TW: swearing, descriptions of panic attack

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Burning - Cemetery Mary oneshot

“Mary, come on, quit being a baby!” Yelled my cousin from outside the stall.

I sniffled, hiding my face as my tears soaked the clothes I wore. They were new, too - specifically bought for the occasion. It all turned out to be a waste in the end. “I shouldn’t have come with you!” I responded, trying to convince him to leave me be. “I knew something like this would happen…”

“Fucking hell…”

Crowven paced back and forth, the sound of his boots on the ceramic floor matching the pace of the roaring music coming from outside. I sunk back into myself, resting my head against my stocking-clad knees. Slowly, everything began to be drowned out by the burning sensations I felt all over. Rising from my chest up to my throat, replacing all the words I longed to scream with heavy, unsteady breaths - a fruitless attempt to put out the fire in my lungs, only fueling it with more oxygen.

I just wanted everything to go quiet. I covered my ears, not feeling the pain I inflicted on myself as I gripped my hair a little too hard. Just a little bit of silence, that’s all I needed. Still, that’s a comfort even my own mind couldn’t provide as I started to spiral into a pit of thoughts. Were they screaming? Whispering? I couldn’t tell. All I could decipher was the venom dripping from its tongue, devoid of tone or volume.

I should’ve stayed at home.

I should’ve kept to myself.

I should’ve known that I’m better off alone.

I should’ve listened to-

“Mars.”

I was ripped out of my trance by someone calling my name.

Right.

I recognised the nickname.

Only one person used that nickname.

Crowven.

“Listen to me, please.”

It was his voice.

I cautiously uncovered my head, looking down at the crack of the door, seeing his hand reaching for mine.

Was he lying on the floor to do this?

Shakily, I took his hand.

“I shouldn’t have dragged you out here.”

I tried to respond, but nothing would come out.

“I should’ve listened to you back home, especially since this isn’t the first time you’ve broken down like this.”

His hand tugged lightly on mine, a type of silent communication we’d grown accustomed to.

He was apologising.

I mustered up the strength I needed, lightly squeezing his hand back.

It was okay.

“Can- can you open the door now? This position is really uncomfortable.”

I let out a quick breath at the humorous comment and let go of his hand, unlocking the stall door. Crowven laid on the dirty floor, awkwardly sitting up from his odd position.

He grabbed my hand once again, this time in a different way, encouraging me to sit next to him.

I weakly did as he asked, flinching when the door slammed against the frame.

My hands flew back up to my ears as I sat, regretting letting my guard down.

“Sit back against the wall, it’s nice and cold” He said, taking an unusual soothing tone. “See? I know you probably feel like everything’s burning right now, but it’s not. I promise.”

Crowven was never this… soft. If anything, he was rough and rude to me all the time. But somehow, he wasn’t like that right now. Was it my fault? Had I made him feel this guilty? Did I-

“You’re okay, Mars.” He sighed. “Please don’t blame yourself for this.”

Was I that easy to read?

I sat staring at my lap, trying desperately to hold back fresh tears that pricked at my eyes, speeding up my breathing with the effort.

It was quiet for a second. Well, as quiet as it could be at a party like this.

And then, I felt a poke on my cheek.

“?”

Poke.

“Crow-“

Poke poke poke-

“What are you-?”

I looked up at him finally, causing him to miss his aim, and instead booping me on the nose.

Crowven chuckled, retreating his hand. “There she is!”

Seeing the big goofy smile he wore, I couldn’t help the grin that rose to my own face. That’s the reason I came along in the first place, wasn’t it? To see him happy.

I wiped my tears off with my sleeves, finally feeling the fire dim.

“I’m sorry I dragged you away from your friends…”

“Mary. Don’t fucking apologise.” He responded. “As much as everyone loves my company, they can take a few minutes without me.”

Crowven ruffled my hair, offering a smile.

“Thank yo-“

Before I could finish my sentence, someone opened the door to the bathroom. A (clearly drunk) blonde woman stumbled inside, resting a hand on the sink to regain her balance, then seeing the two of us in the mirror’s reflection.

“Uh, this is a women’s bathroom.” She slurred “You can’t, like, be here.”

Crowven raised an eyebrow at her, shooting her a look. “And you’re not supposed to be walking in a murder scene, are you?”

She turned around to face us. “But no one’s dead?”

“Not yet.”

Both the woman’s eyes and mine widened, and she rushed back outside before the situation could escalate any further.

“C-Crowven!”

“What?!”

“You just threatened a random woman!”

“So? It’s not like we’re gonna get in trouble for it! She’s totally drunk, no one’s gonna believe her if she tries to rat us out.”

We stared at each other for a second, then erupted into careless laughter.

Creator of Cemetery Mary & The characters are owned by @arcadekitten

Bit rushed while making of this 2 fan arts, I had no idea what to draw for the rest of the gang so heres Mary!! :3

Had to break my art schedule a little. Here's an old art I had done of Mary as kohane that was requested by a close friend of mine! Made in the summer of 2024.

Credit to @Uuuupooo_8162 for the base and I used @arcadekitten’s character.