Antisepticeye Oneshots

don't ever look in his direction | marvin

premise: Marvin is drowning in his own dark thoughts after leaving Anti for good. Things are looking up, at least.
characters: Marvin, Cait, and a special guest
warnings: violence, intrusive thoughts

Cool tap water hits Marvin's face as he splashes it on himself. For a moment he is calm.

He remembers, from a long time ago, falling and landing in cool water. Though it feels as if now he is pulling Anti down with him, and the two of them sink into the gulf. There are hands squeezed around his own throat, with his head being hit against a rock at the bottom of the lake. His mind goes blank and he involuntarily swallows a gulp of water.

Marvin sucks in a breath, tasting the dingy bathroom air. The sound of running water brings him down under once more.

He recklessly grabs at the arms holding him down. His chest contracts, and with the forethought of a deer in headlights, does whatever he can to survive. He pushes against Anti's chest, his hands heating up until they burn. The water bubbles, boiling, and fire forms, strong enough to survive the surrounding lake water. Anti releases his grip, and Marvin knows exactly the pain the other is feeling. They both swim up for air.

Marvin's breaths are shallow. He shuts the tap off, playing with the ring on his finger to keep himself grounded. He is not there anymore. Anti is not around now.

Marvin made it to shore first. His palms were red and the skin on his hands were peeling, but Anti was much worse. His shirt was burned through. Healed and fresh burns covered him. Marvin was coughing up water and the back of his skull throbbed with pain, but he was still more concerned for Anti.

He shakes his head, hoping the thoughts would fall off like snow in his hair. He jumps when his phone rings and he quickly fishes it out of his pocket and answers, not even looking at the number. "Hello?" He says swiftly.

"Helloooo!" A vibrant voice jumps out at him. Marvin flinches at the noise, bad memories beginning to surface.

"I gotta gig for ya, kiddo!" His agent sings with the optimistic energy of a kid, ironically.

"Oh, really?" He tries and fails to match his enthusiasm.

"Yes, really! Come on, liven up. It'll be a big day for you. First show in months, you should be more excited for that!"

"I am, I just..." his mind drifts back to Anti. Six months since his last magic show. Six months since he's last seen Anti. "I'm happy, I promise. When and where is it?"

"10:00 PM, Phantom Nightclub, next Saturday. Don't you dare miss it."

"Wait... you booked me at your club?"

"Well, I was hopin' ya wouldn't notice. To be blunt, no one else wanted you. But the good news is, if ya put on a good show, more people'll wanna book you and you'll be famous in no time!"

"I guess..."

"Oh, and there's one rule in my club, kid. No. Moping. I don't want this attitude to spread to my other customers, got it?"

"Yeah, gotcha."

"Great! Now I'm busy, so I can't chit-chat at the moment. I'll give you the details of your gig later, capeesh?"

"No problem. See ya."

His agent hangs up first. Looks like the magician has to begin training again. But this time, it's for himself. He inhales deeply, eyes closing, and breathes out. They open again, and he examines himself in the mirror. Dark, tired eyes stare back him with his own pessimistic glare on his reflection's face. He should sleep.

Cait meows behind him, half of her ghostly body phasing through the closed door. Right. They had to finish movie night first. "I'm coming," he sighs, never looking in the other direction, just as he promised Anti.