Bliss - Vanya Hargreeves FF *previously Sour Candy*

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

*2 weeks after her arrival at the academy*

In the dead of the night the only sound crashing through the house was the thunder and lashing rain attacking the windows, crashing against roof tiles.

Usually the storms woke Vanya, so she wasnt shocked when a crash of thunder made her heart jump. She was planning to delve further under the covers and go back sleep when a very different sound made her sit up.

This was a sound she had learnt to expect; for two weeks the new girl had been living among them, and for fifteen nights little Vanya had heard the same heart wrenching sound of crying.

Something burned in her chest and she pushed the covers off of her, sneaking out into the hallway.

For once Vanya grew some courage and forced herself to do something.

As she neared the new girls door, the muffled crying grew louder - the door was directly next to her own and it made sense that she was the only person woken up by it as they had the closest rooms out of everyone.

She pressed her ear against the door and through the muffled rain she heard shuffling.

The name 'zero' caught in her throat and she closed her eyes. "Florence?"

The sniffling stopped so suddenly Vanya almost questioned if she'd dreamt it. But she was sure the crying was coming from this room, so she lightly tapped her knuckles on the door, calling her name softly again.

This time a crash and thud made her jump and she acted on instinct, opening the door.

She stared at the mess on the floor; books strewn everywhere and a girl standing at the foot of her bed with her head in her hands. The contents of her desk were no longer on the desk.

Vanya darted forward out of pure instinct when the girl went to throw the book in her hand across the room and stopped her.

"You need to be quiet," she whispered at the shocked curly haired girl, panic making her act. "If dad hears you he'll-"

"-i dont care!" She hisses, dropping the book, the thud making vanya flinch. When no sounds followed like angered footsteps, she relaxed slightly. "I dont want to fucking be here."

Tears pool in her eyes and she stands in front of vanya, cheeks red and hands shaking. She takes her hands in her own and shushes her lightly.

"Please, we cant get in trouble-"

"-then leave! The only way you'll get in trouble is if you stay." She whispers harshly.

"Are you okay?"

"Im sorry i woke you, i didnt-" she stutters through her tears. "I didnt mean-"

She shushes her gently. "Its okay, its okay..."

Florence leans into Vanya and she doesnt hesitate to wrap her arms tightly around the emotional girl; she tucks her head into vanya's neck and lets the tears fall, emotion building in her chest at the caring embrace shes locked in. The ends of her wings trail the floor and Vanya takes care not to hurt them in any way.

They stay like that for a few minutes and Florence wonders why Vanya doesn't just let go, leave, forget about her. Why would she bother and act like she cared? She wasnt used to having someone in her life who stuck around or cared for her. This all felt so strange.

She was waiting for the moment that the girl would pull away and leave, telling her to get over herself or be quieter next time she had a breakdown.

Vanya stayed with Florence the entire night.