Work Text:
Guess this is it.
The hotel room was quiet. Soft yellow lights framed the high rise view outside the window. Blankets were left ruffled and unkempt as a luggage case was thrown on top.
A young girl stretched her arms overhead, brown ponytails swaying. A ping from her phone caught her attention, brown eyes shifting to the screen.
[2:01 pm]
BaeBae: "MOOMS!! todays the day youre leaving, right? im so sorry i cant come say goodbye but kronii said she'd try"
Mumei tilted her head, smiling to herself as she typed out a reply.
Moomers: "Oh Bae, it's okay really"
BaeBae: "ill rlly miss u and i know youll be fine out there!! luv u!!!"
Moomers: "luv u too"
The owl girl plopped down on the bed with a sigh, phone falling down beside her.
"Can't believe it's been three years already.." She rolled over, pulling a pillow close to her chest. "So much has happened and I.."
An alarm rang off on her phone. Her flight was approaching.
"Dang it," she groaned, stretching as she got up. She swiftly zipped up her suitcase and headed for the door. Her smile felt shaky, but she still shook her head.
"Well, time waits for no one, not even the Guardian of Civilization!"
-+-
Turns out, time really does wait for her.
Mumei spotted someone standing near the entrance gate of the airport. They had a blue coat and that familiar dark blue hairstyle she always made fun of.
She slowly approached from behind, going unnoticed by her friend. The wind was a little strong today, so her footsteps were muffled by the wind.
"God, where the hell is she?" Kronii complained, fiddling with a pocket watch. "Did her suitcase eat her or something?"
Mumei giggled to herself before tapping her friend on the shoulder. "Oh hi."
"GWAK!" Kronii jumped away. After a breath she saw it was Mumei and frowned. "Did you really have to do that?"
"Come on, it was funny~" Mumei said. "Anyways, whatcha doing here? Did you come out here for silly little me?"
"No-yes-I-" Kronii groaned in frustration. "No one else could make it so I just.. didn't want you to be alone."
Mumei felt her heart melt. "Aww, Kronii loves me!"
"I-I.. Well, Kronii loves Kronii," she huffed, making the owl girl chuckle. Then, quieter, "but Kronii also loves Mumei."
Mumei extended her hand to Kronii's cheek. She leaned in close, making the warden's cheeks turn pink.
"Thank you," she whispered. "For coming to see me here."
"I-yeah, of course." Kronii glanced away, but she leaned into the touch.
"For all our time together," Mumei continued. "For staying with me. For being my friend."
Kronii's chest tightened. She held her breath for a moment before speaking. "Yeah. Thank you, Mumei. For everything."
The owl girl stood on her toes and pressed a feather light kiss on Kronii's nose. The warden flushed bright red now, yet she didn't pull away.
"I'm gonna miss you.." she said. "But we can always keep in touch.
Kronii nodded jerkily, tears pricking at her eyes. "Y-yeah.. um.. we can."
Mumei picked up her suitcase and turned around, flashing one more grin over her shoulder. "Well, I'll see you around, Kronii!"
The Warden of Time watched as her friend walked off. Slipping away from her with each step. Her heart seized in her chest as Mumei reached the glass doors.
Her feet shifted, eyes trained on the owl girl's back. Without a thought, she burst forward, catching Mumei from behind. She pulled the shocked girl close to her chest, burying her face into her shoulder.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled, "it's just.. I don't want you to go.."
Mumei glanced down, smiling softly. "Kronii, it's not like I'm dying or anything." She chuckled, carding her hand through Kronii's hair. Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears. "We'll see each other soon. Don't worry."
"Y-yeah.." Kronii sighed, gently releasing the younger girl. "I know.. but-"
"No more buts! We'll see each other again. I just know it." Mumei patted her arm and giggled. "Also my shoulder is wet now."
"That's just eye strain.." the Warden muttered, rolling her eyes. "The air is just cold. Me? Cry? Never."
"Sure sure," Mumei sighed, pushing open the entrance door to the airport. "But I really need to get going now."
Kronii nodded, wiping at her eyes. "Yeah.. don't wanna be late to your flight."
The owl girl waved with a single gloved hand, grinning as bright as the sun. "Goodbye, Kronii."
The Warden waved back, releasing a shaky chuckle.
"Goodbye, Mumei."