Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You looked outside the window of the fast moving train, trying to process everything that had been going on with your friends these past few days. Could you even consider them friends? You guys barely talked. All you knew is that there was some weird-ass cyber attack or something on the television and the world stopped for a moment.
You took a deep breath and opened up your phone, mindlessly scrolling until the train stopped suddenly. You almost threw your phone which caused you to fumble to catch it. You let out an embarrassed chuckle as you quickly stood up, looking around at the strangers and began to make your way to the exit of the carriage you were on.

You looked around at the new surroundings, taking a deep breath in and processing your surroundings. The tall buildings with a slightly unfamiliar language surrounded the area. The air was filled with excited chatter and faint music as you slowly began to walk around, your bags in your hands. Luckily for you, Meggy knew some of the language and was willing to teach you what she knew (which was shockingly a fair amount.) 

You looked around at the crowds and realised that you were being stared at by a group (Probably for your weird appearance). You should've expected this, you weren't an Inkling OR Octoling, You were like some exotic creature in a zoo to them. You gave them a shy wave and moved along, feeling slightly on edge. You've been here for 5 minutes and you're already feeling like this, great..

You sat at a nearby bench and grabbed a snack out of your bag, knowing that the food around here wasn't the safest for you. You went to put your bags to the spot next to you until someone sat next to you. Unknowingly, you put your bags on them. You would've looked at them and apologised, but you felt like you were paralysed. You've been here for only 10 minutes and this type of shit has already happened. 

"Excuse me?" The stranger spoke, looking down at you with her eyebrows furrowed.
This is what snapped you out of your trance. You moved your bags and looked up, your face bright red.

"Sorry Ma'am! I didn't know you were sat there, honest!-" You could feel the sweat on your forehead as you apologise over and over again. "It won't happen again-" You continued, you really should've stopped by now.
You eventually shut up when a finger was placed over your lips, which was...weirdly comforting but strange for a stranger to do. The finger was quickly removed from your face when you shut up

"It's chill." The stranger said "Worse happens than just placing your bags down on someone, y'know?" She laughed, leaning back with her arms laid on the back of the bench.
"Tourist?" She asked, knowing the obvious answer "Why'd you come here?"

How do you explain that...How do you explain that your friends were terrorised by a TV man without sounding completely insane. You simply nodded at her question, trying to come up with a convincing lie.
"Just...felt like going somewhere new! Home life has been...something-" You tapped your index finger on your knee as you spoke, still sweating. "A friend recommended here-"

"Would I know them?" The stranger questioned, tilting her head slightly. Its not often outsiders know of Inkopolis, especially humans. She was messing with the collar on her shirt whilst she waited for an answer from you, confused on why you were so nervous. 

You looked at her, calming down slightly. "Well...Maybe? She's from here...I think-"
You shrugged as you said that last bit, you didn't really know much about Meggy's past and you didn't bother to ask. You were admittedly curious, of course, but it would be awkward if it ended up making her awkward or upset.
You noticed the stranger holding out her hand, ready for you to shake. You wiped your hand on your shirt and shook her hand

"Desti." She smiled, shaking your hand somewhat firmly. You just replied with your name in the same fashion
"Reader."

"Nice to meet you-" She let go of your hand and looked away, putting some gum in her mouth and chewing on it, blowing a small bubble shortly after. You nodded in reply to this, smiling back. You looked up at the sky, thinking to yourself. 'At least SOMEONE seems nice enough here..' You thought to yourself before realising...

You never booked a hotel room!

Chapter Text

You took a deep sigh before putting your head into your hands. Fuck! You know nobody here well enough to ask to stay over and you barely have any chance of getting a room for today! You can’t just go up to someone and ask them ‘Hey, can I stay at your house because I was a dumbass and forgot to book a hotel room!’. 

You look over at the octoling sat next to you, who was just staring at you in confusion at your unexplained panicking.

“Are...you okay?” She blinked, tucking a piece of (what you assumed was) hair behind her ear. Your face turned red and you gave a quick nod

“Fine! Great! Amazing!” You replied. You could feel the sweat beading at your forehead as you got more and more nervous speaking whilst trying to figure out a plan.

She raised her eyebrow and then decided to ignore it for now. “So, where are you staying?”
Shit. She asked you the one question out of THOUSANDS that you really REALLY didn’t want her to ask.

“Well…you see...uhm-” You looked away, rubbing the back of your head. “I…I don’t-”
She tilted her head at your response and just laughed at you. Great.

“You don’t have a place to stay, do you?” She stood up, taking a sigh and wiping away what could only be a tear from laughing at your misery. You looked away, embarrassed. Forget what you thought about her being nice, I guess.

“Sorry, Just...WOW. You spend all that time planning a trip and you don’t have a place to stay?...C’mon.” She grabbed your arm forcefully, making you squeak a little. “You can crash at my place until we find something.”

You blinked, confused as to WHAT was happening, but you could tell something fishy was happening. A random stranger…taking you to her house….oh my god, you were being kidnapped. OH MY GOD YOU WERE BEING KIDNAPPED. 

You went to say something but it was too late…you were already at her house. You were gonna die or get kidnapped in the middle of nowhere with no contact to the others at home.
Once you two were inside, Desti smirked and chuckled at your expression of pure panic

“Don’t worry, I’m not doing this for any illegal activity, you can chill out.” She put her weapons away from her training and sat down with you.
“Any friend of Meggy is a friend of mine.” She said with a smile

You began to relax once she mentioned Meggy “You...know her?”

Your facial expression then turned to one of confusion rather than fear or anxiety.

Desti gave a simple nod “She talks non-stop about you, y'know...I don’t just bring some rando human I meet to my house”
She grabbed a drink out of her fridge and took the cap off, taking a sip
“We’ve been frenemies since I can remember...the occasional sparring partner. Y'know, the whole drill.” 

As she talked, you began to think. ‘Maybe she can help me with my predicament.’

Desti sighed, lost in her train of thoughts about Meggy “I’ve been meaning to go visit her, but…She seems to be distancing ever since…”
She shook her head a little, trying to get back to the topic “A-Anyway!”

You raised an eyebrow
“...Since what?”

She sighed and put her drink down on the table
"Since...the island. Since she turned human..."

Since she HUH?! 
You sat there in complete shock, and turns out you looked like it too by the way Desti raised an eyebrow at you

"You didn't know?" She asked "Wouldn't be surprised though, she tends to keep it from new people...no point in them knowing, y'know?" 
You raised an eyebrow

"NO! I DIDN'T KNOW!" You put your head in your hands for a second before raising it to face Desti once more "Why wouldn't she tell me?!"

Desti chuckled a little, a hint of sadness in her tone
"She tends to focus on other's problems before her own, it's her way of coping with it in a way..."

You looked down at your hands, contemplating asking.
"Can you...tell me about it?" 

Chapter Text

“Y’know, Since she turned human.” Desti shrugged, taking another sip of her drink.

Since Meggy…huh?! You always felt like she was keeping something from you but something this big? Jesus christ…
Apparently the look on your face said it all

“You good?” She asked “You look like you just saw a ghost or something like that…”
She laughs at her own thoughts, but as it dies down her look turns to one of concern.

You nod slowly “Sorry, it’s just…wow- I’m surprised that she kept it from me…despite us being friends-”
You rub the back of your neck, a little embarrassed by your initial reaction.

Desti lets out another laugh at your red face
“Hey, it’s chill. I’m not surprised she didn’t tell you, It's a tough subject for her.” She explained, surprisingly calm about this whole thing
“I was there, that’s how I know. Let me guess, she didn’t tell you about the stabbing either? Or that weird anime dude who did it?”

“The huh?” You raise an eyebrow before letting out a snicker “The weird anime dude? C’mon, there's no way-”
You would’ve continued that sentence, but she lifted her shirt to show her stomach.

A scar was in the centre of her stomach, it looked healed but it was hard to miss
“If I’m lying, then how do I have this?” She raised an eyebrow, similar to the way you did it before.

You were staring, and you were only snapped out of it when she coughed. She had a small blush on her face as she pulled her shirt back down
“Don’t be a weirdo about it-” She looked away

“Anyways…She used to be an inkling. She grew up here, but then a bunch of shit happened which I’m not telling a stranger without her permission. And now she’s human, that’s it really.” She explained quickly, putting her now empty can in the trash

You blinked and shook your head a little, but you had heard everything that was said. You frowned a little. “I…I won’t like, with the way you worded it, I’m EXTREMELY curious about the unspoken details but…A part of me also doesn’t want to hear, I can only imagine how horrid the experience must’ve been- Especially with that scar…”
You realised what you were saying and quickly shut yourself up.

Desti noticed “Hey, It’s chill.”
“Anyways. The whole situation literally took the inkling part of her out, leaving her with a human body. Something to do with an ink extractor and preserving her life, I dunno. Then I was rushed to the hospital and I haven’t really seen her since…”

A frown had grown on her face as she fell silent, thinking. She took a deep breath and smiled a little
“But it’s fine! I can always call her! Or…text her- If she has the same number-”

Your frown only grows as you stay silent to listen. A thought came to you when you listened to what she said, and a gut feeling hit.

“...You’ve tried to before, haven’t you?”

Chapter Text

“Of course I have!” Desti snapped a little, getting defensive before sighing and looking away

Your frown only grows as you get a little closer “...then…why-?”

“Hell if I know! She’s just been more..distant since my recovery-” Desti shrugged, putting her head in her hands. 

You knew you should drop the topic but you’ve always been the curious type. 

“Do you…wanna talk about it?” You asked, crossing your legs. You could imagine yourself with a notebook or a clipboard like a therapist waiting for your patient to spill their guts about their life.

Desti went to speak but stayed silent, looking right at you with a displeased face but then looking away.

”I think it was my reaction that made her turn away.” She spoke softly, almost like she didn’t want to seem vulnerable. “But why would I tell you?! You’re a stranger to me.”

She sighed, getting up “You’re only in my house because you had nowhere else to go and you seem to know Meggy, That’s it.”

Part of you felt that soul crushing mix of guilt and sadness. You frowned and turned away a little “Right…I….I’m sorry-“

You looked out the nearby window and then back at the other “It’s…getting late. Is there anywhere I can sleep?”

“Yeah, the couch.” She rolled her eyes “There should be some blankets on the arm of it. Sleep well, stranger.”

She walked away and shut what you assumed was her bedroom door.

You sighed, grabbing the blanket and pulling it over you as you lay down. You stare at the ceiling and sigh, and before you know it…you’re asleep.

Desti stared up at the ceiling of her own bedroom, trying to figure out where it all went wrong…

TWO YEARS EARLIER. MUSHROOM KINGDOM HOSPITAL 

Desti woke up, the harsh white lighting and walls causing her to squint a little

”Oh, thank GOD you’re okay!” She could hear someone saying, but couldn’t quite make out who it was…

She sat up a little, wincing at the pain she felt. 

“Don’t move! Just…lay down” She felt a hand touch hers. She didn’t know why, but this made her feel..at ease..like she knew the person.

She turned her head, trying to figure out who this mysterious person was. Was it a nurse? Or…

The first thing she noticed was…well…everything. The orange hair, the outfit, the iconic beanie. It was Meggy, but she looked…

She squinted a little, trying to process what was in front of her 

“Thank god you’re okay, Desti! I was so worried, I-“ Meggy had tears in her eyes as she spoke.

”Wha…what happened to you…?” Desti asked, her voice soft but a little raspy

Meggy blinked, confused on why those were her first words, but once she realised she sighed “It’s…a lot happened, I’ll explain when you’re more awake. The good thing is that you’re safe and he can’t hurt you anymore…”

Desti continued staring at Meggy. She rubbed her eyes and sat up the slightest bit, seemingly a little weirded out “Why…Why do you look like that?” 

Meggy blinked once more. She frowned and looked down at herself before turning her gaze back to Desti “I…I’m human now. That’s why I look like this.”

Desti looked Meggy up and down before curling up a little in her bed (which probably wasn’t a good idea with her injury)

“I…I dunno…how…I should feel about this-“ She genuinely meant no harm behind those words, but the look on Meggy’s face made it seem like it came off that way

“Oh-!…Uhm..” Meggy tried to find the right words “That’s…fine! You just rest and I’ll…I’ll come visit you again soon, okay? Maybe even bring some of your friends! I’m sure they’ll be glad to know you’re not…dead-“

Desti nodded, smiling softly. She believed Meggy’s words, every last one of them.

“Thank you, Meggy…I’ll get used to this eventually, I promise…”

Meggy simply nodded as she turned and left.

The next morning, you woke up with the sound of crying coming from the room next to you. You raised an eyebrow, sitting up. 

You folded the blanket and got up, knocking on the bedroom door.

“Desti…?” You called out, but no response was given.

You frowned, something must’ve happened. You go to the kitchen to make a drink for you and her before trying again.

You knock on the door once more “I’m..gonna come in.” 

You hesitated as you opened the bedroom door, but once you were in you just sat next to her silently

“What are you doing here…?” Desti asked, wiping away her tears “Get out…”

You put the drink for her down “What happened?”

Your voice was sweet and a little quiet. You wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t answer your question but you were getting genuinely worried about the other.

”…It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have said that to her…” She sniffled, curling up with a pillow in her arms.

Her fault?

Chapter Text

You shuffled down to the end of Desti’s bed, making sure to give her plenty of room. You frowned softly, not even able to think of what got her this upset…
Desti looked over to you with a soft expression “...didn’t you hear me? Get. Out!”
She threw a soft, feathered pillow at you. 

You blinked as the pillow hit your face, unsure if she just did it to get you to move or to hurt you.

You sighed and got a little closer “I’m not leaving. I may not be a therapist but, by the looks of it? There’s no one else here to talk to right now…” 
Her frown just grew and she looked away again, silent.

You pulled out the big guns

“What was your fault? And who’s ‘her’?” You assumed she was talking about Meggy, but what could’ve happened between the two of them that was so bad? What happened that got Desti so upset?

Desti curled up in her spot, debating something in her head.
“.....Why should I tell you? You’re a stranger to me, remember..? I’m just letting you use my house because you were too stupid to book a hotel room!” 

Your first instinct was to argue back, but you took a deep breath and kept a calm composure.
"Desti. If you don’t tell me, then who will you tell?” 

This question seems to get a reaction from Desti. She looked a little shocked, her eyes widened.

She then took a shaky breath and looked back at you again
“...It’s…a long story-”

You didn’t quite know what story you were expecting from her, but it wasn’t that.

“....Wow-”

Desti quickly growled “AT LEAST ACT LIKE YOU CARE!”
She grabbed the pillow that she threw at you and laid down, covering her head with it

You frowned. You did care…was it the blank face? Or the…’wow’ you let out.

You shuffled closer and took the pillow (Which was hard , Desti’s grip was STRONG)
“Listen. You want my opinion? You had just woken up from something traumatic, physically AND mentally. I’m not on either side, but from an outsider's point of view? You guys need to have a loooong chat.”

This is not the answer Desti wanted. She turned onto her back and stared at the ceiling of her cold room.
“If she wanted to speak, she would’ve texted me already.” Was her reply. Her face was stained with tears and her breathing was still shaky but she seemed more stable

“Maybe you both just think..the other is going to make the first move…C’mon, Desti.” 
You noticed her phone on the other side of the bed and grabbed it, handing it to her
“Today could be the day you fix all of this”

You looked down at her with a determined yet soft smile, your grip gentle.
She blushed softly at this, not used to being in this position.

She rubbed her face with her arm and sat up, grabbing her phone from your clutch.
“But…what would I say?”

You thought for a moment
“Maybe a…’Hello! How are you?” 
Desti rolled her eyes a little, her hand visibly shaking.

You noticed this quickly. And, without much thought, you put your hand on hers to steady it.
She looked surprised, but didn't keep her eyes off her phone.

She opened up Meggy's contact, praying she kept the same number all these years.
She took a deep breath and began to type

[D: hey]
[D: we should probably talk]

Chapter Text

Meggy practically JUMPED out of her seat as she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. 
She pulled it out, staring at the screen in shock for a moment once she saw who had been texting her.
After all these years...she was ready to talk?

She didn't think Desti had forgotten about her, but the thought sure as hell crawled into her mind a few times over the past year or two.
What would she even say if they met face to face? What would they talk about.
They had so much they had to catch up on, but she knew the reason they probably had to talk.

She slowly tried to think about their last meeting. Right, it was when Desti was sent to hospital and-
She sighed and put her phone down for a moment.

Desti could feel her heart drop as she saw the message go from sent to read.
She gripped her phone with all her might, resisting the urge to throw it across the room.

Your hand instinctively made its way to her back, beginning to rub it gently.
Your frown grew as you watched her facial expressions shift
"....did it not go well?" You asked, which was probably a bad idea in hindsight. 

"Oh, It went greattt!" Desti growled softly as she shoved her phone on the bed and a pillow into her face.
"I knew she'd never wanna see me again after all that bullshit at the hospital..." 

You began to think. You...never heard Desti's phone go off....
"...You didn't give her a chance to respond, did you?" 

Desti quickly turned a little red and looked away "D-Doesn't matter! I know Meggy and I know she'd reply ASAP!" 
She suddenly jolted as her phone went off.
Once she saw the notification, she opened her mouth in pure shock
"...She wants...to meet up-" 

You had a idea! Almost as if a lightbulb appeared over your head
"I could take you with me back home!" You grinned

Desti quickly blinked, slowly turning to look at you
".....what?"

You realised what you blurted out and rushed to clarify, tripping over your words in the process
"I mean- My train to go back home is tomorrow, I could buy you a ticket and we could go together! That way you get to speak to Meggy and I can be there for emotional support too!"

Desti couldn't help but chuckle softly at your enthusiasm, she then looked back at her phone and that worried stare was on her face yet again
"Do you...think it'll go well? Not that I care about your opinion, but-" 

You looked down at yourself, wanting to comfort your new friend but wanting to also stay truthful. You knew Meggy, but you also knew how much she had grown over the years.
Your glance returned to Desti as you smiled softly "I'm sure it'll be fine..." 

After what felt like years, the train from Inkopolis Plaza to the Mushroom Kingdom finally arrived.
You grabbed both of your belongings and stretched, leaving promptly with Desti lagging behind. 
Instantly, the quiet of the train was replaced with the chaos and loud noises of the kingdom. That's how you were SURE you were home.

Desti stood behind you, staring at her phone as if her eyes were glued to it.
"It's been what....two years? Three years? That's not that long! It'll be fine!" 

You couldn't help but frown as you listened to her ramblings.
You began to fidget with the sleeve of your shirt as you walked to the showgrounds.
Had....Desti seen the new castle?

As the both of you approached, Desti gasped a little.
"THAT'S the castle?! That's not how I remember it!"

You chuckled and grabbed your phone, texting Meggy to meet you there
"Yep! SMG4 really made it...themed!" 
This just made Desti gasp again.

"THIS IS HIS?! What about Peach? What happened to him living at her castle?!"
You could feel the awkwardness that just passed you during that moment. Someone was going to tell her, but you weren't going to be that person.

You were, however, quickly taken out of your train of thought once the castle doors opened, revealing a red head on the other side.
Desti stared as she heard the doors squeak, then stared RIGHT at Meggy, who was staring right back at Desti.

The two shared an uncomfortable silence
"...Hey-" Said Meggy, breaking it after an agonising minute or two

"....hi." Replied Desti, shaking nervously as she stood in place.