#featuring mal

In which Gem's past catches up to him...again. [takes place: July 22]

@lady-snow-flower, @miss-holleyshiftwell, @boomer-winche

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[cw -- mentions of child abuse/neglect, car crash, thoughts of death, violence, blood, injuries, burning, pregnancy]

🔥🔥🔥.

SNOW: Tonight was date night. 

And very typical of their date nights, things had gotten derailed and delayed. This time, that dreadful basement ghost had had one of his fits and shut off the power to the entire first floor. Thankfully, Gem had already arrived in his truck. Snow had greeted him with a kiss, followed by an apology— “Do you think you can just pop down really quick to reset the power?” she’d said, though depending on the severity of the basement ghost’s tantrum, he might need to replace a few parts. She was crossing her fingers that it wasn’t the case. She was starving, and it had been such a long day.

So Gem was downstairs. She opened the basement door and poked her head in. “How’s it going? Should I come down there?”

She sometimes tried to reason with the basement ghost if things got especially sticky, or if he tried to throw sparks Gem’s way.

Before she could hear Gem’s response— CRASH!

Snow spun around, her hand flying to her heart in shock. Her eyes widened at what she found– Mal. She hadn’t seen him since the attack at the school. But now he was lying on the floor, having knocked over one of the kitchen chairs on his way in. 

But that made no sense. The door was still firmly shut; the windows were closed. He had phased through the walls but run into the chair—? 

Snow rushed toward him, leaving the question behind. It didn’t matter. Because he was here, and he was crying—looking sick and sweaty and pale. 

“Mal!” She immediately fell to her knees and pulled him in close. Mal didn’t resist. He began to sob against her chest. 

She embraced him, squeezing him and ducking her lips to his hair— he smelled terrible. He hadn’t had a bath in weeks. “Oh sweetie, what’s going on? You’re okay. You’re okay now.”

“I’m sorry,” he sobbed. “I didn’t mean to.” 

“No, I know,” she squeezed him again, frightened that he might slip through her grasp like sand in a fist. Her heart pounded frantically. Then she lifted her head and called— “GEM! GEM, COME HERE!” 

🔥🔥🔥.

[read here]