Published: November 9th 2023, 11:56:54 pm
The others have left. It’s just you and P in their ‘embodiment of a Pinterest board’ home. If the circumstances were different tonight, this actually would’ve been nice. The two of you, coming from a classy event at the Grand Royalton, being together in a space where you can both be completely comfortable.
Only, tonight has proven to be anything but comfortable. And you both know it.
A yawn wants to escape P’s lips, but it’s almost as if their mind has completely shut off from thinking about fatigue. It’s spiralling in thousands of ways, in ways that can’t simply be slowed down by the magic that runs through their veins. P knows because they’ve tried to do so at least twice since leaving the event.
They sniffle and wipe a cool hand over their face. P rises from their seat and flashes you the best smile they can muster up. It’s fake, extremely so, but it’s intriguing how it can still look beautiful and put you at ease.
“Would you like to come with me?” P asks, only to see the confusion in your eyes. “To get my pets, I mean. Stella and Ciro, I left them with my neighbour.”
“Ah,” I manage to mutter.
“But, I can always drop you off home if that’s what you’d prefer,” P adds.
After tonight, it should be what I prefer. To go home, sink into bed and sleep off the fear, the disappointment, the way the supernatural world has me in its clutches. Yet…I can only feel myself wanting the opposite, for one reason or another.
For one reason. P Martens.
“I don’t mind coming with you.”
I know I’m not imagining it, I do see P’s smile switch from a forced one to a genuine one. Their shoulders relax as they pick up their keys and nod towards the door.
—
“Are they supernatural too?” you ask, glancing towards P in the dark as you both continue on down the sidewalk. “Your neighbour.”
P shakes their head with ease. “No, she’s human.” They blink, and even until the starlit sky, you can see the deep colour of their blue eyes. “She’s like you.”
You arch a brow, realising that P’s gaze hasn’t left you. “How so?” you question.
“She knows about the supernatural world, knows about what I am, what the others are too,” they explain. “She knows about you too.”
I almost snort. “Who doesn’t in this city?”
P quickly shakes their head, just before they wrap their coat tighter around their torso. “Not like that, not because of your father’s job,” they say at first. “I mean, like that, but because I…” Their words trail off.
There aren’t many times you’ve seen P flustered or tongue-tied. In fact, you’re sure it’s the first time. The way they let the wind take to their blonde hair, let it easily hide their soft, yet pointed facial features. They’re nervous.
“I’ve told her about you,” P says in a slightly stronger voice.
Your ears perk up at those words. There’s immediate interest considering, now you think about it, you’ve mentioned P to Jordan in your spare time. Half the time you don’t even realise you’re talking about the magical being, something will remind you of them and a comment will slip out.
“Oh? Good things?” you ask, a teasing tone on the tip of your tongue.
P’s eyes playfully narrow, suggesting that they caught the change in your voice. “Good things that I’m suddenly regretting.”
You snort. “You can’t take back what you’ve said now.”
“I know, such a shame,” P replies, continuing the joke as their gaze lingers on you for an extra moment.
There’s a silence that engulfs the two of you as you reach the door P needs. Before they even knock you can hear Stella’s barks, they’re so loud that P almost winces. As soon as the door a golden retriever puppy comes bustling out of the house, immediately jumping towards P. In true introvert like fashion, Ciro strolls out of the house as if he’s on a runway. He affectionately taps P’s ankle with his paw before merely glancing over at you.
“I appreciate you keeping them for a few hours,” the magical being tells their neighbour, just in time for Stella to break out into a sprint, and suddenly P’s occupied with their hyperactive at 3am in the morning. You can’t help but let a chuckle escape you as you watch P frantically jogs after their dog down the street.
“It’s nice to finally put the name to a face, in the flesh, I mean,” P’s neighbour says. She’s an elderly woman, you’re almost surprised at the fact she’s still awake, but you offer her a smile anyway.
“Nice to meet you,” you utter with a nod.
The woman’s eyes flit over to P who has finally caught up with Stella. Across the row of houses there’s a small grassy patch, one where P and Stella happily play. It’s amusing to watch, a sweet moment, really. Far from the tears P Martens cried during their interrogation with Zillah Arryn—a healthy escape from what the night provided.
You both know that when this little moment is over, all the memories of the Grand Royalton will come flooding back with no hesitation. It’ll arrive in your brains in the worst way possible and haunt your nightmares, but this right here, this is an element of peace.
“You do know that they’re fond of you, don’t you?” the woman says.
“Who?” It’s the instant response you can think of, even though you know who she’s talking about.
She smiles. “The blonde darling over there.” You follow her eyeline to see Stella reaching upwards to lick P’s hand. “They’ve mentioned, more than once, that meeting you was a blessing.”
That makes your heart flutter a little…a lot. Even more so when P’s blue eyes lock to yours. Of course, they’re a supernatural with enhanced hearing.
“That’s what they said?” you ask, your eyes staying on P for an extra moment.
“Amongst many other things.” You turn back to her as those words are said. “I’d like to think the two of you will end up being an item one day. Sooner rather than later. I’ll be rooting for you.”
You’d be lying if you said that wasn’t something you were hoping for too.