WHERE: Eagan and Mo's House
WHO: Eagan (@endlessreruns)
Mo had tossed his bag to the side with a sigh, "Fuck me you know much of that cream we went through at work. It was-" cutting themselves off, their brow furrowed at Eagan laying on the couch and the look on Knightley's face. When Knightley excused himself, giving Eagan a squeeze on the shoulder and one to Mo on his way out, their confusion only grew. Moving to plop down next to the couch they brushed their hand through Eagan's hair, "What's up, you look like you ran a marathon."
WHERE: Outside the Retirement Home
WHO: Eagan (@endlessreruns)
Knightley had his hands shoved into his jacket pocket to keep them warm, when he spotted Eagan heading his way. Walking up to her he smiled, "Hey there, if you're looking for Mo, you just missed him. Lui came and literally carried him off, said something about a family meeting." Shaking his head he gave them the usual once over he'd gotten in the habit of doing. "How are you feeling, the cold isn't making the pain worse is it?"
WHERE: Eagan and Mo's House
WHO: Eagan ( @endlessreruns)
Mo grunted as he set Eagan down on the couch, setting up a couple pillows under their bag leg. He'd never been more grateful for his job, considering he'd carried people at work all the time, it hadn't been much of difference to do the same for her. "Aight, you actually hungry? This stuff is suppose to go down better with food, sandwich is on the table but no chips. Knightley said you gotta eat at least something that's natural color, like carrots."
WHERE: Middle of an alley
WHO: Eagan (@endlessreruns)
Mo had been tense glaring as Howl stalked off, fist tightening and jaw clenched. He didn't give a shit what it was but he was talking to his siblings later. Their gaze softened turning back to Eagan and helping her up, "Hey easy," he was about to ask about her crutch before seeing the wood. Almost chasing down Howl before forcing himself to focus, "You good to lean on me? We need to get you cleaned up."
Knightley was shaking his shirt from his chest, hating how it clung to him in the heat. "You know there's not much point of me setting a reminder to meet up with you, when you're not even gonna be at the meet up spot." Tossing her a water bottle he plopped down next to them on the grass taking a sip of his own. "If I knew you were gonna dress like that, I would have gotten you some rum."
WHO: Eagan (@endlessreruns) and Knightley
SUMMARY: Knightley breaks the news to Eagan about Howl and they react as well as can be expected.
TW: Violence, panic attacks, child abandonment mention
Knightley had rolled his sleeves off, having gotten most of the water off his arms but he still had a few red splotches scattered on them. He'd debated stopping by the clinic to get some ointment from Zarina, but the pain was manageable and he needed to talk to Eagan. Knocking on her door he ran a hand through his hair, "Hello, the pain medication still working well?" he asked when she opened the door.
"oh yeah it's-" Eagan paused as she caught a look at the red splotches "did you need some of that stuff Z made for that?" she asked as she stepped aside for him to come in. There was plenty to spare.
Knightley had been watching the way Eagan move, about to ask how they were feeling before pausing. "I wouldn't say no if you still had some," he said following them in. "I did need to speak to you, if you have a minute. I had a…chat with Howl today."
"oh that fuck? What about?" Eagan asked curiously as she moved to grab the jar from where they'd been storing it. "Here" she said upon her return and holding it out for him to take. There was still some, but it was clear plenty had been used already.
Knightley took the jar with a grateful nod, using barely enough to cover the marks mostly to keep others from worrying. He was looking at his arms as he spoke, "You. I asked what happened to his face and he had a whole rant against you," he said glancing up at her. "And your mother," he added, "Even called you a quote little bitch wolf." There's not many but looking at Eagan he can see the similarities gauging their reaction.
Eagan didn't care much that Howl had ranted about her. She didn't care much when anyone did, but then Knightley mentioned he'd said something about their mother again and her fingers curled into her palms creating a fist and a half down at her sides. The next bit of information caught her by surprise though. "Where would he get that from?"
While he hadn't felt particularly guilty for what he'd done, Knightley felt more satisfied based on Eagan's reaction. By now he might as well be direct with it, for both their sakes. "From being there when you were born considering he's your father…well biologically that is," he said, "He confirmed it when I realized and confronted him."
"No" Eagan shook her head. "I know who my biological or whatever dad is and he's dead. Has been for over twenty years"
Knightley briefly grimaces, "He said he signed his rights away," he said keeping voice even, "That he was called about you twice." He'd thought it over on the way, once for Eagan's parents and another for their grandparents more than likely.
"no" Eagan shook her head once again. "No, no, no. That's - " a hand moved to push up through her hair. "no"
Ah there's the guilt, Knightley thinks idly. "You said it felt like he knew you..," trailing off, debating what to say for a moment, "Look biology aside, this just explains his comments, but it doesn't mean he has any claim over you or that you have to acknowledge him at all."
Eagan shook her head again, this time not saying anything as she began pacing some about the room. It was followed by a sudden scream, an almost guttural "Fuuuuuuuuuuuck" as her fist connected with the closest wall. Again and again and again.
If he was anyone else, Knightley might have jumped when she screamed. The grimace is back when he notes which hand they're using to punch. Moving over to them, he knows he should grab her but she doesn't like touch 90% percent of the time. Instead putting his own hand on the wall to catch their fist, wincing more from the feel of liquid in his hand, knows they've likely started bleeding. "Eagan…," he wants to ask them to talk but that's unhelpful so instead opts to say they only thing he can offer right now, "I shoved him down a flight of stairs."
Eagan clenched her jaw as a punch landed, hitting against flesh instead of the solidness of the wall. "is he dead?" The words come out before she can even register them
Knightley bit back a sigh and slowly shook his head. "No he's not…I wouldn't have done that without your knowledge," he admits, "Do you want him to be?"
"I don't know." Eagan wasn't sure what she wanted or even what she was feeling. Not really. It was all just so much at once. "what did I do?" they asked running her hand through her hair again, getting some blood in the brunette strands. "what did - why didn't - why didn't he wan-" Eagan had been shaking her head as she spoke but didn't finish.
"Little Wolf," Knightley said softly, partly to get their focus back and partly because he needs to have that back. The brief flash of anger is there over Howl trying to have even that small bit of control over Eagan. "From what you've told me, you couldn't have been more than a baby. You didn't do anything, he's the one who left," his tone firm as he looks at her, "He's the one who missed out."
The use of the nickname brings her attention back to Knightley. "Then why did he fucking care enough to do this?" Eagan asked, gesturing to her face. It's not the only physical evidence of whatever Howl had against her, but it is the most visible.
"I don't know, he seemed impulsive and petty," Knightley replied. Looking at her face has his hands twitch at his sides, slowly curling into fists. "Most things we'd have to ask him, which if that's what you want we can arrange. I'm just not sure you'll like any answer he gives."
Impulsive and petty. Both traits Eagan had inherited to varying degrees. The man owed her answers. Not just for her but for her mom, but at the same time Eagan didn't want to see this man again if they could help it. For a moment nothing was said again, as she went back to pacing frustratingly, and eventually grabbed hold of an empty glass that hadn't made its way back to the kitchen and chucking it at the wall opposite of Knightley, watching as it smashed and shattered against the wall.
Knightley stayed silent watching them pace back and forth through the kitchen and living room. He'd moved to grab a first aid kit from a kitchen cabinet, glancing back when the glass hit the wall. His eyes flickered down to the glass on the floor before back at Eagan. Going back to the kitchen he came back out and held out another glass towards her.
Eagan didn't even hesitate to take the second glass and repeat the motion. Throwing it at the same wall, this time letting out another frustrated cry. One to rival the one that had been released before she'd begun punching the wall.
There was a small part of Knightley that almost wishes he hadn't told them. Wondering if Eagan would have been better off living in ignorance. "Do you want Mo here tonight or should I have him over?" he questioned keeping his tone even, one of them needed to stay level headed.
"yes. No. Ye- I don't - " Eagan shook her head, her chest starting to move up and down in a rapid manner as she felt her chest start to tighten and her hand moved up to grab at her shirt. "I can- I can't-" Eagan inhaled a sharp, struggled breath.
As much as he wasn't sure, Knightley moved closer, putting a hand lightly on her arm. "Take a breath and hold it," he said making his own breathing more obvious, "You're not alone with this, I'm only leaving if you ask me to."
Eagan did as Knightley said, taking a deep breath and then holding it there. Repeating the way the other was breathing. "I'll - I'll be fine" she said slowly between breaths. "You don't. have to stay"
"I might not have to," Knightley replied still keeping his breathing obvious. "But I want to," he said earnestly, letting out a small sigh he moved his hand to the back of Eagan's neck. Brushing his thumb along their hair, "Like I said, not leaving you alone little wolf. You're still one of my priorities."
"I shouldn't be this way, right?" Eagan asked looking at Knightley "about this. About him. I shouldn't care. He didnt. Doesnt. Why should I?"
Knightley was still brushing their hair, waiting for them to pull back if they needed to. "Because as much as we want want to act indifferent, we all want approval," he said, hesitating before giving a small shrug. "You're aware of what my uncle tried to do…I shouldn't miss him, but there are days where I do…You can care and hate him at the same time."
Eagan swallowed. Not wanting to think that she wanted his approval. Before now she hadn't even known that the man they thought was their biological father wasn't. Before the day at the art festival hadn't known Howl even existed. "Do I look like him?" She asked after a moment
For a brief second Knightley thought about how much Jaiden had asked the same thing. Tilting his head and looking at her, he slowly shook his head. "If you want my honest opinion, you have a similar jawline and nose shape, but overall I'd say no. I never met her but I assume you take more after your mother, which I'm grateful for."
"can you fix those? I know if you break your nose it doesn't always look the same after."
Knightley blinked before giving their neck a squeeze. "To be fair you might've broken his, and if you didn't I have no qualms over changing his nose shape over yours."
"Really?" Eagan asked, there's a slight laugh in her voice as she did. "Good he deserves it."
A grin tugged at Knightley's lips and he dropped his hand off them, shaking his head with an amused huff. "He was also complaining about it," he said, "Not sure the fall down the stairs was any help with that."
She smiled as another slight laugh came out. Eagan took in a deep breath and then released "sorry about all this. For being like this" she apologized
Knightley tilted his head again brow furrowing, his eyes flickered to the kitchen then back to them. "As much as I enjoy our talks of microwaves and babies, I do also just enjoy your company," letting out his own slow breath, "I don't like seeing you upset or hurt, if I'm able to do anything to help when that happens, I want to."
"You don't have to, but can you stay til Mo gets back?" Eagan asked after a moment. Her eyes then went to the floor where the broken glass was "I should probably clean that up too, huh?"
"I can do that," Knightley agreed before also glancing at the glass. "How about you sit for a second, just let me get it this time, alright?"
"oh umm yeah okay" Eagan nodded "there's a broom and pan in the food closet in the kitchen"
Knightley managed to keep the surprise off his face when they agreed, letting them sit before going about cleaning the glass. "Sure you'll be fine with just Mo tonight?"
"yeah I'll be fine" Eagan nodded "you really don't need to worry about me so much, Knightley"
Knightley was dusting off their hands and tilted his head at them. "To be honest I'm not use to worrying about someone the way I do about you, if I'm ever being overbearing about it just let me know."
Eagan gave a nod to let him know that she understood and that she would let him know if and when that occurred. "If you're hungry there's some stuff in the kitchen that you can just eat without having to cook or whatever"
Knightley gave his own nod and even if they hadn't asked for anything as well, still made food for them both to eat while they waited for Mo to come home after work.
WHERE: Eagan and Mo's House
WHO: Eagan (@endlessreruns)
Mo slid the eyepatch back onto his face before making sure he had his water gun along with an extra flask. Clipping both to his belt when he heard a familiar pair of steps come back down the stairs. "Got plenty of booze for today, and I carved a pumpkin for the contest with Knightley already so don't gotta worry about being drunk with knives. You all mine today or you gonna try pick up work?" he asked as he walked out of the kitchen towards the bottom of the stairs.
WHERE: Eagan and Mo's House
WHO: Eagan (@endlessreruns)
Mo practically dragged his feet as he walked into the house, he'd tossed his shirt back at the station not up for trying to wash it. Just in his jacket and jeans, spotting Eagan on the couch they walked over, slumping on the ground and putting their head in her lap. "Tell me you did something fun today," he mumbled.
