Never An Angel

Sixteenth

        Despite having been up until the unfavorable hours of the early morning explaining anything and everything to Petra, Magdalen slept well. There were no secrets weighing her down so her sleep was delightfully deep and black. It was the first night in ages where there was nothing stopping her from enjoying the unconsciousness.

     She showered and dressed when she awoke- entirely well rested, she noticed- then informed her people to return to business as usual. It was appreciated, and even through technology she could practically feel their intense relief. Illegal activities could finally continue unhindered.

     Declan, of course, though, inquired about Kist, but Magdalen told him to give it a few more hours. With the interruption of Aodh, Kist's regeneration would take some more time and patience. Declan accepted this and promised he'd get back on his other duties.

     Then, with all of that taken care of and with nothing else to do but face her painfully aware girlfriend, Magdalen went downstairs and onward into the backyard, where Petra had been sitting for hours after waking. It was frightfully cold, and Magdalen worried Petra would freeze. But Petra seemed fine- clad in warm clothes and accessories. Still, Magdalen used a slice of her magic to increase the temperature around the back porch. The act didn't go unnoticed by Petra, who appeared to get solemn.

     Disturbed, Magdalen stepped out into the slight warm she had created. Olive nudged her as she walked on, but she brushed him off to go sit beside Petra. She got comfortable for a few minutes, sensing the need to remain in the background. Petra looked sullen and lost. She wasn't sure it was right to interrupt. But, because she had to, she did. "How are you?" she eventually asked to break the silence. They were the first words she had spoken to Petra since the big reveal before bed.

     Petra continued to stare at nothing. Her gaze was far away, and she sighed, barely, as though she didn't quite have the energy. "Processing."

     Magdalen shifted. "Did you eat?"

     "No."

     "Are you hungry?"

     "No." Petra looked up, stared with a new intensity in her eyes. She looked disgusted. "How can you act so normal?"

     Magdalen shifted again, shrugged. "This is nothing."

     "Fuck," whispered Petra. She ran a hand roughly through her hair, growled, then shucked off her coat thanks to the new heat around her. She threw off her beanie and gloves, saying, "Everything has changed. Don't you see that?"

     "No, not really. If it bothers you that much, I can erase your memories of last night."

     Petra shook her head, disbelieving. "You're a goddamn..." She stopped, already warned never to use the A word. "Doesn't it bother you? You already fucked with my head once. I don't entirely forgive you for that, by the way."

     "I know. But what I do, what I am, doesn't sit well with some. If it's better for you not to know, then I'll get rid of it."

     "No... no! Fuck, Magdalen! This is a shit show! My whole world is shattered. I don't want it gone... I just..."

     "What? What do you want?"

     Petra deflated. "I don't know. I want to be able to talk to you. I want you to talk to me."

     "That can happen now. Now that you know about me."

     "How fucked up is that?"

     Magdalen stretched out her legs to give herself something to do. "It's not so bad. I don't have to lie to you anymore. We can be a true couple. You can learn about yourself, too."