Chapter Text
It took a couple of hours before we could safely say that we still weren’t sure of anything – and just so it happened, it was getting late and Aiko needed a place to stay.
“I’m not staying here?” She asked me in a tone so confused, she must have really thought I would let a schoolgirl stay a night with a stranger (if, ostensibly, her current caretaker). Sure, I could. I could do many things, and they would be a varying degree of immoral, assholish, and plain wrong. There was technically nothing bad going on, since I could take the couch and she the bed, but… it was still someone’s little sister. Even if nothing happened, this just wasn’t right.
Luckily, there was a place where she could stay as a guest. I didn’t anticipate any danger, but some additional safety wouldn’t go amiss. And, she’d have something to do beyond nervously walking circles into my flooring. The research me and Bob had planned was going to take an all-nighter and possibly a summon of some kind; I wanted to have as few distractions as possible.
“You wouldn’t stay at a stranger’s house like that, would you?”
“Are… you a stranger?” I must have cast her a funny look because she shrunk down in her seat as we toddled along in the Bug through the evening Chicago. “I mean… I trust you. Nii-san trusts you. He wouldn’t leave me in danger.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” Aiko might not have minded having to fend for herself like that, but it certainly didn’t sit right with me. I grew up in a system after my dad died; passed between orphanages and foster families for what seemed like an eternity. Then, a kind man by name of Justin DuMorne took me in.
Ha. Old me really didn’t know any better.
If family members neglected each other like that, was it really a family? “It’s a matter of principles, I guess.”
“I don’t understand.” Aiko admitted in a small tone.
“I just want to make sure your stay here is okay.” I started, not sure how to proceed further with this conversation. “The Carpenters are good people. You won’t have to worry about anything. Then I can figure out your ancestry, and you can go home to your friends.”
“...I suppose.” The conversation didn’t really gel after. I took us off the expressway and towards smaller and less lively alleyways. I found myself tensing a little. Though Chicago is a huge city, it’s got its fair share of places where not much happens. Condemned neighborhoods, spaces under overpasses, little pockets of silence that had nothing to do with a relaxing atmosphere of a park and instead felt like being an extra in an Arnold Schwarzenegger flick. You were there, and then suddenly a roided-up, unstoppable juggernaut was bearing down on you.
Normally, this was the time and the place where some supernatural thug would be trying their chances to turn me into a taxidermy figure. While I’ve disposed of the Red Court’s elite assassin not too long ago, there was no telling they wouldn’t try again – and they only had to get lucky once. That’s not even mentioning all the other enemies I’ve made in my life. Plus, even if everything pointed to Aiko being quite a bit tougher than her exterior suggested, I definitely didn’t want to put her in danger by exposing her to the nasty side of the tracks.
Imagine my surprise when we just made it to Casa Carpenter with no trouble at all. I guess sometimes you just get lucky.
It was a very nice house, colonial-style. You could compare it to a real gingerbread building, except there was no evil Baba Yaga looming past the doorstep to eat you. A snow-white picket fence, perfectly tended-to lawn, stoic deciduous trees in front. Plenty of those in the neighborhood, but the ones at Carpenters’ lawn were especially impressive.
Aiko definitely found it impressive, if her muted look of wonder was anything to go by. Perhaps she was also feeling the ambient energy of the place. Just like there are locations that people instinctually avoid, the opposite exists. Not that the house was drawing people like moths to the flame, but you could tell this was a safe haven. A wandering person in search of help would most definitely receive it here.
It was home, and in there lived good people. “Come on, let’s introduce you.” Aiko trudged behind me as we reached the white picket fence. The street lantern cast a warm glow on the entrance. I hesitated for a second or so, then made my way to the front door. Michael’s received my phone call earlier and, as he tended to do, agreed to help with no strings attached. He was a good man, and sometimes I couldn’t help but think I was abusing his friendship. But, if he ever needed help, I’d be more than happy to lend a hand too.
I reasoned that since this situation involved no vampires, demons, Faerie Queens, or anything else nasty, it was probably going to work out fine.
I knocked on the door and waited. “...are you sure it’s fine?” Aiko asked for what seemed like an umpteenth time.
“Positive. You need a place to stay.”
“...could have rent a hotel room?”
“Look.” I turned to her, hoping I didn’t put too much stress on the word. With how skittish she could be, it was hard to tell. “I promise it’s fine. It’s an unfamiliar situation, and I get it. You’re on your own, stranded in a different country, with some weirdo as your nominal caretaker. I’ll pick you up first thing in the morning.”
The doors unlocked with a quiet click. “You’ll see, it’ll be fine—“
On the other side of the threshold stood Michael’s wife, Charity. The flannel bathrobe (surprisingly similar to the one I used in my lab, I realized offhandedly) hugged her six-feet-tall form nicely. She had golden hair with the faintest hint of gray showing, piercing blue eyes, and you would not be able to tell she was a mother of seven with how well she looked. She didn’t like me very much, which was understandable; whenever me and her husband worked together, Michael tended to get hurt.
The double-barreled shotgun she held right in front of my face was certainly not helping though. From this up close, there was no way to miss and I wouldn’t be fast enough to draw up my shield bracelet. Better wizards than me could shield themselves with a thought, but I wasn’t up there yet. Behind me, Aiko turned very still. I wasn’t sure if it was fear or a moment before pouncing. Best to not find out.
“...Dresden.” Charity greeted me with a voice that could cut glass. “Presumably.” I stared at her, slow on the uptake before it hit me. She’s been in a situation like this not too long ago. An evil spirit abducted her while wearing my likeness as a disguise. It wasn’t a great time, especially since she was pregnant at the time. It made sense she was wary; I suddenly make a call about wanting to leave some stranger in her home after dark? Even if Michael okayed it, it still had to go through Charity – and she very clearly wasn’t taking anything up to chance.
“...I… think I’ve erred.” I mumbled. A corner of Charity’s lips shook slightly. “Uh… I know this looks bad—“
“Stop stalling. Blood, you and her.” I nodded, slowly, and made a few steps back. Aiko next to me stared at the shotgun in complete incomprehension. I knew Japan had some stringent gun laws; did she even see a live gun in real life before, let alone one pointed at her?
And then, she stepped forth – and in front of me. Charity switched aim, mouth tightening. “Don’t hurt him. He did nothing wrong.” The girl stated resolutely. She quivered like a leaf, but stood there nonetheless, ready to shield me from buckshot. Or rock salt, I assumed, that’s a bit better for supernatural nasties.
“Oh, he’s done plenty wrong. That’s one way to show he means well for once.” The two blondes looked at each other with growing intensity. With a sigh, I shuffled up close, showing a scarlet drop on my finger. Charity studied it under the front door light, though her aim remained on Aiko. “...one out of two.” I made a face.
“Charity, come on—“
“Dresden, I am not in the mood. Michael had just left for another mission, and now you show up with God-only-knows who at my doorstep, in the middle of the night—“
“...I think it’s like 9 PM…” My pedantry went unappreciated; the glare Charity shot me could put a basilisk to shame.
“Why not St. Mary’s?”
“Because the girl is not in danger. She just needs a place to stay.” Charity’s eyebrow rose slowly. I decided to beat her to the punch before she asked. “...it… would be weird if it was my place.” A few pregnant seconds filled the evening air. “...I… will need some time to figure out magic stuff.” I added lamely.
“Magic stuff.”
“Magic stuff.” Before I could continue to dig myself deeper, Aiko thrust her hand forward with a scowl. It was far enough to not cause harm, but I still felt my hairs stand on end when the thrumming of power from earlier reappeared. Charity’s face lost some blood, but she kept herself in perfect shooting position nonetheless, ready to pull the trigger if need to.
Aiko’s palm bled from the middle of it, from a gash that looked as if a beaver ran its teeth over it. Offhandedly, she wiped her mouth with the other hand. “...good heavens.” Charity slowly deflated, lowering the shotgun. “Proof enough. Sorry to put you through this, young lady. We’ve had some… close calls before.”
“Apologize to him.” Aiko replied with a huff. Charity and I blinked unisono. “For… for being a jerk.”
“It’s fine, I don’t mind being jerked.” I said, like a complete moron. The two women shot me unreadable looks. “...around. I mean… hell’s bells, forget it. Can we come in?”
“Yes, please. I’ll get the first aid kit.” Charity nodded, voice still wary – but she stepped deeper inside the household. Aiko grumbled something under her breath, but she shuffled in. I made sure to close the doors after.