Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

YOUR POV

You're focused. Being careful not to over-singe the piece of shellwood you have. You're wearing leather gloves so that the red-hot piece of metal doesn't burn you.

You carefully trace the light marks of charcoal in an intricate pattern that looked like vines weaving together.

“Ok (Y/N) this is where you screwed up last time. Be patient, and go slow.”

“HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET ACROSS THIS!?”

The sudden noise breaks your focus, and now a thick dark line stretches over the piece of shellwood.

“Oh come on!”

You storm out of your small hut at the Blue Lakes shore, fuming because whoever shouted ruined your masterpiece.

“WHOEVER JUST SHOUTED IS IN FOR A WORLD OF PAIN!” You scream, gripping the still red-hot piece of metal in your lower left claw.

The bug that just shouted whirls to face you, their shield at the ready. Their pearly white eyes are wide with surprise. They’re wearing a blue chestplate and hood. Their carapace is all black, similar to yours, you have a good 4 inches over them. Oh, wait. They're a guy. 

“Of course. Another one of those warriors wanting glory. Let me guess, you, SIR, are on your way to the wonderful Colosem of Fools!” you say, your voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Yes, I am MISS. I’m going to prove to everyone that-”

You cut him off. “Yes yes, I have heard it all before. You go across the lake, go to the hole underneath the platform with the graves, go to the bottom of that room, and take a left. In that room is an elevator shaft, if you can cling to the walls in there, shimmy down till you see an opening that leads straight to the entrance of that awful place.”

The guy blinks as if he wasn't expecting you to give him a very detailed route there.

“Uhh, thanks..?”

“BT-dubs, if you survive, get me a fresh piece of shellwood. Your shouting made me ruin mine.”

“What?”

“Woodburning.” You say, your wings buzzing with impatience, “I was in the middle of it when you screamed like a vengefly. Should I burn a reminder on you?” You wave the now cooling but still hot rod of metal closer to his chest.

He takes a step back, pushing your arm away.

“No need to threaten me, dragonfly, I’m perfectly capable of getting shellwood for your woodburning, but I have no time for that. I-”

You cut him off by pushing him into the cold waters of the Blue Lake.

“If someone owes me something, they WILL get it. Hope you can swim.”

“DID YOU HAVE TO DO THAT?” the guy sputters as he breaks the surface.

“Name.”

“What?” He gasps as he hauls himself to the shore. 

“Your name. What is it?”

“Why should I tell you?” he snips.

“So I don’t forget that you owe me!” you spit back.

“Like I’ll let a GIRL know my name.” he huffs and turns his back to you.

“Oh, now you’ve done it buddy,” you hiss.

You grab the back of his chest plate and fly over the lake to the elevator shaft. You hover in the empty space with the guy yelping with surprise and fear.

“Now. You be a good little boy and apologize, so you can go to the bloodsport. OR you can continue to insult me and fall to the spikey roof of the elevator below. It’s your decision.”

“ARE YOU INSANE?!”

“No, I’m making sure you don’t die.”

“BY HOLDING ME OVER A DEATH PIT?!”

“No. By putting some sense in that tiny brain of yours.”

“OK! Ok. put me down, and we’ll talk.”

“M’kay,” you say with a small laugh, “But we are going back to my place because you warrior-types like doing things on your own.

“...Fine,” he grumbles.

“Good boy.”

As you carry the idiot back to your place you can hear him mutter something in a language you never heard of.

“Alright, we're here,”  you announce in a sing-song voice, as you drop him on the pebble shore.

He grunts in pain as he lands on the shore.

“You jerk.”

“What?” you say, mock-offended, “I just postponed your death!”

“I’m not going to die there! I’m going to win and go home with respect!”

“Respect?”

“I’m an ANT, dragonfly. We overwork ourselves while eating the bare minimum just to please our queen.”

You raise your brows. “So you just want respect?”

“NO! Ahhgh! I don’t know what I want, ok?”

“Sorry for touching a sore spot,” you say as you raise both pairs of arms in mock surrender.

“Not your fault.”

You watch as he carefully puts his shield on the water, and slowly climbs onto it. You're surprised it doesn't capsize.

“Since you're not going to be of any help, I’ll make my way there on my own.”

“Not without telling me your name.”

“...Tiso…”

“Well Tiso, my name is (Y/N). It was nice to meet you. Come visit if you are still alive.”

“Maybe.”

You watch as he tries to paddle with his arms to get moving. Somehow it works. You snort in amusement.

You walk back to your small one-room home. Your bed is in the far corner, along with a wood stove, a dining table covered in woodburning tools, and your messed-up masterpiece.

Sighing, you pick up your ruined work and stick it next to the wood stove to burn for later.

“It's as good as fuel anyways now.”

You grab some failed works, throw them in, and light it. You relish the warmth before flopping on your bed.

You fall asleep with Tiso on your mind.

Chapter Text

TISO'S POV

Tiso hissed in annoyance.

Who does that bug think she is? Hovering him over a death pit, for insulting her? Come on! He wasn't that mean, was he? Yeah, he was being a little sexist, but that's to be expected! He grew up surrounded by girls who all treated him like he was useless.

Tiso groans. He hated remembering his life in the colony. None of them even bothered to ask his name or help him in any way.

“Uuuugggh. Why did she even give me the shortest route there? It wasn't like I was being nice.”

Come to think of it, she was a lot nicer than my colony. Loud and rude, but at least she acknowledged me.

AHH! Come on Tiso! Stop thinking about her! She was just another bug on your journey. Think about the arena! The glory of winning! Proving to the queen that you're not useless!

Tiso smiles.  He can’t wait to win and wipe that stupid grin off the Queen's face. He won’t die! He is Tiso of the Wastes! A skilled warrior! No amount of insulting will stop him.

Now at the other side of the lake, Tiso climbs onto the more rocky side of the shore.

“Hello there.”

Tiso looks at who spoke. It's an old pillbug wearing a cloth hat. He’s sitting there watching the waves lap at his feet. He has a look on his face, a look Tiso has seen before. 

“Hey man, I have seen that look before. And trust me, it’s never worth it. Your friends will blame themselves for a decision like that.”

“You sound like you have experienced that before.”

“Yeah, it’s not pretty” he sighs, remembering his old friend.

The pillbug sighs and looks at the lake again. 

Tiso, feeling like he helped, goes along the directions you gave him.

His thoughts go back to you. All he can think about is why you helped him.

Chapter Text

(Y/N)'S POV

You wake up from your nap, your head throbbing. You feel like you barely got any sleep.

Groaning you push yourself up and walk to the door, grabbing your traveling staff as you went. It was one of your first completed projects. Looking at it, you see the uneven swirls traveling down the grain.

You smile, remembering how hard you worked on it. The countless nights of a beginner (Y/N) working on a project she hoped her parent would love. Scowling at the memory of your parents, you trudge out of the door.

“(Y/N), now is not the time to be mad. The past is in the past, your scars have left with the molts, there's no need to think about your parents ,” you hiss.

You scratch at where the scars used to be. Huffing, you take off flying to where a small vengefly nest is. The vengeflys guarding the nest squawk and start flying to you. Vengeflys are easy to kill, you take the guard covering a sharp skinny needle at the end of your staff and stab the two vengeflys coming at you.

Vengeflys don't have the healthiest of meat, but you're not about to go to the Crossroads to eat the once-civilized bugs wandering there. Plus, Gruzzers, Tickticks, and Crawlids taste awful.

You fly back to the shore of Blue Lake and land with a soft thud. Taking the vengeflys off your spear, you squeeze the awful orange ooze onto the ground. You shudder at the sight of the awful gunk.

The sound of treading water makes you look up. You see a very small bug with two curving horns. Their mask has two eyeholes, and looking into them is like staring into unlit darkness. They have an old, cracked nail strapped to their back. 

“Hey there. Not a lot of bugs know how to swim in this dead place. I wonder, who taught you?”

The pale bug just climbs up on the shore and looks at you, so you assume they're waiting for you to talk more.

“Have you been to the Colosseum? That bloodbath of a place, full of bugs wanting glory and Geo. Pft, I’ll tell you one thing for free kid, killing for glory and Geo? Not worth the pain. Besides, when you work for someone there, they will do anything with you to get as much money as possible.” You say as you rub a phantom scar on your side. “Willing to kill for money, I wonder how many my parents had before me…Oh sorry, no need to worry about me. My past and pains are not yours to carry.”

The small pale kid looks down, and a flash of white blinds you for a second.

My parents… using me for their gain…

…Chip knows what they were doing was wrong…I wonder what became of him…

The small bug looks up at you again and walks up the path to the Crossroads.

You sigh and walk back to your house, putting the vengeflys over the woodstove to slow roast.

You realize that you haven't seen any of the fools you directed to the Colosseum in a while, and you start to feel guilty about sending Tiso there.

Why am I even thinking about him? He’s just like them, wanting fame and glory. Psh, I shouldn't even be thinking about that deathpit!

As you're arguing with yourself, you don't notice yourself packing supplies and grabbing your staff until you're already on the other side of Blue Lake.

“How the crap?”

A nail embedded into the sone shore catches your eye, before you can turn around and go back home. There is a white flower on the ground next to it.

“Oh… that's sad.”

Sighing, you walk the old familiar route to the Colosseum, hoping you can find Tiso and get him out of there before it's too late.

Chapter Text

LITTLE FOOL'S POV

Being chained upside down is not fun. In fact, it’s very boring. Little Fool wishes he was back in the arena, fighting the Baldurs and Asphids.

Sighing, Little Fool hums to himself, trying to appease the boredom, when he hears fast footsteps approaching. Little Fool looks to the entrance to see who coming down to their fair Colosseum.

He sees an average heighted bug in a blue chestplate and hood. The scent they give off… well, now Little Fool knows this bug in blue is male.

“Aha! Another warrior finds their way to our fair Colosseum. Ours is the final destination for all seeking trials of intense and deadly combat.” Little Fool says the memorized line with pride.

“Perfect. Those directions were very accurate. Anyways, where do I sign up to fight?” The blue-clad bug asks.

“All one has to do is place their mark upon their Trial Board of choice and lo! The arena's gate will open.” Little Fool explains.

“Perfect,” The blue-clad bug says as he walks up to the first trial board.

“Ah, ah. There's a small fee attached to each trial, but I'm sure as skilled a combatant as yourself will have accrued a wealth of Geo.”

Blue boy’s face falls. 

“Let me guess, you have no Geo?” It wasn't really a question. Little Fool has had this happen many times before. “No worries! All you have to do is slay the beasts nearby and you'll swiftly gain the Geo needed to get into the first trial.”

“How much Geo is needed for the first trial?” The distraught blue-clad bug asks.

“Only 100 Geo is needed for the Trial of the Warrior,” says Little Fool.

“Assuming that's not a lot in this dead kingdom.” the sad blue boy says.

“You would be correct, brave warrior!”

The blue-clad bug sighs with annoyance and sulks out of the lobby.

Little Fool can hear him and another bug talking…arguing? Anyways, they seem surprised to see each other. The second voice sounds female. Little Fool wonders if she is his girlfriend.

Chuckling to himself, Little Fool continues waiting for the time to be back in glorious battle again.

Chapter Text

TISO'S POV

Tiso cannot believe that this dead place STILL uses money. He thought he could just sign up and start fighting immediately! Now, Tiso has to go out and get money from the beasts around here. Great.

Sighing, Tiso walks out of the colosseum and runs straight into another bug.

“Great! Just when my day couldn't get any worse!” Tiso hisses.

“And here I thought you were bathing in your respect and glory.” A familiar voice snips back.

“Why are you here? I thought you hated this place.” Tiso asked

“Well sir, I thought I would make sure my favorite bug ever was not dead.” You say in a sarcastic sing-song voice.

Tiso feels his face getting hot. He shakes his head before responding.

“I’m not dead, nor will I die!” Tiso angrily says. Why does everyone he comes across think he’s going to die here?

“Anywizzle, why are you leaving? Did you see how awful it is here?” Your distaste for the Coloseum of Fools leaked through your teeth like poison.

“Ok, one, I’m not leaving. And two, I'm getting Geo.”

“They're now making fighters PAY to fight now?”

“Apparently,” Tiso huffs with annoyance.

“Wow. Just when I thought they couldn't get any lower.”

Tiso rolls his eyes and stomps away.

“Where are you going?”

“To get Geo.”

“Well then. Might as well find a nice piece of shellwood.”

“Oh, will you drop that already?”

You slam your staff on the ashen ground.

“Well exCUSE me for trying to make sure you're a fine gentalbug.” Her voice sounds nice when she's sarcastic.

Tiso shakes his head. Stop that Tiso! She nothing to you ok!

“The bug in chains said I can get Geo from the beasts here.” Tiso didn't like how this dragonfly towered over him. (Did he?)

“True.” You nod, “If you really want to fight to the death, I’ll help you get some Geo.”

“A warrior needs no help fr-”

You cut him off by putting your lower right hand up. “Too bad.”

Ignoring you, Tiso trudged down the tunnels leading to the main area of Kingdoms Edge.

“Hey! Wait for me!” You call.

Great. Tiso really can’t get a break today.

Chapter Text

(Y/N)'S POV

Following Tiso through Kingdoms Edge proved amusing to watch, especially when he started slipping on the ash.

“What so funny?” Tiso snarks.

“Oh nothing, just the fact you don’t know how to walk in ash without slipping,” you say, laughing.

Tiso scoffs. “You're annoying. Has anyone told you that before?”

“No, you're the first actually,” you say, “Salubra thinks I’m quite pleasant company.”

“I don’t even know who Salubra is, so that fact doesn't count.”

“Come on! Do you even talk to anyone?”

“In fact,” Tiso says while turning to face you, “I have spoken to someone. They didn't say anything back though.”

“Really? What did they look like?”

“Short, pale, two curved horns, battered nail, gray cloak”

“Oh! I've seen them before, they came by my place shortly after you left.”

“Did they talk to you?”

“No, just listened to my ramblings.”

It's weird we've seen the same bug before. They must travel around a lot.

“What did you say to them?”

You freeze. You weren't expecting that.

“Why do you want to know?”

Tiso turns to face you.

“Jeez sorry. I was just curious.”

You don’t notice Tiso’s lingering gaze.

You do notice Tiso shake his head and continue down the tunnel.

“Do you know what a Primal Asphid is?” You ask as an evil plan forms in your head.

“No, nor do I care.”

“Oh that's a shame, Primal Asphids are one of the hardest beasts to kill. If you can kill one, the praise is immense.”

Tiso slowly turns to face you, his white eyes filled with interest.

“Where can I find one?” he asks.

“Just follow me.” you respond.

You take off down the tunnel, weaving around the hoppers. Tisos not far behind, but he’s killing the hoppers you pass, and collecting the Geo they drop.

“That fool in chains wasn't lying.”

You stop at the edge of the cliff leading to the huge pit. 

“Hurry up, slowpoke!”

“I’m coming! Keep your wings on!”

Your wings buzz with amusement as you look down the cavern. You see the bodies of fallen fools on the cliffs, falling to the acid below.

“Mom?”

“What?” your mom snarks back, “Why aren't you training with that fool?”

“I wanted to give you something”

“If it's not Geo, then get it out of my face.”

“But-” You're cut off when something hits you hard across your cheek. You look up to see your mom looming over you, her lower right hand clenched in a fist.

“Listen (Y/N). You are supposed to fight for Geo. That is the only thing we ask you to do, and you can’t even do that properly!” she screams.

Your mother shoves you to the ground. ”If you can’t even do what we made you for, then you'll end up like the fools who come here: boiling in acid at the bottom of the cavern!”

Your eyes start filling with tears. Mom has gotten mad before, but was only when you passed out during a trial.

“If you have nothing to do right now, go sign up, fight, and get me GEO!” she screams, her face now inches from yours.

You grab the gift and your weapon and scramble out of the warrior's pit. You find a corner and hide there, hot tears streaming down your face.

“Why? Why does she hate me?” You cry.

“Who?”

You blink. Darn, you got lost in your memories again. You look down to see Tiso looking at you with worry in his eyes.

“...Are you ok..?”

The question confused you. Of course you are ok. You are still alive, right?

“Yeah, I'm fine,” you say with confusion, “Why do you ask?”

“You were staring down the pit not blinking, you looked like you were about to cry. You were mumbling stuff to...”

What? Why would you cry? You've got nothing to be sad about. At least not anymore.

You decide to say nothing and fly down to one of the platforms in the pit.

“Come on! Don’t you want to prove yourself?” you call to Tiso, who looks at you with uncomfortable concern.

You shake that weird feeling warming your face, but you can't help but fully study Tiso's figure. He wears a blue breastplate and hood, which you already knew, but looking closer, you can see the care put into keeping them nice. The blue of the breastplate was faded, but the paint was not chipped. The hood was a more vibrant blue, but it had a visible patch in a different shade of blue.

His eyes are pearly white and very expressive. They were focused on the platforms as he jumped to you. You wonder why he didn't use his wings. Male ants have wings, right?

You shake your head. A warm blush makes your wings vibrate with pleasure.

Oh come on (Y/N), stop that!

Tiso landed next to you with a soft thud. “Well?”

Rolling your eyes, you say “Come on, they're down here.” taking the lead once again.

TISO’S POV

Following the you around proved difficult. One because Tiso can't fly anymore, and two, these platforms were ridiculously far apart. Plus the fact that Tiso couldn't ignore the bodies raining down from above.

He can feel the your hard gaze watching him. He shivered. Tiso wasn't sure if he liked it or not.

Landing beside you Tiso looked up at you and asked “Well?”

You roll your eyes and proceeded forward, “Come on, they're down here.”

Tiso nodded and followed, having to jog to keep up with your long stride.

“There they are.” You whisper, pointing.

There they were, indeed—there were three in total—in different areas of the room. They looked menacing, with gross orange abdomens and four eyes on their white faces. Tiso shuddered.

“So why are they so hard to kill?” Tiso asked.

You look at Tiso with a smirk. “Want me to tell you, or do you want to find out for yourself?”

Tiso smirks, taking that as a challenge and throws his shield to the closest asphid. The shield bounces off its face, cracking it a bit but not killing the nuisance. The shield whips back and Tiso catches it with trained ease.

“What?” Tiso exclaims, “Why didn't that kill it?”

“Primal Asphids," you clarify, "They have a good defense as well as some stupidly accurate spit.”

Tiso was about to ask about what you meant by that but was cut off by a shout from you.

“Watch out!”

Tiso raises his shield to block the incoming attack from the asphid. The gross orange spit splats aghast his shield.

“Eww!”

“Don’t let that stuff touch you! It burns like crazy!”

Tiso nods and raises his shield again, but instead of throwing it like he did before, the shield peels back a bit to show a crossbow-like contraption. Tiso aims his weapon and fires. A sharp needle flies from his shield to the asphid, piercing the spot between its eyes. It continues to fly, bringing the asphid with it until it embeds itself in the far wall on the other side of the room.

Tiso turns to face you, pride burning in his pearly white eyes. He stands with his shield raised, the joints flexed before returning to look like a simple shield once more.

“How was that (Y/N)?”

Chapter Text

(Y/N)'S POV

You stare. That was cool.

“That's some deadly surprise you have there.” You say after blinking a few times.

“Thank you,” he bows slightly, “I made it myself.”

You look behind him to see the other two Primal Asphids slowly approaching.

You grab his wrist and shout, “Let’s see how fast you can run!”

The two of you run as fast as you can, laughing the entire time. When the two of you reach the cavernous room, you yank Tiso in front of you, grab both his wrists with your lower arms, and take off flying.

You look down at Tiso dangling from your grasp. He looks up at you with fear and excitement in his eyes. You laugh at the sight.

“What so funny?” he shouts.

“I haven't had this much fun in forever!” you shout back.

Tiso looks surprised by what you said.

“Woodburning not exciting enough for you?”

“Ehh, I like it fine, but I use it to pass the time,” you admit.

“Really?” Tiso asks, “Then why were you- WATCH OUT!!”

You look up to see a huge Boofly hovering in front of you. You quickly veer sharply to avoid crashing into it, but the sudden change in direction makes you tumble to a ledge behind the Boofly. You and Tiso crash into the ledge and tumble to a stop.

You can't stop laughing, even though you're out of breath. Tiso laughs with you his breaths coming in wheezing gasps.

“...Let’s…never… do that…again… near those…things,” Tiso wheezes out.

“..Agreed,” you gasp.

You both sit up and make unexpected eye contact. You both sit there stunned, staring into each other's eyes.

“...Let’s go back ok?” You cough out, “Assuming you have enough Geo?”

“Uhh… yeah… yeah I do now.” Tiso clears his throat. “... Yeah let's go back now.

Tiso stiffly gets up and begins the climb back up to the Colosseum.

Exhausted from the crash, you climb with him instead of flying.

The walk back is uncomfortable and awkward, and you can't shake that strange fluttery feeling in your gut.

Chapter Text

LITTLE FOOL'S POV

“Lord Fool, when will I go back in glorious combat?” Little Fool wines.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Little Fool maneuvers himself to face the combatants and freezes when he sees a tall female dragonfly he recognizes.

“(Y/N)?!” He shouts, surprised, “I thought you would never return here again! What made you change your mind?”

“CHIP?! You're still alive?!” (Y/N) shouts back, also surprised, “And why are you in chains?”

“YES, I’m still alive!” Chip snarks, “Lord Fool put me here because my performance years back didn't entertain him enough.”

“Ok, that's stupid,” You say, “Want me to get you down?” You are already reaching up to unhook him from the chains, but Chip starts swinging aggressively.

“No no! I want to serve my sentence fully!” He argues

You backs away with confusion flickering on her face.

“Ok (Y/N), how do you know this bug?” a blue-clad bug asks, looking from You to Chip and back again.

You looks at the blue-clad bug and sighs with annoyance. “That is none of your business Tiso.”

Tiso looks at the dragonfly looming over him and coughs awkwardly into his hand.

He quickly turns to Chip, ”I have the money to fight now.”

“Excellent! Just put it over there,” Chip nods his head to a barrel in the corner, “And place your mark on the first board, though I suggest going to the warrior's pit below before doing so,” he says after noticing how scratched up Tiso looks.

Tiso nods, puts the Geo in the barrel, and walks over to the pit entrances. He stops before jumping down and turns to face you.

“Are you able to watch the fights?”

“Yeah..?” you answer, confused.

Tiso huffs, his face dark face turning slightly pink in embarrassment. He looks like he’s having an internal argument with himself.

“Do you…want to..” Tiso hesitates. “Ahh! Nevermind! It was a stupid question anyways…”

Tiso jumps down the hole before anyone can protest.

Chip knew exactly what was going on, but he wasn't going to press…well...maybe just a little. 

“Well, he was sprightly,” Chip said.

It took a moment for you to respond. “Uh.. yeah..?” you shake your head, “Do you know what he was talking about?”

“I do.” He smirks, “He wants you to watch him fight.”

"W-what? I.. don’t want to be here any longer than I have to be!” You sputter.

Chip chuckles, “Aww that's a shame. Here I thought you would at least humor him.”

“Shut up!” You laugh as you push the chained bug, making him swing.

Chip yelps with surprise, trying and failing to stop the movement.

“Anyways, I’m going back home now,” You announce, “And if Tiso is still alive, tell him that he still owes me shellwood.”

“What?” 

“Don’t ask.”

“Ok, I won’t,” Chip says with a laugh.

“Good.” You nod and walk out of the Colosseum.

Chip is glad your is still alive, he missed you quite a bit.

Chapter Text

(Y/N)’S POV

Walking back home proved stressful. Your body still ached from that crash with Tiso, so that's one reason. The other was the fact that Tiso WANTED to be with you? It’s not like you were nice when you two first met, so…WHY?

You groan. Not in pain, but in annoyance and denial. Why did he want you to watch him? What was Chip implying with that look? WHAT IS THIS FEELING??!

You stand on the balcony leading to the elevator shaft practically vibrating with confusion. You look up the shaft and see that it's still open. Sighing, you ready your wings, wincing slightly in pain. Before you can even take off, someone calls your name.

“Are you (Y/N)?” It's one of the Fools from the Colosseum. He’s a very short bug, and he’s gasping for air. You assume he ran the distance to get to you before you left.

“Yes, I am…” you say cautiously, “What do you want?”

“...This..is for you..” he chokes out, “Some ant..in..blue armor…told me…you needed this…” The Fool holds out a flat piece of shellwood. “He said…he…owed you…”

Surprised, you take the shellwood and look over it, turning it over in your hands.

“Well, this is a very nice piece of shellwood,” you muse, “Honestly, I thought he wouldn't get me one.”

You look at the Fool who now has his breath back. He’s looking up at you expectantly.

“Tell him I said thank you,” you say, “And that I’ll make it a masterpiece.”

The Fool nods and walks back to the Colosseum.

Smiling, you shake your head and take off up through the shaft exit. You feel unusually happy, though you pin that feeling on a new project to work on.

When you reach the top, you examine the shellwood more closely. It looks like a homemade nail. Did Tiso just steal someone's nail to give it to me?

You continue the walk home with a sigh, planning on making the nail sharper somehow for the poor bug Tiso stole from.

Chapter Text

Y/N’S POV

Standing on the shore of Blue Lake proves saddening. Partly because that beautiful nail is still embedded in the stone. You feel…disappointed. Why? No idea. You sit down a few paces from the nail.

Sighing, your thoughts drift to what happened earlier. 

Why did Tiso act like that? He acted so…embarrassed? A bright pinkish light blinds you momentarily. You blink it away. He was so…

Then two pitch black eye sockets suddenly appear in your peripheral, making you jump 2 inches off the ground. 

“HOLY MOTHER OF WYRM!” You gasp loudly, clutching your chest. The thing that just scared the ever living daylights was that child with that battered nail… the-the kid that can swim! They're now uncomfortably close to your face. You gently push them away at arms length.

“We meet again, kid. Do you not know anything about personal space?” You say shakely, your heart still racing. You take a short breath to calm yourself. “What are you doing here?”

The kid shrugs and points at you.

“What am I doing here?” They nod. “Pondering, I think.” You sigh, “Well I was thinking about why some bugs willingly go to that awful Coloseum.”

They nod.

“You know, I helped a bug a few hours ago get there. Don’t know why though, I just felt like it.”

“He was very rude.” You chuckle, “Talking about glory and respect.” 

You look at the nail in the rocky shore and sigh. “Why do people leave behind their most treasured item? You'd think you want to keep the item with the most memories connected with you…”

Hot tears are streaming down your face. Mom and dad got angry again. You tried to make something for them again, something, ANYTHING, to say ‘we're sorry we treated you like this! Will you find it in your heart to forgive us?’ then everything would be perfect! Happy moments at every corner! ‘All Is Forgiven!’ you would say!

Of course, that's just wishful thinking.

Every single time you make something for them, it's either destroyed, or you get hurt. They only wanted geo, so they could buy their wine.

As soon as you were old enough to live on your own, you left, leaving everything. You wanted to forget everything, but no matter what you did, you still had nightmares of your parents. Their faces twisted in rage…

“...Man I’m such a hypocrite…” You moan as you put your chin on your knees, “Why did I visit that place? It only brings bad memories.”

The kid scoots closer to you and puts their hand on your leg comfortingly. Their hands are cold and their carapace is surprisingly soft, yet firm. You sigh and pat their hand.

“I’m fine now,” you try to convince yourself yet again, “What's in the past, stays in the past. The past can’t hurt you anymore…”

You stand, stretching when you reach your full height. Sighing, you let your arms fall to your sides and look at the kid still sitting on the rocky shore. Holy crap, they're so cute.

“You are mine now, kid.”

The kid jumps up to their feet, shocked, shaking their head vigorously.

“What? Why?”

The kid hastily pulls out paper and a quill from somewhere under their cloak, and scribbles down something. When they finished they quickly showed you what they wrote. 

I have a dad in Hollowing Cliffs. Need permission. 

There's a drawing of a large bug with three horns and wearing a headband on the paper as well.

“Oh sorry for the assumption kid, I thought you had no one…sorry.”

All the kid does is nod and walk back where they come from.

Darn it.