I want to whimper âit...it hurtsâ as he thrusts into me. Then I want him to lean in and whisper into my ear, âgoodâ and starts to thrust faster and faster so all I can do is cry and whimper more
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Febuwhump 2022, Nightmares - Summary:
In which Cor has a nightmare and Cid tries to help.
Fic under the cut
Cor jolted awake, hand over his mouth to cage in a scream that threatened to escape. He scrambled out of the tent, chest rising and falling with rapid, panicked breaths as he slipped into the chilly, late fall night.
âItâs all your fault!â
A sharp gasp left his lips. He dropped to his knees at the edge of the haven and focused on the sensation of the rough, uneven rock that dug into his palms and knees. His stomach churned. The overwhelming fear and grief stole his breath away, flooded his mind with memories of the past, memories that he had tried to bury a long ago.
A daemon roared in the distance, and Cor flinched. The katana appeared in his hand on instinct, knuckles white as he gripped it tight. He had to remind himself to breathe. It was just a daemon in the woods. Nothing else, especially not him. The haven was perfectly safe. Cor took a shaky breath and let the katana vanish. He needed to get control of himself.
âYou ruined everything!â
âI wish youâd never been born!â
Cor wiped his eyes hastily with the back of his hands as tears fell. He was over this. It had been two, maybe three years since he had last seen the man. He wasnât that child anymore. He didnât want to give him, or his words and actions, any control over his life anymore. A strangled noise bubbled up his throat. He shook his head sharply, eyes squeezed tightly shut. âFuck you, stupid fucking asshole!â
âKid?â
Cor recoiled with a gasp, nearly falling from the edge of the haven as he whirled around. His breath hitched as he saw Cid standing right outside the tent. He hadnât meant to wake anyone up. No one was supposed to know. âN-no. Go back to sleep. I- Iâm fine.â
âKid, you ainât fooling anyone with that. Whatâs wrong?â Cid huffed as he walked over to him and sat down with his legs dangling off the haven. He sat close, but not close enough for their shoulders to touch. Cor appreciated it even as he turned his face away and tried to wipe away the tears.
âNothing, Iâm fine!â he insisted.
âThatâs a load of garulashit and you know it,â Cid told him. âHave a nightmare?â
A low whine left Corâs lips as he sniffled. He didnât want to talk about it. He shifted, straightening his legs from under him before pulling them to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. ââs nothing.â
âYou can keep telling yourself that, but Iâve never seen you cry over nothinâ.â
Cor buried his face into his knees. âI donât wanna talk about it.â
âWe donât need to,â Cid said. Cor tilted his head to look at him and saw him watching the stars. He was surprised and confused by the lack of pushing, but also relieved. He didnât think he could handle it.
He didnât know how long they sat there like that, but it was long enough for Corâs tears to dry. The exhaustion was creeping back in, weighing down his body. He licked his lips nervously. âThanks.â
Cid glanced at him. âFor what?â
âJustâ for not being pushy. Everyone else always is.â Cor shrugged. He didnât meet Cidâs eyes, and instead picked on the hem of his shirt.
âItâs not any of my business to probe into your personal stuff,â Cid told him with the shake of a head. âIâm here if you want to talk, but I ainât forcing you to.â
âThanks.â Cor released a shaky breath. âI, uhâ thanks.â
Cid raised an eyebrow at him. âReady to head back to sleep? Thereâs still a good few hours of dark left.â
Cor bit his lip. He didnât want to have another nightmare but he knew he would be exhausted if he stayed up the rest of the night. He looked at Cid again. âI donât want to sleep.â
âAfraid youâll have another nightmare?â Cid asked and watched him carefully.
âI guess,â Cor said with a tiny shrug.
âYou wonât know until you try.â
âYeah, butââ Cor cut himself off. He didnât say anything for another minute as he stared into the distance. âDoes itâ Does it ever get easier? Like, uh, the bad memories.â
âBad memories?â Cid hummed. âIt does get easier, over the years. If it hurts now, it will most likely never stop hurting, but you learn to live with it and cope.â
âI still remember my first kill,â he said, slowly as if picking his words carefully. Cor looked at him with wide eyes. âI was a boy back then, barely your age. It was a kill or be killed situation, and I was faster.â
There was a pause as Cid rolled his shoulders back and sighed. Cor got a feeling this wasnât something Cid had told many others. He didnât wasnât sure how to feel about that. âI felt terrible about it for a long time.â
Cor licked his lips when Cid trailed off. âAnd did it - get easier that is?
Cid looked at him, an unreadable expression on his face. He said nothing, and Cor instantly regretted asking. He opened his mouth to apologize, but right then Cid spoke up. âI can still feel the guilt, all of it, if I really think back to that day. But yes, it does get easier with time, even if you never forget.â
âI wish I could forget,â Cor mumbled. He didnât want to wait years and years for the pain to fade.
Cid nodded. âSome people say talking helps.â
âNot you,â Cor pointed out.
âI ainât much of a talker, kid. Iâve got a pair of good ears on me though.â
Cor propped his head back on his knees. Maybe someday he would have the courage to tell Cid more, but not yet. âI donât think I can.â
âAlright. I wonât make you, just know that the offer stands.â
âOkay,â Cor said and took a deep breath. âThanks.â
They sat in silence for a while longer before Cid stood back up. He swore his old age and stretched his back, getting a small smile from Cor. âI think itâs about time we get back in the tent, donât you think?â
Cor bit his lip as Cid offered him his hand. He didnât want to have any nightmares. Cid didnât look like he was going to take a no for an answer though. Sighing, Cor accepted the help and let Cid pull him up. âYeah, okay.â
Cid clapped him on the back. âYouâll be fine, kid.â
Cor wasnât so sure about that but chose to say quiet as Cid led him back into the tent.
And quiet evenings you told me what you thought about
Servants and kings and how everyone is bought
And how no oneâs hands are bloodier than Godâs
And I wonât be judged for doing as I ought