Kessie's Short Stories

[Kingdom Hearts AU] That One Love Letter Trope

Originally published 2/14/2021

Neige had been looking at her word processor for a solid minute before looking up at Ventus. The 7 year old's father was getting some silverware together for a Valentine's brunch they were holding for a few friends. No kids but Neige were allowed, of course- they'd kick her out of her own house if it wasn't for the little fact that her preferred babysitters were coming over.

"Dad, do I have to do this assignment?" she whined. One of her fingers absently going over the middle row of her keyboard, leaving behind lines of gibberish. "This is hard."

Ven paused for a moment, then came over to her to see what she had accomplished for far. It wasn't much- just that previously mentioned line of gibberish.

"You'll figure something out." he assured her, even pressing his lips against her temple for a moment. "You always do." And with that, he went back to his business.

"Because that's helpful." Neige mumbled under her breath with a quick roll of her eyes. She looked back at the screen of her clam shell shaped laptop and huffed. Why'd her teacher decide to give them a weekend project anyway? No one wrote love letters to anyone anymore. It was stupid. What was Ms. Tremaine's only hint toward the project? 'Write what you know?' What did Neige know about love when the boys in her class preferred to nearly kill themselves every recess to try to jump the school's fence? She honestly just wanted to be homeschooled instead of being at that ritzy private school that was so good at teaching Neige all the stuff she needed to know before graduating. It was dumb. And stupid. She hated it.

Then, in thinking about how she'd much prefer her grandparents to teach her and how she'd gladly help her father with chores instead of stupid assignments, the girl was hit with a stroke of inspiration. Clearing her word processor of her nonsense from earlier, Neige started to carefully type out the thoughts as they came to mind.

What is love?

I want to write a story on our love but I do not know where to begin.

I want to write a story about a thing I see every day in you.

Love is distance. Both near and far. Hoping to calm a storm with only patience.

Love is always being next to you. Taking my hand to the next challenge with out asking.

Love is not cat and mouse. Love is cat and bunny with lots and lots of kisses.

Love is finding light in the dark. The strongest to protect the one that matters the most.

Love is to give up what you love because you love. It will not be easy for us.

What is love? I do not know. Can you show me?

I want to learn more from you and you alone.

She looked it over once, tweaked a bit of it, then gave herself a firm nod. This would do for now. If Ms. Tremaine didn't like it, then bully for her. With a spirited mouse click, Neige sent the document off to the printer. When the printing screen confirmed that it was done, the girl shut the laptop lid and took it with her back into the office. Neige set her computer down on the office desk to gloriously snatch the paper from the printer's feeder. She proudly looked over her handiwork as she walked back out to the kitchen.

"Why are you still inside?" a voice asked her as she made it past the counter. Neige jumped a good foot in the air as she looked around wildly for the source of the voice. She let out a sigh of relief in realizing that it was just Terra. Not long after, the girl's face immediately soured.