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

[mitochondriaaya]

"Predictable even," she chuckled. True to her word she did manage a whole movie with some coughing and a yawn or two!

[sliceitwithwind]

"Ready to go back to sleep?" Dilan asked when the film was over, "We can stay with you a while."

[mitochondriaaya]

"I don't want to," she admitted. Last time she'd scared them. Still. "Should though. Sorry."

[sliceitwithwind]

"It's okay." Braig said, "We'll stay with you while you sleep."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Okay, I have to get up." To brush her teeth. It was necessary! No sleeping without clean teeth. Still. "Getting really tired of being tired."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Want to be carried?" Dilan asked, sliding out of the bed for her.

[mitochondriaaya]

"No." No offense but yeah! "I'll walk carefully okay? I just want to brush my teeth!"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Okay. We should do the same." Dilan pointed out, but he didn't try to pick her up.

[mitochondriaaya]

She appreciated the illusion of self sufficiency! Sure, she wobbled, and leaned on the wall when her legs were iffy, but she MADE IT HAH! Victory! "If I get stupid about help ignore me?" she allowed once they were in the bathroom.

[sliceitwithwind]

"Yup." Dilan agreed, passing Braig's toothbrush to the smaller boy.

[mitochondriaaya]

"Yup yup," she chuckled around her toothbrush. "You agree to ignore me soooo quickly!"

[sliceitwithwind]

"For your own good, monkey?" Dilan said cheerfully, "You know it. I do the same to Braig when he's sick...and you do it to me."

[mitochondriaaya]

"You're mostly unconscious when you're sick!" So there! It...didn't change the truth at all but! "Yeah, I know. It was just really quick agreement is all."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Well, yeah." he said, "But not entirely all the time!"

[mitochondriaaya]

"True, but either way I can't pick you up!" Aya laughed. "Fine. I'll drop it."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Thank you." Dilan said, bending to kiss her head.

[mitochondriaaya]

"Dork," they all were! "Don't let me sleep all day tomorrow? Think I need to be awake a little."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Do my best." Braig said, putting his toothbrush back.

"Promise." Dilan agreed.

[mitochondriaaya]

"Thanks," she slipped an arm around their waists and used them as balance poles as she wandered back toward bed, then burrowed under the covers once more. "Love you guys. You know that right?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Love you too." the each said, although not in tandom. Braig pushed her over next to the wall so that he could take the middle spot. Braig loved the middle spot. Dilan just laughed softly.