Farewell, O bane of my existence [THUNDS!]

Okay, so maybe seeing her parents' reaction to the fact that she had just volunteered to be sent off to some hell-hole of murder sort of rained on her parade. Just a bit. Today was a day for the record books. Mercury Duval became a tribute, and for the first time in her life, she brought shame to her parents' perfect imaginary dreamworld self which they pictured her to be.

"Darling, how could you do a thing like this?"

"How could you send yourself off to die?"

"You're not depressed, are you honey?"

"You're not prepared! Darling, you'd have to kill people to come back to us! You can't do that, you're too sweet!"

There were so many tears in that goodbye that Mercury wanted to yell at her parents and tell them to get the hell out of the room and stop acting like a couple of babies. Tears were disgusting, and her parents were completely embarrassing. No one was there to watch her goodbyes, of course, but she was ashamed. Ashamed that her parents were both complete and utter idiots. They let her down; why were they not supporting her decision!?! They always supported her decisions.

Whatever. Soon enough the goodbyes were over and her parents were sent weeping out of the room, leaving Mercury to sit by herself in silence.

But not for long.

Mercury actually jumped slightly when the door knob twisted again. Someone else was there to visit her? It was surprising to her, having been so cruel to everyone before. Who else was there?

Though the moment she saw who it was, she definitely didn't want to be there, sitting in that empty room anymore. Put her on a train. Send her to the Capitol. Kill her. Don't make her talk to Nala.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Mercury questioned, though the level of anger in her voice was far below what she had actually expected it to be. She tried to make up for the lack of strength in her voice with a cold glare, and it confused her when even that attempt fell flat and the look upon her face was almost half-normal.

And then right there, right in front of her, Nala randomly started laughing uncontrollably. This brought an actual glare to Mercury's hazel eyes as she contemplated what was so funny about the situation.

"What's wrong with you?!" Mercury half-shrieked at her. She had to resist the urge to start laughing as well, because what was so funny in the first place?

Nala was always so confusing.

The laughter in the room was uncontrollable, but Mercury no longer wanted any part in it. The amusement of the situation had only lasted a second, and was gone just as quickly. She didn't want to be there. She was tired of Nala acting as she did towards her. She just wanted to be brought to the freaking train already. Was the time up yet? Could she leave?

Then finally the laughter stopped, just long enough for Nala to say the words, "Well Angel honey, we're buds! I simply had to come see you off. And..."

The complete and utter anger that showed upon Mercury's face right then was apparent. Nala was laughing hysterically again, for whatever reasons Mercury could not grasp. She wanted to slap Nala across the face and she wanted to tell her to shut her mouth even before she continued with her comment, but she kept herself from doing so.

Yeah. Best buds, they were.

"It's just... Oh Mercury, you just look so beautiful!" Nala said in an obviously sarcastic tone. Though for whatever reason, Mercury's mind didn't register the tone of voice. She only realized the words that were spoken. It was oh so obviously meant to be a joke, but Mercury took it to be an actual compliment.

Her angered glare softened to a prideful glance that she had perfected over the years at the idea, and nodded calmly. Even a smile reached her face. "I know! I look amazing." Her voice sounded truly excited.

Even so, she uncomfortably scooted away when Nala came and sat next to her. Not only was it instinctive, but the idea of catching Nala germs still hadn't quite left her. Plus it was obvious where they stood. Or at least kind of obvious.

"Eww, get away from me."

What? Wait, what? Mercury's face contorted into a look of confusion as she looked at Nala, who was once again muddling her thoughts and causing her to stare blankly at the ground as her confused mind tried to sort out the situation. Why the hell could she never make any sense? Mercury was always in control of every situation. Why was it that whenever Nala was involved, all of her careful control went right down the drain and her thoughts became muddled? Why why why?

Nala was evil. That had to be it. She was so evil that Mercury was intimidated by her presence, and this was the center of her confusion.

Yes, that has to be it.. She thought to herself, completely sure that this was the correct answer up until the moment that Nala spoke again. Today was supposed to be her day, and Nala was ruining it!

"Mercury, you shucking dumbass, what the shuck were you thinking?! You just had to go shucking volunteer and you're going to get yourself killed, I don't even-" Nala's voice was unusually high, and it was almost as if she was just as confused as Mercury was herself.

The words that were being tossed her way only made her confusion a billion times worse. She wanted to hate Nala and to yell at her and fight with her just as she always had, but now Nala was.. what? Going to miss Mercury if she died? The idea was impossible. They fought with each other like no one ever had before; there was no way that Nala was going to miss her.

Then what? Nala was playing some sick joke and pretending to act all nice?

And why the hell did it even matter?

For once in her life, Mercury Duval was lost for words. The pause seemed never-ending, multiplying the awkwardness of the situation by an exorbitant amount, let alone the fact that it only worsened her jumbled thoughts.

"But, but, but.. Huh?" She paused for another moment, still unable to gather her thoughts.

"...Why does it matter?"