ZZZ:Through the Frosted Mirror

Ellen stretched her arm—her singular arm—the morning light filtering through the window and casting a soft glow over the room. The events of the previous night lingered in her mind, the unexpected closeness with Miyabi leaving her feeling both awkward and oddly comforted. She glanced at the fox-eared girl, who was sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed, carefully adjusting the straps of her weapon's sheath. Miyabi's ears twitched slightly, betraying her thoughts even when her expression remained composed.

Ellen stood, her evolved frame made her slightly taller, her movements more fluid and deliberate. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, her missing arm and her increased height staring back at her. Her evolution in Hollow Zero had left its mark. She smiled wryly at the memory of how she and Mira had escaped that twisted dimension, saved by her own desperation and the timely arrival of Section 6. Her thoughts flickered to the moment she met Miyabi for the first time, the enigmatic fox-eared woman offering protection for her and Mira. Little did Ellen know that their paths would become so intertwined.

"You're staring," Miyabi said without looking up, her voice calm but tinged with amusement.

Ellen blinked, caught off guard. "What? No, I wasn't."

Miyabi's ears twitched again, and she turned to face Ellen, her red eyes narrowing slightly in a playful challenge. "You're a terrible liar."

Ellen shrugged, crossing her arm. "Maybe. But you're easy to stare at, short stuff."

Miyabi's cheeks flushed, and her ears flicked upward indignantly. "Short? I'm taller than you."

"Only because of your ears," Ellen quipped, her smirk widening. She stepped closer, standing directly in front of Miyabi to emphasize her point. "See? Same height now. You can't cheat out of this one."

Miyabi's eyes darted to Ellen's, the proximity catching her off guard. Her usual composure faltered, and for a brief moment, she looked away, her blush deepening. "Fine. You've taller. Happy?"

Ellen chuckled softly. "Ecstatic."

The room fell into a comfortable silence as they prepared for the day. Ellen noticed how Miyabi's movements were slower than usual, almost hesitant. It wasn't like her to drag her feet, especially when there was work to be done. Deciding to break the silence, Ellen leaned against the wall, her expression softening.

"Hey," she said gently. "You okay?"

Miyabi paused, her ears tilting back slightly. She didn't answer immediately, instead fiddling with the hilt of her sword. Finally, she spoke, her voice quieter than before. "Do you ever feel… like you've failed someone?"

Ellen frowned, stepping closer. "Yeah, plenty of times. Why?"

Miyabi's gaze remained fixed on her sword. "That day at the power plant… when you lost your arm. I should've stopped it. I should've done more." Her voice cracked, and her ears lowered further. "You were already fighting so hard. And then… I lost control. If I had acted sooner, you wouldn't…"

"Miyabi," Ellen interrupted, her tone firm but kind. She placed her hand on Miyabi's shoulder, grounding her. "You didn't fail me. You saved me. If you hadn't gone all out, none of us would've made it out of there."

Miyabi's red eyes shimmered, flickering briefly to blue. The sight caught Ellen's attention, but she didn't comment on it. Instead, she held Miyabi's gaze, her own steady and reassuring.

"You're stronger than you think," Ellen continued. "And yeah, losing my arm sucks. But you're not to blame for that. We got Mira back. We stopped the Hollow from swallowing the southern district. That's what matters."

Miyabi looked down, her grip on her sword tightening. "You always make it sound so simple."

"It's not," Ellen admitted. "But beating yourself up over it doesn't help. Trust me, I've tried."

Miyabi let out a soft laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "You're annoyingly good at this, you know."

Ellen grinned. "Comes with the job."

The two stood there for a moment, the silence between them comfortable and unspoken words hanging in the air. Ellen's hand lingered on Miyabi's shoulder, and she felt the warmth of the other girl's presence more acutely than ever. There was something unspoken, a connection that was slowly but surely growing between them. And for the first time, Ellen allowed herself to acknowledge it.

"Come on," Ellen said, stepping back and breaking the moment. "Let's get moving before Mira starts wondering what's taking us so long."

Miyabi nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Right."

As they left the room, Ellen glanced over her shoulder, catching Miyabi's blue eyes one last time before they shifted back to red. The sight lingered in her mind, a reminder of the vulnerability Miyabi rarely showed. And as they walked side by side, Ellen felt a quiet determination settle in her chest. Whatever lay ahead, she knew she'd face it with Miyabi by her side—and maybe, just maybe, they'd figure out what this growing connection between them truly meant.

Ellen stepped into the forge, the heat from the blazing furnaces washing over her. The rhythmic clang of metal against metal echoed through the workshop, and the air smelled of molten steel and burning coal. She approached the smith's counter, her giant scissors strapped to her back, still unmodified for her new combat style.

Miyabi followed close behind, her arms crossed as she silently observed the surroundings. The smith, a grizzled older Thiren with soot-streaked fur and sharp eyes, eyed the two before nodding toward Ellen.

"Been a while since I saw a pair of scissors used in combat," he grunted. "And now you're looking to make 'em work with one arm? Tricky, but not impossible."

Ellen grinned. "I like a challenge."

Miyabi frowned slightly. "You shouldn't have to keep adapting like this… I should have—"

Ellen cut her off with a wave of her hand. "Should've, could've, would've, Miyabi. What happened, happened. I'm not about to sit around and mope."

The smith chuckled as he examined the weapon. "She's got the right attitude, girl. You could learn a thing or two from her."

Miyabi scowled but said nothing. The smith smirked at their dynamic before nodding. "I can modify this for single-handed use, but it'll take some doing. You sure you're up for the adjustment?"

Ellen smirked. "I've already had to get used to a lot. One more thing won't kill me."

Miyabi, watching Ellen's confident posture, felt a pang of guilt. Ellen had been adapting all this time, pushing forward without a single complaint. Yet, here she was, still holding onto her own regrets.

The smith, as if sensing the tension, leaned forward. "You two got an interesting thing going on here. One's all about moving forward, the other's stuck worrying too much. Balance each other out well."

Ellen laughed. "Guess that means we make a good team, huh?"

Miyabi, cheeks slightly pink, merely turned away. "Just… hurry with the modifications."

The smith chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Come back in a few days, and your scissors will be good as new."

The sound of steel meeting frosted flesh and air rang out in the training hall. Ellen dodged a swift strike from Miyabi's blade, twisting her body to avoid the sharp edge while using her legs and tail for balance. Miyabi came at her fast, each slash precise and unrelenting, but Ellen met each attack with her own speed and ingenuity.

She ducked low, pivoting on her heel and sweeping her tail toward Miyabi's legs. Miyabi leapt, avoiding the strike, but Ellen was already moving—using her arm to deflect the flat of the blade and countering with a powerful kick aimed at Miyabi's midsection. Miyabi barely managed to parry, her crimson eyes narrowing in concentration.

Ellen smirked. "Not bad, huh?"

Miyabi exhaled, eyes flickering for a brief moment. "You've adapted well. But—"

She vanished in a blur, her blade slicing through the air as she closed in. Ellen barely managed to block with her forearm, feeling the force reverberate through her body. She twisted, using her momentum to spin into a kick that forced Miyabi to retreat.

Frost began to gather around Miyabi's sword as she pressed forward again, her strikes now leaving icy trails in their wake. Ellen countered, channeling her own frost through her limbs. With every block and strike, the air between them chilled, the ground beneath them growing slick with ice. Ellen used her tail to propel herself upward, flipping over Miyabi and landing a well-placed elbow to her shoulder. Miyabi staggered, but with a flick of her wrist, she sent a wave of frost toward Ellen. Ellen countered by stomping the ground, causing a sharp frost spike to erupt and shatter the attack mid-air.

But then, something shifted.

Miyabi's sword glowed faintly, and her strikes became erratic, faster, more dangerous. Her breathing grew shallow, and Ellen could see the telltale flicker of her red eyes deepening. She was on the edge of losing control.

Without hesitation, Ellen surged forward. Rather than attack, she stepped inside Miyabi's guard, using her tail to hook Miyabi's wrist just enough to slow her down. Miyabi's body reacted violently, a burst of cold energy exploding outward, forcing Ellen to skid back. But Ellen wasn't done—she lunged again, dodging the wild swings, her tail whipping around Miyabi's ankle to pull her off balance.

Miyabi snarled, her sword slashing wildly as frost erupted in jagged formations. Ellen barely dodged a shard that could have impaled her. "You have to—" Miyabi gasped, trying to force herself to stop, but her body wasn't responding. "Ellen, you have to knock me out"

Ellen gritted her teeth, feeling the frost creep up her own limbs. If she didn't act now, Miyabi would lose herself completely. She took a deep breath, then launched herself forward with all her strength, her frost-coated arm slamming against Miyabi's chest. The impact sent a surge of frost energy bursting outward, shattering the ice spikes around them. The force was enough to make Miyabi falter.

Seizing the moment, Ellen tackled Miyabi to the ground. They hit the icy floor hard, Ellen pinning Miyabi down as the red glow in her eyes flickered chaotically.

"Come back to me, Miyabi," Ellen said, her voice firm yet steady.

Miyabi's breath hitched. For a moment, her crimson gaze faltered, and a sliver of blue peeked through. With that moment of clarity, she dropped her sword, the glow fading from her eyes. Her body went slack beneath Ellen's grip, her breathing unsteady.

Ellen didn't let go. Instead, she pulled Miyabi into her arms, cradling her close. Miyabi stiffened at first, but then, just like she had last night, she melted into Ellen's embrace. She nuzzled against Ellen's warmth, a soft purr vibrating from deep within her chest.

Ellen chuckled. "There we go. That's better."

Miyabi closed her eyes, allowing herself to rest in Ellen's hold. "I… I'm sorry."

Ellen shook her head. "No apologies. Just focus on breathing."

Miyabi inhaled deeply, letting herself relax, her purring never ceasing. Ellen held her close, making sure she wouldn't slip away again.

She wasn't going anywhere.

The base had settled into its usual evening rhythm by the time Ellen and Miyabi made their way back. The hallways were quieter, dimly lit by the soft glow of overhead fixtures. The remnants of their sparring session lingered on Ellen's skin—frost still clung to her arm, slowly melting, and her muscles ached from the fight.

Miyabi, walking beside her, was noticeably silent. She hadn't pulled away after Ellen's embrace in the training hall, but something in her expression remained uncertain, as though she were fighting against herself. Ellen could see the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her shoulders.

Before they could reach their rooms, a familiar voice called out.

"Ellen!"

Ellen turned, her tired eyes lighting up as she saw Mira sprinting toward her. The younger girl skidded to a stop just before colliding with her, bouncing slightly on her heels as she looked Ellen over.

"You're okay, right?" Mira asked, concern flickering in her golden eyes. "I heard there was a fight."

Ellen snorted. "Nothing I couldn't handle."

Mira pouted. "That doesn't mean you should push yourself so hard." She glanced at Miyabi, tilting her head. "Did she give you trouble?"

Miyabi's ears twitched, and her crimson eyes flickered to Ellen, as if waiting for her response.

Ellen smirked. "Oh yeah, she's a real menace."

Mira squinted, then huffed. "You're both impossible." But relief softened her features. "Get some rest, okay?"

Ellen ruffled her hair with her remaining hand. "You worry too much, kid."

Mira swatted at her hand half-heartedly before looking at Miyabi. "You take care of her."

Miyabi's expression shifted slightly, something unreadable flashing in her eyes before she gave a small nod. "I will."

Mira lingered for a moment, as if debating whether to say more, but instead, she sighed and turned away. "Good night, Ellen. Don't do anything reckless."

"No promises," Ellen called after her, grinning.

Miyabi, however, was unusually quiet as they finally reached Ellen's room. The moment the door shut behind them, Miyabi exhaled, her shoulders losing some of their tension. Ellen raised an eyebrow, moving toward her bed before flopping down with a groan.

Miyabi remained standing, her arms crossed tightly. "You make light of everything."

Ellen cracked an eye open. "What else am I supposed to do?"

"Take things seriously."

Ellen sighed, sitting up. "Miyabi, I do take things seriously. I take you seriously. But I also know that if I don't keep moving, I'll get stuck in my own head, and that's not a place I wanna be."

Miyabi's grip on her arms tightened. "I almost lost control again today."

"And I stopped you." Ellen shrugged. "That's what we do, right? Watch each other's backs?"

Miyabi looked away, clearly torn. "It shouldn't have to be you. You've already lost so much because of me."

Ellen stood, closing the distance between them. "You think I regret saving you?"

Miyabi's breath hitched as Ellen's hand brushed against her wrist. "I—"

"I don't," Ellen said firmly. "Not for a second."

Miyabi's eyes flickered, and for the first time since the fight, the red softened, shifting to that familiar deep blue. Ellen smiled. "There you are."

Miyabi's lips parted slightly, her breathing unsteady. "Ellen…"

Ellen tilted her head. "Yeah?"

Miyabi hesitated, then did what felt natural—she stepped closer, closing the space between them, her forehead resting against Ellen's shoulder. Ellen didn't pull away. Instead, she let her hand trail up to Miyabi's back, holding her steady.

A soft purr rumbled from Miyabi's chest, vibrating against Ellen's skin. Ellen felt her own heartbeat stutter, warmth flooding through her despite the lingering cold from their fight.

"You keep doing this," Miyabi murmured against her.

"Doing what?" Ellen asked, her voice softer now.

"Making it impossible for me to stay away."

Ellen huffed a laugh. "Good. I don't want you going anywhere."

Miyabi shifted, her nose brushing against the side of Ellen's neck as she nuzzled closer. Ellen's grip tightened instinctively, her own frost mixing with Miyabi's in the air around them.

Miyabi's purring never ceased, and Ellen, for once, allowed herself to simply enjoy the closeness, the quiet vulnerability between them. For tonight, at least, there was no battle to fight—only the warmth of each other's presence.

Ellen eventually pulled Miyabi towards the bed, tugging her down with little resistance. The exhaustion of the day finally caught up to her, and with Miyabi nestled against her, the rhythmic rise and fall of her breathing became a steady lull. Miyabi's arms instinctively wrapped around her, and Ellen let her own eyes drift shut, her hand resting lightly against Miyabi's back.

For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to be at ease.

Safe. Warm. Home.