It started out fine...

[mitochondriaaya]

She was fourteen when the area karate regionals came around. Never mind the fact that it was early December, and her mid-terms were coming up, and she was still trying to come to terms with her new breast size. Like an idiot she said she'd be there, layered on sports bras, and trotted to the gym.

The fights were simple exhibitions, points awarded on execution and touches rather than beating an opponent into the ground. In her third bout Aya was getting tired, and her opponent, a human from two towns over she'd met in the ring before, was as well. That was probably why things went wrong.

Three points in he flubbed a spin kick and his ankle buckled, making the attacking foot lash in an unexpected direction. She didn't get a block up in time and he tagged her hard on the ribs, taking them both to the floor. The referee blew his whistle, hard, halting all conversation as paramedics came forward to access injuries.

One cracked ankle on his side.

Two cracked ribs on hers.

They both managed to facepalm at the same time when it was announced they were unfit to continue. "Next year," they mouthed at each other around the pained wincing as they were bandaged.

Comments

[sliceitwithwind]

"Sure, what do you want to watch?" Braig said, instantly, "If you want to wait twenty minutes or so I can go rent something if we don't own it?"

[mitochondriaaya]

"Horror? Something we haven't seen! Haunty Houseish maybe?" She didn't know! Oh, wait, one restriction! "No zombies!" There were few exceptions to that! Like vid game based movies, but yeah.

[sliceitwithwind]

"Okay. I'll be back." Braig kissed her forehead and headed out at a run.

Dilan watched him go and said, "The good news is that dinner won't be ready until then anyway?"

[mitochondriaaya]

"We'll be here!" Aya called after him, then cuddled into Dilan. "Okay. No one's mad the doctor had to come here? I didn't go into a coma right?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Nobody's mad at you." Dilan said, "You slept for about fifteen hours and were as hard to wake up as Braig?"

[mitochondriaaya]

"Oh, that's not bad." Not too bad anyway! "You were all scared and I don't like that. Braig thought I was gonna die didn't he?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Braig's a little over-protective." Dilan said, slowly, "But, yeah."

[mitochondriaaya]

"He worries. And he says that if I ever get sick again you guys will still take care of me." Because that was the thing that really stuck today?

"I'm not going to die."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Of course we're going to take care of you." Dilan said...in the OCD voice. "You're Aya!"

[mitochondriaaya]

"I hope I don't get sick again," she admitted. "This sucks, but...thank you? I love you Dilan. You know that right?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"I love you, too." Dilan said, hugging her, "I love you a lot. I know you love me. Lots of love in this house."

[mitochondriaaya]

Even when she scared them. That was alright, right? "Yeah, lots of love here. It's a good place to be. Still shoulda had more fun before you get sick too." They tried to make sure early December was awesome for him!

[sliceitwithwind]

That was just fine.

"It's okay, Aya." Dilan said, "Even if you're not healthy, I'm still happy to be with you."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Thanks kitten," It was good not be boring and funless? Entirely? "So...I've been looking at cop colleges. I know it's early but you guys were picking colleges when you were ten right?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Braig picked." Dilan admitted, "But yeah, we were looking at them. Where are you thinking about going? Not too far? So we can visit?"

[mitochondriaaya]

"I don't know yet. I just...I'm looking at a lot of places not just the place you guys go?" She wanted them to start thinking about that early. "I'll definitely be nearby. There's a lot of good places in state. And tuition is better in state too."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Yeah." Dilan stroked her hair, "I want to be close enough to visit. Even if you don't come where we are." He knew that there were better choices for her...but he wanted her near.

[mitochondriaaya]

She figured college was going to be a lot like highschool. Weird. And with an odd version of phantom limb syndrome. "You know I'll visit still! Even if I'm like a block away!"

[sliceitwithwind]

"I know." Dilan said, kissing her hair, "If you're at the same college, though, you'll live with us of course."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Duh," yeah. "And then I'll visit your room instead of your place!"

[sliceitwithwind]

"...You wouldn't sleep with us?"

SO.

CONFUSE.

[mitochondriaaya]

"Of course I would!" Obviously! "But you guys have your whole room set up and stuff and it'd feel weird trying to cram my stuff in too so my room would be down the hall!" For her stuff! Which meant technically she'd be visiting their room!

"And there'd be nights you wouldn't want me to be there!"

[sliceitwithwind]

Dilan gave her the you are crazy, woman look, but before he could say anything Elcy called, "Dilan! Come get dinner! Where is my son?"

"Getting a film, mom!"

[mitochondriaaya]

He was getting the mild, millld look in return. "Girlfriends," she pointed out simply. Oh, food! Yay food! "I'll smooth blankets up here?" Sometimes it could be hard to balances trays and plates over a blanket nest!

[sliceitwithwind]

"You do that." Dilan said, kissing her head and going down for the tray.

Braig returned just a bit before Dilan did, with a bag of videos, seven or eight of them.