Kingdom Hearts {Reader Insert}

38. Tea Time

Once everyone was back on the ship Cid found a message from Sora, Donald, and Goofy. They had run into one of the Organization members at Beast's Castle. The team agreed it would be best to share what they learned in person, so both groups headed to Olympus Coliseum. You spent the travel time resting and finishing chores.

You changed your load of laundry from the washer to the dryer and grunted in pain. Your ribs were still sore and bruised from the battles in the Land of Dragons. You had taken potions, and they were healing quickly, but apparently the damage was deeper than you thought.

"Oh, hey."

You turned around and saw Leon in the doorway to the small room with the miniature washing machines.

"Are you using the machines?" he asked.

You shook your head. "No, I'm putting the last of it in the dryer."

"Alright," Leon stepped in next to you and started putting a laundry basket full of clothes into the washer.

When you were done setting up the machine you hit the start button and stepped back.

"Are your ribs okay?" Leon asked you, pressing start on the washing machine.

"They're... fine. They'll heal in no time."

Leon turned and rested back against the washing machine before crossing his arms. He looked at you and waited.

"Okay, they hurt, but I promise I'm not doing anything to make it worse. I take a potion every day and the bruises should be gone tomorrow or the day after."

Leon smirked and shook his head. "Look, I know you're glad to be back and you want to do everything you can to help, but you've still got to be careful."

"Yeah," you sighed, letting the laundry basket in your arms sink. "I know I should've used my magic, it would've made things a lot easier."

"Don't forget," Leon stood up from the washer, "there's a whole team of people behind you. Even with your magic you tend to stretch yourself out too thin."

You nodded, agreeing. I exhausted myself without my magic, and then finished the job when I used my magic during the avalanche. There had still been so many Heartless to fight. "I guess I'm just trying to find the line again. I lost it when I got out of practice."

"You crossed the line pretty often before that," Leon laughed, and uncrossed his arms. "Here let me take that back to your room."

"Thanks," you handed over the laundry basket that had been pressing painfully into your ribs.

You walked behind Leon as you both made your way down the hall. He set it down in your room and then turned to you.

"Don't be afraid to ask for help," he said. "We all know how strong you are, there's no need to prove anything."

You felt a little heat rise to your cheeks. "Uh, thanks, Leon."

"Anytime." He smiled at you so genuinely that the short moment of embarrassment at your actions disappeared.

He left your room and you put your hands on your face, embarrassed that you had been embarrassed at all. His smile stuck in your mind and you shook your head to clear it before moving on to fold your clothes.

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You spent a little time hanging out in the common space. Everyone else was busy, but it was relaxing to sit and watch your friends go around the ship completing tasks before moving on to new ones. You weren't sure what else you could do after laundry. It would be a while before anyone was ready for a meal and your room was clean. Eventually, a small, nagging part of you convinced yourself that you should be doing something productive like everyone else. Cloud walked by, coming from the engine room and heading toward the control panel. He had his goggles on, and for good reason. His face and arms were splotched and wiped with oil and grease. You stood and walked over as he knelt down and dug around in one of the cupboards at the bottom of the control panel.