HBC + character One Shots!

- Marla Singer | 'Coping'

This one goes out to lovezz_ !!

A handsome and beautiful comrade who deserves a non-binary POV one-shot :)

(Hope you like Marla <3)

Fast update yay!
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TWs: Abuse, Cursing, A bit of homophobia, harassment in general, slight talk of SH, SH scars..

Wee happy times...
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The joystick between my fingers moved automatically, a mechanism that had stuck with years of practice. My brain had learnt not to pay any attention to the small buzzing noise it made every time I moved it to the left a little too forcefully, and soon it would be game over.

Every week I came here, this arcade being one of the few places I could call home in a way. Delaware wasn't famous for anything spectacular, but they sure knew how to distract people from the sad truth that is reality.

I was close to finally beating this level on this machine, though this was my 7th try and I kept getting blown up by a damn octopus throwing grenades at me. It normally does not take me this many tries to beat a level, but this is a new one, one I had not yet gotten a chance to study until now.

The damn octopus only had 12 hit points left until its defeat, I just had to get a few more hits in. Right, double jump, dodge, down, high-kick! Dodge! No! Shit, shit. Fuck..

The screen went blank and lit up with those horrible words that I've already seen 6 times today. Perhaps this was just not my night..

"I'd suggest doing a low-kick instead of high, it gives you less airtime and you're able to reach the ground faster."

I look to my left and is met with none other than Marla Singer.. the chick from my meditation group. I wasn't aware that she knew who I was, and so was surprised to have her talk to me.

"Perhaps, but I'd rather not falter my ego again. Marla, right?"

Acting as though I did not know her was comical, of course I knew of her. Those big dark glasses that mirrored the bright white smoke of her cigarette. She smile as she began walking closer.

"So the first 7 wasn't enough to do that? Thought the third would break you, but I won't lie, you've got stealth."

Her face was blank besides a small smile. I couldn't tell if she was mocking me or just playing, though I felt a comic connection to her.

"Come here often?"

I had not seen her here before, therefore my interest in her presence rose. She looked behind her towards a few other people who had collected around another machine, then answered.

"I'm following you, you're in danger."

Her face turned serious and I could feel my heartbeat quicken. I quickly looked behind her towards the four dudes currently competing on who can score the highest on a scam bean bag game.

"What.. really!?" I whisper-shouted.

None of them seemed to be paying attention to us, and at least two of them were drunk.

"Don't look at them, they'll notice you.."

My eyes shot back to her, but her serious facade had now changed to a smug smile and she burst out laughing as my face showed my realization.

"Calm down, y/n, focus.. on your cave.."

She grabbed my hand softly, swaying it slightly side to side. I couldn't help but to feel odd, we've never really talked before, though it felt nice to finally talk to her more freely. I usually just sit and watch her from afar like the creep I am.