Kitchen

Little Lulu marched into the kitchen, with the brass handle of the lattice double doors still gripped in her palm. She released the knob and walked into the kitchen, looking here and there to spot fresh pieces of groceries. She looked to the cabinets above her and narrowed a deathly stare at them. She growled then stamped over to collect a chair, dragging it back and climbing onto it, then onto the counter on her knees, pulling open the cabinet and sifting through the different boxes to end up pulling out a box of cereal. She was in no mood to cook, so she readjusted herself on the counter to sit down on it with her legs dangling, her hand descending into the cereal. She brought a few pieces into her mouth and casually continued this process; letting her legs swing back and forth and her eyes curiously pick up details here and there.

Tousling the towel once through his haphazard mess of damp hair, Logan laid it about his shoulders again as he entered the kitchen, perhaps ten minutes after his dear sister. His glasses were once again on the bridge of his nose, though the shade of his irises was dulled by his calm mood.
"Ah, there you are Lumi," he said gently as he made his way to the refridgerator "How are you feeling?"
She smells nice...Must have taken a shower like me, he thought as he pulled a can of soda out of the chill appliance.
He tapped the top with an elongated nail before popping it open and taking a sip, turning to face his sister as he leaned on the chill door of the refridgerator. His arms were crossed over his strapping chest in a casual way, and his gaze was merely concerned as he looked at her, then avoided her gaze. With another sip of his soda, he awaited her answer, the lower position of his ears depicting the softened emotions he felt towards her.

Though only a quarter of an hour had passed since her first fistful of cereal, Luminesa continued to quietly nibble on the small pieces of grain that were slightly glazed with honey. Her body shifted atop the counter as her red-irises glanced to Logan, then focused on his glasses, her eyes narrowing; she always disliked when he wore those glasses inside the house. A light sigh greeted the silence after his voice spoke, her tail unmoving and lax at her side.

“Alive.”

She didn't mind giving him the cold shoulder; although her mood was less harsh, it wasn't completely diluted.

He watched her pensively through the charcoal lenses for a moment before swirling the can of soda around in his hand like a wine glass for a moment. After staring at it for a moment, he lifted his gaze back to her, speaking in a controlled, calm voice.
"Would you mind," he began, "telling me exactly why you're giving me the cold shoulder? I'm afraid I don't quite understand."
As he spoke, he pushed off from the refridgerator and made his way to the table, pulling out a chair and sitting down nonchalantly, one arm tossed over the wooden back of the hand-carved furniture.

“Take off the glasses when you are speaking with me…”

She normally didn’t mind the glasses but when she was in a foul mood because of him, she showed neither leniency nor mercy. Her ruby-red eyes appeared to flicker with their previous color for only a moment, though it could have very well been a trick of the light.

“…because you were soft… to that… that thing. Just because he had a piece of Jonathan’s kind inside him.”

"You mistake anger for softness, Luminesa," he whispered quietly, shutting his eyes.
As if it were nothing, he removed his glasses and leaned back, drinking the soda, though keeping his eyes shut. He would appease his sister, yes, but he knew the shade of his irises, if she saw them, would only anger her further.
"I was equally as upset as you, and you know that."

A few moments after his speaking, a chime that went down in octaves rang throughout the house. His ears twitched, picking up the reverberations, and he stood, replacing his glasses before opening his eyes.
"It seems we have company." With all the tenderness of a brother, he went over to Lumi and cupped the back of her neck with his palm, resting his chin for a moment on the top of her head. "I'll speak with you later, Lulu."
He released her slowly, walking out of the room calmly, though his eyes darkened as he approached the door.
That mage better have a good reason for showing up here...

Luminesa’s chest slowly began to rise as she inhaled the comforting scent of her brother, biting the inside of her lower lip and pulling her hand out of the cereal box, setting it aside. She felt her heart and stomach clench as she heard the truth, though with an injured, tender tone from her brother.

“I am-…”

Right as she opened her mouth to speak her mind, a melodic chime that climbed down two or three octaves interrupted her. Her chest fell as if she had been struck and her eyes actually began to sting her eyes.

So hard were her teeth gnawing on the fleshy inside of her mouth, she drew blood that tasted bitter and metallic. Luminesa’s body become eerily still as he mentioned to speaking with her later, his withdrawn presence causing all of her overflowing emotions to retracts and fall inward like a caving volcano, a simple expressionless face reflecting it. Without a sound, Luminesa walked in the opposite direction to the back door of the kitchen, opening it and stepping out, a gust of wind gently closing it and taking with it all evidence of where the sister would go.

Upon entering the kitchen, Logan set himself to work, gathering down two mugs from the cabinets, a spoon each for stirring, and a special hot chocolate mix from the pantry. From the fridge, he pulled out a jug of milk and a bottle of the alcohol he had mentioned to Izaya. Immediately, he uncapped the milk jug and poured the drink into each mug. As he stirred the cocoa mix evenly into the two mugs, he thought quietly on what had happened in the forest.
Those elves weren't in their right minds...It was clear to see. Who in God's name could that elder have been talking about, though? An angel and a saint...? I've learned nothing of either angels or saints in this world's mythology...
He leaned against the counter as the mugs spun round and round in the microwave, bubbling occasionally as the milk was too heated. Eventually, he resolved to leave the matter to another day, and pulled the drinks out of the microwave. Careful to stir in just the right amount of alcohol, he stirred them once more and put away the ingredients. Gathering one into each hand, he made his way back to Izaya, never once spilling a drop.

Again as he entered the kitchen, he set to work gathering the specific ingredients he needed--more than just those for hot chocolate this time. Supporting Luminesa with one hand, he spent a few moments to make her a cup of hot chocolate, setting her down on the table with the mug and a kiss to the forehead. Hugging her briefly once more, he began to mix together the remaining ingredients he had brought out until a warm, spiced scent flowed around the kitche, permeating every corner and flowing out through the rest of the house.
After flouring the counter, he threw down the chocolate-toned dough and rolled it out flat, gathering together several cookie cutters. Just as when they were little, he was making gingerbread with and for his sister, much like their parents used to. He offered her access to the cutters, allowing her to make the first choice with a hopeful smile.

Luminesa’s flushed cheeks retained their blush due to the crying as she held the mug of hot chocolate in her hand while she sniffed occasionally and watched Logan get to work wholeheartedly. Content with reliving the good pieces of the past with her brother that got pushed back into reality – it seemed – little Luminesa picked a cookie cutter shaped like a star. She cut out two stars and laughed, looking to Logan as if everything that had occurred since they’d arrived never happened. It was nice, and it made her appreciate her brother on a new tier.

“Riri, I’m sorry for saying hurtful things… I don’t really hate you, I was just upset. And I know that you care for Jonathan and me more than anyone else. And… and it’s alright if you like that girl… I know you don’t sleep around, so… so she must mean something to you.”

He nodded absentmindedly as she spoke, wrapping one arm about his sister's back and choosing a bell-shaped cutter to match the stars she had made. For a while, he was silent, merely smiling softly at his sister as they worked. He did not speak until they were done cutting out the first batch, putting the cookies into the oven.
"She is something special, Lumi, but it still stands that what you walked in on was wrong on more than one level. I let myself get out of hand; I should have known better, knowing what time of the month it is. I was worried to let her out of my sight, though, since she arrived here severely inured. We both did."
Playfully, though slowly, he wiped some flour on his sister's cheek and set to work reworking the dough to make another batch of cookies.

Taking a pinch of flour and flicking it at Logan’s face after he cheek was smeared with the powdery white, Luminesa nodded her head once, albeit reluctantly. She brought her hands to the dough and helped stretch and knead it to make a second batch, her pallid wolf tail emerging and swaying side to side inattentively.

“You can’t protect everyone, brother. You should know this better than anyone else. There have been prettier girls, too, so why did you pick a human…? They’re frail, weak, close-minded, bitter, greedy…”

"She's a nice person, Luminesa, and her heart aches. A common pain can create odd couplings. There was something in her that drew me to her, that's all, Lumi." With a sigh, he continued to knead the dough with her, shaking his head. "Regardless, as I said earlier, I shouldn't have let myself get out of hand."
Setting the subject aside now, he readied the second tray of cookies and sat at the table. He stared pensively at the ceiling for a few moments before looking back to his sister. He noted how tenderly she carried herself, and the dirt that smeared over her face in places that would not normally be scratched upon falling; only upon being pushed.
"Enough about me, anyway. You never answered me. What happened to you, my dear sister?"

“Nothing worth talking about, haha.”

Luminesa’s chest ached to lying to her brother by omission; he hated liars almost as much as vampires. Bringing her fingertips to rub away the dirt and blood from her face, she gave a laugh and walked over to the sink to wash her hands, her hair brushing forward to slightly reveal a purple and black mark on the nape of her neck.

“Today is a total Lunar Eclipse as well as the Winter Solstice.”

She added to prevent any silence, using the news in an attempt to shine the attention away from herself. She didn’t like talking about herself. She never did. And now that she was beat up, she would have to lie to him again.

Frowning, he stood up, nodding in acknowledgement. He bent over her at the sink, touching the mark very gently, his hand warm and soothing. He knew she was lying, which hurt his heart further to think of, but he would not push her. He never did. And after upsetting her as he had tonight, he did not want to press it further.
"A lunar eclipse? How interesting. We'll have to watch it from inside, then. I may already have some enemies here, and I would not wish for them to pick up on my absolute lack of control."

Logan’s voice was lost as a deep murmur while Luminesa’s head and vision began spinning. She clenched the side of the sink and shut her eyes, feeling the dizzy spell leave her. The lying had to stop. But when, Logan came clean with anything and everything always. He deserved the same. She gave in a deep breath and spoke clearly, meticulously.

“Right. That mark, it’s a punishment. It’s for not completing my job appropriately. My squadron also had to pay the price, so they disciplined me themselves afterward.”

Her crimson gaze looked down as she loosened her grip on the sink, her tone becoming apologetic.

“They found interest in my ability shortly after you joined them, so they had me join their fleet under a guise. I’m sorry I’ve kept this from you for so long, but… you can’t say or do anything. Because then things will become worse… you understand, right? It’s just business.”

As if he'd been shot all over again, Logan's body went rigid. His head swam with the thoughts her words had provoked, and he put his hand to his forehead, clenching his fist in his hair. He gritted his teeth, his jaw locked, and forced the growl in his chest to subside.
"You're a hunter."
The tone was all but accusatory, cold and pained. "Damn it, Luminesa! I never wanted you in on this. I never wanted it from the day I began my training with father. Part of my contract was that you would never be involved, and you want me to say nothing?"
He broke from her, then, and paced, pausing only to bring the cookies out of the oven--an odd action, but preventative against burning down the house. His eyes were shut as he leaned against the wall at last, finally sighing.
"Well. What's done is done. In the interest of saving you from further harm, I will say nothing, but this will not go out of mind, Luminesa."

Her brother’s voice and thoughts came across clear, like lightning and thunder. Mulling over how to answer him, Luminesa shut off the running water and walked over to Logan, fitting her smaller hand into his and them giving it a reassuring squeeze, accompanied by an encouraging smile.

“I’m fine. I’ve always been fine. I’ll always be fine. But Logan, you cannot let them know that you know about me. It won’t go well for us. I’ve seen how they truly work. They’re corrupt…”

Retracting away from the heat of the oven as if she’d melt, Luminesa evacuated herself to the corner of the kitchen, giving a somber nod to her brother’s tone.

“Yes sir.”

Sighing, he held onto her hand as she squeezed, returning the fond gesture, and yet not letting her go when she tried to step away from him. Rather, he pulled her into his chest and nuzzled her hair. He pressed his lips to her forehead as they embraced, and remained in silence for a few moments more. With his arms wrapped about her, he endured the silence longer than he would have elsewise.
"Yes," he replied at last, "they are indeed corrupt. I have seen it time and time again. I simply wish that, even if only this once, they had kept their end of a deal and left you out of their business. For the sake of protecting you longer, I will, as I said, keep my knowledge a secret..."

“We’re nothing to them in the end. That keeping their word to us is more costly than them breaking it.”

Luminesa’s arms curled around Logan’s neck as she shut her eyes and clung herself to his body as if the ground were molten rock. It was a childish gesture, yes, but being close to her brother brought her peace of mind. So the end justified the means. Releasing Logan after a few minutes, the dim sound of feet shushing across grass caught her attention as her legs bolted her to the back door, the scent of vanilla temporarily wading in the air before a gust pushed it away. Her eyes widened as she looked back to Logan over her shoulder, unsure of whether to tell him or not; the scent was so faint and quick, only she would have caught it.

“Logan… that girl, the one that smells like vanilla. She’s gone.”

As she clung to him, he smiled faintly, and closed his eyes, relaxing into the sweet moment with her. The sudden lack, or rather return, of warmth at her departure, startled him, and he whipped his head around to spot her. His brows drew together as he followed her curiously, tilting his head.
"Luminesa? What's--"
He had no time to speak before she interrupted, saying that Izaya was gone. A deep pain filled his chest, as if he was forgetting to breathe--which, indeed, he was--relieved only when he exhaled sharply. Rubbing at his eyes, he mentally scolded himself, as he tugged on a jacket and shoes.
"I know you may not like her, but we have to go after her," he whispered, taking her hand gently and running with her out of the house.