A Quick Break

They were supposed to be training. That went out the window about 30 minutes in, when they took a "break", devolving into just giving up on training and chatting.

They were sitting around the school bus when Aiden got bored and announced he was going for snacks. Taylor went along with him seeing as she was also kinda bored. Logan was going to stay in the bus, but Ashlyn gave him a pleading look and he went with them.

So now Tyler, Ben, and Ashlyn sat around the bus, Tyler and Ben discussing something random (Ben talking through notes app) while an obviously tense Ashlyn fiddled with her bracelet. That was until she spoke up.

"... can you guys promise not to freak out when- if I die?"

They stared at her in confusion before Tyler finally spoke. "Ashlyn what the hell? Of course we're going to freak out if you die? And that's such a random question? What the fuck even prompted that question?"

Ashlyn shook her hands to stop them from asking any more after seeing Ben start to type. "Let me explain- if I die, even if they won't necessarily care, the group is going to need a leader. If I die, I want you two to step up and lead the group. You two are some of the strongest in our little group, and I think your strength combined with the bonds you have with some of the others will make you the best candidates to lead if I die."

'Ok, SLOW DOWN' Ben's text to speech voice chimed in. '1, why are you so worried about dying? Sure, we're in a death realm every night, but none of us have croaked yet, and you're clearly strong, so why do you think you're going to die?' Tyler nods along, waiting for Ben to finish. 'And 2, what's this about the others not caring if you died?'

"Yeah, even if we didn't care about you, Taylor and Logan are both heart throbs and would definitely be upset if you died!" Tyler was uncharacteristically concerned for someone outside of his family.

"Calm down, calm down, let me explain. I'm not worried about dying, we just live in a death realm as you said, and if I die, the group will need a leader." Ashlyn rubs her forehead, this interaction not going as smoothly as she expected.

Ben and Tyler were staring at her. 'You've been thinking about death and the only thing you're worried about is the group needing a leader?'

"That's not the only thing- whatever this isn't what's important right now! Promise me that if I die, no matter how gruesome my death is, you won't freak out! The others will need a leader, and I need you two to be those leaders! Promise me!"

Ben and Tyler were once again staring at her, but for a different reason than before, seeing as this was one of the only bursts of emotions she's had around them.

After a few seconds, the robotic voice was activated. 'If it's that important to you, I promise to lead the others if you die.'

"Me too, I guess…"

Ashlyn sighed, nodding, when Tyler spoke up again. "But seriously, what was that about the others not caring if you died?"

Ashlyn glared at him. "That's not important right now."

'and the when in your first ask?'

Ashlyn groaned. "It was just a slip up!"

"You aren't planning anything stupid, are you?"

Ashlyn's head snapped up. "Wha- no! Why would I plan my death when I need to lead the others? As much as I trust you two to lead the group, I'm not dying just yet."

Tyler and Ben were about to argue when Taylor, Aiden, and Logan walked back in, carrying bags of snacks. "What's this about death?" Aiden asked with a curious grin, tilting his head.

Ashlyn sighed. "Nothing. And why did you guys bring so many snacks? We're just taking a break!"

Logan piped up. "Sorry Ashlyn, I tried to control them, but they couldn't make a decision on what they wanted, so they just grabbed everything…"

Ben and Tyler finally stopped staring at Ashlyn, and it wasn't brought up again, but they did glance at Ashlyn throughout the rest of the "break."

They never finished that training.

Tags

school bus graveyard ashlyn banner ashlyn sbg tyler hernandez tyler sbg ben sbg ben clark Taylor Hernandez taylor sbg aiden clark aiden sbg logan sbg logan fields Ashlyn is a little silly and so is her mental health she wasn't planning something but she was considering also this is set before the tyler x tree incident and before they got the jeep so this is before she starts to open up and stuff sorry if this is really ooc i'm bad at writing sorry for giving my only follower a crappy fanfic instead of a crappy shit post but this was rattling around my head like a ping pong ball now also on AO3