Percy's eyes opened, as he notices that the ceiling was familiar.
He layed there for a moment. His aching rib and tail bone had now become just a minor inconvenience of soreness .
He got up slowly and made his way downstairs.
But a knock came before he reached the kitchen.
"Is it Mrs Callyst?"
He went and opened the door.
Beatrix stood on the step. She smiled a bit awkward.
"Morning." She greeted , her hand waving softly.
"Morning," Percy replied.
He looked at her for a moment, then stepped aside and gestured her to come in .
She obliged and took the offer .
stopping just inside the entrance , she looked around slowly. Her eyes moved across the furniture, the walls, the narrow shelf by the door where Percy kept his coat and hat.
"It's still all the same," she said ,her voice low .
"You were the one who arranged everything," Percy said, moving toward the kitchen. "I didn't bother changing anything after. I'm not good with that sort of thing."
Beatrix smiled. But Percy saw a faint sadness within.
He decided not to mention it.
They sat at the kitchen table as Percy reached for the kettle.
"I'll make it," Beatrix said, already standing.
Percy sat back without arguing.
He watched her move around the kitchen with ease , since everything was kept the way it was before and after she left.
After a moment he asked.
"What brings you here?"
"Orphanage business," she said, keeping her eyes on the kettle. "Sister Mara gave me a task before I left. Something I haven't been able to sort out on my own."
"Is that why you came to Beningham Styles yesterday?"
"Yes." She set the kettle down and turned slightly. "I was going to talk to you there. Then I heard the gunshot."
Percy frowned. "And you came in."
"I thought you might be in danger."
Percy looked at her. "And if I was. What were you going to do about it."
Beatrix turned back to the kettle. Her ears had gone slightly pink.
"That's not the point," she said.
Percy let it go.
The kitchen was quiet for a stretch. Steam began to rise.
After a moment she spoke again.
"I still don't have a lover."
"Oh," Percy said.
He didn't ask anything further. Just looked at her back .
"What does she mean by that ? "
There was an awkward silence between them .
"Dana," she said.
"Dana?"
"Yes." She looked up. "That's why I'm here. Regarding Dana."
Percy sat with the name for a moment. Dana was a small kid from the orphanage . When he was still in the orphanage, she was permanently attached to either his sleeve or Beatrix's, always turning up where she wasn't expected.
"What about her?"
"She reached coming of age a few days ago."
Percy was quiet. He remembered her being young when he left.
He let out a slow breath. "So the time has come."
Beatrix nodded. In the orphanage the rule was simple. Turning Fifteen years of age meant going out the orphanage. Two months at most after that and then you were on your own.
"She needs a place to stay," he said.
Beatrix nodded again. "I thought you might help. I know your budget has been difficult lately so I won't ask you to "
"I'll do it."
Beatrix blinked. "Really?"
"Yes."
"But you've been struggling "
Percy waved a hand.
"She can earn her keep. By doing house chores or something since im always busy . she would be a great hand ."
Beatrix stared at him for a moment. Then she laughed, short and genuine.
"You used to make her clean your room back then too."
Percy shrugged. "She was good at it."
Soon she brought the tea and the set the cup for him . As a thought occured to him.
"She hasn't mentioned anything about the gun."
He looked at her across the table.
"She's waiting for me to bring it up myself if I want to. That's so like her. She hasn't changed at all."
Percy picked his cup up and brought it close. And took a sniff , the smell was delicious . It was the same leaves he always kept, he knew that much, but it smelled better when she made it .
He took a sip. Beatrix picked up her own cup but didn't drink yet. She glanced at him over the rim.
Percy set his down with a satisfied exhale.
"You really do make the best tea," he said. "I missed this."
Beatrix looked at her cup a faint smile on her lips . Then she spoke.
"By the way, what did the police "
She stopped mid sentence and took an immediate sip.
Percy watched her. She had started the sentence without thinking and walked straight into it and pulled back the only way she could.
He almost smiled.
"You're curious," he said. "About the gun. And what happened at the station."
Her gaze dropped to the table. She nodded once, small.
Percy took another sip. Then he reached into his coat and set the badge on the table between them.
Beatrix looked up.
"I recently joined the Syndicate," he said.
She stared at him. Then her eyes moved to the badge. Percy nodded and she picked it up carefully and rather quick too , turning it over once. She set it back down as quickly as she picked it up.
"How?" The confusion was plain on her face. But percy noticed Something that looked closer to worry.
"I got recruited. By someone I know. I can't go into the details."
She opened her mouth. Closed it again.
"Congratulations, Percy," she said.
"Thank you."
She nodded slowly, eyes still on the badge. "And the police let you go because you are—"
"Yes."
He gave her a brief version of the interrogation room. The officer. The badge on the table. The silence that followed. She listened without interrupting, her brows drawn slightly together.
When he finished she was quiet for a moment.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She shook her head quickly. "Yes. I'm fine. It's nothing."
She stood.
"I should go. I have things to sort out." She picked up her coat from the back of the chair. "Thank you for having me."
Percy stood too. "You're always welcome, Beatrix."
"I'll let the orphanage know about Dana. She'll be delighted." And after a small pause she added . "Living with her big brother."
Percy chuckled quietly.
"She really did call me that."
Beatrix said her farewell and left. The door clicked shut behind her.
Percy sat back down slowly and looked at the table. His cup was still nearly finished . Hers was half full.
He took her cup and poured it into his .
"Would be a waste "