New chapter. I don't think sent out an alert email for my last chapter, so just in case it didn't, chapter 5 is an actual chapter now, not just a note. And as for this chapter, I wasn't originally going to have anything for Kiri's birthday, but it's going to be important in the sequel to this fic (foreshadowing yay). Anyway, I've decided that I'm going to stop worrying about word count. I'm usually crazy obsessive about having each chapter be around the same length, and I'm going to stop doing that now. It really makes it more difficult for me. Sometimes, I have trouble going past 500 words, sometimes I end up at 2,000. So now you get to deal with that, instead of me having to deal with it. Anyway, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I seriously think you'd have to be delusional to think anything but Kiri was mine.
It was sometime in February when Kiri came bouncing up to them, grinning widely. Nikola and Helen couldn't help but smile in return as the younger girl stopped in front of them.
"My employer has given me a week off from work," she announced, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Why?" Helen inquired curiously. Kiri cocked her head at them.
"Haven't I told you? Today's my birthday," she responded, grinning again.
"Is it really? How old are you?" asked Nikola.
"Sixteen." Kiri bowed slightly, then spun around as the sound of footsteps approached from behind.
"I hear today's your birthday, Kiri," James remarked as he walked over to them. Kiri nodded vigorously.
"Yup!" she exclaimed, bouncing. James ruffled her hair as he nodded in greeting to Nikola and Helen.
"How did you know?" Helen questioned, furrowing her brow.
"Gregory told me." He shrugged, noticing that Helen and Nikola both looked confused. "Gregory is friends with Kiri's employer." Kiri nodded next to him. The other two looked, if possible, even more confused, and Kiri giggled.
"You guys looked funny when you're confused," she remarked before turning as though to leave.
"Where are you going?" Nikola demanded, mocking anger.
"I have something I have to do. I'll see you guys tomorrow," Kiri threw over her shoulder as she skipped away. James smiled at Nikola and Helen before walking away, leaving them alone. Helen turned to Nikola.
"All this time, my Father's known who Kiri works for…" Helen commented quietly.
The next day, as soon as Kiri joined them at their usual bench, Helen and Nikola dragged her off to a nearby pub. They sat down at a table near the back, where James was already waiting for them. Helen paid for her lunch, and they spent a good hour or two just talking and laughing. Finally, after dessert, Nikola turned to Kiri, a serious expression on his face.
"Sestrice, we – James, Helen, and I – have something for you," he told her, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a small box, and Kiri opened the box curiously. Inside was a bracelet made of two silver bands woven together. In the middle, set between the two bands, was an amethyst, cut perfectly into the shape of a leaf. Kiri examined it, a grin spreading across her face. When she hugged Nikola, it was really more of a tackle, and she was grinning widely. Once she had pulled away from Nikola, she gave Helen and James the same treatment, her eyes shining with gratitude. Suddenly there was a deep chuckle from behind Nikola, and they all turned to see John Druitt standing directly behind him, a condescending look on his face as he watched Kiri. The younger girl backed away, moving to stand behind James's chair, placing him between herself and John.
"Why Kiri, don't tell me you're afraid of me?" John asked mockingly before turning to Helen. He bowed and took Helen's hand, kissing it lightly. Helen blushed faintly as John stood with a charming smile on his face. "As beautiful as always, Miss Magnus." Helen blushed even more, smiling at him.
"You flatter me, Mr. Druitt. And please, call me Helen," she responded. John nodded his head slightly.
"As you wish, Helen." He bowed to her and then turned to Nikola. "Mr. Tesla, I overheard the argument you had with that Professor the other day. It was quite…interesting." A condescending note entered his voice. Nikola ground his teeth, visibly tensing.
"Thank you, Mr. Druitt," he managed to say; gripping the arms of the chair he was sitting in so tightly his knuckles were turning white. Kiri walked over to stand next to him, cocking her head.
"Ah yes, the servant girl," John remarked, raising his eyebrows at her. Kiri bowed deeply, a small smile on her face.
"What can I do for you, m'lord?" she inquired politely.
"You could go do your job," John suggested scathingly. Kiri's smile slipped slightly, but she remained polite.
"My employer has given me time off, m'lord," she told him, ducking her head. John cocked one eyebrow before turning back to Helen.
"My apologies, Helen, I must leave now. I shall speak to you again soon." With that, he bowed and left, ignoring the other three. Nikola glared at his back until he left the pub, then turned back to Helen.
"You mustn't let him get to you, Nikola. He's simply trying to rile you up," she told him, reaching out to place her hand over his in a placating gesture. Nikola scoffed, while Kiri sat back down and shoved a forkful of food into his now open mouth. Nikola choked and coughed, causing Kiri to giggle.
"You shouldn't leave your mouth open like that, Nika," she scolded. Nikola glared at her as he took a long drink. They left the pub soon after that, splitting up just outside. James walked Helen home, since he had business with her father, and Nikola and Kiri walked home, since they lived rather close to each other. As they were walking, Kiri suddenly spun around so she was in front of Nikola, blocking his path.
"Kiri, what are you doing?" Nikola demanded, cocking an eyebrow.
"I just wanted to tell you, that no matter how much charm Mr. Druitt has, you will always be the better man," answered Kiri, smiling. Nikola's face fell slightly, and he sighed.
"I just hope Helen sees that," he stated, looking away. Kiri reached out and put a hand on Nikola's elbow comfortingly.
"If she has any sense at all, she'll know you're better." She grinned at him, and he forced a smile in reply. Nikola remained silent for the rest of the walk, deep in thought as he watched Kiri greet everyone they passed with a grin. When they reached Kiri's small apartment, Nikola ruffled her hair.
"Thanks, Kiri," he said. Kiri just smiled at him as she turned and entered her home. Nikola remained lost in thought until he fell asleep that night.