A Series of Aru Shah Oneshots

Where We Belong

A/N Friendship bracelets because why not? Oneshot requested by HeHaiLiu, who wanted an Aru and Kara bonding oneshot set in the future! I chose to set it a little bit after NOI. Apologies for the long delay. It's a bit cheesy, but I hope you all like it!

"You know, this would be a lot easier if you hadn't just chosen all yellow string for your friendship bracelet."

Kara looked up from the strings she was braiding and pretended to scowl at Aru. "I like it, okay?"

"Yeah, but in this light, they look the same!" Aru gestured to her yellow-tinted bedroom light directly above where they were sitting on the floor.

Kara rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

"'Yes, you're right, Aru. You're always right.'" Aru imitated her sister's voice. "'I should've listened to you and picked green."

"Green is your favorite color, not mine. Why don't you do green?"

Aru looked down at the bracelet she was currently making. She'd chosen navy blue, dark purple, and black, colors that made her think of night skies...and the color of a certain someone's eyes.

"I already made one for me, Mini, Brynne, Nikita, Sheela, Hira..."

"And Aiden?" Kara said, smirking.

"He already has bracelets," Aru said, flushing.

"You wouldn't leave him out, though. I know you." Kara's mouth ticked up at the corner. "You two are perfect for each other."

"Thank you," Aru said, grinning back.

Once, there had been a love triangle between Aru, Aiden, and Kara, which had been a supremely awkward time. It involved Aru kind-of-accidentally invading Kara's privacy by eavesdropping on her confession to Aiden that she liked him. And then, to make things even more complicated, Aiden kissed Aru as a birthday wish. Not even five minutes later, Kara betrayed them all to join the other side, of the Sleeper.

Needless to say, that had been simultaneously one of the best and worst nights of Aru's life. Afterwards, she was so confused about where to turn and what to do. A lot of messy interactions happened between the three of them before everything was sorted out. Kara admitted that she hadn't really been in love with Aiden, but more in love with the idea of a relationship with him. She forgave Aru, and Aru forgave her, and since then they'd lived as sisters, with their worst conflict to date being over Aru stealing Kara's eyeliner once (or maybe twice).

It might not last forever, though. It had been two months since the battle with the Sleeper had ended. Krithika Shah was working on establishing contact with Kara's foster parents, but since they'd moved to a new house and state, it was proving difficult to find them.

Whatever the Sleeper had done to take away Kara's memories seemed to be permanent, although everyone was still looking for a cure. Krithika hypothesized that maybe Kara would remember once she saw them. Aru didn't know what to believe, but she hoped Kara would get her memories back. She'd had enough stolen from her.

Aru wouldn't blame Kara if she chose to leave behind the painful memories with Aru and Krithika and moved on to make happier ones with her foster parents. But just the thought of Kara leaving gave Aru a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Hey. What's wrong?" Kara said.

"What do you mean?"

"You look like somebody just insulted Lord of the Rings."

Aru looked down at her bracelet, which she'd somehow managed to tangle into a series of knots in her anxiety. "I'm just thinking about stuff."

"Like?" Kara prompted.

Aru reached for a bobby pin and started teasing the knots out. "How do you know where you belong?" she asked instead, watching her sister closely.

Kara considered. She always thought carefully before she answered a question. "I'm not sure if it's so much a question of location. Not for me, at least," she said at last. "I don't know so much of my childhood. I don't remember my life before this one. Even when Dad--the Sleeper--adopted me, his home was never really my home."

Aru nodded, although looking around at her room, she couldn't imagine a more fitting place to call home. She'd plastered Marvel posters on the wall. Her bookshelf was overflowing with all kinds of things, including two different editions of Lord of the Rings, plus the LOTR movie trilogy. At the foot of her bed was draped a bright green blanket that Aru had used for various purposes (as a blanket, as a rug, as a cape, etc.). But maybe that was the point. She didn't understand what Kara had been through.

"I think my home is more in people than places. Where I belong changes where my friends go." Kara's bright brown eyes met Aru's. "And where my sister goes."

Her expression said she knew exactly what Aru was thinking. Aru appreciated that she didn't have to explain the hidden question behind her words. They'd come to read each other a lot better in the weeks they'd been living together.

"You're my sister," Aru said. "That doesn't change, no matter where you go. If you choose to leave, or stay, I won't blame you for either choice."

Kara shook her head, smiling knowingly. "I made my decision as soon as I forgave you, Aru. I'm staying."

Aru almost stabbed herself in the finger with the bobby pin as she undid the last knot in her friendship bracelet. She stared in shock at Kara. "You are?"

"I mean, unless you don't--"

Aru laughed, weeks' worth of worry vanishing from her shoulders. Kara had chosen to stay, and everything would be okay.

"Nope!" She jumped up and threw her arms around Kara. "You're not getting away from me so easily."

Kara hugged her back. "I might visit my foster parents sometimes, but right now...my home is here. With you guys--Brynne and Mini and Aiden and Rudy--the missing part of me doesn't hurt as much. This is where I belong."

"Where we both belong," Aru finished.