TW: This chapter has a few mentions of physical abuse. (scars, bruises)

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Poppet and Chase ate and discussed the different kinds of colors until midnight. It was only the sound of the howling wind that made them wary of the time. Chase slept on the couch in the living room after they both have said their good nights. Chase did not complain-he feels it's proper that way.

Chase awoke from his sleep first. He decided to make breakfast for the both of them for he feels as if he's not contributing at all. Maybe a simple breakfast would suffice.

He searched Poppet's coat rack for some coat or sweater he could borrow. He settled for a beige cardigan that looked like it was from a man twice his size. He wondered where she got it from. The beige cardigan looked too big on Chase, but he did not mind it and headed outside to search for something he could use.

Poppet awoke a few minutes after Chase left the house. She searched for him immediately as she stood up from her bed. He wasn't there. A surge of panic enveloped her body for a moment until she saw a missing cardigan from her rack.

She grabbed her own sweater and headed outside.

Chase carried apples, mangoes, blueberries and watermelons in his hands ready to go back when he saw Poppet nearing his way.

"Good morning," Poppet said, and waved at him.

"Morning," Chase replied.

Poppet helped him carry the fruits and dragged him to the opposite direction of where her house was.

"Let's go somewhere else," she said.

"I have a question if you don't mind." Chase looked away, unsure if he should ask about the cardigan.

"Sure, go on."

"Have you had a... who left this cardigan behind?"

Poppet's lips curved to a smile and laughed. "It's mine. I got it at a second hand market somewhere. I like wearing big things. They make me feel safe."

Chase wasn't sure why he felt relieved the moment Poppet told him it wasn't from another guy. He felt too uncomfortable about the thought of wearing her past lover's belonging.

"Where are we going?" Chase asked her.

"To my safe garden. You'll see."

The safe garden was just as beautiful as Poppet left it. The vines and butterflies bloomed so beautifully, it left Chase in shock. It felt like a dream.

"Beautiful," Chase said, his lips a bit parted from the surprise.

"I know."

They both placed their breakfast on the table and ate them as Chase kept looking around, observing Poppet's safe garden.

After their stomachs have been filled, Poppet took out her art materials and sketchbooks and placed them on the table.

"Teach me to paint," she said excitedly. She gathered their leftover blueberries, watermelons and mangoes and squeezed them on her paper.

"I-I can't paint," Chase said, wearing a tense look on his face.

"Color. Teach me color." Poppet smiled.

Chase softened and sat beside Poppet to take a closer look. As Poppet drew, he pointed at the different fruits, describing them light and dark.

"I've always wanted to be an artist," she said. "But... my parents didn't really agree. Well, they didn't agree with anything."

Poppet lifted her sweater to show the scars on her arm and shoulders. Chase did not notice these scars until she has showed them to him.

"Everything I did-they hated. And they hurt me for it. Even the pettiest reasons had their own bruise and scars. Sometimes they'd wish I didn't exist."

If Chase were a color at the very moment, he would have been the darkest shade of blue. He would have been the saddest color. For he felt so sorry that Poppet had to go through such hardship.

He took her arm and gently caressed her scar with his thumb in circular motions as if trying to rub the marks away. "I'm sorry you had to go through this," he said and leaned his forehead on her shoulders.

Poppet softly placed her hands on his head and nuzzled her face in his hair. Then she cried.

Then she cried.

a/n

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Any ideas of what might happen next?