*Bonus* A Little Cut
'Jake, I-'
"No, Steven. I'm fine!"
Jake grumbles as he set down the groceries and begins to put them in their rightful places, ignoring his concerned alters as he leaves out some of the groceries and grabs a knife.
'Yeah, that's a lie. You can barely keep your eyes open.'
"I'm fuckin' fine, I need to do this before she gets back."
He sets the frozen meat out begins to cut up some cabbage, knife slowly getting closer to his fingers with each chop.
'Jake, you don't have to, they even said so themselves.'
"Shut up!" He growled, gripping the knife tightly, his other hand rubbing his face aggressively. "I-I'm not a fuckin' child! I can make dinner for once! After everything they complained about, I think I'm obligated to do at least something without freaking her out even more!"
He continues to cut the cabbage as his head began to feel fuzzy.
"Stop it," Jake muttered, thinking one of them was trying to front.
'We're not doing anything, mate,'
'Jake, you okay? You can take a break, no one's gonna be mad if you do,'
Again he shakes his head.
"N-No, 'm big, I can do it,"
He had slipped. Both of the alters knew. But before they could do anything, he slipped completely. Their words now becoming a pile of only mush and emotions.
"H-Hello? You two still there?"
Nothing.
"I-I'm sorry for yelling, please come back,"
A comforting feeling, but not enough.
He whimpers, but continues to chop the green vegetable, only now it's sloppy.
He hears the front door open, distracting him. And because of this, his hand tilts and-
"Ow!"
He holds his hand close to him, and he slowly slid down to the floor.
"Owies!"
He finally let's his emotions out, sobbing and stimming at everything, about everything.
About his stupid job and the mean people, about the stupid grocery store and their stupid high prices, at himself for being mean to his as alters, and at himself again for snapping at Mami earlier when she asked when was the last time he had slipped, about his stupid uncomfortable shirt he's wearing, about the stupid-
Caught up in his head, he didn't hear Mami calling out to him until he felt her pat his knees.
"Bubba, you okay? What happened?"
He only sobs harder as he shows her his bloody finger.
"I didn't wanna be little! I tried to be big, a-and I messed up the cabby, and I y-yelled at Steven 'n Marc, and I got distracted and now I got a owie! Please don't be mad!"
He sobs harder as she didn't respond, only to receive a kiss to his wet cheek, and then another, then another. The kisses keep coming until he's somewhat calm enough to listen to what she's saying.
"Why didn't want to be little, bubs?"
"I just wanted ta help. Mami was stressed because she didn't get stuff done. I just wanted to su'prise you when you got back, but I couldn't!"
Before he could get worked up again, Mami kisses his head, before making them both stand up.
"Bubba, can you sit on the couch for me? I'm gonna get something."
He whines as she led him to the living room. She calms him down as she moves behind him, rubbing his stomach as she squeezed him gently.
"I'll be right back, bubs. Just gotta get something to fix your owies."
He leans into her embrace, sniffing in pain until he finally responded, "Okay,"
He sits down, as Mami rushed out the room, only to come back seconds later.
"Okay, my baby, let me see your owies!"
He does so, now embarrassed by his behavior. Mami takes out a wipe, wiping his finger quickly as they could, kissing it as he whines, grasping his finger tightly as he tries to pull away.
"Shh, it's okay. The hard part is over."
She fixes his owie, and sets him on her lap.
"There, all better!"
He thanks her, hiding his face in her neck.
"Jake,"
She says softly, not to alarm him. She only ever uses the boys name when she's serious.
"Mami never meant to make you worry about her. I never want you to feel like you're not doing anything right just because Mami is upset. I never want you to feel like that, ever. It's not your fault that Mami feels bad sometimes, because it's not your fault. It's mine and some grown-ups' fault, never yours. Okay?"
He nods.
"I just wanted to help, I don't like seeing Mami upset."
"And I appreciate that, bubs. Believe me, I do. But you shouldn't have to force yourself to help if you can't, okay?"
"Okay, Mami,"
"Good."
She suddenly scoops him and twirls him around.
"Now, who's ready for a nap!?"
"Me!"