Chapter 2
Amelia led the four inside towards the living room, smiling as Gura plopped herself down on the couch and gave her a wide grin. As she began to sit down next to the shark, however, she was surprised by a tug from behind, and soon Amelia found herself held in the lap of Kiara, the phoenix apparently not yet done with physical affection. Squirming slightly, Amelia made herself comfortable as best she could, and watched Ina and Calli both take a seat. Clearing her throat, Amelia looked around the room. "Well... Since we're going to be staying with each other, perhaps it best if we get to know each other a little more..?"
"Sure. Wanna explain what you mean by 'problem solver for a goddess'?" Calli asked, crossing her arms. From next to her, Ina nodded, holding a purple book that admittedly made Amelia feel a little uneasy, and she could feel Kiara's arms tense aorund her waist. Meanwhile, Gura was watching closely, her tail waving slowly back and forth.
Amelia let out a small giggle, patting Kiara's arm to comfort her. "Simple. Ouro Kronii, the Warden of Time, occasionally has me travel to different periods in time to resolve anomalies. As a joke, she said my official job title when doing work for her is 'Temporal Problem Solver', though she sometimes also calls it 'Temporal Maintenance Worker'." This earned her a nod of acknowledgment from Calli, who raised a mock toast.
"To disciples who clean up their patron god's messes, then!" Amelia laughed as she resiprocated the gesture, making Kiara giggle.
"My turn, then! I'm a phoenix, meaning I'm reborn every hundred or so years, burning brightly like the Sun before rising from the ashes!" Kiara chirped, holding out a hand and conjuring a brilliant ball of orange fire in her palm, before dispelling the flame with a soft 'whoof'.
Giggling at Kiara's enthusiasm, Amelia saluted her with a cheer. "Another for the 'Doesn't Die When Killed' club!" Unexpectedly, Calli immediately lunged over, looking deep into Amelia's eyes, making the blond detective lean back against Kiara further, inadvertently using Kiara's chest as an impromptu headrest.
"Watson. Explain." Calli said, her eyes somehow not reflecting any light.
Nervously, Amelia replies. "W-well, thanks to my time travelling, my life is bound to the existance of the River of Time itself, meaning that whenever I die, the River essentially says that I can't be dead, and I get revived in Kronii's realm, no trip to the Underworld necessary." Amelia waited for Calli to respond, only to be shocked like the others when Calli gently grabs her hands, the reaper's eyes now looking watery with unshed tears.
"You... You mean you're a Resurrector who I don't ever have to file the paperwork for..?" Calli asked, her voice small and hopeful. Amelia nodded, weirded out, and Kiara let out a small giggle when Calli then dropped into a bow. "Thank you, Amelia! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Uncomfortable with the bowing, Amelia squirmed looking for an out, and looked over to Ina. "Um... Hey, Ina. What's that book you've got there?"
"Ah... This is AO-chan, a manifestation of the Ancient Ones that I'm bound to as their priestess." Ina responded, holding up her book. Suddenly, the book begins to float above Ina's hand, and Amelia could swear she felt something observe her through the book. From the corner of her eye, Amelia could see Gura stiffen, and her deep blue eyes turn red for the briefest moment. As the book lowers itself back into Ina's hand, the feeling of being watched recedes, and both Amelia and Gura give small sighs of relief, with Gura's eyes fading back to blue. Gently, Kiara gives Amelia a small squeeze, comforting her further.
"Well... My turn, I guess. My name's Gura, and I'm from Atlantis." Gura chimes in. Amelia tilts her head, and Ina gives the shark girl a curious look. Calli, however, looks almost shocked by the information. Seeing the shocked look on the reaper's face, Gura holds up a hand, a pained expression on her face. "Before you ask, yes, I know what happened to Atlantis. No, I don't feel comfortable talking about it." At Gura's words, Calli stopped, and nodded, accepting the shark's words.
Feeling awkward that things had gotten a little tense, Amelia stands, and claps her hands together, gaining the attention of the others. "Well! Since it's still rather early... Who wants brunch?"
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Over the following couple of weeks, the five settled into a rhythm with each other, and Amelia would happily admit that the presence of the others filled a void in her life that she simply hadn't realized was there until now. Before, her life was quiet when not working, and her house felt almost empty, like the building itself knew that something vital was missing, something that prevented it feeling truly like home. Now, though, Amelia could truly feel like the old Watson family manor was home, the place livened by the comfortably chaotic lives of her new housemates.
Currently, Amelia could hear them all going about their day, with Ina doing an art stream, Kiara making something in the kitchen, Gura watching some anime in the living room, and Calli was listening to music in her room. Amelia herself was sorting old case files in her office, occasionally reading through old notes and reminiscing as she organized them by age and type of crime. Sighing contentedly, she picked up her mug, and took a sip of coffee as she read the notes from a rather memorable case from a year ago, involving a murder over in Berlin.
Suddenly, though, her focus was broken by the intrusion of a enthusiastic phoenix into her office, and Amelia couldn't help but jump in her seat as Kiara swept in with a grin on her face. "Ame! Have you eaten anything today?"
Amelia blushed, and looked away, not wanting to answer, especially when she knew Kiara was already aware of the answer. "No. I got busy sorting old case files, and just completely forgot.."
Kiara gave her a good-natured pout, and crossed her arms. "You need to eat, Ame. C'mon. I made food, and yes it's gluten-free. I've been experimenting with recipes to make sure I don't inadvertently give anyone food poisoning or allergic reactions."
Sighing, Amelia stood from her desk, giving a regretful glance at her case files. "Alright, alright. I'll eat something." She took a moment to stretch, her back giving a satisfying crack, and followed Kiara into the kitchen, where the phoenix busied herself with readying a plate of food for Amelia while the detective took a seat. Soon enough, a plate of biscuits and gravy with turkey bacon was placed in front of her along with a fork and knife, and Amelia gratefully began to eat. Idly, Amelia noticed Gura walk in, and she gave a lazy wave to the shark, not bothering to stop eating.
Upon finishing her meal, Amelia gave a contented sigh, and smiled at Kiara, who had sat down for her own meal. "That was excellent, Kiara. Thank you." She said, taking her dishes to the sink. As she carefully washed her plate, she couldn't help but hum, the feeling of domesticity giving her a warmth in her chest, and she smiled as she heard Kiara and Gura hum along with her.
Perhaps, Amelia mused to herself, this is what home feels like.