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Over the next few days, Ann was quiet, almost complacent, with everything Zabuza told her to do. And it started to worry him. She hardly left the bedroom unless she needed something or he told her to do something. He knew though that she was still processing, but he didn’t like how the change made her feel like a tool. The only benefit to any of it was that her fever finally broke.
Zabuza~Ann, time to eat.
She quietly slid out of bed and followed him out.
Zabuza~Do you still feel the same?
Ann only nodded as she climbed into her seat. She started to eat, and even had a second spoonful ready, but paused before eating it, setting it back down.
Zabuza~You need to eat. It's been three days and you've hardly had anything.
Ann shook her head and brought her knees up. Zabuza wasn’t going to let her go back to bed soon anyways, so she got comfortable.
Zabuza~Drink your tea at least. Stay hydrated if you're gonna starve yourself.
He sat down to eat his lunch and watched her down the tea without making a face. Zabuza needed to pick up a few missions within the next day or two as it had been too long, but he didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone like this. Not only was she physically weak, she’s obviously emotionally compromised. He knew she needed time, but that wasn't a commodity they exactly had.
Zabuza~I don’t think you've said more than a few words either since that morning. And it's been over a day since the last time you've said something to me.
His eyes darted to the freezer for a moment. It isn't ideal, but maybe letting her finish that pint will be enough chocolate for her to emotionally break down again.
He finished his plate and got up to put it in the sink, leaving her plate in case she did want to eat later. He grabbed a spoon and the ice cream pint then sat with Ann again.
She looked at him, confused, and watched him open the tub and scoop some out to offer to her
Zabuza~I think it'll help.
She shook her head, but he insisted
Zabuza~One bite. If you don't feel any different after, I'll put it away. If you like it, eat as much as you want. I'll even get more if I need to.
She breathed out a huff from her nose but leaned towards the offered bite anyway. He'd let her go sooner if she did what he said anyway.
The cold got her first, then the texture of the brownie sticking her teeth together, and then the taste. It smelled and tasted overly sweet like the first time she had it, but this time her chest pulled and her eyes welled up.
He heard her sniffle so he offered her another bite and watched her take the spoon and pint from him. Zabuza quietly sighed in relief. Hopefully this is enough to at least get her talking again.
Ann ate the cold treat, fighting back tears and the brainfreeze. It hurt, but at the same time it made her feel better. And she didn’t understand why because it hurt.

It wasn't long before she finally let go of the spoon and cried. She wasn't sobbing yet, but she wasn’t trying to mask her feelings either. Zabuza closed the pint to put it away and then grabbed a paper towel to wipe her face with. Since she didn't put up a fight, it was a fast clean up.
Then he carried her back to bed and sat with her on his lap again as she cried against his chest, harder now. He didn't know what he could possibly say to help her, but her crying was better than the complacent silence he had to endure for the past few days.
Zabuza~Do you want to talk?
She shook her head.
Zabuza~Do you want me here?
He felt her pull at his shirt as she tried to bury her face into him more.
Zabuza~Alright. I'm right here.
He wrapped his arms around her to provide gentle pressure and rocked side to side again. This time he noticed, but didn't try to stop the oscillating. He'd just start it again without noticing anyway.
Eventually she quieted down, with the occasional sniffle and intermittent hiccups. Zabuza tucked her hair behind her ear.
Zabuza~Still awake?
She nodded.
Zabuza~Hungry?
Another nod.
Zabuza~Let's go then.

Back at the table, Ann refused to let go when he tried to sit her down.
Zabuza~It'll be faster to reheat your lunch if I put you down.
Ann~No. I wanna stay.
He quietly sighed. This was the most she's said at one time all week.
Zabuza~Fine. But I need to adjust you.
He lifted her higher and shifted her to his left side. Ann wrapped her arms around his neck so she could support herself and he had use of both arms. Zabuza grabbed her plate from earlier to heat up.
Zabuza~It seems like she's regulating now, but not yet independently. If she's still clingy tomorrow I can push missions back one more day, but I have to go the day after.
He grabbed a protein bar just before the microwave beeped and then went back to the table with everything and Ann. Once he sat down, Ann stayed on his lap but turned around to eat. Zabuza rolled his eyes and just wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her balanced as he ate the bar.
Ann~Zabi?
Zabuza~Yeah, kid?
He didn't expect her to speak so soon.
Ann~Can you tell me anything about them?
He considered the request and figured he could probably use it as leverage to eat her whole plate. He could probably share generalities about her parents to prevent her from learning her legacy before the time was right.
Zabuza~Sure. But you need to eat a bit more if you want me to keep talking.
Ann~Okay. What was mom like?
She turned a bit so Zabuza could see her eat.
Zabuza~She's my older sister. So she picked on me a lot. It eventually turned into a game.
Ann~What about dad?
Zabuza hummed as if in thought, but he was just stalling to give her a chance to get a few bites in first.
Zabuza~They were arranged to be married. I didn't interact with him much outside of trying to make sure he treated your mother right.
Ann~What does that mean?
Zabuza~He isn't allowed to do the things that I do to her. Me and her hit each other a lot. If your father tried that with her, heh. I'd do more than be annoying.
They continued on like that, Ann eating and Zabuza providing light stories, until she finished her plate. She turned back around and tried to ask more questions but she was already falling asleep.
He quietly chuckled as he took her back to bed to sleep. May as well check what they need in case he can do some shopping tomorrow.

The next day, Ann stuck close to Zabuza and held onto him when he stopped moving. She let go again when she felt him start to move. He made breakfast with little problems to her system of contact and even allowed her to sit on his lap again as they ate.
Zabuza~After we eat I need to go out. Will you be okay if I'm gone for a few hours?
Ann~Why?
Zabuza~Groceries. I can do missions tomorrow.
Ann~No…
Zabuza~I'd rather take you with me if I could, but you know I can't.
Ann~A few hours is too long…
Zabuza~I'll be as fast as I can. We do need quite a bit of stuff.
Ann~Okay…
Zabuza~I'm not leaving yet. We're still eating and I still need to clean up.
A knock came on the door and Zabuza growled.
Zabuza~For ******** sake…Go to the bedroom. You know the drill. Now.
He set her down and watched her run to the bedroom as he made his way to the door. It was another Maw.
Zabuza~What is it?
Maw~Summons, Zabuza. Fifteen minutes.
Zabuza~I'll be there. Leave.
He trudged to their room.
It had been about two weeks since he was at the Pearl's Grace. He couldn’t say he was surprised, but he had hoped to have gone in on his own time.
Ann was by the window with her go bag. Zabuza spoke as he got dressed
Zabuza~I'm being summoned again. I need to go now. I'll come home first after I get my mission.
She nodded. Zabuza knelt to her level and cupped her cheek.
Zabuza~Finish breakfast if you can manage it. I'll be back soon.
Ann~Okay…I love you, Zabi.
Zabuza~I do too.