Chapter 21
Dates
April
"You wanna hold him?" I asked her.
"Sure. Show me…" She asked, smiling.
I moved her arms into position and gave her Alex. She smiled fully as Alex cooed. It was better than I remembered. I noticed Alex's arm going toward her hair.
"Xander, no grab." I brushed her hair behind her ear. "He likes hair and glasses, but usually calling him out will stop him. I'm not so sure with you. He's wanted to meet you ever since Owen brought him in."
"You're a grabby boy, aren't you?" Adri tickled his tummy. He giggled. I smiled.
"Then the customer demanded I get the manger…" Stephanie told me.
I nodded and sipped my water.
I opened Adriana's gift and it was a music box and a book. I looked through it. It was our childhood from her perspective. Some of them I didn't remember, but others I did.
"Adri, I… I don't know what to say." I looked at her. "It's beautiful."
She blushed. "Wind the music box."
I put the book down and wound the box. My eyes widened. The soft melody wafting through the air was my very first success.
I wiped my eyes, trying not to ruin the picture of us on our first date. "This- this is too much. I don't know…"
"You're welcome, Tai." She sniffed.
"And she said "I'm never coming back here!" Good riddance." I laughed politely as I felt Puck's magic. Not again. What did he do?
"Adriana? You out here?" I found her on a battlement, looking up at the stars.
"Oh, hey. I wanted to see the view." She scooted over.
I set my drink down. "Yeah, nothing like it. Bet it's prettier when you can fly though." I smiled.
"Tai, do you remember? Anything?" She glanced at me.
"I remember my mother, my father. I remember you. How we met, how nervous I was when I asked you out behind the mall's dumpsters because I didn't want anyone hear. Or see me cry if you said no. Our first kiss was in a dark theater. Our first time was at your house. I don't remember it all, but I have the important bits. And I really hurt you, huh?" I laughed as she watched me.
"Talia?" She asked.
"You gave me everything and I disappear? Some girlfriend-" She slapped me.
"I gave because you gave. You earned my loyalty, my respect and my love." Adriana kissed my cheek. "Tai, what do you want from me?"
"Are you ok?" My date asked.
"Sorry, I get spacey when I don't eat. What, uh, were we talking about?" I asked.
"I was telling you about work. You know, we've been here for almost an hour and nobody's come back." She frowned.
"Has it really been that long?" I frowned thoughtfully. "I'm really sorry. Look, you wanna leave, we can."
A waiter then came with our food. "My apologizes, Miss Xanatos. There was an incident."
"Did someone get hurt?" I looked at him.
"No, but I apologize for the inconvenient." He said instead of answering as he refilled our waters.
We looked at each other when he left. "Well, let's eat."
We ate and I paid more attention to what Stephanie was saying. She had forgiven me for earlier; I guess she thought I had a blood sugar problem. We didn't stay for dessert. I got a taxi and it sprayed slush on us. I sighed and got in. The taxi dropped her off at her home and then took me to the Eyire Building. I paid and got out. I didn't go in the building. I teleported to castle level and took a shower.
"Talia, are you home?" Owen asked.
"Tai!" Alex squealed. Now almost a year old, he could talk a little better, but he still called me Tai.
"Stop interfering with my dating life. I know you were there." I opened the door and glared at him.
"Talia, I don't know what you're talking about." Owen told me.
"I smell the magic on you. You took someone's place in the restaurant and spied on me. You caused incident that made our food late. This is the ei- fourth time in a month." I stared him in the eye. "You honestly didn't think I wouldn't notice?"
"She was after your status. A threat to your good name." Owen adjusted his glasses.
"You don't… This is about Adriana, isn't it?" I growled.
"Adri, Adri." Alex cheered.
"I'm not dating her. It's over." I turned to slam the door.
"Is that why you're dating brunettes?" He asked.
"Next date you ruin, I'm burning all your socks." I closed the door on him and opened the window and jumped out.
Becoming my bird girl persona, I flew away from the castle and my family. Elisa thought it weird, but it was about control. Bird people aren't deathly allergic to iron or need magic to fly. Plus, it was really hard getting everything right so I'm gonna use it.
I, as Crow, flew around the city. Crow rarely tired of flying and I agreed. One of the best feelings in the world. She flew over the old the police station and we frowned. What would have changed if I was there?
Finding Elisa's building, she landed and let herself in. Elisa was in the kitchen.
"Hey, kiddo. What's wrong?" She asked.
"Talia wanted to get away from Owen. He's been spying on her dates." Crow took a cold apple out of the fridge and ate it. "Did he really have to?"
"Uh, Raven?" Elisa frowned.
"Crow." She corrected.
"Puck and Owen are her father. Can I talk to her? Directly?" Elisa asked.
"I dunno, lemme ask. Elisa wants to talk to you." She said.
"You can speak to me like this." I scolded.
"Rather not. So, what'd you say?" She asked.
"You know I can abandon you, right?" I sighed as I turned back into myself. "Hey."
"So, why is Owen ruining your dates?" She sat on the couch.
"He doesn't approve who I'm dating. Or maybe it's who I'm not dating." I sighed.
"Adriana." Elisa said.
"Mmm hmm." I sat and took a beer from the fridge. "He can't just let me be friends with her."
"Talia, you're his daughter. He's going to stick his nose in your business. And you're 17!" She took the beer away.
"C'mon, Elisa, be cool." I halfheartedly grabbed at it. I could easily take it back if I wanted.
"I'm a police detective. I uphold the law." She set it down.
"Fine." I let it go. "What do I do about D- Puck and Owen?"
"He hates it when you call him by his name. He probably thinks Adriana is the best because she knew you before he, um, lead you to Xanatos." Elisa said.
"I broke up with her. She knows not to wait for me anymore. She gave me her blessing to go date whoever I wanted." I frowned. "I already told her I was."
"Knowing and believing are two different things. You saw the way she looked at you." She pointed out.
"So, our break up was a little messy…" I said.
"She thought you died then you turn up in Manhattan, now the daughter of a rich man. Then she finds you at your old home and learns you don't remember anything." Elisa looked at me. "Am I missing anything?"
"A lot messy. Here's what I'm thinking: I don't text her anymore. Hear me out. Clearly, she doesn't have closure and the party made it worse. No one believes I'm serious. Admittedly, I don't have the closure I want, but I have a new life. Adriana has to live the life she's always had. We have to let each other go." I psyched myself up and took my phone out.
"Talia, let's wait a bit. You want get a pizza?" Elisa touched my arm.
"I'm just deleting her number." I reassured her.
"… Go ahead, kiddo." She let go.
I deleted her number and the pictures we traded. "So, pizza? No, wait, David wants me home for dinner. I don't know why he insists on family meals. Once I graduate, I'm out."
"Alex's not going to like that." She pointed out.
"It won't be like last time." I got up and went to the window.
"He still won't like it. Be safe." Elisa followed me.
"Crow won't let anything happen to me." I turned back into Crow. "See ya, 'lisa."
We flew back home and landed in the courtyard. Owen was waiting for me. He raised an eyebrow when Crow was the one who walked up to him.
"And who are you?" He asked Crow.
"Crow! Why doesn't anyone know my name?" She groaned.
"Talia tends to keep her personas a secret from everyone." He said with faint irritation.
"She's still mad at you." She informed him.
"Mister Xanatos asked for Talia to come home for dinner. Not you, Crow." Owen said.
"Doesn't Puck go where you go?" She asked.
He stayed quiet.
"Where I go, she goes. So, she's home." Crow told him.
"Maybe I won't abandon you." I chuckled.
"Adults are jerks." She replied.
"Come along, Crow." Owen led her to the dining room.
"This place is nice." She whistled.
"It wouldn't do for Mister Xanatos to live in an ugly castle." He replied.
Crow let out something between a laugh and a sigh. Owen ignored it. Crow looked at all the artwork I had grown used to with wonder. We got to the dining room and Alex looked at us.
"Where Tai?" Alex asked.
"She's coming." Owen glanced at Crow.
"Oh, uh, David, Fox and little Alex! Yes!" She smiled.
"You had your fun, Crow. Talia needs to eat dinner." He frowned.
Crow huffed.
"One…" Owen counted.
"You can't be serious." We said.
"Two…" He continued.
"He's bluffing, right?" Crow asked. "He wouldn't… would he?"
"You think I wanna see if it's true?" I shot back.
"Th-" I cut Owen off as I let a whirlwind overtake me.
"Happy?" I glared.
"Tai!" Alex squealed.
"You cut it close." Fox smiled.
"Whatever." I sat down and ate my food.
"I wouldn't push Owen's buttons if I were you." David told me.
My eyes flared with magic as I looked him in the eye. I smiled to myself as he tried to figure out what I had done. Owen was ever the obedient servant and stayed quiet. Although, I feel Puck's smile behind Owen's poker face.
Dinner was quiet except when Alex tried to feed David like Fox fed him. Unfortunately, my laughter made me his next target. Owen just couldn't keep it together anymore when I glanced at him with a dead look. It was the most jarring shit I ever heard.
I played with Alex and Bronx after dinner and a little before his lesson. He had gotten a hold of my phone somehow.
"Hey, give that back." I grabbed at it, but he floated out of the way.
"Adri's gone." He told me.
"Alex, give me my phone back." I warned.
"Adri's nice." He frowned and used his magic.
"Alexander. Now." I furrowed my eyebrows.
He reluctantly gave it back. I looked through it and he restored everything.
"Why?" He asked.
"Don't take people's phones. That's rude." I scolded him.
"Why?" He repeated.
"Phones are important." I answered.
"Why Adri gone?" He clarified.
"It was an accident." I lied.
He frowned, not buying it. I sighed frustrated and got up, turning into Crow again. Alex started crying. Crow, despite my warnings, tried to comfort him.
"Tai… Tai…" He wailed.
"Crow, you're making it worse." I didn't want to leave him on the floor, but I also didn't want to stay.
"Why are you so upset, little man?" Crow ignored me. "Talia's ok. She just wants a little break." Alex didn't like that.
"He thinks I'm gonna run away. Just give him to Owen." I told her.
"What's got the lad- Who are you?" Hudson asked.
"I'm Crow, one of Talia's personas. I think Alex is crying because he wants Talia." She told him.
"Tough shit. Things can't always go his way." I said bitterly.
"Talia, he's a baby. Just let him see you." Crow scolded.
"Fuck you." I sighed and turned back into myself. "Xander, it's me. I'm back."
He whimpered as he nuzzled my chest. "Tai stay."
"I'm not going to run away every time I use a persona, Alex." I told him.
"Talia, you didn't see what happened when you were gone. Owen was visibly angry at everyone." Brooklyn said.
"Are you sure you said that right? Owen was the angry one?" I asked.
"Oh, we were ready for Puck become angry, but Owen… Owen was a surprise!" He laughed darkly.
"'e was really desperate to find ya." Hudson said.
"It wasn't my finest moment. It's time for Alexander's lesson." Owen grabbed him.
"No!" He yelled and Owen let go, confused.
"He doesn't like it when I become someone else. Thinks I'm gonna run away. I'm not leaving yet, Alex. Don't get your diaper in a twist." I plopped him into Owen's arm.
"Tai stay!" He protested.
"What do you mean you're not leaving yet?" Owen asked.
"I just meant I was gonna move out when I graduate. C'mon, Alex, let me have that. I'm older than you. I'll visit." I sighed as he insisted I hold him.
"Clearly, Alexander is too upset to learn right now. Come with me, Talia." Owen told me.
"He'll calm down in a minute and forget all about this." I rubbed his back.
"His fear is based on something that already happened." He frowned.
"Maybe if you didn't blow your top, he wouldn't be so afraid." I said.
Everyone was silent as they waited for Owen's reaction. "It was our mistake thinking you'd adjust on your own to the clan's arrival and Alexander's impact. However, your mistake was not bringing it to our attention. We're not mind readers. Yes, that includes Puck."
"Do you know how to make Alex stop crying?" I deadpanned.
"Read him a bedtime story." He answered.
"Fine." I teleported to Alex's room. "Ok, what'd they read to you? Never mind." My eyes glowed. "I got it."
Puck favored the fairytales, as his magic clung to them, and Owen leaned more classics and some poetry. His signature was a bit harder to define. It was human, but there was Puck's magic at the core of it.
"Let's switch it up, eh, Xander? This is what's called a ballad." I put him in his crib and got my guitar.
He watched me. I retold the story of how David and Fox got married and what happened after. Then I went into what Goliath and Demona were doing while in the past. Truthfully, I knew their story because they told me. I had to stay with Owen. Actually, I wasn't even invited to the wedding. Then I realized he wasn't sleepy at all.
"More!" He squealed.
"You," I panted. "want more? Gimme like 10 minutes."
"That was something else, kiddo." Puck smiled.
"I wanna vomit." I rested my guitar on the rocking chair.
"You just need water. Where'd you learn how to sing for half an hour straight?" He handed me a bottle.
I took a long drink. "Is that why I feel so breathlessly?"
"You were too good to stop." He smirked.
"Well, you should have." I moved my guitar and sat down.
"What other talents you got hidden?" Puck laughed.
"I'll tell you when I'm not dying of exhaustion." I huffed. Alex's eyes glowed and he healed me.
"Alex, you can't fix everything with magic." Puck told him.
"Tai story!" He smiled.
"Ok, but you're getting a fairytale." I looked through the selection on the shelf.
He sniffed. "With music." He decided that was good enough.
I read to him from the old book. Alex began to yawn. I smiled. I sang a wordless lullaby to get him to sleep.
"Nice work, kiddo." Puck told me.
"You need to back the fuck off." I turned my pent up frustration toward him.
"Hey, Alex is right there. You wanna be responsible for teaching him his first swear?" He pointed.
I teleported us to my room. "Back the fuck off. She gave me her blessing."
"Talia, there's something you have to know. Halflings like you, with their powers active, tend to have more sex." Puck blushed.
"I know about STDs, Dad. I'll be careful." I sighed.
"You don't understand, Talia." He insisted.
"What don't I get?" I glared.
"You could someone pregnant. Yes, even as a girl. Your magic is powerful. I don't want a bastard grandbaby." He frowned.
"Abortion." I said.
Puck cringed. "I rather it not come to that."
"Well, neither do I, but that's one of my only choices since you gave me these powers!" I growled.
"You know damn well why I saved you." He gritted his teeth.
"Because you caught feelings and couldn't let go. You left me homeless! You took my death from me, now I'm a fucking freak!" I yelled.
"You are not! I couldn't lose another child, not one like you." He tried to brush my hair behind my ear.
"Then find another daughter. Cause there's plenty of suicidal people." I hissed, smacking his hand away.
"Don't you dare, Talia!" He bound my arms and legs.
"I won't stay~" I sang and broke the chains.
Puck's eyes widened and he scrambled, but it was too late. I was already gone.
