Work Text:
They both stand outside the shelter.
”You’re sweating. This isn’t going to work if you can’t become even a little calm.” Carol says to Kris.
Kris says nothing but reaches for the door. She puts a hand on their shoulder and she can still feel how much they’re shaking.
”You look dehydrated. Did you bring water?”
They shake their head no. She scowls, “Next time…okay breathe…”
They try to but still they remain shaky. Carol herself takes a large breath, this one exasperated.
“It’s far too hot for you to be dressed like this so if you just…” She pulls up one of their sleeves. The normally stagnant Kris reaches to shove her hand off but she’s already lifted enough of it to see the scar.
She grabs their wrist and glares at it, then at them. It looks like she’s going to yell but she takes another deep breath and says, “You can’t be doing this. Not when we’re this close. You’re not going to do this. Knife now.”
She reaches out her hand but Kris remains still.
”Knife, now. This is not a choice.”
They reach into their pocket and hand her their knife.
She grabs it and puts her head in her other hand, “I’m not giving it back until it’s time. Do you know what would happen if you got caught? Now of all times you need to not be suspicious."
“No one knows.” They say, barely audible.
”And if they learned? You can’t do this. You can’t do this to Dess. She wouldn’t want this, you know she wouldn’t want this so get over whatever childish angsty bullshit this is and focus only on helping her. Is there more?”
They don’t answer.
She reaches for their other arm, and pulls their sleeve up. The arm is unscared. They don’t even bother to pull her off.
”I’m checking next time.”
”Don’t.” They say somehow even quieter than before but even shakier.
”This is serious Kris. Don’t you do this to me. You said you’d help me. I have been more patient with your family than any reasonable person can be expected to be. I don’t have to keep allowing your father to be late on rent.”
Their eyes widen.
They make their way back to the shelter door.
“We’ll do this another time.” Carol says with a sigh. She walks them to her home. They’re about to go to their home as well but she motions for them to stop. They wait outside for several minutes and she returns with a small gift bag.
”Noelle made cookies yesterday. You should talk to her more often, you don’t do it as much as you used to…you’re doing this for her too.” She says with a softness they rarely hear from her.
They take the bag of cookies. Carol scowls at them.
“Kris you were raised better than this, what do you say?”
”Thank you, Mrs. Holiday.”
She gives a small smile. She places a hand on her shoulder then thinking better of it she quickly removes it.
”You’re welcome, and have a good night…Krismas.”
Kris gets home and places the cookie on the counter. They go to their room and grab the wrist at the spot where Carol grabbed it. They stare at the scar. They slam their hand onto the wall very hard.