undergrounds | Every single holiday, a head in a box

"It's fine, really," Sirius replies. "I mean, it was just a reaction wasn't it? Have a head literally dropped on us is enough to cause anyone to panic."

Panic might not have been Sirius's reaction, but he had been surprised.

What Annie wants to know is how he can be so casual about something like this. People usually hated it, didn't understand it. But Sirius was, it seemed, extremely different.

She nods. "Yeah. It, ah, happens. I'm not really-" she points at her head vaguely. Everyone thought she was mad.

Sirius nods, catching her meaning as the kettle starts to whistle. He might not have understood it all, but he wasn't about to fall apart in a situation like this.

"D'you want some tea? Might help."

Tea. That's what her grandmother would often make, at times like this. As such, she nods eagerly. "Yes. Please. Something- something to clear my head."

he had to at least be curious. Annie shifts on the stool, unsure where to go. He's so casual. But she can't be.

"I'll make it strong then, shall I?"

He busies himself with the tea, an attempt to distract himself from asking any questions. If given the choice, he's reluctant to say anything about his past, and figures he ought to extend the same courtesy. Exercising tact is more difficult than it looks.

"Regular tea alright? It's all I could fine."

"Yes- please." Stronger the better. If she were the sort to drink, this is where she'd add for some in to the tea. But she's not, so she won't.

Instead, she'll sit quietly, enjoying (enjoying?) the sounds of Sirius preparing tea, and the occasional noise from the other room, looking at the grain on the table.

"I'm, ah- I once uhm-" how to explain? "my roommate." She raises a hand and gestures vaguely at her neck. "I saw it."

"Oh," was all Sirius could really manage as he puts the clues together. "That would explain a bit."

He passes her a mug, tea bag still floating in it, and not sure if he should offer cream or sugar (especially since he doesn't know where to find it).

"Can I ask...how? You seemed to think we were under attack."

Annie has no problem taking her tea unsweetened. She takes the mug with both hands, something to keep her steady.

"It's, ah- you can ask. It's uhm, not exactly private." The heat of the ceramic mug warms her fingers, her palms. "There was an attack. By a nest. On the school I went to. For- for hunters." She swallows, holding the mug tighter. "The Fourth District." And she'd alone survived.

Sirius nods, focusing on his own tea for the moment.

"I'm sorry," he said, not sure what else to offer at this point. "How long ago?"

"Thank you." His acknowledgement was enough, truthfully. And not making a big deal about it, for which he also had her eternal gratitude.

"Four years ago."

Sirius nodded. He'd still been in prison then, so he wasn't surprised that he missed it. The rest of the world wasn't something he'd really been paying attention to, having been caught up in his own thoughts of revenge and potential escape.

"Has anything happened, since then?"

"With- with the nest?" She blinked, looking up at him. "I don't- no. Nothing's happened with the nest." Other things, the lasting psychological and physical scars that it had left on Annie, that had most certainly happened.

"That's...unfortunate." It's the best word Sirius can come up with, at least without going stronger. It didn't seem right that there wasn't some form of retribution.

She nods. "Sometimes- sometimes I try to find them." And then what?

"Have you had any luck?"

She shakes her head. "No. I thought maybe about going back some day. But I don't... I don't think I can."

"To District Four? Where is that anyway? And why not?"

Isn't that why he's here, after all? Finding out who framed him, getting revenge?

"It's in Ireland," she says. "It's hidden. I can't go back- it's empty." She was the only one who survived.

"Not even to find clues?"

It seemed like a place to start.

"I'm- I'm afraid. Of when I go back. What will happen. If i can't even handle one stupid head," Annie shakes her head, irritated at her own constant incompetence.

Sirius was about to add that it was a surprise, but then couldn't really think of a situation where finding a severed head wouldn't be. So maybe that wasn't the way to go.

"Well, maybe that's something to work toward, then. Take it slow. And look for clues here."

"I- I think that's, uhm, a really good idea." Work her way to going back to the scene of the crimes. Retracing her steps. There, she supposed, if someone was with her, flashbacks could only really help.

Not that she ever readily triggered her own. They were embarrassing enough as it was, she didn't need more negative attention. Or attention at all.

"You think so? I've been known to have one here and there."

If he'd has his way, every idea was a good idea. It was unfortunate how many argued that point.

"I'd be willing to help, of course."

She blushes, glancing down. "Really? That's- that's really really sweet of you, Sirius." This was all too sweet of him. They'd just met, and she hadn't exactly had a great meeting with him.

"I don't know if I can accept."

"Well, then the offer can stand. I'm...looking for similar information, so it wouldn't be too far out of the way."

At least, in the terms of digging up information on cold cases. And allies are always good to have.

Every single holiday, a head in a box

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