#i ended up going for maris pov cuz shes a bit easier to write with than mel goddammit mel what is up with you

[aria0fgold]

Whumptoday day 15 prompt: Suppressed Suffering | "I'm fine."

Characters: Mel, Marigold Ages: 15, 29

Mari cradled a puppy close to her chest as her other hand held the takeout food she bought on the way. She went inside her house, carelessly shaking the shoes off her feet and putting on the indoor slippers as best as she can with her hands full. The puppy kept moving about with his tail wagging just as much.

“Heeeyy, be still, will ya? We aint there yet.” She whispered to the puppy that tried to reach her face and lick it.

There wasn't any light in the house, anyone would think there wasn't anyone home at all. But that wasn't really the case, there was one person aside from Mari living in it. A kid she took in a year ago, the little zombie she had been taking care of so much.

If you had told Mari from even a year ago before that faithful encounter in that alley, that she would be spending her days caring for a kid she found at death's door, then she would merely laugh at an unbelievable story.

Because that's what it would've been for her back then. She has no experience about caring for another person, all her life she only ever know how to care for herself. Hardship was no stranger to her, gripping fate's string and tugging at it to climb out of whatever hole she was dropped in. Even if it meant fighting for a life she could only see from afar. That was all she had ever known. She couldn't have possibly be fit to care for a kid.

But here she is, a year later and the kid she had told herself over and over again to give to a different family that can provide for him better, still lived with her. She continued to keep him around, care for him, going as far as to get a puppy for him. Frankly, she was at her wit's end, even calling for an emergency meeting with her gang to ask for suggestions in what a kid would like.

Mel hadn't been feeling well lately at all, it's been like that ever since he got his memories back. But there are days were it's worse than usual, he would just stay in bed, he wouldn't even eat. Mari hated seeing him like that. She can't fully explain why, she can't even understand why she cares so much, she just does, and that's all that mattered to her at the moment.

When she finally reached his room, she put the bag through her wrist and knocked, “B! You awake?”

No response.

“Well, I'll be letting myself in then.” Mari opened the door and walked in, the room was as dark as the rest of the house, with no light and curtains drawn.

Mel lay in bed, a blanket over his head. The puppy's small barks made him shift a bit.

“You good?”

“…am fine…” He mumbled.

Mari sighed, Mel has always been a terrible liar, “Yep, looks fine to me.”

She brought the puppy down, putting it on top of Mel. He poked his head out to see the little pup jumping and walking around. “…why…?”

“Thought it'd be nice to have a puppy around. Pals at the gang said kids like pets.”

“…I'm not a kid.”

The puppy sniffed him, letting out small happy barks as he licked Mel's face. “Yeah, yeah. The lil fella seems to like ya.”

Mari took a deep breath, “Look… I may not know exactly what you're going through, but that doesn't mean I don't care.”

Mel patted the puppy on the head, a small chuckle escaping his lips, “Did your pals tell you that script too?”

“Hey now, the thought's still mine, they just helped put it together.” Mari groaned, “Told em it's too formal for me.”

“You sounded like a robot.”

“Don't wanna hear that from a lil zombie.” Mari bent down, ruffling up Mel's hair and lightly poking the puppy's nose, “Anyway, c'mon, I got dinner right here. 'Is bout time you eat, aye?”

Mel groaned as he fixed his hair, though it didn't quite work as the puppy messed it up again, “Yeah… I guess…”

A smile formed on Mari's lips, she wasn't lying when she said that, formal as it may be. She couldn't understand anything that Mel did, since it was far from what she knows of, but she cares. And more than glad enough to understand him, no matter how long it'll take.