Hurt/comfort - Blog Posts

The Days After Tomorrow

Finished February 27, 2023

2034 was when the war between androids and humans began. The war lasting decades killing both humans and androids alike, nearly wiping out the entire population of earth as a whole, leaving everything to chaos. Those who were smart enough left for safe grounds, making places like ‘Peace Bunkers’ to find some sort of order in all the chaos. Or, they leave to survive by themselves. However those who did not leave, fought valiantly or foolishly we may never know. 

The war was destructive, leading buildings to collapse, towns to crumple, and even leaving whole sections of cities to level out. There was no chance of new growth in those areas with how damaged those places were at the time leading people to assume the worst of it all. 

2058….

The years after the war were just as, if not more painful and dangerous than before, some wishing to be back to the years of the war because “at least they had rations and had plenty of food to go around…”  The famine, the thing that killed most of the remaining first generation ‘survivors’, the second and third generations after, learning to make do with the things they had. Relearning to farm, cook, and much more. 

A huge step from using androids. 

Hope had run out long after everything started, and no one dared to go anywhere close to towns and more specifically cities, out of fear of androids or larger groups of humans to be there. Those fears however were one of many myths or folklore that were taken seriously by those communities, so very few people stay in places with a high density of buildings. Leaving those areas to flourish, areas growing trees inside toppled apartment buildings nearly reaching to apartment height. Flowers growing in between the cracks in the concrete along with weeds. 

In one area of this specific city however is a place that has strangely been open the entire time this had all been going on, and that place is ‘Terry’s café’. Terry’s café is small compared to the other buildings in the area and beside, with two levels and the outside looking as if the person who had owned it first was originally a flower shop but was later turned into a café. The inside however had more of a late 80’s look to it with checkered flooring and parts of cars in different corners of the room. The androids that are there working, were cleaning or talking to imaginary customers and making them food. With the way they act it’s almost as if time has looped forever in this place. Acting as if the war and the famine never existed.

 On this particular day someone enters the café, and not just anyone, a human…. 

A human boy. 

This boy in particular has a name, his name is Aurthur Wymblur Jaycobs. A boy one would describe as both rowdy, obnoxious, an overall bright young boy and…. a cold killer, depending on how you meet him. With his bright orange hair seemingly unable to stay in one place the owner of said hair forgoing trying to brush it. With his round childlike features and his bright green eyes, one would think that he would be seen easily by other survivors and killed on site, however he’s quite clever when making traps and shooting unsuspecting victims. There are myths saying that he owns the cities, some even saying he was born in one of the toppled buildings. Most don’t believe he’s real, saying that he’s just one of a bunch of ghost stories to tell children at night to warrant them from going into the cities. Either way you put it though Aurthur… is not a kid to be reckoned with. 

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Arthur was racing around the block in section B-1C, a section he has been in and around to know the way in his sleep. He would usually do this twice a week in different sections, practising his parkour. On this particular day he was making his laps when he had noticed a new side street he'd never seen before. Being the curious little shit he was, he went to check it out. It just so happened to be the place the café was in, squished between two toppled buildings. It looked interesting since it looked to be the only thing open and in operation at least… from the outside. As he ran closer to said café he noticed that indeed it was open and androids were freely running around in there… interesting. Disregarding how many red flags there were just by this thing being opened in the first place he invited himself in…. 

And this… is where our story begins…

As Arthur entered the café the doorbell above the door chimed with timed rhythm letting every android in the building that a new person had entered the café. Arthur flabbergasted that the bell is still working given that everything outside of this store is broken, feeling like a deer caught in headlights stared owlishly. 

No one said a thing in those few minutes, unsure whether it was a good idea to speak or not. The android manning the counter was the first to speak, asking in what seemed like a motherly tone “Hello young one, how can we help you on this perfect spring evening?” Arthur, unsure how to go about answering the question, stays silent. 

The Counter android -Arthur’s now dubbed- realizing it won’t get an answer out of him anytime soon shouts to whoever is in the kitchen “Order up for one stack of waffles and a small coffee!” there was a muffled reply from in the kitchen, their answer seemed to have made the Counter Android upset with it replying back “Well he might as well have something while he’s here, he looks so thin a gust of wind could blow him over! So get him the things I asked for before I make you” before turning to Arthur to say quietly “No offence hunny, but you look like you haven’t eaten anything since you’ve been born.” Arthur, feeling the need to defend his honour, argued back saying “Hey! I’m not skinny, I’m pretty average for kids my age!” The counter android had an almost look of surprise before collecting itself and replying with a glint in its ‘eyes’ “Ooooh really~, when was the last time you ate then?”

….. Now that was a question. 

The last he had remembered was a week ago, when he was looking through C-5E looking for if there were any lone survivors wandering around, when he had started to become hungry. It was the third time that week alone and it was becoming increasingly annoying. Sometimes Arthur wished he didn’t have a stomach, either way he needed food and he needed food right now. Arthur looked around to see where the closest deserted store was, which happened to be right beside him at the time, whoo hoo! That time he happened to get two cans of beans, so he heated them up with a makeshift fire He made all by himself. 

“About a week ago why does that matter though, I’m the most well off by the world's standards, other kids my age barely get that! So BOOM! SUCK ON THAT!” 

The once happy chattering of the café turns dead silent. All androids that were previously minding their business, now facing the only kid in the room in horror of what they had just heard. 

Well off? This malnourished child is more well off than most kids?

Arthurs words shock the entire café. Them all realizing the gravity of the situation and how bad it really was out there. For years they were to never leave the building in fear of what their owner might do to them. But…. 

they don’t have to worry any more, their owner has been dead for probably as long as they’ve been working for. 

They realize what their new objective is: ‘keep. this. boy. safe.’

“Hey! You guys good? Your fucking scaring me, which I don’t say often out loud, but I will hurt you if you fucks go crazy on me!” Arthur nearly yells, quick to brase his gun just in case. Arthurs’ almost worried threat seemed to have knocked them out of their stupor, with Counter android responding “Yes, we’re fine, RIGHT GUYS!” A collective ‘yeah’ was said amongst the androids as they went back to what they were originally doing. 

“Anyhow, how ‘bout you go and sit down in one of the seats over here.” It said, pointing to the bar seats in front of the counter. Shrugging, Arthur takes his hand off his holster as he walks over to the seat closest to the cash register, looking forward into the window of the kitchen. Where, more androids are busy working on food in the back. 

The seats themselves sigh in relief from not being sat on in a long time when he adjusts himself in his seat. The Counter Android -He really needs to figure out its name cause it’s getting reeal annoying calling them that- seemed pleased with this new development going as to say “So! What's your name kid? I gotta know the name to the face." 

"Arthur Wymblur Jacobs, I came up with the name myself!" He proudly exclaimed. 

“Oh did you really? Can you tell me where you got the idea?” The Counter Android questioned, seemingly excited to hear more, and for the next few hours the two of them chatted more while Arthur was enjoying his waffles and surprisingly delicious coffee. The two, taking turns asking meaningless questions. Eventually though Arthur had to leave, however this was not in vain as Arthur had promised to come back the next day excited to hangout more with the androids.

From then onwards it became their routine for Arthur to come into the café, have food and chat with the androids and would have to leave again a few hours later. Arthur soon found out the names of the androids, and more specifically the Counter Androids name which her name is Maria. Arthur had gotten to know her a lot more than the others going as to say now even friends, but you didn’t hear it from me. Lately he’s been somewhat of a regular. Well as far as regulars go in the apocalypse at least, it’s like when you give a stray animal food they always come back for more. Arthur hoped that maybe….maybe this time he’ll be able to have a somewhat normal life finally.

But things never stay like that forever…

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It was a ‘normal’ tuesday evening….well as far as normal goes at least now with a new schedule; get up at noonish – according the position of the sun – parkour around from B-1C to Z-0A looking for new survivors foolishly wandering around His city and kill them, then afterwards head to the café. THAT'S IT! That's all that was supposed to happen on a NORMAL day. Except today while looking through section C-5D for survivors he finds a large group of androids, about ten to fifteen that seemed to be patrolling the area looking for… something Arthur couldn’t tell from where he was at the time.

The androids themselves looked as though they were made for either military or the police force of some kind Arthur didn’t care he just wanted these assholes off his turf. Their faces were that of white plastic not as shiny with wear and tear from over the years. The features were that of symmetrical perfection, uncanny valley to that of the norm. The androids all wore the same outfit; an indistinguishable uniform shirt with ruffed up dress pants and dress shoes that look like they’re on their last life. These types of androids are a hivemind. They only follow one ruler and they are told set instructions not all the same though, and most of all are not at all fond of humans. They believe that all humans should be extinct. Which is not great for Arthur at the moment.  

From where Arthur was positioned behind a large piece of concrete, he shouldn’t be found unless one of the androids turns in his general area. So in theory if he just keeps to the side closest to the apartment complexes he should be able to leave scott free. 

…But it’s never that easy…

Just as he was moving  closer to the buildings mentioned before he slipped on a pile of crumbled apartment wall, which caused his gun to fall off his holster hitting other pieces of rock along the way. Which then in turn made one of the androids turn over in his direction. 

No one moved or made a sound for a total of five seconds…. 

Before Arthur fumbled more trying to correct himself before finally running out into one of the alleyways. The androids, realizing that it was indeed a human over where Arthur was originally, go to chase after him. Going through houses and buildings to hopping fences and even secret passageways Arthur thought he only knew, the androids still were on Arthurs tail the entire time. Shooting Arthur to get him to slow down, it worked somewhat with nicking Arthur a few times in the legs and shoulders. But with so much adrenaline pumping in Arthur it didn’t keep him down for long. After what felt like hours they finally reached B-1C and from there he went into the side street to the café, as he finally got some distance on the androids. The only thought that Arthur could conjure up as he turned another corner and saw the lights of the café, was ‘sorry Maria looks like I’m bringing company this time.’ 

Arthur bursted into the happy café, frantically trying to find Maria who just so happened to be at the counter as always looking more concerned by the second. Running over to her he exclaims “Maria, please, you gatta help me they’resthseseguysandithinkthinktheywannakillme!”

“Woe woe woe! Calm down what are yo-” just then the sounds of multiple footsteps could be heard with rapid succession coming towards the café. Right then Maria had to make a decision and fast, “Ok, Arthur you get behind the counter!” Maria explains to Arthur as he does so, she didn’t have to tell the others what to do as they were already pretending as if there was nothing wrong when she turned to them. 

The counter that Arthur was in was…. Not that interesting all in all. It has a hidden compartment, usually used to store extra bottles of alcohol, now used to store a panicking Arthur at the moment.  A loud bang is what sets Arthur further on edge because that can mean only one thing. 

There here…

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Just up above the counter, in the doorway bursts in the androids from before. They start looking in places around the café with intent, not caring if they're shoving other androids out of the way. “OKAY, THAT’S ENOUGH!” Maria shouted over all the ruckus, getting sick of the blatant disrespect. Surprisingly, she was able to get them to stop, them all standing straight up and forward staring at her. “What I want to know is why you’re making a mess of my store.” Maria was starting to get angry fast if no one here explains themselves. Their captain –from the fact that one else dared to speak– is the one to speak “We are A1-T3CH from Astech Corporation. We were sent to this city with the instruction to bring back a life form that seems to inhabit here regularly. We encountered it once and are searching for it for it has run off. Do you have any knowledge of its whereabouts?” It spoke with indifference as if it was reciting from a stripted. 

These guys are here to hurt him, they're here to hurt Arthur, they're here to hurt your son! Maria could hear over the silence almost unable to think with how loud the system was being but she pushed through. 

“See? Now isn’t that easier than wrecking my shit?” Maria closes her eyes and takes an unneeded breath before she speaks “Anyways I can’t help you with that one since we’ve never seen this ‘life from’ come into our café, Hell! We’ve never left this building for that matter, so if you could be so kind, please leave.” Maria then opens her eyes, and if looks could kill, they all would be a pile of dust sitting at the bottom of a six feet deep hole, “Before I am force to take you out myself” The cameras in the android's eyes shifted, seemingly surprised that one of its kind is being aggressive with its words. 

“Are you threatening our team?” the android said, cocking its head slightly like would a confused dog. Eyes watching Maria like a hawk looking at its next meal. 

“So what if I am?” they’re both inches away from each other, if they were human they would be able to feel their breath on each other. Maria just wanted them away from her boy. 

“Then by proxy I would have to kill you too” and with that it took out a gun and started to fire it, as well Maria ducked under the counter to grab her guns from her holster, “let’s get this over with”. 

From inside the hidden compartment Arthur finally, having calmed down some, could hear loud muffling from up above. When sudden banging and popping started out of nowhere, making Arthur slightly annoyed that he couldn’t see what was going on, because if he did he would be dead. Arthur shifted in his spot, as he did this a shot of white hot pain came from his right shoulder and his left calf, Arthur realised that in his panicked state he forgot about his injuries. After coming to this reaization his injuries were starting to become unbearable, ‘Oh I really hope Maria finishes up what she's doing because I have nothing to wrap these wounds up.’ 

Luckily for Arthur he didn’t have to wait long for as soon as the banging started it soon ended and he was let out. When Maria opened the door, Arthur could see the damage the other androids did. She had a slash with blue ooze trailing down her face and wires sticking out of her arms. “Well it t’k you long ‘nough ‘m in SO much pain I think ‘m going to faint fr’m just the pain” Arthur slurs his words before promptly passing out. Maria, now super concerned with the amount of blood on Arthur and that he just passed out, picks Arthur up carefully and briskly walks upstairs to the second floor of the café and into a small room on the right of the stairs.

 The small room had a slanted roof with baby blue walls, with the room itself looking as if it was originally a baby room but instead of a crib in the corner it’s a twin sized bed, with the dusty covers still on there from years before. The room was otherwise vacant compared to the rest of the café. Maria places Arthur’s sleeping body on the bed and gets to work on fixing his wounds the best she can….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Arthur finally wakes up the first few things he notes is that one, there are hands on his head slowly carding through his head, two, there is a light coming from somewhere and it’s getting annoying, but whining seemed to get it to leave, and three, whatever he’s on right now is SO comfy at the moment. He could hear quiet laughter above and to the right of him as he shifts more, only to have pain give Arthur a reminder of what happened in the last…. What time is it? 

As Arthur shifts, he opens his eyes and blinks before looking up to see who exactly is touching his hair. When he looks up he can see Maria staring at him, like a mother looking at their baby. She no longer had blue running down her face, now a scar to replace it. It looks like she fixed herself up if the halfass patching is anything to go by. 

“Hey mornin’ sleepy, hope you had an at least somewhat decent sleep.” Maria spoke softly to Arthur as she continued to card her hands through his hair. Arthur closed his eyes and leaned into the warmth he assumed was part of the technology in her, he just grunted in response “five more minutes please?” She humed back in return as she removed her hand “okay, just don’t move to much you are still recovering, I’ll just be down stairs then.” She got up from her chair beside the bed and started to walk out, She was about half way to the door when she heard a mumble from the bed. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite get that, can you repeat yourself?” Maria asked as she made her way back to the bedside. When she got to the bedside Arthur’s hand lazily shot out to grab her and asked quietly “Can you stay…mom?” Arthur’s face warmed so much a rose would be jealous. Arthur, clearly embarrassed hides his face to only show his bright green eyes. Maria, unable to resist the cuteness, sits back in her seat and removes Arthur's hand so that she can go back to carding her hand through his head. 

And they sit like that for the first part of the morning, and later Maria will make sure Arthur’s wounds are healing nicely. Then they would go downstairs to eat and chat, later Arthur would ask to stay in the café and they would stay like that for the years to come like a little weird makeshift family. 

However for now they stay like this with Maria carding her hand through Arthur’s now sleeping body. 

And isn’t that enough?

I have an angsty sanders sides hc

Hear me out

Virgil is Thomas' fear/anxiety so he reacts to when Thomas or any of the sides are upset about something. I came up with the when I was watching the intrusive thoughts episode and they point out that virgil and Patton where the ones freaking out. What if it was Patton freaking out and virgil was just reacting to how anxious that made Thomas?

So the hc is that Virgil doesn't actually dislike Janus or Remus. It's just his job to make sure that Thomas something is wrong or upsetting. Like he knows that those parts of him upset him or parts of him, so he naturally rejects them. He's like an unwilling Warden. In charge of making sure the parts of Thomas that could cause hum distress don't.

Janus knows this and knows it actually hurts Virgil a lot to go against sides that he used to (and still kind of is) be friends with. Janus and Remus are constantly referencing this secret Virgil has. Even after Thomas knows about the other dark sides. My hc is that they know the truth and what Janus, especially, is pushing for is Virgil explaining the impossible task he has.

Janus knows that part of Thomas taking care of his mental health is Virgil not constantly working over time reacting to Patton and Roman's negative reaction to them.

Virgil doesn't want to bring it up because he knows how guilty Patton and Thomas would feel. He also thinks being honest would make them and Roman feel like they have to change instead of letting them do it naturally.

Idk I just like the idea that Virgil is torn between the two sides not only because he wants the light sides and Thomas to like him but also because it's literally in his nature to react negatively to them regardless of his personal feelings.

I really like leaning into the nature of them being representations of emotions and the limitations and complexity that would bring.

I like to imagine that he just collapses at some point and asks for Janus to take care of him becuase that what he always does. Janus takes him back to where the dark sides are and finally explains the situation. It's a moment of really healing and comfort for Virgil and we get to see peak mom friend Janus. Also the light sides and Thomas trying to figure out how to navigate this.

Writing Prompt #5

The Hero of the story is near-constantly injured thanks to frequent attacks by villains, hence why they require two doctors to take care of them.

The doctors, A and B, tend to not get along very well, but are willing to take a bullet for the Hero at any time.

However, this time around they couldn't, and now they face the struggle of having to work together to save the Hero's life.

The question is: do A and B grit their teeth and get through it, or does their pride get in the way at the cost of Hero's life?

Doodle dump/sloppy half-rendered comic page. I’ll arrange it in a more readable order eventually. Story info under the cut.

Noryn broke his ankle during a mission and then ran on it for a while before the adrenaline wore off and he really noticed what happened. The healers are preoccupied with people more fucked up than he is, but luckily his bodyguard is trained in enough first-aid/healing to set it and help him get comfortable-ish until someone can fix it properly.

He has an anxious aversion to drugs/pain medication after some unsavory experiences in his younger days and getting him to take anything can tend do be a bit of a fight, but Rük is always a calm voice of reason, even when he’s screaming inside.

Bonus

Fan comic for @revelboo. Her work Coin Operated Boy is one of my faves 💕 anyway here’s Steve and reader.

Late Night Cries (and some denial of feelings)

TW: Not much just Kaveh crying and being sad while Alhaitham is Alhaithaming

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Alhaitham didn't know how he ended up here, his annoying, overly-emotional, whiny roommate crying with his stupid face pressed into Alhaithams chest. Weirder yet, Alhaitham was holding said roommate close to him, no matter how much he willed himself to let go, his body would not obey, one hand rubbing soothing circles against Kaveh's back as the blonde sobbed. For some reason his scholarly brain couldn't figure it out. Alhaitham felt as though someone had tore his heart from his chest whenever he caught a glimpse of Kaveh's eyes, now full of tears and sorrow. Alhaitham also couldn't figure out why he was so determined to comfort his roommate. Normally when he watched people cry he would just scoff and move on calling them emotional, but for some reason when it's Kaveh. His roommate. Who drives him insane. All of a sudden he's bending over backwards, hugging and soothing him. 

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry." Kaveh let out a few sobs as he clung to Alhaitham, and to his absolute horror before he could stop himself he opened his mouth and replied. 

"It's okay. I am here." If he could, he would have recoiled out of his own skin, why did he spit out such words. Why wasn't he thinking before speaking? Did Kaveh drug him? No. It was probably Tighnari, stupid bastard and his herbs. Then again, Alhaitham hadn't seen Tighnari in a while... he mulled it over trying to figure out why he was acting so strange all while a crying Kaveh sobbed in his arms. Thankfully it seemed Alhaithams words flew completely over Kaveh's head as he continued sobbing out apologies for clinging to him and crying. There was a strange beauty in how Kaveh looked when he cried. While for some reason seeing Kaveh's tears seemed to cause Alhaitham pain, on the other hand Alhaitham could see the details of Kaveh's face from how close the blonde was to him. From his long eyelashes that curled at the ends, to the way his hair despite being a complete total mess framed his face in a way that made his stomach tie in knots. It was so stupid. 

“I… I shouldn't be troubling you.” Kaveh mumbled sitting up as he tried to wipe his tears, however as the blonde pulled away, Alhaitham pulled him right back. It was as if his body had developed a mind of its own as it hugged Kaveh close to him. 

“No it’s alright.” Alhaitham once again spoke without thinking, as he gently rubbed his hand soothingly against Kaveh’s back. He couldn't quite figure out why his heart seemed to skip a beat when Kaveh related, still sniffling as he rested his head on Alhaithams chest. I must be riddled with some illness, perhaps I should go see Tighnari and have him sort this peculiar behavior out. Alhaitham thought to himself as he stroked Kaveh’s back, he didn't even notice when Kaveh’s sobs stopped and were replaced by soft snores. And instead of pushing Kaveh on the floor or leaving to return to his room like a normal sane person. Alhaitham just sat there holding the blonde architect close to him as if Kaveh was the most important thing in the world. His mind was riddled with questions and hypothesis, not that they really stuck his brain seemingly melting into mush when Kaveh let out a soft sound and pressed his head into the crook of Alhaithams neck.

Rose finds Mordecai Lackadaisy One Shot because reasons

TW: Angst, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort

Rose stood at the st. Louis train station, clutching the letter she had stolen from her mother in her paws. The old worn paper, a reminder of what she lost. Her older brother Mordecai. Gone one night to never return. After years of trying to find him, she got a tip from someone that a tuxedo cat that fit the description Rose had sent out lived in st. Louis. A tuxedo cat with a permanently angry expression and green eyes. Rose's tail lashed, this was is it. Maybe she would finally find Mordecai.

St. Louis was miserable to say the least, however finding a room was easy. An old cat named Ms. Bapka had let her stay in her apartment, her neighbour was a terrifying cat missing one eye. Viktor he was called apparently. When Rose first said hello to him he seemed to do a double take when he saw her. He was gruff and spoke with a heavy accent, and once she had settled in she began her search.

She spent most of her days hiding under the guise that she was a man and watching cats as they passed through cafe's and restaurants. Her eyes looking over the crowds for a familiar face, bright green eyes and a white muzzle. However after one week of no luck, Rose started to lose hope.

Rose slammed her fist into the table, fury making her fur bristle as she cursed under her breath. Storming down the stairs she nearly ran into a young smoky grey cat.

"ACK!" She dropped her stacks of magazines.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry!" Rose immediately back tracked helping the cat pick up all her magazines off the floor. "I'm so sorry I wasn't looking where I was going and-"

"It's fine." The cat smiled regaining her composure. "Are you new? My name is Ivy." She extended a paw, her bright yellow eyes looking into Rose's green ones.

"Uh... yeah uh- I'm Rose." Rose introduced herself., subconsciously fixing her jacket.

"Huh." Ivy looked Rose up and down. "I've never seen you before." Ivy commented.

"Oh yeah. I'm- I'm just staying for a while." Rose's tail twitched as she spoke.

"Well it's great to meet you!" Ivy grinned, "Would you be willing to go for a cup of tea sometime?"

""Uh..." Rose stepped back, "I'm actually- um kinda busy right now."

"What are you doing?" Ivy pressed.

"Just uh visiting." Rose smiled awkwardly trying to escape the smokey cat.

"Great! I can show you around!" Ivy grinned grabbing Rose and dragging her off. "Hey Rocky! Can you start the car!?" Ivy called out to a tabby in a blue suit.

"Uh I-"

"Come on." Rose was pushed into the back of the vehicle. Ivy sat down next to her, meanwhile two cats sat up front. The tabby named Rocky, and a ginger who's name she was unaware of. "I can show you around and show you some of the most popular places." Ivy prattled on, that peaked Rose's interest. Maybe she could find her brother.

"A-Alright." Rose nodded, "Do you happen to know anywhere where one can get a good tea and french toast?" Rose spoke up remembering her brother's fancy pickings.

"Mhm." Ivy grinned, "Little daisy cafe. C'mon Rocky let's show Rose."

The cafe was small and quaint, once nearby Rose practically threw the door open as if trying to catch her brother sitting at one of the chairs. However to her disappointment no one was there. While Ivy prattled on about the cafe, Rose took it upon herself to look around for any trace of her brother. Perhaps a surface was too clean, or items were in perfect symmetry. However she found no trace that hinted to her brother.

"Uh are you looking for something?" The ginger she had now known as Freckle asked her as she inspected the counter.

"No." Rose answered a little too quickly. "I'm just looking around."

"You are... looking rather closely at that counter..." Freckle mumbled as Rose's nose was practically glued the smooth counter surface.

"Just looking." Rose flashed him a smile, an attempt to calm the ginger's nerves. "So. Have you met anyone that looks like me around these parts?" Rose asked very casually.

"N-No?" Freckle mumbled, stepping back. His round face contorted into an expression of confusion. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason." Rose smiled again, before going back to staring intently at the walls. Her ears pricked as she listened for rats and other vermin. Rose ignored the whispers between the two male's as she scanned the walls, her gaze landed on a framed picture. But her eye was drawn to the tuxedo cat in a suit. " MORDECAI!" Rose practically threw herself at the picture as if to make sure that she wasn't seeing things. Sure enough, the familiar angry expression and tall stature solidified it. That was Mordecai. In a heart beat she had turned to Ivy. "Do you know where Mordecai is?" She asked pointing at the picture.

"Uh? Mordecai?" Ivy stared, "How do you know him?"

"Not important where is he!?" Rose asked urgently.

"He doesn't work here anymore." Rocky grinned, "He works at the hotel now."

"What hotel." Rose asked, her gaze piercing through the cat.

"Hotel Maribel." Rocky grinned.

"Where is that." Rose was already storming out of the cafe.

"Why do you-"

"I could drive you?" Rocky interrupted Ivy.

"Deal." Rose sat in the front seat of the car while they drove, the world didn't exist to her anymore. She was so close. And this time she would not let him get away. If she was looking around she would have noted at how beautiful the hotel was.

However Rose didn't care, putting on her sunhat to hide her face, her eyes scanning the crowd. The other three sat nearby, but hidden in shadow something about enemy territory or whatever. Rose tapped her foot against the floor as she watched cats walk in and out. A woman with a bone necklace, a tall man with yellow eyes...

Rose's heart froze as she spotted him. Mordecai. Her brother stepped into the hotel looking aloof as ever. Rose didn't care how obvious she was. Standing up she stormed over in his direction. She watched how Mordecai stepped back placing his hand into his trench coat. But Rose was faster, grabbing him by his shoulders she glared at him.

"Mordecai." Rose snapped, her hat had fallen off. Her brother looked like he had seen a ghost, his tail bushed up as he stared at Rose.

"Who-" Mordecai wrenched himself out of her grip.

Rose placed both her hands on her hips, her tail lashing behind her. "Oh? Don't remember me?" Despite the fact that Rose had imagined their reunion to be happy, it was everything but that. Rose's bottled up emotions had decided to show, years of built up rage, anger, and resentment. "It's me. Rose. Your sister." She snapped, shoving one finger into Mordecai's chest. "You know. The sister you ABANDONED!"

Mordecai looked mortified, with one swift movement he grabbed Rose dragging her to a random room. "What are you doing here?" He hissed, staring at her as he shut the door behind him.

"Finding you." Rose crossed her arms, glaring at her brother.

"Why-Why would you do that!" Mordecai groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I told you-"

"I don't care what you told us!" Rose snapped, "Do you not know what happened after you up and left?" She could feel her eyes tear up.

"Rose..." Mordecai looked down at her as he fixed his pince-nez.

"I spent years looking for you." Rose snapped her voice cracking. "Years." She wiped the tears that spilled out of her eyes. "I- I thought you didn't love us anymore." She whispered.

"Rose..." Mordecai wrapped his arms around her, despite his hatred for physical contact. This was his sister. An exception to this rule.

"Why did you leave...?" Rose asked, as Mordecai soothed her. "Why did you leave us?" Mordecai refused to look her in the eye, instead staring straight ahead at the wall.

"Because..." Mordecai sighed, "I got... I got into bad business." Mordecai stroked her hair trying to comfort her. "And, I ran away because there were hitmen after me. And then... I could not come back."

"W-what?" Rose looked up at him horrified.

"I know." Mordecai looked away, "But then I joined Lackadaisy and a gang, and I couldn't exactly leave. So I stayed."

"Why- Why would you do that." Rose whispered.

"Money." Mordecai shrugged. "You needed the money,"

"You stupid furball!" Rose whacked him, "You idiot." She collapsed, "We could have... we could have just found a different job."

"I'm sorry Rose." Mordecai hugged her, "You should go home."

"I am not going back." Rose stubbornly looked up at him. "I'm not letting you leave again."

"Rose-"

"No!" Rose grabbed him, clinging to him. "I- I don't want you to go..." She whispered. "Please..." She clung to her older brother. The brother she had spent years trying to find.

Once again, it’s me with my recommendations in term of Cherik fanfic 🤭

So, I found this one on Twitter, actually it’s someone on twitter who shared it and now I share it here because from what I’ve read already, I can tell it’s absolutely amazing !

So: Erik finds Charles in a lab, after he (Charles) had been abducted and tortured for months, Charles is weak and almost dead and Erik stays with him. BUT, it’s full of angst and tension, and honestly for the moment I’m just at chapter 13/30 but OMFG it’s so good. (I don’t want to spoil anything so the summary is awful, sue me)

Plus, it’s 180.000 words long !

Anyways, here’s the link, have fun (or not🫢)

Changing Fate

"After Sirius dies right in front of him, a desolate Harry would sooner die himself than be sent back to the Dursleys one more time. Voldemort gets creative, however, and instead of dying, Harry finds himself rocketed twenty years into the past and straight into the memories from Severus' pensieve. Harry reacts without considering the consequences, as per the norm, and saves Severus from his family. He only meant to spare an innocent pain, but in saving Severus and securing his alliance, he has set in motion a series of ancient prophecies as old as written history and changed the course of fate forever."

Name of the series: The Tapestry of Time

Amazing story By Lyraonyx. Haven't read something this intriguing in a while. Sending love and good luck to the autor!

☆.｡.:*The All Fic Masterlist.｡.:*☆

Hello everyone! Figured I should make one of these since I plan to flood this place with all of my nonsense! Will update is I write more! So please feel free to ask me if you have any requests for x reader! I'll also right any pairings you like, except Quaritch, he belongs to reader >:)))

🔄 - ongoing

✅ - completed

🔞 - adult only content - mostly pertaining to smut - MINORS DON'T YOU DARE

🌸 - family friendly, hand holding, fluff, romance no smut, platonic etc.

PERMANENT TAG LIST: Here

Else please leave a comment on the relevant fic you specifically want to be pinged for :)

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

MILES QUARITCH.｡.:*☆

🔄🔞 The Lie of Providence - Recom/Na'vi Miles Quaritch x Sully! Female! Na'vi Reader

🔄🔞Revenant - Colonel Miles Quaritch x Female! Wife! Reader

✅ 🔞What Do I Tell My Friends Family? - Human/Recom Miles Quaritch x Sully! Female! Na'vi Reader

✅🌸Red Rivers Run Deep - Human Miles Quaritch x Human! Female! Reader

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

JAKE SULLY.｡.:*☆

✅🔞Hold My Hand and Never Let Go - Jake Sully x Omatikaya! Female! Na'vi Reader

✅🔞Scorching - Jake Sully x Female! Na'vi Reader

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

NETEYAM SULLY.｡.:*☆

✅🌸Resplendent- Neteyam Sully x Female! Metkayina! Na'vi Reader

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

AO'NUNG.｡.:*☆

✅🌸 - Jealousy? You Wear it Well - Ao'nung x Omatikayan! Sully! Female! Na'vi Reader

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

Resplendent

word count: 1220

Pairing: Neteyam Sully x Female! Metkayina! Na'vi Reader Tags/warnings: Fluff, angst, bittersweet, established relationship, adult reader, adult Neteyam, no smut Summary: Neteyam quietly watches you from the shore as you perform a ritual dance in the water, to the utter delight of your daughters.

Author's Note: Set some time after the big battle. Also moved those events further ahead. You and Neteyam are mated and have children before the RDA attacks the reef. Got inspired by the song~

Sa’nu - mum, mommy

Tahni - bioluminescent freckle

Close your eyes.

Deep breathes.

Remember the moves.

Remember the words...

Your heart thrums in your chest almost painfully. You take a deep, slow, calming breath; placing a hand over your heart.

“Sa’nu? Are you okay?”

You open your eyes, looking down to meet the gaze of your youngest daughter. The cool water of the sea comes up to her neck. Sweet thing. You told her, she and her sister could watch you from the shoreline. But they were persistent to be as close to you as possible. The water barely reaches your hips.

You offer a soft smile, reaching down and affectionately stroking her hair.

“I’m okay…Don’t worry my little star. Mommy’s just nervous.” The 5-year-old beams up at you with a toothy grin. Your 6-year-old beside her pats you on the arm.

“You practiced aaaaall the time! You got this.” She offers you her own encouraging smile. You give her an appreciative nod before facing the shoreline once more. You return your face to neutrality, closing your eyes once again.

You hear the disturbance of the water as your daughters move a bit to the side to give you more space to move.

With one final calming breath, you open your mouth and begin the song cord of your family.

---

Neteyam stands under the shade of a nearby tree on the shoreline. His arms are crossed as he watches the three of you.

The evening breeze carries your voice to him. He stands up straight when the sound hits his ears.

When you sing, it reminds him of the melody of birdsong in spring. No matter how many years may pass between you two, every time he hears you play the instrument of your heart, he feels like he could fall in love with you all over again.

He takes in your form as you start swaying in the water, admiring you from top to bottom.

Your hair, thick and long, reaching all the way down to your knees; you and your sisters spent what must have been hours, braiding it into the intricate patterns now adorning your head.

Even from this distance, he can still make out the faint markings of the tattoos framing your face. Though today you also have a thin line of white painting the centre of your face. You could have mud smeared all over and he would still find you to be the most beautiful woman; you have him convinced you are blessed by Eywa herself.

You arms move slow and with purpose through the air; attuned with the words as they fall from your lips.

Your soft lips.

How he wishes he could kiss you right now.

You dip down, submerging your arms into the water. In one fluid motion, you rise back up to your feet, the motion you perform with your hands and arms bring water up with you as you rose. Your arms are stretched out to your sides as you pirouette.

Neteyam’s heart skips a beat as he watches you, and it’s as if time itself slows, just so he can drink in the beauty of your very being.

With your back to eclipse, your front is cast in shadow.

The water falls around you in a shimmering curtain of rain. The last light of eclipse hits the smooth stones woven into the fabric on your chest; causing a cascade of colours to dance across your skin. And when the sun disappears, your tahni come to life like the brilliance of dawn.

It’s one of his most favourite parts of your body. Though you had the scattered stars as did all Na’vi, for reasons he attests only to being blessed by Eywa, you have thin bioluminescent swirls weaving itself around your arms, chest, and all down your legs. To him it’s like a faint galaxy glittering in the night.

He recalls fondly the memory of him knowing each and every star on your body intimately.

And in the fading light of the day do you shine before him. Resplendent as you are in the day, so too will you dazzle the world around you in the darkness of the approaching night.

His heart throbs something fierce when you open your eyes after dipping into the water once more. Even behind the curtain of water, or the netting of the fabric draped over your head, your eyes glow with a fierceness he knows all to well. It pierces his very soul, a warmth sweeping over him.

He drinks you in more as you bend your form this way and that. He wishes he knew the intricacies of your dance; understood what each fluid motion meant, the significance of each swish of your tail, or the ways you angle your hands and bend your fingers.

You close your eyes as you near the end of the cord song.

As you perform another twirl, you playfully swat the water with your thick tail, splashing your daughters.

Their uncontrollable gigging brings a smile to your face. You open your eyes as you continue to dance, giving them a loving look. They’re splashing each other with reckless abandon as they try to imitate your moves. You can’t help the unrestrained laughter their antics bring you.

Neteyam laughs quietly to himself as he watches his girls playfully flay about in the water. Every day since their birth he’s given thanks to both you and the Great Mother for blessing him with such miracles. He hadn’t thought it was possible to love something as much as he loved you.

He feels a stray tear fall down his cheek. But he doesn’t move to wipe it away. Instead he continues to smile as he watches your song and dance coming to its conclusion.

You turn to face the horizon, and his gaze drifts to his girls.

They’re singing something he can’t quite make out, but he loves the sound nonetheless.

And when their eyes meet his, finally noticing his presence, they wave at him wildly, giggling all over again.

His smile grows wider, and he offers them a small wave back.

---

One final pose, and you hold the final note of your song, eyes still closed. You hold that note until your lungs and throat burn.

You hear the excited cheers of your daughters as they shower you with praise. Your breathing is laboured as your heart pounds in your chest, but you offer them a bow and a small smile of gratitude.

You turn yourself to the horizon before you finally open your eyes. The ritual dance has come to and end.

You rub the cool ocean water on your cheeks, in your neck, and down your arms; all in an effort to cool you down from your laborious activity. You breath deep in from the nose, and slowly exhale through your mouth, calming your rapid heartbeat.

The girls still giggle beside you, resuming their unrefined dancing; now also singing their favourite lullaby in lieu of a songcord.

Sufficiently cooled off, you turn your head to your daughters to admire them in their silliness.

Your brow nits in slight confusion though, when you see them waving at something behind you, giggling all the while.

You turn around, curiosity in your eyes.

But the shoreline is just as empty as when you arrived.

---

Author's Notes: It was a private funeral dance 😢

What Do I Tell My Friends Family? Pt. 6

word count: 4003

Pairing: Recom! Miles! Quaritch x Female! Sully! Na'vi! Reader Tags/Warnings: hurt, comfort, feels, lots of crying

Author's Note: Apologies in advance for any grammatical errors! Hope you enjoy this next installment :)))

<previous chapter> | 6 | <next chapter>

The weeks that followed could only be described as uncomfortable. Those of the clan gave you and Quaritch a wide berth. You did not miss their obvious sneers, nor the harsh whispers under their breath. Yet you cannot find it in yourself to fault them; such a reaction was more than understandable, perhaps even warranted.

The humans were far more courteous, even those with Avatars; but they too kept it to what was minimal etiquette. You noticed though, that they were far more cordial with the other recoms. You watched them converse with each other, animatedly talking about something or rather. It made you envious, a feeling you knew all too well.

Quaritch tells you not to worry; says it doesn’t bother him. But you wondered how much weight such words truly held. You’re thankful he and the recoms at least have each other, as bittersweet as it was. On the nights where you would eat dinner with your family, he and his squad ate together in one of their dwellings; the night filled with reminiscing of lives past and wishes for the future. Their revelry is downright infectious, and you often excuse yourself early to join them. It fills your heart with unbridled warmth to see Spider with them too. More often than not he would also join when it was just you and Quaritch alone.

At one point you had gathered all your siblings together, sitting them down and giving them a less graphic (for Tuk’s benefit) retelling of you and your mate’s meeting and eventual courtship. Your brothers, bless them, treated you no different, told you that they didn’t care and were happy for you. When you cornered them afterwards to speak privately, you wept and wept, thanks spilling from your lips over and over again.

They reiterated once more that they were just happy you came back alive and well. Regardless of the less-than-ideal circumstances surrounding your introduction to one another, and his sordid history, they were simply happy you had found your one true mate. Moreover, as far as they were concerned, if Eywa herself deemed it necessary to get this involved in your lives, then she must see something in him. If she could forgive him for his sins, then who were they to hold it against him? He paid his price in blood.

Sweet little Tuk; everything that had happened was perhaps a little too big for such a young mind, but you tried to explain yourself as best as you can to such a young one. She hummed in thought, called you and your mate weird, but if he made you happy like dad makes mum happy, then he must be okay. She was also the only one of your siblings that wanted to actually speak with Quaritch face to face.

You were reluctant, afraid of how mother might react. But little Tuk is rambunctious in nature. She barged in one night when you and Quaritch were having dinner with Spider. Hands on her hips she proclaimed with unwavering authority,

“If you wanna be in my family, then first you gotta apologize!” Her eyes were fixated on Quaritch, who stared back at her with shock all over his face. When he didn’t immediately say anything she elaborated further.

“That time…When you took my big sister…You and those scary people hurt us, and that wasn’t very nice…” She frowned at him, eyes glistening.

When you looked to your mate you saw the guilt in his eyes, how his ears flattened and tail wrapped around his waist. He got to his knees, tried to make himself as small possible in an attempt to be closer to her eye level. And he apologized. He apologized for scaring her, for hurting her. But most of all, he was so sorry he took you. He doesn’t give her any excuses; simply admits he did something wrong and was sorry.

She nods at him, but says nothing else; though you see the tightness of her expression loosen. Spider walks over to her and ruffles her hair which makes her giggle.

“Here kid, I got a little somethin’ for ya,” Quaritch says and reaches into his pants pocket. He pulls out a small wooden carving of a pa'li. He holds out the tiny figurine balanced in the palm of his hand. Tuk’s eyes widen and she grabs it with a loud thank you. She holds it up to her face, turning it around to admire it.

“You made this?” She asks, looking up at him expectantly.

“Yes. Your sister here helped me too. Made sure it looked right.” And it was true; you had spent many nights by his side, carefully instructing him on pa'li anatomy. You were surprised when he approached you and spoke of his intention to carve her the small figurine. He explained he felt inspired when you had offhandedly mentioned her fondness for the animal.

Tuk looks between him and figure a few times, then gives him one final once over before nodding her head.

“Hmm. I guess you can stay. [Y/N] likes you, so…And you’re Spider’s dad, and I like big brother Spider.” She smiles up at the aforementioned boy, who ruffles her hair once again affectionately.

“Okay bye I wanna show this to Lo’ak!” And with that she’s sprinted off before any of you can say anything more.

---

It was disheartening to come to the realization that Kiri was avoiding you. She didn’t outright ignore you per say, but she was always too busy or had other pressing matters to attend to; never was she free to sit and talk to you.

You broke down crying one night, alone with Quaritch. Immediately you were pulled into his embrace. His strong arms held you tight as he whispered comforting words into your hair.

You hadn’t noticed Spider just outside. He had come with the intent to eat with you two as usual, but stopped himself when he heard your cries. He listened to the words you spoke, laden with heartache for your sister.

You didn’t hear him leave either.

---

“You’ve gotta talk to her.” Spider finds Kiri inside watching her mother’s video logs.

“I’m sorry, what?” She turns to him alarmed.

“[Y/N]. You have to talk to her.” He pleads.

Kiri shakes her head at him and turns back to the video.

“I don’t have to do anything. Besides, what’s there to even talk about…” her voice travels off at the end, as if she was unsure of her own words.

“Are you being serious right now? Kiri…” He grabs her by the shoulders and turns her around to face him. She’s at his eye level from kneeling in front of the console.

“What do you want from me Spider? You know as well as I do what he’s done in the past. And she does too; but I guess that doesn’t matter anymore…”

“That’s not fair, Kiri—”

“You wanna know what’s NOT fair, Spider?! The fact that I have wake up every day knowing that the man who shot and killed my mother, is alive and well! And not only that, he’s mated to my sister!” There’s tears in her eyes as her voice rises; the frustration of it all bubbling over.

Spider can feel the anger radiating off of her, white hot and unravelling; a crescendo of emotion bottled up for who knows how long. The dam breaks and she sobs, fists clenched tight.

“So now, he gets to play house with my family, [Y/N] gets her Eywa-given mate, and you get your dad back! And what do I get? NOTHING!”

Spider flinches when she screams.

“What happened to ‘us orphans have to stick together’…? Am I going to lose you too…?” Spider’s eyes grow wide at her admission. Her fears laid out before him; she felt as though she was losing her family to Quaritch? Was she blind? He hates that she’s feeling like this, wishing he knew how to make it all go away. But at the same time, he can’t help but feel his own bout of anger and frustration.

“Kiri…You never were an orphan; not really…You know that, right?”

He looks at her with a serious expression. Her lips press into a thin line at his words.

“You had Jake and Neytiri. You literally call them mum and dad. Me? Who did I have? Yea Norm and the others raised me; but no one was really my parent…Norm was more like a big brother. And I’m not blind or stupid Kiri; your folks never considered me part of the family. Only you guys did…”

She knows all too well what her parents think of Spider. Mother was not as subtle as she thought she was. Father at least treated him well, but there was still this disconnection from Spider being human.

As they stared at one another, it became clear to both of them that there was perhaps a lot of hurt left yet to heal.

---

Despite the passage of time, you have yet to properly speak with your mother. Words left unspoken causing a rift to form between you two. Small at first, you feel the cracks forming as it has been left to sit and fester. She treats you with the same love and care you have always known, but something has undoubtedly changed. It’s there, behind a lingering gaze, the hesitance of touch, the near imperceivable sharp intake of breath, but with no words that follow.

The tension at dinner time is thick, near palpable. Your brothers try their best to fill the awkward silence with pleasant conversation, driving it as far from the topic of your mate as possible. Kiri obviously says nothing, much to your disappointment. Mother smiles but it does not reach her eyes.

When you eventually muster up the courage to speak with Mo’at, you are surprised; you had expected her to be just as, if not more, against it all as mother. But she is pragmatic, understanding that this providence cannot be ignored. Her unique spiritual bond with Eywa allowed a deeper understanding into the intricacies of the Great Mother’s Will. Though she would not forgive him any time soon, she would at least accept his place among her family and her People; if this was Her Way, the so it must Be. She didn’t have to like it, but she did have to respect it.

You asked her how best to approach your own mother. She tells you that you must speak from the heart, but be open to the idea that Neytiri may never accept things as they are. She is not Tsahik and never will be. Though she has great love for Eywa, this hurt cuts far deeper than you may yet understand. She says that Neytiri perhaps needs to commune with her father’s spirit and seek out his guidance. Perhaps even from Eywa herself.

You nod and thank her for speaking with you. You turn to leave but she stops you with a hand on your shoulder. When you turn back around she pulls you into a warm hug. She tells you everything will be okay; Eywa has deigned it so. That she is sorry you have suffered such hardship, but she knows you are strong and capable, and will get through this one way or another.

You cry shamelessly into her embrace for a long while.

---

When next to happen to find yourself alone in the company of your father, you fix him with a question that has been plaguing your mind.

“You know…I’m surprised you’re not as, angry, as mother is about all this.” You watch his face trying to gauge his reaction. His countenance is thoughtful though a scowl does form. He schools his expression quickly.

“Trust me kid; I am.” There is an underlying bitterness in his words that leaves you with an uncomfortable clench in your stomach.

“But…Eywa accepted me and forgave me for my part in the destruction of Home Tree and everything after that. She came to our aid when shit hit the fan, helping us drive back the RDA. She’s done a lot for me and our family. And if what Quaritch says is true, that our Avatar bodies only work because she allows them to? Then I got a helluva lot more to be grateful for. I wouldn’t have Neytiri, Mo’at, your siblings, the clan, or you for that matter.”

Your lips quiver with the strain to not cry. It becomes nigh impossible with the way father is smiling down at you. He places both hands on your shoulders.

“I took a lot from Pandora…But you and your siblings? You guys are the one good thing I put in.” You heart swells and you lose your battle to not cry. When Jake sees your tears he pulls you in, rubbing your back soothingly as you weep.

“No matter how grown up you get, you’ll always be my baby girl…It’s gonna be okay, I promise.”

You sniffle as you try to calm yourself. You are a little fed up with all the crying you’ve been doing lately.

“How can you be so sure?” He shrugs his shoulders.

“Call it a father’s intuition.” This time, you return his smile.

---

Tonight finds you in the arms of your husband. The two of you are deep within the forest, somewhere far from High Camp and Bridgehead. You found a secluded perch on which to lay and watch Eywa paint the sky in brilliant starlight. Your snuggled into his side, head resting on his broad chest. You listen to calm rhythmic beating of his heart. It comforts you.

His arm encloses you, pressing you tightly to him. Your hands, fingers entwined, rest atop where his heart is.

“What’s going on through that pretty little head of yours?” His voice draws you in, pulling your lazy gaze from the sky and to his face. There is a warmth in his eyes, a kind curiosity. He brings your hand up and presses a kiss to your knuckles. You loved it when he was soft and gentle. Though you were, of course, eager and willing for his rougher ministrations when the mood struck.

You smile softly and hum in response.

“Hmmm. Just thinking about how much I love you.”

You are rewarded with the goofiest smile you’ve ever seen adorn his handsome face. Sometimes it feels as though he could never get used to your declarations of love and affection. You wonder if he was starved of such a thing. The thought baffles you, as your people loved freely and were not ashamed to express such feelings to friends and family.

You don’t dwell on it though; resolving to smother him with everything he may or may not have been denied all his life.

You move yourself off his chest but don’t untangle your hand from his. Instead, you lay on your back and pull him as you do. Miles follows, moving himself above you; caging you in between his arms, his face mere inches from yours.

You stare at him; studying. You take note of every luminous freckle, the strength of his cheek bones, the grooves of his nose, the breadth of his jaw. Your hand moves to his face and cups his cheek. His skin is warm to the touch. Your thumb traces the lines of his lips. He closes his eyes and leans into your hand.

When he looks at you once more with a half-lidden gaze, lovesick and smiling, it stirs something deep within you. The flicker of a flame comes to life, its warmth all encompassing. That look of reverence on his face; you never want to stop. Not in this lifetime or the next.

You resolve to protect that smile by any means necessary.

---

The two of you weren’t in your tent this morning, and Neytiri huffs in frustration. After much talks with Jake, communing with Eywa, she had finally decided to try talking with you once more. The next morning of course. But much to her dismay, no one was at the tent when she called. She saw no one inside when she quickly looked inside, but did not linger as it smelt far too much like The Demon.

She cusses under her breath. She knows she’s going to have to get out of the habit of calling him that. Start addressing him by his name.

Unsure of where the two of you might be, she makes her way back to her own dwelling. Jake is there, cleaning one of his guns. He looks up when he hears her familiar footfalls.

“That was quick,” he says, a confused look on his face.

“They weren’t there.”

“Oh. Maybe one of the kids saw em’.”

She nods and sets out to find her other children.

---

Alas, it would prove futile; none of the others had seen either of you since the night before, when you had told Spider you and Quaritch were going out to watch the stars.

Speaking of Spider, where was he? If anyone was going to know where you two were, it’d be him.

Neytiri makes her way over to the scientist buildings; if he wasn’t with her children, he more than likely would be here.

She enters the one housing Grace’s Avatar, and finds Norm up and about, not yet in his Avatar. He turns and is surprised to see her of all people, rather than her kids, enter. Still, he is happy to see her all the same.

“Neytiri? Oel ngati kameie! What brings you here?”

“Oel ngati kameie, Norm. Have you seen Spider? Or [Y/N]?” She smiles and greets him with equal enthusiasm. His expression becomes perturbed at the question though.

“No sorry, haven’t seen Spider since…Huh. Actually the day before yesterday? Thought he was staying with [Y/N] and Quaritch.”

Neytiri’s stomach drops at the notion. Has no one really seen either of you three for the passed two days? And no one said anything? What kind of mother was she then, to not notice?? Her mind starts racing, but she takes a deep breath; calming herself before she spiraled out of control. There was no need to overthink; you may have simply been too busy.

“Have you tried asking the other recoms? I’m sure one of them must’ve seen em’ at some point.” She nods at him; it was a good place to continue.

“I have not. Thank you Norm. I shall go see them.”

Briskly she leaves, not another word said; far too eager to find you as soon as possible.

---

She eventually finds the three of them conversing with some of the other Avatars. She cares not for their topic of conversation, walking up and interrupting them without a second thought.

“You three.” She addresses them coldly; the others sense the rising tension and quickly make their escape.

“Mrs. Sully! What can we do for you?” The bald one, Lyle if she remembers correctly, asks her.

“My daughter. Have you seen her? What of your, leader, or his son?”

Instead of answering, the three of them simply share a look amongst themselves, before they all look back to her. The uncomfortable feeling is back tenfold. There is something in their gaze, an almost apologetic look in their eyes. She hates it, nor does she understand why they look upon her so.

“What? What is wrong?” She demands, the agitation ever growing.

Mansk clears his throat and steps forward.

“Come with us Mrs. Sully…And bring your husband too.”

Her stomach clenches something awful; her mother’s intuition stings.

---

The 5 of them congregate in Mansk’s private dwelling. He gestures for everyone to sit down, get comfortable. Jake too can’t help but notice the sullen looks adorning the others’ faces. Nor his he miss the nervous twitch of his wife’s tail. He grabs her hand and squeezes it reassuring. She looks to him, taking a deep breath as she nods.

Mansk re-emerges from wherever he went, brandishing a tablet in hand. He sits himself in front of everyone, holding the tablet for them to see.

“Here…A message was given to us, to give to you when you came.” He moves his hand and hits play.

Instantly you are on the screen. You are nervously rubbing the back of your neck. Quaritch is sitting next to you; he is leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees and fingers loosely threaded in front of him.

“Hello mother, father, precious siblings…” Neytiri squeezes Jake’s hand harder. She does not like how your voice sounds as you speak.

“If you’re seeing this, then you’re all probably wondering where we—I am…” You pause, hand on your heart and you take a deep breath to calm yourself. Neytiri notices then, Spider mulling around in the background. Back and forth he moves, as if in a hurry.

“I don’t know how else to word this, so I’m just going to come out and say it. I’ve left. WE, have left. Me, Spider, and Miles.” You glance over to Quaritch and smile, grabbing his hand in yours, threading fingers together. Your face returns to that awful tired expression when you look back to the camera.

“I’m sorry I did this without saying goodbye…But this was for the best. If there was even a chance, no matter how small, that any of you would try to stop us…Well, I didn’t want to take that chance. I’m so sorry, I really mean that. For everything…Father? Thank you for taking care of me. I love you, to Earth and back. Please remember to take care of yourself too, not just the family or the clan…

Kids? I know you’re probably gonna hate me for a while, leaving like this and all—but like I said. My mind is made up and I don’t want any of you trying to stop us. I love each and every one of you so much. No one could ask for better siblings. Please be good to each other. And boys? Start actually listening to dad once in a while, yea?”

You pause to wipe a few stray tears. Neytiri is sobbing quietly as she clenches Jake’s hand painfully. She doesn’t see him swallow hard the lump in his throat.

“Mama?” Neytiri sits up straight when you address her directly.

“I don’t think I could every forgive myself for hurting you. I am so sorry, more than words could ever express…You took good care of me, took good care of this family. I am proud to call you my mother, and no matter how far the wind takes me, I will always love you. I hope you can forgive me one day…” You gently place a hand on your stomach.

“I do not want to cause dissent amongst my family, or the clan, any longer…And one day when I start my own family, with the man I love… I don’t want them to feel like they don’t belong. So here we go, somewhere far beyond the horizon, to find a place we can truly call our own…” Your smile is bright and unwavering, even when the tears don’t stop.

“Please keep taking such good care of each other. Promise me you will. Sullys stick together, our family is our fortress, right? Well, these two? They are my family now, they are my fortress, and I will do what I must to keep them safe, happy, accepted...Whether or not the clan or some of you can accept it, know that I love each and every one of you, forever and ever…So until I see you again, May Eywa keep you all safe…Goodbye...”

You wave at the camera before leaning forward to touch something unseen, and the video ends.

Neytiri breaks down then and there. She falls into Jake’s arms, clutching at him desperately. Her wails crack her voice as she calls for you. Jake sheds silent tears as he holds her tight. He fights every instinct in him demanding he grab his ikran and blindly fly after you.

The other recoms sit and silence, heads lowered, as they take in the sight before them.

A mother’s heartache was truly one of the saddest things to bare witness to.

---

Tag List: @drinking-tea-and-be-obsessed, @lvangel98, @rsclopez, @onlyreadz @manymaria111, @kristeen31xxx @mechformers @olivia-the-weirdo @essenceinpink @villirios @rededfoxy @brutecuteness @perseny @fandom-garbage @ttreader @hihhasotherfixations @angel-of-silver369 @royallaufeyson @saltedcoffeescotch @the-hufflebird-girl @ding-dong-big-schlong @netherklutz @moneyoverl0v3 @@episodic8peace @touchedflowers @sarcasticrandy

---

<previous chapter> | 6 | <next chapter>

A Gift for @allosaurids

Summary:

This is inspired by @cupcakeslushie Feral Leo AU.

After Leo comes back from the prison dimension scared and battered, Raph is just trying to survive the night and help Leo come back to them.

Even though he questions if there is any part of Leo left to return to them.

-

The vision in Raph's right eye is fuzzy and out of focus, and his arm on that side is throbbing and twitching uncontrollably. In fact, the whole of his right side feels wrong, alternating between numbness, and feeling like a thousand sharp needles are tearing and shredding at his skin and muscles. 

He needs rest. He knows he needs rest. But he can't, not yet.  

His mind is a field of landmines, and if he thinks too long about what could have happened, what did happen, he's going fall apart, and Raph can't afford that. Not now, when the injuries of the invasion are still raw and bleeding, still all too present. He can't rest yet; he needs to wait for his family and him to begin to heal.  

But Raph has a feeling that they never will be completely fine after this again. Especially Leo, who crouches in the corner of the dark med bay, eyes wide, wild, and unseeing.  

Raph is sitting in the opposite corner, curled inwards in an attempt to appear smaller and less of a threat, and just looks at his brother.  

His brother who spent years in the prison dimension, when for them it had only been minutes. Who has thick, jagged scars across his body that hadn’t been there at the beginning of this nightmare, nails and teeth that are sharp and cracked, and at the center of it all: a huge crack down his shell that none of them can treat because he won't let them close enough to do so.  

The two brothers watch each other in the dim light and take in each other. Leo with a scared and uncertain gaze, that shifts from Raph to the other shadows in the room. While Raph just looks and tries to take in all the changes that Leo has gone through.  

Raph wishes he could have stopped it, that he had taken Leo’s place, that none of this ever happened.  

He wishes he could tell Leo that he’s sorry.  

But he can’t. Not in a way that Leo would be able to understand right now. 

So, Raph does the only thing he could think of to calm down the scared rabid animal that had taken the place of his little brother. He hums. 

It’s a deep, rumbling, purring, hum that doesn’t come from his throat, but from the space between his lungs. He hadn’t done this in years, not since they were all tots, but it had always calmed him and the others down and he was praying it would work here. 

It didn’t seem to be working, Raph wasn’t even sure Leo was hearing it. 

Then, Raph felt a flicker of pain scatter across his arm, and he flinched.  

Dammit, not again!

He groaned and curled inward bracing for what was about to happen. 

The parts of him that had been fused with the kraang flared in agony. Burning sharp pain that made him want to scratch and tear at his skin to get it out. His whole-body shook, his eyes watered, and Raph knew that all he could do was ride it out.  

But, God, he just wanted it to stop.  

The episode went on for what was likely just a few minutes, though it felt longer, wearing down Raph’s already weak mental defenses and allowing the memories of everything that had happened to invade the parts of his mind not already overwhelmed with the pain. Why couldn’t this horrible day just be over already?! 

Raph felt something brush against his left arm.  

The snapper whipped around and pressed himself deeper into the corner to get away from whatever had managed to sneak up on him. But as he did so, whatever had touched him skittered backwards with a hiss.  

Leo hunched inwards on himself staring at Raph with fear and expectance, but Raph froze. For a few seconds neither of them moved, then Leo leaned forward and audibly sniffed the air. After a second, the slider took a step forward and made a soft clicking noise.  

"...Hurt?" Leo managed to rasp; voice uncertain but his face a mix of apathy and fear. Raph managed a small nod, too scared to make any move or noise that could frighten Leo back into the opposite corner. The younger just sniffed the air again and shuffled closer. Without taking his eyes off Raph, Leo reached out with one dirty clawed hand and placed it atop his brother's bandaged wrapped arm.  

It took everything Raph had not to flinch at the contact, as it caused the pain to spike and be brought to the forefront of his mind again. Leo ran his hand over the bandage, squinting down at it with his still cloudy eyes. He took the larger hand into his own and ran his fingertips down it and turned it over.  

He's looking for blood, Raph realized. Checking to see if the bandages needed replacing. Just like he always does when one of us is hurt.  

The thought gives him a terrible hope that maybe a part of Leo survived whatever had happened to him.  

Leo's administrations hurt more than they help, because there are no cuts to bleed, and his bandages are clean. But Raph allows it because it's the closest Leo has been to normal since they got him back, and he's not going to ruin this. He stays still, even when Leo moves his examination from his arm up to his eye, and, upon finding nothing to treat, onto the rest of him. 

When it's over, Raph is still just as hurt and tired as when they started, but Leo looks more present than he has since they got him back. The younger pulls back and faces Raph head-on. His mouth twists like he wants to say something, but he doesn't even try to open his mouth and vocalize it, which is so unlike the Leo that Raph knows.  

That's okay, Raph still has his voice, and he can talk for them both for now.  

"Thanks for the help, Lee," He whispers. Leo squirms under his gaze, then makes us sharp hissing click before turning away.  

Raph briefly panics that he did something wrong before he sees Leo moving towards the medical cot in the center of the room. The older relaxes realizing that Leo is just going back to bed now that he knows everything's all right. Or so he thought. Because Leo is coming back with the pillows and blankets that had covered the bed.  

He puts the pillow up against the wall next to Raph, then takes the large sheet and throws it over Raph's head. Leo sits down with the pillow protecting his injured and broken shell and arranges the blanket around his older brother. When he's done, he just curls slightly into his shell and stares out over the dark med bay, searching for a threat that isn’t there. 

The dangerous hope has taken root in Raph's chest, and he prays that Leo is still there.  

For a few minutes they just sit like that. Then Leo struggles out a single word.  

"Real?"  

For a moment Raph's not sure what he's talking about, then he remembers all the horrible things the kraang could make him see when it forced itself into his mind. An overwhelming sense of grief threatens to swallow him whole, and he moves to take Leo's hand in his. To try and convince his younger brother that yes, this is real, and he is safe now. But he stops himself.  

Memories of what it was like being held captive by the kraang, about how they clung to every part of you, and how their touch was unescapable, flashed across his thoughts.  

No, touch wasn't a good idea. But the idea of not being able to cling to some part of Leo was worse. 

So, Raph does the only thing he could think of, he reached up and undid his bandana from his head. He wrapped one of the fraying ends around his own hand and offered the other out to Leo.  

For a moment Leo just stared, eyes flickering between Raph and the red fabric.  

"Take it," Raph offered, and Leo's face filled with the same dangerous hope that had blossomed in Raph's chest. Leo shakily gripped the other end of the bandana, and Raph pulled it taut between them.  

They had done this when they were younger too, mostly when Donnie didn't feel that he could touch anything but still wanted to know his brothers were nearby. It feels wrong using it like this, but it's the only thing that Raph can think of. 

"This is real," Raph promised, tears flowing out of his eyes. "You're safe now." 

Leo’s empty gaze returned to scanning the dark room, but his grip tightened on the bandana, and after quiet moment Leo began to hum in the same way Raph had done earlier. 

Raph closed his eyes, pain still shooting up and down his skin and returned his brother’s attempt to soothe them with his own rumblings. 

They would both be healed soon; they just needed a little time. 

-

Sooooo, I'm kinda sliding in under the buzzer here.

I rewrote this at least five times, and still wasn't satisfied with it. But @allosaurids deserves a gift, so I just had to go with it.

Thank you to @rottmnt-secret-gifting for hosting, and to the receiver of this gift I ask permission to be able to post this on Ao3.

Thank you.

Echoes Of The Rain

Synopsis: Bakugou Katsuki grieves the loss of his best friend (rival? lover?) beneath rain-filled skies. He catches a glimpse of Midoriya Izuku's ghost, a shadow of what he once was. He is forced to confront the pain of holding on—and the inevitability of letting go.

Preview: "With every otherworldly meeting between the two, the details he had once held so dearly—Izuku’s laugh, the way his hair felt under his fingertips, the warmth of his touch—were slipping from his grasp. He could no longer count the freckles on the boy's face—a number he once knew by heart. The rain was washing it all away."

Words: 2.1k

Tags: bkdk, major character death, grief/mourning, healing, hurt/comfort, ghosts, regretful bakugou katsuki, unresolved emotional tension, bittersweet ending

Notes: my first work lol been thinking about getting this off my mind for soo long please free me of my shackles.. also cross-posted on ao3!!

Raindrops kiss the grass. Echoes linger in the storm. Dreams fade, soaked in gray.

Bakugou Katsuki was no stranger to solitude. He didn’t mind being alone—preferred it, most days. Yet, every so often, his feet found their way back to the river.

The rain hit hard, relentless. It soaked through his clothes, ran in cold rivulets down his spine. He barely noticed. He just stood there, fists clenched, jaw tight. It had been weeks. Weeks since Izuku had—since he was gone. And still, the stupid nerd wouldn’t leave him alone.

Katsuki had always hated the rain. It made him feel weak and pitiful—just as he feels now. He stared solemnly at the riverbank; the pitter-patter of the rain masking his cascading tears.

He missed the nerd. Every damn thing about him. From his incessant muttering to the foolish look in his eyes whenever he called him "Kacchan". His mind wandered back to their second fight in Ground Beta. Back then, Katsuki couldn't believe he was having a panic attack in front of him. In hindsight, the vulnerability had been a strange relief. It felt cathartic to pummel him into the ground, a twisted form of therapy. He'd never say this to Izuku's face, but he was thankful he stuck by him through every moment of prideful stupidity.

He would have taken a lifetime of coming second to Izuku over this. Katsuki kneels into the muddy earth, eyes glossing over. The rage inside does little to quiet the voices overtaking his conscience. Every wave of anger begrudgingly surges within, moving in rhythm with the water's ebb. How does one simply get over the loss of their soulmate? He knows he shouldn't be feeling like this, that Izuku didn't mean to leave him, that he died the noblest death a hero ever could.

He saw him in the back of his mind—a constant presence, a painful reminder of the beacon of light he is now devoid of. Katsuki slams his fists into the ground wrathfully, bitterly aware of how pathetic he looks. It felt pointless to keep pushing forward, to keep throwing himself into the fray without an equally persistent rival—his rival. Who would chase after him? Or rather, who would he chase after? He wishes, more than anything, for Izuku to show up. For a passing instance, Katsuki wonders if Izuku remembered the last time they were both here, together.

The cacophony surrounding him made his heart ache. How could the clouds continue to weep? How could the stream continue to ripple? How could his own heart continue to beat—when Izuku was gone? It pounded in his chest, forming an unsteady rhythm, making a mockery of the silence his twin flame had left behind.

Katsuki tilts his neck upward, hair drenched and clinging to his forehead. His usual fierce glare is absent, replaced by a vacant, almost lost expression. The rain poured unceasingly, cold and heavy, but it didn’t wash away the tension in his jaw or the way his shoulders slumped, as though the weight of the world was too much to carry. His crimson eyes, usually sharp and cutting, are dulled by grief, clouded with a deep, aching sadness.

He exhaled sharply and tipped his head back. His hair stuck to his forehead, his vision blurred with rain. He should go. He should stop standing here like an idiot and move. But his legs wouldn’t work.

And then—

A flicker.

His breath caught, sharp and sudden. His heart slammed against his ribs. It was just the mist, the rain playing tricks on him. That’s all it was.

An eerie stillness settles in. Izuku's outline glisters before him—indistinct, translucent. Like embers of a fire, barely hanging on. It's just a hallucination, he tells himself. And yet, his own hands betray him, mindlessly reaching out. His chest tightens, a flood of unspoken words caught in his throat. Despite all the time spent contemplating what he'd do if he got one last moment with Izuku, Katsuki subdues. All the overwhelming rage that filled him before diminishes, replaced by an unwelcome emptiness.

The air is thick, heavy enough to cut with a knife. Neither speaks; no words of comfort or regret passed between them. Izuku's expression is light and carefree, his lips curling into a soft smile that seemed at odds with the grief that weighed down Katsuki's heart. His expression softened, mouth opening and closing, an embarrassing lack of words coming out. Izuku stood there, hazy with a delicate aura outlining his figure—untouched by the rain.

To Katsuki, Izuku was everything. His beautifully radiant eyes seemed to glimmer, outshining any star in the sky—green as twin pools of emerald. Katsuki had to physically restrain himself from reaching out to smooth his dark tousled curls, as if he could make everything right by simply touching him.

Izuku’s silhouette stood out starkly against the dim, wet background. It served Katsuki as a reminder that he was no longer looking up into the face of his companion; but a fleeting memory that he no longer had the right to hold on to. He had always thought of Izuku as some kind of hero, but more than that, he saw him as something more—a myth, a God of serenity and grace, too untouchable, too beautiful, for him to grasp.

His hands fall back to his sides, trembling with quiet desperation. Damn it. Katsuki clenches his fists tighter, swallowing back a surge of frustration. What the hell is wrong with me? He didn't want to look so weak in front of Izuku—was this even him?—his breath hitching unevenly. But oh, of course he'd notice. Ever the kind soul, he lowers himself to Katsuki's level, his comforting presence glinting just in front of him. Katsuki can't help himself—his heart pounds as Izuku’s arms reach out, wiping away tears he didn’t even realise had fallen. The touch feels real—cold, yet strangely comforting against his skin. And for an ephemeral moment, it almost feels like everything would be okay again.

Katsuki’s breath shudders as he feels the phantom touch seep into his bones, like ice-cold water flooding an open wound. Izuku's fingers move towards him—hesitant, gentle—thumbs brushing over the other's cheeks. He handles him with the utmost care, as though he might shatter like glass at any moment. Izuku’s touch was paradoxical—both a lifeline and a cruel reminder of how far beyond his reach he truly was. His gaze remained unswerving, tracing the delicate lines of his face. Katsuki had never felt so vulnerable, so powerless.

His tears mingled with the tempest’s fury, as if the storm itself were mourning beside him. Katsuki’s breath hitched, a sharp tremor running through him, as if the weight of his grief took on a tangible form, like an anchor, dragging him into the ocean’s depths. He calls out to him, voice cracking, as though it might break entirely. The other's expression takes on something akin to sorrow, a look that Katsuki thought didn't belong on his face. Reluctantly, he welcomed the touch. He could feel every careful movement as if Izuku was trying to hold him together, piece by fragile piece. He wanted to pull away—he always did when someone tried to comfort him—but his touch just felt so right.

Izuku couldn’t help but run his fingers across Katsuki’s jaw. His muscles rippled as though they were carved from marble, moving with a swift grace that betrayed the vulnerability in his expression. He would never know it, but Izuku thought his beauty divine, unearthly—hidden behind a mask of anger and conceit. Like a force of nature, his presence commanded the skies above. There’s an undeniable pull between the two, as if the universe had woven their fates together, only for one to be ripped away too soon. It’s a thread stretched too thin, threatened by the magnitude of loss.

Katsuki closes his eyes for just a moment, letting Izuku's touch wash over all the doubts in his mind. His pulse steadies, his breath no longer shaky. His demeanour eases, as if something inside him is finally, slowly, beginning to break free. Yet, even in this fleeting moment of relief, he knows—Izuku couldn’t stay. He never had been able to.

Katsuki allows himself to bask in the other's consoling touches, confessions and apologies spilling from his lips without thought. He doesn't know how long he's  standing here, being comforted by the boy he was missing mourning. The steady patter of rain gives way to silence, and as the last drop falls, the stillness between them feels like a new beginning—a pause in the storm that has raged inside Katsuki since he lost him. As the sky clears, and the days pass, he finds himself looking for Izuku's shadow wherever he goes, longing for his solace whenever it pours.

Izuku’s ghost hasn’t been around for days now, and a nagging thought lingers at the back of his mind. He swallows hard, trying to push it down, but it won’t go away.

Has he forgotten something?

It’s a thought he can’t shake, and his gaze darts around, as if half-expecting Izuku to be standing just behind him, waiting for him to admit it out loud. He grits his teeth, biting back the urge to call out, to hope for a hint of the familiar warmth that used to be there. He won’t give in to this. But his eyes linger on the space in front of him, almost begging Izuku to confirm that he’s not truly gone. The hesitation is brief, but it cuts through him like a blade—just a flicker of weakness that he immediately tries to ignore. Moving forward feels like betrayal, like leaving Izuku behind for good, but is it really betrayal if it’s all he can do?

Fuck. His throat tightened. He clenches his fists, furious with himself for even thinking it. For needing confirmation.

But there’s no answer, no ghost to speak back to him. Just the rain. Just the silence.

As much as he wanted to hold on, he couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that Izuku's ghost was fading away. With every otherworldly meeting between the two, the details he had once held so dearly—Izuku’s laugh, the way his hair felt under his fingertips, the warmth of his touch—were slipping from his grasp. He could no longer count the freckles on the boy's face—a number he once knew by heart. The rain was washing it all away.

Katsuki had tried to trace the scars on Izuku’s arms, but his ghostly figure had started to dissolve as the seasons passed. The lines he had once followed like a map blurred into obscurity. The once-vivid greens of his eyes, bright and unyielding, were now dim smudges in Katsuki’s mind. Each encounter left him with less, and each time, Izuku seemed more like an echo than the boy he had fought alongside—the boy he had loved. Katsuki fought to keep every memory intact, clutching at fragments with the desperation of a drowning man. But grief was a relentless tide, pulling pieces of Izuku further into its depths. He feared the day when he would wake up and find nothing left to remember.

Katsuki stares out into the downpour, expecting the familiar flicker of green eyes to appear, but all he sees is the blur of the storm. He frowns, his heart stuttering for a moment before it settles into something else—something quieter.

The space beside him remains empty, and for the first time in so long, it doesn’t feel like a void. The ache is still there, but it’s different. It’s less like a wound and more like a scar that’s begun to heal, its edges softened by time. He realises, slightly unsure, that he hasn’t seen Izuku’s ghost in weeks, maybe longer. And it’s okay. The thought doesn’t fill him with guilt; it doesn’t feel like betrayal. It’s just... the way things are now. He’s allowed to move forward, even if the past will always linger in the background.

Grief wasn’t something to be defeated; it was a river, something that would ebb and flow, forever changing, but never truly halt. He stopped searching the storm for a figure that would never return, realising that the sun would rise again, even if it took time to burn through the clouds. In the space between the rain, he found a new kind of peace—one that was less about forgetting, and more about learning how to stand in the quiet aftermath.

The rain had stopped, and with it went the faint illusion that Izuku was still near.

“It was just a dream solider.”

Karlach x GN!Reader

Hurt-comfort

A/N: I love Karlach so much she is such baby girl anyways! I writing this for my soul and other Karlach lovers such as me :) this also takes place after you fix her infernal engine problem.

You and Karlach had been dating for a while now and after dealing with her infernal engine and she wouldn’t turn you to charcoal the second she touched you she loved being able to hold you. Holding your hand, giving you a simple hug, kissing you, she loves all of them she loves having someone else’s arms around her instead of just her own holding herself. That also came with cuddles at night which was normal and happened almost every night, except for tonight now you were known to have nightmares even before the parasite was in your head, you never really told anyone because most the time it wasn’t to bad. Sometimes though it was night terrors and those would cause you to wake up in a cold sweat, shaking, and looking around with your eyes filled with fear and worry for your own safety. Sadly tonight was one of these nights, you were peacefully sleeping in Karlach’s muscular arms feeling her body heat, when your dream suddenly did a transition to a nightmare your worst fears all surrounding you, tormenting you.

You woke up shaking and in a cold sweat this caused you to find comfort in your sleeping girlfriend, you cuddled closer, holding on to her tighter this woke Karlach up enough to feel you shaking.

“Solider?” She looked down a bit to see your face and saw the panic in your eyes.

“Mhm.”

“What happened solider? You need me to kick some asses?”

This caused you to chuckle at your girlfriend’s antics “No it’s fine it was just a nightmare scared me.”

“Ah! don’t worry solider you’re safe with me!” She hugged you from the position your were in which was undoubtedly comforting.

This made you smile and at least feel safe enough knowing you had someone to protect you if something did happen. You closed you eyes to go back into your peaceful slumber, the warmth of her body also bringing a source of comfort to you. You feel asleep not long after sleeping peacefully the rest of the night with Karlach by your side as it would stay. You knew the next morning you would wake up to a hyper Karlach ready to start whatever adventure came that day on your journey to get rid of the tadpoles in your heads. That could wait till the morning though right now you were enjoying peaceful sleep with no nightmares.

Word count: 1402

A/n; I'm proud of this (hope I did this properly) tiny last minute editing.

Warnings; bad day, angst with a happy ending, Rafe being boyfriend material pet name (pretty girl) hurt x comfort

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rafe Cameron, prideful, persistent, and above all punctual.

Admirable, aggravating.

When Rafe texted you and said he was coming by, you knew that meant 10 minutes max, before he would be knocking on your door.

You were paniced, reasonably so. You had just stepped out of what was supposed to be a relaxing shower, your skin pricked with goosebumps as the cold air hit your exposed skin.

10 minutes, and here you were debating if you wanted to respond or not, but anything was better than staying at that house any longer.

Love would not be enough restraint for you if you had to deal with another one of your family's feuds.

It soon hit you that time was ticking, your hands tossing your phone into the pile of pajamas you were in earlier as you quickly got to work dying yourself off.

As soon as he approached the porch you appeared in the doorway, a soft smile tugged at his lips seeing you standing there.

Hips leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, and your beautiful face staring expectantly into the distance.

Even still he walked up the creaky steps, hands open to relieve you, but when you remained planted, eyesight shifting towards his polo, the closed collar underlining his broad chest, and muscles caught your gaze.

He countered the hug within distance, slugging an arm around your shoulder, he leaned down, pressing his cold lips against your heated skin, causing your cheeks to bubble, lips pursing in a supressed smile. "Missed me didn't you?" He cooed, the keychain circling his index jiggled, the tip of his finger teasing the underside of your jaw.

You stiffened at the action, taking the first step forward, muttering a quiet 'sure'.

"Ahha," he chuckled dryly, following your lead.

Even if you didn't share the enthusiasm he was happy to see you.

You approached the car, Rafe cutting you off mid step to pull back the handle, the dark paint job facing you now as you scoffed playfully circling the door.

"After you milady," You rolled your eyes at his antics, kicking one foot into the car, the other followed by your chin pressing sharply into your chest as you ducked the roof of the car, settling side.

You wiggled in your seat, immediately reaching for the seatbelt, pulling it smoothly across your chest.

You let out a breath you were holding. Had it got stuck or you couldn't adjust it just right and you had to wrestle it, you'd scrap the whole car. Even if it wasn't yours, you were especially fragile right now.

Rafe got in the driver’s side, the engine roared to life at the twist of his hand, a triumphant grin crossed his face, his nose scrunching as he did so, looking at you excitedly.

Would it be rude to ask why he was so...energetic...today?

The answer?

He saw it.

Through his tinted shades currently sitting in his cupholder.

The attitude in your body language, the shift of weight from one leg to the other, the strain in your formerly guarded form, the unhappiness in your features, and especially the wrinkles siding beside the corner of your eyes. They weren't from smiles, but from heavy glaring.

And smiles would be evident in the way your cheeks pigmented a visible tone after long periods of laughter, and how puffy the corners of your mouth got.

It didn't at all sound attractive when he brought it up to you, but he explained his admiration for your joyous nature, and how when you smiled you smiled big.

And despite your objection in his words, your lips wavered, peeling back into the corners of your face, showing him just what he thought to be true.

"Did you..." You paused, his attention immediately turning on you. "Have you been hanging around Barry again?" Was the only respectful way you could ask.

He didn't take offense, instead braced his hands against the steering wheel, "No," he drew out, putting the car in reverse.

You nodded, awkwardly placing your hands in your lap.

At first being home free helped. Something about the drive around, loud music, and sea salt in the air had made you forget the knot swelling inside various places.

Just as progress was made a flip switched.

It was the song playing on the radio. Something you didn't care to remember because you felt it.

Those sick, unwell feelings form in the pit of your stomach at the words, and now more than ever a raw intensity pulling within you drawing you back to a place of anger.

A place of hurt.

Rafe noticed at first, it was subtle. The head nodding, rolling your eyes as he turned the volume up. He paid attention.

He knew these.

He knew you.

Then a couple miles down, you were singing along, looking as you did do, but he could feel you loosening up.

But just as fast as it appeared it stopped.

He turned the music down, hoping you would continue, but you didn't.

Back to silent nodding and now something else. Your eyes. They were blinking... rapidly.

Now he knew something was up. Something heavy.

Little did he know the events of the morning lingered a dense electric gray over your head, and rain would soon pour from your clouded irises.

"Did something happen? You're all sad and,"

"And shit," you responded, tilting your head back.

"Yeah... all sad and...shit," as you had not so eloquently put it.

"It's nothing," by now it was everything.

"That doesn't sound right," he countered, his foot applied pressure towards the break, the wind breaking acceleration had decreased to the speed limit at best.

And you held back a couple of tears, but that didn't stop strays, warm against your skin. You could feel a burning in the top of your nose, and a climbing temperature around your ears indicating you were about to cry.

"Do you want to talk about it? I can listen," he offered.

You simply sniffled, you palmed up, roughly pushing against your skin, wiping tears. "Do you even know where we're going? We've passed that same park like three times," you said referring to the open field with 101 benches placed too close together.

Sometimes your deflection could be ignoring his question, answering vaguely, or in this case, insulting his navagation skills.

"No, no," he played along, "That's the country club, it's got an expansion, pretty much every road has a view of it."

That actually makes sense now.

Still.

He continued to examine you, your body language.

It was just as tense as before, if not more.

Your little breakdown had only gone on for a quick minute and then you were back to being stone.

If only he could turn you into statue.

Unlike your earlier suggestion before you the dizzy world had slowed and vision returned.

Not before the sight of a concerned smile, his hand parked over the steering wheel, the other resting on the armrest, his torso twisted to meet you.

This time he didn't try to convince you, he let his sad, pretty eyes manipulate you into a sharing state.

"It's just not my day today," you confessed, a little bob in your head confirming that.

"Well, we can change that," his ringed fingers found there ways rubbing against your salted skin swiping tears.

He leaned forward, his lips pressing to your cheekbone, lingering over your skin, the edge of his nose rubbing up the bridge of yours, traveling kisses planted on you in various spots.

He made it to your hair, letting out a hum, tilting his head against yours, making himself level with you, you looked up through your eyelashes to find his comforting gaze on you already, promising better.

Amist the intimate gesture he leaned into it, his elbow honking against the wheel, a bold whistle vibrated through the car, making you jump.

You felt his long lashes tickle your cheek, an embarrassed sigh left him, his forehead still pressed against your face.

And while he thought the accidental honking had ruined the slow, intimate vibe, it tickled you.

His reaction of resignation and reserveness had made it better, and you couldn't hide the smile on your face, the peaks of your teeth peering through and a hearty laugh escaping you.

Rafe carefully kissed your jaw once more, slipping back into his seat, both hands holding the seatbelt at the chest, as he was still fixated on you.

You were smiling.

Rafe made a face, to which he followed up with "there she is," and the mellowness of his tone was enough to make you melt.

"There's my pretty girl."

What do you think the sullys family reaction to spiders torture would, be I honestly don’t think they’re going to address it in avatar three but I wanted to hear your opinion on it? (make it as dark as you want👹)

Hey!!

I do love a good dark angst 😈 but I def read this wrong and wrote the wrong headcanons lmao so sorry for the wait

I’m doing this in headcanon format for simplicity, N$FW/darker content below the cut.

TW: (All implied, nothing explicit) underage, violence, torture, S harassment/possible implied SA (depends on how you read it, tag is to be safe), humiliation, blood, starvation, isolation, emotional manipulation, abuse 

—— 

Spider didn't meant to tell them, he fully intended on taking it all to the grave unless something might help them in the war. But that was it - he wanted to move on

When he gets back, Jake and Neytiri scare him

He tries not to let them but he keeps thinking that Quaritch is back and he didn't get home whenever they come up behind him. Out of the corner of his eye they don't look like the people he wanted to be his parents. They don't even look like friends

They're kinder though, Jake especially, and slowly he feels himself being brought in

He won't ruin it with some stupid trauma response

He flinches away from them and can't sleep near them but sometimes Jake rubs his head or Neytiri will run her fingers over his shoulders when she passes. He swallows down the anxious nausea and relishes in it.

He. Can't. Ruin. it

He wears a shirt now and loose shorts that offer more coverage than his loincloth. He keeps a knife on a beaded belt over the shorts in an awkward combination of fashions and keeps his hair loose so it can't be grabbed so easy. The dreads are gone and so are his stripes but he thinks it's okay, he's just growing up. No one needs to worry.

He thinks he's done well at hiding it but it seems he underestimated the couple drastically.

Kiri ends up being the one to approach him

The family whispers about what to do, how to help, or if they can. They spent the first couple months mourning their own losses and caring for Neteyam but Spider hasn't gotten better. Tired of the indecision, Kiri slips out of their marui and stalks after her best friend

He's with Rotxo on the beach, drooping and tired but relaxed with the other boy. They've been spending more time together and he seems more comfortable around the Metkayina lately.

They don't look like his Dad, like the recoms that claimed him, and Rotxo would never hurt him. None of them would, they're safe.

He snaps awake when Kiri lands a gentle hand on his shoulder. He jerks closer to Rotxo who supports him but urges him closer to his sister.

"Sorry, sorry..can we talk?" Rotxo gives him a look and Kiri holds out her hand so...yeah. Spider stands and she leads him to the treeline

She sits him down with their feet in the sand and leans her head on his shoulder. She's playing mean and she knows it, knows she's his weakness and always has been. His stomach twists and he knows she's going to get what she wants.

"What happened?"

He bites his lip, brows pinched, and tries not to give anything away. "Was tired, it was a long day. Ro helped me with his ilu."

"You know that's not what I meant." He shrivels and leans his head into her hair. She smells salty and sand clings to her messy waves but she's always been his person.

"I...they're monsters, Kiri. Monsters. I...They hurt me." His voice cracks and his head is in her hands, dipping their foreheads to meet. "I just want this to stop..." He was fine. He was.

But she holds him and he finally breaks.

She listens while he chokes on the tears, telling her how his back hurts with the healing injuries she didn't know were there. He cries over the wrong feeling of fabric clothes but he doesn't feel safe without them. She wraps him up in her arms and they lay there. The stars are out now but they don't move and he doesn't realize that, suspiciously, no one comes looking. No one ever does.

When they finally stand, they don't go home. She leads him to the med tents still set up from the battle and sits him on the bed. Silently, she removes his shirt and gingerly applies salve to the stripes reaching around his body. Her tears land on his shoulders and his own on his thighs but he's not humiliated like he was before.

"..are there more?" He shifts, nods, and she does the same process to his thighs. Those aren't as bad, mostly from rough handling and straps but she continues her quiet ministrations none the less. Finally, she finishes, and they go home

He hasn't slept well in weeks, tossing and turning and afraid but she nudges him into the pile of her brothers and drapes herself on top. Lo'ak blinks wearily at him but Neteyam just wraps an arm around his clothed chest and pulls him tight. Lo'ak and Kiri have a silent conversation and soon he's the center of a very cozy pile of limbs and heat

His brothers flank him on either side, Tuk joining between himself and Lo'ak halfway through the night, and Kiri curled at his head with her head cushioned on Neteyams chest

It's the first good sleep he has since he got home

The peace is ruined come morning though

He's the last one to wake, Tuk mysteriously is missing, and the family is sitting around bowls of food. Kiri looks at him, shaky, and gestures him to her.

They sit there, Spider holding a bowl of his favorite stew, and no once speaks. He curses himself internally, not wanting to break.

Jake breaks the silence, "Spider, kid, I, ah, think we need to talk about what happened. Kiri said you're hurt and you haven't been acting right. I know, I do, that the humans are cruel. I know we didn't come but Sullys stick together. You're family now..." He swallows, guilty and nervous, " please talk to us."

He denies it, tries to stop it, but Neytiri steps in. Her voice is low and calm, like she uses on Tuk, but there's an anger in her eyes when she scans his shoulders.

"Ma Spider, tell us what they did. Your brothers and sister may leave if you wish, but you are safe. Tell me what I avenge."

He grips Lo'aks hand and Kiri's, head low, and breaks.

He tells them about the whipping, the starvation. He tells them about the machine that splayed him open and how he didn't give them up. He talks about choking on his blood and watching his memories, about Quaritch saying he sees him. How traveling with him was so much better than base until it wasn't. He tells them about walking to the shower with eyes on him, about being gawked at and hungry eyes. How he was left alone for a week and a half with his songcord and fear. What happened when they found it. Quaritch humming his song and making him bleed.

When he's done, Jake reaches for him and he flinches back harshly into Lo'ak. His brother, to his credit, just bundles him up and holds him tight with his ears drawn back in warning. Kiri has a hand on his back and Neteyam slips between them and the adults. He doesn't give them details, just the gist, but he feels lighter.

His family does not.

Jake spends the next days with Tonowari and Norm. Rage is filling every inch of him but he sits at the table and plans

He uses the information given to try and figure out how to fix it. It won't happen again, he'll destroy them, but he doesn't know how he'll get his son back to the way he was

He blames himself and brews. He feels weak and raw and can't process how badly he's failed. Norm, of all people, tries to tell him its not his fault but he doesn't think he'll ever not hate himself for leaving a child to be tortured

Spider wasn't his yet and his kids weren't safe. He knows that, but he knows no one came for him and Tommy either

He never thought he would be that person - he thought he would be better

He hates that his kids know

He hates that they were there and know what happened. That they know how he failed their best friend

He's afraid to interact with Spider, he's scared to scare him ultimately. But he also needs Spider to trust him. He and Neytiri are trying to figure out how to ask him if they can adopt him through a claiming ceremony, but right now he still jumps if they touch him

Toruk Makto knows he did the right thing. Jake Sully will never forgive himself or humanity for the lines they cross.

Neytiri is an active threat to humanity

She never trusted Spider, never felt safe with him, but she couldn't hate him

She left him and she'll always carry that, but children are precious and a Na'vi warrior would never hurt an enemy child

Na'vi don't hurt their children. They don't leave them or starve them or beat them. She already hated Quaritch but she hates him more now

But its the forced Tsaheylu that haunts her

Spider would never have that bond. That's what she thought, but the one time he does he is mocked and hurt.

The idea that humanity could hurt anyone with such a sacred thing, let alone a child of their own species, brings her to enough rage to burn down all of Bridgehead, innocents be damned

She hated humanity but now she has a human she loves. Spider is hers now, Jake brought him in after the battle and claimed him as theirs. He's hers

They'll burn for touching him

He's hurt in ways warriors rarely ever reach and so she snaps

She's already a merciless fighter but it's tenfold now. She will leave no survivors when sky-people come and she will see their blood pay the debt they owe

But for now, for now she takes care of her little ones. She helps Neteyam heal his arm. She teaches Lo'ak how to fight, helps Tuk get faster so she will survive, and helps Kiri become a healer to rival her mother. Spider is still learning to relax with the adults but she's his silent protector and soon he lets her heal his back.

She wraps his injuries and holds him when he's weak. He's small in her arms and she curses anyone who would lay a hand on things so precious

Rage fills her but she spends the time waiting to strike with her children and helping them heal like she never did

Neteyam won't let this happen again

He spends his time with Ao'nung and Rotxo

They're the next generation and he won't let things get so bad when its their turn

A part of him will always resent his parents for what they did. He loves and respects them more than words offer but he almost died saving his little brothers and they're still hurt so damn bad

He gave them everything he had and it wasn't enough

So he plans

He combines Omaticaya and Metkayina fighting styles. He compares defense, strategies, and discusses how they'll work together

He, Ao'nung, and Rotxo spend hours fighting and wrestling, training themselves to be strong

They'll be leaders one day and they won't be loosing their friends again

Part of him is haunted by the cruelty though

He idolizes his dad and can't imagine how the people he came from could be so cruel and make him

But he understands his mothers hatred now

And he thinks he knows it too. They took her sister and now his brother.

He's never hated someone before but he thinks he hates Miles Quaritch.

His mother just might have to fight him to deliver the killing blow

Lo'ak is protective

Anyone looks at Spider the wrong way and he's ready with a fist to the nose

He was the one that went back for Spider

He was the one that ran into the ship

Spider is his brother and best friend, his family is stepping in now but it's his job to be there

Older or not, Spider isn't as strong as them. His skin rips and his body exhausts so much easier than theirs does. He wasn't there before but he has to be now

Anyone who thinks about messing with Spider needs to go through him

His body itches with energy, with the need to do something but there's nothing for a 14 year old to do

So he just stays nearby

He distracts Spider, surrounds him with the friends they've made, and keeps him safe

He takes him on ilu rides and to visit Payakan. He introduces him to the plants around the coast and shows him the reefs with Tsireya.

He honestly becomes a menace, it's cute but Spider has to try and dodge him to get alone time

But he's a little brother and he does what little brothers do

He pesters. It annoys Spider to no end but, honestly, he doesn't think he would stop him if he could

Kiri tries to heal him.

She can't fix things but she resolves to be by his side

She spends the evenings with him just talking and laughing, he tells her things no one else gets to know and things feel a little bit normal in a twisted sort of way

They lean on each other through the healing and hurt. They coach each other through the feelings as best they can. They're best friends and always have been

She won't let that change

She wraps his wounds and learns how to ease the pain from her mother

She spends hours with Ronal and Tsireya to learn how the ocean fixes hurts and shares how the forest does the same

Its her self proclaimed job to make sure his injuries heal but so does his mind

Tsaheylu is sacred and so she talks to him about Ewya, his father, and the fear he still has

It is on him to get through it in the end but she staples herself to his side to make sure he doesn't do it alone

She makes Neteyam help too but honestly her brothers are stupid so its on her to be the support

Overtime, she and Tsireya gather together a collection to make Spider more Na'vi-esque clothes that offer him the coverage he wants

They try to make him feel like Spider again, braiding his hair, covering the bruises and scars, and painting his arms in new stripes to look more akin to their own.

He goes through stripes of each of his friends families, mimicking their patterns in little ways for them to lay their claim

She isn't the most affectionate person but for him, she finds herself making it happen

She loves him so for now, being there will have to be enough

Tuk is just a kid, she doesn't know what's happening

Spider is. . .different and she's smart enough to know it's bad

But her family won't tell her what happened or what's wrong

Spider just looks sad and her family are acting weird, but he's getting better

It's slow, but she's gonna help and it'll be faster

So she brings him toys and climbs on him, drags him deeper into the sleep pile each night and offers him the treats she steals from the cookfire

While her siblings get breathing lessons, she brings him to the tidepools and makes him weave shells into her hair

She does all the little things that her family do for her to make her feel better and thinks, quite proudly, she's making him better

Everyone gets sick sometimes, sometimes it's just in someone's head. Besides, Spider always is sicker than her brothers and sister - she just has to be persistent

He'll get better. She's sure of it.

Thinkin bout the use of cars in whump,,,

Whumpee gets hit by a car

Whumpee is in a car accident

Caretaker is in a car accident and then emotional whump

Or

Whumpee gets in the car only for whumper to point a gun at them and tell them to drive

Whumpee gets in the car before being knocked out, whumper then gets into the front seat and drives

Whumper ties up whumpee and throws them in the back seat

Whumper ties up whumpee and throws them in the boot

The possibilities are endless,,,

So I know this is often played for comedy but

Tranquilliser darts??

😳😳😳

Idk man but theres the initial pain of getting hit, the confusion or panic, the slow stumbling collapse to the ground.

Then your antagonist waltzes on over all smug and scoops them up like a sack of potatoes. Yeah❤️

“Please don’t give up on me.”

Bonus points if caretaker really wasn’t planning to

Exasperated caretaker/team member dialogue

“What part of stay there don’t you understand?!”

“I swear- you’ll be the death of me!”

“I’m going grey- You’re making me go grey.” “You are not going grey, you’re 25!”

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!”

“Okay, new rule- From now on your plan is not allowed to be ‘run in head-first and see what happens’.”

“Is asking you to shoot me a little ‘I’m not dead’ text every now and again really too much to ask??”

“So let me get this straight. You heard gun-fire. And you ran. Towards it?!”

“That’s it- You’re in time out.” “What?! I’m not a child-“ “I don’t care! Time out!”

“Must you bleed on everything I own??”

Big fan of characters who are just so done lmaoo, part 2??

One of my favourite simple yet effective whump tropes??

Pistol whipped!

Maybe they’re on their knees, held at gun point yet still quippy and sarcastic. Their captor gets fed up and with one quick strike, they crumple to the ground, out cold.

Uhhh heres a weird little drabble for the first one fjjdjsje

—

It was the first time I'd ever seen him sit still.

Always in a rush, he is. A constant blur of arms and legs. A flurry of movement.

He wouldn't stop jabbering in the car.

It's like he said every word that went through his brain.

I couldn't get a word in, not that I tried.

And the waiting.

Either his leg was bouncing at 1000 miles per hour or he was pacing back and forth as if he was being persued. Every so often he'd get up to go pester the nurse again before sulking back to his seat when there was no new information.

When we were finally called, he practically leaped out of the chair. He interrogated the nurse on the way to the room, walking at a pace that was clearly hard for her to keep up with. Impossibly long strides and darting eyes, he was.

And that's when we arrived at the room.

And that's when he saw you.

And he froze.

Then, gingerly, he made his way over to your bed, sitting softly in the seat adjacent.

He hadn't taken his eyes off you, I'm not entirely sure he'd even blinked since seeing you.

He hesitantly reached a hand out but halted an inch away, as if you might crumble at the slightest touch.

He looked to me, stuttering out "Can,,, Can I,,,??"

Just as soon as I had nodded, he had carefully taken your hand, pulling it a little closer to himself.

And honestly, I couldn't blame him for his caution.

There, laying dead to the world on that hospital bed, you seemed so small. So fragile. So helpless.

The nurses had done a good job of cleaning you up but the dark bruises on your skin were impossible to ignore. The stark white bandages seemed as if they might be the only thing holding you together. The careful stitches didn’t do much to hide the bright red lines.

The inherent feeling of just how wrong this felt, seeing you injured and unconscious when you should be happy and healthy. How you should be at home right now, playing some kind of game with the others when instead you were here in this hospital.

And so he sat still.

—

First time I’ve ever posted something like this on here lmao hope it was alright

I’m such a sucker for the Chaotic character going all soft for their injured friend and also the Coolheaded Wise character going batshit crazy for their injured chaos friend.

That’s some good shit.

Character B hacks another cough into their hands, probably their hundereth of the day.

Except this time, as they glance down, they see specks of blood amongst the phlegm.

Well that’s new.

“That’s practically a blizzard out there- you’ll never find them!”

“Well I at least have to try!”

In light of all the snowy weather my area is having, consider:

Character A, their friends or their team following a trail of bloodied snow to find an injured and lost Character B.

“Now, now, darling- You just keep your pretty lips shut.”

One of my favourite rare/underused whump tropes??

Locked in a freezer.

Especially those kind of ice chests?? Like freezer boxes?? Only just big enough for someone to fit in, not much room to move at all.

Someone beaten and shoved into one of those. The bad guy either locks it or shoves something heavy on top. Our character jolts their back into the lid, realising with horror that it won’t budge. Maybe they’re manhandled in, bound and gagged, praying for their friends to find them.

Or one of those walk in freezers in stock rooms?? Our character is moving some boxes around when whatever’s propping the door open shifts and the door swings closed, locked. Or perhaps our character is fighting our bad guy, who shoves them in and locks the door, making eye contact through the little window before leaving. Or maybe our characters friend or co-worker closes the automatically locking door, without realising someones in there.

Maybe I’ll go on about it another time but I think the concept is pretty niche, I never really see it

Character A is left standing alone in the hallway of the hospital, clothes stained with Character B’s blood.