•°~Warrior~°•- A Markiplier Fanfiction

Chapter 2

Mark looked at the girl.

The girl looked at Mark. She said nothing, but her smile faltered as they stood in thickening, awkward silence.
Wade and Mark exchanged glances.

"Can we help you?" Wade asked quietly.

She nodded, then looked at Mark. "...can I talk to you two? I know you have a lot of fans, and that you've heard a lot of stories from them but.... I just wanted to talk to you about mine."

Mark smiled. "Of course. Come with us."

The girls smile returned, and she followed them.
They led her behind the panel. A few chairs were scattered behind. Mark sat down in one and patted the chair beside him. The girl nodded and sat down quietly. Mark was impressed. He hated to brag without joking around, but usually his fans were head over heels when they saw him. But she was so calm. Nevertheless, there was something about her that seemed different, but he couldn't quite pinpoint it.

"Alright. Let's start with your name." Mark smiled at the girl. She looked about 16-ish, and she had brilliant blue eyes and a beaming smile.

"Ah, oh, um, yes. My name is Michelle." She smiled timidly, drying her tears from earlier.

"Michelle, that's a nice name. I'm sure you know who me and Wade are." Wade smiled and waved from the corner.

"Yeah..." she nodded and waved back to Wade. "Uh.. I dont want to take up much of your time... but... I just wanted to thank you."
"...thank me?"
"Yes... I..." she took a deep breath.  "I've recently found out that my mom has cancer. My dad was already sick with appendicitis... and then, my mother, with hypothermia and leukemia...." she inhaled shakily, then smiled as she continued. Mark stayed silent.

...you're a teenager, you should be angsty and moody and 'it's not a phase, mom'.... but you're so happy....  he pondered all of this as he listened to the girl.

"Every night after school I would come home and clean, and work, and take care of them. Neither of them can work, so.... things have been hard." Her smile got brighter. "But I'd sit down after working and I'd watch your videos. They made me so happy in this dark time I'm in, and they made me want to do more for my family. I even came all they way out here to this convention just to thank you. So..." she smiled, the tears streaming down her cheeks. "Thank you so much."
Mark was stunned. He didnt know what to say or how to respond. He felt numbed and cold, and several chills went down his spine as he stared at the young girl.

"....I'm so sorry."

She blinked. "Hmm?..."

"I... I'm so sorry." He mumbled, running his hand through his hair and grabbing a fistful, concentrating on the floor. He felt sick, and like his stomach was twisted in empty knots.
"....how long have they been in this condition.... and... how long have you been working like that?"

"Almost 2 months now for my mother, sir. My dad, for about 6 months."

"Please, just call me Mark, sweetheart." He smiled warily. He looked at the girl and couldn't help but feel ashamed. He felt like he should have known, yet he had never met this girl.

Yet he couldn't help but wonder, how many more of his fans were suffering like this?... He hadn't thought of that before... maybe a child he had just met was suffering from a deadly sickness, or maybe the kind woman he had met during the convention was struggling financially through divorce. All of these possibilities raced through his mind at once, making the room spin.

"....Michelle... you said that.... they cant work?" Wade broke the silence.

"Yeah... my mom works for a small clinic.... and my father is an inspector at a plant... my father brings in the most money but now... we're sort of..." her voice faded. But she then smiled again, beaming brightly. "But its okay. I know everything is going to be alright! My mom and dad are strong, we're gonna get through this, I'm sure."

Mark couldn't believe this. How. How could she be so happy when she and her family were suffering? He couldn't wrap his mind around it. He just started at the girl, his eyes saddened and his mouth open. He stood up. He was fighting back tears and he didnt understand why, or why he was so confused and anguished, but he was, and he couldn't control it.

He opened his arms. "....c'mere."

Michelle's eyes widened, and she whimpered a little, still smiling, but sadder. She stood up and timidly walked to Mark, hesitated, and hugged him.

Mark embraced the girl, still in a dazed shock. He didnt want to let go. He wanted to let her know, let all of his hurting fans like this know, that everything was going to be alright. He wanted to shelter this poor girl from anything that could possibly harm her or her family. He had just met this little girl, and yet within 2 minutes she had managed to douse him in intense anguish.

I feel so...selfish... I do everything I do for my fans but I...  never thought about the fact that.... maybe my videos aren't enough to help them.

"Michelle?" A faint voice called from outside. "Where are you?"

She gasped. "I have to go. It's my brother." She let go of Mark and grabbed her backpack. Before she left, she turned around, still beaming. "Thank you so much. I'll never forget this!"

Mark stood there, feeling broken, more than he ever had. He blinked back tears, but then decided just to let them fall. His throat hurt, and his head felt light, but his heart felt heavy. It all happened so fast....

".... I'll never forget this, either, Michelle..."