Making you Smile: Chapter 1

Soldier, Poet, King

Sometimes, Vex wondered why she tolerated being around Pan. He always had this stupid smile on his face that made her feel funny and he was the biggest idiot she knew but no matter what happened, he’d always be there for her. She had insulted him, throwing as much hate as she could into those words, yet he merely smiled and said that he’d just have to do better. He never gave up on her and she couldn’t help but admire him for that. He was always there, sticking with her even when everything sucked.

“Are you sure you bought the right kind?” She asked, hoping that Pan didn’t forget to do as he was told this time around, an all too common occurrence for the scatterbrain. Having to return back to get the proper cupcake would be a pain especially with the pack she had on her back. Sure, Pan carried most of her things with his magical pack but her own was still quite heavy. There were just some things she didn’t want him having his hands on; like her journal.

“Yup! Thanks for trying to remind me.” He replied as he lifted up the box full of cupcakes atop his head. It cost a pretty penny but hey, it wasn’t her money and she got a free drink from it.

“If I didn’t, you’d probably pick something at random or worse, pick her most hated flavor: Red Velvet,” She snarked back in reply. It’s one of the few things she agreed with Lulu, Red Velvet was boring. It was simply red… and that’s it? Like, it doesn't even have anything else going for it, not even flavor which is just bog standard sweet.

“You know, it’s kinda weird. You remember Lulu’s favorite flavor even when you don’t like her that much. Why do you hate Lulu?” Pan suddenly asked as he turned around to face her even as he kept walking backwards. They were currently making their way to Lulu’s hut and Pan brought with him cupcakes to appease the excitable druid.

She scowled as she stared at the sugary treat he carried, even as she trailed behind him, she could still smell the tooth rotting sweetness. Good thing he gave her this bitter sweet concoction to mask the scent. Yes, she should try opening up a coffee shop in the future with gloomy lighting and everything and it should be in front of a tea shop because flowers shouldn’t be something you make drinks with.

“Hate is such a strong word. I do not hate her, I hate being around her.” She replied before she took a good long sip from her cup. The black drink was like balm for her soul as she grimaced at how strong it was.

“Don’t you say that to everyone?” He asked as he pulled out a cupcake and chomped it, eating everything; both frosting and the wax paper alike.

“That’s besides the point.” Vex answered but the way he tilted his head had her sighing in frustration. She reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose. “The point is… she’s far too bright and happy. She’s like everyone else.” She complained. The plastic smile Lulu wore only made it worse; she couldn't stand how senseless and fake she laughed.

“No she’s not. She’s lonely, you know? You know how Tristana had her guard a rock most of the time.” Pan fired back which made her look away as a creeping sense of shame filled her gut.

“Damn it… why do you make me feel bad about her?” She grumbled as she tugged on her hoodie, wanting nothing more than to just disappear now.

“Now that’s the spirit! One more step into making you two friends!” He then cheered. She glared at the boy at his audacity. He’d definitely planned this, hadn’t he?

“Have I told you how much I hate you?.” She growled out without much heat as she was far too tired to argue with him. She glanced away and looked up ahead as Lulu’s hut came into view. She let out a sigh as her legs kept on trudging along even as she wished for them to stop. There’s no way for her to get out of this situation. She had to face Lulu whether she liked it or Pan would get pouty and whiny.

Besides, talking with the girl wasn’t all that bad. She was an odd ball just like her and Pan. Maybe she had been a bit too hard on Lulu, giving the other girl a chance shouldn’t hurt, right? She should give her a chance.

-x-x-x-

She had never been made to eat her own words faster than when Lulu opened her mouth. Her regret was immeasurable and her day was ruined as the two numbskulls greeted each other and boy were they eager about their greeting with each other; now, she was forced to listen to these two.

“Pan!” Lulu shouted in excitement as she threw her hands up in the air while she held her staff. If she greeted them any louder, Vex wouldn’t be surprised if the girl's giant witch hat would fly off.

“Lulu!” Pan responded as he mirrored her greeting with as much enthusiasm he could muster in this tiny frame.

“Pan!” The druid once more shouted and like some broken clockwork stuck in a loop, Pan shouted back as they kept on greeting each other. Even Pix was annoyed as he looked at her, begging her to stop them but she stood there dumbfounded at the sight before her.

“Lulu!” The two just kept on going even as she willed her shadow to come alive so she could strangle both of them at the same time. How can they keep on shouting for hours? Didn’t their voices get tired and hoarse?

“Pan-!” Lulu was about to repeat once more but Vex had enough as she placed her cup and the treats atop a nearby stump before she walked up to them and hushed them silent. She pressed her long sleeps up their mouths, stuffing them with her jacket so only their muffled shouts could be heard.

“For my sanity’s sake, please stop!” She begged them and, fortunately for her raging headache, they relented, Lulu lowering her stuff while Pan pouted. She breathed out a sigh of relief as the sweet blissful silence descended down the forested grove that was Lulu’s home before she asked them, “Why can’t you two just greet each other like normies? Is it too much to ask?”

She might hate the typical yordle but at least they had rhyme and reason. These two, on the other hand, had as much sense as a pet rock. She left her sleeve inside their mouth so she could impart some rationality into them, hushing them whenever they tried continuing their greeting. She only pulled her sleeves off their mouths after she was satisfied with their compliance and, thankfully, they stopped with their infuriating shouting.

“There? Wasn’t it that easy?” She asked with a strained smile.

“But it’s boring. I want to make my greeting for Lulu special!” He answered, fussing about something so inane and pointless.

“Don’t you do that for everybody else?” She fired back with a smirk on her lips.

Pan raised his fingers before he lowered them down and acknowledged his fault, “Touche.”

“Now, here’s your cupcakes.” Vex then said as she picked up the box of treats and pushed it to Lulu’s hands. The girl looked at the box bewildered before she brightened up after she opened it. ”Thank Pan for it. He insisted we stop at your favorite bakery.” She muttered as she glanced away; she definitely wasn’t the one that reminded Pan that Lulu liked Ube Cupcakes, no siree.  

“Awww, that’s sweet of you, thank you.” Lulu replied with a smile but this time around her smile reached up to her eyes. Vex couldn’t help but feel her own lips twitched upwards, much to her displeasure. What was it with stupid people and their ability to make her smile?

“Don’t mention it,” She said, waving the girl off as she turned away. She crossed her arms across her chest as she tried to fight off the feeling of butterflies in her chest.

“Well someone here looks like she needs a hug! Come here,~” Lulu then said, making Vex flinch back but it was far too late. The girl’s hand’s were already around her and she clung to her with as much vigor as that of a particularly stubborn vine, completely and seeking to suffocate the life out of her.

“No! I will not indulge in such merry making! Unhand me this instant or suffer the consequences!” Vex protested as she tried to pry her off to no avail. What’s worse was Lulu smelled of wildflowers and honey. It made her stomach feel funny especially combined with how warm and fluffy the girl was. It’s as if the shorter yordle was wearing a blanket with how comfortable she made her feel and she hated every second it; why did Lulu have to ruin the one thing she loved, a nice and comfortable bed?

“Then how about two hugs!” Pan then piped up as he joined in smothering her with unrequested physical affection. She wasn’t built for this, she wasn’t used to this but it felt… nice and she should have really hated it. These two idiots will be the death of her but they needed her. How else would they realize how bone headed their decisions would be and, for their sake, she’d just have to tolerate this.

-x-x-x-

Mercifully, they released her before she passed out from all the blood rushing her cheeks. Patting herself off the ickiness these two carried around them, she then went on to remind these two that there was a reason for them to visit her. Suffice to say, Lulu was over the moon and was eager to pack.

“You got your comb?” Vex rattled off a list of the things Lulu was mostly likely to forget. The girl had packed her things but there was something missing from her pack. Pix was standing over the pack as he gave Vex a taunting look. Not this time eh? Well, she’d be the judge of that.

“Yup!” The girl pulled out the girl but Vex wasn’t done yet.

“Extra Clothing as well as a spare bed roll?” She then asked.

“Of course,” Lulu patted the extra roll of bedding atop her pack. She even brought with her her favorite sauce pan with how blackened its bottom was. At Least they didn’t have to spend much on food when they could just cook what they brought.

Vex hummed as she walked around the other girl, inspecting her from head to toe while Pix laughed maniacally, taunting her but Vex found something. The devilish smile she now sported made Pix freeze as he looked at her in disbelief, “How about your diary?” She then asked.

“Oh! How could I forget!?” Lulu blinked in surprise as she patted her pack to find that she didn’t feel the familiar pointed edge of the leather bound book poking against her bag. The girl ran off back inside as Vex held out her hands to the two idiots before her. Pix pulled out a comically large coin from somewhere while Pan gave her a small pouch.

“See? I told you she’d forget something.” She replied with a smug, self satisfied smug.

“Darn, I was looking forward to buying some souvenirs.” Pan pouted as Lulu came back who picked up the sulking fairy. Vex rolled her eyes at that. Of all things he could spend his money on…

“Heh, better luck next time,” Vex replied as she turned around, “Besides, you can make souvenirs. It’ll have more meaning if you make it anyways.” She added as she walked away, back to the city.

Noticing the lack of footstep behind her, she turned around as saw the two just standing there. “Well, what are you waiting for? The portals aren’t going to explore themselves?” She asked as the two were jolted off their stupor, snorting in amusement as the two ran after her. What would they be without her?