always on my mind [two-shot]

[EPKE ROBERTUS OPPEDYK]

companion thread

Late August 2027

The past month had been far from easy. Rob had essentially shut down his entire body, refusing to let his anguish surface. His work had suffered dramatically, prompting Sienna to instruct him to take time to himself until he got his shit together. Rob refused to admit the truth to his best friend, though he suspected she already knew. How things had soured with Lyra. His mate had disappeared without a trace, and Rob had worked hard not to search for her.

As time slowly crawled along, Rob came to regret his decision. Each day, the hole in his soul deepened until he feared the damage was irreparable. He had gone so wrong - but he had also stuck to his beliefs. He knew the kind of person Lyra was - soft and kind, yet headstrong and brave. She had put herself through so much, survived through so much, and to what end? There was a delicate balance between softness and hardness, and Lyra had toed that line beautifully. And Rob had struck her over the edge.

A month. That was all he had managed to keep himself away from her. To give her the space he thought she needed. Rob had warred with his own mind, trying to decide what she wanted or needed. But that wasn't even up to him. But her continued silence spoke volumes. Rob eventually caved, and started asking around to see if anyone had seen or heard from Lyra. There had been one potential lead he'd teased out of an old woman in Diagon Alley, but Lyra had never checked in to her room in the swanky Diagon Alley hotel. It didn't seem to her taste anyways, thought Rob. Then again, the top of the Shard hadn't either. Rob vowed to learn every facet of Lyra when he found her. The bits he wanted and the ones he didn't deserve.

[EPKE ROBERTUS OPPEDYK]

Late September 2027

Another perilous month had passed. Rob had made no headway in finding Lyra. Had found no way to apologise. He'd been forced to return to work, despite his distractions, but thankfully was able to muddle through with heavy help from Sienna. He still had the crazed look of a mad scientist, but Rob focused his energies into his potion making. He experimented with various different ingredients, creating potions of varying effects. His friendships suffered, no matter how often Sienna tried to cheer him up or focus him.

One night, Rob was pulled from a hazy state of unconsciousness by a tug on his chest. The same spot he had once indicated to Rhys where he felt the bond. Hardly thinking, Rob pulled on a dressing gown and trainers, and apparated. It was just a feeling. A strong feeling. He could hardly explain it. But then, Rob couldn't explain the bond either.

Rob popped into existence in an unfamiliar forest. He looked around, unable to deduce where he was. Rain poured from the sky in buckets, instantly soaking him. Rob lit his wand and held it aloft. The tug in his chest led him forward, until he was certain something was going to burst forth from him. "Lyra?!" Rob called, his voice carried away in the din of the storm. "Lyra!" he tried again.

Rob scoured the immediate area for the better part of two hours, until his voice was hoarse and his teeth chattering. But there was nothing here. He had failed. The bond had failed.