Chapter Text
Two Time's POV:
Endless, endless rain. It poured down on them relentlessly as they walked. Walked to where? They didn't know. They had nowhere to go, nowhere to stay, nowhere to live. The only thing they could do was keep walking, in hopes of finding something or someone to save them. They crossed their arms tightly over their chest, praying that it would miraculously bring them warmth. But of course, it didn't.
Cold, cold, cold, cold. It was frustrating, but what could they really do about it? Maybe if they walked long enough, they could finally die and rest in peace—find real shelter and security.
"Are you alright, child?"
Two Time nearly jumped out of fright. Sometime, somehow, an old lady had started walking beside them. She had long, unkempt white hair that was hidden under a hooded cloak. It felt extremely unsettling for Two Time. What kind of old lady had long hair? What kind of old lady wore a cloak? What kind of old lady mysteriously appeared out of nowhere in the middle of a heavy downpour? What kind of—
"Are you lost?" She asked kindly, interrupting their train of thoughts.
Two Time hesitated, still gawking at the woman. Were they lost? What did 'lost' actually mean?
"No," they mumbled back, despite their confusion.
She didn't buy it. She remained walking alongside them as she pressed on, smiling at them. Two Time noticed that she wasn't affected at all by the rain. She kept beaming at them as if nothing was wrong at all. They tensed their body, staring at her suspiciously.
"Perhaps, you don't have anywhere to go?" the lady suggested. Wow. They must have been really obvious.
"So what?" they muttered. They quickened their pace, not caring for the water that was seeping through their shoes. The only thing Two Time has learnt about this mysterious woman was that she was extremely weird and that she was extremely determined to talk with them for some reason.
"I can give you a place to stay. A new home with whatever you need."
Huh?
Two Time stopped walking abruptly, and so did the lady. They couldn't deny it. They have been searching for a proper home for so long now. But this offer—it felt too good to be true. A long silence stretched between them, with only the rain filling their quiet. Two Time furrowed their brows, weighing their options.
Don't trust her.
Don’t trust her don’t trust her don’t trust her—
But isn't this what you wanted? Isn’t this the one thing you desired most?
Two Time brought themself to look at her—really look at her. Even though her first impression was quite concerning, Two Time saw the way she looked at them—her eyes filled with care and pity. In fact, she just seemed like a regular old lady who had a really odd fashion choice. They felt guilty for even thinking badly about her. Two Time stared at the ground in shame, watching the raindrops fall around them.
"Why would you help me?" they asked weakly, looking up from the floor.
"Why wouldn't I help you?" She continued smiling, although it looked a little sad now. For the first time, she turned her gaze elsewhere and stared at the distance wistfully.
"There were many others like you," she said almost dreamily, "They were all without hope—lost sheep without their shepherd. When no one was there for them, I was the one to guide them."
She broke out of her trance and returned her attention back to Two Time. "So, do you want a new place to live, child? I can give you anything you need, like food and water."
"I..." their voice trailed off, only now becoming aware of how quickly their heart beat. Half of them wanted to decline her offer and leave, but the other half—desperate for proper care and shelter—urged them to accept her proposal.
I won't get an opportunity like this ever again, they realised. Two Time recalled how they were always alone, and how no one would help them. They remembered how they couldn't do anything when they were hungry and starving. They knew that rejecting this lady's offer meant continuing their life full of misery and hopelessness. They swallowed hard and looked up, meeting the woman's gaze.
"I do," they said, their voice shaky yet determined.
The old lady patted their back tenderly and gestured for them to follow her. She began walking, and now it was Two Time who was following her. They were grateful that they were fortunate enough to encounter her, but they only needed to know one more thing.
"I don't know your name yet," they mentioned nervously. She didn't look back.
"Call me Elder Amarah."
Azure's POV:
Endless, endless rain. Where did this rain even come from? Azure sighed as he watched his freshly watered herbs get drenched by the pouring rain from the sky. It was a depressing sight. He had watered those plants to keep them alive, only for nature to drown them with even more water.
"Damn rain..." Azure grumbled, trudging away from the garden. He had to get back inside before the rain drowned him along with the plants.
Azure wasn't that far along with his walk back to his cabin when he caught sight of Amarah. She was leading an anxious-looking person into the village. Amarah spotted him and immediately waved him over. Like always, Amarah was unfazed by the atrocious weather. Azure reluctantly cut across the path and made his way through the grass, approaching his elder. He wished he was back in his cabin instead.
"How are you doing, Elder Amarah?" Azure greeted her warmly.
"I'm doing fine. I'm surprised you're still out here in such weather," she commented, not sounding surprised at all.
Like you're the one to say that! What are you doing out here in the rain?! Azure wanted to say. Of course, he didn't say anything and just let out an awkward chuckle. Then, he turned his attention towards the individual next to Amarah. He didn't know them, but from a glance, Azure could tell that they were timid and withdrawn—perhaps nervous of something. They had black hair that was drooping sadly from the rain, and they stared at Azure with an unreadable expression. Azure also noticed they only wore a t-shirt and pants. Were they not cold? Or did they not have the luxury to afford warm clothes?
"Who is this?" Azure questioned, studying them curiously.
"Ah, this is..." Amarah began, trailing off as she tried to recall their name. It seems not even she knows who they were.
"...Two Time," they finished her sentence, fidgeting with their hands uneasily. They kept glancing at Azure worriedly.
"I'm Azure. Nice to meet you!” He held out his hand towards them, smiling in an attempt to ease them. Two Time hesitantly reached out and shook his hand. They were still nervous, but they had visibly relaxed a little.
“Well, Azure. Could you show Two Time his cabin?” Elder Amarah requested, “I am fairly certain there is an unoccupied one in front of yours.”
Two Time seemed like they wanted to speak up about something, but they kept quiet. Azure noticed this.
“Of course I could,” Azure confirmed, “But first, I think Two Time wants to say something.”
"Hm?" Amarah tilted her head to the side, glancing at Two Time expectantly. "What do you have to say, child?"
He could have sworn Two Time’s face flushed a faint shade of red. Their expression went blank, but they swiftly recovered themselves. They looked away from both of them, apparently embarrassed about something.
"It’s just— please refer to me as ‘they’ or ‘them’," they murmured, their voice barely audible. Their face flushed a deeper shade of red, still not facing Azure or Amarah.
“Of course!” Azure agreed enthusiastically. Two Time immediately relaxed. Out of the corner of Azure's eye, he thought he saw a look of disgust flash across Amarah’s face, but it left as quickly as it came. She smiled at them both again, although it looked a bit more forced this time.
"Alright. Now that that’s sorted, I think you should guide them to their cabin,” she stated dismissively. She spun around and strolled away, with Azure and Two Time watching her leave. Two Time was a bit stunned by her sudden departure.
“Are you leaving already?” they called out.
Without stopping or glancing back, Amarah replied, “I simply have to take care of some things. I am quite a busy person.”
And with that, she disappeared into the rain. Two Time appeared to be even more anxious now. They were quite restless and made a terrible effort to conceal the worry on their face. Azure could understand their anxiety, though. Amarah had likely been very welcoming towards them, so having her disappear all of a sudden probably felt like losing their only source of safety and comfort. Naturally, Azure attempted to console them.
”It’s okay, you’ll probably see her around every now and then!” Azure reassured Two Time, leading them to their shelter. They gave him a tiny nod, not saying anything.
Not much of a talker, huh? Azure noted, slightly disappointed. He shouldn’t be too hopeless, though. After all, they had only just met each other. He continued escorting Two Time to their cabin, both of them walking in silence. The rain only seemed to get heavier as they moved.
When they finally arrived in front of Two Time’s cabin, Azure waved them goodbye, heading for his own cabin that was just across from theirs. He stopped in his doorway to talk to them for one last time that day.
”If you ever need anything, you can just knock on my door,” Azure grinned at them. “But I’m outside most of the time, so good luck finding me!”
The door clicked shut behind him. Two Time stood outside in the rain for a few moments, staring at the closed door.
And for the first time in ages, they smiled.