>>18209703>>18209760>>18209798>>18209825Dahlia rolled her eyes, starting to sit up, lifting a hand to run it through her short hair.
>"Don't thank me. The score between us is still in my favor."She looked toward her daughter, her expression softening as she laid her eyes upon the reigning Queen.
>"You shouldn't have spent time yelling at me after you landed the first hit. You should have attacked. You're too cocky. I've told you this before, but you don't listen."Duna sighed and began to sit up herself, looking away from her mom. She knew Dahlia was right, but she would never admit it.
>"Yeah, yeah. I know. You don't have t--"Dahlia quickly cut in, interrupting her daughter.
>"But I do have to criticize. You never learn. That's why you're here and not in that shithole Spaghetti Town right now. By all rights you should be challenging for the title, not ruining your mother's tea time just so you can work through your issues."She climbed to her feet, and once she was standing she reached down to Duna to offer a hand. Duna went quiet again, finally turning back toward her mother to accept the hand and let Dahlia help her back up.
>"Yeah. You're right. I fucked up and now I'm running away from my own bullshit again. I'm just...fuck. I feel like the biggest goddamn lo--"Dahlia shook her head and cut off her daughter again.
>"Talk like that again and I'll beat the piss out of your panties, Duney.">"You're not a loser, and if you dare besmirch yourself as Queen of the Beach like that again in my presence..."She went quiet, her threat unspoken and hanging in the air between them, then after a beat...
>"Go fix yourself a cup of tea, Duney. I'll be in here waiting for you. We'll talk about things and get you sorted out, alright?"Duna nodded, and silently began to move toward the kitchen. She should have returned home months ago, she decided. Mother always knew best, and right now, Duna needed her mother's advice more than ever.
[Homecoming - END]
