#sushang

“You can’t keep doing this,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically sharp. “You’re running yourself into the ground, and for what? To keep everyone else happy while you crumble?”

“I’m fine,” you snapped, crossing your arms defensively. “I’ve always handled things this way. I don’t need your pity, Aventurine.”

His jaw tightened. For a man known for his charm and unshakable composure, the frustration flickering in his gaze was rare. “This isn’t about pity,” he said. “It’s about the fact that I care about you. Why is that so hard for you to accept?”

The conversation escalated, each word cutting deeper until something inside you snapped. “Because I don’t know how!” you yelled, your voice cracking. The dam you had built so carefully burst, and tears streamed down your face. “I don’t know how to let anyone care about me, okay? I don’t even know how to care about myself.”

For a moment, silence hung in the air. You turned away, ashamed, wiping furiously at your tears. “I’m sorry,” you mumbled, your voice barely audible. “I didn’t mean to—”

Before you could finish, Aventurine was by your side, his hands resting gently on your shoulders. “No,” he interrupted softly. “Don’t apologize. Not for this.”

His touch was steady, grounding, as he turned you to face him. His ever-present smile was gone, replaced by an expression of quiet sincerity. “You don’t have to carry everything alone,” he said, his voice low but firm. “I know it’s terrifying to let someone in, but you’re not weak for feeling. You’re human. And you’re allowed to break sometimes.”

You hesitated, the weight of his words sinking in. Aventurine’s eyes searched yours, not for weakness, but for understanding. Slowly, he reached up to wipe away your tears, his touch gentle and unhurried. “We’ll figure it out together,” he said. “But you need to let me in. Just a little.”

His words, so simple yet so profound, felt like a lifeline. For the first time in a long time, you allowed yourself to lean into someone else’s strength, even if just for a moment. Aventurine held you as you cried, his presence a quiet reminder that vulnerability wasn’t something to be ashamed of—it was a bridge to something deeper.

The sweet scent of lavender lingered in the air as Robin adjusted the hem of her gown, her eyes full of concern as she watched you pace back and forth. She had tried to gently bring up your habit of bottling things up, but her delicate approach had only seemed to irritate you.

“You can’t keep ignoring your feelings,” she said softly, her voice like a melody. “You’re important too, you know.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” you replied curtly, avoiding her gaze. “There’s too much to do, and it doesn’t matter how I feel.”

Robin frowned, a rare show of frustration crossing her usually serene face. “It does matter,” she insisted, her tone firmer now. “You matter to me. I can’t just stand by and watch you hurt yourself like this.”

Her words hit a nerve, and before you knew it, the argument escalated. The more she pushed, the more defensive you became, until the emotions you had been suppressing finally erupted. Tears blurred your vision as you sank into a nearby chair, covering your face with trembling hands. “I’m sorry,” you choked out, ashamed of breaking down in front of her. “I—I didn’t mean to…”

Robin was by your side in an instant, her soft hands gently prying yours away from your face. “Shh,” she murmured, her voice soothing. “It’s okay. Let it out.”

She knelt in front of you, her eyes shimmering with compassion. “You don’t have to hide from me,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “You’ve been so strong for everyone else, but you don’t have to be strong for me. I want to be your strength when you need it.”

Her words broke through the wall of shame you had built around yourself, and for the first time, you let her see the depth of your pain. Robin wrapped her arms around you, holding you close as you cried into her shoulder. She hummed softly, the familiar sound of her voice grounding you in the moment.

When your tears finally subsided, she pulled back just enough to look at you, a small, reassuring smile on her face. “Thank you for trusting me,” she said. “It’s okay to feel, to cry, to let go. You’re not alone, and you never will be as long as I’m here.”

[Header credits]

The forest was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. Lumine stood with her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on you with a mix of concern and frustration. She had tried to talk to you countless times about your habit of ignoring your own needs, but this time, she wasn’t backing down.

“You’re going to burn yourself out,” she said, her tone calm but firm. “You keep taking on everything for everyone else, but who’s taking care of you?”

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me,” you replied, your voice tense. “I’ve handled things on my own just fine.”

“No, you haven’t,” Lumine shot back, surprising you with her bluntness. “You’re barely holding it together, and you know it.”

The argument quickly escalated, her persistent concern clashing with your stubborn refusal to admit weakness. Finally, her words struck a chord, and the floodgates opened. “Fine!” you shouted, tears streaming down your face. “You’re right, okay? I can’t handle it anymore. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

The raw emotion in your voice caught Lumine off guard, but she recovered quickly, stepping closer to you. “No,” she said softly. “I didn’t want to hear that. I wanted you to tell me before it got this bad.”

You turned away, ashamed of your outburst, but Lumine gently took your hand, her grip steady and reassuring. “Hey,” she said, her voice softer now. “It’s okay. You don’t have to hide how you feel. Not from me.”

Her eyes were filled with understanding as she guided you to sit on a nearby log. “Crying doesn’t make you weak,” she continued. “It makes you human. And you don’t have to go through this alone.”

Lumine stayed by your side as you let out everything you had been holding in, her quiet presence a source of comfort. When your tears finally slowed, she reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, her touch gentle. “You’re not a burden,” she said firmly. “You’re someone I care about deeply. And I’m going to be here for you, no matter what.”

Her words were a balm to your weary soul, and for the first time, you allowed yourself to believe them.

Sushang’s soft bells jingled as she entered the room, a look of concern etched on her face. You sat by the window, staring into the distance, the usual cheer in your eyes dulled by exhaustion.

“You’ve been running yourself ragged lately,” she began hesitantly. “I’ve noticed… you’re always taking care of everyone else, but what about you?”

“I’m fine, Sushang,” you replied, the words automatic and clipped. “There’s no need to worry about me.”

“But I am worried!” she insisted, her voice rising. “You can’t keep pretending everything is okay when it’s not. You’re only human.”

The tension in the room thickened, her words striking a nerve. “I said I’m fine!” you snapped, your hands clenched into fists. “I don’t need you to tell me how to live my life.”

Her usually bright demeanor faltered, replaced by a rare seriousness. “You’re not fine! And it hurts me to see you like this, acting like your feelings don’t matter.”

The dam broke. Tears welled in your eyes and spilled over, a torrent of emotions you’d held back for far too long. You turned away, ashamed of your outburst and your vulnerability.

Sushang was at your side in an instant, her arms wrapping around you tightly. “It’s okay,” she murmured, her voice gentle. “You don’t have to hide from me. I’m here for you, no matter what.”

“But I—” you choked, unable to finish.

She pulled back just enough to look into your eyes, her own shimmering with empathy. “You’re always so strong for everyone else. Let me be strong for you this time. Please.”

Her sincerity broke through your walls, and you collapsed into her embrace, sobbing openly. Sushang held you as if to shield you from the world, her soothing words a balm to your battered heart.

The crackling of the campfire was the only sound as Kinich sat across from you, his amber eyes flickering with concern. “You’ve been quiet lately,” he said, his tone careful but firm. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” you replied, avoiding his gaze. “I’m just tired, that’s all.”

He frowned, his usually warm expression shadowed with worry. “You’ve been saying that for weeks. You think I can’t see the toll it’s taking on you?”

“I don’t need this right now,” you muttered, standing to leave.

But Kinich was faster, his hand catching yours. “You do,” he said firmly. “You can’t keep bottling this up. It’s okay to let someone in.”

“Why do you care so much?” you snapped, pulling your hand away. “I’m fine, Kinich! Just leave it alone!”

His eyes narrowed, frustration clear in his posture. “Because I care about you! And it hurts to see you hurting yourself like this.”

The words hit harder than you expected, and before you could stop yourself, the tears came. You crumpled to the ground, hands covering your face as sobs wracked your body.

Kinich was at your side instantly, his arms wrapping around you like the warmth of a fire. “Let it out,” he whispered, his voice steady and calming. “I’ve got you.”

“I’m sorry,” you hiccupped, ashamed of your outburst.

“Don’t apologize,” he said firmly, tilting your chin to meet his gaze. “You don’t have to carry this alone. Let me help you, even if it’s just holding you like this.”

The sincerity in his voice melted your defenses, and you leaned into his embrace, the weight of your burdens finally easing.

The argument had spiraled out of control. Kaveh paced the room, his passionate words cutting through the air. “You’re always putting everyone else first, but what about you? Don’t you see how much it’s hurting you?”

“I don’t need you lecturing me, Kaveh!” you retorted, your voice shaking. “I’m doing what needs to be done.”

“And at what cost?” Ratio interjected, his calm yet cutting tone adding to the weight of the conversation. “You’re eroding yourself in the process, and for what? To prove something to yourself?”

You flinched, the weight of their combined concern overwhelming. “You don’t understand,” you muttered, tears pricking at your eyes. “I don’t have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice,” Ratio replied, stepping closer. “But you’ve convinced yourself there isn’t because you’re afraid to ask for help.”

The dam broke. The tears came unbidden, and you sank into the nearest chair, covering your face. “I can’t do this anymore,” you whispered, the shame of breaking down in front of them hitting you like a wave.

Kaveh was the first to move, kneeling in front of you and taking your hands in his. “Hey, it’s okay,” he said softly, his passionate tone replaced by tender concern. “You don’t have to be perfect. You’re allowed to feel.”

Ratio placed a hand on your shoulder, his usual analytical demeanor softened. “Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s strength in its own way. Let us share your burden.”

Their words, so different yet equally sincere, wrapped around you like a safety net. You leaned into their combined support, the weight on your heart finally lifting.

The forest was quiet as Ororon watched you from the shadows. “You’re not yourself,” he said, his voice soft and cryptic. “You’ve been carrying something heavy.”

“I’m fine,” you replied automatically, your voice flat. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

“You say that,” he mused, stepping closer, “but even the strongest trees bend under the weight of a storm.”

“I’m not a tree, Ororon,” you snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. “I’m fine!”

He tilted his head, his eyes studying you. “If you were fine, you wouldn’t be snapping at me.”

The truth in his words broke through your defenses, and the tears came, sudden and uncontrollable. You turned away, ashamed to let him see you like this.

Ororon’s arms wrapped around you like a cocoon, his presence grounding. “Let the storm pass,” he whispered. “Even the night wind has moments of calm.”

“I’m sorry,” you hiccupped, the weight of your emotions crashing over you.

“Don’t be,” he replied, his voice steady. “Tears are a language of the soul. I’ll listen to every word, even the ones you don’t say.”

His words soothed you, and you let yourself lean into his embrace, the weight of your burdens finally easing in his quiet understanding.

Ashveil:

"Ash, how old are you?"

The detective's head whips around so fast, you're surprised his neck doesn't break. "What the hell did you just ask me?"

You give a small shrug, kicking your legs as you sit on the table across from him. "I'm just asking how old you are. I mean, you must be pretty old since you use a cane."

Ashveil scowls at you and leans against the opposite table. "I'm just going to pretend I didn't just hear you say that. Just because someone has a cane doesn't mean they're old."

You roll your eyes. "Yeah, I know that. But you're, like, actually old! I mean…" you vaguely gesture to him. "Look at you. You're definitely not someone who's young anymore."

Whap!

You flinch as Ashveil gives you a small tap on the leg with his cane. He's obviously not trying to hurt you, but he does want you to feel it. He gives you a small glare as he does.

"Listen here, you little shit. If you're trying to get a rise out of me, it's not going to work. I have more self-control than you think."

With a snicker, you shake your head. "And you hitting me with your cane counts as having self-control?"

He rolls his eyes and taps your other leg with his cane. "Someone has to teach you how to defend yourself against attacks."

"And hitting me with your cane is the way to do it?"

Ashveil taps you again and gives a nod. There's a challenging look in his eye and you're not one to back down from a fight. So, grabbing the nearest object you can to defend yourself, which just so happened to be a cane-shaped pole, you fight back.

Suddenly, this has turned into sort of an impromptu sword fight, but with canes. You perry, dodge, and thrust. Ashveil attacks and you defend. You try to keep your movements precise and direct. but he keeps throwing you off. As he attacks, he does try to offer pointers so you're not completely thrown off balance or suffer any terrible injuries.

Eventually, you both slow down and take a few deep breaths. He smirks at you. "You're learning."

You chuckle. "I can go all day, old man."

"I am not that old!"

Boothill:

"Perfect!" You clap your hands together after watching Boothill hit all six targets in perfect, rapid succession. You glance at your watch. "Five seconds!"

He scowls at your words. "Damn, that's too slow. I think my finger joints need some more grease or something. I'm usually faster than that."

You purse your lips. "I can get you some, if you'd like."

He flashes you a toothy smile. "That would be lovely, darling, thank you."

Heading back into the house, you grab some grease for the joints made for his cybernetic body and bring it back out to him. You watch as he carefully applies it and stretches out his fingers for good measure. He smiles at you as they loosen up.

"There, much better."

"Think you're gonna shoot faster?" You ask.

"Of course!" He glances at the six targets placed twenty feet away from him. "With amazing accuracy, if I might add."

You chuckle and shake your head. "I'm not surprised. You are pretty accurate with that thing."

When you gesture to his gun, he looks down at it before looking back up at you. "Wanna give it a go for yourself?"

You stopped laughing to look at Boothill. He wasn't serious, was he? "What? You want me to fire your gun? Are you crazy? What if I blow my fingers off?"

"Then we'll both need grease to keep the mechanations working." He chuckles, taking one of your hands in his. "But seriously, I wanna see you try. I wanna see if you're going to give me any kind of competition."

"Oh no, I couldn't." You shake your head. 

He presses his gun into your hand. It is heavier than you thought it would be. You weren't sure you could lift it, but Boothill stood behind you and kept a firm grip. He held on tight as he adjusted your position so you could shoot it.

"It's easy, darling." He whispers in your ear. "You're gonna be a natural, I promise."

With careful guidance, he helps you aim at the first target. Your hand shakes a little, but his hand keeps you steady. You try to line up the shot as best you can, but you're tense. You're sure when you fire a shot you're not going to hit anything.

"Relax." He whispers again. "Just breathe. You can do this, darling. I know you can."

You take a deep breath. And then you fire. It's not a perfect hit like Boothill's shots, but you do hit the target. You let out a surprised squeal.

"Holy shit! I hit it! I can't believe I actually hit it!"

He laughed and kissed your cheek. "I knew you could! Now, just five more targets to go."

Dan Heng:

"It's so pretty." You breathe, looking at one of Dan Heng's beautiful spears.

"It's so incredibly old and fragile." He shoots back. Stepping up behind you, he gestures to the glass case that the spear is displayed in. "Seriously though, that's the one I don't use because of how fragile it is. It's more of a ceremonial piece."

You chuckle and shake your head. "Why am I not surprised you have priceless artifacts like this spear in your room, or what can be called your room, of the Astral Express? You're quite the collector, aren't you?"

"Oh, this isn't just a collective piece. This was a gift." He explains.

"Right, yes, from the other scions, yes?" You glance behind you at him, tilting your head a little to the side as you do.

He nods, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Yes. A long time ago."

You smile back. "Okay, so where do you keep the ones that aren't fragile and old like that one?"

Dan Heng directs you to a crate towards the back of the room. He lifts the lid to show off all of the spears inside, buried under packing material. He picks it up and shifts it from hand to hand. 

"These are the ones I have that can actually be used in combat."

You nod, looking at all of the different spears in the crate. They're all different, with a range of sizes, material, and colors. But they're all exquisitely crafted. You pick up a spear of your own.

"While they're all so lovely, I know you only really use Cloud Piercer."

Dan Heng glances at you, a faint look of surprise flashing in his eyes before he schools it back into his usual look of detached indifference. "Yeah, you're right."

Taking the spear out of the crate, you hold it the way Dan Heng holds his in combat. You give him a smile. "How do I look? Intimidating like you?"

He chuckles and shakes his head. "Not exactly. You don't even know how to use that thing."

He's not wrong. You've never held a spear before in your life. You don't know the first thing when it comes to using it in combat. But…

"You could show me how." You give him an eager smile. 

Dan Heng pauses. It's not a thought that ever crossed his mind. He also probably wouldn't be the best teacher. But if he was willing to try, you would be willing to learn.

So with a sigh, he grabs Cloud Piercer. "Alright. But we have to go to one of the cars in the back of the Astral Express. Pom-Pom gets annoyed when we fight in the cars where guests could be roaming about."

You nod and eagerly follow after him with your own spear. As you head to a different train car to train, you press a kiss to his cheek. You ignore the blush forming on the apples of his cheeks as you smile.

"Thank you for teaching me."

"Don't mention." He replies, with a flicker of warmth in his words.

Dr Ratio:

There is that old saying, knowledge is power. It's something that you believe Dr. Ratio takes very seriously. He's always pursuing knowledge and sharing it with those around him. It's a trait of his that you find to be rather admirable.

But now it's become more of a nuisance than something to admire.

"I just don't get it! How can any of this math add up like this?" You bemoan, slumping in your seat with your face in your hands.

Ratio sighs and shakes his head. Looking over your work, he presses a finger over one of your equations. "Because that's wrong."

You sit up and look at what he's pointing at, a frown tugging on your lips. "Wrong? How is it wrong? Show me where I messed up, please?"

He scowls. "You're smart. You can figure it out."

Pouting, your eyes flick up at him. "You know, most people say things like you're smart as a compliment. The way you say it makes it sound like an insult."

"What's insulting is how you waste your intelligence by claiming you can't do something when you really mean you simply refuse to apply yourself." He shoots back. "Now, try again."

You cross your arms over your chest. "And if I say no?"

Whap!

Your jaw dropped as Ratio tapped your head with his book. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough that you could feel it. What hurt more in your opinion was the scathing glare on his face.

"You don't get to just sit there and forgo your responsibilities just because you don't feel like it. You have work to do. So get it done."

"I cannot believe you just hit me with your book."

"Sometimes, pupils need a little correction to get their work done."

"Some would call that abuse."

His eyes narrow slightly at you. Not in a threatening way; more like an assessing way. His voice is unnaturally soft when he speaks again. "Did I hurt you?"

You slowly shake your head, a little caught off-guard by his voice. "Uh… no. I'm fine."

Ratio gives a curt nod. "Good. That was not my intention. My goal was to remind you that you are smart and intelligence is a weapon just like any other. I'm trying to help you hone your skills so you can surpass even the most genius in the galaxy."

"Really?" You softened even more at his words. "You really mean that?"

"Of course." He replies, as if he didn't just compliment you for the first time since you started working together. He taps your math equations again. "Now, back to work."

You nod. "Yes sir."

Feixiao:

"It's so heavy!" You exclaim as you try to adjust the weight of the sword in the hand.

Feixiao laughs as she wields her own sword. "Of course it's heavy! It's a real sword. I thought it was time we upgraded from wooden to real steel."

You look at her with wide eyes. "Really? You really think I'm ready for this?"

"Of course! It's about time you started practicing with the real deal." She gets into the proper starting stance and gestures for you to do the same. "Alright. Now show me what you can do."

With a nod, you mirror her position. It's different working with a real sword than with a practice one. It feels like everything is off. You try your best to maintain your ground, hold your own, but the weight of the sword is awkward in your hand.

You really do try. You spar with her at least three times before you have to call a break. Panting and sweating profusely, you chug as much water as you can stomach. Feixiao's laughter has you shooting her a scathing glare.

"You're doing well!"

You scoff and knock her preoffered hand to the side as she attempts to help you up. But you're not quite ready to go again. "Well? I almost got myself killed out there. No thanks to you."

She chuckles and shakes her head. "No, I'm being serious. You're doing really well for just starting with a real sword. Sure, you need to relearn some finesse, but the basics are still there. You're doing just fine!"

"Doesn't feel like it."

Feixiao bites her lip before holding her hand out again. "Then let me help you."

You're skeptical but eventually take her hand. When you're on your feet again, she gets you back into position, sword in hand. The sword trembles in your hand due to the weight and exertion you've already been through. But she holds your hand steady with her own. It makes your heart beat faster for a whole other reason.

"Steady. You got this. I know you're tired and I know this is hard. But you really do have everything you need to do this inside. You've been working so hard. You can do this."

Her praise has your cheeks warming up a little, but you tamp it down to focus on her instruction. You're hyperaware as her hand trails up your arm, keeping it steady. She's careful, precise, and patient as she walks you through the steps again. She makes sure your arm is stable and the sword has no risk for slipping from your grasp.

"There. Just like that." Feixiao smiles at you. "Told you you can do it."

Picking up her own sword again, she stands before you. She gives you a little smirk. "Ready to try again?"

You give a small nod, ready for whatever she throws your way. "Ready."

Moze:

"Look what I found!" You giggle as you dangle your fingers in front of Moze's face.

He scowls when he sees what you have on your hands. He takes one of your hands in his, looking at the sharp claws you have strapped to your fingers. "Where did you find those?"

"Lying around." You give a small shrug, not pulling your hand away. "You really need to learn to take better care of your things."

"They were not just lying around." Moze shoots back. "I had them put away when I came home this morning."

You rolled your eyes, playfully poking him in the chest with one of the claws. You weren't poking him to injure, just to annoy. "Yeah, sure. So how come I found them?"

"Because you're a nosy little thief."

A giggle escapes you. "Maybe a little bit."

Moze scowls again and begins to take the claws off of you. As he tries, you let out a little noise of complaint and pull your hand away. His eyes darken. "Take them off. Now."

"No!" You whine. "I've always wanted to try them on! And they're so cool! Why should I have to take them off?"

"Because you don't know how to safely use them. You're going to poke someone's eye out. I'm worried it's going to be yours."

You give him a sly smirk. "Moze… are you worried about me?"

He scoffs and rolls his eyes. "No. I'm worried about the safety of everyone in this room."

"There's only two of us."

"Exactly. Now take them off."

You let out a little whine before doing as you're told. "Fine. I was only trying to have some fun. Guess not."

He watches your forlorn expression as you slip off his claws and hand them back to him. With a sigh, Moze holds them back out to you. "Alright. You can try them out for a little bit. But I'm going to show you how to use them safely, alright?"

With a squeal of excitement, you throw your arms around him to give him a big hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

While he tries to scowl, a small smile appears on his face. "You're welcome."

"I can't wait to shred up some cans and other pillows!"

"We'll see."

Seele:

"Something on your mind?"

Seele lets out a grunt as she hits the training dummy again with her staff. "No. Why do you ask?"

You chuckle and shake your head. "Because you've destroyed three training dummies already and you're about to break your fourth. Captain Landau is going to be so upset when he sees what you've done."

It only takes a quick glance around to see the carnage left behind by Seele. She's been going at it all day, and if you hadn't intervened, you were sure she'd destroy all of the training dummies. She pauses to take a deep breath. Slowly, she drops her staff down to her side.

"I just… have a lot on my mind." She replies, panting slightly from exertion.

You nod. Clearing away what's left of the training dummies, you step closer to her. "How about instead of destroying inanimate objects, you have a few rounds with a moving target."

She raises her eyebrow at you. "What are you suggesting?"

Grabbing your own staff, you stand in front of her, ready to spar. "Come on, warrior. Show me what you can do."

With a smirk, Seele holds up her staff and gets back into position. In an instant, the training area is filled with the sound of the two of you sparring. Your staff clacks against hers with such force that you're surprised neither breaks. But she's not holding back, not that you expected her to. You're a little surprised with how ferociously she is attacking.

There is definitely something on her mind. Seele doesn't go this hard unless she's upset about something. Usually, she'd yell and scream and carry on, but Natasha instructed her to find a more creative outlet to blow off some steam. So she became an expert at using her staff. But it was moments like this that the skill and finesse she had was put aside for pure brute strength.

You grunt as you block her attacks. "You're riled up. Mind telling me what's going on in that pretty head of yours?"

She sneers, still attacking with everything she had. "It's nothing! I'm fine!"

"I don't think you are."

"I don't want to talk about it!"

"Well, you should." You make a quick block as her staff comes down hard. A wince escapes you. She really is upset, and it's not going to get any better until she talks it out.

She lets out a rough sigh before pausing. "It's… Bronya."

You watch as Seele drops her staff, allowing you to lower yours. You watch as she frantically paces around and begins to rant. "I have all these great ideas for Belobog and she won't listen to a single one of them! She tells me not to worry about any of it and leave it to her! But I'm the one who grew up below the surface! I know what Belobog needs more than her!"

With a small smile, you walk up to her and pull her into a hug. She tenses before allowing you to hold her. "I know you're upset, and it sucks she's not listening to you. But I'm sure there's a compromise there somewhere. So why don't we go another couple rounds to calm you down, and then we'll go talk to her. Sounds like a plan?"

She takes a deep breath before nodding. "Alright, that sounds good."

As she picks up her staff again, Seele smirks again. "Hope you can keep up."

You smirk back. "Bring it."

Sushang:

It's not that Sushang didn't know how to wield a sword. It was more so this sword was much too big for her. But she was insistent that she wanted to learn how to use a broadsword.

You purse your lips as you watch her struggle to hold the massive sword and try to swing it. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

She turns and smiles at you. It's the kind of smile that looks bright and cheerful on the outside, but deep down you can see she's sort of having second thoughts. "I'm fine! I can handle this!"

You're not convinced, but she's determined. Pushing off the wall, you walk over to her. "It's awful heavy. Do you need help lifting it?"

"No, no! I can do this!" She assures you, though her straining muscles say otherwise.

With a sigh, you help her anyways. One hand on her back and another on her wrists, you help her lift the heavy sword. You ignore the way Sushang's cheeks turn pink at your close proximity. This is not the time to flirt. This is a time to guide her.

"You want to lift with your legs and not your back. For that, you need a wider stance." You nudge her feet apart with your foot. Just enough so that she has a better center of gravity. "There. Does that feel a little better?"

She frantically nods before speaking. "Yes! It feels much better."

Letting out a little chuckle, you take a step back. "Now, try to swing it."

With a determined look, she throws her whole body into the swing. In doing so, she almost throws the whole sword and you have to duck out of the way. Quickly, you come back up to her to steady her.

"Careful! You don't want to throw yourself off balance."

She sighs, her shoulders slumping. "Maybe you're right. I'm terrible at this. I should just give up now while I still have the chance."

Her defeatist attitude has you sighing. With a shake of your head, you stand up straighter and narrow your eyes at her. "No. We're not going to sulk. I am going to teach you how to use this broadsword if it's the last thing I do. But only if you trust me, okay?"

Sushang's eyes light up as you offer to help train her. The sparkle in her eyes has you smiling back. She looks so cute, all excited like this. Not that you would ever tell her that.

There's a renewed look of determination on her face as she nods. "Yes! I trust you! Oh thank you, thank you!"

She squeals and throws her arms around you, practically jumping up and down. You chuckle. She definitely has enthusiasm to spare, something you're sure you can redirect into her training.

"Alright, let's get back to work, shall we?"

Topaz:

You're trying to do your work when you feel something nudge your elbow. You try to ignore it, but whatever it is, it's persistent. Glancing down, you notice a little black snout. And that snout is connected to none other than Numby.

With a giggle, you rub its head. "Hey Numb. What's going on?"

The little warp trotter nudges you again before pushing a piece of paper in your direction. On it, written in Topaz's handwriting, were the words: Come and Find Me!

You chuckle and shake your head. "She's completely serious, isn't she, Numb?"

The warp trotter doesn't say anything. Instead, it just nudges you again. It seems she really was serious about this little game. While you definitely had things to do right now, you could really use a break. You figured you might as well indulge her for just a little bit.

Standing up from your desk, you watch as Numby hops off your desk onto the ground. You give it a little nod. "Alright, Numb. Show me where she's hiding."

And just like that, the warp trotter is off.

You follow Numby around the IPC base that Topaz calls home. You're careful to avoid most of your coworkers, as you really don't want to explain this game to them. So you make it seem like you're on a very important mission somewhere, and you're left alone for the most part.

Numby begins to dig at what looks like a crate in the back of one of the storage rooms. You narrow your eyes before kneeling before it.

"Is she in here?"

Popping the lid off the crate, you frown. Inside is nothing but stacks and stacks of credits. No sign of Topaz anywhere. You glance over at Numby, who tilts what you can only presume is its head.

"Okay… not what I'm looking for, bud. I'm looking for Topaz. You know? The one who dotes on you and treats you like her bestest friend in the world?"

It was odd trying to talk to a warp trotter like a person, but you hoped the message got through. Regardless, Numby set off again. It trundled through the storage room and you had to squeeze through some tight places to get where it was going. You hoped all of this was worth it. You were seriously considering writing up Topaz for this little stunt.

Eventually, Numby leads you to another pile of crates covered in a tarp. You hope this is where Topaz is hiding. Or else you're just going to leave and get back to work. With a dramatic flair, you throw off the tarp.

Topaz lets out a little shriek before grinning up at you. "I knew you could find me!"

I tried to catch all of them, but unfortunately, since there wasn’t a counter or anything like that… it was a little difficult.

I definitely missed a few, like Yukong or Misha, but I tried so many combinations and still never got anything… which is strange. I was expecting something between Yukong and Fugue, for example.

Well! I hope some of you can add them in the reblogs of this post or share links to other posts in the comments.