Chapter Text
When the fridge was opened Raine was expecting to see a glass container with their lunch inside, and that was some very tasty ribs they prepared the night before.
But they were gone, container and napkin folded fork included. Their ribs. The previous day, that they had spent marinating, broiling and preparing the sauces, had gone to waste.
The smaller covenhead sniffed inside the work fridge just in case those had been hidden by someone else’s lunch and when it was clear that they had no such luck he groaned and shook his head.
“They ain’t there, Whispers.” Eberwolf chimed, voice raspy and slightly frustrated. The bard had really sold those as incredibly delicious and now he couldn’t taste them.
Raine had offered him some ribs as a thanks for helping them find their way in the castle, as it seemed almost customary to give the new covenheads a hard time when they moved in.That consideration got him a rib, that was now gone thanks to whatever dipshit that had decided to start stealing lunches.
“Titan damn it.” They groaned while getting a protein bar from the banged up vending machine.One would think this kind of petty behavior would be unheard of at the emperor´s castle, wishful thinking.
The bar was mostly crumbs that ended up on their vest, but it helped calm down their hunger for the time being. Eberwolf ate next to them, some pork skins and deep fried random offal with diced tomatoes, onion and cilantro, generously drizzled on spicy sauce, eventually holding up his container, silently offering Raine some of his food with a growl.
“Thanks, Eber.” They answered, taking a particularly loaded skin, hissing as the sauce hit their tongue. “Oh that’s a strong one, habaneros and ma’ax chilies I bet” Eberwolf nodded proudly “I love spicy stuff, this is great.”
Both witches shared another protein bar whilst amicably speaking to one another, dusted off the remains and went to today’s meeting. Another one that clearly could’ve been a penstagram hext on the group chat, Raine feared.
Menial, droning chores regarding the recruiting of new members, as always. The forcibly assimilation of wild witches and forceful ‘disappearances’ of dissidents, in more hushed tones, as if trying to deny the growing number of such.
Raine kept themselves distracted by taking notes, of each point that the more senior covenheads discussed, of how lenient or how severe their sanctions were, even if they noticed how their tone quivered, pitched up or flared during arguments. Anything to forget how upset they were at having their lunch stolen, container included. Their ribs. Oh Titan they were so hungry. So engrossed they had gotten in their note taking that they didn’t notice that the Abomination Headwitch had taken word, asked them a question and then asked, quite irritated, if they were bored.
Raine took a sharp breathe and looked up at him, feeling their ears turn red.
“My apologies, Headwitch Deamonne.” They cleared their throat and continued. “The measurements taken by the Bard Coven against dissidents are, put simply. “ They clapped their hands twice, the sound clearly ringing throughout the room. “We bust their eardrums.” The bard could feel that crone’s smile from the back of the table, boring into their nape, as a slight shiver went down their back.“And if needed, we’d sever the tendons or limbs.” They continued, still keeping a blank face. “Just to make sure they can’t perform music ever again. Not as they used to that is, not ever again .”
“You’re surprisingly sadistic, Whispers” he noted slightly amused but still upset at their apparent lack of interest “Or are you playing tough because I caught you distracted?”
“I am suggesting such punishments because I am hungry, Headwitch Deamonne” the mint haired bard answered curtly, their stomach growling like an angry wolverine.
“Lunch break was like, two hours ago.” Said unimpressed the healer Covenhead, no doubt casting a disapproving look beneath her mask at the newest member. “Are you lacking in your time management skills?”
“That it was, Headwitch Cutburn, and I had but two protein bars to eat being that someone stole the food that I brought from home.” Raine replied curtly, hunger fighting back against their nerves as they never had raised their voice during a meeting, even less towards Cutburn. They were too hungry to be self conscious.
Eberwolf nodded confirming said story, his eyes suddenly opening wide as the chair next to him scuffed back
“I told you assholes that I wasn’t exaggerating!” Yowled Adrian Graye, head illusionist, while slamming his balled up fist on the table, tipping over some cups. “I WAS right! Someone IS stealing everyone’s food and they’ve moved to newer targets!”
“Calm down, Graye, who would be after your pretentious, overpriced coffee and some sandwiches.” Said Construction Covenhead, Mason, rubbing his nape as he removed his hard hat. Youngsters overreacted over the most menial shit nowadays.
Raine decided for once to bark back, way too upset now to care about being proper to the more senior covenheads.
“It wasn’t just some sandwiches, they were homemade charbroiled ribs and saffron infused yellow rice!”
Just for that statement to be drowned out by Adrian slamming now both palms against the table and yelling at Mason that ‘Scarbucks’ was worth each snail. “Not like a mere simpleton like you could get it!”
And that’s how you turn a mere meeting into a maelstrom of yelling and fists pounding the table. Record time this one team great job, hit the showers.
“Alright, that’s enough!” Darius looked at the beastly, shorter covenhead seated next to him, as he chuckled amused, witnessing the Plant Covenhead Terra restrain both Mason and Adrian and then knocking their heads together with glee
Hettie Cutburn meanwhile threatened to tip over the table as the screaming match made the entire elite group draw out their best spells, the conference room soon due to turn into an impromptu battlefield.
Again.
And this time the spark that ignited the powder keg the conference room always was had started over some stupid ribs.
“Eber, if you will.” Time to throw in the flashbang to calm their asses down.
Eberwolf nodded, smiled and stepped from his chair to stand on the table, unhinged his jaw and let out a bloodcurdling roar that easily dwarfed the cacophony of threats and screams in the room.
“Are all of you done now?!” Asked Darius with an eerily calm rage, a slight vein appearing at his temple, hands glowing. <<Go ahead, make my day and fucking try me.>>
His fellow covenheads sat back down, silent. Not even during a ‘play’ fight they would dare cross him.
“Only thing we managed to agree with now its that more than clear that you idiots cannot concentrate on an empty stomach. Or you just wish to cut to senseless violence at the slightest disagreement I’m looking at you, Snapdragon-”
“I ain’t taking anythin’ back, choke on it brat.”
“Same here, you old bitch.” Groaned Potions Headwitch Vitimir, but just after the healer Covenhead looked at him disapprovingly he opted to put out the blowtorch and miniature propane tank he brandished on his fists and stored them away on his backpack.Of course Vitimir was more than ready to take everyone out and himself, like the little paranoid freak he was.Adrian’s comments about him being an angry bird weren’t helping him in the slightest.
“Huh.” He sneered at how all of Vitimir’s anger had suddenly dissipated. “Good thing for us all that Hettie keeps you on a short, tight leash Bird Man.” He mocked the potionist, badly hiding his glee.
That was more than enough to make Vitimir take out his torch and start lighting it again. Just to then step on Adrian’s tail when he got distracted by the bluff. The illusionist yelped while Vitimir looked at him as if daring him to do something about it.
Darius pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers and dismissed all of them before the urge of hitting Graye with a chair, a constant one at that, returned stronger than ever. He had been warned plenty to not taunt the autist.
“Here, Whispers.” He said with a dry tone, handing them what seemed to be a glass container with rice,almonds, lentils and pulled chicken. “I know you get angry when you haven’t ate, so put down the bow and have a decent meal.” Darius shook his head in disappointment. “For fuck’s sake you bard would it kill you to act like a professional?”
After Raine finished eating they washed both the container and fork, a minor consideration for another minor consideration. They returned the borrowed utensils with a quiet “thanks” and decided, as they walked to their office, to start storing their food there like most folks did, on little thermal satchels, to have their train of thinking derailed as someone walked by and bumped on them.
The jailer, Wrath, with that unreadable expression thanks to his mask, whom, as he passed by them made sure to hit them with his shoulder, momentarily making them loose their footing.
“Watch it, pipsqueak” He groaned slightly annoyed, not even looking at them but rather at the hallway, as if they were that short to be unable to be seen.
“You watch it, Wrath.” They hissed back, defiant even if they had to look up to glare back at those shiny button eyes. Were they shiny because of grease today? Weird choice of polish for such a clean freak.
“It’s Warden Wrath for you, protocol was made to be followed, Whispers”
<<Oh so we’re being proper now, have at it you shiny muppet, two can play fencing with pettiness>>
“It’s Headwitch Whispers for you, jailer, protocol you see.” Raine’s hands were sweating, so they hid them behind their back, a teacher stance. The one used to lecture students about unsatisfactory performances and it had the demon’s blood boiling. Because in the end after all those years after school he was a mere Warden but Raine was a Covenhead, the only witch with a rank above was the Emperor himself. Both of them knew it quite well and with that reprimand Raine had not so subtly reminded him of so.
<<Fucking nerd thinks they’re so important now.>> It stung. A lot. Specially because it was true.
He turned around, trying to not let show how much the bard was able to drive him up the wall with minor comments. “Be careful when walking these hallways, Headwitch, you’re so lithe...One would say you need more meat on your bones.” Wrath walked away holding in laughter, like he knew something Raine didn’t.
Raine left not long after, not really in the mood to entertain fools after such a long, stressful day, if only the Titan had the same thought, because the next witch to stop them from reaching their office was Adrian Graye.
Who, quite stubbornly, grabbed their forearm to make them turn around because they didn’t react to how he was calling out for them. Was he feeling up their forearms now? <<No, focus Whispers, damn you.>>
“There you are!” He snapped his fingers to call for their attention, his furred tail violently flailing around. Oh he was in a bad mood. “I’m talking to you, Whispers!”
Raine rubbed their eyelids with their thumb and index finger whilst sighing, they really weren’t in the mood to entertain fools
“I’m listening to you, Graye, even if not looking at you in the eyes.” They explained.
“It certainly doesn’t seem like so! Hmmph!”
So they opted to stare into his navy brows, no way to tell the difference between that and keeping eye contact for Graye. And that seemed to sate him well enough.
“As I was saying, bard, I’ve had my Scarbucks coffee stolen from the fridge at least four different times.” He held up four gloved fingers, slowly balling them down as he kept explaining his woe. “First two I could somewhat blame on the cleaning staff throwing them away, as the cups had very little left inside; third I was suspicious something fishy was up y’see and now.” He shook his fist, dramatic catboy he was “This is getting disrespectful to boot”
“I’m not following you, Graye.”
He squeezed their forearm again, frustrated, as Raine drummed their fingers in a simple rhythm, making the taut ropes of sinewy muscles dance under Adrian’s fingers. If he weren’t that focused on that story he’d actually start fondling those forearms. Who would’ve thought the nerdy bard had such strength?It felt like he was gripping a wooden board rather than a forearm.
“The last time I had a cup filled with foam, which is the best part--” They said that at the same time, making Graye dim the sourness of his expression. “Said foam and white chocolate sprinkles, I even had a muffin, blueberry one.”
“Because it matches your eyes?” They asked, knowing that with the correct words Graye would leave them alone faster. It paid to be ‘a fucking sap’ as Eda said when they managed to fluster her with even the silliest phrases. Oh Eda.
“Yeah! you get it! The barista said the same, a real cute one at that.” Adrian recalled while tousling his locks.
<< Get back on track, why won’t you.>> They mentally groaned, nodding to the statement.
“Well as I was saying I got my coffee and pastry stored away in the work fridge, for later as I am very busy dealing with Coven matters.”
“Of course you always are, Headwitch.” Said Raine, wondering what would those be.
Something related to smoke and mirrors being that the other coven members never seemed to appreciate having their Headwitch around. Tragic. And if Adrian noticed how they were quite doubting his leadership abilities he didn’t notice, still recounting the tale.
“And by the time I returned to said fridge to retrieve my well deserved reward, poof!” He waved his hands as implying it went up in smoke “Gone they were, the cup and the blueberry muffin; I would’ve sorta understood if the cleaning staff threw away the cup between shifts as it seemed empty to the untrained eye, but the muffin?” He shook his head and looked at Raine, still pressing on their forearms “What do you think happened then, Whispers?”
“Someone stole and ate it?” They asked, just casually closing their fist as to make the muscle fibers of their forearm tense up and Adrian loosen his grip. He did, hesitantly for some reason.
At Raine’s answer they laughed, bitterly, even gave a couple claps.
<<Oh, you over dramatic twat.>>
“Lovely! That would have been just fine, wouldn’t it!?” His face turned sour, to then point at a random waste basket in the hallway. “I found it in the communal cafeteria garbage when I threw out some random candy wrappings, with the bite I had taken out of it only...they had to go the extra mile to waste food to antagonize me...And that, I cannot forgive, Whispers.”
So whoever the thief was also resorted to wasting food on purpose, that’s a new one.
“Well then, thanks for telling me this, Graye.” Said Raine before walking away, now knowing that they hadn’t been the only one affected. Worst possible way to bond with fellow covenheads in their humble opinion.
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When they arrived home they were fresh out of fucks to give, almost wishing for a final mishap to strike them down. Maybe merciful the Titan smited them with a house drowned in darkness and wonderful, beautiful silence.
Right, their ki- students. Students. They must have left after their study session turned meal.
Titan knew they needed more wholesome food in their diet than instant ramen, mashed potatoes and microwave junk. Even if it was well spiced, as the younger bards have tried to argue once.
Those were some good kids, they deserved that and more. <<Just legally adopt them already you old coot.>> Nagged the back of their mind, quickly shut down for it sounded too much like their co workers at the Bard Coven Headquarters.
Yes, they three were their most advanced students turned apprentices, yes they brought light and chaos to their house, which was bought as a family home and nowadays sparsely inhabited by a workaholic, heartbroken single bard. Almost a biological contradiction to have a songbird without a flock.
Maybe Raine liked the mess they brought,- <<Because it made the home seem lived in.>>-, Thought the bard as they navigated the dark hallway that led to the kitchen, occasionally clicking their tongue as a bat would to guide themselves, good practice to hone their ears. That it was until their boot kicked the worn hide-a-bed couch in the living room, causing a small chorus of startled snorts.
Raine turned on the small lamp of the coffee table to be greeted with the sight of their students sleeping all bundled together in said couch; a couple blankets shielding them from the poor heating.
<<Why did they left the windows open?>> Raine stepped closer to their ki-Students!; their eyelids twitching as if trying to stay asleep. Just like when they were younger, watching them grow up had been a blessing.
“I really hope that y’all are wearing clothes under those blankets.” They teased in a sing-song voice, fighting back a chuckle when Katya sat upright with a gasp, eyes wide open.
“Profe!” She laughed nervously and tried to act natural. “You’re home!”
“That I am, colmillitos.”
Next to her a drowsy, squinting Derwin rose up way slowly than usual, rubbing his eyes “G’night profe.” He greeted them rubbing his eyes.
Amber took advantage to steal the blankets and wrap herself further, pretending to still be asleep. Oh thank Titan they were all wearing clothes, the old, washed out band shirts and flannel pants Katya had scavenged during her teacher’s last spring cleaning. Derwin was clad in a white undershirt and shorts, pawing around the coffee table for his pince-nez, which rested in between half filled mugs of chamomile tea
“Why wouldn’t we have clothes on?” He asked groggily yet playi!ng dumb, he didn’t wanted to have that particular conversation with his rebel leader this night.
Amber opened one eye, to finally emerge from her improvised cocoon of blankets, rubbing the sleep from her eyelids.“ We washed all the dishes after dinner Profe, like you asked us to.” They always did so and it had made the flat the young bards shared lack any dirty dishes. Amber felt like making Raine proud somehow by keeping the task diligently, specially when they cooked.
“Any leftovers?” Raine almost regretted to have told them to go wild on said ribs, being that they were sure they would get to eat the ones stashed away. They peeked hopeful into the fridge.
“There’s the saffron rice and the tomato sauce left, Profe.”
<<Oh well, that’s better than nothing.>>
As soon as Raine had gotten out the carton of griffin eggs they gasped when they felt Derwin’s quick hands taking it away.
“Profe you’re exhausted, go take a shower and change, I’ll handle your meal.” The tall young man took the frying pan from the wall hook and sparked alive the stove burner. “How many sunny side ups do you want?”
He was such a lovely kid, ever since he learned how to cook an egg 20 different ways he insisted on making them for everyone when they stayed over and on helping his teacher turned mentor to cook.
“Two, add the rice and sauce.” They said with a smile as their k-Student! warmed up the rice and added oil to the pan. “Just don’t burn down the kitchen venadito.” Derwin adored that nickname, but only when Raine addressed him as such.
The bathroom was immaculate if those three all had taken a shower before sleeping, even the trash had been taken out of the bin. Three towels had been wrung and hung to dry and their shampoo bottle was uncapped, enough evidence alongside the sweet stench of Amber and Katya’s body spray and Derwin’s cologne.
A quick shower and a change into pajamas later Raine found themself sitting on a bar stool shoveling down the rice with two fried eggs on top, sauce slathered to the side. Their students had pulled stools as well, either finishing up their mugs of tea or asking them about their day.
The sheer familiarity of the scene had their old heart warming up at the fantasy of adopting them, of actually considering the trio their children,.
“Did you got to enjoy your ribs, Profe?” Asked Amber, placing a mug of tea for them as well to help them wash down their dinner.
“Thanks honey.” They took a long sip. “Not really, some jerk stole my food, and I was so hungry after that stunt that I talked back to Cutburn during a meeting.”
“Who?”
“Healing Covenhead, you know, the tall babe with the horns.” That comment earned Derwin a punch in the arm. “Hey! What gives, Katya?”
“Are you being for real? She could snap you in half, chilib!” But she swore she wasn’t the jealous in the slightest.
“And I would be perfectly fine afterwards, she’s a healer.” He retorted with a smirk, now getting hit over the head with a throw pillow by Amber.
“Cut it out already, all of you.” They grumbled after another sip of tea. It made their tongue tingle slightly, fire honey diluted with lime did wonders on their throat.“ She’s taken as far as I know, which about her is not much, venadito” Derwin nodded, and apologized quietly to Katya and Amber hoping Raine wouldn’t notice. They did, but didn’t say anything.
“So I talked back to her and the meeting almost turned into a battlefield, between covenheads that also had their food stolen once and the ones who either didn’t care or thought we were making a bigger deal out of something so trivial”
“That’s easier to say when you are not feeling hungry during a stupid fucking work meeting.” Groaned Katya, finally stopping to take swipes at Derwin to hug herself, promptly being enveloped by his slender arms without a word.
“Well, they were this close of knowing the sensation of a chair to the jaw, Darius stopped the quarrel in time.”
“What happened then, Profe? Did she wring your neck for disrespecting her?” Oh this kid had it bad for bigger ladies. Guess he had to get it from somewhere.
“Derwin you sound like a fucking creep, quit it already.” Katya kept swatting him like an upset kitten, while he kept pretending to be hurt by it.
“That’s enough, you both.” That was said with the teacher voice, and it made them stop and sit still. Yep, those were their kids alright.
“Was it really so bad that Darius needed to intervene ?” Asked Amber, trying to divert the situation.
“It went from slinging insults to one another to actual threats of violence, I’m pretty sure Vitimir almost tipped over the table to distract from the fact that he had a blowtorch and a propane tank in his bag”
“What a shit-show.”
All of them nodded in agreement. As they washed their used dishes the other Batts cleaned up the table, weirdly immaculate as it seemed, then noticed that the kitchen trash had been taken out as well.
Once they put their brain into it, the entire house had been scrubbed clean, ever present was the faint scent of air freshener in each room alongside with their body spray. In any other circumstance they would’ve suspected something, but their exhausted brain only came with the conclusion that it was their apology for eating all the ribs.
Amber took the dishes from their hands to store them in the cupboard “Profe you’re tired, just finish telling us about your day and go to sleep, you need it.” She was maturing after all, even if she was the brattiest of their chi-students. Students!
“Thank you chan zotz.” They muttered softly. “Well, after the meeting ended I bumped into Wrath on the hallway, and he went out of his way to hit me with his shoulder, even commented on how skinny I am to add insult to injury.” Years passed and some witches who peaked in high-school refused to grow up.
“Fucking asshole.” Growled Katya.
Raine dragged their feet towards their bedroom, their apprentices trailing behind like ducklings, like if they were reciting a bedtime story for them to sleep.
“He called you skinny as an insult?”
“Not properly, more like I needed more-”Raine opened wide their eyes, staring at their blurry pillow. “- I need more meat on my bones.”
He took them. He ate their ribs and rubbed it in. They slammed their head against the cold side of the pillow, groaning frustrated. Sleep now, revenge later.
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