Chapter Text
"Rumi?" I hear a quiet knock on the bathroom door from the other side. With my eyes red and puffy from crying, I look in the direction of the voice. I sob quietly. The doorknob goes up and down again, and the knocking grows louder and more desperate.
"You've been here for a while. Are you okay?" Celine's voice is full of fear and uncertainty. Few more minutes and she's gonna kick the door open.
"Everything's fine." I yell in a shaky voice. I press the scrubbing brush harder against my shoulder. It's completely red and scratched from the rough bristles of the brush. No matter how much pain was caused, my patterns were left untouched. A desperate sob leaves my throat. I fall harshly to my knees, hiding my face in my hands.
"Rumi, open the door." Celine says seriously. I turn the key to the left without protest, and the door immediately bursts open. Celine's eyes scan the room until they fall on me. She kneels down in front of me, confused, trying to understand what happened. My puffy eyes and wet cheeks tell her enough until she notices the scrubbing brush and the red skin on my shoulder. Her eyes soften.
"Why would you do that?" She breathes out defeatedly. I look down to avoid her gaze. Celine reaches out and takes the brush from my hand, putting it behind her. Her hand caresses my cheek, making me look up at her. She didn't have to say anything, new tears filled my eyes. Before they could run down my face, Celine pulled me onto her lap. She held me close in a warm hug. Sobs filled the room, and tears wet her shirt.
"I don't want to be a mistake." I stuttered out between uncontrollable sobs, trying to catch my breath. She shakes her head slowly, her hands comfortingly caressing my back.
"You're not," she says. You are a future hunter. The patterns will go away one day." After taking a few deep breaths, I finally calm down a little. I didn't have any more tears left to cry. Celine still didn't let go. She offered the comfort and safety of her arms that I needed most. A few minutes later, she started to sing softly while rocking me back and forth, just like she did when I was a baby.
"We are hunters, voices strong. Slaying demons with our song..." A wave of heat ran through my body. Every time Celine sings, I feel safe and at home. Like I wasn't alone.
"Fix the world and make it right. When the darkness finally meets the light..."I join in quietly, my voice slightly hoarse. I wipe the remaining tears from my cheeks and sniff, annoyed by the need to blow my nose.
"Your mom would be proud of you, Rumi. I'm sorry she can't be here for you right now."
"It's fine." I shake my head and hug her tighter, burying my face in her long hair.
"I have you." I hear her exhale deeply and nod her head gently. I don't know how long we sat on the bathroom floor, but in the end it didn't really matter. At that moment, I didn't want to be alone, and thanks to Celine, I never was.