A Guide to Surviving Against Monsters
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I had a multitude of things to do. I had figurative demons to deal with, a real demon to deal with, a confession for my team that I had to figure out and there was Friday's mission.

Yet, what was I doing?

Heading to the Grimm cousins' house for dinner.

Like a non-hunter.

I made sure to hide any traces of tears before I left, plugging the address Mateo had given me into my car's GPS. I drove with the radio on, listening to reports about monster attacks. It almost made me feel guilty enough to turn around and go hunting, but before I knew it, the GPS was telling me I had arrived at my destination.

The Grimm cousins lived in a detached single home, the lights on inside. Two cars were parked outside, and I pulled up to the curb. Like a proper adult, I had brought a house warming gift with me. I grabbed the box of chocolates from the passenger seat and left my trench coat, dressed in a black knitted sweater and leggings. My boots clicked against the driveway as I walked, resistant to the winter weather.

The door was cold against my knuckles as I knocked, crossing my arms. I was slowly coming to terms with the fact that I was having dinner with my friends instead of working.

Then, a woman answered the door.

She looked like Mateo, with short brown curls and a chubby face. Her eyes looked too big for her face, the light brown saucers sweeping my form.

"You must be Emmalyn!" She squealed, jumping at me. I caught myself before she could knock me off the porch, gasping as the older, and taller, woman hugged my head. "I knew you'd come to dinner!"

"Hey, Ma, leave her alone!" A more familiar voice said in a panic. Mateo came running, or so I thought due to the footsteps I heard. I couldn't see around the woman. "I told you, don't be so touchy with hunters!"

"But she's so small," the woman pouted. My expression went blank, and all I could think was; really? You had to bring that up?

Eventually, Mateo gave up, and he gently pried the woman off. I blinked, holding a squished box of chocolates in my hand and looking dumbfounded. Mateo stood in the doorway with the friendly woman, dressed in his usual with the addition of a stained apron.

"Hey, Emmalyn," he said sheepishly, "this is my mom, Heidi Grimm. She and my dad are joining us for dinner."

Heidi grinned at me. "The boys are always so busy, so it was one of our only times to see them! Sorry to intrude."

My legs felt weak as I noticed the love between Mateo and his mother. I swallowed my feelings, forcing myself to stand straighter. I did my best to reshape the squashed box of chocolates before offering them to Mateo.

"Nice to meet you, ma'am," I said softly, glancing at Mateo. "These are for you, but I understand if you don't want them now."

He rolled his eyes. "It's not the first time Mom's wrecked something," he sighed, flashing me a smile, "do you want to come in?"

I nodded, the two of them stepping back. Their home was warm, filled with the smell of food. I closed the door behind me, kicking off my shoes.

"Gosh, where's your coat?!" Heidi demanded as she watched me place my boots to the side.

"In the car."

"You need to wear it," she told me firmly, "you're too thin to go without extra layers, you'll freeze."

Unsure of how to respond, I glanced at Mateo. I couldn't be rude, mean or indifferent to a comrade's mother, especially since Heidi Grimm seemed like a pleasant woman.

Still, my social skills lacked.

Especially the ones for when it came to interacting with parents.

Mateo came to my rescue, tapping his mother's shoulder. "Emmalyn is an adult, Ma. And she isn't your daughter. Let her be."

Heidi scoffed, shaking her finger at him. "If she's your friend, you would've told her to bring a coat too, mister," the woman scolded before walking past him. I watched her disappear into what seemed to be a kitchen, her voice drifting our way as she spoke to someone else.

"Sorry about her," Mateo said cheerfully, "I get my personality from her."

I snorted. "You're both handfuls, then?"

"Of course!" He chirped, motioning to the kitchen. It was down the hall, whereas a doorway to my left led to a living room. A staircase was to the right, and another room was before that. Their house had creme coloured walls, white floorboards, and pictures hung up everywhere. It looked like a well loved home, not just another place to stay.

Mateo followed me as I wandered down the hall, his footsteps audible whereas mine were dead quiet.

"Have you lived here for a while?"

"Yeah, you could say that," Mateo murmured. "This is the house that my parents watch over for Theo and I whenever we leave for a hunt. The house we grew up in was more like a cottage."

I hummed. "Must be nice."

He laughed softly, just as we reached the kitchen. "It's done us well so far."

The kitchen had beige floors, three walls of patterned tiles and one wall that was painted by hand. It was a picture of a small house surrounded by trees, one window filled with yellow as if the lights were meant to be on. Heidi and Theo were helping another man cook, the stovetop turned on and flashing red. There was plenty of counter space and several cupboards, with a stove, oven, dishwasher, fridge and pantry. There were also things like blenders and a microwave scattered around, untouched.

"Oh," the man said softly upon spotting me, "you must be our guest. Hello, I'm Alfred, Mateo's father and Theo's uncle."

Alfred had thinner features and a long face, his hair nearly completely silver and cut short. His eyes were blue, but his build was identical to Mateo's. He looked strong, but had the gentle air of a medically-trained hunter.

"Nice to meet you, sir," I replied, "I'm Emmalyn Foxit."

Alfred's lips quirked up. "So I've heard. I did a job with your father once, Emmalyn."

My eyebrows raised. My parents were something I avoided thinking of -- at least, I had avoided the thought of them and Roman until I came back to the city. While I had been freelancing, all my problems were out of mind.

And now that I was stuck back in this forsaken city, my skeletons were dragging themselves out of the closet.

Somehow, I couldn't find the words to move on from the topic. I was stuck, picturing my dad with his gear and his black trench coat, and the way he'd promise to be safe before going out on each mission. Another memory came to mind -- one of Roman and my parents visiting me at the Academy before the three of them went out all together.

My breath hitched.

"He was a good hunter," Alfred continued softly. "Amazing, even."

"One of the best," I agreed, the words coming out in a rush.

I flinched as Mateo patted my shoulder. "It's a shame that they're gone, Emmalyn. I'm sorry."

I forced a smile. "It's okay."

Alfred pursed his lips, adding a spice to the pan on the stove. He glanced our way, looking conflicted.

"I've heard about the tragedy, Emmalyn," he murmured, "it's a devastating loss. And there was another incident, no?"

I nodded. "I lost my brother, but he is in a better place now."

Heidi sighed, clapping her hands. "You're going to turn dinner into a sob fest! We all know that the Foxits were worthy of the nicest luxuries in the other realm, now start helping us!"

With that, Mateo left my side. He went to replace Theo next to his parents, helping them make the 'pasta' dinner I was promised.

It looked more like a feast was being made.

Theo, now free from his post, wandered my way. I hovered by the door like a stranger, watching the family cook together as the cousin stood beside me.

"Their bond is a little freaky to me too," he murmured softly, watching them as well. "I wonder if they're secretly clones of each other sometimes."

I scoffed. "I would be horrified."

"Alfred may have been my dad's brother," Theo added, his voice low, "but Heidi and my mom had a bond like that. It was like they were sisters."

"I'm glad they got along."

"Me too," he chuckled.

Silence threatened to end our conversation before a small bubble of courage carried my next words into the open air.

"I miss my parents every day."

The hunter beside me sighed, his shoulders sagging forward for a moment before he rolled them back, throwing me a smile.

"Me too."

"I remember chasing my brother around," I muttered under my breath, "and listening to my parents joking with each other."

"I remember my dad teasing my mom until she smacked him," Theo added, his expression transforming into something wistful and childish, like he was trying to wish on a star that wasn't there.

There were never any stars in this world.

But, in that moment, I almost thought that the little loving twinkle in Theo's eye was close enough.

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