanation only left her with more questions.

"Long and difficult past?" She glanced over to Alexander when she heard him clear his throat.

His face was strained, the lithe muscles along his arms tense.

"His father killed our parents. All our parents. Well, except for Theodore's mom... she died in childbirth." His voice was bereft of its usual warmth and musicality.

He sounded cold, robotic.

A shiver raced down her spine at his words.

Enid felt as though the air had been sucked out of her lungs.

"I-I'm so sorry. I had no idea." The words tumbled from her lips, tears burning in the back of her eyes.

They had never discussed their family with her before.

She hadn't minded, in fact she related.

The subject of her father was one she rarely broached.

But this...

The idea of them in such pain nearly strangled her.

Her mind raced, imagining them as young boys.

Orphaned.

"It's alright, darling. We were eighteen when it happened, and they weren't great parents. Although Alexander's mother did her best." Theodore pulled her closer to him, his body tense beneath her.

She grabbed one of his hands, wrapping it in both of hers and holding it to her heart.

Words evaded her, but she did her best to communicate how she felt as she met his ocean gaze.

Sympathy, pain, understanding.

God, did she understand.

His lips quirked up slightly at the edges and she knew he had gotten her message.

Her observant eyes swept to Dante, sitting unusually silent.

When he met her eyes, she sucked in a gasp at the empty hatred there.

"My parents were terrible people, but-" He cut himself off, tugging softly at his hair "My family and the Flynt family have had bad blood since the beginning of time. I thought I could be the Romano to finally end the stupid feud, but Oscar Flynt is a monster. And I know he's going to try to get to you, try to take you from us."

His words were thick with loathing, with despair.

Enid slipped from Theodore's arms, padding over to the couch.

She grabbed his hands, releasing their painful grip on his hair.

Pressing a soft kiss onto the pulse on his wrist, she watched his face crumble.

He looked so young, so scared.

So far from the confident, godlike man she had come to adore.

And then she saw it; the guilt.

Bitter, acrid guilt.

Like poison, he was drowning in it.

"It's not your fault, Dante." Her words soft, but firm.

"It's my family's fault. Alex's mom would still be alive if we hadn't been so close. If our families hadn't decided to partner together. And now he's after you. If anything happens to you, I'll never be able to live with myself." His tongue was like a viper.

"They were adults, you were just a child. You did not kill them. And I'll be okay. I trust you." She wrapped her arms around him, both to comfort him and keep herself from falling.

Her knees were trembling with sorrow.

His arms banded around her, pulling her into him.

"No matter. Point is, he's back. And we will do everything in our power to protect your little lovely self. Including teaching you how to do so as well." The heaviness loosened in her chest as he smirked at her.

"Starting with me. I'm going to teach you how to shoot a gun, angel." Alexander grinned at her from his armchair, warmth returning to his honey eyes.

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Our poor immortals.

Hope you enjoyed the little peak into their lives.

Comments fill my heart with joy.

All my love, Sappho ✮