"I'm Sorry."

"I'm sorry."

It comes out mumbled, soft and hardly louder than a whisper, but Anne catches the words nonetheless. Her hands still where they had been gently applying a soothing balm to the raised, bumpy ridges of her beloved's scar, and she frowns.

From this angle, she cannot see her partner, so she has no idea what she's thinking- but then again, Marcy has always managed to cover her more painful, ugly feelings, wrapping them with pretty words and faux smiles like the birthday presents Anne has always told her not to buy. There is no telling what she's thinking, so Anne just rubs circles into the skin of her back, outside of the scarred area.

"What for?" she asks, swallowing around her own feelings. "I've told you so many times, Marce, you have nothing to be sorry for."

Marcy seems to disagree, making a frustrated noise in the back of her throat. She's shaking, Anne realizes, and she quickly dips her fingers back into the cream, massaging it into the last part of the gigantic scar that she hadn't quite managed to reach yet.

"You're taking care of me again," she finally says, shuddering. "Ten years, and we're right back where we started. I'm... ugh, it's stupid, sorry."

"I want to take care of you," Anne says automatically, and she can feel the way Marcy tenses underneath her. "I know, I know, I used to overdo it, and I know you can handle yourself, but... I still want to take care of you, you know? Just like I want to take care of Sasha. I don't mind."

"You shouldn't have to," Marcy groans, and for that, Anne playfully flicks her neck.

"You, baby precious, have been strong for so long now. It's been ten years, let me... let me make that up to you, for being unable to take care of you for ten years, okay? It's no chore for me, as long as you let me." Anne hesitates, and she pulls her fingers away from the scar, wiping them clean on the towelette she brought for this purpose.

Marcy hums thoughtfully like she doesn't quite believe it, but that's okay. Anne doesn't mind reaffirming it for her over and over again, not if it means she can be here for her in a way she hasn't been in so long now.

"...wait, did you just call me baby precious? Isn't that what you call Domino?" Marcy gives a long suffering sigh, one that could be exasperated if Anne didn't know her well enough to hear the smile in it.

"That's what you're focused on?" Anne laughs, and she's grateful that they thought to put Marcy's hair in a top bun before Anne had started, cause it means she can lean in and kiss the back of her neck, gentle and slow.

Marcy breathes, shuddery with each inhale.

"Okay, okay, Anne, baby, please, you're just torturing me now," she whimpers, as Anne kisses the back of her neck again, "and you're gonna get cream in your mouth, oh my god-"

"-I just wanna show you how much I love you, that's all," Anne tells her, and she smiles as Marcy shudders again.

"You've showed me, I get it I promise, I love you too." Marcy turns her head the next time Anne tries to kiss her, which is no deterrent- instead, Anne gently cups her cheek, presses a feathery light kiss to her nose, the corner of her mouth. It's silly, and soft, and Marcy's giggling by the time Anne pulls away, her eyes shining.

"I love you," Anne says, seriously.

"I love you too," Marcy breathes, and Anne's kissing her, and it's perfect and everything she's ever wanted, and if Marcy had any more worries about her scar or her pain or the way that Anne longs to soothe her every ache, they melt away in the face of Anne's affections.

i believe in you.

This is a transparent artwork!! if you're on desktop or using day mode on mobile, try clicking on the picture to see the full piece :)

If you can't see the artwork correctly, i'm including both versions below the cut:

“Prom’s coming up,” Anne remarks, once they’ve gotten through their usual greetings and catching-ups. “Senior prom, too. Any special plans?”

“Oh, I was thinking about going with someone,” Sasha says all flirtatiously, and she bats her lashes– not at the camera, but towards Anne, grinning like a maniac. Anne smiles at her back, and something lurches in Marcy’s gut.

Before she has the time to dwell on the sensation, however, she’s thrust back into the center of attention as Anne looks back at the camera, eyes big and brown and almost hopeful. “What about you, Mars?”

~~~~

or: hundreds of miles away, marcy reflects on what the idea of prom used to mean to her, all while completely oblivious to the schemes of her best friends

OK, MidnightCrossroads - I have no idea if you're on tumblr or if you'll ever see this, but if you do well: 1 - I hope you don't mind me sharing this and 2 - Square up with me right now because I'm STILL losing my mind over this.

This amazing writer gifted me this absolutely gut-wrenching Amphibia fic and if you're like me and love some painful angst, I HIGHLY recommend you go check it out!!

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY OGD OH MY GOD

the frog show but something’s a little…OFF… (badum tss)

And Writer Signups are LIVE!! Signups will be open for exactly two weeks - until the 18th of July at 8pmCST - so don't miss out!

Google Docs

Going out with a BANG!!! Writer Signups

don't forget to check out the information doc for any questions, as well as examples on how to format prompts! Writers are required to submi