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Autumn was just around the corner, the leaves were turning into hues of yellow and orange, even Leafy's tip started to yellow. but most notably, the days grew colder as they passed
"Alright, we should start hurrying this up! Don't wanna get into heavy rain or get blown away or something." Firey joked, carrying a wooden plank, it was followed by her chuckle
"Yup! you're right though." Leafy had picked up a few too, before she accidentally bumped one into him. It was immediately set ablaze.
"Ah! Not again!!" She yelped, running towards the shore and dunking it into the freezing water. Her hands touched the water a bit from rushing, sending a short shiver on her. She quickly got up, standing there for a short moment
"Um, you know, we could've picked something less flammable?" She turned to Firey with an arched eyebrow
"Oh, right." Firey realized, looking stupidly shocked. He steamed a bit from embarrassment. She playfully rolled her eyes, putting the planks next to his stack.
"But seriously now, how are we going to build a whole shaft without a blueprint?" She asked. Leafy's a very organized person. Firey can never say the same for himself, that's for sure.
"You'll figure it out" He reassured her, putting on a smug grin
"You mean we'll figure it out?" She put her hand on her hip, mimicking his grin
"Heh...yeah."
Leafy sat down with one of the many books she forced Firey to pack with them. She particularly enjoyed reading astronomy books for whatever reason.
As she quietly read and flipped through the pages, cold wind suddenly blew on her. Before she even realized, she was visibly shivering. Firey noticed.
"Hey...are you cold?"
"I-I'm fine."
She answered quite quickly, too quickly. Firey knew that all too well by now.
"It's..." Leafy paused as Firey walked towards her and sat down, his glow illuminated on her, but she was still cold.
Yes, she did stop shivering. But, it was still cold. As cold as the nights were in Yoyleland back then.
As cold as he was to her in BFDIA.
Her heart ached, a frown started to form on her face.
"What's wrong, Leafy?" Firey asked worryingly, she sighed
"S-sorry, I'm just overreacting."
"Leafy..." He narrowed his eyebrows
"No, seriously, it doesn't matter anymore."
"Please, just tell me. I don't like seeing you like this..."
"..."
They both stayed silent for a moment before Leafy built up the courage to say it, not like she actually needed courage.
"Well...I was just thinking about..." She paused, taking a deep breath.
"...Yoyleland. B-but it's fine! It was all in the past anywa-"
"Leafs, I know that's been hell for you back then, and it's fine if you still hold a bit of resentment towards me."
As much as she hates to admit it, she does. That trauma pretty much became a part of her and her relationship with Firey.
That's why she doesn't want to.
She doesn't want him to put up with it.
She doesn't want to be a burden to him.
So how could he say that it's fine?
"But hey, as much as the past hurts, we're here now, and you're safe now." He glanced at her somber face.
"I'll make sure of that." he thought to himself, sighing
"Look, what I'm trying to say is that you don't have to completely leave the past behind to make me feel better. No, I want you to be happy." He hesitantly said, knowing full well how bad he was at comforting people. He probably sounded so corny...
Leafy blinked at him, taking a moment to process his words
"Um...why?" She fidgeted with her hands, looking away
"...Because you matter, you matter to me." Firey smiled warmly at the girl sitting beside him
In that moment, her heart fluttered a bit. She wasn't entirely sure why but she didn't care, she just wanted to enjoy this moment.
Before Firey even realized, Leafy had lain on his lap, catching him off guard, but he didn't mind it.
"Thanks..." She said softly
"Don't even worry about it!" He chuckled a bit, "That's what friends do."
"And I promise, I'll never leave you alone again." He whispered to himself as she fell asleep under his warm embrace
One watched them in what could be described as disgust, or rather envy of their bond.
Two friends who distanced themselves because one of them impulsively hurt the other? Sounds soooOOOoo familiar, wonder where I heard that from.
That image, that memory alone makes her rage, but especially solemn, as if it's a reminder that she had to fix it, she had to fix her. She sighed
"Keeping false promises, Firey?" She said to herself, looking over at them one more time
"Wonder how you'll feel like when she's gone."
...