Work Text:
“…And, well, that’s how I calm myself down when I’m stressed!”
For the past few days, Liy had been teaching Pen her ways in anger management, showing him how to meditate, demonstrating different breathing exercises, and more.
However, unbeknownst to her, today was about to take a bit of an interesting turn after just one single question.
“Thanks so much, Liy!You’ve helped me WHOLE lot!I’m really wondering though…where did you get all of these techniques from?”he stared at her expectantly.
Liy hesitated.She knew Pen would be willing to keep her secrets, but the things that she wanted to say were, regardless, incredibly personal.
Still, though, she pushed on, and swallowed her fear.
“Well…I was informed about them by my brother years ago.After…my old friend group…”she struggled to get the words out,”abandoned me.”
“Woah!What happened?Why'd they do that?”Pen questioned with an innocent glare.
She took a deep breath.
“Well, I was one of the targets of a gang that was active at the time, due to my lack of fighting skills and…passive nature.”she fought herself internally over whether she should keep on going.Her brain was screaming at her not to, but her mouth continued to move regardless.
“They’d…”she choked,”they’d jump me every time I went out alone.Would take everything I had.But I could never fight back.I never wanted to.”she felt tears well up in her eyes.She tried her best not to blink and release then.
“When they found out that I’d told my friends about them, they threatened them all.Promised that there was going to be hell to pay if they got in the way of anything.”she couldn’t stop herself.She subconsciously gripped onto Pen’s hand as she felt the tears roll down her face.
“After that, they stayed far away.Had nobody but my family for a while after that.My brother’s advice was one of the only things that was keeping me going.”
She bashfully wiped her face,”Er-just-sorry, I got kind of emotional there.Hah.”
“No, no, it’s ok, Liy!”he wrapped his arm around her,”Glad they’re not around anymore.Now you can do whatever you want!”
“Yeah.They split up a long time ago, I haven’t seen them since.”
“Yeah, and plus, we’re here for you!”Pen gestured to their other team members,”No-one can get away with that anymore!Not without a price to pay!”he grew a slightly mischievous look in his eyes.
“Yeah!”Liy giggled softly,”We can push through it.Together!”she bumped his shoulder playfully, a sense of comfort rising within her.
Maybe that question was a good thing.
She’d gotten a load off her chest.
And she was reminded, once again, that she no longer has to suffer alone.