Chapter Text
Mornings for Riri are generic, robotic almost. It’s what she enjoys most in her day.
Order, control, everything to be expected by a certain time until the clock struck 8:30 and she had to head to the mess hall for breakfast. Where the usual chaos of Saint Doms. would greet her with nothing but noise and social interactions she carried no joy in entertaining.
This morning did not hold the same case as usual however.
Riri woke like any other morning, eyes opening to silence and vague light streaming through the edges of the curtains. Basking in the quiet for a total of 30 seconds before pulling herself upright. But unlike yesterday, or the day before that, Riri found herself struggling to sit up.
Her arms felt heavy, her chest tight and her back more rigid than usual. She took a moment to register the different sensations, still in an early morning haze when the ache in her head began to hit her.
Sharp and sudden electrical-like pain shot through her temples and behind her eyes, prompting her to wince and bring a heavy hand up to massage the bridge of her nose.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled her legs over the edge of her bed. Hand sliding from her nose to her temples, she pushed off the bed. Her vision flushed almost immediately, turning the room white for a beat before returning to normal, although fuzzy. Her head pounded harshly, like somebody was taking a wrench and hacking it into her forehead.
But she pressed on, she had responsibilities that needed tending to today and a headache wasn’t going to stop her. She’s a Timurov for fucks sake, she wasn’t weak.
So with this morning's council meeting in mind, she forces her legs to step forward. That’s when another unusual event occurs: Riri Timurov stumbles.
Before she could crumble to the floor she grabs hold of the corner of her desk, pushing herself upright with another deep breath. “Fuck.” She muttered to nobody.
Closing her eyes for a moment to collect herself, she moves again. This time more calculated, a little slower.
She pulls her uniform from the closet, her legs trembling under her weight as she steps into her skirt, pulling it over her hips with a little less precision than normal before pulling on her blouse, carefully buttoning it with a more forced focus to avoid missing one in her shaky haze.
Her fingers tremble enough that she makes the decision to skip her tie and just move on to her leggings. Pulling them over her legs and up under her skirt before sliding her shoes on, using the wall for support. Not because she was shaking, just to avoid rustling her clothing. At least that’s what she told herself as she moved to her vanity table.
Dropping onto the chair with a tad bit less grace than usual as she got a look at herself in the mirror, something she only got in the mornings while applying her makeup.
It’s not that she hates the way she looks, Riri is very aware of her beauty. Even if she wasn’t, Mary would never let her forget how stunning she appears to be. This morning however what she saw was much more vile than the photo copy of her father she typically glared at each morning. This morning she saw a more haunted version of the monster she knew she was becoming.
Eye bags deep enough she could carry milk in them. Her skin, usually porcelain white now so pale she looked more like a ghost than the vice president of Saint Dominic's Academy. The flush in her cheeks, seemingly the only colour making her look an ounce like a functioning person, was so deep and red it looked like an irritated sunburn across the middle of her face.
This wouldn’t do, she looked like a mess . Timurovs don’t do mess.
So with shaky fingers and jerky motions, she reached for her concealer.
—- —- —-
Stepping into the mess hall was always an irritating feat of events for Riri. The loud chatter of her fellow students, the scrape of metal on porcelain, the warm bodies inches away from or directly touching her in passing. She hated it all, it made her itch from the inside out on a normal day.
But whatever hell bent problem was going on with her today is making the regular irritation a hot, seething humming underneath her already warm skin.
She draws in a steadying breath before making her way to the council's table, her shoulders tighter than usual, back stiff and her head buzzing with something more than the noise of her surroundings. She took her seat next to Kira, not making eye contact or even addressing her like normal. Just lowering herself carefully into her chair, fingers gripping the edge of the table to avoid collapsing into it like she earlier had at her vanity table, She could still feel the bruises forming on her thighs from where they’d hit the hard wood.
Breakfast droned on in the back of her mind as she stared blankly at the wall across the room. Eyes straining against the harsh ceiling lights as the pounding in her skull worsened.
She let none of it show. Timurovs do not show weakness. So when students started filing out of the room a half an hour later to head to their respective classes, Riri followed.
She rose from her chair the same time as Kira and the rest of the council did. Her knees buckled and her chest tightened, gripping the table's edge again to steady herself and her flashing vision before turning and walking after her sister.
She just had to get through the council's morning meeting and then she could hide in the back of the council office and do paperwork and files until this buzzing died out.
She followed close behind Kira, exactly a step and a half, to the council chambers. Where she took her place standing to the side of Kira’s chair. She never had an issue with this position, she was to protect Kira, keep watch over the council members as well. Her position was the perfect spot to do so, however with today's circumstances she was growing more and more irritable as the humming got louder and more insistent.
Blinking hard, she rolled her shoulders softly, trying to focus her attention on the meeting. It didn’t work, she just told herself it did as she zoned out, her attention more focused on the fish tanks across the room as she tried to steady her vision. Her hands clasped behind her back, nails digging harshly into the skin of her wrists under her blazer to ground herself.
The buzzing got louder as the seconds ticked by, thrumming against her forehead and scratching in her eardrums. She tried to measure her breathing, to control the incessant feeling shooting her nervous system into bits and pieces of the intricate puzzle it’s supposed to be threaded into.
Deep breath in, 1…2…3…4…5, Long breath out, 1…2…3…4…5.
Repeat.
Deep breath in, 1…2…3…4…5, Long breath out, 1…2…3…4…5.
Repeat.
Deep breath in, 1…2…3…4…5, Long breath out, 1…2…3…4…5.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Repeat-
Why wasn’t it working?
The buzzing gets louder. The humming unyielding. Weaving from under her skin into her bones, through her muscles and into her organs. Vibrating almost. It was infuriating, unsettling, almost painful.
But Timurovs didn't feel pain, she couldn't show weakness.
Deep breath in, 1…2…3…4…5, Long breath out, 1…2…3…4…5.
Whatever this was, it would pass. She told herself.
Deep breath in, 1…2…3…4…5, Long breath out, 1…2…3…4…5.
Don’t get distracted.. but she already was
Deep breath in, 1…2…3…4…5, Long breath out, 1…2…3…4–
“Riri.”
A voice, not her own, was right in her ear. She blinked again, hard, only then did she realise how out of control her breathing really was. Ragged and strangled huffs pushing from her tight chest, burning her throat and stinging her eyes in a way she wasn’t used to and certainly didn’t welcome.
“Riri!” The voice said again.
Her vision focused once more, barely, and she saw Kira. Standing in front of her. Her expression was…concerned? Why would she be concerned? Has the council done something?
The council…the meeting.
They were still in a meeting.
Riri’s cheeks flushed deeper under her mask, her ears burning and eyes widening before looking over the table.
She found it empty..?
“I told them to leave.” Kira’s voice was softer than usual, not the usual sharp tenderness she held only with Riri. It was warm, grounding.
“You were panicking, sister” She spoke again, worry lacing her voice as she stepped right in front of the younger Timurov. “Sit.” she said again, a command this time.
Riri did as she was told, always the one to listen when instructed.
“I’m fine, Kira.” Her voice was quieter than usual, almost raspy had she not forced a steady factor in it instinctively. Simultaneously forcing herself to truly control her frantic breaths.
“Bullshit Riri, don’t give me that.” Kira snipped, her voice holding an edge, although not harsh.
Pale hands came up to Riri’s face, nimble fingers lacing through the strings of her mask before gently pulling it away from the lower half of her face. Kira’s face dropped at the sight.
Her sister, typically so put together, was indeed in near horrific shape today. Her concealer was cracking and fading, showing the shadows framing Riri’s face. Eye bags probably worse without the makeup covering them, her cheeks and nose flushed in a deep pink, her eyes sunken and glassy without the barrier of her mask letting her hide her emotions.
“Riri you’re sick.” She muttered quietly, moving to carefully place the mask on a stack of papers before bringing her hand up to her forehead.
“I don’t get sick ” Riri croaked before letting out a sudden cough, her throat burning.
Her temperature said otherwise. She was warm, very very warm. “Yeah, right, should I call Mary to confirm?” She shot back. Her sister was stubborn, but she’d soften up for Mary– Kira knew that.
“No. I’m fine, Whatever this is I can work it off or something. It’s just a headache.” Her voice was small, Riri’s voice was never small. Quiet yes, but never meek.
Kira just groaned inwardly, for the favored and obedient sister Riri sure did know how to not listen. So she said nothing else to the younger girl, simply pulling out her phone and scrolling through her contacts to find Mary's.
—- —- —-
:President 👑: Davis, Council room. Now.
:Davis(.)(.): The fuck why? I’m in class
:President 👑: Riri
:Davis(.)(.): coming.
—- —- —-
By the time Kira looked up from her phone she found Riri hunched over, another unusual thing for her. Riri never slouched, it was one of the many rules their father had made sure they knew and never disobeyed. They both had the scars on their backs to prove it..
“Riri, come on.” She said, her voice low as she knelt beside the chair she’d been sitting in.
With no response coming from the other girl, Kira only became more worried. She stood up again, gently pulling Riri upright to see her face. She had somehow grown more pale, her eyes cloudy and unfocused. Kira sighed.
She carefully slid her arms under her sister, hooking behind her knees and back and hoisting her up slowly.
Has she always been this light?
She moved to the back of the council chambers, where there was a small area with some couches set up. It was a spot they’d made up simply for the two of them.
She laid Riri down across one of them, propping her head on a throw pillow and smoothing her blazer when the doors burst open and shut again with a thud. Heels clicked across the polished wood floors before Mary’s voice called out from the meeting area.
“Kira! Where is she, what’s wrong?” Her voice was urgent, concerned.
Kira stood, making her way back to the meeting table before she spoke. “She’s in here.”
Mary’s legs carried her faster than her brain could register. She was next to Riri before she realised the difference in location.
“Riri? Hey, Riri.” She murmured softly, taking the girl's hand in her own.
Her fingers, usually cool to the touch, were warmed and damp. Her eyes were closed, furrowed at the brow. Her lashes were wet like she’d cried, but Riri didn’t cry. Her skin was sickly white, beads of sweat beginning to form at her hair line. Mary had never seen the girl so fragile, almost brittle.
“What happened?” She turned back to Kira, her face determined and worried.
“I don’t know. She’s been off all day, more or less ‘Riri’ than usual. Didn’t look at me during breakfast, didn’t even glare at Chad when he tossed a paper ball into her lap” She shook her head softly, “During the meeting she seemed checked out, halfway through she started hyperventilating and her eyes glazed over like she was about to faint, so I called off the meeting and tried to talk to her.” She shrugged, sighing and dropping onto the couch across from Riri.
“It’s probably just a cold, but Riri has always had a weaker immune system than the rest of us. Her mother was sick in more ways than one.” She ran a hand through her hair, “Take her back to her dorm, make sure she rests. She won’t listen to me but she will for you.”
Mary nodded, taking Riri in her arms and holding her against her chest. She said nothing else as she dipped out of the council room and through the halls, careful of other students or faculty seeing her.
Riri’s mask was still off, she’d realised too late to go back for it. She also knew Riri would hate for other people to have seen her in a vulnerable state. “A Timurov doesn’t show weakness,” she’d say, as if it was a royal decree or a law meant to never be so much as breathed on incorrectly.
So Mary slinked through the halls cautiously, keeping her eyes and ears alert for any sign of another person as she came up on Riri’s dorm. She tested the door, finding it shockingly unlocked. She’d ask about that another time however, she needed to get Riri in bed. So she stepped in, kicking the door shut and making her way across the room to the bed, not bothering to look around before carefully lowering her girlfriend onto the mattress.
“You should’ve stayed in today” She muttered, irritated under the initial anxiety of the other girl’s condition.
“I’m fine..” the voice below her rasped.
Riri’s eyes cracked open, just barely, before squinting at the light leaking in through the curtains. Mary drew them closed seeing the reaction, before sitting down next to her partner. Brushing the back of her hand against Riri’s forehead, she found the girl’s temperature far warmer than she thought it would be when Kira had said she was ill.
“You’re burning up.” She scolded lightly, standing up and pulling Riri to sit upright despite the soft groan she let out at the motion.
Mary quickly pulled the girl's blazer off and hung it over her desk chair before moving to remove the rest of her uniform. Removing her blouse was easy, pulling it away from her arms after unbuttoning it and sliding a soft, lightweight hoodie over her head prompted a relieved noise to scrape up Riri’s sore throat. Her skirt was another story however. Mary had slipped her stockings off, tapping her on the hip softly to tell her to lift up.
Riri just whined, a sound Mary never thought she’d hear the girl make. Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she tapped her again.
“Come on Ri, two seconds. That’s it.” She reasoned softly.
Riri groaned in response, she couldn’t communicate it but the buzzing in her head was loud again, shifting into more of an aggressive heartbeat against the front of her skull than the incessant thrumming that previously took place. She felt it all over, felt as if she was vibrating from head to toe from it.
She’d never want to admit it out loud, but she was in pain .
So she did the next best thing, she rolled on her side and curled into a ball. Mary’s presence be damned, she trusted the girl to never utter a word of her weakness to anyone. Clutching the fabric of the hoodie, she whined into the mattress. A small, meek sound meant to tell Mary everything she couldn’t hash out in proper words.
‘If only father could see me right now..’ she thought as tears brimmed in her eyes, the thought of his cane on her skin the last time she’d found herself in this position made her skin crawl.
“Riri.” Mary's voice again, her safe space. She opened her eyes (She hadn’t even realised they’d shut again) and there she was, kneeling next to her, face full of worry with a soft hand resting on her hip over her skirt.
“Hey..there you are” she murmured, bringing her free hand to fix a strand of hair away from Riri’s cheek. “You’re safe, it’s just you and me baby.” she cooed.
For once Riri didn’t mind the soft talk, she relished in it even. It seemed to soothe the aches and the buzzing, fizzling it out into nothing but a soft hum in her nerves. Mary tapped her hip again, and this time Riri found the strength too just barely lift her lower body off the bed. Enough that Mary could slip the garment off of her and gather the blankets from underneath her.
“Almost there” She murmured, pausing as she took note of the purpling discoloration on the backs of Riri’s thighs as she tucked the silk sheets around her trembling girlfriend– making a mental note to ask about the marks when she was coherent.
Riri relaxed slightly under the coolness of the covers, her features softening just a little at the comfort. She chose to stop fighting it, such comfort was a luxury in her family she never thought she’d feel again after her mother left. So without much more thought, she buried her nose deeper into the covers. Muttering softly, barely there “Thank you.”
Mary’s resolve crumbled at the little voice that came from her usually scary and intimidating partner. “You’re welcome Angel, I’ll always take care of you.” She murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her temple and feeling the way Riri melted at the contact.
“You’re really not feeling good today are you baby?” She cooed gently, running her fingers through soft waves. “Wanna tell me what’s going on with you?” She asked carefully, not wanting Riri to clam up and shut her out again.
The girl had been doing so well with opening up and being honest with Mary, she really didn’t want her to go back to radio silence and yes or no nods for replies because Mary pressed too hard. But in order for Mary to help she’d have to know what the problem was, and for Riri to admit there was one in general–Which was a struggle for the taller girl in itself.
But Riri didn’t clam up, or shrink away, or even turn her head to look at the ceiling. She shifted, scooting closer to the edge of the bed— to Mary’s warmth, and poked a hand out from the blankets to hold Marys’.
Feeling the soft, familiar skin against her own brought another wave of relief over Riri’s shot nervous system, forcing a soft exhale from her heavy lungs before she found the will to speak.
“Woke up w’th a headache…” she croaked, trying to force her vocal chords to work. “Got worse at breakfast…and it just started buzzing all over my body and then I couldn't breathe..” Her voice cracked, crumbling at the edges before she turned her head, hiding her face in the pillows.
She hated this, she felt weak and pathetic. Father would certainly think so. What kind of Timurov was taken out by a headache -
“I can hear you thinking” Mary’s voice again, she turned her head to face the sound.
Her cheeks felt damp, why are her cheeks damp? She reached up to scrub at her face but Mary stopped her. Her own hand carefully brushes against the skin of Riri’s cheeks. “It’s okay, you’re okay” She said, leaning in and planting a soft kiss on the tip of Riri’s nose. Drawing a blush up her already angrily red cheeks.
“You probably just have a cold, okay? It’ll pass overnight as long as you rest for the rest of the day.” Mary would never lie to Riri, except for right now.
She just didn’t have the heart to tell the girl she’d likely be feeling like shit for the next 2 or 3 days. Especially when she was in tears after just describing how she was currently feeling. So she did what any good girlfriend would do.
She lied through her teeth, stripped her shirt, and crawled into bed beside her feverish girlfriend. Flipping the girl to face her and taking her in her arms, Mary planted a kiss on the crown of her head, whispering soft comforting words into her hair.
And Riri, who usually lay in bed for a good hour staring at nothing before restless sleep finally overtook her, succumbed to a deep sleep within seconds.