Chapter Text
Baz
What the hell was I thinking, inviting him home for the holidays?
I was so caught up in the moment, and the thought of him alone…. I sigh, putting the last of clothes into a bag.
It’s too late to go back on my offer now. He’s excited. Father and Daphne have been notified.
This is happening.
Alester Crowley, I am so fucked.
Simon
I know he’s worried about bringing me home with him, I get it. I’m a bit rough around the edges; I know. I don’t fit into his high-class world. I wear trackies when laying about, and the most casual attire Baz owns is a button down and a fit pair of jeans that probably cost more than one of my day’s wages. I just hope they see how much I love him; that I make their son happy. I was good with my first girlfriend's parents; they adored me. I think it’s the freckles. They make me seem soft and trustworthy. Who wouldn’t love seeing their child bring home a soft, freckle cheeked boy?
He was so tense packing. He must have emptied his bags onto our bed 3 times before he finally settled on a configuration. I just kissed between his shoulder blades, “it’s fine love, we’re only gone five days.”
“I know,” he said, “I just want everything to be perfect.”
“As long as I’m with you, everything is,” I say with a smile. That seemed to calm him for a bit. But now we’re in the car and his knuckles are turning white. Or well, white-er.
I touch his thigh gently and watch him decompress.
“So,” he says, “there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Okay,” I say with trepidation.
“Remember last summer, when I came out to my family and told them about us and they were super supportive?”
“I do, yes.”
“Well, that’s not exactly what happened,” he says, turning to me with a worried look, “Father announced he was running chairman of the New Coven and Daphne was stressed about the twins starting school with Xavier’s biting and just, it couldn’t happen then. Now, with Mordelia coming home and Fi is going to be there it’s just not the right time, but I promise I will tell them soon.”
“Wait, so why do they think I’m coming?”
“I told them your parents were dead and you were going to be alone on Christmas.”
“And what? I just moved in with you after Watford because we’re such great pals?”
“Kind of yeah. I just said I needed a roommate and so did you and we knew we could live together because we’d done it all through school.”
“But it’s a one bedroom apartment?”
“Well they don’t know that.”
“This is a bad idea.”
“Agreed, but when has that ever stopped us?”
I look at him with skepticism.
Maybe he’s right. We’ve gotten away with stupider plots. This is nowhere near as precarious a situation as going up against an entire horde of orcs with no backup.
This could work. We can do this.
Baz
“Basil, so good to see you,” Daphne says, greeting us at the door. “And you must be Simon, I’ve heard so much about you. Here, come on in,” she waves us into the foyer.
“You have a lovely home Mrs. Grimm, thank you so much for having me,” Simon says.
“Of course!” She responds, “Basilton’s father and I are always happy to help those who are less fortunate,” she says with a smile. She means well, but Crowley if it’s not straining at my shriveled heart.
“Basil?” Fiona calls from the hallway, “is that you?” She comes bounding around the corner, hands sticky with batter which clings to my coat when she hugs me with alarming speed and heaviness.
“You!” She says turning to poor Simon, who looks shell shocked still standing by the door. “You must be the mystery man Basil dragged in off the street. I’m not sure you’ll find yourself more comfortable here with us lot, but do try to keep up.” She says, flipping a rag over her shoulder. “Oh nephew dear,” she calls after me, “I require your assistance in the kitchen. I melted the cookies again.”
“Again? Fi, I told you, stop using that spell on the oven!” I yell back, “I’ll just be a moment,” I tell Simon before disappearing after her.
Simon
“Here, let me show you to your room,” Daphne says once Baz is gone.
“I’m not staying with Baz?” I ask.
“Oh nonsense,” she responds, “I wouldn’t expect you boys to share a bed, we have plenty of space. You’ll stay in the Hemlock Room. It had been Mr. Grimm’s office, but with all the work he is doing now with the Council, he needed the extra space. He’s moved to what used to be my dining room. Here we are,” she says opening a door at the end of a very long, dark hallway. “Towels are in the closet two doors down, bathroom is just across the hall, and Simon dear?”
“Yes?”
“If the phantoms talk to you, don’t answer. Dinner is in an hour, I’ll leave you to get settled.”
I turn to thank her, but she’s already gone.
“Phantoms?” I think out loud.
But then the wind rattled the window and I thought better of it. No more speaking. Not until I can ask Baz about whatever is haunting his guestroom.