Work Text:
Scar stared into his apartment, a strange longing forming in his chest as he peered at the empty space. He’d loved this apartment… It even had a balcony.
He’d actually managed to find a first floor apartment in his price range with a balcony.
Maybe if he wished hard enough it’d still be available when he got back.
Most of his belongings had been moved into storage. He’d only had a month to pack his life into neat little boxes. Whatever he could fit into his suitcases would still go with him; after all his equipment was packed he didn’t have a lot of space for sentiments.
Work hadn’t been as understanding as he’d hoped. Apparently, there were stipulations on what counted as a ‘death in the family’ and it didn’t apply to his grandfather. Even if it did they’d only give him a weekend.
He’d worked for them almost a decade and never complained. He’d missed holidays, worked when he was sick. He’d even worked on his laptop from a hospital bed.
All that loyalty and for what?
When he finally decided it was time to use the pto he’d earned and mourn his grandfather.
They denied his days off, they just couldn’t find it in the schedule. Fine, they didn’t have to approve, he’d resign. Now they’d have to pay back every day he never spent.
Every holiday, every birthday, every grand life event he missed. The look on his bosses ungrateful face when he realized how much money they owed him almost made up for all the bullshit.
He gave his apartment one more walk through before closing the door and turning in his key.
-
Jellie was sleeping soundly in her carrier when he met up with Gem at the airport. He’d always had this inexplicable fear of flying, he tried to avoid it when he could. Unfortunately this was one of this occasions the distance was to far to reasonably drive.
Just another reminder of how far away they were going.
From the moment he’d agreed to go Gem hadn’t been able to contain her excitement. She him sent article after article on the benefits of reconnecting with nature.
She definitely needed this.
They were both workaholics, spending hours toiling away at their jobs or some DIY distraction.
But it was different for her.
Yes his job was stressful, but if he messed up the only thing he’d wasted was money. It she made a mistake, people died. She couldn’t afford to she get overwhelmed.
There were many nights she’d been at his apartment crying, convince there was something she should’ve done differently.
She needed him to support her, and who was he to deny her a breath of fresh air?
-
How long had it been since he’d last been here? When was the last time he’d stepped foot in his grandfather’s house?
It’d been to long, nothing looked how he remembered.
The property was run down and overgrown. The flower fields and vegetable patches he remembered helping his Grandpa plant had long wilted away.
Weeds and giant roots splintered out of the ground, twisting under the porch warping the wood into an unstable platform.
He looked at Gem hoping to gauge her reaction. Had she changed her mind? Had she finally come to her senses? This was going to take more than a couple months to renovate. Did she see that and decide this adventurer was bigger then they could handle?
No, of course not, quite the contrary Gem was ecstatic. She was bouncing on her toes completely unfazed by the cabin’s poor condition.
“Do we have a key? “he asked warily looking at the steps and wondering if they’d give him trouble.
“Mhm! “ she nodded stepping forward to unlock the cabin. She looked back at him silently asking if he’d need a hand.
He shook his head, despite the rot, the steps looked sturdy enough. They weren’t too steep and the planks were wide enough he should be able to get a good foot hold.
“Do you know if we have power?”
“Why wouldn’t we? “ she asked jiggling the doorknob.
“Well, it’s an old building and it isn’t as nice as we remember. There’s a pretty good chance either our power or water is broken. “
“Oh don’t be so dramatic “ she kicked the door with her foot wincing as it refused to budge. “I’m sure we have power, and it’s not so bad, just gotta use a little.” She slammed her shoulder into the door and it finally swing free “elbow grease and love. “
She has a big smile on her face, seemingly proud of her door achievement. Scar rolls his eyes but follows inside.
Inside the cabin she flips a switch, nothing happens. Just as he’d predicated they had no power. Scar pulls out his phone clicking on the torch to illuminate the space around them.
The house was smaller than he remembered. It was mostly one big room with little furniture. No wonder they always visited by themselves when they were kid.
There wouldn’t have been space for anyone else. He wasn’t even sure where the two of them would have slept. Grandpa had probably taken the couch when they came to visit allowing the two of them to sleep peacefully in the next room.
Gem set her bag down on the table in the middle of the room. “You’re taking the bed.” Gem said her tone laving no room for argument. “I’ll sleep on the couch and once we have power, we can set up your equipment. “
“I have batteries, we don’t need power immediately.” He’d already thought if this possibility when he agreed to move out here.
“Oh, okay” she nodded trying take his bag.He waved her off with his hand and gave her his phone.
“I got this Gem, see if you can find a lantern we can use instead. “
She frowned taking his phone and going into the next room to search their grandfather’s belongings.
Everything in the house was worm down, covered in rust or rot. “This is going to be a fun project… “
“It could always be worse.” Gem called out, always the optimist. Scar liked to think he was one too, but the longer he looked at their surroundings the more skeptical he was becoming.
He felt nervous releasing Jellie from her carrier out of crate. She’d been cooped up for hours and deserved a chance to stretch her legs. Jellie didn’t seem very enthusiastic about the house either. He couldn’t really blame her, she was used to soft carpets and warm cozy beds. Back in his apartment she’d had her own room filled with all her toys. Here she was confined to eight corners of a box, without a single scratching post.
Gem returns with a wicked look on her face. “Who goes there foolish mortal!“ She’s holding a giant scythe and holding it out like she’s about reap his soul from the doorway.
He laughs at her antics shaking his head “Do you even know how to use that thing?”
“No better time to learn.” she gives it swing careful of her surroundings. “would make for a sick Halloween costume though. “
“Ooh! Is there something in there for me? “
She looks back into the bedroom where she’d presumably found it. “There’s a hoe, an axe and a pickaxe. “
“Hmm, if you’re the Grimm reaper I could be a lumber jack. “ she makes a face and hands him her scythe.
“Go kill some grass Scar.”
“I thought the objective was to touch it, not kill it?”
She shrugs “Potato, tomato, something is happening to the grass.”
He holds the scythe out to his side “This is the worst walking stick I have ever seen. “
She scoffs at him “Some Grimm Reaper you’d make.”
They both laugh but it’s hollow, something was missing between them. An uncomfortable silence stretched over them They were supposed to be in mourning, it felt wrong to be joking around in this place. There was still so much left for them to unpack and they didn’t know where to begin.
Maybe they could start with dusting? It was a small thing, and they’d have to move some things around to get everything. A deep clean always began with a good dusting or so he’d been told. Their mother was a big duster, she was always terrified he wouldn’t be able to breathe if the house wasn’t completely clean. He was never allowed to help of course, couldn’t risk exposure to the dirt. It’s not that he couldn’t help out with things or was stuck in his room. Their parents had just always been extra cautious. It was one of the reasons Gem was so amazing.
Despite being his younger sister she was able to convince them she’d look after him if he wanted to do something they were nervous about. She never needed to look after him, it was an understanding they both had. They would both lie to their parents about their adventures, it was the kind thing to do. They would be worried senseless if they knew the truth about how the two of them spent their time together.
Now they were both adults with their adult lives and they didn’t need to lie anymore. Gem was struggling to maintain the happy atmosphere inside the cabin as the world seemed to focus in on them.
Jellie pawed at the floor begging for attention from one of them. Scar let’s out a sigh setting the scythe down carefully and picking up his cat. “It’s late Gem, why don’t we just call it a night. “
“Okay. “ she agrees with hesitance.
He takes Jellie with him into the bedroom and she has to fight the urge to follow. This trip had only just started and it was already a mess. She should have expected it, they were both pretty emotional right now.
Tomorrow would be a new day and it would be better. Tomorrow they wouldn’t be jetlagged and tired. The welcoming party would come and then they’d have new friends!
Scar wouldn’t be stuck in an office and could enjoy fixing up the landscape. They could run around together meeting everyone in this small town and learn the local folklore.
Everything was going to be fine.
Tomorrow was a day fresh with no mistakes in it, and that was enough to hope for.