Bloom [Howl!Sabo × Reader]

2. About the lost princes

In which Howl's plan reveals

.

.

.

This can't be true, right?

You thrill and come down the chair, begging your brain to decide what your heart should feel after this mad day.

Terrified, grateful, curious?

The world shouldn't be this complicated, even if it riots in wizards and witches.

Overwhelmed with emotions, your body begs to slow down after these hurried hours.

"I would be happy to hear your name too," smiles Sabo at you kindly. "And your reasons for searching for me, if you don't mind."

"Sophie," you answer silently, fighting against your sleepiness. You yawn once and the wizard steps back.

"Maybe my other questions can wait until tomorrow, then," he says. "You need to rest now. Luffy, please guide her to your room, and you can sleep in mine for tonight."

"Your room's so cool!" laughs the child happily, but then his face frowns. "But you won't go out again, right, Sabo? You'll get hurt if you keep this up."

"Once you will reach your limits and you won't be able to turn back," joins Ace.

What are they talking about?

"I must go," whispers the man, setting the sleeve of his silver-blue coat. "The war is about to begin and I have to fight my own battles. Now listen, you two-"

But you can't hear the rest because you fall asleep on the chair. Being old is still not easy, after all.

And you can't see as Sabo shakes his head a little and picks you up when he notices, walking upstairs and placing you in Luffy's bed gently.

He smiles, seeing you young in your dreams, then covers you with the boy's fluffy, meat-patterned blanket.

"Good night, Sophie."

.

.

.

Morning

You wake up to the sun shining through the rounded window - in your dreams.

In reality, you almost fall out of the bed when something shatters downstairs.

You struggle yourself out of the bed and look into the mirror for a second to face the old woman.

At least I'm still healthy, that's all that matters.

Just I can't understand what is happening around me.

Can this wizard be truly Howl? He's nothing like the rumours.

If he's as kind as he seemed to be, maybe he can set me free from the spell.

When you hear the chattering and shouting downstairs again, you hurry there as fast as your hobbling legs can take you.

And when you see the scene, you start laughing loudly.

Luffy, still wearing your straw hat from yesterday (just he removed the decoration of the side), stomps at the edge of the fireplace, then gets down on his knees, folding fingers to pray for the fire which turns dark cherry color in the mix of anger and awe of the child's adorableness.

But where's Howl?

"Aceee, let me in the storage room!"

"No!"