Angst

[whumpster-dumpster]

What Is Whump?

Some basic terms and definitions for those who have said they can’t access the “about” page / those who want a quick reference on their own blogs <3

Keep reading

[sickficbay]

when a character is so badly hurt/sick that their demeanour switches up entirely

chatty characters pale-faced and silent

quiet and reserved characters rambling deliriously

character who always resorts to humour clearly trying to think of a quip but coming up empty

no-nonsense character so loopy that they can’t stop giggling

a stoic character’s hands trembling in panic

an easily frightened character so far out of it that they aren’t aware of what’s happening to them, much less afraid

intelligent characters who can’t think straight

protective (self-sacrificial) characters letting someone else take the fall for them because they’re too weak to object

patient characters snapping at whoever comes near

affectionate character who wants to be alone

lone wolf who begs you to stay a minute longer.

[blood-fucker]

(x)

[verybadatwriting]

The Young General's Final Battle

Summary: Reader, the teenaged padawan of Kenobi, dies.

Warnings: Main character death (reader), crush injuries, blood, angst

Notes: Read the fluffier first part here!

Gn!Padawan!reader x (platonic) Kenobi and Cody

Word count: 629

A gentle hand rested on your shoulder pulling you out of your sleep.

“How long was I out?” You ask groggily. Speaking took more effort than normal, and your breath was hard to catch. It felt like your lungs weren’t operating at full capacity, like a bantha was sitting on you.

“Not sure,” Master Kenobi said, peering down at you. He was knelt on the ground next to you. The dust from the battle still swirled in the air, although you couldn’t hear any droids marching. That didn’t mean there weren’t any. You had to regroup with the 212th and prepare for whatever came next.

You were dully aware of some pain in your legs, but nonetheless tried to stand. For some reason, Master Kenobi pushed you back onto the ground, his hand never left your shoulder.

“It’s okay, Y/n” he said, taking your hand. “A medic is on his way. Don’t try to move.”

“What–?” You craned your neck to look at your legs. A massive boulder blocked your view. Kenobi gently pushed your shoulder back once again, this time onto his balled-up cloak, as a sort of cushion against the rocks. 

“No, no!” You resisted. “Master, we have to fight! The clankers will easily take the capital. Its defenses are too weak without us! We’ll lose the whole planet!”

“Vodika…” a new person approaches you from the right, uttering a strange word that you could have sworn you’ve heard before. Commander Cody copies Master Kenobi and kneels beside you and grasps your hand. His voice is even, measured, and reassuring. “It’s okay, we managed to push the Seppies back to their base while you were unconscious. The best thing you can do right now is rest here, where you’re safe, and get ready for tomorrow's battle.”

He ends his words with a small smile, one that hides something. Whatever it is, that can’t matter much right now. Cody said you’re safe, so you must be. The pain in your legs is a little more noticeable now, but Master Kenobi said the medic was inbound. You’d probably wake up in your tent in camp, all bandaged up. 

You’re not quite sure when you closed your eyes, but you knew Cody was gently stroking your head, lulling you to sleep. One by one your muscles untensed, and your breathing evened out into small, shallow puffs.

“Why would you tell them that?” Kenobi demanded of Cody. “We have to keep them conscious or… or they might not wake up!”

“Cyare,” Cody said. “I need you to listen. They’re not going to wake–”

“We just need to get them out from under the boulder.” Desperation made Kenobi’s hands shake as he lifted them towards the massive rock. Cody leaned over you, grabbing both of Kenobi’s hands in his own. He forced the General to look him in his eyes. 

“That boulder is the only thing keeping Y/n from bleeding out. The moment it’s gone there will be a torrent of blood and they will be dead in seconds. Do you understand?” 

Hesitantly, Kenobi nodded, finally starting to accept the gravity of the situation. 

“This way,” Cody said, reassuringly. “They’ll just sleep and get to… get to go in relative peace.”

“We’ll stay with them,” Master Kenobi said, regaining his normal composure. “It wouldn’t be right for them to be alone.”

“Of course.”

They ignored the distant sound of metal feet stomping across the ground. The only sounds that mattered were your small, rattling breaths drawing ever further apart until finally, they stopped altogether.

Cody reaches down and flags this location on the map. After the battle, which may take mere hours, or last days, they could come back to retrieve your remains. There is no time to grieve in this war. 

Tag list:

@arctrooper69

[komotionlessqueenmm]

Headcanon/Preference # 37

Gifs NOT mine.

Rating - SFW

Reading time (roughly) - 12 minutes

Year posted - 2025

So yeah I totally killed the reader off in this one... Wanted this one to be angsty. Enjoy.

----------------------------

• Obi-wan Kenobi •

• Obi-wan knew he shouldn't have let you join him on this particular mission.

• He knew something was off about this mission, he had sensed it in the Force.

• But he'd let you join regardless, and now you lay at his feet, bleeding out.

• He quickly dispatched of the enemy, and pulled you into his arms.

• "My love stay with me, you're going to be okay."

• He cradled your head in his free hand, trying desperately to assure you that everything will be okay.

• While also trying to fool himself into thinking you'll be able to pull through.

• As your breathing turned shallow, he kissed your forehead, smiling through the pain.

• He needed to be strong for you.

• And as your eyes fluttered closed, and your chest stilled, Obi-wan felt as if a part of himself had died with you.

• Only then did he allow himself to cry, and Obi-wan Kenobi was never the same.

• Becoming a shell of the man he once was, he eventually leaves the Jedi and roams the galaxy, feeling utterly lost without you by his side.

• Anikin Skywalker •

• Anikin thought he could protect you from anything.

• His one truest love, the one person he would have done anything for.

• This is the most dramatic turn of events for Anikin, the moment when he gave into the dark side.

• Cradling your lifeless body in his arms, Anikin screamed and cried.

• "You can't leave me (Y/n), you can't!"

• And with the aggressive flick of his wrist, he killed those that had taken you from him.

• He was merciless, unforgiving, and beyond angry.

• Anikin felt as if he'd died alongside you, and in many ways he did.

• Alone he laid you to rest.

• His once beautiful blue eyes turned to yellow as he watched you disappear from his life.

• Anikin felt as if your blood was on his hands, as if he failed to protect you.

• He also felt as if he failed you, because if you hadn't loved him as deeply as you did, maybe then you wouldn't have given your life for his.

• The day you died, was the very same day Darth Vader was born.

• Qui-Gon Jinn •

• Qui-Gon knew he shouldn't have grown attached to you, he knew it wouldn't end well.

• The rules about attachments, about love, were in place for this very reason.

• Quickly he took care of the man that had fatally wounded you, and held you close.

• Try as he might with the help of the force he attempted to heal your wounds, unable to do so he tried his best to be strong for you.

• He pecked your lips, and brushed back your hair.

• "You're going to be alright darling, just breath. That's it, just keep breathing."

• His hands shook as he placed his free hand over your wound, trying weakly to stop the bleeding.

• Again he tried using the Force to at least try to ease your pain, to make this easier for you.

• "Just relax my darling, we'll see eachother again."

• Qui-Gon promised you with a weak smile, his heart breaking at the sight of your own equally weak smile.

• His heart breaking further as he felt your breathing slow down considerably, the light in your eyes fading with every shallow breath.

• If there was anything Qui-Gon was grateful for, it was getting to hold you in his arms one last time.

• Darth Maul •

• Maul was foolish enough to think you were untouchable, that you were both untouchable.

• And his world crashed around him as you collapsed to the ground.

• Maul thought he knew pain, but all that he's been through, all that he's done. It was nothing compared to losing you.

• "You'll pay for this!"

• Maul growled at the man that was daring enough to hurt you.

• Ruthlessly he slashed at the man, cutting him limb from limb, and keeping him alive until he was satisfied.

• His rage blinded him, and only subsidied when he heard you wheezing in pain.

• "(Y/n) my star."

• Without another thought he dropped his saber, and rushed to your side, cradling you against his chest.

• He was unfazed by your blood seeping into his robes, firmly placing his hand against your wound, desperately trying to at least slow the bleeding.

• "I'll find you again my star, nothing can keep me from you, nothing."

• Maul promised as he rest his forehead against your own, the connection between you both through the Force, assuring him that he could keep that promise.

• He also swore to take down anyone and everyone that was involved in your demise, whoever that man worked for was as good as dead, and anyone else Maul deemed guilty.

• Maul will destroy worlds to avenge you if he must.

• He kept his eyes locked with yours as you slowly slipped away, his hearts thundering with heartache.

• "We will be together again."

• Maul promised before you gave your final breath, a rage filled scream escaping him as you died.

• And all who knew of Darth Maul, learned that after your demise, the Sith could be far crueler, far darker than he had been when you were still alive.

• Maul eventually turns to the traditions of the Zabrak, and finds a way to reunite with you through the magick of his people.

• It isn't enough, and it'll never be enough, because it is simply a ghost of you.

• But until his demise it is all he can manage, and he will accept that while he cannot hold you anymore, he can at least still see you and speak with you.

• Feral Opress •

• Feral is heartbroken beyond belief.

• You were the only truly good thing in his life, you were his and he was yours.

• Savage had witnessed the whole thing unfold, and for the sake of his brother, he struck down the man that dared to harm you.

• Feral wasn't sure what to do, so he acted on instinct, and laid beside you, pulling you into his arms.

• You had once said laying in his embrace was your favorite thing, the thing that brought you the most comfort.

• And he knew that's all he could do for you, comfort you as you slowly succumbed to your wounds.

• "Sh sh my sweet, just relax, I'm here, I've got you."

• He brushed your hair back in a soothing way, ignoring how much it hurt him to feel your blood painting his skin.

• He peppered kisses across your paling face, his hearts breaking with every kiss.

• You giggled in a pitiful way, coughing a moment later, blood oozed from your mouth.

• And Feral, delicately, lovingly wiped it away.

• "It's okay my sweet, look at me."

• His lip quivered a little as your glossy eyes peered into his own.

• "I love you, don't you ever forget that."

• He pecked your lips, tears escaping him when your final breath wheezed out from your lungs.

• Savage Opress •

• Savage instantly saw red, his hearts filled with rage, and regret.

• He ripped the man who hurt you limb from limb with his bare hands. The man's blood only cooling his temper a little.

• Dropping the carcass carelessly to the ground, he rushed back to your side, and as gently as he could he picked you up and cradled you against his chest.

• With you in his arms, Savage walked carefully across the tundra of the desolate planet you were on, unable, unwilling to just leave you on this wasteland of a planet.

• "Oh little one, my sweet stupid girl. You should have just let me handle him."

• He meant well, he really did. But he was hurt that you would do something so reckless, so selfless.

• You had once promised him forever.

• You giggled weakly, reaching up to caress his handsome face. And Savage melted into your touch.

• His hearts broke, knowing he couldn't save you, not this time.

• His blazing eyes locked onto your pale face, he wanted to commit your face to memory, despite the fact that he already has every part of you committed to memory.

• "I'll see you again little one, through the magick, the Force, I will see you again."

• He promised as he cradled you close, the chill of your skin finally breaking his resolve.

• Savage cried as he held you close, falling to his knees as you struggled to breathe.

• He grew darker that day, much darker. Swearing to fight to the bitter end, until he could be reunited with you once more.

• Kylo Ren •

• The moment you collapsed before his eyes, Kylo felt as if he would die alongside you.

• With a rage filled cry, Kylo cut down the man that hurt you, and threw the rest over a nearby cliff with the Force.

• He fell to his knees beside you, watching helplessly as your blood stained the snow around you.

• "Starlight what have you done?"

• He breathed out as he pulled you into his arms, tears of heartache and rage streaming down his face, his helmet long since abandoned.

• "I couldn't- couldn't let you get hurt."

• You had wheezed out, desperately clutching the deep gash at your side. Kylo's hand rest over yours, desperately hoping to stop the bleeding.

• "I can't live without you."

• Kylo whispered in a broken voice, burying his face into the crook of your neck.

• He squeezed you tighter, as you grew colder and colder in his arms.

• "Don't leave me, please, I can't go on without you."

• Kylo shook in his sorrow and rage, as your breathing became shallow.

• Despite the fact that you were literally dying, you still tried to comfort him, brushing his hair back weakly, your blood staining his pale skin.

• This only served to break his heart further, how can he possibly go on without you?

• Kylo is the most likely to rage an all out war, in hopes of getting himself killed so he could be reunited with you.

• But that's not to say he won't fight to the bitter end.

• Armitage Hux •

• It took everything in Armitage to stay standing, to not collapse and cradle you in his arms.

• If he had done so, he knew your sacrifice would have been in vain.

• But the moment the man is killed by his troopers, he's falling to his knees and pulling you into his arms.

• "GET A MEDICAL DROID NOW!"

• He barks at his men, who rush to follow out his order.

• But it's too late, your once bright eyes are dull and lifeless, having died on impact.

• That doesn't stop Armitage from deluding himself into thinking you'll be okay.

• He's crying, and begging you to wake up, but you don't respond to any of his attempts to stir you.

• "Please angel, wake up, come on."

• He's shaking you, kissing you, and eventually in his desperation he's beating on your chest in an attempt to get your heart pumping again.

• By the time a medical droid comes, he refuses to let you go. His troopers eventually have to tear him away from your body.

• He's kicking and screaming, red in the face as he fights them. But it's no good, they are to strong.

• Armitage has to control himself during your funeral, every instinct in him screaming to not let you go, to fight to bring you back.

• He is much harsher after this, starting arguments more and more with Kylo, and taking every ounce of pain when Kylo throws him across the room with the Force, as if he deserves to be punished.

• He's even trying to goad Kylo into killing him, but the man has a little more restraint than the General had thought.

• Armitage is the most likely to give into his dark depressive thoughts, and take his own life.

• His final thoughts are of you and you alone.

• General Grievous •

• You were his most prized "possession" so to speak, nothing in all of the galaxy meant as much to Grievous as you did.

• "My treasure, no you can't do this, you can't leave me I forbid it!"

• He's killed the man before you even hit the ground, where you lay for mere moments before he's cradling you in his arms.

• He's gentle with you, as he quite literally sprints you to the nearest medical bay.

• "Get out all of you!"

• He barks at the droids, not trusting them to fix what cannot be undone. Certain that he'll be able to save you.

• He's frantic in his attempts to patch you up, almost unaware of the way you gently touch his arm.

• Grievous froze in an instant when you weakly called out his name, his attention now solely on your face, cupping your hand in two of his.

• "What do you need treasure?"

• He asked in a soft voice, ignoring how his voice shook with emotion.

• You simply smiled at him, as if taking in the sight of him was all you cared about in that moment.

• "I-I lo-ve-"

• You tried croaking out, only for your breath to be stolen as you slipped away, dying before his very eyes, trying to declare your love one last time.

• The very ground shook with his scream of despair and heart retching agony.

• From that moment on he took out every ounce of pain and anger at losing you on anyone he deemed a threat.

• Sometimes even on innocent people, who would unknowingly remind him of you.

• He fought dirty and ruthlessly, uncaring if he would get himself killed, or if he would even succeed.

• Grievous also travelled far and wide across the galaxy in an attempt to find some way to bring you back to life.

• He cared not for whatever it might cost, or what he might have to do, who he would have to kill.

• If there is a way he can bring you back, he'll find a way, not matter how long it takes.

----------------------------

[dsadwdasdadawdwad-deactivated20]

I already love Crokas

[kacchanot-fucking-deal-with-this]

So you know when you're writing a scene where the hero is carrying an injured person and you realize you've never been in this situation and have no idea how accurate the method of transportation actually is?

Oh boy, do I have a valuable resource for you!

Here is a PDF of the best ways to carry people depending on the situation and how conscious the injured person needs to be for the carrying position.

Literally a life saver.

(No pun intended.)

[that-bi-fan]

(in case you are unable to access the pdf)

will try to add alt id's later

[whump-side]

Whumptober 2024

No. 1: RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK

Search Party

[whump-side]

Rescue is on the wave way ! Continuation of this

[whump-side]

Commission for @x-i-l-verify 🗡🩸🩸🩸

[jackkdaniels]

okay so this post

only it’s Essek using Sending to keep Caleb awake after a tunnel collapse in Aeor

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[dsadwdasdadawdwad-deactivated20]

The monster was Arlo’s fiancé, Edward

[vexing-imogen]

a warm embrace

Auggie leans back against the wall in Charlie's office with a sigh. He runs his hand over the left side of his face, feeling the weird texture of the rocks that are just part of his face now, apparently. He resists the urge to poke at his eye, to try and force sight back into it. It had been hard to tell in the bowels of Oldfaire, but the doc had confirmed it. He'll never see out of that eye again.

It could be worse. At least he's still got a face.

"Auggie?"

Arlo stands in the doorway, swaying slightly. It could be exhaustion, or it could be the nearly empty drink in her hand. Either way, he makes room for her on the cot, pats the space beside him.

She perches on the edge of the cot, staring into the amber liquid in her glass. "How are you?" she asks softly.

He shrugs, even though she's not looking at him. "I've been worse."

A noise escapes her, almost like a laugh. "I highly doubt that, Auggie," she says, finally turning her face to him. She looks like she's in pain, her black eyes shining in the dim light. She turns away just as fast, blinking rapidly. "I'm sorry."

Auggie frowns. "What for?"

"Your eye, Auggie," she says. Then softer. "I hurt you."

"Ah, c'mon, that wasn't your fault," he says.

Her hands tighten around the glass. "But if I hadn't destroyed that portal-"

"If you hadn't destroyed that portal, that Ficus dude would'a brought even worse shit through it." That gets him a ghost of a smile. "You did what you had to do, and if it weren't for you, we'd all be fucking dead." He puts a cautious hand on her shoulder, pleased when she leans into his touch rather than flinch away. "You saved our lives, plus a whole bunch of other people. You're a hero."

She turns back to him, raises an eyebrow. "Do I really look like a hero to you, Auggie?"

"Sure, why not?" he says, grinning. "I never seen one until now, so..."

She looks down, but not away. "You're very sweet." She downs the rest of her drink. Hiccups. "And I am quite intoxicated."

"Yeah?" he asks. "From one drink?"

"Two," she corrects. "And Charlie told Mr. Stinson to 'make them strong'."

"Jesus," he mutters. "How are you doing after all of that?" (He's pretty sure he knows the answer, but it feels rude to not check on her after she came to check on him.)

"Oh!" she says, as if she hadn't stopped to think about herself. She's quiet for a moment. "Very poorly."

Shit. "You wanna talk about it?"

Arlo shakes her head. "Not particularly."

"Okay."

They stay like that for a while, leaned against each other. His arm ends up around her shoulders, while her head ends up settled somewhere on his chest. He digs a handkerchief out of his pocket when he realizes she's crying, and she takes it but doesn't use it. Charlie eventually steps in to let them know that Alexandra is on her way, and should be there soon.

Arlo sits up straight as Charlie leaves, dabbing at her eyes with the handkerchief. "Eddie was there," she says, out of the blue.

"Oh," he says. "Like, one of the faceless bodies, or..."

She shakes her head, and she's crying again. "He was the one stealing faces." And I killed him hangs in the silence that follows.

"Shit," he whispers, taking her hand. "I'm really sorry."

She nods, dabbing at her eyes again. "I didn't-" Her voice breaks. She swallows and starts again. "I didn't realize how much I'd hoped he was still alive somewhere until I was watching him die."

Auggie doesn't know how to respond, and she dissolves into a mess of tears, so he just wraps his arms around her and lets her cry into his shirt. Howard is knocking on the door after a few minutes, letting them know that Alexandra is there.

He helps her up, both of them a little unsteady. "You don't gotta go out there if you don't wanna," he offers. "I can cover for you; tell 'em you passed out or something."

Her smile doesn't even begin to reach her eyes. "That's very kind of you, Auggie, but I'll be alright." She reaches up to smooth out his collar. "Thank you.

He shrugs, trying and failing to act casual. "Anytime."

[katia-dreamer]

Arlo Black sits in her room, trying to adjust to how two worlds have woven into a strange new tapestry. It makes her head hurt.

She closes her eyes briefly, but when she opens them again she her attention is drawn by the eye in the middle of her palm. It is so eerily reminiscent of what she saw in her mind. She wonders if it can see all the broken parts of her. The ones she tries to ignore.

She wonders if Eddie saw them before he died.

Eddie.

She remembers the gut-wrenching screeches, his tortured garbles.

Eddie.

Eddie.

She never thought she would see him again. She had longed to find out what happened to him but accepted that it was unlikely. He had vanished like smoke blown away by the changing wind.

Yet all this time, he’d been alive. Alive but trapped, warped by something monstrous.

It was a small comfort that he had not been alone at the end. At least he had looked into her eyes and known that someone cared. At least she got to tell him she loved him one last time.

It’s then that she realizes she’s crying. Her tears fall down the gray flesh of her face onto her hand.

She sniffles and puts on her glove.

-

[nezumidou]

What happened to your hand?

Um-- My fiance was taken. Eddie. You know, he was quite interested in Oldfaire relics and he may have done some bad things. And, well, I came to see him and he was being pulled through some sort of doorway, or portal. Or hole. And I tried to save him. My arm went through. And-- Well, I pulled my arm back out and Eddie did not come back out.

[aceofwhump]

The Legend of Vox Machina - 1x03

[dapandapod]

Dead I live

Here it comes! Part one of Undead Jaskier. On Ao3 here! (Some people asked to be tagged, those are under the cut)

Warnings: Gore, angst, death before resurection. 

The pain is unbearable. His face is beaten bloody, at least three ribs are broken, his legs are cut and stabbed and beat until unrecognition. The worst pain is his fingers. Bent and broken, one entire digit on his pinkie missing. All his nails are gone, his hard earned calluses cut away. He will never be able to play again. 

There probably won’t be much of anything anymore. His most recent session with his torturers earned him a broken collarbone and bleeding ears. They are ringing loudly and he can feel hot blood dripping from his earlobe.

But none of that will matter for long.

The woman that stands above him is hooded. Her matted brown hair touches his face as she leans over him. She pulls his arms above his head, binds them in chains. He doesn’t have any energy to resist anyway, he just wants it all to end.

The contrast of her hair against his face and the cold chain digging into his chafed skin is making his head spin. 

It could also be the blood loss but here’s to being optimistic. 

The next thing he knows is a knife scraping against his ribs. Shoved down hard, plunged into him with cold anger. And there is some kind of chanting. His limbs spasm, the darkness and the cold coming in fast.

There is a flash of purple.

And then nothing

~

There is air. Pushing its way inside his lungs. 

Cold. Cold everywhere. Burning, spreading upwards, downwards, inwards. Everything burns. With the new air he screams, hoarse, harsh. He finds he has fingers, and they are clenching, unclenching. Stretching, reaching and then closing up again. Seeking a comfort that he knows will never be there.

His heart beats painfully. Once. Twice. He gasps, he twists, he turns.

And then he opens his eyes. The world is hidden by a shade of grey. His eyes are so, so dry. He blinks, blinks again. The ringing in his ears comes back, slowly creeping up on him. No. He was supposed to be free.

The grey softens and he can see darkness past it. It’s not entirely dark, he realizes. There must be a torch somewhere, lighting up the stone ceiling far above.

He blinks again. The ringing in his ears settles into the background and he can pick up new sounds. His own raspy breathing, his own unsteady heartbeat.

And that chanting. 

Then it burns again. Jaskier screams. 

The world around him fades and again there is darkness.

~

Something is itching. There is a pressure around his ribcage, and something there is itching. He lifts a hand to do something about it but he finds that it is heavy. He struggles on, drags that hand towards his chest. His senses are muted, he senses more than he actually feels the bandages when his hand gets there.

Lamely he scratches. It doesn’t help. He scratches harder but it only gets worse. The itching spreads and it intensifies and fuck. It hurts. His breath comes faster, panic is setting in. His heartbeat races and that hurts too. The muscles in his chest aches as they expand, working to keep up with his frantic breathing. His other hand scrabbles up towards his chest, he throws his head back and a sound escapes his throat.

Hands grab his, hot against his skin, and fear grabs him, tears in him.

“Jaskier. Shh. It’s alright.” A voice, low and rumbling, somewhere above him. It sounds far away, it is hard to determine over the ringing. His hands are pushed to his sides, his skin is screaming at him. There was something familiar about that voice.

The hands stays over his, holding him down firmly. Jaskiers fingers twitch and shake, but his body is too heavy to fight. A scream claws in his throat, fightin to get out.

There is a thumb stroking his hand in soft, light circles. 

Geralt. This is Geralt.

Is it real this time?

He can’t tell how the time passes. It might be seconds or hours, but the itching slowly recedes. Jaskiers vision returns, slowly. The grey mist is almost gone. He blinks.

That looks like stars. It couldn’t possibly be stars.

So many times he looked up at that cracked stone ceiling imagining them. And the sound of a campfire, crackling and popping as it devours the firewood. A  friend just outside the line of his vision, watching over him. 

But it was always stone. Always clanking chains. Dripping of moist along the walls. The silence between the cuts, his screams.

Is it really the stars? 

He draws in a shaking breath, cold night air filling his lungs. Gods, it even smells like a night sky. He must be dead. Should be dead.

There is no way he would be able to get out of there.

There is movement somewhere on his right. His body tense up, ready for the pain.

“Jaskier.”

Geralt.

The familiar ache builds and his dry eyes does their best to tear up. He bites his lip, and his dry skin cracks and a drop of blood pushes through it.

He won’t allow himself to say his name.

“Are you awake now?” There is movement again and someone leans over him. White hair falling forward over pale skin. Jaskier blinks. That scar over his eye looks new.

His face blocks out the view of the would-be stars.

“Hello.” Geralt says, Jaskier can see his lips moving but the voice is far away, behind the ringing. “Thank fuck you are alive.” 

Is he though?

There is still that cold, burning sensation. The itch between his ribs. The- wait. Fuck. The knife. There was a knife between his ribs, and a woman, and purple.

He starts hyperventilating again, straining against his bandages.

“Nononono Jaskier, easy, deep breaths. You are safe. Breathe.” Geralt’s hand is on his shoulder and it’s burning hot. Jaskier is so cold. His heart is pumping hard, but it’s not enough and it gets dark around the edges.

Jaskier really did die. He must have. The woman. She must have done something. She stabbed him, killed him, and brought him back. There are no stars. But there is a pull, almost like a string tied around his heart in a tight, tight knot. He can feel her presence.

The stars return. The white strands, the burning hand on his shoulder. Now that he feels the bond, the string rhythmically pulling at his heart, making it beat, he is calm.

He knows.

Jaskier did indeed not come out of there alive.

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