Spy Journal - Nowi
I woke up feeling kind of chilly. Sluggish even… The moment I opened my eyes to get up, I sneezed. And my nose started running…
Laura: “Ugh. Maybe it’s allergies…?”
I sneezed again and blew my nose into a tissue.
(Awful…)
I roll over in bed, but I don’t want to get up.
Knock. Knock.
“Are you awake…?”
(H-His voice first thing in the morning??)
(Nope. Not awake.) I don’t dare to move or make a noise. But my throat is clogged and my nose is plugged, that I have a coughing fit.
“Laura…. I’m coming in…” I see the flap of my tent move…
(Is-is he serious?!)
It opens an inch or two and then falls back down.
“Lon'qu! Play with me!”
(Nowi’s voice….)
Lon'qu: “No.”
My heart quickens at his refusal to her.
Nowi: “Oh, come on, please? It's boring playing by myself. Aren't you soooo boooored?”
Lon'qu: “I like being alone. Go ask someone else.”
(He wasn’t going to be alone, if he stepped in here…)
Nowi: “I was going to, but they all look super busy.”
Lon'qu: “Are you saying I don't?”
Lon'qu: ”Because I am busy. Very busy indeed.”
(Busy with what exactly…?)
Nowi: *Sniff* *sniffle*
(Are those crocodile tears…)
Lon'qu: “Besides...everyone knows I have a crippling fear of women.”
Lon'qu: “...And yet, why do I not feel that fear around her? I must learn why!”
Laura: (Because she looks like a kid? Even though she’s not…)
Nowi: *Sniffle* Wh-what did you say? I can't hear because I'm CRYING!
I roll my eyes and shift on my bed plopping to the other side.
Lon'qu: “Nothing of importance. However...” “I have decided that I will play with you—but only for a short time.”
(Again indulging in others…)
Nowi: “Yippee! You're the best!”
Lon'qu: “Yes, yes. Stop hopping around. Now what game do you wish to play?”
(Definitely treats her as a kid…) I can still hear them outside my tent.
Nowi: “Erm...er...thinking hard...er... Oh, I know! Let's play house!”
Lon'qu: “I do not know that game.” “But it does not sound like something I'd enjoy.”
(In what age would he know this game.)
Nowi: “It'll be fun! You get to play Dad!”
(No he’s not!! I want to scream…)
Lon'qu: *Sigh* “If you insist. But only for a short while!”
(He agrees…) My stomach hurts…
Nowi: “Great! And I'll be Mummy!”
(So his w-wife??) “Ugh. Eww no…”
Lon'qu: “Is that it for the rules, then? ...I was hoping dice were involved.”
(He was looking for a board game…?)
Lon'qu: “I've already played with you once. Surely it is someone else's turn.”
(Has he had enough of this nonsense?)
Nowi: “Yeah, but that game is still going! Plus no one can play Dad but you. And if you don't play with me, well, I guess I'll just have to—“
Laura: (Why just him…?)
Lon'qu: “Put that dragonstone away, you little extortionist. You don't scare me. However, I will play one more time. ...But only because I happen to feel like it!”
(The way that he talks to her though…)
Lon'qu: “It is not entirely unpleasant, after all. With you I do not feel that icy grip of fear...”
“…”
Nowi: “Hee hee! Well, duh! Who'd ever be afraid of me when I'm not in dragon form?”
“Lon'qu: Enough talk! Begin the playing of house! But know that this is my last time.”
Laura: “Sure… it is.”
Nowi: “Sure, whatever.”
I clamp my mouth shut and breathe out.
Lon'qu: “Now, where were we? I was just about to leave and go work in the fields...”
Nowi: “Here's your breakfast, dear! Eat it all! You need to keep your strength up!”
Lon'qu: “Munch, munch. Ah. That was delicious. Now, I am off to work. Fare thee well.”
(What is this…) I can’t help, but stifle a laugh…
Lon'qu: “Now I shall pretend to engage in agriculture. Chop, chop, shovel!”
(I cannot… what is even…) I place my hands over my mouth, so I don’t accidentally laugh out loud.
Lon'qu: “Nowi? Why are you just standing there?”
Nowi: “Well, er, I'm at home, right? So when Dad goes off to work, what does Mummy do? *Sniff* Oh, how sad! I don't know! I don't know anything about families!”
Lon'qu: “...... Nowi, come here.”
(He’s calling her over…)
Nowi: “Why?”
(Why she says…)
Lon'qu: “You cannot simply stand there all day. Let's work the fields together.”
Laura: (This is probably the most house thing he’s said so far…)
Laura: “…”
Nowi: “Oh, yay! I like working in the fields! Chop, chop, chop!”
Nowi: “Here you are, dear husband! I've made your supper.”
(H-husband…) I grumble…
Lon'qu: “Munch, munch, munch. Chew. Swallow. Blech! This food is terrible!”
(This guy…)
Nowi: “Eek! Dad's angry!”
(Why does she…call him Dad…)
Lon'qu: “Of course I am! How do you expect me to eat this pig swill?!”
(Where is this even going??)
Nowi: “It's all we can afford on your pathetic salary! Maybe you should pull your thumb out and start providing for this family! That's it! You're sleeping in the stables tonight!”
(Wooooooooooooow.)
Lon'qu: “Very well. I shall attempt to earn more.”
Laura: “…” (He just accepts it…)
Nowi: “Lon'qu! You're doing it wrong! You're supposed to argue back!”
(Oh no.)
Lon'qu: “Are you sure this is the correct way to play house? It seems to me we should be doing things other than arguing all the time.”
(This pinches my heart but I don’t know why…)
Nowi: “Well, I went into town and spied on one of the families who live there.”
(That can’t be good…)
Nowi: “This game is totally based on reality!”
(Who is she spying on?!)
Lon'qu: “Do you think it's possible that the family you observed was not...typical?”
(Asking the real questions here.)
Nowi: “I dunno. Maybe. So what should a typical family do then?”
Lon'qu: “How should I know?”
“?”
Nowi: “Well if you don't know, then why can't we just play it my way?” “You're a lousy provider, husband! Oh, why didn't I marry the blacksmith?!”
Laura: (Again, wow.) “The nerve…”
Lon'qu: *Sigh*
Nowi: “Come on, put some effort into it! It's a boring argument if you just sit and sigh.”
(My brain hurts from all this madness.)
Lon'qu: “I don't like this family you invented! Here, I have an idea. Why don't you go to town and spy on a few more families?”
(Spying on families…)
Nowi: “I guess I could do that... But only if you come with me!”
I sigh again which leads me into coughing…
Lon'qu: “If it stops you from berating me, I shall do as you ask.”
(Berating… but again, he will do what she asks…)
Nowi: “Yay! I bet no one's better at sneaking around people's houses than you!”
“Uh…” (Is this because he’s in front of my house?!?)
Lon'qu: “...What is that supposed to mean?”
(Yeah what’s that supposed to mean Lon’qu…)
I hear Nowi leaving.
Lon’qu: “…Can I come in?”
The silence.
Lon’qu: “Silence will also be taken as a yes…”
(W-what??) I literally choke on my own mucus, that I pop up from laying to hack it out.
“Ugh… that’s gross.” I’m blowing my nose when Lon’qu steps in my tent.
He stares at me while I’m still blowing my nose.
(Please end me now…!!)
I see his jaw slightly move, but then his jaw closes tight. He doesn’t say anything.
After I finish clearing whatever gunk was there… I peep out, “D-do you need something…?”
He clears his throat.
Lon’qu: “I-I came to check on you…”
Laura: “For what…?”
Lon’qu: “Am I not… allowed to check?” His voice sounds a bit anxious to me unless I’m totally out of it.
Laura: “I never said that…”
Silence again…
Laura: “We can play house too… where I’m the sick patient…”
He shakes his head and groans.
Lon’qu: “Don’t remind me of that...” “Wait... you’re sick?”
Laura: “I don’t know. Maybe…” “I could be contagious you know.”
He walks over to where I’m sitting and takes off his right glove.
Laura: “? Is there some—“
And, puts his hand on my forehead.
Laura: (Eh…?!)
Lon’qu: “Feels normal…?”
His hand feels hot to my forehead.
Laura: “I- I think your hand is the one that’s warm…” my cheeks flushes.
Lon’qu: “I don’t think—“ when his eyes make eye contact with my face, his cheeks redden. “!” He pulls back his hand!
Laura: “I think I’m just going to rest…”
I start to get ready to plop down, but his hand catches my shoulder. He’s stop me midway.
Laura: “W-what now?”
Lon’qu: “You should eat first.”
(Yeah, but I don’t want to cook…)
Laura: “…Will you cook for me… ?”
Lon’qu: “…You’ll stay here right…? If I make you some lunch…”
Laura: “Yup! Where else would I be? Your place…?” I teased.
He fidgets while his face turns that familiar shade of red… and yanks his hand back, that he’s no longer supporting me and I fall on my side on my bed. I hit my head too…
Thump!
Laura: “Gah!” Since I fell oh so gracefully… I decided to just lay there pitifully…
Lon’qu: “I- I didn’t mean to—“
I breathed out.
Laura: “It’s fine… completely okay. I’m okay.” I don’t budge.
He doesn’t move either… he’s still frozen.
(It’s just how it is between us…) I use my feet to grab the blanket close enough so I can reach it with my hands and pull the blanket all over me and my head.
Both: “…”
Except I break the silence by coughing under the covers.
Laura: (Ugh.)
Lon’qu: “S-stay there.”
(Where else would I go…?!)
(Sure, okay.) (No.) (Does it even matter what I say to him…?)
I just cough more without replying…
I can hear his footsteps retreating.
(Response or no response…) “It doesn’t matter huh…”
I peek my head out and as I suspected he’s gone.
I shift over on my right side so my back is facing towards my door and I pull out my doodle book from under my pillow and begin flipping through it.
I sigh, touching the pages.
Laura: “Not cute, but he’s cute.”
“…Who’s cute….?”
“Eh…?”
I flipped over on the other side, hiding my my doodle book under the covers and see Lon’qu walking towards me.
Laura: “No one…”
He eyes me suspiciously as he says, “Get up.”
Laura: “Help me… up?” I test.
That’s when I see him put down the tea cup that he was holding. He reaches out his hand, but stops.
(He doesn’t know where to grab me…?) I’m still lying down looking up at him.
Lon’qu: “…”
His face unreadable. (His eyes keep looking around, his lips tight…)
(Guess I’ll help him out…) I stick out my left arm of the covers towards him.
He hesitates but then grabs my lower arm and pulls me to sit up.
Laura: “Thanks…”
He lets go and then picks up the cup that he put down earlier and hands it to me.
Lon’qu: “Careful. It’s hot.”
I take it from him slowly, and our fingers brush. After I got a good grip on it, he lets go.
I smell it.
“It’s some kind of mint tea…?” I take a sip, “Ack! Hot…”
Lon’qu: “I said be careful.”
Laura: “Yes you did. Thank you, for this… It really does sooth my throat.”
I take small sips blowing into the tea to try to cool it down.
Lon’qu: “Drink that and don’t go anywhere.”
He strides off before I can reply.
(Again…. Where would I be going?!)
I sigh, but I drink the mint tea.
Laura: (It’s still sweet of him to make this for me though…)
I take my time drinking the tea when he comes back holding a pot.
He sets it down on my table.
Lon’qu: “…Where are your bowls?”
Laura: “Over there.” I pointed. “But, I can get up and get it.”
He’s already over there when I realized that I haven’t cleaned up from last night.
Laura: “W-wait! I’ll get it!!” I pop up and run quickly, but it’s too late…
My clothes are everywhere because I was supposed to wash them but haven’t gotten around to it…
(He’s definitely seen too much...!!! Ahh!!!) My cheeks flush with embarrassment.
He grabs the bowls and goes back to the table. He scoops the soup into the bowls.
I slowly trudge myself to the table.
Laura: (Even though this is my home… I feel so out of place…) I don’t make eye contact with him, as he puts the bowl in front of me, along with a spoon on top.
The smell wafts at me.
Laura: “This smells delicious. Thank you…”
I scoop up some soup and before I can take a bite…
Lon’qu: “…You shouldn’t worry…”
Laura: “Huh…?” I automatically look up at him and our eyes meet.
Lon’qu: “Everyone has their off days, your place will be clean again.”
Laura: (Is this his way of trying to cheer me up or is he telling me to clean up…)
Laura: “O-of course…”
I put my spoon to my mouth and the flavors hit me.
Laura: “This is delicious…”
Lon’qu: “Good.” He nods approvingly.
Laura: “Thank you for this meal and the tea. I’ll definitely heal up quicker now.” I give him a smile.
Lon’qu: “Then, heal up…” as he pats my head from across the table.
Laura: (E-eh?!) But just as quick as it came, his hand is gone and he is finishing eating his soup.
Laura: (That just happened right…?)
Laura: “For… for me to heal up, again you can be the doctor…”
Lon’qu: “You’re the healer…”
Laura: “But, you’re my doctor…?”
Lon’qu: “I’m not a doctor.”
Laura: “But, you’re my… mine…?” The words slip out of my mouth. (Now why did I say that?!?)
Lon’qu: “W-what?!” His cheeks starting to turn red.
(So cute…)
Laura: “….”
Silence.
Laura: “I’m sick… and crazy….” (Wait… this might actually work?!)
He looks at me incredulously.
Lon’qu: “…Y-you’re plotting something… aren’t you…”
(Plotting he says… but he’s not wrong.)
Laura: “…Doctor Lon’qu.”
He sighs.
Lon’qu: “You’re not going to quit… are you?”
Laura: “What are my doctor’s orders…?”
He sighs louder.
Lon’qu: “…What do you need?”
(What do I want…?) I say the first thing that pops into my mind.
Laura: “Snuggles.”
Lon’qu: “!!”
His cheeks burning more red than before.
Lon’qu: “H-how can you say that?!”
My own face matching his.
Laura: “I-I’m just m-messing!!” (Maybe…?)
Laura: “Thank you for the meal!” I retreat back to my bed and hide back under my blankets.
Lon’qu: “…”
Laura: “…”
Something light presses above me.
(?)
Lon’qu: “G-get well soon…” I hear him take a step back.
I pop out of my blankets. And, grab for him.
Laura: “W-wait…!”
Lon’qu: “…!”
My eyes trail down to what I have grabbed…
To… the belt… on his hip.
Laura: (Huh?!??!!)
I involuntary tugged on it.
Lon’qu: “!”
At this rate, his whole face is as red as a tomato.
Lon’qu: “U-unhand m-me…!”
Laura: “I-if you stay!”
Lon’qu: “What?!? A-re you trying to kill m-me??”
Laura: “No! Why would I do that?! Just until I fall asleep…”
I’m still holding onto him, my fingers warm.
Lon’qu: “W-will you even f-fall asleep…”
Laura: “I can try…!”
I imagine both our cheeks are in flames.
Lon’qu: “J-just let go…!”
Laura: “If you don’t leave…” “Please…” (You indulge in all the others, can’t I just have this…?)
Lon’qu: “…”
He breathes in and breathes out a deep long breath.
Lon’qu: “…I-I’ll stay… but only until you sleep…!”
Laura: “Yay..!” I do little tug because I can and then let go of his belt.
Lon’qu: “You’re going to be the death of me.” He mutters.
I lay back down in bed and face him so I’m sleeping on my side, while he pulls my chair next to my bed.
He’s sitting on the chair with his arms crossed looking down at me while my eyes are looking up at his face.
Lon’qu: “…” His lips pressed together a tight grip.
I cough a few times trying to clear out my throat, though I didn’t mean to. I resume looking at him after my coughing fit.
Lon’qu: “C-close your eyes…”
I’m still looking at him, taking in his hair, the ways his eyes look into mine… his serious expression, his frown…)
(Hehe. Everything is just so much better with him here next to me.)
I blink and my eyebrows crease. (Why am I thinking about these things…?)
(Just looking at him is soothing to my soul…) I want to say the words out loud, get him to notice me…
(…I really must be sick.)
(Maybe I am on drugs because I’m laying here just staring at him… not like that’s any different from most days…)
(Ugh… I’m a stalker.)
(How is he going to like someone like me?)
(Wait like??)
(I’m seriously… totally sick.)
I’m still laying on my side looking up at him. (He’s looking back at me…)
Lon’qu: “Y-you sleep by closing your eyes…”
Laura: “…What if I don’t want to sleep…?”
He sighs. “Sick people need to sleep.”
Laura: “…Won’t you cast a spell on me and make me fall asleep?”
Lon’qu: “…What kind of spell…?” He asks but then I can see the regret of him asking with his creased eyebrows.
Laura: “…Snuggles.” I dare to say as I pull my blanket up to cover my mouth and nose.
He flinches in the chair.
Lon’qu: “T-that again?! We are n-not snuggling!”
(Boo.) I pout under the blanket.
Laura: “I don’t know really... Just something that will make me sleepy…? I guess? I’m not sleepy at all…”
He takes a breath.
Lon’qu: “I’m not sure… if this will work…”
He scoots his chair closer to the bed, lifts up his right hand… and pats my head…
Laura: (Huh…?!)
Only once.
Then, he crosses his arms again.
Lon’qu: “…There.”
Laura: “O-only once?! How is that supposed to make me sleepy?!”
The heartbeat rapidly picking up.
(Though to be honest, I don’t think anything he can do will make me sleepy…)
Lon’qu: “…” His cheeks reddening.
Laura: “H-how about you lay right next to me…?” I pat the spot where I want him to lay.
His face exploding red.
Lon’qu: “W-what?!? N-no!”
Laura: “No funny business.”
Lon’qu: “I-I wo—“
Laura: “from me…”
A long exasperated sigh escapes him as he puts both of his hands on his face as he’s battling to hold his head up.
Lon’qu: “Y-you’re… ugh… …” his face still red.
(I’ve never seen so much emotion from him like this… Probably because I’m sick and he has 100% of my attention.) (He’s so cute…)
Again. My thoughts just running circles around him. (He’s close but yet so far away…)
My turn to breathe out a long slow sigh that turns into a cough.
Lon’qu: “…?” He stops what he was doing to examine me.
His warm gaze sending ripples in my heart…
Laura: “W-what…?” My voice sounding a bit clogged.
Lon’qu: “Are you… feeling okay…?” He actually looks concerned unless it’s the fever that’s talking.
Laura: “O-okay enough. I guess… for what it’s worth…? Sick is sick…”
Lon’qu: “Then… go to s-sleep.”
(Again… kicking me to bed…)
(Do everything for everyone else’s sake… except for mine.)
(Girls bother you but you put up with them…)
(You stay to appease me but rather do other things the moment I say it’s okay…?)
(Am I that annoying to you Lon’qu?)
I’m vulnerable. Emotional. (I’m not okay.) (I just want to be spoiled by you when I’m sick and I can’t even have that…?) I can feel the burning sensation in my eyes as a tear trickles down…
He blinks and bites down his lip as I quickly turn around so my back is facing him.
Lon’qu: “…Hey…”
Laura: “…”
Lon’qu: “Laura…”
The way he calls out my name, makes me want to turn back and face him. But, I don’t.
(That’s not fair…)
Laura: “…”
I wrap the blanket around myself tighter.
Lon’qu: “…”
Silence.
A sigh. His sigh. (His favorite sighs.)
When I feel something pressed behind my back.
Laura: “!” On an instinct, I turn over, for his hand to stop me from turning.
Lon’qu: “D-don’t…”
Laura: “A-are you in my bed…?”
Lon’qu: “What?! D-don’t make this weird!!”
Laura: “A-are you laying…?”
Lon’qu: “N-no….”
I scoot back into him trying to get a feel and my back hits…
(His knee…??) (Huh!!?)
His hand lets go so, I turn over fully and see him looking down at me… so close…
(He is definitely… sitting on my bed…!)
Lon’qu: “…”
I take in his face. His stern eyes, his clenched mouth, the tightness in his posture. The redness of his cheeks. Flushed. (Adorable…) My eyes roaming from his top of his hair, his face, down to the rest of his body…
Lon’qu: “W-what… S-stop staring…”
My own cheeks burn from being called out.
(I have no words to say because I am staring!!)
Lon’qu: “T-ten minutes only! Then, I’m leaving…”
Laura: “Boo…” I pout.
Lon’qu: “!”
He looks at me, like really looks at me. Looks as though he can even blush any more than he already has. And places his hand on his mouth as if he’s trying to cover his expression from me.
Lon’qu: “…Fifteen then…”
Laura: “One hour.”
Lon’qu: “O-one h-hour?!?” “I can’t last that long…” he mutters.
Laura: “What’s wrong with an hour…with me…?”
I lift my blanket open, holding it up while I’m still laying, to invite him inside of it.
Laura: “We can share…?”
Lon’qu: “H-have you no shame??” He quickly pulls the blanket down, practically wrapping me in it.
I stare at him. His face still tinged with red. He crosses his arm and closes his eyes.
His chest slightly heaves with deep breaths even though it’s quiet and subtle.
I try to scoot a little closer… and his eyes snap open and turn to look at me.
Lon’qu: “Ten minutes…”
Laura: “Ten minutes if we snuggle.”
Lon’qu: “T-this a-again??! W-why??”
Laura: “It’s not that bad… I just want some Lon’qu snuggles…”
Despite everything going on, I yawn.
(Guess I am getting sleepy…)
He crosses his arms tighter.
Lon’qu: “No.” He practically growls.
(Okay. Sheesh. Just say you don’t like me by saying you don’t like me.)
(Good thing he’s got me wrapped up in here…)
I roll away from him to the other side of my bed, which is not that far because my bed isn’t even big to begin with…
Lon’qu: “Laura…”
The way he says my name unravels me…
Laura: “…”
Another sigh. I feel him move besides me.
Lon’qu: “Just… stay still…”
I feel something wrap around me both on top and under my blankets… (He’s basically hugging a burrito…?!)
I try to turn over but his strong arms don’t let me.
Lon’qu: “I’ll count to 450 and I’m leaving.” His deep yet soft voice… right beside my ear.
My heart beats out of control.
Lon’qu: “1… 2… 3…”
(He really is counting…)
Lon’qu: “4… 5… 6…”
Laura: “Y-you really don’t have to push yourself…”
Lon’qu: “…16. 17… 18…”
As he continues counting, my heart tries to match the rhythm of his voice…
Lon’qu: “50.. 51… 52…”
(This is the most he’s ever spoken at once…)
Lon’qu: “60… 61… 62…”
By the time he gets to 100, my heart has calmed down just by listening to his voice. (Soothing… warm… wrapped up in his both of his arms…) I yawn sleepily…
Lon’qu: “102… 103… 104…”
(I wish I can snuggle into him… but I take what I can get…)
Lon’qu: “118… 119… 120… 121…”
(Not being able to move or look at him, but just hearing his voice…) I close my eyes…
Lon’qu: “150… 151… 152…”
(In his arms… keeping me safe…)
(It’s peaceful…)
Lon’qu: “300… 301… 302…”
By the time it’s been 5 minutes, I can feel the up and down rhythm of her sleeping.
Lon’qu: “… Are you asleep…?” I ask even though I know that she’s fallen asleep.
(Couldn’t even last 10 minutes huh?)
I still have my arms wrapped around her.
(Keep making me do things I would never consider doing…)
I sigh into the back of her blanket where her neck is probably at under these covers.
(A man’s in your room… yet you still…)
Lon’qu: “Foolish…”
I give her a small squeeze despite my words, as I unwrap myself away from her. As I prop myself up quietly, my hand hits something on the side her pillow.
Lon’qu: “Hmmm…?”
Curious, I pull it out and it’s a loose pages bounded together. I’m tempted to turn a page…
Lon’qu: (Wait… wasn’t this what she was looking at when she called someone cute…?)
Laura: “Hmm..ph!”
Lon’qu: “!”
I look over, but she’s still sleeping…
Lon’qu: (Sleeptalking…)
Lon’qu: (I shouldn’t pry into her to things…) I put it back where I found it, without opening it.
I get off her bed and put another blanket on the side of her, so she doesn’t feel cold when she wakes up.
Lon’qu: “…Sweet dreams, Laura. Get well soon…”
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