youth at it's finest

raven stared off into space, lost in her own head for a moment. her mind ran a mile a minute, only to snap out of it seconds later when her sister’s voice was there, calling her back to reality. “uh - yeah, i’m here.” she mumbled, looking over at her sister. “sorry. just.. tired. i haven’t been sleeping well, and i’m stupid.” she refereed there to when she’d unintentionally snapped at negan. though she believed she was in the clear, she couldn’t be sure.

“you stupid. that’s a first.” her tone dry. “i’m like 90 percent sure someone has some herb that makes them sleep, you should take some from them. because you look a wreck.” if anything fiona was blunt, but with her sister she meant it in a loving way. crossing her arms the youngest raised a brow. “so you can’t just say, i’m stupid and then never finish. what did you do?”

“That’s a neat idea, but most of the folks we deal with are a little more preoccupied with food, clothes, you know… the basics,” Athena shook her head and let out a small scoff. “I haven’t even seen functional solar panels in the last year. Maybe some of the other settlements have them.”

“Personally, I miss air conditioning, but that’s going way back.” Athena replied with an arched brow. “We’ll be home soon enough… May as well try to make the best of it. The air’s nice at least.” 

“if they would start finding panels for solar energy i am more then sure i can get the ac to work in the sanctuary, that’s all i’m saying.” the small girl shrugged. 

“i’m not saying he wouldn’t take it. he probably would, i just don’t think now is really the time. you’re learning about something that is way off in the future, thus, wasting yours and everyone else’s time.”

“well then if you have all the answers then tell me what i should do. cause it’s hot i’m tired, i fixed a damn microwave and a i fixed a cooling system in a car. what more do i need to do.” she snapped.

dani let out a little sigh, looking up at her sister. “listen, i came to tell you goodbye. i’m bein’ sent off to alexandria to keep watch. i think probably to separate us.” she said quietly, “if you wanna keep being snarky, that’s fine, but it’d be a good time to be nice.”

“wait what?” fiona stopped and actually looked at her sister. that caught her off guard. fiona lied a lot but having both raven and dani in the sanctuary gave her comfort even if she never admitted it. “why?”

“i think we bribed you with half of our share of the candy.” raven laughed softly. “i think dani went as a doctor, and i’m pretty sure i was a stormtrooper.” she reminisced, a smile on her face for the moment. “yeah, she was good at that. at least we didn’t have to be with her for long.” she hugged her sister, her fingers running through the younger girl’s hair. “i know. i don’t want to either, but we don’t have a choice. if we could escape, you know i’d take that chance.”

“it’s literally amazing how i made it through childhood with all my teeth and not the size of a round ball considering moms diet and your bribes. i am literally a miracle.” she smiled, fluttering her lashes. fiona shook her head after her sister playing her hair and now she crossed her arms. “yeah but we have no where to go. do you really think any place would take us and i’d rather have a place to sleep even if it is filled with idiot then be out there. i don’t like it out there. and you know dani probably wouldn’t last.” she said bluntly.

“in theory, it sounds good. but you realize we’re on the thin line of a war, right? even if we could do it, and you could get it to work, it’s not right up there on the list of the priorities. you’re kind of wasting your time.”

“and why wouldn’t it be. if it’s going to be an advantage you don’t think that man would take it. i think he would. still it’s not a waste of time if in the something comes of it. why do you care so much?”

“god, are you always so biting?” she asked with raised brows, shaking her head at her sister. “i just came to ask if you were alright.”

fiona scoffed at her sister’s comment. “why are you asking me knowing you’re never going to get an answer that satisfies you.” she smirked. “i’'ve been working in the heat getting all covered in oil because the idiots here don’t know how to probably fix a cooling system but whatever i guess i’m fine.

raven smiled, a small chuckle falling from her lips. “there were some good times at that house. like how i used to say you were goofy.” she ruffled her sisters hair, pulling her close and into a half hug. “i know i do. i hate it, too. i feel useless, sitting around doing nothing all day when i could be working or.. or something.”

“yeah, good times happened when she wasn’t around. i don’t know how you two did it but their was that year you guys made me a goofy costume. it’s so hard to remember the good times because that bitch fucking ruined it with the rest of the time.” fiona tossed her book as raven oulled her closer. “i hate it out there. i hate them. i’d rather be doing nothing then dealing with them.” she pouted, child like. fiona wanted to get her way but it was proving harder and harder everyday.

“yeah, but the first part of that is finding the solar panels, is it not? who’s going to do that job?” mark raised a brow. “you look like a kid. you’re tiny.”

“sure. but they are out there, on someone’s roof, we’re not that far from washington they are there. and if people would shut up i can figure out how to set them up and wham bam energy. duh.” she rolled her eyes, “though she be little she is fierce.” fiona mumbled.

raven looked down at the mention of their mother, her lips pursing. “you know she only gave you those so you’d be preoccupied while she.. worked.. right?” she sighed, using air quotes around the world ‘worked’. “of course not. you’re family.”

“yeah, now i do. but when you’re five and your mom gives you junk food and cartoons are you gonna argue. all i cared about was mickey mouse.” she shrugged. “si, familia no deja que el otro caiga.” fiona whispered. “but you drive yourself up the wall with the worry, i’m fine.”

“nope. not when there’s work to do, kiddo.” mark replied, his facial expression cold as he looked to the brunette girl. “i’m sure the boss man will really appreciate you and your breaks.”

“if I don’t take a break then i can’t work hard. besides i’m reading about how to fix solar panels. energy all the time. it’s gonna be big.” she said nonchalant, “and don’t call me a kid. i’m not”

she snorted, “oh yeah. because i have any control in anything at all.”

“well what are you doing here, i’m trying to figure out how to take oil and make a gasoline. important things goin on here princess.”