End of Sallow

Cause what we need is what we once had

SURPRISE, MOTHERFUCKER.

CW: SELF HARM AND VIOLENCE

Alec Motherfucking Gunn

Alec was humming to himself. The muggles had been making pretty decent music lately, and whenever Podex had him venture to where the muggles lived, he always overheard some type of electronic music box playing songs

He didn't know the names, but they almost always got stuck in his head.

Queen Crucio had asked where the bathroom was, and he could only imagine she was bathing. When he'd peeked his head in, the door was closed and he'd cast a small spell he'd made that let him listen to the heartbeats in the room. Hawke had cast a silencing charm on the room so no one from the outside could hear the inside and Alec didn't want to disrupt that. But if someone tried to apparate into the room, he didn't want Queen Crucio in there alone.

So far, just a steady heartbeat. Every once in a while, it sped up, but there was no panic to it. Maybe she just had an erratic heartbeat.

Either way, even though he was on guard duty, he was far from bored.

Hawke had stood up to Podex. He usually just took everything the man gave him, ever since first year, wordlessly. Podex said 'jump,' Hawke jumped as high as he could. No questions. He laid down and took Podex's kicks like a trained dog.

But then whatever happened with his Queen Crucio happened, and he stopped laying down. He learned his worth to Podex and used it to his advantage.

And today, he did more than growl. He bit back. Not only using his ancient magic to deflect a fucking killing curse of all things, but he'd willingly killed Lance in order to protect Queen Crucio. On top of that, as Alec had guided her back to Hawke's room, Hawke had gotten in Podex's face and began to argue.

Podex had tried to look stern, but he actually looked terrified. Alec wondered if Hawke had caught onto it.

Alec heard footsteps coming towards them and stiffened. Light footsteps, almost silent. The Cunt.

Of course, The Cunt probably new Queen Crucio personally since they all went to school together. But as she neared, she had a look of irritation on her face.

"Let me in." She said bluntly.

"Hawke didn't give a go ahead," Alec growled.

"I just need to talk to her. Make sure she's alright, see if she remembers anything."

That's right, Queen Crucio had been obliviated. He remembered The Cunt talking to Podex about it, though she kept hedging around certain details until Podex grew impatient and told Alec to leave.

"Hawke didn't give a go ahead." He repeated and shrugged.

Grace glared at him. Usually she tried to use her sickly sweet façade, but right now she seemed... Nervous almost. Was she actually worried for Queen Crucio?"

"She's my friend, I just want to check on her," Grace snapped. "Theo is going to be a bit longer. He didn't like being so loudly disobeyed."

Alec's head tilted and his eyes narrowed. It was odd, ever since the truth came out about The Cunt being the crotch goblin of Podex, she never called him 'Podex' or 'father.' Just 'he' or 'him.' Like she herself didn't know what to call him.

And if what she was saying was true, it meant that Hawke was, in fact, going to be a while, and then no one would check on Queen Crucio. He doubted she'd want to talk to him.