Late

Morrigan Crow was late home, and she knew it.

Jupiter's written words from the previous year sounded without permission in her mind: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are you to travel anywhere outside of Wunsoc by yourself. I mean it. I'm trusting you. He had reinforced this rule the month before, on her thirteenth birthday, for no apparent reason. So Morrigan was definitely breaking the most important rule of the few that Jupiter had given her. But she didn't care, he could go stuff himself for all Morrigan cared.

Morrigan was nearly at the Deucalion anyway, just turning onto Humdinger Avenue. All that had happened so far was that it had started storming- heavily- and a man had asked for her Christmas loyalty. Bit weird, she supposed. But no harm done, so Jupiter wouldn't be mad, right?

She pushed the doors of the Hotel Deucalion open without ceremony, trudging inside grumpily. She was immediately showered with questions from Kedgeree and Martha, who had apparently been waiting anxiously for her. "Really, Miss Morrigan," said Martha in a mixture of half-hearted annoyance and relief as she dried off Morrigan's brolly. "This is the second time you've done this. Your conductor's out of her mind with worry- we'll send somebody to let her know you're safe, I suppose."

Morrigan nodded, a pang of guilt having found its way into her heart even though the first time had been accidental. Had she really done this to sweet, kind Miss Cheery? She made up her mind to apologise to her the next day.

Kedgeree sighed and handed Morrigan a note. "You're needed in Jupiter's office. I don't think he's all that pleased, mind..."

Morrigan nodded again, her quick eyes scanning the note. If you're there, Morrigan, come up to my office immediately. She noticed how he hadn't bothered to write a signature, but recognised the messy scrawl. "Okay. Thanks, Martha. Thanks, Kedgeree." And with that, she headed upstairs- only to be immediately tackled on the landing by a certain eyepatched fourteen-year-old. "Morrigan!" he cried breathlessly, and he hugged her tightly.

She pulled away. "Hi, Jack," she said, amused. It was a rare occasion that he was home on a schoolday- Graysmark was apparently having a week-long half-term break. He shook his head. "You were meant to be back two hours ago, Morrigan. Two whole hours. Uncle Jove's panicking, he's really upset. Where have you been?" Jack asked her seriously, placing his hands on her shoulders and staring into her eyes.

Morrigan looked away. "You don't have your patch off," she pointed out. "You're not going to be able to tell. And I'm certainly not going to."

"Alright, you're telling me later. He wants you up there, go on. Quick!" Jack jabbed his thumb up the stairs towards his uncle's office, and she pushed past him, calling a hasty "sorry!" over her shoulder.

Morrigan pushed Jupiter's office door open- it had been slightly ajar, so it made no sound. She looked at her patron silently, her sadistic side playing in for a few seconds. Jupiter sat there with his head in his hands, shaking like he was sobbing but no sound came out.

Morrigan stared with a combination of fascination and fear. She had seen Jupiter angry, or worried before. But she had never, ever seen him cry, apart from her inauguration day. She approached him quietly- but she only got a couple of steps forward before she trod on a creaky floorboard and he looked up, eyes flashing with relief and tears. "Morrigan!" he cried, just like Jack, standing up and rushing over. He threw his arms around her, bracing her like he never had before. He pulled away slightly, and scanned her quickly. "What happened, Morrigan? Why-" His voice cracked ever so slightly, and he cleared his throat. "Why are you, why are you so late? Oh, we've all been so worried, Mog."

Jupiter gently tugged her over to the couch, and she sat down. Morrigan looked away from his searching gaze which he had fixated upon her, and said quietly, "I'm sorry I was late."