Chapter Text
“Oh uh…” Al was stumped. The boy in front of him had big brown doe eyes and green curly hair. He was smiling politely and here Al was sweating and panting. “Is it anything urgent since you’re running Mister…?”
“Ah. Layton.” He said and straightened himself up. “I’m uh. Layton. Alfendi.” The boy looked confused. “Excuse me uhm… Alfendi Layton?” And with that, a chair was heard being moved and some footsteps coming closer, the boy was shoved away and he was met with his sister’s big blue eyes and brown wavy hair. “ALLIE!” She yelled. Al just opened his arms and she leapt into them, burying her face into his chest. “Allie... Al... “ Her voice was shaky and it was obvious she was tearing up. “He’s safe, Al.”
“Where is he?”
“Ernest!” The boy jolted and straightened himself. “Yes Ms Layton?” She turned around, wiping her eyes. “Please go get dad.” He saluted and went off somewhere. “Hurry!” She yelled behind him. Katrielle grabbed her brother by his hand and pulled him in, spotting a confused Lucy right where her brother stood. “Oh hello Lucy!” She grinned and gestured for her to enter as well. “I’ll pour you some tea whilst Alli—, Alfendi. Meets dad!” She clasped her hands together, making Al stumble a bit from her sudden release of his wrist.
“Oh thank you Miss Layton! Although I could go for some water right now since your brother here had me running!” Katrielle grinned and went to the small kitchen in the other room, pouring some not too cold water to Lucy. This left Lucy and Al alone again. Alfendi looked nervous, almost scared. He hadn’t seen his dad in eleven years, what was he going to say? “Hi dad it’s me, Al! I have DID now!” Oh God… No. Nononono—
“Alfendi.” Lucy was holding his hand. “Listen, your father sounds like a great man. Well beside from the point he left you and your sister for eleven years. He won’t care that you’ve changed.” She squeezed his hand, something she knew would calm him down. Al took a deep breath and smiled weakly. “Yeah. It’ll be fine.”
You took my memories
You don’t know who dad is.
“I’ll let you front then. When meeting him.” Placid whispered to Potty.
Good.
And almost on cue, a man who looked a bit tired, rugged short brown hair and wrinkles in the corner of his eyes was ushered into the room. “Alright, Ernest. I’m here. Although I don’t see why Katrielle had to send you to wake me up—“ He trailed off as he laid his eyes upon the tall crimson red haired man in front of him.
“Alfendi?”
“Dad.”
Something shifted in Alfendi. It wasn’t Potty. It wasn’t Placid. Someone new. Someone unknown.
“Dad!” Alfendi felt himself shrink in real life, back to his eight-year-old height. He felt innocent again, didn’t know the dangers of the world beside from those awful murder novels he’d read in his spare time.
He moved from his spot in an instant, leaving Lucy right next to Katrielle who was back with her water.
Alfendi tackled his father, making the older man stumble a bit before he regained himself. Instantly he wrapped his arms around his son and buried his face into his shoulder, for Alfendi was way taller than him. “I’m so sorry.” He whispered coarsely.
For the first time in years, Alfendi let himself cry. Feeling the disgusting lump in his throat swell up as he choked out an ugly sob, clinging onto his father as hot tears ran down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry Alfendi. I didn’t mean to. I’m horrible, I-”
“Are we leaving?”
Alfendi’s voice was wobbly. Hershel froze.
“Rosalie?” He stepped back, his hands wrapped around the arms of his son. Or, well...
“Dad…” Alfendi looked different. Not his usual uptight self when Placid was fronting. Not his wild and unpredictable self when Potty was there. No. He looked innocent. Like a child. A small child, lost, confused and scared. Just like…
“Oh Rosalie I’m so so sorry! I promised you this would never happen again and here I am running away because of some stupid puzzle that didn’t even need to be solved!” Hershel was raising his voice. Ernest and Lucy were baffled, two very composed men are crying their eyes out in front of them. Not something you see every day!
Katrielle was right by her father’s side, squeezing his shoulder, firmly. “Dad. You can talk about this later. Right now we need Al back.” Right. Al. Alfendi. Potty. Not Rosalie. No, Rosalie wasn’t supposed to be here, she was supposed to be long gone. Katrielle grabbed her brother and ushered him to sit down, this was going to take some time, and well… Time was what they had.