Inferno (Leo Valdez x OC) (2)

Cacti are always right

I glanced around my cabin, frowning. "Coach!" I called.

I heard grumbling and footsteps before Hedge peeked his head around the door. "Yes?"

"What am I supposed to do?" I furrowed my brows. "I'm grounded, what do people do when they're grounded?"

Hedge shrugged. "Don't ask me, you're the one who's grounded."

I gaped. "But you grounded me!"

"Exactly, you're the one who's grounded." Hedge nodded.

I shook my head and waved a hand at him. "Unbelievable." I muttered. Coach snorted and went back to his own cabin.

I turned to the cactus plant beside my bed. "The disrespect of some people, honestly." I shook my head at the plant. "I can't believe him."

The cactus remained sitting in the pot as it would be expected to. I took this to mean it agreed with me.

I squinted around the room. "What do grounded people do?" I frowned. I spotted something in the corner of my room and grinned. "Leo did not."

I jumped up from my bed and ran over to a box nestled between two plant pots. Gently, I pulled the box out from between the plant pots and ran back to my bed.

I attempted to open the box but it was covered with duct tape. "Curse you and your duct tape." I muttered.

I glanced around the room. "Do I have any scissors?" I glanced at the cactus. "Do you have any scissors?" The cactus once again remained silently in its pot.

One spine of the cactus was pointing towards my stomach and an idea popped into my head. "Oh! You're a genius!" I pulled out one of my throwing knives and sliced open the box. "Thank you, cactus friend." I grinned, sheathing the knife.

I opened the box. "Cactus!" I yelled. "This is amazing!"

I brought out the Nintendo Switch. "Remind me to tell Leo he's amazing." I said to the cactus, cradling the Switch. "Gods I haven't played on one of these in ages."

I plugged in the charging box – no idea what it's called – and turned on the power button. The screen lit up and I grinned. "Cactus." I whispered. "It's happening."

The cactus was once again, sat stationary in its pot.

Once the Nintendo had turned on, I frowned at the cactus. "You're right cactus. I don't have any games." I glanced in the box to no avail.

I glanced back at the screen to see two of the game slots filled. I gaped. "Scratch that cactus! Remind me to tell Leo I love him!" I grabbed the Nintendo to see the two games were Animal Crossings: New Horizons and Ooblets. "What else do I need in life." I sighed happily.

I lay down but nearly as soon as my back touched the bed, I sat up again. "You're right again cactus. I need mini cheddars."

I placed the Nintendo on my bed and picked up the cactus. "You can come with me." I smiled, making my way out of my room and walking to the lounge area.

I peeked into a cupboard and only found plates; the next cupboard only had cups. This cycle repeated until I came to the last cupboard in the corner. "Surely they didn't get rid of my mini cheddars, right cactus?"

I opened the cupboard to find it stuffed with packets of mini cheddars. I grinned. "Mission accomplished cactus." I nodded happily.

On the way out, I grabbed a cup which I willed to fill with water, simply because I didn't want my mouth to dry out from the mini cheddars and not have water on standby.

I made my way back to my room and placed the glass on my bedside table along with the cactus. The Nintendo was still on and I flopped down on my bed with my mini cheddars as I began playing Ooblets.