this bird has flown [bianca]

[FELIX CICERO TELLER]

10 January 2028

As Felix stood in his new office, the sense of something missing nearly overwhelmed him. Though he'd been a part of the Department of Mysteries for over a decade, it had never occurred to him that he would one day run the department. He had been well satisfied with holing himself up in his research, losing his mind amongst the cosmos. But when he weighed it all out, the opportunity was one he simply couldn't refuse. With the department in turmoil after Asher's plot and subsequent departure had revealed, and only a young assistant head to manage, Felix had been asked to step into the position. He was the best fit, with his unique knowledge of the workings of the ministry after so much time spent in its bowels.

Felix ran a finger along the mahogany desk, frowning. There had been a moment of joy, replaced by dubiousness. It wasn't that he didn't think he could manage the department. It wasn't that there was a better person fit for the role. Sure, he would miss spending his time in research, trying to understand the incomprehensible might of the universe. Finding answers to questions that hadn't even been asked. Was this not the right thing to do? In a moment, the thought struck him. He recognised the ache in his chest, the feeling of something missing and the answer that he sought.

Grabbing a quill and a slip of parchment, Felix jotted a note, summoning a fellow department head to his office if she had time over lunch. He tapped the parchment and it folded itself up, zooming off before Felix could second guess himself. He blew out a sharp breath, running his fingers through his hair. He wished Hanna was here. But she was in Paris, meeting with fellow designers in a fashion masterclass. But Hanna hadn't been the first young woman his mind had jumped to when thinking of celebrating his successes.

It was Bianca.

Bianca Alia Rivera

[Bianca Alia Rivera]

10 January 2028

Merlin, Bianca hated the Department of Mysteries. Its existence had always rubbed her the wrong way – as an Auror, then a Department Head, Bianca was rather used to having her authority go unquestioned. The fact that there was an entire department that didn’t answer to her, that existed above the ‘need-to-know’ basis of even the Minister…yeah, it bothered her. That irritating itch at the back of her mind had flared into a full-on hatred after her rivalry began with Asher Burke. Always clashing at council meetings, always trying to out-maneuver the other. The anger had faded back into an irritation after his arrest, but then the replacement Department Head had proved to be a nuisance more than anything else. Bianca returned to the familiar habit of sparing a nasty look for the department whenever she passed that floor, but by then it had become a familiar habit.

Now there was a slight hope that the cycle could be broken. Bianca had been half-asleep at the last gathering of the Department Heads – they were such a waste of time, and nothing was ever decided anyway – when Felix’s name had been mentioned as a potential replacement for the position. That had caught her attention though. The thought of working together, being equals even, startled her a little in light of their rather convoluted history. But there was no reason to oppose the appointment, and even a few reasons to support it. He had the right temperament, the right background, and he’d never contradicted her. And in spite of everything – he was still one of the most important people in her life. Something good might come out of this.

So the suggestion had been approved, even if it didn’t completely reassure Bianca that everything would turn out alright. She sat at her desk overlooking witness lists for the scheduled trials that week when the parchment airplane landed on the binder. Staring at the hastily scribbled note, Bianca felt her mind wander even as her hands idly folded the note neatly and lined it up on her desk with the other mountains of papers. She was silent the whole way to the elevator and down, wondering about the consequences of this dynamic change as she knocked solidly once on the door and entered without another moment of pause.

The contradictory thought occurred to her that Felix looked like he belonged behind the desk, even if he did seem uncomfortable with his new circumstances. Bianca leaned against the doorframe, eyes scanning the office and the shockingly white (and bare) walls before they settled again on Felix. “Does anything ever remove the worry lines from your face?” she questioned, taking another step forward and closing the door behind her. She knew better than most the responsibilities of the job, the strange sense of isolation and commitment and sacrifice that came with it. It was most people’s ambition to sit here, but nobody ever truly seemed to understand what it meant. What it demanded. She wondered if that was why Felix had asked to see her, to feel less alone, or if he was just enjoying the fact that she was required to answer a summons from him now.

FELIX CICERO TELLER

[FELIX CICERO TELLER]

There was a part of Felix that hadn't expected her to come. Who was he anyways, to summon the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement anyways? The last time he'd seen Bianca, she was looking rather cosy with an unfamiliar, broad man. Completely his opposite, really. Felix hadn't caught a glimpse of his face, but he had felt a strange sensation in his stomach. After days and days of overthinking, he recognised it as jealousy. How could he be jealous after he'd been the one to completely mess up their relationship? Besides, he was with Hanna now. At least, he thought he was. They spent a lot of time together.

It didn't stop the relief from washing over him when a knock came on the door, and Bianca entered without waiting for him to respond. Felix arched a brow. She knew what that level of confidence did to him. "Lovely to see you too, Bianca," he replied sarcastically, pushing back from the desk so he could rise and greet her properly. He pressed a kiss to each of her cheeks before stepping back and looking at her. He leaned against his desk, crossing his long legs. "I won't lie, I don't think I've ever expected to be on a level playing field with you," said Felix honestly, a smirk spreading across his lips. It was weird to think that he was an equal to Bianca. Bianca Rivera, who held so much power in matters of the state, and more privately, matters of the heart.

Rubbing out the crease in his forehead, Felix sighed. "Thanks for coming down," he started, his gaze trained on her even as he dropped his hand. "And reminding me that I am constantly ageing myself," he added, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Do you ever get out of the mountains of paperwork? Or am I doomed to never see a celestial body again?"

Bianca Alia Rivera

[Bianca Alia Rivera]

To absolutely nobody’s surprise, Felix didn’t answer directly but rather shot back a rather dry reply. But Bianca supposed it might kill an Unspeakable to be straightforward and honest. She was rather horrid herself when it came to open communication, but there was at least heavy baggage in her past to account for that. The employees of the Department of Mysteries had no such excuse – they were just naturally cryptic and secretive. And Felix was really no better. She supposed that was why they had been so well-matched, and so terrible too. They were the same about running from their problems, so the secrets got bigger and then the fights too. She arched an eyebrow but let him approach, wondering if they were really on that level of familiarity for cheek kisses.

But then, why not? It was all ancient history. And even if the rest of the world didn’t know it, Bianca was settled and called for. It grated on her to have to pretend otherwise in public, and act as if she barely knew Cade whenever his work took him to the Ministry, but…that’s what they’d agreed on. It would make for less gossip, interfere less with their work…and whatever they did at home could be kept private enough. Besides, Felix had made it more than obvious at the Christmas party that he’d gone back to his regular type. Bianca wasn’t blind, even if she’d been occupied with looking for Cade in the crowd without being obvious about it (as if she had any subtlety at all). She rolled her eyes at Felix and made a little ‘tsk’ sound. “Don’t get carried away, I still have seniority,” she pointed out, one hand falling to her hip while the other waved away such a silly idea.

It might be true that on paper, Felix answered to no one now. But Bianca had no intention of making it easy for him or even allowing Felix to think that he might be able to dictate terms to her. That had never been their dynamic before, and that was part of what had made it so thrilling. His demeanor became more serious as he considered his promotion, and Bianca could see the concern lurking in his eyes. A valid one, too – the responsibility sometimes kept you from doing what you love. She moved to stand next to him, but a moment later perched herself on the edge of the desk. She did it often enough in her own office. “That’s your choice,” she said, and a moment later she clarified, “I hate being stuck behind a desk. But sometimes I still have the opportunity to go out into the field. You just have to insist...and develop selective deafness when you hear something you don't like.” So she still occasionally traveled to Hy-Brasil to oversee the patrols in lieu of the fallen barrier, and Bianca had been deeply involved in the operation at Hogwarts too. Little windows of opportunity, if you knew how to create them for yourself.

FELIX CICERO TELLER

[FELIX CICERO TELLER]

Felix said nothing, only appraising Bianca with a satisfied smirk. She may think she had authority, but Felix knew the truth. As self-important as the DMLE thought they were, each department of the ministry had an equal standing. Equal importance. Which meant that the only seniority that Bianca held over Felix was tenure, and he could even argue that since he'd been in the ministry for longer than her, he was the one with seniority. But instead of prodding the dragon as he so would have liked to do, he kept silent for the time being.

Bianca had always been a hurricane of staunch belief and hard-won loyalty. She was also steadfast and fiery. It was one of the many things that had drawn them together, and Felix expected nothing less than for her to challenge him at every turn. It was part of the reason he'd requested her appearance - half of him didn't even believe she'd lower herself to come down to the Department of Mysteries. But she had, and their little game of cat and mouse could begin again. In their personal relationship, the one Felix had so neatly imploded, it had been a balancing act between the pair of them. Felix loved the way that Bianca could keep him guessing and always on his toes. He had half a mind to thread his fingers through her hair and kiss her soundly, just to take her by surprise.

But no, they couldn't do that anymore. Rumours were circulating that she was seeing someone, and Felix had brought Hanna to the Christmas party. It was a statement that whatever they'd had, it had melted into a camaraderie. "Selective deafness you say?" Felix echoed, arching a brow at his worthy adversary. "Like when I once suggested Thai food and you ordered pizza instead?" he asked with a smirk. "I've considered setting up a programme like the muggles have - one to send delegates into space to study it better. Is that obscenely selfish?" asked Felix casually.

Bianca Alia Rivera

[Bianca Alia Rivera]

Bianca reflected on all the different times she’d been to this office, and shook her head at the thought of the cycle repeating itself. Asher had been unbearable, the best and worst of the Department of Mysteries wrapped up in a bubble of self-importance and mystery. She’d only ever come to his office to yell at him and demand details for the security arrangements she had to make for his mysterious projects -- although she'd never gotten a single detail until the Minister had finally divulged some secrets in the spirit of ensuring that Law Enforcement could clean up the Ministry's classified messes. The interim head after him had been better disciplined, but still a disappointment. She would sit across from him and argue for hours over nothing, and Bianca would leave in the exact same situation she’d been in at the beginning. So how would it be like with Felix?

He'd always liked to argue with her, if only because he knew how wild it made her and it seemed to entertain him to hunt for specific reactions. Felix’s arguments had less fire than hers, though – he was more like a relentless wall of pressure that pushed forward logic and reason until he reached a foregone conclusion. It was the kind of stubbornness that could always make her pace restlessly around a room, refuting each of his points rapidly with her own while her heart pounded furiously until it reached a fever pitch. But she’d been addicted to that feeling, chasing that high for as long as they’d been seeing each other until it ended abruptly. It was the sort of dynamic that simply couldn’t exist between them anymore, not after all their history together and given these new jobs that would put them into regular close contact with each other. No, this time they would have to be better.

She rolled her eyes at his question, studying the bookshelf on the opposite wall as she shrugged casually and kept her expression neutral. “Did you? I don’t remember that,” she answered easily, her lips curving into a little satisfied smirk a moment later as she replayed the memory. She’d been rather demanding and he’d always let her have her way (as long as it suited him, anyway). Their battle of wills had all been part of the fun, but the cracks had started to show once they’d realized they wanted different things – and she’d stuck to her bottom line while he’d gone after what he wanted anyway. Felix’s last question felt a little dangerous in that sense, but Bianca didn’t hesitate to dive into the danger. It wasn't in her nature to play it safe. “Since when has being selfish stopped you?” she asked pointedly, remembering that little bit of the conversation during their backslide after the Hogwarts fire, when she and Cade hadn't been seeing each other and she'd gone looking for something familiar. But history – with the Order, with Felix, with Cade -- did seem to have proven a point in that she was terrible at keeping business and pleasure separate, and she'd spent most of the Ministry Christmas party paying that price. She raised an eyebrow at Felix, a silent challenge to him to try and deny it.

FELIX CICERO TELLER

[FELIX CICERO TELLER]

There was a thousand things between them that had been left unsaid. Felix knew as much, and by the shrewd look Bianca was giving him, she felt the same. But their past was in the past, however abruptly it had shifted, and Felix knew that they could only move forward. Beyond the intense chemistry he felt between them, Felix respected Bianca, something he couldn't say for most. She liked to argue almost as much as he did, even if it was just for the sake of prying something interesting out of nothing. And she was even more stubborn than him, though Bianca would staunchly oppose him.

Even now as the electricity shivered between them, Felix wondered what Bianca's next move would be. The aura of mystery would have made her a good Unspeakable, though he knew that she was much more fond of transparent policing than shrouded experiments. There was a ticker running through Felix's mind, reminding him about how he'd brought Hanna to the Christmas party, and how Bianca was rumoured to be seeing someone. As much as he loathed it, he had to deny it. So Felix crossed his arms and arched a brow at Bianca, appraising her with the ghost of a smirk on his lips.

"You always wanted pizza. Unless you could find Chilean food - and they never did it as good as back home," said Felix quietly, though Bianca did not meet his gaze. She was surveying one of his many bookshelves. He chuckled at her next words anyways. "True. I do like to get what I want. Some call it selfishness, I call it determination," he said with a half a shrug. "In the western world, they call them astronauts. In Russia, they are cosmonauts. But I like the old Greek roots. Star sailors," said Felix, watching Bianca still. "It would be selfish because I would want to do it. They say it takes years of physical and mental training." Felix paused, his composure slipping as the eager boy who first saw the auroras slipped out. "To be surrounded by everything and nothing all at once... wouldn't that be something?"

Bianca Alia Rivera

[Bianca Alia Rivera]

That was the curse of this department, and the whole lifestyle that came with it. Words fizzled out like they couldn’t penetrate the air. Secrets stayed buried inside the lockbox of a person’s mind. Things that could’ve been said, and maybe should’ve, went without being spoken at all. It certainly felt that way with Felix. He’d always been talented at prying things out of her, even on that first night when she’d been reluctant to talk or pay him any sort of special attention. And then the more that time passed, and the words flowed out during arguments or intense conversations or even charged moments of silence right before the storm broke out – that was when it became more obvious to Bianca that the words that needed to be said were getting stuck in her throat. And he would almost start to say something, but then abandon the thought.

By the time they’d started to have the real conversations, it’d all been long since over between them. She exhaled slowly through her nose and pointedly kept her eyes fixed on one of his bookshelves as he reminded her in a quiet voice. "Hm." Yeah, she remembered her determination to find a decent Chilean place in London and dragging Felix with her to critically examine the food. It was a shock to realize that years had already passed since then. Even if they hadn’t worked out, there’d been parts of their relationship that Bianca wished could’ve survived the awkward transition into being friends. “Did you ever make it to Patagonia?” she asked abruptly, his reminder of Chile bringing back a distant memory of the first conversation they’d ever had. The fixation he had with the Aurora Borealis and traveling to the distant parts of Earth where you could come closest to touching infinity.

He almost became a different person when he started to wander into his philosophies. Bianca wouldn’t have called him a hard person, but he was definitely…protected. Hard to penetrate. Still, everything about him seemed to soften when he talked about the mysteries of the universe. Bianca turned her head to judge what expression he had on his face and locked eyes with Felix. She took a moment to really consider his question, and what it would mean to be somewhere and everywhere and nowhere all at once. “I think I know what you mean. That feeling of being weightless, disconnected from everything.” She paused for a moment, readjusted her position on the desk. The movement made her scars twinge, and she pursed her lips at the pain. Her hands gripped the wood of the desk tightly until her knuckles turned white. The fire at Hogwarts had opened up a lot of old traumas, for the community and for herself. It was a constant reminder that there was always a little bit of Dark magic that lingered under her skin. “But there are plenty of things out there that force us to keep our feet on the ground,” Bianca pointed out, “And the higher you fly, the more you’ll be reminded of them.”

FELIX CICERO TELLER