Remedy's face fell again, brows furrowed as Romulus turned away again. She looked over her shoulder to Remus, his expression mirroring her own. But Remus knew even less what to do than Remedy did. she was supposed to be his Hail Mary in fact. He offered a weak and helpless shrug to her, unsure what help he could be. Remedy took a deep breath. regaining her confidence and trying to get through to Romulus again.
"Romulus, you absolutely deserve to, our boys deserve it as well. But I understand why you feel that way, that is my fault." Remedy began slowly, loosening another steady exhale. "Romulus, I'm sorry. I messed this all up for us, for you. I'm truly sorry." She finished, and she was sincere. Remedy wasn't a person who struggled with apologizing, she only did it though, when she truly was sorry. Sometimes the action was flippant or unserious, but still plenty true to her.
She could see it now, the thing she always suspected, she ruined his life. He couldn't even look at her, she did that to him.
Romulus still couldn't bring himself to look up at Remedy, but he was still quick to rebuke her apology by way of a surprisingly firm shake of his head.
"No, it-s m- faul-" He choked. "I- bad. I li-d t- y-. I hur- y-." _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
"You did, that is true." Remedy agreed at first with a slight nod. "But I don't feel so hurt by it anymore. Which I know isn't fair of me to say, but it is the truth. I can't feel that way anymore, not when I got two amazing children from it. Romulus, if you need my forgiveness I would like to give it to you." Remedy finished, she admitted her feelings somewhat sheepishly. It was embarrassing to say she wasn't hurt or upset by the betrayal anymore. But to be honest, she hadn't thought about that in a long time, she had only thought about how she had missed him.
Romulus had once thought all he needed was Remedy’s forgiveness, as if it would absolve him of his wrongdoings and things between the two of them could begin again like nothing had happened, but now that her forgiveness was being freely forgiven, he found that he could not forgive himself. He had always been a guilty creature, always sure he was making a misstep, something to incur someone’s wrath, and it was a trait that had only gotten worse over the last few years. If his parents abuse hadn’t been killing him slowly, surely his guilt would eventually would eat him alive.
He shook his head and gestured to himself with a weak jab at his chest.
“I ca-t forg- m-self.” He choked, lip wobbling and tears streaking.
Just then, there was another brisk knock at the door and before anyone could turn the knocker away, Rundin let himself into the room, flanked by JJ and Xander Laughlin. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Remus and Remedy both shot up from their respective chairs when three of The Society's most decorated members walked in somewhat ceremoniously. Two of which, were Remedy's older brothers whom she considered loveable but entirely too uptight. One of which was Remus's father in law who he believed did not like him very much. Remedy however was not scared of any three of them as she stood between them and Romulus's hospital bed.
"Who called you?" She asked with her brows pinched in annoyance. If they had walked in a few years ago when Romulus had freshly confessed his betrayal, she may have let them take him away. But on this day, she was not interested in Romulus going anywhere besides to see the sons he had never met before.
Remus on the other hand, was afraid of all three and deeply unnerved by authority. He too stood up between Romulus and the officers, but still behind Remedy, taller but meeker somehow. He knew Astrid called Rundin, who likely brought in the Laughlin's. He was somewhat thankful that he did not bring the patriarch of them, Jeraud, but he was nonetheless, intimidated. He chose a different and more appropriate question.
"What are you going to do to him?" Remus asked, a hand on the bed as though Remus could protect him.
Xander and JJ wore twin expressions of shock and surprise upon seeing their younger sister at her ex-lover's bedside. It was clear that neither of them had expected to see Remedy there, for one, because as far as they knew she was the one who had broken things off with Romulus all those years ago and for two because they themselves had only just gotten the call that they needed to make their way to the hospital.
It was clear that they had both been sleeping before the call, as evident from Xander's casual manner of dress, save for his usual leather gloves, and JJ's bedhead despite actually being in uniform himself. Rundin was dressed in civilian attire, much like Xander, probably because he had moved in haste when his daughter called to tell him about the happenings down at the hospital regarding her brother-in-law's sudden appearance.
"My daughter called me and I called in a few officers. Clearly, we weren't expecting to see you here." Rundin explained to Remedy. If he had known the eldest Laughlin daughter would be present, he probably wouldn't have called her brothers AND her father despite them being some of the most highly ranked officers serving the Society. He directed his attention to Romulus's poorly state and then to Remus protectively hovering nearby. Despite Remus's conceptions of his relationship with his father-in-law, Rundin actually thought highly of the younger man. Of course, he was not happy when he initially started courting Astrid and shortly after got her pregnant, but over time a fondness had been fostered. Remus treated Astrid and Lucita like the most precious treasures in the world and it was hard not to appreciate that as a father and doting grandfather. "Don't worry, no one is in trouble. We just have some questions we wanted to ask since...well, since Armand Navares is involved." He explained, eyes shifting back to Romulus, who seemed to shrink under everyone's scrutiny.
JJ was the one who stepped forward first, snatching up his sister's hand and tugging it along like they were kids again.
"Père is here. Imagine his surprise when he saw the boys in the waiting room." JJ said, his tone indicating he was clearly not pleased with the fact his sister had brought his nephews there or was here at all herself. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Remedy didn't change from the defensive as JJ grabbed her hand and tugged. She pulled her hand back, jerking it back from him, her face scrunched in annoyance. Remedy was always a willful child and as an adult, especially when it came to her older brother, she was uncompromising. Remedy didn't speak French with her kids, but she was raised in a French speaking household. It was common place to speak French, when it was just amongst Laughlin's. So when addressing her brother, she spoke to him in French to spare the rest of the room from anything she was going to say to him.
"You talk like I brought them to a prison, they're in the waiting room with Astrid, it's been like five minutes." Remedy began hotly, her tone indicating she wasn't pleased with her brothers judgment.
Remus didn't speak French, so he thought Remedy was arguing about Romulus, he gave her a gentle poke on the shoulder.
"If it's just question's then that's alright, I can stay with him probably?" Remus said, posing the last part as a question and looking to Rundin for confirmation. If there was anyone who could escort him from Romulus's side, it was surely Rundin.
"It's not a prison, but we don't know what he's doing here or what he's been brought back here for. Instead of running here to him, you should have called us so we could have come with you and Mère could have watched the boys." JJ shot back, just as hot as his sister, though he was undeniably less annoyed and more upset. Perhaps not by his sister or her actions, but the situation at large.
He decidedly did not like Romulus as he had used his sister, betraying her trust and breaking her heart, but he liked him even less when he vanished without a trace and left Remedy pregnant and alone. Of course she had the support of her family and Remedy was always the most independent out of their siblings, it still left a sour taste in JJ's mouth that Romulus had left everything to her.
"That's enough. Both of you." Xander scolded in English with a roll of his eyes as he stepped forward then. "Remy, I think it's best if you leave for now so we can speak with Romulus and get a statement. JJ, I think you should also step out to cool your head." He undid the band at the wrist of one of his gloves and wriggled his hand free, though he kept it close to him.
Rundin nodded at Remus.
"You can stay. I understand you're the one who brought him so we'll have a few questions for you, too." He explained though nothing in his tone indicated that there was any trouble to be had for anyone at the moment. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Remedy didn’t offer a second look or a last word as she brushed past JJ then to beat him through the door. It helped that Xander was there, otherwise she might be less likely to let this one go. But she didn’t want to continue to argue with JJ, he would never see anything from her point of view, not from his ivory tower. She would see Romulus again, whether JJ or her father liked it or not.
Remus pressed his lips into a thin line, regretting his decision to summon Remedy here at all. But he deflated with relief after a beat, feeling a bit more relaxed now that it would be mainly him, his twin, and his father in law. Xander was there too of course but Remus was less put off by him since he wasn’t apart of the French feuding that just took place. Although Remus was both leery and curious about Xander’s abilities. He had never experienced them first hand but he had heard about what happens when Xander touches things with his bare hands. He found it mystifying and concerning. Remus settled back into his chair but pulled it close to his brother’s bedside.
It had been about a week, give or take, since Romulus had been dumped at his twin's feet in a catastrophic state and while things had been anxiously chaotic during that time, Romulus admittedly found himself relaxing as he settled into a new lifestyle, one closer to "normal" than his one previous.
Rundin had meant what he'd said when he told the twins that no one was in trouble, or at least in the way no one had been booked into a multi-night stay in the Society's jailhouse. He had interviewed Remus and Romulus, although since Romulus was not in a state where he could relay a statement, they relied on Xander's psychic abilities to convey his answers. Despite having been with his parents the last few years and being at their disposal, it wasn't of much shock, at least to Remus surely, that he was not privy to their plans. Romulus and Remus had grown up as mere instruments for their parents to use and abuse, they were never a part of the planning of their goings ons. That certainly hadn't changed when Romulus went back, if anything, he was even more in the dark than before as he didn't even have his twin to speculate with. After the initial interrogation, Romulus was left to recuperate in the hospital for a few days, like Peter had said he'd need, and Remus had stayed with him the entire time. Whether it was to support him or to just make sure he didn't run off, Romulus wasn't sure, but he admittedly appreciated the company and he'd be a liar if he said having his twin there made it easier to stay put and not run back to the witch hut and throw himself at his parent's nonexistent mercy.
During his hospital stay, Romulus had met his brother's wife, Astrid. She was kind and gentle with him, but Romulus suspected that had more to do with her not wanting to ruffle him. When he caught glimpses of her and Remus together, he could see that she was still kind, but it was certainly a different type of kindness. They both lit up when they were around each other, they comfortably touched one another with tenderness and warmth. She teased and joked with him often, but there was never malice in her jests, she was never cold with him. She was like the sun and Remus simply basked in her.
Romulus could remember when he and Remedy were like that too. He would have given anything to stay in her light.
After a few days in the hospital, Romulus was released and at his brother's (and the Society's) insistence, he was moved in to Remus and Astrid's home for the time being. Apparently, Astrid had cleared out their daughter's unused bedroom with her brothers' help and turned it into a guestroom for him. It was a simple little room with a bed, a lounge chair, and a dresser. Astrid had apparently gone out and purchased some clothes for him as well, just a few outfits as he'd shown up without a stitch of clothing on him. She'd used Remus's clothes as measurement, but despite being identical, Romulus had shrunk a bit in stature since the last time he'd seen his brothers. They were still tall and had the same broad shoulders, but Romulus had definitely lost his bulk and the clothes, as a result, hung from him. It was alright though, Astrid was confident that he'd fill out again.
He also got to meet his niece upon moving into his brother's house. She was a quiet babe who liked to cling close to her father, but Romulus could tell that it wasn't out of shyness, she simply adored Remus and found contentment in his presence. She looked a lot like Astrid, but Romulus could definitely see a good deal of his brother in her with her tilted dark eyes and her dark hair. Whenever she sat in her father's lap or was tucked in his arms, it was obvious who had fathered her in the same way it had been obvious who fathered Remedy's twins, though he'd yet to hold them in his arms or even see them.
Remedy had been consistently reaching out regarding Romulus, or so Remus told him. She had been asking about him every day, sometimes multiple times a day, and Remus had dutifully told her about Romulus's current condition every time, but had insisted that Romulus was in no shape to see her or the boys yet. But after having spent so much time with Remus and his family and coming to terms with the fact that it was in his best interest he not return to the witch hut...well, Romulus thought perhaps it might be time to meet with Remedy, though he was unsure what that meeting would yield.
Romulus dictated a text message for Astrid to send, as he also could not read, and they arranged a meeting between Remedy and himself at a park not too far from the apartment Remus and Astrid lived.
Romulus had dressed himself in a navy blue sweater with a large letter embellishment reading NYC and a pair of blue jeans that Astrid had taken in at the waist for him. He borrowed a baseball cap from his brother as his face was still mottled with bruises, though most of it had faded into pinks and yellows instead of purple. His nose remained crooked, however. His neck was still largely bruised as well, but his ability to speak had returned, though his voice was still a bit scratchy. He was at least hopeful he could hold a conversation.
He sat on the side of a fountain where he'd agreed to meet Remedy. The fountain itself was empty and turned off for the season as balmy summer nights were turning crisp with incoming autumn weather. He twirled a yellow-green leaf he'd picked up between his index finger and thumb as he waited for REmedy's arrival. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Remedy had been calling Remus almost constantly, inquiring about Romulus's condition both physically and mentally. She was sure it was annoying but it didn't stop her at all, she truly wanted to know that he was okay. She felt pretty decided in forgiving Romulus and doing whatever she needed to do to make things right, if not for anyone else, for their children. Whatever she thought before, she knew the truth now, Romulus isn't a bad person and he deserved to be in the kids life. More than that, the boys wanted to know him too. Romano and Venturo were little but it wasn't lost of them that there was a father absent, and Remedy was truthful about that in context to their family unit. The twin boys had so much good and love to give, Remedy wanted them to give it to everyone, their own father the most; she hoped it would help heal him.
Astrid finally reached out to Remedy about arranging a meet up with Romulus, to touch base and maybe discuss meeting the boys and how best to make that happen. Remedy eagerly agreed to the time and place and all conditions. She let the boys know that day that they would be spending the day with their grande-mere while she ran some important errands. She did not disclose differently to her mother, at least not for the time being. It was no secret that she visited Romulus at the hospital and the reception to that was poor, Remedy thought to see what results today yielded before telling her parents about their next moves.
After she was excited, she was nervous about meeting up with Romulus one on one. It wasn't something that was ever scary before, not even the first time; it had always been easy to be around Romulus. It helped that Remedy was outgoing of course, but she just felt most comfortable with him, they always had fun. She loved him. This time was different, so much time had passed and Remedy wasn't sure what feelings were different or what feelings were the same. It was intimidating, and a little embarrassing. She wanted to make a good impression? Remedy was never the kind of girl who was especially feminine or liked to dress up. But she still made an effort to look nice, or whatever her version of that was.
Remedy tried to flat iron her hair, but she wasn't sure if she was doing it the right way and made weirdly crimped locks around the crown of her head. She tried to tussle it with product but in the end, pulled a faded baseball cap over her head. It was starting to get cool now, so she layered with a Hanes plain white t shirt and a dark navy flannel with a pair of levis. She couldn't wear heels and the notion never cross her mind as she slipped into an old pair of running shoes, the same she always had. She saw herself in the passing reflection of a building window, she looked very much the same but also, messier. As a person who had never been self conscious about her looks, she still sucked in a disappointed breath.
Nothing to do about it now.
She found the nearby park that was close to Remus and Astrid's apartment, she'd brought the boys here before for a playdate with Lucita. As she approached empty water fountain and wondered in Remus and Astrid were watching from their apartment up above. She spotted Romulus then, perched on the side, twirling a yellowish leaf between his fingers. Her face softened when she saw him, he looked better today. His bruising seemed better from what she could see under his baseball cap. Besides that, he was as handsome as she remembered. Those downcast dark eyes and crooked nose, even battered like that, her heart gave a giddy leap. She remembered that night they shared, the one where they conceived the twins. She remembered him on top of her, looking down with those dark eyes and her palm cupping his cheek...
She swallowed the lump in her throat as she smiled and called out to him.
"Hey," Remedy greeted, her friendly smile, she gestured with a hand up in the air; she was holding a to-go coffee cup. "I brought you a coffee." She declared as she walked up to him.
Romulus looked up when he heard Remedy and felt his own heart skip a beat. He had of course never stopped loving Remedy, but his love for her had felt so far removed over the last few years, outweighed heavily by guilt and hurt, that the excitement he felt fluttering in his chest was admittedly unexpected. He was reminded immediately what it was like to bask in her presence, and in the same moment he felt her warmth, he was quick to also remind himself that he was undeserving of it.
He feigned a soft smile, restrained and a bit sad at his own denial of happiness, as he nodded in greeting.
"Hey. Thanks." He rasped. "I didn't bring you anything...I'm sorry." _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Remedy's brows furrowed a bit and she shook her head before offering out the coffee to him.
"Oh don't worry about it, I got one for both of us." She said before taking a seat beside him on the fountain. While she was nervous, Remedy was still very much herself. However afraid she might've been to do something, she still did it with the same charisma she did most things. She didn't hesitate in sitting beside him, it was almost natural. She'd sat beside him so many places, on his motorcycle, riding up and down dark highways. A lot of times she would sit beside him on the curb in an empty parking lot, they would talk all night until it was morning. She would sit beside him on his mattress, soft and sunken in, she'd slide into his side and press her lips upon his shoulder.
"How are you feeling? You look better." She said then, chasing away phantom memories.
Romulus uttered another little 'thank you' as he set the leaf down beside himself and reached out to take the coffee from Remedy. He couldn't help but linger a moment as his fingers brushed hers. He could remember how it felt to hold her hand in his, how her fingertips felt on his lips. He let out a shuddered little breath before recoiling, recalling himself.
"I feel okay." He said, clearing his throat a bit. "I have a follow-up appointment in a few days to get some stitches out." He touched his casted hand to his inner thigh where he had a large gash, presumably from a ritual dagger, sliced up towards his groin. It was healing up nicely, though that was mostly thanks to Remus's constant fussing. "How are you? I'm...I'm sorry I haven't gotten to talk to you." _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
"That's okay, I know you were healing and getting settled in over there with Remus and Astrid." Remedy said, nodding in the direction of the nearby apartment building where they lived. She smiled somewhat sheepishly then, though Remedy was seldom truly embarrassed. "I'm sorry I've been calling so much, I was worried." She admitted with a weak chuckle.
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