#ouch guys

[makemycitybreak]

crampi crampi ouchi ouchi

[medicillin]

“I do so much more than tolerate Dr. Pharma.”

“I love him, and many cannot handle that.”

[boowhumps]

Whumpril 2024

Day 3 - Shame

⚠TW⚠

- Swearing

- Mentions of Death

- Mentions of Suicide

Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~

Karyme paced the room anxiously, pulling at her hair.

She couldn't understand, fuck, why her, why was it always her!

She worked so damn hard, and for what? She did all she could to protect Kaiden, to protect her family.

She failed them.

There was nothing left. Her son, on his death bed, her daughter, too afraid to even leave their home, and now her husband..

Now Kaiden knew about the things she did decades ago, the irreversible decisions she made for the greater good.

It seemed right then, but now, now she was paying the price.

Her life was no longer hers, she knew that.

But Kaiden didn't, and he never should've known.

Karyme stopped pacing, staring at herself in the reflection of the mirror. she brushed her bangs to the side, revealing her abnormal eye.

The light purple pupil looked almost white, but it contrasted from the black that was her sclera.

She stood there, staring.

Suddenly her right eye flashed, turning from its usual red color to a bright green. Karyme gasped, backing away from the mirror as it shattered.

Her head began to pound as she pulled at her hair more, trying to destress in the only way she knew how.

The conversation from just moments earlier repeated in her mind, reminding her of everything..

~~~~~~~~~~

”You all think you’re innocent, don’t you?” The voice rings out of the tape.

The NSF, along with others, all sat around in a table, listening closely. Karyme felt her anxiety rise, her only sense of grounding being Kaidens hand holding her own tightly.

“Isn’t that how it always goes, the heroes can do no wrong, right? Well believe it or not, I know most of you have done things that could never help paint you as the saints you appear to be.”

The tape is paused suddenly. Karyme looks around, seeing everyone’s reactions to the statement. Everyone knew what this was. Every person in the room had done something that was never spoken about, and it was all about to be exposed.

“We shouldn’t-“ Leony starts, but Krystal stops her.

“We have to listen.” Krystal states to everyone. “No matter what it says, we need to go through it.”

Elliot slumps back. “And let this fucker expose our secrets to everyone in the room, you can’t be serious.”

Krystal sighs. “Yes, I’m serious, this tape could help us uncover who S.A is, and how to stop him.”

“What if there’s nothing?” Lycus replies. “We’re just gonna risk our personal lives for nothing?”

“We won’t know if there’s any information unless we go through it.” Krystal replies, looking around the room. “Is anyone on board here?”

There’s a tense silence. Krystal’s eyes wander over to Karyme and Kaiden.

“Not even you guys?” She asks.

Karyme looks away, and Kaiden sighs. “It sounds like he’s trying to make us turn on each other..” He says.

“What about Ashton’s case?” Krystal inquires. “Don’t you want answers-“

Karyme squeezes Kaiden hand as the mention of their son, and Kaiden shoots a bit of a glare at Krystal.

“Krystal, not the time.” He says sternly.

Krystal frowns, turning away from them. “Really, no one-“

“I’m with you.” A voice says from the corner of the room.

Everyone seems to turn at once as Elio steps forward.

“Krystal is right, we need to through the tape, even if nothing comes from it.” He says.

Karyme looks up, seemingly surprised. Elio notices her look, and takes a seat next to Krystal.

“I know we all have secrets, things that we don’t want exposed, but in the end, we’re a team, and we won’t be broken up over this.” He states.

Krystal nods along to his words, and Karyme goes back to looking at the floor.

“We need to remain strong, and together.” Elio continues. “No matter what information this.. person knows, true or not, we’ll show him that we can stick together.” He finishes, looking over at Krystal. “Play the tape.”

Karyme leans a bit against Kaiden, who in response wraps an arm around her. Thoughts were racing in her head, the most prominent one being, ‘They’re gonna find out..’

Krystal hits the play button, and the words start up again.

“If you’re all still here, I applaud you, but I’m sure you won’t be after this.” The voice says smugly. “Now, let’s start off easy..”

“Krystal, always the leader, yet quick to turn on people. Turning on everyone, until it came with consequences.. Tell me, how does it feel to do that to a friend, being the reason for permanent damage to someone so close to you..?”

Karyme can feel the tension coming from Krystal as they share a brief glance at one another.

"You knew that sending her away.. Banishing her would kill her, but that didn't stop you, did it?"

Krystal seemed to succumb to her own shame, her usually tight frame disappearing for a spilt second before the tape spoke again.

"Now, to the man himself, Kaiden, oh you've done some pretty fucked up shit, huh? You always pledge your distaste towards lies, but you have your own."

Karyme looks at Kaiden through the corner of her eye as he squeezes her hand even tighter than before.

"Did you ever tell anyone about the book, about what you read that solidified what your dear wife told you? No, I suppose you didn't, in fact, you were very well aware of the possibility of possession, and instead of taking the help, you went the other route."

Karyme feels the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Even with all these people around, she can't mask her sheer horror at the realization. Kaiden only gives her a shameful look in response.

The tape keeps speaking, but Karyme can't hear it anymore. All she can think about is what Kaiden did- no, what he didn't do.

This whole time, this whole damn time, she was lied to. Every decision she made, up until that dreaded day, it all could've been prevented.

Suddenly, rage fills her. Boiling, hot rage building up under her skin. Her hands begin to warm up, getting so hot that it causes pain.

Karyme pulls her own handout of Kaiden's grasp, holding it close to her chest. She shuts her eyes tightly, not even wanting to see Kaiden's face.

She remains frozen in this position, fearing everything she had ever done had doomed her. Every reckless decision now could affect her, and it was also because of-

Everything stops, and above it all, the voice speaks.

"Now to the star of the show, Miss Sain-Santos herself!"

Karyme snaps her head up, not expecting to hear her- the last name that once was hers.

She buried her secrets deep, deep enough into small crevasses that she herself could never find, there was no way..

"Sain-Santos' have always been known to be liars, so why would you expect any less from Karyme? Even when she worked so incredibly hard, she wasn't able to stray from the path that all her ancestors before her walked."

Karyme feels her hand start to shake, once again heating up..

"I'm sure it's no surprise that she lies her way through anything, but I'm sure you never suspected her story of what happened on August 1st, 2022."

Karyme's breath gets caught in her throat, and she clenches her fist.

"She must've never told anyone how there was no accident on that day, but rather a plan made by yours truly."

Karyme feels the burning fishing through her now, just about to pop..

"I also highly doubt she ever told anyone about the parasite she took on, knowing damn well of it's lethal-"

The tape player bursts into flames quickly, cutting off the tape. Everyone backs off, caught off guard as it suddenly dies down.

Karyme breathes heavily, deactivating her ability before she manages to light the entire room ablaze. She can feel the looks of everyone on her, even Kaiden's..

Karyme can't take it.

She stands up abruptly, and leaves the room as fast as she possibly can, not daring to even take a short glance back.

~~~~~~~~~~

Karyme leans against the wall, her breath heavy again from remembering. She has no idea what to do, what to say, how the hell to explain the truth-

Her thoughts are cut off by a knock on the door.

"Karyme, open up." Kaiden's voice says from outside.

Karyme glares dangers at the door, not budging from her spot against the wall.

"We need to talk, now." Kaiden adds after a moment.

Something about his tone of voice triggers Karyme enough for her to oblige.

She slowly opens the door, watching Kaiden brush past her.

Karyme closes the door, and finally turns towards Kaiden.

"I-" She begins.

"No, just- stop." He says.

Karyme frowns, looking away from him.

He sighs before speaking. "You need to explain everything, now."

Karyme glares at the floor. "There's nothing to explain-"

"Nothing?" He replies, raising his voice. "After everything that tape said, you have nothing to say?"

Karyme looks up. "No, I don't have to say anything-"

"No, that's where you're wrong." He hisses. "We swore to each other, no lies between us, compete honesty, or do you not remember our vows?"

Karyme balls up her fists. "I did what I had to do to protect you, to protect our family."

"How, by not telling any of us about the fucking parasite?!" He says, now yelling. "Do you have any idea what that shit will do to you?!"

"Of course I do!" Karyme shouts back. "That's why I took it on!"

"For the love of Selyna, Karyme, that will kill you, does that not matter to you?!"

"It didn't then, because I had nothing to lose!" Karyme shouts, feeling the tears coming on.

Kaiden stops, just.. looking at her. She can't even read his expression at the moment, but reguardless, she keeps talking.

"I had lost my parents the day I was born, the man I considered a father hardly years later, then my friends, and then fucking you!" Karyme cries. "Don't act all innocent, that tape exposed you too! You knew about the possession, the dangers of it, and you still chose not to take me seriously!"

Karyme backs up until she hits the wall. She struggles to steady herself as tears fall down her cheeks.

"Look at me! You think this is what I wanted for myself?! Do you think I wanted to suffer like this, unable to tell you?! I didn't tell you because it's my job to protect us, and I'll be damned before I fail to do it!"

Karyme stops, finally feeling the exhaustion hit her. She slides down against the wall, a mess of tears. She had never, ever, been so overwhelmed with emotion to this point. She couldn't process anything anymore. Everything had fallen apart so quickly, and just like always, she was the one left to pick it all up again.

She cries into her hands until arms wrap around her. Even if she has the urge to fight it, she was completely exhausted from it all, so she just sunk into the embrace, still crying.

She could feel his hands treading through her hair, soothing her. In a hushed whisper, the words, "I'm so sorry" are repeated like clockwork.

She stayed in that embrace for what felt like hours, but in reality it couldn't have been more than 5 minutes.

And even with the warmth and genuine apologies, something inside her was broken. Not her heart, something else..

And Karyme, despite trying to not think about it, could tell that it wouldn't- no, it couldn't be fixed.

~~~~~~~~~~

[blamblambitch]

That moment when u send people asks and they don't send any back 😔🤚

[pop-culturereference]

Wally West (suffering) in Heroes in Crisis #3

[tetello420]

Ah fuc I hurt myself

[greensxnotmycolor]

Your muse has to decide between saving one of the potters or one of the malfoys in the middle of a battle

message me if you’re interested in threading this!! eventually

[marnie-mouse]

I wonder where Lindy Ruff is gonna hide like 23 bodies?