Hit and Run ((Merle/Kanoa))
Merle glanced at the receipt in their hands with slight disdain before stuffing it into their purse. They had just been sent to pick up lunch for themselves and the other employees, but they hadn’t given them enough money- Merle knew they wouldn’t get any of the difference back, either, and was at a loss of twenty dollars, give or take. Surely if their coworkers knew, they would pay the full amount, but Merle wouldn’t bring it up. They simply couldn’t- they didn’t want to sound stingy or frugal.
As they heard the crosswalk beep, they stepped forward without so much as glancing up from the receipt, brow still furrowed. It is because they didn’t look that they didn’t see the oncoming motorcycle, however, until a loud whirring was unable to be ignored. Hearing the vehicle draw closer, Merle glanced up in a hurry, only to see the headlights blinding them. Eyes wide in terror, they jumped back, dropping the bag of food they carried whilst being grazed by the motorcycle. Merle fell off balance, thudding against the pavement while the screeching halt of the cycle was heard. Their glasses had flown off of their face in the fall, and they looked about frantically, unable to see.
A grin broadened underneath Kanoa’s helmet as ey sped off down the road of town. As usual, Kanoa was going way too fast; but ey didn’t really care. If it got too bad, eir uncle could bail em out of trouble.
“’That’s a mean ride, Kanoa,’” the biker spoke to eirself, “I know, right?! It’s rad as!”
As ey continued eir congratulations, ey didn’t notice the light turn red until ey had to literally brake as hard as ey could.
…Yet ey still grazed the other person.
“Shit– SHIT,” Kanoa cursed, lifting eir helmet and looking from the glassesless pedestrian to other pedestrians looking horrified.
Hopping off eir bike, Kanoa walked over to who ey hit and crouched down.
:”…You’re not gonna call the cops, eh?” Kanoa asked first and foremost before looking around for the glasses.
Messy bangs nearly covered Merle’s eyes as they stared up at the driver of the motorcycle. Merle couldn’t see much of em without the aid of their glasses, though shrunk back at the sound of a voice, timid as ever, and terribly shaken up from nearly getting plowed by the motorcycle.
“I- w-what- c-cops? N-no- I- what-” Merle stammered, still in absolute shock from the accident. Their shirt was torn from the impact, though they wore a T-shirt underneath the sweater that now showed through a gaping slit in the wool fabric. They reached around frantically, unable to find their glasses. Instead, their hand met a splayed open container of Chinese takeout. Merle felt their stomach lurch.
“Oh no…..” they murmured, fearing how they would explain this to their coworkers. They’d have to go back and re-order everything- they would have to pay it all out of pocket- the restaurant owner would laugh at them- everything would be so embarrassing… the thoughts flooded through their mind, their heart pounding from adrenaline.
“Oh, thank fuck,” Kanoa breathed in relief to Merle’s stammering answer. Instead, ey focused on looking around for the glasses once more. After a few moments, ey heard the pedestrian say something along the lines of, “Oh no,” but didn’t turn back to see what the problem.
Finally finding what ey believed was the other person’s glasses, Kanoa trotted back over to them, crouching down once more and handing them the glasses.
“Heheh, I shoulda watched where I was going,” Kanoa semi-apologized, “You’re not dyin’, right?”
Ey looked down at the spilled Chinese food on the ground and paled.
“…If I give you money for that will you pretend this never happened?” Kanoa asked, clasping eir hands together, “Fair as soccer, don’t’cha think?”
Merle looked up at the blurry figure, making out an extended arm- they reached forward, taking their glasses back so they could properly take a look at their assailant.
They took a look at Kanoa, though the moment any form of eye contact was established, their gaze darted back down, too nervous to maintain eye contact with em.
Ey then offered to pay for a new order in exchange for their silence of this accident. Merle bit their lip, glancing at the spilled food. They didn’t want to re-order everything- the lady at the counter would probably laugh at them. They didn’t want to explain- explaining would make them even more pathetic, right? The thought was terrifying.
“….deal- but… only if… only if you go in and order everything.” they declared, cheeks darkening from their request. “I mean- ah, I have to go back to work, is all! I can’t be late, so, if you would go get everything-” Merle froze. They actually did have to be back on time. Surely their break was over by now?
“I- I have to go!” Merle leapt to their feet, staggering dizzily. The accident had knocked the wind out of them, and they nearly toppled right back over from the adrenaline.
When Merle confirmed that it was a deal, Kanoa let out a breath of relieved air, only to do a double-take when they gave em a stipulation.
“…Fuck, man, yeah, I can do that!” the aqua haired hippie replied with a determined nod. Ey looked back down at the spilled Chinese food and made a couple of mental notes; just in case ey forgot. Quicker ey got this done, the better.
Ey headed back for eir motorcycle, plopping the helmet back on eir head. Starting up the engine again, Kanoa was about to head–
“WAIT,” ey shook eir head, voice slightly muffled under the helmet, “Where in the world do you even work?” An important question that Kanoa almost forgot to ask.
Merle paused, world spinning around them. They nearly jumped out of their skin when Kanoa called out to them, scaring them half to death. They shivered noticeably, only to look relieved when all ey asked was where they worked.
"I... ah... oh, yeah. That would be good to know, wouldn't it? I... uh, sorry. I can't believe I forgot to say... I work at the local library- it's just down the block. On the corner of Marlin Street and 164th.... b-but I probably didn't have to explain, you probably know the area- or maybe I'm just assuming things. I, uh, sorry. I have to go!" they chattered before sheepishly turning and bolting away.
Once back at the library, they awkwardly explained that their food would be delayed.
"What? What happened?" a concerned looking woman asked.
"I... well, the thing is, I kind of...." Merle tried to explain.
"What happened to your shirt?" Another coworker asked, pointing at the tear in Merle's sweater.
"I, uh, I wasn't looking and I got hit by a motorcycle..." they mumbled.
"What?! Are you okay?!" the older woman asked, furrowing her brow.
"Yes! What I mean is- it only grazed me. I mean, it's not that big of a deal, I just... I'm clumsy and I dropped the food..."
"Well, I'd drop it too if I got hit by a motorcycle." the younger girl assured her.
Merle gaved a relieved sigh. "Yeah... so... uh... our food should be here soon.... uh, the one on the motorcycle... uh, they agreed to pick it up for me so I wouldn't come back late..."
"Oh, don't worry about coming back on time! I'm just glad you're okay. Do you want to lay down in the back for a bit?" the older woman asked.
"No, it's okay, really." Merle insisted nervously.
