Archive of Our Own

Juniper couldn’t believe this. 

It was bullshit. 

Absolute, horrendous, bullshit!

Half the cohort goes on a mission, knowing there would be immense injuries, and the Academy doesn’t even put their nurse on standby? They just… what, twiddle their thumbs in the infirmary, waiting for an hour, hoping someone might come and take care of their injuries? 

No fucking way. 

“This is ridiculous.” Juniper hissed lowly to Ros, who laid down next to her. “They knew we were going off to fight today! And the school doesn’t even think to—” 

“It’s okay, Sniff.” Ros muttered from the bed Juniper had forced her into. She smiled softly at Sniff, who frowned more. “Someone is coming.” 

“We’ve been waiting here for an hour, Ros. This is—” She shook her head with an annoyed finality, pushing off the seat next to Ros’s bed. “No. That’s it. Come with me. I’ll take care of you.” 

Juniper began to move to Ros’s side, helping her off the bed as the pale girl stared, confused. “Sniff, you are taking care of me. And I don’t want to bother you if—” 

The Growth Mage scoffed loudly. “You’re not bothering me, Ros. This Academy is bothering me! I mean, Legs is injured, Pyro, you, of course… and where are they? Do they expect us to just heal ourseleves? Must they take no accountability for this? Where even is Osteon, because—” 

“Juniper.” Ros whispered softly, her whisper laced with a groan. 

“Ros?” She looked down to see the Life Mage wince in pain. 

Oh. 

Oh no!

Sniff’s hand had wrapped around Ros’s waist, her fingers digging into a flimsy bandage applied messily as they walked back to the Academy. Her clothes were torn and smeared with dirt, the once pale purple-coloured decorations, now a deep brown and black. The brighest colours of Ros were the bandages she had been smothered in the second Juniper got her hands on the Mage, multitasking between killing bandits, and making sure Ros wasn’t about to die. 

“Fuck! Sor—” Sniff retracted her hand as if she’d burnt it, placing it further on Ros’s back, where there were less injuries. “I forgot. I’m so sorry, Ros, I…” 

“Hey, it’s okay! I’m alive.” The girl still smiled thinly. She pushed up from the bed, letting Sniff hold her steady. “Where… where are we…” 

“It’s—” Juniper sighed as Ros stumbled away from the bed. Immediately, the Growth Mage held her tighter, and walked at her slower pace. “It’s a safe house.” 

“Safe house?” 

“Yeah. It’s… I built it for us. Well— not us, but our friends, in case something happens. God, I was supposed to show you it, but then you got kidnapped, and—-” 

Ros’s face twisted in guilt as Juniper mentioned the kidnapping. “Oh, I’m so sorry…” 

“What?” Sniff looked at her, entirely confused. “That’s— you got kidnapped, Ros! That’s not your fault, don’t apologise. Please. Please don’t apologise for that.” 

“I know! I know, of course.” She muttered, voice high and kind. They managed to the end of the hallway, and only when Sniff thought of the distance to the safe house, did she realise they wouldn’t be able to make it. 

Ros was falling apart — Juniper could see the bandages failing, coming off the girl. Each step forward seemed to hurt her more, legs shaking and trembling as Ros tried to hide it. 

Her efforts were in vain. Juniper could almost feel the pain in Ros’s chest as if it were her own, picking up on how her breathing became increasingly shallow and broken, life each breath of air pained the life Mage. Like living pained her. 

Sniff found her mind wandering to the path to the safe house — through the Academy, where everyone was probably waiting to speak to Ros, through the caravans, then over rocky and high mountains, the minecart… Her mind imagined Ros accidentally falling — cutting herself on jagged crests, bleeding as she walked… 

No. She’s so injured already, I can’t… 

“Sniff?” Juniper heard Ros’s soft voice ask, distantly. She was too lost in her thoughts to notice at first. 

“Yeah?” 

“You said something?” 

They had managed to walk almost to the Main Hall, where a group of students had formed in the middle, no doubt discussing the events of today. 

“Did I?” Juniper asked. She must’ve spoken without knowing. 

“Yeah.” 

“I just— it’s too far away.” She groaned, stopping half way through the Main Hall, and placing her head in her hands. “You won’t be able to make it. Or, I won’t let you make it.” 

“Oh, that’s okay! I’m— Sniff, I’m okay, really.” 

“Ros, if you tell me one more time that you’re okay, I swear I’ll carry you the whole way.” She half-joked in response, but there was truth to it. “And, it’s so far away. But I think… I think I have an idea.” 

“Okay! Whatever you think—” The two had began moving again, but halted as Ros’s chest shook hard with coughs. She leaned forward, unable to speak, whole body quaking in pain. 

“Ros, oh my—” 

“It’s f—” The coughs came back. 

“Okay. No way are you walking.” Sniff decided sternly over her friend’s coughing attack. “We’re trying something new, come on.”

She placed her hands on Ros’s shoulder, leading her towards the door. The gaggle of students seemed to yell out Ros’s name, wanting to usher her over, but Sniff moved forward. They just needed to get out of here. 

After a couple of silent seconds, the two reached the Academy doors. They stepped out into the blazing sun. It was still hot, like before, warming their skin like it buzzed with energy. 

Neither spoke as Sniff pulled Ros along, comfortably, of course, down one of the flight of stairs. Juniper brought Ros to the right, under a tree. 

She stopped there. 

“Sniff? What are we doing here?” 

Juniper let out a shaky breath, expelling any ounce of fear or nerve from her. She turned around, facing her best friend. “Hold my hand.” 

Ros did so immediately. It was her left hand, since her right was too beat up to grip. 

“Ros, this might feel weird, but you can’t let go of my hand, okay?” The Growth Mage instructed. “I’m serious. You could get lost.” 

“Lost?” She sounded shocked, scared. 

“When you were gone, I got a new spell. But I’ve only tried it once.” She began to explain. As Sniff spoke, she felt the bark from inside of her climb outwards, through her skin. It pierced through, bringing with it the light buzz, and expanded over her arms, legs, torso. In only a matter of seconds, her skin had been replaced with a thick tree bark, little leaves bursting outwards. 

Ros’s hand did not leave hers. It only held it tighter. 

“Sniff, if this is dangerous…” 

“It’s okay, trust me. There’s a certain amount of times before it starts to hurt.”

“Starts to hurt?” She repeated in distress. “It shouldn’t be hurting at all!” 

“I know, but—” Sniff sighed loudly. “Ros, please, I just want to get you safe, and healed. Get both of us safe.” 

Ros opened her mouth to reply, likely to insist she could walk the distance, but Juniper interrupted. “Close your eyes, and don’t let go.” 

With that final instruction, Sniff dived backwards into the trunk of the tree behind her. The bright blue sky blurred with the background of mountains, as if a watercolour painting had been doused in water, all the colours merging and coalescing. 

She felt the grip of Ros’s hand in hers, tight, warm, scared, and she held closer. 

The bark of the tree enveloped the two of them, the watercolour painting now replaced with bark and soil. Juniper hoped that Ros had shut her eyes, so she wouldn’t have to see cockroaches and rocks flying past them. 

Juniper let her eyes close as she navigated through roots. The dirt was warm around her body, comfortable, like a blanket. 

Together, they sailed through tree roots and under footpaths. There wasn’t oxygen for Ros to breathe, but holding her hand should be enough — some weird part of the magic. 

In her head, Sniff was able to navigate through the ground. The roots rearranged themselves to accommodate the path she needed to take, like a moving maze that she was able to control. It was a million times faster than walking, running, driving. The roots had the fastest shortcuts, and so long as they stayed mostly in the forest, the veins of trees were thick enough for them to slip through quickly. 

She better still be holding my hand. 

If Ros stopped, she could end up stuck someplace random, lost in the roots before they eventually spat her out. 

Sniff would be able to find her easily, of course! But they didn’t have time for that right now. 

Something deep inside Juniper’s stomach, behind her spleen, she was pretty sure, was a need to see Ros clean and healed. For her eye to open up again, all the dirt washed off her pale body, cuts sewed shut. 

If the Academy wouldn’t do it, Sniff would. Ros wouldn’t do it for herself, anyway. The girl was too flippant was her health and safety. 

I wonder if she’ll like the safe house. 

Please like it, Ros. 

It was slightly humiliating, how much she cared about Ros liking the house. 

Slowly, the roots were getting thinner. It took more effort for Sniff to navigate through them, and she knew they were close. 

She squeezed Ros’s hand intertwined in hers, ensuring the girl was still there. Thankfully, she was. 

Juniper took her free hand and lifted it above the dirt, her wooden wrist feeling the cold, crisp air of the valley the safe house was situated in. They were here. 

She held onto the soil, pulling herself up and slipping out onto the grass, Ros following behind her, hand still clasped tightly. 

Ros was finally out. 

She immediately let go of her friend’s hand, placing her own hands on the grass and coughing loudly. Juniper couldn’t tell whether it was from her previous injuries, or the feeling of sliding through dirt. It couldn’t be relaxing for Ros. 

“Ros? You okay?” Juniper asked her, placing a limp hand on the girl’s back, and rubbing softly. Ros’s chest was racked with coughs, until they dwindled down. 

“Yeah—” She coughed again, but managed to speak. “Yeah. Good. Eh. I didn’t like that.” 

Sniff laughed loudly. “I know, I’m sorry. I’m a tree, so it’s not so bad, but for you…” 

“Yeah.” Ros gagged on nothing, sticking her tongue out as if to spit out dirt. “Thank you, though, for taking me!” 

“Of course. Let’s get you in the…” Juniper stood up, her bark retracting into her skin, turning back into her human form. The sunlight beamed on her skin once again, warming it like normal. 

They were almost right next to the house. 

A mountain stood tall and intimidating to their right, in the direction of the Academy. Staring at the jagged rocks and cliffs made Sniff sure she had made the right decision — there’s no way Ros could have made it over that mountain alone. 

To their left, the small lake in front of the lighthouse. The road was only a couple steps away since Juniper had aimed for tree next to it, making it a short trip for Ros to make. 

“Wow.” 

She turned to the Life Mage, who was staring at the house in complete awe. Despite being covered almost completely in filth, blood, and bandages, the sunlight beamed on her. Her purple hair looked like a soft pink, the colours of petals, while her irises looked ethereal. Ros’s lips were plush and soft. Juniper had the fleeting thought of— 

“Sniff, this is! This is— wow! Oh my— it’s beautiful!” She gasped loudly, locking eyes with Juniper, who looked down humbly. 

“It’s… I mean, it’s not for us, it’s for everyone, so I wanted it to look nice.” Ros’s gasps of shock and beauty filled the space between them both. “You like it?”

“Like it? Oh, Sniff, I love it. It’s beautiful. And you made it for… for us. Wow.” 

She tried to hide the creeping blush on her face. This wasn’t the time it happened. 

“We should, uh, go in. Get you cleaned up.” Sniff began to move forward, her hand instinctively reaching for Ros’s. 

Why are you still holding her hand? You’re not in the roots anymore! She thinks you’re weird. She thinks you’re so weird. 

Ros probably wants to leave and go home right— 

Ros squeezed her hand. Juniper’s hand. She squeezed it back, not letting it go as they walked down the path to the front door. 

“Most of the house is done. The inside.” Sniff started to explain, her voice shaking lightly. “Most of the first floor, and then a couple bedrooms… I tried to add as many rooms as possible, you know, so more of us can stay here. But, I’m sorry, I should’ve finished it in time for you to see it. I was just excited, and—” 

“Sniff, stop. I love it. Oh, wow.” She whispered. “The walls? You built this? How did you have the time? I mean, it’s so well-made.” 

The front door was now only a step or two away, both girls walking next to each other. Ros gazed up at the arched doorway, the details in the walls, pointing out the pretty flooring and materials. 

“Thank you.” She smiled, eyes still locked on the floor. “There’s… um, would you like a tour?” 

Juniper fiddled with the lock on the door, putting the magical key into it, and flinging it open. Immediately, the slightly-damp air of the house filled their lungs while they stepped inside. It was darker than normal, the blinds and curtains closed to prevent people from seeing inside. 

“It’s so big!” Ros stumbled inside, needing Sniff to catch her. She looked around the hallway, which was decorated with paintings, into the living room. 

“I can give you a tour?” Juniper offered kindly. She stayed exactly one step behind the injured girl, making sure she’d be able to catch Ros if she fell. 

“Oh!” Her voice was high, and slightly surprised. “Um—” 

“Or after. If you’d rather get cleaned up first?” 

Ros’s face calmed at her friend’s offer. “Yeah, I think so. It’s just, you know, I’m dirty and…” 

“No, I understand!” 

“It’s not that I don’t want a tour! I’d love a tour, just…” 

“Ros, it’s okay. I’ll—” 

“Well, if you want to give me a tour now, like really bad, I’d be happy too! You know what, why don’t we do it now—” 

“Ros. You want to get clean. I understand.” Sniff smiled at her, happy that the girl was finally safe. “I’ll go get a bath ready for you.” 

“You don’t have to.”

“I know, Ros. Just—” Juniper moved to the staircase, locking her eyes with Ros to silently beg her to stay here. “Don’t get kidnapped again, alright? Be here when I come back down. Please?” 

“Of course. I didn’t want to be kidnapped.” Ros comforted. 

“I know. Just— stay.” 

The Life Mage nodded at her, and Juniper walked up the stairs. 

The bathroom in the main bedroom wasn’t ready quite yet, but there was one at the end of the hallway on the second floor, which most of the bedrooms would use. It had a shower, a bath, toilet, of course, and was well-decorated with Ros in mind. 

She made it upstairs quick. The bathroom was painted a soft purple colour, with white wood floors and marble countertops. Otherwise, it was almost bare, with just a bar of soap, a toothbrush, and comb by the sink, and shampoo and conditioner by the bathtub. 

With great speed, Juniper pulled the bathtub tap upwards, plugging the bath, and letting the warm water fill up. She placed her hand under the stream of water to check the temperature, and smiled when it was the perfect warm temperature that she liked most. Hopefully Ros would like it, as well. 

Sniff waited several more seconds, watching two birds fly past the glazed window next to the bath. 

Is Ros okay? 

She almost hit herself for even thinking it. Of course Ros was okay! She was just downstairs, hopefully sitting down and beginning to rest. 

Still, the last time Ros was out of her sight, she ended up kidnapped. 

Kidnapped, and hurt, and— 

Juniper couldn’t let her thoughts dwell to long on Ros’s injuries. For her own sanity. 

As if a bathtub was filling inside Juniper as well, her chest filled with guilt. 

They should have gotten there faster. Quicker. They could have. 

I should have known she’d be kept in obsidian. That’s why I couldn’t find her. 

Her hands began to twitch, began rubbing together — fidgeting. 

A sting came from behind Sniff’s eyes, strong and loud, and she knew if she were alone even a blink longer, the girl might break down in tears. 

“Ros?” She shouted loudly, opening the bathroom door and speeding down the staircase to the first floor. 

Ros was still standing in the same place, but she looked faint. Her skin looked horribly pale and ghostly behind all the dirt on it, while sweat made her hair cling to her forehead. 

“Yeah? What’s up?” She grinned shakily up at Sniff, who came down next to her.

“Ros, you…” look horrible. “It’s time for your bath.” 

“Bath?” The Life Mage frowned, her voice weak and confused. 

“Yeah, you know, to get you clean?” 

“Oh.” Ros looked at the floor. “Oh! Right.” 

“Yeah, come on, Ros. Up.” Sniff took her hand once again, lightly tugging her up the stairs, through the hallway, and then into the bathroom. 

She shut the door. 

The bathtub was almost full now, just needing another minute or so until it was ready. 

Somehow, Sniff was acutely aware of how close proximity Ros and her were, in a bathroom. 

She should leave. 

Right? 

Ros had to change, and then get in the rub, and she probably wouldn’t have clothes on for that, so Sniff probably should leave. 

But she didn’t want to leave. The very idea of leaving Ros, so soon after today’s events— the idea didn’t make sense. It just… wasn’t supposed to happen. 

Juniper couldn’t protect her earlier, so she should now. 

Her thinking was interrupted by the melodic voice next to her. 

“Sniff?”

Ros called her name out sheepishly, eyes trained on the floor. 

Juniper got the hint. 

“Sorry. Sorry! I just, yeah… I’m— I’ll leave. You want privacy. I’ll… leave. Leave you be.” She stuttered and stumbled all over herself, no doubt looking like a bumbling fool while she slipped behind Ros to the door. 

Again, she was interrupted. 

“Uh—” Ros sighed. She sounded as if she were going to ask something. 

“Do you need something?” Juniper replied skeptically. “I mean, there’s soap there, but I can get you some more bandages? Ointments, maybe? I don’t think I have a whole first aid kit, but my magic can help later on, too. It can speed up growth.” 

Ros’s beady and sweaty skin blushed strongly as she glanced sideways at the worried Mage. “You… don’t have to.” 

“What? No, Ros, I want to make sure you’re okay!” 

“I… don’t mean that. You don’t have to… leave?” 

Something shot Juniper in the chest. Like an arrow. 

Was Cupid here, somewhere? 

“Well,” she whispered, suddenly even more shy, “you probably want privacy after— everything. Space” 

There was a small shake of the head. “I never want space from you.” 

“Oh.” 

Say something. 

Say something, Sniff. 

Say something! Anything! 

“I can stay.” 

Fuck. You couldn’t say anything else? Seriously? She probably thinks you’re pathetic— 

“Do you want to stay?” 

“I— want to take care of you.” 

“It might be easier to do that if you do stay, then, right?” 

“Right. I can check your injures, and, um, you know, clean you…” 

“If you want to, only! Because I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or—” 

“I’m not uncomfortable! At all!” 

Why the fuck did you say that, Sniff? 

“Okay! I’ll… change?” Ros winced at the idea, and Sniff noticed it immediately. 

“Yeah. I can turn around.” She offered. “And you can… in the water, I won’t be able to see…” 

“Um.” Ros blinked slowly. “It’s… okay. If you see.” 

Juniper could only nod. 

Literally. It was as if she’d been paralysed. 

Ros turned away, her back now facing Juniper. She brought her left hand arm up, reaching over and down to her t-shirt, but as she tried to undress her top, the Mage groaned loudly. She managed to stifle the end with a gasp, but Sniff heard it. 

“Does it hurt?” The Growth Mage asked softly, still standing behind Ros. 

“No.” 

“Ros.” 

“Okay, a bit.”

“Do you need help?” 

“Uh— no! It’s… okay.” 

“Stop saying okay. I’m banning it from your vocabulary.” 

“Okay.” 

“Ros!” 

“Sorry! I didn’t realise!” 

Juniper began to giggle, and Ros as well. “Let me help you.” Sniff told her, walking forward to right behind Ros. 

She tried to ignore how hard her hand shook. 

Sniff’s fingers gripped the edges of Ros’s t-shirt. It was almost glued to her body with sweat and blood, giving resistance as she slowly began to pull the shirt upwards. 

It felt like unwrapping a present for the first time, slowly removing the first ribbon, relishing it. 

As the shirt got pulled higher, the true horrors of Ros’s injuries, specifically on her back, exposed themselves. They were undoubtedly highlighted by her snowy skin, showing off each speck of blood and soil smeared on her. 

“Lift your arms up.” Sniff whispered. 

Ros’s breathing picked up, the exhales of her chest more shallow and quick than normal, even for a girl so injured. 

But she listened, arms going up, despite a loud groan. 

“I’m sorry. It’ll be over soon.” Juniper apologised to her. The sleeves came off easily, and Sniff threw the fabric to the floor. It was hardly recognisable as a top. 

Parts of the deep cuts on her back and front were covered up with Ros’s sports bra. Truthfully, it looked more like a binder than a bra, but Sniff did not point the wounds out. “Do you want me to—” 

“No.” The answer came quicker than she expected. 

“Okay.” She whispered. “Do you want, um…” 

Stop blushing. 

Stop it. 

It was just hard, seeing so much of Ros’s skin, her vulnerability, in such context. 

It could be so different. 

“I can try taking the— pants off myself! If you…” 

“No, I’m fine! I can do it, just if you’re comfortable.” 

Ros sighed. “I just don’t know if I can reach—”

“I’m happy to do it, Ros.” Sniff said softly. Her voice was just above a whisper, trying desperately to not interrupt the awkward, yet calm, mood in the bathroom. 

“Thank you.” 

Sniff’s hands moved to Ros’s hips, and then to the front, finding a small button, and unbuttong it. Her hands ran over the fabric loudly, her half-wooden right hand making a slightly different sound on the pants. 

Trying not to injure Ros further, Juniper took the pants on her hips and lightly tugged it down. 

It slipped off easily, although with all the cuts and tears, she didn’t know if it could even be considered pants anymore. 

Sniff leaned down with the trousers, letting them pool on the wooden planks. 

Ros remained only in her undergarments. Her arms tried desperately to cover the front of her torso by resting on the entirety of her stomach, as if wanting to hide her bare skin from Sniff. 

Truthfully, the girl looked horrible. 

While the bathroom’s lighting was dim, beginning to turn dark with the sun going to sleep and only a small glazed window letting the light in, every speck and spot of dirt was clear as day on Ros’s skin. Her hip looked almost all black, and Juniper could see dried mud around her shoulderblades. How did she get mud and dirt where her clothes were covering? 

“Ros.” Juniper gasped quietly, trying to hide the fear in her shaking voice. “Did they… hurt you?” 

“Um.” The Life Mage stuttered. “Well, I didn’t make it an easy fight. I thought you knew I was hurt?” 

“No. No, like— did they do something to you?” 

Please say no. For the love of everything, say no. 

“Do something to me? Oh! Oh! Oh, no. No, Sniff, they didn’t! They didn’t do that.” 

“Really?” It was embarassing how hopeful she sounded. 

“Yes. I promise, Sniff. Really.” 

She let out a heavy sigh, glancing at the dark floors. “Okay. Good. I was just… you’re covered in dirt.” 

Ros nodded, like she understood fully. “They had me strip. To check that I had no weapons.” 

“Oh, Ros.” Sniff sobbed. “I’m so sorry.” 

“It’s— they didn’t hurt me. Not like that, you know? It could have been worse.” 

“It shouldn’t have happened at all.” Juniper countered. She put her hand, the normal one, on Ros’s shoulder, beginning to peel off the dried mud. Ros flinched at Sniff’s touch, and she pulled away immediately. “I’m so sorry—” 

“It’s okay! You just surprised me.” She chuckled, though it was uncomfortable. Juniper went back to picking the mud off Ros’s shoulderblades, counting the amount of stitches the girl would probably need, as well. 

“They cut you up good.” Sniff sniffed sadly. “You’ll need a lot of stitches.” 

“I hate stitches.” 

“I know. It’ll feel better when I can clean you up in the water.” 

Ros didn’t say anything in reply. She just stood there, the light getting dimmer and darker, letting her best friend clean the mud off her back. 

“Done.” Sniff announced. “Any on your front?” 

She shook her head. 

“Okay. Um…” 

“Should I get in?” Ros asked, her head tilting to look back at Sniff, just a bit. As if she was scared to truly look at her. “I mean— or, you can go behind me, and…” 

“Yeah! I’ll just,” Juniper speedily took her shirt off over her shoulders, before moving down to remove her own pants, “undress.” 

“Mhm!” 

She let her clothes drop to the floor, now in a pile next to Ros’s. 

They were both undressed now. 

Oh. 

Oh my god. 

Don’t think about it, Sniff. Don’t even think about it. Just get in the water, and clean her up. 

Ros stood still, staring at the wall.

Juniper, awkwardly, stepped into the bathtub, sinking down into the water. On one end was the faucet and drain, on the other, a rounded back which sat perpendicular to the wall. The bathtub was long, certainly big enough for both girls to lie together. 

In her undergarments, blushing furiously and yet pretending she was not, Juniper finally submerged herself inside the bathtub water. She sat, legs extended and straight, back to the rounded end of the bathtub, making as much room for Ros as possible. The Mage was small, so, surely, she would be okay. 

“I’m in.” She muttered, and Ros finally turned around. 

The dusky light hit the sides of Ros’s face, emphasising each curve and bone of her. Her cheeks seemed slightly more solemn than usual, and Juniper internally beat herself up for not thinking to bring food. A deep wound sat on her collarbone, the blood dried, but likely infected. Ros’s eye looked horribly beaten up, but thankfully it had no dirt in it. 

Juniper’s mind started cataloging ever wound, cut, piece of grime on her, planning what to clean first. 

“Should I…” Ros bit her lip, which was also bloody, while gesturing to the rub of lukewarm water. 

Sniff could only nod back. She felt incapacitated, unable to reply, once again. Why did this keep happening around Ros? 

The pale woman lifted her leg, and stepped into the water, standing between Juniper’s legs, before crouching down. 

Juniper knew the temperature wasn’t too hot or cold, since she’d perfected it. Still, Ros hissed under her breath in pain as the water touched her body. It rippled softly as she sat down normally, and shuffled closer between Juniper’s thighs. 

Okay. 

With each moment Ros’s skin touched the water, dirt came off. Small bits of it floated in the bath, but Juniper couldn’t care. She wasn’t afraid of dirt. 

She was afraid of losing Ros. 

And she almost had. 

The stinging behind her eyes came back at the reminder. 

“I have a towel. To wash you wish.” Sniff said quietly. She worried that any loud word or sound would disrupt this moment. 

“Thank you.” 

“Stop saying thank you.” She laughed, reaching next to the bathtub and wetting the small handtowel in the water. 

“But I am.” Ros replied. “I am so grateful.” 

Facing the back of Ros’s head gave Sniff uninterrupted view of Ros’s hair. There was a thick knot of the purple hair on the back of her head. It had a hairtie in the middle of it, holding it together, and little twigs scattered about. 

She’d have to get to that later. 

“You shouldn’t be. I’m sure you’d do the same for us.” She ran the handtowel over Ros’s left shoulderblade lightly, only letting the rag graze her skin. One swipe, back in the water, and then back on Ros’s back. 

With each clean of the towel, more of Ros’s translucent skin could be seen. It glowed from underneath, so weirdly pale that Sniff didn’t even think they needed the window, the white from her back was enough. Thankfully, there weren’t more tiny cuts. 

“Of course I would.” 

“Then why should you not expect us to do it, too? We care about you.” 

“We?” 

“Yeah, of course. I do, at least…” Sniff dabbed one especially dirty section of Ros’s lower back, under her bra, over and over again. Each time she dabbed, she could see Ros physically relax, her back slump just a bit more. 

“I care about you, too.” 

Stop smiling, you idiot. Of course she cares about you! You guys are friends. 

There was nothing to say, in response. So, Sniff didn’t reply. She admired the curves of Ros’s back, running the towel over it in circular motions. 

“It feels nice.” Sniff could hear Ros’s smile as she spoke. 

“I’m glad. I don’t— I don’t want you to…” A sob found its way into Juniper’s throat, and she cursed herself for ruining the mood. “Get hurt again.” 

“Oh.” The purple-haired girl gasped. “Sniff. I’m okay.” 

“I know. I know you are. You’re here. Finally.” She smiled, but kept her eyes trained on the side of Ros’s torso she was cleaning. “I’m taking care of you now.”

“It’s very nice of you.” Ros agreed. “Thank you.” 

It takes a moment for her to reply. “I was really scared, Ros. Really scared.” 

“I know! I’m so sorry.” 

“I looked everywhere for you, and you just— you were gone!” 

“I’m—” 

“I missed you. I couldn’t sleep, I… it was so scary, not knowing what happened to you.” 

“I understand that.” Juniper didn’t even notice how she had stopped cleaning her friend. “I was scared, too.” 

“We should’ve gotten there faster.” She muttered. 

“No! You did your best!” 

“And look at you.” Something weird laced Juniper’s words. “You’re all cut up, injured…” 

“That’s not your fault, Sniff. Not at all.” 

Sniff sighed in disagreement. “Ros.” 

“Yeah?” 

“Can you turn around? Your back’s done.” 

“Oh!” She gasped, and used her arms to suspend herself slightly, twisting her back and then hips, to face Juniper. “Sorry.” 

How does she look so pretty?

Beaten up, starved, and I’ve still never seen something to rival her beauty. 

“Sniff?” 

“Yeah?” 

“You okay?” 

“Yeah! Just—” admiring your pretty face. ”Nevermind.” 

Ros blinked at her, confused, eyes hazy, as Juniper brought her hand up again with the damp towel and stroked her with it. 

Her collarbone, neck, face… 

Each part of Ros was slowly, carefully, dutifully cleaned by her friend. 

Juniper couldn’t bear to look at her, and Ros, seemingly, found it impossible to look away from Sniff’s eyes. 

“You’re an amazing friend, Sniff.” Ros admitted sadly. 

Someone must have stabbed Juniper without her knowing. 

Why does that hurt so much? 

“You’re not just my friend, Ros.” She shook her head with a smile. 

“No?” 

“You’re Ros. Entirely different.” 

“Oh.” 

Why did you say that? Why the heck would you say that? 

“Sorry, that was weird. I’m sorry.” 

“No! Don’t apologise, it was sweet. And I… feel similarly.” 

“Oh.” 

The admission hung in the air like herbs from a rack, penetrating the air. Sniff could smell it. 

The rag, now no longer the original pale green colour, was rubbed over a section of Ros’s waist. Sniff wanted to touch it, to hold it, but she shouldn’t. Ros had just experienced one of the worst experiences someone could go through — she needed trust right now. Affection. 

As she admired Ros’s body, which became increasingly clean of grime, she felt the Life Mage’s eyes roam over her own. Funny how she felt more vulnerable than ever in this moment, when others had seen more of her. 

Ros’s eyes dragged over Juniper’s skin, and she could almost track exactly where the Mage was looking. 

Her eyes found a shallow cut right below her armpit. 

“Sniff!” Ros gasped aloud. “You’re— injured! You’re cut!” 

The loud exclamation caught her by surprise. “Oh, yeah. It’s alright.” 

“Alright? It’s not… you got hurt, Sniff.” 

“You did, too. Far worse than me.” 

“Yeah, but—“

“We can deal with me later, Ros.” 

“But—“

“Ros, please. I’ve been looking over the entire kingdom for you, dreaming out you, crying over you, for days. I am not the priority. Not in this moment.” 

“Well, you’re my priority.” She huffed. 

Don’t blush. 

“We can deal with me later, okay?” Sniff smiled sadly at Ros, making eye contact with her for the first time since she turned around. 

A nod came in reply. 

“It’s not the only injury, anyways…” Sniff muttered to herself, making sure her words were so soft, Ros would hardly be able to hear. 

“What was that?” 

“Nothing. Just rambling. Don’t worry about it.” 

“What was it? I heard injury. Are you— oh no, are you injured somewhere else?” She sounded alarmed, and Ros’s eyes were animated as she searched over Juniper’s body for more hidden wounds. 

“I—“ she laughed awkwardly, not knowing how to reply, or how Ros had even heard her, “you haven’t seen my hand?” 

“What? No!” Ros’s eyes widened in alarm as she clutched the hand Juniper was using to clean her. “Oh my— Sniff!” 

Her hand was a weirdly brown colour, darker than the rest of her already tan skin. The fingertips especially, seemed closer to the shade of bark than fingers. Sniff could still feel some sensation on them, but it was stifled, as if hearing a song underwater. 

Suddenly, her soon-to-be-wooden hand was taken hold by Ros, who inspected it thoughtfully. “What the hell did…” 

“It’s—“ Juniper laughed awkwardly, not really not knowing what to say, and not really wanting Ros to let go of her hand again. “I’ll show you later. But it was for a weapon, um, an axe?” 

“What?” She almost shouted. “What—“ 

“For the stem of the axe, I used my…” Juniper sighed, “arm? I guess? When it was wooden, of course! I’m not crazy.” 

“You are crazy, Sniff, you cut off your arm! I mean, this can’t be okay, shouldn’t it be hurting?” 

“Maybe? I can’t feel much from my fingers.” 

The Life Mage’s eyes filled with horror. “What?” She mumbled quietly. 

“I can feel you.” Sniff nodded. “Just not as much with my other hand. Like… fourty percent less?” 

The water shook, spilling over the sides of the bathtub, as Ros pulled away from her friend in shock. “That’s not… that’s not okay! Sniff, that’s really bad!” 

“I… had to, you know? It’s…” 

“You cut off your own arm? For an axe.” 

“Yes?” Sniff winced as she answered, pushing up from the back of the bathtub, leaning closer to Ros naturally. “It wasn’t just to save you! I’ve been planning it for a long time now.” 

Her words didn’t seem to calm the purple-haired girl. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself for me, Sniff, I want you safe.” 

“It wasn’t…” Juniper groaned loudly. How could she explain this? “I was going to do it anyway, Ros. Kidnapping or not. It felt, I don’t know, right?” 

Ros shook her head in disbelief, taking Juniper’s wooden hand into her own, and admiring it. Her fingers laced over Juniper’s own, twirling around Sniff’s rough knuckles, her nails. 

“I want you to be able to feel me.” Ros’s voice was quiet and soft, like she might tear up. 

“Oh, I can feel you, Ros. I do.” Sniff tried her best to comfort her. 

Ros’s eyes just shined, and Juniper prayed she wasn’t tearing up. “Really?” 

“Yes. I feel you everywhere. Even…” She cleared her throat. “Even when you were kidnapped, I felt you—” Sniff brought her wooden hand to point to her chest, taking it out of Ros’s hand. “Here. I always will.” 

“You better. I don’t want you to be— alone.” 

“I never feel alone with you.” 

“I know.” 

There were no more words to encapsulate Juniper’s thoughts. If there were, she would call Ros beautiful, say that even kidnapped and beaten, no one had ever looked better. That she was the kindest, truest people she’d ever met, and she couldn’t imagine never meeting her. 

But Juniper found it impossible to string along a single thought beyond— 

Her hair is dirty. 

Sniff should probably wash it. It might relax Ros. 

“Do you want me to wash your hair?” 

Her words stumbled out, messy and pathetic, but Sniff couldn’t care less. She wanted to feel Ros on her skin, wanted to hold her. All the feelings of loneliness when Ros was gone came flooding back, and her hands, even the wooden one, itched to feel her again. 

“Sure! If you want to, yeah, of course.” Ros smiled, twisting around in the water and shuffling back. A bit more water spilled over the bath, but that didn’t matter right now. 

Sniff felt the moment Ros’s skin touched hers again — it put a strike of lightning through her. Ros’s hips were next to Sniff’s knees, then her thighs, until Ros was close enough for her back to graze Juniper’s stomach. 

“You can… come closer.” Sniff whispered, secretly wanting her head resting on her chest. “I mean! It’ll just be easier! If you want!” 

“I do! If it’ll… help you. I want to help you.” 

Slowly, Ros let herself fall back, her head ending up right over Juniper’s chest, her entire back pressed against the Growth Mage. She felt like a soft flower, or the sun, warming Juniper’s skin. 

She reached to the side, where a bottle of shampoo sat, and took it, filling her palm with lavender-flavoured shampoo.

“Lavender?” Ros asked, sounding slightly scared. 

“Mhm.” Sniff’s other hand reached into the Mage’s dirty, knotted hair, and began picking out small twigs and leaves, tossing them outside the bath. She moved onto the hairtie, accidentally making Ros wince in pain as she tugged it out. 

Ros’s hair was long, so as it came out from the tie, most of it fell in the water, soaking up the cleanliness of it. Juniper ran her fingers through, spreading water throughout Ros’s head, even pouring some on it with the palm of her hand. 

With each drop of water on Ros’s hair, the light purple colour came back. Dirt and soot washed away — the evidence clear in the bathwater — but Juniper let a silent sigh of relief that the girl was finally getting cleaned. Everytime Juniper attempted to run her fingers through Ros’s hair, it tangled, knots everywhere. 

She put more water on Ros’s scalp, before picking up a small comb, and slowly detangling the messy hair. 

It was therapeutic, relaxing. The sun was going down quick, leaving the two in an almost-dark room with only candles to light it up. One by the sink, and another at the foot of the bathtub. 

“Mm.” Ros whispered between Sniff’s arms. 

The sound sent butterflies straight into Sniff’s stomach. 

“Relaxed?” 

“Mhm.” 

“Good.” Juniper smiled at the news, finally rubbing the shampoo in her hand together, letting it bubble, and rubbing it into Ros’s scalp. 

She learned how to do scalp massages years ago from a friend, and often liked it, when she liked the person she did it to. 

Sniff slathered the bubbly, nice shampoo all over Ros’s scalp until it was all white, as she moved down to the middles of her hair. You weren’t supposed to put shampoo there, but Juniper figured the girl needed it — it was still dirty. 

The Growth Mage hardly noticed as she began humming in the quiet bathroom. 

She hardly noticed as Ros’s breathing slowed either, or how her head began to loll to the side. 

Or maybe she did, and she simply didn’t want the moment to end.