Rekindled Bonds

Chapter 12 (Pt 1)

(A/N: Due to college and also the holidays, Chapter 12 pt 1 is about half the length of my typical chapters. I will likely only become busier as the year comes to a close so please bear with me!! I may have to take frequent breaks from posting due to exams/holidays/travel and my birthday. Thank you all for the continued support and be sure to follow my Tiktok @ash.dubois for updates! <3)

Ash and Poppy made their way to The Three Broomsticks. As soon as they opened the doors to the cozy tavern, Ash felt her face pale and she yanked Poppy to the side.

"Let's go to a different bar instead," Ash suggested nervously.

Poppy looked over to where Ash had locked her gaze, and a mischievous smile formed on her face. They watched as a tipsy and rosy-faced Ominis engaged in quiet conversation with Sebastian. Poppy pulled Ash over to a table at the side of the room, a table with a perfect view of the two boys.

She pushed Ash into one of the chairs. "If you aren't going to join them, we could at least sit here and listen in on their conversation."

"Poppy, we can't."

"Why not?"

"It's impolite."

Poppy stared at Ash with a raised brow.

Ash sighed, "Fine, but only for a few moments then we are leaving."

Poppy smiled, ordered some Butterbeers, and settled into her own chair. She leaned forward to try to make out any bits of conversation between the two tipsy boys. Ash shrunk back in her seat and rubbed her forehead. A few minutes later their Butterbeers came. Ash had never felt so thankful for a drink. Maybe a good buzz could help her forget about the awkward position she now found herself in. She glanced over her shoulder to the back of Sebastian's head and felt the memories of their last encounter flood through her mind. She turned back around and took several swallows of her drink.

Poppy nudged her leg underneath the table. "Ominis just said that he needs to tell Sebastian something," she whispered excitedly.

"I really don't want to know."

She watched as Poppy listened intently. "I think you do want to know."

"I really don't."

"It's about you."

"I figured as much."

"I think he said something about recurring dreams."

Ash felt her face grow hot. "He did?"

"Now he's saying something about the three of you. Sebastian seems surprised but not put off."

Ash whipped her head around to listen to the conversation herself. She watched as Sebastian leaned forward towards Ominis as he spoke.

"So... You're telling me that's what you've thought about since you left?"

"Repeatedly."

"And in your sleep you..."

"Repeatedly."

"That sounds like a lot of laundry."

Ash looked to Poppy who took absent-minded swallows of her drink as she remained completely absorbed in what was being discussed across the room. She looked over her shoulder once more as Ominis continued.

"If the opportunity arose, and she was okay with it... would you want to?"

"I had never thought about it but I can't say I'm opposed."

Ash turned around and buried her burning face in her hands. Poppy covered her mouth to hide her giggles.

"See? I told you that you could land both," Poppy whispered as she nudged at Ash's arm.