John was leaving.
Ariana knew this, and a quiet sadness had settled over the penthouse. Little Bear, sensing its master's low mood, had spent the entire day sitting perfectly still on a table, looking for all the world like a normal, inanimate doll.
Next to it sat Moss, its body a camera-headed replica of the bear, the red dot in its lens-eye flashing rhythmically.
Finally, Moss spoke, its synthesized voice filled with a newfound understanding. "Wonderful."
At the word, Little Bear stirred. It turned its head, its unblinking button eyes staring at the robotic doppelgänger. It seemed to be contemplating whether to dismantle this troublesome camera once and for all.
"Are you going back… to that place?" Ariana's voice was soft, laced with a sadness she couldn't hide. In front of John, she was always a little girl. Even now, grown and worldly, that hadn't changed. A girl spoiled by her parents and her older brother was naturally reluctant to see him return to a world of duty and danger.
"So you won't be visiting again?"
Hearing the tremor in her voice, John reached out and gently ruffled her soft blonde hair. He chuckled, shaking his head. "No. I'm returning to our home."
Home? Not the sprawling penthouse in New York. Their real home. The house on Privet Drive, a place far smaller, yet infinitely more significant.
Ariana's head snapped up, her blue eyes wide with surprise. "You're not going back there?"
"Let's just let that place rest for a while," John said, holding a finger to his lips. "I have the right to be selfish, too, don't I?"
The gloom that had clouded Ariana's face vanished, replaced by a radiant smile as she happily scooped Little Bear into her arms. Moss shuffled closer, only to be 'accidentally' kicked away by Little Bear's furry foot. The unspoken rule in the household was clear: no one could compete for its master's love, not even something that had been born from its own backside.
John had no plans to fly. The holiday was over. It was time to return to his usual mode of travel.
"Brother, can I come see you?" Ariana asked, leaning in. She wasn't a small girl, but in front of John, she couldn't help but act spoiled.
"That's our home, Ariana," John laughed. "You can come back anytime."
Ariana was already considering quitting her freelance gig with the Daily Bugle. But her parents had only come to New York to build a life because of her; it felt a bit selfish to go home first. She was deeply conflicted.
Seeing her trouble, John handed her the Practical Magic Picture Book.
"Do you remember how I taught you to use it?" he smiled mysteriously. "Put your hand on it and think about the place you want to go."
With this book, Ariana could easily sidestep any troubles. She could go see her brother anytime she wished.
John then took a small box from his pocket and handed it to her solemnly.
"I think now might be the best time to give this to you," he said, rubbing his nose with a slightly awkward smile. "Actually, this is your Christmas present."
Ariana hadn't been home for Christmas, so John's gift had gone undelivered. She took it curiously. No matter what her brother gave her, she knew she would love it.
John's final goodbyes were just for her.
"No matter where you are, I will protect you, Ariana."
He smiled and took a step back. Behind him, the fireplace roared to life, casting the room in the eerie, shifting light of blue flames. Two owls shot out from the fire, circling the spacious living room. Their feathers trailed sparks of blue flame, leaving rings of fire that hung in the air for a moment before vanishing.
From within the fireplace, a dog began to bark frantically.
"It's Tom!" Ariana leaned closer, the flickering light dancing on her cheek. It was John's pet Beagle.
John glanced at Basil, the snowy owl now perched on his shoulder. He didn't need to think to know who was responsible for the dog's predicament. Basil simply turned his head away, pretending to see nothing.
The sudden burst of fire made Ariana stumble back, her bottom landing on something soft that cushioned her fall. She looked down to see Little Bear, dutifully supporting its master with its small body.
"Almost forgot." Before stepping into the flames, John remembered something. He reached out, palm facing down. "Casket of Ancient Winters."
Deep in the lab, the Casket shook and was instantly pulled upwards, vanishing through the ceiling and leaving a neat, square hole in its wake. John snapped his fingers, and the floor repaired itself.
"Say hello to Mom and Dad for me, if you see them."
He had solved all the immediate troubles. The Ten Rings, Kingpin, Killian—they were all dealt with. S.H.I.E.L.D. was deterred from acting rashly, and blowing up a piece of Hell had ensured the Lord of that dimension wouldn't be returning anytime soon. All threats to his family were gone. John stepped into the fireplace.
The blue flames engulfed him.
After he left, the flames returned to their normal, warm color before gradually extinguishing. Ariana stayed where she was, holding the gift box, lost in thought.
Click.
The sound of the front door's lock turning startled her. "Did they change the lock?" she wondered aloud.
The door swung open, accompanied by the sound of a man muttering to himself. The red light in Moss's camera-eye grew brighter as it entered a state of combat readiness. Little Bear simply slapped the camera head, crossed its arms, and watched as Ariana ran barefoot across the floor.
The door was now fully open. Moss's internal scanner had already swept over the two people entering.
Ariana threw herself into the woman's arms. "Mom."
The woman's eyes lit up as she saw her daughter. Mother and daughter embraced, completely ignoring the man standing beside them.
They were Ariana's parents. John's parents. Watson and Eleanor Wick, two of the core figures in all the recent turmoil.
Watson Wick, the High Table leader known as the Underground President, stood with his arms open, frozen in place after his daughter had walked right past him. He held the posture for so long that Little Bear, unable to stand it, waddled over and hugged his leg.
Watson just wanted to be alone.
"Ariana, my daughter," Eleanor said, her face so well-maintained she looked more like Ariana's older sister. She touched her daughter's face with heartache. "Look, you've gotten tanned."
Ariana glanced at her own skin, which was whiter than snow.
"What is this thing?" Watson poked Moss, which had reverted to its simple camera form. Did they install surveillance at home?
"That's Moss," Ariana said, reluctantly leaving her mother's embrace. "Brother asked it to stay."
"John?" A smile lit up Watson's face. "Where is he?"
"He went back."
Watson froze. For some reason, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Eleanor was staring at him with a murderous gaze, leaving him no room to defend himself.
"Came back first, didn't even wait for us," Watson mumbled.
Ariana blinked. "Mom, Dad, where did you go?"
Having been gone for two years, Watson quickly pulled his daughter aside before he could be sanctioned by his wife, and told her where they had been.
It was quite the coincidence. For the past two years, they had been in… Britain.
...
Britain. Number Four, Privet Drive.
When John stepped out of the fireplace, the first thing he saw was Tom, the beagle, tied to the owl perch. As soon as Luo Le returned, he flew to the perch and watched the struggling dog with a mocking look. The black owl, Riddle, landed next to them, leisurely preening his feathers.
Returning here, John's face showed a contented expression as he took a deep breath. The house was still so warm. He could even smell the black tea his mother used to brew.
Wait.
The smell of black tea?
John's gaze slowly swept over the three little creatures in the house. One dog, two owls. None of them seemed likely to be brewing tea.
He fell silent.
Magic had been used on this house. Only members of the Wick family could enter; outsiders who forced their way in would be attacked by the house itself. He seemed to have suddenly discovered a blind spot.
Knock, knock.
The sound of knocking echoed through the quiet house.
Through the window, John saw a tall figure standing outside the door. What a coincidence! Every time he came back, someone showed up at the door. Last time it was Natasha.
This time it was…
John opened the door and stepped out, coming face-to-face with someone familiar, yet strangely different.
Dudley Dursley.
His neighbor.
And a boxer.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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