kingdom of the broken { opal + leon }

It was early, the sun had not yet risen, darkness swallowed the halls, lingering in the corners of the building. It bleed into the stillness, and her breathe came out in white clouds. The warmth of the indoors could not even protect her. She didn't mind the cold, though. The feeling of the ice biting into her exposed skin was reassuring in some way. It reminded her that she was human, that she was alive, that each part of her body that felt it was real. But then there were also times when she liked the emptiness that had replaced her leg. Where she felt nothing and she longed for that same numbness to encompass her mind.

She struggled through the darkness, straightening her clothes, listening to Ky as he gurgled and babbled. He was already awake, he had a habit of rising as early as she did, if not earlier. Sometimes she wished he'd sleep for a little longer, it was hard to steal herself and creep into the night and leave him behind in the care of the Avoxes. Even if it was only for an hour or two in the morning it was hard. These days that hour or so had stretched to entire days as she tried her best to fill the role she'd been thrusted into.

Picking up her child she let him gather his feet, before letting go of his hands. At the age of two he was quickly developing, he'd already begun stumbling into a lopsided run of sorts. She gazed down at him as he moved to her leg, his hands gripping her pants. He looked up towards her and smiled, his brown eyes shining. He was the spitting image of his father, it seemed as though the only traces of her appearance were in nose and ears. Otherwise he looked exactly like Potato. It warmed her heart to know that he'd grow up to look like him and hopefully act like him.

"Alright, Ky, you can come with me today." She offered him her hand, and he took it eagerly. They moved down the quiet halls, until they reached the lobby to the training centre. "Mamma, pick up." She glanced down as Ky slipped his hand out of hers, instead to reach upwards. She raised an eyebrow, "And the magic word?"

"Pretty please." He giggled, and she scooped him upwards, before slipping him onto her shoulders. "Shall we go for a walk?" She headed towards the main doors, shoving one open and slipping out into the cold early morning. As she took a step forwards she froze, spotting a figure just ahead of her. Frowning she stepped closer, it took her a moment to recognise the tall figure before her, but when she did it left her feeling numb. "Leon." She said, in way of greeting. His name as bitter as ever in her mouth.