#let them croak and then transition jfc

[marketable-puckshie]

You guys get absolutely no context for this.

Selfish

Sitting next to an older boy, Puck sighs. "I wanted to let you know I'm quitting the league challenge."

His eyes don't even widen. "Yeah, figured. Any reason in particular, or...?"

Truthfully, the blonde is glad to hear it. They've been nothing but trouble since they came to Reborn, even if they ended up on the same side in the end. Taka finds he hates selfishness, and the brunette beside him is one of the most selfish people he's met.

"You can probably guess." He pinches the bridge of their nose, exhausted- what do they even have to be tired of? Running?

It makes the older boy scoff. "You know who's probably tired? Your mother, wondering where her kid's run off to or if you're even alive."

"I know-" Puck starts, but Taka keeps speaking.

"Your father who's been sending people out to get you and having to pay their medical bills because it just so happens that they run into Team Meteor before finding you. Your fiancée who probably wonders if you hate him that much that you'd run away before the wedding."

"I KNOW!" They stand up, and while the other boy thinks they have no reason to cry, tears well up on their eyes. "I'm fucking tired of running! And maybe home wasn't perfect, but who cares?! I shouldn't have left! I fucking know!"

"Don't yell, yeesh. Besides, the only people who deserve to cry right now are your parents." Taka sighs, groans at the pathetic sight. "You're the most selfish person I've met. I might not be a model son myself, but at least I listened to my father...until he died, even."

Puck plops back down. "I know. Maybe...maybe if I apologize and play nice it'll be okay."

"That's rich. If I were you, I'd just take my lumps and hope your fiancée isn't too angry to wed. Your parents know best, after all, and you just threw that away- for what?" The blonde crosses his arms. "Just because your dad stopped putting up with your fussing? Be glad he even put up with it as long as he did. My father wouldn't take any of what you put your parents through."

They side eye him. "I know I'm selfish. What's a couple whoopin's when you deserve it, right? Fat chance, I couldn't even handle someone raising their voice at me a little."

The two sit silent, tense for a moment. Taka can't stand this; they have no right to complain when their parents did everything they could to give their kid a future where they wouldn't have to worry about struggling or doing much of anything outside the house. What kind of idiot abandons that?

Apparently, the one struggling not to sob next to him. It's pathetic.

"Y'all probably won't hear from me ever again. Maybe that's for the best."

Taka sure hopes so.