Take the train
Wren Sweetleaf was sitting alone in the train car, but not actually alone.
He was accompanied by his service dog named Nova, Nova is pretty much Wren’s lifeline. Wren was curled up on a seat singing songs from a musical called Hadestown when the door opened unexpectedly. Standing awkwardly in the doorway was a boy with short and extremely curly hair. Wren quickly shut off his music and turned to take in the newcomer’s appearance. The boy’s eyes widened seeing Wren and took in his appearance, before relaxing somewhat.
"So…… Are you also a transfer from the states?" The newcomer, now dubbed ‘Curly’ asked, rubbing his neck. Wren goes on the defense, not knowing what the other wants.
“What is it to you,” He asks.
Curly raises his hand in surrender. "No need to be hostile buddy, I was just wondering ‘cause that's where I'm from, and you’re the only other person here not wearing a tie that’s actually my age," he awkwardly laughs near the end and shifts his weight to the other foot.
Wren presses his lips into a thin line before shrugging on his sweatshirt.
” Sorry…” Wren says Curly runs a hand through his hair.
"You're fine dude,” he starts, “But are you?"
” Am I what?” Wren was shifting in their seat nervously, Nova noticed this and gently nudged Wren’s leg. He was trying to take Wren’s mind off of what was making him nervous.
"From the states."
“Y-yeah.” Wren tilted their head slightly and this person looked like someone they met once. Curly grins, and rubs his neck again.
"Awesome, I'm from Alaska, Anchorage, to be exact."
” I, um, wasn't born in the states…”
"Oh, um…. Did I just make this awkward? I’m sorry."
“Not really…” Wren was looking at Nova who was now laying on the floor, he seemed to be keeping a close eye on the new person.
"Ah, that's good. Um, can I have a seat?"
“Um, yeah…”
"Thanks, oh! I'm Fir, Kasey Fir, and you are?"
“I’m Sweetleaf, Wren Sweetleaf.”
"Do you have a sibling named Phoenix, because I knew someone with the same last name as you"
Wren was screeching softly into their sweatshirt, panicking on the inside but trying to stay calm on the outside.
“Umm... I don't see why that matters…”
"It probably doesn't. Sorry. Just forget about it." Kasey forced a smile.
“I'm an only child” Wren was lying through their teeth.
"I, uh, have Three older siblings who go to a…… a summer camp in California."
“Also, from what I know, Sweetleaf isn't a common last name”
"I don't know if it is, but I'll take your word for it, though. Also, super off-topic, but why do you have a dog? I've been trying to ignore it, but I'm super curious."
“Oh yeah, this is my service dog Nova,” Wren said with a smile across their face.
"Okay, he seems super sweet."
“He is a good, sweet boy.”
"Well, that's good."
Kasey did not know how to continue this conversation, his snake ended up poking his nose out of his shirt collar.
“That’s a snake.” Wren’s face lit up with happiness.
"Yeah, this is Fane, my emotional support gremlin."
“Fane is a baby, I love Fane.”
"Yeah, they are a bean."
” Hella off-topic, but is it just me, or is it kinda hot in here?”
"Yeah, it's hot."
Wren shifted in their seat as they reached up to their beanie, eventually taking it off and throwing their long fire colored hair into a loose bun.
” I would toss my sweatshirt off, but I don't want to make this train ride awkward…”
"It's not awkward unless you don't have anything on underneath."
“I'm going to just keep it on… Because binders are odd.” Wren was getting noticeably anxious.
"But binders are a form of clothing."
“It hardly binds anymore…”
"Oof, big oof."
“Y-yeah… I am hella tired, I might nap.”
Kasey flips upside down in the seat, Toby next to him.
"Then sleep."
“What if something happens on the train?”
Wren’s mind started racing, but was doing their best to hide it.
"Then I'll protect you."
“B-but you hardly know me…”
"Your point is?"
“People normally don't do that.”
"Yeah, but I'm not normal."
Wren was being a blushing mess, trying to hide it in his sweatshirt. During this time he ends up slipping off his binder because his ribs hurt and ended up tucking it into his hood.
“Y-you are being r-really, really sweet.”
"Oh, uh, thank you?"
“S-sorry.”
Kasey rights himself, fumbling for words, flushing.
"N-no! You're fine! I'm just awkward, I'm like a wrinkled dollar being shoved in a machine when complimented, it's frustrating for everyone involved. Now I'm rambling, I'm just going to shut up now!"
Wren softly giggles, eventually laying down on his seat.
During this time, Wren was internally screaming
“Fuckkkkkkkkkkk why is he cute!”
“It’s okay, I promise.”
“A-ah ok.”
“So.”
“So.”
“I'm going to go nap…”
“Y-yeah, you go and do that, I'll keep watch.”
Wren carefully moves to the floor, Nova soon resting on his legs.
” Good Night, Kasey.“
“Good Night, Wren.”
Roughly an hour had passed, everything seems fine, or at least everyone thought things were going fine.
Wren woke up in a panic, Nova alerting at the start of a night terror.
“W-where am I?”
“You're on the Hogwarts Express, on your way to Hogwarts, I'm Kasey, you fell asleep on the floor.”
“K-Kasey, why are you here.”
Wren looked slightly confused, not fully understanding why his old classmate was on the train with him.
“We're both transfers from America. You agreed to let me sit here, but I can leave if that-”
“N-no please don’t.”
Wren was shaking, struggling for words.
“O-oh um okay, on a scale of 1-to-10 how stable are you, 10 for a mental breakdown and 1 for stable.”
” 7 or an 8.”
“Okay. Are you okay with me touching your arms?”
“ Y-yeah.”
“Alright, I'm going to hug you, is that okay?”
“Sure I guess.”
Kasey hugs Wren, trying to calm down his new companion.
Wren, trying to make himself feel safer than before, they hide their face in Kasey’s chest. Eventually, the latter starts to move away, the former feeling the latter pulling away, he lets go of the latter.
“Feel a bit better?”
“Yeah…thank you.”
“That's good, at least”.
“Yeah.”
“So, do you wanna talk about it or do you want me to just ignore it or what?”
“I don't know... I know that I need to get something off my chest.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
“MynameisPhoenix”
“Okay.”
Wren was panicking, he didn’t know if and how this would change how Kasey felt about him, because of the bad reputation they had at Ilvermorny.
“Okay?”
“Yeah, Phoenix isn't you anymore, and I didn't even know you back then, I see no reason to dwell on it really. Is this supposed to evoke some extreme emotional response?”
Kasey was confused.
“I, um, I don't know what to really say... A lot of people kinda hated me…”
“Hmm.”
Kasey starts absently scratching his neck, Fane started to bump his head against Kasey's hand, Kasey stops and picks Fane up.
Wren started to mumble to himself, “Oh fuck, I'm gay.”
“Hmm?”
“N-nothing.“
Wren was a blushing mess at this point because he was looking at Kasey.
“Okay.”
“Kinda sorta said oh fuck, I am gay………….”
“I have no clue what I am. But it ain't straight.”
“I am kinda a gay mess right now, I am sorry.”
Wren hid his face in his sweatshirt, as it sunk in what he just said to a guy that he thought was kinda cute.
“It's fine, I think I'm having what most would call a "sexuality crisis". I don't know what that even is.”
“I am sorry if I caused this, I really am.”
“I don't even know what is going on like you're cute, girls are cute, people are cute. What is happening?”
“Actual chaos is happening.”
“Haha, well, you're not wrong.”
“It has taken me this long to process the fact you called me cute.”
Wren is hiding in their hood as a soft blush started to cross their face.
Kasey flushes bright red.
“Yeah…”
A knock is heard at the door.
“Not it!” Wren sat on the floor with Nova for a few moments, trying to keep himself grounded.
Kasey opens the door, a girl with long blond hair is standing there
” Hello?”
“Hewwo.”
“Hi, are you two the transfers from Ilvermorny?”
“Yeah, I'm Kasey Fir, and this is Wren Sweetleaf, Um, who are you?”
“I'm Luna Lovegood, a Fifth year Ravenclaw.”
“May I ask why you are here?”
Kasey's subtlety puts himself between her and Wren
Wren, who was now standing behind Kasey, Wren was noticeably getting even more anxious.
“Oh, I was checking in on the first years and decided to see if you two were okay as well. Anyway, I'm not going to hurt you, there's no need to block your friend like that.”
Wren fell silent as he had managed to hide his face in Kasey's back.
“Mhm, well in America that doesn't mean much.”
“I'm well aware, but I truly don't mean you harm, and judging by your positions, I'd say you're likely to stop me if I tried.”
“Can we change the topic, Please ”
Wren managed to say just loud enough to be heard.
“… Agreed…” he starts shifting uncomfortably.
“H-hey Kasey q-question.”
“Yeah?”
“C-can I wrap my arms around you.I am trying to keep myself grounded and I am kinda failing at that currently.”
He nods his head slowly
“I think you should go, Ms. Lovegood.”
“I see, well I hope you two have fun here at Hogwarts.”
Kasey slowly moves away from Wren to go shut the door behind Luna. Shortly after he shuts the door, he seems to deflate. Wren slowly goes back to wrapping his arms around Kasey’s waist.
“Are you still okay with this, Kasey.”
“Mhm.”
“Let me know if something makes you uncomfortable, okay.”
“Okay!.”
Kasey is an inexperienced mess with PDA and Wren can tell.
Wren is still a very tired bean and wants to sleep again.
“Kasey, I wanna nap again.”
“You can nap, I'll keep watch for you.”
“Not to be gay on main, but um, could I possibly lay my head on your lap?”
Kasey was flushing bright red. “U-uh yeah s-sure?” His voice cracks. “Go ahead.”
Wren slowly makes his way to the floor.
“Sleep well.”
“I am kinda waiting for you to join me on the floor, so I can be slightly be gay on main.”
“O-oh uh ok.’’ Stiffly, as he has no clue of what to do, Kasey lays down on the ground, after putting Fane on the seat. Wren eventually gently places his head on Kasey’s lap.
“Sleep well, Wren.”
“Sleep time for us both.”
“Sure, uh, night.”
“Good Night, you dork.”
Wren fell asleep soon after laying down on Kasey. During this time, Wren was hoping that Kasey would be sound asleep. A few hours have passed at this point as the two were on the floor, already starting to acting like a couple. Fane had migrated to Kasey's chest while the two were resting. Kasey was nearly asleep but was doing his best to keep watch, when Wren slowly started to wake up. Which caused Kasey to snap awake, he slowly moves his hand to rub his eyes.
“Don't wake up, don't wake up.” Kasey said to himself.
Wren was softly mumbling to himself.
“Please don't be awake”
Kasey’s eyes widen a bit, not knowing what to do, he was dead set on holding his breath and squeezing his eyes shut to pretend to be asleep.
Wren slowly sat up looking to see if Nova was near them, Nova was laying at the door asleep trying to protect the two. Disturbed by all the movement, Fane slowly slithers back up onto the seat. Kasey eventually lets out the breath he's been holding and ends up falling asleep.
Wren ended up being curled up near Kasey, as Wren doesn't want to be alone. Kasey clings to Wren, as the other is the closest source of warmth. This was followed by unintelligible mumbling from Kasey. Wren eventually ended up burying his face into Kasey’s chest yet again. For some odd reason, Wren wanted to be as close to this boy as he physically could be. Kasey's brows furrow, and he let out a low whine. Wren eventually placed an arm over Kasey, as a way to stay close to Kasey, Kasey nuzzles into Wren in an attempt to get warmer. Wren was trying to be as close to Kasey as physically possible, but was failing At this moment, just like he was falling to comprehend how he was feeling towards Kasey. More unintelligible muttering was coming from Kasey, Something about pancakes this time. Around this time it was like 6 almost 7 in the morning, almost time to get off the train. The train was full of noisy students, Wren was still sleeping, the noise not seeming to be bugging them in the slightest due to them feeling content by being held by Kasey. Wren softly lets out a whine in his sleep. Kasey slowly starts waking up again and is extremely exhausted. “Mmmmm.” As Kasey goes to get up, but an arm over him stops him. He looks at Wren, at the arm and back before it registers, he turns tomato red. “Oh, no. He’s cute! Way, WAY TOO CUTE!” Wren started to mumble something in his sleep.
“ABORT, ABORT, TOO CUTE” Kasey said to himself as he started to poke Wren gently. “Time to get up.” Kasey let out a soft yawn.
“Mmmm” Wren slowly opens his eyes.
“H-hey, Good Morning” Kasey is still sleep-deprived and half asleep At this moment.
“H-hey.” Wren’s face almost as red as a red beet seeing that he fell asleep next to Kasey.
“I fell asleep last night, I am sorry.”
“You needed the sleep, Kasey. Nova was at the door when I woke up last night.”
“Yeah, but-“
“What is wrong, Kasey?”
Kasey seems spacey. “I don't know what I was going to say.”
“It’s okay.” Wren slowly started to sit up.
Kasey tries to sit up as well, but looked like he might pass out.
“Hey, Hun, take it easy.”
“Mmmm.” Kasey is fighting to keep eyes open now. ” I am fine, Wren”
“I’ll wake you up when we get closer to the station.“
“ Okay, as long as it’s actually okay. “
“It is okay, Kasey, Sleep well.”
In the light, Wren sees Kasey eye bags from his lack of sleep. “That boy needs more sleep” Wren thought to himself. Kasey was curled up into a ball to protect himself in sleep, brows furrowed. Wren took off his oversized sweatshirt once he slipped his binder back on and laid the sweatshirt carefully on Kasey.
“Mmmmm.”
Wren, speaking softly to himself. “It is ok Hun, I got you.”
About an hour had passed and during this time Wren was cuddling with Nova. Waiting to get Kasey up. Wren wasn't wanting to get Kasey up because Wren was looking at Kasey as they were sound asleep.
“Fuck they are cute, and I don’t want to wake them up. They really need the sleep. Fuck it, I need to get them up. Kasey, Hun, you need to get up.” Kasey was incoherently muttering.
“Kasey!”
“Yeah?”
“Gotta get up!”
“No, turn the light off.”
“I can't turn the sun off, Hun.”
“Well, it was worth a try” Kasey gets up.
“How was the nap?”
“It was nice.”
“Feeling a bit better?”
“Yeah, I'm not going to collapse at least.”
“That's good!”
“Yeah, we should start to get ready.”
“We probably should.”
The two companions eventually part ways to get dressed in their school-issued uniforms. Wren refusing to wear the female issued uniform decided to toss on their leather jacket and boots instead of the full uniform. After Wren got dressed, they decided to get Nova into full gear to get ready for the long day ahead of them. Once the train pulled into Hogsmeade station, everyone was gathering their belongings, so they could make their way up to Hogwarts. Wren had their small bag slung over their shoulder, bracing himself on Nova. Once Wren felt safe enough to get off the train, Wren looks over at Kasey, and decided in the spur of the moment to walk over to Kasey to kiss their cheek. Wren walked over to Kasey and kissed their cheek before running off the train, Nova following close behind.