Ari waited, head against the wall and his heart in his throat, and listened as Ben stormed out towards the intruder. Mr. Holm, he heard him say. Mr. Holm: Ari had no idea who that was. Incredible to think that though he had always feared this moment, he had never expected to be met with the horror of a stranger.
In his imagination, when the day of his ruin came, it had always been someone who knew him: Dionisia; or one of his siblings, maybe Zelda or Xena, Ros or Kons; or maybe even Baxter stumbling across them. He had dreaded any one of them finding out, but in the here and now he almost wished he could be met with their dismay, disappointment or disgust. Even if they never saw him the same way again, there might have been a sliver of a chance that they would at least leave it untold out of compassion, and if not, simple familial obligation, to spare their own reputation in being associated with him.
But they had found their fates in the hands of an unwilling stranger, so who knew what this Mr. Holm would be inclined to do with the knowledge. Ari held his hands against his chest to try to stop their sudden trembling, listening carefully. He was almost thankful that Ben had unleashed his temper; there was something especially terrifying in it, especially for anyone who knew his truer, twinkling-eyed, jovial nature. But this was Ben the Auror, a threatening figure in his own right, even without the anger Ari could hear spitting from his tone. Perhaps that threat would serve as enough to silence him?
Mr. Holm, whoever he was, sounded suitably taken-aback, stammering through his words. If this had been any other situation, the apology tearing out of him, the sorrow in it - I can’t believe what I’ve done - would have softened Ari instantly, would have seen him forgiven. Ari was met with the temptation growing in his gut to step out of the shadows and go out to see whether he was alright or had hurt himself in his fall, but - well, that would be patently stupid, wouldn’t it? Any kindness he could offer would pale, probably, to the proof before his eyes that he’d witnessed what he had. So he shut his eyes and stilled himself, waiting in silence.
In his imagination, when the day of his ruin came, it had always been someone who knew him: Dionisia; or one of his siblings, maybe Zelda or Xena, Ros or Kons; or maybe even Baxter stumbling across them. He had dreaded any one of them finding out, but in the here and now he almost wished he could be met with their dismay, disappointment or disgust. Even if they never saw him the same way again, there might have been a sliver of a chance that they would at least leave it untold out of compassion, and if not, simple familial obligation, to spare their own reputation in being associated with him.
But they had found their fates in the hands of an unwilling stranger, so who knew what this Mr. Holm would be inclined to do with the knowledge. Ari held his hands against his chest to try to stop their sudden trembling, listening carefully. He was almost thankful that Ben had unleashed his temper; there was something especially terrifying in it, especially for anyone who knew his truer, twinkling-eyed, jovial nature. But this was Ben the Auror, a threatening figure in his own right, even without the anger Ari could hear spitting from his tone. Perhaps that threat would serve as enough to silence him?
Mr. Holm, whoever he was, sounded suitably taken-aback, stammering through his words. If this had been any other situation, the apology tearing out of him, the sorrow in it - I can’t believe what I’ve done - would have softened Ari instantly, would have seen him forgiven. Ari was met with the temptation growing in his gut to step out of the shadows and go out to see whether he was alright or had hurt himself in his fall, but - well, that would be patently stupid, wouldn’t it? Any kindness he could offer would pale, probably, to the proof before his eyes that he’d witnessed what he had. So he shut his eyes and stilled himself, waiting in silence.
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