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“I don’t know what’s scarier…” Nimona said softly, the edge of a sob in her voice. Ballister reached forward before pulling back, unsure what to do.
“The fact that everyone in this kingdom wants to run a sword through my heart, or that sometimes… I just wanna let ‘em.” Her voice hitched, and she hunched over herself.
Bal stared hard, eyes soft with sympathy and worry. He blinked a few times before seeming to come to a decision. He glanced around, making up his mind.
“We have to get you out of here,” his armor chinked and rustled as he strode across the room. “We’ll go over the wall.” Bal searched the desk, lighting up at the possibilities. He picked up a box and started gathering supplies- stuff he’d thought would be good to take with them. “We won’t stop until we find someplace safe. Okay?”
Nimona stared down at the floor, tracing the dirty boards with her eyes. She couldn’t get her mind off of how that kid had looked at her. How she’d had that look. Just like… just like Gloreth.
“We’ll go. Together.” She looked up, surprised.
“Together?” She asked, hoping desperately that he was saying what she thought he was. That he wanted to go with her. That he’d seen the ugly parts of her, had seen how much of a monster she is, and he wanted to stay with her.
She had reason enough to doubt him. Gloreth had seen her, too, but ultimately cast her off as something undesirable, something that needed to slink back off where it came from. Something dangerous.
So yes, Nimona should doubt him.
But for the first time in a thousand years, someone was giving her a chance. Someone wanted her for who she was. Ballister saw her as an actual… person.
And maybe she should give him a chance.
“Yes, together .” Bal set down his things and came up to her. He held out his hands and took hers in his. “I promise, Nimona. You will be safe. We will be safe. We’ll have a life, outside of… this . Because this isn’t living. I don’t want a life here if I have to fight for it. It just isn’t worth it.” He reached up and pushed a strand of hair out of her face.
“What do you say?” Bal asked, eyes open and questioning. In his eyes, she could see genuinity and caring. More than she’d ever seen in Gloreth’s eyes.
So maybe he is different. Maybe he’s exactly what she needs, someone who doesn’t think she’s a monster.
“Okay.” She whispers.
“Okay?” He repeats, bewildered. “Really? You think so?”
“Okay.” Nimona repeats, staring at him. A moment of silence passed before she’s being lifted into the air and spun around. She shrieks and giggles at it, eyes on Bal’s smiling, happy face as he spins her round and round.
“Okay!” Bal‘s voice bubbles out, filled with joy. “Awesome! We’ll- we’ll do this! It’s gonna be amazing, Nimona! We’re going to have an even better lair, and we’ll do whatever we want!” He sets her down, hands staying on her shoulders. “You- and I, we’ll never have to deal with people treating us like that ever again,” he points at the murder wall where Ambrosius’ face is still pinned up in the middle. “No one… will ever betray us, again.” His hand shakes as he brings it back down.
Nimona ignores how Bal’s voice had broken.
“We’ll have each other,” Nimona grinned toothily, thrusting her hand out. “Shake on it?” Bal took her hand and shook it.
They packed together, grabbing everything they would want to bring. They decided to leave in the morning, wanting to get a full night of sleep before attempting to scale the wall.
They fell asleep together, snuggling close on the couch, dreaming of their next great adventure.