#arwv

Your name is AR, and upon returning home from some target practice, you've discovered that WV isn't asleep yet, which baffles you. He's usually asleep by the time the sun is down, so why isn't he now? This requires investigation.

"Sir," you pipe up as you carefully make your way through Can Town. "Is something wrong? I had thought you would be asleep."

"Hm? Oh- AR! Yes, yes! I mean, no nothing is wrong! I'm doing well! I... Just could not sleep is all!" He replies somewhat quickly, but you'd come to expect that of your fellow Dersite. He'd always been a bit eccentric.

Yet, something seems off. He wrings his hands nervously, trembles, and gives a faltering grin. Something's wrong.

"Sir, I wish to aid you. Tell me, maybe, what bothers you."

"I don't want to worry you with it AR-"

"I worry regardless."

Wayward Vagabond sighs, and he looks down at the floor. He grimaces, seeming hesitant to tell you. ".... Well, I. I cannot sleep! I keep... Thinking about stupid things. Stupid things that I don't need to concern you with..." He trails off, going quiet.

You understand what he's talking about, though. He's thinking about the war again. You don't know much about it, you were never involved, but you've caught whispers from WV that told you enough. Something terrible had befallen your friend, and that's all you need to know. You promised yourself you'd never pressure him to tell you about it, and you're going to hold fast to that promise. He'll tell you when, or if, he's ready to.

You sigh very softly and take a short step forwards, carefully wrapping your arms around the mayor. He stiffens briefly, before he relaxes and leans against you. He drapes his arms loosely over your broad shoulders, resting his head on your chest. You scoop him up off of the floor, starting towards the corner of the room the two of you had taken to sleeping in, huddled up together to block out the chill of the desert nights.

You sit in the makeshift nest of old rags, cradling WV in your lap. "You do not have to tell me if you do not please to do so. But I at least ask that you allow me to keep you company tonight, sir."

"... Okay. Thank you, AR. I'd be happy to have you here."

"It is no problem, and thank you as well."

The mayor goes quiet after you reply to him, biting his lip. He's still thinking about it, and it's upsetting him. You've been around him long enough that you notice things like this. He buries his face in your chest after a moment, and you hear a sniffle from him.

You frown, gently patting his back. His shoulders shake, and you feel tears start to run down your chest plating. It's a bit uncomfortable, but you're not going to stop him. He needs the comfort, and you'll do everything you can to provide it.

He continues to cry, his small frame trembling as he's wracked with a sob. You can only imagine what he's thinking, and you don't like what your imagination's coming up with. He was in the war, and you know war can be gruesome. You don't doubt that he's witnessed atrocities he couldn't even begin to describe.

You start to wonder what you can do to provide comfort to him, and a thought pops into your head. WV's always said he likes your voice, and that he found the deep, calm tone soothing. Could you sing to him? Maybe. You've sang before, while cleaning out guns or rearranging your collection. Just soft words barely uttered under your breath as the old radio rambles on, but still a song.

You suppose you can try.

You clear your throat, and start to sing softly. It's a song you heard a while ago on the old radio, but it's stuck with you since you heard it.

"Wandering child of the earth, do you know just how much you're worth? You have walked this path since your birth, you were destined for more.." You sing softly, running your hand lightly up and down his back. "There are those who'll tell you you're wrong, they will try to silence your song.. But right here is where you belong, so don't search anymore."

You hum softly between lines and verses to fill the pauses, hoping he'll be soothed by your song.

"You are the dawn of a new day that's waking, a masterpiece still in the making, the blue in an ocean of grey. You are right where you need to be, poised to inspire and to succeed. You'll look back and you'll realize one day."

He looks up at you, tears flowing from his eyes and his teeth idly tugging at his lip as he tries to choke back a sob. You do your best to give a reassuring smile, holding WV a little closer.

"In your eyes there is doubt, as you try to figure it out. But that's not what life is about, so have faith, there's a way. Though the world may try to define you, it can't take the light that's inside you. So don't you dare try to hide, let your fears fade away."

WV rests his head on your chest again, taking a shaky breath. His hands grasp at your caution tape, and he whimpers. You keep singing, taking notice that WV seems to be (slowly) calming down.

"You are the dawn of a new day that's waking, a masterpiece still in the making, the blue in an ocean of grey. You are right where you need to be, poised to inspire and to succeed... You'll look back and you'll realize one day,"

You pause and move his hood as well as your own out of the way, then plant a gentle kiss to the top of WV's head. A gentle purr rumbles in your throat.

"You are the dawn of a new day that's waking, a masterpiece still in the making, the blue in an ocean of grey... You are right where you need to be, poised to inspire and to succeed.. Soon, you'll finally find your own way."

You smile as you finish singing, nuzzling WV and purring when he nuzzles you in return.

WV looks up at you, and you wipe away his tears. His frown is replaced by a small smile, and he reaches up to place his hands on your cheeks. Now that you're getting a closer look at him, you notice his eyelids are trying to close, heavy with sleep. It looks like the lullaby did its job.

"I love you, AR," he purrs as he begins to drift off.

Carapace transfem yuri content for @femslashstuck

(Responds really late because I was on mobile & wasted my time doodling)

hoLLY FUCK, YES, I ADORE THIS AU ALREADY

Headcanons

1- Wayward is the one who runs the lil shop

2- The shop’s name is Can Town, because pssh, what else                                    would it be?

3- Everything in the shop is handmade & is freshly made

4- Aimless is a regular customer, but since he’s a cop, he can’t                              stay long

5- But! He still talks to Wayward & they gradually develop a                                    crush on each other but since they’re both babies, they won’t                            tell to each other

6- Peregrine is a regular customer too & she sasses Wayward                               with his crush on the cop & keeps on asking him when can she                           help him for their lil date, cause she wants to use his shop for                             it (oh & I headcanon PM as being ace so I don’t ship them as poly, sorry)

7-  Wayward worries about Aimless whenever he’s late or is absent, (since he literally has a schedule for when Aimless’ on breaks) & most of the time Peregrine mocks him about his crush & yet he still denies about it (even though he does have a crush on him)