Chapter Text
Cersei pulls back from the embrace slightly to peer down at Angel.
‘Are you alright?’
Angel looks up and nods. He is almost taken aback, the normal bright azure eyes he has grown to find comfort in have turned a deep midnight color.
‘Yea, I’m just glad your back.’
Sensing movement behind Cersei, he looks to find a goat sinner in a sleek black suit with gold accents.
‘Heyya Kitty. Who’s that with ya?’
Without looking back Cersei sighs.
‘That would be Simon. Luci’s new secretary.’
Angel laughs as Cersei continues.
‘I’ll explain more in a moment but first where’s Niffty?’
Angel’s laughs subside.
‘I think she’s still in the lobby.’
Cersei nods.
‘Do you want to come with me to get her or would you rather wait in my room?’
In response Angel holds Cersei tighter, not wanting them out of his reach.
Cersei pulls away slowly and grabs his hand.
‘Alright let’s go. Come on Simon.’
Simon rolls his eye but follows.
As they walk away Alastor is still frozen as he silently watches them leave. He wanted to reach out, to speak with her but they look like a shell of themselves.
They look tired.
With a slight nod to himself he decided he would speak to them later.
The make their way into the lobby, stopping by the bar Cersei softly smiles at Husk who’s face lights up at the sight of his closest friend finally returning.
‘Really took your sweet time.’
‘I am sorry for my absence, Husker but I did bring you a new friend. Please keep an eye on him while I check on my kids.’
Husk nods and looks at the newcomer.
‘You gotta name?’
Simon huffs.
‘Simon, you a bartender or something?’
Husk huffs back.
‘Something like that.’
‘Can I get a gin martini, extra dry.’
Husk goes to make the drink as Cersei and Angel make their way to the corner where Niffty is still crouched with her hands over her ears.
Cersei kneels in front of the small woman and places her hands softly over Niffty’s. Slowly trying to pull her hands away from her ears, she says calmly.
‘Niff?’
Niffty shakes her head.
‘NO! No no no.’
‘Niffty, please open your eye.’
Convinced that what she’s hearing and feeling is her mind playing a cruel trick on her, Niffty shakes her head harder and starts to hyperventilate.
‘You’re not real!’
She screams.
Cersei pulls Niffty into her arms holding the fighting woman close not caring as she kicks and hits her. Just wanting to pull her from the brink and calm her down.
‘Niffty, I need you to breathe. I’m right here.’
Niffty freezes momentarily as she tries to breathe.
‘That’s it, breathe with me in… and out.’
After a while of breathing, she pulls her head back and opens her eye.
‘Mama?’
Cersei’s eyes soften as her child finally calms.
‘Yes, my little one.’
Niffty sniffles and throws her arms around Cersei’s neck.
‘You left. You didn’t... We couldn’t reach you.’
Cersei holds her child as she rocks back and forth.
‘I know, I am sorry.’
Cersei stands with Niffty still in her arms.
She looks at Angel as she holds out her hand for Angel.
Quietly they make their way to Cersei’s room.
Simon watches the whole ordeal, not really understanding his new keeper.
‘Just who the f*ck is that monster.’
He mumbles to himself.
‘Not a monster.’
Simon looks at the bartender in shock.
‘Have you met that thing?’
Husker squints at the goat sinner.
‘I have known Sei longer than you have existed and she has been around a lot longer than that. They are not a monster.’
Simon scuffs and rounds his eyes.
‘Yea, sure whatever you say old man.’
Back in Cersei’s room, the trio are sitting on the couch.
Angel breaks the comfortable silence.
‘Niff has been having a hard time since you went AWOL.’
Cersei nods, knowing the past month has not been easy for either of her kids.
‘I am sorry for leaving.’
‘Why did you stop answering?’
She looks down at the sleeping Niffty in her lap. Cersei became very aware of the fact she had not slept in weeks as she thinks,
I am so tired.
She sighs and looks up at Angel.
‘I didn’t want to face him after I made such a stupid mistake. So, I focused only on work. You can’t be a failure if you make yourself useful.’
Angel understands her thought process.
‘You’re not a failure.’
‘You only say that because I am useful.’
She bites back in a tone so unlike herself.
‘Kitty, that’s not heathy.’
‘I’m aware but old habits.’
Angel nods, not wanting to push her in fear of them leaving again, he changes the subject.
‘What have you been doing? I’m sure you have some stories.’
For the first time since she’s been back, she softly chuckles.
‘That I do.’
She began to catch Angel up of the past two months.
