requested by a tumblr anon who asked for elka/maloof with the prompt "why do you care?" from a cliche writing prompt list i reblogged.

Dream Fluff Melancholy

Elka Doom was late with her payment.

That fact didn't so much as bother Maloof as it intrigued him. Compared to his other clients, Elka was timely. She paid her dream fluffs at the start of the week in exchange for Maloof's services, which mostly consisted of him and Mikhail spying on Nils' interactions with the other girls in camp. It was a simple business transaction that had been rinsed and repeated over the past month, Maloof finding it was easy money while it bored Mikhail to tears.

Elka forgetting to pay him was out of the question. Punctuality was a big part of her personality. Maloof remembered how she had barged into the boy's cabin at dawn and dragged Nils to the coach's class when he tried sleeping in. She had even ignored his stumbling, forcing him to walk off in his pajamas up the rickety planks while the uncouth boys Maloof was forced to share a cabin with laughed at his plight.

That meant something had come up, and Maloof decided to investigate. He couldn't let her go without paying. Perhaps she had to spend a few extra minutes in a class or she was trying to skip out, unable to procure the arrowheads needed to buy the dream fluffs. If she was on her way, then he would let her off with a warning, but if push came to shove and she kept him waiting any longer, Maloof knew to get Mikhail involved.

Maloof peered out of the doorway of his cabin and found only stray salamanders scurrying across the grass. A few bees buzzed overhead, courtesy of the hive Bobby had stuck in the roof. Dogen was sitting next to the trampoline, rocking from side to side with squirrels cozying up to him. Maloof found Chloe perched on one of the many trees nestled on the hill behind the cabins. She was throwing her paper airplane, and Milka turned visible next to her, kicking her legs out and watching the plane swerve in the wind right back to Chloe.

Other than them, Maloof didn't spot anyone else. Frowning, he stepped out, arms crossed over his chest. Having to locate Elka pinched his nerve, but it did not dampen his resolve. He was owed dream fluffs, and he would get them. Knowing Elka would not want to lose her extra pair of eyes on Nils, Maloof set out to find her.

He approached the girls' cabin. It seemed like the best place to start. Considering Whispering Rock was rather large, and his stubby legs could only take him so far without tiring, he hoped she was inside. (And with Mikhail in a class for Astral Warriors, he also hoped she would take him seriously and fork over the dream fluffs without too much trouble, subconsciously nibbling on his lower lip as he poked his head through the entrance to Elka's cabin.)

"Elka, are you in here?" he called, his footsteps creaking on the wooden floorboards.

Silence greeted him. He waved dust particles away from his face and tiptoed inside. Franke's bed was closest with a few of Kitty's old clothes scattered on her pillow. But when he looked up, he tilted his head at the lump on the upper bunk. It was covered in a sea green blanket, shivering as if cold despite the warm air seeping through the doorway. Pale pink fingers were tightly wrapped around the lace hem, the knuckles glowing white. A small opening in the wrinkles of the blanket exposed thick, blonde hair covering what he presumed was a face, and while the locks appeared brushed, they rose as if frizzy.

Maloof's lips parted. He shifted his weight onto his left leg and raised his hand. He let it dangle, unsure if he should have tapped the bunk. While a little voice in the back of his head told him to get the dream fluffs, he could not bring himself to raise his voice like he would have to Elton or Vernon.

Just a month ago, he had been in a similar position. Hiding underneath his blanket, curled up like a ball pretending he was somewhere else, Maloof knew that misery very well. The only difference was that Bobby or Benny would have dragged him out and beat reality back into him.

"Um, Elka?" he called, wishing his voice wasn't so squeaky. "Are you okay?"

The blanket flew off faster than Maloof expected. He bit back a yelp as it fell in front of him. He half-expected Elka to be with it, his shoe nudging the blanket and watching it crumple.

An expression he hadn't seen on her greeted him. Narrowed eyes, pursed lips, brow furrowed, she glared at him with such fury that Maloof almost ran away. She gripped the edge of her bunk, his interruption clearly unwanted as she hissed, "What do you want? Can't a girl lament in peace?"

The word "lament" was lost on him for a moment, He searched his brain for similar words and came up with "grieve." It sounded similar to what Mom said when Grandma died, his mind's eye showing his grandfather huddled next to Grandma's grave, sobbing silently as his shoulders quaked

Clearing his throat, he asked, "What do you have to lament about?"

She scoffed and waved her hand. "As if a little boy like you would understand. Run along, pipsqueak."

His concern was dashed with irritation. The insult came out of left field and socked him like Bobby's fist. Gripping his hips, he said, "Well, since you're busy hiding, I guess you forgot that it's payday." He turned his hand over and wiggled his fingers. "Five dream fluffs, please, and I'll be on my way."

She hummed under her breath before realization dawned on her expression. Sighing, Elka pushed herself off the bunk and landed on her feet. Steadying herself, she held her arms out for support and rolled her shoulders back. Nudging him aside, she knelt next to him and reached underneath Franke's bunk. She patted the floor, her tongue poking out of her mouth until she snatched a plastic bag and tossed it on Franke's bed, the dream fluffs faintly glowing inside.

"There. Happy?" Elka snorted, her nose wrinkling and reminding Maloof of a piglet. She dabbed the palm of her hand to her eye, which up close made Maloof notice dark blood vessels crossing through graying sclera.

"Um, thanks," he mumbled, quickly taking the bag as if she would change her mind. He counted five dream fluffs and hugged the bag to his chest. He watched her climb the ladder at the end of the bunk and crawl back into her bed, her blanket forgotten as she lied back down.

Elka rolled to her side and stared at the wall. Her eyes flicked down, and her head twitched twice before stopping to gaze at him. She threw her hand to the door, snapping, "What are you still doing here? Go! You got your dream fluffs, so march your little self out of my cabin."

Maloof winced, wishing he could have stayed composed, but his voice warbled as he said, "But-but, um, if you're-if you're upset, then it must be because of someone. You know, uh, that's part of my services, right?" His mouth twitched upwards, confidence returning as Elka stared at him. "Just give me a name, and it'll be taken care of. I'll consider it a first time special and won't charge you. Sounds good, right?"

Elka readjusted herself, and Maloof watched, his eyes slowly widening. She languidly drew out her arm and let her hand dangle over the edge. Resting her cheek to her forearm caused it to squish, forcing her eye into a squint. Running her free hand through her hand, Elka asked, "Why do you care?"

The answer seemed obvious. Plain and simple, she was his client, If she had a problem, then he (or Mikhail) would have dealt with it as long as it didn't affect another camper with his protection services.

But Maloof bit back that response. Something about her made his cheeks color. Maybe it was the gentle tone she used to ask him. Or it was how she observed him with too wet, too tired eyes. Perhaps it was how he felt like the only person in the world who could have helped her in that moment, and whatever it was made his heart flutter in his chest, taxed beyond comprehension.

"Because, uh, I just think…" Maloof crinkled the plastic bag. "...I can help, maybe."

She remained still and let his words hang. Maloof felt like he was being judged when the silence lingered. Even though he should have been in charge, she made him feel like she was under his thumb. He wished a draft would blow in and push out the uncomfortable tingling on his skin along with the sweat beginning to bead on his long, wrinkled brow.

But then, she cracked a hint of a smile. She dragged her fingernails underneath her chin as she sat up. She tucked her legs together and set her hand on her lap, cocking her head at him with an expression Maloof could only discern as pleased.

"That's adorable," she said at last and pinched her forefinger and thumb together. "Talking so big without knowing the entire picture. I could just pinch your chubby cheeks red."

"Uh, d-don't," he blurted, taking an involuntary step backwards. Quickly shaking his head, he puffed out his chest and said, "But let me know if someone is bothering you. I'll take care of them so long as they aren't another client."

"Oh, you will? Personally?" She raised an eyebrow and snickered to herself.

Maloof twisted his collar and found his gaze lowering to Franke's bed. Heat flushed his cheeks the scarlet Elka wanted. "Well, it's like I said, so long as they aren't another client."

"Sure. I'll consult with you later," she said, and she slipped back into her bunk.

Her back faced him. She ended the conversation without divulging why she was upset or what would happen later, something Grandpa said the client should never do. It meant she held the power, that she had the final decision, and he needed to wait on her choice instead of doing what needed to be done.

Maloof opened his mouth, ready to ask who Mikhail needed to beat up. The question felt stuck somewhere in his esophagus, and not even clearing his throat could shake it loose. Shaking his head when he could not speak, he pivoted on his heels and stumbled out, wondering if Elka's eyes were on him when he hobbled away.

Hurrying back to his cabin, the pink, sugary hue illuminating from the dream fluffs reminded him of the lip gloss shaping Elka's mouth,

And when he took a bite of it, he couldn't get her out of his head.