Funny

"This little affair is over, Toadpaw." Her words were cold and calculated, just as he knew her to be. It was all too familiar and unknown at the same time, but the Marshclan apprentice just wouldn't accept a fate that wasn't his. She already had her back turned to him, and was a tail length away before he could hear her inhale to speak what would be her final words to him. "Goodby-"

"Funny." Toadpaw interjected her goodbye, taking a bold step over the border once more. She halted in her tracks and slowly turned to him, her eyes wide with surprise. If Toadpaw were feeling particularly self-important, he might even say she looked hurt.

"What?" Leopardpaw hissed the word out, through gritted teeth as she attempted to keep her composure.

"Funny." He repeated. Toadpaw furrowed his brow at her and stepped closer again, keeping his eyes locked on hers. He wouldn't look to see if she unsheathed her claws, as she had warned. "I always thought you made your own rules. Isn't that why you started seeing me at the borders? Because rules don't apply to you?"

Leopardpaw stared at him for a moment before turning her body to face him as well. He noticed she was closer to his height then she had been before and he kept his smile to himself. "I was younger. They've noticed."

Toadpaw faltered at the sincerity in her voice and he took another step towards her. Leopardface sighed and continued to speak. "They speak so highly of the warrior code until it applies to themselves. But what punishment would come if they were to find out? About... us?"

"So what?" By this time, Toadpaw was sitting next to Leopardface on the SunClan side of the border, his head resting on top of hers. He ignored the way his stomach did flips at the way she whispered the word 'us'. "They yell at us for being dumb kits."

"Your warrior ceremony is soon."

"They'll yell at me for being a dumb warrior-"

"Toad-"

"No, no. I'm serious. I can't see a punishment that I wouldn't accept." Toadpaw wrapped his big tail around himself so it covered her paws, and gave her forehead a lick. "I'd do anything for you."

Leopardpaw looked shocked for a moment before she nodded. She sat in the comfort of his warm fur for what felt like forever before she stood and stretched. She looked at her paws and then awkwardly at Toadpaw. "Next time I'm worried I uh-....... I won't threaten to leave you at the border or to kill you if you try to follow me."

"That would be nice." Toadpaw knew she usually didn't mean anything with her snide remarks to him, but this time was the first time she had outright threatened him. Regardless he wouldn't say he was surprised.

"But I do have to go."