Kintsugi

Chapter 20

Sooo I guess this is how the updates are going to be... I guess unexpected surprises are nice though right? Anywhomst enjoy :)

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"Mari. I am about 99 percent sure your classmates are under the effect of a mind-meta. I think Lila may have powers." I dropped Damien's hand and looked at Tim in shock.

"Well, that complicates things."

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Marinette-

I close my eyes and count to ten. Then I make my decision. 

"So... Timmer, Timber, Timmy-boy. I am actually not dealing with this right now. I don't have any info and I know yo like to compile evidence and show it when you have concrete proof. So! Unless there is something you absolutely need my help for I will be spending a couple hours with my boyfriend first. Sound good?"

I was already starting to back out of the room when Tim nodded. 

"Makes sense. I know where to find you, enjoy your break." Keys started clacking rapidly as I shut the door and headed down the hall towards Damien's room. I  take a deep breath and push the newest conflict to the back of my mind - it will be dealt with later. There was absolutely nothing I could do right now. 

"So... at what point am I allowed to call you my fiancé? Because betrothed doesn't exactly mean boyfriend-girlfriend." 

I think about it for a second. 

"Well, the simple answer is when you propose."

"And the complicated answer?"

"You still have a year before I am legal in France or America. Not to mention I live across the sea and haven't even started the process of getting citizenship here, or you getting citizenship in France - so neither of us are really in a position to get married anyway. So probably when we get our ducks in a row. Right?"

Damien's pencil stills as he thinks about my words. 

"You make a good point. But I don't want to get married yet - I want to be engaged. Show the world I am more serious about you than dating. People have a tendency to see the label boyfriend, or girlfriend, and say that they aren't serious, that it is something that can be easily broken."

The pencil starts back up again.

"What I feel for you deserves a label deeper and more meaningful than Girlfriend. Something that doesn't feel so temporary."

I have to take a second to process his words. Damien so rarely offers his feelings on a matter so easily, and it is nice to be able to glimpse his deeper thoughts on things. Especially when it has something to do with us, I am a pretty good guesser when it comes to him - but sometimes it's nice to hear from the boy himself instead of having to figure it out. 

"That makes sense... You know - I still think we should wait till I am of age to start saying fiancé, but it would feel good to not call you my boyfriend when you are someone who is much more precious than that."

A smile from Damien is all I get in response and we continue our respective projects for a while, working in a comfortable silence. It was nice, to pretend your label was the biggest problem you had, not the fact that there was probably someone keeping my entire class (and maybe whole school) mentally hostage.

I sighed, causing Damien to look up. 

"It has been twenty minutes, we do not have to deal with it right now. We have at least another hour. Please try and relax." 

He knew me too well. I nod and take another deep breath, going back to my colored pencils. I was drawing a picture of a robin that I wanted to give to Dick, it was small, would be able to stay on his fridge if he so pleased. I had heard he had a habit of putting his favorite small gifts on the fridge, and I was determined to get a work of mine on there. 

I placed all of my focus on blending to make the perfect shade of orange-red. I could probably get most of this done in an hour.

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Lila- 

I took another drink of my smoothie and breathed slowly through my nose. I did not realize how tiring this trip was going to be. 

The class keeps scattering and keeping my influence over them was not easy. I normally had a specific range to my ability, the only thing keeping them under my influence now was the fact that they had had continued exposure for almost a year now. That has made a deep impression on their psyche - like a bowl I can pour my power into, which should keep them under my influence no matter where they go. 

But that takes a lot of intent, and a lot of power. I need to make sure I know what I am doing, there was one time I was a little too hungry when I was refilling Alya's mind and she spent the next four hours bringing me pizzas. It was a learning experience to say the least.

I get a single notification and rush to grab my phone, if it was my aunt I'd better answer as soon as possible. I hit the power button and breath a sigh of relief when its just a status update from Alya. She was out trying different foods, good for her. I set the phone face down on the table and drop my forehead right next to it. 

I am not sure how much longer I can take this.

Another deep breath. Another. Another.

I have no other options, I have to do this. I will find the strength somewhere. I sit up and take another drink. This smoothie tasted awful, but it was the only thing I had found that kept my energy up from all of the "influencing" I was having to do. The chalkiness really made me wish I had gotten a water bottle when I had grabbed my food. It clung to my teeth and the texture made me want to cry.

I have to do this. I have to do this. I have to do this. I have to. I have to.

The mantra gives me some mental fortitude, I take another deep breath. 

I will not cry. 

I can do this, I am strong. I take another sip of my smoothie. 

And I sob.

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WORDS: 1060

- I speak from my own experience with my local area and the view of the label "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" not saying that that is the only view out there :)