Repurposed

Secrets

*Warning: Sexual harassment and assault, panic attack, being scared of the dark. Is that even eligible for a warning-?*

I took a deep breath. It had been a few days since our last food raid, and Cross still hadn't recovered. For my plan to work, I thought it better to have a smaller team this time, maybe just bring one or two people. I was hopeful it would raise less alarm with the Stars, as Dust has taken to calling them, though I couldn't be sure. Regardless, we needed that food. Horror's AU needed it badly, and we were running out, ourselves.

I gathered the gang in the living room. Cross had stumbled in even though I told him not to, but decided not to say anything more about it. Dust was eyeing me with an unreadable expression, and I couldn't tell what he was feeling. It made me uneasy. No, it concerned me. But I couldn't do anything about it, right now.

"It looks like we'll have to go on another raid," I explained to them. They nodded solemnly. I looked to Blueberry, the newest guy we've had in years. He seemed to be adjusting to this pretty well, and hadn't made any attempt to return to his AU, wherever that was. I'd ask him later where he was from. "Cross, you are staying here. No arguing. Your wounds haven't healed, so I'm leaving Blueberry and Killer with you. Horror, Dust, come on."

I opened a portal and gestured for them to follow. The ones we were leaving gave me tentative smiles. I returned them with a smile of my own, willing reassurance and hope to show on my face. Blueberry was probably the only one who didn't know exactly what we faced every time we left, but it didn't hurt to try and comfort him as well.

We arrived in the Waterfall of the AU. It was dark and quiet, the streams of water flowing from the cliffs and down to the lakes creating a soft murmur. It echoed across the landscape, and I was momentarily distracted by its tranquility. If only we had something like this somewhere at home. It would be really nice to visit someplace this calming.

I looked down at my feet. My eyesocket widened in awe at the flowers brushing against my leg. There were hundreds as far as I could see, all different shapes and sizes, and all a riot of color. In the dim light of Waterfall, they seemed to glow with an ethereal light, adding to the beauty just a little bit more.

I waded through the jungle of blooms, looking behind me to find that the others had began admiring the flowers as well. One flower caught my attention, and I went over to the bush and gasped. 

It was a rose bush.

The beautiful blossoms were a deep, rich shade of purple, and I smiled as I touched one of the delicate petals. I'd never seen such pretty flowers, but these were... breathtaking. I knelt down next to a flower, and inhaled its scent. It smelled of... something sweet, and comforting. I closed my eyesocket, trying to concentrate on why it smelled familiar, when it hit me. It smelled like the apples on the Tree of Feelings. Yes, I remember, now. The dark apples smelled faintly like licorice, and these smelled similar, with hints of lavender. It was a strangely calming mix, and I couldn't help but stare at the flower encased in my palms.

"Something got your attention, boss?"

Startled, I looked up at Dust. I looked back down at the flower, let it go, and stood up. "It's... nothing. Those flowers are lovely, though. They reminded me of... home."

Dust nodded, looking out over the rest of the field. "Sounds nice. Can't say I envy you. You know how I lived."

I patted his shoulder affectionately. "We've all got our baggage, Dust. The important thing is, it's in the past. We can only focus on the future."

We went over to Horror, who had begun making flower crowns. He held up the one he was working on, smiling. "Hey! What's your favorite flower?"

I pointed back toward the purple rose bush. Horror excitedly ran over and cut a few, weaving them together in a complex pattern. He showed us how to make our own, and we stuffed a few bouquets in our pockets for the others at home. Then, we began our raid.