You are who you are when no one is looking.

My first ever Warrior Nun fanart. I had so much fun drawing them 😊

Suddenly Beatrice doesn't know how to be alone again. Whenever she's away from Ava for too long, she would start to get anxious. She would be tense and silent until she found her way into Ava's arms, melting into her. There are no secrets kept between them. Every worry, every minor thought is shared and they would be comforted.

Ava would joke about how clingy Beatrice could be, even though they both know Ava's more clingy. Beatrice is still reserved in her actions but with Ava, she decides that there's no point in holding herself back.

When a mission went horribly wrong, the group pinned down by the enemy, Beatrice found herself bleeding and separated from them. It isn't until the sound of battle stops that she forces herself up to her feet to look for Ava. She's tired from blood loss, panting heavily as she weakly calls for Ava.

For some reason, she couldn't find the other sisters or Ava. She squashes down the feeling of panic, trying to tell herself that she'll find them soon. But with each step, pain clouds her mind. Her movements slowed considerably while her calls became desperate.

12 years a nun would come and taunt her - blabber into her brain. "Useless, sinner, satan himself.". The same nun that would strip her bare and take the little dignity she had left. That scoffed at her as she 'became a woman' and that spoon fed her because Ava couldn't do it herself.

12 years she was alone - with only one person. A nun that had it out for her. A nun that she still heard in her sleep even long after she died.

She died alone, with noone by her side, she got resurrected alone, in a cold church and weird clothes.

Being alone was something Ava was used to.

Being alone was something Ava was scared of.

And then they sent her to Switzerland with the sister that promised to never leave her alone. With the only problem being that said sister was probably the loneliest person Ava had seen.

Despite living together, sleeping together, eating together, working together - Bea somehow always found a way to crawl into her little bubble. Be it in the back of the storage room or in her office where noone bothered her.

They put two completely opposite people together. And expected them to work. So they did.

Whenever Ava would flee - Bea would follow. Cradling her in the arms and letting her sob as she broke down. Let her cuddle closer when she woke up from a nightmare or made sure twice that the Halo had healed the Ava's scratch.

So Ava did the same. She would wander after Bea and offer little hugs. She would pull her closer when Beatrice woke up crying. Gently cradle her arm as she inspected the cut from their training earlier. Help Bea off the cold tiled floor and guide her to bed.

"You don't have to do this alone."

And it was funny - how she went around teasing Bea about being clingy although she was clingier. Funny until the latter stopped speaking comfort, hesitated when reaching out, double checked weather something is ok.

It was only when Ava stopped making stupid jokes and started paying attention to the little changes that made Bea warm up to her again. Even at Julians they shared a room because she couldn't bare the thaught of being alone. Away from Bea. It seemed as if Bea thaught the same.

So now she stands here - shaking like a lost puppy - bathed in crimson and sweat - screaming for Beatrice. Calling her name despite the burning in her lungs and throbbing in her gums.

She's not alone but she feels so deeply alone the mere thaught of not having bea next to her rattling her nerves up untill the tips of her fingers.

Her feet carrying her faster than her brain could think as she rushed through the compound - checking corner after corner until she found Bea slumped down next to a wall, breathing shallow and swimming in a pool of blood.

"Bea" she whispered - hitting the ground and gently cradling bea's head in her lap. Confused, dazen eyes looking up at her long enough to shed a single tear before Camila came and made Bea scream louder than Ava has ever heard someone scream before.

"I'm here Bea." Ava kissed Bea's sweaty temple - letting her thumb glide carefully over cut lips and cute freckles

I asked a friend who has crossed 70 & is heading towards 80 what sort of changes he is feeling in himself? He sent me the following:

1 After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children and my friends, I have now started loving myself.

2 I have realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.

3 I have stopped bargaining with vegetable & fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.

4 I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.

5 I stopped telling the elderly that they've already told that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane & relive their past.

6 I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.

7 I give compliments freely & generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down, just say "Thank You.”

8 I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.

9 I walk away from people who don't value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.

10 I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat & neither am I in any race.

11 I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.

12 I have learned that it's better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships, I will never be alone.

13 I have learned to live each day as if it's the last. After all, it might be the last.

14 I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!