#aur0ras

emma played two sports while in high school after her guidance counselor suggest she stay busy to get out of trouble. she had some unresolved trauma-related anger issues ( surprise, surprise ) and a smart mouth ( again, surprise, surprise ) that got her into a few fights in school, so her counselor suggested that she try channeling that energy into physical activities. so, emma joined the soccer and tennis teams and was actually pretty fucking good at both.

❛ ❛ in every heart there is a room. a sanctuary safe and strong. ❜ ❜

               ❝   i   see   what   you   see.      acting   is   one   thing,   but   it   almost   seems   too   real.   ❞      it’s   not   a   comforting   comment,   but   she   couldn’t   and   wouldn’t   lie   to   chrissy.      it   would   do   more   harm   than   good   to   tell   her   she   had   nothing   to   worry   about,   when   in   fact   she   very   well   might.      ❝   and   don’t   even   apologize,   this   day   was   for   us   and   the   girls   to   spend   time   away   from   the   band.      whether   it’s   relaxing   or   having   an   honest   heart   to   heart.   ❞

eyes   follow   hers   down   to   the   exposed   knee,   wrapped   in   bandages.   daniel   laughs,   this   feels   all   too   familiar   to   the   84   tournament   for   his   liking   but   honestly,   the   weight   is   different.   "nothing   that   I   cannot   handle.   some   injuries   don't   heal   properly   and   back   then,   I   didn't   had   the   money   to   go   to   an   actual   hospital."   it   never   healed,   and   some   days   it   hurts   more   than   others,   considering   the   strain   he   put   in   there   after   the   fight   with   silver,   it   was   logical   that   it   ache.   "you   should   see   the   other   guy.   really.   he   is   in   jail,   so."

"huh?" he was lost too deep into his thought to even notice the woman creep up on him. "nothing." it's an immediate response of deflection, one he knows is only going to make his head spin more as his thoughts fester. "you ever think about how you could've been a different person if you hadn't made like, one choice?" it's heavy on his mind as the years progress, as it gets to this time of year. "or something like that. i'm existential today, don't mind me."

the roof was always his favorite spot to be, especially this late at night. when there were barely any cars driving by, the thrum of people below was hushed, and almost no one was out in the city. that three a.m. twilight zone that he feels like only he experiences. he's brought her up because they can't sleep. and the only cure he knows to that is the night air and some cigarettes. "it's nice. i love when you can actually like, hear the city breathe." it's the best part, hearing the subtle hum of the way it sang at night. the soft breath of life that's only heard when it's quiet. "makes everything so much clearer."

the rain pounding on the wooden roof above them is almost melodic, the steady rhythm deafening as they sit in the little space. it was sunny, despite the rain, a bright shining sun contrary to the cold drops that had fell from the white fluffy clouds. "you know what sunshowers mean?" it's an old tale selene had told him, one that had stuck with him his whole life. "means there's a fox's wedding happening. think it's supposed to be good luck." maybe they both could use a little good luck. "what do you think that means for us?"

--- " no, " lewis says immediately, shaking his head, " nothing. it's fine. everything's fine. " he's lying through his teeth, and he knows it. chrissy has kind eyes, though, and he thinks better of speaking such falsehoods to someone with such a pleasant demeanour. lewis swallows, and tries again, " not really, i just - i thought i saw something. but it's not real. i know that now. " he smiles a little, gives chrissy a thumbs up that seems ill fitted to his body language, " i'm working on it. "