And itwasbanter, the sort of casual family bickering that developed over decades.Or centuries.
“Why are you questioning me feeding you?Ma said she’s having a guest ’round and asked me to.That big handsome changeling friend of hers.I thought I may as well go stereotypical and do bagels.There’s also muffins, fruit, meat as, well,barghestand all.I hope you’re not greatly attached to breakfast made by magic today,” she added to Antonio.“Or if you are, be kind to my poor delicate heart and conjure something that looks like my spread.I’m very bruisable.”
“If I had something against real food, it’d’ve been a sorry lifetime,” Antonio answered, in an effort to protect Eithne’s ‘bruisable’ ego.There was no need to explain that hecouldn’tconjure food, not when Declan made sure that there was more than glamour around to eat.
“Eithne spends more time in your world than I do, on the off chance you wondered.And may have, perhaps, lost her mind.Mother doesn’t invite her–”
“Built, brooding changeling friends and their partners?”
“–business associatesto random breakfasts.”
“Still.Should I…” he tipped his head toward the stairs, letting the sentence trail into silence.
“Go upstairs?”Eithne asked.“Not unless you’ve something against changelings, and it’s not their fault they’re cursed.No more than it’s mine for having a piranha smile or Declan for his deathsight.Plus, we have bagels.”
She turned back to the kitchen then, leaving Declan frowning after her and Antonio still wavering at the foot of the stairs.
“They’re not cursed.Just prophesied,” Declan said absently.“There’s only two of them in Faerie and one of those only for the last few months.Many fae are less than hospitable.”
“Yeah, well, I know the feeling.Thinkhe’llmind a human around?”
“It’s your home.Not Aultyr’s.If anyone is upset by your presence, that’s their concern.”Declan curled his arm around Antonio’s waist, tightening it for a brief, comfortable squeeze.“Would it help to know changelings are raised in the human world?He’ll hardly be offended.”
His home.It wasn’t the first time Declan had said it, but Antonio didn’t know what to do with the idea.He couldn’t imagine having a claim anywhere in Faerie.The world didn’tlikehim.Everyone here was ridiculously powerful and could rearrange reality on a whim.And that reality rearranged itself whenever it felt the need.
(Antonio was never going to be able to look a lilac in the face again.Fuckinglube flowers.)
His home was the garage, a place he’d not been in days, sitting warded so that customers and his parole officer would forget why they were there if they visited.A home, and a life, he was letting go to shit while he made his way in Faerie.Again.
But what else was he supposed to do?He wouldn’t leave Declan.
Which meant breakfast with a maybe cursed changeling barghest named Aultyr and Declan’s terrifying mother and equally terrifying sister.He gritted his teeth against the race of his pulse, focusing on the weight of Declan’s hand.It would all be alright.It had to be.
“Unless that means ‘bad at whatever creepy magic barghests do,’ not really.”Now wasn’t the time to get into how powerless he was here and always would be.
“Unfortunately, changelings are the opposite of ‘bad at magic,’ creepy or otherwise.”
Offuckingcourse.Nevermind.He leaned to kiss Declan’s hair, breathing in the reassurance of smoke and ink.
“I’m fine.Your sister cooked.We should eat.”
“Aye.Eithne cooked, and we have a creepy magical barghest to eat with.”Declan tugged at Antonio's waist then let his hand drop, leading the way into the kitchen.“Likely a sulky cu-sith as well; they go everywhere together.I’ve only met them properly the once.Barghest are very … large.”
“Large.Got it.”He set his hand against Declan’s back, where it set the bond to purring.“Won’t arm wrestle the dude.”
“Probably for the best.Even if–”
Declan cut himself off as they entered the kitchen, whatever he was going to say lost, and it was easy to see why.Aisling wasstaringat him, hand over her mouth.
“Mother?”
“Your glamour,” she said, voice trembling.“I’ve missed seeing my lovely boy.That’s all.You’ve your father's eyes.”
Right.Okay.This was absolutely one of those family moments that Antonio shouldn’t be around for.Aisling’s eyes were wet, and Declan’s discomfort was a discordant ping in what had been the contented thrum of the bond.
But hewashere, and he didn’t want her reaction to chase Declan back into hiding.
“Any chance of coffee?”he asked, like a fumbling, ignorant human.
