Muted Voices (A BNHA/MHA x OC Fanfic)

Chapter 74: Answers

------Author's Note------

Hey guys!

As the chapter banner, I've made my own drawing of Koto and Annie. It's not amazing, but I've been trying to practice and I'm really proud of myself.

Koto's POV
(Saturday the 27th)

So, "house" isn't exactly the right word for where we're standing right now. The building in the middle of a large stretch of land is more along the lines of a "small mansion." As Kati and Jupiter struggle to get his wings out of Kati's small car--he had insisted on sitting in the back so he'd have room for them--I take in the view. 

The long, winding driveway snakes through the perfectly green lawn to a small roundabout with a fountain in the middle, both sides flanked with shrubbery and colorful flowers. The mansion-house is a pale tan with rustic stone brick features and a gabled roof. Large windows that must let in a ton of light sparkle in the sun, almost blinding me. An older gardener waves to me as I approach the house and I warily wave back, wishing I could've put on nicer clothes. 

"Les' go!" Jupiter shouts, taking my arm to skip up the walk. I catch a glimpse of Kati on his other side, blushing furiously as he pulls her along. He lets go of us to clear the stairs in a single leap. I feel the rush of wind that lets me know he used his wings, invisible in the sun. 

The boy knocks on the door with much bravado as Kati and I take the stairs up behind him. I examine the etching of vines on the large wooden doors when I hear footsteps from the other side. My nerves tangle with my stomach a bit, bringing back my nausea from earlier in the day. 

The heavy looking wooden door is pulled open to reveal a taller gentleman with curly grey hair piled on his head. His age-worn face breaks out in a large grin as his obsidian eyes rake over us, settling on Jupiter. 

"Nightwing, my boy!" He exclaims jovially. "Came by to visit this old soul, did ya? Who're your friends?"

Jupiter turns to his left, gesturing to Kati. "This is my friend, Kati Jessop. She's a business student at the local high school and this..." he turns to me as if looking for the right words.

I step forward and bow low before the man. "M-my name is Koto Yamada. I'm Meg's g-granddaughter." 

I clench my jaw shut, scared to look up until I feel a hand on my shoulder. I allow my eyes to meet his as they seem to search my soul. Deep in his eyes, I see the same mischievous glitter that often brightened my grandmother's. I thought I'd never see it again. 

"I see her in your face," he says after a long moment of examining me. He extends his arms towards me and wraps me in a tight hug. "So much has happened to you and at such a young age..." I hear him sniffle in my ear as I tentatively hug him back. "I can't imagine..."

He backs away to look at me again with tears threatening to fall from his eyes. "Well, I can't leave you out here. C'mon, all of you, I just made some lemonade."

He ushers us through the grand doors into the large foyer. The tall windows above the door cast light into the warmly painted room with rich hardwood floors that I'm sure are very fun to slide on with socks. We take off our shoes on the mat and follow Daniel through his house. 

A staircase with a sturdy wooden banister extends up to the second floor on the left of the entrance hall. A burgundy painted office is through the doorway on the rightmost wall. Further into the house is a granite masterpiece of a kitchen, an opulent dining room, and a cozy living room with leather furniture. Adorning the walls are countless canvases displaying rustic countrysides, French cafes, and Danish tulip fields. I recognize the handiwork as that of my great grandfather, Ryan.