Clatter
The tapping rain on the window was still present there. Though it didn't matter much… For now.
In the kitchen.
Gracie: restlessly scraps the plate, her breath heavy and fast. She bit her lip [I can't keep doing this.] Her knuckles turn white due to all the scraping [I must look after her.]
The plate broke.
Another slow rumble of clouds.
To Akeno.
Akeno: Flinched hearing the noise coming from the kitchen. [What was that?"] She got off the couch and rushed to the kitchen. At the doorway she froze.
Gracie: picking up something from the sink and placing them on a cloth.
Akeno: Couldn't see much but even from the sides it was clear that whatever Gracie was holding, she had a hard grip on it. [What is she doing?]
Akeno: Walks forward and steps aside trying to get a glimpse of what she was doing. "... Gracie, what are you doing?"
Gracie: No answer. Just continues doing what she was.
Akeno: Walk closer and just a few steps away and her eyes widen, [Is… Is that blood!?]
Her eyes finally focused past Gracie's shoulder and to the cloth, the red shards and her blood stained hand picking up each shard from the sink. [She's hurt!]
"Gracie!" Her voice was sharp with fear she hadn't meant to show. "Your hand! You're bleeding!"
The rain tapping on the window rushed and heard to be more frantic itself with uneven rhythm.
Gracie: … Finally paused. She looked down at her own blood stained hand as if seeing it for the first time. Blood slowly drips from the multiple cuts on her hand. [Oh…]
Akeno: "Gracie, what were you doing!? You're bleeding." Her last words were a bit silent and softer. "How did this happen? We need to clean that."
Frantically looks around as if searching for something yet her feet don't move.
Gracie: "Here." She grabs the jug right next to Akeno and washes her hand with it. "Done. No worries."
Akeno: [I didn't see it] stands closer to Gracie and was about to grab her arm by instinct but stops herself. "G–Gracie. How did this happen?"
Gracie: Picks up the remaining shard placing them on the cloth and covering it. "I don't know. I hadn't noticed when it happened." Her eyes were still on the sink where the shards were.
Scratches her neck. "Tch" [How did this happen?]
Akeno: "How would you not know? Weren't you–"
Gracie: "Not now, Akeno! I'm trying to think!" She snaps as she starts to bleed again, though she shows no signs of pain. She paused. "... Sorry… I was thinking about something."
For moments no words were exchanged. The silence felt long even though it was just a few seconds.
Gracie: She washed her hands again with the jug. "Sorry for my outburst. I wasn't paying attention. It happens sometimes…"
More silence.
Akeno: playing with her hair as she dozes off for a moment [Something happened to her? No, she also acted like this when we first met… But she was… kind for the rest of the time… Why now?]
Clears her throat. "Gracie. Um, something happened?"
Gracie: Again scratches her neck and cracks it. "... Not really. The plate broke… And nothing else. No worries."
Akeno: "H–how?"
Gracie: sighs. "You ask a–lot… Though I don't know how to answer it." Scratches her neck again to the point it turns red.
Akeno: "Wait Gracie, don't–"
Gracie: "Let me finish, would ya…? It broke somehow. Okay." Sighs again. [How did it break?]
Turn to Akeno. "Hey! I told you to get some rest. What are you doing here!?" her voice got sharper.
Akeno: flinched by the sharpness in her voice. "T–the noise. I… I came to see what happened."
Gracie: "Not everything is meant to be seen or investigated." Her hand was still on her neck but she wasn't scratching it, her hand just cupped her neck.
Akeno: "... I was just worried…"
Gracie: "I'm fine you see. No worries." She picks up the cloth of shards. "And don't strom anywhere just like that. You're bare feet you see, what if you'd gotten a sting?"
"That being said, walk out. I need to look for any more shards." Pushed Akeno's shoulder. Though it had no force yet, Akeno moved out.
"Augh–" it was in a low voice but not silent.
Akeno: hearing it she again got alarmed, "G–Gracie something happened?" She looks back at Gracie, previously pushing her but now standing still.
Gracie: shakes her head. "No. It's nothing. Now go, I have chores to do." Akeno gives her a last look and starts walking away. Gracie bit her lip, [Should I say something more?]
"Hey, one more thing."
Akeno: she stops and turns around to look towards Gracie.
Gracie: "You ask a lot and stutter a lot. Try to avoid doing that too often." She said shifting her weight to her left leg.
Akeno: nods. "I understand…" She leaves the kitchen.
Gracie: she takes a long deep breath. [Hope she didn't get hurt. Umm, no. She didn't… Hopefully she didn't get hurt.]
She crouched down and there, there was a shard stuck to the heel of her right foot. [I need to clean this place for once. Can't afford any injuries.]
The rain outside now seemed more calm.
She pulled out the shard from her heel. A sharp pain shot her, looking at the multiple cuts on her palm.
"It's burning now."