#no31

[nopoodles]

Drowning - Whumptober Day 31

*Apollo isn’t known to rely on anyone. He can’t. He shouldn’t. It’s a dangerous thing, inviting someone into his disaster like this.*

Prompt: Asking For HelpWorld: The IcarusCharacters: Apollo + Zan.Spoilers?  Kinda. Yes. Not much of one but if you’re strict and this will come up as a fully fleshed out scene in the official version

It took almost all of his self-control to knock on the door to…

Drowning - Whumptober Day 31

[femsanzo291]

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

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Penumbra Podcast Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Buddy Aurinko/Vespa Ilkay, Buddy Aurinko & Juno Steel, Buddy Aurinko & Peter Nureyev, Peter Nureyev/Juno Steel, Vespa Ilkay & Juno Steel Characters: Juno Steel, Peter Nureyev, Vespa Ilkay, Buddy Aurinko Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Canon Compliant, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Acceptance Series: Part 30 of FemSanzo291's Whumptober 2024 Summary:

Peter goes to Buddy and Vespa to try and make amends and explain why he left the Carte Blanche like he did.

[whumpookies]

Day 31 title: I thought I was getting better. Prompt "take it easy"

[janetm74fics]

Setbacks

@whumptober Day 31: Setbacks | “Take it easy.” Warnings: Off-screen injuries, Medical treatments, nothing graphic

~

He stumbled in the dark and cursed quietly. And then froze as the shape on the bed moved.

Blue eyes, luminous in the moonlight streaming through the window, blinked sleepily at him.

‘J’n?’ ‘Go back to sleep, Scott.’

John all but hissed the command at his big brother. Scott needed the sleep, didn’t need to be worried about him, but he knew that now Scott was awake he’d be more concerned with why he was up and about rather than himself. Sure enough…

‘Wha’ you doing up, John?’ ‘Nothing. Go back to sleep.’

The rustling of clothes as Scott carefully slid out of the bed, doing his best not to disturb the others no doubt, told him that he was being ignored. His shoulders slumped, but he carried on making his way out of Scott’s room to the kitchen, putting the kettle on and waiting for his brother to catch up.

His injured brother.

John closed his eyes and all he could see was Scott falling again, and he jerked them open to find said brother watching him, concern clear on his face. That concern was openly warring with the pain as Scott reached out for him but then stopped with a gasp as his cracked ribs made themselves know.

‘Take it easy, Scott!’ ‘I should be saying that to you. You look like hell.’ ‘Me?! I’m fine, just couldn’t sleep anymore.’

He turned back to the stove and began to make hot chocolate while listening to Scott carefully position himself on one of the chairs with a grunt. Maybe his pain relief was starting to fade. If that was the case Virgil would be with them shortly, and John added another cupful of milk to the pan.

Sure enough padded feet heralded their next youngest brother into the kitchen. With a sigh the man held out to Scott the meds that had been placed ready on the bedside table and had been ignored in favour of following John.

Scott grimaced but took the meds. He hated having to take any kind of medication, but he especially hated these. With his super-fast metabolism burning through medication faster than the norm Scott had to take stronger pain relief to get long enough time without pain. They screwed with his head and his emotions sometimes, but broken bones – especially ribs – made them necessary.

Virgil pulled out a chair and sat beside him, eying him with an unspoken challenge. Scott answered with a nod to John and Virgil shifted to watch their spaceman at the stove. John hadn’t turned to look at either of them, but he knew they were silently talking about him.

‘I’m fine, Virgil. You can quit worrying about me.’

Both his immediate brothers snorted in unison, and John smiled to himself. How the pair could ever deny that they could read each other’s minds was beyond him, the two were always in such perfect sync. Well, usually.

Today’s rescue had been spectacularly bad for Scott. His jetpack had failed him when he was at a height that could have killed him and when he was out of reach of Two and Virgil. The resulting plummet had been arrested by the mountainside and a ragdoll down until he’d hit a plateau. The fact that Scott had escaped with only cracked ribs and a leg broken in two places had surprised them all.

But it had brought back to the fore something that they all thought had been put to bed.

Scott’s self-destructive tendencies. After almost killing both himself and his rescuee last time Grandma had taken Scott to one side once he had healed and had words. No one knew what those words were – and this was one occasion that John had not eavesdropped – but for several months now Scott had been much more careful with himself, both at rescues and at home.

This rescue, though. This one had been a bit close to home, and he had charged ahead without waiting for Virgil and had picked up a jetpack that had not been fully refuelled – something that shouldn’t have happened with their automated systems and Brains had spent some time in the hangars and with One to try and find out how that had happened.

So maybe picking that jetpack hadn’t been totally Scott’s fault, but if he had waited like both John and Virgil had requested then someone would have been there to stop his fall and to complete the rescue.

The damage of Scott’s impromptu meeting with the mountain had resulted in them only recovering a body, and while Scott looked like he was coping well, John knew his brother better.

The loss of a life that could possibly have been saved if only Scott had been more careful would weigh heavy on the man. It didn’t matter that John and EOS had crunched the numbers and shown that the man had died shortly after the call to International Rescue had gone out. Nor did it matter that the post-mortem had proved this.

Scott was blaming himself. Again. It was another setback in their continuing quest to shore up their eldest brother’s self-worth.

All this went through John’s mind as he made the hot chocolate. By the time it was ready Virgil had pillowed his head on his arms and was gently snoring. Scott was watching him fondly, a hand gently carding through Virgil’s hair no doubt having helped send the man back to dreamland. John smiled at the scene before him as he carried over the drinks and sat opposite them.

Virgil and Scott weren’t the only pair to have an almost telepathic connection. It was seldom used, but John and Scott had their own connection, big brothers together looking out for little ones.

John placed Scott’s drink before him and cocked an eyebrow. Scott smiled and his eyes softened. John smiled back then inclined his head to Scott. Scott’s smile faded a little before coming back brighter. John frowned. Scott sighed and carefully reached forward to lay a hand on John’s wrist. John’s frown deepened. Scott flushed a little and bit his lip.

‘Will you two stop talking so loudly.’

Virgil’s voice, a little scratchy from sleep, surprised them both. He roused himself and wrapped both hands around the mug, taking a mouthful and sighing in pleasure. It wasn’t coffee, but it was hot and tasty.

‘Scott, you’re an idiot. You’ve always been an idiot and despite many, many talking-tos you will always be an idiot.’ ‘Gee, thanks for that, Virg.’ ‘I only speak truth, Scott.’ ‘John, you’re an idiot too.’ ‘Okay. Um – why?’ ‘You know the Smotherhen has gotta smother, right?’

John’s sigh coincided with Scott’s ‘hey!’ and for a moment they all looked at each other before bursting out laughing.

‘I just – I just keep seeing you fall, Scott.’ ‘I’m sorry, John. I just wanted to get there. I knew there was little time.’ ‘I know. I know that, but once again you put yourself in danger.’ ‘In fairness I didn’t know the jetpack wasn’t fully refuelled.’ ‘But you didn’t think to check it before donning it and jumping.’ ‘No, no I didn’t.’ ‘Scott’s still here, John. And I don’t think you can count this as the same. Scott wasn’t purposely putting his life on the line like last time. This one we really can chalk up to misadventure.’ ‘I hope so. I don’t want to feel like Scott’s taken a step back in his recovery.’ ‘I am right here, John, and no, I have not taken a step back, I promise you. I am trying much harder to be safer for you guys and for myself.’

Virgil laid a hand on Scott’s wrist and another on John’s.

‘This isn’t a setback. We are all getting better – Scott’s getting better at asking for and listening to help, and we are getting better at giving him that help.’ ‘I know, Virgil.’

Scott squeezed Virgil’s hand in thanks.

They were right. His self-destructive tendencies, that ‘I must do it so my brothers aren’t put at risk’ had been severely challenged by the words their Grandma had had with him after he had almost died. The combined shocks had jolted him back into some semblance of normality, and while he still hated that his brothers were in danger, Scott knew and trusted that they could handle it. It wasn’t perfect, and he would have more setbacks, but this time he was determined to listen more and accept help more.

He never wanted to put his brothers through that again.

‘Thanks for the hot chocolate, John. How about we go back to bed?’ ‘Sounds like a good plan.’

Scott climbed back into bed. Alan, still asleep, turned over to hug him and Virgil climbed on beside him, arm over Alan and Scott and head resting on Scott’s shoulder with Scott’s arm around him. Gordon, supposedly asleep at Scott’s feet, moved up the bed and rested his head on Scott’s hip.

‘Smotherhen.’

It was said sleepily and barely loud enough to hear, but Scott gave a quiet chuckle and ran his hand through Gordon’s hair and the Squid relaxed back into sleep. Scott looked up to John and held his free arm out, and John climbed in and mirrored Virgil’s positioning. Snores from the artist were already sounding, and the two smiled at each other before Scott settled back.

‘Night John.’ ‘Night Scott.’

[galladrabbles]

omg can’t believe it’s my turn already??! OMG

ok ok so I’ve been thinking about this a lot and I finally decided my prompt will be: terror 🤭🫣

can’t wait to read what everyone comes up with!! lots of love to you all 😌🥰

Okay. Alright. You broke my creativity, Val.

I mean. I got nothing. Head empty. No idea.

Just... Here you go, my dear Galladrabble Crew, your new prompt is:

TERROR

Have fun! Happy drabbling!

[bloodandbandages]

Ryan: Trauma

Prompts from @whumptober2021 days 24 and 31

Takes place far in the future

CW: mind control, captor bonding/Stockholm syndrome (not really but that's the closest I've got), mind break, ill whumpee, flashback, mention of past mutual noncon, unhealthy coping mechanisms and relationship dynamics

Taglist: @ashintheairlikesnow @boxboysandotherwhump @jdfreads @rosesareviolentlyread @astra-queenofhell @whumpinggrounds @what-a-whump @whump-tr0pes @evermetnotforgotten @card-games-and-pain (please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed!)

Aed wonders if he was too late.

Ryan has never fully come back to themself, not even close. They were in the basement for nearly a year, he should give it time he knows. 

But they don't have time, do they? 

All humans have short lifespans compared with the fae, but Ryan is sick. They only have a year, or rather, they had a year.

Now, it's probably closer to a month. They will be dead soon, their wings a spoil Aed can claim.

Aed doesn't feel victorious.

This human is not among his enemies. 

In the basement, they were his only friend. 

In all honesty, they still are. Fae rarely venture into the human world. Those that do don't often come back and he's been gone for so long.

Perhaps he's already been mourned. It would be better that way. He's been mutilated, he will never fly again and he's done unspeakable things, violated every code of honor the fae hold themselves to.

He'd been so sure he would die in that basement, he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself when he was freed.

Not to mention absolutely nothing went to plan. He hadn’t expected the young fae or that he would leave them behind just to save himself.

He hadn't expected the lost puppy of a human to continue trailing after him either. 

They're still alive in every way that counts, even if they are fading quickly. They breathe, they eat, they sleep and respond to Aed when he prompts them.

Their mind, however, hasn't shown any signs of returning. Of course they'll do what he asks of them, even if it's not a command. Their body will react if he jabs or caresses them. 

They'd just stopped wanting things. They wanted to be near him, to please him and to no longer be hurt but they never asked anything of him. They never did anything for themselves. 

It was his own fault, really. No one was meant to be kept compelled for long stretches of time and they had been for almost a year. They were a monster of his own making, which is why he stuck by them and tried to heal them, even though he knew they were doomed.

He could have easily abandoned them, they weren't in much of a state to pursue him and they were dying anyways but he couldn’t bring himself to do that to them after all the pain he'd caused them. They deserved to at least die as themselves, not a hollowed shell.

He was so lost in his own guilt, he nearly missed the screams. 

The most alive Ryan ever seemed was when they were asleep. They were still plagued by night terrors, screaming and crying almost every night. 

Aed tried to wake them, and frankly he'd succeeded but not in alleviating their terror. He'd only added to it. 

They pushed him away with all their strength and scrambled backwards, pressing themself against a tree trunk.

"Get off of me!"

"I'm over here."

"Stop touching me!"

"I'm not."

Their voice was trembling now. "I can feel your hands, I can feel you on me."

"I'm all the way over here, see?" He tried.

"Leave me alone!"

They weren't calming. One thing left to try.

"Use my name."

"But-"

"Use my name."

"AED, stay over there and don't touch me."

Very little changed as he hadn't been attempting either, but his limbs still stiffened accordingly.

They tried to avoid using names now, when they'd been such a cause of pain and control, but sometimes it was the only way Ryan could gain enough control over him that they felt safe.

Their breathing gradually slowed as they calmed and the compulsion faded. Their harsh breaths faded into quiet sobs. 

Aed just sat there with them. He couldn’t be the monster in their nightmares and their savior, so he didn’t try to be. He gave them what they asked of him, mostly to avoid the guilt. He never initiated anything but he endured whatever they gave him.

They'd certainly earned that right. 

They were the only reason they'd managed to escape.

"Which night?" He finally asks.

"The bad one," is all they can manage. 

They don't need to go further, he knows which one they refer to. They both prefer to talk around it, not call it rape. 

Names are powerful. You name the monster, and suddenly it's real. 

Or perhaps Aed is just too much of a coward to deal with the fact that the human he's trying so hard to save has nightmares about him.

He's unsure what to say. An "I'm sorry" is far too trivial for what's transpired between them but he offers it all the same. 

They take it. There's no mention of forgiveness because they both know it's pointless.

He's surprised though, when the command comes.

"AED, hold me."

His body follows suit, even though he would have obliged their request either way. 

Still they prefer physical contact like this, where they hold all the power and he has none. He can’t blame them, and he's almost glad for there to be something he can actually provide, so he holds them long past the compulsion, for as long as they wish.

And when the tears come, he lets them and he holds them through it.

It's all he can do.

[tizzie-lizzie]

The end is upon us. I miss you every day Noct. The trauma of losing you haunts my waking mind. . 📸: @davejolinacoco . #whumptober #whumptober2021 #no31 #trauma #prisoner #fandom #ignoct #ignis #ffxv #ffxvcosplay #skeleton #halloween #halloweekend https://www.instagram.com/p/CVskuoqLQob/?utm_medium=tumblr

[bad-at-names-and-faces]

Whumptober, day 31, prisoner

Frozen/Tangled, OCs (Inga and Henry, The Young Diplomat timeline), 100 word drabble

“Henry,” Inga whispered.  

“Yes?” he asked her. 

“I haven’t had time to ask, but… are you- How are you?”

“I’m fine, Inga, really.”

“Really? They held you prisoner.”

“They didn’t torture me, if that’s what you’re trying to ask. As far as I know, they weren’t trying to kill me, at least not intentionally.  If anything, it was boring.”

“Not intentionally trying to kill you.  Is that supposed to make it better?”

“Well, yes.”  Henry looked at Inga, who was staring across the room.

“Oh,” she said.  

“I’m sorry.”

“No,” she said, snapping out of her haze. “You shouldn’t be.”