Valerie huffed as she was finally coaxed out of her bedroom by the maids. Her mother had grown tired of her sulking for over two weeks, and today was no exception. To make matters worse, she had been forced into a formal dress for some pointless dinner with guests from the Black Order—whatever that was supposed to be. Every step felt heavier as she made her way out to the garden, seeking refuge in the only place that still brought her peace.
The sun was setting, casting golden hues over the garden. Valerie's frustration melted slightly as she inhaled the familiar scents of the flowers she and Darryl had planted together. Each bloom held a memory, a piece of the bond between them. The garden had always been her sanctuary.
A small smile formed on her lips when she saw Darryl, his back bent over a patch of roses. When he noticed her, he stood, brushing off his hands, and came over, ruffling her hair with an affectionate grin.
"Look who's finally out of her cave," he teased.
Valerie swatted his hand away, frowning. "Mother had the maids drag me out. They even dressed me in this ridiculous thing for tonight's dinner."
Darryl chuckled. "You know how she is. Formal events mean formal attire."
Before Valerie could respond, the high-pitched laughter of Evangelina and Adam echoed through the garden. Their youngest siblings burst onto the scene, clearly excited about something.
"The guests are here!" Evangelina announced, her eyes wide with excitement.
Adam, trailing behind, looked more sullen, his thumb stuck firmly in his mouth. Valerie crouched down to his level and gently pulled his hand away.
"No thumb-sucking, remember? Are you a good boy, Adam?"
He hesitated before nodding shyly. Valerie smiled, giving him a soft pat on the head before standing up.
"Let's go greet our guests then."
With Evangelina running ahead, Valerie carried Adam back inside, Darryl following behind with a knowing smirk. The moment they entered the den, Valerie's eyes immediately locked onto the tall redhead standing near her father. Her heart stuttered, a reaction she didn't expect.
Darryl, of course, noticed. "Someone's been struck by Cupid," he teased in a low voice.
Valerie growled under her breath and elbowed him hard in the stomach. "Shut up," she hissed.
Darryl let out a pained groan, clutching his midsection. "I shouldn't have taught you how to fight…"
A voice rang out from across the room. "Strike!" Lavi exclaimed, watching the exchange with amusement.
Valerie shot him a glare, but before she could say anything, the boy next to Lavi stepped forward, offering her a polite smile. "Ignore him. He says that to everyone."
The silver-haired boy extended his hand. "I'm Allen Walker. These are my friends, Lavi and Kanda."
Valerie glanced at Kanda, whose disinterested expression made it clear he would rather be anywhere else. She felt a strange kinship with him in that moment. With a sigh, she shook Allen's hand.
"Valerie Kirk," she introduced herself curtly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Allen replied warmly before stepping aside as Valerie's mother approached, giving her a brief hug.
"I'm glad to see you finally out of your room."
Valerie returned the embrace stiffly. "You forced me out."
Her mother's gaze softened. "You've been locked away since your friend's funeral. I had no choice."
Valerie shifted uncomfortably, relieved when the maid entered and announced that dinner was ready. She wasted no time in heading to the dining room, eager to escape the scrutiny of the guests—especially the redhead, Lavi, who seemed to have a habit of staring.
Dinner was a blur. Valerie forced herself to make polite conversation, though she couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. Lavi's gaze felt persistent, while Kanda barely lifted his eyes from his plate. Allen, at least, was trying to be friendly, but it all felt exhausting.
As the focus of the conversation shifted toward her, Valerie excused herself and retreated back into the garden. The cool night air greeted her like an old friend, wrapping her in its calm embrace. She sighed, sinking onto the familiar bench near the rose bushes, wishing the evening would just end.
"Why did she have to bring that up in front of them?" she muttered under her breath, thinking about the mention of her friend's funeral. Valerie knew why her mother had done it—trying to push her out of mourning—but it still stung.
A rustling sound nearby snapped her out of her thoughts. She immediately tensed, ready to defend herself, but relaxed slightly when Lavi's familiar red hair appeared from behind the bushes.
"Sorry," he said, flashing a sheepish grin. "Didn't mean to scare you."
Valerie rolled her eyes and turned away. The last thing she wanted was to deal with him right now. Darryl would probably make some joke about how she was avoiding her "crush." She scowled at the thought, shaking her head.
"If you're here to lecture me about mourning or whatever, don't bother," Valerie snapped, crossing her arms. "I know all about the Order and what happens if I mourn for too long."
Lavi held up his hands in defense, stepping closer cautiously. "Whoa, easy. That's not why I came out here."
Valerie blinked, surprised by his response. "Then why are you here?"
"I just wanted to see if you were okay," he said, his tone softer than she expected. "You seemed upset after you left dinner."
For a moment, Valerie was speechless. She hadn't expected that. Avoiding his gaze, she muttered, "I'm fine. Thanks."
Lavi chuckled, clearly not buying it. "You don't look fine."
Valerie looked up at the moon, her thoughts swirling. "It's just…everything. This dinner, the guests, my friend's funeral—it's all too much."
Lavi nodded, sitting down beside her on the bench. "I get that. Life can be pretty overwhelming sometimes."
Valerie studied his face, noticing the layers of complexity behind his carefree smile. She wondered what burdens he carried, what had brought him here to this strange place with the Black Order.
"Why are you really here, Lavi?" she asked softly, her voice betraying her curiosity.
He sighed, leaning back and gazing up at the stars. "Honestly? I'm not even sure. I guess… I wanted to help. You seemed like you could use a friend."
Valerie's heart softened at his words, though she wasn't sure she was ready to accept that offer. She had lost too many people she cared about. But still, there was something about Lavi's presence that made her feel… less alone.
They sat in silence for a while, the quiet of the garden wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. For the first time in what felt like forever, Valerie felt a small sense of peace.
As the night deepened, she finally stood up. "I should get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day, and I need to be ready for whatever comes."
Lavi rose with her, offering a small, reassuring smile. "If you need someone to talk to, I'm around."
Valerie nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. "Thanks."
With that, she turned and headed back into the house, her heart lighter than it had been in weeks. Maybe, just maybe, things would start to get better.