Laura lay in bed, her room dimly lit by the soft glow of her bedside lamp. She'd just finished reading a chapter of her book and was settling in for the night when her ARCUS buzzed on the nightstand. She glanced at it curiously, noticing a series of notifications from Fie. Five new voice messages.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she picked up the device. Fie and her surprises. Laura tapped on the first message, her lips already curving into a smile as she braced herself for whatever mischief or sweetness Fie had decided to deliver this time.
The first message began with Fie's unmistakable cutesy voice—the one she always used when doting on cats or teasing Laura. "Aww, look at you, Laura~ So strong and brave, but sooo cute! Yes, you are!" Fie's tone was overly sugary, and Laura couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Well, that's certainly a start," Laura murmured, her smile lingering as she tapped on the next message.
This one was a soft melody, Fie singing a few lines of the song she'd once hummed on their walk to the academy—the one about a woman growing into a hero. Fie's voice was quiet but sincere, her unique timbre giving the song an endearing charm. Laura closed her eyes briefly, listening intently.
"That song again…" Laura said softly to herself, a warmth blooming in her chest.
The third message brought another smile to her face as she heard Fie reading one of the poems Laura had written and sent to her. Fie's voice was unusually formal, attempting to deliver the lines with the same gravitas Laura had imagined when she wrote them. Her pacing was slightly off, and there was a tiny stammer at one point, but the effort was so heartfelt it made Laura's heart swell.
"She really tried," Laura thought, touched, before moving to the next message.
The fourth message was pure mischief, as Fie made muffled noises that instantly reminded Laura of their rope escape practice. "Mmph! Mmm mmm!" came Fie's playful sounds, exaggerated and teasing. Laura could practically picture Fie's sly grin as she recorded it, and she rolled her eyes fondly.
"Fie…" Laura muttered, shaking her head but unable to stop herself from laughing quietly.
Finally, she tapped on the last message. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, in a voice soft and sincere, Fie spoke.
"Laura S. Arseid… I love you with all my heart."
Laura's breath caught for a moment, her chest tightening in a way that was both surprising and comforting. She replayed the message, letting the words sink in fully. A smile crept back onto her face, softer this time.
"I love you too, Fie," Laura whispered to herself, clutching her ARCUS to her chest.
She played the final message one more time before setting the device down. Her heart was lighter, her thoughts full of Fie as she settled into her pillows. Tonight, sleep would come easily, and her dreams would undoubtedly be of the one who sent her those heartfelt messages.