Musebox: Enter at Your Own Risk: SHARK WEEK

[5dontlie]

Five sat on the edge of her bed, miserable as a wet cat in a monsoon.

It wasn't fair.

It wasn't like she WANTED kids or anything.

None of the others had to deal with this...this...THING.

Words failed her. Five wasn't sure if she wanted to scream or cry or go beat up Tres with her guitar. Or all of the above.

Her cheeks were hot and her stomach was cramped and...and it felt like her insides were being scraped out with a rusted ice cream scoop.

Joy.

Comments

[5dontlie]

SHE DIDN'T NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. SHE WASN'T A WEE BABY.
SHE WASN'T WEAK. SHE WAS FIVE, DAMN IT. SHE DIDN'T NEED A HEATING PAD, OR TEA, OR PITY.

But she did want the first two things. She really shouldn't be so hard on Six. He meant well and was the only person who would even tolerate her when she was in such a state. She didn't mean to lose it, she really didn't...just sometimes...sometimes....


"It is unlocked, Love...and I'm as decent as I'll ever be."

She was wearing a familiar pink and black ensemble, though her boots were off and her feet were wrapped in pink bunny patterned socks.

Five gave an uneven smile in the door's direction.

[sixthdeadliest]

Six didn't bring pity with him at least. Well, except for a trace reserved for himself. If he brought tea and heating pad, she'd be angry because it'd look like he thought she was weak. If he didn't, he was an inconsiderate asshole. A Catch-22 situation if there ever was one, but the former option at least led to less bruising.

He balanced the tray on his arm and opened the door. He didn't tell her, but he'd also brought her a little treat: One of those vile chocolate oranges that he couldn't stand. He had hidden it in case of emergency.

Five experiencing PMS was definitely a good enough emergency.

He closed the door and set down the offerings on her nightstand, awaiting his fate.

[5dontlie]

"Well, look who comes bearing gifts."

There's a touch of snark in her voice, though honestly, on the inside, she's grateful for the care and concern. She appreciates that he cares that much. The others are all too selfish and stupid.

"You're a right mother hen when you put your mind to it."

Her voice is quiet, grateful.

Five's lower lip quivers.

"Thank you."

[sniff]

[sixthdeadliest]

Six gave a shrug. "The curse of being ranked last, I suppose."

He really did like Five, though. Since the two of them were at the bottom of the class, so to speak, it meant that there was less competition between them and, therefore, less animosity. In essence, it was them against the other three students with One playing impartial judge as they fought for rank.

However, the quivering lip was a warning of an impending mood swing. The little sniff was another.

He stepped a little closer, now well within the danger zone. Masochism at its finest, he supposed.

"You're welcome."

[5dontlie]

Five had no desire to be One, especially considering those outranking her. She's just as soon not have to worry about any of them trying to make a name for themselves by trying to, ahem, raise their rank.

She was actually glad there was someone below her...and just one...and she was glad that just one was Six.

A nasty cramp chose that exact second to strike.

It was mostly irritating, but she pressed her lips together, giving an irritated hiss.

"I'll take that heating pad now."

[sixthdeadliest]

Considering how long he'd been with One, Six would've been satisfied to have been ranked third behind Dos, the most experienced student. Being ranked last felt as if he'd somehow failed his mentor.

He handed it over to her. To be honest, retrieving the heating pad for such a purpose really wasn't that embarrassing to think about as long as he thought of it in terms of sore muscles. Which, technically, wasn't far off.

"Managed to snag one of the good ones before Dos came back from that run."

Dos had twisted his knee last week, and it was still bothering him a bit though, like all of them, he continued training despite the pain.

[5dontlie]

Five accepted it and eased back on her bed, hissing slightly as she found the right place for the pad. She propped herself up on the pillow and carefully lifted the teacup with her free hand, gently blowing on it before taking a sip.

She eased her blue eyes shut and took a few deep, controlled breaths.

"Much obliged, Love."

[sixthdeadliest]

Six gave a shrug. "If our positions were reversed, I'd like to say you'd do the same for me."

[5dontlie]

Five smiled, but it was the way a cat knowingly smiles when it swallowed a goldfish.

"Of course, Love."

She would, though, Six would probably know it. She didn't lie. She was a lady of her word.

She couldn't help it, then.

He mentioned it and her mind went there. She imagined him sick and groaning in bed and she was there taking care of him and if she had to, she'd put him under if she needed to. For all her toughness, she couldn't stand to see the few people she cared about suffering.

She sniffed again and her lip quivered harder.

...Now I want to thread Six getting sick somewhere. >_>

[sixthdeadliest]

Six knew she meant it. After all, "Five don't lie" wasn't just a phrase.

But he looked concerned as she sniffled. "Did I say something wrong?"

Me too. Training, maybe? Or she could come meet up with him in 6 1/2. Good or bad ending

[5dontlie]

GRRRRRRRRRR.

Of course. He was so sweet and perfect. He would blame himself for everything, for nothing.

"No! Of course not!" she growled.

It was so absurd. Why on Earth would he think he said anything wrong? He was the one who was taking care of HER.

Stupid, puffy, sore, HER.

Her eyes stung with tears spurred by irrational, shifting emotions.

Dunno. Have to think about it. I'm kind of swamped with threads. @_@

[sixthdeadliest]

"All right, just calm down." He held up his hands defensively.

He hated these moments where she looked both half a second away from bursting into tears or punching his lights out.

No worries. Just ping me whenever you want to work it out.

[5dontlie]

She's going to go with the first thought he had because she begins to sob into her knees, her one hand still holding her cup of tea and somehow not managing to spill a drop.

[sixthdeadliest]

Uh oh.

He carefully reached out to take the teacup from her. Setting it aside, he sat down next to her and started rubbing her upper back.

[5dontlie]

She let him take it. Take heed, he was the only one she let remove ANYTHING from her hands other than one.

Five sniffled as she felt her brother's hands on her neck, working tense muscles. If she was a cat, she'd purr. His touch was always so even and it reminded her of One. It was very clear whose student Six was.

She was quiet for a few moments, save for the odd sniffle.

[sixthdeadliest]

"It's all right. Just calm down..."

Yes, Six was definitely One's student.

[5dontlie]

And that...that infinite patience, compounded with the tea and the gentle, reassuring massaging...it just shoved her over the edge and she let out a loud sob.

Five seemed to crumple onto Six, wiry arms were around him in seconds and shoved her wet face into the crook of his chest.

"You're too good to me. I don't deserve it."

[sixthdeadliest]

"Yes, you do," Six assured her, patting her on the back as she entered full-on weepy mode.

As awkward as it was, weepy mode was preferred to irrational rage mode. The latter tended to hurt quite a lot.

[5dontlie]

Five shook her wet face into his chest more, creating more of a maoist smear.

"Ummm-Umm. I'm always fighting with the others! I'm loud and messy and always giving YOU of all people problems."

[sixthdeadliest]

He continued just patting her on the back and letting her continue to get snot all over his clothes. Really, this was an old routine.

"You're not the only one who gets into fights you know. Besides, it's not like they're innocent of starting some of them."

[5dontlie]

"And I'm inconsiderate and selfish. I'm messy and unorganized. And...and...I'm terrible at knitting! I can't do it at all! I'm really confused by it!"

It was true. She was awful.

[sixthdeadliest]

'You can't cook very well either,' Six thought to himself though he wisely kept that to himself. Aloud, he said, "Five, none of us can knit. Not even One can knit."

[5dontlie]

Nope, she can't.

She looks up at Six, eyes red and watery, face swollen.

"H-he can't? Really?"

[sixthdeadliest]

Women who can't cook. Little did he know that he'd run into that quite a bit in the future.

In response to her question, he nodded. "He really can't knit."