Solo Panicking

Time to Ourselves

The sunlight poured into the clearing, filtering through the canopy of trees and casting shimmering patches of light across the soft snow. It was one of those rare moments of tranquility outside the chaos of dungeons—and the even greater chaos of Y/N's shared apartment. She had cast an illusion spell over a portion of the nearby park, carving out a hidden, enchanted bubble of space where her familiars could stretch their legs or wings without drawing attention and, hopefully, burn off some energy.

But tranquility was a fleeting concept when Yukio was around.

The small ice pixie flitted through the clearing with a grin that practically screamed trouble. Her wings sparkled like frosted glass, their crystalline patterns catching every ray of sunlight. She zipped between the frosted branches, her high-pitched laughter ringing out like chiming icicles. Her chaotic energy turned the quiet clearing into her personal playground. Her movements were fast, graceful, and entirely unpredictable, leaving delicate frost trails across the snow-covered ground and low-hanging branches.

Iron stood rigid at the center of the clearing, his towering form casting a long shadow over the glimmering frost. His Lord had left him with strict instructions: "Keep an eye on them and try to learn some responsibility." Iron had taken the task to heart or at least he'd tried. But as Yukio darted through the air with mischief practically radiating off her, his resolve began to crack. Iron began to look less like a responsible babysitter and more like her next victim.

Her tiny face lit up with a wicked smile as she slowed her flight, hovering just within Iron's field of vision. She tilted her head as if sizing him up, then darted closer, zipping around his helmet like a gnat. She looped through the air, her frost leaving intricate spirals behind her as she danced in front of his glowing blue eyes.

Iron, for his part, stood as still as a statue. He wasn't supposed to engage. 'Babysitting duty,' the Lord had called it. 'How hard could it be?' But the tilt of his helmet betrayed his curiosity—and hesitation.

Yukio, sensing his inner conflict, sharpened her grin. With a flick of her tiny hand, in a fashion similar to Y/N summoning her butterflies, she conjured a small hailstorm, the icy pellets clinking harmlessly against Iron's glossy black armor. For a moment, he remained frozen, unsure of whether to react or endure. He twitched slightly, his gauntlet raising a fraction before lowering again.

Yukio wasn't about to let him off the hook. She zipped behind him, giving his cape a playful tug before darting out of reach.

Iron finally broke. He spun around with surprising speed, his massive arms swinging clumsily at the air in a half-hearted attempt to shoo her away or grab her. Yukio squealed with delight, easily evading his slow movements as she continued to tease him.

On the sidelines, Ignis sat coiled on a park bench, his crimson-red scales gleaming in the sunlight. He let out a rumbling huff, a small puff of steam escaping his nostrils as his green eyes tracked the spectacle with disdain.

Igris stood beside the bench, his crimson plume swaying gently in the breeze. He watched the unfolding chaos with a posture that radiated quiet exasperation. Y/N had entrusted him to keep the familiars from destroying the park, a task he was rapidly regretting, though he was clearly unimpressed by his companions' antics.

Yukio, emboldened by Iron's clumsy attempts to catch her, swooped lower. She twirled around him, leaving intricate frost patterns in the air. Iron swiped again, quicker this time, but she was faster, darting just out of reach with a triumphant giggle.

Ignis let out another sharp huff, his tail sweeping a pile of snow off the bench in frustration. He was trying to enjoy his rare moment of quiet, but Yukio's antics were grating on his nerves.