𝙏𝙃𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 // 𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚

It had been two months since Novalee had come into your care - the months had gone from mild and pleasant August to raw and bleak October.

The wounds on your back from those two arrows had healed incredibly fast, taking only two weeks. You'd seen a doctor about it, and he'd said that arrow wounds could take as little as two days to heal completely.

There weren't even scars that remained from the broadheads - just the expanse of skin that was your back.

For the past two months, you and Rogue had gotten closer than ever, and so had you and Novalee. She and Rogue had been training almost everyday, with Rogue showing her how to utilise her Shadow Magic in a non-harmful way and she'd gotten better and better each day.

The day of Vivienne's funeral had been a sad one. It wasn't a big ceremony, albeit, but it was still sad.

You, alongside Sting, Rogue, Lilith and Aarya went. You'd given Novalee the opportunity to go, but she'd declined. It had rained that day, which just downed the mood even more. Lilith had laid chrysanthemums on her grave and then explained shortly that they had been her favourite flowers. Then, she had given a short speech that moved everyone there to tears.

You had barely slept a wink that night - you'd been tossing and turning in your bed when Novalee had come into your room in tears, saying that she couldn't sleep because she couldn't stop thinking about Vivienne. You'd ended up waking Kuschel and then walking to Sting and Rogue's house then, climbing in through the open kitchen window.

Novalee and Kuschel had cosied up on the couch with one another and you'd gone upstairs and slipped in beside Rogue. He'd only awoken when you'd buried your face into his shoulder and held onto him tightly.

That was one of many nights in which one of you wasn't able to sleep. Sometimes, you'd let Novalee crawl into bed with you. Other times, you'd stay up all night and watch out your window while she slept soundly.

Rogue started leaving the kitchen window open at night so any of you could climb in, and it wasn't uncommon that, when you would go to his room, he was awake and waiting for you.

You'd also started taking on longer, harder commissions, often disappearing for days at a time. Sometimes, Sting and Rogue would come with you, but often you did it independently with just Kuschel at your side.

As of current, you were standing in front of the board where all the jobs and requests were posted, staring them over. The one you had your eye on paid a brilliant amount, but the time it would take to complete it was hefty.

"Whatcha looking at, [Y/N]?" Sting swaggered over and rested his elbow on your shoulder.

"I think... I'm gonna take this job," you pulled it off of the request board.
"Oh, that's neat," he glanced it over, "a pretty long one, though. What time are we leaving?"

You looked at him and frowned before shaking your head.
"No, uh, I meant just Kuschel and I," you said. He didn't seem to falter but if he did, he hid it well.

"Oh, I see," he nodded, "are you sure?"
"I'm positive," you spoke, "I just... need to get away for a while, no offence."

"I completely understand," Sting said, in a rather professional tone. Rogue approached shortly after, seeing the two of you gathered.

"What are we talking about?" he asked.
"I'm taking this job," you replied. He took it from your hands and looked it over, eyes widening.

"A ten year job?" he questioned, "really?"
"Well, it doesn't necessarily mean it'll take me ten years," you shrugged, "it's just... no-one's been able to do it."
"Well... I'm not going to try and talk you out of it," he said, "because you wouldn't listen to me, but... are you sure you want to do that? You could be gone for ages."