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Important A/n at the end.

Also please let me know about any typos!

~~~

A field trip sounds fun. Oh, we're only studying rocks? That's ok. I don't remember the last time I've been on a trip with so many people before. This seems exciting.

A field trip? Well, I'm sure you already know my answer to that.

...ah, I'm sorry, but I won't be able to go. I have things I must do and take care of here.

The teacher looked down at the returned permission slip with the red 'X' by the 'Shall not attend' box before looking back up at (Y/n) politely awaiting his response.

"Unable to come again, (Y/n)?"

"No, I'm afraid not. I'm needed at home and my father needs my help sorting some things on time." A smooth reply.

"If it's transportation and timing that's an issue, then we can help accommodate for that," The teacher was pretty insistent on her attendance.

"My father doesn't want anyone else to drive me anywhere." Ah, well, the father probably had his own worries. But even so...

"If you don't attend, I'll have to give you some paperwork to take home and complete," Although he'd honestly rather not.

"That's fine. My father said he would actually much prefer that instead." Seems like she wasn't going to budge on this one. Much less have any interest in actually attending.

With an almost inaudible sign, the teacher simply dismissed (Y/n) with the instruction of picking up some paper assignments in a few days' time to make up for her absence on the upcoming trip.

And with a simple nod and dismissal, (Y/n) walked back to her seat and began preparing for her upcoming class lesson alongside her other classmates.

This makes about the 25th trip she wasn't able to join since she began attending this school.

With a quick clap for attention from the teacher in the front, all the students quickly stopped talking and began to copy notes down from the overhanging projector, waiting for any more instructions.

As the hours ticked on by, and class subject changed by the hour, not a peep escaped from the still girl apart from answering any questions that she may have been called to answer. Not even peeking out of the window next to her, where the sunlight shone on the magnificent garden her school took care of was able to capture her attention - or even the butterfly that had curiously flapped its way up to the window to observe her was able to enamor her.

She had remained unwavering in her seat. Wanting nothing more than to get the best grades she could possibly get, and so that she would not have to have anything repeated to her during her homework time when she got home.

Slowly she came to a stop, leaving her classmates and teacher to continue on with their activity without her. And slowly, almost cautiously, she closed her eyes.

This...this was her routine.

~~~

The drive back home was silent, apart from the usual small chat her and her father engaged in on a day to day basis.

"How was school?"

"Any homework to do?"

"What were your teachers teaching today?"

"Did your teacher take the permission slip? Good."

"Did you talk with anyone new?"

And of course,

"...who?"

This rehearsed routine would slowly be the end for her, she had thought as she slumped in her seat. But...this is for her own good, her own protection...

But from what?

...

No, I'm sure it's nothing she needs to know about.

~~~

"Can I go out to the garden again?"

"Again? What made you so interested in the garden that you would want to go out again today?"

"I simply wanted some fresh air."

"Fresh air? You could open the windows in your room in that case."

"I need my vitamin D."

"Then you may sit by your open window and soak in the sunlight from there."

"Dad..."

You couldn't help but grumble out the word as you continued watching your father pace around the kitchen preparing food for dinner, all the while humming a tune you were unfamiliar with.

"My dear," He seemed to acknowledge your tone, although his own held nothing but passiveness as he slipped on some cooking mittens.

"You're the one who has worked on this garden for all these years. If I go out, you'll find me easily because you'll know what spots to look for first. Isn't that how you found me yesterday?"

Your father hummed as he slipped the tray holding two sweet potatoes into the oven before closing it. "That is true. But it was because I had to go looking for you that I don't want you out today."

"But I was simply distracted-"

"By a rock? Yes, I saw." He slipped his mittens off and placed them on the counter before facing you and crossing his arms. His ever so passive smile dotting his face. "And if something were to happen if you were distracted like that again? I wouldn't know what to do."

You opened your mouth to retaliate, but the atmosphere in the room changed drastically before you could speak a word as you saw your fathers' eyes slowly swirl with an unhidden rage.

But not towards you. No, he would never be mad with you, his dear precious daughter.

"I can't allow that to happen again," Your father leaned off of the counter and walked towards you, only stopping when he was three feet away. "No, I will never allow that to happen again, least should I die first."

You stayed silent, understanding exactly what he had meant by those words. After all, despite it being almost 3 years since the incident, the pain, sorrow and fear were still as fresh as ever for him. Whether you could consider this fortunate or not, your memory of the incident was somewhat fuzzy, so you had no real emotional reaction to what had happened. But even so, it had hurt to at least not share the pain your father had gone through and burdened himself with.

As he looked past your head and at the wall behind you, you gently grabbed his hand with both of yours, grabbing his attention away from his thoughts.

"It's okay dad. I understand," You smiled at him and immediately the anger disappeared from his eyes and his shoulders dropped down, relaxing from its tensed up position only a moment ago. He looked at you full of love only a father could have for his own child, smiling gently at you as he raised his other unoccupied hand to pat you on the head.

"Thank you. Now, while I myself go outside-" You deadpanned at him, causing him to chuckle. "I would like you to go finish your homework until supper is ready." With a small, defeated sigh, you let go of your father's hand and begin to walk to the stairs of your home.

"Fine, fine, I'll go ahead and start then."

Your father continued to watch you until you were out of sight, only to let his smile drop once you were gone. With a small turn of his head, he looked out of the window into the garden with a pointed look in his eyes.

"Maybe I should add a fence around the vegetation, lest the barbed wires don't hold up well..."

~~~

You couldn't help but clench your pencil tighter in your hand as you finished the assignments given to you by your teachers. The persistence poking of frustration in your mind continued ever since the last conversation happened with your father.

You hadn't meant to ignore his calls for you when you were outside in the garden yesterday- you were simply distracted! That was all! Nothing even happened to you either! -

Your eyes quickly caught onto the white bandages wrapped around your fingers.

- well, apart from that. But it's literally nothing!

...

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Calm yourself.

Slowly relaxing your tensed up shoulders, you opened your once closed eyes and began to fill out some questions on your homework.

This is fine. This is ok. Everything is alright.

...

Everything is just fine.

~~~

...

Dinner was quiet, apart from the TV noise in the other room and your fathers' questions here and there to fill the air. And question after question, new curiosity sprouted from your father with the need to know more.

Of course, you never felt the need to not say anything, so everything was said.

After quite a filling a delicious dinner with your father, you both decided to retire to your rooms. And as you lay on your bed covers waiting for a single text message from your father, you couldn't help but notice the blue crystal on your desk, sitting where you had left it.

...You must have been very tired from the day if your eyes are playing tricks on you like this. There's no way that thing is glowing, much less turning dim and then brighter, and back.

Bzzt bzzt

...

Yeah, you definitely needed this shut eye.

~~~

Today, your father has finally let you go out into the garden again after four days of being held inside. Of course, with the promise of paying extreme attention to your hearing should your mistake the other day be repeated.

The sound of grass crunching under your feet brought you a sense of euphoria, as despite enjoying the quietness of the house, you also enjoyed going outside every once in a while.

The cobblestone back that was set on the ground was beginning to be covered in moss with the help of the humidity in the air, and the overhanging blue rose on the white arch above you seems to be drooping a little.

You'll be sure to let your father know about this when you return back inside.

But first, you wanted to explore a little more. Maybe...a longer walk?? A deep walk into your father's garden??

It was a risky thought, and you would rather not risk getting this privilege being taken away from you again.

But...didn't you deserve this? If anything, you have been cooped up in your house for so long, a little more exploring wouldn't hurt, right? Especially since this is your fathers garden of all things!

With those thoughts in mind, you began walking down the cobblestone path with each step seeming to become the slightest bit dirtier and the vegetation disoriented.

Even as the path of cobblestone ended you continued walking, just to see where your feet would take you and where you would end up.

It was both refreshing and strange for you, but quite interesting. And as silly as this may be for a simple walk in the garden, you enjoyed it. You enjoyed the difference from your daily scheduled life: from the routine that was played over and over again on repeat for the past 2 years of your life since the incident. It was-

The sudden feeling of a hand grabbing your shoulder left you frightened. With a quickness you didn't even know you possessed, you swiped the hand off and whipped around, quickly creating distance from the unknown assailant.

At least, for a moment, as the smile and tilt of the head from your father registered in your mind as he placed both of his hands behind his back.

"Ah...dad..."

He simply turned around and kept his fingers interlaced with each other.

"Come."

With such a gentle command, you couldn't help but follow him as he began to walk back to the house without you. It was silent for the most part with just both your footsteps trending along the grass, although it eventually became too uncomfortable for you to bear without the sound of your father's voice.

"Uhm...dad," You began. "When I was walking, I uh, saw that the cobblestone had moss growing over it."

"Hmm, I see." Was all he responded with, causing a slight shiver to cascade down your back. He seemed very nonchalant, but you knew better than to accept such a facade from him. You had been more prepared for a lecture rather than this silent treatment he seems to be giving you. But even so, you tried probing for a response once more.

"And the uh, blue roses I saw on the white arch seem to be drooping a little," You hoped to keep some noise in the air between you too.

"Hn," Was the only sound you got in return. You lowered your head, feeling more ashamed for your actions more than anything. Maybe it had not been a good idea to go so far, even if it were your own garden. What a horrible idea, what a stupid idea, an impulsive thought that you knew better to control rather than let your feeling get a hold of-

"You mean these blue roses?"

"Huh?" With a confused hum, you looked back up to see your father delicately stroke a blue rose hanging off of the same white arch you saw earlier. "Uh, yeah these ones." Since when had you both arrived back here so quickly?

"They simply need more water. It looks as though the vegetation around them is taking up more water than the roses are able to grab. How about you go bring me a water pitcher for them, hm?"

"Uh," Were you...not in trouble? "You, you want me to go get a water pitcher?"

He only smiled at you before nodding and crouching down to the roots to move the soil around, dirtying his pristine white gloves in the process. With that simple dismissal, you quickly jogged back to the house where a shed was stationed with supplies, not noticing the sudden shift on your father's face as he began to think.

~~~

Crouched down beside your father, you couldn't help but stay quiet as he gently watered the surrounding solid of the rose roots and vegetation. An almost relaxing atmosphere hung over you two in the silence. But the unspoken daring mistake you made hung over your mind as if mocking you, prevented you from completely relaxing around your father.

"Uhm, look dad, I'm really sorry I just-"

"No, I'm sorry."

You couldn't help but look at him in surprise at his words as he placed down the watering can and turned to you, the soft smile ever present on his lips.

"I realized that keeping you in for too long would become too suffocating for you. I had a feeling this would happen anyway so," He shrugged his shoulders and slipped one of his gloves off. "It was nothing surprising.

I just shouldn't have kept you inside for that long."

Whether his words really brought you relief or not would remain a mystery.

"Now, I will be leaving you to it." Your father stood up and outstretched a hand towards your crouching figure.

"I'm not in trouble for walking too far?" You couldn't help but question him, unconsciously taking his now gloveless hand and standing up. He only smiled at you and patted your hand gently before walking back to the house, but not before calling over his shoulders,

"Just this once, I will turn a blind eye for today." And with that, he was out of sight.

...

...

"This...this isn't a joke, right?" You muttered. No way did he really say that. Absolutely no way would he ever agree to let you go further. No. No no no no. Not a chance at all.

He did something. He most definitely did something.

..but what?

...

You'll take this opportunity. Just this once. But you'll be sure to be extra careful where you step, and even what direction you breath should it trigger something he made.... again.

You don't want a repeat of last time, despite his word to never make such a thing again. You practically smelled like skunk pee for a whole week after tripping over a low hanging wire.

You couldn't help but shiver at the thought before you took a step back into the foliage, now exploring with caution.

~~~

He won't lie, much less admit it due to his pride, but he knew the risk he was taking when he kept (Y/n) inside for the past four days with no chance of stepping out the door aside from school responsibilities, except for the last day when she hadn't left the house at all since it was the day of her school field trip.

If she wasn't attending the trip, then what was the point of even going to school if her entire class was gone?

Hm...yes, he can see how that would become quite the pent-up energy that she would need to release eventually. And the burn on her finger had already healed well enough.

...

Before he could grip the doorknob to the back door of the house, he quickly spun on his heel with newfound vigor and an intent behind his eyes, quickly speeding back into the garden in search of his daughter.

Yes, he would let her have her moment,

but not without him at least keeping an eye from a distance.

Surely that would suffice.

(Sometimes, he simply can't make up his mind)

~~~

The once peaceful chirps and crunch of vegetation underneath no longer held the peace you longed for after the encounter with your father. Instead, it had seemed to grit at your ears and scrape against your skin, confusing your senses in what to focus on.

But despite that, you continued on- lest you lose this once in a lifetime chance to explore more of the garden without any reprimands.

The foliage became thicker and thicker with each step you took, softly brushing your legs in greeting as you kept your eyes peeled for any traps or triggers among the greenery. And at one point, only after walking a few meters more, you came upon layers of metal wire running from the ground, up to the middle of your chest. 

How very strange. Ah, well, there is always a limit to how much property someone can own anyways- it's not like we could have owned this entire area.

Uninterested in anything else around you, you began to turn around to explore some more, only to pause at the sound of a distant metallic clang.

...

It was like time froze.

Everything was so still, so quiet. The birds stopped chirping and flying around, waiting to hear the clang once more. The wind stopped dancing and the leaf's above stopped waving.

There...over this fence. What was that?

Was there some sort of construction happening nearby?

But it was so quick, and loud too. It didn't sound like any sort of machine that you knew of, so maybe something collapsed?

But there was no cloud of smoke.

...

...

As short as this was, maybe it's time to head on back...

Extra:

Humming a small tune, your father worked swiftly to pick out the weeds in the garden and even out the soil by the flowers, not minding the sun's rays beating down on him from behind.

A sudden ring from his phone had him taking his gardening gloves off and quickly pressing the green answer button, not wanting to miss the last ring.

But despite holding the phone up to his ear, he said not a peep. Only the fake plastered on smile he seemed to hold all the time was present on his expression as he waited.

...

...

...

"Spears-"

Immediately he hung up and pocketed his phone.

...

With a small hum coming from his now tightly pressed lips, he slipped his gardening gloves back on and went back to pulling weeds from around his rose bushes, not feeling the thorns of the enchanting roses scrape against his uncovered forearms or the smear of his blood on his skin.

No, none of that mattered to him. Nor would he feel bothered to feel any of it either.

The shadow that casted a glare over his eyes did nothing to help hide the upset waves rolling off of him or hide the piercing glare his eyes showed off.

Who knew that hearing a single word, much less the voice uttering such a word, would have him on the brink of lashing out in anger?

Extra 2:

"Dad, it stinks."

"I know dear,"

"It really stinks."

"Yes, yes,"

"Dad," With a small sniffle you shuddered as more cold tomato sauce was poured over your head, drenching your body and filling the bathtub with more sauce. "I HATE THISSSS!"

Your father couldn't help but sweatdrop at your display of frustration and feel the slightest bit of pity at seeing the tears prick the corner of your eyes.

"I know dear, I'm very sorry about not telling you about the traps I set up in the yard. I promise I won't put any more up."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..?"

"How many more are there."

"Hm..about 32?"

"Why are there so many?! For what reason?! We don't even have any rodents back there!" You couldn't help but let a few tears out at feeling the sludge of tomato sauce slide from your head and down the back of your shirt. "Wuahhhhh..."

"ᶦ'ᵐ ˢᵒʳʳʸ..."

He loves you- he really does- I promise!-

A/n

So...

First and foremost, thought I'd make this chapter to show the kind of relationship and interaction that usually goes on between (Y/n) and her father...that will be up to you to decipher.

And what I mainly wanted to say is, I am still here. It may have been years, but I do not like to leave things unfinished so I am dead set on completing this story. Although it may take...a while....as you can see...ahem

I have my plate full with my full time job and school, but even so, my motivation is going up and down the chart right now in typing.

But! I have my Wednesday and Saturday's off to type up the chapters since I have nothing going on theses days - so hopefully I am able to be productive during those times! Also summer break is coming up soo so I will have about 3-4 weeks to type type typeeee ..... as I uh, also decided to do a summer semester so I'll have more classes...whoops ^~^''

I promise that I am still here, and I have read all of your responses and I know you all are eagerly waiting, so again, I would like to thank you all for being so patient with me during these times.

Thank you.

Also! For the ones who have been here since before the rewrite, I have some news for you all:

Gunner and Deadlock will not be making an appearance in this book, as much as I had planned for them. They were originally used as a means of motivation but at this point in time, they are more of an inconvenience to be to input them now. I find it more easier now to type without them being involved in any way shape or form. So I'm very sorry to the ones who had voted for them to be included in the rewrite.

(If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then don't worry your pretty little head about it~)