A/N: It's been a little while and for that I apologize… I have WAY too many stories going on to keep track of some of them. Anyway, thanks as always to OnTheLineFeline and hersheygal! My faithful reviewers… oh and also I never saw the actual play version of RENT so if something in here sounds wrong (like the fact that Roger's parents were already dead or something) then I am REALLY sorry:D
Disclaimer: I do NOT own RENT or Roger Davis which means I don't own Adam Pascal… does that about cover everything? I do however own some of this memories… just some and they are based on things that I don't own. All this legal stuff is so confusing.
I'm Ready For My Close Up
Randomness with Mimi Marquez
As many of you know, Mimi is my girlfriend… my star in the night, the light that light's my way, my voice of reason, my… yeah you get the point right? Well one of the things I absolutely love about my Mimi is her unfailing ability to lighten a mood with absurd randomness. Sure, usually she's rather serious and constantly preaching her "No day but today" stuff when I refuse to take the clothes to the dry cleaner. But there are times when she is blissfully absurd and instantly distracts me or whoever she happens to be with at the moment from whatever terrible incident just occurred.
(Flashback!)
"What do you mean she's dying?" Roger barked, looking pale and out of sorts. The pale and cold looking doctor on the other end of the desk just cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses, causing his obvious toupee to shift ever so slightly.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this now Mr. Davis but… your mother has just had a severe heart attack. Most don't just walk away from that unscathed… in your mother's case it's caused her heart and a few other organs severe trauma," the doctor explained carefully… very matter-of-fact like. The calm and slightly monotone tone accompanied with such awful words was enough to drive Roger mad.
"But… no… she can't actually be…" Roger's voice faltered as he stared off past the doctor to the cold steel doors… knowing that at that moment his mother was probably gazing at similar doors.
"I know… it's seems so unreal when something like this happens to you or someone close to you," the doctor said in his false sympathetic tone. He then glanced down at the clipboard, patted Roger sadly on the shoulder, and then moved off into another room. Roger followed the man to see where he was going and saw that he was going to go visit a mother who had just given birth. Hot tears stung his eyes as the irony hit him… one person received a death sentence while another received life.
"I'm sorry sir but we'll have to ask you to come back later," a friendly yet exhausted female voice said, breaking the stunned silence. Roger started and turned to look at the young nurse before him, smiling sadly.
"Yeah… sure…" Roger replied agreeably… too shocked to really say otherwise. Picking up his signature jacket Roger slowly walked away towards the hospital entrance/exit and knew that if he couldn't talk to his mother he needed to speak with Mimi.
(End flashback)
Bet you weren't expecting that were you? Yes, my mother's heart attack was so stressful for me as for the people around me. Mark always tells me I'm a total ass when I'm worried about something. But Mimi was there for me… I guess I had forgotten that in my frenzied terror I had called Mimi's apartment, left a message and quickly explained before hanging up again. She was there waiting for me in the Loft, hoping that I would be coming home soon.
(Flashback!)
With leaden footsteps Roger walked up the metal stairs, counting each metallic beat echoed against the forlorn walls. In a detached sort of way Roger realized that his brain was numb… everything was numb and unfeeling. He distinctly remembered stubbing his toe on one of the stairs but he didn't flinch nor feel the impact. Robotically he slid the door open and flopped on the couch, only realizing that Mimi was there too when there came a low grunt from somewhere underneath him.
"Roger?" came a muffled response and Roger slowly got back up. This gave Mimi an opportunity to sit up straight and move over so that Roger could occupy the other half of the seat.
"Mimi," Roger replied evenly. Mimi felt something cold strike her heart to see Roger so down, but she didn't let it hinder her.
"How's your mom doing?" she asked sleepily, seeing as how her sweet nap had been rudely interrupted. Roger sighed wearily and allowed his head to flop back against the thin cushions.
"It was a severe heart attack," Roger recited without really realizing it. "It caused severe trauma to her heart and a few other vital organs… in short she's going to die." Mimi's silence was deafening and echoing out through the whole apartment. Mark seemed to be gone on some errand or another so there was no familiar 'whir' of a camera to keep the two company.
"Oh Roger…" Mimi finally whispered, gently placing a hand on Roger's stiff shoulders. Roger swallowed some kind of large lump in his throat but otherwise seemed unresponsive. Mimi smiled gently and gave him a little shake. "It'll be all right Roger… your mom is a strong woman and I'm sure she won't be afraid of whatever happens," Mimi said, hoping to comfort the distraught rocker across from her.
"It's not her I'm worried about Mimi," Roger said hoarsely, turning then to look at the beautiful dancer next to him. Mimi made a small sobbing noise and pulled Roger to her sympathetically, holding him while his heart was throbbing painfully.
(End flashback)
In this case Mimi knew that she couldn't be sarcastic or random… it was too serious for that at the time. Still her just holding me did a world of good… I don't think I'd let anyone do that for me since I was very young… but soon it came time where I was tired of moping and Mimi shone through for me brilliantly.
(Flashback)
Several days after Mrs. Davis's sentence Roger was still a walking, talking, breathing solemn statue. Mark and Mimi had tried just giving him his space but soon that turned out to not be enough for the distraught Roger.
"Hey Roger," Mimi said cheerfully while giving Roger a peck on the cheek. He grunted in response. Mark sighed and turned back to his stale and milkless cereal, not wanting to have to go through another painful and unrewarding conversation between Roger and Mimi. "How about that weather huh?" Mimi said brightly, shivering for effect.
"Haven't known it to be so cold," Mark added helpfully, causing Mimi to beam at him. Roger just grunted again and turned back to the windows. Mimi was silent for a moment, thinking of something to say. Finally she leaned an arm around Roger and leaned in so she was sure he could hear her.
"Kiddy Carnival," Mimi said simply. Roger was surprised by this sudden and random outburst and glanced over at Mimi.
"Kiddy Carnival?" he asked quietly. Mimi grinned and pulled away so that she could use her wonderful saleswoman skills.
"I hear that there is this marvelous and totally exciting Kiddy Carnival being set up just down the street by Marv's Deli," she giggled, glad that the surprise had brought Roger back out. "There will be mass amounts of low-grade cotton candy, corndogs, games that will rip you off every single time, and rides that obviously don't meet the State Safety Requirements," Mimi continued, waving her arms dramatically. In spite of himself Roger let out a ghost of a smile at her antics. "I was wondering Mr. Roger Davis if you would be so kind as to accompany me at such a spectacle," Mimi asked, grinning all the while. Roger smiled back and nodded.
"That Ms. Marquez I would be glad to do," he said softly, voice strained from lack of use. Mimi let out peals of laughter, hugging Roger giddily.
"Thank you good sir," Mimi added, shot a look at Mark, and then danced off to go get dressed. Roger looked over at Mark and shrugged as if to say 'What can ya do?'.
"Tell me how long you can remain sullen with a girl like Mimi always around," Roger said, a small smiled playing at his lips. Mark laughed and got up to toss his bowl in the sink for him to wash later… though Mimi probably would finally do it for him.
"Excellent point my friend," Mark agreed, shaking his head. At that moment Mimi burst back into the room, fully dressed and make-up applied.
"Come on Roger, you have to look nice for out date," she insisted with a grin and then danced back down to her own apartment to wait. Roger groaned and went to go get dressed in yesterday's clothes.
(End flashback!)
My mother died a week after that but somehow… it was okay. I had Mimi at my side during the funeral, holding my hand firmly allowing me to lean on her a bit. I have to admit it was the hardest thing I ever had to experience, what with my father on the other side of me looking close to tears himself. I don't think I ever saw my uptight and military father get emotional in his life, but I guess love does things to people. I looked over at Mimi and wondered if I would have to go through this again sooner than I ever thought… and it made me regret every moment I had spent moping about over my mother. Once again I was firmly reminded of 'No Day But Today'… it seems I had allowed my own selfishness step in the way again. As if she was reading my thoughts Mimi gave my hand a squeeze and looked up at me, her eyes telling me not to regret.
When we got home from that I decided I wouldn't give Mimi a chance to say something incredibly random to cheer me up. I wanted to do that on my own.
A/N: Well I finally brought Mimi into the story… I know this probably wasn't as lighthearted as the title suggested but maybe I'll make a little sequel that is happier. :D Anyway, please review and let me know what you thought!