Imagine That: Multifandom Part Two

what fire can't touch【three】| emma bloom

"Probably the only useful thing I can do," I responded. "Appropriate, given how training is going."

She stifled a laugh as she said, "Definitely useful, but not the only thing."

I breathed out tiredly, going to sit on the bench in the corner of the garden. She joined me, sitting beside me and straightening out her dress as she did. She always had these habits, ones nobody really cared for anymore, like remaining presentable at all times or not cursing or acting proper. It was very old-fashioned and I'd noticed it the more I trained with her, though I suppose it was a quality of the time period she lived in.

I was creating small droplets of water and flicking them at the grass as we sat in silence when she decided to break it.

"Can I ask you something?"

I hummed, glancing at her between messing around. "What?"

She straightened up, hesitant. "That day with Miss Peregrine, the day before you started to train with me. What happened?"

I paused, blinking when I realised she didn't know like I thought. It would have been easy to tell her to mind her own business, as I always did, but we were surprisingly getting along lately and I found myself not wanting to keep everything to myself right now. And if not for that, then just for someone to tell me I hadn't overreacted with Miss Peregrine.

"You don't have to tell me," Emma added, when I didn't respond straight away.

I shook my head, glancing at her. "No, it's fine, it's... She took me to the hill where the hollow comes out. Same time every day."

Emma nodded, eyes on me despite the fact that I couldn't hold her gaze.

"She wanted me to use my powers to kill it," I explained, and it felt so stupid, so embarrassing, as I said it aloud. Maybe because it was in front of Emma, who never seemed afraid of anything. "I barely got chance to realise until it was there and I just– I froze. I couldn't do anything except stare." I clenched my jaw at the memory, deflated. "I haven't seen one since my parents were killed by one. I just– I didn't expect it. She should've warned me. I wasn't ready. I thought–" I swallowed hard, shaking my head. "She should've warned me."

Emma rested a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently. "I'm sorry that happened. I'm sure she didn't mean to upset you. Explains why you switched training partners though."

"It's stupid–"

"No, it's not," she stopped me before I could even begin. "You weren't ready, end of story. And that's okay. Miss Peregrine is right most of the time, but even she can get it wrong sometimes."

My eyes flickered between hers, reading the sincerity in them. Hearing her confirm what I'd thought helped a little. With how little control I had over my life recently, sometimes I thought the same of my emotions. I'd felt angry for so long, and this was a prime example. But knowing Emma believed I wasn't overreacting did something to ease my embarrassment.

"Would you try again?" she asked softly, dropping her hand.

I tilted my head. "What?"

She nodded like it was obvious. "Killing the hollow."

I looked down, growing uncomfortable at the thought of it. "Maybe, I don't know. I'm not ready."

She hummed in response, before adding, "I can help. If you want. I can go with you when you do it. Maybe it won't be as scary then."

Her earnestness comforted me more than I realised, and the thought of facing the hollow again didn't seem as far-fetched as it once did.

"Maybe," I replied, and when I looked up at her, she smiled tenderly.