A/N: So I saw Rent for the first time about a month ago, and fell in love with it (Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp as well.) During the "Without You" montage, I saw a few scenes conveying Mimi's withdrawal and Roger's being there for her. And I thought that maybe the scene itself might go something like this. It's my first Rent fic, so please, be kind.
-The Fish
Worthwhile
RENT. MIMI/ROGER. Mimi relies on Roger to get her through the hardest night of her life.
The withdrawals were nearly unbearable. Since quitting, the days and nights had blended together, until she knew nothing. Nothing but a shaking, sweaty haze of pain and misery.
Unable to sleep, barely able to breathe, Mimi curled up on the couch. Only one thing could save her now.
"Roger!" She moaned the name over and over, until, at last, she felt a cool hand caress her forehead. "Roger?" Through the fog, Mimi could recognize the silhouette of her boyfriend leaning over her. He nodded.
"Shh…it's all right, I'm here now." She shook her head.
"No, it's not¾it's not all right. I can't do it, Roger…I can't…" Roger smiled. This girl was so persistent¾I can't wasn't in her vocabulary.
"Yes, you can," he said firmly. "And you will. I know you will." Mimi was grateful beyond words for the support he gave her, but living without the drugs was Hell.
"It hurts, Roger," she managed, dissolving into the tears she'd been fighting all along. "Please make it stop hurting…please…" He took her hand. He so vividly remembered being as she was, pleading with Mark to make the pain go away. Mark had been there for him, and so he would be there for Mimi.
"I know…I know it does, but you'll get through this, Mimi. And I'm gonna help you." His promise made her cry even harder, and he gathered her convulsing form in his arms and held her tight. It was quiet for a few minutes. Roger lifted his lover's chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. "Someday," he said, "I don't know when, but someday…we're gonna have everything we've ever wanted. We're gonna move out of this hellhole. I'll be a musician, and baby, you can be whatever you wanna be. But this can only happen if you're clean." Compared to the way her life was, anything sounded good¾especially the prospect of living the rest of it with the man she loved.
"All right," she finally said. "I'll do it." Roger laughed softly to himself and planted a kiss on the top of her head.
"That's my girl¾try to rest, now." He gently laid her down on the couch and draped a blanket over her still shuddering frame. Mimi's voice rang in his ears; it was small, timid.
"Roger?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't leave me…" He gently ran his hand through her thick, dark hair.
"I'm not gonna leave you," he swore. Roger knew the coming hours, and even days would be hard, but in the end, seeing Mimi off the drugs would make it all worthwhile.