She's A Little Runaway

Chapter 2: YA Fiction Has Nothing On Morgan

Inigo hadn't realized he was holding his breath until his chest was constricting. But he couldn't die here; the inside of his family's Naga church or whatever term fits best kind of sounded like irony. He couldn't be certain it was irony... Not even people who take writing classes know what that means.

When the visitor marched down the aisle, Inigo quickly ducked into a side storage room as he would have done in his childhood. If that was Morgan, of course he wanted to see her again. If that was Morgan, she would be eighteen and possibly armed with all kinds of useless trivia and pointless stories. So much if, but his rapidly beating heart told him HAVE A CUTE REUNION YOU IDIOT. Which could be considered abusive language to oneself, not ideal.

All the religious texts fell to the floor because why not, and Inigo pressed his back flat to the wall while he tried not to be overwhelmed by the past. He couldn't imagine seeing her now; she never had understood Naga or this entire building's purpose... Fair enough. This robe not only looked terrible and hid what he hoped was a nice body after years of dance practice, but it also gave the impression he already accepted ownership. Besides all that he hadn't showered since last night, his hair wasn't styled as good as it could be, and he could taste the onions from that sandwich he ate so he couldn't imagine exhaling around her.

He could hear her voice as she spoke to Aunt Emmeryn like she never left. In quick glances, he was taking in every detail. Inigo buried his face in his hands as if to hide himself from his own accusation he was checking her out like pretty much any breathing female human around his age.

He was able to note the evolution of Morgan's clothing choices. She had always dressed boyishly as a child. Now she still wore a t-shirt with a reference he didn't get so baggy it was falling of her shoulders and almost entirely covering the short skirt ruffled at the ends. Morgan was, at the end of the day, crafty and therefore thought ahead of preventing scandals in Naga's holy home by the thick tights currently stuffed into hiking boots of all shoes.

When Inigo was overwhelmed, the door creaked open, and Aunt Emmeryn stepped inside. He didn't have to look up; he heard the gentle hum as if trying so very hard not to enjoy the return of an old face.

"How long has it been?" Aunt Emmeryn asked, genuinely curious.

"Six years." Inigo answered without thinking, dropping his hands to his sides and slumping.

And yes, that did line up eerily with his life going downhill after thirteen. Well, let's get one thing out of the way: Inigo did NOT believe Morgan somehow leaving his life was that much of an impact. It wasn't realistic, but if this were one of those awkward YA books he used to crave like drugs enough to "borrow" from Lucina it unfortunately made sense like that. So, his only option was to not make sense, perfect.

The storage room was regularly dusted and organized, but Inigo felt the lack of air. It was probably just him; he could see Aunt Emmeryn's eyes sparkling as she stepped closer and placed her hand on the top of his head as if he were still just a boy. A hopelessly awkward boy who always needed his awesome aunt to teach him how to remain calm and share infinite wisdom though she'd never speak so highly of herself. Out loud.

"Enduring friendships are precious gifts, Inigo. Morgan personally asked for you just now; I advise you to meet her halfway, get back all your lost time." Aunt Emmeryn spoke with the most soothing tone.

Inigo totally wasn't pouting when he slipped out from her reach with a huff. "Of course, I'll never forget the one person who wanted me around no matter what. I'm glad Morgan didn't give up just because I was shy. And I missed her... You all know that."

Aunt Emmeryn's face was completely grave as she flinched, choosing her words carefully. "Everyone at the family barbecue took turns knocking on your door the day Morgan left our lives; you were crying so hard, having no idea we could hear it all."

"Yes-" Inigo choked, cringing away from her as his hands instinctively flew to his cheeks. "Why did no one tell me?!"

Aunt Emmeryn's face softened all the way to her eyes as Morgan's echoing "hello" struck both their ears accompanying knocks on the door. She wanted the reunion; she was there to see her nephew light up when happily rambling about what he and his best friend had been up to.

Inigo thought it sounded wonderful, didn't even need to be persuaded. But when he looked at her again, he couldn't help a fidget or two as his eyes attempted to ask can you cover for me if I get so overwhelmed I need to escape?

Aunt Emmeryn probably meant to send a supportive signal right back, but Inigo still wasn't pouting when he interpreted it as awww seeing Morgan is taking you right back to childhood. You two were so adorable back then; this will be so good just like Naga is telling me.

Inigo released a breath, strolled alongside her to open the door. When it flew open, an eavesdropping Morgan scrambled to pretend she was just adjusting a potted plant on its table.

The rain let up the moment they needed a suitable place for catching up. Inigo briefly looked to the evening sky; play pretend he saw a ghostly outline of a winking Naga who turned the rain off just for the old friends. The outside of the church building had a bench under the roof which he joined Morgan on as the courtyard was bright by a trail of lights and the temperature was balanced.

Inigo couldn't begin to prioritize what to say first when Morgan threw her arms around his back and held him close sighing contently the whole time. If this were one of his many crushes, well, Inigo thought his head would have exploded. All his previous insecurity about himself melted, his thoughts faded, and he just shut his eyes and let himself be comfortable.

Morgan being comforting was a concept no one else would have comprehended, fair enough.

They were STILL hugging, like, a minute later when Morgan spoke by his ear in an almost relieved tone. "When we're sitting like this, you aren't taller than me."

Inigo promptly reeled back, gawking.

Morgan just smiled as if it were the most normal observation to make.

Their hands moved off each other's backs, slowly falling and meeting before landing on what limited space was between them.

"You got so tall while I was gone." Morgan said tragically, contrasting her fond smile. "I mean generically handsome. I always knew this would happen; if you had nothing else good in your life at least you'd have your looks."

If any other girl said that, oh, it would still be awkward but at least from her even if stubborn heat rose to his cheeks the smile joining it was legit. But Morgan left before she could witness his very, very ungraceful experience discovering he thought romance was actually worth it sometimes and that for all his crushes he had a very specific person he'd settle down with... But his expectations were high, so she probably didn't exist.

A comment of Morgan's looks bubbled up, but Inigo decided not to. He quickly relaxed, not wanting to lose the leftover comfort of her hug. "You know we haven't seen each other since we were thirteen, but I never forgot about you."

"I never forgot you." Morgan replied, picking her nails.

"Just don't get the wrong idea!" Inigo blurted, robe shoving the robe sleeves higher to draw her attention there. "It might look like I took over Naga's most holy sanctuary, but I never did. I don't want this. But you found me here; you must have had some way to know."

"I guessed." Morgan replied promptly.

"You guessed?!"

"Mm. I didn't want to think you were out on the town sooo... I went with my gut, which didn't work because it led me to a smoothie shop. Then I decided you'd either be in your house or the old holy vacation spot!" Morgan explained with the most self-satisfied tone.

Inigo was feeling too many emotions, so that could have been the cause for the stray chuckles. "Of course, you would come back when I needed you most. You always did cheer me up in strange ways."

"Don't tell me you've been super nostalgic lately." Morgan said with surprising tenderness, touching shoulders with him because mood setting. "Don't tell me we've been on the same wavelength across the world because... Because that would be perfect."

Many would consider sharing personal details with Morgan to be one of the worst life choices possible, but Inigo disagreed. So, he with equal tenderness, just honestly recapped their first meeting as he saw it play behind her shoulder in appropriate sepia all over again. Sepia was a poor display of the vivid and largely symbolic color she brought to his life after that, okay, but the main concern was letting her know she really was as valued as she wanted to be. They weren't bound by invisible ties and forced to stay together by any means, but everyone should have the chance to reconnect.

Two children bolted through that sepia vision, once seemingly existing in a separate world. But now Inigo felt like he could connect with the boy who disliked being alone so much he was willing to form a lifelong friendship with the first to truly welcome him into their gaming experience. Tale as old as time, something something video game commentary. Something something you'll only get with a psychology degree.

Inigo never told Morgan he was near tears before they met, so once again he gracefully avoided that embarrassing detail. Other than that, he was sure his own smile was mimicking hers especially when she was able to perfectly fill in minor details for him like the games they left their four-digit high score name on and even what kind of drinks were in the vending machine that was once outside by the doors but eventually got moved inside. It felt like they were never separated. Heaven is subjective, but if Inigo had a personal piece of it then it was right here whether a mystical lady was waiting at the gate or not.

Eventually, Morgan turned away from him to admire the stars and breathe in the post-rain air. Inigo joined her, although he kept stealing glances at her without much subtlety. He wondered why he couldn't remember what took her out of his life, if it was okay to ask. He wanted to but didn't know how to ask. He could only blurt it out, hoping for the best.

"It ended too soon."

Morgan nodded at that.

Inigo forced his gaze back to the sky, too. The burning ear tips were overkill; he just wanted to be informed, and it didn't feel like his question tipped the scale to a bad time.

After a moment, there was the sound of hiking boots thumping against old stone. When Inigo turned his attention to them, he couldn't help pointing out to himself they were spotless. She definitely hadn't been on any adventures lately.

"I don't know how to begin explaining what happened, Inigo." Morgan confessed. "The amnesia took away specific memories, but I'm glad what's intact is there."

"Amnesia?!"

"It happened a year ago." Morgan continued talking, tone going fair weather. "I know for a fact I was in the car with Gerome; he still has those face shadows to this day. He was upset about something he thinks is silly now... I think I was teasing him about finding and talking to Lucina online all over again. Anyway, one of those log-transporting trucks was in front of us and apparently the stuff wasn't tied down good. Well, Gerome swerved out of the way, but we struck a speeding car next to us and it was lights out."

"Morgan... You- You were in a car accident." Inigo's tongue didn't want to cooperate, not wanting to believe something serious could actually happen to Morgan. It was her warm gaze that encouraged him not to ask way too many questions.

"Gerome and I were kinda blessed that day, if Naga doesn't mind me saying." Morgan said much too lighthearted then with an effing hand wave. "There was no lasting damage to either of us, but we both had our hospital stay and I'm sure he was kept sane with my texts more than he let on! But I did lose those memories in all this... Thankfully, not the ones with you. I'd be, like, distraught if I could see your kiddie face in my head and not know why you mattered."

"You were in a car accident!" Shouting didn't help make it sound any more possible.

He just couldn't believe that while he was driving around doing mundane tasks, bored out of his skull in traffic at times or joking about what to paint his car with Aunt Lissa his best friend could have been unconscious in a hospital bed. And for all the unpleasant moments he and Gerome had been in by association... He didn't wish him genuine harm.

The worst thing was what Morgan was never going to admit if she was in pain or had any frustration or sadness losing whatever memories she did. Inigo would comfort her if she let him, but no amount of friendly reuniting was going to work it seemed.

"When I was out of the hospital, my family kept telling me to take it easy. But that whole thing actually motivated me to get my driver's permit!" Morgan finished with a badly incorporated fist pump, eyes legit starrier than the sky right now. "I'm showing that potential death can suck it! I'll have control over my life by not only driving but traveling as far as I can! I'm talking: road trip... But I can't do it alone; I need a partner but not necessarily in the romantic sense!"

Inigo didn't doubt his face was some combination of pale and thoroughly confused. Nevertheless, Morgan squeezed his limp hands like he was secretly just as pumped as she was, he just celebrated in his own style.

But Inigo remembered being of age to drive, full of teenage overconfidence until the pamphlet he attempted to study talked about rain and how control of the car could be lost. Also, they lived in an area it rained rather often and heavily. Screw. That.

It took a combination of Father and Lucina to convince him he had what it took to keep control of the car, still he didn't get his official license for years after by choice. Random classmates were ashamed if they were still driven by family members, but Inigo was able to curb his own embarrassment telling himself at least he was able to spend more time with them. Maybe these car rides would encourage more talking, more... Going back to the days where just seeing a neon sign not fully lit at night and spelling something stupid was hilarious and also inspired philosophical conversation.

When Inigo, with a dry throat, admitted he knew how to drive he could see Morgan's face formulate her response. Every muscle, every blink worked together to create thrill. She just finished talking about her and Gerome's narrow escape from the uncomfortably cold hands of certain grim death personifications and she was thrilled right now.

That was just so Morgan.

"Morgan, do you really think it's possible?" Inigo attempted to be rational, keep emotion off his own face as he lightly grasped her arms. "Unlike you, I've never left this town. Learning to stay calm driving to the shops was difficult. Besides, I'm at the age Lucina was when she prepared for college, so I need to think about that... And... The future in general." Well, he couldn't stay convincing watching those pretty eyes as he'd done many times in the past.

Now that he heard the amnesia part, he wondered if Morgan could visualize a sepia field around them with their child selves acting out the best days. "Best" might be subjective, but he never had to guess or awkwardly ask if she was having fun, so he was confident what her favorite parts about their time together was.

Too bad he didn't care about the future. Life stopped being fun, and the one person who could help return to that state was making an offer he honestly would have loved as a child. If the two had been whisked away on a road trip by their families, sharing a small space with Morgan was less of a torture method and more like totally agreeable. He felt bad there might be an alternate timeline where they did have that experience, and it would be a favorite memory for both even if nothing went according to plan.

The way Inigo saw it: there was fork in the road, one sign with a question mark representing the future and another with Morgan making a smug face representing TAKE ME BACK TO WHEN EVERYTHING MADE SENSE.

When Inigo arrived back home, changed out of that horrible robe into suitable longing clothes and gathered what he could of his family he wasn't sure how to begin explaining what happened. Chrom and Olivia were seated at the table with Lucina, Aunt Lissa and even Owain thanks to Aunt Lissa's quick dialing on speaker phone. This wasn't the kind of set up Inigo wanted, let alone approved but it was here, and he had to deal with it. Thankfully, he was able to tell Aunt Emmeryn in person without drama... Just a sly smile he never would have expected she could make.

Now it looked like he was about to come clean about past dirty deeds. Or tell them something that actually affected his future whether positive or negative, actually believing a road trip even had the potential to do great feats was straight out of YA genre but this was the world they were caught up in.

His parents were gently smiling and patient as always, Lucina was quiet on her line.

Aunt Lissa and Owain couldn't help but blurt probing questions when the silence got too long, so that was terrible.

Confessing to a crime would be easier than this, he thought as he pulled out the noisiest kitchen chair and sat down so his voice would reach the phones. Inigo quietly breathed to psyche himself up best he could and explained the situation.

"Morgan and her family have returned-"

Chaos instantly erupted.

"Robin's back?! I've only had vague online conversations with him every now and then! Wonderful!"

"Oh! Robin and Cherche were always so kind to us when they really didn't need to be... And you and Owain were friends with their children, weren't you?"

"Aunt Oliviaaaa... Gerome was so boring and serious. If it weren't for Morgan going along with my delu- Roleplaying! I never would have survived those visits!"

"Hooray! Reunion time! I've got to tell Lon'qu to grab the party supplies out of the basement!"

"You have a basement now, Aunt Lissa?"

Inigo carefully removed his hands from his ears as his delicate throat clearing somehow got everyone to quiet. He couldn't believe his palms were sweating, not prepared to admit to so many what he planned but if they were this cool with Morgan and family coming back maybe this dramatic occasion was unnecessary. Still, sometimes you have to be extra to survive in this cruel world.

"Morgan visited me while I was working at the Naga church... Whatever. It was perfect timing because I've been thinking about her too; the days spent with her were some of the best-"

An Owain-like whoop was unleashed from Aunt Lissa's phone through Chrom's phone full of hellish crackling. "I'm a prophet! I called this: when I cast you and Morgan to play the main couple in that fantasy love story I wrote..."

Inigo decided to ignore Owain's existence, just focusing on his parents' gazes as they were soft and patient. "Well, I've decided I can't live the way I've... No, I can't even call these years 'living'. I've done nothing important with my life, and I can't see anything ahead right now. Lucina had a plan, and I'm glad it worked for her, but I can't relate to knowing what I want to do with the last fun years of my life. Have I even had fun since Morgan left? I genuinely can't remember."

There had always been a clue trail his family could follow, seeing that Inigo couldn't even try to keep up with Lucina's progress in life. Most of his nervousness as he waited for comments was caused by worrying Lucina thought there was a secret competition between them, but she could be assured there wasn't. Also, he was glad she knew what to do with her life and was content but didn't know how to convey that with listeners.

"Morgan wants to go on a road trip, and I'm joining her." Inigo finally said to zero fanfare. "I believe the two of us can reclaim that feeling of innocence and freedom if we're together, and... Not just that, but, logically, it's probably not the best idea to let her drive alone so I can also pass on my knowledge of driving with a plan."

There was no chaos this time, just contemplating silence that made Inigo aware of every bump under the skin as he rubbed his arm. He wanted to feel young and free, well he was halfway like a six-year-old waiting for timeout or something.

The first to break the silence was Aunt Lissa with a dreamy sigh. "Lon'qu and I grew closer when I tried to run away from my responsibilities, too..." No one asked for a recap of the probably adorable love story, but that didn't stop her.

This triggered Chrom and Olivia to boldly hold hands on top of the table less from their own epic love story being triggered but honest to Naga terror their son lost all hope for being a responsible adult. Inigo could it see in their mouthing "are you sure?"

"When I felt like I could never compare to my older siblings..." Aunt Lissa's words had become eerily relevant. "Lon'qu noticed I was struggling to find my place in the world, and we'd already known each other before that so I knew he also struggled with the fact I was female. He was so much more responsible, like, too much I thought. Sometimes he was annoyed with me pretending I didn't take life seriously."

There was a moment of processing, one where Inigo looked between his parents and the phones to see if Aunt Lissa's comparison at least slightly painted a picture of what he was going through.

It was over in an instant, probably meaning no one thought about it deeply.

"You know, I could have benefited from having someone to escape adulthood with at that age. I had Robin, but we were both determined to pretend we had it figured out. So, I think that's okay."

"Inigo, we would never tell you what you're 'supposed to do' at this point in your life. Lucina chose college, but you certainly don't have to yet or even years from now."

"I always thought my little brother had far more potential than me without trying, so you'll be just fine no matter what you decide."

"No one's expecting me to give a heartfelt speech on the fly, right? I mean! I could if I were there in person, but I'm not... So..."

An hour after the extra antics, Inigo found himself and his parents forming a team navigating the depths of their closets for suitcases. Chrom and Olivia made occasional comments about the past, fueling his nostalgia. This was all weird, but Inigo knew it would be weirder if Morgan was the one in control. And he was oddly ready for this.

It should be noted that when Olivia asked for an established destination, route plans and overall idea of how long the trip would last... Inigo could only shrug. Those three things did strike his mind, but Morgan was less concerned. That could be a bad omen, but Inigo didn't want to think of it like that.

He just NEEDED this to be an amazing time, at least for his quality of life.

TBC