Chapter Text
Drift begrudgingly walked over to AJ’s village once more, contemplating every single damn life decision she’s made that has led up to this predicament. Every single mistake she’s ever made, every feeling she’s felt.
Her and AJ are fake dating. Again. They’re both rebels, surprisingly. So far at The Academy, she has had an.. Okay experience to say the least. She’s currently walking over to AJ’s village to work on those tunnels, carrying coarse dirt, ladders, and the coordinates that were handed to her. Did AJ ever even work in her village? It’s all empty and boring. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
The leaves crunch beneath her heel as she walks, every step feeling like she’s heading towards doom. It causes an unpleasant pit in her stomach, amplifying her feelings more.
Her thoughts flow in the wind, becoming almost like one. They run in a circle like a toy train, the good and bad bubbling up to the surface, with Drift having no control of where they spiraled into.
How she’d woken up alone in the forest, pressing her hands together and making daisies, sunflowers, glow berries at the palm of her hands. The gentle embrace her magic had provided her, how she felt like she had a chance to become her own person. Not Rynn, but someone anew. Someone born without a duty to maintain, without a purpose to fulfill, without a destiny already chosen for her.
The earth molding its shape around her, as if accepting her as one of their own. The variety of flowers circling and blowing around her, roses, tulips, orchids.
She felt like a caterpillar who’d broken out of its chrysalis, metamorphosing into her own person. Becoming a butterfly, curious and exploring. Becoming Drift.
“A flower blossoms into your hand.” ~
Drift read many books on it during her days in the castle, always feeling drawn and connected towards plants and gardens. Her mother always complained it was always where she’d be, instead of doing something distasteful such as “princess etiquette.”
Of course, she was never really interested in all of that. Having her nose in a book though? Big fan.
Then, her thoughts shifted.
The poster was put up in a random village she was staying in. “Need new Dragon Riders. Must be of age, accepting newcomers…” or whatever it said. She didn’t bother to read it thoroughly when she shoved and crumpled it into her pocket, already setting off, her cloak’s hood finding its way on her head.
When she’d first met AJ. How she had playfully poked at her over their secrets. How mysterious AJ felt. AJ had this aura around her– one that said “find me out for yourself.” And of course, Drift couldn’t resist.
When AJ proposed to start fake dating. She remembered how it was “casual.” Drift felt it was ridiculous. Why would you ever want to fake date your sworn enemy? Was AJ that damn obsessed with her? Was this just another excuse for AJ to spend more time with her? It sure did feel as such.
When they first kissed, back at the tent, after AJ had opened up to her about how she felt about them. Herself. Drift could still feel the mix between smooth and rough against her lips, AJ’s calloused fingers feeling so gentle against her cheeks. The lingering taste of alcohol and bitterness from AJ’s tongue. How Drift didn’t resist and leaned into it. The shocking softness, something she would’ve never expected from AJ.
Up at the mountain top, where AJ had said she’d broken the “no-attachments rule.” How her heart felt so full at that moment. When her eyes met AJ’s. When all she was able to see was honesty, her walls temporarily down.
The letter AJ sent, telling her to meet up at the lavender field– where everything went crashing down on her. When rock bottom had finally revealed itself in it’s true form, depraved and brutal.
AJ’s berating, the almost crazed, lifeless look in her eyes as she tried so desperately to convince Drift that she was okay, even with the blood-stained clothes, split knuckles and eyebags. The way AJ had cruelly driven her off.
How she’d cried and felt almost hopeless at the camps Megii set up. How her head felt when she leant down, back pressed against the pole of the tent, knees digging into her eyes, her panicked breaths, how fucking dense she was to let AJ in.
She suddenly felt the urge to just stomp on the floor, punch something– anything to release all the pent up anger she’s held in for far too long. Sure, she’s gotten better at “letting go” recently with Amber, but god, she still holds way too much anger in her heart that no amount of molotov throwing would liberate.
Drift felt extremely grateful for Amber for this.
She digs in her pocket, taking out one spare she had anyway. She felt so fucking stupid.
She gazes down at the warmth and weight in her palm, holding still in her tracks, letting the aldor travel into her veins, seep deep into the cracks inside of her, letting out a sigh she didn’t know she was holding.
Fuck it, mind as well. She has nothing to lose at this moment.
Drift throws the molotov in wherever seems fit, trusting her entire arm-strength in the throw. She grunts, trying to exert any and all tension she had with the yank, even knowing herself it was practically impossible at this rate.
Even then, she couldn’t help but feel a little satisfied afterwards. She lets out a sigh of relief– even if that comfort lasted for just a few seconds as she hears a way too familiar chuckle echo through the area where she’d just thrown the molotov.
“Jeez, Open-Book. Didn’t see you as the type who threw molotov’s at their exes.” AJ swipes the smoke away her face with her hand, a smug smirk planted on her face. “Or should I say ‘girlfriend’ now? I imagine you’re still getting used to us.” She throws up her hands, curling her index and middle finger in mock quotations.
Of fucking course she had to come up at the worst time. She can’t leave her alone, can she? AJ just always has to find a way to seep her claws deep beneath her skin? Her fingers instinctively dig into her palms, steadying her emotions with the feeling.
“Ugh, you’re like– the person who I don’t want to see the most right now.” Drift complains, kicking the grass beneath her feet in frustration.
AJ’s eyes wander, noticing her grumpy little attitude, finding it so endearing. How she tried to hide her lingering affection. The way she juts her bottom lip out ever so slightly, forming a barely noticeable pout. The moment when her eyebrows tense once her gaze lands on her own.
“Oh, don’t make me blush… Princess.” AJ teases, leaning down and motioning for Flick to follow her, keeping her eyes locked on Drift. She moves her gloved hand over her lips, letting out a short snicker, her head tilted up just enough to get a good look at Drift’s face. “You know this is important anyways, yeah?”
Drift scoffed, unbelieving of the audacity AJ has right now. She glares at the shit-eating smile plastered upon AJ’s face, stepping back as she stepped closer and out the smoke.
Yes, it’s important. AJ was right about it, but did she have to be so fucking egotistical about it?
“For the record, I didn’t see you. You came out from the shadows like some freak.” Drift rolls her eyes, sighing.
“Ooooookay. Whatever you say.” AJ brushes her clarification off, placing her hands on her hips, narrowing on their surroundings, the green blur of the forest enclosing in around them. AJ pulls off her bandana, smacking it against the flames to put it out.
Drift taps her finger against her elbow, watching AJ’s movement with a mix of hatred and longing. Longing she’s hopelessly tried to hide, to no avail since AJ always sticks her head in places where it doesn’t belong.
“Anyways,” AJ starts up, eyes fixed on Drift once more. “Did you bring the stuff for our mission?” She asks, looking Drift up and down, one of her eyebrows raised.
“I did.” Drift steps forward again, looking over AJ’s shoulder as she ties her bandana back to her neck where the path to her village lies. “Can we make this quick? I don’t think I could last longer than an hour with you.” Drift mutters, averting her gaze away from AJ’s now.
“Why, can’t handle being in my presence?” AJ moves aside to make space for Drift, giggling at her own joke. Drift hurries ahead, huffing, turning her head away.
“You are so insufferable.” Drift retorts, walking at a steady pace, making AJ have to jog to catch up.
AJ continues to giggle, Drift’s insult seemingly not bothering her one bit. Flick follows behind, curiously perking its head at their conversation, as if sensing the tension between them.
AJ catches up after a short moment to Drift’s dismay, walking at her pace, stretching her arms up. The wind's gentle breeze blows through the both of them, leaves falling and crushing below their feet.
They both internally prepare themselves for the long day they have ahead of themselves.
~ ~ ~
AJ digs into her pocket as she sees her village ahead, looking at the coordinates given to her, comparing it to a compass and map, stopping abruptly at a random spot on the trail, looking off into the distance.
“The spot they gave me goes off the trail. You’re going to have to follow me, sweetheart.” AJ muses, walking a bit off trail before checking to see if Drift is behind her, perking her head to the side.
Drift sighs, turning around and reluctantly following AJ, crossing her arms. “You know you don’t have to call me that, right? Nobody else is here.” Drift mumbles, watching as the trees become denser and denser. She knows AJ is doing it just to piss her off, and it works to AJ’s credit.
“Yeah, yeah. But who knows? Some crazed person might be stalking us.” AJ says playfully, eyes still on the map, focusing on the spot she’d marked beforehand.
“I feel like you’d be the stalker.” Drift murmurs under her breath, before going silent again, walking for what seems like forever.
After traveling through the forest nearly throughout her entire life from a kid, she thought she knew the forests pretty well, and she could walk a good few miles without getting tired.
But oh my, this walk was exhausting.
Drift felt like they were going up, higher and higher, the wind becoming a bit more fierce. The rocks get more jagged and untouched as the duo goes on, the trees thicker and fuller of life and wisdom, whispering ancient secrets amongst each other.
Drift feels AJ come to a stop again, pointing at the marked map, comparing it to their surroundings.
“Not too far from my village. Neat.” AJ comments, stuffing the compass, book, and map back into her pockets carelessly. “Here. This is the spot that they gave me for the mission.” AJ points down at the ground where they step on.
Drift looks down at the ground, taking out a shovel she’d gotten beforehand. “Soooo.. We just dig until we find something?” Drift asks, leaning her head to the side.
“I mean, it's what it says on the pamphlet.” AJ takes out her own shovel, cracking her knuckles against the palm of her hand. She sticks her shovel as deep as she can into the earth, tossing the dirt in Drift’s way to be a tease, letting out a “pfft” sound.
“Agh! AJ!” Drift exclaims, stomping her foot against the ground, frantically wiping the dirt of her clothes as AJ howls, doubling over in laughter, setting her shovel in the ground to cover her stomach as she laughs.
“You know these are new!!” Drift whines out. “I really can’t believe you sometimes.” Drift says exasperatedly, wiping off the dirt as best as she can, before giving up, admitting that she’s just going to have to wash her new clothes later, despite just wearing them.
“S’part of my charm.” AJ makes one last little comment before finally shutting up, digging alongside Drift in complete silence, just as she wants. Drift focuses her strength on the shovel, digging hard and deep into the earth, feeling her magic resonate with it. She uses the weight with each forceful hit of the shovel against the ground to distract her thoughts from AJ.
Eventually, Drift feels the muscles in her arms quake after a while, her posture slouching a bit as she places the shovel down, moving to lean against a tree.
“Ugh..” Drift groans to herself, taking out a bit of food she had packed beforehand, eating it as she slowly sinks to the ground, pressing her body weight against the tree.
She notices AJ continuing to work, despite her entire body tense with over excursion. Drift resists the urge to comment on it, not wanting to make it look like she still cares about her.
.. Even though it was the truth. Drift did care about AJ. So much, it physically pulled her heart down to her stomach everytime she thought about her, how obviously not fine she was back when they fought, how she’s still obviously not fine right here and now.
Flick flies her way, landing on Drift’s knee with a ‘caw’ sound, pecking its beak against Drift’s food, a.k.a. Scott’s dumplings. Drift lets out a breathy laugh, her tension melting away with Flick. She tore off a piece of her food, giving it to Flick, who happily munched on it. The distraction was comforting.
Drift leaves the rest of her food to Flick, taking her shovel back into her hands, digging until the material they’re digging on hits something different.
Something heavier, firmer.
“Ah.” AJ hums, digging out around the spot. Drift follows, unveiling a box shaped object protruding out the dirt. Drift looks down in confusion, eyes trailing back up to AJ’s. Their sights meet.
AJ leans down, taking one of her gloved hands and brushing it against the object, the dirt revealing wood.
“Oh. Ohh. I get it now.” AJ continues swiping dirt away with her hand, knocking on the wood just to make sure it is what she thinks it is, smirking when she’s right.
“What? What is it?” Drift steps back, observing AJ with perplexity.
“A trapdoor.” AJ searches for the latch, opening it upon discovery, coughing and wheezing once it's open.
“Holy shit– fuck–” AJ says inbetween coughs. “This is old as hell.” AJ wipes all the dust that just puffed up into her face into the wind, letting it blow away.
Drift snorts, kneeling over with her, leaning down to step inside, looking around.
She stands still for a moment, looking up at AJ reassures her to keep going. She then stares at the pitch black ahead, the ominous feeling gloving her.
Drift takes careful steps forward, slowly gaining more confidence with each step she takes, the glow berries in her hair providing little light to help her way.
“Yeah. This place definitely hasn’t been used in years..” Drift observes, keeping a keen eye. She looks around inside, feeling around for the walls, spreading her arms.
“What the…”
Both her palms hit carved stone, perfectly molded in languages and brick shapes, something old that she couldn’t decipher. Drift keeps note of this, wondering if she could find any books on this. Maybe she could even ask Osteon.
“It’s.. tight in here.” Drift moves her arms down, turning around to see AJ behind her, doing the same thing. Drift tenses up a little, taking deep breaths, continuing to walk forward.
It’s not spacious. It’s too confined for her liking. Her heart pounds into her chest, only making her feel more big in the small place.
This reminds her of..
BOOM.
…
The passageway echoes with a loud roaring sound, which nearly shakes the wall. Drift lets out a soft squeak sound, and AJ freezes, before turning around.
The little light from the hole they dug was gone, enveloping them in pitch black. It takes a moment for both of them to realize what’s happened.
“Shit.” AJ whispers, her voice bouncing off the walls.