I’m yet again in Lon’qu’s tent. But this time, I have the mic in my pocket and the list. I take out my list and hold it towards him.
Laura: “How about Maribelle next? Lissa’s bestie.”
He groans.
Laura: “It can’t be that bad…?”
Lon’qu: “I can barely deal with one, but two…?”
(Deal with one….)
Laura: “Just because they are best friends, doesn’t mean they are exactly the same. I mean the three of us are all healers….”
He sighs. “Don’t lump yourself with them.”
I can feel his eyes on me, but I was still looking the list.
Laura: (Does that mean I’m special…?) The moment I looked up, he turned his face away.
Lon’qu: “Let’s just get this over with.” He starts walking towards the door.
(Nope… It doesn’t. Or maybe…)
Laura: “…Can I hide out in your place today?”
He whips around to look at me.
Lon’qu: “W-what?!”
I repeat myself.
Laura: “…Can I hide out in your place today?”
Lon’qu: “Why do you w-want to be here…?”
(I don’t have a reason.)
Laura: “….Why not!”
Lon’qu: “…”
Lon’qu: “Regardless of what I say, you’ll barge in here anyways…”
Laura: “Apparently, I’m not the only one.” I teased, but it comes out a bit more accusing... somehow.
His eyebrows pressed together, a deep crease forming between them.
His lips pressed into a thin, tight line.
Lon’qu: “Do… whatever you want.”
(Not a yes… but it’s not a no either…)
Laura: “What’s that supposed to mean…?”
Lon’qu: “Do what… pleases you…”
Laura: “Hmmmm… what would please me?”
(What would make me happy…?) (Spending time with…) Lon’qu’s face suddenly pops up… more like I find myself absentmindedly staring at his face.
Lon’qu: “?”
Laura: “!” My face flushes. So I just blurt out, “I-I’ll just invade your place when you’re here…then!” (Like that makes it any better?!??)
As if my blushing was contagious, it was his turn to blush. Lon’qu: “I-If that’s what you w-want…”
(Yes. I do want that but it’s not like I can admit that freely…?) (What am I even saying?!)
Laura: “Anyways! …I’ll take my leave now! Have fun with uh Maribelle!” I leave his place scrambling, practically running back to my own.
(Why am I even running away?!)
I look back… just curious… and he was chasing after me?! (Huh…?!? But why??!)
He mouths something, but I can’t quite make it out.
Maribelle: “Lon'qu!”
I see him whip back to Maribelle since she called his name. I hastily put the mic in my ears and start jogging like I’m on a run…
Maribelle: “Just what do you think you were doing in that last battle?”
Lon'qu: “Stabbing people.”
(Stabbing people he says…)
Maribelle: “I was REFERRING to your insistence on charging off faster than I can follow! It's lovely that you're so eager to bathe in blood, but I must insist you match my pace.”
Lon'qu: “Leave me, woman.”
I wince. (Woman… though… when was the last time he called me that…?)
Maribelle: Ha! Spoken like a true cad!
(What’s a cad? Does anyone even speak like this anymore?!)
Maribelle : “I've heard tell of your little "issue" with women, but you'll just have to get over it.”
I sigh. (I guess we all noticed this from the get go.)
Lon'qu: “This is no problem of yours. If I bleed, it is due to my own weakness. Each cut is a lesson, each scar a reminder.”
I sigh again. (So he says…)
Maribelle: “Oh, and just think how much you'll learn when you die in a heap on the battlefield! It's my job to keep your blood inside you, and that requires cooperation.”
(She really wants to be his healer huh…) I slow down my running pace.
Lon'qu: “I can patch my own wounds. Now leave me!”
(But can you? With three healers coming after you….)
Maribelle: “You nearly lost your sword arm yesterday, Lon'qu! Are you aware of this? All your warrior's pride won't be worth a whit if you can't lift a blade!”
(Just how closely is she watching him…?)
Lon'qu: “I've intensified my training so that such a thing won't happen again. Now stop following me.”
(At least he tries to shoo her away…)
Lon'qu: “That's my arm. You're touching my arm. ...Please stop touching my arm.”
I huff. (Touching…) I turn the corner into another sprint.
Maribelle: “Not until you furnish me with a reason for this suicidal stubbornness!”
“It’s not suicidal”…. I hiss at the air.
Lon'qu: “Enough! I yield! Just remove your paw from me.”
(She’s still holding onto him huh…)
Maribelle: “PAW?! Why, you inbred, foul-tempered, low-born gutter rat! Are you so truly averse to women that you must insult them at every turn?”
(HOW DARE YOU INSULT HIM!!) I run quicker.
Lon'qu: “I... do not function well around them. The closer they get, the worse it is. I beg of you, keep your distance.”
(He has to beg…)
Maribelle: “At this rate, a little girl could simply walk up and kill you with a spoon. I won't have you risking your life over such a foolish thing.”
I envisioned what she was saying and rolled my eyes…
Maribelle: “I would have been in a terrible bind had you not been close by to defend me. Though you would have been in a similar fix had I not healed you afterwards.”
(Protection and healing…) Deep sighs.
Maribelle: “Regardless, it was quite chivalrous of you. And proof you've overcome your problem! This is a celebratory day indeed. Perhaps you'll join me for a cup of—“
(Celebration… again I wonder if he sees me just like everyone else…?) I shake my head and turn the corner.
Lon'qu: “TOO CLOSE! Er, I mean... Please step back.”
My heart does a flip… (the way he feels like he needs to change his speech for her…) I slow down and start to walk breathing heavily.
Lon'qu: “My problem is not gone. It's better in combat, but... At times like this, I can't... I can't. I'm sorry.”
(Why are you apologizing…)
Lon'qu: “Go on. Laugh at the craven.”
(Really… why is he so different around her…? Cause she’s nobility…?)
Maribelle: “I'll do no such thing! I owe you all the more knowing you defended me despite the discomfort. I should dearly like to help you work through the issue.”
(She does hold up her head high though…)
Maribelle: “Quite right! And I won't rest until I've come up with it, my dear. Anything for a friend, I always say.”
“Friends…”
Lon'qu: “Are we friends?”
(The way he asked this…)
Lon'qu: “Most friends stand closer than twenty paces from one another. But yes, I would like to be friends.”
(He actually wants to be her friend…) I trip over my own feet.
Laura: “..!”
Maribelle: “Good, because it's a done deal regardless.”
I see the ground rushing up at me, but I try to catch myself but my knee hits the pavement along with the hands.
Smack!
Laura: (Ugh…! Dumb!!) Embarrassed I stand up quickly, and continue walking on my way. I feel my knees both scraped and my right hand probably took a beating from catching myself.
Laura: “So stupid… I’m a healer who can’t even heal myself…” I sighed heavily.
I can feel my knees throb in pain.
Laura: “I really need to take care of this…”
My heart is still beating fast from the run and I’m still catching my breath.
Lon’qu: “Found you…”
Laura: “Huh…?” I look around but I don’t see him… (Am I hearing things…?) I take off the mic and put it in my pocket.
I slowly walk towards back my tent, but I did travel quite the distance.
I sigh again, a long heavy sigh.
“…What’s wrong…?”
Laura: “…!” I turned around to where I thought I heard the voice, (I don’t see anything…)
“Behind you…”
I turned behind me and I see Lon’qu…
“L-Lon’qu…?!” Surprise in my voice.
Lon’qu: “Is it that surprising to see me after all this time…?” He touches the sword on his side to check if it’s there. A habit of his.
Laura: “Yes… I mean no… I mean yes all the way out here yes…”
Lon’qu: “Are you lost? I’ll walk you back.” He turns and starts striding off.
(There’s no way I can match his pace…!)
I follow suit but I am much slower than usuals.
He stops walking and looks back at me.
I walk… just as normal as I can…
Lon’qu: “You’re limping.” He says a matter of fact.
“I am not…!” I protest.
Lon’qu: “Then, why are you walking like that?”
Laura: “…Like what? I’m just walking??”
I made it to him and I stare at him back.
He pokes my right knee.
I wince and let out a gasp.
He pulls his hand back. Lon’qu: “…!”
(No sense in hiding it I suppose…) I confess somewhat. “I scraped my knees okay…”
Lon’qu: “Why… didn’t you tell me…?”
Laura: “I… I don’t know…” (I really don’t know…) When suddenly he picks me up off the ground…!
Laura: “Huh..?! I-I can still walk…!”
Lon’qu: “It’s faster this way, don’t complain.”
I keep my hands to myself as I look up at his face from this angle.
(S-so close…) My heartbeat quickens as he carries me.
(It is way faster this way… he’s practically running all the way…) and we make it back to his tent and sets me onto his chair.
Laura: “T-thank you…”
He takes out his first aid kit.
Lon’qu: “Show it to me.”
Laura: “I-it’s fine! I can take care of it myself when I get home…!”
I’m embarrassed and my cheeks heat up.
He sighs.
Lon’qu: “Either you move it or I’ll move it for you.” He stares me in the eye.
I blush harder.
Laura: “Y-you’re gonna do what now…?!”
He blushes, hard.
Lon’qu: “D-don’t make this w-weird…!” His breath hitches.
I move my dress higher so it’s not covering my knees and I pull my pants above my knees. I wince… (definitely scraped and bled… my right knee throbbing more than my left.)
Laura: “Ooops…? At least I didn’t fall on my face.” I tried to lighten the atmosphere.
He audibly sighs as he dips the cloth. “This might sting a little.”
I watch him as he cleans up my wounds. (Why is he doing this for me…)
(Or does he do this for all the girls…)
He makes quick work of it barely touching my skin.
Laura: “Thank you again Lon’qu.”
Lon’qu: “I’ve got your back…” He looks up at me as he says this.
(And I can feel that he actually means it…)
Laura: “You got everyone’s back huh?” I smile.
He clenches his jaw.
Lon’qu: “…”
(Of course he does, because that’s just how he is…)
I reach out and tousle his hair. (So… fluffy…. Hehe.)
Lon’qu: “…!” He jerks up, knocking over some of his supplies, now standing.
(And… clearly he hates my touch sooo that’s my cue to leave…)
I get up, my knees still exposed.
“My way of saying thanks!” I play it off. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him… so I pick up the supplies he’s knocked over, put it back in his first aid kit, and then head out of his tent quickly.
I plop on my bed, careful to not hit my knees. “One step forward and three steps back huh…?”
I sigh…
I think back tousling his hair even how short lived that was…
(I want to touch his hair again…)
