pied piper

56 | des espions et des traîtres

Scarcely edited.

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"Mom!"

4 year old Y/n screamed with excitement, her large brown eyes only widening upon falling over her dear mother. She was ecstatic to finally leave the dreaded playschool which was anything but and go home to the woman who was not only the prettiest but also the strongest and the coolest!

Her mom… however didn't share the same expressions as Y/n did. She clicked her tongue but signaled Y/n over, a tired deep groan leaving her throat as soon as the toddler rushed and nearly body-slammed her into the ground.

As soon as they got in the car did Y/n's real chatter start. "Mumma! I'm so hungry! I wanna eat noodles!... But not noodles…." she drawled, her head tilting and the wind making swaying her short hair as she shifted her weight from one leg to another.

She turned to her mother, a restless pout morphing into her plush lips naturally the more the gears of her tiny brain shifted, struggling to find the words.

"Spag…spasg…pasghetti!" Y/n grinned, jumping up, "I wanna eat pasghetti mom!"

"It's spaghetti, idiot." Aera rolled her eyes as she snapped calmly, much in contrast to what went through her heart. How…strangely heart-warming?

"Id…idiot." Y/n repeated, her eyes enlarging at the mention of a new word as she turned towards her mom, oranges of the afternoon sunlight spilling over her orbs. "I'm a idiot!"

"Oh shit. Don't say that!" Aera's gaze stayed glued to the road but her attention was long averted from the road ahead as slight panic struck her veins.

"....shit!"

Aera gasped, her head whipping to the side. "Will you stop repeating my words?" her eyes softened for a moment before they rolled themselves as if reflex, turning back to the road only to realize there was a car just in front of hers, quickly swerving the handle to the side.

"Fuck!"

Aera's eyes widened and she gulped down, her usually paper white cheeks reddening as she slowly turned to her daugh… Well… the burden she was forced to be with…

Y/n's smile was something one could only describe as evil as she giggled in the childish tone of hers, a new glint in her eyes, making her eyes comically shiny.

"Fuck!"

"Oh fuck…" Aera muttered under her breath, no longer able to remain neutral but eventually let her lips twitch, her expressions loosening, the anger lines that seemed to be a permanent resident of her face slowly disappearing and suddenly, after a long time.

She let go of the restless struggles tugging at her heart and soul, only temporarily but in that moment, she was fully present, her heart — it was there, soft and warm.

She stopped and turned off the ignition once they were at the restaurant Y/n loved the most, her eyes glittering with all the sprinkles in the world.

She turned her head but eyed Y/n. Her gaze softened even more, her eyebrows back at their designated place, her expressions relaxed, normal, beautiful.

She blinked.

And smiled.

°   °   °   °   °

"Mom!"

My own voice sounded foreign in my ears. The sight in front of me sending bolts of horror all over my nerves. It was still slow— so infuriatingly slow, so punishingly slow — making me feel every miniscule hurt and damage with each inhale and exhale.