A Needed Talk


Anne POV

I wake up, hearing some clanking armor come down the stairs, entering this makeshift hideout. I get out of my bed and peak my head out of the curtain doorway to see Sasha and the frogs who left a while ago. There back and all dirty. What was she doing? Another mission? I just gently lean my head on the side of the doorway and just watch, seeing what they'll do. Sasha doesn't even speak and heads straight to the showers. They way she walks is so distinctive. You can tell she's carrying the world on her shoulders. It's so easy to read what she's feeling when she thinks she alone. It the only time she lets her guard down, even if it was for a few seconds.

She walks right into the showers. I should wait until she's out. I've waited this long, and everyone deserves a peaceful shower. At least this give me time to think about what I'm going to say to her. She comes back inside after being awake for more than a day. I'm worried she might not sleep again and go straight to planning. Maybe she just needs a good hug, and needs some reassurance, I know I do.

-time skip-

I was laying on my bed, just staring at the ceiling. I haven't even noticed its been an hour. I was so lost in my thoughts, I forgot to listen to the shower. Nothing but silence, that's all that fills the caves right now. I finally get up taking a deep breathe and leave my room. The cave is dimly lit, except Sasha's room. Her room must have so many candles lit, meaning she's not going to sleep anytime soon. I start to walk over, and once I get in front of her room, I stop to listen. I can hear her scrubbing something? Maybe it's her armor or her swords. Well that makes sense since most of her armor can absorb liquids.

I just wear metal. But what am I going to say to her. I could just say how i've been feeling recently. She not the only one thats stressed about everything. I take a deep breathe and walk into her room. It's how you'd expect a warriors room to look like. A rack of weapons on the back wall, her bed on the left wall, sitting right in the middle, covered in furs I assume are her blankets and pillows. She has a table with some chairs in the middle of the room. The table has some papers on it but are right now occupied mostly with Sasha's armor.

I can see she's in some old style tunic and trousers. It's cute on her, and fits nicely. It really shows her muscle growth. Damn, I keep forgetting Sasha isn't some skinny kid like me anymore. She's been gaining a lot of muscle from her endless battles and non-stop training. Her arms are covered with scratches and scars, forever proof of the life she has lived, and a dangerous life at that. She's been living the warrior lifestyle since we've gotten trapped here, unlike me who's just been helping out on a farm. It's been almost a year that we have started our separate journeys in Amphibia...

I snap out of my thoughts when I see Sasha look toward me quickly, avoiding eye contact. I still saw the bags under her eyes, her lips dry and pale. Even in the state she's in, I can't help but see an angel. She blushes for a moment, but immediately looks back at her cape. Sasha is scrubbing her cape in a small bucket in front of her. She has to lean down to use the bucket, which is making her have a hunched back. This only helps show off her back muscle growth. Sasha tenses up, getting ready to say something.

"What's up Anne, do you need something?... are you ok?"

Sasha said it with such a worn out voice, you could almost mistake it for an emotionless voice. I'm worried she won't sleep tonight either even though she looks fatigued. I doubt I'll get good sleep tonight since I'm already up again. I get back my composure and walk towards her. However she doesn't budge to my movement, and continues scrub her cape but with more speed. She doesn't even look at me or stops what she's doing. I backoff and decide to sit on her bed. This leaves her in the middle of the room, her back facing me. I finally respond after a few seconds pass.

"If i'm being honest with you... I'm not doing ok Sasha"

Sasha turns her head immediately to me, her eyes shot open and she drops everything in her hands. All the stuff she dropped almost made the bucket she was using spill over.

"What happened Anne? Did someone hurt you... did, did you get a nightmare?"

She starts getting up, I try to respond back yet I'm still biting back my words. Before she can start walking towards me, I respond in a whisper, trying to keep the conversation calm.

"No, I'm physically ok, no one down here would lay there hands on me like that... Its just my mental health Sash..."

My heart stops for a moment. I don't know why that was so difficult to say. I see Sasha just standing there. Her heads gone limp, looking towards the floor with a face that's too hard to read. I start to get anxious and panic. Maybe I should of stayed in my bed. I feel some tears beginning to build up from the tension forming in the air.


SASHAS POV

The person who enters my room was none other that Anne Boonchuy. The woman I'm simping for. I saw in my peripherals who it was. It's hard to mistake her for an amphibian since she's wearing such bright earthling clothes. Huh, in what point did I start to lose my humanity and start becoming so alienated to a world I was trying so hard to return too? I guess when I started the toad rebellion, I mean that's when I got the idea to stay and rule Amphibia.

I take a quick look at Anne, and for a moment I stop scrubbing. I see she's wearing a blue baggy shirt, which looks like it fits her dad. And you can barely see her shorts, hiding under the baggy shirt. They're pinkish shorts, and her signature socks and no shoes. Seems like she's accepted the dirt too. Anne just looks so cute like this, all sleepy and with her messy hair. I blush to this thought and immediately look back at my cape.

Fuck what was I thinking? Great now this is only going to add to the tension. She probably saw the blush. I decide to say something hoping it overshadows my blush.

"What's up Anne? Do you need something?... are you ok?"

I keep scrubbing my cape and hear Anne walk up to me. I don't budge and keep scrubbing. She still doesn't respond back. She starting to get me really nervous. Is she mad at me? Is this revenge for closing the tunnel door from before, or is she trying to get a reaction out of me? She finally walks away from me and I could hear her sit on my bed. After a moment she responds.

"If i'm being honest with you...I'm not doing ok Sasha"

Ah shit, maybe all this prophecy stuff is stressing Anne out. Fuck if she's not doing good, then that's my fault for not seeing it sooner. I turn my head immediately to her, my eyes shot open and I drop everything. I start to get up, maybe she needs a hug or needs reassurance. Maybe she isn't as strong as I thought she was. Super powers don't equal emotional stability. And unlike me, Anne lived a pretty peaceful life compare to mine. I'm used to this type of violence. Combat is like a caged animal and with it brings pain and challenges. Now with this prophecy shit, thats a lot of weight and it's probably getting to her. Maybe I'm overthinking it. It could've just been a nightmare caused from all this.

"What happened Anne? Did someone hurt you... did you get a nightmare?"

Anne keeps her head up looking straight at me. Her hands messing with the hem of her shorts. Her toes are curled up and shes slumped over herself. She's anxious, its obvious.

"No, I'm physically ok, no one down here would lay there hands on me like that. Its just my mental health Sash..."

My heart stops for a moment. I don't know what to say. I see Anne just sitting there waiting for my response. My head goes limp, and now i'm looking towards the floor. She needs an answer, she's waiting for my answer, she's looking to lean on me. She's already about to cry.

I can't ruin this chance.


Annes POV

I look up to see a pair of blue eyes, finally looking at me. Sasha doesn't dare to stop the eye contact, staring straight into my soul. I can still see the scar I left on her face, still showing itself prominently. It makes my heart ache just for a moment, remembering I was the cause of that injury. She walks up to me and slowly takes a knee in front of me. Then goes to grab my hand gently. Her hand texture is so rough and coarse. You can feel the battles of her hard work over them. I can feel my face, burning up. I'm blushing, but it hides well under my tears.

"Whatever it is Anne, I am here for you, I'm not going to let anything or anyone hurt you, ok?"

Her face was stiff with a concerned expression, yet you can see her worry, the truthfulness of her words in her eyes. She really means what she's saying. I can finally read her.

"With everything happening, this war, this prophecy... Marcy... it's just hard to take it all in ya know? You're the only other person here who can really understand how I'm feeling... and I can see it taking its toll on you too..."

Sasha squeezes my hand and looks down.

"Even if it's taking a toll, I can't let it get to me Anne, everyone is counting on me to be the leader they need. The commander they're expecting needs to be strong in every aspect and I don't have time to sit around and think about it..."

This is what I meant. I knew she was carrying too much weight. Maybe that's my fault, I may be co-commander but she does everything. I need to help lift some of this burden off of her. She's right about us not having the time to overthink all of this.

"Sash, you know you're not alone in this right? This is just as much my burden to bear as it is yours."

Sasha's expression relaxes for a moment. She just stares into my eyes. What beautiful eyes she has, bright blue as if I was looking into an ocean. Then she's taken back with what I said once she finally processes it. She loosens her grip on my hand and starts to caress it with her thumb, going in a circular motion.

"I... I can't risk losing you too Anne, I just can't... I wasn't strong enough to save Marcy and I can't imagine myself letting you get caught or even worse!"

I could hear her choke on those last words. Tears start to roll down, but you can tell she's stifling them back. I decide enough is enough. She doesn't have to put up this facade with me. I pull her in for a hug, I wrap my arms around her neck and hide myself in her shoulder and neck. She hesitates for a moment but then proceeds to hugs me back adding a good squeeze. We both really needed a hug. There was a comfortable silence for a good few minutes. I could hear her trying to control her breathing. She isn't letting herself cry anymore.

Sasha pulls away from the hug dragging her hands along the side of my thighs. It sent a shiver over my body, catching me by surprise. She gently takes one of my hands once again and holds it. She starts to bow to me, head down and her other hand over her heart. I start to blush at this, she's really dramatic huh? My heart is going crazy and I can't stop blushing.

"I promise you I will keep you safe no matter what, but you need to trust my judgement, my calls... Are you willing to run away from a battle if I say so?"

I give her a confused look. What she's asking for is a lot. Not only is she's asking me to abandon not just her, but everyone else in combat, she's also asking for me to deny my need to help others. Doesn't she know I'm not that type of person anymore? I'm not the little kid who needs Sasha to protect her. I've been in my fair share of battles and she might be the better swordsman but I know how to fight too.

"Sasha I.. I can't do that. That's not the type of person I am. If we go down, we go down together, got that?"

I grab both her shoulders and shake her a bit as I said it. She looks into my eyes with such a visible pain, biting her lips. What happened to that comfortable silence from before? I kinda wish we were still hugging, ignoring everything around us, even if it was for a moment. She just kept staring into my eyes, probably lost in thought. All she has to do is nod her head, grunt, respond. Literally anything...

What does she think I'm just going to do? Does she think I'm going to let her go fight and put herself in danger without me being there with her? I'm very capable of taking care of myself whether she sees it or not. She isn't going to stop me from helping in anyway I see fit.


Sasha's POV

I just stare into her eyes. Those chestnut eyes that are still a bit pink from crying. Her cheeks are rosy, I'm assuming from all this. Even when she cries she's beautiful. I start to feel the urge to lean in. I catch myself before my impulsive brain does it. This isn't the time to do that. If only she knew how much I love her. Even so she deserves better than me. All I can do is redeem myself and become her friend again. And plus love isn't something I know. Its something I'm lost in how to handle or act upon. I could copy what I've seen in tv shows, but it's not the same. Anne's heart is worth so much and should be held by someone equally good and knows how to take care of a heart. I give her hand a little squeeze, trying to not be too rough with her.

"Anne if you do that, you need to stay by me at all times then... We're stronger together, hmm?"

Anne giggles at that and nods her head in agreement.

"You know I can handle myself right?"

I finally stand up and sighed at her response. I take a seat next to her on my bed leaning forward. I turn my head, keeping eye contact with her. She's giving me a smug yet passive face waiting for my answer. She's beaten me in battle twice already, the second time I was holding back but still. Maybe I'm overreacting. I tangle my fingers with Annes and lock it. Her hands, there soft for a girl who's been helping out on a farm. Yet they are covered with recently new blisters. And the size difference between our hands is noticeable. It cute that her hands are smaller, yet our hands fit like a glove.

"If I didn't think you could, do you think you'd be out on missions?"

She rolls her eyes at me with a smile to add the final touch. God this woman has a choke hold on me. I start to blush, rubbing the back of my neck with one of my hands. We sit there for a moment, just enjoying each others presence. Once again we sit in a peaceful sleepy silence. I lean back, laying down on my bed, my legs still dangling off the edge. The furs covering my bed make it very easy to get comfortable, making it hard to stay awake. My sleepiness starts to take a hold of me, especially after shedding a few tears from before. Anne just stays seated, still holding my hand. I start to feel some type of comfort, a small presence of peace and my eyes start to drift closed. The last thing I could see was Anne pulling a blanket over my body, looking at me with such a soft, caring expression. I start to wander into my own fantasies, and I start to dream of a peaceful world where everyone is thriving, and Anne being there right next to me. This one sided love is going to be the end of me.


AUTHORS NOTE

I'm a college student so If i don't post in a few days just be patient ;-(

Im going to wait for the next new ep and try to use that to move my story forward.