darker_london | The Family (Devon, Helsa, Dietrich)

Devon did not answer her phone when it rang. Annoyingly, her father did. And he brought her the phone like a good little trained circus dog. "It's the harpy!" He whispered and then he realised he didn't have his hand over the phone so Helsa had probably heard. "Oh, balls!"

Devon just shook her head and she took the phone from him. "What?!" She hissed, shutting her bedroom door behind her.

"Have you had a chance to think about our conversation yesterday?" Helsa asked, sounding superior.

"Yeah!"

"And?"

"I'm converting to Judaism so you wouldn't want me anyway. Bye!" Devon hung up the phone, but it rang again a moment later. She growled, but she answered ti anyway because she had a feeling it would be worse if she ignored Helsa. "WHAT?!"

"You are only Jewish if your mother is Jewish. And you mother was not."

"What the fuck ever, Ho!" Devon couldn't believe this. Who the hell cared what race or religion or nationality people were? She didn't want to live with a family like that even if they lived in a fuckin' palace. "Fine, but I am pagan. I can cast spells and shit. What if I sacrifice a goat on your front lawn, what then?!"

"Stop acting out."

"I'm not! Okay maybe about that goat thing...but not the rest! I don't want to come live with you!"

"You know the choice. Make it."

Devon took a deep breath and she tried to imagine her father standing up for himself in court. And he failed miserably, just like he did every time she imagined the scenario. And she knew real!Dietrich was just as likely to fail as imaginary!Dietrich. "I hate you."

"Liking me is not part of the deal, Devon Claire."

"It's a good fucking thing!" Devon shot back, and then tears rose to her eyes, but she fought them back. "Fine! FINE you fucking wench, I'll come live with you, but I am going to make your life a living hell I hope you fucking know that."

"We'll see." Helsa said, completely unworried. "A car will pick you up tomorrow at 5. Be ready. Being late is not acceptable."

"Oh yeah, can't wait." And Devon slammed her hand down on the phone, hanging up on the stupid bitch. A few moments later, Dietrich knocked on her door and then he let himself in. Devon was still standing there in the middle of her room, looking completely lost.

"Devon? Are you alright? I can order pizza!"

Devon looked up at him and she frowned. "I'm uhm...moving to Dresden."

"W...what!?" Dietrich felt like his insides had turned inside out...or something. "Devon...why?!"

Devon shrugged. "Because they're my family."

"I'm your father!" Dietrich stepped closer to her. "Devon, I don't want you to go. Did I make it seem like I did? I'm stupid! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do...whatever it was I did." He was always doing stupid things, dammit! But she couldn't leave, not now. "I'll make it up to you! I'll buy you...a...a pony! Whatever you want!"

The edges of Devon's lips curled up slightly. "A pony, Dad?"

"I said a pony or whatever!!" Dietrich flailed.

"I know, it's just...I'm not five." Devon said, amused.

"Is that why you want to leave! I treat you like you're too young! I can change, I'm new at this!" Oh god, he was freaking out.

"Dad! It's nothing you did."

"It's something I didn't do!"

"Dad." Devon reached for his hands. "Look...it's just for a little while, okay?" God she hoped it was just for a little while. "You didn't do or not do anything wrong."

"Then...why are you leaving me?!" Dietrich asked, now utterly distraught. He loved her. He loved his daughter and now that he knew that, she was leaving. To go live with them. How could she?

Devon looked down at the tips of her red socks and she sighed. She couldn't explain why. And she hated to hurt him, but it was the easiest way to explain it. Use her personality flaws so it wasn't his fault. "You know me." She said flatly. "I get bored with one thing and I move on to the next."

Dietrich dropped her hands. "You're...you're bored with me?"

Devon shrugged. "For now. It's not your fault, it's just who I am!"

"But I- You came here and I-" Dietrich hadn't been aware anything could hurt this much. He'd just gone through a divorce and he thought that was pain. But it wasn't. This was pain. "Devon. I thought we had a good thing here."

"We did." Devon said, patting his shoulder. "Thanks." And then she turned to pack.