Here we go!
Iben x Gn! Reader
Warnings: mentions of death, mourning, and depression
When she lost her parents in that terrible accident... You didn't know what to say... After all... what can you even say when something like this happens? "My condolences"? "I'm sorry this happened to you"? "You don't deserve this"? You didn't know what to do. So you just stood there. Heartbroken for her, trying to reach out, something, anything... Instead, you opted to give her what she needed and what was harder to give—space.
She needed space; you made sure she knew you were there if she needed anything.... But...
A few days passed... And you saw her less and less until she didn't come out of her house at all. She wasn't responding to anyone, and that's what made you terrified. You tried to visit her, but she never opened her door.
One desperate day you hunch your shoulders in defeat; she wasn't opening the door... You were considering calling the police or the fire department when suddenly you see a strange white top hat on the floor. You look around, not spotting anyone. You approached the hat when it suddenly moved away as if caught by wind... Except... you didn't feel anything, not even a breeze... On the floor, in the same place it had been, there was a pamphlet. Picking it up, you see it's advertising a theater to see the amazing Balan... Riiight... The illustration showed a strange man with a top hat that covered half his face. Recognizing the top hat, you look up to where the top hat was, only for it to have vanished completely.
Considering entering a theater right now was completely insane, but you felt something... a strange pull towards it... hope. It was completely illogical to feel hope in this situation coming from a visit to a theater, but it did... And the place was conveniently close by. So... you went.
The building looked a bit... void. Like there was a show you just missed, but that didn't stop your feet from heading towards it, nor your hand from opening the strangely unlocked door and entering.
Looking around, it does feel like you just missed something, but before you can shout "Hello?" for anyone to hear, there is a very tall, very glittery dressed... Being in front of you. Spotting you, the tall, strange, grinning creature smiled happily, and before you can scream, he's on you, examining your heart, hurling you to a chair, and dancing around you with great fanfare as he hands you a strange-looking...
Chicken? And pushes you through a door all the while speaking in rhyme.
Landing unceremoniously on what was called the Tim island... Yes... Apparently the little chick creature was called a Tim. Trying to recover from what you can only describe as complete madness, you freeze as you see a place covered in snow.
The tall showman, Balan, addressed you a little bit more calmly now.
Balan:
"You wish to help your friend.
Well, you better see that to the end.
That is her heart now, cold and freezing.
So this means you better start moving."
You: This... is her heart?
Your voice is sad and heartbroken.
You: I should have been there for her. I should have done something. I-
Balan interrupts you. Not unkind, quite the opposite, his voice a small but unwavering light.
Balan:
"Moping about yesterday doesn't help your friend.
Present actions, however, may just mend a heart."
A strange determination sets in you, and with a nod, you request the tall maestro for help. So you go through her stage; you fumble and fall but still stand tall. Anything to help her, and in this strange world you actually believe you are making a difference. You defeat Negati and the final boss after much effort, sacrifice, and the help of Balan, Tims, and the own denizens living in her heart.
After thanking Balan and returning to the world, you race towards her home. As you arrive, you see her opening her door. Her face is still a frown; her smile as she sees you is weak, but you smile radiantly at her effort and hug her as tightly as you missed her.
The next days weren't easy. Balan's Wonderworld can only do so much. So you take baby steps with her. You go with her where she needs to go. You remain with her as she finds the right therapist for her. Whatever her choices in her own healing journey, you make sure she knows you're there for her. Never just with words, but with actions as well. Some days are better than others, of course. But whenever you feel her slipping, you remain there to catch her. It takes patience, stubbornness even, but when she smiles... when you see her take those healing small steps, relief and happiness flood you, and how could you ever turn away from that?