Curious Returns

“If someone pushes her buttons just right, she is rather adept at breaking noses.”

F*ck.

Reid stared on at the girl uncomprehendingly for a second. Then the meaning sunk in. He blinked, twice, and his grip on the tree tightened enough to crumble the bark, chafing hard against the palm of the skin. It would leave harsh, purple bruises later. But physical pain didn’t matter. Not when Reid was practically being told that his sister was finally…..finally?.....behaving like herself.

No. No. Reid’s mind had been too bred on practicality and cynicism to ever truly believe. Miracles were delusions of the Utopians, of fools, nothing else. Good things never just happened to you. You had to make them happen. She must be lying. But then again, why would she lie about something like this? Why would she care to, unless she knew every resentment, every bitter drop that brewed deep in the airs of their empty house?

However he must have looked at her before, it was nothing compared to how Reid’s eyes were boring into the girl’s face now. He needed to know, itched to just Legilimens the girl, slip her Veritaserum, torture her, anything; just to get the secrets, spill the thoughts undoubtedly whirring through her mind.

Then she confessed that Rika was scared of him, and Reid felt his (f*ck it, f*ck it all, he had dared to hope after all) hopes come crashing down. His lips twisted, contorted to a sharp sneer worthy of the name, and his voice was too, too brittle. “Scare her. Of course.”

And in a sudden movement he swung down, landing on his feet with a thump and hardly a scratch. He ran his fingers through his hair, pulling his fringe back, releasing his breath in a huff. He needed to think, to plan, regroup his thoughts. This muddled, confused state was too discomfiting, especially in the presence of someone else. He looked up, pale sunlight gleaming off his grey eyes and his voice could reach up clearly, “Thank you for the unwanted company. Hope we may be better strangers in the future. And tell Rika her twin brother says hello.”

He turned, walking down the street, hands buried in his pockets. His parting words drifted up the street like an errant breeze. “The name’s Reid Dixon. Its been a pleasure.”