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A couple of days after Miorine’s return, she found herself sharing a room with the Mercurian. Suletta first moved in because the empty earth house was an unwelcome reminder of what happened at the open campus event. Suletta had shown up with a bedroll and sleeping bag, and Miorine happily let her in.
Soon the sleeping bag was replaced by a blanket and a few days later the bedroll became a full bed. The beds started on the opposite side of the room, but every day they moved the beds closer to each other. An arrangement that was unspoken, by two people who really needed to have somebody close to them.
When the distance between the beds became zero, Miorine quickly found that her reluctance to clean came in handy when she had to dig up the sleeping bag after Miorine’s blanket became Suletta’s second blanket. When Earth house returned, Miorine was ready to ask her to stay. There was no need. That very night Miorine lost another pillow to the hoarding dragon that was Suletta.
A few nights later Miorine was once again awoken by an arm hitting her in the face as her groom turned in her sleep. One of these days she will break my nose like that. Miorine thought. She picked up the arm and held Suletta’s hand. Suletta’s gained a slight smile on her face. Though I can’t stay mad at her when she’s sleeping like that.
Miorine stared at Suletta’s face, something that usually helped when falling asleep. As she closed her eyes, the most annoying sound in the world interrupted the harmony of the greenhouse’s temperature control system and Suletta’s breathing.
Since when are mosquito’s back in Asticassia? Some transport must have carried them over.
Miorine realized that her forehead itched. They already got me, damn. She heard the buzzing approach, and stop right next to her. She saw that it had landed on the hand she was holding. She could kill it right now. It would wake Suletta up. But it’s about time I got some payback.
“ah!” Suletta shouted. “what did you do that for?” “I was trying to get a mosquito. I failed, unfortunately. We should catch it now before it becomes a recurring problem.” Miorine turned on the lights. Suletta blinked a couple of times before asking: “what’s on your face.” Miorine looked into the mirror and saw a giant red dot on her forehead. I probably can’t hide that with makeup huh, tomorrow is going to suck. “that’s a mosquito bite. If we don’t catch it there will be more.” Suletta begrudgingly got out of bed. “I’ll get it” “thanks.” Miorine responded, stealing back one of her blankets as she went to bed. After 30 seconds a loud slap was heard throughout the room. “I-I got it.” Suletta said softly. She obviously would be good at catching these. “hmm, good job. Now come back to bed.”
“Miorine?” “yes?” “Do you think he had a family?” “I don’t think mosquitos work like that. Plus the blood sucking mosquitoes are all fema…” At this point Miorine had turned to look at her.
A bloodied right hand, stretched out towards her. An unmoving smile, that almost hid the terror in Suletta’s eyes.
“ Do you think he had friends? People who are grieving him? Do you think he had someone he loved?”
no no no no no. please don’t ask that. Miorine got out of bed to comfort Suletta but she was quickly interrupted. “Don’t touch me. I don’t deserve it.”
A floating arm, ringing in her ears, blood on her face. All the bad memories came flooding back. Yet one part of that day haunted her the most.
The venom in my voice, the disgust I felt. I didn’t get how she was smiling. Now I do. I just didn’t expect her to have such a good fake smile. How many times did she use it?
Miorine took suletta’s hand and looked at the blood. “I’m a murderer. I killed people. Not just at plant Quetta. I also killed Sophie. She died while fighting me. I just wanted to protect you. Why can I only do that by killing others?!” Suletta curled up into a ball, holding her hand in front of her face.
“You did do that.” Miorine stated while kneeling down beside Suletta. “But if you are going to stain your hands with blood for me, then wipe them clean on me as well.” She put Suletta’s hand against her face. “You don’t have to take all the guilt by yourself. For this one thing, please rely on me.”
Suletta started crying. Miorine sat beside her, holding her hand against her face. Suletta tried to pull her hand away a few times, but Miorine didn’t let her. If she let Suletta go she would push herself away again. I don’t know how I can help you here. I would do anything for it though. Please smile again.
“Suletta.” Miorine said. “I don’t have answers to your questions. I don’t know whether he had a family or not. But I do know I have my lousy father, I know I have friends. I assume people would be grieving me if you didn’t interfere”…..Why am I scared? Now is not the time to worry about what will happen next. Now I have to help her.
“And I know I have someone I love.” This seemed to startle Suletta out of her crying “who?” she’s so stupid. “I’m not going to tell you.” She said as she put her arms over Suletta’s shoulders. “But I will give you a hint.” Move forward! And Miorine kissed Suletta. Suletta was so shocked all other emotions disappeared. There came no reaction from her. Miorine pulled her head back.
Did I fuck up? Was this the wrong moment? Does she not like me back? Shit. that’s gonna be awkward when we get married. If she even stays holder after th- Suddenly a second hand grabbed her face, holding her head in place as Suletta kissed her back. A weight that Miorine didn’t realize was there suddenly disappeared. She had imagined this moment to be different. She thought it would be joyous, that there would be some fanfare. But this wasn’t the time for that. This was the time to help Suletta. “thank you. I feel the same way.” Whispered Suletta. The shock seemed to have left her face, leaving room for her other emotions to come back.
“I know this doesn’t make it all ok. But it’s the most I can do to help you.” Miorine said to her groom.
They stayed like that for a while, Miorine’s arms around Suletta, Suletta’s hands on miorine’s face. From time to time, Suletta would cry again. Miorine did her best to help, but she knew some things have to get cried out. Afterwards Suletta stood up and simply said: “I’m going back to bed.” It seems like she got it out of her system. For now at least. When it comes back, I’ll be there to help. Suletta managed a small but real smile. “Are you coming as well?”
They laid down next to each other, embraced in a hug. A small voice came from the large girl: “wait if I’m in the love category, you don’t really have anyone for the friends category, do you?” I have friends, Till is my friend. Though we only talk about company business. Does that not count? “Shut up. Do not make me dump you on day one.”