Chapter Text
“…and take this too, goodness knows it’s cold enough to freeze your nose off out there.”
“Jupiter, please, one scarf is enough for me, I’ll be suffocated-”
“Better to die from two cosy scarves than hypothermia, that’s what I always say.”
“No, you don’t,” Morrigan wriggled out of his woolly grasp and readjusted her beanie, smiling a bit. “We’re only out in the weather as long as it takes to get to the Gob, I’ll be fine. Worry wart,” she gave him a jab on the arm. “I’ll see you at dinnertime, alright?”
Jupiter grinned as he patted her shoulder and waved her out of the Deucalion’s doors. “Alright. Have fun, you.”
Morrigan Crow, now a full twenty-two years of age, pushed her gloved hands deep into her coat pockets as she made her way to the Brolly Rail, the gentle but chilling wind biting at her face. Hooking her umbrella on to one of the steel loops, an action that she carried out almost robotically now that she had been doing it so long; her numb cheeks warmed a little at the thought of seeing her unit again.
The holidays had started just a week ago and now that they were all done with their internships, work, and schooling, they had all jumped at the chance of a get-together. The Goblein Library seemed an appropriate place to meet, seeing as Mahir and Thaddea would both be getting off their shifts there in time to see the rest of them. Both eager and enthusiastic Book- Fighters- in- Training, Mahir and Thaddea’s separate loves of knowledge and bashing heads in made them perfect for their new jobs at the Library.
Morrigan jumped off at Old Town, holding her brolly tight to her chest and admiring the Christmas decorations the residents and shop owners of the area had put out. Fairy lights, mistletoe, holly, tinsel- everything sparkly and Yule- related was decked on every building in sight. Christmas was possibly Morrigan’s favourite time of year- everywhere she looked there were reminders of the happiest memories she'd had so far during her time in Nevermoor, or more accurately in her life. She was distracted from her admiration by a yell.
“Morrigan? Mog, over here!” Turning her head in the direction of the voice, her gaze met a widely smiling and waving Archan; Lam and Cadence at his side.
“Arch! Gosh, it feels like ages since we’ve seen each other.” she greeted him, giving him a frosty hug. ”
“Doesn’t it?” he agreed. “And Lambeth and Cadence too, I presume?”
“Oh, well I usually see Lam when she’s at Wunsoc nowadays, and Cadence-” They met eyes, the mesmerist raising her eyebrows. “I haven’t seen her in a while, actually. But it’s a whole different thing being all together like this, I’ve really missed it.”
“Mm, it feels like proper years since I’ve seen some of us. Like Francis! Where’s he been off to again? The Second Pocket?”
“The Third, I think.” said Lam.
“That’s the one.”
“Can we go in? We’re going to freeze to death standing out here.” Cadence said, her voice slightly muffled behind her scarf.
Stepping through the disorienting doors of the Goblein, they came out the other side to the sight of Hawthorne and Thaddea talking animatedly to each other, and Mahir laughing from behind the front desk. He looked up and grinned when saw them come in.
“Hey! Guys, they’re here.”
“…but I think EVERYONE saw Has Eyes As Piercing As A Thousand Needles’ loss coming from a mile away, I mean did you see the way its rider was steering it? How an airhead like that ever made it into the tournament will forever mystify me.”
“Thaddea- the others are here-”
“Right? I actually spoke to that rider before they went out, you will not believe the cockiness of this person- never more glad to see someone leave the stadium.”
“HAWTHORNE, I said Morrigan and the others are here, you can talk about dragons later.” Hawthorne’s head shot up at the mention of Morrigan’s name, his face lighting up when he saw the four of them approaching the desk.
“Hey, Hawtho- gOOD THING ABOVE, calm down, I saw you last week!” she said, almost tipped over by his ginormous hug.
“I know, I know- it’s still a full week, though,” He smiled and turned to Arch, his face softening. “Hey, Tater- it’s been too long.” He then bowed so low Morrigan thought he might injure his spine, taking Archan’s hand and placing a loud kiss on it.
Arch retracted his hand quickly, wiping it on his jacket. “Eugh, Hawthorne, please.” Whether his face was red from the cold or otherwise, Morrigan couldn’t tell.
“Sorry, sorry- did I embarrass you?” He rolled his eyes, moving to greet Cadence and Lambeth.
“If he wasn’t embarrassed by that, I sure was.” Cadence grumbled.
Lambeth smiled as Hawthorne leaned down to hug her. “You’re becoming quite the gentleman, Hawthorne.”
Hawthorne tilted his head at her, a hand behind his back. “I sure would like to think so, m’lady.” Cadence and Morrigan rolled their eyes at each other.
Morrigan moved towards Mahir and Thaddea. She smiled at both of them, Thaddea shaking her hand and saying, “Still at it with the sparkles, I assume?”
Morrigan chuckled. “I haven’t stopped being a Wundersmith, Thaddea.”
The fighter shrugged good-naturedly. “You know I have to check.”
“Phew!” They all turned at the sound of the doors spinning around again. Anah came through this time, her golden ringlets ruffled (or as ruffled as they could be) under her hat. “Oh, goodness- I’m so sorry I’m late, the railpods were positively packed today!” she said, brushing herself off.
Thaddea smiled and hurried forward to take her coat. “Took you long enough, we thought you might have died out there.”
Mahir rolled his eyes. “We did not. It’s good to see you, Anah.”
“And you, Mahir! It’s lovey to finally see you all again, it’s been too long. The teaching hospital is a busy place,” She looked around at the group, cheeks glowing. “Where’s Francis?”
Mahir leaned back on the desk behind him. “Well, he’s had to travel Inter-Pocket, so he might be a little-”
“Here! I’m here,” Francis burst through the doors, almost tripping over his own feet.
“Francis!” Mahir ran over to give him a hug, the rest of the unit laughing and joining in, one piling on after another.
“This has to be the corniest thing we’ve ever done,” Cadence mumbled, leaning her head away from the many pairs of arms embracing each other- but even she couldn't hide her smile.