Compass - Banana Fish x Reader

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Then and Now

"You drive like a fucking slug."

My hands gripped the wheel ten times tighter, but I refrained from turning to snap at the blond, who was staring out the window at the passing scenery. I had been driving for maybe an hour, if that, and all he had done was complain about it.

"Maybe the trip would go faster if you made decent conversation? I know, how about stories about when we were kids together? Hmm?" It had been worth a shot, but being met by silence really pissed me off. "Seriously, Ash...I need you to say something. Anything. I'm barely holding myself together, here."

He's just acting like a brat...

Glancing away from the darkened road, I caught a glimpse of his eyes in his reflection, so bright yet so dull.
"The garden." That seemed to stir a slight reaction, so I continued. "I remember being in the garden...and your face. You were a lot younger...but that's where it stops. Please, just give me a little bit more to work with here."

I felt him turn towards me, but I remained focused, not wanting to get into another crash so soon after the truck ordeal.
"We were chasing the same butterfly." His voice was quiet. Nostalgic. "We had been introduced before, once, but we hadn't spoken until we were out there that day."

Wait...I think...

"Wings that looked like paper..." I could see it in my head. It had dominated many of my sketch books throughout the years. A paper kite butterfly. "You said...something...What was it again..?"

*SIX YEARS AGO*

"How great would it be, to be able to fly away like that?" The small blond boy murmured, watching as the butterfly started towards the clouds.

I stared at him for a moment before nodding, moving to stand beside him.
"Yeah...Think of all the cool things it could see up there." I added, pinching at the bow that adorned the front of my dress. "It's so pretty, too. Like the paper in those old books Blanca's always reading."

The boy turned to me and stared, his pale skin almost glowing in the sunlight, like a fresh sheet of snow.
"You're (Y/N), right?" He questioned, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Yeah, and you're...Ash?" Holding out my hand, I expected him to shake it, but he just stared.

"Froggy was talking about you the other night." The name sent a shudder down my spine, and I grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him as hard as my small body would let me.
"Don't talk about Froggy! We don't talk about him in this garden!" I shouted, eyes wide. Just thinking about him made every cell in my body burn.

Startled, Ash murmured out a small apology, carefully pulling my hands away from his shoulders and placing them back at my sides. He then turned his attention back to the butterfly, which had dipped back down towards the garden bed, skipping between flowers.

"You think it's pretty, right?" His question confused me, but I nodded in confirmation, blinking after him as he raced off.
"What are you do-"
"Wait there!" He shouted back, cutting me off, and I did what I was told. I was good at that.

I studied him closely as he slowed his pace, lowering his body as he began creeping towards the insect. He honestly looked like a cat, preparing to pounce. Never before had I been so impressed when he captured it between his hands, immediately racing back towards me with a faint smile on his face.

"You actually caught it?! That's so cool!" My excitement caused my voice to raise in pitch, and Ash puffed his chest out a little, motioning for me to follow him with his head.
"Come on! Let's go find something to put it in!"