Pushover | Aether x Reader

Twenty-One

"Could be." (Y/n) nodded and accepted her hand, getting to her feet.

Aether looked at his sister then back at (Y/n). For some odd reason, he had forgotten that they must've been good friends as they led the class together as president and vice president. He didn't know why he was so caught off guard by their casual talk.

"You looked better with a smile on your face," Lumine said, helping the girl brush stray twigs off her clothes.

"Quite difficult with the situation I'm in, don't you think?"

"Right. I'll need to be updated about that soon." Lumine chuckled before she turned to her brother. "Now, Aether..."

"I'm sorry! I really am!" Aether clasped his hands together and bent into a deep bow. "I'm sorry for being so absentminded in our calls lately. I'm sorry for not telling you anything. I'm sorry for getting hurt. I'm sorry for being so pathetic—"

Lumine sighed, grabbing one of his hands to interrupt him. "I'll have to stop you there," she said. "Did you think I was angry? Is that why you ran away?"

"... You're not?"

"No, I am." Lumine smiled painstakingly. "However, your public image is as damaged as it is, so we'll discuss that later."

"I could always just leave you two be if that's what you're worried about—"

"No, no." Lumine shook her head. "Stay."

"I don't want to speak to my parents, Lumine—"

"I don't like your parents either." Lumine rolled her eyes. "But I came here with someone else..."

As if on cue, a certain brunette threw herself onto the (h/c)-haired patient, completely disregarding the fact that she had quite a lot of wounds which caused them both to end up on the scorching hot ground.

"I hate you so much! You know that right?!" Hu cried out. "I thought you were doing well! Then I suddenly discover that you were attacked and got into a coma. What's going on here?!"

"H-Hu..." (Y/n) spluttered. "I can explain—"

"Explain why Lumine got hear about this before I did!"

"Well, it's because Aether was involved and Aether is her brother—"

"Explain why Albedo was involved! Or Kunikuzushi, or Mona, or all these people that are not me!" Hu grabbed her collar and shook her aggressively. By now, she had pinned her best friend to the ground and under her wrath's mercy. "I thought we were best friends..."

Despite the stinging throughout her entire body, (Y/n) could not help but focus on one feeling that took over her whole mind. Fear. The fear of losing her best friend.

It was true that Hu had always offered her help. She had always been there for her even when she didn't understand all the things that were happening. Yet, somehow, she didn't once consider trusting her enough to tell her things. What a terrible friend she had been.

"We are," (Y/n) said, tears unwillingly welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry." She wanted to explain but a lump had caught itself in her throat. "I'm sorry for being a bad friend..."

Hu stared at her, tears also threatening to fall. The difference was that she didn't have as much strength to hold them back as she started bawling on the spot.

"I was so worried for you, you know! You were gone for days and no one told me anything because it was 'confidential'." She sniffed, wiping her eyes with her sleeves. "In the end, I had to find things out by myself. But by then, it was too late... They told me you were in a coma."

"I'm sorry," (Y/n) said again. "B-but I'm awake now, right? So it's fine—"

"It's not!" Hu glared at her. "Because I feel like I've failed as your friend! I'd do anything for you, you know? I'd beat the crap out of the entire school for you! Heck, I'd even go to the afterlife to retrieve you if you died a stupid death—!"

"Trust me, she'd definitely do that,"  Lumine bent down and whispered in her ear. "She and I are the same breed."

"Lumine..." Aether muttered.

"So you still not gonna trust me now?!" Hu crossed her arms. "Because even if you wanted to stop being friends with me, I won't stop maintaining our friendship until you're stable enough to tell me in my face why we shouldn't be friends—"

"I would never do that..." (Y/n) spluttered, biting her lip. "I'm sorry, Hu. I don't understand myself, either... I don't understand the things I did or why I thought they were a good idea. I'm just..." She choked on her words. "I'm sorry, please forgive me!"

Hu's eyes widened as she held her best friend who had started to cry uncontrollably in her arms. She knew that (Y/n) (L/n) was capable of crying, but she hadn't cried ever since that one night. She just assumed she had everything under control which was what sparked her feeling of helplessness as her best friend. But seeing her cry like a baby...

"There, there, it's okay." She rubbed her back comfortingly. "I forgive you. I always will." She hummed.

"If we had a hundred mora for every time these two said sorry, we could buy a car," Lumine muttered. "But yes, I do approve of apologies in this situation. You two have a whole lot to explain. However, I don't want either of your to blame the issue all on yourselves, got it?"

Aether nodded obediently, still flabbergasted by the interference of both girls.

"(Y/n)?"

(Y/n) sniffed, her sobs gradually turning down a notch as she turned around to give her a nod.

"Good." Lumine nodded. "Now, let's get both of you to your respective rooms so we can talk about this without any nosy people, alright?"

"Okay." "Mhm."

So with that, Hu took it upon herself to carry her disheartened best friend on her back despite the knowledge of the flight of stairs she'd have to climb.

"Just cling to Mommy and you'll be fine, alright?" Hu winked.

Lumine looked at Aether who seemed to have lost the ability to look away from Hu and (Y/n).
"What? You want me to carry you on my back too?"

"N-no! Nope!" Aether shook his head frantically. "... But I can carry you if you want—"

"Absolutely not."