accidentally yours | claude de alger obelia

mercy he couldn't explain

after the punch heard 'round suncrest, evie decided it was her personal duty to make everything worse.

because really - how could she not?

mira was burning red, kael looked like he was calculating how fast he could escape, and tofu was munching on a random leaf like it was the most fascinating drama he'd ever seen.

"so," evie drawled, leaning casually against the porch post. "how does it feel, mira, having your childhood sweetheart show up in full armor just for you?"

"evie," mira hissed, flailing at her with both hands, "i swear to the gods, if you don't shut the fuck up-"

"aww, you're gonna hit me? just like you hit kael?" evie grinned, dodging effortlessly. "so violent. poor guy's been training to fight monsters and it was you who almost killed him."

kael didn't even blink. he just dusted off his sleeve where mira had punched him and muttered, "i've faced worse."

mira made an offended sound, like a kettle about to explode.

evie lost it. she laughed so hard she had to sit down on the porch step, holding her ribs.

"you two," she wheezed, "are so tragic. it's like watching two chickens try to court each other by slamming into a fence."

"you're the chicken," mira shot back immediately, cheeks still crimson.

"wrong," evie said proudly. "i'm a cool chicken. a chicken with style. you're the one over here clucking and throwing punches at your crush."

kael cleared his throat quietly. "i can hear everything."

"good," evie said. "maybe it'll finally sink in that someone missed you so much she nearly burned down half the bakery waiting for you."

"evie!" mira screeched.

"what? i'm just saying facts."

tofu squeaked in agreement, curling up beside evie's boot like a smug little traitor.

kael looked at mira then, a tiny smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. it was so small that if evie hadn't known him forever, she would've missed it.

"you burned down a bakery?" he asked, voice way too calm.

"i did not," mira sputtered. "i almost burned a loaf of bread, that's completely different!"

"same thing," evie said with a shrug. "fire's fire."

mira was five seconds away from actually combusting when kael, kael of all people, took pity on her.

he stepped forward, offering her a stiff, knightly bow like they were still little kids playing make-believe.

"it's good to see you again, mira," he said, and even though his voice was serious, his eyes were warm.

mira stopped short, staring at him like he'd grown a second head.

evie watched, delighted, as her best friend completely forgot how to breathe.

"i-it's good to see you too, dumbass," mira blurted, shoving his shoulder lightly.

it was so awkward. it was so adorable. evie felt like her soul left her body and was doing jazz hands in the sky.

"gods, you two are painful," she muttered.

kael smirked at her, a rare expression that made evie do a double take.

"you're one to talk," he said dryly.

"excuse you," evie said, dramatically pressing a hand to her chest. "i am grace incarnate. i bring people together. i am cupid with fists."