misc. aphmau selfship/oc x canon art + gene at the end... i pair him with laurance and his sister with travis >_< ... erm some of this is really old but yeah i thought i'd share LOL, i always forget to post things here....
GUYS WTF DID I JUST WALK INTO?!I JUWT STARTED WATCHING ARCANE SEE,IM ONLY ON EPISODE 3 OF ARCANE!EPISODE 3, AM I SUPPOSED TO FEEL THIS PIT OF HORROR THROUGHOUT MY BODY?!
This goes for assholes, too, guys. I know a couple who went tubing once, and they had to re-air their tubes, but the guy thought it would be funny to stick the tip of the air compressor up to her bikini trunks, the air ruptured something inside her and she died within thirty minutes.
Reblogging with a link because I thought this was a legit joke. Never heard it before. Like I knew you could kill a person by inserting air into a vein but still.
Rain patters on the windowpane, the rhythmic tap tap tap of the drops soothing against your ears. You always loved it when it stormed back home. The world always became so quiet when it rained, the pure water washing away the dirt and making the greenery flourish. The rain lilies that would pop up the next day were always so beautiful. You remember studying under your window andโฆ
Waitโฆ window?
Your eyes snap open as your heart begins to speed up uncontrollably, provoking an uncomfortable tightness in your chest. Slowly, you sit up, feeling the firm hospital bed mattress below you. The room you're in is dimly lit, but thereโs no blood dried on the sheets, or bars caging you in. No, there's a window on the wall next to you with cards arranged across the sill, and vases filled with flowers alongside them.ย
But you aren't safe. You aren't.
Where are you?
When you swallow thereโs a horribly unpleasant feeling in your throat, invading your nostrils and restraining your breathing. Reaching up, you feel a plastic tube line thatโs been inserted in your nose. With a sense of urgency, you tug on it, the feeling of plastic sliding up your throat making you want to gag. Still, you keep going until you've relieved yourself of the unnatural feeling, then toss it to the side.
โMiss?โ A hand lands on your shoulder, clasping against the bone that now forced your skin to stretch over it.
You canโt control the reaction that comes out of you: as pure fear shoots through your veins, so does a scream through your throat; one that tears at your vocal chords and sends you flailing over the edge of the bed.ย
โNO! DONโT FUCKING TOUCH ME!โ
There has to be something you can use to defend yourselfโyou skitter back on the cold tile, searching the room desperately.
โCode Violetโฆ I repeat, Code VioletโMaโam, you canโt be in here!โ
Water splashes on you as you stumble to your feet, the nearest flower vase clenched tightly in your hands. It reels up behind you as you raise your arm, ready to be thrown.ย
โThatโs my daughter! Yes I can!โ
Your breath immediately catches, a knot twisting in your throat as the familiar voice of your mother echoes against the sterile white walls. It freezes you in your tracks, and through the watery film cast over your eyes, you see her, staring oh-so-desperately at you as a nurse attempts to hold her back.
โโฆMommy?โ
Youโre not sure if your voice comes out loud enough. The childish name had fallen from your lips in a hoarse whisper. But she hears it, and with every ounce of strength she can gather she pushes past the nurse again, plucking the vase right out of your weakened hands and pulling you into her chest.
โItโs okay, baby. Youโre safe.โ Her words are choked as loud sobs and quick breaths ring loudly in your ears. You're not sure where they're coming fromโyou can't tell if anyone else is in the room, with your vision so blurry. โOh, Iโm so sorry. Iโm so sorry. Shhh, my sweet girl. Shhโฆโ
Why is she telling you to be quiet?
Oh.
The loud sobbing was coming from you.
A prick in your arm makes you gasp, and it feels as though a large wave crashes over you, gradually forcing your muscles to relax. Your breaths slow and a pain you didnโt realize had been squeezing your lungs slowly dissipates.ย
With your motherโs arms still hosting you dearly against her, you turn sluggishly to see the same nurse from before backing away from the two of you with a wary look in her eye, an empty syringe situated between her gloved fingers.
โMaโam, could you please return your daughter to the bed? She ripped out her IV line; she needs to finish this drip.โ
The nurse is at least gentle with her words, this time, gesturing to the hospital bed as she moves back to the other side of the room, giving you both a respectable amount of space. At least four other staff members are standing in the doorway to your room, you realize, but most importantly your dad was pushing through them, eyes glued to you.
โOkay. Come here, sweetheart.โ The arms around you lift you up, and like a child, you let them, legs giving in as youโre placed back onto the mattress.
You feel relieved.
Strong, calloused hands of your father gently pull you to lay back down just as a small wave of dizziness swirls your vision. Even now as you lay down, he squeezes your smaller hands in his, a strange mistiness in his eyes you haven't seen before.
You feel suffocated.
Thereโs too many people, but whatever the nurse gave you in that syringe keeps you from expressing your panic. Your humiliation. Your fear. Why are those other people still in the doorway? You want them to leave.
Still, they stay, and the nurse from before cautiously approaches your sideโsqueezing beside your mom as she grabs the IV line. You hadnโt even noticed it in your skin, or registered or getting ripped out in your fall.
You feel confused.
Butโฆ your parents are here, and they donโt lean back from the woman in scrubs or scorn her. Soโฆ she must be safe, right?
โMiss, I am very sorry for startling you. It was my honest mistake for touching you without consent. I deeply apologize,โ she starts, lifting a hand over her heart. โI understand you must be very disoriented and scared, but I assure you I wonโt harm you, and you are completely safe here. Youโre at the Nahakra Hospital. Today's the third of August, and youโve been unconscious in our care for two days now. Is it alright if I touch your arm to hook the IV line here?โ
Her voice is calm and soothing, and while something about her still has you cautious, thereโs a warmth in her words that makes you nod.ย
โThank you, miss. Itโll only take a second.โ She nods, blue latex taking gentle hold of your arm. โNow, weโre going to have everyone hereโincluding your parentsโleave the room so that you can have a moment to process everything and calm down. Is that alright?โ
Slowly, you nod again.
The IV is attached again, and after she turns to the panel and makes adjustments you donโt understand, she and your parentsโreluctantlyโleave the room. Youโre left alone, just the pattering of rain left from the crescendo of chaos.
Youโre in Nahakra Hospital.
Itโs the third of August.
Itโs August? You came back from vacation onโฆ July nineteenth. Thatโs two weeks.
Everything between Then and Now is so patchy. A damp room. Lights that were much too cold and much too bright. Somethingโฆ blue. And pain. So much pain.
The more you think about it, the more your head spins, and the more the memories slip just past your fingertips. You remember... You remember something. Something important. Very important. Something you had to tell everyone... But what is it?
A deep breath leaves your lips as you start to look around again, now with the knowledge that you at least werenโt in immediate danger. Your throat is sore, you realize, when you glance at an unopened water bottle on the bedside table. You practically jump at it, cracking open the lid and chugging the liquid life. The hoarseness is at least slightly alleviated by the coolness, and it calms you down even more in combination with whatever medicine that nurse had nicked you with.
The flower vase you'd grabbed is back in its spot, the pretty flowers inside now smushed and some even snapped from your mistreatment. A small wave of guilt washes over you as you glance over the window sill. Did people visit and leave you these?
You stand, a bit shakier this time, setting down the empty water bottle and grabbing on the metal of the IV stand. You pull it with you as you walk over to the display, a deep frown on your face. On one of the snapped flowers is a note, with bubbly, cursive handwriting on it.
If Iโm not here when you wake up, talk to me as soon as you can. Iโm so relieved youโre back, lovely girl!
Much love, Cadenza
You swallow thickly, an indecipherable emotion rolling over you as you reread the words. Holding the note to your chest, you let go of the IV drip and move on to the next note, attached to a stuffed bear.
Hey, Iโm sorry I wasnโt allowed to come but I had Travis deliver this. Hope I can see you soon.
-Dante
P.S. Gene helped me pick out the bear, so itโs a gift from both of us!
And then you pick up the next.
Hereโs a picture of us at prom that I really loved. I thought you might want to have a print of it, maybe. I love you.
<3 Luci
And the next.
I made you cookies but they didnโt let me bring them in for you! I can make them again when youโre feeling better. Or maybe even before you feel better! I really missed you.
Love, Nana
And the next.
I consider you one of my not-alone buddies, even if you and Katelyn thought the title was a little goofy. Iโm happy youโre back. :)
-Travis V.
I know we arenโt super close, but youโre still a friend who means a lot to me. Thank you for being so kind to me and everyone. Iโm glad youโre okay.
Sincerely, Nicole
Iโm sure some things won't be the same when youโre back. Regardless of what happened or what you feel when you see us again, I will always be here for you.
Love, Laurance
I love you so much.ย I canโt describe how sorry I am that we couldnโt stop this from happening. But I will always protect you from now on, and I know youโre strong enough to get through this.
Love, Kate
Iโm so sorry about everything. I hope youโre okay. Iโll be downstairs every day until youโre awake. As soon as youโre feeling up to it, I want to see you as soon as possible. I left these flowers for you! The pretty pretty dark red ones reminded me of you.
Aphmau <3
You have no idea how hard I cried when I found out you were here. I canโt wait to wrap you in a big hug again when I see you.
Love you dearly, Teony
You mean a lot to everyone, and especially to me. Iโve thought about you every day. Iโll be here for you if you ever need anything.
Vylad
Iโm so sorry that I
Please forgive
Iโm sorry.
Garroth
Several notes find themselves crumpled and clutched over your heart as your hands tremble. This is real. You were gone, and everyone was worried about you. They wanted you back.
You want to see them.
You remember that you'd wanted to see them again. That they were the light at the top of whatever dark place you were in; the light at the end of your long, dark tunnel.
You glance over to the IV. For a moment, you hesitate, but not even a second later you've pulled it out. It tugs uncomfortably on whatever part was connected to your arm, but you barely flinch at the pain. Thereโs a small voice in your head telling you that you shouldnโt have done that, but right now you just want to get out of this room. You need to get out of this room.
Youโre not sure why you feel the need to be quiet, but the closer you move to the closed door the more your ears ringโa voice whispers: this won't end well. The blocked doorway makes you feel trapped, like you need to break free and run. Your vision locks on the handle, everything else blurring around you as you grasp onto the cold metal.
A sigh of relief leaves your lips when the door gives smoothly, opening without even a squeak.
Why were you worried? Youโre in a hospital, not a prison.
When you step out, you quickly scan the hallwayโthankfully, thereโs no nurses around to stop you from leaving. But even still, where are you supposed to find your parents? Were they down in the lobbyโwherever that wasโor somewhere in another room near you?
Your thoughts are put to a halt when you hear voices chatter around the corner, one of them rising high enough for you to hear before lowering again. They soundedโฆ worried. Angry?
As you inch closer, youโre grateful for the socks you were given; they help silence your steps. The voices become clearer as you reach the end of the hall. The first you hear is an unfamiliar manโs voice, his tone assertive, the sort that commands respect.
โโฆAnd just what are we supposed to do about this? We canโt send our son back to that school. What if heโs taken by those psychos, too? That girl is lucky she made it back in one piece!" The man pauses for a moment, then scoffs. "Then againโฆ based on her reaction when she woke up, I'm not sure she did.โ
โEnough!โ Is thatโฆ Garteโs voice? โFact is that she is back. Alive. Thatโs what we should be focused on. Besides, we canโt know for sure if she was the one who took her.โ
โWho else could it be? You heard what the cops said. She was found near the same exact lodge. Is that just a coincidence? You seriously believe this isnโt exactly what we think it is?โ
A heavy silence falls over the group. You lean against the wall, straining your ears to make out every word. Were your parents with them?
โQuiet, Derek. This isnโt helping,โ a womanโs voice speaks up coolly. โWe need to focus on what to do with the kids now.โ
โโฆRachel is right.โ Sylvanna, too? โAndโฆ since we canโt know for sureโโ
โWe do know for sure. You can't all be ignoring the signs like this.โ
โDerek!โ
โโฆWe need to think about if it was her,โ Sylvanna continues. โOrโฆ Zack. Thereโs no telling what their next move is, especially if she got away from them too soon. Weโre going to have to be extra protective of them.โ
โWe canโt possibly uproot our babies.โ โฆThatโs Zianna. โThis is already hard enough on all of them, and thereโs no telling what kind of traumaโฆโ
Her voice breaks, and the group is silent again.
โThey clearly tracked her down after you both moved back here. There's no guarantee they wouldn't do it again, even if we all moved. We need to keep our kids together, and we have to decide if weโre going to tell them about all of this sooner or later. They need each other, especially now, after all that's happened. Donโt you all think so?โ
You swallow. Theyโre talking about you, you're sure, but you canโt make any sense of it. Do they know who was responsible for what happened? How? Why didnโt they do anything?
Breath caught in your lungs, you lean forward, peeking around the corner. Your parents, Garte, Zianna, Sylvanna, Eric, a white-haired man, and a couple you havenโt seen before are gathered in a circle, all with grave looks on their faces.
โI agree. Itโs hard enough moving schools at their age without this whole mess,โ your mom speaks up, hand on her forehead, head hung low, โlet alone now.โ
โSo, what? Weโre just supposed to sit like ducks in a pond, wait for them to take another one of our kids? And we won't even tell the kids why they're getting targeted? Stalked? Hunted down? No way.โ Now that you're seeing everyone in the group, you're able to connect the stern voice from before to a man with dark hair standing closest toโฆ Rachel? His face and outfit matched his voice: harsh. Corporate. Authoritarian, and demanding of respect. โAaron wonโt be staying anywhere near that high school or your kids.โ
โListen, as many issues as I have with your son making moves on my daughter, pulling him out of this is too harsh,โ Sylvanna snaps, pointing at him. โHow is sending him off going to help anything?โ
โExcuse me?โ The manโs nostrils flare in annoyance. "At least he won't be lined up with the rest of your kids, waiting for his turn to get whisked away and experimented on."
โEnough,โ the white-haired man says, his voice cutting across the conversation. He looksโฆ directly at you. Something about his gaze pierced through you and was distant at the same time, like something familiar and far off was looking through his eyes instead of him. It sends a shockwave of paralyzing fear through you, and you canโt bring yourself to hide from his sight. โWe have an eavesdropper.โ
All nine adults are now looking at you, and you canโt help but flinch as youโre discovered.
โOh, sweetie,โ Zianna calls, her voice delicate. โItโs okay. Come here.โ
You know these people. You know them. Yet your steps are hesitant as you approach them, a heavy sense of unease slowing you. They all lookโฆ horrified as their eyes stay locked on your form. It definitely didnโt help the sick feeling in your gut.
โItโs okay, mija,โ Sylvanna reassures when you pause, walking closer to you and holding her hand out.
You stare at itโher small, tanned hand oh-so-familiar and comforting in your cold, white surroundings. Reaching out, you place your hand in hers, letting her pull you closer to their group.ย
โOhโฆโ Zianna gasps lightly, reaching up to touch your hair. Her fingers feel strange against your scalp, and you realize itโs because the longer length that used to be there now only grows a couple of inches from your head.ย
As her hands gently move down to your wrist, you turn your attention to the rest of the group; your parents start hovering close to your side.
โโฆWhat were you all talking about?โ you ask, ignoring their fussing as you look each one in the eye. They all startle, a mix of guilt and upset written all over their faces. When neither Sylvanna nor Zianna say anything, you look to your parents for answers. It takes a few moments for you to realize that you won't be getting any; they only walk to your side to pull you under their arms.
Why are you getting nothing but silence? They know more about something awful that happened to you that you canโt even remember! Resent builds in your chest when youโre met with nothing but pitiful eyes.ย
โExcuse me.โ A woman announces herself quite suddenly, making you jump in place.
You turn to see a tall, blonde cop, her hair tied back in a tight bun. Her face is kind, but sternโit's clear she takes her job seriously. A younger-looking man stands next to her, who, from the look of it, likely works under her.
โIโm sorry for interrupting this talk, but we heard she was awake and wanted to ask some questions to help close out the missing person's file, if thatโs alright?โ she says to your parents shortly, before glancing over to you. โMy name is Detective Azura from the Phoenix Drop Police Department, and with me is my colleague, Detective Gale.โ
โI donโt know if now is the best time. Sheโs barely awakeโฆโ your mom says, turning to look at you with a deep frown on her face.
You glance around the group. They should be the ones answering the questions, shouldnโt they? Clearly, they knew more than you did.
โ...Itโs okay. I donโt mind,โ you say quietly. โI donโt know how much I can tell you, though. Everything is kind ofโฆ gone.โ
โThatโs alright. Whatever you're able to recall would be more than enough.โ Detective Azura nods, giving you a polite smile. โWould you like to do this in a room, for privacy?โ
The offer makes your heart rate spike, and you quickly shake your head. โNo, I can answer them hereโฆโ
โOkay, thatโs fine, too.โ She pulls out a notepad. โSo, what can you tell us? Do you think you could begin by telling us what you were doing before the incident?โ
You swallow, looking down at the lines between the tiles, tracing each outline as you attempt to pull anything.
โIโฆ had just gotten back from a trip with my friends, and wanted to walk home to take a shower and get some things from my house."
โAndโsorry to interruptโyou were at Ms. Salomeโs house at this point, correct?โ
You nod, and she gestures for you to continue. โI felt like something was off, but I shook it off because I thought I was just paranoid. And thenโโ You suck in a breath. Suddenly, talking isn't as easy as you thought it would be. โI saw the black SUV and started freaking out. I tried rushingโrunning to my house, but a woman was standing in my way.โ
โAnd what did this woman look like?โ
โIt was too dark, butโฆโ you trail off, thinking back to that moment. The memory is so hazy, so far away, but you remember the rough asphalt digging into your skin as you looked up at the silhouette of the woman above you; a head of blue hair hanging over her shadowed face. โ...Her hair was blue.โ
โBlue hair? Youโre sure of that?โ
โ...Yeah. The street lamp was shining on it. It was light blue.โ
Either the air surrounding the group shifts, or youโre imagining the eyes of the parents darting at each other inโฆ panic? Fear?ย
Detective Azula quickly scribbles something onto her notepad. โOkay, I see. But you donโt remember any other details about this woman? How about where you were held?โ
The more you try to think past that point (your cheek, scraping against the pavement; your limbs, impossibly heavy), the more the thickness in your throat grows. Like the fog over your memories is filled with poison, stinging your hands any time you reach in.
After a deep breath, you start again. โI only rememberโฆ everything hurtingโฆ and I think I was in a room with bars, butโฆ" You exhale sharply, reaching up to massage your temple. "I don't know. I'm sorry, I don't know, itโsโit's all blurry.โ
Your head hurts.
โI see. Can you recall anything else?โ
โI donโt think I canโฆ I just remember there was something very important I needed to tell everyone, butโโ you look down, โโI canโt remember what it was.โ
โNo worries, miss. Itโs quite common for people in missing cases like yourself to block off traumatic experiences,โ Gale speaks up.
You nod, eyebrows pinching as you look at the white tiles under your feet, missing the harsh glares the man receives from the group of adults behind you.
Detective Azura clears her throat. โWe wonโt bother you anymore about it, miss. If you ever do remember something in the future, please contact us. We want to prioritize your safety and the safety of anyone else who could get involved in this case, especially as your kidnappers are still at large.โ
Butโฆ the adults around you know more! Why werenโt they saying anything? How are you supposed to figure out what happened if you donโt even know how you got here?
โThank you for your time. Weโll be leaving, now.โ Detective Azura nods, then spins on her heel and gestures for Detective Gale to follow.
โWait!โ you call out. โCould you tell me who found me? Iโฆ I want to thank them.โ
She looks back at you. โIt was a couple who found you. Iโll let them know youโd like to speak with them and send their number to your parents if they want to talk.โ
โ...Okay. Thank you.โ
Once the detectives have rounded the corner, a silence settles over the group, and the man with silvery white hair from before steps forward, holding his hand out to you. His hair color might've aged someone else by a few years, but it didn't seem to affect this man at all. If anything, he looked pretty young; it's possible that he's one of the younger men in this group, even if only by a couple of years.
โHi, there.โ He offers a smile, the curve of it strangely familiar. โIโm Terry Valkrum, Travisโs dad. Weโre both glad that youโre back. Itโs nice to meet you.โ
While you shake his hand, it's hard for you to return the smile or the greeting. This is just too weird.
โYes, excuse us for not introducing ourselves earlier.โ The dark-haired woman you didnโt recognize earlier leans forward, a hand curled delicately over her stern-looking husbandโs arm. โIโm Rachel Lycan, and this is my husband, Derek. Weโre old friends of your parents. Itโs good to see you safe, though I'd hoped to meet under better circumstances.โ
Lycan? As inโฆ Aaron Lycanโs parents?
โ...What are you all doing here?โ
โWell, they wanted to see if you were alright. And your friends did, too,โ your mom begins, her hands gentle on your shoulders. โWe're all just trying to figure things out.โ
You step away from her, brushing her hands off your shoulders. โDidn't sound like anything needed figuring outโnot when you were talking like you knew all about what happened to me.โ
Your mom's hands hang in the air for a moment before she tries moving closer to you, hurt flashing across her face. โBabyโโ
โExcuse me! You arenโt supposed to be out of your room,โ a nurse calls from the end of the hall. โYou still need to finish your IV drip and get a check-up!โ
โ
Your eyes droop as you stare blankly at the TV screen. It's been hours since you were escorted back to your room, and then poked and prodded at by three different doctors and several nurses. Between the anger you felt towards the adults and the bouts of anxiety you felt any time another doctor came inโwell, it wasnโt long before your energy had been depleted once again. It seems three whole days of sleep can only do so much for you.
One of the doctors who'd come to see you was a psychiatrist, whoโdespite your reluctanceโwas a lot more helpful than the others youโd talked to.
โ...showcase symptoms of retrograde dissociative amnesia, with your difficulty recalling memories about the incident. You also exhibit signs of PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Neither are directly curable, but treatments and a good support system go a long way.
Of course, getting better will take time, patience, and keeping on top of the meds Iโm going to prescribe you. The good thing is that if you keep up these meetings with me and a therapist, your symptoms will become much easier to manage. In fact, it's possible for symptoms of PTSD to fade away. At least to the point where they won't affect your daily lifeโฆโ
The corny drama movie characters were fighting about something on screen in a language you couldnโt even understand. The volume was low, and you hadnโt even bothered to turn on the subtitles; the drone of their voices and trying to guess what was happening had provided you with more entertainment and distraction than anything else that could be offered in this room.
โNo! Shhโฆโ
Your eyes snap towards the door, muffled voices making themselves known on the other side.
โYouโreโฆ literally goingโฆ us caught!โ
โJustโฆ in, stupid!โ
You flinch back when the door is practically thrown off its hinges, the faces of familiar teenagers toppling over one another to get a look at you. Aphmau is the first to rush forward, and she doesn't seem to care about sneaking around when she yelps your name. You sit up just in time for her to throw herself onto the bed with you, pulling you into a tight hug.
Her hands are impossibly gentle over your shoulders, like she's almost afraid of hurting you, but then at the same time her arms are wrapped just as impossibly tightly around youโlike she's almost afraid of losing you. For a moment, it's only Aphmau hugging you. Then someone else's arms wrap around your back, and another pair around your legs. Cheeks rest against your skin; feeling your pulse, hearing you breathe. It's almost too much, but you canโt bring any complaint to leave your lips, eyes drifting shut and taking in this warmth, this peace. Quiet hitches from in-between people's cries interrupt the delicate silence.ย
This whole time, even the faces that have been familiar to you your entire lifeโyour mom, your dadโhave given you a sense of unease. You're still disoriented, still unsteady. But this... it was right.ย
You trust them.ย
You pull away to look across the group. There's Aphmau, clutching onto your hand as you pull away; Zane, standing in the middle of the room; Travis and Vylad leaning in from the foot of the bed; Garroth, looking down at the floor with furrowed brows.ย
You know them.
But then, as you're about to call Garroth over, you see her. She's thereโshe's there. To your farthest right, caught in your peripheral: a pale face, waves of light blue hair, and those piercing featuresโso, so piercingโas she hovers over you, stretches a hand out to your faceโ
Your breath catches. You flinch back, hard.
But you blink, and it's not herโit never was. It's only Katelyn. And after you jerk away from your best friend's touch, her face twists in hurt. In concern. In hesitation. In desperation. It twists with the crushed hope that you would return the sentiment of sisterly love overflowing from her fingertips.ย
It's only Katelyn. Just your best friend, Katelyn. And just like how you know the rest of them, you know her.
โ...Are you okay?โ she whispers, hand hovering over your shoulder, afraid of being rejectedย again.
You swallow, then reach out to grasp her hand in your clammy one. โI think so.โ
The group watches you intently as you take a moment to look over them all. They wore comfortable clothes; clearly, theyโd been waiting around here for a while.
โI meanโฆ I canโt exactly answer that yet,โ you murmur after a moment. โI feel okay now, but I'm kinda tense. Itโs just hard to explain because I donโtโI can't remember what happened, or what Iโm supposed to be feeling upset about. Itโs justโฆ there.โ
โItโs okay, you donโt have to explain yourself,โ Vylad assures you, glancing between everyone else before giving you a soft smile. โWe'll understand, no matter what you do or donโt say. Weโre just glad youโre back with us.โ
How is it that the kids your age are less demanding than the adults?
โYeah, we really wanted to see you so we kinda snuck in,โ Travis adds. โBut if you want us to leave, we can.โ
You shake your head at that. Though you aren't sure of your exact feelings right now, one thing you are sure of is that you want them to stay.ย
The silence that follows lasts almost long enough to be awkward before Aphmau speaks up again.
โWhat do you want to do when you get back?โ Aphmau asks, scooting closer to you.
What to look forward to? The quick and rather abrupt change of subject was obvious, but you still send her a grateful look.
โTake a long shower,โ you say quietly. โAnd I want to see everyone else, too, I think.โ
โWe could all hang out at one of our houses, maybe!โ she suggests, and Katelyn is quick to nod along. โWhen youโre ready, of course.โ Travis and Vylad nod as well.
Everyone's heads snap towards the doorway, however, when the door's pushed open and a doctor steps inโand immediately gapes at the sight of your friends scattered around the room. โYou kids arenโt supposed to be in here. How did you evenโฆ?โ he trails off expectantly. When no one offers up an answer, though, he shakes his head.
โNever mind,โ he sighs, stepping all the way into the room to reveal your parents standing quietly in the hallway. โAll of your tests went well and future appointments are set. You are now free to go home. Now if all of you would give her some privacy to change back into her own clothes, please.โ
Reluctantly, everyone stands, save for Garroth, who lingers by your side. He hasnโt said a word until now, but with the way his tongue pokes at the inside of his cheek, you can see he wants to.
โSir,โ the doctor calls by the door, the poor man likely exhausted from everyoneโincluding youโrefusing to follow instructions.
โJust one second, please,โ he calls back, fingers digging into the bed sheets anxiously.
The doctor glances over at you, dark brows furrowing as he searches for your consent. You nod, and he relents with a sigh, shaking his head and closing the door on you both. Silence falls over the room as you slowly look back at the blond.
His mouth twists as he stares down at your hands, shoulders slouched under some invisible weight. With his hair unkempt and his eyes red and swollenโfrom what you assume to be a lack of sleep and an inordinate number of tearsโhe's a far cry from the Prince Charming youโd met on your first day of school. You can practically see the crown falling from his head as his lips wobble, the usually bright color of his irises misting over in shame.
โIโm sorry,โ he whispers.
โ...What?โ you breathe, confused.
โIโm so sorry,โ his voice cracks as he leans forward and drops his head into his hands, โthat I didnโt go with you. If I didโโ
โStop.โ
You're both surprised by the power in your voice. The pure conviction, the wholehearted belief: that he was wrong. Slowly, Garroth looks back up at you, eyebrows pulled together as he swallows thickly.
โEven if you'd gone with me, who's to say it wouldn't have happened anyway? You mightโve even gotten hurt trying to help me.โ You reach out to grab his hand. โI donโt remember much, but I know thatโs true. Not a thing about this was your fault.โ
โIt wasโโ
โNo. It wasnโt. How could you even think that?โ
He closes his eyes. His mouth opens, then closes, then opens again and closes again. He's left to purse his lips, unable to come up with a good enough response. All this guilt, this blame, with nowhere to put it. He seems confused by your response, like this wasn't the reaction heโd thought up in his self-deprecation. Had he let this guilty turmoil brew in his head? Blamed himself for the entire two weeks you were gone? The dark circles under his eyes say enough of an answer, and itโs not one you like.
โHow are you not mad at me?โ he whispers. โYou could be. You should be.โ
โBecause youโre one of my closest friends. And this was something that was going to happen eventually.โ You lean forward, pulling him into your arms. Strong shoulders tremble and shake, and the boy cannot hide the sniffles and choked breaths as he breaks down. โHow could I be mad at someone who wants to protect me so much? Seems counterintuitive.โ
He shakes his head, tucking it over your shoulder, and in one quick motion reaches out, returning your hug desperately. His arms curl tightly over your back; his fingers crumple the fabric of your hospital gown; his tears wet your neck, a rare show of vulnerability even from him, who doesn't shy away from expressing his emotions at all.
Oh, Garroth. Sweet Garroth.
โHey. Iโm back and alive and youโre crying?โ You poke his side, attempting to lighten his guilty shoulders with a tease. โYou could at least pretend youโre happy, you know.โ
Quiet, breathy laughter hits your shoulder, his trembling shoulders switching from shaking with tears to shaking with amusement. After a moment, he pulls away, hands coming to rest on your shoulders as he sucks in a sharp breath, you assume to control what must be an intense storm of anxiousness piled up in his chest.
โI am happy.โ His eyes search yours.
You smile at him the best you can. โThen I am, too.โ
Garroth gives you a shaky smile of his own.โHey, Iโฆโ He pauses, looking off. โI overheard some things about what happened to you. When the doctors were talking to your parentsโฆ" He frowns, shaking his head. "Maybe it should wait until youโre feeling better.โ
โWhat is it?โ you breathe.
Thereโs a knock before the door's pushed open, the doctor from before peeking in. โMr. Roโmeave, was it? Please, you can continue this conversation later.โ
Garroth gives you a last, tentative smile. "...I'll tell you later."
ยฉstarhvney 2024. do not plagiarize, feed to any AI, or repost my works to any sites.
Not just for medical either. Ever got smacked with a huge ass fee for "damages" when you move out of an apartment that not just eats your security deposit but tries to take an arm and a leg as well.
Ask for the itemized list, you will be surprised how fast they come back with a "huh, that's weird, I can't seem to find where these damages are coming from" and let that shit go.
People WILL try to screw you on all kinds of routine and mundane shit. Don't let them.
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