Chapter Text
Two hours later, the Aurora Watch was taking their final statement of the night from Verin outside Essek’s front door. Mollymauk was standing by the door, eavesdropping as well as he could after just being interrogated, while Caleb was sitting on the couch with Essek, their turns having already come and gone.
When Molly realized he wasn’t hearing anything well enough to justify staying by the door, he huffed and walked into the living room, sprawling on the loveseat catty-corner with the couch.
“How are you doing, Hot Boi?”
“Surprisingly wonderful.” Essek’s lips turned upward slightly. “I think my emotional outburst earlier was, ah, more trauma related than present moment related.”
Mollymauk grinned brightly. “That’s grand, love. And you, magic man? How’re you?”
Caleb stared ahead at the currently off television.
“Caleb?” Essek repeated, squeezing his hand.
The Zemnian blinked, but didn’t lose the dazed quality to his eyes.
Essek remembered Caleb passing by him as the second person to have their witness statement taken and how Essek was asked before he even finished getting a glass of water to stand with Caleb for his. Until just now, he’d thought nothing of it, but now he realized why Caleb had been granted special treatment. He must have mentioned something about his PTSD, and for him to mention it meant he had feared it acting up during questioning.
He hated that he hadn’t thought of Caleb having a reaction to this domestic event, but even he had to admit that keeping track of Caleb’s mental illness was too much to expect of himself after everything.
“Dear, are you dissociating?” Essek asked, turning on the couch to fully face Caleb, massaging Caleb’s forearm.
“Mm?” Caleb hummed. Essek took that as a yes, and I can’t translate you right now.
“How can I help?” Mollymauk asked, sitting up.
“I’m going to cast Tongues on you, alright?” Essek weaved the arcana and passed it through his touch on Caleb’s arm, and then repeated it for himself, ignoring Mollymauk for the moment. “Do you think you’re close to a flashback?”
Caleb’s brow furrowed slightly after a full second of no response. Essek wasn’t sure what that meant, entirely, if he was thinking about Essek’s question or if he was so deep that he hadn’t understood it, but Essek knew better than to play around with Caleb’s disorder.
“Cold shower?”
“Mm.” Caleb frowned. Clearly didn’t like that idea. Probably because he’d just had a shower just a little more than two hours ago.
“What about some ice cubes? I read that ice water in a bowl could help.”
Caleb’s frown faded. Apparently not a bad idea.
“I can keep him company, go get it.” Mollymauk offered, standing up and taking Essek’s place when Essek left to go get the ice cubes, passing him a Tongues as well. “Is our talking helping, love?”
“Mhm.” Caleb rubbed his face with both hands, brain feeling sluggish like a slow muddy landslide.
“Great thing I love to talk, ey?” Molly massaged Caleb’s shoulder, manicured nails lightly scratching through Caleb’s shirt. “Let’s see, what to talk about? Um… Oh, did I tell you what Ver is getting Luc for his birthday?”
“No.”
“Wow, it’s weird to hear you without your accent. But at least you said a word! Anyway, uh, well, I guess it’s more what we’re getting Luc for his birthday. It was originally gonna be from me, cause I was gonna get him a new target for his crossbow that played sound effects and lit up, but feckin’ Beau got him that exact thing already! So I went looking like three days ago and found this cute as all hell camping set with a fake burner, fake gas lantern, cute plastic multitool and fake fire pit, and it’ll match that tent bed Veth and Yeza got him!”
“He likes camping.” Caleb remarked with an approving nod.
“I mean, his mum is Veth, so, are we really surprised? I don’t think the squirrels like being outside as much as she does! I know I certainly feckin’ don’t. Love me a beach day, but then I gotta spend some quality time inside my dark hovel smoking a bowl and watching reality TV.” Molly tilted their head slightly, realizing something. “Huh. Maybe that’s why Ver and I get along.”
“Which part?” Caleb was starting to feel a bit more present, thankfully. Although language was difficult, Mollymauk’s voice was comforting and familiar. “The darkness, or… weed and TV?”
“Both, kinda. Less so the weed ‘cause of the whole government job thing but he takes a hit here and there.”
“I am… surprised but not.”
“Really? I think it’s crazier that Essek used to smoke.”
“What?!” Caleb’s eyes went wide, incredulous.
“He didn’t tell you?”
“I didn’t tell him what?” Essek inquired, returning with a hand towel and a small bowl of ice cubes and water.
Mollymauk stood up so Essek could sit next to Caleb again. “That you smoked pot.”
“Pot?”
“Marijuana. Mary Jane. Weed. The devil's lettuce.”
“The devil's - Luxon above, shut up. There's no way that's an actual nickname for it.”
“It is!” Molly laughed.
“No it's not.”
“It actually is.” Caleb remarked, smiling lopsidedly. Essek's eyebrows rose.
“Seriously?”
“Mhm. Northern Dwendalian Empire slang.”
“The Empire is ludicrous.” Essek sighed, silently cheering at Caleb’s larger words. He must be feeling better. “But yes, I did smoke. Back when I was a troubled youth.” Essek smirked softly, playful yet sad given the context when he gestured with a hand toward the front door, the other handing Caleb the bowl of ice water. “You think I survived that sober?”
“That… is a good point.” Caleb clumsily picked up an ice cube, furrowing his brows to focus his uncoordinated hand as it glided through water, and then dropped it again to repeat the process.
The front door opened and closed, and Molly and Essek both glanced up and watched Verin walk in from the entryway.
“How’d it go?” Molly jumped up and met him halfway, just as the decorated Aurora Watch officer that had been helming the investigation strolled in behind Verin.
Speaking in Undercommon, the officer addressed Essek, saying, “Shadowhand Thelyss, we’re concluding our investigation and taking Umavi Thelyss into custody. Dusk Captain Kryn wishes for you and Taskhand Thelyss to call her as soon as you can.”
“Thank you, Commissioner. We will do so promptly.”
The commissioner nodded with a slight bow and left, and the room sat silently for a long moment. No one knew what to say or do. How do you move on to a normal routine after this?
“You got all of it on camera, yeah?” Mollymauk finally spoke up. Essek nodded silently, staring at nothing. “Do you… wanna send it to whoever it is you’re gonna talk to?”
“Dusk Captain Kryn is my superior.” Verin explained to his partner, also spacing out a little.
“I thought you said you only had one - ohhhh.” Mollymauk exhaled, eyes widening as they realized who the Dusk Captain was and the gravity of her demanding a phone call with Verin. “Oh shite.”
“I don’t know if this is a conversation worth getting panicked about.” Essek blinked, bringing himself out of his thoughts. Caleb moved and set the bowl of ice water on the coffee table, and Essek handed him the hand towel. Caleb dried his hands as Essek continued. “We have evidence, after all, and I have already spoken to her about this.”
“You have?” Verin interrupted incredulously.
“Yes, I have. And yes, she’ll want the footage as fast as possible.” Essek straightened up and walked toward the kitchen to get his laptop. “Thank you for the reminder, Mollymauk.”
“No problem, love.”
“I will...” Caleb checked the time on his phone. It was too late to order takeout, now. He sighed. “... go start on something to eat.”
“Look at you, talkin’ in Common.” Molly teased playfully. They suggested, “You could make the tower instead, if you feel up to it.”
Caleb’s ears turned pink with embarrassment. “I don’t know if I can concentrate that hard right now.”
“Then I’ll come help cook somethin’!” Molly smiled and went toward the kitchen. “What’s on the menu, lads?”
“I will be happy with whatever you make.” Essek reassured them, coming back into the room, laptop under his arm. “So long as Molly does all the dangerous stuff that requires focus.”
“Same.” Verin agreed with a sigh, plopping down onto the loveseat, exhausted. “Whatever you make.”
As Caleb and Essek passed each other on the path between the couch and the kitchen, Caleb stopped his partner to kiss his forehead, lingering for a moment. Essek smiled and leaned into Caleb’s front, soaking in the affection and physical reassurance, laptop tucked under his arm.
“I love you.” Caleb whispered, rubbing Essek’s shoulder. “Thank you for taking care of me on top of everything else.”
“You took care of me, too.” Essek wrapped his free arm around Caleb’s waist to hug him. “I couldn’t have done this without you. I love you.”
They separated after a squeezing hug and when Caleb went into the kitchen, he got an idea and felt motivated enough to cook it despite his exhaustion.
“Molly?”
“Yeah, handsome?”
“Do you know if Verin likes stuffed green peppers?”
The last-minute sleepover was exactly what the Thelyss brothers needed.
When Verin and Essek ended their call with Quana, reassured by her that she would take care of things - and even receiving an apology for not noticing things sooner - they leaned back and exhaled, letting out a breath each that they hadn’t realized had been lodged in their chests.
They stared up at Essek’s ceiling, silent for several long seconds.
“It’s… done.” Verin said softly, almost amazed.
“It’s done.” Essek repeated. He smiled. “We’re free.”
Verin rolled his head to look at Essek, smiling in return as his brother met his eyes. “We’re free.”
Essek smirked with amusement, chuckling breathlessly.
“Does this also feel completely impossible to you, or is it just me?”
“Right?” Verin laughed. “Nothing about the last, what, twelve hours has made any sense.”
“A part of me wants to know how they didn’t notice until last year,” Essek remarked, “but another part understands it’s Mother we’re talking about. Of course they didn’t notice.”
“She can be extremely camouflaged when it benefits her.” Verin agreed in a sigh.
“Everythin’ alright in there, loves?” Mollymauk called out. “Are you two off the phone?”
“We’re off the phone.” Verin confirmed, getting up. Essek joined him in walking to the kitchen.
Upon reaching the archway, he could smell the scent of tomato, onion, and spices. He recognized the light green tint to the cutting board Caleb was carrying to the sink, and he gave Caleb a fond smile as he walked over to lean against him.
“Are you making what I think you’re making?” Essek asked him tenderly, resting his chin over Caleb’s shoulder. Caleb smirked and leaned his head against Essek’s.
“Of course. Emotional upheaval means stuffed green peppers, ja?”
“Did you at least tell Molly you could be put to work for stuffed green peppers?” Essek asked, wrapping his arms around Caleb’s waist.
“No?”
“That’s a very important step in our bit, Widogast. I’m heartbroken that you skipped it.”
“Ah.” Caleb’s lips turned upward in a slight smirk at his partner’s sarcasm. “Well, to plead my case, my brain was soup and Molly did the majority of the work. So was I really put to work for stuffed green peppers?”
“Hmm…” Essek kissed his shoulder as Caleb dried his hands. “I will pardon you this time. But you’re on thin ice, Professor.”
“How gracious of you, Shadowhand.” Caleb bumped Essek’s hip with his own. “A mercy I won’t soon forget.”
Essek smacked Caleb’s hip in playful reprimand for his sarcasm, and Caleb laughed.
“To be serious for a moment,” Caleb set the rag down on the counter and turned, wrapping his arms around Essek’s body, loosely holding him, “how did the call go?”
“It went well. Very well.” Essek smiled, a lightness to his eyes that Caleb had rarely glimpsed before, in the infrequent times when all his worries were gone. “I sent her both the recording of the living room and the one I took of Durth confessing Mother told him about your past. She reassured us that we’ve nothing to worry about and she will look into how Mother got your information. If she went the route I’m theorizing she went, it likely wasn’t illegal but would certainly look bad on her in court, especially paired with her telling Durth of all people.”
Caleb smiled, relieved, and cupped Essek’s face, stroking his thumb over a soft cheek.
“Gut.”
“Quana was also impressed about our turnaround.” Essek grinned a little. “I reminded her about Molaesmyr and said we can’t help that we’re overachievers.”
Caleb chuckled and shrugged, murmuring, “You’re not wrong.”
The conversation lulled. Blue eyes trailed over one side of Essek’s face, studying it as a smile wavered, and Essek knew what Caleb was looking for without his partner having to ask it. He waited for him to ask it nonetheless, and when Caleb said nothing he answered the unspoken question.
“I keep a potion in the lab for emergencies.” He placed his hand over Caleb’s on his cheek to hold it there. The bearded smile continued to fade.
“I’m sorry I didn’t step in sooner.” Caleb whispered.
“I know you’re sorry, dear, it’s okay. I was trying to get a reaction out of her. I wasn’t trying to get slapped,” Essek added, already knowing the accusation Caleb would level, “but I was trying to anger her.”
“I would guess you succeeded, then. Still, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I didn’t see it coming, either, and I’m the one that knows her tells the best. You don’t need to apologize.”
“Agree to disagree.” Caleb kissed Essek’s cheek and then held Essek’s hand, nodding toward the living room. “Come, let’s go pick out a movie.”
They went out to the living room with Verin and Mollymauk, and tried to ignore the hanging sense of foreboding that still permeated the space.
“-more harm than good.” Molly whispered, leaning against Verin’s side on the loveseat almost conspiratorially. At hearing footsteps approaching, both Verin and Molly looked up at the kitchen and broke their conspiratorial closeness.
“He deserves to know.” Verin said plainly, giving Mollymauk a brief glance.
He focused on Caleb, and the human’s heart stuttered in his chest, threatening to give out. He wasn’t sure how much more he could take tonight.
“Who deserves to know what?” Essek asked cautiously, dragging Caleb by the hand to approach.
Verin gestured to the couch and Molly sighed, jaw tensing. The Taskhand waited for his brother and his brother’s partner to sit down before he spoke.
“When I was confronting Durth, he told me about the, um, program you were in.” Verin reluctantly confessed, wincing as he saw Caleb’s face pale. “He also told us what your old name was.”
“Now, there’s no need to freak out, alright?” Molly left Verin’s side and sat down on the other side of Caleb, grabbing a pale hand not being held by Essek and holding it with both of his. “We’re not asking you to explain. And Ver and I aren’t going to say a damn thing, I promise. I know I can be a gossipy bitch, but dead names aren’t my thing, you know that. And whatever extra bit that Ver learned, he’s not gonna tell me and I don’t need to know. I know it hurts you, and that’s all I need to know.”
Caleb swallowed and stared down at Molly’s hands holding his, unsure of where else to look. He didn’t want to look at anyone’s face, that was for sure.
“You okay, love?” Molly asked, so soft and concerned, and Caleb’s lips twitched.
“I’m okay.” He whispered. “I just… I’m tired of my past haunting me, I guess.”
“Trust me, love, I know the feeling.” Molly chuckled a little, leaning into Caleb’s side and thinking of Lucien.
“I think we all do,” Verin hummed, glancing at his brother, “to some degree.”
Essek nodded, knowing they were both thinking of their den. He then rubbed Caleb’s forearm, giving it a light squeeze. A silent reassurance that he was there.
Caleb inhaled. For the first time, he wanted to explain. He wanted to tell them what had happened and why, and he wasn’t afraid of repercussions, and that was a novel feeling.
“I was, uh… It…” Caleb swallowed. “I lost my parents, and… I was in a tough spot financially, with, ah, b-burying them and paying for school.”
Molly wanted to interject, to reassure Caleb that he didn’t need to explain, but the Thelyss brothers gave him a look that told him to be quiet, so he closed his mouth.
“One, um, one of my professors, he… He offered me a volunteer position. A paid volunteer position. I just had to be a participant in some studies and…” Caleb frowned, feeling his eyes begin to burn with the threat of tears. “He told me I could quit at any time. But he lied.”
Essek’s hand was gently moved as Caleb freed his hand from Molly’s grasp and nudged Essek’s off of him. The Zemnian then mapped a few of the faint scars on his forearm with the tip of a finger. Caleb opened his mouth to speak, but his voice failed him.
Essek rubbed his shoulder, carefully observing his partner’s eyes for if they became distant.
“Caleb, are you saying…?” Mollymauk trailed fake nails over Caleb’s other forearm, voice soft and horrified, unable to keep from speaking any longer. “Love, I thought you did these to yourself.”
Caleb shook his head, voice choking up with emotion. He inhaled shakily and cleared his throat.
“I, um… I was in the program with… Astrid and Wulf, and ah… A-After our professor did this experiment, volunteers started getting doubts, and I was one of them. I didn’t think I could handle more, and I - I told my partners I wanted to leave the program, and that’s why…”
“That’s why they attacked you.” Verin finished for him, a spark of sharp intelligence behind his eyes that Caleb was unaccustomed to seeing from the younger Thelyss. Caleb supposed that’s where Verin’s intelligence from his years of being a Taskhand came into play.
“J-Ja. Ikithon - our professor, he… ordered them to… get rid of the ones who wanted to leave. They knew what the program was for, and thought I did, too, so they told him and… I didn’t find out about any of it until the trial. That I wasn’t the only one on their list to take care of, that I wasn't the only one pulling away, that the purpose of the experiments...” Caleb idly scratched his forearm, focusing on the comforting touch of his partner and his friend. “Durth was right. They were trying to make weapons. Living arcane weapons. Assassins. And Astrid and Wulf thought I was just playing the innocent victim, but I didn’t know and I never would’ve done it if I knew.”
“Caleb.” Mollymauk wrapped their arms around Caleb’s shoulders and hugged him tight, and the Zemnian leaned into their embrace, closing his eyes. He felt… calmer. Not dissociated calmer, just calmer. It was nice. Peaceful. “I am so sorry, love.”
Caleb didn’t respond, just sat in his friend’s affection, soaking it in.
“For what it is worth…” Verin lifted his gaze from Caleb’s forearms to the man’s bearded face, unsurprised when Caleb didn’t open his eyes to look at him. “I told Durth this, and I still mean it: If the Bright Queen trusts you, I trust you. And more so,” Verin reached forward, nearly bending in half to place a hand on Essek’s knee, the nearest part of his brother that he could touch, “if you trust him, dalninuk, then I trust him. I trust your judgment above all else, including my own.”
Essek smiled at his brother, patting the hand on his knee. “Thank you, brother.”
“And Caleb? I am sorry you endured what you did.” Verin’s hand retreated. “You did not deserve any of it. You are a very good man, and I’m honored to call you a friend.”
“Danke.” The Zemnian whispered, peeling his eyes open as he felt Mollymauk pull away, a smile turning his lip at Verin’s words.
“I say it’s time for a comedy and some booze. What do you say, Magician? Wanna drink some whiskey with me? I can make you somethin’ real special with it.”
Caleb smiled softly and murmured, “Sure, Mollymauk. Have at it.”
Molly grinned and jumped up, glancing around the room. Before they could ask, Essek stood up and walked them back to the kitchen, where he kept his alcohol arranged neatly in some cabinets.
While they were gone, Verin got up and sat next to Caleb, feeling the human stiffen at his new proximity.
“I want you to listen closely.” Verin spoke softly, but with an edge of seriousness. Caleb was worried for half a second, realizing suddenly just how large Verin was compared to him, before Verin continued, saying, “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to my brother. I will let nothing get in the way of that. Okay?”
“O… kay?” Caleb furrowed his brow. “Why does that sound like a threat?”
Verin clapped him on the shoulder.
“Because it is, just not to you. To you, it is a promise.”
With a smile that did not mirror the situation, Verin stood up and walked toward the kitchen. Caleb blinked at his reflection in the darkened screen of the television, silently relieved that he was in Verin’s good graces.