#txt.aiden

[marivenah]

FLUFFTOBER - DAY 22

Picking (Flowers) - for Aiden

>> prompt list

Pairing: Aiden x Faith

Characters: Aiden Hunter, Faith Seed

Words: 1k

A little late because I didn't manage to finish it in time and then wanted to drop it completely, BUT I picked it back up and completed it!

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The colourful grassland out in Hope County holds so much beauty Aiden never really noticed before. Funny that all it took was a war — a cause he now dedicated his life to.

Though, he didn’t exactly expect to be needed for this. But he is not complaining. The silence is comforting. So far into the Henbane Region, away from all this mess. The Project, the Resistance, and everything in between.

They had more Peggies with them at first — uh, Brothers and Sisters — but Faith sent them away, leaving only her and Aiden. He’d lie if he said that he wouldn’t feel a little safer with more Chosen around. Who knows if Laurie is going to show up.

The Deputy.

The grip on his rifle tightens when she comes to mind. Aiden hopes that the Deputy will see that she is fighting the wrong fight. That she’ll see the light and put an end to the conflict.

In the background, Faith is roaming over the flower field, her dress gently swaying with her movement. One would only ever see her with Bliss flowers but today she decided to collect all different kinds of flowers. Right now, she’s picking lilies. White ones.

“Lilium candidum, more commonly known as the white lily. While lilies come in many different colours, such as yellow, orange, and red — the Madonna lily is the purest of them all. It symbolizes modesty and innocence of the soul. And yet it earned the name ‘flower of sadness’.”

Aiden listens intently. He didn’t expect to get a lesson in botany, but it sounds intriguing enough. Especially when narrated by Faith.

Her fingers carefully brush over the white petals.

If the agitation didn’t keep him on high alert, the Chosen would’ve questioned the sight. Is it real or just another Bliss dream? The Siren looks more like an angel to him.

“Do you think something so pure, can be so woeful?”, she asks.

One cold shiver runs down Aiden’s spine and takes all of his tautness with it when he realizes the question was directed at him. Jacob taught him that Faith’s words are never to be questioned. But what does the protocol say for questions she has for him?

Faith makes a beeline and now stands close to him, allowing for direct eye contact. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t take his eyes off hers. The green is hypnotizing, in a strangely gentle and comforting way.

Is this another test? Or genuine curiosity?

To not risk anything, the Chosen answers with a counter question, “Is sadness something negative to you?”

She tilts her head but shows no sign of confusion on her face. The soft smile still lingering on her lips. Her hands are neatly clasped behind her back. The answer to his question seems to be obvious to her.

He gives in, “I think sadness can be something positive, in its own way. It shows that the person is emotionally affected. That there is a deeper meaning behind it all. If there is no happiness nor sadness all that’s left is indifference.”

No words follow but Faith is still eagerly listening. Obviously, waiting for the answer to her question.

Aiden clears his throat, “I do believe purity and sadness aren’t mutually exclusive. On some occasions, one can even lead to the other.”

That is when her eyes drift away and the smile drops slightly. Not a spontaneous question, seeing as the answer gave her reason to think.

“Depending on the circumstances”, he adds.

Then, she puts the lilies away. While the Herald rummages through her pile of flowers, she starts humming. The melodic sound is as ever soothing.

“Do you think something pretty can hide an ugly truth underneath?” Another question from Faith.

She pulls a yellow flower from the basket. At first glance, it seems to be a dandelion but at closer inspection — after she hands it to him — the petals are different.

She continues her little lesson, “Tanacetum. It symbolizes protection, resistance, and health. Beneath it though, the core reveals itself to be poisonous.” Faith’s voice has just as much venom in it as the word itself.

Aiden would ask her why she picked the flower in the first place, but the Project most definitely has good use for poisonous flowers. And everyone has their role to play, including plants it seems.

“Everything that is pretty, has a secret. Something dark that it’s hiding. That’s why it is pretty. Otherwise, it can’t deceive. Which it does to survive in this endless circle of life and death. After all, life is all about survival, is it not?”, she asks, putting the flower back.

Only the strong survive.

“It shouldn’t be”, the Chosen mutters under his breath.

Within a heartbeat, Faith grabs one of Aiden’s hands, caging it between her own. “Our home is being poisoned by those pretending to be saviours — disguising it as healing. It is them who have turned it into a fight for survival and then put the blame on us.”

The Resistance. If only they were able to see the truth. If only his sister would have followed him.

“Don’t let yourself get fooled by its shell, by its façade. It cannot give you what it promises.” The Herald’s view is fixed on their conjoined hands, softly squeezing the Chosen’s hand. “But once we enter New Eden, all of this will finally be over, giving our lives a new purpose.”

The contact makes him feel unsure, but at the same time, there’s warmth spreading in his chest. This sensation shouldn’t come over him. When Jacob finds out —

“You know”, Faith starts, her lips curving into a smile, “When I think of you, what comes to mind is protection, of course. But, also healing. True healing. You took the step. The leap of faith. You wanted to be forgiven, to be reborn. And you succeeded. Because you had faith.”

He had faith. He still has faith. So much work, so much remorse wrapped him into a cocoon of misery, unable to find a way out. Then, faith found him. Ironically, his faith is standing right in front of him.

A selfish thought. He mentally shakes it off.

She continues, “Much like the Achillea, or Yarrow as most would call it, you healed. Something you decided to do all on your own.”

From the pile of flowers, she hands him red ones, which he assumes, are Yarrows.

“The red ones fit you best.”

#oc: aiden hunter #x: darkest before the dawn #txt.aiden #mywriting* #mine.ft23 #i hope i wrote her dialogue correctly lol #she's not trying to manipulate him here #i do think she truly believes in whatever the fuck she's saying #we love a delulu queen <3 #meanwhile he's just 😳😍 #the flowers were chosen on purpose btw! each of them represents someone 😌 #btw if you see any editing errors or things in [brackets] pls tell me lol