Work Text:
It was a little past noon before Yi Xi woke up. The medicine she took last night helped a lot with her ability to sleep and she actually felt less congested than yesterday, though her fever wasn't gone yet. Sticky with sweat, she decided to take a shower and rolled over the empty bed to reach the bathroom.
When she got in, she considered a cold shower but decided to she was too cowardly to go a lower temperature than lukewarm. She accidently grabbed your peach-scented shampoo and squeezed some onto her hand before noticing her mistake, though she decided you probably wouldn't mind it too much. It was at that moment when she began scrubbing her hair that she realized your absence from the bed.
When she finished her shower and got dressed, Yi Xi checked the time and concluded that you probably woke up during the actual morning and went out to shop. You and her hadn't really gone out since a few days ago and the fridge definitely needed to be restocked. Most of the food left was whatever meat Yi Xi butchered before she got sick.
Yi Xi wasn't in the mood for meat right now, instead pulling out the nearly empty pitcher of homemade lemonade and an unopened carton of orange juice. She poured what was left of the lemonade in a tall cup and then topped it off with the orange juice, not bothering to stir the drinks together as she scavenged the cabinets for a bag of popcorn.
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While microwaving the popcorn, Yi Xi turned on the TV to look for a series to binge until you came back. She poured the popcorn into a bowl and then microwaved the last stick of butter, hoping that butter was on the grocery list you took with you. She didn't want to piss you off from both eating a whole stick of butter and using your shampoo.
Yi Xi saturated the popcorn with the melted butter, adding some salt before taking the bowl and her drink to the couch. She started the show, focusing more on shoving popcorn into her mouth and chugging her lemonade-orange juice than being invested in the plot. Her eyelids felt heavy as she finished eating, and she allowed herself to fall asleep with the TV providing the perfect background noise.
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Yi Xi snored herself awake, and felt pain tighten in her neck. She fell asleep without putting a pillow behind her to support her head, and she grumbled about being both sick and in pain before returning to full conciousness.
The cup and the bowl were on the floor, upright and empty. The series Yi Xi picked was still on the TV and had already started playing the second season. She grabbed the remote to turn it off and checked the time.
It was nearly six and you still weren't home yet. Yi Xi was confused as she lazily dropped her cup and bowl into the empty kitchen sink, not sure what she was going to do next until she noticed your purse on the counter.
You never left the house without your purse.
Now properly panicking, Yi Xi opened your purse and saw that your wallet was missing, and she thought for a second that maybe you had decided to just take your wallet and phone with you. She didn't see your phone in its usual spot when she got up so it was possible.
Still anxious, Yi Xi decided to check the garage and saw that the car you both shared was still parked inside. She didn't notice that your bike was missing, but she didn't need to. She was certain now that you left for good.
Yi Xi ran to the bathroom as acid rose in her throat.
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After puking, Yi Xi felt tears fall down her cheeks and she pitifully sniffed. She couldn't understand why you'd leave so suddenly, and as far as she understood you weren't bothered by the fact that she was a cannibal.
She remembers telling you about her cannibalism a month after you moved in with her, and she made it clear that she wouldn't eat you or force you to become a cannibal. All you had to do was accept it and let her do her thing, and you confirmed that you would.
Yi Xi supposed that you had hidden your disgust, or maybe you had become afraid that she was lying to you. It crossed her mind that you might submit a tip to the police, perhaps waiting for a time when she'd be caught off guard.
Despite the threat you posed now, not doing anything was Yi Xi's best option. Submitting an anonymous missing person report would put suspicion on her and might lead to the human meat in the fridge being found anyway. She couldn't win but she could delay the possible consequences.
If you did come back and not after too long a time, Yi Xi decided that she'd give you a second chance but would be clearer about her boundaries. If you tried to run away again, there would be no choice but to cut you to pieces. At least you'd know that she doesn't waste a good meal.
Yi Xi resolved not to think about you for the rest of the evening. Despite throwing up and feeling worse again, she changed her clothes to be more presentable to the outside world so she could do the grocery shopping herself. Scrabbling a messy list, she grabbed her bag and pulled a mask over her face before heading out.
It would take quite a bit of NyQuil, lemonade, and whatever meat was left to help Yi Xi get through the last days of her sickness and rid her house of the stuff you left behind.