Mermay - an AU (For Mich)

[brokenpoppet]

It's not every day that Xion gets to go to the beach. It could be, but she's not the healthiest person, and despite living just a short distance away, she can't make it all the time. She can't even go to school regularly, so despite the fact that it's technically summer vacation, she's still catching up.

That doesn't mean she can't take breaks, though, and on the rare days when she feels well enough to leave her house, she makes her way here, to where the waves crash on the shore and the gulls cry in the air, and does something. Sometimes she reads under a tree, sometimes she builds a sand castle, but most often she just watches the horizon, wishing she could someday be free of this.

Today's a little different. There's something - or someone - on the beach, half in the surf. She moves as quickly as she can over, but it's not fast, even given that she's actually on her feet today. That gives her time to be careful and time to take in what she's looking at, though, and something's definitely weird.

"Hey, are you ok?" She calls out, not expecting much of a response as she gets closer.

Comments

[activatingcombatmode]

Zack almost wants to put his hands up to stop her from getting closer. It's strange to see her right now. Older. The shape of her face is different but those deep blue eyes of hers haven't changed. It's no mistaking it. This is Xion, his little sister he abandoned.

...

"You're not weirded out by this?" Zack bypasses her question with his question. Because really, is she not freaked out by a literal merman washed up on shore?

[brokenpoppet]

"Well, it's weird. But that's not important." He's hurt. She once had a goldfish which got a tear on its fin, and it got fin rot and died. She doesn't want to see that happen, doesn't even know if it can.

But that memory stirs something else. She looks back at his face and furrows her brows. Her father flushed the fish. This merman kind of looks like him. That's weird, too. "You're hurt and you could get sick."

[activatingcombatmode]

It's becoming apparent that she doesn't recognize him too much. For that Zack feels a wash of relief.

"I'll be fine, it's just a scratch."

Well, more than just a scratch but he can't deal with her worried face.

"I'm sure you got better things to do, you better get out of here."

[brokenpoppet]

"If I go home, they'll just shout at me for leaving without my wheelchair."

Yes. She's bad enough that she needs that regularly, not just crutches or braces.

"I'm going to be stuck in it forever soon, I want to walk while I still can!" Why is she sharing so much, why is she so comfortable with him? This feels weird.

"... Sorry."

[activatingcombatmode]

Zack stares at her before he lets out a long sigh. He reaches a hand through his black hair awkwardly.

So she's still sick, huh? He decides to play dumb just a little while longer, inquiring with a quirked brow...

"What's got you in a wheelchair and crutches in the first place? They don't think you'll get better?"

[brokenpoppet]

She pauses, and sighs.

"Yeah. It's not a disease that can be treated yet."

... Wait. "Did I say I was sick?" She's pretty sure she didn't mention crutches, either.

[activatingcombatmode]

Shit.

"Well, I- ... Uhhh...." Zack sputters stupidly for a second as he tries to make up an excuse.

"I assumed. You said wheelchair and all...?"

That's an easy enough assumption for most people to make. Or at least he hopes. The truth is he knows exactly what kind of disease she has and all the equipment that goes along with it.

[brokenpoppet]

"... You know what a wheelchair is?" Maybe he needs one to go on shore... Wait, that gives her an idea. "I can get my wheelchair and we can go to the doctor!" If he can survive on land for any amount of time anyway.

[activatingcombatmode]

"Will you stop being such a smartass?" Zack says this with a laugh, no real bite between his words. He laughs and shakes his head because he just can't make up any excuses to get around her logic. Why would a merfolk know what a wheelchair is indeed?!

"I can't go on land. No matter how much I want to. But if I let you in on a little secret will you leave me alone?"

[brokenpoppet]

"It depends on the secret." She looks uncertain, honestly, as well she should. She has no clue what she's about to be told.

[activatingcombatmode]

"You're talking to a merfolk, what's there to be picky about?"

[brokenpoppet]

"I guess..." She sighs, just a little. "Even you're worried about me."

[activatingcombatmode]

Before sharing his silly little secret Zack raises an eyebrow in question.

"... You don't like people worrying about you?"

[brokenpoppet]

"I don't like that everyone thinks they have to just because I'm sick or whatever!" She might actually be tearing up. "It's just a part of my life, I can deal with it."

[activatingcombatmode]

"Hey, hey. Kiddo, calm down for a second."

Zack's expression softens. The last thing he wants is for her to cry, that would make him feel like total shit. Although he does understand where she's coming from. It's hard to deal with everyone treating you differently for one specific reason all the time.

"People worry because they care. Not because they're pitying you. It gets hard, I know. But that's how people show they love you."

[brokenpoppet]

She sniffles, but nods eventually, drying he eyes on her wrist.

But then she pauses. "... So why do you care? You don't know me... right?" She's not sure herself, anymore.