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The trouble, Captain Endeavor Thursday reflected was not that he had any qualms when it came to celebrating his birthday – no, those had all been done away with when he had gotten his family back; no, the trouble was that once again, those who had magic were subject to certain rules while those without magic were not.
Birthdays were special. Everyone knew that, but at the same time, most people didn’t know what that meant. In a way, it was like Samhain, or Ostara, just on a much smaller scale – meaning the group of people who happened to have the same birthday – those who had magic were more vulnerable on these days, had to take a few precautions, but all in all, it was not too bad.
And, he had to admit that much, he could hardly be expected to feel down now, when he had his family back. As a matter of fact, most days since the miracle that he had quite frankly been despairing of had finally taken place had been good days, the knowledge that he had a home to go to (again) letting him get through even the darkest of moments.
So, he could hardly bring himself to remember the necessary precautions. In his defense, they had barely been necessary for years anyway, which had probably been a combination of him not really celebrating his birthday and therefore the date being not wildly known, and the fact that most knew better than to try to attack the Captain of the Guard who had the respect and trust of the Chairman of the Council.
Really, in many ways, it was not that different from any other day – mostly because it felt like he spent most of them celebrating now, something Joanie never stopped pointing out either, mostly because it always provided an excuse as to why they had to get lunch together or go to the cinema, much as he still disliked most movies, or why he had to show her magic tricks after dinner as if they were still children.
The point was he had not considered that it was almost his birthday or rather not in the way he usually, did, and so it was no surprise that eh should be ambushed as soon as he left the flat he still kept mostly for when it got late when eh was out on Guard business and didn’t want to wake his family up when he returned in the middle of the night. Joan had demanded a key and was making herself quite at home there as well, and of course it was the same with Sammy.
And really, such a small pixie attack was hardly anything to worry over. They were – not exactly vermin, no, of course not, eh knew to respect all magical creatures but then, they were not the most likeable of creatures either, and things like this happened on a regular basis, so he simply did a counter spell and watched them camper off, shaking his head a little at this kind of omen for the day but deciding that it would not stop him from enjoying it, as he had done nearly every day since he had returned home once and for all, after that case with Mnemosyne…
No, he would not think about that now.
So instead, he went to Guard Headquarters she did every morning, to check the nightly reports. Luckily there had been no emergencies the night team hadn’t been able to handle, and so he was countersigning reports when peter knocked on his door. “Hey, Dev.”
“Peter.”
“Just wanted to make sure everything’s fine.”
Having been so busy with everything else, he needed a moment to realize. “Oh, sure. I mean – pixie attack this morning, but I handled that.”
Peter nodded. “No other visitations? Nightmares? Shifts?”
He shook his head. “Shambles take care of that, and you know it”. Even if the only reason the flat was much more magic-proof these days than it had been was that Mum had insisted on it once she’d read about everything that could go wrong.
Peter looked ta him in a way that told him he remembered that detail very well, too, which he chose to ignore for now.
“Really, Peter, there’s nothing. You know I would tell you.”
His friend finally relaxed as he nodded.
Alright then, back to work.
Or what consisted of it, these days, especially since Sammy had come back too, because he and Joan would find excuses to drop into his office at all times; since they had also developed a knack for fulfilling their duties at the same time, however, he couldn’t bring himself to mind – no, that was a lie; he couldn’t bring himself to even try to mind.
“Hey, dev. What are you working on?”
“Report for the Chairman” he replied evenly because he knew better than to try and play coy, especially because even if it had been a trusted secret, they would have managed to get it out of him eventually.
Joan pursed her lisp ever so slightly, and Sam frowned but he was too used to this kind of reaction to pay attention so he got up. They would learn there was no way around the Chairman soon enough. He was about to ask what was going on when he glanced at the clock. “I forgot the time.”
Joan shot him a look that she had clearly inherited from Mum. “Which is why we’re here to pick you up for lunch, so you don’t forget.”
It was really for the best. He looked into Peter’s office of course but he wasn’t there – well, nothing to be worried about, his second-in-command knew what he was doing and he had already noticed anyway that the entire Guard seemed bent on giving him as much time with his family as he could – and they and their way to the pub.
“Devy, what’s wrong?” Sam asked promptly because this was his younger brother they were talking about.
“Nothing” he said, then, before Joan could start, he added, “It’s my birthday soon, and magic tends to act up around important dates, that’s all.”
”So what can we expect?” his sister asked immediately.
“Expect…” he shrugged. “Magic isn’t an exact science. Could be all or nothing.”
“So the usual when it comes to us” she said simply, grinning at him, and he couldn’t resist the urge to grin back.
George gave them his usual enthusiastic wave when they entered the Dragon’s Lair, and he greeted him accordingly.
It wasn’t long before they were approached by some of the regulars, which really was not unusual – since they had grown sued to Joan, Sam or both tagging along when he had his lunch, things had returned to his normal, meaning that he was usually approached during lunch hour by creature and magic users who didn’t feel comfortable coming to the Guard directly.
Since it was close to his birthday, however, there were some other reasons he should be greeted today. He didn’t even know when or how the date had made its way through their small community; he would have suspected Peter, only that he knew he would never do something like this, and eh certainly couldn’t imagine that any of his other officers would gossip about them like that.
Still, here they were.
Mr. Raffles was the first, coming over just a few minuets after they had sat down, and gallantly kissing Joan’s hand like the gentleman he was (to her credit, she managed not to laugh) before bowing and wishing him “the best on this most illustrious day”.
He nodded to show his thanks, well knowing that he would not like him to do more; and Joan and Sam, following his lead, did likewise.
“I really should have expected that” he said apologetically when they were alone again. “I didn’t –
“Captain!”
He turned his head to find a member of the Fae strolling towards them and turned back to his siblings shrugging.
They simply grinned at him.
All in all, he should not have been surprised how many people approached him, and yet he sort of was. It was almost as if they’d held themselves back until now, but these days…
“Say” Sam whispered once the mavka who had just greeted him was out of earshot, “Is it true about their back?”
He nodded.
“And you know that –“ Joan began.
“That is a rather long story, and one I would rather tell in private.” After all, it had bene quite the case.
Joan raised an eyebrow, but she would have to be patient – he would not gossip openly about magical creatures it just didn’t seem right considering his status.
She nodded and reached out to squeeze his forearm.
One of the upsides of eating their lunch in the Dragon’s Lair was that nothing could happen, even though it was close to his birthday, with so many magical creatures running around; and so he relaxed and enjoyed his siblings’ bickering, as he had since they had learned to talk.
Soon enough, they were on their way back. It was Joan who then asked.
“just so we know, Devy, we don’t have to take any precautions, do we?”
He shook his head. “You would have magic in order to be – ”
“I meant when it came to you!” she exclaimed, and he only then realized his mistake.
I –“ he cleared his throat. “No, really, Joanie, I’m fine. We learn how to deal with this kind of thing early on. You know we do.”
She nodded, placated, and Sam boxed his side. “Say, how many people do usually wish you a happy birthday? That was an entire parade in the pub!”
“It was not” he said because it hadn’t been but then added, “A few. Also tends to depend on the sort of cases I had beforehand…”
That seemed to placate them, and they returned to headquarters.
When eh entered his office eh soon realized that the traditional missives that one would sent to someone high up in their society had begun to arrive. Two of his officers were currently busy organizing the mail.
“Captain”.
“I see.” He shook his head. “And here I keep thinking they might forget one of these years..”
“Not really a chance of that” peter, entering the office after him, said. “I checked just to make sure but no malignant spells or curses.”
“thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. There wasn’t – “
“No, don’t worry and even if there had bene, there were so many magic users around I doubt anything could have happened.”
Peter raised an eyebrow, as usual when he got flippant about things like that, but Dev couldn’t bring himself to care, not today, and most likely not for quite a while to come.
In the end, it happened when he was alone – walking to the lab, in fact, to check up on a case they had been working on since last week.
He was studying a file when suddenly, a gush of warm wind all but blew him off his feet, followed by the scent of flowers and laughter.
He shook his head. So much or Robin Goodfellow having learned his lesson.
Still, he knew birthday wishes when eh got them, so he took a moment to bow and say thanks before he continued on his way.
And perhaps said a quick spell so that the scent would linger for a while
After all, considering the circumstances he decided he was allowed to have a little fun.