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“Narrator? You there?”
Although the being didn’t have to breath, Y/N could’ve swore they heard it sigh. “Yes, Y’N?”
Y/N shifted in their spot. They knew what they were gonna ask for was ridiculous. There was a better chance of the sun self-imploding than there was of the Narrator even considering this.
“So, I have this math test coming up,” Y/N began, testing the waters first. They expected the Narrator to scoff or something. They were surprised when it didn’t cut in immediately with some annoying, sarcastic comment. It was listening.
“And I-... I haven’t exactly been paying attention this semester,” Y/N continued, omitting the reason they never paid attention to anything. Narrator still stayed silent, still listened. This was a nice change of pace.
“Could you… help me study? They finally finished. They wished there was a face they could look up at to see the reaction of, but there wasn’t. Just the weird, oppressive, always--present air that was the Narrator.
“I could,” the Narrator replied, not bluntly but rather… thoughtfully.
Y/N blinked. “What?”
“I could,” it repeated.
Y/N blinked again. “Just like that? No… weird, snarky comment on my IQ level?”
“Yes, just like that,” the voice confirmed, a tinge of irritation audible in their tone at how stubborn Y/N was being. “Though I must ask, why me? Why not your… ‘parents?’ Or Primrose? Isn’t she your sister?”
“Well, my ‘parents’ would be pissed if I told them about me spacing out during school, and honestly, Primrose is stupid.”
The Narrator laughed, a rare sound. The warmth in it was a stark contrast to his usual detached observations. “Is she?”
"I mean, she literally - unironically - thought that nine minus zero was one. One!" Y/N exclaimed. "That isn't exactly the definition of intelligence!"
The Narrator let out a small heh. "No it isn't. Backtracking, you said something about a test?"
Y/N blinked, then frowned at the reminder. "Right, right. It's about something called multiplication."
"Multiplication, multiplication..." Narrator mutters. "Ah, right. Yes, I can help with that."
"Great, thanks Nar."
"No problem, Y/N."
[ — ]
Y/N walked faster than usual, nearly running. There was a sparkle in their eyes that wasn't there before.
They walked to their front door, pushing it open. They walked past their parents' and sister - their 'family' wasn't important, their faces were literally scribbled out.
There was only one person that was important.
Y/N entered their room, removing and placing their backpack next to their drawer. They did what they usually did when they returned from school - they undid the overly elaborate clips on their head, (How did they even stay there? Y/N didn't have hair. Did they just... Float in place?) changed back into some comfortable clothes, and laid on their bed, looking up at the ceiling.
But this time, they weren't just blankly staring at the ceiling as they did most days. They were waiting for something. Or rather, someone. Wait, actually, they were right the first time…
They didn't have to wait for long, though. The thing they were waiting for signified its presence with a polite "Hello, Y/N. How was–"
Y/N immediately sat up to cut Narrator off.. "ITWENTGREATITWENTGREATITWENTGREAT!! I was nervous at first, but WOAH I finished that in, like, 5 minutes, I was the FLASH like, the teacher looked so surprised, and get this, the–"
“Y/N,” The Narrator cut through Y/N’s rambling. “Slow down.”
Y/N smiled sheepishly, realizing they were way too excited. “R-right, sorry. Just- look!”
They grabbed their school bag, rummaging through all the notebooks, too highly-prized. Soon, crumpled up papers and paper airplanes, sure enough, they pulled their test papers, folded neatly together by their stuck-up teacher. They unfolded the papers, fluttering them out and placing them on their bed for the Narrator to see.
98%.
There was a beat of silence before... "You... passed."
Y/N huffed, feigning offense though they weren't offended. "I didn't just pass. I passed with flying colors! And don't talk about me passing this test like it's the second coming of Christ, I'm not that stupid."
The Narrator let a small huff of amusement escape it. "Well, yes, but this is still an achievement, and how else can I support it and acknowledge it? I can't exactly get on my metaphorical knees and worship you for getting a 98% on a test."
Y/N scoffed, crossing their arms. "Whatever. Just be happy! I actually listened to you go on and on about the 'art of subtraction' and all that."
The Narrator let out a light chuckle. "Alright, alright"
There was a good moment of content silence. Y/N just sat there, Narrator's presence now less oppressive and more... hesitant. Then,
"Narr?"
"Yes, Y/N?"
"Are you... proud of me?"
Y/N had never seen anything akin to a face when it came to the Narrator, but the soft wave of warmth that washed over them seemed to be the Narrator's version of a gentle smile. A genuine one.
"Yes, Y. Of course I'm proud of you."