"Hey, they say there are ghosts out tonight." Valerie shivered and inched a bit closer to her desk.

"Really?"

"Yeah," Forte replied, taking off her sheath and balancing it in the corner. "Are you scared?"

"Yeah," she admitted. "Ghosts aren't really something I'm good with." The knight swallowed and stopped in the middle of tugging off her hand guard.

"I-Is that so?"

"Yeah. I can't believe I never mentioned that. Kinda thought you would've figured it out, I guess." Forte swallowed and nodded.

"O-OK."

"Are you alright?" Valerie asked, closing her book and standing up. "You seem tense." She took a step toward the knight.

"I'm fine..."

"You don't have to lie." The light in Valerie's eyes was concerned (and a little curious). "I'm not gonna judge you. You're a knight to me no matter what." The two were standing only a foot apart, and Valerie's hand twitched before reaching out and squeezing Forte's. "O-Oh! I know!" Valerie took a few quick steps back, almost hopping. "I'll go make something." She smiled and tried to hide the blush behind her hand (the hand that had touched Forte's!), but to no avail.

Valerie disappeared into the kitchen, and Forte began to pace. She paced until the rhythm of the dishes clattering and the water running created a melody and there wasn't too much room left for worry. Forte sighed and finished pulling off her gear. She didn't really feel safe without it, but no monsters (especially ghosts!) would come this far into the town's borders.

"Alright, this'll make you feel better," Valerie said, balancing two mugs in her hands. "Hot chocolate. Drink up!" The knight took a sip and her eyes widened. It did make her feel better. There was cinnamon in the drink, maybe a little of some other spices too. But even though the spices probably came from monster drops in the dungeons or the ships touching upon the town's port, it tasted like home, like the warmth and comfort of a hug stirred into the cup. She took longer and longer sips, burning her tongue a bit. Valerie smiled into her mug and sipped it slowly. Forte finished and sighed a satisfied sigh.

"Better now?"

The smile that had crept onto her face slipped away, and Valerie put her mug down. "Let's make a blanket forte, Forte." She blinked.

"What?"

"A blanket fort..." She looked away, fiddling with a bracelet on her arm. "T-To keep us safe!" Forte's surprise turned into realization, and, at last, she closed her eyes and smiled.

"Alright."

They walked throughout their tiny house, gathering sheets and pillows and piling them on the couch.

"Are we done?"

"Almost!" Valerie replied. "There's just one more room." They stood there, neither one moving.

"Really? I thought we'd covered them all."

"I could've sworn there was one more room. Oh." She stopped. "It's the kitchen." They burst into peals of laughter. Valerie could almost see the light spreading from the sound.

"I don't think we need to check the kitchen, Val," Forte concluded, wiping at her eyes to wipe away a little of the laughter.

"Let's build it, then." Her voice was soft, but her smile told it all.

They got to work. Using the couch as their base, they built up, propping their thin sheets with pillows and lining their new sanctuary with the softest blanket. Their hands brushed against each other, their arms touched, they played with closenesss in the dance of their construction until they were done and they each held a pillow.

"Do you...you want to go first?" Valerie asked.

"S-Sure..." The knight settled into a corner of the fort, and Valerie followed. They sat there for a little while, watching how the light of the room made shadows inside their secret fort.

"Hey, Forte?"

"Yeah?"

"I'll protect you." Forte rested her head on Valerie's shoulder, the ghost of a smile strengthening as she closed her eyes.

"I know you will."