Oc Stories

Up In The Stars, Far Away {Normal AU}

Trigger warning for death talk, grief and struggle with coping of loss. Just alot of sad babies. Poor Marlo and Oka lost their best friend.
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Marlo grunts as he pulls himself off the horse, adjusting his armour and leading the horse towards the stables just outside of Roselake, tying the lead around the wooden pillar, before gently patting her head, smiling sweetly.
"Hey girl, it'll be alright. I won't be long, okay?"
The horse stomps her hooves, before swishing her tail and turning her head.
"Oh Princess, don't be mad. You KNOW I won't ditch you here" he chuckles, smiling brightly.
He adores his horse, her name is princess. Mike named her when he was a kid. Which is why it was such an embarrassing childish name.
He smiles and steps back a few paces, before striding over towards the gates, stopping next to a group of guards.
"Heya fellas" he smiles "Augustus anywhere nearby?"
"... Huh?" one of the guards grunt.
"Augustus? He ain't been here in a long long time, Marlo."
"What?" Marlo blinks, visibly taken aback as he opens his mouth slightly, about to say something, but is quickly stopped.
"Nah, He isn't here. I remember getting a call saying he'd be here..." the head guard hums and looks at a small book in his hands "Six days ago."
"Six- jesus-" the fish man groans, rubbing his neck "I guess... That call WAS suspicious. Uh- thanks anyway!" he smiles slightly, quickly backing up and rushing over to Princess, untying her and about to hop on.
But stops as he feels tugging on his boot, looking down and gasping.
"Baby Aleena?" he blinks, wide eyed as he pulls himself back down, picking the little girl up and holding her on his hip, laughing as he smiles at her "Heya kid! Where's-"
"Her mama? Right here, Marlo" a woman smiles as she makes her way over, plucking the little girl from his arms.
She looked just like Augustus. Except obviously a girl. Long curly brown hair and big brown-amber eyes. Long dark eyelashes and freckles dotted around her face. A plain boring green village dress on.
The little girl had pink-blue hair and big brown eyes, a huge smile on her face "MAR! MAR! UNCLE MAR!" she squeals, kicking her legs, giggling like a complete dork.
"Wow, well I never. Tiff, it's been so long" Marlo laughs, hugging the woman tightly.
She pulls away and tilts her head slightly "Huh? What are ya doing here. Where is my brother?"
"Oh- funny thing. I came here to find him but turns out he isn't here yet. No worries, I'll head back and sort things out from there!" he laughs sweetly, his laugh like bells, just so happy and sweet. Music to anyone's ears.
"Oh? Well, you tell my brother when I see him next he's in huge trouble! He missed tea with Aleena. She's been gutted!"
"Poor girly, tell you what. When I see Auggie, I'll pick him up and throw him into the river! And I'll give you ALLLLLL the biscuits in the world!"
Aleena squeals and kicks her legs, nodding wildly.
"I see you've taken tips from Ko! I love what you've done with her hair, Tiff" he grins, curling the child's hair in his fingers.
"She loves Kotoko's hair so... We asked a friend to do some magic and now her hair is this colour! It's only temporary, wouldn't let her dye it" Tiff smirks.
"Heh, of course. You're just like your brother, Tiffany."
They continue discussing how life has been, Marlo waving and grinning at the pair.
He pulls himself onto his horse, holding onto the reigns "So where are you going now?"
"We're off to see Aleena's daddy! Aren't we baby?"
Marlo frowns sadly "Damn, still not together?"
"No, he's been emotionally and physically exhausted because of his job, however he's asked me on a date. So!"
He smiles "That's amazing, Tiff. Tell Red I say hello. Still need to find out what his job is, Darlin' maybe I can help him."
"We'll see. I've tried asking before but you know Red. He's as stubborn as a bull."
Marlo laughs and nods, before sighing "Alright. I have to go, you stay safe, okay? All of you. Red included!" he winks at Tiff, before setting off back on the path, heading back to Aquarius.
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It was a four day travel going to Roselake. He stopped off at different villages to spend the night, making sure he wouldn't have to sleep out in the forest alone with all the dangers, but now he arrives back in Aquarius, whistling as he leads Princess to the stables, tying her here and stepping back, whistling to himself as he feeds her an apple, looking around.
"Y'know Princess, I feel kinda embarrassed I rushed off. It's also stupid that Augustus is here" he mutters to himself, rubbing his neck before making his way out of the stables, resting his hands on his hips, before stopping when he spots his friend, Venus, who was talking to Kotoko, rubbing her shoulders reassuringly.
"HEY VENUS PENIS WHERE THE FUCK IS AUGGIE I'M GONNA LOSE IT WITH HIM!" he snorts, strolling over and stopping right next to them, smiling brightly, but his smile drops almost immediately as he notices the hurt expression ok Kotoko's face.
"Ko? Are you okay-"
"Marlo..." Venus interrupts, gently resting a hand on his shoulder, looking away, before sighing, looking back at him, not making eye contact "Oka needs to talk to you."
Marlo furrows his eyebrows together, but nods slowly, looking back at Kotoko "It can wait, Ko wha-"
"It can't wait."
The purple haired man stares at Venus for a while, a confused and worried expression on his face. But he nods, walking towards his house, opening the door and closing it behind him, freezing as he feels the sad deep atmosphere.
He walks through the house, into the living room, walking in to see Pietro standing by the window, his arms crossed and looking down at the floor. While Oka stands up, stepping over to him "Marlo" her voice breaks, but she gently takes hold of his hand, sitting him down and crouching down infront of him, shakily wiping her teary eyes.
Marlo frowns as he looks at her, then at pietro and then back at Oka, noticing that Pluto and Judah are in the hallway, mumbling.
His chest tightening.
He felt like he knew exactly what was about to be revealed.
"Me-me, Pluto and Pietro... We... We want on a mission" she whispers, her grip tightening on his hands, holding them close as she hiccups, taking deep breaths.
Trying to compose herself.
"... Is... Everyone okay?"
"Marlo I-I... I'm sorry" she whispers, tears now streaming down her tanned skin "Auggie- Auggie we-we found-" she chokes, covering her mouth as she starts to sob, now falling back, sitting on the floor and sobbing into her arms. Heartbreaking long cries.
Judah quickly rushes over, leading Oka out of the room, shushing her softly, stroking her hair as he pulls her out.
Leaving Marlo sitting there, staring blankly at the floor.
"... I'm sorry for your loss, Marlo-"
"He isn't dead" The merman whispers "He can't be dead- he-he ISN'T dead- it-"
And before he can realise it, tears are streaming down his face, his scales now grey, his cheeks becoming red as he let's out loud sobs.
Pluto quickly rushing over and grabbing his hand, wrapping his arm around his shoulder, pulling him into a hug.
Which Marlo fights at first.
"HE ISN'T FUCKING- D-DEAD HE'S NOT DEAD- HE-HE- GUH-" he chokes, sobbing loudly into Pluto's chest, his arms holding onto his shirt, hiding his face as he just. Scream sobs into the fabric, his body shaking violently with each sob.
Pietro watches sadly, about to say something, but Pluto shakes his head, mouthing 'He needs to be alone.'
Pietro nods, getting the hint, and leaving the room, closing the door behind him as he leaves the grieving man to be comforted by his friend. Loud sobs heard even from outside of the house.
As the call he got from Augustus rings through Marlo's head.
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Memories
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"My name is Augustus!" A little boy smiles.
"Augustus... That's long" The merboy groans, scratching his head, his short curly purple hair in a side plait, his big purple eyes shining.
"Why not Auggie? Aug Aug!" a little fairy squeaks, grabbing Augustus' hand and then Marlo's, her big blue eyes gleaming as she looks at her two new best friends "Auggie, Marlo and Oka! The three musketeers!"
"Oh- I am not a fighter. Mommy taught me-"
"Fighting can save your life! HIYAH!" he laughs as he fake karate chops Oka, causing her to gasp and shove him, fake pouting.
"THAT HURT FISHY!"
"DON'T CALL ME FISHY!"
"Um.. Friends are not really meant to fight... Right?"
Oka blinks, looking at him, before grinning "Yep! We can argue a bit though I think!" she giggles, before jumping into Augustus' arms, making him squeak.
"EEP- I WILL DROP YOU ACCIDE-"
"WATCH OUT BELOW!" Marlo yells, jumping onto his back.
And all of them tumble, hitting the floor with a thud.
They're quiet.
Before all three of them burst out into laughter, a big smirk on Marlo's face.
"We'll stay friends forever. You're too cool without me~"
"Hehe, well you're cool too" Oka hugs both the boys, smiling like a complete dork at them both "Come over my house! I can make tea! Well... Papa can make tea."
"Okay! I will call my mommy" Augustus giggles, holding Marlo's hand and smiling at him.
Marlo blinks, thinking a moment "I'll come!"
"You did not ask yo-"
"My dad is always working. It won't matter!" he giggles, before jumping to his feet, helping Augustus and Oka up "Besides. Friends do everything together."
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Present time
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"We were meant to grow old together- y-you selfish cunt" Marlo whispers, clenching his fists as he looks at the gravestone, tears falling down his pale cheeks. His scales completely grey. Sad. Heartbroken.
Oka looks at him sadly, managing to grab hold of his hand "Marlo..."
"I-It isn't fair, Oka!" he whispers.
"I know."
"Why D-did he leave us? He-he didn't wanna go!"
"I know."
"Why- GOD FUCKING-" he chokes back a sob, letting Oka hug his arm tightly, biting down on his lip, hard, blood dripping down his pale pink cracked lips.
They'd been mourning for three weeks now.
Marlo had not stepped outside of his house.
Especially after he was told that Aleena and Tiffany were in an accident and were found dead.
He was heartbroken.
So was Oka.
But Oka was used to dealing with grief.
Marlo had never properly lost a person in his life. His biological mother walked out on him and his dad when he was born, then he has a mom who was mentally unstable. His dad was always away. Never EVER stayed in contact. Kinda surprise when he turned up.
The only family he's ever really had was Augustus'.
Oka had family, but didn't really stay in contact. Her parents were distant people and focused on themselves anyway. Not that Oka minded.
But now.
They both feel so.
Lost.
Broken.
Sad.
Marlo alot more than Oka.
"O-Oka- if I-I stopped them- if I didn't let Aleena and-" he's stopped by her hand covering his mouth, looking at him, her face just full of sorrow and heartache.
"... I'm sorry... I-I... I blame myself... He was still kind of warm when I found him" she whispers, her hands starting to shake "He... He wasn't breathing. And he was de-definitely dead... But if-if... If I had just been... A bit earlier maybe-maybe he'd-"
Oka doesn't finish. Marlo's arms wrapping around her completely, hugging her as tightly as possible, hiding his face in her shoulder and hair as he sobs.
Both of them just breaking down completely, falling to the floor next to the gravestone, sobbing and apologising over and over.
And all Pattie, Teddy, Momoka, Judah and Pluto could do was watch.
They know they needed alone time.
They know. They need support.
And they'll get that to them.
They promise.
But Marlo pulls himself away after a while, Judah, Momoka and Pattie carefully taking hold of Oka, leading her home, shushing her and comforting her as much as possible.
While Marlo walks straight past Pluto and Teddy, Pluto quickly grabbing his arm.
"Marlo where are you-"
"I'm gonna fucking murder her" he whispers, looking at Pluto blankly.
All expression gone from his face.
His eyes blank.
It was as if.
Marlo wasn't there anymore.
Just some sad emotionless body.
"I'm going to kill her. And she's going to suffer just like he did."
Teddy looks shocked as Marlo shoves Pluto's arm away from him, walking off, straight towards the stables.
Pluto looks at Teddy and then back in the direction of Marlo.
Marlo had lost part of himself.
He had to heal within time.
But now he just needs a good hug.
He just needs some help.