Work Text:
"Good mornin'," Fifteen said as she joined her wife on the couch. "What're you doing up so early?"
"Elias woke me up, he wanted breakfast," One explained as she leaned into Fifteen's side.
"Oh. Why didn't you go back to bed?"
"Very funny. You know what would happen if we left Elias alone for too long. Plus, you also know I have trouble falling asleep."
"I guess you're right."
"I always am."
They sat in silence for a moment, the only sounds present were their breathing and the clinking coming from the kitchen.
"Alright, I should probably get-" Fifteen realized that One had fallen asleep. She didn't want to disturb her wife's sleep, so she stayed on the couch.
Work could wait for now.
Thirty minutes in, Fifteen was getting a bit antsy. She'd never been able to sit still for long. She was also worried about Elias, their 9 year old son, and what he could be getting up to.
Just a few minutes later, One stirred and cracked her eyes open.
"How long was I asleep?" She mumbled.
"About thirty minutes."
"Dammit."
"One, you should go back to sleep. I can watch Elias, ok?"
"Fine.. but please don't hesitate to wake me up if anything happens."
Fifteen pressed a kiss to her wife's forehead. "I will. Now go get some sleep."
One got off the couch and trudged her way to their bedroom as Fifteen went to the kitchen to check on Elias.
"Hey, Mom," he said as she entered the room.
"Hey, kiddo," she responded, taking a seat at the dining table next to him. "What are you up to?"
"I'm drawing."
"Can I see?"
"Yah." Elias slid the piece of paper to his mom.
It was of fire, not that anything specifically was depicted as being on fire, just a drawing of flames covering nearly the entire page.
"It's good. You're getting really good at drawing, Ellie."
"I told you to stop calling me that! That's a girl's name!"
"It's just a nickname, kid."
Elias just grumbled then whined, "Can I go outside now?"
"Soon. Let mom make herself some breakfast then I'll go out with you."
"Fine..."
Fifteen quickly made herself some scrambled eggs and ate them as she watched her son doodle some more.
She finished her eggs and they finally went outside, much to Elias's excitement.
"Kiddo." Fifteen stopped her.
"What?"
Fifteen crouched down. "Do you." She paused for dramatic effect. "Want to have a bonfire?"
Elias's eyes sparkled. "YES!"
"Alrighty then." She stood back up. "Go collect some things to burn and, don't tell your mom, but, I'll get the flamethrower."
"YAYYYYY!!!" He exclaimed as he ran into the surrounding forest.
She smiled, then went to retrieve the flamethrower.
When she returned, Elias had already amassed a large pile of sticks and dry leaves.
"Nice work, kid." She nodded. "Ready?"
"Yes!!!!" Elias backed away and watched his mom eagerly.
Fifteen blasted the pile with the flamethrower and it burst into flames. Elias cheered.
♡
One yawned and sulked out of her room. She was, unfortunately, unable to fall asleep, and now she was hungry. So, she went to the kitchen for some snacks. But, the sound of rustling from the pantry waked her up and put her on edge.
"Hello? Babe?" She called out. The rustling halted suddenly.
"...Elias?" She called once more as she rounded the corner.
Inside the pantry, was a child, but not hers. She was short and skinny and most likely younger than her son. She was a light purple negative four, and her right eye was shut and there was a weird upside down cross on the eyelid. Not only was the cross thing odd, the sight of a negative number was incredibly strange. They hadn't been seen in this part of the planet in years, decades, even.
"Hey, what are you-?"
The girl tried to run out of the kitchen, but One quickly stopped her with her powers. The girl seemed flabbergasted at the sight of magic for a moment, but it quickly faded as panic set in. She tried to fight against the magic but it didn't really work.
"What are you doing in my house?" One asked a little too harshly and it only made the girl panic more.
One didn't really know what to do, but the girl seemed hungry.
"Hey," One said softly. "I'm not going to hurt you..."
She waited until she relaxed slightly. "Are you hungry? If you are, I can get you some food."
The girl barely nodded, but it was a nod nonetheless.
"I'm going to let you go now. Please don't run off on me. Can you sit at the kitchen table for me?" One asked.
The girl nodded again and once she was released, she slowly went to go sit down.
"Thank you." One started to rummage through the pantry for something to eat for the girl.
She found something and placed it on the table in front of the girl and watched her eat.
Once she finished, One sat down across from her; she flinched, but stayed put.
"I don't want to hurt you, ok?"
The girl nodded.
"I just want to ask you some questions." She paused. "Before my wife comes back inside."
The girl nodded once more.
"First, how old are you?"
The girl hesitated before holding up five fingers.
"Five?"
The girl nodded.
"Can you speak?" One hadn't wanted to ask this so quickly but she was curious, and it slipped out.
She nodded.
"Why won't you?"
"I-" She began to speak, but she quickly shut her mouth.
One recognized what this was, just as she recognized the bruises on her body. "It's ok, honey. You're safe here."
She relaxed slightly, but continued her silence.
"Can you tell me your name?"
After a long moment of hesitation, she responded in a tiny voice, "Finley."
"Well, Finley, what were you doing in my house?"
"... Hungry."
"Is that it?"
She nodded. "I didn't know anyone was inside..."
"Do your parents know where you are?" One asked, even though she probably knew the answer.
Finley stayed silent and visibly tensed up.
One sighed. "I'm going to be straight with you: did your parents hurt you?"
Finley nodded ever so slightly.
"Oh, honey.." One carefully sat next to her. "You don't deserve that."
"... really?"
"Yeah, really. No one deserves to be hurt like that."
"..." She looked down and fidgeted with her bracelet.
"Finley, do you want to stay with us?" One asked, suddenly feeling very maternal towards this child.
Finley's head snapped up. "What?"
"I know it's sudden, but I want you to be safe. And wherever you were before obviously isn't."
"..."
"Please, honey."
Finley started to tear up.
"Oh.. Come here."
Finley hugged her, suddenly feeling very safe.
"You don't want me-"
"Yes, I do, Finley. Do not even try to entertain that idea."
"But-"
"No, buts. You seem like a wonderful girl."
Finley, being the young child she was, trusted easily. She hugged One tighter, but stayed quiet.
"You'll be safe with us."
-
Later, One sat Finley down on her bed and told her she'd be right back. Finley seemed hesitant to leave One's side but stayed on the bed nonetheless.
One went outside to find her wife, and did, indeed, find her, but she found her and her son bullshitting around with fire, something One highly disliked her doing around him.
"Fifteen!" One barked.
She froze, knowing she was in for a lecture. Fifteen turned around. "Sorry, babe.."
One sighed. "That's not what I'm here for. I just need to speak with you inside."
"What happened?" Fifteen asked, taking notice of her wife's serious tone.
"We'll talk inside." One turned around and entered the house, expecting Fifteen to follow her.
She did.
"What's up?" Fifteen asked, slightly concerned.
"How do you feel about... Having another child?"
"Holy shit- Are you pregnant?" Fifteen's eyes lit up.
"No, I'm not."
"Oh."
"But... There may or may not be a five year old waiting for us in our room.."
"What?"
"Fifteen, she was in our house, bruised, skinny, missing a damn eye, what did you expect me to do? Not take her in?"
"Of course not- Why- why was she in the house?"
"She was looking for food."
"Oh." Fifteen glanced at the door. "Can I..?" She trailed off.
"Just be gentle with her."
One led Fifteen to their room, where Finley was still waiting patiently on the bed.
Fifteen's eyes widened at the sight of her. "A negative?"
One shot her look. "You say anything more, I'm getting a divorce."
"I'm sorry- It's just..." She trailed off. "They haven't been seen in decades."
"I'm well aware, and I know about the stories, but she isn't what the stories say about them."
Finley pulled her knees up to her chest.
"And we're keeping her, no matter what," One continued.