Chapter Text
This is the story of how Special Agent Gretel and her brother Hansel fell in love with rather unexpected people. In a quiet part of town there lived another brother and sister together in a small medium house. Magnolia and Hunter; an herbalist and a zoologist are siblings. They live peaceful lives but that’s all about to change…
Magnolia was trying on a new mint green, sleeveless dress, with white stitches. She tied her medium length brown hair with a white tie. She was wearing mint green heels. She was looking at her freckled face when she heard Hunter stomping his foot to get Magnolia’s attention.
She ran down the wooden stairs, holding her dress so she wouldn't trip but ended up doing so anyway. She stood up and walked away from the kitchen and toward the ‘lab’ as they called it. A table filled with potions and flasks and the wall was a huge bookshelf.
“Come with me!!” Hunter signed and grabbed her hand as he walked out the house.
“Where are we going??” Magnolia asked him
Hunter remained quiet and kept walking until they reached this wooden building.
“What is this place??” Magnolia asked him
“It’s uhh I have no idea but this is where Liam works remember he wanted us to come to this show” Hunter signed as people walked in
“You forced me out of the house for one silly show?” Magnolia asked him
“Its his last show” Hunter tried to reason
“Fine” Magnolia agreed
They walked in and sat at a table for two.
“Didn’t that charlatan perform here??” Magnolia asked Hunter
“He still does but he is now an entertainer and Liam is his assistant" Hunter explained to her
“I see”
“Sometimes he does stand up comedy or jokes”
Magnolia shivered, cold air filling her lungs, she rubbed her hands as a way to get warm.
“Are you okay??” Hunter signed
“Yeah I’m fine” She lied
Then the curtains opened, an old but modern stage was revealed.
“GREETINGS!” The voice of a twenty year old man filled the place
“I told you this was a bad idea” Magnolia whispered in his ear
“SHH!” Hunter signed
“MY NAME IS HANSEL, I AM AN ENTERTAINER AND WELCOME TO MY SHOW!!!!!”
Then as soon as Hansel appeared on the stage he locked eyes with Magnolia. His blue eyes stared into her green eyes. He was captivated and nervous, and so was she. She couldn't believe that this was the charlatan she had heard so much about. He seemed confident, he wore a red coat, with a white button up shirt, fancy shoes that clicked when he walked on the stage and yellow dress pants. She felt her cheeks reddening and her nervousness increasing. Hansel began to feel self conscious and nervous.
“Magnolia” Hunter kept signing
Magnolia paid no attention whatsoever as her curiosity grew more and more about how this man actually acted. Hunter knew he had to get her attention somehow therefore he pulled her hair ever so slightly just to get her attention. Magnolia broke her gaze from Hansel's eyes to look into Hunter’s brown eyes, his brown short hair in a side part, to the left, just like hers and tanish skin like hers but darker.
“What was that for?” she signed her gaze stiffened
“I am sorry but” he stopped looking sideways for a bit “do you still think this was a bad idea??” Hunter signed looking coyly
Magnolia opened her mouth to speak yet no words came out. She huffed as her cheeks burned a pink color.
“I am going to, ummm,” Hansel then tripped over his own feet
The crowd burst into laughter, Magnolia was genuinely concerned.
“Are you okay?” Magnolia’s shout stuck out from all the laughter
Hansel stood upright and brushed his coat “Yes I am, thank you for asking” He answered clearing his throat thinking about what his act was “What does an egg do for fun?”
“What?” Hunter signed
Hansel looked at him confusedly “I am terribly sorry sir but I don’t understand sign language” He apologized to Hunter
“He said what” Magnolia traduced
Hansels cheeks colored at hearing her voice but he the proceed to say “Kareyolky”
The crowd laughed and so did Hunter. Magnolia covered her face and laughed softly as she whispered “There is no way on earth he actually just said that”
“Why are elevator jokes so good?” Hansel asked
“Why?” someone from the crowd asked
“They work on so many levels”
Magnolia began laughing as the crowd fell silent. He got off the stage and walked around the crowd.
“You know I was once kidnapped by mimes, they did unspeakable things to me”
The crowd laughed now uproariously.
“I was actually addicted to soap once,” Hansel began his joke
The crowd murmured softly.
“Oh no don’t worry I’m clean now” Hansel assured them
The crowd laughed once more
“I forgot how to throw a boomerang once but it eventually came back to me” And so he continued with pun after pun and joke after joke then he walked over to Magnolia's table.
“What’s your name madam?” He asked her
“Magnolia” She introduced herself
“It’s a pleasure,” he put his hand on her terribly cold shoulder “Miss Magnolia you are terribly cold, please take my jacket” He took off his jacket revealing how tight his shirt actually was as some girls swooned.
Magnolia blushed and told him “No it’s okay”
“Please Miss I insist” He told her
“Alright”
Hansel put his jacket on her hen whispered in her ear “Meet me after the performance” He put something in its pocket
She nodded and sat back down
“Well Miss Magnolia I hope you know CPR,” Hansel began
“Why?” She asked him
“Because you just took my breath away”
The crowd awed as Magnolia blushed, Hansel blushed then winked at her.
“NOW LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH MY ILLUSIONIST MAGIC OLIVER!!” He ran up the stage introducing his assistant
Magic Oliver, Liam, was a brown eyed, blond and tan tall man. The entire performance he couldn’t stop thinking about how to tell Hansel he was quitting and that this would be his last performance ever. The anxiety crept up inside him, making him even more nervous.
Magnolia wasn’t really paying that much attention to his performance, she couldn’t stop thinking about Hansel. That moment where he gave her his jacket was replayed in her mind over and over again. The sound of his voice made her blush repeatedly, Hunter kept teasing her.
Then as the show came to an end Hunter and Magnolia stayed at the table. Magnolia walked on the stage as soon as she saw Hansel on it as well.
“Sooo I never knew the charlatan around town could be so charming?” She told him as she walked up the stairs
“What can I say, Miss Magnolia?? It runs in my veins” He walked over to her “Do you need help?” He asked her
“No I’m fine thanks” She finally stood on the stage
“I want to tell you I am not a charlatan anymore and I never was” Hansel told her
“Elaborate please,” Magnolia asked him
“Maybe some other time,” He teased her
“That’s fine, as a person I’ve never believed anything I’ve ever heard, I believe most if not all of what I see” Magnolia told him
“I believe nothing I hear, nothing of what I know and nothing of what I see” Hansel told her poetically
“Then you wouldn't know anything at all, all we have in this world are our wits” Magnolia told him confusedly
“Then I know nothing, all I know are my feelings” Hansel responded poetically
“Then you are a fool,” Magnolia told him frustratedly in some way
“But I promise you I’ll be the best kind of fool for you” Hansel bowed
She gasped and blushed. She was not expecting anything like this from anyone ever.
“I ask of you,” He took a rose from her ear and gave it to her “When can we meet again?” He asked her
“I don’t know but we will meet again” Magnolia assured him walking off the stage
“Are you certain??” He asked her
She turned around to face him “As certain as the rain falls”
She took Hunter and left. As they walked outside and back to their house.
“What was that?” Hunter signed
“I actually have no idea, but I can promise you we will see each other soon” Magnolia answered just as bewildered as he was
“SoooOOOoooo do you like him?” Hunter signed
“I’ve never been one to discuss my love life but I will say this he’s different than any man I’ve ever dated” Magnolia dreamily told him
“Says the same woman who had like one boyfriend,” Hunter signed teasing her
“TWO, I’ve had two boyfriends, you say this like you’ve had so much dating experience” Magnolia teased him
“I’ve had a few women thank you very much” Hunter signed
“Sorry to burst your bubble but two women isn't that many” Magnolia told him
“I guess we are in the same range” Hunter signed
“That doesn’t change the fact that Hansel is different” Magnolia told him
“Different how?” Hunter asked her
“I don’t know there’s something special about him” She felt his coat on her and realized “I FORGOT TO GIVE HIS COAT BACK!!” She exclaimed
“Seriously?” He asked her
She put her hand in its pocket and took a paper from it “He must have slipped it on some time during the show,” She opened the paper “Keep this until our eyes meet again” She felt her cheeks pinkening
“I see what you mean by different, no man had ever given you something”
“OH Come off it!!” She put the note back in the pocket “I told you he was special”
“I told you he was special” Hunter mocked her
“Stop mocking me!!”
Hunter and Magnolia laughed all the way home.
As this was unfolding Hansel found himself at the Secret Magic Control Agency headquarters, ready to receive his first assignment. He was wearing his official SMCA uniform.
“Agent Hansel” Agent Stepmother called him
Hansel walked in looking around the office.
“M’am!!” He stood up straight
“I have your first assignment, lately there have been many people who have been faking their magic licenses or haven’t renewed them, I am assigning you to go and verify each witch and wizards licenses, Is that clear??” Agent Stepmother explained it to him
“YES M’AM!” He exclaimed
Then Gretel walked in “Agent Stepmother you asked to see me?”
“You will work alongside Hansel in his first assignment” She ordered Gretel
“Aye m’am!” Gretel agreed
Hansel and Gretel walked out of the office with a list of witches and wizards in the kingdom.
AND OFF THEY WENT checking and reviewing licenses. Then they reached Magnolia.
Hansel brushed his hair and knocked on the door; Hunter opened it.
“Can I help you???” Hunter signed blushing at the sight of Gretel. He now felt very self conscious about himself and how he looked.
Gretel on the other hand felt very nervous, she felt like she couldn’t speak. She felt like she was having an identity crisis, a mental breakdown and a reboot that failed all at the same time. Her hands were sweaty and clammy, she felt like a train wreck, she’d never felt this before.
“We’re here to speak to Magnolia,” Hansel told him as he showed him his SMCA badge
Hunter looked at it and stomped his foot.
“Yes brother I’m coming” Magnolia yelled
Magnolia arrived at the door, messy hair in a bun, she wore a white short long sleeved dress with a green vest over it.
“Hansel” She greeted him
“Hi” Hansel greeted her anxiously he cleared his throat “We come from the Segret Magic Control Agency, we need to see your license”
“Okay,” She noticed what was happening with Gretel and Hunter “I’m Magnolia and this my very attractive and available brother Hunter”
“This is my incredibly single and very intelligent sister, Gretel” Hansel introduced Gretel
They walked inside as Hunter closed the door.
“Wait here i have to look for my license upstairs” magnolia told them as she walked upstairs
“Can I get you anything?” Hunter signed
“No thanks” Gretel signed back
“You know ASL?” Hunter asked her
“Yes I took a class over a year ago”
“So how long have you known each other??” Hunter asked Gretel and Hansel
“Were twins Hunter” Gretel signed
“I am so sorry” He felt his cheeks pinkening
Gretel laughed and signed “It’s okay”
Hunter smiled lovesickly and Hansel was just existing. Magnolia ran quickly down the stairs, tripped on the fourth step and fell but not on the ground but into Hansel’s arms. She opened her eyes, which she’d close very tightly, and saw Hansel's calm smile. She felt her cheeks pinkening and muttered something under her breath.
“Are you okay?” Hansel asked her
“Yes I am, thank you for asking” Magnolia answered him
They both burst out laughing as Hansel let her go. Hunter, free from the shock of seeing his sister fall, ran over to her.
“Are you okay?” Hunter signed
“Yeah, I’m fine” Magnolia signed back, she picked up their licenses from the floor and gave them to Gretel “It took a while but I finally found the licenses" Magnolia told her
“Perfect” Gretel began to review them
“Oh this is yours” She gave Hansel his jacket
“Keep it please, that way when you are cold you’ll wear it and remember me” Hansel gave it back to her
“Thank you” She smiled her cheeks even more pink than before
Something was off in their licences but Gretel couldn’t place it. Something about it made her skin stand on edge, something was familiar, someone was familiar, she just couldn’t put her finger on it. She decided to give the licenses back to them.
“Everything seems to be in order” Gretel gave the licences to Magnolia
“Thank you” Magnolia took them
“We’ll be on our way now,” Gretel told them
“Goodbye” Hansel bid them good bye
“Bye!!” Magnolia said goodbye
Hansel smiled at her as he and Gretel walked out the door.
“Why does it feel like my luck has changed?” Magnolia signed putting on his jacket, it still smelled like him
“Maybe it finally has” Hunter placed his hand on her shoulder
She clutched his hand “I hope so” She signed
Outside on the street Hansel and Gretel walked in silence each buried in their own thoughts.
“So did you like Hunter?” Hansel asked Gretel
“Liked? What did you mean?” Gretel asked Hansel
“I meant to be more direct, Do you think Hunter is attractive? Cause you need help flirting” Hansel teased her
“HANSEL!” She exclaimed her face becoming unbelievably red
“You didn’t answer my question”
“No” she lied
“Come on sis, it’s okay to fall in love”
“I’ve never felt anything like this before, I feel like I am having an internal break down and a reboot at the same time” Gretel allowed herself to panic
“I think now might be a good time to start,” Hansel put his hand on her shoulder “Listen I don’t know much about romantic love or romance or even slight attraction but I do know that If you love with all of your heart, everything should turn out fine” Hansel told her
“How can I even love with all my heart? Won’t it break? Won’t it bleed? Could my heart get worn and old and not good enough anymore?” Gretel asked Hansel tears pouring from her face now
“I think it could bleed and break, but love is love and love is always good enough, no matter how its expressed” Hansel told her
“Yes I do feel for Hunter and it terrifies me but It’s also wonderful” She wiped her tears
“There you go the first step is acceptance, i think”
Gretel laughed and hugged Hansel.
“Promise me you won’t ever stop being yourself” Gretel told him
“I promise” Hansel promised he let go of their hug
“So do you like Magnolia?” Gretel teased him
Hansel immediately blushed just by hearing her name, by thinking of her he felt butterflies. He just turned the other way, facing away from Gretel, shyly.
“Are you shy about it?” Gretel asked him
“I’ve never actually been in love before!” Hansel turned to her “I’ve never been in a relationship, never held hands with a woman, I have zero experience,” He panicked
“We can figure this out” Gretel clutched his shoulders “together” She added
“We will Gretel, we will” Hansel assured her
“There’s something else, I didn’t want to tell you this but I fear I must” Gretel began “There’s something off about Magnolia and Hunter’s licences”
“Then why’d you tell them they were fine??” Hansel asked her alarmedly
“I couldn’t place my finger on it!! Maybe it’s silly, maybe it’s nothing but I needed you to know”
“I understand” Hansel told her
They hugged and walked back home in silence.