TW some mildly graphic descriptions of past SH - * will be used to mark the start and end of triggering content

The sun is out. It seems the rain of a few weeks ago has cleared up, leaving it's sparkling sister behind in its place.

With the warming weather, Harry blew up the paddling pool. He said it was for Manny, but Manny is terrified of water. So really it was for the adults.

Everyone is gathered around, in their swimmers. There's barely enough room for 2 people, and it's hardly deep, but that won't stop you trying to get in there.

"Wait!" Tony says, right as Robin starts calculating how we can fit everyone in. "Where's Paige?"

He's right; she's nowhere to be found.

"She's your girlfriend, she's your responsibility." Harry says.

"She said she'd be out. I'll go see what the holdup is."

Tony goes off.

"Right, well, for the mathematics we're going to assume Paige is dead and will be unable to come into the pool, as that's the best case scenario. Assuming we sit on each other, we should be able to fit in."

Tony comes back looking shaken up. "She doesn't want to." He says simply.

"Why?" Shrignold asks. "Is she okay? Is she dead? Has she eaten perfume thinking it would taste nice? Oh, god, she got shampoo in her eyes, didn't she?!"

"She doesn't want to." He repeats. "She's feeling insecure."

"What has she got to be insecure about?" Shrignold says.

Tony looks away. "It's not something I can deal with, anyway."

You look towards the house. "I'll go talk to her."

You listen to Robin complain as you head inside. You hear Paige upstairs in her room, crying quietly and you knock on her door.

"What's the matter?" You ask.

"Nothing, Y/N, I'm fine."

"Do you think I'm going to believe that?" You say softly. "Can I come in?"

There's silence for a moment before she opens the door. She's in her swimming costume, but is covering the bottom half of her body with a towel. She wipes her face.

"What's going on?"

"I can't go out." She whispers. "I can't."

"Why?" You sit down with her.

She pauses for a moment, before pulling the towel off herself.

*
All over her thighs, are scars. You feel your breathing stop for a moment.

"I... I hate them." She mumbles. "They look so ugly."

"But..." you can't find the words.

"For years straight, Y/N, I cut, and cut, and cut. Because I felt so much yet so little. I wanted to release it all, but... I wanted to feel something too... and... I stopped a long time ago, but I'm just... I just keep getting reminded... of how weak I was..."
*

"You're not weak..." you manage to say.

"I haven't even told Tony. I've avoided all situations where he might see this. And now he knows, and when I told him, he said nothing and walked back outside. He thinks I'm a freak."

"You're not a freak. And you're not weak." You take a breath. "You said you stopped a long time ago. And look, they're healed. Surely that makes you strong. You're not who you once were." You take her hand tentatively and squeeze it. "And if Tony, or anyone else, thinks otherwise, fuck them. Because it shows your journey. And not every journey is easy."

She looks downwards, hair hiding her face. "What if they all look at me?"

"I guarantee, if they are, it's because they think you're so beautiful." You bite your lip. "Because you truly are."

She goes to wipe her face. "Will you go outside with me?"

"Of course. Come on. Enjoy yourself."

She manages to calm herself down, and stands up. She takes your hand in hers and squeezes it, giving you a small smile.

"Let's go." She says.

The two of you head outside. You hope she doesn't notice how clammy your hand feels in hers.

"There they are!" Harry smiles.

"Right, everyone! In!"

Whatever scheme Robin came up with to fit the whole gang into a pool intended for a maximum of 3 children is abandoned, as there's a mad dash for everyone to get in the pool, slipping over each other and getting soaked.

By the time all have managed to squeeze themselves in, on top of or underneath someone- Shrignold on top of you is not as light as he looks- all the water has disappeared.

"Well, that was disappointing." Colin sighs.

"What do you mean?" Paige smiles, catching your eye. "This is a wonderful day."