mitochondriaaya | It started out fine...

It started out fine...

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

"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."

"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.

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!"

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

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

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

SO.

CONFUSE.

"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!"

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!"

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!

"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.

Aya was actually standing up (leaning on the edge of the bed to be fair) and pulling covers into a semblance of 'made bed'. When Braig came back she gave him a smile then arched an eyebrow..."Don't think I can stay awake that long." She hadn't promised a marathon's worth of consciousness!

"Options." Braig said, laughing, "And we've got them for two weeks, we don't have to watch them all today!"

"Oh, good. Sometimes they're one night rentals!" SHE HAD TO MAKE SURE! When she smoothed the last corner on the bed she flopped back onto it (carefully) and sighed. "How long after I'm better better until I can stand and walk normally again?" She didn't like the weakness thing!

"I don't know, monkey." Braig said, "But you know that helping with Dilan is going to let you build up your stamina again."

Dilan came in with the tray full of food for them, "Yup." he agreed, "So don't worry too much."

"I'm allowed to worry!" She was! It was a mostly new thing for her okay?! "Braig brought back a whole bag of movies. You guys decide on one?" She was going t wiggle backward to make enough room for the tray!

Dilan settled the tray so that they could all get to it, then flipped through the films.

"Sins of Space." he decided, "Monsters in outerspace."

"Oh, space monsters! Mutant lab space monsters?" It would explain the Sins part maybe? "I...can't tell what the orange stuff is. Pureed carrots?"

"I think so?" Dilan said, frowning, "I don't know."

"Was that to the lab question or the carrot question?" Aya asked after a moment of trying to puzzle it out.

"...Both." Dilan said after another moment. Braig snorted and took another bite of dinner.

"Well, the first one's easy. Hit play kitten!" She waved her fork at him then...dipped it in the orange stuff. It was not carrot by the bewildered look on her face. "It's...spicy." Was it really, really pureed chutney or something?! Was it suppose to go on the meat tidbits?!

Dilan chortled and hit play, then tasted. "Huh. Something new? I'll ask mom later."

New obviously meant it needed to be tried with EVERYTHING. "Good on the meat. And the asparagus...not the corn or carrots." Her body also seemed to like it for itself though it probably meant it had at least meat broth as part of the recipe! Or maybe a protein heavy bean? Who knew!

Sometimes Elcy hit cookbooks when she was worried. It was a form of mental vacationing!

"...this movie is in Italian. Space Italian. Was there a subtitles option that I missed seeing?" Or did the pseudo-foreign language stop eventually?!

"It wasn't supposed to be in Italian!" Braig said, grabbing the box and relaxing, "Okay, it changes to Katzu soon."

Dilan...ate. Because it was new and good.

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