#like ig someone's trying to get rid of fox

[2amcheese]

Fic for day 1 prompt of @foxquinweek 2023, Please don't take him from me 2,500 words May be updated with an AO3 link when I have one TW: Callous treatment of clones, major character injury

Enjoy!

Quinlan was battling his own opponent, who had managed to slip some force-resistant cuffs onto his ankle when he was distracted. The woman was fighting with vibroblades, short knives that maintained a flurry of attacks keeping Quinlan focused on her. He was fighting for his life, unable to access his usual wealth of power, and just barely maintaining the upper hand.

This was why he was powerless to stop the other opponent, who plunged his knife directly into Fox’s right shoulder. 

He heard Fox cry out behind him, and glanced back to see his boyfriend clutching his shoulder, staggering back from the attacker. The knife had gone right through the gap in his armor.

Shit. Shit. Shit–Quinlan sliced off the cuffs with his saber, scorching his ankle in the process, then picked up both attackers, flung them into the wall, grabbed Fox, and ran out of the bar into an alley.

“I’m fine,” Fox gasped. “Go arrest them!” It was taking all his willpower not to scream.

“No? You got stabbed! I’m taking you to a medic!” 

Fox struggled against him. “Let me bandage my arm, at least.”

“Fuck. Yeah, okay.” Vos put him down and started removing Fox’s armor. “Don’t move your arm. You’ll only make it worse.” 

The Vos carefully cut away Fox’s blacks where they threatened to adhere to his skin. 

The wound was bad. 

Really bad. 

“I can try to set it…” Vos said, looking bleakly at the mess of severed muscle and tendon.

“Don’t bother. You need to chase the assassins. An injury like this, I would need  amputation or something.” He winced and bit his tongue hard to keep himself from whimpering. “I’ll be decommissioned anyway.” The smile he attempted to direct at Quinlan was more of a grimace. “It’s fine.”

“It’s not,” Quinlan said, wiping away the tears blurring his eyesight as he lined Fox’s bones up, then jerked his shoulder back into its socket. Fox cried out in pain. “Sorry love,” Quinlan said, immediately wrapping his shoulder with strips of his robe. 

“C’mon. The faster we get to the medbay, the faster you can heal. You have your comm? We gotta keep moving.”

“You’re an idiot. It’s a good thing I slipped a tracker onto the guy who stabbed me.”

“You’re so smart babe.” Quinlan hissed as he put too much weight on the burnt foot. 

Fox pulled out his comm, sending Quin a worried look. “Thorn! We need an extraction–the mission went south and I got a little bit stabbed. We’re on level 9, heading towards the center pipe.”

Quinlan didn’t hear what Thorn said back, but Fox nodded and ended the call. “He’s on his way.” 

They reached the central pipe just as a transport lowered to their level. “Vibroblade to the shoulder,” Quinlan said. The Guard medic–Humerus?-- unwrapped Fox’s dressings to examine the wound. 

“This is bad,” he said, glancing at Fox’s face, which was obscured by his helmet. 

“I know,” Fox said softly. “Quin insisted I be brought back.” Thorn took off Fox’s helmet.

“Are you okay, General?” The medic asked. Yeah, it was Humerus.

“I mean–I have a burn on my ankle, but it’s not that bad. Focus on Fox!”

Thorn, Fox, and Humerus exchanged a look. The medic pulled out a bottle of pills. “You want some pain meds, sir?” 

Fox accepted them with his uninjured left arm and swallowed them dry. They were approaching the barracks, where the clone medbay was. 

“I recommend you leave, General,” Humerus said. “Your presence will only make things harder.”

“He–he won’t die, right?” Quinlan said nervously.

“The wound isn’t fatal, sir.”

That was enough for Quinlan, and he walked out of the medbay and back to his rooms in the temple.

Something wasn’t right though. He was getting a distinct feeling that he was missing something. 

He sighed. He might have to engage in his least favorite hobby: research.

Disgusting.

He walked down to the Jedi archives to look for the guidelines on clone injury.

Decommissioning.

That’s what the screen said. 

Injuries too serious to be treated easily, that result in the loss of or loss of use in a limb, as well as brain injuries, may result in decommissioning as the clone is no longer fit for battle.

No wonder Fox had told him to ignore him, no longer everyone had seemed so–so apologetic, they hadn’t wanted to tell him! Quinlan jumped to his feet. There was no way he was going to let them take him. He made his way back to the clone med bay, ignoring whoever was telling him he wasn’t supposed to be there.

“Fox, what the FU– Oh. Hello, Chancellor,” Vos said, cutting off abruptly and nodding politely. Rage was simmering in his gut, and he took several deep breaths. There is no passion, there is serenity. Anger makes you do stupid things. 

“Hello, Master Vos. Always a pleasure to see you. What brings you here today?” the chancellor responded pleasantly. Master Windu stood behind him, watching. 

“Checking in on Commander Fox, Sir. He was injured while we were in the field. Will he recover?”

The Chancellor’s face morphed into deep regret. “I’m afraid not, Master Jedi.” Vos’s heart started pounding. “My commander has unfortunately lost the use of his right arm. According to the regulation manuals, this results in a decommissioning.” No. No. No.

“Respectfully, Chancellor, I don’t think that’s necessary. A commander as experienced as Fox is a great asset to the republic. I’m sure a prosthetic could be fitted easily.”

“Can we discuss this away from the patient?” Palpatine said, pleasant as ever. Vos nodded mutely, allowing him to lead him outside of Fox’s room. Quinlan shot him a worried glance. Fox looked heartbroken and mouthed quickly, ‘don’t.’ Vos ignored him.

“I appreciate your concern over Commander Fox,” Palpatine began. “And trust me, no one is more sad than I to see him go.” 

Quinlan highly doubted that.

“However, the Republic is strained as it is. We cannot devote more budget to the upkeep of the clones. If one gets a prosthetic, soon they all will want them and that’s more money than we can spare.” No, they couldn’t take Fox from him–

“Sir, it’s just one. The troopers will understand that their commanders get more privileges. What about Commander Wolffe, of the 104th?”

“Master Plo Koon went against regulations to obtain the cybernetic eye for him, and should not have done so. We let it slide but a warning was issued. This is, unfortunately, how it is, Master Jedi.”

“I would like to add,” Master Windu chimed in for the first time that day, “that you are displaying a higher level of attachment than we prefer for Jedi to have. Your compassion is appreciated, but we cannot go against the rules. To do so would be anarchy. You must let him go.” 

Quinlan couldn’t do that. He–he fucking loved Fox. He’d never said it, they’d only been a casual thing, but it was true. He made his life so much better. They couldn’t just do this. 

“Besides,” Palpatine said, with that same sorrowful, apologetic look on his face, “I do not wish to be callous… but he is just a clone.”

Don’t punch him. Don’t punch him. There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. This was the leader of the entire republic. He was not going to punch him. 

Quinlan Vos looked at them with dead eyes and replied, “I understand. Sorry for the commotion.” He spun on his heel and left the room.

Now, which of his contacts would be the best to ask for a prosthetic arm?

Prosthetics and other similar accessories were common in the underworld. There was a thriving market for them, and finding one that could meet a clone’s specifications wasn’t hard. He paid a (frankly outrageous) fee for it and left for the medbay.

By then it was late, and his abilities as a Jedi Shadow allowed him to slip easily into Fox’s room. He was still there, thank the force.

Vos woke him up gently, shaking him. “Hey love,” he whispered. 

“Wh– oh, Quinlan. Hey.”

“You doing okay?” Quinlan kept his voice low and the arm hidden. Fox had in fact been amputated. Vos doubted that was entirely necessary, from what he knew of healing processes, but it wasn’t his field of exercise and this definitely made it easier.

“Yeah, I’m on meds. Listen, Quin–”

“Shh. It’ll be okay. I got you a prosthetic, we just need to attach it, where’s the best medic you have?”

“Quin, you really shouldn’t have done that. I don’t think they’ll let me go anyway. They… this shouldn’t have been an amputation. I had feeling in the arm, the shoulder joint was just messed up. Something’s gone wrong.”

“You think someone’s trying to get you killed?”

“Maybe, I don’t know. I’m just letting you know, you should leave now though, don’t get in trouble.”

“Fox, I’m not going to unpack how you all pretended you’d be okay and didn't tell me you were worried about this. We can deal with that later. But I’m not going to let them take you. Not from me, or the Guard, or anyone. Please let me do this. You can accept the punishment if you want if that’s what you need to say yes, but please.”

Fox sighed. “...Fine. Go ahead, but just–be careful.”

Quinlan smiled softly at him. “I always am. I’ll grab Humerus.”

The clone medic hurried over. Quinlan assured him that he would not get in trouble for this, and Quin was prepared to take all responsibility, then told him not to tell Fox that. Humerus nodded grimly and began the process. Quinlan held Fox’s good hand through the whole process, falling asleep halfway through. He hadn’t gotten much sleep. None, actually, since the incident. 

He woke with Humerus gently shaking him awake. “The Chancellor will be back soon to send him off to Kamino,” he said anxiously. “I hope you’re ready for what’s about to go down.”

Quinlan nodded nervously. Fox was asleep, which was good.

The Chancellor, Master Windu in tow, arrived soon after. 

As soon as he entered the room and saw Fox, Palpatine’s usual pleasant face twisted into angry disapproval. “Master Jedi,” he said, enunciating each syllable, “did you go against my and Master Windu’s direct orders?”

“Yes sir,” Quinlan said. “As a Jedi, it is my duty to do my best to help people. The arm came out of my personal pocket so the republic need not worry about the expense. It integrated very well with his systems. There is now no longer a reason to decommission him.” The chancellor seemed to be seething. He likely hadn’t ever had anyone disobey him.

Mace Windu stepped forward, frowning. “As much as your compassion for this clone is admirable, it shows a level of attachment we prefer for our members not to have. And your money could be spent on something better.”

“Respectfully, Master Windu, I would argue that saving a man’s life is really the ideal use of my money. And yes, Fox is my friend, but I would not place him over the world or my duties.” Quinlan wasn’t sure how much of that was true. It didn’t matter.

Windu sighed. “I will let this go, as it was a noble act. But there will be consequences, as disobeying your direct superior cannot go unpunished.” Relieved, Quinlan nodded at him. 

“Thank you, Master Windu.”

“Well, I suppose I am glad I get to keep my favorite Guard commander,” Palpatine said, his usual expression plastered firmly in place. “Thank you, Master Jedi.”

“Of course, Chancellor.” Quinlan inclined his head to him as well. 

Mace sighed. “You shall be put on a new shadow mission that has been in the works for a while. It will be for at least a month, off-planet, with minimal contact. Maybe this will help you gain clarity.”

That wasn’t as bad as Quinhad expected. This was okay. It was going to suck, sure, but it could have been so much worse.

Fox was staying. He was living. Sans an arm, but he was alive. Quinlan had succeeded. 

“Yes, Master Windu. Permission to first finish the mission I was on when Commander Fox got injured? We have a tracker placed on one of them.”

“Permission granted, Master Vos. I shall see you for your mission briefing at 0100 tomorrow.”

“Yes sir.” 

Windu and Palpatine left the infirmary. Fox was still sleeping. Humerus emerged from another room. “So we’re good?”

Quinlan gave him a tired smile. “Yeah. Maybe tell the men.”

“I’ll do that.” The medic paused. “Thanks, sir. For doing that for him.”

“Of course. I just hope he adjusts to the prosthetic easily enough.” Quin hesitated. “What kind of sleeping meds did you give him?”

“The good ones. He should be up in a few hours. The integration process is the most painful–the skin and tendons will heal, but this is the worst of it and our pain meds can only do so much.”

“Okay. Thanks, Humerus.” The medic nodded and left them alone. 

Quinlan took Fox’s hand in his again. “I’m never going to let them take you from me,” he whispered. 

Fox woke up a couple of hours later. “Still alive, always a plus,” he said drily, causing Quinlan to look up in excitement. “Oh, you’re awake! Yeah, you’re all set. How does it feel?”

Fox gingerly moved his new arm. “It’s okay. Hurts in the shoulder. Gonna take some getting used to. How’d the talk go? I’m going to kill Humerus for making sure I was out of it.” He was grumpy as ever. Quin smiled affectionately at him.

“The chancellor seemed pretty upset. Mace said I shouldn’t have done it, but I think mostly that was because of Palpatine’s orders. I’m being sent off on a mission with minimal contact soon as punishment.”

“Mm. Could be worse.” 

“Yeah. And that’ll give you time to adjust to the arm, so when I get back you can probably get back in the field!” He lowered his voice. “And I’m going to take you on a real date. Somewhere nice. Not just your office to talk for a few hours.” He grinned. “Of course, I wouldn’t mind a little stop by your bedroom…” 

Fox blushed and shoved him away. “A good date. That’d be nice.” His voice was sharp and curt in the way it got when he was embarrassed. Quinlan laughed softly, then frowned.

“First I’m going to hunt down those bastards that hurt you, though,” he growled. 

Fox regarded him expressionlessly. “Hot,” he commented.

Quinlan swatted him lightly on the head. “Shut up.” 

“Make me.”

Quinlan rolled his eyes. “If you want me to kiss you just ask for it,” he teased, and cut off Fox’s response by pressing his lips to his boyfriend’s. “I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too.”

[cloveroctobers]

(A/n: this might be a little biased since I’m in love with this man & I’m basing the relationship parts of this on my mc/myself so hope y’all don’t mind 😬)

IG info/bio: @/lucas.koh | 93.1k followers | for business inquires please visit: kohptr.com

LUCAS KOH —

27 (28) years old

From Oxford, England

Father is Korean & a car salesman at a Nissan dealership, he’s a strict/serious man who has high morals but beyond that he can actually be a softie in rare moments (+ that’s who Lucas gets his height from 🤤)

Mother is actually Chinese but lived in Korea studying abroad and eventually became a successful chiropractor (s/o to doctor mondragon on YouTube who I watch to help me sleep some nights and wish I could see! Lol) with her own practice. She’s a firecracker, intelligent, and quick to say what’s on her mind and doesn’t care if you like what she’s got to say. Most patients like that about her, she’s honest and her family is used to her ways but in the same way it’s more loving than offensive? (Smol woman but will remind you when she’s cracking your body she’s got enough power in her)

Either he’s a only child or he comes from a family of all boys with two younger brothers (they’re all in their 20’s) or he has one younger brother and one younger sister idk you decide

I’m feeling like he’s a Sagittarius? Carefree in the terms of he wasn’t viewing finally getting with MC when she’s dating someone else as cheating. Mans was READY to risk it all for me okay and I was down for it but ofc I had to react realistically and NOT “cheat.” *sigh* one part of me was debating ‘are we really dating tho bobby? We’re on reality tv. We’re not gonna die without each other if we hang out in seperate rooms’ *cough* Nope. but I’m a woman about her loyalty

He’s definitely adventurous. I don’t see him as the type to want to stay home all the time even tho his work definitely keeps him busy/exhausted. He’s down for road trips 💯

Occupation? Physicotherapist. His mother inspired him to get into the field and watching sports + the way players got their injuries always intrigued him? So to provide the best plan to have someone heal was something he loved to do plus being hands on while teaching/helping was a passion for him + I feel like he would also use a massaging technique instead of the usual exercise part of it

Now as someone who suffered a ACL & Mensicus tear & is STILL dealing with this BS pain years later, I would be so thankful to have him around! I feel like he’d have a optimistic attitude towards his patients and that’s what people need not someone that’s insensitive (like my surgeon/PT’s I had)

He models from time to time, when he was first approached about it he was upfront about not wanting to do it. It was much different than getting your picture taken for the office. That’s usually quick, the whole modeling process felt longer but somehow he was talked into it by his brother who’s a photographer and his mother. “Do you think you’re ugly? ‘Cause I’m not and you’re a part of me, so therefore there’s no such thing. Just look at your cheekbones, your jawline! I gave you those. The only good thing your father gave you was height.” Which filled the house with snickers while Lucas’ father just rolled his eyes and continued reading his newspaper for breakfast

Has a motorcycle and some luxurious car—not a Tesla those are basic now 🤷🏽‍♀️

Loves his motorcycle so much he’s got a tat of it on his right bicep

He has two available parking spaces in his parking garage at his penthouse but keeps his bike away in a storage unit due to a neighbor scratching it after his girlfriend broke up with him? Saying she was off to date Lucas? But that wasn’t true at all. He barely knew the girl, they didn’t live on the same floor. People were crazy but if you push him his temper might come out

Owns a leather jacket that he paid a lot for

Believes in “treat yo self” if it means in quality when shopping and has no issue being a big spender but he knows how to manage it well (his father told him all about how his own father dealt with bankruptcy)

Since he’s often at the office the whole day, he’s usually a night owl. He loves night drives and night dining. That’s usually when he finds the best places to eat

There’s this one pho spot that he loves and it’s his go to spot when he wants something quick on the way home

Cannot sleep with his entire body covered in covers, either his arms/shoulders have to be out or his legs, which would be a issue for me/mc since I sleep with the covers over my entire body...yes even in hot weather with the AC cranked up😂

He also makes great kimchi fried rice & loves Italian food

Will wine and dine. I believe it. I envision it! He loves going out on dates with his significant other (If he’s single and not with me, I think he’d try out speed dating)

Will dress to impress, will buy you a new fit he wants to see you/us/mc in especially if it’s your anniversary

Loves taking bubble bath’s with infused oils or flower petals with significant other

He’s the type that takes long showers & it brings him a true sense of freedom. He’s never able to take a quick shower, he gets lost in his ideas of what to do next in this world & it’s limitless

If he’s in for the day, which usually doesn’t last long—he’s either in sweats or in a robe all day

Only drives his bike on the weekend or if he’s going out of town but if he’s going on a trip for a couple of days with MC & if she’s got a bit of anxiety like me? He’ll stick to his car to make them comfortable

I feel like he enjoys the winter season. Maybe if it’s a slushy rainy winter more than a blizzards/snowy season. He loves bundling up, much to people’s surprise. He’s more than just his good looks and body love island fans!!!

Doesn’t post much on his socials. If you need to see what he’s about then you should do so in person or already know who he is. The internet can’t tell you much, in his opinion

Keeps himself in good health, I mean duh what kind of PT would he be 😉 goes on night jogs with reflector clothes on & occasionally morning jogs & at home workouts

Probably will date someone younger than him. Not by much, I don’t think he can take immaturity well. (That maybe how he views it) The most is 4 years younger than him

Henrik is his best bud from the show. They hang out all the time, crash at each other’s places, and vacation together all the time. They will be each other’s future best men forsure

Doesn’t go out of his way to talk to the rest of the guys from the show but if he happens to browse his feed and sees something he wants to comment on then he’ll carry a conversation of course

Far as the girls? He talks to Hannah & Priya from time to time. He also follows Hope and they like each other’s posts but not much communication is there either?

Either has a mint or black phone case, probably a Samsung galaxy user

Likes pistachio frozen yogurt but he’s lactose & doesn’t want to believe it :(

Smokes cigars when he’s out with his boys

Has a tight knit group of friends, majority of them are from the medical field since they all went to uni together + most of them are also married so the pressure is so on

*He’s the oldest out of his sibs so according to his parents he’s expected to be married first yet his baby sis is engaged and she’s 23*

wants a family...eventually. Probably will happen in his early thirties? The max for children is 2 for him. He knows they can be a HANDFUL due to his own friends who have kids + he’s a godfather and he’s babysat before so he knows how it goes!

enjoys his freedom as stated which further proves he’s a sag lol

Enjoys going to saunas to cleanse his pores/ get rid of toxins. It’s the easiest way for him to do so even tho his brother clowns him for it

His love language is deff physical touch. He loves hugs and resting his chin on top of your head, forehead to forehead, his nose pressed in between the space of your neck and shoulder, gentle squeezes, sitting next to each other with your legs touching, cuddling, sleeping on top of you or you on him, etc

He loves kissing. It’s automatic for him and it can also easily rile him up

Has strong opinions & will show them but will feel like he’s being attacked if it brings on a confrontation/argument

Will forgive and forget

Plays strategy board games

Makes his own natural healing creams & gives samples to his patients depending on their needs

His fav colors are: blue, white, & grey

Will grow a bit of facial hair in the cooler months if it’ll make mc happy (I’m a sucker for facial hair but hate it on myself lmao) but if he dislikes the feeling on his face he will shave and finds he likes a shaven face better, the facial hair makes him look a bit older—which is okay but that’s just his preference

When he stops putting gel in his hair/styling his hair in a quiff hairstyle it shocks fans with mc commenting on one of his pics, “you’re welcome x”

Likes going to the Hard Rock Cafe on causal weekends

also likes getting freaky in public, down for whatever 🤪

He’s a traveler so if he leaves the UK, I’m seeing him land in Toronto, Canada first and falling in love with it. I feel he would vibe well with the culture there, might even consider getting a vacation home in that location

Celeb crushes? Anne Hathaway, Beyoncé, Lupita Nyong'o, Anna Diop, Imaan Hammam, Jodie Comer, Megan Fox, Shay Mitchell, & Cassie Ventura Fine

Oh Lucas. I feel like we have similar tastes? Somewhat. He probably listens to more rock than I do? Maybe 80s rock moreso? & He listens to: WALK THE MOON, Allen Stone (his fav) , Emily king, Gavin Turek, Melanie Fiona, THEY., DPR live, & Sik-k

Anthem = Young the Giant, “Something to believe in”

[imagination-going-100]

Imagine // Joys to Come

Request: Could you do a Finn Collins imagine, please? I think about the reader is a little like Cassie from Skins (having ED, being sad, looking so nice and innocent but really mess up inside, taking pills for not being so sad, etc) and Finns trying to make her believe that she is important and loved even when she try to avoid his presence...

Pairings: Finn Collins x Reader

Warnings: Eating disorders, mentions of abuse, mentions of drug use

I have not seen Skins, sorry about that, so it’s very loosely based on what was written about her in this request. Sorry if it isn’t exactly what was requested, I took some liberties.

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The bonfire crackled, the heavy scent of food slowly mingling with that of the forest. You were almost used to the sound of your stomach growling by the time Blake and the others had arrived with food.

Everyone was delighted at the sight of the dead animal being carried into camp. You were not among them.

You silently thanked Blake for deciding that only those without wristbands got to eat. It gave you a good excuse for not getting in line. You were simply following the others’ example, standing at the edge of the firelight, looking hungrily at the slobs of meat slowly cooking over the flames.

Well, not quite like the others. You avoided looking at the food on purpose, instead staring at the ground as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

“Not hungry?”

You looked up to see a girl – you thought her name was Fox – smile at you. You shook your head.

“Not interested in the Ark considering me dead.”

“Huh,” Fox huffed. She kept shifting her weight from one leg to the other. She stopped speaking as two people walked past. You recognized them as Griffin, and the boy she was with was the spacewalker. As his eyes met yours, your stomach growled loudly. You averted your gaze quickly, face heating up.

When they had passed, Fox cleared her throat. “You… got family up there? The Ark, I mean.”

A knot appeared in your throat, making it hard to form words. “…not really.”

It wasn’t a lie. As if that swine could be considered family, you thought.

She walked away after that. You sat there, stomach growling loudly. The line kept moving forward as bracelet after bracelet was removed. 

And then the line stopped all together. The spacewalker had just taken some meat, and that Blake brute stood there, unable to do anything. Apparently, the spacewalker had told him off.

You weren’t happy with this. Because both the spacewalker and Griffin had their bracelets on. Which meant you had no real excuse to not eat anymore.

Not knowing what to do, you simply stared down, pretending not to notice how the line had broken up.

It worked rather well. Until someone tapped you on the shoulder.

You looked up into warm, brown eyes.

“Here,” the spacewalker said, and extended a hand towards you. There was a piece of meat impaled on a stick in it. “I heard you earlier. Thought you needed it.”

You cursed mentally. “Thanks,” you mumbled, and took it from him. You refused to meet his eyes again, instead looking off.

He took the hint. As his steps got quieter, more distanced, you wondered if you could get rid of the meat in some kind of way. Subtly hand it over to someone else.

The way the hairs on your neck stood up told you, no, he would notice. You could feel his gaze on you, poking at any crevices they could find, trying to figure out your secret. The fire was slowly spreading from your back, heating you up.

You hesitantly took a bite. It soothed the burning, if just a little. Your stomach revolted, every part of your screaming that you shouldn’t eat. That you looked disgusting enough as it was.

Almost angrily, you stood up, and started walking towards the forest. The entire way you could feel a pair of eyes burning into your back.

The night after you hadn’t gone to the campfire at all. Instead, you remained in your tent, curled up with a book you had snuck with you from the Ark.

It wasn’t useful at all, but you had always found the symbolism of different plants interesting. Mostly because the science side of botany bored you. You would never get through an entire book about how to save lives using dandelion.

And dreaming about the different flowers was nice. You had never actually seen a rose, for example. Not that that was the most fascinating flower, but the point still stood.

It turned out, though, that staying out of the campfire’s light didn’t mean staying out of sight.

“There you are, dove.”

You looked up to see the spacewalker, silhouetted in the tent’s entrance. You couldn’t make out his expression, despite squinting against the light, and as you were unable to read him, you didn’t quite know how to respond.

He didn’t walk away this time. I walked inside, instead, and settled down next to you.

“I brought you something,” he said, and handed over a cloth. Or rather, he gave you something wrapped in a cloth.

You opened it. Shiny, blue orbs lied there, seeming almost purple in the faint, orange tint from outside. “Berries?”

“Meat didn’t seem like your thing.”

Despite yourself, you smiled while looking at the berries. “Thank you, spacewalker.”

“Finn.”

“What?” 

“My name is Finn, dove.” 

“And mine’s Y/N.”

“Nice to meet you, Y/N.”

“You too.”

He didn’t respond, his gaze instead settling on the book in your hand.

“Flowers?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow. Before you could stop him, he had grabbed the book, scanning over the page you had been looking at.

“They’re… colorful.”

He laughed. “That’s why you read about them?”

“This world needs color,” you breathed. The knot from the day before was back. You couldn’t talk about it. Couldn’t be reminded of it. Of the insults your father hurled at you daily, about your brains, body, about how useless you were, the words gripping their foul claws into you, leaving shards of darkness behind.

The drugs made the thoughts easier to live with. Too bad the guards caught you borrowing some.

Finn’s hand touched yours, pulling you out of your thoughts. His smile was gentle as he spoke: “How so?”

“There’s...” you took a deep breath, “there’s not a lot to look forward to, is there? Either you live and die in a metal box, or you starve on the ground, every day a struggle.”

Finn didn’t say anything, but he held your gaze.

“I just… I don’t look forward to tomorrow anymore. I haven’t in a long time, actually.”

“The flowers help?”

“They bring a little color, a little light. And they say more than a lot of people do.”

“You would rather I shut up?”

You didn’t answer, hoping he would take the hint and go away. He stayed, and simply responded to your silence with his own, and started looking through the book instead.

When you ate them, you realized the berries tasted sweeter than you had expected.

Finn brought you food every day, for the next week. You gave up on trying to ignore him.

Are always found you, though you guessed that was to be expected by a tracker.

On the sixth day, when he visited, you noticed that he had the gentlest eyes.

One day, he didn’t show up. You should have expected it. Should have known that words were fickle, even those as genuine as Finn’s.

But it hurt. Stung. A dull ache, settling in your stomach. It made sleep come slower than usual.

You kept wondering if it was your fault. If he had caught the hints, and finally decided to leave you alone.

You awoke just before dawn. The ache was dulled ever so slightly, but every fiber in your body told you that you wouldn’t fall asleep again.

The footsteps of whatever annoying person trudging on outside your tent agreed.

The air was cold against your skin, almost numbing it. You exited the tent, ready to yell (quietly, mind you, the rest of the camp was asleep) at whoever was walking around at this hour.

You were stopped in your tracks, though. 

“Finn?”

“Hey, dove. Follow me, please?”

You couldn’t find it in you to resist when he grabbed your hand.

Somehow, the forest was even chillier than the camp. You were sure you had seen your own breath twice.

And yet you followed him without question. The cold made his touch seem warmer, as well.

By the time Finn stopped, you had to have walked for an eternity. The sun had started rising, as well.

“Finn? Why are we here?”

Golden light had started filtering through the leaves above you, casting gentle shadows that playfully danced in the grass. It gave Finn’s hair a soft glowing outline. 

“To give you this.”

He pulled something out from inside his jacket. A small, slightly crushed bouquet of small, yellow flowers.

If you weren’t speechless by the fact that he had taken you to such a gorgeous clearing, your breath was certainly knocked out by the flowers.

Celandines. One of the first flowers mentioned in your book. The yellow petals seemed unreal, almost like a nontangible thing in the morning sun.

And yet it was what you couldn’t see that stole your breath away; it was what they meant.

“Joys to come,” you whispered. Finn smiled at you.

“I’m looking forward to experiencing the ground with you.”

“Oh, Finn! This is amazing!” For the first time in very long, all you could feel was pure, untouched joy.

Before you could think it through, you had stepped forward and thrown your arms around him.

“Woah, there, Y/N!” he gasped, though his surprise didn’t sound real. You could practically hear the smile in his voice as he wrapped his arms around you. “I’m glad you like them.”

You pulled slightly away from him, so that you were no longer pushed into his chest. Still, he kept his arms around you. Your faces were very close together.

“I more than like them, Finn,” you said, and small sparks of electricity ran across every inch of your skin.

“Good,” his eyes stared deeply into yours as he continued, “I thought they represented us quite well. I look forward to exploring the ground with you.”

He leaned a little closer.

“Why?” you asked, and your voice sounded wispy, as if you were out of breath. “Why bother?”

“Because,” he said, now so close that you could feel his breath ghost across your lips, “you’re one of my world’s colors.”

Somehow, even with all the different berries he had brought you, Finn’s kiss managed to taste sweeter than all of them.