Laurence POV:

Lord Aphmau had called me down to talk on private. She asked if I would come along with her to Irene's Portal, so she could try and get Garroth back. I was skeptical on letting her since I hadn't asked about the full extent on barrier crossing and whatnot. I asked before hand which she replied that she would at least try if myself, Dante or anyone else had been in there. So we have to try for Garroth.

I agreed and followed after her, as we both snuck out of the settlement. No one was out and we sprinted past when Alexis looked the other way. We had to pass the bigger gate, and then wander around for a good ten minutes trying to find the actual portal. It looked to be made of solid white quarts with four pillars surrounding it. Aphmau first tried walking through it, still inactivated.
As expected, nothing.

She then tried walking through it backwards. Still nothing. She tried getting on her knees and praying. At least more faithful. Aphmau then laid down and started crawling. Looking silly and confused, but still getting the same results. Her face scrunched up a little as she thought about it more. Her next brilliant plan was to throw a mushroom through it. Nothing....again. "Open Sesame!" I just yelled out at it.

Dang it, sure it would have worked. Aphmau asked it to please open and the portal was rude enough not to answer to someone saying please. Finally, she tried putting her hands together in deep concentration. I silently watched as a low noise came and started getting louder little by little. Small sparks began popping up around the portal almost like glitter. "W-wha, ha- Laurence! I think it's working! I think it might be opening!"

She was smiling and slowly started inching closer. "Sh-should I--" a white flash came and went so fast, pushing Aphmau back and cause weird black and purple marks to be on her skin. I was wide eyes as I went forward, finding as she laid unconscious on the ground. "Aphmau!"

"LAURENCE!" Someone's booming voice cut over mine. Y/n took long steps in my direction looking more pissed off than I had ever seen her. "Y/--"

SMACK

I was harshly slapped across the face with no time to react as she looked both disappointed and betrayed. "WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU BRING HER OUT HERE?!" Y/n swiftly picked her up and rushed off back towards the settlement. My face stunk but it felt nothing like the burning in my heart. 'Fuck.'

~oOo~

I was waiting outside of the guard(tree) tower. I was largely responsible since I allowed her to go in the first place. Aphmau was being treated by Zoey and Emmalyn while Y/n stood by them in case anything worse happened. I couldn't face either of them at the moment. Of course she was upset with me, I was supposed to protect Aphmau. Instead I snuck her out and helped her put herself in danger.

"Laurence?" Cadenza had gone up to check on them before coming right back down. "Yeah?" She seemed troubled over something that was on her mind. "Are you and Y/n... a thing yet?" I don't know where the question was coming from out of this situation. "Huh? Why would you ask such a thing?" The trouble only displayed even more across her face. Cadenza was never one to hide her emotions well.

"It's just... you've been there for her since you met her. I know a 15 year time jump may have made her a bit, distant. But from what I've heard, you guys have been closer than ever. You keep trying to push through her rejection and she sure did knock some sense into you for the whole 'Dangers of the Realm Barrier'." Cadenza motioned towards the still very visible hand mark on my face. I sighed at that.

"She's been living a very different life than me. I have to get through that of which has been here before me." Cadenza's face turned more angry. "Laurence, you need to stop playing this nice guy route with her. You love her. And you have before the day you even told me about her! Why hasn't she given you a chance?! You've helped her in her darkest moments! It's not fair that she put you down like this. Even if I would have done the same, she doesn't have the title to do so yet!"

Why did Cadenza have to bring all this stuff up now? "Cadenza, stay out of this. It's none of your business. Jeez, now I know how Dante feels about you being nosy." She looked down at her feet holding a more sad and regretful than mad expression. "I-I'm sorry..... it's just, I care for both you and Dante and want to see you both happy! Laurence, it bothers me that you've always been the nice guy with getting girls with other guys without caring about your feelings first!

"*huff* I guess.... as long as you're happy..." I'm not. Not truly. I can't be until I know she isn't mad. "*sigh* I am Cadenza. I'm just happy to be around her." She whispered out an alright before I turned and walked away. "See you in the morning..."

~oOo~

We all were outside of the original gate. Levin, Malachi, Y/n and Dante were seeing us off. She had a smile on her face but it didn't seem to reach her eyes. I didn't want to leave her like this, but as a guard it was my duty to follow through. I walked up to her with a hey. "Hi Weirdo." The mark on face was just barely noticeable with a faint pink. "You sure do hit hard you know."

She winced remembering the fact that that did actually happen. "Yeesh, I'm really sorry about that. I let my emotions get the best of me and had to blame it on somebody." I waved her off feeling thankful that I hadn't actually upset her on purpose. "Hey you're off the hook cause it was Aphmau. Here, I wanted to give you this." She put her hands together and I placed something in the palm of them.

"A seashell?" It was a sarcastic question as a small grin was across her confused face. I did in fact give her a tiny seashell. It was curled into itself almost like a hermit crab shell. "What am I supposed to do with it?" There was a slight laugh to her voice when Y/n asked. I held a crooked smile not wanting to go just yet. "Keep it. Then give it back to me when we come back--"

"Not happening." Malachi was the one who said something. With his arms crossed as Levin stood next to him with a large bag. "Here!" Y/n looked at it before taking it out of the boy's hands. "You want me to load it up for them?" They shook their heads as I got more interested in what was happening. A few others were listening too. "Then what am I supposed to do with it, Lord Levin?" She exaggerated the word.

He held a proud stance. "I'm not your lord. Nor are you one of my guards." Y/n's face started to twist of one of abandonment. Not entirely but still noticeable. "Malachi told me that ever since we were young, you have been telling Aphmau that you weren't and I quote 'accustom to this village because sooner or later, I'm gonna get myself into trouble and it would be easier and safer not to get the whole village involved with my mess.'

The two boys had wide smiles while she was still utterly confused and baffled. ".....*sigh* Y/n, you have been relieved of your duties and free to go with the rest of them." She dropped the bag and stared before jumped on both of them. "OH MY GOD, I LOVE YOU GUYS!" Malachi's hair had been ruffled up and Levin had gotten both sides of his face pinched. Y/n then started looking over each of their faces while tearing up.

"But what about you guys?! Who's gonna keep you from stressing Zoey out, or tell Dante to wash his stupid face before leaving the house, or fix the twin's toys, or force you to sleep in when you stay up too late, or keep Kyle from eating all his weekly rations, or beating Brendon's ass every time he comes back, or--"

"Y/N!!" Both boys still had smiles but looked like they wanted to cry as well. "It's ok! You aren't obligated to take care of us, Levin is Lord for Irene's sake. It's clear you want to go. So stop giving yourself reasons to stay! Besides you can surprise the little guy with Nicole. You guys were gonna come back for a day or two anyways after you're done with Mateli!" She kissed them both on top the head before they hugged each other one more time.

1513 words.