𝙂𝙧𝙞𝙩 & 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚| 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙭 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

The days following Boothill's departure felt heavy in a way that Y/N hadn't expected. She hadn't realized how much of her daily rhythm had become intertwined with his presence, with his quiet strength and the moments they shared. Now that he was gone, there was an absence—an emptiness—that filled the spaces in between everything.
Y/N found herself going through the motions, her routine punctuated by the constant thoughts of him. She went to work, she met up with her friends, she even managed a smile here and there—but inside, there was a soft ache, a longing for him that she couldn't shake.
The days were quiet, too quiet. The silence felt different without Boothill's low voice, without his steady presence in the corner of the room. It was as though the world had slowed down, and with each passing day, the uncertainty of his safety weighed on her more. She had no idea where he was, or how the mission was going. The message he had sent her just before leaving had been brief: "I'll be fine. I'll be back. Just stay safe."
It wasn't enough to ease her mind, but she had to hold on to that promise. He would come back. He had to.
One evening, after a particularly long day, Y/N found herself sitting on her couch, staring at the phone in her hand. She hadn't heard from him in a while. It had been over a week, and the silence was beginning to gnaw at her.
"Should I message him?" she murmured to herself, tapping her fingers nervously on the screen. She didn't want to seem needy, didn't want to push him when he was out there doing what he did best. But the quiet was beginning to feel too loud.
With a sigh, she typed a simple message.
"I'm thinking of you. Stay safe out there."
Her thumb hovered over the send button, and for a moment, she considered erasing it. What if he didn't reply? What if she was bothering him? But before she could overthink it any further, she pressed send.
There. It was done.
She stared at the screen for a long moment, waiting for any sign of life. But the silence continued, the phone screen showing only the last message she'd sent. The waiting, the uncertainty, was beginning to wear on her more than she had realized.
Just as she was about to put the phone down, a new message popped up. Her heart skipped a beat.
"I'm okay. I miss you, too."
Her breath caught in her throat, and she smiled softly. His words, though simple, were a balm to the ache that had settled in her chest.
"When are you coming back?" she quickly typed, her fingers trembling slightly as she held onto the hope that he would give her an answer she could hold on to.
"Soon," he replied almost immediately. "I'll be back before you know it. I promise."
Y/N sighed in relief, her shoulders relaxing as she leaned back against the couch, a soft smile playing on her lips. The connection was still there, even through the distance. He hadn't forgotten her.
Just then, the doorbell rang, and Y/N blinked in surprise. She wasn't expecting anyone. She set the phone down and stood, moving toward the door with a quick pace. As she opened it, she found herself face-to-face with March and Himeko.
"Y/N!" March exclaimed, her face lighting up at the sight of her. "We came by to check on you! You've been kind of quiet lately, so we thought we'd drop by and drag you out for a bit."
Y/N couldn't help but laugh, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "I'm fine, I promise. Just... been a little lost in my own head, you know?"
Himeko raised an eyebrow, her expression softening with concern. "It's about Boothill, right?" she asked, her voice understanding.
Y/N's smile faltered slightly, and she nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I knew he was going on a mission, but it's harder than I thought. I don't like not hearing from him. It feels... wrong."
March stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Y/N in a tight hug. "I get it," she said softly. "I know you two are close, and it's not easy being apart, especially when you're used to having someone there. But you're not alone, Y/N. We're here for you."
Himeko gave her a knowing look, her voice gentle. "You've got us, Y/N. And when Boothill comes back, we'll be right here cheering for you both."
Y/N felt a lump in her throat, but she swallowed it down, grateful for the comfort they offered. She had been so focused on Boothill, on the silence between them, that she hadn't realized how much her friends cared, too.
"I know," Y/N whispered, her voice soft but full of gratitude. "Thank you. Really. I don't know what I'd do without you guys."
March smiled brightly, letting go of the hug and pulling Y/N toward the couch. "No need to thank us! We're your friends. Now, let's distract you from the silence. We're going to have a fun night, just the three of us."
Himeko nodded in agreement. "You need a break from all the worrying. We're going to make sure you have a good time tonight."
Y/N chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest as she settled onto the couch. Her friends were right. It wasn't easy being apart from Boothill, but she couldn't let the weight of waiting pull her under. She had people who cared about her, and even in the absence of Boothill, she still had their support.
As they spent the evening together, laughing and chatting, Y/N felt the tension in her chest loosen a little. It wasn't the same as having Boothill by her side, but it was a reminder that she wasn't alone. And even though the silence was hard to bear, she knew that Boothill would return. They had promised each other that. And when he did, she would be waiting—stronger, steadier, ready to face whatever came next.
The night ended too quickly, but as Y/N lay in bed later, she found herself staring at the ceiling, a soft smile on her lips as she remembered Boothill's words.
"I'll be back before you know it. I promise."
She closed her eyes, letting the quiet wash over her, and for the first time in a while, she felt a little lighter.