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mratyn grunted as he stumbled into the rattic. his arms still stung, and his wounds were probably still bleeding greatly, but he’d bandaged them well enough not to care about it anymore.
he forced his posture upright and glanced warily around him. the other rats weren’t in the rattic this time of day, which he assumed would make it easier to get around without interruption.
maybe, if oli weren’t still there.
he ended up running into oli, who enthusiastically greeted him, much to martyn’s dismay.
“.. garbage rat. hello,” he said, hiding the frustration boiling inside.
“hey, what’s with your arms??” oli asked as he reached for one of martyn’s paws, to which he pulled away.
“nothing. just got in a scuffle with one of them cats, like always.”
“and they fucked up your arms that badly?”
martyn knew oli was just teasing, as he always was, but it still spiked his frustration.
“so what if they did? its not easy to escape when they’ve got ya cornered,” he answered, trying not to spit out whatever anger was rising.
“woah. no need to get defensive, marty.” oli punched his shoulder, still smiling that stupid smile.
“i’m not!! just a bit on edge.. i guess.”
“whatever you say.”
there was silence, lingering on for a few seconds before oli spoke up again.
“wanna stop by my place?”
mratyn lagged behind as oli took him to the old paint can martyn had turned into a sort of shelter for him. it looked much more furnished than it was before, but martyn didn’t really care.
as he approached the doorway, oli grabbed his arm again and tugged him inside. martyn flinched. the bandages were still damp from the blood.
just to his luck, oli hadn’t noticed. either that or he plain didn’t care. he leaned against a wall as martyn looked around.
“pretty neat, huh? still surprised you made this whole thing, for me,” oli said, staring directly at martyn. he forced back his unease and sat down by oli.
“er, garbage rat. do you mind talkin’ about something?” he muttered, barely audible, though oli still perked his ears and slid down the wall onto his haunches, positioned next to him.
“i wouldn’t mind! we’ve got nothing else to do, hm?”
martyn fiddled with his paws, thinking over what to say two or three times, before looking oli directly in the face and swallowing back his fear.
“these scars - they’re not from a cat, or some trap, or even from grinding someone’s bones to dust. they’re mine. self-inflicted.”
he felt anxiety rushing up his spine as oli’s expression fell. he raised a paw, hesitated, then moved it over to martyn’s arm.
“let me see.”
“hm?”
“ya know, how severe they are .. maybe safety rat could assist you, if you need it.”
martyn begrudgingly raised his arm.
“im sorry. i probably shouldn’t be so vulnerable,” martyn murmured, as oli struggled to rip off the bandages.
it felt weird. out of character, even. he was one of the toughest, wisest rats in the rattic, so how could he think of something like this?
“eh, i’m still glad you told me. i am worried, but i think it’s best you let somerat know. like, if you can talk about it, then that’s much better than hurtin’ yourself,” oli replied, in a calm yet shaky tone, as if trying to keep his cool, “and, yeah, the wounds don’t look too bad. i can talk to safety rat about it sometime later, he knows more about this than me, but i think you should keep them bandaged right now.”
martyn nodded, blocking out tears as best he could. he felt oli wrap around him in a hug, and completely melted into the embrace, giving into the tears and letting them flow down his face as oli just held him close.
after a while of just sobbing, he pulled away slightly to wipe his eyes, his fur wet with tears still, and oli’s shoulder soaked.
“now, and i want you to take my word for this, i think you’re worth something, and you should be here. there are plenty of rats who could benefit from your skills, maybe even your presence alone,” oli said, lifting martyn’s head ever so slightly with one paw, and holding his arm with the other, “and if you stay here, i’d be really happy.”
“i’m .. glad to hear,” martyn muttered, “thank you.”
oli rose to his paws, pulling martyn up with him. “and if you need to, you can stay here awhile. i don’t mind company.”