2. Croon
Croon – verb: hum or sing in a soft, low voice, especially in a sentimental manner
Pairing/Character: Ryu x Little Mac
"Has anyone seen Mac?"
Ryu had been going around the Mansion, asking that question to the other Smashers. Every time, the answer was the same: no. The martial artist frowned. Little Mac usually told him when he was going somewhere; Ryu found it odd that the boxer had disappeared without telling him.
Has he been…kidnapped? Is he looking for someone else?
Those two thoughts caused Ryu to grow even more frantic. As he sped around the mansion, looking for his boyfriend, he bumped right into Samus, causing her to spill her tea all over her armor.
"Ah! Samus! I'm so sorry!" Ryu gasped, glancing around to find something that could wipe off the mess.
Samus chuckled. "Don't worry about it, Ryu. It was just an accident." When Samus noticed the panic in Ryu's eyes, she raised an eyebrow behind her helmet. "Something wrong?"
Ryu turned to look at Samus again. "I can't find Mac anywhere in the Mansion. I'm worried about him…"
"Oh, Mac?" Samus questioned. That was when the realization hit her. "…Oh."
Ryu tilted his head. "What's wrong?"
"I just realized that…today is the anniversary of where Mac's parents were killed."
Ryu's eyes widened. "Oh…right." From that point, he felt his heart slowing down and he breathed a sigh of relief. However, a new worry grew; what was going on in Little Mac's mind today? "So he's at the graveyard, then?"
Samus nodded.
Ryu knew that Little Mac must still be heartbroken over his parents' passing. He remembered the time where, after a fight, Little Mac ran towards the graveyard to pay his respects. Ryu followed him, and the two shared a heartwarming moment that had helped shape up their relationship.
"I'll go find him," Ryu said.
"You sure?" Samus asked with her eyebrow raised again.
"Yeah. He probably needs a shoulder to cry on again."
Samus hesitated before finally nodding. "Okay. Good luck with that."
"Thanks. See you."
Ryu then walked out of the Mansion in search of Little Mac.
When Ryu arrived at the graveyard, he realized that it was already nighttime. Glancing around the area for the boxer, he saw nothing but darkness. However, he could hear the owls hooting and the crickets chirping. A light breeze ruffled his black hair and made the tails of his red headband flutter.
"MAC!" Ryu called out.
No response.
Ryu raised both of his eyebrows with worry. Did Mac leave already?
As he walked through the graveyard, he heard a soft, humming sound.
"Hm?" Ryu wondered. Curious, he followed the sound to find the source.
A few minutes later, he found the source of the crooning.
Little Mac was kneeling in front of two gravestones, which Ryu assumed were the boxer's deceased parents. Little Mac hummed a soft, sad song as he placed two roses in front of the graves.
"Mac?"
Little Mac jumped upon hearing a voice behind him, and he turned to face the owner of the voice. He sighed in relief when he realized that it was Ryu.
"Ryu, don't scare me like that!" Little Mac cried.
Ryu chuckled. "Sorry about that. Anyway…" he kneeled down beside Little Mac, staring down at the graves. "Still thinking about your parents, huh?"
Little Mac nodded. "Yeah…" He turned to face the graves again. "I still can't believe that they were gone, just like that. I still think about the last fight we had the day they were murdered…"
Ryu placed a hand on the boxer's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Mac…it must've been tough on you."
"Yeah, it was. But I got through it…it's just that if I had known, I would've apologized for what I said to them."
"Mac…you were young," Ryu spoke in a soft voice. "You didn't know. But I'm sure that wherever they are…they heard your apology."
Little Mac looked up at him, tears threatening to fall. "You…really think so?"
Ryu nodded. "Yeah. And I'm sure that they forgive you."
Little Mac turned his head to glance at the graves, then at Ryu again. "I…you're right. I just miss them so much…"
"I understand," Ryu whispered as he held him close. To Ryu's surprise, Little Mac didn't cry; he calmly held the martial artist back, burying his face in his chest.
"Thanks, Ryu…" Little Mac whispered.
"No problem." Ryu smiled. "By the way…"
Little Mac looked up at him. "Huh?"
"What was that song you were humming?"
"…It's a song that I listen to when I was a kid, 'You Are My Sunshine'. Whenever I'm depressed, Mom and Dad usually sang it to me."
Ryu hummed. "I see…so you hum it to help yourself feel better?"
Little Mac nodded. "Yeah…it reminds me of all the times they cheered me up."
After a short period of silence, the two let go of each other and they got up from the ground.
"Let's go back to the Mansion. The others are worried about you," Ryu suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Little Mac agreed.
Ryu held the boxer's hand, squeezing it gently. "Hey…could you hum that song to me? It sounded beautiful."
Little Mac smiled slightly. "Of course."
As the two walked back to the Mansion, Little Mac hummed the song the whole way, making himself and Ryu feel loved and safe.
Constructive criticism is welcomed!
Beta reader: h34rt1lly