//… call

               started :: 2O24.12.25

               posted :: 2O25.O1.O1

               made by :: greed

               made for :: Kitsune, SACC.

               #SacchExchange

               word count :: 897

               art credit :: linked below

               summary :: Mal receives a call.

               characters :: Atsuko & Malakai

Complete silence filled the room. The air felt heavy, and despite how pretty the dorm room became once sunlight hit its surface, the lack of movement and joy on such a day made the area feel dreadful. Holidays are meant to be enjoyed with friends and family, they’re meant to be celebrated with joy and laughter; all the things Malakai currently lacked.

His black eyes gazed out his window, following the movement of a few small birds outside. Even they, despite the cold, harsh weather, seemed happy to be together. Cuddled up for warmth, chirping every now and then to let the other know that they’re still there. The sight alone made his muscles tense up, and a rough feeling to lock up his throat. He wasn’t quite sure what sort of emotion he was feeling right now.

He should be happy.

After all, his mother wasn’t there to berate him about his looks, and his father couldn’t reach him here, and stare at him with disappointed, cruel eyes.

He should be relieved. But he’s not.

The sound of laughter echoed through the halls of his dormitory. It had snowed in a lot, so it meant that Christmas would be celebrated inside. However disappointed his classmates were originally, they seemed to get their spirits back up almost instantly. After all, the celebration wasn’t canceled.

He swallowed hard, turning towards his bed and dropping himself down face first. An agitated groan left his lips. He could go out and celebrate with his classmates. But… it was all so unfamiliar. The silence, the solitude… And then the oh so loud happiness for the holiday the rest of the class seemed to share. It’s not like he wasn’t excited, he simply found himself having a difficult time moving on from the years he’s spent celebrating with his family. If you could even really call it that.

And then he heard his phone ring. Malakai turned his head to the side, a few strands of hair covered his eyes, blocking his view. His hand reached around on the bed, trying to locate his phone. Once it was finally in his grasp, he turned his whole body to the side, running a hand through his hair to move it out of the way, and his eyes twitched slightly upon seeing the number. He was expecting some sort of message to come from her, a way to celebrate the new year and Christmas, but perhaps not like this. Hesitantly he picked up the call, immediately being blasted with bright light and a cheerful, energetic voice.

“Morning sleepy head!” Atsuko called out.

“It’s… it’s noon, Atsuko,” he squinted his eyes at her, both out of confusion, and as a reaction to the brightness of his screen, combined with her room.

A laugh came from the other side of the phone, and while he was sure she had a big smile on her face right now, he wasn’t too fond of the idea of being seen. So he dropped his phone down on the bed, snuggling up into his pillows.

“Merry Christmas, Mal!”

“Happy holidays, Atsuko.”

“You don’t sound very excited, everything alright?”

Malakai sealed his lips shut. He found the idea a little palpable; to be struggling so much to enjoy a holiday outside of an abusive household he was once so used to. itting the fact it was difficult to do so in solitude to himself was hard enough as it is, but voicing that out loud made him want to curl up even more.

“It’s about your mom, right?”

He groaned. Of course she’d figure it out. Atsuko always had a good read on him.

“Sort of. It’s just strange to be all alone now, while not at all. I could hang out with my classmates, but it just… It feels too unfamiliar, and while that’s not a bad thing necessarily, I’m just not sure how comfortable I’d really be.”

Atsuko hummed, and the sound of a chair sliding on the floor could be heard coming from her mic. “I could come over, you know? I mean, we’re not /really/ supposed to leave our dorms, it’s really snowed in here. Buuuuut, I’m sure my teachers wouldn’t mind if I just went over there! Plus, it would be to keep you company!”

He huffed out a quiet laugh. There was a certain shakiness to his voice, as if it had become more fragile. “You don’t have to do that. Plus… I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble.”

“Mmmm… Fair! But I’m already getting ready soooo!~ Keep your doors open.”

“W-wait, you mean you’re coming /now?/”

“Well, yeaah, duh. When else? Christmas is no fun if you’re spending it on your own!”

The was a loud shuffling noise that came from the other side, and a soft grunt.

“Mmmkay, I’ll need to put some stuff away, but I should be there in just a few. I’ll text you when I’m close. Bye bye!” And she hung up.

Malakai sat up on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone as it slowly went darker, locking itself due to inactivity. His eyes stared blankly at it, unsure of what he could have even said. Not that it mattered now, since the call was over. He couldn’t help but clutch onto his phone a little tighter, a soft smile spreading across his face.

@art …