Adelia's flat, Kensington

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"You don't mind do you…? I just need somewhere to work. I've overstayed my welcome at Godric's Hollow with Ignan, and can't work in the office. Heh, annual leave, private clients and all. You won't know I'm here, promise… You are the best, I will owe you several hundred favours…When I am free of the Ministry and have my own office you are most welcome to share it with your fantastic business of course!"

Hours earlier, he'd bounded into Adelia's space, adopting a mask of excitement and enthusiasm to drop in on her, visit and do a bit of private work. The lies had fallen from his mouth one after the other. She was such a good friend, and his conscience did hate himself for this, but Adelia wouldn't be an obvious choice of safehouse, at least he hoped Gabrielle might not work it out with Ignan.

A short time at Elixa's flat in Diagon Alley had allowed him to wash, discovering the bruises and scrapes over his legs from scrambling about, and realise how hollow his eyes were. The voices in his head were back, but they'd been creeping back for weeks now, and had never really left. He couldn't stay by himself. There was no hiding everything, but he managed enough to resume the familiar overworked impression at the very least before he fled.

He'd lifted a self-inking quill and some parchment from stashes Arcturus and Elixa had in their place. He was without his bag. He was pretty sure he knew where it might be, and that scared him. He lived out of that thing, and it was familiar sight to his colleagues in the DMLE. If they were to discover where the fight was, and the bag were still there, that would put him in difficulties. However, he had no idea if anyone was investigating the scene, past that there had been a bite. There were too many unknowns.

For some time he put up the illusion of working in Adelia's flat, though he never consulted anything. To pretend to work was to avoid questions, to allow him to write down all that had happened, to capture as much detail as he could before his memory might be wiped. He even ignored Adelia's faithful dog that nudged him for attention periodically. He also contemplated a few more exit strategies. Gabrielle might have added his name to the watches on the borders once the word got out and he hadn't appeared. He should have got out of the country earlier. Under his breath, he could be heard berating himself, and occasionally answering the voices in his head as he rubbed at his temples.

When it came to the evening, he folded the thick parchment together, used his wand to seal them so they could not be read, and joined his host on her sofa, collapsing onto one side of it, close enough to look up to his dear friend.

"Thank you for the loan of some of your space today." He began, smiling gratefully, though his eyes were tired. His black curls were lacking their usual bounce. "I am sorry to launch on you at a moment's notice. Life doesn't always take the path I anticipate." His smile dimmed slightly as he explained, and his gaze slid past her a moment before he blinked and refocused.

"Might I ask you to one very important thing for me Addie?" He asked earnestly, voice tired too. The sealed parchment was between his hands, folded not much larger than a letter envelope with no markings but the date. "Would you keep this safe? It's nothing to worry about, I just feel it would be best kept with you a while." He extended the parchment to her, hoping that she didn't find this behaviour completely oddball for him, even if the voices in his head told him he was.

Johann's arrival to Kensington Gardens this very day had been quite the surprise to the young witch who had spent majority of the day  reorganising the flat, which included tucking away some wardrobe options.  Marmy was more than thrilled to have the wizard here, barking excitedly until Addie took her away long enough to give Johann the peace and quiet from the spare bedroom.  Leaving him be aside to bring coffee opposed to the tea, Addie continued to clean but at a decibel that wouldn't break Joh's concentration. The scribbling away like a madman indicated some serious thought going on in that brain of his, leaving her to wonder what the dire circumstances were. She opted instead to grab the takeaway menus from the drawer closest to the fridge, prepared to order the dinner for the two of them. Exhausted and looking spooked or not,  Addie was determined that he'd get food into his stomach.

However,  the tap on her windowsill followed by the sound of wings departing,  Addie moved to it, noting that the evening post for the Prophet had arrived.  Her eyes went wide as Sickles at the headline, stomach soon churning.  Werewolf attack,  magic run afoul. Folding it quickly,  Addie stuffed it under the mail for the day,  hoping Joh wouldn't snoop through, then returned to menu choices.  Indian was chosen and with it, two very mild curries, naan, and a few other items were picked.  She requested its arrival to be around seven thirty,  gave thanks, and then headed to the couch.

Marmy moved below her master's feet, waiting until Joh reappeared. Was....was this going to be like if had been with Matty? Was she possibly going to lose another friend who she deeply cared for? Forbid if so. She couldn't handle it twice over... "Thank you for the loan of some of your space today." Her eyes trailed to his, noting the same exhaustion from earlier.  "It's not an issue.  You're a part of the fam, remember? Besides,  wouldn't you do the same thing for me?" The arrival of the parchment packet made Addie look at it as though it were a Howler in disguise.  "I-- sure. I'll keep it as safe as I possibly can. Are-- are you going to be all right? You know you can always talk to me.  When you're ready,  of course.  This said,  takeaway will be here in fifteen. "

Addie took it all with good grace, and Johann was grateful for her accommodation. She eyed the sealed parchment with suspicion, which in the grand scheme of things was to be expected. He'd never ever asked her to keep his work safe.

"I-- sure. I'll keep it as safe as I possibly can. Are-- are you going to be all right? You know you can always talk to me.  When you're ready,  of course.  This said,  takeaway will be here in fifteen."

"Of course I'll be alright." Johann replied, leaning his head back into her sofa cushions, the smile fading beneath his tired eyes. "Why wouldn't I be alright?" He asked, his voice quieter. The guilt of the past 24 hours was weighing him down into Adelia's sofa, and he felt terrible to consider sharing that weight with her. He'd have to sort things - eventually - just not now. Not tonight. People would still be angry. He couldn't face them. He couldn't bear to think about what Hannah was going through, whether Lawrence had got her out safely, or whether his father would survive the night. His mother would be beside herself. He'd even let down beautiful Omari.

"Just a deadline. You know." He muttered, suddenly intent on studying his knuckles and his nails like a teenager avoiding a question. Although Miranda had used scourgify on him in the hospital, and he had scrubbed them raw in Elixa's bathroom, they still felt like the blood was on there from his father.

"Let me give you the money for dinner, here," he pulled himself up from the sofa, tugging at his shirt sleeves. He'd rolled them up to write, as he often did, and was in two minds to unravel them, but left them be, feet restarting across the living room floor to his coat where he assembled an amount in galleons and sickles that he hoped would cover a dinner. As he extended his hand to Addie it shook - a familiar sight of last Autumn when he'd been at his worst. As she looked up to receive it, their eyes met, and Johann couldn't hold her gaze, looking away.

He sat down again, hands in his lap.
"If I were in trouble, I wouldn't have come to you unless I couldn't think of anywhere else to go." He spoke quietly. "I wouldn't ever want to bring trouble to your door," he turned to look at her, reaching his left hand out that was nearest to her, seeking her hand. "Even if you have got the best taste in takeaways." He tried to crack a nervous smile.

That was a loaded reply from Johann -- one she had used numerous times when Matty had gone missing. Better to keep up with the appearance of 'everything is well' when everything was flat out shit. Hm. A pretty heavy deadline that it seemed Ms. Murray was never going to be given a heads notice about -- and of course they both knew that was a blatant lie as the telltale actions were becoming more obvious. However, Addie kept those thoughts to her brain exclusively, opting for the encouraging smile that stayed on her face as a means to continue supporting.

Godric, he really was in dire straits.

Taking the money and avoiding the fate of crying out of concern for him, Addie took it with that warm, supportive albeit crumbling smile that had remained on her face all along. "Trouble at my door, Joh? I've faced that when Matty disappeared. I did enchantments that would trigger a few jinxes; I slept fitfully, tearfully for those first few months. Had it not been for you and for Theta, my new job even, I would never been able to get out of the hole. So, please take it from me.... even as I have excellent takeaway taste, you are not alone. You have my unconditional care, support for you. You don't have to stay in the dark.... and even though this may come off a bit awkward, I love you. Mind you, it isn't a romance novel kind, but I do." Marmy barked in mutual agreement. "Make that two."

"Trouble at my door, Joh? I've faced that when Matty disappeared." Addie explained, and Johann's eyes slid past her in the direction of her front door. "I did enchantments that would trigger a few jinxes; I slept fitfully, tearfully for those first few months." His eyes slid back to her face, regretfully, thinking he should have visited Portsmouth like Theta had, that he should have made more of an effort to be a friend. But shortly after Matty had gone missing, Johann had been a mess himself, and he'd have been no use at all.

"… you are not alone. You have my unconditional care, support for you. You don't have to stay in the dark…" She was such a precious flower. Only nineteen and already so world wise. He wondered if he should tell her, but he knew she would tell him to do the right thing - and the right thing was not to be there hiding like a coward.

"I love you. Mind you, it isn't a romance novel kind, but I do. Make that two."

They squeezed their clasped hands and Johann wiped the corner of his eye, mentally drained and finding it ever difficult to keep a straight head when such kindness was shown in his dark time.

"I love you too." He replied, his voice not quite making speaking tone, but more a whisper as his voice was caught in his throat. "A sisterly, sibling love as we say." He glanced to Addie's faithful hound, "and you, despite your wet nose."

He let go of their clasped hands and extended it instead to put his arm around her. He didn't care that he probably smelled a little different usual - the home-brewed shampoo from Elixa's bathroom and clothes that didn't smell as fresh as him, his aftershave barely clinging onto the fibres.

"Would it be ok," he began, lips inches from her soft hair, "if I stayed the night? I just need to be away from things and with someone I trust." He lifted his right hand, mentally ordering it to be steady, but it still shook as he stroked her head once, brushing away his warm breath.

"I'd explain if I could, I promise."

Addie beamed to finally have Joh openly admit what she had surmised for the absolute longest. Marmy was equally pleased, nudging her head against his leg before tromping off to drink from her water bowl, leaving the humans to their own devices. Addie watched her disappear, snorting in amusement from the sight before refocusing on Johann. "Sorry bout that, but you've got to admit that was amusing," she replied, trying to bring a few moments of happiness in midst of seriousness. Watching Johann carefully, Addie's eyes widened when Johann took her into his hold. Well, partial, but still. It was a nice surprise, there were no doubts about that. It certainly didn't ease her worry, concern even, for Joh's well being completely. Whatever had happened, it was clear he was going  to be haunted for a grand while.

His strokes were shaky, nervous butif he was calmed by the action, Addie would let him do it forever. "Stay as long as you need, Joh. I'm here for  you. Y'can't get rid of us that easily, especially me. Once you grabbed my attention by meeting me, you ruined any chance of me not taking any notice."

Her eyes looked up to his face, lips forming an 'o' after grinning at him. It was that she began to whistle tne one song that her father and grandfather always used in rather distressing times. Hopefully, it'd get Johann to smile a teeny bit. If not, hopefully she'd find a way to fix the oopsie before the damage was too much done.

When she offered him to stay as long as he needed, he felt relieved. He knew she didn't really mean that, this was her space, and he was imposing with no notice.

When she looked up, their faces were very close what with his arm around her, bringing her to press against his ribs. As her lips came together, he wasn't sure what she was about to say, so was surprised to hear her whistle instead. It took a moment for him to recognise the tune.

"Ah." He spoke softly as he recognised it, and nodded. Holding a tune was not one of Johann's skills, so he was content to listen, gently holding Addie closer to him as she did, closing his tired eyes, trying to focus on the whistling than everything in his head.

As the melody waned, he opened his eyes, brought his free, slightly shaky hand to her face, fingertips just before her ear and kissed her tenderly on the forehead.
"Thank you." He spoke softly, "I'm glad I met you too, and I won't forget this."

The kiss was well met with a nod and simple smile.

"You'll always be more than welcome. You're family, even if your name sometimes reflects your mood, Joh," Addie reassured, smiling encouragingly to the wizard. "You'll always be cared for."

The doorbell soon rang, Marmy scamping immediately to the entrance, barking at the incomer while Addie could only grin at the sight. "Dinner; best get the pup before she goes and rips a limb off or something, yeah?" came the usual teasing tone from the witch. Leaning up, Addie kissed at one of Johann's cheeks, rubbing it in with her hand before moving away as the barking and another bell toll went off.

Grabbing the money, the witch left Johann standing there, optimistic she was a blessing in his life. Godric knew he needed it.

"Marm, back off!" The door opened as she snickered to the dog who now moved off to the side, head tilted at the incomer. "How much again?"

END