OnEsHoTs OwO •On Hold, Requests Closed.•

•~• "Bells And The Highwayman." (Shells/Badow)

Fandom: One Hundred Baby Daycare.
AU: PastTime!AU. (Basically takes place in the 1800-1900's)
Notes: Mostly fluffy(?), But ends with angst. Shadow X Bells and Bri X Austin (with a mention of Mitch X Xylo[based on their OoO versions]-). I did this for my AdvELA class, so yeah just t a k e I t -
Also I tried my best proof-reading it but I got lazy and I no longer want to see this hh-
TW: Death.
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                             (Bells POV)
    Bells woke to a gentle nudging at her side. It was like a little kitten pawing at her side, grasping for her attention. Bells sighed, casting a look over her shoulder at her mother. Her mother's hair reflected the morning sun, making her ice-blue eyes stick out with their beauty. Even Bells knew how lucky her father was to have a woman like the unforgettable Brianna Heartstrings, who had been dubbed Brianna Moonfire after her marriage to the landlord, Bells's father, Austin Moonfire.
    "Morning, Bells!" Her mother chirped happily, tapping the twin-belled necklace her brother, Brady, had given to her as a gift before going out to war. It had given her a nickname within the family: Bells. "G'morning, Mum." Bells greeted her in return, swinging her legs over the side of her bed, dusting off her nightgown as she stood at her bedside. "Your father wants to speak to you." Her redhead mother informed her, her blue eyes meeting Bells's blackish-blue ones. "Alright, Mum." Bells smiled, beginning to head downstairs. Her mother followed close behind Bells.
    They diverted as they passed the kitchen, Bells's mother heading inside of the cooking area while Bells continued on to her fathers' study. As the auburn-haired girl(Yes ik Her hair is pink but I'm trying to make her hair natural-colored. Same with Bri's) stepped inside his study, she noticed he had several cups of coffee and a newspaper on his table. The black-haired and dark-blue-eyed man that was her father looked up from the book he was reading, his eyes brightening as they saw her. "Bells!" He grinned. Bells smiled, "G'morning, Dad. What did you need from me?"
    Her father's face grew serious. "Yes, you see, dear, we've begun to run out of food and ale. Could you head out and grab some? I'll supply you with the money you need." His eyes seemed as if he was near begging, which unnerved  Bells. "Alright," She huffed, "Just ale and food?" She asked, hoping that was all they needed. The landlord nodded, satisfaction clear in his eyes. She inwardly groaned. What mess was awaiting her at the shop today, hm?
~{Time Skip Brought To You By Me Being Proud Of This Story.}~
    Bells had been checking the grocery bags with food when she had heard it. Someone was telling a story and they already seemed to be angry. She listened in, continuing what she had been doing.
    "He had rammed into the side of our stage-coat, making our horses lose their minds!" A man who bore an eyepatch and bright, violet eyes snarled, anger evident in his eye as he groomed his beard. The man beside him, who had black hair and black eyes, raised an eyebrow as if to ask what happened next. The violet-eyed man continued, "He robbed the stage-coat of whatever he could get his filthy fingers on and fled. We never even saw what he looked like." The male with the beard sighed, letting his head dangle. The black-haired man chuckled, "At least he didn't rob you, Xylo."
    The man with violet eyes, Xylo, sighed yet again, but softer. "I suppose you're right, Mario. Mitch would've killed me if I lost a single cent of money." Xylo chuckled.
    Bells pushed the conversation out of her mind, grumbling quietly, "The Highwayman..." Bells had heard of this man before. Not too long ago, the same man had robbed her father and mother. She sighed and picked up her bags, heading home. She subconsciously decided to take the shortcut home, since it was growing dark.
    When the moon had risen above Bells Moonfire entirely, and she was stood on a bridge, she realized she didn't recognize the path she was following. She let out a loud groan, "I'm lost. Wonderful." She looked around, growing frantic as she heard the sound of something like hooves against stone. Click-clop, clop-click. She swung around to see a man in a black cloak, his dark brown hair partially visible from underneath it. The man's shiny, black eyes stuck out to her, making her shiver.
    "Who are you?" Bells growled, glaring at the stranger. He smiled. "The name is Shadow. Shadow Agewalker," The stranger, now dubbed Shadow, trailed off, eyeing her, "You seem lost. Could I, potentially, help you?" He questioned. Bells stiffened. "I could just ask to stay the night with somebody else, and then I can leave by morning and I'll be fine," Bells stated, trying to avoid him. He seemed familiar, but she couldn't put her hand on it. A sense of Deja Vu overcame her. It seemed as if she knew him in a different life. (If only you knew)
    Shadow chuckled, "Wouldn't it be better if you got home now?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. Bells rolled her eyes, "Same as what I just said, I can travel home in the morning."
    He narrowed his eyes, "Ah, yes, but not everybody is to be trusted. What if the person you stayed with kidnapped you and held you for ransom?"
    Bells hadn't thought of that. "Your father; he's a landlord, is he not?" Shadow inquired, raising an eyebrow. Bells sighed. "Yes. But how do I know I can trust you?" She spat, making it seem harsher than she originally intended. Shadow flinch. "I'd never harm a fair maiden. I merely take, and you have nothing of value to steal. Not only that, but I've seen your family struggling recently." Shadow tipped his head to the side. Bells was confused, struggling? I don't recall this. "What? I'm not sure I follow."
    Shadow scoffed, "You do know the tavern your father runs is going out of business, right? It was crazy, once one person quit, a whole load of them quit, and then-"
    Bells raised a hand to tell him to be quiet. He stared at her. "Fine. You can take me home. I need to speak with Father about this anyways." She spoke, her voice calm and smooth compared to her emotions. "Alright. Climb on." Shadow held out a hand to her, his horse turning so that its side was facing her. Bells had never ridden a horse before. She shuddered.
    Tentatively, she took his hand and he hoisted her up behind him. She let out a yelp. Shadow laughed, "Relax! It's just a horse, not a bear!" She grunted, rolling her eyes in annoyance, "Well, I knew that."
    Shadow tugged on the horses' reins, turning it as they head off. The two would say they traveled in silence to anybody who'd ask, but the night was filled with laughter and chatter as they traveled to Bells's home. And Bells, who'd never admit this to a soul, had grown fond of the bandit. Some would say too fond.
    As they reached her home, Shadow's horse slowed to a stop. "There we go, Helios," (Yes I did that fight me)Shadow spoke to his horse as he pat its head. "We're here." Shadow nudged Bells, who had fallen asleep around the last minutes of their travel. Bells awoke slowly, her eyes widening as she saw her house. "Oh!" She gasped, sliding off the horse with a stumble. Shadow chuckled. "Don't lose your head, now. I didn't ride you here for you to get yourself killed!" He joked, winking at her. She grinned back at him. "Well, then I guess you'll have to check on me next week." She fixed her hair as she talked. Shadow raised an eyebrow.
    "Do you want me to come back next week?" He asked, wanting to hear her admit it. He knew the answer already.
    Bells dusted her dress off and huffed, mumbling something. Shadow grinned and teased her, "What was that? I couldn't hear you."
    Bells growled, "Yes, I want you to come back next week. Don't test my patience, Shadow!" He let out a cackle, "Oh ho ho, I'm sorry, m'lady, but it's just- you look so funny when you're mad!" He laughed. She sighed and smiled softly.
    "Well... I guess this is goodbye for now." She rubbed her arm, making eye contact with the highwayman. "Next time I'll get you back for teasing me!" She smiled playfully and Shadow rolled his eyes, "Whatever you say, m'lady." Shadow tugged the reigns on Helios, turning him and calling over his shoulder, "'Till next week!"
    Bells waved goodbye to him, her eyes bright and shining. She never knew a thief could be so playful and funny. Bells wished she had known before.
The flashback ended as the ringing in her ears grew louder. She cradled her stomach, which had gone numb to the pain, as well as her chest. She whispered a quiet goodbye as her body grew numb all over, her limbs relaxing as she was pulled into death. Death for her felt like a brutal, yet calming embrace. As all went to black, the only image in her head was of Shadow the HIghwayman, fleeing from where she would perish.
    Her death had been in vain.
~Words: 1597.~