Chapter Text
Kathrine wasn’t expecting a call from Nathan, especially while she was making dinner. She and her brother didn’t talk often, especially after she got married. They had what was mostly a formal relationship, she would call on his birthday and vice versa, he wouldn’t come to their mothers house for any holidays, events, really at all. Hell, the last time she saw him was on Esther's birthday the year before, and the last time they talked was the short call she gave him was just after New Years when she found some old photos of them she figured she might as well share. So yes, she found it odd her brother was calling her out of the blue, at five-thirty on a Wednesday afternoon in November.
Esther handed her the phone, telling her mother to “Say hi to Uncle Nathan for me” as she crept back into her room of the apartment to continue whatever odd ritual she was practicing this time. Kathrine accepted the call, putting it on speaker as she was ready to hear the voice of a stranger who had found her brother’s phone, the very frantic voice of Nathan on the other end, or he needed to ask her something.
What she wasn’t expecting was the shriek of terror that came from the other end, a high pitched one that did not belong to her brother. “Back you beast! I will not fall pray to your water trap!” The voice had a bit of a deeper pitch to it but it was clearly a younger child. “You cannot have me in your clutches!” There was stomping on the floor, followed by another pair of shoes running.”
“You have to take a bath, you smell terrible buddy.” The voice of Nathan coming through, distressed, his encouraging undertone never leaving his voice. There were some grunts and another scream.
“I have no need for bathing, it is but one of your unnecessary human activities I do not wish to take part in.” Nathan gave an annoyed groan.
“Climbing on the walls isn’t going to stop me from getting you in the bath.” The sound of something being picked up and tapping the ceiling (at least Kathrine thought it was the ceiling) came from the phone before a loud thud then a short struggle.
“Release me father!” There was a lot of screaming and sounds of thrashing.
“Guilt trip isn’t working this time.” Nathan’s voice was cheery, clearly pleased with the outcome.
The sound of footsteps slowly receded, the line going silent. Kathrine hung up the phone. She was stunned, what did she just hear? Nathan, who lost their dog when they were kids, Nathan who has been in several cults, Nathan who now owns a hotel he got gambling, and Nathan has a child. Disbelief wasn’t quite the right word, it was more like an anger fueled shock.
That kid had to be at least eight by the sounds of how heavy the footsteps were and how well put together his speech was. How could he not have told her he had a child, sure they weren’t the best at communicating with each other, but how could he keep something this big secret from her, that was a whole kid he didn't want her knowing. She clenched her jaw, Nathan has some explaining to do.
Ben’s voice came from down the hall as she was lost in thought. “Mom, you’re burning something!”
Katherine looked back to see a small fire started on the side of the stove burner from a stray piece of pasta that made its way out of the pot. She scrambled to put out the fire, her focus momentarily shifted away from the issue of her brother and his mysterious child.
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It took Nathan way longer to get Abaddon clean than he was hoping for, for how small his body was he had a lot of strength, he guessed it came with the territory of being a demon. He had just gotten changed out of his soaking wet clothes, courtesy of Abaddon, when he realized his phone was nowhere in his room.
Sure, Nathan wasn’t the biggest cellphone user, especially since he took over the hotel, but he did want to make sure that nobody called him. Leaving his bedroom he started towards the lobby, he probably dropped it when he was catching Abaddon earlier. He wandered down the hall, eventually making his way down the stairs.
It didn’t take him too long to find it, he stuck out like a sore thumb on the light brown hardwood floor. He excitedly picked it up, inspecting it to make sure it wasn’t damaged at all, letting out a sigh of relief when he realized it was fine. Just as he was about to turn it on he got a call from Katherine, odd. She normally only called when she found something she thought he might like or on his birthday which wasn’t for another six months.
He dusted off the screen and answered his call, happy to learn whatever his little sister wanted of him. “Hello?” The other line sat silent, worrying Nathan a bit. “Katherine? Did you butt dial me and I’m just talking to myself?” It would’ve made more sense if she called him on accident, she was a busy woman after all, with her two trouble maker kids.
On the other end he heard a deep breath, so she was calling him on purpose, huh. He hadn’t really expected that, but it was welcome nonetheless. “Nathan?” her voice was tired, they must’ve just finished dinner by the sounds of it.
“Hey Katherine! Been a while, what’re you callin’ for?” His voice was as chipper as always, after all, it wasn’t every day that his younger sister gave him a ring.
He heard a door opening and closing, and some shifting around, she probably just sat down. “How are things at the hotel?” Now this was really weird. She never asked him about the hotel, she really hated the hotel even if she hadn’t ever been there.
“Uh, good. Had some guests leave yesterday morning, just paid the water bill. Nothing too interesting.” He had owned the building for the last two and a half years already, he didn’t think it was worth telling her about the ghosts by this point, it’s not like she’d believe him anyway.
“Anythign else? Anything important?” She was clearly upset, but he had no clue about what. He hadn’t spoken to her in months and he didn’t think the hotel had been on the news or anything recently.
“Not that I can think of?” Nathan began to walk back up the stairs to his room, giving a few lingering ghost waves as he walked past them into the hall that housed his bedroom.
“Who is Abaddon?” Nathan stopped in the middle of twisting his door handle, the question stunned him. He had never told Kathy about anything related to the hotel, especially not about the little demon child that terrorized the property and demanded Nathan provide him with what he called ‘adequate provisions’ that really just meant cereal.
“What?” He opened the door, hoping he could play dumb, he really didn’t want to have to explain himself, even though there was no reason she would need to know.
“Damnit Nathan. You have a kid and just didn’t tell me?” She sounded hurt, the sound of a mattress creaking as she readjusted her sitting position.
“What? How would I have even– Nevermind that where did you even hear that from?” He was genuinely confused, he had never told his sister about his ward, let alone him being his son, that was a very new development he was working on.
“You called me on accident earlier. Kid climbs on the ceiling to get out of bathtime? Nathan, you…” She went quiet for a moment before continuing. “You could’ve told me.”
Nathan was quiet, he didn’t know what to say, his mind had stopped racing, it was just quiet now, and uncomfortable guilt settling over him as the call went silent. What could he possibly say to her? Hey this isn’t actually my son, just my demon trapped in the body of a child that calls me father to try and guilt trip me and who I also treat like me son, don’t worry about it Katherine!
She sighed again, breaking the silence. “Me and the kids will be over for thanksgiving next week.” This put some words back into Nathan. He knew Katherine would hate this place, and he wasn’t so sure that Abaddon would exactly take a liking to her, especially considering his affinity for biting every new person he comes across.
“Woah, woah, Kat what ar-” She cut him off
“See you next week, goodbye Nathan.” He tried to argue back with her but the line went dead, sealing his fate of hosting thanksgiving for him and his sister.
God, this was going to be a disaster.