24A/N: Please re-read the end of chapter 12 if you read it when it first came out- I've edited their argument to flow a little better. Otherwise, please enjoy the last chapter (it's the shortest yet).
Their argument sat bitter on Lumi's tongue and even a too-sweet white chocolate mocha with caramel couldn't lift her spirits. Branwen was just so- ugh! She didn't understand how he could push her away after all the time they'd spent together. Sure, he said his Semblance was bad luck but what did that even mean?
It wasn't like Grimm had overrun her home and the sky had fallen because she was close enough to touch his shoulder or something. She was injured, but that wasn't even remotely close to his fault- it was because she'd been a self-loathing idiot who thought fighting Grimm in a bad mood was a good way to cool down.
Lumi kicked the baseboard of the cabinet in irritation and resumed chopping vegetables for dinner. When she nearly sliced her finger for the third time, she gave up on cooking and placed an order for pizza. She threw herself onto her bed and buried her face into a pillow with a groan.
What was she going to do?
She was in a foul mood the next day, which wasn't exactly a big change from last week, but it was noticeable enough for Yang to ask her what was up despite the fact that the other girl was technically mad at her.
"I had a fight with Branwen," Lumi tucked a strand behind her ear. "But don't worry, I don't think he's going to hit the bar because of it." She tacked on after a beat, "Also, I didn't find out what was wrong with him- sorry."
"It's okay," Yang said an amused grin. "I think I just figured it out."
"Cool," she drawled and adjusted her bag. "See you later."
The blonde waved over her shoulder and they hurried to their respective classes.
For the most part, Lumi tried to focus on what her teachers were saying but it was more difficult the closer to third period it became. She despaired the state her grades would be in after two weeks of barely paying attention but there was nothing to be done for it except to either make up with Branwen or completely kick him out of her heart.
And when she walked into detention after nearly being late to his class earlier, she still didn't know which it would be.
By lunch on Wednesday, she was irritated that she'd spent so long worrying about things. Do or don't, she chastised internally, just stop mucking around! Walking around so stressed out was both annoying and bad for her health.
Her resolve to confront him afterschool wavered when she walked into Branwen's class, but then quickly hardened when she noticed that he purposefully avoided looking her way. Well, that just wouldn't do. She was going to tell him exactly how dumb he was being and they were going back to the way they were before and that was that!
Lumi marched out of class ready to take on the world, and walked to detention with a bundle of nerves in her stomach. A couple of hours ago confronting him had seemed like a great idea, but… well, she wasn't sure he would listen to her. Not about a topic he'd declared closed the last time it was brought up anyways. If she could disguise the talk on the other hand…
A tentative plan formed in her mind and she pushed open the door. "Branwen?" she called softly and clutched her bag's strap in a death grip.
"Yes?" he shot her a look out of the corner of his eye.
"Can I talk to you? It's… kind of important." She fiddled with the strap. "About my mom."
The dismissal died on his tongue. "Of course," he said instead and brushed his fingers across the flask in his pocket.
She crossed the workshop with hesitant steps and took her usual seat. She fidgeted in place then reminded herself that she was going to tell him the truth anyways- why not now?
"My mother…" she began- sighed. "I found my semblance when I was nine years old. My parents were arguing- I don't remember what about- and my mother got violent; broken glass, holes in the wall, screaming, the works…" she paused to collect her thoughts. "So I wanted to get away, you know? To leave, but in a way that wouldn't draw attention to myself."
He pursed his lips.
"I ended up a few blocks away in a neighborhood I'd never been to before, but some police officers found me and took me home. After some, uh, questions about what I told the police, my mother was over the moon that I had found my semblance so young. It was like she was a whole new person, and I-" she sucked her teeth. "I really wanted to keep that, so I told her that I wanted to be a Huntress, like her."
She pulled a pen cap from her pockets and rolled it between her fingers. "When I was ten she started training me, and well- if I didn't naturally have good aura control then I certainly learned it quick." Lumi smiled bitterly. "So what I'm trying to say is… I didn't have a great home life growing up but its better now- even with all the bruises and cuts and stuff that you've seen me with."
She finally looked at him. "I know you're worried about your semblance making things worse for me, but it hasn't- it really hasn't." She cut off his protests. "In fact, you're part of why my life has gotten better. These past few months have been leagues better than these last few years and-" she averted her eyes. "You're really important to me- which is to say- I like you… a lot, and I still want to be friends."
"Look, ki- Lumi, you'll get hurt if you're around me," he told her and buried his face in one hand.
"That's the thing," she exclaimed. "I've been getting hurt- for years!- but I've never had someone care so much before and stick around."
"More hurt," he emphasized. "Things that'll stay with you."
"I would be hurt anyways," she countered. "Don't you want to at least make sure I'm not alone?"
He hesitated.
"I'm not asking to hang out with you for days on end, or talk on the phone for hours, but maybe once in a while- after I graduate- we could grab a coffee or something? " She pleaded. "Or even just text?"
She was staring at him with those earnest purple eyes and he shouldn't; he really shouldn't- she was so young, not even at Beacon yet; no matter what Yang said about how obviously important her companionship was to him, but-
"Yeah, alright, fine," he sighed and cursed his weak heart. "I can do texting."
Her face lit up like a sky full of fireworks and he couldn't help but smile back.
A/N: Thank you all for reading. This fic has really been a labor of love and every time someone reviews or favorites it puts the hugest smile on my face. It's been a great ride and -cross your fingers- you may just see Lumi again soon ;)
See you later :)
-NotWeird