Tagging @mnmlover2002 @cupcakes-and-pain @lave-e @appy-polly-loggies @lovely-little-whump @just-another-whumper let me know if you want to be added/removed!
CW: PTSD, accidental triggering, flashbacks, let me know if I missed anything!
Masterlist // Previous
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When Devin woke up that next morning, they expected to wake to an empty bed in an empty apartment, Elliott having slipped off in the dead of night. Instead, they found him exactly where he was when they had fallen asleep, curled slightly around them, his arms circling them with a comforting weight, his body heat cocooning them. They moved their hand to rub their eyes, and Elliott immediately jerked awake.
Blearily looking down at them, he murmured, “G’morning,” the words slurring together slightly as he smiled softly.
They searched his face for any sign of displeasure, regret, annoyance. When they found nothing, they yawned and replied, “Morning.” They rolled over, staying in his arms, as their mind began to wake up. They moaned softly. “It’s too early. I need coffee.”
They hadn’t even realized they said it aloud until Elliott’s chest was shaking slightly against their back in a laugh. “Me too.”
Their eyes shot open as they sat straight up. They glanced down at him, panicked. “Oh my god, you have work!” they exclaimed, glancing at the clock. It was less than twenty minutes before he would be expected to be at the Muse.
He shook his head, slowly sitting up as well. “I texted my uncle and took the morning off. Said it was personal stuff. I don’t have to be in till noon.”
Their heart returning to a normal rhythm, Devin slowly nodded. “Oh. Okay. Good. Then, coffee time.”
A groan slipped out of them as they stood. Elliott was at their side in a heartbeat. “Are you okay?” he asked, concern coloring his words. They gave a wordless nod and he stepped back a bit.
They hobbled towards the kitchen, opting to leave their crutches by their bed. They had begun to move around more and more without them, slowly rebuilding their strength.
Their legs were shaky but served their purpose as Devin moved about the kitchen, turning the coffee machine on before opening the fridge door and peering at its sad contents. Frowning, they stood up, jumping slightly as they noticed Elliott leaning in the doorway.
He smiled at them, before heading towards the coffee machine. Pulling down two mugs from a nearby cabinet, he shut it off and poured steaming coffee into the cups.
He walked back towards them, holding out one of the mugs. They took it, surprised when he raised the other one to his lips and took a long sip.
“I thought you didn’t approve of coffee?” they asked, arching an eyebrow and they lifted their own mug.
He snorted. “I don’t. But I don’t think you’ve ever seen me in the morning before coffee.” He continued quickly drinking his cup. Black, they noticed with a start. Just like me.
They glanced away, blood coloring their cheeks as they took a long drink. Their stomach rumbled softly, and, when they looked back over, Elliott grinned.
Setting his now-empty mug on the counter near the sink, he grabbed his coat from where he’d left it draped over one of the chairs last night. “I’ll be right back,” he said, heading for the door. “I’ll go pick up some food for us!”
Devin made an affirmative sound as they refilled their mug. The door clicked quietly as they headed towards the living room. Flipping through the channels, they found one with a mindless talk show playing, and slowly drained their second cup as they watched.
A bit later, they heard the door open and called softly, “I’m in here!”
The sound of shuffling footsteps and rustling plastic sounded as Elliott appeared in the doorway, lifting a bag. “I found food!” he said with a grin.
Devin slowly made their way back into the kitchen, much more hungry than they realized. They had just reached the doorway of the kitchen when the smell hit them and their gaze fell on the food Elliott had already unpacked and laid on the table.
Breakfast. The aroma of pancakes and syrup and eggs and bacon and pain and screams and he’s hurting me please stop hurting me i’m sorry don’t hurt me surrounded them as they took a stumbling step back.
Hearing them, Elliott looked up with a grin that quickly fell away as he took in the fear evident on their bloodless face. Their eyes met him and they flinched back, unable to look at the they’re gray his eyes are gray and he always watches me when he hurt me he makes me look at him too similar eyes.
He moved towards them and they let out a terrified squeak as they fell back. He caught them, wrapping constricting ensnaring locking he’s keeping me and stealing me away steady arms around them. His lips were moving but they couldn’t hear as their eyes fell shut and they tried keeping all the memories at bay.
Their breaths came harsh and uneven as their thoughts raced, going from it’s not him he’s not him to but he’s about to hurt me he always hurts me at breakfast to why can’t i just move on already to please i’m sorry please i’m sorry please
They were aware of some pathetic, whimpering sound coming from nearby, as if from a wounded animal. They slowly realized the sound was them.
They cracked open their eyes to find themself curled up tightly on their kitchen’s hard floor. Elliott’s arms were wrapped around them as he murmured quiet reassurances. Feeling them stiffen, he rubbed soothing circular motions into their back.
“Devin? Can you hear me? You’re safe, he’s not here, I promise.” His voice came low and soft and tender.
They looked up at him, forcing themself to meet his eyes, even as their body locked up and adrenaline rushed through them. “Yeah,” they croaked. “Yeah, I’m here.”
He let out a soft breath before shifting away from them. “Good. That’s good. Do you think you can stand?” he asked, unfolding himself and offering them a hand.
They swallowed hard before accepting it, leaning on him heavily as their legs refused to cooperate.
“I-” Their voice creaked and groaned like an old house. “I’m not very hungry anymore. Can- can I just go lay down for a bit?”
Elliott furrowed his brow at something before smiling at them gently. “Of course you can. Do you want me to help you?”
They nodded silently and that silence weighed heavily between them as the two walked towards the bedroom.
peterpanslittlebitch replied to your post “Just for future reference I’ve had Twist and Shout blacklisted to...”
I dont want to sound stupid, but What is triggering?
Don't ever worry about sounding stupid when you ask questions about things that you don't know about, there's nothing wrong with that!
A trigger is a troubling reminder of a traumatic experience and often causes the emotions experienced in said trauma to resurface in a bunch of different possible ways.
I know it sounds a bit silly to be triggered by things about a fanfic but twist and shout in particular is one hell of a piece of literature that I will unfortunately never have the pleasure of re-reading due to the state I was in when I first read it, the combination of which resulted in an alarming emotional upheaval for about three hours. It was kind of scary.
