#on another

Just as I started doubting myself, the door of the small room we’d managed to rent got kicked open – shocking me enough that I was already struggling to stand on my feet with the worse possible scenarios already playing in my head. Was it the Black Order? Have the exorcists finally found out who were are?? Or could it be- the Noahs?? Oh god what do I do-

“Woah, hey, Mana! You shouldn’t stand up so soon, you’re still weak aren’t cha?” Neah’s voice echoed in the tiny room and I was instantly filled with relief; my brother’s okay! He’s not lying dead in an alley somewhere! I could feel a tired smile making its way to my face, seeing my brother’s worried expression as he struggled to take off his boots with arms full of stuff.

What were those for?

Wait- more importantly-

“Brother, are you being followed?” I asked, already cautiously sitting back on the bed as I stared at the doorway. I heard Neah humming curiously, the head of (h/c) hair poking up behind his shoulder. Wide (e/c) eyes filled with curiousity stared – or, at least, tried to stare- at me; they probably couldn’t even see me with how their head barely passed above my brother’s shoulder.

 How… short is this person?

 “Oh, her?” Neah finally looked up from his struggle with his shoes, said article already on the floor in a messy heap. He gave a light chuckle as he entered the room, moving to place the things in his hand on the kitchen counter. With him out of the way, I could finally see the surprised (h/c) that was behind him – staring at me with her mouth open in a silent gasp.

Her eyes roamed around my face – or? At least I think my face? – before she locked eyes with me; for a moment, I thought I saw the night sky reflected in her irises – along with tinges of worry and excitement. Before I could stare any further or say anything else, she tore her gaze away and huffed, calling for my brother by name.

“Neah! You didn’t tell me your brother was cute!” 

C… cute…?

Even Neah, as I glanced back towards him, seemed to be stumped for a moment – his cheeks was getting redder and redder as the second passed! Is he? Embarrased? He narrowed his eyes, making an odd noise that can only be described as a mixture of bewilderment and confusion.

Almost… almost like a goose noise if you listen hard enough…

“Why would that be relevant information?! I thought you said you would help me treat him, not marry him!” the (h/c) huffed, obviously not pleased by my brother’s response judging by her furrowed brows. She stomped one of her feet on the ground, cocking her wrist on her waist as she glared at him.

“I mean, of course! But it’d help to know my patient was a cutie yaknow! I could’ve brought him some flowers or something,” 

“Haaaahhh?!” between the incredulous expression my brother wore and the weird first-meeting encounter I’m having with this (h/c), I couldn’t help the soft laughter that escaped my throat, a hand moving automatically to cover my lips as I laughed.

God.

I haven’t laughed like this in so long-

- and then I started coughing. 

“Hey, easy now. Neah, fetch me a glass would you?” I didn’t know when they had moved but the next time I opened my eyes, the (H/c) was already inside the room – gently patting my back as my brother approached with a glass of water. My eyes lingered on her person – her clothing didn’t look like those of the villagers, and I don’t think we’ve seen her in the short time that we’ve been here. 

It’s a small town- it would be impossible to miss someone with such strange,,, clothing.

Could she be a shut in…?

“Hey!” I was slightly taken aback by her outburst, my eyes refocusing to her face. She was glaring at me, a pout on her lips and red on her cheeks as my brother wheezed himself to death in the background. I blinked, tilting my head in confusion. 

“What?”

“I’m not a shut in,” she grumbled, huffing slightly as she passed the glass of water towards me. That was when I realized I had spoken my thoughts out loud-  

How embarrassing….

Murmuring a small ‘thank you’, I took the glass of water from her hands and took a slow, long sip; trying to hide my growing embarrassment at the situation. I heard her sigh, shoulder dropping as she glared at her feet. I couldn’t tell what emotion she was feeling – it felt like there was too many on her face for me to pinpoint – but thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long before she started speaking.

“I’m a traveller. Just as you,” she turned to stare at me, a hint of a smile on her face. Instinctively, I glanced to see what Neah was doing and he was? Calmly sorting through the stuff they brought home? As if he felt my gaze, Neah lifted his head to grin at me, waving his hand as if shooing me away. 

He wanted me… to talk to her?

“Are you… a friend of my brother?” she blinked, smiling in amusement at my question and chuckling lightly into her hands. Huh. Same habit- 

“No, no. I’m definitely not a friend of him-“

“Hey!” Neah called out from the tiny kitchenette, seemingly upset at her words but both of us paid him no mind. Barely, I could see the younger pouting and shooting glares at our new (h/c) friend. 

“-He sorta just… followed me? From the marketplace?” she laughed, waving her hands in the air as if to dismiss the topic. 

“Told me you were sick so here I am,” she smiled, holding out her hand for a shake. 

“The name’s _______. Looks like you’re gonna be stuck with me for a while until you get better,” she grinned when I hesitantly took her hand. However friendly she seemed to be, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something…. Was off…

“Why are you helping us?” 

“Huh?” she stared, her blank expression not helping her case in the slightest. I leaned back, still staring at her with mild suspicion as if I didn’t just shake her hand ten seconds ago- didn’t people shake hands as a sign of trust? Or was that something else? Slowly, I carefully repeated my question – all while gauging her reaction.

Could she be an akuma?

Or a double agent from the order? 

Why was brother so trusting of her anyway?

I wanted to glance at him for answers but I knew I wouldn’t get any from him as long as she was in the room.

______ seemed to think of my question for a while, her eyes narrowing as she searched for an answer in her mind. Then, after what seemed like a long silence, she shrugged.

“I don’t know,”

“…. Huh?” she smiled at my blatant confusion, patting my shoulder as she stood from the bed. She moved towards the door, still talking with her back turned towards mine.

“I don’t know. I don’t know why I’m helping random strangers at their request but… if I can help someone with what little power I have-” she paused in her steps, staring at her hands – was her hand shaking? Or am I just seeing things? The (h/c) closed her eyes and shook her head, her shoulders sagging with the breath she let out.

“-then that’d be nice, ya know?” turning towards me, she smiled – though this time, it didn’t quiet reach her eyes… 

“Besides! Neah told me we’re going the same way so it wouldn’t hurt to tag along, right? The more the merrier afterall!” she grinned, putting on her shoes and turning towards my brother. She began to rattle off about putting grinding up some herbs and putting them in my water – “make sure he drinks all of it! It tastes icky but it’ll help get rid of that nasty cold of his!” – and Neah nodded along cheerfully to her instructions.

At least if Neah was handling it, I wouldn’t get poisoned… right?

“I’m gonna go back to my room for the night,” she turned towards me again, a soft smile on her face. She reminded me… of mother…. 

“Good night, Mana,”

---

When ______ left and we were sure she wasn’t lurking around the room trying to eavesdrop on our conversation, I turned towards my brother who was glaring up at the ceiling.

“Why’d you do it?” I asked, obviously referring to the situation at hand. Neah sighed, tilting his head to the side as he brought a hand up to his neck, lightly scratching the back of his neck as he stared off into space in thought.

“She helped a man in the marketplace, alright? And I heard her speaking to one of the vendors about being a sort-of healer in practice or something,” he sighed, a hint of annoyance in his features as he leaned forward on the chair – head in his arms as he, no doubt, glared at his feet.

“We only need her for her medicinal skills… For you, Mana… then after that- she can leave,” Neah shook his head, growling aggressively for whatever thoughts that plagued his head.

“Did you tell her about how we’re being chased?” 

“She doesn’t need to know that…!” my brother snapped weakly, glaring at me as a permanent scowl set on his features. He groaned, once again messing his hair up with his hands as he glared at his feet.

“I don’t know… whatever…” he sighed heavily and all I could offer my little brother at the moment was the patting of the bed, a signal for him to come closer. He did as I asked, the chair scrapping against the wood as he pushed it back to walk towards me. Neah all but collapsed into my arms, burying his face in my chest as he closed his eyes. 

“I don’t know…” patting his back, I shifted so that I could be more comfortable. I know he was doing this for my sake and that he didn’t tell _____ because he feared she wouldn’t join us otherwise.

“It’s okay Neah… We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” a long stretch of silence passed and, just as I thought he was falling asleep, Neah murmured in my arms.

“But… there is no bridge….”