Melanie's lament (based off of a friend's au)

Melanie sat on the edge of the abandoned park bench, hugging her knees to her chest. The glow from her TV screen face flickered slightly, shifting between soft pinks and nervous blues. The night air was cool, and a gentle breeze made the leaves rustle like distant whispers. She wasn’t expecting company.

Then again, she never expected her.

“Didn’t think you’d still be lurking here,” Folly’s voice came from behind her, sharp yet oddly subdued. The creature of malice staring at the rabbit as their eye somewhat contorts into a smile (?)

Melanie tensed but didn’t turn around. “What do you want?” she asked, her usual energy dulled by wariness. Exhausted from her day throughout.

Folly exhaled through her nose and moved to sit at the opposite end of the bench. She didn’t slouch, she never did, but something about her posture felt less menacing than usual... Her spiky black hair barely moved in the wind, and that ever-watching red eye of hers glowed softly, almost.. unreadable.

“I don’t know,” Folly admitted, staring up at the sky. “Maybe nothing. Maybe something.” Folly spoke calmly for once in her life. A small pleased huff escaping her as she spoke

Melanie frowned, clutching her hoodie sleeves. “You don’t do ‘nothing..’” Melanie spoke with a slight grumble at the end of her words, their head lowering slightly as folly spoke.

Whilst folly let out a chuckle, low and bitter as usual. “You got me there.”

Silence settled between them. Not comfortable, but not outright hostile either. Melanie hesitated before speaking again. Their voice wavering slightly as they maintained its toke of anger after what they've been through.

“You hurt me..”

Folly flinched. It was barely noticeable, but Melanie caught it enough to notice their change in demeanor.

“I know..”

Melanie looked down at her lap. “Then, why are you here..? What more could you possibly want from me..? Possibly take from me..?” Melanie spoke with a little more bite at the end of her words as she glared daggers into follys eyes.

Folly was quiet for a long time. But when she finally spoke, her voice lacked its usual cruel edge. It was almost as if she was.. remorseful.

“Because I keep hearing your voice. Not in my head—don’t flatter yourself—but in memories.” She scoffed at herself. Rolling her eyes before closing them and sighing, looking down at the ground beneath them before continuing. “Annoying little things..”

Melanie frowned, confused. As their rabbit ears peered up a little, Somewhat suprised at how low folly set her guard to. “What do you mean?”

Folly tapped her temple, her expression unreadable beneath the shattered mask. “Back when I used to invade your dreams… I saw things. The way you cared about others. The way you worried. Even when you hated me, you still…” She trailed off. Hesitating to finish her sentence. Unsure of how melanie would respond if she did.

Melanie’s screen flickered again, this time showing faint static at the edges. A little less bite in her words as she stared at folly. “I still what?”

Folly sighed, rubbing her temples as if trying to scrub away something uncomfortable. “You still wanted me to stop. Not because you wanted revenge. Not because you wanted me gone. Just because you thought I could be better.” Folly cheeks went a slight red for a moment, before quickly brushing it off. Trying not to let the rabbit get the best of her.

Melanie’s breath hitched, She paused as she sat there on the bench. Staring at folly with wide eyes and furrowed brows. Their mouth opening just for it to close again with no words coming out.

Folly turned to look at her, and for the first time, her gaze wasn’t full of mockery or cruelty. It was searching. Hesitant. Her eyes darted around nervously as if trying to avoid melanies. Unsure of how she got herself swept up into this..

“I don’t know if I can be better,” Folly muttered, fingers tightening into fists. “I don’t even know if I want to be. But…” She swallowed hard. “I think about it. And I hate that I do.” Folly spoke with a tinge of sadness and anger in her voice. Clutching onto the seating of the bench a little more.

Melanie blinked, processing her words. Then, slowly, she shifted closer. Not much—just enough for their knees to nearly touch. As she turned away from folly, letting out a small static like sigh.

“I don’t forgive you,” Melanie whispered, but her voice lacked its usual bite. “Not yet.”

Folly nodded, exhaling. “Didn’t expect you to.” She turned away, crossing her arms as she stared off to the side away from melanie.

Melanie hesitated before reaching out, fingers twitching slightly before resting beside Folly’s own. Not touching, but close. A choice. An offering. In hopes of redeeming their past, their friendship, their... relationship. If melanie could even call it that.

Folly stared at the space between them for a long moment before she tentatively, she relaxed her fingers. Just enough to let the warmth of Melanie’s presence seep through the cold night air.

 A strange tingle goes down follys back at the suddeness of it all, not used to being treated so gently, especially by melanie. Before she slowly relaxed into the bench. Both of them facing away from eachother.

For the first time, neither of them moved away. 

Melanie sat quietly while follys foot swayed slightly in their seat. Although bothof them faced away from eachother

 ..for now, the gentle touch from both was enough.