Work Text:
The magician has conjured many things, but possibly the strangest (aside from the elephant) is when, one day, he conjures two boys.
Peter sees it happen. He had been sent to buy bread and fish as usual, when he saw the magician in the square, announcing his next big trick. Curious, Peter goes to watch.
A small crowd has gathered, watching the magician move around on his little stage and chant. "Today," the magician announces, "I will attempt something that has never been attempted before!" Peter manages to weave his way through the crowd, peeking over the stage. "The summoning of a man!"
This gets some sceptical murmurs from the crowd. "He's finally lost it," someone says. But Peter watches in awe as the magician shows a large, man-sized box, revealing it to be empty.
"I will need an assistant for this trick. Any volunteers?"
Peter jumps excitedly, raising his hand. "Oh, me! Me!"
The magician invites Peter onto the stage. He kneels down to his level, placing his hands on Peter's shoulders. The gesture is warm. "Now listen carefully, boy. I need you to make sure that box stays shut. Can you do that for me?"
Peter nods frantically. The box has a door, and he leans against it, his head barely reaching above the doorknob.
All the while, the magician walks in circles around it, waving his hands dramatically and chanting. "Now if you please," says the magician. "Open the door."
Peter does so. He can't help but gasp as a boy with brown curly hair tumbles out and onto the stage, dazed and confused.
"Behold!" the magician shouts, and the crowd cheers.
Peter peers into the box, but there is no sign of a secret entrance. Then he stares back at the boy, who is being helped to his feet by the magician, still incredibly confused. Peter barely registers the noise behind him before a second person tumbles out of the box and lands right on top of him with an "Oof!"
He hits the ground pretty hard. The wooden planks of the stage scrape his face. For a moment, he can't breathe. Then the weight lifts, and he registers someone apologising to him, asking if he's okay. He looks up, and up some more.
It's a very tall boy, with dark hair nearly reaching his shoulders and dark clothes. Peter scrambles backwards, nearly falling again. Has Death finally come to claim him?
The pale boy looks at him warily. "You're hurt."
Peter touches his cheek. His hand comes away bloody. He sniffles, but forces the tears down. Soldiers don't cry, Vilna Lutz always says. Now stop that nonsense or I'll give you something to cry about.
"Sorry about that," the tall boy says, reaching out a hand, but Peter shies away. He watches Death curiously. He is clearly just as confused as the first boy. "Now where the f—uh, where am I?"
"I have summoned you here," says the magician, though he looks perplexed. "Well, I summoned him." He points at the curly-haired boy.
"Why me? Where are we? Who are you?"
The magician begins to explain his trick, but Peter isn't listening any more. Death is staring at him as though he can read his mind, and it's scaring him. The magician didn't mean to summon him, he thinks. He's coming to get me, like he got my parents and my sister.
Death opens his mouth to speak. Peter runs.
He runs until he's back in front of Vilna Lutz, trying to stop his trembling and explain why he did not manage to buy the bread and fish for the day. Vilna Lutz does not inquire about the scrape on his cheek. He sends Peter to bed without dinner, and it's Peter's own fault, because it was his job to buy it.
Peter hates the attic. He hates the dark and the dank smell. Most of all, he hates the loneliness of it all. When his stomach grumbles too loudly for him to sleep, he gets up and stares out the window. The streets are empty, illuminated only by moonlight. Peter touches his cheek, feeling the sting of pain. He wonders how far the ground is.
He thinks back to the strange events on the square. The two boys who appeared out of nowhere. Death looking at him with understanding. He wonders if it's a sign. Peter unlatches the window.
The night air is cold, as always. He shivers. Peter closes his eyes briefly. If he concentrates, he can see his parents' faces. When he opens his eyes, Death is staring him in the face.
He freezes. He's come for me.
But the curly haired boy is with him. He smiles up at Peter and waves. Peter stares for a moment, then waves back. The two boys stare at him expectantly.
Vilna Lutz is in bed. If Peter is silent, he could steal the key and creep outside. But he must be careful. Vilna Lutz sleeps with a musket at his bedside.
Every footstep is silent. Peter barely breathes as he reaches his guardian's bedside, spotting the key hanging around his neck. He reaches for it. Vilna Lutz grunts, and he flinches back.
Peter counts up to his age in his head, all the way to ten, but there is no more movement. He grabs the key and gently moves the chain over the man's head. The musket on the table gleams evilly, but his guardian doesn't stir. Peter creeps out of the house, the key hung safely around his neck.
The curly haired boy is still standing next to Death on the cobbled street, waiting patiently for him. Peter runs out to them. "Hello," he says breathlessly. "I'm Peter."
The curly haired boy smiles at him. "Nice to meet you, Peter. I'm Gabe."
"I'm David," says Death. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I sort of wasn't expecting to end up here."
Again, Peter's fingers stray to his cheek. He finds it almost comforting to press on it and feel the sting. But then he sees David watching him, almost understandingly, and he stops.
"We were hoping you could help us," says Gabe. "Since that magician was not helpful at all."
"Me? How can I help?"
"We're not sure, exactly," says David. "But we figured you might know something, since you were on the stage."
Peter's smile drops. "I can't help you. I'm sorry." Yet another promise he cannot fulfill. He feels a lump rise in his throat.
"Hey, it's okay," says Gabe. "We haven't told you the full story yet."
"Should we go somewhere else?" David suggests, and Peter nods. He can see his attic window from here. He doesn't like it. Peter leads them down the cobbled streets, shivering in the night air. He forgot to put something on over his pyjamas.
"Come here," says Gabe, kneeling down to Peter's level.
Peter straightens and turns around, marching left, right, left, right until he's standing in front of Gabe.
Gabe looks sad, though Peter isn't sure why. Without a word, he takes off his jacket and offers it to Peter.
Peter takes it in wonder. It hangs down to his knees, and the sleeves are far too long, but Gabe helps him roll them up. Then David touches his shoulder and before Peter can register it, there's a scarf around his neck. It's as if the cold was never there.
Meanwhile, in the orphanage, Adele has heard some rather interesting rumours.
People have been saying something happened on the square today. That the magician summoned two men. She decides she wants to see for herself.
It's not the first time Adele has snuck out. She tiptoes past Sister Marie and creeps down to the square. To her surprise, she spots three figures in the dark. They're standing on a platform she assumes is a stage, two tall boys and a younger boy who can't be much older than she is.
Peter flinches when he hears a noise, whipping around, but he sees no one. The square is empty. Gabe and David are arguing quietly.
"I told you not to play with that damn ouija board," David hisses. "Now look where that's got us."
"Be quiet. I'm thinking," Gabe mutters.
"You're actually forming a thought for once? That's new."
"Ouch, low blow."
"Sorry. I'm just kind of fu—dging terrified," David hisses back, his eyes flicking briefly to Peter. "You sure this kid can help us?"
"He might be our only chance."
Peter crosses the stage to where the box still stands. "Right here," he says. "Maybe if you get back in the box?"
Gabe and David exchange a look, and David shrugs, walking towards it. He's about to step inside when a new voice calls out: "What are you doing here?" The three of them turn around to see a small girl who can't be older than seven, staring at them with her hands on her hips.
David narrows his eyes at her. "What are you doing here?" he asks. "It's the middle of the night."
"I couldn't sleep," she replies. "And I wanted to see if the rumours were true. That a magician summoned you here."
"Well, he did." David spreads his arms mockingly. "You can go back to bed now."
The girl shakes her head, walking towards them. "Are you trying to go back?" she asks curiously.
"Yeah, no sh—yes. Yes, we are," David says exasperatedly.
Gabe places a hand on his shoulder, and David relaxes a little. Gabe goes to kneel in front of her with a soft smile. "What's your name?"
"Adele."
Peter stares. "What did you say?"
The girl looks at him oddly. "I said my name is Adele."
"That cap." Peter steps closer, pointing at her hat. "Can I see it?"
Adele takes a step back. Then she relents and gives Peter the cap. He compares it with his own. Both have the familiar letters sewn into them. Duchene. Peter stares and stares.
"What? What is it?" asks Adele.
"You're my sister."
"What?"
Peter gives her the cap, showing his own. "You're my sister."
Adele looks confused. "I have a brother?"
Peter's hands are shaking. "I...I thought you were dead." But staring at the girl before him, they are undeniably related. If he looks close enough, he can almost see traces of their mother in her.
"Well, I'm not dead," says Adele. "But...you're really my brother? You're sure?"
"I'm sure. I'm very sure."
Adele breaks out into a grin. "I've always wanted a—"
"PRIVATE DUCHENE."
The voice echoes across the square. Peter flinches and stands at attention, forcing himself not to cower. Vilna Lutz is stalking towards him.
Gabe and David, who have been watching the entire conversation silently, go to stand in front of Peter. Adele stands beside him, which Peter thinks is very brave of her. He doesn't feel particularly courageous right now.
"Come here right now," Vilna Lutz booms.
Reluctantly, Peter pushes past the two other boys, facing his guardian.
"Peter..." David says quietly, trailing off. He doesn't stop him.
"Forward march, Private," Vilna Lutz orders. "I will deal with you at home."
Peter turns one last time to look at his sister. Then he puts one foot in front of the other. Left, right, left, right.
He continues the pace, left, right, left, right. Until they reach the front door, and it becomes cre-ak, left, right, left, thud, slap.
The key is torn from his neck. Peter pulls the jacket tighter around himself and tries to concentrate on the fabric of the scarf around his neck. But this is not like the little scrape on his cheek. Peter is locked in the attic, beaten, bruised and hungry. He's cold again.
The blanket is too thin. Gabe's jacket still smells a bit like him, and for some reason, it's comforting. Peter clutches the ends of the scarf in his hands and shivers. Eventually, he falls into a restless sleep.
Peter is stuck in the attic for three days and three nights.
He knows this because he sees the sky change colours outside his window. Every now and then, Vilna Lutz will bring him some mouldy bread. There is no fish. Fish is a treat Peter does not deserve, he says.
When Peter is too tired to immediately stand to attention, Vilna Lutz makes sure he regrets it. The door is locked. Peter finds himself eyeing the window more than once.
It would be so easy.
Peter thinks of Adele. She's still out there waiting for him. He goes to the window, staring out at the clear sky. What use will waiting be if he is locked in this attic forever? Gabe and David don't need him, really. They'll make it home without him.
Suddenly, Peter remembers something. His parents.
He remembers the meals his mother used to cook, and his stomach growls. When was the last time he had a hot meal? Come to think of it, when was the last time he ate anything proper? He remembers his father playing with him. He touches the cap on his head.
Peter decides to take the cap off and clutch it to his chest. Maybe that way, it won't get dirty.
He thinks of Adele as he unlatches the window. He does not look down. Instead, he stares up at the sky. If only he wasn't locked in this attic. They could have had a life together.
But Peter is trapped. Caged. Like a prisoner. He does not want to die in an attic. He climbs out of the window. The night air rushes around him as he falls. Peter clutches the cap tightly to his chest. He wonders how long he will fall before he hits the cobblestones. He tries not to think about that.
Peter thinks of his father, bleeding out on the battlefield. He thinks of his mother, coughing in her bed. He thinks of his sister, crying in his arms, and again, meeting each other on the square. He thinks of Vilna Lutz, and thinks those bruises will look like nothing in a few seconds.
Will Adele see me like this? he wonders. He doesn't want that. Peter realises that in a sudden, sickening flash. He doesn't want this.
But the ground is coming up faster now. Peter barely has time to scream. A terrified sound wrenches from his throat, and then his body finally makes contact.
"Oof."
Peter is dazed, but not dead. Why is he not dead? Everything hurts. He landed on something tall and dark.
"Not the most conventional way to sneak out," says the tall and dark figure, "but I respect it."
Peter stares at him. He can feel something warm and wet on his head. It makes him feel a bit funny. "Death?" he whispers, staring at the figure. He blinks slowly. No, not Death. David.
Two more figures are beside him, but Peter's vision is a little blurry. He touches his head. His fingers come back red.
"Peter?" someone says. A girl? "Are you okay?"
Peter is kneeling on the cobblestones, he thinks. Then the floor seems to move upwards, and he slumps to the side. His head hurts. Peter closes his eyes.
"Hey. Peter. Hey."
"Peter?"
"Wake up, Peter."
Peter cracks his eyes open. Everything is spinning.
His sister's face hovers over him. "Peter?" she says quietly.
"Where am I?" he asks groggily.
"On the street outside Vilna Lutz's house," she explains. Peter sits bolt upright, swaying. "You fell out the window."
"Easy there." Gabe grabs his shoulders, and Peter stares at him. Gabe inspects him for a moment, then pulls him in for a hug. Peter melts, clutching on to him. He can't help it; he starts crying. Gabe holds him close, stroking Peter's hair. "It's okay," he whispers. "You're okay."
"I'm sorry," Peter sobs. "Soldiers aren't—I'm not supposed to cry." He sniffles, breaking free from the hug.
David stares at him. "That's bullshit." Peter flinches at the sharp words. But David reaches forward to pat his hand, and then suddenly Adele is throwing herself at him.
"I was scared you'd die," she sobs into Peter's neck. "And now you're bleeding."
"I'm okay," he says, though it's not entirely true. He almost died like his father, bleeding out alone. His head still hurts, a painful reminder of what could have happened. He touches his head again, staring at his red fingers. "Am I going to die?" he asks quietly.
David straightens Peter's scarf. "No. It's just a cut. You'll be alright."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
But when he stands, Peter is hit with a wave of dizziness. Adele takes his hand, but it's not enough. He nearly falls. Gabe picks him up. Peter throws his arms around Gabe's neck, enjoying the comforting warmth.
"Will he be okay?" Adele asks quietly.
David takes her hand. "Yes. He just needs to heal."
"I'm glad we found him," Adele whispers. "I’ve always wanted a brother." David squeezes her hand. "Where are we going?" Adele asks.
"Gabe and I are going home," David says quietly.
"Where's that?"
"Far away from here."
"Can I go with you?"
David frowns. "Don't you have a family?"
"Only Peter."
Peter lifts his head from Gabe's shoulder. "I go where she goes," he says quietly.
Gabe and David exchange a look. "We can't send him back to that place," Gabe mouths. David nods.
They're back on the stage once more. David, hand in hand with Adele, steps into the box.
"You're sure?" Gabe asks them both.
Adele nods, putting on a brave face. David leans forward to kiss Gabe briefly, for luck. "We're sure."
Gabe closes the door. He swallows and waits while Peter repeats the magician’s chants. Perhaps nothing will happen. Or perhaps it will go wrong. He opens the door. The box is empty.
Gabe takes a deep breath and carries Peter inside, closing the door behind him. Peter chants again and suddenly Gabe is falling onto something soft, bouncing, and landing in a heap on something less soft. His bed. His carpet. He's home.
The warm bundle in Gabe's arms makes a noise, and he sits up, a little dizzy. Peter rolls out of his grip. While Gabe is still trying to get his bearings, he hears happy shouts.
"Adele!"
"Peter!"
Two tiny figures embrace each other, and suddenly there's a cold hand cupping his cheek. David. "We're home," he whispers, pulling Gabe into a hug.
Gabe practically falls into his arms. "I'm never playing with a ouija board again," he mutters.
David kisses his temple before leaning back, scanning Gabe's face. "You're not hurt?"
Gabe shakes his head. "You?"
David shrugs. "A bit bruised from trying to catch that poor kid, but I'll be fine."
They both turn to look at Peter. He still looks weak and shaken, but he's hugging his sister and they're both staring around Gabe's bedroom in wonder. "It's so warm," says Peter.
"And soft," Adele adds, touching the carpet. "I didn't know a place like this existed."
Gabe suddenly realises the weight of what just happened. "How do I explain this to my parents...?"
"We could say we found them on the street?"
They stare at the siblings. Peter is still wearing the jacket and scarf, but beneath that are only the thin scraps he called pyjamas. Adele is only in a dirty nightgown. Both have their caps, worn and faded with time.
"I guess they'll believe that," Gabe says slowly.
Peter clutches his cap, squeezing it uncertainly. "Is this where you live?"
"I live here," Gabe confirms. "And you can stay here too. For as long as you like."
They sneak Peter and Adele into the kitchen. It's the middle of the night, and for Gabe and David, no time has passed since they first started playing with that ouija board. No one will have noticed their disappearance.
Gabe and Adele raid the fridge while David patches Peter up with the first aid kit. Peter is still a little afraid of him, but it's comforting, being taken care of like this. He winces when David dabs at the cut on his head, and David mutters a small apology.
The other two are in their own world. David speaks quietly to Peter. "You didn't fall." It's not a question. Peter meets his dark gaze. It's like David can see right through him. "I know how it feels," David says quietly. "But you're in a better place now, okay? No one can hurt you here."
"Do you promise?" Peter whispers.
David is silent for a moment. His hand cups the back of Peter's neck, sturdy and sure. "We'll keep you safe."
The door creaks. Peter flinches.
A blonde girl appears in the kitchen, holding a crushed can and staring at the four of them. They freeze. "Gabe," she says slowly. "Did you kidnap a child?"
Gabe swallows. "I can explain."
Adele goes to stand in front of Gabe, crossing her arms. "Who are you?" she demands, trying to sound intimidating, though it's difficult when she has cake smeared across her face. She and Gabe found some in the fridge, and it's the best thing she has ever tasted.
The girl looks amused, placing her can on the counter and mirroring Adele's stance. "I'm Natalie."
"My sister," Gabe explains with a sigh.
"You have a sister, too?" Peter asks.
"Seriously, who are these kids?" Natalie hisses. "What are they doing here? Where are their parents?"
"All valid questions," Gabe whispers.
"Do Mom and Dad know?"
"...No."
"Gabe."
"I know! I know it sounds bad. Just, please let me explain."
It takes a while. Natalie's eyebrows go higher and higher. Halfway through, she grabs another energy drink and chugs it in one go.
When Gabe is done, Adele is asleep on his lap. "Look, I know it sounds crazy," he says with a sigh.
Natalie pinches the bridge of her nose. "And here I thought I would be the next one to lose it in this family."
"It does sound insane," David concedes. "But all four of us here can confirm he's telling the truth."
Natalie looks tired. "You know what?" she says eventually. "Not my problem. I'll let you deal with Mom and Dad in the morning."
Gabe nods. "Fair enough."
"So what are you gonna do?" she asks. "They'll need somewhere to sleep." She looks at Adele. "There's space for her in my room, if you want."
"No," Peter pipes up suddenly. "Please don't...take her away."
"Maybe it's best if we don't separate them," Gabe explains.
"Okay. Well. Goodnight."
"Night, Nat."
Gabe carries Adele upstairs. David takes Peter's hand and leads him back to Gabe's bedroom. They wipe the cake off Adele's face, secure the bandage around Peter's head, and put them next to each other in bed. Gabe and David lay on either side, cocooning them in. Adele is sound asleep, snoring softly. Peter's eyes are still open. "Gabe?" he asks quietly.
"Hm?"
"Vilna Lutz can't get me here, can he?"
"He won't. You're safe here."
"But...what if he gets in the box? What if he finds me?"
"Then he'll have to go through us," David murmurs. "That bastard won't get you here. We won't let him."
"Okay," Peter murmurs sleepily. His eyes are half-closed. "Can I...can I sleep, now?"
"Rest," Gabe whispers. "You must be exhausted."
Peter isn't awake to hear him.
The next morning involves a lot of explaining. While Natalie knows the truth, Gabe and David decide it's easier to say that they found Peter and Adele on the street, and took them in for the night. They would like them to stay longer, of course, but they don't mention that just yet. It's a lot to take in.
Luckily, Diana and Dan welcome their guests with open arms. Diana makes them hot porridge for breakfast, and when Peter eats a spoonful, he starts to cry, much to everyone's surprise.
"What's wrong, honey? Did you burn your mouth?" Diana asks in concern. Peter shakes his head and only cries more.
When he calms down a little, he whispers: "It's been so long since I had hot porridge."
Diana looks like she might burst into tears. Then she murmurs, "Oh honey, come here," and gathers Peter up in her arms.
Peter sobs into her shirt. "I miss my mother," he whispers almost inaudibly.
Diana holds him close, stroking his hair. Peter feels something touch his hand and realises it's Adele, trying to comfort him. He hurriedly wipes away his tears and retracts himself from Diana's arms. He avoids everyone's stares and goes back to his porridge.
After a while, it becomes clear that the Duchene siblings will not be leaving any time soon. Dan clears out an old room and gets them twin beds. Diana makes hot meals for them and pulls them into crushing hugs at every opportunity. Natalie tries to teach Peter piano (he's not very good, but he's trying and after a while he can make mistakes without bracing himself for an angry response), and she also braids Adele's hair when the wild little girl will let her.
Gabe lets both kids crawl into his bed when they have nightmares. He strokes Peter's hair or pulls Adele close and they find comfort in his warmth.
David teaches Adele to swear, and asks her not to tell anyone who she learnt it from. He checks in on Peter every now and then, never forgetting the attic window, and promises to protect both him and his sister. Sometimes, he lets Peter hug him. Normally, Gabe is the only person who can come close to him. It turns out David gives nice hugs, when he feels like it.
The children are very confused by this new world they have been thrown into. They learn something new every day. Technology is a big one. Gabe has to remind them not to act too shocked by it around Diana and Dan. Snow is another. The first time it snows, they both run outside like maniacs, giggling and trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues. Diana calls after them to put on some coats.
In the Goodman home, Peter and Adele learn kindness. They learn comfort. They learn love.
They find solace in Diana's arms, and learn patience from Dan.
They learn music and art with Natalie, and learn to knock on doors when they walk in on Gabe and David kissing in a less than appropriate position. They don't talk about that one, though it did take some explaining.
Eventually, Peter and Adele forget their old lives in Baltese. They forget Vilna Lutz, and the orphanage, and the magician. Overnight, they found a home and a family. It is the best thing that has ever happened to them.