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It’s late into the night when Eret heard three knocks at their door, the sound scaring them awake from their half-asleep state, the half-sewed jacket nearly falling out of their lap. Their wolf jumped up from it’s sleeping spot, suddenly alert at hearing the knocks. They gently place the half-sewed jacket onto the table, careful not to damage the half-way done patch. Before taking out their sword from its sheath before opening the door to see,
Niki?
She still wore her uniform, it’s bells and whistles still intact, even after the events of the election. She looked as if she had run to get to the castle, either from Manberg or from Pogtopia, Eret didn’t know.
Eret whispered, “Would you like to come in?” Careful not to wake up Hbomb, who’d taken residence upstairs. Niki nodded, and whispered back, “Sure.”
They gestured for Niki to follow them back into the castle, and to a chair at the table. Niki graciously followed them into the room, taking looks around it, noticing the carvings and art etched into the walls. Eret’s wolf got ready to pounce at the sudden appearance of the stranger, before settling down when it realized it was safe, and not a dangerous person.
“Have a seat, would you like something to eat or drink?” Eret asked, placing the sword against the wall, before moving over to grab a cup out of the cabinet. Niki replied, “Tea would be nice, and I already ate.”
Eret moved to grab another cup, and two bags of tea to start boiling, “So why are you here?”
“Can’t a girl check up on her brother every once and a while? Niki teased, fiddling it with the tassels on her uniform. Eret checked up on the boiling tea on the furnace, before clicking it off, then throwing the tea bags in the trash.
“In the middle of the night?” Eret questioned, stirring the tea bags before handing them to Niki. “And the brother best known for betraying his country?” Eret sipped their tea, savoring the warm liquid that warmed their body.
Niki took a sip of her tea, “Yeah yeah ”, she set the cup before asking, “What are you sewing?”
Eret placed down the cup, “A bi flag patch! I’ve been trying to sew more often!”
Because I haven't been able to sleep , went unsaid but was left in the air.
Niki smiled slightly, “Do you have some extra thread for another patch? I’ve been meaning to sew more often.”
Eret nods, and pulls open a drawer full with thread bobbins and stray needles. They take out what’s needed, then shut the drawer. “Here, I think this should be what you need!”
“Thank you! Supplies have been limited recently unfortunately.” Niki placed the materials into her coat, and took another sip of her tea.”
“How’s Puffy been?” Eret asked, mind vaguely remembering his sister’s friend, “Pirate life going well for her?”
Niki choked slightly on her tea, coughing a bit before responding, “It’s been going well, She sends me treasure sometimes.”
“What kind of treasure?” Eret questions, leaning against the table.
Niki ponders for a moment, “Gold, Lockets, Jewels.”
“Treasures from a rich man?”
“Pretty much, at least that’s what she said.”
The awkward silence fills the air for a moment, the eerie question of why either of them had been up late in the night still hung in the air. Eret’s wolf snored quietly in the corner, it’s snores bouncing off the walls of the castle.
-
“So why are you here? You normally visit me during the daytime.” Eret asked, gesturing to the windows which filtered in the cold night air.
“I. I’ve been having nightmares.” Niki answered, fidgeting with the cuffs on her uniform. “And not the ones from when we were young.” Under the moonlight, Eret could see the slight shadows that decorated her eyes, the blankness of her normally joyful eyes.
“Night terrors? Can I ask about them?” Eret prodded, weary of the past nightmares their family had been plagued with.
“I..I can never remember them...just little bits and pieces. I remember seeing you guys die...or watching the flag burn again and again and again.. And I was always just a bystander...I could never do anything…. ” Her eyes began to water up from tears, whether from exhaustion or the emotions building up in her, she wiped away her tears in an attempt to compose herself.
Eret stood up from their spot, and walked over to hug their sister, wrapping their arms around her. Niki accepted the hug and Eret could feel the tears leak into his clothing.
“We’re okay Niki, I’m alive, L'Manberg's still alive, Ranboo is still alive. We’re going to be okay, We’re going to be okay, I promise.” Eret muttered, rubbing Niki’s back in the same way their parents once did for them.
“We’ll be okay.”
They stayed like that for a long time, before the sun began to rise again, and Niki left to go back to Manburg. Eret made sure to remind her that the castle was free to crash in any time she wanted too, even if it was the middle of the night.
-
Eret heads over to Manburg during its Market Day, scanning the stalls and stores for more thread and materials to create a new coat for a uniform design. The people look at him in awe, or in horror, they aren’t quite sure. Just get the materials, and ignore everyone else.
Niki races over to them, “Eret !! Eret !!”, and Eret spins around to see Niki running up to them with a basket in hand.
“Niki ! How’ve you been?” Eret asks, taking the basket from her, and walking back towards the castle.
“I finished the patch ! I wanted to return the un-needed thread !” She answered, showing off the tri-striped square on her left arm. “And I managed to snag some bread from the bakery for you!”
Eret looked inside the basket, taking note of the wrapped pastries and the box of thread bobbins sat neatly right next to them.
“Thank you Niki!” Eret said, “Would you like to grab some food from the castle?”
“I can’t sorry..Have to attend to something for Manberg..but I’ll take you up on the offer later?” Niki responded, running her hand over the patch.
“Sure! See you later?”, Eret asked as they made their way up to the castle.
“See you later!” Niki waved, before walking down the path again away from the castle.