AKATSUKI NO YONA ONE SHOTS.

-+- Zeno -+-

Stay Happy [Rewrite]

You woke up early in the morning to the sound of loud birds chirping and Zeno's soft humming while he brought wood back to camp and started a small fire. You were a bit reluctant to let him cook, due to the last incident with the rabbit meat, but you let him cook anyways.

"Good morning, (Y/N)," Zeno exclaims cheerfully when he notices you were already awake. He gave you his usual soft smile as he pulled you over the fire where he was cooking.

A few years ago, you remember how childish you were. How all you wanted to do was protect Zeno and help him stop any conflicts. At the time, you didn't realize how severe war was. All the blood that was shed and all the villages that were ruined. As you grew older, you came to understand that.

Just the other day, the two of you were attacked by bandits. You were unsure of what the intention was, but Zeno made you hide and look away. By the time he was finished and came back to get you, he had blood on his clothes, rips, and tears, but no injuries. He was hiding something from you. But what was it?

"Zeno... about yesterday–"

"It's too early to talk about this (Y/N)." He quickly says to you trying to change the subject.

"But... I don't get it, why can't I help you? You can't do all this fighting stuff alone, Zeno."

"Yes. I can." He wraps up some food in banana leaves for lunch later and hands it to you. You messily shove your lunch into your bag.

"But it isn't fair! What if you get injured? What will happen when you get hurt?!" You start to get angrier at him. He said the two of you were friends. That he would never hide anything from you.

"I won't get hurt, (Y/N)." He says. His voice sounded different. It was softer. No, it was sadder, "I can't.. get hurt."

"What do you mean?"

He doesn't answer.

"Zeno?"

"Next time," he sighs, "I'll tell you."

"And when will that be?! You always say "Next time". Why are you hiding something from me, Zeno?! I thought you said we would tell everything to each other!"

"(Y/N)..."

"Don't "(Y/N)" me!"

"Enough." His voice was cold and sad and irritated. He wouldn't look you in the eyes. After a long moment of silence, he walks off deep into the forest.

I waited until he came back for breakfast the next morning. It didn't feel like a day. It felt like months. Years even. I hadn't been alone for so long. I was always with Zeno. I would talk to him and make sure he took care of himself. Slept well, felt well, ate well. In the morning, I woke up early and made the healthiest rabbit stew I could muster. Freshly picked mushrooms, skinned rabbit, and sliced eggplant I got from the nearby village market.

I hear a rustle coming from the bushes. This time, I was afraid. I was afraid that it wouldn't even Zeno. That Zeno didn't even want to come back. That it was some dangerous person who would kill me at any moment if I made any sound.

"(Y/N)?" I heard a familiar voice say, "I'm back, "

"Zeno! Oh, thank the gods you're alright!" I said standing up to hug him, "You were gone for so long I started to worry that you wouldn't come back."

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you my secret, (Y/N)."

"No. It's okay! I don't care about that anymore, " I looked up at him and grabbed his shoulders, "I just want you to be okay and safe. I want you to be happy. I love you." 

"No... you can't. You can't love me. Don't love me." His voice was harsher.

"What? Why not?" I asked him.

"Because I live forever."

"What are you talking about, "Living forever". That isn't possible."

"I'm the Ouryuu. From.the legend. I am immortal. I'm a monster."

"You don't seriously believe that, do you?" I said.

I watched him picked up the knife I used to skin the rabbit and cut his finger and let it bleed.

"Zeno! What are you doing?!" I grab his hand and cleaned off the blood? There was no wound.

"Do you believe me now? Do you still want to love a monster, (Y/N)."

I paused for a moment and held his hand, " Zeno... I don't care if you're immortal. I don't care if you can't get hurt. I don't care about any of those. I care about you. I want you to eat well, and sleep well, and feel well. I love you."

"I do too but–"

"Then say so, you dunce! I'll let you protect me all you want. I'll be happy for you if you'll stay happy for me. Promise?"

He hugged me, " I promise, (Y/N). I love you."

I smiled and hugged him back, "I love you too. Now let's eat this stew before it gets cold."