collision → atla, reader insert

chapter five

     She approached the fruit stand where a short, plump woman in red robes stood. There were currently no customers, so the woman looked rather bored. Upon seeing [Y/N], her round face broke out into a grin as bright as the sun's reflection off her golden hairpiece.

     "Good afternoon, dear," she spoke to [Y/N] before she fully reached the stand. She fought back a grimace at the woman's cheerfulness. With a polite tilt of her head, [Y/N] offered a tight-lipped smile. "Is there anything you have in mind?"

     [E/C] eyes scanned the available products. A corner of her mouth dipped down, she wasn't the biggest fan of winter fruits.

     "I'll just take a few pears and tangerines," she said, fetching her sack of coins.

     The woman nodded and the transaction was wordlessly made. When she noticed [Y/N] dropping the fruits into her bag that was nearly filled, she struck up another conversation.

     "Preparing for a trip?"

     [Y/N] eyed her strangely, studying her face for any malice. Instead, she was met with the woman's curiosity, her nearly leaning over the fruits and expectant for an answer.

    Throwing her bag back over her shoulder, [Y/N] responded short.

     "Sure."

     She moved to turn away when the woman spoke again. Normally, she would've kept walking, the conversation was over—at least it was to her. But the woman's words was what made her stay.

     "Be careful of the brewing storm."

     [Y/N] looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun. The bright blue sky stared back at her with not a cloud to be seen.

     She looked at the woman, her other hand tightening around the strap of her bag in annoyance. "Are you trying to curse me or something?"

     "I would never," her round eyes glinted. "The tea leaves are never wrong."

     "Tea leaves," [Y/N]'s voice was flat. "Tea leaves can't predict the future," she said distastefully then decided to go ahead and bring this conservation to an end. "Thanks for the fruit."

     This time when [Y/N] turned to leave, she heard the woman say something after her but didn't stay to find out what it was, figuring it was more nonsense. Good thing she won't have to deal with odd interactions like that anymore.

     Time moved faster for the second half of the day. When [Y/N] returned back to the inn, she refused Reo's mother's invitation for dinner again and scarfed down the take out she'd gotten earlier. Another hour of staring at the map was enough for her to gain a little more confidence in where she was going. Only a little. 

     When the waning moon sat in the middle of the dark sky, she blew out the single candle lighting the room and draped her cloak over herself. She made sure to leave the room exactly how it was when she arrived before sliding the door closed.

     The lobby was spooky in the middle of the night. Moonlight peaked through the closed blinds casting shadows on the floors and walls. [Y/N] pulled the handful of coins from her pocket and placed them into a neat pile on the counter—a little more than what she was supposed to be paying.

    She wasn't sure if Reo's mother would be upset with her or not for paying despite her graciously letting her stay for free, but there was no way she was going to take advantage of that.

     Keeping in mind the creaky floorboards, she maneuvered herself to the exit and slid out—opening the door just enough so she could leave and so it wouldn't sound off the bell. It closed with a faint click and [Y/N] finally felt like she could breathe.