Let Me In | Herophine Fic

You're All Wet

JOSEPHINE

The sun is shining down but the air has a biting chill to it. I'm glad I packed jumpers and hoodies for this weekend at Hero's. He's had the heating on in the house all day and all night last night. But the cold hasn't stopped Mila from wanting to play outside on her climbing frame. And there's no way I'm passing up on her giggles and laughter.

To keep us warm, Hero's kept us topped up with cups of tea as the afternoon has passed but the running around, chasing after Mila has helped to keep the both of us warm and her too. As I'm watching her run across the bridge towards the slide, I hear the patio doors open only it's not just Hero who comes out of them. Mercy steps out, wearing a form-fitting black dress and absolute killer heels. I'm assuming she's just come from a meeting or something.

I pull Mila into my arms from the floor, turning her around to see who's at the door with her father.

"Auntie Mercy!" She wriggles her way down my front and barrels over to Mercy, leaping into her arms. I wander over to Hero, smiling as he reaches his hand out for mine. Sliding mine into his as Mercy settles Mila on her hip, Hero ushers us all inside, saying he's just finishing the cups of tea.

"Merc, do you want some tea?" She nods yes, carrying Mila behind us both into the kitchen. I place myself at the side of the breakfast bar, leaning onto my forearms while watching Hero prepare our warming drinks.

"How are you doing, darling?" Mercy places Mila down on the barstool beside me, smiling softly at us both.

"Good. We had to go to the pharmacy last week," instantly, I feel my eyes widen and Hero stops what he's doing. Where's she going with this...?

"Ohh I do hope everything's okay, sweetheart?" Mercy sounds so concerned. Her worried eyes lift to me then glance over to Hero. His back is still turned away from us but still, he's not done anything further with the drinks.

"It wasn't for me. Daddy and Princess Jo had sex, whatever that is," a distinct, loud, singular ha falls from Mercy before her eyes fall on me and Hero. I feel my cheeks heat, undoubtedly turning a deep shade of red at Mila's words and my head falls forward. Luckily, my hair is down and the length acts as curtains to hide my cringing reaction. Hero turns and his hand comes to cover his face as a sigh falls from him. She really picks her moments...

"Ohh, well, erm - why don't you go upstairs and play for a bit. I need -"

"Will you tell me what it is, Auntie Mercy? They won't," Mercy's eyes widen at Mila's request. Ground, swallow me. Please. The four-year-old has inadvertently overshared more than Mercy probably wanted to know about me and her brother.

"Mila, go upstairs like your Auntie has said, please," Hero's voice turns somewhat stern with her. She huffs, her shoulders falling as she rolls her eyes, hopping off the chair. As she's been asked.

"It can't be that good if no one will tell me,"

"We'll tell you when you're older, sweet pea," repeating what I said to her as we left the pharmacy last week really is the only thing I can think of saying. I'm thankful that Mercy agrees with me, echoing what I've said. She just won't let this one go...

Hero slides over the cups of tea to me and Mercy, one by one. An awkward silence lingers heavily in the air. It's stifling. I didn't know silence could be so loud. I'm sure Mercy had her own, unspoken suspicions about our... intimacy but I knew she wouldn't have asked. It's not something you ask others. But she's no need to now, has she? Because Mila's spilt the beans.

"How's the fourth bar coming on, Merc?" Hero breaks the deathly silence around us, thankfully. His hand resting over mine reassuringly on the counter. Mercy goes on to tell us about the fourth bar which she's apparently working on. She tells us it's going to be in Holborn which Hero seems surprised at. Saying it's a departure from the neighbourhoods she already has bars in. It's crazy to learn how successful Mercy is at such a young age. We didn't cover this specific topic when I first met her but what she's achieved at such a young age is incredible.