Dried Leather and Withered Flowers

Chapter 3

The atmosphere is filled with awkward tension as the four siblings sit around the cramped table. Harry shifts uncomfortably in his chair, glancing at his sister. Lea still looks exhausted, though, Harry notes, she's staring at the menu with a ravenous expression.

"What can I get y'all to drink?" His attention is pulled from his twin and to the waitress as she steps up to their table. Their eldest brother speaks before either of them can.

"Beer for me, coffee for him," Dean gestures to Sam beside him before waving his hand toward Harry and Lea. "Two cokes for the kids."

"Perfect." The waitress flicks her braids over her shoulder as she scribbles the drink on her notepad. "I'll be right back with those to get your order." She flashes their eldest brother a smile before flouncing off. Dean's gaze follows her, a slight smirk on his lips.

"We can speak for ourselves." Harry winces as Lea snaps beside him, scowling at the older Winchester brother across from her. Exhausted and starving never leaves his sister in a good mood.

"Hm?" Dean finally trails his eyes away from the waitress, focusing on their sister.

"We're not kids, you don't need to order for us." Lea's glare is lethal. Harry withholds a sigh at his sister's overdramatics.

"You hardly look twelve." Their brother rolls his eyes, before looking at the menu in front of him. Harry glances at Sam across from him and they share a sympathetic look.

"Sorry, it's hard to hit a growth spurt when you live in a cupboard." Harry isn't able to hold back the flinch, Lea's hissed words bringing painful reminders of their childhood to the forefront of his mind. She must be really irritable to willingly mention the Dursleys and their actions in any capacity.

Lea turns her glare back to her own menu just as Dean and Sam both zero in their gazes upon her. Before either of them can open their mouths, the waitress arrives back with their drinks.

"Here ya go." Her voice is overly cheerful as she passes out the glasses, leaning over the table. "Now, what can I get started for you?"

"Double cheeseburger with extra fries." Lea speaks before anyone else can, handing her menu back to the woman. "Please."

There's a moment of silence before Sam clears his throat and places his own order. "Grilled cheese, side salad."

"Same as her." Dean shrugs, gesturing at Lea as he hands his and Sam's menus over.

"Er... Me too, but no extra fries, please ma'am." Harry slides his menu to the woman, trying to ignore the tension settling around his siblings once again.

"Be right out!" The waitress' grin looks painfully wide as she sashays away.

"Cupboard?"

Sam is the one to break the silence a couple of minutes later. Harry focuses on his fingers, picking at a hangnail. Why did Lea have to say that? He sends an irritated kick to his sister's ankle under the table.

"Fucking Godric." Lea hisses before glaring at him. "The hell was that for?"

Harry glares right back, anger rising in his chest. She knows what it was for. With a huff, his twin rolls her eyes. She turns back to their brothers.

"Forget it. It's no business of yours." She reaches under the table, rubbing a hand over the ankle he hit, shooting Harry another glare.

"The hell it isn't." Dean's features morph into a scowl almost identical to the one on Lea's face. "'Specially if you're wanting Sammy to sign those guardianship papers."

"Oh, shut it! We can find a different guardian if we need to." His sister practically spits the words. Harry can't help but notice the beginning of static in her hair.