Fabian had almost decided not to go to the funeral.
The formal clothes were thrown back inside his trunk along with what few possessions he had with him. Funerals were for the living, they were not for the dead –– the dead felt nothing, knew nothing of what’s going on outside the casket, whether the ones they left behind had wept for them or fought over the material things they’ve left behind. Besides, he was not sure he wanted to see the Black Family, not after everything they’ve done, not after he’s known where they stood in this war.
But they were still family. Bellatrix was still family. So he discarded his intentions to bail and put on his suit. The fabrics and cutting of the drab felt stiff on his body, restrictive.
He remembered the laughters they shared when they were younger. The woman had always been just a little wicked even when they were kids, her ideas of plays were just a bit crueler than what he’s used to. Like a fool, he had brushed it off. Like a hopeless fool, he had happily blinded himself of the little signs, the mean streaks she had often displayed as a little girl. The Blacks were still family after all, and he wanted to believe that when it came down to it, they would know when to stop their bullshit.
Current events had proved otherwise.
‘Bellatrix,’ even now, he still offered his smiles to Bellatrix Black. ‘Dreadful way to describe your mother’s funeral. It’s truly a shame that we’re only brought together again because of a funeral –– of all things. I’ve missed you. Had your mother been sick long?’ he was away most of the time, not here, not there. Not anywhere. When was the last time he had seen Bellatrix? He supposed it was around the same time he had seen his own sister.
ft. 𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄 , 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐗 .
once upon a time , some twenty years ago - bellatrix had considered the other a close companion - her brother where both her sisters and younger cousins failed . yet a badger could not remain in the grip of a snake , and with the years and distance her grip on fabian had withdrawn .
a grip which she would now , by all means possible , do her best to reclaim . ❛ quite foul wasn’t it ? but i expect nothing less from someone of her sort . ❜ even with her ever so pure name , iris could no more claim to be a pureblood than merlin could claim to be a ravenclaw .
❛ a true shame . ❜ she responded , words utterly unconvincing . ❛ long enough to help plan her own funeral . nagged to us about it until the end . prudent woman , wasn’t she ? ❜
always looking out for her own image more like .
druella black hadn’t wanted to chance it on bellatrix planning any part of the event . still , she was happy to be saved all the trouble of dealing with things herself . she suspected narcissa would be too busy in her grief to handle any more than she had .
❛ and i you , you’ve stayed away too long . you do plan to stay longer this time , don’t you ? ❜
