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There's a park near the boat that Rena likes to meet Calamity at. It's been a while since they last talked, so Rena invited them on over.
Because she has plans to be an adult and say emotional things, she's nervous as all get out, her leg tapping rapidly against the big rock she's sitting on, shaking it rapidly. She's on her phone, but keeping her eyes open for Bug, who is hopefully less beaten up than the last time they talked.
Well, they're not in the hospital, so that's something, right?
But they're still clearly favoring their right shoulder, and are a little pale. Their ever-present sweatshirt is clean, and clearly pretty new - since when does Calamity have new clothes? - and they've got their hands shoved in their pockets as they stalk through the park.
They perk up a little when they see Rena, and trot over, giving her an upnod in greeting.
"Hey. 'Sup?"
"Yo," Rena says, giving a weak salute. She's wearing a new shirt of her own, a baggy shirt that reads, "I'm Here, I'm Queer, Get Used to it."
"What's up with your sweatshirt? Old one finally turn to dust?"
"Shit can only take so many bullets 'fore it's not something I can wear in public." Calamity smirks and wrinkles their nose. "An' it was too hard to get the blood out. You know."
Rena's Beast perks up at the b-word. "You just gotta lick it up," she says without thinking. She blinks twice. "Sorry, keep forgetting you're not a-" She switches to a bad Dracula impression "-creature of the night! Blah!"
She cackles at her own antics and pats the rock next to her. "C'mon, sit."
"Look, pretty sure even you can't get that much blood outta clothes." Calamity bleps and carefully climbs up on the rock, wincing as they put weight on their right side.
"Tried wearing it for a while, but I got tired'a the looks. An' I got the money...now..." they trail off, and give Rena a sidelong look, like they've maybe said too much.
"Fuck, are you loaded now? Going to get a penthouse or somethin?" Rena deftly avoids touching too much of their right side as she pulls them in for a noogie.
"Hey -" they resist the way a good sibling should, squirming and struggling. "Nah, just got a job, more'n my shit with B an' F. Pay's pretty good, s'pecially 'cause I don't got any bills."
"Gonna have to start calling you Moneybugs," Rena muses, letting go of her impromptu grapple.
She flops back on the rock (her back popping as she does so) and looks up at the sky. "Hey," she starts, softer than usual, "can I talk to you about some real shit? Like emotions and shit"
"Fuck you." Calamity says it fondly, and nudges her with their good shoulder. And then their face falls a little. "Uh. I...yeah, what's...up?" They sound nervous.
"I- Jesus Christ, I suck at this. Look. I'm scared I'm losing you. I'm scared that you outgrew me. I'm scared that maybe I need you more than you need me these days," Rena confesses, steadfastly refusing to look anywhere near Calamity's face. She's trying to sound calm, but it's not that hard to tell that all she wants to do is run away.
"...Oh." Calamity's voice is quiet. "I...I mean I...spent a whole year thinkin' you'd just ditched me. An' I know it's not true, an' I want you around. But you got your own people now, and...I just kinda figured you're gonna wanna be with them more. I guess." They're staring out across the park, but they scoot just a tiny bit closer to her.
"I have like three friends over there. Everyone but Fin and Guy looks at me like I'm a problem that needs solving. Like there's something wrong with me," Rena says, projecting more than a little. "You're the only person I can trust with shit. Like actually trust."
She sighs. "Fuck. Shouldn't a said all that, probably."
"'Cause I got so many friends..." Calamity scoffs. "I...I dunno 'f I trust anyone anymore. Or 'f I ever did. An' I dunno 'f you should trust me. Like...why me?"
"Because I do, okay?" Rena says, sitting up. She's back to being loud. "Because you've always been good to me even when I don't fucking deserve it. And that's most times."
"D'you know how many times over I'd prob'ly be dead without you? Fuck off about not deserving it. I been good t'you 'cause I like you, anyway, not 'cause you did shit to deserve it."
If Rena could cry, her eyes would be misting up. Fortunately, she's unblushed so she gets to just lightly slug Calamity's left shoulder and say (albeit in a slightly croaky voice), "Look at you, gettin' sappy."
She adds, in a barely audible voice, "'nd thanks."
"Fuck you." Calamity punches Rena back, just as lightly. "You're not getting rid'a me that easy, so."
Rena grins. "I guess we're just two assholes, stuck together forever."
Calamity sticks their tongue out. "Fuckin' awful, isn't it..."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," she says. scooting so the two are right next to each other.
"Same. Like. I'm really glad you're back." A beat, and Calamity looks away. "And...I'm glad you didn't fuck off 'cause you decided you didn't like me anymore." They let out a breath. It might be shaky.
Rena looks around to make sure no one's watching. "Want a hug, Bug?"
Calamity doesn't respond. They lean into her instead, wrapping their good arm around her waist and burying their face into her shoulder.
Rena hugs back, tight but not too tight. "You tell anyone I'll kill you, but I fucking love you."
"I'd like to see you try." It's muffled, and they squeeze her a little. "Love you too. You're the only person I'd ever want to be my sister."
"'nd you're a perfect little sibling."
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