For JeanBasener
Tags - Angst, Fluff, Hurt-Comfort, Dadsuma.
Idea: False is cast out of her home just before Christmas for a very stupid reason. As she struggles to keep herself warm, a familiar face appears to assist.
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"AND STAY OUT!"
False wasn't a person who liked showing weakness. Weakness got you hurt, emotionally or even physically.
The blonde didn't cry as she was pushed down the cold steps, didn't cry as she looked her parents defiantly in the eyes, didn't cry as they slammed the door shut behind her, locking her away into the cruel, unforgiving world.
She did cry when she was alone, though, her body betraying her as hot, salty tears poured down her face. They froze upon impact with the ground.
The girl curled in on herself, pulling her numb hands deeper into her thin jacket.
What a way to spend Christmas Eve, huh? Cast away because she couldn't hide who she was well enough.
She wanted to hate that part of herself, hate that she was born like this, born into this life at all. But she didn't have the strength to.
False got up, forcing frozen limbs to move to something to keep her warm.
Maybe some businesses would let her loiter instead, if they were even open.
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"Buzz off, kid, we're locking up," the employee shooed her, waving a dismissive hand at her. "Can't have people like you standing around, causing trouble."
"Fine." False growled, feet scuffing the icey ground as she trudged away. This was the third place that did this.
It wasn't just her hands now. The chill had crept up to her full body, bathing it in an icey embrace.
It hurt. Her body was on fire now. But she couldn't escape it, not with her situation.
She ran into someone, and just as she was going to mutter some half-hearted apology, a voice stopped her.
"False?!" Ah, Pearl Void-Dreamslayer. She had a few classes with her. They weren't close or anything, but they weren't enemies either. "What are you wearing?! It's freezing out!"
False didn't have the energy to hold back a witty response. "Oh yeah? I couldn't tell."
"False, you look terrible," Pearl slowly inspected her. "Why are you out here in such attire?"
"Kicked out..." The response was barely above a whisper, but it was clear Pearl still caught it.
"Wha- why?! Is it because-?!"
"Yeah-" False choked out, cutting her off. She couldn't be seen like this. She was supposed to be the tough one nobody messed with. She was supposed to be stronger than this!
Pearl tugged at her jacket sleeve, avoiding her hands entirely. "Come on, I know a place you can warm up. We'll figure it out from there."
If she was in her right mind, False would've protested, to save her pride, if anything else.
But she wasn't in her right mind. She could barely even think.
The trip to wherever Pearl was bringing her was one massive blur, her mind not bothering to make sense of it.
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Xisuma considered himself a nice guy, about as much as anyone thought of themselves.
He was a single father, raising two teenagers, who happened also to be twins. He deserved at least a metal of bravery for that.
Grian was sprawled out on the couch, cuddling with Maui as the both of them slept.
The door burst open, allowing cold wind to creep into the house.
It was Pearl, the Yin to Grian's Yang, and she was leading a pale older girl into the house.
"Pearl?! What the-?!" Xisuma dropped what he was doing, abandoning the food now at a low temperature.
Pearl dropped the supplies she'd been balancing in her arms, her full attention on the blonde with her, who he now recognized as False Symmetry, a classmate of the twins.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't know what else to do," Pearl explained, although her words came out like an overflowing stream. Pearl helped her friend to the couch, seating her next to Grian, who was blearily rubbing his eyes in confusion. "She looked awful and obviously needed help, and I-"
Xisuma gently rested his hands on her shoulders, letting her breath for a second. "Whoa, whoa. Kid! It's okay. Take a breath, and then explain."
And she did. Pearl told him everything. From how she got what he needed her to, how she ran into False, how she learned about what happened to her, and how she eventually got her here.
"This is a lot to take in," X leaned back in the recliner, hand to his head. Would her parents put out a search for her, would they even care enough to? What if the police investigated and dragged False back to her old house?
Pearl looked... dejected, to say the least. She would glance over at him and then pretend to look away. She was worried about what he would say.
"But, what matters right now is giving her a safe place to stay, for now, at least." Pearl's shoulders dropped, relief flooding her face.
"Yeah, for now."
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"Is she...? You know?"
"Shut it-"
"Be quiet. She's waking up." Voices, two familiar, one unrecognizable.
It was warm, way warmer than she remembered. The chill from her nightmare was fading now, but it'd never been that realistic.
False slowly opened her eyes. She wasn't ready to face the day, not with how many family members were coming over.
Wait. This didn't feel like her bed.
False was instantly alert, throwing the thick blanket off of her. She balled her fists, ready to face whatever or whoever brought her here.
Pearl sat a few feet away, hands raised in surrender. Just behind her was Grian and a man she vaguely recognized.
Oh, wait. What happened... it wasn't a nightmare at all. It was reality. Cold, harsh reality.
"Hey... hey, it's okay. You're safe here." Pearl reasoned with her, making sure False could see every movement she made. "You've been out for a while."
False felt herself relax, even if just slightly. "How long?"
Pearl shifted uncomfortably, tugging at the collar of her sweater. "Around 4 to 5 hours."
False moved to slide out from the blanket. "Well, I should be going now. Thanks."
Pearl ran to her side. Why was she so concerned about her when the two of them barely interacted? "Hang on, False. You said you were kicked out earlier, right? Do you have a place to stay, other than there?"
False didn't move. She just looked away, but that was all the answer Pearl needed. "Yeah, I thought so."
"So what am I gonna do then?" False was desperately trying to keep up her tough facade and was failing miserably.
Pearl shuffled closer to her, her dad going back to preparing their dinner. Grian hovered, a little bit behind Pearl. "We'll figure something out. Until then, you're safe here."
False stared into her soul, looking for something, anything that could prove Pearl wasn't to be trusted. But, there was nothing. She was genuine. "Okay..."
Pearl reached out her hand and (with minor hesitation) False took it.
She was safe here. She could be herself here and not be afraid of what would happen if she was caught.
This is nice.
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Words: 1217
