Work Text:
Flynn’s magic isn’t very useful. Well. It is and it isn’t. Because, yeah, she can make hella good drinks and foods and comfort people with them. But it’s not very helpful when it comes to Julie being a Chosen One. Rather, it’s almost like the world took one look at her and said, ‘She should stay at home and wait for Julie to return.’ Which. Has the world met Flynn? She’s not going to do that.
Maybe she can’t magic her way out of situations, can’t recite spells and create shields. Maybe Flynn’s magic is kind of useless. But Flynn isn’t going to settle for that.
The first time she stays home while Julie is out doing something it’s… it’s not okay, not in the slightest, but it’s not like there’s really any other choice. Flynn’s twelve and so is Julie, but Julie is with her mum and another Chosen One. Going out to tackle her first problem.
And Flynn waits, chews at her fingernails, and bakes four kinds of cookies. When she tastes them, they all taste like worry and impatience and remind her of a timer ticking down to an explosion in movies.
She throws them out.
The second time she stays home, she doesn’t cook. Instead, she picks up her phone and researches the creature Julie’s gone to deal with. After all, it’s her best friend out there, she has to help in whatever way she can.
When Julie returns home, perfectly fine, Flynn is the first to pull her into a hug. Then, feeling like she has to do something, she starts making hot chocolate and brings out some biscuits. Julie laughs at her fussing, and so do her parents, but it makes things better. Not perfect, because Flynn was still stuck at home and waiting, but being able to do something is good.
It’s through her research that Flynn learns that Chosen Ones don’t necessarily have Quests. They can do small things, help out, and while beings flock to them for help, that doesn’t mean they have to say yes. That’s why Flynn gets to join Julie the next time she goes out—because she reasons well enough that the chance of danger is so small it’s basically non-existent.
Rose is with them too, bracelets of ivy and statice wrapped around her wrists, bells of Ireland like a crown in her hair. They walk with their hands entwined, like they’re crossing the road, and though Flynn feels a bit too old for it, there’s safety in being with Rose. Because while Rose might only be a herbalist, she’s still one of the best and strongest people Flynn knows.
They end up talking to a gnome who’s lost a ring. Julie can’t exactly help with that, but Flynn’s the one who comes up with the idea to find an item-locater charm. Rose is the one that leads them to a witch who sells the charms.
When they return home, giggling and excited and happy with how well everything went, Flynn thinks to herself that they’re the perfect team. Her and Julie and Rose, even if Rose seems willing to just smile and let them work it all out even when she so clearly knows the answers. But Flynn likes that. And, when they’re settling in for the night, Rose turns to her and says, “You did very well today Flynn, perhaps you can come again next time.” And Julie and Flynn cheer and then whisper beneath their bed covers for the rest of the night.
In the morning, they’re exhausted, but it was worth it.
And so Flynn begins to come with Julie. It’s not every time, after all they live in different houses and sometimes Flynn still has homework to do, but it’s more often than not. Flynn loves it, loves the thrill of going out on an adventure even if it’s not really an adventure.
She begins to document what they do, whether it be in a note on her phone or a video or pictures to go through later. She doesn’t do anything with them, but it’s come in handy a few times when they’re trying to help someone with a problem similar to one they’ve dealt with before.
The years pass like that. Flynn’s knowledge on magic and different beings grows, as do her contacts within the magic society. Her phone has contacts and a list of favours people owe Julie, and a list of favours Julie owes others.
Rose comes out less and less with them, sometimes letting Ray or Carlos come with them instead. Flynn doesn’t know whether that’s better or worse, but these days it’s rare that Flynn or Julie get stuck. The few times that happens they ring Rose who coaches them through figuring out a solution.
It’s pretty far from the adventurous life that Flynn thought Julie would have when she was younger. But she’s grown up since then. This is real life, after all, not a story full of hidden treasure and quests. Privately, she thinks it’s a bit better this way. Though it can be very irritating when Flynn has a project due the next day and Julie’s ringing her about a brownie who accidentally travelled to the wrong neighbourhood and has no idea how to get home.
Regardless, it’s a good life and Flynn’s contacts only ever grow. She might not have magic like Julie, power flooding through her veins. But coming back home to food and drink that tastes like warmth and contentment is the best feeling—along with a successful outing and huddling under a blanket in winter. She’s hopeful that it’ll never change.
Except it does because Rose dies and suddenly Flynn and Julie only have themselves to lean on, though the others around them try. Being a Chosen One is part of Julie’s life, and it’s no longer just music that reminds Julie of Rose. But helping too. Flynn thinks it’s only because Julie’s too kind to stop helping that keeps her going out the door to be a Chosen One and keeps her saying yes even when she’s full of grief. Flynn sticks with her for every step, for every almost-quest, and slowly they remember how to smile, how to laugh, and it’s almost like Rose is with them.
It’s not perfect, but life doesn’t have to be. With laughter, with happiness, with food tasting of good memories, things can be okay again. Sometimes that’s enough.
And, well, Flynn has Julie as her best friend. It’s the only thing she really needs in life, beyond cool magic and a list of magical contacts. Julie’s her person in every way possible. It’s something that Flynn will always be thankful for.