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It was the most inconvenient time where she heard the knocking.
Firtho was about to retire for the night. Her hair was still drying from her evening bath, and she had just gotten into her nightgown. It was a long day and she frankly had no patience for whoever the guest was at her door.
But then the knocking became frantic, more erratic. It turned into more slamming the door than simple knocking.
“All right, if you want my attention so badly..” Firtho said with annoyance. She walks towards the door preparing to give whoever is “knocking” a piece of her mind.
But all of that exhausted irritation washed away when she saw her.
The pink hair maid was shaking, her small body trembling with worries and her eyes were tearful.
“Miss Firtho…. Master hurt… Alf needs you at..” Alf said with panic, her words more jumbled than normal.
“It’s alright, I’m here. You can tell me the rest of it on the way.” Firtho said as she knelt down and met the pink girl on eye level. Firtho reached out her hand patting Alf's head, comforting her.
Whatever late night crankiness that possessed Firtho a moment was gone.
For the doctor is in.
—----------------------------------------------------
Alf explained the events of the night to Firtho on the way to S.T.A.T.S as they ran through the night streets.
That new assistant, Ashley, that the Detective was so fond of, knocked him out and went missing. She’s likely the culprit behind the case that the Detective was looking into.
Firtho scoffed to herself. Despite being one of the smartest and cleverest people she knew. He has a knack of seeing the best in people and putting trust in them. That’s probably why he was such a famous detective and why he was in the situation he is now.
When they arrived to S.T.A.T.S.
Firtho had just one question: “Where is he?”
Alf answered “Master should be in his chambers resting.”
Firtho smirked a little, “Right, resting.” She said with a tone that’s mixed with familiarity and scorn. “Alf, stay downstairs I’ll check on him.”
Firtho made her way upstairs towards his bedroom. Each step on those stairs felt like climbing up a hill as Firtho grew more and more anxious. She knew him enough that he would not take this well. Failure was simply something that is unacceptable to him. Especially after what happened to….
She was at his door.
Firtho took one breath in.
And out, as she twists the knob and opens the door.
There he stood.
Against all odds, against the fatigue of the night's search, the drugs in his system. There the Detective stood still pondering all the possibilities. He scans his notes left to right trying to find the smallest of details. Trying and trying to see if he missed anything.
His normally well groomed appearance made no showing at this moment. Messy white hair, his clothes being a simple white garment shirt and pants, the iconic top hat of his toss to the side. His notes spread chaotically around his desk with only the faintest candle illuminating all of it.
Firtho spoke with a quiet and stern tone “Detective.”
The Detective looked up and saw Firtho. He had no idea someone entered his bedroom.
“Ah right, Firtho, yes with your forensics skill we could trace Ashley’s prints to find out where she- “ The Detective muttered to himself, lost within his logic and deductions.
Firtho narrowed her eyes. God, was he like this during the three years they were apart?
“Hugin, I’m not here to play your assistant.” She said cutting through the Detective bubble in two.
The man was taken aback. He wanted to bite back, but when his purple eyes met her amber eyes. Reality finally, finally, washed over him.
“Sorry, I- you’re right, -I.” Hugin said, his fatigue setting in as he is no longer denying the current situation.
Hugin’s legs were buckling from the drugs trying to stay awake.
“Grab my hand.” Firtho spoke softly.
She extends it with all the trust in the world
He grabs it with no hesitation like it’s second nature.
The two hands intertwine.
“Thank you Firtho, I feel the fog that was in my head is clearer with you.” Hugin said, pulling her closer.
Firtho looked away for a moment with faint red in her cheeks. “It’s nothing, it's just what we did as children.”
The two of them sat down on his bed. Shoulder to shoulder. The darkness wrapping around them.
They sat together in silence just appreciating each other’s presence.
Then breaking that silence Firtho whispered “It’s not your fault.”
He let go of her hand and collapsed onto his bed. His eyes were lost in the ceiling above.
She hated it when he put distance between the two of them.
“I know, it is foolish to blame oneself for things they cannot foresee.” He replied softly “Logically my brain knows there was nothing I could’ve done that would’ve prevented this, Ashley played her cards well. But in my heart, if my sister was here instead of me woud’ve she- .”
“Stop.” Firtho said with anger. “Do not pursue those thoughts any longer. I know the shadows of those we lost can feel heavier than stone. But please, they would want you to be here.”
“I…need you here.” She faintly said only to herself .
His violet eyes widened “Firtho…”
Firtho opened her eyes not realizing that she was facing Hugin face to face. Somehow she had closed the distance between the two of them.
Firtho immediately turned her back to him, if not for the dark that surrounds them Hugin would’ve seen that she turned red as a tomato.
“B-besides it’s not like she’s dead, we can still find her.” Firtho said with panic.
“We?” Hugin began to chuckle “And I thought you said you weren’t here to play assistant.”
Firtho turned to face the detective and pinched him “I see someone is back to their regular self.”
“Ow” reacted Hugin “Well I supposed I deserved that.”
“That you did, detective.” Firtho smiled wryly.
Then a pause
Hugin looked to the side, scared, and with a deep breath he said “ Firtho, would you stay the night with me.”
“A-h.” Firtho said as her mind went blank
It took a minute or two before she said “Yes.”
—----------------------------------------------------
She laid back to back with him (there was no way her heart could handle face to face).
It was very, very late into the night. Any sign of them being in the middle of the city was gone. Only replaced by the occasional night critter. Despite this Firtho was too anxious to sleep. Probably has to do with sharing the bed with him.
They did share a bed as children but that was different. She thought to herself. Firtho didn’t really think they could go this far and this fast, close to each other like lov-.
Firtho slapped herself. She needs to snap out of this, she is here to support her friend not daydream about other things.
Thankfully Hugin spoke, breaking Firtho’s spiral. “Firtho are you still awake?”
“Yes,” She responded.
“Thank you again for being here with me, I know my request seems juvenile, but this is helping me truly.” Hugin
“Emotional stability is part of a healthy recovery,” Firtho said with the blanket covering her face “I’m just doing my job.”
“You really are a special person to me.” Hugin said with a smile
Firtho lifted herself from the blanket and said what she wanted to say for a long time now “If I’m so special to you, why didn’t you contact me for three years? Why didn’t you immediately hire me as your assistant?”
“What?” Hugin said in surprise
Firtho bite her lip. Why did she have to bring this up now? These childish feelings have no place here. “Forget it, that was-”
“I supposed, I just didn’t want to bother you.” Hugin bluntly said “I saw your passion for medicine and healing, I could not just get in the way of that. It would be selfish for me for you to drop everything to help me with my antics.”
Hugin felt a head buried in his back. “Firtho?”
“Do not turn around,” Firtho said.
Hugin nodded his head.
“I’m going to say this once and only once, so you better listen.” The doctor said with determination “Whatever problems you are going through, whatever ridiculous case you find yourself in, if it be against criminal gangs or even the high nobility itself, I will always be by your side. “
“So please, do not face these dangers alone, for I am right here.” Firtho whispered.
Hugin paused for a moment, before reaching towards her hand, and holding it tightly.
Firtho intertwine with his and close the distance between them.
She can feel his heartbeat and he can feel hers.
Surprisingly, it's calmer than any of them expected to be.
—----------------------------------------------------
Lorin slowly steps up to the second floor. The events of last night had taken a toll on him too. As he reached the detective door, he saw Alf looking into the room.
“Hey Alf, is he okay?” He said worrying the worst had happened.
Alf turned to him with her face covering her eyes “U-uhhh… Alf saw Miss Firtho and Master in the same bed… is that…. okay?”
“Huh?” The inspector said with surprised
Lorin took a peak within the Detective chambers and saw two figures very close to each other. One with white hair and the other black-brown.
“Um, should Alf wake them up sir?” The pink-haired maid said, confused.
“Hah, no Alf let’s let them rest more, they deserved it” Lorin said with a smile. “We should probably prepare breakfast for them.”
“Right sir, on it!” Alf said with stars in her eyes.
Lorin followed the pink-haired girl downstairs. He had worried that the detective would work himself to death but it seems his fears were prevented with her here.
Lorin chuckled to himself. “Ah, to be young again.”