Postal 1 Dude × reader | angst/comfort
A/N: Been really into postal for about a month now and I'm so sad to see how little x reader content there is of this guy. While p1 isn't my favorite dude, he's the only one I feel like I'm able to interprete well. Reader's gender, race, etc is left ambiguous. Reader has an established relationship with dude, but it can be read as either platonic or romantic.
CW: mental illness/paranoia, firearms
You slowly opened your eyes and stirred as your brain awoke. You look around the room you were in; a living room, not yours, but familiar. The heavy blinds made it hard to tell what time it was, but there was some light peaking through them. You looked down to see you were laying on an old couch, with a lanky, ginger man wrapped around you like his life depended on it.
The events of the previous night came flooding back to you. You had not heard from Dude in a few days. You knew he could have episodes of extreme paranoia, which could lead to violent outbursts. You were also the only person he really ever talked to, the only person he felt like he could trust, so you were rightfully very concerned.
You decided to go to his house across the street after not being able to sleep due to your worry. Thankfully you knew where he hid his spare key on the porch, and unlocked the door and carefully stepped inside.
You found him in the corner of his bedroom; his knees were brought up to his face, and he held a loaded gun in his arm. He looked incredibly frightened, but upon realizing it was you, he calmed down a little. He let you take the gun from him and you unloaded it and turned the saftey on, setting it in a safe place before sitting beside him.
The moment you joined him on the floor, he practically tackled you and started sobbing. You held him tight, occasionally petting his hair and whispering gentle affirmations to him. After some time, you two moved to the couch. You suggested watching some TV to try to take his mind off things, but he said that you just being here was enough.
So you stayed the whole night just holding him close and, inevitably, you two fell asleep. His face looked so peacful, it seemed like your presence helped drive away any nightmares too. You'd like to stay here until he wakes up too, but your bones ache from sleeping in an uncomfortable position and you really need to stretch.
You carefully untangle yourself from Dude, and have a nice big strength once your free. You figure you might as well make breakfast for the two of you, since you wanted to stay with him longer and Dude's eating habits mostly consisted of fast food. A home cooked breakfast would do both him, and his wallet, some good.
You make you way to the kitchen and open the fridge. Luckily he has bacon and eggs. You get everything together and get to work.
You had just finished cooking the bacon and set some coffee to brew. You were about to start the eggs when you heard a soft "Y/n? Y/n?!" It was laced with drowsiness, but still concerned. You went back into the living room, "I'm here! I'm still here, Dude." Dude was now sitting up, and he let out a relieved sigh when he heard your response.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you like that. I was just making us some breakfast." You sat down next to him.
"Breakfast? You really didn't have to do that."
"I know, but I wanted to."
His face softened and he wrapped his arms around you, "Thank you. Not just for breakfast, for everything. Staying the night, putting up with me..." He hugged you tighter and pressed his face into your shoulder. "Of course, Dude. I care about you, and I'll always be here for you."
You two stayed there for a minute before you pulled back, "Let's go finish up breakfast, ok? I don't know about you, but I'm pretty hungry." Dude smiled and followed you into the kitchen. He helped you prepare the rest of breakfast and you two sat at the table eating and talking. He really seemed to be doing much better, and you were glad for that; but there was still one thing on your mind.
"Hey Dude, how come you didn't answer my calls or texts?" he stilled for a moment, almost looking guilty, "I'm not upset, and you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." You placed your hand on his and squeezed a little. He looked at your joined hands, then to your face, and thought for a moment, before finally speaking:
"Part of it was because I was too out of it to pay attention. The other part was because I didn't want you to see me like that." You listened carefully, keeping your hand on his, "I didn't want to s-scare you. You're the only person that's ever p-put up with me... If I loose you, god, I d-don't know what I'd-"
You gently stopped him by placing a hand on his cheek and turning him to face you, you could see the tears starting to fall from his eyes, "Dude, you're not going to loose me. I'm here for you, forever and always. I wouldn't have stayed with you for this long if I wasn't in it for the long haul." You gently wiped a tear with your thumb, trying to not choke up yourself, "I care about you so, so much. I would never dream of leaving you, especially not because of something you aren't in control of."
You brought him into a hug and couldn't hold back your tears. He followed suit, and you both sat there, holding and wiping away each other's tears.
No matter what happened, you two were gonna get through this. Together.