Chapter Text
Ch 1
-Safe Haven-
Steps follow.
They echo behind, lagging after hers, always present, never leaving.
The streets seem shorter, emptier than they should be.
She turns at the corner, wishfully thinking there might be more people, somewhere to get lost.
Some couples, a small group of friends, a few families…
Not enough to save her.
Her pace remains at walking speed, she won’t let this get to her, not yet.
There’s still salvation, maybe around that corner!
Steps follow.
The plaza looks slightly busier than the street from before.
Autumn breeze keeps most people indoors.
Pretending to be unfazed, she buys some snacks in the kiosk in the corner, where the majority of people have gathered for a bit of sunlight.
She ignores the way her hands tremble when she pays.
It’s short lived.
The shadow still lingers around her, never truly leaving her much space to breathe, always at reach, waiting, predatory, hidden. Just far away enough that it doesn’t show, but she knows.
It’s not the first time.
She knows .
Time passes and she can’t spend all day there, she wants to go home. But she doesn’t want to show the shadow where she lives. Who knows what could happen then, another number in a statistic?
She just wanted to go home after work.
Where, then? She walks back onto the main streets.
The afternoon is quiet, it’s a Sunday, who would be out walking in the center of the city for pleasure on a damn Sunday.
No one to save her.
Left on this street, forward.
Steps follow.
Crossing onto a busier area, market places, clothes stores, a mall, maybe that’d help.
Steps follow.
Faster now, it has been going on for more than a few hours.
Worries consolidate when walking inside a retail store.
Steps follow.
Hooded silhouette watching her from afar.
Digging fear into her mind.
She leaves the store and steps follow .
' Help '
Anguish has her entering shop after shop, trying to find someone that might look reliable enough, someone who could maybe save her.
"Welcome!" a soft-spoken woman greets her.
She doesn’t even know what store she entered.
Just now she realizes how tunnel visioned she had gone.
By the looks of it, it’s a flower shop.
In the back, in stylized cursive and adorned with vines and blooming flowers there’s a sign.
Eden’s garden
The shop bell rings again .
There’s a needle digging deep in her heart, a sharp pain of fear.
Steps follow.
The shop lady welcomes the new ‘customer’.
Bae pretends to be invested in the flower arrangements. She doesn’t know if she’s doing a good job at keeping her composure anymore. If you had asked her at the plaza she would have said yes.
And she was shaking by then.
Who knows what her eyes look like. Like cornered prey, surely. Desperate, tired, giving up-
“May I be of assistance?” the soft-spoken lady takes her out of her defeatist downward spiral “If you see anything you fancy, we can help you make an arrangement”
“Actually,” she coughs the waver in her voice away once, twice, “actually, yes,” this is her chance, for once someone came over to her in one of the shops, from her jacket’s pocket she takes out her phone with shaky hands, typing as fast as possible, pretending to google something “would this be possible?” she tries her best to steady her hand while handing the phone to the lady.
‘ The man that just entered your store has been following me all afternoon, please help, I don’t know what to do anymore ’
Bae can see how the lady’s face changes from customer friendly to concern, she side eyes the man in her store, her shadow, the stalker that’s been filling her head with nothing but dread for the best part of the day.
“Oh, yes we can do that, would you please be so kind as to follow me to our meeting room to get the details right?” the green haired lady places her hand reassuringly on Bae’s shoulder, guiding her to the back of the shop.
She crosses the door frame.
The door shuts behind them both.
No steps follow.
No longer the sensation of disgusting sludge sticking to her back and crawling up her legs.
When relief finally hits her it’s not in happiness, but in frustration. Warm tears running down her cheeks freely.
“Oh, sweetie, it’s ok.” the shop lady is already hugging her. Slender fingers running soothing lines on her back, holding her gently.
The height difference makes her bury her face on her chest, it makes her feel safe, the scent of the flowers strongly present on her clothing, lungs filled with it with every involuntary hiccup.
“You’ll be safe here, you can stay as long as you need, but I need to return to the shop,” she’s wiping away her tears so softly, like she is a precious treasure to be kept “I’m Fauna by the way”
“I-I’m Baelz,” she stutters, swallowing away the knot on her throat “call me Bae” her voice is coarse, it had been a few hours since she last said anything and crying wasn’t making it any smoother.
“Bae, sweetie, my girlfriend is in the employees’ room, most certainly sleeping, there’s a small kitchen inside, you can help yourself to some tea or coffee and anything that’s on the fridge, okay, dear?” Fauna cooed softly with a smile, not letting go of her, grounding her with her touch.
Bae nods shyly, something about being called pet names so much was warming up her cheeks more than it should, given the circumstances. That’s a good sign at least, her mind is clear enough to start having feelings about someone else’s girlfriend.
‘ Really? In this situation? ’
“Okay, baby,” Fauna gives her one last squeeze of a hug “I’ll be with you in about two hours, try to keep yourself calm, and if anything happens you can come to the shop and bug me. I’ll get rid of that nasty person out there, don’t worry” Fauna winks and Bae can feel the way her heart skips a beat.
She stares as Fauna turns back and shoots her a thumbs up before leaving through the door that led back to the front of the store.
Bae takes a whole minute to just focus on evening out her breathing, trying to calm down before going into the room.
Having gathered back most of her sanity she enters the employee’s room.
"Excuse me" she pokes her head in, keeping her voice hush since she was told there was someone sleeping inside.
And soon enough she saw her.
The room wasn’t too big. It was enough for a small two bodies couch, a coffee table set in front of it, with a tv hanging on the wall. On the corner furthest from her, to the right, there was a small kitchen-like area. Equipped with an electric kettle, two washed cups near the small sink, a shelf on top, and two tall chairs snuck under the kitchen counter. Beside it was a mini-fridge. There were no windows in sight. A foot lamp sat next to the sofa, emitting an orange-yellow light, and on the other side a white board with monthly planning and some number crunching half way done.
But right now, Bae’s attention was elsewhere, as she entered the room, closing it behind her with her body pressed to the door.
And it’s just the fact that, there was a beauty sleeping right in front of her, she didn’t wish to disturb the spell that kept her so perfectly frozen in time, like a framed picture. Deep blue hair messily falling on the sofa, barely reaching her shoulders. The small green dyed bit of her side bang does not go unnoticed, a small nod to who she belonged to, braided into the short ponytail that was being undone due to her sleeping movements.
Dressed in black jeans, and a simple white button up shirt with a thin baby blue ribbon tied at the collar, covered by a brown apron displaying a few stains. A small snake-like creature on a cup was printed on the apron. In truth the sofa was too small for her to lay on without her legs awkwardly spilling near the lamp. If anything, Bae wonders how she can sleep so pleasantly in that position, or at least look like she is.
Tainted lightly by the orange hue spreading from her legs to gently touch her face, breathing soft and calm, chest rhythmically lifting with every intake, giving her an ethereal look, truly like an encounter with the supernatural.
Two beauties in one day.
She was too stressed to process it, but Fauna was equal in terms of charm. Just a different flavor, mellow and tender. Two tones of green cascading past her shoulders to rest at the beginning of her chest. Golden eyes radiating a warm that could calm the strongest of tempests, armed with a voice that could temper the rowdiest of hells.
Only when both her legs and stomach complain does she notice she had been staring at this stranger for longer than she intended, lost in thought.
Stomach screaming at her for the lack of a proper meal she figures checking the fridge wouldn’t hurt, she was encouraged to do so in the first place. Tip toeing her way to the kitchenette, so as to not disturb the spell casted on the unnamed beauty, Bae sets some water to boil as quietly as possible, and begins rummaging the shelves.
'I feel like a thief ' she lets out a breathless giggle at the thought.
The soft demeanor from Fauna's care kept her heart thumping a bit harder than usual.
' She’s taken Bae, by a hot as fuck girlfriend, ' she finds some instant coffee, surprisingly a high quality one ' I don’t think either would be interested in having me as a pet '
Coffee prepared.
Fridge assault is next. Opening the door makes the appliance hum louder.
"Fauna...?" Bae freezes, she hadn’t thought of anything to say in case she woke up. ‘I’m not a thief’ is the only thing that comes to mind.
Shifting and a sigh come from the couch. She turns her head slowly, her face ever the reprimanded child.
The unnamed beauty is sleep talking. Mumbling some unintelligible things, burying her head deeper in the pillow.
Relief.
Back to the fridge assault then!
A milk carton, a soy milk carton, some tasty looking pastries... aha! A prepackaged sandwich! Ham and cheese, classic. Simple and filling enough. Her stomach complains as if ordering out loud what it wants.
Setting to eat on the kitchenette counter, relaxed now after noticing how heavy of a sleeper the other woman in the room was. Her mind is allowed a small respite of the stressful day she had to endure. By the time she is finishing her coffee and preparing a second one, she hears the door opening.
“Hey there, honey, seems like you’re feeling better” Fauna greets her on her way in, Bae manages to smile back, tiredness must be showing in her by the look she gets in response.
Fauna walks directly to the sleeping beauty, daring what Bae could never.
“Kronii,” she drawls, sweet and melodic “Kronii, come on, you can keep sleeping after we have dinner if you like” lightly shaking the now stirring from dreamland beauty.
“Mmm, ‘m awake” coarse sounding, she smacks her lips a few times, gives a big yawn and stretches over the couch “I’m awake” she states in a strained voice mid-stretch.
‘ Cat ’
“Baby, we have company”
Kronii makes an inquisitive hum and turns towards Bae, who manages to weakly wave at her.
"Oh," she sits up "what’s up?"
“She came into the store looking all distraught, so I let her in"
Kronii looked at Fauna like she shouldn’t let strangers in so easily, but disregarded her initial thoughts after giving a proper look at Bae
"Why, what happened?"
"I was hoping to get the full story from Bae"
"Uhm wazzup! I’m Baelz"
"Kronii, I run the coffee shop next to Fauna's"
"Oh, that's actually cool. I work at a Starbucks" Bae tries to open the conversation shyly, Fauna takes a seat next to Kronii on the sofa flashing a reassuring smile her way. Kronii’s attention is on her already.
"I...T-today when I finished my shift..." Bae takes a deep breath, holding onto the warm cup with both hands, staring at the water vapor visibly leaving it.
"So, this… has been going on for some time, right? That guy would come into the store, buy something and set his laptop on a spot where he could watch how we- how I worked. And I could feel him staring. He isn’t doing jack shit on that pc, he just- every day, for more than a month , orders the same things, sits at the same spot and stares at me! And when I reached to the others, they just told me that I’m exaggerating, that it’s not a concern, that it’s my imagination, but today he followed me after I left, that had never happened and he just wouldn’t leave me alone, and I was being chased for hours, and-"
"Hey, hey! Look at me," Kronii's voice stops her "Bae, hey, look at me" her chest hurts from how heavily she’s breathing, her vision blanks for a whole second, heartbeat drumming in her ears so hard she could hear a ringing sound. Enduring the stalker staring at her every day had been taxing enough, today had been more than nerve wracking, and finally explaining the whole situation to anyone was taking her anxiety into the stratosphere. Didn’t even realize when she started crying and half shouting, speaking so fast it was all probably barely understandable for the two ladies that had been patient enough with her already.
"’Ey, hey, look at me, that’s it, not necessarily my eyes, but focus on me, may I?" Kronii is calmly, in an even but firm tone, speaking to her, gesturing for the mug. Gently taking it away from Bae’s hands. The contents had been spilled over the floor, but that wasn’t a pressing matter to neither Kronii nor Fauna "Focus on the present, on your breathing Bae, there you go"
"Breathe in, slowly. Now out, slooow, there we go. Good job, again in, hold it there a sec’.” Kronii had both her hands lightly grasped on baes and was gently squeezing counting the seconds "Out, slowly, great job, keep going, we gotcha, focus on breathing"
In the corner of her eye, she can see Fauna cleaning up the spilled coffee and instantly going back to her side to start wiping her tears with a pocket handkerchief. Kronii is still kneeling before her, encouraging her to breathe properly.
If she was only crying before now, she’s bawling her eyes out, the kindness these two strangers are showing her are more than what she’s used to, more than what her heart can take.
“Thank you” her voice sounds so small, broken “I’m better now, thank you” she manages out between a few sniffles.
Kronii takes a big sigh of relief. Fauna cups her cheeks gently guiding Bae’s sight to her. She seems to be looking for any signs of discomfort in her, Bae doesn’t know what to feel anymore. She’s both physically and emotionally exhausted, mind running in circles thinking about what to do with her life anymore, she is threatened but has no proof of it other than today, would that be enough to follow up with police investigation? Is it even worth it to get told that she’s just exaggerating? How can she ever repay the kindness these two have shown her already? She is so very tired, giving up looks so tempting.
Before she can say anything about getting an uber, as soon as she opens her mouth, Fauna interrupts her.
"Wanna have dinner with us, honey?"
"Oh, yeah, we're ordering anyways, so it’s no biggie" Kronii adds.
"Weren’t you making dinner?"
"I’m in charge of dinner. We are ordering out."
"Aw, but I like spaghetti night!"
"Fauna, I’m so sick of spaghetti night, we are ordering."
Fauna pouts at Kronii in vain, she was already leaving the room. Instead, she gets up and offers a hand to Bae. Things were already decided for her, and they wouldn’t take a no for an answer by the looks of it. Not that Bae had any energy to fight back in the first place. And food did sound nice.
Fauna’s hand is soft. A bit colder than hers but softer, holding her with care again, that same feeling as before when she was hugging her, like she’s handling a precious souvenir.
“What are we ordering?” Fauna asks in Kronii’s direction while gently guiding Bae out of the room.
Not even touching the door’s threshold, her arm was pulled taught, stopping her in her tracks. Bae had frozen there, not taking another step forward, squeezing her hand tightly.
“We’re going out?” terror written in her eyes, looking somewhere deep in the distance beyond the door.
With a warm smile Fauna turns to face her way, never letting go of her hand, gently, relaxed, impeding any more anxiety from stirring further onto the smaller woman.
“Don’t worry, you’re safe with us,” she whispers to her, soft, like lulling a small cornered animal, “nothing bad will happen, we’re just going to the next store and then home,” rubbing her thumb softly over her knuckles “I’ll keep you safe, promise” Fauna brings their intertwined hands close to her face.
Shifting their hands gently she holds the palm of Bae’s hand and places a soft kiss on the back of her hand.
She has the gall to giggle at her baffled face afterwards too, Bae’s blushing face going redder and redder with every single beat of her quickening heart.
“C’mon girls!” Kronii’s voice can be heard from the room over.
“You didn’t answer me, what are we ordering?”
Bae feels floaty. She’s being herded by a goddess. A mischievous one.
When she entered the corridor last, she didn’t notice but there was another door. This one connected both shops. The scent of freshly roasted coffee appeased her addiction.
"Woah, it smells good!" Bae said
"Yeah, this is what good roast smells like!” Kronii keened “Not like that burnt, moldy, overpriced low quality stuff they sell in Starbucks"
"Kronii!" Fauna chides her.
"Hey, I bust my butt out here roasting coffee to perfection!"
Fauna scoffs in response, eye roll and all, “Up these stairs, baby, we live upstairs from here”
A glimpse from the coffee shop is all she gets, tables lined up with chairs on top. Up the stairs is an open second floor, half the size of the store below. To the left are sacks of green coffee beans, a working table, shelves with measuring instruments, and a big coffee roasting machine connected to a laptop set on a desk by the corner. This was by far the messier bit of the whole two buildings, likely the busiest of both too.
Immediately to the right a doormat was set on the floor in front of a sturdier looking door. Kronii was already unlocking it and entering.
It’s an open concept apartment, with a half second floor where the bedroom is. It spans the length of the flower shop, including the employee room in the back. A bookshelf is being used as a divider for the living room. As soon as you enter there’s a small round dining table for four, a working desk to the right stuck to the wall that connects with the coffee shop. A walk-in closet can be seen further from the entrance, under the stairs that lead to the bedroom. Next to it is the bathroom. Those two being the only real divisions on the whole floor.
“Let’s just get some pizza, that way we won’t have issues with any of us being picky”
Past the large bookshelf was an L-shaped sofa, a wooden triangular soft edged coffee table between it and the tv, which was set atop a stand filled with consoles and games. Two windows faced the street, leading to a balcony that was accessible from the kitchen, which was on the right corner of the apartment, in front of the living room.
All in all, it was cozy, smelt amazing, perfumed by both roasted coffee and the delicate soft scent from the flower shop, and had an amazing sound isolation when compared to the other areas of the building.
Fauna was still holding her hand. They sat at the sofa to order from Kronii’s phone. Bae felt a bit shy but did input a bit to get what she wanted, though she had to fight a bit to get the couple to let her pay her part.
"Do you live with anyone?" Fauna asks her while they eat on the sofa, they put some random show on tv as background noise.
“I live alone, in a studio apartment” Bae answers between bites, the food was more than welcome to the hungry barista, another source of comfort.
“You can stay the night if you like, do you have anything against it, Kronii?”
“Mm?” the taller woman was the only one focusing on what was on the TV “No”
“There, you can sleep here on the sofa, it’s very comfy!”
“I can vouch for that” Kronii nods, laying further back on the cushions.
“Can you believe her?” Fauna turns to face only Bae, and the smallest one can see the mischief brewing in the shine on golden eyes, “She wanted me to get out of work earlier today but fell asleep so hard that I just kept working”
“I-I’m tired, ok?!!”
“See,” Bae can see the pleasure a small tease like this brought to Fauna on the smugness of her smirk “she may look unapproachable at first glance but she’s not scary, all bark and no bite,” talking to her like Kronii wasn’t there in the first place “she’s marshmallow fluff, adorable really”
“Oh my god , Fauna, stop!” Kronii’s embarrassment was audible “But seriously Bae, if you wanna stay it’s ok,” she tries to save herself by changing the topic back on track “but I also understand if it’s weird, we are two strangers that could be kidnaping you or something”
“…I wouldn’t mind being kidnaped by two beauties. Ah-” her head was just not working right anymore, why the hell would she even say that out loud, why even think it in the first place!
“Oh, baby, such a charmer” she could see the way Fauna would tease her about it for years to come, if they ever decided to hang out after this.
“Oh, I know I’m perfect” fanged smile directed her way from over Fauna’s shining eyes.
Embarrassment was not the correct word here. No, with the way her heart decided to pump blood all the way to her face and her brain rewarding her with fluttering emotions, she was sure she was falling for them. Not sure anymore if they were deliberately doing so, or if they were just naturally alluring enough to make anyone fall for them so easily.
The rest of their evening was uneventful, excepting the few extra reassurance words from Fauna that nothing nor no one would harm her, which was more than she could have asked for. Sleeping at someone else’s place, where she was not alone, prevented the fermenting thoughts about the stalker. For now, she could ignore that, relishing in the comfort of good company.
Tiredness was showing in Fauna’s face by 11 pm. Dozing off a few times in Kronii’s shoulder.
“I’m going to bed” she said after a particularly long yawn.
“I think my nap gave me more energy…” Kronii answered, mindlessly scrolling on her phone.
“This is why I told you to wait with me in the front!” Fauna complained, puffing out her cheeks making her look adorable.
“I’ll just play a bit till I get tired, Bae, do you wanna play?”
“Whatcha got?” now that was something that interested the small barista very much, it’s been some time since she last played anything with anyone.
“Good night you dorks” Fauna drawled leaving for the bedroom
“Hey!” Kronii barked back, all she got in response was some giggles.
“Sweet dreams, Faunya!” was that too overly friendly? The kiss blown her way said otherwise. Truly they had something about them that made her feel safe enough to start being more herself than she would with any other stranger. This time her smile was genuine instead of a polite one. Slowly lowering her walls for two of the kindest humans she’d ever met.
The obnoxiously loud sound of her morning alarm greets her.
7 am
She blindly pats above her head searching for the source to instantly turn it off like she’s used to. After blinking the fogginess in her sight away her brain helps her catch up.
‘ Oh right ’ the sun was lazily shining its light inside the apartment from the small gap created by the curtains ‘ I’m not home… and I don’t have work today ’ she had simply forgotten to turn off the alarm the day before.
“Do you have to leave now” the sleepiness in Kronii’s voice was more than evident, speaking in a slower manner, croakier tone.
“Nah, just forgot to turn this stupid thing off, sorry, bro”
“Don’t worry about it, bro” Kronii half mumbled, snuggling back into their cuddling.
…
Wait.
Oh, the alarm had not woken her up, but the way they were sleeping was frying her brain enough to keep her awake. Scrambling to remember what happened exactly that earned her a place on the throne that was being Kronii’s hugging pillow.
What remained of her body that was cold from morning temperatures quickly heated up. Warm breath above her head, arms searching for comfier positions and long legs locking her in place.
Right, they played for hours, Kronii beat her in almost every game, but they were having so much fun she let all the slander slide off. At about 3 am some blankets were pulled from the walk-in closet, they nested in the sofa, gaming and talking about trifling matters. They must have fallen asleep like that, sharing blankets, naturally falling into that position in search of extra warmth.
Gasping in surprise didn’t help either. All she got was an extra dose of coffee fragrance mixed with whatever shampoo Kronii used on the regular. Kronii had one of her hands nonchalantly placed on the small of her back, hugging her closer as she started drifting back into sleep. Breathing in a slow and rhythmic pattern, just like when she first encountered her. And this time Bae knew it was a difficult task to wake her up.
Not that she wanted to. It was a bit more intimate than what she was used to, or more like she had never been embraced that way during sleep. After a few hesitant hand placements, she resigned to her current hug bear duty, opting to place her hands closer to Kronii’s stomach.
Sleep took her back easily, tiredness making itself present once more, demanding her rest, warm and safe on another’s embrace.
Something is sizzling.
Sounds of cluttering plates to be set on wooden surfaces.
A low sound rising from the body stuck to hers like glue, stirring both of them from sleep as Kronii stretches like a cat.
“That smells goooood” Kronii mutters slowly, shifting over to look over in the kitchen’s direction, still half tangled with Bae. A sweet scent from herbal tea along with the distinctive smell of freshly cooked pancakes was starting to reach the two sleeping on the sofa.
“Good morning, sweetheart!” Fauna comes over to kiss Kronii soft and swiftly on the lips “Morning, Baeby” and rewards Bae with a peck on the forehead that leaves her awestruck, imbibing in her brain the echoing giggles from the florist as she leaves them for the kitchen.
“I need to make a few more pancakes and we can get to eating, why don’t you two go wash up meanwhile?”
“Ok, mom” Kronii snorted back, getting up from the pile of covers, giving her hand out to help Bae on her feet, both of them unstable on their feet from sleepiness.
Fauna sticks her tongue out to Kronii in response. Bae weakly giggles.
Breakfast is nice.
Getting a meal cooked for her feels nice.
Talking about nothing and all at the same time feels really nice.
It’s temporary. But it’s nice.
It’s not a solution. But it’s nice.
For now, she can forget, till work resumes and she has to go back to her life and they to theirs, for now it’s nice, and she forgets.
There’ll be plenty of time to panic alone back at home.
Then why does she feel empty now.
Fauna must have been able to read the thoughts written on her expression. So far, she has done so effortlessly. Sipping on a second cup of tea she nudges Kronii, who was drowning the pancakes in an unhealthy amount of maple syrup.
One knowing look. One look her way. Kronii takes a whole 20 seconds to process what her girlfriend wants her to do.
“Does your shift start again tomorrow, dear?” Fauna asks Bae when Kronii doesn’t know how to start.
“Y-yeah…” she doesn’t want to think about it right now.
Kronii clears her throat.
“You know,” she’s blushing a bit for some reason “we recently expanded the café so an extra pair of hands would come in... handy" she tries her best to be serious about it, Fauna elbows her for the joke.
A minute passes.
“For real?!”
“Yeah, bro, we vibed good last night, didn’t we?” Kronii replies with a smile, then immediately self-doubts “didn’t we?”
“Bro, we so tight bro”
“Yeah, bro”
“Is this going to be a recurring type of conversation that I’m going to be subjected to?” Fauna interjects, faking a ‘ tired from this bullshit ’ face, but her eyes betray her, shining with happiness.
“What, you don’t like it?” Kronii obnoxiously places her elbow on Fauna’s shoulder, to talk to her face, holding in her laughter.
“She jelly we don’t call her bro, bro” Bae is quick to get into pestering mood.
“Bro, you so right, bro”
“Ok, that’s enough” Fauna leaves them to their shenanigans.
"So where do you live?" Kronii got her jeep keys and was leading them through the backdoor of the coffee shop. They had figured out all the details, Kronii needed help in the afternoons, so Bae would have to work only half of the day, pay was slightly higher than what she had at her current job. There was the added extra of helping out in some other things like making the spent coffee grounds compostable for Fauna’s shop to sell. But nothing too complicated.
"Falak street 1111"
"...that’s like at the other end of the city, what the fuck?" Kronii’s tone of disbelief showed in her face "Wait how much did you walk yesterday?!”
"Uhh" Bae shrugs it off, avoiding eye contact.
In truth she isn’t quite sure. The only thought in her mind at the time was to try to get away from the menace stalking her. She wasn’t thinking of how long it’d take. Or if she would be successful or not. Or if she’d have to walk the whole night… she doesn’t want to think about the outcome if she had walked long enough for it to get dark…
When they arrive Kronii accompanies her up to her apartment door. More for Bae’s peace of mind than hers. She didn’t say it out loud but it was just Kronii being considerate.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then?” Kronii asks, a bit fidgety at the door “After lunch is ok, I usually open at 2 pm but if you arrive a bit late it’s whatever” she shrugs, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
“Yeah, I’ll be there, 2 pm, boss” Bae teases, straightening up and doing a salute with her hand.
“Hey, don’t call me that,” Kronii cringed a bit as she laughed softly “just Kronii is ok, aren’t we bros?” she lifts her fist.
They fist bump.
It’s lame.
Their eyes meet, laugh no longer contained, they bend over from how ridiculously awkward the exchange was.
“Anyways, you’ve got my number, if anything happens, and I mean anything , don’t hesitate to call me” Kronii speaks with a smile, ruffling Bae’s hair “We got your back”
“Thanks,” Bae stares at the ground, she really is thankful about it all “really, I can’t thank you both enough”
“Don’t worry about it” Kronii says with a hand gesture.
She lingers an extra 15 seconds, hand still hovering over Bae’s head. Taking a deep breath, she speaks one last time before leaving “Welp, see ya tomorrow, buddy” tucking a bit of rowdy red hair behind her ear she lightly caresses her cheek, gives her a warm smile, and before her blush can show flees the scene.
Bae finds herself dumbfounded at her own doorstep.
‘ Oh, they’re gonna be the death of me ’