Ok, so I was playing AC Mirage in the middle of last night for the second time. I enjoyed the game for what it was, despite some nitpicks. It nestled right in with the og games. While playing, this idea popped into my head so I decided to write this little drabble. We all have our moments when we feel like we have to work hard to prove something to people before focusing on improving ourselves. Hopefully this can lift up someone who understands because I certainly do. Enjoy.
The story is a Basim x reader using the female pronouns instead of y/n. But feel free to use whatever you prefer.
Basim gasped for breath as he rose up from his sleep. Another nightmare. Nothing new, all the same. He gazed up at the ceiling for a brief moment and began to control his breathing. After looking around the darkened room, he was preparing to lay back down to fall back asleep, until he heard a faint noise downstairs. It wasn't quite loud, but just enough to be heard.
Curious, he lifted the covers off of him and stepped out of bed to go check the source of the noise. As he descended down the stairs, he peered around to see a faint light glowing with a female silhouette near it. Her back was turned and Basim was so quiet she didn't hear anything as she was attentively focused working on something.
Basim softly called out her name. She snapped her head to face him and smiled. She was a bit startled because she was not aware of his presence or how long he was standing there, but paid it no mind.
"Basim, I thought you were asleep." She said. He shrugged. "Well I was, but..." He paused, not feeling like addressing the matter why he was awake. So he focused on her reasoning instead. "Still working on that project I see."
"Uh-huh." She replied dismissively. Basim knew about this. She's been working all afternoon, and for whatever reason had a habit of doing projects well into the day without the consideration of rest. Once before when she completed something after many days working on it, the sheer fatigue was so evident in her face she looked as if she might collapse. He can see it now when she turned to face him in that brief moment. Dark circles formed around her eyes, the weary yet determined expressions.
Basim didn't want to intrude on her and tell her that she should take a break. Perhaps she was just a hard-worker and that was part of the regime. But now, he knows he needs to say something.
"You really should rest. You are going to work yourself into exhaustion." He said with genuine concern, stepping closer to her.
She glanced quickly at him before turning to her duties. "I-I know I just want to get this done first."
Allah, she even sounds tired. Basim thought.
"You can get this done another day." He suggested, reaching out to rub her shoulder. She looked like she was in pain being hunched over for however long she was sitting there.
Basim did not understand what happened in that moment when she suddenly stopped what she was doing and looked down at the table, only to begin sobbing.
He called her name again and turned her shoulder towards him so she could face him. He took her chin gently in his hand to raise her face up. "What's the matter?" She closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Talk to me habibi, tell me what's wrong."
She rolled her eyes trying to avoid more tears from falling, which failed. She still refused to look at Basim, even when she faced him. She felt embarrassed crying to him over this. But why?
"It's just that," she hesitated. "I feel like I'm not doing enough, like no matter how much I try it's never enough."
Oh. Now it all makes sense.
"What has happened to you in this place we have to call life, that makes you feel this way about yourself?" He asked tenderly. Her shoulders sagged when Basim started to massage them, patiently awaiting her answer.
"I see others work very little or about the same and they gain so much. It's like no one gives me a chance to prove myself, to show what I am capable of. This is why I work so hard, stay up late, compromise my well-being."
Basim stared at her with eyes of compassion and understanding. He knows what that feels like. He himself has endured it many times within the Brotherhood of the Hidden Ones. Even now, he still struggles with those moments of inadequacy. But he didn't want to focus on himself, he's going to tell her what he had to learn.
"Look at me." He said firmly, yet kindly enough for her to raise her tearful eyes at him. "You cannot waste your time trying to find worth from others before you find it within yourself. You have to realize that you are enough. Otherwise if you keep trying to seek everyone else's approval and they don't see it, neither will you. Embrace all that you are. Your flaws, your talents, your weaknesses, your strengths. That is what makes you who you are, no one else. That is what makes you more than enough, habibi."
He cupped her face in his hands, gazing intently into her eyes because he wants her to hear this clearly and concisely.
As she stared into his honey brown eyes, she knew he meant everything he said. This was not about just making her feel better, she had to see her worth first before seeking anyone's validation. Risking her own self-care was not necessary for this.
"Thank you, Basim." She said ever so softly, still reeling from his words.
He gave her a small, yet sweet smile before leaning closer to place a kiss on her forehead. "Now come to bed, rest your body."
She nodded. Then after placing her equipment neatly on the table, she covered the small flame to blow out the lamp, and stood up with Basim to head upstairs.
"I will never forget your words Basim." She said. "But I sometimes do tend to fall back into my habits."
"It happens to all of us." Basim admitted. "But when you do, make sure my words come to mind."
vaporwave
turnnoffyourmind
stormborns
pixelskylines
