The day was bright and calm at Thors, the light breeze weaving through the academy gardens as students made their way between classes or lingered to enjoy the fleeting warmth of the afternoon sun. Laura walked along the familiar stone path, her eyes naturally drawn toward the small, quiet corner near the garden. There, on one of the stone benches, was Fie—curled up on her side, knees bent and arms tucked beneath her head, as though the stone was the softest surface in Erebonia.

Laura stopped in her tracks, tilting her head slightly. Doesn't that look uncomfortable…? she mused, her brow furrowing in concern. Fie had a penchant for sleeping in odd places, but even for her, this seemed particularly unappealing. Yet there she was, dozing peacefully, her silver hair shimmering in the sunlight.

Laura couldn't help but smile at the sight, though a thought quickly popped into her head—one she wasn't quite sure where it had come from. It was that classic image she'd seen in stories and heard in hushed conversations between classmates: someone offering their lap as a pillow for another to rest on. The thought of Fie, her dear friend, sprawled so uncomfortably on that hard bench sparked an idea that warmed her heart.

Perhaps I can offer her something more comfortable, she thought, nodding to herself. It's perfectly reasonable. Practical even.

With that justification firmly in place, Laura approached the bench, clearing her throat gently to make her presence known.

Fie's ear twitched slightly, and her eyelids fluttered open. She squinted up at Laura, clearly still caught in the haze of sleep, before letting out a quiet, grumbly "Hmm?"

Laura chuckled softly. "Fie, you're sleeping on stone again. Isn't that uncomfortable?"

Fie blinked at her lazily, sitting up just enough to rub at one eye. "It's fine. I don't mind." She yawned, leaning back on her hands. "It's warm here."

Laura crossed her arms, her expression gentle but resolute. "Be that as it may, you'll wake up sore if you keep that up."

Fie shrugged, seemingly unbothered, but Laura wasn't about to let it go so easily. She looked at the grass nearby—a lovely, soft patch beneath the shade of a tall tree—and then down at Fie.

"I was going to sit over there in the grass anyway," Laura said as casually as she could, gesturing to the spot. "And… well, if you're so tired, perhaps you'd find it more comfortable to rest there. I could even offer you…"—she hesitated just a moment, steeling herself—"…my lap as a pillow."

Fie's head tilted just slightly, her sleepy expression replaced by mild surprise. "Your lap?" she echoed.

Laura nodded, keeping her tone matter-of-fact despite the faint flutter in her chest. "Yes. It would be far softer than this bench, and you'd have plenty of shade. I don't mind, truly."

Fie stared at her for a moment, blinking as though processing what Laura was suggesting. Then, to Laura's surprise, Fie shrugged again and hopped down from the bench, standing in front of her. "Well, if you're offering…"

Laura felt the smallest jolt of surprise at how quickly Fie accepted, but she quickly recovered, offering a warm smile. "Of course. Come."

The two made their way to the patch of grass Laura had indicated. Laura sat down first, settling herself against the base of the tree and arranging her legs comfortably in front of her. Fie plopped down beside her before flopping sideways without hesitation, resting her head lightly on Laura's lap as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

Laura blinked, her heart skipping softly as Fie settled in, eyes already fluttering shut. For someone so small and sleepy, she certainly had a way of disarming Laura without even trying.

"See? That's much better, isn't it?" Laura asked softly, her voice carrying the faintest hint of amusement.

"Mm," Fie mumbled in response, her voice muffled against Laura's lap. "Yeah, way better."

Laura laughed quietly, letting her gaze drift down to Fie's peaceful face. The way her silver hair splayed across her lap made Laura smile, and without really thinking, her fingers instinctively reached out to brush a stray strand away from Fie's cheek. Her hand lingered just a moment, smoothing out a lock of hair before she stopped, realizing what she was doing.

Fie didn't seem to notice—or mind. Instead, she sighed softly, shifting a little to get even more comfortable. "You're good at this."

Laura blinked. "At what?"

"Being comfy," Fie mumbled, her voice drowsy. "Mm. Majestic knight queen… perfect lap pillow…"

Laura felt warmth rise to her cheeks at the unexpected comment, and she bit back a smile, shaking her head fondly. "You're half-asleep again, Fie."

"Mmhmm…"

Laura let out a soft laugh, her heart swelling with affection for her small, sleepy friend. As Fie drifted back into a nap, Laura remained still, letting her rest. There was something undeniably peaceful about the moment—just the two of them, the quiet rustle of the wind through the leaves, and the warmth of the afternoon sun.

"Rest well, Fie," Laura murmured softly, brushing her fingers ever so gently through Fie's hair again.