Firey was alive, he was breathing, he could feel his muscles working and he could hold things around him.
He was alive, flesh and bone.
But it didn't feel like it.
Two weeks had passed since he killed Loser and it was always in his thoughts.
It felt like he was sleepwalking through his day, he was interacting with people and he tried to do things normally but it just felt like he wasn't there.
He spaced out quite a bit, he wasn't even thinking deeply or reflecting, he just mentally wasn't there, always with a far-away look in his eyes.
Leafy, being the person she is, noticed this.
At first she thought he might just be a bit down, trying to get used to life and such but after a while she thought it was lasting a bit too long.
He wasn't really eating as much, he kind of just picked at his food, taking slow, sporadic bites.
He seemed... dull, he didn't smile as much and when he did it seemed void of real emotion.
She noticed that the only time he seemed to smile properly was at her or Grove.
She did think it was sweet that her kisses and Grove's silly games could make him happy but she wanted him to be alright, she didn't like seeing him staring at nothing.
Firey needed something to do, she was at work and couldn't keep him company, being alone wouldn't be healthy for him with his current state.
He denies that anything is wrong but she knows.
She asked him about it a few days after it started, he told her he just felt a bit sick and she believed him.
Then she asked him again and he said he felt fine and that she shouldn't worry about it.
That was the response she usually gets from him but she knows it isn't true.
When she's with him, she makes sure to let him know that things are okay, she'll hold his hand, lean against him when they sit together and snuggle against him when they're in bed, kissing him when he goes to sleep and once more when he wakes up.
But she has no idea what he's like when he's alone, if all he does is sit there or mindlessly clean or make dinner, it's not good for him.
He needs to take his mind off things and she thought of a way to do it.
"Hey Firey, can you do me a little favour?" she asked one morning.
"Sure, what is it?" he replied.
"Can you pick Grove up from school? His usual minder is sick," she explained.
"Of course, I'd be happy to," he said.
And so for the next week, Firey would wait outside the school gates for Grove to come out of school.
Grove would always run to Firey and hug him, Firey returned the gesture but always wondered why Grove was such an affectionate child, it was probably because of Leafy, she was always giving him hugs or just holding him close whenever she could.
Firey usually took Grove through a park and would let him play in a small playground for a few minutes before taking him home.
Grove was always so energetic and happy, he babbled on about random things and always marvelled at bugs and animals he saw.
Firey would watch him play in the playground, not just to keep an eye on him but because he just liked seeing genuine happiness and emotions that were actually real and weren't faked.
Grove often asked him to play with him, his favourite game was to pretend that Firey was a monster and he had to fight him and the climbing frame was his "base".
Firey stopped counting the amount of times he flinched to catch Grove whenever he got too high or too close to an edge.
Firey would usually carry Grove in his shoulders because the green haired child would always demand it and Firey couldn't say no to him, he had Leafy's charm.
He was just like her in so many ways, they had the same smile, they both had gorgeous eyes that seemed to glimmer, they both stuck their tongue out when they concentrate.
They both meant the absolute world to him.
Everything he did from now on, he did for them, the money from his job would be enough for them to have good lives.
Leafy could do just fine without him, she took care of Grove, worked hard and maintained a high position in her job, she got everything she has through her own efforts.
Firey would never stop admiring her for that.
When he watched her rest and hold Grove close to her, he wondered what she was thinking.
Was she content?
Could Firey help her live a life where she wouldn't have to work so hard, where they could both carry the burden of existence?
He wanted to be by her side, he wanted to look after her, to keep her safe and really be a family.
He wanted to feel alive.
With her.
With Grove.
With a family of their own.
...
Leafy ran her fingers through Grove's hair and cupped his face with her hands.
"Oh, you're getting so big, where's my baby gone?" she laughed softly.
"Here, Mama!" he giggled as he sat on her lap.
"You're right, you're right there, you'll always be my baby, no matter how big you get," she smiled lovingly at him.
Grove smiled at her as he nuzzled into her when she held him in a gentle hug.
She rubbed her cheek against his soft, fluffy hair, appreciating the feeling of holding him in her arms.
She looked up at Firey who stood at the kitchen counter, resting his head in his hands, still with that lost look in his eyes.
"Firey?" she called.
...
"Firey?" she called again, louder this time.
He raised his head as he realised his name was being sad and looked at Leafy, she motioned for him to come over, to which he complied.
She patted the space beside her for him to sit down, he did so, waiting for her to say something.
She didn't, she leaned against him, shifting a bit until she was comfortable and finally sank into his warmth, resting her head on his shoulder.
Grove, noticing that Firey was now with them, pulled away from Leafy a bit so he was able to snuggle against both of them.
Firey put an arm around Leafy, holding her closer and the other one held Grove's hand.
Grove yanwed as he gazed up at Firey sleepily, trying his best to say awake.
"You can rest, Grove," Leafy whispered.
"But...wanna stay with you," he yawned.
"We're here, don't worry," Firey reassured.
Firey felt a fuzzy feeling in his chest when he felt Grove hold his hand tighter and pull it closer to himself.
Leafy glanced up at Firey with a tired smile on her face and love in her eyes.
Firey looked at her and Leafy saw that there was finally light in his eyes, they were no longer empty and lonely.
They held love, light and warmth, all the things she wanted most from Firey.
No, she didn't want those things.
She needed them.
She didn't ask for things from people, she didn't expect things from anyone, she just wasn't that kind of person.
But with Firey, it was different.
She needed Firey to have light in his life, she needed him to be her source of warmth, she needed his love.
It kept her together knowing that he could look at her with those feelings, it helped her to live.
She hoped he saw the same things when he looked at her.
She needed him to know how much she loves him.
She suddenly kissed him, gently but lovingly, yearning for that warmth.
Firey was caught off guard but he returned the kiss with just as much love as she did.
He didn't deserve this, he didn't deserve her.
He pulled back from the kiss to properly see her, the love in her eyes hurt him.
After everything he had done, leaving her and hurting her, she still loved him, she still kissed him.
He didn't deserve it.
He was about to stand up, to take himself away from the happiness he felt when he felt her hand on his cheek.
"I know you aren't okay Firey, I know you're going through something but I'm here for you, even if I don't know what it is," she said.
"I love you Firey, please don't forget that,"
...
Screw not deserving her, he thought.
He has been through hell and back and he was finally allowed to have what he had quite literally fought and killed for and he was going to push it away?
No way.
He rested his head against hers, breathing in her perfume, the same one she wore before he left.
He kissed her again, deeper this time.
They gazed into each other's eyes, no more words were said but no more words were needed.
This was what they had both wanted, in the years they were apart they longed for the other's touch and now they had it.
Just one year ago this idea would have seemed impossible for both of them and yet here they were.
Neither of them knew that they were thinking the same thought in that moment.
"We feel like a real family,"
For Firey, it was something that mad ehim genuinely happy, something that made him feel like he was able to be a good person.
For Leafy, it struck fear into her heart, it all felt too perfect, too real, it made her feel like a horrible liar.
She was going to have to tell him everything soon.
Wasn't she?
================================
Hold me close and hold me fast, this magic spell you cast, this is la vie en rose.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, make the most of it.
XOXO
LeafCake.