Of course Talia decided to do exactly what Talbott feared – what she wanted. With the prospect of the winter holidays in sight, new packages were made, her deciding to personally deliver them. Talbott found it odd when all of the sudden Talia was hanging out with their neighbors, but he decided to just let her mingle as to not raise suspicions among the people surrounding them. It was hard enough with them being the new couple, or so they believed. He never actually took time to correct anyone, it was easier to get by if people believed him and Talia were actually a couple.
Plus, he could not and did not know where to begin with the endless line of explanations as to why they were not actually together.
But as he studied the women interacting, Talbott noticed something he had not seen for a few months. Talia was playing their neighbor without even batting an eye. The compliments, the subtle touches, them trying new hair routines and clothes. He knew, Talia was gathering ingredients in order to impersonate someone else.
It was chilling really, how much she could fake, how she controlled everything, no signs of lies in sight. He knew people could fake a smile, it never reaching their eyes, but Talia managed to laugh when the woman told a joke and it reached her face, shaping it perfectly. A perfect little liar.
He did confront her one night as they said their goodbyes after Talia provided her with a recipe for a sauce. He stood in the doorway of their kitchen, witnessing her face shape back into that tired, unreceptive mask she wore on most days. One that he could not see through. It was as if she was absolutely done with everything in existence. But her recent behavior told him his initial assessment was wrong.
"Want to tell me where you plan on going looking like our dear darling neighbor?" Her eyes lifted to stare into his before she passed him, Talbott crossing his hands over his chest as he watched her pour a drink for herself, hands searching drawers for a pack of cigarettes she hid, one that he eventually took out from his pocket "A cigarette for your thoughts?"
"You're not funny you know." She mentioned marching over to him, Talbott holding the pack out of reach, Talia frowning at him.
"So, where do you plan on going?"
"The safe houses." She poked his ribs, Talbott flinching enough for him to drop his hands, Talia yanking the pack from his hands "You told me to get out of the house more." Holding a cigarette between her teeth she lit it as she created some distance between him and her "I'll be delivering some packages for everyone and then if it won't be too late, I will join you and the rest at the Burrow."
"Are you certain you're able to go through with such a task Talia?" he ignored her brows rising, Talbott coming closer to her "You refused to leave these walls unless someone was in danger. There's more going on inside that head of yours than you're letting on."
"There always is." She hissed at him and he knew that was the end of their conversation. Forcing her would not result in anything.
Nodding his head, he stepped even closer to her, gently taking hold of her wrist, lifting up her hand, Talbott taking a small drag from her cigarette, smoke leaving his mouth when he spoke "Just be careful please." Following the motion of his lips and how his fingers gently let go of her, Talia was just left nodding and nothing more.
As she ventured outside of the house a few days later under the pretense of another persona, she hated it. The city appeared far too silent and deserted even, despite some of the safe houses being in Muggle populated areas. People still appeared to be afraid, especially since no one was safe. And it was so cold, the wind as if cutting through her. It wasn't that she wished for snow, but in that moment she did. She wanted something to make things bearable.
As she went through house after house once the potion wore off and people recognized her, she found scared faces staring at her, asking questions, ones she did not have the answers to.
She felt as if she had been out of the loop for far too long and nothing could convince her to come back, especially not after seeing everyone. They were frightened, angry, confused, hungry, desperate for a sense of normality. And she knew that no matter what she did, it just would never be enough.
Leaving one safe house on purpose as the last destination, she knocked on the door, performing the sequence agreed upon. A few seconds later the locks opened one by one, someone barely opening the door in order to peer at her. A gasp was heard, Talia taking a step back for good measure as the door flung open, Felix crossing the threshold in one swift step, taking hold of Talia's face as he continued to look at her without uttering a word.
The initial panic faded, her offering a weak smile in return.
Finally, he lowered his hands, inviting her inside, Talia frowning slightly "Just like that? What if I'm an impostor?"
She saw him tense, Felix gripping his wand for good measure "How did we avoid being captured in Paris?"
She actually chuckled, him actually lifting his wand, but she was not mad about it. It was normal, at least during those times "I dragged you in a café, made you order since I can't speak French. I ruffled your hair and made you sit down telling you to kiss me since I knew no one would look twice at two people making out."
Letting him deal with his own emotions she went to give the packages to the rest of the people inside the safe house, leaving Felix for last. He stood in the living room, leaning against a wall, eyes scanning the streets but he immediately looked over at her once she approached. She motioned for him to follow her, both leaving the safe house, going on the roof, Talia casting a cloaking spell. Offering him a cigarette, his lips quirked upwards "Guess I am a bad influence after all."
"Far from it."
He smoked without offering anything else in return, but she could tell he was nervous. His hand shook and not because of the cold, he was far better at handling it than her. As she lit up a cigarette of her own, his eyes did not leave her face, analyzing everything, Felix eventually speaking "I heard rumors that you were the Light Healer, but I did not wish to get my hopes up." Dropping the cigarette, he closed the space between them, his eyes desperate as he looked at her "I saw you die. You killed yourself. Was it a trick?"
"No, it's as real as it gets. I'm" the words chocked in her throat, Talia forcing herself to speak "I'm not like you."
"Clearly."
Placing a hand on his chest, she pushed him back slightly, Talia finally taking a full breath of air "I'm sorry you had to see that, it wasn't meant for your eyes. You shouldn't have been there."
He ran a hand through his hair, turning around to look at the buildings below "But I was and it was not enough to stop you from trying to kill your mother."
"Not my mother, don't call her that, but since we're on the topic." She walked in his peripheral view "Who killed her?"
Felix tensed on the spot, slowly turning to look at her properly. Talbott knew, he confessed to it in his shattered state that day, he did not even think there was any going back from it. And when Dumbledore himself waited for him instead of Aurors ready to take him to Azkaban, all that he was told was that there are still people who care for him and for Felix not to give up.
"You freed me." He uttered, realizing it at that very moment "You helped me." Talia only nodding, but there was a tension between her brows, eyes asking questions, waiting on his answers. Felix hung his head, admitting finally "I did, I killed her."
Lifting his chin with two fingers Talia peered closer "Why are you sorry then? You shouldn't let that eat away at you."
Taking a step back his eyes widened as he continued to stare at the woman before him. A stare as cold as the temperature surrounding them, no emotions betraying her true intentions "She was still a person."
"Was she?" a spark illuminated her eyes, extinguishing as fast as it appeared, Felix having the impression he imagined it "I would beg to differ, but then again I don't beg. But that's not why I'm here Felix. I genuinely wanted to see how you're doing."
"So Talbott didn't tell you."
It did surprise her somewhat, but then again it made sense, she knew Talbott knew, but chose to keep the information to himself. Especially right after the battle at the Ministry of Magic.
"No, I was unhinged at best then. It would have been dangerous, not that I cared for her but we also lost Sirius then."
"I am so sorry. I'm guessing he was a friend." He was genuine, she could tell by how his face softened. Approaching him, she lifted her hand, stroking his cheek.
She did not like how he was so pale. She could read the fear on his face, how tension was his middle name, how every sound made him jump. He lost weight he could not afford to lose, the clothes on his body as if not belonging to him "I'm sorry. You shouldn't even be here. You should have left Felix, you had a chance to make it out."
"No, how could I? After everything I did? After everything that happened?" he shook his head, removing her hand, but still keeping a tight grip on her "I was given a second chance to make it right, to atone for my sins."
"You only joined them so I could escape and even now I think you were so fucking stupid for pulling such a stunt."
Looking down at her hand, his expression turned serious "You're freezing. Come on, let's get you back inside and warmed up."
Heading back inside, they remained in the kitchen, the rest in the house providing them with the room as the majority were getting ready for bed. Felix prepared her a tea, one she accepted without any fuss despite not liking it in the slightest. But it did warm her bones and her hands that were red by that point, her fingertips as if having thousands of small needles thrust into them repeatedly.
Ignoring her own pain, she looked over at him "Back at the Ministry. You mentioned there were rumors about a prophecy. Where did you hear that from?"
"I think it's best I start out by telling you how me and Jasper actually ended up working together." Taking a seat at the table, Talia chose to stand, watching him carefully. It was Jasper that actually approached Constantine first since they knew each other and did not wish to raise suspicions and of course talk about Talia was had. Once Felix caught wind of it he started snooping around, but Jasper was one step ahead of him. He took note of how he was watching him, paying attention to his every move.
While held at wand point he was asked if he was so invested in him because he was after something more or if he knew Talia personally. And it was clear to see which answer was the correct one.
"Seriously and you chose to trust Jasper? I even have trouble trusting him and he practically saved my life. After he helped my father, after he found out what I was, after I died."
Felix's face scrunched up, him pinching the bridge of his nose "So let me get this straight since clearly you have not told me everything, what are you now?"
"An immortal."
The word hung heavy between them, Felix looking at her in surprise before sadness settled in his dark eyes "I am so sorry."
Placing the cup on the counter, she sat at the table with him, hushed whispers relating to him her entire story, this time not leaving anything out. By the time they circled back to the prophecy, Talia looked exhausted. Learning that Josephine and Constantine both had prophecies linked to their names, just like every Crane before them sent a shiver down her spine.
"So did you find it?"
Shaking her head, Talia looked at him "No, I only had one chance to go inside the room and overwhelming is an understatement. It's scary really, like the room was never ending. To think the Ministry was keeping hold of so many prophecies, Hell knows for what purpose, it's honestly a good thing they have all been destroyed."
"I guess it is for the best, who knows what might have resulted from them."
Talia only silently nodded, finally getting up "It's late, I best get back. We'll be in touch, please take care of yourself, don't do anything rash and don't trust anyone Felix."
It was well past midnight when she finally returned home, the lights in the house turned on. She saw Talbott pacing back and forth in the living room, his steps being heard the moment she turned the keys in the lock and opened the door. She immediately found herself being pushed against the door, wand at her neck "Tell me something only Talia knows."
"Honestly, I'm too cold and tired to be doing this right now Talbott." As she tried to free herself, he did not allow it, Talia sighing her vision lighting up "Doubt anyone else can do this."
His hand dropped, arms pulling her close to his chest for a moment before he let her go "Where were you? You said you'd join us at the Burrow."
"I said I would if it's not too late. I lost track of time that's all, nothing happened." However her answer was not convincing enough.
"We're at war and every time we go outside we risk our lives."
Taking off her coat, she rubbed her hands together in order to try and get warm "Well I tried telling you that as well, but you didn't listen. Has a new plan been agreed on? Are we any closer to finding out information about the Death Eaters?" she witnessed him looking away from her "At least I'm ensuring those people don't feel abandoned in those safe houses. Because it would take only one mistake in order to endanger the rest. Harry is but on cog in the system, believe me."
"I get what you're saying, I really do. I was just worried, thinking something happened to you."
She hesitated for a brief moment before she passed him in order to run a hot bath for herself "And if it did that's not on you."