Found Family Idiots (oneshot fics) (PLATONIC)

Aftermath (hurt/comfort)

(This is a follow-up to Mania in the Bathroom)

(PTSD, injury, death, and mentions of explosions and car accidents ahead ⚠️⚠️⚠️)

(Mania's POV)

"...ia..." a voice... what are they saying...?

"...ania..." It's all fuzzy... my eyes are closed? Am I asleep? Why? When? My head hurts. Am I dreaming? Mom...?

"Mania??" There's the voice again. It's not Mom; opposite gender. Who is it? I should open my eyes. That'll answer my question.

"Mania please fucking wake up..." hold on... where am I...? I forced my eyes to open only to be greeted by a stupidly bright light. I hissed slightly and attempted to bring my hand up to shield my eyes, but it didn't move. Instead I turned my head slightly and realized who was calling me.

Mondo... he was sitting right beside me. Once he noticed I was awake he looked at me, both shocked and relieved,

"Mon...?" I could barely speak... I was so tired. Mondo suddenly hugged me tightly,

"Jesus fuck Mania!!" He exclaimed, "I was so fuckin worried!" He's... worried? Why is he worried? I looked around. The room was blue and white, there was medicine nearby,

"Where...?"

"You're in the hospital." Mondo replied, "After whatever the fuck happened at the party... Taka and I brought you here." I paused for a moment. The... party? My memory is starting to come back. I just hummed as Mondo continued to hug me. My body felt so sore... I looked down at my hands and saw that one was bandaged,

"Is my hand..."

"Not broken. Just glass the doctors took out." Mondo sighed and let me go, "Jesus fuck Mania what the hell even happened...?" I stared at Mondo for a minute before closing my eyes, trying to remember what happened. I could feel Mondo placing a hand on my shoulder as I quietly muttered,

"A... fight... I was... in a fight."

"With who?!" Mondo asked angrily,

"Phoebe." I replied, now more stable, "She cornered me in the kitchen, interrogated me about the deal with my nicknames. I was trying to ignore her... but she didn't let me leave. She kept pushing and I told her the truth. And how I never nickname you, Taka, Chi, or Daiya. She didn't accept that as an answer... and started saying all this shit about how I'll never get anywhere with my insensitive attitude. I called her out on her selfishness and she..." I paused. My heart felt heavy. I managed to move my hand up to my cheek and hummed,

"She what?" Mondo asked,

"She slapped me." I spoke softly, but I could tell Mondo was pissed,

"She WHAT!?" He boomed, "That little...!!"

"Sir, there are other patients in this ward. Please keep your voice down." A nurse said from the doorway. Mondo just mumbled curses under his breath as I sighed,

"She then started apologizing but all I could hear was her being a condescending asshat. I ran to the bathroom and I..." I began to cry, "I... I think I had a panic attack..." Mondo hugged me again as I shakily returned it,

"I'll fucking murder Phoebe." Mondo muttered, "That was her fucking fault." I hummed in response before realizing something,

"Hold on... I thought Daiya took you home cause you drank too much?"

"I did, but I was worried about leavin ya alone so I drank a crap ton of water so I could sober up quicker. I was right to worry." Mondo told me. I just nodded quietly before sighing shakily,

"I wish things were different..."

"What do you mean?" Mondo asked as he let go of me. I crossed my arms with a soft whine,

"I wish I was the one to die in the explosion..." I whispered, but Mondo heard every word. He stared at me in shock,

"What?! What the hell are you talking about??" He asked worriedly. I just shrugged with a sad hum,

"I lost my mom when I was 10... Dawn had planted a bomb and... and I noticed but I didn't say anything. It was because of me my mom died... she shielded me from a lot of the blast but..." I sucked in a breath and started rambling,

"But she died... if I had just... told her about the bomb, if I had gotten her out, I'd still have her with me, or hell, she'd still be alive and I would've died! I should've done more, I should've—" Mondo covered my mouth to stop me from talking,

"Mania, shut up." He said softly. He uncovered my mouth as I turned to look at him,

"B-But I—"

"Mania." He said sternly. I clammed up and nodded softly. He sighed,

"Look, I understand your p—" I interrupted Mondo, catching him off guard,

"You don't understand my pain!!" I snapped at him, "You don't know what it's like! I watched somebody I loved die because I was the dumbass who couldn't save her! I was never able to grieve! I can't hear any sort of loud noise without thinking about that day! How could you possibly understand any of that!?" Mondo just stared at me until I managed to calm down. I took a breath and turned away from him. We were both silent for a few minutes before Mondo spoke up.

"Mania?"

"Yeah...?"

"Let me tell ya somethin." He said softly. I turned to him and nodded quietly as he took in a breath,

"A while back, before I met ya, Daiya was gonna retire from bein the leader of the Crazy Diamonds and give the mantle t' me. I was fucking jealous of him at the time, so I challenged him to one final race before he gave it up. He agreed and well..." he sighed shakily and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I got way too over my fuckin head. I was so desperate to win that I didn't realize I drove right into traffic. I would've gotten hit if Daiya didn't push me outta the way." My eyes went wide,

"Wait... so that's why...!" Mondo nodded,

"That's why he's got that prosthetic. That truck fucking destroyed his arm and he got sent to the hospital. I was fucking devastated." Mondo sighed as I stared at him in shock. I never asked about it because I didn't want either of them upset, but now he's telling me this... why?

"M-Mondo I..."

"I blamed myself." Mondo muttered with a weak chuckle, "Seein my bro in the hospital nearly fuckin broke me. It was my fault after all; if I hadn't been so fuckin selfish he would be ok. And now... now here you are in the hospital and I..." he sighed and lowered his head,

"I can't help but feel like I fucked up again..." I stared at Mondo solemnly and raised my hand up to him. I managed to place my hand on his shoulder and smiled,

"Daiya's still alive Mon... and I'm sure he doesn't blame you. He saw his little brother about to get hit and he took your place to save you. He could've not done anything, and then... then you wouldn't be here now." Mondo sighed,

"I could say the same t' you. Your mom saved you, and here ya are now." He smiled at me, "You've told me over and over how you've never been so happy till ya met me. If you died, you wouldn't have even known I exist, and you wouldn't be so damn cheerful." I couldn't help but giggle,

"But still... it doesn't change how—"

"It's totally normal for ya to be scared of anythin remindin ya of that day." Mondo shrugged, "You were fuckin scared. Hell, I still freeze up now and then anytime I hear a damn truck horn." I hummed in response. It felt nice being understood. My entire life nobody cared or listened enough to make me feel like I belonged. I came to Hope's Peak because I would be able to do what I wanted to, and I ended up finding a place to belong. At that point, laying in that hospital bed with Mondo by my side, I knew right then and there who I am:

I am Mania Deirdre. The Spirit Queen, sister to Dawn Deirdre, daughter to Psyche Deirdre. Mondo and Daiya Owada's (not official) little sister. The biggest troublemaker for Kiyotaka Ishimaru. Chihiro Fujisaki's tea spilling friend. I'm the person who lost her mother and home to an explosion set up by her sister. I am the person who never got time to grieve, but persevered anyway. I am the Ultimate Paranormal Communicator. I... am me. And me is who I'll stay as forever.