It could be said Peng had perfect timing.
Already highly uncomfortable and scared, the hustle and bustle of the precinct did very little to calm Mina’s nerves. Even as late into the night as it was the station was buzzing with life, officers walking around, boards being drawn on, the soft click of keyboards being tapped on seemed like too much all at once. This was a new environment, with new people so of course Mina felt scared, holding Sana’s hand in a death grip as they walked out of an empty interrogation room that they had taken evidence photos in.
She was sleepy, she wanted to go home, she didn’t like her photo being taken, this was becoming a bit too much for her. She wondered if the detective felt the same, her eyes seemed heavy, with deep purple bags apparent under them, hair haphazardly pulled back into a ponytail in a lazy attempt to be taken out of her face. Mina tried her best not to stare, but she kept glancing up as they walked back to Sana’s desk, only stopping a few times when some of Sana’s coworkers got a bit too close or too loud, Sana usually sensing this would just push Mina softly behind her or between herself and Nayeon.
A prize. Mina was always a sucker for prizes, usually Jihyo was the one giving them out. A few m&ms for doing her homework, kind words when Mina followed instructions, even mittens one time when she helped Jihyo pass out papers. Above all she loved getting star stickers, even though they were tough to come by. Yeri had an abundance, Jihyo rewarding any sort of semi acceptable behavior from the kid, but Mina always struggled a bit. She did what she was told, she just wasn’t nice to others. Why would she be? It wasn’t like they were all too kind to her either.
The minute she laid her eyes on the stuffed penguin that Nayeon was carrying back to her spot on the floor, she knew she wanted it. This was an actual proper stuffed animal, not the cheap one dollar dog stuffie she had, whose fur was a cheap fabric that didn’t feel great against her skin. Instead this stuffie was soft, held a good amount of weight, and was really really cute. It get comforting in her arms, giving her something to hold on to as she started to fall asleep.
And Peng never left even as everything changed around her.
That first night at Sana’s apartment he was there, content to be held as Mina slept in a queen sized mattress that was much too big for her. The room was pitch black as Sana naturally didn’t have a nightlight on hand for this occasion, leaving Mina awake and staring into the darkness until eventually everything caught up with her and she was falling asleep. They were there as they went shopping, as Sana brought her to a woman who made her lay her head in a small tub and wash it before cutting her hair.
He was there for playtime, when Sana’s friend would come over and hang out with them after bringing food. She was nice and pretty, taking the time and effort to play whatever Mina wanted and was really gentle with her. He was there the first time Momo wanted to read a story together, dealing with little fingers gripping into his side tightly before relaxing.
Peng came along to their first aquarium trip, where the colors and sights ignited a spark of Mina’s first genuine interest.
He was there when Sana left her. Sandwiched between them when Sana gave her a tearful hug goodbye, nearly being dropped when Mina let go of him to grasp onto Sana fully in a last ditch attempt to keep her near. There as Jeongyeon led her into an apartment that wasn’t home, there during long sleepless nights in a room that wasn’t her own. Running her fingers through his fur, while another hand reached off the bed to grasp onto Nayeon’s who was just laid on the cold surface of the hardwood, fighting off sleep herself. Sometimes Nayeon would fall asleep and Mina would slip off the bed to lay with her, taking her blanket down and wrapping it over both of them as she curled into her side. On rare occasions she convinced Nayeon to let her sleep in her bed, she’d be on the far right, peng between her and Nayeon, and finally Jeongyeon behind her wife.
He waited with her in the rain, hidden under her jacket so he wouldn’t get too wet as she waited in the parking lot for someone she knew wouldn’t come. Staring at every car that came in and out, informing Nayeon’s slight tugs to her wrists and pleading for them to leave.
There when she went back, for family dinners with Momo and her cat. When she and Tzuyu had a hushed conversation about how Momo felt like Sana these days, and what that meant to Mina now. During the trial, watching with little sewn in eyes everything that happened, offering the comfort Mina had grown so fond of while her and Sana sat in the bathroom, the detective wiping tears off of cheeks still full with baby fat telling her she did such a good job and she’s so proud of her. There when officers showed up at their door and said Sana was injured, Nayeon sat her down and explained slowly that Sana looks scary but she’s okay. She looks scary because she’s okay.
When she first met grammy and grandpa, when they asked her if she wanted to be adopted, at the wedding with a little bow tie so he’d be dressed appropriately for the occasion and finally in her lap when she told the courtroom full of people who loved her that yes, these women were her moms.
He was there. He didn’t speak, didn’t move, but he was there. And for Mina that was enough.
