Secrets and Lies

"I'm here to bring you home little brother," Duncan announced as he regarded Phoebe with distaste. "Father wants to have a word with you."

My jaw clenched as I bit back some harsh comments about the way he kept callously misgendering and deadnaming my partner. It set my nerves on edge, but I didn't want to interfere with her family business uninvited.

If she asked though, or if I saw her getting upset then I'd absolutely put her brother in his place. Until then I just kept quiet while I stood by her side, and I was positive she knew I was there for her. It seemed like she was completely ignoring her brother's condescending rudeness though, which for now seemed like the best strategy.

Instead she stood her ground and frowned up at him as she asked in a firm level tone, "How did you find me, Duncan? And for that matter, how'd you even recognize me? I don't exactly look like I did last time you saw me."

Her brother frowned right back at her as he replied, "Father discovered you'd sold the penthouse flat he bought for you in Edinburgh. He wanted to know where you'd gone, so I hired someone to track you down and find out what you've been up to."

"That's also how I knew what to expect," he continued with a scowl. "I've seen the surveillance photos Colin, so I already had a good idea of what you'd done to yourself."

My jaw clenched again at that point, and I found myself glaring at the man. At the same time I couldn't help wondering just how much he knew about Phoebe's life. Did Duncan know about LIES, and if so did he know what we really did there? Then another worrying thought crossed my mind. Phoebe and I had been practically inseparable for the past month, so if someone was digging up information on her there was a good chance they'd looked me up as well.

Meanwhile Duncan stated in another condescending tone, "As for why our father wishes to see you, you'll have to ask him. Although it's not hard to guess he's probably wondering why you left Scotland and moved to Cardiff three months ago. Or why you gave up your unemployed playboy lifestyle and took a job working for a shady import-export firm. Or perhaps he'd like to know why that line of work has you travelling all over the British Isles."

"Then again I'm sure he's very curious to know why you decided to turn yourself into /that/ last month," he scowled, as his eyes tracked up and down over Phoebe again.

Finally he added, "I'm sure father would also love to know why you've started 'shacking up' with a former police detective from London. Although I know there's at least one thing you two have in common, given what we've learned about his past -"

"Oi!" Phoebe half-shouted. "Shut it Duncan, not one more word!"

I hadn't been misgendered like that since I left the Met, so I wasn't emotionally prepared for it when it happened. Duncan's words hit me like a fist to the gut, but I didn't have a chance to react before my partner cut him off.

I'd seen Phoebe act grumpy, sarcastic, bitter, resigned, and just plain chill. More rarely I'd also caught her being happy, silly, playful, and of course subby. But I'd never seen her genuinely angry, up until that moment. Now she was glaring up at her brother, despite being a full head shorter than him. And the look on her face was positively dangerous.

Without giving her brother a chance to respond the busty redhead stepped up into his personal space then stated through gritted teeth, "You get that one for free because we haven't had a chance for proper introductions yet. But that's the only one."

Without taking her eyes off her brother she gestured at me and said, "This is Trillium Sharpe, and SHE is my friend as well as my partner and colleague. And if you EVER misgender her again or deadname her just once, I swear to the gods Duncan I'll do something you and I will both regret."

Her brother opened his mouth to reply but Phoebe cut him off with another threat, "You have no idea what I'm capable of or how dangerous I can be. Pray you never find out."

The next few seconds passed in tense silence as the two siblings stared at each other. Phoebe was still glaring angrily, while Duncan regarded his sister with a sort of wary amusement. Meanwhile I was quietly dealing with some mixed emotions of my own. I'd already forgotten all about being misgendered, instead I found myself marvelling at how my subby short stack partner had jumped to my defence like an angry little Scots terrier.

The standoff finally ended when Duncan took a step back. Then he commented in a calm and vaguely amused tone, "Well. It seems I struck a nerve there. Duly noted, dear brother."

Feebs gave him another hard look then stated, "While we're on the subject, I'd appreciate if you'd quit deadnaming and misgendering me as well. If you've had me under surveillance then you ought to know I've changed my name to Phoebe, and my pronouns are she and her. Which means I'm your sister now, Duncan. Not your brother."

"Mmm," Duncan responded with a noncommittal sound. Then he changed the subject entirely, "Now that we've got the introductions and pleasantries out of the way it's time to get moving. Father expects the both of us back in Aberdeen immediately."

Phoebe scoffed, "Not a bloody chance. You're daft if you think you can just show up at my door completely unannounced and expect me to drop everything and rush off to some bloody family reunion at the drop of a hat!"

"This isn't optional Co- I mean er, Phoebe," her brother stated firmly, although he stumbled over getting her name right. And from his tone it sounded more like he was just humouring her, rather than showing her some actual respect. "And if you think I wanted to come all the way to Cardiff just to babysit you on the trip home then you're sadly mistaken. Father wishes to see you, so he sent me to come and fetch you. That's all there is to it."

The busty redhead made a show of shrugging her shoulders, "Then I suppose you and father can both deal with the disappointment. Because I'm not going, and that's final."

"You know he'll cut you off completely if you ignore him like this," Duncan warned. He actually sounded like he was trying to be reasonable for a change as he continued, "Father's been more than patient with you over the years, not to mention generous. He's bankrolled your lazy shiftless lifestyle the past two and a half decades. All he asks in return is that you'll turn up now and then when he wishes to see you."

It looked like Phoebe was about to argue that point, but before she could respond I decided it was finally time for me to join the conversation.

I gently put my hand on her shoulder and suggested, "I know the timing isn't great, same for the lack of warning, but maybe your brother has a point there?"

"You don't have to do this alone," I continued as I gave her shoulder a little reassuring squeeze. "I'd be happy to accompany you. For moral support, or just so you have a friendly face to talk to during the trip."

Finally I lowered my voice and added, "Anyways I owe you one. Thank you for standing up for me when your brother started talking about my past."

Feebs sighed, then slipped an arm around my waist and guided me away from Duncan and the front door. The two of us ended up on the opposite side of the room next to the door to our little balcony where she whispered, "I appreciate the offer Tril, but you really don't have to do this. As bad as Duncan is, I expect dealing with my father will probably be worse. And I've no idea what my sister's going to be like. Or my mother."

"In that case I almost want to insist," I replied just as softly. "You shouldn't have to deal with that at all, but you definitely don't have to do it alone."

She hesitated before pointing out, "If we go we'll probably end up staying in Aberdeen over the holidays. Is that ok with you? You don't have any plans to see your family?"

I shook my head, "I still haven't spoken to Uncle Mike or Aunt Rose. I might send them a text or email on the twenty-fifth, but that's about it."

"Alright then," Phoebe responded, as a thoughtful frown settled on her expression.

It only took her a half minute to make her mind up, then the two of us headed back to where Duncan was waiting so she could give him our decision.

"We'll go to Aberdeen," the cute redhead announced, "But we're not going tonight. We just got home less than fifteen minutes ago, after spending all day on the road. There's no bloody way we're getting into another car for a nine or ten hour drive tonight."

Her brother responded with a false smile and another condescending tone, "In that case I've good news for the both of you. There's a chartered plane waiting for us just up the road at Cardiff Airport. We're booked for a ten o'clock departure, which means we'll be in Aberdeen by eleven."

Those words hit me like another blow to the gut, but this time all the colour drained from my face as a wave of anxiety passed over me. I found myself pulling Feebs away from her brother again as I shook my head, "I can't. I'm sorry Phoebe, I don't fly. I can't do planes."

"I'm good with trains," I added. "Or cars, busses, I'll even get on a boat if you like. But I can't be on a plane. I just... I can't do it."

Duncan obviously overheard my nervous babbling. He sounded amused again when he responded, "That works out just fine with me, considering you weren't invited in the first place."

"Come along dear 'sister'," he added to Phoebe, although his tone made it clear he was still just humouring her. "We've wasted enough time here."

Feebs cast an angry glare at her brother, then a moment later followed that up with some words muttered under her breath. Except I recognized them, and a quick glance at the older sibling confirmed it. She'd just hit him with the stun spell. Duncan was now standing there completely motionless, with a blank distant look on his face.

"Arsehole," the cute redhead swore at him, before turning all her attention to me. "Are you ok? I take it you've a problem with flying?"

I took a couple deep breaths to try and force myself to relax again then sighed, "Yeah. I don't want to talk about it right now if that's ok? I'm sorry Phoebe. I want to be there for you, I want to go with you, but I can't fly."

"Not unless..." I hesitate, then glanced at Duncan again. He was still under the effect of Phoebe's spell though, so I focused on her again. "Maybe you could knock me out first? Hit me with a sleep spell or something? I might be ok if I slept through the whole thing."

She frowned as she seemed to think that over, then shook her head. "Even if there was a way to do it without raising Duncan's suspicions, I don't want to do that to you. If you can't fly then we'll do something else. I'm not spending another bloody day in the car though, so maybe we take the train?"

That surprised me, I knew she hated the train. The fact that she was willing to do it instead of forcing me onto a plane only added to the feelings I'd picked up after she told her brother off for misgendering me.

"Thank you Phoebe," I gave her a weak smile. "I'll find a way to make it up to you."

The redhead smirked, "I'll hold you to that."

"Oi!" she added towards her brother as she dispelled the stun on him. "You can take your fancy charter plane back to Aberdeen on your own tonight, and tell father I'll be there tomorrow. You can pick Trillium and I up at the train station, I'll text you once we've got the tickets and timing sorted out."

Duncan frowned, "That's not -"

"Not up for negotiation," Feebs stated firmly. "Tomorrow by train, or not at all."

"Father's not going to be happy you're making him wait an extra day," the older sibling pointed out.

Phoebe scoffed, "You and I both know there's almost nothing I could do to make that man happy."

The older sibling stared at her for a few seconds before responding, "I'm not leaving until I know you've really booked the tickets. I need to know this isn't just some ruse to try and get me out of your hair."

"Fine," my partner grumbled.

She ended up pouring herself another glass of Scotch, and even offered her brother one too. Then she sat down with her phone and started making our travel arrangements for tomorrow. Meanwhile I finally picked up both our overnight bags from where we'd dumped them on the floor and got to work on our laundry. I figured we probably wouldn't have enough time to deal with that in the morning.

Some fifteen or twenty minutes later Phoebe announced, "All set. We leave Cardiff Central around half past eleven tomorrow morning, and arrive in Aberdeen about half past nine in the evening. With one change early on, after we cross the Severn Estuary we swap trains in Bristol."

"Very well br- Sister, sorry," Duncan replied as he got to his feet. He set down his empty glass then stated, "You'd better be there tomorrow evening, or there'll be hell to pay."

The cute redhead rolled her eyes, "Aye I know. See you tomorrow Duncan. Now get out of my house."

That seemed to be the end of the discussion, and sure enough the older sibling turned and left without another word. Once he was gone and the door closed Feebs slumped back on the sofa with a loud sigh, "Thank the gods that's over with. For the next twenty-four hours, at least."

"So we've got a day to prepare," I replied as I moved to sit next to her. I slipped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a side-hug then whispered, "Thanks again for doing the train. You're sure that'll be ok? You wouldn't rather take your Grandland instead?"

She leaned into the hug, with her head resting against my shoulder as she replied, "It'll be fine. We've got a first class compartment, we'll be able to rest or get up and stretch our legs. There should be a dining car too, if we get hungry along the way."

"Speaking of, why don't I fix us something for dinner now?" I offered. "I don't know about you but I'm a little peckish."

Feebs shook her head as she got to her feet, "I'll do it. I know you've already started on the laundry, least I can do is feed you."

"Thanks cutie," I smiled.