Being Grateful (Laurance x Reader) | Aphmau Fanfiction| UNDER IMMENSE EDITING

Stupid Changes

(A/n): You can play the music if you would like.

"Where's Valerie?"

"Well, hello to you too, (Y/n)," the white-haired male greeted bemusedly, one eyebrow raised curiously. You clenched your jaw.

"Travis...now is not the time. Do you have Valerie, yes or no?" you inquired steadily, your left hand pressed against the wooden slab firmly. Travis' eyes scanned your face in search of any bluff in your reaction.

You were dead serious.

"...come on in," Travis spoke after a small pause, holding the front door to his house wide open. You stepped inside, making your way over to the child you spotted on the couch, fidgeting with a stuffed toy in her lap. Upon nearing closer to her, Valerie glanced up at you with her huge green eyes, her mouth stretching into a gummy smile.

"Hey, there, Val," you cooed, your voice gently above a whisper. You made your way over to the couch, plopping yourself beside her, your arms poised to pick her up. Valerie giggled, her smile widening as she reached out for you with her chubby arms.

"You know, she's really well behaved. In fact, she barely made a sound," Travis shook his head in disbelief. "And I've never seen a human being more interested in hide-and-seek than she. She's really a good kid."

You chuckled softly, propping Valerie onto your lap while you huddled your legs closer on the couch, your feet lifting off the floor. You shifted to get into a comfortable position.

"Yeah," you responded, watching Valerie fiddle with her stuffed toy in fascination, "she's a keeper."

"So then, why don't you keep her?" he retorted suddenly, catching you off guard. You spluttered loudly.

"W-what?"

"You told me you weren't planning on keeping Valerie forever, right? That you're only fostering her until you find good parents for her?"

"Travis--"

"Yet, you've already taken the luxury of naming her, letting her stay with you, and watching her grow for the past three and-a-half months, (Y/n). Maybe...maybe you should just keep her?"

You sighed, running a hand down your face in frustration. You weren't going to lie; Travis was right. And you had no problem admitting it, really. If Travis could only understand the circumstances and consequences that came with keeping Valerie.

"I want to keep her, I really do," you said with utter sincerity. "But I can't. Keeping her would limit me from so much. How am I supposed to keep up with...with..." you trailed off, struggling to find words that would prove your point.

But what point did you really have to prove in the first place?

"With what?" Travis asked, one eyebrow raised as he sat across from you on the same couch. You stayed silent, staring out the window as if there were something more important outside than the conversation you were having with your closest friend.

"Let me ask you a question," Travis began, as you continued to watch the wheels of a passing carriage turn. You stared at the wooden wheels intently, your eyebrows furrowed. If you looked close enough, it would almost seem like the wheels were turning in the opposite direction, even if they really weren't.

"Why did you want to leave Vana'diel?" The question made you blink. Once, twice. And then, you looked toward Travis, your eyebrows still furrowed, but this time, in perplexity.

 "Is this some sort of stupid joke?" you deadpanned, missing the chance to catch your tongue the moment the word slipped from your mouth. You placed a hand over your mouth as Travis gasped dramatically, gently placing his hands over Valerie's ears. You chuckled, seeing no point in doing that, as the "damage" had already been done.