Aru Shah Jokes and Short Stories

"I'm sorry." (Mini x Rudy)

a/n: spoiler alert, i am kinda obsessed with them. now that aruden's FINALLY dating, i've gotten a new obsession and if rosh doesn't release a short story (like all by MAH-SELLLLF) for these two i'm rioting. since i doubt the short story will happen, i've gotta keep myself entertained, so- 

since i was feeling very guilty about the delay in, like, all of my works, and i was in a particularly angsty mood, i present to you-

X-X-X-X-X

Grief works in strange ways. 

Some people blame themselves, others lash out in self-defense. But the pain always simmers. It never leaves, and in some, it destroys them slowly. One memory at a time. 

----

"Please, look at me." Rudy's voice was quiet, his eyes downcast. 

"It was all my fault," Mini sobbed, wrapping her arms around herself. She didn't meet his gaze. 

"Don't. Please, don't blame yourself." His voice took on a strange, pleading tenor. 

"I know you're hurting. I can barely imagine how sad you are. But please, for my sake, for their sake, don't blame yourself." 

"I could have acted faster, done something--" her voice broke, as she finally looked up. 

Her blotchy cheeks were stained with tears, deep crescent cuts in her palms where she had dug her nails into them. 

He reached up, and brushed a stray tear off her cheek. His fingers burned. 

"It wasn't your fault." He didn't know how to deal with grief, but his heart tugged, and he did just something he thought was right. 

He slid his hand into hers, and she clutched it like a lifeline. He could see the teardrops hanging off her eyelashes, as he pressed his forehead to hers. 

"Please don't blame yourself." he repeated, his voice hoarse. 

"They were my family, Rudy. I should have done better, I should have found a way--" 

"Don't. Please, don't. It'll only hurt more if you think about what you could have done." 

Sobs racked her body, and each tear that fell to the floor seemed to pull out a piece of his own heart. 

"What if the others find out? They'll hate me." 

"You're their sister. They won't hate you, since you did nothing wrong. They love you. I love you." 

"I don't deserve you. I don't deserve any of you." she whispered.

"I--I don't understand--" 

She silently slid the ring off her finger and placed it in his palm. 

"I'm sorry."

X-X-X-X-X

"You look nice." Rudy offered her a smile. 

Mini gave him a half-exasperated look from behind her glasses. "O-okay, you're delirious." 

Rudy sniffed, and said, "I thought you valued honesty, but now speaking the truth is delirium? I don't get girls." 

Mini laughed, and said, "What's with all the flattery, snake prince?" 

Her eyes grew wide. "Wait, you didn't burn down my apartment, did you?" 

"Of course not! We were taught to compliment pretty women whenever we could." 

A blush painted her cheeks, as she smacked him lightly on the arm.