Unknown L (Book 1)

~~~ The Keeper ~~~

L's eyes widened, she wasn't going to keep it from them but it still felt strange to be speaking with Mrs Worcester about such things. She also had something she really needed to do, something Mrs Worcester had just brought to the forefront and it wouldn't be ignored.

"It's possible but it will have to be experimented with when I'm better. Erm... where's Robbie?" L asked hesitantly and Mrs Worcester's face fell slightly.

"He's upstairs choosing his room and unpacking, he hasn't spoken since he transformed back. You might want to wait until you're up to it before going to him." She suggested but L knew it couldn't wait any longer.

"No, I need to go see him now," L responded, peering up at the second floor of the house.

Bryce tilted his head to her, "Do you need any help?"

L took a deep breath and tested her body, it wasn't strong enough for what she wanted and she nodded.

"Yes, but it's an unusual request."

Bryce arched an eyebrow and it only moved further when she explained what she needed him to do.

"You were unusual long before you met us," Bryce stated with a smirk as he helped her over to the wall.

Mrs Worcester watched with a knowing expression. It was a little different to how L used to do it but it would suffice. L stayed still while Bryce levitated her up onto the side of the roof and she got herself comfortable, whistling her tune to Robbie once she was ready.

Mrs Worcester offered for Bryce to go inside and they left L to it. She was grateful. It needed to be just her and Robbie. She sat and waited, her cloak pulled around her for warmth despite it not being too cold around this base. The weather must have been magically controlled, maybe the Nature species were celebrating with warmer weather.

L was distracted by her thoughts when she finally heard a familiar clatter of roof tiles and deep breathing. She didn't look around at his arrival, sitting still as he moved and sat down next to her. They sat in silence for a while. L wasn't going to push him to speak until he was ready. She knew how she'd feel if the roles were reversed and she just hoped they would be able to get passed this.

"I'm so sorry, L." Came Robbie's voice after nearly an hour of silence.

It was quiet and pained, and L finally looked over at him. He looked terrible, like he hadn't eaten or slept in days, and his clothes were singed and holey. L felt his hurt when he looked at her.

"Robbie, it's okay. I told you to do it, it wasn't your fault." L knew her words weren't making him feel better, she didn't know if anything could.

"I still did it, I didn't wait for a better solution and you could have died. You nearly did." Robbie's eyes were filling up and L felt a pain in her chest.

"But I didn't die, I'm here and I'm fine... but more importantly, we killed Frallica and saved everyone. Doesn't that count for anything?"

"It does but... I can't stop seeing you in that fire, the fire I burned you with."

L reached out her arms and made him look at her, "I'm not burnt though, Robbie, and it was my magic too. If I blamed you then I would have to blame myself, and I don't. It was a horrible situation and I do hate myself for putting you in the middle of it..." L sighed, trying to figure out how to make him understand. "We were backed against a wall with no way out. She could have slashed my throat, Robbie, do you know how much worse that would have been? With our way, I felt nothing, literally nothing... it was so peaceful. I felt like I was having the best sleep of my life."

Robbie's emotions were hard to read but he seemed to be listening and he shuddered by the end.

"You were close to death though, weren't you?"

L let her arms drop and shrugged, "I don't know... but does it matter now? I'm alive and so are you. This isn't an ordinary situation that we can just rationalise. You were a freaking Dragon, Robbie! You are a Dragon and I'm a Keeper. We've changed so much since the last time we were on a roof like this but I can tell you one thing that hasn't changed; how much you mean to me. In fact, it's only grown and I don't want you to ever think I'd hold what you did against you. You're my brother, Robbie. I can't stand us being like this."

Tears fell down L's cheeks and she did nothing to wipe them away, she needed Robbie to see how much she meant what she said. He was watching her and they stayed silent for some time, the only sounds were the rest of the community moving in nearby.

When Robbie finally spoke again he was quiet, though there was less pain in his voice.

"We're a really strange family, aren't we?"

L smiled lightly, "From what I've witnessed, every family is strange. We just have a few extra quirks..." L rested her chin on her knees while she stared at him. "Does this mean you're okay with things now?"

Robbie shook his head, "Not okay but I think after some time, I'll get there..." Robbie trailed off and L nudged his side with hers.

"Well, we'll have plenty of that. Did you know Dragons have a much longer lifespan than humans?"

Robbie raised a brow, "No I didn't, does this mean I'm gonna get lessons from you on Dragons?"

L grinned at him, "That's a possibility but I have to do my research first. I just hope you're a better student than I was."

Robbie actually broke out into a smile, "I've always been a better student than you. I don't pick fights with people over the way they look at me."

L scoffed and they heard the front door open. They peered around to see Mrs Worcester standing there.

"The cookies are ready and I've made some hot drinks. Are you coming in?"

It felt so familiar that L and Robbie shared the same smile. They agreed to go in and Robbie helped L up so they could go back into the house; all the while reminiscing about their school days. Which quickly turned into a full-on trip down memory lane, sitting in their new kitchen which looked just like the Worcesters' old one. Eating fresh cookies out of the oven and hearing tales from Mr Worcester when he returned. L's arm linked with Bryce's while he listened to the Worcesters tell stories about L's early days with them.

They had such bright futures ahead of them now. It would take time for Robbie to get over his pain but once he did, L planned to teach him everything about being a Dragon. And in turn, she would get to learn their abilities too. They could test his parents as well to see if they had the ability to transform.

She could go on adventures with both Robbie and Bryce and not have to worry as much about them getting hurt. She could find out what was between her and Bryce, and see where it might lead. There would be obstacles still to overcome; Bryce's Princely status for a start, and L needed to go back to the Keeper's home. There had to be so much she still didn't know about them. The buildings and cavern beneath were just waiting for her to explore. 

There were endless possibilities for them now and L had never felt so happy about not knowing what her future held. The mystery was less daunting with the right people, and any problem that came up, they would face it together.

One day she hoped to find her parents. She wasn't sure if Frallica had been lying but she had a feeling deep down inside that they were still out there somewhere; whether they were alive or not she didn't know but she would find them. Even if it was the last thing she ever did. Because family is important, whether they're blood-related or not, they're the ones that have always been there for you. And who will always be there for you.