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Across the Microcosm

Ran x Reader

Synopsis: Putting a fledgling romance on pause, you join a research trip up north, taking you away from everything and everyone you knew in the name of helping the underground. Genre: Fluff, established (sorta) relationship POV: Second Warnings: Cheating (but not really) Word count: 13.3k

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It hadn't seemed real until you stepped off the boat, just another study that would be over before it felt like it really began. You'd be back before anyone even noticed you were gone, before you could miss anyone or anything. Everything snapped into focus and the magnitude of this hit as soon as you were on solid ground.

Dockhands rush around you as white clouds appear as you exhale, the Freljordian air biting at you despite your attempt to fend it off. You don't need to understand the words when one of those dockhands snaps at you, exasperated and exhausted.

Hurrying out of the way, you stand against a warehouse as the gravity of everything floods your senses.

It takes multiple calls to get your attention. Blinking back tears that could have been from the cold or from everything else, you look around. The activity on the docks was methodical now instead of frantic, the ship you'd arrived on gone and all those that remained were moored securely. You were stuck here now.

The trip up the mountain is almost familiar, or would be if not for the snow and wind and bitter cold. A season of trade and travel had cut a clear—to you—path to follow but some of the others had trouble staying on it. The professor had gathered and was leading you but seemed oblivious to the freezing ducklings behind them.

By the time you make it to the town you'd be staying in, the wind's picked up and was probably cutting through your clothes but you were already so cold you didn't notice. No one's really in the mood to do more than dump their stuff on the floor and claim a bed. You feel like slipping into a vat of hot water but will have to settle on crawling under the covers instead, but first you had to do something.

Told you I'd write every day so I'm going to keep it even though I can barely feel my fingers right now. Spent most of the day hiking up slopes and even the flat parts were covered in snow. You hear it's cold up here but that doesn't really capture it. As expected, I'm the only Zaunite here. I talked a bit to the rest of the group on the boat over which is why I know there's not one, not two, but three topsiders which makes me think something went on and I'm only here because there weren't many applicants to begin with. Told you that was the only reason I was accepted. The professor's more hands-off than expected, too. I know they don't typically teach but I'd thought they'd be more… I don't know. They met us down at the harbour and escorted us up to this town but that was it. Maybe we caught them on a bad day but it's hard not to feel unwanted when someone points to a couple of buildings, say that's where we'll be staying, then go back to where they're staying separately. The way they spoke made it seem like we'd interrupted them and they wished to be anywhere else. Maybe tomorrow will be different but for now I'm going to spend all night thinking what it might be like to be warm. Can't believe you talked me into this…

Day 2:

Slightly warmer and with better light, you pace up and down the main street of the town, noticing it was neither large nor compact like you were used to. The largest building is the tavern and is the only one with a second level, all the others only have one. It's not a town people stay in for more than a night or two but is at a critical junction on a path between two larger towns and the harbour below.

During the summer, you can easily imagine more people moving about and caravans passing through, but currently you'd think it was abandoned if not for the occasional person walking around.

Today started with a lecture followed by making the rest of the dorms habitable, though dorms is a generous term. I think the buildings are used for storage during warmer months since they're just one big room with a janitorial closet-slash-bathroom. Good for keeping goods out of the elements or make it harder to steal, not great for comfort. There's no sleeping assignments (except for the professor—they're staying in what's been dubbed the lab) but for ease of communication, the Ixtali and Targonian are bunking together otherwise she can't communicate with anyone. I'm also staying with them since all three topsiders are in one dorm and I'm definitely not going to be sleeping there. Even without sleeping assignments, it's split with five beds in one dorm, four in the other. The Noxian and one of the Demacians are with me while the other Demacian's with the topsiders. I thought I was done with college… […]

Day 4:

Being one of the outsiders not passing through makes you a bit of a curiosity but the looks you get, while not always friendly, are better than the ones you get when you go into Piltover. Not everyone is used to it, though.

[…] Before we get into the field, we have to acclimatize and make sure everyone's on the same page. There's also some safety stuff but thankfully a Freljordian is handling that. The professor may be a leading expert but I think it's safe to say they aren't the most… aware person around. One of the things we have to get used to is being indoors but that's not a problem for me—I've seen the sky before but not like this. Plus it's cold outside and the only one who likes it less than I do is Marci but she also has fur and everything is flesh and blood. Most of us actually went and bought a bunch of clothing because what we brought isn't enough. I'd love to not feel like an orb when out. […]

Day 8:

It was clear now how hard it was when not everyone knew the same language but you were scientists not linguists, none of you knew how to go about this properly. What's settled on is creating a board featuring objects and actions with a drawing and the name in several languages. It was basic but it would allow for someone to get their point across.

Nic compiles the initial list of what to have while Retha sketches a visual representation of each, pinning the result to a wall—if nothing else, someone could always point to what they meant.

The system was simple but not everyone was able to learn a language as fast as Saf—who was already picking up some Freljordian words—but what mattered was it worked.

Day 14:

Even if you were used to having your movement restricted, it felt good to finally stretch your legs. You'd come here to learn, not sit around, and there was only so much you could do around town when you rarely spoke the same language as the people here.

As you set up one of the trail markers that went up a ridge, you can't help but grin despite the cold—you were finally about to do what you'd come here and were suffering for.

[…] Today couldn't have come fast enough. You'd think we'd get along given we have an interest in common but not everyone is used to staying inside so much or being around others so we were getting on each other's nerves. I even found myself snapping at Theo and he's been nothing but nice. Banging pegs into hard objects got a lot of pent-up frustration out. To celebrate the unofficial beginning of our work (and to shower off) we went to the tavern. Some mercs were there and, well, I accidentally pissed them off. In my defense, I wasn't the only one (though I swear Sebastian did it intentionally). I was prepared for it to turn into a bar fight—and you know I don't shy away from those—but was far from keen on that given the weapons. Some of them were also huge. Even Sevika would seem small in comparison so you can imagine how reluctant I was to get in a fight. Luckily Retha jumped in to diffuse the situation. It probably helped that the tavern owner didn't want to deal with it and the mercs weren't particularly invested in fighting a bunch of "soft scientists". Instead it turned into swapping stories about how we got scars. A bloodless way to put us in our place while reliving old battles. Saf was the only one that could really compete on both fronts but you should have seen the faces when I rolled up my pant leg. […]

Day 19:

By now the postmaster has noticed that you came in every day, always sending something to the same person and city. You could barely understand each other but, with some gesturing, you let her know you were from Zaun. At that, her eyes light up and she excitedly points at her left leg.

That puzzles you for a moment before it clicks—she must have talked to someone who was at the tavern the other day. Pulling your pant leg out of your boot, you're able to get it high enough for her to see. It should have made you feel like a novelty and this wasn't how you were used to people reacting, but you find yourself smiling as she chatters more to herself than to you.

Even if you didn't understand what she was saying, you understood the meaning behind it well enough when she pushes a steaming mug into your hands.

Day 27: Zaun

At first Ran wasn't going to do more than respond sporadically thinking, like you, that the time would go by quickly. They often didn't have much in the way of developments to report—or could report—and you already knew the undercity but nearly a month of you being gone had them change their mind.

It wasn't the same as talking to you in person but it was better than not talking to you at all.

Oh my dearest one, I mourn the loss of your presence and—okay enough of that. Not much has changed here since you left which is probably a good thing. There's been the typical street-level drama, enforcers roughing people up for no reason, and stuff I can't talk about. I know what I can and can't put into writing but is anyone reading these? I forgot to ask before you left and I don't want to get you in trouble by putting something I shouldn't. Please call Sevika small to her face and please do it when I'm there. That's not something she's accused of often and you're one of the few people who could get away unscathed. I may not respond to everything but rest assured I read each and every letter you send. A lot of it goes over my head but you knew that already. And for the record, I didn't talk you into anything. I might have encouraged you a bit but only because you weren't going to apply even though you wanted to. Really wanted to. - Ran

Day 28:

With as busy as you were now, you periodically get a stab of wistfulness whenever the mail is handed out, much to your dismay. Sebastian never failed to rub it in, how you wrote daily but never got anything, but the rest were starting to give you pitying looks, even Nic and Simone.

You take the lack of anything in stride—Ran probably hadn't noticed how much time had passed—but it still would have been nice to get something.

At least the postmaster was nice every time you came in and some of the first cuttings were beginning to grow roots—you could keep busy with those.

[…] The winter storms here are nothing like the ones back home. They can appear suddenly and are so bad it's no longer possible to move between dorms even with doing something like attaching a rope to follow—we looked into it. We're stuck wherever we are if we don't drop everything to head back to our preferred dorm. The locals are much better about noticing the minute changes that differentiate between normal blustering and blustering that's from the leading edge of a storm. Because we can't tell, there are times you go to borrow a book from someone in the other dorm and if you don't leave immediately after, you're stuck there. That's how I ended up getting stuck with the topsiders for a couple days. You think Stillwater's bad? Try spending that much time with someone who makes the council look sympathetic with no way to get away. As soon as the storm let up enough, I was out of there. Of course that means we also can't get to the lab, as we've dubbed it, during storms now. We came all this way to do lab and field work under the professor so to sit around and do nothing is frustrating. Saf suggested we keep as much as we can in the dorms now and make duplicates if possible, so we've started doing that. Can you tell she used to be military? She even stood against the professor when they were wondering why we were moving everything. […]

Day 28: Zaun

Writing you had thrown off the carefully maintained equilibrium Ran had been clinging to without knowing it. Around others, they could pull it together to not seem as lost as they really were but alone—or even during a moment where no one was paying attention—they let the mask fall.

They'd thought you were the one dependent on them going all the way back to when you'd first met. You were always there, fine playing a background character while they took centre stage. They didn't exactly take you for granted but they were so used to you being around, now that you weren't, nothing felt right. You had work to focus on, people who understood what you were talking about, a town to raise havoc in and what did they have?

But they had no right to complain, not when they were responsible for why you weren't here.

Even if you couldn't see it, you had talent and the potential greatness in you. Meanwhile they were just some criminal whose world was askew these days.

Day 35:

After yet another time of helping Sebastian out, you were wondering why he was even here. Nic and Simone were easier to get along with and had come around to the idea their idea of Zaunites was wrong but Sebastian still had his head up his ass. You had to admit, he wasn't helpless and knew enough he had to have some interest in mycology, but he also wasn't anything special.

If he dropped a tenth of the superiority complex that made others want to strangle him, maybe he could make a bit of a name for himself but he seemed content to rely on his family name instead.

[…] You know how I said Marci and Theo are close and spend a lot of time together? I think they've started hooking up. It's only a gut feeling right now but at night… at night there's sometimes the rustling of blankets and occasional squeak of a mattress. Everyone's always in their own beds come morning so I can't say for certain it's them but those two are always the common denominator. Then there's how they often go to the tavern together ostensibly to bathe or use the sauna—which doesn't even make sense—and how they started speaking lower and faster the moment Saf learned enough to maybe get the gist of what they were saying. […]

Day 37:

Sebastian's already starting to make a rude comment about you never getting anything when Simone makes a slight flourish while handing you a letter. Kai snickers when he tries to pivot to something else to save face but this is the first time you'd gotten anything and even blank paper was more interesting than Sebastian.

You recognize the penmanship but it's the signed name that has you grinning foolishly enough that some looks are exchanged.

Nope, no one reads these so write whatever. … On second thought, maybe don't. Everyone was nice enough not to this time but there's often jostling to read over someone's shoulder or an attempt to snatch a letter to read to everyone and there's already curiosity to whom I'm writing so ardently. I might not get in trouble but it could make things awkward. Remember, these are people I'm often stuck with for days at a time—I don't need them wondering if I'm going to murder them during the night. Also I'm including you in gossip because I know how much you like it and I can make sure no one's around when I write it out. Do you know how awkward it would make things if you said "X likes Y" when X and Y end up in the same dorm as me next storm? Speaking of X and Y, you know how I suspected Marci and Theo were together? Yeah, it's confirmed. Very confirmed. Frankly, I saw more than I wanted to. I walked in on them going at it in the lab while the professor was out—they hadn't even locked the door. As soon as I opened the door, they jumped apart but it was obvious what they were doing given they were naked and everything on the table beside them was scattered. What are we, teenagers? Wasn't planning to call Sevika small but you used the pleading eyes, didn't you? I can't say no to those. You definitely talked me into this.

Day 40:

You'd thought the path up the ridge was out of surprises by now but the storm that ended that night proved you wrong. You're near the rear of the group when you glance across the gully where snow had been dislodged, expecting to see more grey and white. What you see sends your heart into your throat.

Kai notices you aren't following, turning back to see if you're injured. Quickly wiping your eyes, you turn away, saying you just needed a minute.

Your habit of writing at night was now known but you still wait until everyone is well asleep and still keep quiet as you groan at another failed attempt to write to Ran. You'd been heartsick all day, making it hard to write without veering into the maudlin or getting excessively suggestive and it could already be hard to write at times.

Exhaling, you pull out another sheet of paper to try again, this time defaulting to your usual. Perhaps a bit more sentimental but Ran would understand.

[…] The professor wanted to check on the lichen patch we found while there's a break in the weather so we all went as well. Another storm was predicted to hit later today (and it did) and everyone wanted to get out while we could even if the wind was whipping up loose snow. Anyway, on the way up, I saw what appeared to be some sort of alpine buttercup, or at least something in that genus. I couldn't get a good look and it wasn't in bloom and there wasn't much time to note anything identifiable—stopping so suddenly was beginning to cause a scene. I passed it off as being winded. But now that I know it's there, I'm going to have to figure out how to get some cuttings. Don't worry—I'll be careful when I do. If you want to know why that particular flower hit me so hard, get one of my books and look up the genus. […]

Day 41: Zaun

The day was promising to be like any other when Ran spots a vendor on the way to work who was selling actual plants. Not cut flowers, not seeds, established, living plants that were all but doomed to a slow death down here. Acting before they realize what they're doing, they buy several thinking how excited you'd be only for it to hit them that you weren't there to take care of them.

They hadn't gone far and could always get their money back but they hug the pots tighter at the thought.

It's with reluctance they stash their purchases at work, not having time to take then back to their place or drop them off at yours—Silco had several meetings they were accompanying him on today so they had a set schedule.

The first two meetings are uneventful—just standing around while Silco makes vague yet pointed threats—but the third seems off the moment they catch sight of the reluctant foreman they were meeting. He was always somewhat nervous but today he was also standing more defiantly and kept glancing to a spot above.

Keeping their face from betraying their unease, they signal Mantaire to be on alert while their boss and the foreman were conversing.

They see the detonator too late, only having enough time to shield Silco before their ears are ringing and dust clogs their nose and throat. The explosives were placed poorly but still made debris rain down on the group and propelled some rock with enough force to bruise and cut.

That had been it for the day—Silco sent Sevika to finish up on his behalf—but instead of heading home, Ran stayed at the bar. They started wondering if they would have noticed sooner if they hadn't been thinking of you, it ends with them declaring they could land a dart on a dartboard while ignored injuries dully nag at them.

Day 42:

The wall of words, as you were calling it, had grown and become somewhat disordered as people added to it. It may seem a bit crude to someone outside your little group but it had cut down on the amount of frustration when someone wasn't nearby to translate and a number of the new additions were a direct result of that being the case.

Day 42: Zaun

Waking up, Ran is rudely reminded of the previous day's events when an attempted yawn makes them jerk up, clutching at their side and a headache throbs behind their eyes—they could already hear you yelling at them for drinking so much. Rubbing an eye with the palm of a hand, they try to remember what happened after darts and how they got home.

A muffled snore makes their blood freeze and stomach drop. Slowly turning their head to the noise, they dread what they knew must have happened. Even if the two of you had an open relationship, that didn't mean they had any interest in anyone else.

When they see it's only Sevika, Ran lets out a breath they didn't know they were holding. It could have been worse and wasn't the first time they'd woken up to Sevika beside them but there was something off about it now and the aches in their head and body and heart made it too hard for them to pin down what it was.

Seeing this wasn't their place after all, they get dressed and slip out as quickly and quietly as they can. Not their usual move but they can breath easier once on the street.

Day 43: Zaun

The previous day, Sevika had woken up with a groan thinking how she had to collect on some collections from people she'd rather not deal with, only remembering Ran had spent the night after she rolls over to find the bed empty. They weren't anywhere else in her place so they must have disappeared sometime in the early- or mid-morning.

With Ran having the rest of the day off, Sevika thought she'd clarify what happened the next day but that was proving harder than she thought it would be. Ran keeps avoiding her and is quick to leave a room when she enters and Sevika's too busy to chase them down when they clearly didn't want to be around her right now.

She'd give them space but only for so long—this couldn't interfere with work and, equally important, she found she didn't want it to come between you and her.

Day 45:

Completely unaware of what was happening back home, you're busy throwing yourself into lab work after the latest storm, acting like it's more urgent than it is. After the first round of drawing lots had Theo win the dubious honour of being one of the people to go on a supply run, you'd feigned remembering you had to check on some things.

Theo was still acting strange enough around you that, without more people to act as a buffer, if you also drew short straw, Kai was sure to notice. Even if you didn't care, he clearly did so you made yourself scarce in a way no one would question.

[…] Gave them a week but only Marci acts normal around me—Theo's still acting weird. If I didn't know better, I'd think he developed feelings or is getting sick. I'd talk to Marci but, well… I can't really do that unless I bring in Saf or the professor and if Theo's still embarrassed I know he'll implode if anyone else knows. […]

Day 50:

Since the dorms weren't built to stay warm or be used as a living space, they weren't particularly well insulated, quickly losing heat while being slow to gain it. To help counteract this, someone had the idea to push all the beds together and sleep in a pile. It worked surprisingly well but you were relegated to the outside unless your leg still had residual heat from the sauna.

You mostly didn't mind this as long as you didn't have to sleep next to Sebastian, something that never even came up. By now your mutual animosity was known and while the rest didn't have the deep-seated hate that Sebastian had, they knew the reputation of the undercity now and didn't fancy waking up to a body.

For once you didn't correct them or take it on yourself to prove not all Zaunites were what they thought.

[…] You know how I said the weather has somehow gotten worse? Today we got a whole lecture reiterating safety and being banned from going outside without permission. All because Retha tried to switch dorms mid-storm, overshot, and wound up on the doorstep of a very confused Freljordian. She's lucky she didn't end up wandering out of town. All because Kai and Saf were in the other dorm. It makes me feel like I'm back with the old gaffer to have my movements restricted like this. In other news, I'm making progress on my theory. It's not as much as I'd like given how long I've been here but it's better than nothing. The others are more than happy to help but not all their suggestions are helpful—I think they don't realize just how bad it is around the sump. I'm used to being doubted by virtue of being a Zaunite but it's frustrating for it to be assumed I'm exaggerating conditions. It makes me wonder if I should switch to focus on mycology. […]

Day 50: Zaun

After successfully avoiding Sevika for a week, Ran was confidant they could keep it up until you got back. They knew they were making it worse by not talking to her or letting you know but they still weren't sure how they felt about it.

It was messy and they could only blame themself for it.

Got it. Time for embarrassing stories, writing something that would make Margot blush, and/or go into explicit detail on how to kill. You just handed me a lot of power. For anyone who's still reading this who shouldn't be, you have the choice of fighting me, a one-armed woman, or a skinny teenager so hand the letter back. … … … Did that work? Picked up some seedlings for when you get back. I'm not sure what they are but they are alive and actual plants. With how rarely they appear in the market down here, I couldn't pass them up and I expect you to tell me they're something common or I've been scammed. I made my peace with that. I assume all the pages talking genetics, selective breeding, hybridization, and you just rambling on about things makes sense. I think I understand one in five words but I still read them.

They're torn on whether to mention what happened, ultimately deciding against it. By the time you got this letter, you'd still have a couple months left by their estimation, and they didn't want to trouble you with this.

By the way, I might have some new scars when you get back. Nothing large or gnarly but I was hit by a bunch of rock fragments and some broke skin. Or maybe they'll all heal fine. Talk about amateurs. There's so many ways to block a door—you can even bust a hinge so it's hard to open, giving you enough time to pretend nothing was happening. They also have one of the best lookouts there with them. You saved my horny ass so many times, you could teach them a thing or two on how to be discrete. I still can't believe you chattered to enforcers at length because I was careless and needed time. Wouldn't have faulted you for running, especially since you'd just gotten out of Stillwater. Instead you risked yourself to keep them from finding me. Not sure if I ever said it but thank you for that. Keep being brilliant, no matter what anyone else says. - Ran

Day 52: Zaun

Having the energy and being tired of Ran being so skittish, Sevika orders them to stay behind after a briefing, ignoring the curious looks of everyone shuffling out. She didn't want to do this at work but Ran wasn't leaving her any other option. Sevika can see they're wary of this but also the slight droop in their shoulders indicating they knew what was coming.

Not wanting to draw this out, she's blunt in telling Ran nothing had happened and to stop acting like it did. Even if they did have sex, it wasn't like they hadn't before or that Ran wasn't in an open relationship so stop acting like it was the end of the world.

Besides, they were too damned drunk and Sevika was too tired from adding Silco's work to her already overflowing plate.

Ran continues fidgeting but they their shoulders come up at learning nothing happened before admitting they didn't remember much of anything.

After getting them to agree to stop avoiding her, Sevika fills them in.

Day 53: Zaun

For the first time in nearly two weeks, Ran sleeps through the night. They felt silly for completely misreading the situation with Sevika but, in their defense, it was not hard to. Avoiding Sevika after had been all them, though, and they deserved being called out on it.

Ran was glad they hadn't bothered you with the needless drama of it all.

When they read your letter, they don't hesitate to do as instructed—they might have been spending time at your place just to be surrounded by things you liked and which smelled like you. They were also extremely curious as to why buttercups of all things got to you.

Standing in your living room, Ran flips through one of your books before staring at a page, now understanding why it got to you. A bit of an extreme reaction but it was just like you to express complex feelings with flowers and scientific names.

They felt the same way about you, though, and had apparently gone on at length about it to Sevika. Knowing they'd have to tell you about that brings their mood down slightly but not enough to wipe the lopsided grin off their face or to stop stroking the page.

Day 57:

Since the post office and general store were one in the same, Nic comes with you today when you go to send Ran their daily update. He wanted to get something for his siblings and the general store was one of the few places in town to get anything this time of year. Despite being from Piltover, you enjoyed his company and he was easy to get along with. Minor faux pas happened from time to time but you took them in stride.

After sending your mail, you join him in looking around, clarifying his questions if needed. There's a toy he considers getting his sister but it's the wrong animal. It would do as-is but she was all about windfarers right now, though he knows how little sense it makes to expect something like that to be sold in Freljord.

Talking himself into it, Nic takes the toy up but before he can pay, the postmaster stops him. She knew indecision when she saw it and since he was a friend of yours, she'd see if the person who made the toys would be able to make a custom one since it wouldn't be too different than his usual offerings of local wildlife.

If he couldn't or Nic changes his mind, she'd hang onto the toy Nic had picked out so he wouldn't go home empty-handed.

When you go up with what you'd found, Nic's grinning at his luck.

Day 60:

With the break in the weather expected to last longer than usual, there's time to get everything else done and head up the ridge to check on the lichen. Little about lichen or algae or fungi interest you yet you still listen with rapt attention as the professor talks about how the former is a symbiosis of the other two and how that allows the lichen to survive in an environment neither could survive individually.

That was the basis of your theory on how to remediate the sump and air around Zaun and one of the reasons you were here. Other such attempts invariably failed or only addressed a symptom, and often were on too grand a scale to succeed. Your plan wasn't to fix everything at once, someone else could do that, you only wanted to stop the degradation going on and clean up the worst of the toxins, creating a foundation someone else could build off of.

But to do that, you needed something that could survive those same toxins, at least long enough to make some amount of difference. If something could survive out here, maybe it could survive in the undercity—you already had part of the equation there.

And there was no better person to learn from than the professor.

For the undercity, you could put up with this cold and an icy boot.

[…] Freaked Simone out earlier by accident. We're between storms and the professor wanted to check on the lichen we found so we all went up. Some snowdrops came up since last time and I haven't seen them in person before so I went to get a better look. Turns out I forgot all about the stream beside them. I didn't notice the crunch or that my left foot went through the ice, not until Simone started yanking me away. In the moment she'd forgotten that leg's prosthetic and I was just confused. She was thoroughly embarrassed when we both realized what happened and I appreciate the sentiment, I just wish it didn't involve me getting my shoulder nearly dislocated. I need to get the whole thing looked at anyway but I told her I'd set up an appointment when I get back, so if you could do that, that would be great. Odds are it's fine but I'm no expert and it's hard to find replacement parts around here.

You hesitate at ending the letter there—navigating this change with Ran was proving to be a challenge. You knew damn near everything about them but trying to figure out whether you said too much or too little…

Okay, you're going to tease me for this and maybe it's too much but I miss you. I miss home, of course, but I miss you especially. This distance thing is hard, especially when no one's around to commiserate with.

It would be weeks of wondering if you'd come on too strong but they were worth it.

Day 62:

… I should have just told you these were being monitored. Thanks for the plants. Can't wait to see what they are and to make sure they're actually plants this time. It can be such a pain finding something new and not everyone is receptive to a stranger taking cuttings. … How did you get hit by rocks? Your job is dangerous but doesn't typically involve rocks unless you took up mining while I've been gone. Theo's actually come around and him and Marci announced to everyone they're together. I didn't think they were that serious or would be so formal about it—I thought there was going to be a proposal with how they gathered everyone. I'd forgotten all about that. I admit my first instinct was to run but I wasn't going to let you face them alone. Pretty sure they thought I was drunk or had a concussion with how I was rambling on and kept moving to poke their gear. Gotta say, they did not like that but it worked to distract them and buy you time. We're in this together and the occasional bruise is worth it.

You didn't have much else to report this time and anything marginally interesting had been wiped from your head at that last line. Ran had been calling you brilliant for as long as you'd known each other. A bit of an exaggeration, you're sure, but whenever you started to doubt yourself or wonder if the path you were on was the right one, they were there either encouraging you or setting you straight.

You'd thought this trip was going well, all things considered, so you didn't know how much you needed that until now.

Day 62: Zaun

As soon as they get to you mentioning that tinpot dictator, Ran bristles. You always downplayed how bad he was—it had taken ages to get you out from under his thumb and to stay there even though you hated him and wanted nothing more than to leave once he put you to work again.

Do I have to go there and knock some sense back into you? For as long as I've known you, it's been plants this, plants that, even when you were scared to bring it up. Not dirt, not machinery, not even mushrooms. Plants. Don't you dare think of switching just because you think it's more useful or what people expect from you. Remember how unhappy you were when we met? Because I do and you are sorely mistaken if you think I'll sit by and let you go back to that. It's great that you want to help but Zaun was here before you and will still be here after. There's only so much that can be asked of anyone and you're putting up with a lot just by being there. Fuck, I need to cool off. I'll write you again tomorrow. - Ran

Day 63: Zaun

Okay, I've cooled off. Well, mostly. You know how I get when you bring up that man but hitting someone helped. I looked it up and I hope you aren't going to start calling me buttercup. It's sweet and there's a certain amount of pride that I was able to do that to you from a distance without trying (or even knowing that was possible) but I have a reputation to maintain. If it got back to the guys at work… Sevika took one of your seedlings. Not sure if she'll give it back once you get home or if it will even survive that long. She doesn't have the greenest thumb. But it was my fault for leaving them at the bar. Sure I work with thieves but I didn't imagine one would take a pot that's more dirt than plant—they aren't you. […]

Day 64: Zaun

No idea what you said to Ran. Normally they're easygoing but a bar fight broke out yesterday and I had to pull them off some guy. Not sure if they started the fight or just took advantage of it but all they said about it was the guy deserved it before they stormed off. Feels like I'm missing something. I'm inclined to believe them but they've never said anything about it before. I preferred them moping about. If you didn't say anything, maybe you could talk some sense into them. They haven't listened to me since they thought we slept together but they listen to you. Might even tell you what's going on. - Sevika

Day 70:

You're busy looking at specimens under a microscope when you start sniffing. You aren't sure what you might smell but alarms are going off in your head and you'd learned to trust your nose even when your head was still catching up or if someone thought you were imagining it.

Pushing back, the only person other than you in the lab is Simone, oblivious that something was wrong. Instead of wasting precious moments convincing her to leave, you grab her and take her out into the falling snow, ignoring her protests and attempts to free herself.

[…] Been learning lots so thanks for pushing me to do this. Also fuck you for pushing me to do this. It's not that cold, you said. It's not that long, you said. You'll be too busy to notice anything, you said. Well guess what? It's beyond cold, the days drag on, and I'm not as busy as you might think. Had a bit of a scare earlier. Still not sure what happened to cause it but blackdamp started taking over the lab. The only reason I noticed at all was having come across pockets of it before. Simone was not happy until I was able to explain why I hauled her out suddenly. The building's currently airing out and the professor's staying at the tavern until the source is found. I bet someone just put the wrong thing in something else and caused a reaction. Really, the professor's lucky it happened during the day instead of when they were trying to sleep. Of course now my hip's bothering me. I can't even take the leg off—the connection is stiff and I don't want to risk breaking it when there's no way to repair or replace it. The sauna helps with the hip but I have to be careful not to let the leg get too hot. As opposed to it being too cold the rest of the time. I can't remember if there was ever a mechanism to balance the temperature but if there was, these temperatures are beyond its limit. It's all a pain in the ass. Or hip, as it were. […]

Day 72: Zaun

Reading through your latest letter, Ran sighs as they run a hand through their hair, completely unsurprised. They've had to stop you from slipping into sump waters, keep you from climbing over gates in Piltover, and even kept you from walking into deadly gases you were too distracted to immediately notice, so you stepping through ice just went on the list of things you've done or nearly done.

It was as if all sense of self-preservation disappeared when you saw something green.

Wish I could say I'm surprised you stood in freezing water without noticing but I'm really not. I bet you walked around after, too. Prosthetic or not, that was incredibly foolish and you should really know better considering you've had it longer than not. I'll make an appointment first thing tomorrow. At least you have some sense because I'd drag you to one the moment you get back even if you didn't say anything. I swear, you're going to make me go grey. Speaking of grey, you should send something to Sevika. She pretends she doesn't, but she misses you. I'm sure that plant she took is near death now. You're right, I will tease you (when do I not?) but nah, it's not too much and I miss you, too. Why'd you have to listen to me and go on this trip when you could have stayed right here? - Ran

Day 74:

As soon as the storm dies down enough, you're out the door to walk off some frustration so you didn't strangle Sebastian. He kept making jabs to the point everyone else in the dorm was waiting for you to snap.

The weather broke before you did, but barely.

On the way, you run into Nic, both of you being puzzled that the other is out but when you say he's lucky to have been stuck with Saf, Retha, and Kai, some sort of expression crosses his face before disappearing.

Maybe they weren't as considerate as you thought.

Day 74: Zaun

Sevika collapses onto a back-alley couch with a long sigh. One day keeping the little hellion from starting a war with glitter or a body count—or both—and she was exhausted. You actually volunteered to wrangle Jinx to keep her out of Silco's hair.

Perhaps you'd breathed in more mining gases than you thought.

Day 75: Zaun

After hearing about the day Sevika had had, Ran was prepared to bug her but decides against it after seeing the bags under her eyes. Instead of poking fun at her or pointing out the bits of glitter embedded in her arm, they ask how the plant was doing and if Sevika needed any help with it.

Too worn out to argue, Sevika gratefully accepts—it wasn't just the previous day that had gotten to her, she'd been up late trying to figure out how to keep that damned plant from dying.

Day 76: Zaun

[…] I'd heard of what people could get up to when snowed in but that makes half your team now. Is there something in the water up there and can you bring me some? Umm… the rocks… there may have been an incident involving explosives. I'm fine, don't worry. It wasn't that big a deal. How is this the first time I'm hearing about those enforcers roughing you up?! You never said anything and I thought you were just breathing hard from nerves and talking so much. - Ran

Day 77:

It had been strange not immediately replying to Ran but you thought of how if this had been in person, you'd have waited for them to cool off if that's what they wanted, especially knowing the whole reason they were wound so tightly was because of you.

You didn't want to wait too long to reply, though, and thankfully you didn't have to.

[…] I hope that person at least deserved it and you didn't break your hand. I remember. The highlight of my week was crawling through tunnels tight even for a kid but it was better than being around all that machinery and got me some peace and quiet for a bit. Thought that would be my life, a miserable little cog to be used up and tossed aside. Then I was dropped in front of some kid who inexplicably took a shining to me even after I wrecked their hideout. It was so much easier back then. Feel free to use anything at my place to keep that seedling alive, but I'm sure you already figured that out. Hopefully you did otherwise it may be too late when you get this. P.S. It didn't even occur to me to call you that but thanks for the idea.

Day 78:

When you get a letter from Zaun, you think it's from Ran and are surprised to see it wasn't. Ran had said Sevika missed you by you didn't know she cared enough to write.

Of course most of her letter had to do with Ran.

Did the guy happen to have a prominent scar on his right cheek and another going from his forehead into his hairline? If so, that wasn't some guy and he definitely deserved it. As long as he doesn't show up again, I doubt Ran'll do anything like that again. "Thought"? You two back together? By moping, do you mean long, heavy sighs and looking wistful when they think no one's watch, looking like they'll start bawling at the slightest inconvenience, and the like? Like how they got when that brothel worker they really like moved away? I hear that you have a new plant. Here's what you need to do… […]

Day 79:

Between Nic's reaction the other day and your gut, you confront Saf, Kai, and Retha on his behalf—he was too polite to say anything himself. His parents were already giving him shit for not having heirs, he didn't need people to assume his lack of interest in sex meant they could do anything leading up to or involving sex around him. Especially if he was locked in there with them.

The trio has the decency to be embarrassed, having taken his silence as permission and getting caught up in the moment, and start coming up with how best to apologize.

Day 80:

Success! Maybe. It's all still mostly theory but I achieved a proof-of-concept, albeit by species from the same climate and the fungus was one that already readily forms symbiosis. The colonies around the sump are a different species so I'll have to talk to a local mycologist—if they reject all the foreign plants, it's back to square one. The good news is a lot of plants here could work and might actually survive the underground. At least for a bit. Like I said, it's all still theory until I can see what accepts what and how the resulting hybrids react to actual conditions, and see how stable they are. It wouldn't do if they only survived a day or two but even a few weeks may be fine. It all depends on their uptake. I'm including a more detailed copy of my theory, notes, and specific steps to take with this letter. I'd love to see this through but it's too important to keep to myself and one thing I've learned is nothing is guaranteed. Of course this means I need to get as many samples of as many plants as possible and this time you can't complain about it. Not all will survive collection or the trip back, and not all will survive both that and their new home. It's currently… late. I'm not sure how late but everyone else is asleep but I'm wide awake. I can hear the wind outside so I can't even go to the lab. Of course the professor would kick me out so they could sleep. You know that one coffee stall you swear adds something to make their coffee more palatable and potent? It feels like I chugged a few cups of that. I know most of this probably doesn't make sense to you. One wrong calculation and the whole thing's useless, but if it works maybe I'll be able to do some good. Enough about me, though. What's this about you and Sevika getting together? Or not together? Casual? I can't keep track and Sevika only briefly mentioned it. […]

Day 80: Zaun

It's too soon to tell if Ran's intervention was enough but Sevika's seedling had at least stopped deteriorating and was looking slightly better. They knew a surprising amount and knew their way around your place and what everything did.

Day 82: Zaun

Believe me, I'm kicking myself for encouraging you to go. Thought it would be over in the blink of an eye, not drag on like it is. I thought I only had to worry about hypothermia and you fighting a bear, now I have to worry about you asphyxiating, too? I thought you scientists were supposed to be smart. Good thing you noticed and those buildings are so drafty, though for it to build up that much that quickly… If I find out it was this Sebastian fellow and it was deliberate… That connection is a simple slide and lock but it doesn't move? At all? Glad you're getting it checked out. Did you bring your cream or can you get something similar there? It might not fix the underlying problem but if you can numb the hip, you could at least get some sleep. - Ran

Day 83:

Given how you found out, you were surprised how mindful Marci and Theo were now. Not once since they'd announced they were together did they do more than hold hands or snuggle when anyone else was around or might interrupt.

If I'm to call Sevika small, I'm also going to tell her you called her old. Whatever she does after is out of my hands. But I did send her something. You've probably already figure that out by the time you get this, though. I gave her a list of how to care for a mystery seedling and told her to ask you for anything else. She's concerned about you starting fights now. […]

Day 85:

You hadn't thought much of it at the time but after thinking it over, you decided you should write to Sevika properly. The problem was, you didn't know what that looked like. She was nice once you got to know her but she never struck you as the sentimental type. But then, she took a seedling?

Sure she listened to your ramblings but she'd never expressed interest in botany and it could just be out of a sense of obligation given you were a friend-now-partner of Ran's.

There were times you'd even flirted with each other but nothing ever came of it so you'd moved on.

Now Ran said she missed you? They'd just dropped that on you with no direction.

Didn't know you were interested in flora talk when there wasn't a stiff drink or deck of cards involved. You're always so busy, I thought sending you anything would be an annoyance and you have enough of those, but now I'm wondering if I should have sent more. I can feel your eyes narrowing from here so yes, Ran suggested this. They didn't know I already wrote you something, though. Time delays and all. You're mechanically inclined, aren't you? Say a limb got water damage, how would that go? […]

Day 87:

With the end being less than a month away, it was hard to concentrate on anything even though there were still over three weeks to go, plenty of time to work on something. Your thoughts kept turning to home, though, and you couldn't shake the feeling something had happened. The feeling gets so strong, the others notice.

However, your withdrawal and listlessness is interpreted to be that of general homesickness and strain coming from your leg you were no longer able to hide. Thinking all you need is to be distracted and have someone do heavier work for you, they set about doing just that and you don't bother to correct them.

Ran's letter did nothing to improve your mood or assuage the feeling something was happening in Zaun you weren't there for.

After convincing the others you were fine, you wait until everyone's asleep to respond, not wanting an audience.

Hope you're okay. Can't help but

You stop yourself from continuing. As much as you wanted to seek comfort even if it meant being told you were overthinking things that weren't even there, that would only worry them needlessly and do neither of you any good. You just needed sleep—it would be fine in the morning.

On a fresh sheet of paper, you start again.

What do you mean explosives?! Why were you anywhere near some to begin with? It is a big deal and Silco's lucky I'm all the way out here otherwise I'd barge into his office demanding to know why he's dragging you around those. You'd think he'd know the danger of them. Place them wrong, use too much or too little, don't set up enough structural support… Even if you do everything right, you can still release gases or expose things that should never be exposed to air. So many things can go wrong and when they go wrong, it's a good day when someone is only injured instead of killed. Don't want you to be one of them. Sigh. Now I'm the one who needs to cool off and it's too late to take that merc up on her offer to spar. Maybe I'll just toss myself in a snowbank. Plants, plants, plants. Cold. Leg. Plants, plants. You know the drill by now.

Day 90: Zaun

It was your old boss so he definitely deserved it. If Sevika hadn't pulled me off him, I'm not sure what I would have done, but it was cathartic and let me work off some steam. Still can't believe what he had you do. You falling through the ceiling was the best thing that happened to me. It's a good thing I didn't wait for your permission because that seedling would be dead by now. It was nearly dead when I saw it. Let me know what I owe you for because saving that plant was no easy feat. - some kid P.S. How did you not think of that already? Can I take back what I said so you never think of it?

Day 90: Zaun

He might have? I was too busy to get a good look. He hasn't shown his face again but if he does, I may be slow to act since both of you agree he deserves it. Killing a paying customer isn't the best for business or keeping a low profile, but I'll look the other way in this case. When I say moping, it's all that but worse. They pull it together at work but when they think no one's watching… The reason they thought we slept together was because they got absolutely plastered and followed me home. You know how they get when they have too much so they spent the whole time rambling about how great you are and how much they missed you. They even crawled into my bed to keep rambling when I just wanted to sleep. If I knew they'd get weird about it, I'd have kicked them out. So no, we aren't back together. You saw what happened when we tried. - Sevika

Day 92: Zaun

The emotion of the day was puzzlement. First Sevika asking about your old boss in earnest then you asking if the two of them were together or hooking up again… Whatever were you talking about?

Add in all the technical science-y stuff and Ran felt they didn't understand more than they understood.

Best and worse coffee in all of Zaun. Great if you need to wake up fast but don't have it if you need to sleep any time soon. So a strange thing happened. Sevika came up to me and asked about your old boss. That's your story to tell but then she said you signed off on any and all further violence against him? Am I getting that right? I'm not complaining, I'm just surprised you got her on board with it. Honestly I think she might beat him herself even if I'm not there. And no, we aren't getting back together and we didn't hook up. It was a misunderstanding on my part. I had a bit too much so didn't remember anything about why I was at her place or in her bed. Didn't tell you because I didn't know how I felt then learned what (didn't) happen. Maybe I should have anyway? You'd think I'd be better at this but I guess we should talk when you get back? - Ran

Day 95:

The group's pidgin had developed well thanks to the wall of words and finding out scientific names were more similar than not, but this was still a good opportunity and you'd been meaning to work on your Vastayan, though Saf was already outpacing you with it.

Marci's patient with you, though, and you now understand the basics. In return, you were able to teach her some of the curses you'd learned in Zaun.

[…] It wasn't him and that's probably the only time you'll catch me defending him. It could have been the result of several people and was a complete accident. Now that I've had some time to calm down, it might not have been able to get to lethal amounts but I'm not taking any chances with it. That's what concerns me. It was so easy to take off before, now it doesn't even budge. I can't get enough leverage and no one else knows what to look for. Dare I say it? And I used the cream up. Didn't think I'd need it so didn't bring a fresh tin, which I'm now regretting. There's an apothecary that makes a salve but it doesn't do much for me, just takes the edge off. You'd think one of us would remember that metal saps heat and contracts in the cold. […]

Day 95: Zaun

Ran hovers beside Sevika, fingers twitching, as a woman who insulted chem-barons to their face hesitates on to prune burned leaves. The mystery plants were a hardy bunch but this one had only survive thanks to Ran's intensive care and would be stunted going forward.

It was finally strong enough for Sevika to care for it—with supervision—and if she wanted to keep it, she had to learn.

Fighting dirty now, are we? Since I apparently have a hair-trigger, I'm not sure if you want to go down that route. There's some stories I could tell her. - Ran

Day 96: Zaun

Unlike Ran, Sevika waits until she's home to see what you sent. That didn't mean she wasn't curious—it was far too soon to get a reply so this letter was something else. She'd never expressed interest in being pen pals so either something happened or Ran had done some meddling.

She chuckles when you don't even deny they did.

The drinks and gambling are incidental. After hearing people lie, make excuses, or talk about fungal infections all day every day, it's nice to hear someone being earnest. I don't usually have anything to add but that doesn't mean I'm not listening or not enjoying it. Water damage… It depends. Is it in the plating? Joints? Mechanisms? It also depends on what type of corrosion there is, if there's pitting, and if there's any deposits building up. There's coatings you can get and some metals are better at withstanding it than others, but coatings get scratched and if the prosthetic uses a cheaper metal… This is about your leg, isn't it? Ran told me you were having trouble with it. I can take a look at it when you get back if you want, but it might not be worth trying to save. It was already old and you've been pushing its limits—something's going to give eventually. I'll get you a deal with the Scrap Hackers to get a new one. Stop worrying about if you should have sent more or not. Too late to change it now. - Sevika

Day 97: Zaun

It's getting late to reply but even if you get their response only a few days before you start the trek home, that's a few days where you won't worry and can think of what to say next.

Did you tell Sevika the stick story? Maybe it was a coincidence but she called someone a stick in the mud. While looking at me. While smirking. I swore you to secrecy for that. Knew I shouldn't have brought them up but you would have found out eventually but maybe it was for the best I mentioned the explosives because you trying to barge into Silco's office would put a lot of people in awkward positions. I'm still here. No lasting damage. Let's leave it at that, yeah? But spill it—what's wrong? - Ran P.S. That merc was flirting with you. How did you get by before me?

Day 100:

Without much new to report, you decide to send Sevika sketches so she didn't feel left out. You weren't the best artist but it was better than nothing. Dropping one off first-thing, the postmaster hands you two letters—you'd developed a rapport so she knew you now. She knew all of you to varying degrees but you spent the most time talking with her.

After reading them over, you break your habit of only writing at night.

First you write Ran:

[…] Got a letter at the same time as yours from Sevika saying she'll look the other way if that bastard comes back. Not sure he will but I'm not going to try to talk you out of it, and that's about as close to Sevika giving her blessing as you'll get. She really helped you out, huh? Haven't seen you get that drunk in a while. Not sure how many more letters I'll send, at least with any substance. I said I'd write you every day and damned if I'm going to stop now. Hopefully you're also counting the days and have come to the same conclusion. P.S. You cannot.

Then Sevika:

Got a letter from Ran confirming who he was—he was definitely the problem. I'm guessing they were also a bit high-strung when he showed up but they've had it out for him for a while now. Thanks for watching out for them and putting up with their drunken antics. Not sure when exactly the last time I took care of them when they were like that but it involved stroking their head while they alternated between babbling and bawling and refusing to drink some water. Add in being in a moping mood… I'm surprised you didn't murder them. I love them but they can be a pain in the ass at times. Not sure if Ran told you what the expected delay is for letters but don't bother replying now. Well, I guess I probably should have told you that before, but definitely don't reply to anything past this point.

The postmaster is surprised to see you so soon. You ask if she can hang onto letters and send them out for you—you had an idea but it would only work if she could. You barely finished asking when she said she would with a twinkle in her eye.

Day 102:

All of you had come here expecting to return home after, to stay on the same path laid out for you, but for some of you, that had changed.

Saf, Retha, and Kai would go as far as Demacia Retha and Kai would have an easier time getting home from there. Saf wasn't particularly committed to Noxus and wanted to get a feel for Demacia before deciding what to do. Unlike Marci and Theo, the three of them weren't set on staying together but were considering their options.

Marci and Theo had already decided on what they were doing. They'd stay in Piltover for a couple extra days before splitting up, temporarily, so Theo could bring someone else up to speed before moving to Ixtal to rejoin Marci there. She had a lot more to lose and was committed to her people while Theo didn't mind helping her with her own research or mind the idea of being a trophy husband.

Sounded like it was more than "a bit". I'd have liked it if you had but don't beat yourself up over it. What about it made you unsure how you felt? We probably should talk. I'm agreeing with you but even then it sounds a bit ominous.

Day 105:

After a storm, the saunas at the tavern were always busy so you tried to come at different times and often alone or with someone who wouldn't want much steam but you wanted to get a final session in. You weren't the only one. Crammed together with Simone, Kai, Nic, and Retha, you enjoy the heat as it worms its way into and loosens your muscles.

On the way back, you take a quick detour to send Ran a short reply. By now, the postmaster knew who and where you sent letters and for this one you only needed a scrap of paper and something to write with.

And I could tell her your new nickname. If we go down, we go down together.

Day 107:

As eager as you were to get back to Zaun and see Ran again, packing's still bittersweet. These were people you'd come to care about and you'd miss them. Well, most of them—some of Sebastian's edges had been sanded off but there were plenty of others and he still looked down on anything and anyone from the undercity.

It was perhaps a bit early to pack up but so much had been scattered between the dorms, it took time to sort out where everything was and who owned what.

You also didn't feel particularly useful, not being able to move as fluidly as you had when you first got here. Compensating for your reduced mobility was taking its toll and you couldn't hide it anymore.

Day 110

Retha was more than happy to sketch your request though she didn't understand why you wanted it or why you started laughing when you see it. After assuring her it was for an in-joke, you slip it in an envelope and take the bundle of mail to the postmaster.

It's the final time you'll see her so you aren't in much of a hurry and it seems fitting that this time you're handing over more than one or two letters. You'll be back in Zaun within the week as long as the weather holds but you make a plan to have letters and sketches sent as if you were still here.

Day 111:

The hike down to the harbour is long and slow, winter storms had covered the path and you weren't the only one leaving with more than you'd come with. Even after getting used to hiking up and down the ridge countless times, navigating unbroken snow while carrying more than just some tools, a notebook, and maybe a bag was a challenge.

By the time you make it to the docks, your back is seizing up while your hip throbs and phantom pain burns your missing knee. It's the final even you'll all be together but you're forced to call it an early night.

Day 113:

It's late when you get into Piltover but it was lucky you were here at all—a late winter squall had threatened to trap your ship in the shelter of the harbour. Staying there would have been the smart thing to do, the safe choice. It also meant waiting for potential days.

That's when you learned the captain of the ship liked the challenge and was a bit infamous for venturing into hazardous waters and weather.

You made good time with the wind at your aft.

Only to end up waiting on airships.

You were supposed to get back in the early afternoon but night had fallen and the day workers were long gone. Except for the stacks of goods set out to be moved onto airships at first light, you wouldn't have known this as a trading hub. Since it's so late, Nic offers to put you up for a night but you were impatient to get home with it being so close.

Waving farewell to what remained of your group, you walk away with growing anticipation and apprehension.

As you pass one of the piles of crates, "'Bout time you showed up. Thought you got lost."

All at once, you come to an abrupt stop, your breath hitches, and your heart skips a beat. Ran's voice is rougher than you remember and yours is suddenly missing. Ran's eyebrow quirks up after you try and fail to speak. Swallowing, you try again.

"How'd I get lost on an airship?" you ask.

"You'd find a way," they grin. Hopping down, they stroll over, wrapping you in a tight hug. Everything falls away as you return the fierceness with prickling at your eyes. After standing like that for an unknown amount of time, the approach of boots and chattering snaps you out of your reverie.

Pushing Ran against the crates, you press close and hold a hand over their mouth. Surprised, Ran gives you a quizzical look but doesn't make a noise or resist. Relying on the dark and hope that no one would look back, the group passes. With a sigh of relief, you pull back when they're far enough away.

"Not exactly complaining," Ran says, "but weren't those your friends?"

"Yeah."

"So why hide?"

That was a good question and you didn't really know yourself. "Habit, I guess?" You start picking up your discarded bags and your wheeled trunk. "And you're still a bit of a mystery to them. A mystery who threatened them. Guess I want to keep some things secret."

Ran takes the bags from you and sets them back down. "And because I might kick one of them off the dock?"

"And because you might kick one of them off the dock," you agree. Going back to the warm embrace, a few minutes pass as you let the group pull further away and make sure no one runs back to collect something forgotten. You're sure Ran wants to meet everyone but if you wanted them to remain a mystery, they'd stay here.

"You were late getting in," they say as they start picking up your bags and trunk again. "Made the topsiders nervous and had a nice chat with some enforcers." They hand you the lightest bag, knowing you wouldn't want them carrying everything.

Taking it, "Didn't think you'd still be here," you admit.

"Said I would, didn't I?" Ran sets out at a moderate pace and you follow. "By the way, we're going to a coming of age ceremony in a few weeks." You had no idea how they did that—at least this time it wasn't to a birth or funeral.

By the time you get home, your back aches and your hip felt like it was on fire. After trudging through snow or standing on a ship's deck in choppy water, you'd have thought this would be easy—you didn't even need to carry anything substantial—but you were limping bad and sweat clung to you from the exertion.

According to Ran, you looked like someone who'd listened when told to kick rocks and you felt like it. You wanted nothing more than to collapse and wash the sweat and salt from your pores but you couldn't yet. Not all the cuttings had survived the brief stint across the world but those that had you wanted to get set up as soon as possible.

With Ran's help, you transfer the survivors while they fill you in on what all you missed and what they'd been up to since they couldn't put much in writing. At one point, you say it sounded like the chem-barons were coppicing instead of properly excising resistance but Ran doesn't quite understand what you mean and you aren't sure you're explaining it well.

There was a book you had, though, that had a handy illustration so you go to get it but don't come back immediately. After a couple minutes, Ran follows you to see what was taking so long but anything they might have said dies on their lips as they spot you completely passed out on your bed.

Smiling softly, they wipe their hands on their pants, set the book you'd grabbed on the nightstand, and wake you just enough to get you under the covers. You're fully asleep before they finish tucking you in. Any other time they'd help you out of your clothes or take your prosthetic off for you but you must be completely exhausted and, if your limp was any indication of how much you'd been minimizing things, you hadn't been getting much sleep for a while.

Sheets could be washed and one more night wearing your prosthetic wouldn't hurt at this point. You needed the sleep more and from what Sevika had said, the leg was destined for the scrap heap anyway.

Shutting off the lights, they retreat from your room but leave the door cracked slightly. It was doubtful you'd need anything but if you started having a nightmare, Ran wanted to be able to hear right away.

As quietly as they can, they finish transferring the cuttings and fix the ones you made mistakes with. You might not always think it but they do pay attention to how you do things and the delicate balance to keep things alive down here that were never meant to survive the underground. They'd even looked up how best to keep alpine and alpine-adjacent plants alive after learning you'd be bringing a bunch of clippings back.

It also helped that they'd been reading through your care guides to keep their seedlings alive and pull Sevika's back from the brink.

Still high from you being back—even if you were currently unconscious the next room over—Ran starts unpack the rest of your bags and trunk. Most of what you'd brought back were the plants but not all and you always hated unpacking.

Pulling out your clothing, anything that needs washing gets tossed in one pile while they refold the rest. Even with your attempts at folding, days of travel and digging through your clothes had turned them into vaguely folded balls that would wrinkle if left like they were. Your notebooks make less sense but are easier to sort—you had the habit of scribbling the date or order on the inside cover.

It would be faster for you to organize them but Ran was happy to get you started.

The rest is miscellaneous items but a few catch their attention with their odd shapes and wrapping. Puzzled, they pick one up only for their eyes to go wide in recognition as they hear sloshing. You'd never mentioned getting souvenirs and they were dying to know what you got them but, reluctantly, they put the bottle back and move that bag to the side.

If you wanted to surprise people, they wouldn't ruin that for you.

After running out of things to do and reading a bit on your couch, the day and all the waiting catches up to them. You're still fast asleep when they crawl in beside you. There was a lot they wanted to say but it could wait—right now it was good just to have you back.

—

A/N: So this started off as something mostly different in January but it never quite meshed. Picked it up and redid it as a birthday present to myself but it Never. Stopped. Growing. Birthday's long since passed and this became so long, I didn't get to it becoming Ranvika x Reader.

As for buttercups... I was looking for a plant that survives in H2 zones and did a doubletake when I saw the glacier buttercup AKA Ranunculus glacialis. I was just looking for a throwaway flower not a whole plot point and origin story for a nickname I hadn't considered until that moment.

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