vanillaheartzxx ♡

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[trampaferica-deactivated2023101]

“ CAN I PLEASE STAY HERE FOR THE NIGHT? ”

summary || a chemical leak from the bloatsap’s stomach acid forces Faithful to evacuate her room and share a room with Albus

word count || 4.1k

warnings || none?? (please correct if I’m wrong in the comments)

ppl tags || @dulcedude, @piffany666, @halscafe, @palilious, @nessypanda-art, @goodboyaudios , & @haradasaya (hope you don’t mind that I’m tagging you all here, I just say that you were all enjoy what I had and I wanted you guys to see it first.)

author’s note || Here’s my very first attempt at writing fan fiction!! I really hope I did both the characters and story justice, I hope it’s not all over the place and confusing. I’d like to thank everyone for their nice comments and feedback they have left me so far and I hope you all enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Have a lovely day/night wherever you are in the world 🩷🩷🩷

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—

“Go and rest, Sister. I’ll have ideas to run with you tomorrow. Albus…Well, we‘ll find a way to keep him quiet, I’m sure. Good night, Sister.” Devlin’s voiced echoed in her mind as she made her way to her bed chamber.

Faithful paced along the halls of the ship as she mentally planned out her evening to a tee: She would relax in the bathtub for a soak before dinner time with Albus and Devlin. Following that, she would doublecheck the ships diagnostics and anchor the ship. Last but not least, she would curl up in bed with her newest novel in hand.

Perfect.

Her hands reached the gilded doorknob of her bedchamber and twisted it. As she slid the door open, a cloud of black smoke enveloped her and the hall around her.

The smoke overflew in her lungs, making it impossible for her to breath as she covered her face with her sleeves.

Tears swelled up against her eyes as her hacking became more profuse by the second. She hands darted towards her throat, feeling out for the telecommunication device.

Faithful jabbed at a button, her only link to her confidantes

“Albus, Devlin!“ She hacked out, locking her eyes shut. “Come to my location, there’s smoke!”.

Faithful released her fingertip from the button, immediately shielding her face smokes. Eyes shut, Faithful hurried in her pacing across the hall as her coughing became vigorous.

Faithful‘s body collided against an unknown entity, which wrapped tangents around her

Her hands began soared out and began feeling out the sides of the entity, trying to make out what or who it even was. Feelings of cotton, metal and coarse skin against her fingertips encompassed her senses.

“Save the body touching for after we save you.“ Teased a familiar voice.

Albus!

Oh no, What is he doing here?

He can’t be here, whatever is out here is toxic.

He needs to get out.

He needs to leave, now!!

Faithful‘s mouth began unhinging open, preparing herself to yell out to exit the vicinity. Rough, Scarred hand flew to her mouth, shutting them for good and she tried to yell to them to leave.

”Don’t breathe in the fumes!!” Albus instructed her.

Faithful slid one eye open, feeling a lone tear trail down her face, as she saw Albus in front of her. His face trapped inside a sleek air-mask, wound tight and sealed shut from the dark mass plaguing them.

Devlin rushed to their side, mask bound tight to his face. He placed an hand on Faithful’s shoulder, assuring her safety before rushing to the source of the smoke.

“Vinny!” Albus called out. “Get this shit out of here!”

”What do you think I’m trying to do?” Devlin yelled back.

Albus turned to Faithful, still tight against his grasp.

”Hang on Faith, I’m gonna get ya out of here.” Albus reassured her.

Albus took a long gulp of air before he slid the air-mask off of his face and positioned it onto Faithful’s.

Albus gripped on to Faithful’s wrist, guiding her towards her safety.

—

Albus had sat Faithful down in the main level, sitting side by side as they exchanged the air-mask.

Albus took a long and slow gulp of air before exhaling it out again. He released the air-mask from his face and framed it once again on Faithful’s face.

Faithful took a long breath of the substance inside the air-mask. She felt Albus’ hand hover over her back as she inhaled.

The sound of pacing crescendoed, alerting both their attention to Devlin coming up. He slid off the air-mask from his frame and tussled with his hair a bit before facing them.

Faithful stood up from her spot and made her way towards Devlin.

“Devlin, what is going on?” Faithful asked.

”It must have something to do with the stomach acid that the Bloatsaps left behind.” Devlin explained.

“Is this gonna be a problem for us?”

“The fumes from the acid have proved to be lethal if inhaled for prolonged periods of time. For everyone’s safety, I needed to quarantine this zone for the being until the air is purified.”

“Okay, so How long is this going to take, Devlin?” Faithful questions, gesturing to the mess in front of them before resting her hands on her hip.

“A couple days, I presume.” Devlin assumes, scratching his temple. “I can pull out some equipment tomorrow to assist the ventilation process but other than that, all we can do is wait. This isn’t an exact science, Sister.”.

Perfect.

“You’ll need to find somewhere else to stay for now. I’m more than happy to give up my room.” Delvin offered.

“Oh Yeah, I bet you’d love that.” Albus commented, drawling out his words for emphasis.

“That’s very kind of you, Devlin. But I would feel more comfortable if you were near on standby.“ Faithful declined, holding her hand out. “Thank you anyway.“.

“You could always buddy up with me. I am your bodyguard and I do have the bigger room out of the three of us.” Albus spoke, throwing his arm over her shoulder.

Faithful groaned and shove his arm off of her with glare.

“That actually wouldn’t be the worst idea he’s came up with.” Devil noted, throwing a hand at him to Gesture.

“Wait, What?” Albus and Faithful asked, their voices echoing and bouncing off of each-others.

“His room is on the highest level away from the contamination and it would be wise to avoid it where you can.” Devlin illustrated for her.

Memories of their first days on the ship flooded her memory. Particularly, one where the pair bickered on who should get the Captain’s bedchamber.

Faithful argued that since she started this ‘group’ that they had, she should have the biggest room. Albus was quick to retort that she was paying him and with it, should come the luxury of a nice room to rest in.

For one reason or another than she couldn’t remember, she let Albus be the victor of their discussion.

“No, No. It’s fine, I’ll be fine.” Faithful declined, shaking her head. “I wouldn’t what to intrude on Albus and his…nightly activities. I’ll find elsewhere to sleep.”.

—

Her evening plans went kaput as Faithful spent ver time readjusting her body to sleep.

Her body contorted and arched as find tried to determine a way of sleeping with a pillow.

She tried sleeping on an array of chairs line up next to each other, nothing. she presumed it was because there was not loud party music playing in the back but that wasn’t the point

She tried tabletops and floortops, No results.

Then there she laid, on the world‘s most uncomfortable kitchen countertop.

Her eyes remained fixated of the ceiling fan, her body rigid in discomfort.

This wasn’t going to work.

She let out a deep sigh before hoisting herself away from the countertop. She grabbed her daytime clothes, folded in an even pile , and left the kitchen.

She strides along the halls, for the hundredth time, when the sight of a door etched in carvings alerted her.

Faithful stared daggers at the door.

With her tail tucked between her legs, she finally admitted defeat.

Faithful saunters up to the door and knocks on it.

Dead Silent.

Faithful slams her fist to the door, repeating this action for a couple heartbeats.

The door swings open, making her face Albus. His dark locks now tied tight to the back of his hair and his chest, now bare to display his collection of scars.

“Can I please stay here for the night?”

Albus huffed a small laugh as his lips melded into a sly smirk.

“I knew you’d come crawling back.” He taunted, resting his back in the door to hold it open.

“Shut up.” She huffed entering the room. Faithful laid her daytime clothes on a near by chair before observing his bedchamber .

The room contained a grandiose bed with four pillars on its corners, his broadsword laid atop it’s sheets. The floor of the bedchamber littered in old clothes and it’s splintered walls lined with slashes.

“I’ll just take a pillow and find somewhere here to sleep.”

“Take my bed.” Albus told her, throwing out his hand and guiding her vision to it.

“What?”

“Take my bed.” He repeated. “Despite what you think, I don’t exactly wanna hear you whining all night because you can’t sleep well. I’ll take the floor.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll take the floor. Plus, isn’t that your sword on the bed?” Faithful pointed out, her finger laying straight to gesture the broadsword.

Albus grabbed his broadsword and shoved it behind his back.

“What sword? Do you need to get your eye checked, Faith?” Wondered Albus to himself.

“Just take the bed.” He said, laying his broadsword against the nightstand. “I slept on a hard floor a more times than I can count, what’s one more gonna do?”.

Before Faithful could argue with him further, he had plopped himself on the floor and laid there.

Faithful glanced at the bed, let out an annoyed tch. He always had to be so headstrong and get the last word in.

She hopped into bed, lifting the bedcovers up and over her shoulders. The warmth of the bed embraced her kindly, shielding her from the icy coldness of the rest of the ship.

This would work fine.

—

The night dwelled on and so did Faithful‘s mind, restricting her from slumber.

Her eyes remained widened, ungiving and unwilling to allow her a moment’s rest. It wasn’t long before her thoughts dwindled into the depths of darkness.

‘Admit it, you have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into and you don’t know what you’re doing.‘ A voice spoke To her.

She knows she doesn't know. She knows she threw herself into the deep end. She knows no matter how much she wants, she can never go home again.

“You should’ve seen the signs, You should’ve asked more. Whatever happens to Kerano is now on you because you weren’t there to protect her.” The voice told her.

She knows she should’ve been able to see what was actually happening. She knows that she didn’t do enough to help Kerano. She knows. She already knows.

”You’re still the same useless sister of the church. you haven’t changed.’’

She knows.

She knows, She knows, She knows.

“How much longer are you going to keep tossing?” Albus questioned aloud, releasing her from her thoughts.

“It hasn’t been that long.” Faithful stated.

“It’s been two hours.”

“I’m just not tired.”

“How are you not tired? You’ve been up since sunrise.” He noted

“I’m just not.” Faithful claimed.

“Well if you’re not going to sleep, I’m going over there and sleeping.” Albus said with a huff, lifting himself from the floor. “There’s no reason why I should sleep on the floor when you’re not using the bed.”

“Go ahead.” Faithful replied, surprising even herself at the statement. “We’ve slept next to each other once, so how different could sharing a bed be?”.

Silence.

Long, rather awkward silence.

“Fine.” Albus huffed.

He brought himself to the bed, laying flat atop the covers as he crosses one of his arms over the other. Faithful tucks herself deep against the covers and bedsheet, nestling in the warmth.

The deafening silence between them drowning out their thoughts.

“So are you gonna talk about it?” Albus questioned aloud, the silence evaporating as fast as it came.

“About what?” Faithful asked, cocking her head to the side.

“About what’s been keeping you up?”

Faithful let out a puff of laughter from her lips, before glancing back to Albus.

“Not particularly. You?”

Albus elevated his right arm, displaying a large scar ingrained in his upper shoulder. The scar trailed down from his shoulder blade to his wrist, a twisted branch basked in moonlight

“Phantom pains, I guess you could call it” He huffed, allowing his arm to land and recoil against the bedsheets. “Keeps me up for days sometimes.”

“That’s awful, Albus.” Faithful said, her voice dowsed in pity and eyebrows up turned. She hoisted her body up from the bed, the covers falling from her shoulders.

“Yep” Albus remarked, eyes remaining fixated on the ceiling above him.

“And there’s nothing you can do for it?“ She asked, gesturing to the scar. ”There’s no medication or anything you can take for the pain?”

“Nah.” He stated, shrugging his shoulders. “‘Just need to bare through it for a couple hours and it’ll go away.”

"How'd you get it?" Faithful asked, crossing her legs and shifting her body to face him.

"Eh, Theres not much to tell.' Albus told her, scratching the corner of his nose with his pinkie finger.

Faithful pushed herself forward to him, resting her elbows on her knees and head in her palms. She looks down towards Albus and nodded her head towards his scar.

Albus turn his head to face her, as she bobbed up and down in excitement for his tale to tell. He felt A puff of the slightest amusement escaping his lips.

A couple heartbeats later, he hoisted himself up on the bed, turning his body to face her and placing one foot up.

"Well, I was on a raid a long while back before yours truly" He started, gesturing to himself. "blessed your boring life with my presence.”

"You and I have very, very different ideas of 'blessed', but go on." Faithful retorted, flapping her hand at him as a way of saying please continue.

"-And would you believe it? Some asshat came up with the decision that my shoulder would've been the perfect sheath for his sword."

"Wow, That's um, quite..." Began Faithful. Albus noticed her lips pressed tight against each other, as she attempted to think of a word.

"Bloody? Messy? Gorey?" Albus guessed, throwing out a plethora adjectives her way." A tragic tale guaranteed to make barmaids and tavern whores swoon at my bravery and strength?".

He batted his eyelashes at Faithful as he imitated what she only imagine was the crowd he attracted. A vision of Albus sitting on a chair in a tavern, crowds of people gathering near him only to listen his boasts.

"I was going to say graphic. Faithful claimed, raising her head from her palms and straightening up. "Anyways, moving on, How'd you get that scar?".

'Which one?" He questioned, his eyes darting around his body to find the source of Faithful's interest.

"That one, right there. Near your finger."

Faithful pointed to his hand, directing his vision to a faint scar dragged up and around his index finger.

"This one here is one of the newest additions to my collection.

“‘Must've gained it earlier today when I was fighting those Bloatsaps and not've noticed."

"How kind of them to make such a small donation to the 'Albus York Injury Memorabilia'!" She exclaimed, stretching and spreading her arms to apart to mimic a glittering sign.

"Yeah, true generous saints." He huffed.

Albus twisted around to face the nightstand. He opened the top drawer, taking a few heartbeats to rummage through it before shutting it. He opened the second drawer below it and took out a spool of bandages.

"Wait." Faithful called out to him, making Albus stop in his tracks.

She snatched the bandages out of his hand and pulled his hand closer to her.

"No, No, I don't need a nurse. I can fix my own wounds." Albus declined, attempting to both retract his hand and reach for the bandages. Faithful held on a tight grip against his hand and extended the bandages further from his reach.

"Oh, don't be such a baby and let me do this for you." Faithful told him, rolling her eyes at him.

"What? You care about me or something?" Albus taunted, bringing himself closer to Faithful and cocking his head.

"Just take this as a token of appreciation for letting me crash her for the night and protecting us earlier."

Albus rested his head to his shoulder, letting out an annoyed 'tch’.

Faithful and Albus's pseudo-match of 'tug of war' stretch out for a little longer than a few moments. Albus sighed and allowed his hand to go limp in hers.

Faithful began to wrap the base of his finger. As she moved up his finger, Albus took notice of the shape she melded the bandages into: a long spiral-like shape. The exact same way when she did it upon their first meeting, tending his wounds and fighting the urge not to kill him. Without thinking, He leans in a touch as his gaze rested on Faithful. He watched her cheeks expand in determination to wrap his wound, causing a small smile to tug on his lips.

Faithful eyes flickered upward to face him, causing Albus to shift his gaze to the ceiling. Silence sat between them for an outstretched periods of heartbeats.

”Done!” Faithful chimed in, seeming please with her medical abilities

Albus brought his finger close, twisting and rotating it to inspect its shape.

Spiral.

Almost like a drill

”Is there something wrong with the bandage?” Faithful asked, taking a closer inspection at the bandage as well. “Is it not tightened enough?”

”Nah, it’s fine. ‘Was just thinking ‘bout something.”.

Faithful started on re-rolling the rest of the bandages back again tight into the spool. Albus rotated his wrist towards her attempting to get his message across.

Faithful's lips contort into a small smile for a heartbeat.

"Don't worry about it, it's what friends do."

"Friends? Bastards aren't exactly known for their amity, princess." Albus said with a boisterous laugh, referring to the nickname he had called her in the early days of the journey.

"Well, think about it: we've been on a road trip together." Faithful began, remarking at all they had accomplished so far together as a duo.

"This is what the temple attendants count as a fun road trip?” Albus question, a hint of laughter laced in his voice.

"Okay, well it's kind of like a road trip. Anyway, You've seen me go a good three weeks without a decent shower." Faithful mentioned, sticking out a second finger commemorating the moment.

"I gave you the option to bath in the river but you said no.” Albus noted, crossing his arms together.

"We also did kidnapped your brother together." She added, pointing out to where the hallway was, Devlin sound asleep for certain.

"It's not a crime if it's your own family." He retorted.

"I'm certain all of those factors should constitute for us to be more than just 'employee' and 'employer.”.

"So like lovers" Albus teased, wriggling his fingers towards Faithful.

"What is wrong with you?" Faithful exclaimed, as him as she cover her found before she erupted with laughter.

"Conquests also has a nice ring to it.” Albus added, swinging his arm around her shoulders. “What say you, Faith? Wanna be added to my list?“.

"In your dreams, York." She laughed aloud, pushing him away in a fit of giggles.

Silence would‘ve no longer been able to coexist with the antics of Faithful and Albus.

—

Morning light flooded the captain’s camber as Albus awoke to a sudden shift against his skin.

His eyes fluttered to an open as he hoisted his body up, preparing for another up and coming day. As his vision became pellucid, the position of certain limbs had become so as well.

His hand, sprawled out and stagnant against Faithful’s waist as her body laid close against his own.

Albus felt his body become rigid and stagnant.

He froze.

He, Albus York.

The guy who has fought literal monsters. The guy who could drink anyone with diety-like metabolism under the table. The guy who was able to charm and slither his way into the bedchamber of hundreds of people before, froze.

Why is he stuck? Why can’t he bring himself to move? How did this happen?

Albus began recalling the night prior. The pair had spent the night joking and telling stories on their own adventures to one another.

In their final moments of drowsiness, he remembered bickering with Faithful. He remembered going back and forth with her on how the other wasn’t going to sleep until the other went to sleep first.

By the looks of things, neither of the two ever heard the end of it.

Albus looked down towards Faithful, his only close look at the woman who hired him as he came to realize it.

He’d never seen Faithful look like this with all the bickering they do. Had she always looked like this? Was she always this ethereal?

Her skin, pristine and porcelain, compared to his that littered with scars.

His gaze remained on her as a lone lock of her hair rested against the bridge of her nose.

Albus reached towards Faithful, readjusting the lock of hair away from her face. He allowed his finger to remain stationed in midair for a few heartbeats.

Albus retracted his finger back and shakes his head.

He pushed Faithful’s body back, leaving a rift between them, before adjusting himself to face away.

’This won’t end well for you, you do know that right?’ A familiar voice whisper against the back of her mind.

He knew that already, so why is he feeling like this?

He shouldn’t. Didn’t. Doesn’t.

This was a job, this was a job, this was a job. Something someone is paying his to do.

Why isn’t this sinking in?

‘She’s already dealing with trying to save a kid from the Triad. Why would you want to punish her with a relationship with you?‘ The voice murmured in low tones.

Albus has existed long enough to know he’s nothing more than deadweight. Nothing more than someone who’ll drag her down like and anchor to a ship.

‘ You can’t even protect her from a world that wants you dead,’ said The voice, its vocals laced and drowning in disdain. ‘And even if you could, do you think she would ever want you?’.

“No“ he admitted to himself, once again more.

No, of course she would never want you, you sad, ugly thing, So don’t bother with things that will never happen.

The sensation of faint rustling and soft mumbling beside him broke him out of his funk.

Faithful’s awake.

Albus shut his eyes tight and feigned utter slumber and serenity.

Faithful allowed a yawn to escape her lips, which she licked and tutted at them as her eyes adjusted to the morning. She turned to face Albus, his body laying across and away from her.

She assumed that he must’ve been a heavy sleeper for him to sleep straight thought out the night.

Faithful arose out of the bed, setting her corner of the bed into its proper position.

She tiptoed across the floorboard of the Captain’s chamberoom. She reached across for her daytime wears, folded across the wooden chair.

Albus heard the sounds of pens against paper and, Faithful’s angry grumbling to herself. Her paces crescendoed upon approaching him, halting As she placed something against bedside.

Then with a muffled sound of pacing, a lock and a click of the door, Faithful was out.

Albus peeled one eye open, attempting to detect any life-form within the room.

Once he assured himself that the coast was clear and saw a note besides him, Albus leapt towards the note. His body tumbling and hitting hard against the ground upon impact.

Albus held the parchment tight in his grasp, his thumb rubbing against the rough grain of its texture.

His eyes trail down the parchment. He sighted an intricate variant of lettering, choreographed with elegance, all scratched out.

But why?

Albus‘s eyes darted around for clues. Before long, the sight of doodles catching his attention. The doodles contain a woman wearing her daytime clothing and with an array of food items next to her.

The realization came to him quick. Faithful was getting changed and started on breakfast for the group.

A breakfast of pancakes, toast, and tea.

He understood her.

Faithful was able to communicate with him and he understood her . He was able understand her with not a breath spoken between them.

The pressure of the wrappings on his digit alerting and forcing his attention to it.

Albus brings his finger closer, rotating it for further inspection. The linen wrapping rippling from the base towards the tip of finger.

Images of the night before flashed in his mind. The delicate touch of her pristine fingertips on his still ingrained in his memory. Her puffed up cheeks, bursting with determination on healing him, flashing before him.

His eyes soften, sensing a heat soar across his face. His lips melded against each other, feeling the battle within himself to not break out into a small grin.

In that moment, he came up with a perfect name for such an entanglement:

The Drill.

—