Chapter Text
“You know you’re always welcome to come with us.”
Thorn turned from where she was packing the van to look at Daphne, who was watching her friends get ready to leave. There was a war in her eyes. In their short time spent together, the makeover, the singing lessons, writing Daphne’s song, the two had developed a connection deeper than either wanted to acknowledge. They shared too many charged moments and prolonged stares, too many almosts and butterflies. To acknowledge it though, meant acknowledging the reality of the situation, something neither of them wanted to talk about.
“No pressure of course, but I know you’ve been through a lot. Maybe a break is what you need.” And Thorn had heard more than just Daphne’s song, with its metaphors and drama. She had seen the heartbreak on Daphne’s face every time she thought about Fred Jones. But she also saw the longing. Daphne wasn’t the kind of person to just quit at something, and she had long since tied herself to a distracted man.
“Look, we’re leaving tomorrow at noon. We’d be happy to have you, but I understand if you don’t want to leave.”
Daphne still didn’t say anything, and Thorn sighed as she watched her walk towards that hippie Mystery van of theirs. She ignored the looks from Luna and Dusk as she crawled into their backup tour bus, and tucked herself into bed. Sleep, however, did not come. Every time she closed her eyes, Thorn saw red hair, violet eyes, and a sharp grin. She didn’t want to think about the feelings in her chest that accompanied those thoughts. Daphne wasn’t going to show tomorrow, and Thorn would move on from this whole affair in another week. She hoped.
—
It was five minutes before they were going to drive off when Thorn caught sight of that fiery red hair. Daphne had a bag on her shoulder and a suitcase at her side. She looked up, eyes bright with determination and something like hope.
“I hope I’m not too late.”
From anyone else it would’ve been a quip, but from Daphne it only carried genuine kindness and concern. Thorn couldn’t stop the grin.
“No actually, you’re right on time.” Thorn led her onto the bus, where Luna and Dusk greeted her with excitement. “Your mystery gang isn’t going to come after us for kidnapping you now, are they?” She saw how clever those kids were and she did not want to be on their bad side.
“No, I told them all where I was going. They were upset, but this is what I need– to have something of my own. The way Fred has his traps, or Velma has her tech, I need this, and you.” It was probably just wishful thinking, given that Daphne was addressing all three of them, but Thorn could’ve sworn that “you” was meant for her alone.
The four of them got Daphne packed, and then got on the road. She wasn’t sure how long Daphne would be with them, if she would get homesick, or miss her friends, or get tired of singing, but Thorn would take the time offered to her. But looking at Daphne, Luna, and Dusk with their heads bent together at the table writing lyrics, a feeling of right settled in her chest, and Thorn knew she would fight for it.
—
The miles slipped by, and Luna and Dusk had gone to sleep in their bunks. As she climbed in, Dusk called out, “Night, C! Don’t let the existential dread bite!”
“C?” Daphne repeated, incredulous but amused.
“Yeah, you know. Crush? C? Don’t worry, it’s gonna stick, I’m sure of it,” she said, pulling her curtain shut with a flourish.
There was no sound now other than the quiet hum of the bus on the road, and the lights had dimmed to a gentle glow, like the whole world was exhaling. Daphne was sitting on the couch with her knees tucked under her chin. She looked contemplative.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Thorn asked.
Daphne sighed, then looked right at her. “I’ve never been on my own before. I don’t know who I am without them.” She hesitated, then continued, “But I don’t think I was anyone with them, either.”
Thorn took her time answering, letting quiet fill the cabin. It was something Daphne admired about her, how she never shied away from silence– as if she knew the space between words held something more.
“That’s the great thing about starting over I guess. You get to figure it out. And we’re here when you need us,” she said finally. “Come on, I want to show you something cool.”
Thorn led her through the bus until they emerged on an open platform– a small space hovering just over the road. They looked up to the inky blackness of the sky, filled with as many stars as one could see close to a city.
“Sometimes it helps me to get perspective, you know? To take a breath of fresh air and realize how small we all are. Makes thinking easier,” Thorn said quietly.
Daphne didn’t say anything, instead coming over to lean on the railing and look up. Her hair caught the breeze, and she took a breath. Some of the tension leaked out of her shoulders.
Thorn didn’t know how long the two of them stood out there for, just basking in each other’s presence under the stars– only that it was much later when they finally went back inside. Daphne whispered a soft goodnight before heading to her new bed, and when Thorn laid down to sleep she dreamt of stars and soft smiles.
It wasn’t everything, not yet. But it was a start to something powerful.