Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

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Harken
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After being dragged away from her home, she can't do anything about it. Can she magically get back? No. These damn civilians. They've been doing nothing but cause trouble for her and her peace. They were noisy, lousy, and annoying. Gosh, she hates them! She had to get rid of them, she didn't enjoy it, killing people was her least favorite hobby. Now, she was trying to fit in with the others, but she couldn't care less. Every killer was so noisy she had to lock herself in the warehouse she was currently inhabiting in. She didn't like the dark, but there was a tiny window that showed a tiny bit of light. That was something. But there's nowhere she can plant her beautiful roses in.
Rotting in the warehouse, she couldn't take it anymore. She had to step out. She can't stay here forever. Harken eyed the door; she stood up and walked towards it. Was this a good idea? Harken took a moment to think before twisting the knob of the warehouse. Light poured in, Harken sighed. She opened the door wider, huh. Today was quiet today. A little too quiet. She liked it. She stepped out further. At the corner of her (closed) eye, she spotted a grey figure.

"+who's there...?+"

She ticked out quietly, like they were going to hear that. To her surprise, the figure actually heard her, somehow. The figure was a small grey blocky head and body. It had yellow joints connected to its limbs. It had a somewhat, to her, a badly drawn on face. The block person walked timidly towards her.

"+Who might you be....?+"

Harken asked softly.

"^_...._^"

It didn't look like it speaks. I mean that's nice, I guess.

"^_....Pretence..._^"

They spoke quietly, like a pin dropping on wood.

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Pretence
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Pretence didn't actually want to bother Harken's peace, but in the end, they can't seem like a stalker. Pretence tried it's best not to speak so loud Infront of Harken. Controlling its volume. Pretence looked up at the beautiful structure. The yellow shined like gold in the sun with specks of glittering orange all over her. The metallic bone(?) holding her perfect shape together was extravagantly pleasing to look at. Grey and yellow did fit her, Pretence felt a lovely pain in its chest, as if cupid stuck them hard.

"+what are you doing here, in my territory.....? +"

Pretence snapped out of its daydreaming and panicked, trying to find an answer that doesn't sound weird in any way. Then, they remembered they brought a pot as a gift for her. They took out the pot and nervously showed it to Harken. Pretence turned its head, avoiding eye contact with Harken.

"+Oh? A....gift....or.....a offering?+"

Harken asked with curiosity, taking the pot gift gently out of Pretence's hands. She examined it carefully.

"+Thank you, kind person....this would be useful for my roses....+"

Harken thanked Pretence for the gift and continued walking outside to the small portion of grass outside the warehouse. Pretence watched Harken as she placed the clay pot down on some patches of grass and returned back to her warehouse she was inhabiting in. Did she leave? Yeah. Pretence turned back where they traveled from, it took one last look at the warehouse before heading off to the killer's base.

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Harken
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Harken stared at the tiny grey figure through the tiny window in the warehouse as it left. She had only met them today but somehow felt a connection with them. Haken didn't know what it was, but it was strong. She felt like she needed to know more about them. She looked around in her tiny warehouse, searching for the flower seeds she took with her when she moved in here. Harken searched in the wooden crates she kept, checked under rugs and the cardboard box she always slept in. (why did i put her in a cardboard box) Harken walked to the random desk she had. She pulled one of the drawers softly to stop it from making noise. In there were some paperclips, a small shovel, and her flower seeds. Her flower seeds! Harken carefully picked it up so she doesn't make a scratch on the packaging with her sharp claws.

She stepped outside, still thinking about Prentence. She couldn't get them off her mind, she walked towards the clay pot that Pretence gave her as an offering of some sort. Wondering how it knew she was a entity on first look. It must be smarter than it looks. From what Harken noticed, it looked like it was made of concrete or some rusty rock of some sort. With golden yellow joints holding it together. Only one arm that looked like of dirty from killing. It must be a killer too then. Was it? Hopefully not. It could also be dirt. Then it must be as interested gardening as Harken is.

Harken dug into the earth like it was in debt to her and scooped a handful of rich dirt and poured it into the clay pot. She teared the flower seed packet and took out only 1 seed. She planted it slowly, carefully enough to not spill the dirt with her large (somewhat considered) hands.
She patted the dirt smooth until she can't see the seed anymore. Harken stood up slowly, trying not to break her old ass bones (im sorry) and headed towards the warehouse to get the watering can.

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Pretence
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Pretence came out of the corner, they didn't actually go back to the killer base it just hanged out in a corner, waiting for Harken to leave. It peeked at the clay pot they gave her as a gift. Pretence smiled even more now like it wasn't always like that. Pretence always loved when people accepted its gifts, unlike those civilians.

"^_I want to garden with Harken one day.....she must know so much about flowers...._^"

Pretence mumbled to themselves happily. But little to no surprise, Harken heard it. Pretence felt a presence behind it. It shivered before turning back. Harken was standing right them. Holy Fablehavens, its dead for sure.

"+What are you still doing here, Pretence....?+"

Pretence was too stunned to speak.

"+Did you say something about......wanting to garden with me....?+"

"^_...uhm....._^"

"+That's alright.....it's a small wish I can grant.....I still appreciate the offering you gave me.....consider this as a token of gratitude...+"

Harken smiled with her eye softly. Pretence could almost feel his heart(?) jumping up and down from joy. Pretence nodded.

“+Alright then, follow me.....+"

Harken guided Pretence to the clay pot. Harken explained softly how to properly garden. Even though her voice was very quiet, Pretence was willing to listen.

"+What's your favorite flower, dear.....?+"

"^_.....huh?......._^"

"+Mine are roses... they're beautiful....just like the garden I used to have in my home dimension...=”

Prentence thought for a long while, what was the last flower they saw? Oh, The golden yellow flower with the brown highlights that looked like blood splatters if you bash a civilians head open.

“^_....a Coreopsis flower..._^"

It wasn't a lie, Pretence just like the colors. It didn't know what favorite meant in general, so it assumed that favorite just meant the last flower you saw that was worth looking at.

"+..Coreopsis....that's a beautiful name...for a beautiful flower with such a touching meaning....+"

Pretence looked at Harken while she watered and cared for the flower like it was her child or something while talking about flowers. A feeling of admiration grew within them.

Chapter Text

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Harken
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After inviting Pretence to garden her roses with her, Harken's been noticing it began to visit her a lot. She didn't mind company; she found it comforting in fact. Being alone isn't always the best, so she let it be. Harken was busy watering her roses for the 3rd time today, keeping it nice and growing. Waiting for 3-4 years wasn't fun, but she's patient enough. She noticed that she couldn't hear the civilians loud chattering anymore. It's been like this for about a week now. There's been less and less civilians each round; less and less noise for her to deal with. She always wondered why. Busy watching her barely-about-to-sprout flower, Harken didn't notice that Pretence had come to visit again.

"^_...._^"

Pretence's shadow casted over Harken, just standing there. For a split second, Harken didn't know who it was. Harken looked up.

"+Oh....it's just you....+"

Harken sighed. She thought it was a civilian like the sheriff or something coming to kill her like every other day when she wasn't watching her territory.

"^_....are you gardening again, Star?...._^"

Pretence has been calling Harken, 'Star' more now days. A nickname she didn't actually mind being called. Shes been called all sorts of things. Horrid construct, shameless creature, fake 'angel', or anything like that for the past few months she's been here. Star is the only name she can accept from someone.

"+Just checking up on it....not much to do today....+"

"^_....don't have anything to do?....._^"

"+The other killers have taken care of the civilians....+"

"^_......._^"

"^_....do....you want to hang out somewhere...?_^"

Harken was interested in the invitation from Pretence.

"+Are you sure?....isn't there many civilians around the place?....+"

"^_...._^"

"^_....its just a picnic on the hills somewhere, don't worry they won't go there...._^"

Prentence smiled brightly and reassured Harken it'll be all right. Harken was interested in this 'picnic' thing that they brought up.

"+Sure...when do we meet up?...+"

Harken stood up.

"^_...maybe now, at 2....?_^"

Prentence said timidly, hoping that wasn't a bad time for Harken. Harken smiled.

"+Don't worry, Pretence....I'll make it on time....+"

Pretence smiled back at her before walking away.

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Pretence
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Oh gosh, oh gosh. Was 2 a good time? Pretence was panicking behind some rocks near where they were supposed to meet up. They didn't want to bother Harken too much, was the time too little to prepare? Pretence breathed in and out, trying to calm down, 'Don't worry, Pretence! Just check up on the spot and prepare!' Pretence thought to themselves. Pretence Got up and checked out the spot on the beautiful plains. Suddenly, they spotted 3 civilians there.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Taunt."

"Nah, don't sweat it, Builder! Just go along with the plan that we made!"

"Who's 'we'? Because I did not sign up for this."

"Pfft! What's the worst that can happen? We die? HA! Like that's going to happen!"

These Civilians were extremely loud. Pretence's expression darkened. They simply can't let 3 nobody's ruin Harken's day.

"....dude. did you hear that."

"hear what."

Taunt turned back just to see a grey figure.

"What the-"

Taunt backed up, they never seen anything like this before. Builder walked up to it, keeping safety distance.

"Builder, are you dumb? Don't go near that thing!"

Pretence suddenly exploded into 7 different clones, each attacking a civilian. Each saying something like, "^BEWARE.^" "^WORTHLESS^" and "^GET AWAY^".

"Whoa! What-?!"

Taunt got cut off. His head popped off like a bubble. His lifeless body on the ground, red crimson liquid painted the grass. The bleeding just won't stop.

"Taunt?!"

Dash eyes widened at the sight of his best friend's dead body. Taking this sign of danger, Dash grabbed the badly wounded Builder and dashed out of the place. Leaving Pretence alone.
The dead body made a bad sight. Its ruining the scenery of the flower plains. Pretence took the dead body and tossed it behind one of the rocks it was hiding behind in before showing up to chase away the intruders. Pretence looked around again, spotting a willow tree in the middle. It provided shade! Jackpot! Pretence Walked up the hill, sat under the tree. This was nice, they almost feel like sleeping under the tree. The suns rays peeked through perfectly. Pretence picked some flowers near them, holding it tightly in his (some what) hands.

In the distance, it can see Harken walking up hills. Pretence was surprised how she managed to find the place.

"+This place is beautiful....how'd you manage to find such a place like this?...+"

Harken sat next to Pretence, under that tree. The orange sparkles are still visible even under the shade.

"^_....i explore a lot in my free time..._^"

Pretence explained, fidgeting with the flowers in their hands. Harken admired the view, not noticing the flowers Prentence held.

"+That's great that you go out a lot....I never go out since it's for my own safety.+"

"^_....why not...?_^"

"+You know...the civilians get aggressive sometimes whenever they see a 'killer'...but really I'm just doing this so I can live peacefully too....+"

Harken explained, hugging her legs as she continued on.

"^_...oh...I never knew that..._^"

Pretence gave Harken a sad look, it's hatred for civilians grows bigger and stronger.

"+It's alright...it happens sometimes....I bet the other killers also feels this way....no need to feel sorry for me....+"

"^_....._^'

Pretence stood silent, they wished they could comfort Harken but scared it'll annoy her. Pretence placed the flowers aside, thinking it wasn't the time for that. Pretence fidgeted with the grass near them, trying to think of a different topic that won't annoy Harken.

"^_....what was it like in your hometown?..._^"

"+Fablehaven?....It was interesting nevertheless.....I missed it too much...it's making me worry...+"

"^_....Worried of what?...._^

Harken glanced at the golden sun before looking down at the flowers below her. She plucked one out and admired it.

"+My other roses...in Fablehaven....I hope they're being taken care of well by my other allies....+"

Harken peeked at Pretence one last time.

"+Pray tell, Where did you originate from?...+"

Pretence looked up at Harken, trying to muster up an answer.

"^_...I-I don't know.....I guess I just....Came here and knew what my purpose was...._^"

Harken patted softly on Pretence's back. Even though Harken's hand was cold, it felt warm to Pretence.

"+That's okay....you don't have to tell me right away.....take your time, Pretence....it's your choice after all...+"

Harken smiled reassuringly, trying to comfort the anxious Pretence. Pretence smiled back, suddenly all this worries died down like flames. Harken was the best thing they have come across. Now, Pretence just wants to protect and comfort her as if she was a delicate Coreopsis.

Chapter Text

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Pretence
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Pretence has been gardening too. It wasn't really good at it, but they're trying it's best. Pretence learned a lot from Harken about gardening; it felt all so familiar to Pretence in some way. Pretence always wandered round, not having a proper home or territory to hang around in, so they didn't know what to do with the flower seeds Harken gave them.

Normally, they'll just plant it random places, but these seeds are special, they can't just plant it somewhere random and leave it there like litter! It stared at the packet like some colored rock. It couldn't tell what flower was on the packet. It had a huge yellowish-brown disc floret; it also had a ring of Saffron yellow petals around it with hints of dusty orange petals too. The flower looked beautiful (to pretence). In fact, he thought it looked like Harken for a split second. It flipped the packet, scanning for the instructions.

"^_...70-100 days to grow....plant in very sunny areas...water 1-2 inches of water every few days to ensure its growth....._^

Pretence mumbled to themselves. Pretence looked up in the sky, cumulus clouds hanged around the baby blue sky, the sun almost blinded him because of how bright it is. Yep, pretty sunny alright, it's also pretty spacious around this area. Perfect for planting. Pretence kneeled down on the grass, searching for a dirt patch they can easily dig into without needing a shovel. How deep are you supposed to plant this thing? Oh well, as long it has enough room to spread its roots, its alright. It dug deep inside the ground, taking a huge chunk of dirt out. They set it aside, taking a seed and placing it in the hole, just like how Harken taught them.
They pat the dirt a few times until it was smooth. Pretence stared at it.

....

It not going to grow without water....

....

Pretence sighed, it forgot to bring a watering can.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over Pretence. Pretence noticed right away, it jolted and stood up quickly, preparing to attack.

Oh, it was just Harken.

"+I see you've already planted the seeds I gave you......that's nice....+"

Harken smiled. Pretence almost felt embarrassed that they lashed out without thinking.

"^_....i used the tips you gave me....it was u-useful..._^"

Shit, Pretence stuttered.

"+Ah...I'm glad that you found my advice helpful, Pretence.......+"

Harken took a peek at the lump of dirt behind Pretence where they planted the flower.

"+The dirt looks a little dry.....why not water it?.....+"

"^_........_^"

"^_...I don't have a watering can.....like you do......_^"

Harken gave a short laugh. She patted Pretence on the shoulder.

"+That's okay......you can always ask me....I always have spares....+"

Pretence smiled, blushing a little bit, but Harken could barely see it.

"^_....you don't have to.....I'll get my own one day.....I don't need yours...._^"

"+If you're sure, then I won't bother you about it......+"

Harken smiled back. She turned back, going about her day, like on a stroll or something.

"+Hope we meet again, Pretence......+

Pretence was left staggered, did they upset her? Pretence didn't know. Should've he accepted? Harken didn't look like the type to force gifts to people. Pretence didn't know how to feel about this. Did they bother her too much? Pretence has been around her territory for a long time. Did that annoy her? Is Harken trying to bribe Pretence away?

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Haken-at her warehouse
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Harken sat on the cold floor, with her hand on her chin, in deep thought about something. She was thinking about the conversation she had with Pretence earlier, she wasn't the best at commutating with people, Harken didn't know what she said was the right thing to say to them. Harken noticed that her tone earlier sounded a bit upset. 'I hope Pretence didn't take it the wrong way.' Harken thought to herself. She stood up, thinking about what to do next. 'Maybe I should pay Pretence a visit, they're always nearby somewhere.' Harken hopes that Pretence didn't misunderstand what Harken actually meant. Harken walked out her warehouse, stepping out onto the grassy area again. Harken also figured out why there was less and less civilians around the area now, Pretence has been getting rid of them secretly. Harken didn't know Pretence was that considerate.
A small cry can be heard from a cave nearby.

"+...+"

That can't be who she thinks it is, right?

Harken walked to the small 'cave' or dark area slowly, not wanting to startle whoever was in there.

Harken looked in the area, her eye widens.

Pretence.

Chapter Text

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Pretence
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Pretence wiped his concrete face for the 24th time already, they couldn't actually make crying sounds or any sobs of some sort because of what happened to his body, they only could mimic that bare minimum of what is considered a cry. The teardrops just won't stop. The fall like broken, useless pieces of glittering diamonds. Their hands just won't stop shaking, their minds racing about Harken's feelings, huddled up in a corner of the shady dugout like filthy garbage. Struggling to keep his drawn smile up, the second they let it down, it'll never go up. Everytime Pretence found anything or anyone they actually liked, they ruin them. Losing bond, the second they slip up a sentence or tone, action or behavior. Always a burden to anyone one it meets, a curse, a useless rubble, waste-of-space. Letting everyone down. It didn't deserve the title, Killer. It's better if it slowly rots alone. Like always.
No one needs them anymore, they've failed again.
Pretence covered its face, not wanting to see any light anymore. It felt too shameful showing his face in the sun.

Footsteps can be heard from the distance.

Pretence looked up.

Harken appeared.

Pretence shook, their pupils shrank. Their entire body froze. What was she doing here?

"+Pretence?...+"

Pretence didn't speak, they turned their head to the side, trying to hide its disgusting tears.

"+Pretence.....you didn't look well back there......I suspected that you were feeling uneasy....+"

Harken said softly, kneeling Infront of Pretence, placing her hand on Pretence's shoulder. Pretence slapped her hand away.

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Harken
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Harken immediately retrieved her hand after the harsh interaction with Pretence. Pretence expression darkens with regret and hatred, as far as Harken can tell.

"+What's wrong...?......Pretence are you feeling okay?......+"

"^No! Leave me alone! I mess up at everything I try to do! It's not worth it trying to talk to me!^"

Pretence lashed out, holding their head in distress. Harken can see they aren't smiling anymore, just a depressed frown, hanging there. The yell was loud but wasn't loud enough for Harken to go into enrage mode. Pretence still cared. Harken opened her eye and gave Pretence a sad look, also upset. Distorted sobs can be heard from Pretence, as it spoke. Harken pitied them. Harken hugged Pretence tightly, trying her best to comfort without saying a word. The hug was warm and new to poor Pretence. After she let go, Pretence stopped sobbing for a split second, only dropping tears in confusion. They looked up at Harken with tired eyes, probably from crying.

"+It's alright if you don't want to talk.....but if you do, you can tell me right now.....I'll always be here for you....+"

Pretence looked down in shame, they looked back up, gazing at Harken's comforting face. They didn't know if Harken was telling the truth or only telling them that just for them to feel better. Pretence took a deep sigh, calming down a bit. Tears still fall like a light raindrop.

"^_......_^"

"^_....I thought you hated me for how I sounded....._^"

"+No, I don't.......+"

"^_...I thought you were trying to shoo me away by giving me gifts....._^‘

“+No, I wasn't......+"

Pretence held his held again as they continued confessing their feelings.

"^_......I'm really stupid for thinking these things.....aren't I?...._^"

"+No, you're not.....+"

"^_.......I'm a really horrible person, right?......._^"

"+No, I don't think so......+"

Pretence teared up more.

"^But, I-!^"

Before Pretence could finish, Harken wiped Pretence's tears away, placing her hand on their head, patting it lightly.

"^_.....But I lashed out at you........and yet you're still patient with me......._^"

"+Because you're the best person I've ever came across in my entire lifetime living here....+"

"^_.....but I hanged out in your territory without your permission....._^"

"+And you kept me company.........and made me feel safe.....+"

Harken smiled with her eye.

"^_.........But, I keep bothering you........_^"

"+And you made me think I had an actual friend here, and I still do.....+"

^_.....You don't understand, I don't wanna be me..... anymore....I ruin everything....!_^

"+I may not understand, but I can always try to........just because you and I are different doesn't mean you should think too lowly of yourself....+"

Pretence didn't know what say, no matter how much bad things they've done, Harken still loved them. Pretence leapt into Harken's arms, hugging her. Harken hugged back tightly, embracing Pretence in her arms once more.

"^_.....Please don't hate me......._^"

Pretence whispered to Harken.

"+....+"

"^_.....Please don't leave me alone to rot......._^"

"+....+"

"^_.....I just want to you like me........._^

"+....+"

"+I'll always love you, no matter what.+"

Chapter Text

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Pretence
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Pretence wandered around baseplate, taking weird turns like, they've never seen this place before. Of course, Pretence knows this place by heart, they've been here their whole life. Stuck in the ground somewhere, somewhere floating or somewhere hiding from the Civilians. Pretence sat on a rubble of rocks daydreaming again. It wasn't fun but there was nothing else to do on this empty baseplate. The grey clouds start to close up slowly as Pretence sat there lifelessly.

Drip

Something dropped on Pretence's face, they jolted up. They rubbed their face in confusion. What was that?

Drip

Another drop fell on Pretence's face. It wiped their face again. Suddenly, more drops came falling down from the dark sky. Pretence looked up just to be greeted with more waterdrops in their face, especially in their so-called eyes. Pretence rubbed his eyes, trying to get the water out. What in the great Fablehavens? Pretence knew what this was but couldn't remember the name of it. The waterdrops began to pour down on it, harshly. Pretence ran around in circles, covering its head like an idiot.

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Harken
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Harken stayed inside her warehouse like usual, it was pouring outside, only pitter patters can be heard on her tiny window. It was pretty cold, Harken didn't mind, it was normal for her.

"+-*The persistent rain shows no sign of cessation. *-+"

Harken said to herself. She stared at her rose pot she took back inside with her. The pot was even more decorated than usual, a red bow tied around it, painted pictures of Fablehaven from memory, and some stickers she got from Pretence last week. This pot meant the world to her; it was a gift or offering when she first met Pretence. She picked it up carefully, not wanting to drop it and let it smash into a million pieces right in front of her. Harken placed it near the window so it could get it least bit of light it can absorb. Harken took a glance at the window while she was at it.

Hm?

A grey figure was seen running towards Harken's Warehouse. Oh, that was Pretence. Was it scared of the rain? Harken opened the door, rain sneaked inside her 'house', making a pattern of water drops on her doorstep. Pretence ran right in, almost crashing into some boxes even. Harken closed the door immediately, preventing anymore raindrops to pour in. Pretence laid on the cold floor, shivering, as far as Harken can tell.

"+Pretence? Are you cold?....."

"^_....Maybe..._^"

Pretence's voice seemed shaky. They sat up hugging themself tightly, shaking from the cold. They looked out the window, still dropping raindrops. Harken sat next to Pretence, also looking out the windows.

"+First time seeing rain?+"

"^_...No....I swear I saw this kind of occurrence before....Somewhere, where I can't remember..._^"

Harken laid on Pretence's shoulder mindlessly, Pretence jolted up, the sudden movement scared it. They tried to continue on.

"^_.....Somewhere there was m-many flowers...and uh, there was always a bright sun in the back...._^"

Pretence tried its best to remember the place where he encountered their first rain occurrence, but their memory was fuzzy.

"+Sounds a lot like my hometown.....was there pillars too?...+"

Harken asked softly, stilling laying on Pretence's shoulder like a pillow. Pretence was silent, they couldn't remember well due to being dropped on the head when coming here.

"^_.....I don't know...._^"

"+That's okay.....+"

"^_....._^"

"^_...Sorry..._^"

"+Sorry for what?.....+"

"^_...._^"

"^_.....Sorry for talking so much......you probably don't like how loud I was......_^"

Pretence placed their hand on their chin, pondering a bit.

"+...+"

Harken placed a hand on Pretence's head, patting it gently, like a fragile flower she found.

"+You don't have to be sorry for talking to me normally.....Your more considerate than the other killers I've met....+"

Pretence blushed a bit, they've never met anyone that cared for it that much. Harken finally picked up her head from Pretence's shoulder and stood up to get something. Pretence didn't know that yet, they just thought Harken was going to leave. She dugged through some of the boxes, searching for something. Harken picked up a soft blanket after flipping through some paper. She walked towards Pretence and threw the blanket over them. Pretence was confused, until Harken helped Pretence wrap the blanket around him.

"^_....What are you doing....?_^"

"+You said you were cold....so I thought a blanket will help you warm up......It's freezing in here anyways...+"

Pretence looked down in shame, they simply didn't deserve such treatment, since they did intrude into Harken's home.

"^_.....Thanks....._^"

They looked up, smiling at Harken. She smiled(?) back, sitting next to Pretence after she was done. The rain began pouring down harshly as they waste time. Pitter patter, large raindrops began knocking on the window. The was dark blue outside now, probably evening already.

"+Not the best weather this year, is it?....+"

Pretence hugged itself and the warm blanket around it.

"^_...Yeah..._^‘

They threw half of the blanket on Harken's back, covering her in warmth. Harken noticed and just went along with it. Took the blanket and wrapping herself in the warmth too.

"+Thank you, much appreciated....+"

They both smiled at each other. Cuddling while watching the rain outside slowly disappear, resting in the process.