So, I sorta wanted to wait a little while to update this, so that you guys don't catch up to me, but at the moment I'm writing this quickly enough that it shouldn't really matter all that much. Anyway, enjoy and let me know what you think.
I do not own Sanctuary, but Kiri is mine.
~1 Year Later~
Helen and Nikola were sitting on their bench, waiting for Kiri, who was unusually late. Helen was just about to get up and go look for her when she walked out of the building, flanked by a man who looked about two years older than Helen. As Kiri approached, a long gash on her face became evident, along with several large bruises on her arms. Despite this, she was grinning and appeared to be laughing with the stranger following her. When she was about ten yards away, Nikola stood and walked over to her, gently assessing her wounds.
"Who did this to you?" he inquired, his voice hard.
"Nikola, don't make a big deal out of it. I'm fine," she told him, her voice laced with concern. Nikola and Helen both chuckled, the latter coming over to stand next to Nikola.
"Figures that you'd be concerned about me after this happened," Nikola remarked, pulling away to allow Helen to tend to the gash on Kiri's cheek.
"Really, it was nothing. It was just one of the boys trying to prove how masculine they are," Kiri responded, sharing a look with Helen. Once Kiri had been tended to, Helen and Nikola straightened to look at the stranger.
"Were you one of them?" Nikola demanded warningly.
"No. He helped me," answered Kiri, pushing Nikola back slightly. The stranger extended a hand, smiling amicably.
"James Watson," he said, shaking first Nikola's hand, then Helen's, surprising her.
"I'm Helen Magnus, and this is Nikola Tesla. It is a pleasure to meet you," Helen responded, curtsying slightly. Nikola merely nodded his head, his face remaining carefully placid. James smiled at them, his face kind and gentle.
"The pleasure is all mine," he responded. "I must be going, but it was good to meet you all." James bowed slightly and left, disappearing down the street. As soon as he was gone, Nikola turned to Helen and Kiri, his eyes questioning.
"Is there anything you need help with today?" he asked Helen.
"I don't, no. But I was thinking perhaps we could teach Kiri some things," she suggested, smiling down at their younger friend. Kiri's eyes widened and she looked from one to the other, suddenly looking terrified.
"N-no! I am not supposed to learn things!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. Helen reached out and put a hand on Kiri's shoulder.
"Kiri, you have just as much of a right to learn as Nikola and I do." Helen squeezed Kiri's shoulder as she spoke, then led Kiri over to the bench, where both girls sat down. Nikola walked around to stand behind them, leaning on the back of the bench to see over their shoulders. Helen, meanwhile, reached down and pulled a book out of her bag.
"Beginning Mathematics?" Nikola asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"We have to start somewhere," Helen countered, frowning at him.
"I agree. But how did you get a Beginning Mathematics book?" Nikola chuckled faintly, a smirk on his face.
"My father has an extensive library filled with textbooks for all ages." Helen turned and smacked Nikola's arm with the book, causing Kiri to laugh as Nikola feigned injury. Helen grinned at Kiri before turning to open the book. Kiri glanced at the pages, and her face fell.
"He-Helen, there are words on that page," she pointed out, her face fearful. Helen's brow furrowed curiously, and behind her Nikola slapped a hand to his head.
"Of course, you wouldn't have learned to read English," he remarked. Kiri looked up at him, shaking her head.
"I don't know how to write it, either," she added, turning to face Helen.
"Well then we shall have to teach you. Come on, it will be easier at my home." Helen stood and walked a few steps before realizing that neither Nikola nor Kiri had moved an inch.
"Well, aren't you two coming?" she finally asked, her grin fading slightly.
"Helen, it would be inappropriate for me to go to your home," Nikola said at last, blushing faintly and looking away. Helen made a face as she walked back to them.
"Nikola, when has that ever stopped you before?" she demanded. "I am fairly certain yelling at that professor last week wasn't appropriate." She cocked an eyebrow and smirked. Nikola rolled his eyes, though his blush darkened.
"He had no right to say those things about you," he said defensively. "But it's not my reputation I'm worried about." Helen's face softened and she smiled at him.
"You're sweet," she remarked, giggling as he blushed even more. "But we're still going to my home. Come." She turned on her heel and began walking away, Kiri and Nikola following more slowly.
"You like her," Kiri commented in Serbian, glancing up at him. Nikola rolled his eyes and let out a sigh.
"Sometimes I regret treating you like a sister. It gives you far too many liberties, sestrice," he responded. Kiri giggled, pushing him lightly with her shoulder.
"You're only saying that because I'm right," she teased, grinning.
"Right about what?" Helen inquired, turning to face them. Kiri winced, having not noticed that her last statement had been in English.
"Kiri thinks that I am secretly homesick," Nikola lied, winking at Kiri as soon as Helen had looked away. Kiri giggled again, then both of them ran to catch up to Helen, who was standing next to her coach. Helen entered first, followed by Nikola. Kiri had just put her foot on the first step when an angry voice stopped her.
"Servant girl, get away from there!" someone yelled. Kiri turned towards the voice, and was suddenly slapped away, landing on the ground with an "oof" as the wind was knocked out of her. Nikola and Helen were out of the coach in an instant, Nikola turning to face the man while Helen knelt next to Kiri worriedly. The stranger looked between Helen and Nikola curiously for a minute before turning and walking away. Kiri lifted herself off the ground, groaning and rubbing the back of her head.
"Are you okay?" Helen inquired, one hand on Kiri's shoulder.
"I-I'm fine. I'm used to it," she assured her friend, grinning. She walked over to stand next to the step into the coach and curtsied at Nikola and Helen. "After you, m'lord, m'lady." Helen smiled and entered the coach, followed by Nikola, who ruffled Kiri's hair as he passed. She followed them up and sat next to Helen while Nikola sat across from them. It was about half an hour before the carriage pulled up outside of the Magnus estate, and Kiri immediately hopped out, standing aside to let Helen and Nikola out. Once everyone was out, Kiri and Nikola looked at Helen's house with awe.
"You live here?" Nikola questioned, his eyes wide.
"Yes. Most of it is used for my Father's work though. All the rooms I use are in one wing," Helen responded, smiling at the looks on their faces. She led them inside, where a maid came over to take their coats and gloves. Helen led them through the house to a small library with a fireplace against one wall surrounded by a couch and two armchairs. Helen motioned for them to sit as she walked to a bookshelf and pulled out an old leather bound book. Once the three of them were settled in, Kiri opened the book, which had the large print typical of children's books. They spent the next few hours teaching Kiri to read, and by the end of the night, Kiri was already well on her way to being able to read.
It was around nine, and the three of them were stretched out in front of the fire, half asleep and content. Suddenly, Kiri jumped up, a concerned expression on her face.
"I must be getting home. I'm not allowed to stay out all night," she exclaimed, rushing to make sure she had all of her things, which really consisted of nothing more than a small satchel filled with what she called mementos.
"Kiri, my carriage can bring you home. I would hate to have you walk home alone at night," Helen told her, sitting up. Kiri shook her head.
"That's very kind of you, but I would rather walk. It's not very far, I'll be fine," Kiri answered, grinning. She leaned forward and pecked them both on the cheek, then bounced out of the room, her light brown hair bouncing behind her. Helen and Nikola watched her go, both with small smiles on their faces. Once she was gone, Helen leaned into Nikola, resting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her, and they sat like that for quite a while, staring at the fire and enjoying each other's company, until they slowly fell asleep.