Archive of Our Own ^beta

You're nobody. It whispers. Nobody at all.

There's a reason you walk in front- it's because your life doesn't matter as much as the rest of your party's.

If you died, there'd be nobody left at home worrying about you- nobody crying over your tragic death.

You don't even have a place to call home. You're an expendable piece of meat, ready to take the blow for someone that truly matters, and you know this.

You wake up alone in bed.

"Siffrin!" Mira smiles. "You're awake!"

Looks like they let you oversleep again. That nightmare, however... you'd much rather have been woken up from that.

... Still, it's not like they could tell.

"... Are you alright, Siffrin?"

You sit up. "I had a nightmare about... being expendable?" You say. "Like... the reason I went in front is because I don't matter as much as the rest of you guys because I don't have anyone back home to worry about me?"

Mira frowns a worried frown, and you suddenly regret telling her- even if you two are Feelings Buddies. She moves to sit with you on the bed. "Siffrin..." She says. "You're not expendable. I'm sure that whoever you knew on the island misses you a lot..." She reaches a hand out to touch you. "Is it ok if I..."

You nod. She pulls you into a hug- much more physical contact than you expected! It's a bit overwhelming, but it's nice, too.

"Sif?" Isa calls out from the kitchen, his footsteps growing closer as he spoke. "You finally awake? I heard you squeak while I was fixing up your brunch..." He walks in holding a large plate of waffles, and gasps. "It's cuddle time?" He places down the plate and bounds over to the bed to wrap you two up tightly in his embrace.

You lean back towards Isa's soft chest and hope Mira doesn't mind.

It's nice, having two of your family members under the same roof as you. You don't think you would have ever dreamed of this back before the loops- of staying with them, of living with them...

... You fell asleep again.

At least the waffles are still nice and warm. Delicious, too! You're gonna have to thank Isa for them later!

... Stars, you love those two more than anything else in the Universe.