#the last three are there for a lil bit at least sldfksd

[barry-j-blupjeans]

The change between Merle Highchurch pre Story and Song and post Story and Song was so drastic that Hekuba forgot he was the same Merle that had walked out on her and their children. Granted, it almost wasn't the same Merle, was it? Apparently, missing a hundred years or so of your memory could change a dwarf pretty drastically. Her "I don't know how to take anything seriously" Merle had grown (or maybe, reverted back to?) a kind-hearted, loving person.

It was jarring, to say the least. They had tried to stay on friendly terms after their split, for the children's sake, but Hekuba had never really been able to stand being in the same room as Merle for very long. This is why she was borderline uncomfortable when Merle asked the kids to wait outside with "Uncle Kravitz" so he could talk to her.

"I don't think I know who, uh, Uncle Kravitz is," Hekuba confessed, looking through the window by the door. Mookie had pounced on a human man, whose flesh melted away from his skull in surprise. Hekuba tried not to panic. This was Merle's normal. If Merle could handle it, she could handle it.

"Oh, he's Taako's boyfriend," Merle said easily, leading her to the couch. Unwillingly, Hekuba tore her gaze away from them and sat. Merle sat on the chair across from her, swinging his legs. "I wanted to, uh. Talk to you about some things, if that's okay."

"Depends on the things," Hekuba said and Merle gave a little laugh at that, even though she had been completely serious.

"Nothin' bad," he said. "I don't think so, at least. Listen, I just... I wanted to say sorry. For being such a Pan-awful husband to you for a good few years. And an even worse dad, though you're not the one I gotta apologize to for that."

"Oh," Hekuba said.

"Yeah," Merle said, scratching his beard. "I was sorta, uh. To be honest, I was a dick and I'll admit it." He shrugged. "It was never with bad intentions, I'll tell ya that. But I wasn't helpful and I didn't wanna be married. It was nothin' against you. Not outright, at least. I was miserable and I didn't know what I was doing half that time, which just put more stress on you and the kids. That's my bad, Heks- I mean, Hekuba."

"Heks is fine, Merle," she said because she really didn't care. "I... thank you, first off." Merle nodded, looking unsure. "Really, I wasn't expecting you to apologize. I would have thought that you'd think saving the world would be apology enough."

"I mean, I didn't save the world for you!" Merle said and then winced. "Pan, that sounds bad. I- I wasn't thinking of a specific person, is what I meant. I mean, sure I wanted my friends and family to be safe, but our whole goal was never for anyone specifically. It was to stop what John had started, y'know? I'm glad you and- and Mavis and Mookie are safe though, that just makes everything a little brighter."

"Oh," Hekuba said again.

"I'm sorry-" Merle started again and she shook her head, cutting him off,

"I was rude too, Merle," she said. "It wasn't all you. We both could have communicated better, I'll give you that. And you're more than making up for it now, I think, with taking care of Mavis and Mookie like you do. They both love you a lot."

"Yeah, they do, huh?" Merle said, looking a little teary.

"People are calling you, uh, the Peacemaker now," Hekuba said. "And at first I didn't really believe it. Didn't seem like you. The you I knew, at least."

"Understandable," Merle said with a little laugh.

"You were so different in the Story," Hekuba quietly. "And I realize now that you had a lot taken away from you when we were together, even if neither of us knew. But from what I heard, and more importantly, what I've seen you do after, I think it's really fitting."

This time, it was Merle's turn to say "oh". He wiped at his eye- Pan above, Hekuba really wanted to ask what happened to the other, and his arm, but she didn't- and smiled at her.

"Well, that was all I wanted to say," he said after a moment. He slapped his knee, getting up from the chair. "I'll see ya off. And make sure Mookie hasn't scared Kravitz off with all his energy."

Hekuba laughed, even though Kravitz did look suitably terrified when they walked back out. Mookie had a sticky fist stuck through his eye socket, which was thankfully still a skull. Mavis was sitting on the steps, reading a book, either oblivious to what her brother was doing or just over it by now. Hekuba couldn't fault her for either.

"Mookie, take your hand out of that man's eye," Hekuba instructed and Mookie whined but did so.

"Auntie Lup lets me do that all the time," he said, now squirming in Kravitz's hands. Mavis looked up and looked between Hekuba and Merle tensely. Hekuba saw Merle give her a reassuring smile.

"Kravitz and Lup aren't the same people," Hekuba said. Carefully, Kravitz lowered Mookie to the ground and regrew the skin around his head. Hekuba tried to act like that was a normal thing. "They've got different boundaries, so you have to ask."

"Oh yeah," Mookie said. He tugged on Kravitz's hand now. Kravitz looked down apprehensively. "U'cle Krabzits, is it okay if I put my hands in your skull?"

"Uhm, I think it'd be best if you didn't next time," Kravitz said gently.

"Oh," Mookie said. "Sorry."

"Thank you," Kravitz said. And then, to Hekuba, "going home?"

"Yes," she said. Merle snuck a hand out to pull Mookie back in and Mavis scooted back from the steps to give Kravitz room. Hekuba watched as he summoned a scythe out of nowhere and split the air in front of them, creating a portal back to their cabin in the Coralheart Clan. Merle let go of Mookie and he ran through it, laughing.

"We'll be back next weekend," Hekuba said, helping Mavis to her feet. "Thank you for letting them stay over again."

"No problem!" Merle said. "Stay safe n' all that. Love ya, pumpkin!"

The last part was to Mavis, who smiled and ducked her head, saying,

"I love you too, dad."

She stepped through the portal. Hekuba followed, shivering a bit as she passed through. Merle waved at her from the other side, smiling. Hekuba waved back just as the portal started knitting itself up again, smiling as well.

#hekuba roughridge #hekuba highchruch #merle highchurch #mookie highchurch #mavis highchurch #kravitz #the last three are there for a lil bit at least sldfksd #mine #ise cube writing #long post #maybe? i honestly dont know