#a few times I had a cough trigger an immediate hiccup while holding the rattle

[tj-crochets]

A very soft, very loud rattlesnake plushie! It has two rattles in its tail and fits being curled around my arm perfectly!

I don’t think the pattern was designed with that in mind but it’s definitely a bonus lol

[warmblanketwhump]

flight plan: part 2

no planes in this one - just some good old-fashioned sickfic! But if you want the backstory, check out part 1 here.

“A, can you hand me my glass of water? Pleaaaase?” B sticks out their bottom lip in a pout, and A can’t help but laugh.

“Okay, you. It’s been four days and I know you’re getting better, because you’re getting pesky again.” A straightens the blankets and slides their hand up to feel B’s cheek. “Still a little warm, but I think you’re on your way out of the woods.”

“So I should milk this while I can?” B flutters their eyelashes and gives a pitifully fake cough, which slips into a real one, sharp and rattling. Concern flits across A’s eyes, and they help B take a few sips from the glass.

Despite the joking, A didn’t kid themselves about how sick B had been, or how awful they’d truly felt after getting off the plane. The first two days had been nightmarish - B barely conscious, shivering with chills and sweating through their sheets, alternating between terrifying fever dreams and inconsolable moaning and weeping.

A did their best to hold them through it, but they had been minutes away from hauling B to the hospital. Thankfully B’s fever had spiked just one final time before settling into general low-grade misery.

“As long as you need me, sweetheart, you’ve got me.” B gives a tired smile and pulls the blanket to their chin, huddling around the new stuffed animal A gave them at the airport.

“Did you call C?”

“Ah, not yet. Too busy with you, ya sick little bean.” A gently fluffs B’s hair. “You rest, and I’ll give them a call now.”

But C doesn’t pick up. Nor do they pick up an hour later, leaving A stuck with the unpleasant task of leaving a voicemail.

“Um, hi…this is A. I just wanted to call and let you know that B’s on the mend. They’re still pretty weak, but I think things are looking up. So…yeah. Thanks for everything you did for B - once they were feeling better, they told me all about what you did. And I…well, I care a lot about them. Obviously. So I appreciate it. I guess you can call back if you-”

The message cuts off, and A groans. Hopefully that was enough. Still, they couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in the pit of their stomach.

Later, they settle in with B to watch a movie, B’s head cradled in their lap as A combs their fingers soothingly through their hair, reveling in the sheer normalcy of it all. They both end up falling asleep, and when A blinks awake as the credits roll, they notice a missed call from C. B’s still out, so they click to listen to the voicemail.

“Hey, A….sorry I *coughs*…missed you earlier. Wasn’t able to *sniffs* make it to the phone. So glad to hear that B’s *cough cough* doing better. I think they did a little sharing.” C laughs weakly, but A can hear the sheer exhaustion in their voice. “Anyways, glad they had you. And if you’ve got any survival tips, feel free to pass them along…..I’m just kidding. *cough* I’ll be fine. Anyways, I’ll…see you around, I guess.” They pause briefly, like they want to say something more, but a coughing fit steals their breath away, and the message ends with a click cutting off the rough gasps.

The pit in A’s stomach comes back. C sounds sick.

“Who….who was that?” B mumbles from their spot on A’s lap.

“It was C. They called back and they….didn’t sound so good.”

B’s eyes snap to meet A’s, more alert than they have been in days. “Did they sound like me?”

C pauses. They hadn’t thought about not telling B, but in hindsight, maybe they should have. After all, it’d only flood B with guilt, and they needed all the energy they had to get well. But one look at B’s concern, and they knew they wouldn’t be able to lie.

“Yeah. They did.” Immediately B struggles to push themselves up, throwing their blanket off their shoulders and trying to stand.

“Whoa, hold it there. Where do you think you’re going?”

“To C. If they’re sick, it’s from me, and if any hints from the past four days of living with me are any indication, we gotta help them.”

A throws their hands up, pressing B back on the couch. “Hold up. We don’t know them, we don’t know if someone’s already taking care of them, and we don’t know where they live. I’m sure they’re-“

B frantically shakes their head. “You didn’t hear them. On the plane. From what they said…I don’t think they have anyone. I have to go.”

A chews their lip. “Well, let’s get things straight first. You’re in no shape to go help them. Which leaves me. A random stranger they don’t know. And you want me to check on them?”

The question was meant to be sarcastic, but B nods vigorously and fear fills their eyes with a fevered anxiety. “A, you saw how sick I was. You think anyone’s gonna be able to fight through that alone?”

A sighs wearily. They could blame it on the fact that arguing with a sick B was like arguing with a brick wall. But truthfully, what did their heart in was the thought of B alone on that plane, sick and shivering and miserable, if C hadn’t helped.

Fine. They’d send a text.

You okay? You sounded kinda rough on the phone. B was worried….

A few moments later, C responds.

Eh, I’ve felt better. But thank you for asking. And tell B not to feel bad. They were a better seatmate than most.

A smile tugs at A. At least this C was polite.

Is there anything you need? B said something about you being by yourself.

This pause was longer. The dots appeared and disappeared a few times, before a message came through.

I hate to take advantage, but is there ANY way you could bring over some cough medicine? I ran out a couple days ago. No worries if not - I can figure it out.

C’s heart sank. So they were alone. Sure, they didn’t say it - but any good friend or significant other worth their salt wouldn’t leave someone they loved without medicine for days.

I’ll bring some to you! Want to meet somewhere neutral, or just want me to drop it off?

In moments, C sends a response and an address.

Dropping off is fine. You are an actual lifesaver.

A settles B into bed with blankets, a cup of water, hot tea, and six types of medicine on the side table. “Now if you get worse, call me and I’ll turn around immediately. Nothing’s more important than you, okay?”

B shook their head. “I’ll be fine. They need someone.”

A heaves a sigh. “You’re too good, you.” They give B a quick forehead kiss, and head out into the night.

By the time they get to C’s apartment, their stomach is flip-flopping - C is a stranger. A lonely stranger, but a random stranger nonetheless. They come to C’s door and knock tentatively, gripping the paper bag of cough medicine (plus some cough drops and Tylenol for good measure), and hold their breath.

Nothing. A few minutes go by and A knocks again. They’re ready to break down the door if C doesn’t answer soon, but they realize what took so long right after they hear the click of the deadbolt.

A had seen corpses that looked more alive than C did right now. They lean heavily on the doorframe, sweat beaded on their forehead, a thick grey throw blanket clutched tightly around their shoulders. Their face is hollow and devoid of color, lips dry and cracked, their hair mussed and matted to their head. The cool night air hits their fevered body, triggering a round of chills that make them shudder. Despite their misery, a tiny light of gratitude flits across their eyes, and they stare incredulously at the paper bag in A’s hands.

“C….” A’s jaw drops to the ground.

“A, I seriously owe you one.” C tries to laugh, but it turns into a wheezing chest cough, high pitched and tense as they fight to catch their breath. Their eyes blink slowly, and they start to slide down the doorframe, but A grabs them and they both tumble inside.

Even through the blanket, A can feel C’s every bone. C weakly clings to A as they stumble toward the couch, and A deposits them on the cushions before tearing into the package of meds.

“What have you taken so far today?” A asks, trying to figure out the dosages.

“I….nothing…” C mumbles. A meets their eyes in disbelief before cracking open the blister packet and retrieving a proper dose. Grabbing an empty glass on the side table, they fill it before helping C choke the pills down. C greedily gulps the whole glass, breathing heavily once they’ve drained it.

“Water…water’s good.” C smiles blearily - they’re almost completely out of it. A presses a hand to the side of C’s neck, and C flinches at the cool touch. Their neck feels like a bank of hot coals, slick with sweat, lymph nodes sore and swollen. Their forehead isn’t much cooler either.

“C, when’s the last time you ate or drank anything?”

C cocks their head like A just asked them to recite the entire periodic table. “I….not sure? Days….kinda blurry.”

A’s seen enough. “C, you’ve got to go to the hospital. I haven’t even seen your temp, but you’re burning up even worse than B was.”

C frantically grasps at A’s wrists, sharp panic flooding their eyes. “Please…no…no hospital. I can’t. The meds….I’m fine here. Please.” A shiver wracks their body, and they hunch their shoulders, wrapping themselves back up and pulling the blanket over their nose. “Please. You can go now.”

“C, you need help-“

“I don’t.” Their voice breaks on the last word, cut off by a brief hiccuping sob.

Confusion rises through A - one minute C’s a grateful wreck, and the next moment they’re demanding they leave?

“C, I don’t understand-“

“You don’t get it. You think it feels all nice, having people care about you. Making you feel like you matter. And then they leave you. Get tired of you. Decide you’re not worth it. And it hurts worse than if they were never there at all.” C scrubs their eye with the corner of their blanket and sniffles as tears run down their cheeks. “I can’t let it happen again. I have to be alone. So just go. Please.”

A’s speechless. They kneel down next to the couch, hand tentatively hovering above C.

“C, is it okay if I put my hand on you right now?” C’s still sniffling, but they nod and mumble a weak “yes”, and A gently lets their hand rest on this stranger’s shoulder.

“C, I want to respect what you want right now. But you should know that you’re very sick. And you’ve managed in your own way - how, I have no idea - but you need some help right now. Now I can either call the hospital and let them handle it, or take you home with me. It’s up to you. Otherwise, you need to look me in the eye and tell me honestly that you want to be left alone through this.”

They squeeze C’s shoulder, and it triggers a deep gasping sob from their broken, aching body, sending a fault line straight through A’s heart. The sob turns to weeping, and A can barely make out the words C whimpers: "I don't want to hurt anymore."

God, who broke this poor thing? A bites their lip. C’s losing it. They’re running out of options short of forcing C to come with them, and that’s the last thing they want to do to a delirious, love-starved person who’s known them all of 6 minutes.

“C, I’m not gonna hurt you. I want to help you. Heck, even B wants to help you. I had to practically pin them down to the bed before leaving, they were so hell bent on this rescue.”

C’s red, swollen eyes meet A’s. “You mean….they asked after me?”

“Yes. They did. They could hardly stop talking about you once they came to their senses.” A rubs C’s knee through the blankets. “And they’d never forgive me if I left you here alone - they were very adamant about that. So if you want to save me a lot of arguing with and consoling of a very sad B, you’d actually be doing me a favor coming back with me.”

C seems to be weighing their options, all while struggling to stay awake on the couch. “I mean…if it saves you the trouble….”

A’s the one nodding vigorously now. “Please. It would.” Please. Just come back with me. I can’t leave you here like this. But I don’t know what else to do.

C presses themselves up off the couch with a single shaking arm. “Well, if it’d help you, then I accept.” And then they promptly pass out into A’s waiting arms.

It’s late when A gets back home with a limp C, and B is knocked out in their room, light still on - they’d tried to wait up, but their body still craved rest.

A carries C over the threshold and into the house. They gently lay the bundle on the bed and feel their forehead - still too hot, but the medicine seemed to be working. They manage to wake C up enough to take a few sips of broth from a mug before they pass out again.

For the briefest moment, A lets their hand touch C's shoulder again, making a silent promise they barely know how to keep: I don't know who broke you, but I'm not gonna let you hurt any more. I won't allow it.

A wave of exhaustion floods their body as they feel the effects of several late nights and long days of caretaking. They'd be no good to anyone if they didn't get any rest. A drapes an extra blanket over C’s sleeping form and heads for the couch for the night - they’d check back in an hour or so.

--------------------------

B’s awakened by the sound of sniffling. And it’s not theirs. They blink tentatively in the lamplight, sleep clouding their thoughts. Snatching a blanket from the top of their bed, they wrap up, stuffed animal under one arm, and shuffle across the hall to see where the sound is coming from.

It’s C, swathed in two blankets, holding a wad of tissues and trembling like a leaf. B flicks on the bedside table lamp, and C winces at the light. B can see the tear stains on their cheeks.

“Cold,” C whimpers, coughing weakly. Pity floods B - it’s like looking at a picture of themselves just a few days ago. They reach out and put their hand on C’s head, and C leans into the touch.

“Yeah, this part sucks,” B says softly, guilt flooding their core. Sure, they didn’t mean to make C sick. But they did. And they felt a certain responsibility to make sure they made it through okay - just like C had cared for them on the plane.

“Can I get you anything? Another blanket, tea, medicine?”

“Throat hurts…water…please?” B nods and places the stuffed animal next to C before beginning the long, slow shuffle to the kitchen. A’s asleep on the couch, and they can’t bear to wake them up for something this small. But by the time they get to the kitchen, their legs are trembling with exertion. Easy there. You’re still sick, too.

They brace themselves against the sink as the glass fills, and will themselves to make the final journey back to C. By the time they’ve returned, the glass feels like a lead weight in their hand, and their entire body is chilled and shivery all over. They do their best to help C take a few sips, holding the glass with trembling hands, bracing themselves on the bed so they don’t tip over.

“Thank….thank you,” C’s grateful eyes meet theirs, and in a split second B knows the effort was worth it. But the validation is replaced with a bout of lightheadedness that nearly topples them onto C.

“Sorry,” B gasps. “Still not up to marathons yet. Just...need a minute.” They tug their blanket tighter, closing their eyes. “And this body forgot how to stay warm when I do stuff.” C’s eyes flood with concern - even in their fevered haze, they can see B struggling.

"Want to sit for a minute?" C asks softly, patting the open spot next to them on the bed. “I’m still cold, too.”

B wriggles into the spot, propping themselves up on pillows and pulling blankets over them both. "Just a minute - you need your sleep."

C's already dozing. "S'okay. I'll sleep just fine. 'Sides, you're warm." C's nestled themselves into B's side, head resting on their chest, and B wraps an arm around C's shoulder and holds them close. They’re warm, too. Just a minute....

Many minutes later, A pokes their head in to check in on C - and finds two sick peas in a pod curled up together, C's head still on B's chest, B's arm curled protectively around C, stuffed animal squished between them, both tangled in blankets and Kleenexes.

In spite of their own exhaustion, A smiles. After everything that had happened, they had a feeling C wouldn't ever be alone again.

[sad-sweet-cowboah]

My Little Secret part 4

I tried to edit something on the original post and when it saved, it deleted all of the text! So I have to repost. Also, Tumblr won’t let me tag anything with “trigger warning” in it without raising red flags so please pay attention to the warning below!

Summary: You run in with Arthur again, though you face some trouble later. What happens next?

Warnings: This chapter contains some content that may be troubling or triggering for some, such as attempted assault of the sexual kind! Reader discretion is advised.

Thursday was an easy day for you; reserved for studying during the day before bartending at night. It’d been two days since the ghost hunt at Shady Belle, and you’d pushed most of the strange encounter out of your mind in favor for your academics. You’d successfully gotten through the majority of the day working on papers and brushing up on older material, compensating for your reluctance earlier in the week.

Still, though, something about what happened wrapped around your subconscious like tendrils. You couldn’t exactly shake it, or figure out why.

As day turned into evening, you got ready for your shift at the bar before leaving. With it being a Thursday, it was a decent crowd, though nothing compared to the weekends. A diverse mixture of all ages drinking and swaying with the music overhead.

An hour passed into your shift and you’d immersed yourself entirely in a conversation with one of the tipsy patrons, a man in his 50’s, a regular who always tipped you extra if you wore a low-cut shirt, which you happened to wear today. You were used to his glazed eyes wandering down to your cleavage, as well as a few lame pick-up lines that you always humored, but politely turned down at the end of the night.

“Yer so gorgeous,” the man complimented with a toothy grin. “I keep tellin ya, I’d treat you right if you were mine.”

You giggled slightly, giving him a polite smile as you poured him another drink. “I treat myself just fine, Tom.”

“Ah, wouldn’t hurt to try, would it?” He chuckled with a wink.

You silently handed him his next drink and swept your gaze over the bar in search of new customers. Your eyes landed on a new but familiar figure, surprise washing over you despite the small some of excitement that accompanied it.

“Arthur!” You greeted him.

His eyes met yours, and a small smile crossed his lips. “Evenin’, Y/N. Nice to see ya again.”

“You too,” you responded, and then quirked an eyebrow. “Ya know, for someone who doesn’t drink, you seem to like being in bars a lot.”

Arthur chuckled slightly. “Well, maybe I just like the company.”

Your cheeks burned slightly, though unsure of it was a compliment toward you, or if he meant the bar in general. Either way, you were glad the dim lights masked the color on your face.

“By the way, that man ain’t botherin’ you?” Arthur continued, tilting his head toward Tom just a few stools down.

“Oh, him?” You waved it off with a laugh. “He’s harmless. He likes to flirt, but he gives me good tips.”

Arthur hummed in response. “You ain’t uncomfortable with that?”

You shrugged. “Not at all, if showing off the goods a little means a little more pocket money, I’m fine with that.”

Arthur chuckled once without humor, though you could detect a small frown on those full lips. You were curious as to why. “So, uh, are you gonna order another drink to…smell?” You asked.

The subject change caused him to laugh again. “Nah, just here to relax. Nice change of scenery after spendin’ the last few nights in Saint Denis.”

“So you like being out in the country? Or just small university towns?”

He shrugged. “More or less. I prefer to be out west, though.”

“Is that where you’re from originally?” You asked.

“I spent a lot of my early life out there, so in a way.” He answered with a small smile.

That did explain a little more about himself. While working here and going to school, you met many people from everywhere within the United States. Most people from out west were either wannabe cowboys or hipsters, at least the ones that stood out to you. Arthur somehow seemed a little different, though you couldn’t quite put your finger on it.

Peculiar he was, especially from your first interaction with him. Though each encounter has become more pleasant, and you learned a little more about him each time.

You chatted with him for another moment before being pulled away with the arrival of more alcohol-thirsty patrons. Setting yourself back into drink making mode, a half hour had passed before you had a moment to breathe. By then you’d also noticed Arthur had left the bar, though unsure if he were elsewhere in the crowd or not.

The rest of the night continued smoothly, thankfully finishing your duties before clocking out at 12:30. As you left the building, you could hear some stragglers driving away or attempting to catch rides home.

The parking lot was fairly empty aside from a couple of cars sporadically parked here and there. As your stepped onto the asphalt, a chill ran down your spine, producing a shiver that nearly rattled your teeth. Why? It wasn’t cold out, though something felt…off. As if something was lurking within the shadows.

You shook your head, scolding yourself mentally. The Shady Belle experience had spooked you, but there was no reason for you to feel scared now. You’ve crossed this parking lot a hundred times.

“Silly.” You murmured to yourself as you started toward your car, though with a slightly hurried pace in your step.

Within a few feet of your car, you heard footsteps come up from the side. You blinked and spun around to come face to face with a drunken Tom, who awkwardly stumbled up to you.

“H-heeey, sweetheart.” Tom slurred, the smell of the whiskey still strong on his breath.

“Hi Tom,” you greeted warily. “Are you lost?”

“Naaah,” he hiccupped once, stepping even closer to you. “Listen…I wanna t-take you home with me.”

You stiffened, gripping your keys tighter. “Tom, I’ve told you before. No.” You responded politely yet firmly, hoping he’d understand in his inebriated state. “Get home safe.”

“I’m not going anywhere…without you.” He persisted, reaching out to brush his fingers along your arm.

You stepped back from his touch, turning yourself slightly away, though your keys were held in between your fingers. “Tom, you’re drunk. Please go home.” You feigned concern in your voice, though you held the unyielding wariness.

The hope that he’d laugh it off and walk away quickly diminished when his expression changed. Anger clear on his face as his hands, quick, had a vice grip on your upper arms. His body leaned against yours, sandwiching you between him and another car. Your gasp was audible, hopefully enough to catch someone’s attention.

“Tom!” You exclaimed, trying to wiggle free from him. He was surprisingly strong. “Let go of me!”

“I-I’m tired of playing these games with you, Y/N,” he growled. “I w-want you.”

Before you could respond, he forced his mouth to yours, forcing your lips open to invade. The alcohol on his tongue almost made you gag, and with quick thinking, you bit down on him.

A flash of hot copper exploded in your mouth, and Tom yelped and stepped back. Spitting the blood out, you didn’t hesitate to turn and race for your car. Though before you could even make it another few feet, strong hands yanked you back.

“You little…bitch!” You heard Tom snarl, ripping you back to him. You stumbled, struggling to keep your balance. Your scream was cut off when his palm slapped over your lips, and his arm wrapped tightly around you. “Yer comin’ home with me, right now!”

Your cries were muffled, scared out of your mind, you tried kicking at his shins. Your heels made contact, though with too little force to cause any real harm.

“I’m gonna punish you, little girl.” His whisper a hiss in your ear. Fear shot through you, your heart racing loud in your ears. You continuously tried to escape his grip but to no avail. You tried to force your lips open just a smidge to bite on his finger, yet his hold on your face was ridiculously strong.

You began to feel him drag you away, and you planted your feet to stand your ground. But this man was much stronger and heavier than you were, this rendering your effort fruitless. Your mind raced in panic, trying to think of anything else.

Why hasn’t anyone seen you yet?

Sharp pain entered the side of your head as a heavy blow. Your vision left immediately, engulfing you in darkness.

—-

The ground was rough, damp against your cheek. The sound of muffled struggle seemed to originate from above you. Shoes scuffling against the asphalt. Gasping and grunting.

Your eyes opened, your vision slowly coming to focus. You were on the parking lot still, laying awkwardly in a space between two cars.

Metal clattering caught your attention. You sat up and immediately regretted it as the pain in your head throbbed. You groaned and held your head, turning toward the sound.

A pocket knife lay just a few feet away, the silver blade shining in the moonlight. Further was Tom, pinned against one of the cars by…

Arthur?

You blinked in surprise. Where did he come from?

“L-Let go of me, asshole!” Tom coughed, his voice raspy. It only took you a second to see Arthur’s gloved hand wrapped around his neck.

“What possesses you to lay a hand on a woman like that?” Arthur growled. “What kinda man are you?”

Tom didn’t answer, only struggled to get free. Managing to get one hand free, his hand balled into a fist and swing out- only to be caught swiftly by Arthur. You heard a distinct crunch- and Tom let out a choked howl in pain. Your eyes widened.

Arthur leaned closer, almost as if he were about to caress him with his lips. His voice was low, though still loud enough to hear: “I catch you doin’ that again, I promise I’ll do a lot worse.” He then stepped back, releasing Tom as the older man crumpled to the ground, cradling his now broken hand.

Arthur’s attention then turned to you, his blue eyes bright and the anger still plain in his face. Your breath hitched; you’d never seen a man look so dangerous, nearly animalistic.

He approached you, and you automatically leaned back. Fear was still flowing like fire through your veins. He blinked, then paused, holding his hand out to you. “Come on, Y/N.”

Hesitantly, you reached out and took it. His skin felt cold underneath the worn leather of his fingerless glove. He pulled you to your feet with ease, though the rush caused you to sway. The throbbing on the side of your head worsened, the pain itself almost making you feel sick to your stomach.

Arthur steadied you, murmuring to you, “Where’s your car?”

Without speaking, you pointed to it, just a few parking spaces away. You didn’t realize how much you trembled until the keys jingled in your hand.

He plucked the keys from you and prompted you to walk forward. You did so, taking deep breaths as you kept your eyes forward, ignoring the whimpering and cursing of that vile man. Arthur’s hand rested on the small of your back, though very light to the touch.

He opened the passenger side door, hushing the protest that barely passed your lips. He helped you in before sliding in on the other side.

The movement of the car was almost dizzying. You closed your eyes, willing the spinning to go away. Your stomach churned uncomfortably, though it had been a while since you’d eaten. As the adrenaline wore off, your body felt drained.

“Where do you live?”

Keeping your eyes closed, you mumbled your answer. The pain began to dull, though the fatigue began to spread. With the gentle motion of the car, the hum of the engine and the cool air on your face. You didn’t realize you’d fallen asleep when his voice gently roused you. You blinked awake to see your apartment complex.

He helped you inside, guiding you toward your door. You shuffled through the dimly lit hallway, staring at the numbers until you found yours. He even unlocked the door and pushed it open, gesturing for you to walk in. You did so, stepping across the threshold into your apartment, the darkness waiting to engulf you. An overpowering feeling of helplessness racked you from head to toe.

The fear still remained.

An idea sprung in your mind. You turned around to face him. “Hey, can you stay with me?”

Arthur gave you a quizzical look.

“I just…don’t want to be alone,” you said sheepishly, tilting your head down in slight shame. You were a grown woman, afraid of something that couldn’t hurt you. But after that event, you needed at least some company. You didn’t want to bother your friends, knowing it was too late to even message them. “At least for a little bit.”

“You hardly even know me.” Arthur responded, though his voice was soft.

“I know,” you sighed. “It sounds silly, but- I’m scared still. I just need some company for my peace of mind. Doesn’t have to be the whole night, at least until I can fall asleep. If it doesn’t inconvenience you.” You met his gaze again, staring directly into those bright eyes.

Arthur let out a sigh, rubbing his slicked back sandy locks. “Sure, I’ll stay.”

You let out a breath of relief. “Thank you. Please, come in.” You stepped back and get around for the switch, flooding your living room with a bright light.

He stepped in after you, the black leather jacket and dark jeans stood stark against your white walls. He certainly looked out of place in your quaint little apartment. You weren’t sure what to do at this point, your mind fogging any greater rational thought. Your insides felt hollow, your mouth still had a faint tinge of blood lingering. The pain that radiated from your temple had lessened greatly, yet still remained as a dull ache that pulsed every once in a while.

Arthur stared at you expectantly, though gave no notion to urge you in any direction from here. His eyes instead grazed you up and down. “You may wanna clean yourself up.”

You blinked and looked down at yourself, the apparent stinging in your arms had become more prominent. Bloodied scrapes, bits of gravel and asphalt dirtied your skin. You pursed your lips, thankful Arthur came when he did. There was no telling what further damage could have been done. “Yeah…just, chill on the couch. I’ll take a shower.”

He nodded silently, feeling his gaze on you as you headed down the hall and closed yourself in the bathroom. Switching both the light and fan on, you finally got a good look of yourself.

Your hair was messy, the neat ponytail was half pulled loose with strands sticking out here and there. The light makeup you put on was smudged, lip gloss smeared all over your lips and chin, along with a small blood stain. A fresh scrape took the majority of your cheek, most likely where you’d landed on the asphalt.  There was a slight swelling on your temple as well.

You recoiled at the sight, tears filling your eyes as you turned toward the shower. It could have been worse, you thought to yourself. Repeating the mantra as you unclothed and turned the water on. Within seconds it was hot, and you entered its comforting embrace.

You focused on cleaning yourself, slowly and tenderly scrubbing the filth away. The water and soap stung your wounds; though it was a reminder that you were safe now. The greater part of your mind still needed that convincing.

Taking longer than normal, you wrapped yourself in a towel and headed over to the bedroom, only glancing down the hall to see what Arthur was up to. You hadn’t seen him, though the footsteps indicated he didn’t leave yet.

You dressed yourself in a camisole and pajama pants, the fabric soft and soothing against your skin. As you ran a comb through your hair, your thoughts began to wander again.

I’m gonna punish you, little girl.

Your stomach lurched painfully, the memory causing you to double over. You could still smell his breath, the vice grip he had on you, the way his voice overpowered you-

A knock on your door snapped you back to reality. “Y/N? You decent? May I come in?” Arthur’s muffled voice sounded from the other side.

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, you responded, “Y-yeah.”

He opened the door slowly, his eyes darting to your hunched figure. He frowned, stepping closer to you. “Somethin’ wrong?” he asked.

“I…I just…” you huffed, trying to compose your thoughts. “Just trying to keep myself calm…”

Arthur nodded silently, sitting on the edge of your bed and he held something up to you: a steaming mug of tea. You gave him a look of confusion, and he replied, “I just made it. Help calm the nerves.”

Before you could say anything, he pressed the mug into your hands. Your fingers wrapped around the warm ceramic, and you peered into the liquid. It had a pungent, herby scent with a tinge of sweet, along with something else you couldn’t detect. Tea was something you’d get every once in a while before big tests and projects, though you weren’t sure if there had been any left over.

You took a small sip, the taste was unlike anything else. The bitterness of earthy leaves was slightly dulled by a tinge of sweet and tangy flavoring. The hot liquid hit your empty stomach, and almost immediately you began to feel more relaxed. The heat was soothing like the shower was. “Thanks.” You murmured, sipping some more.

He nodded in response. “What are ya gonna do?” he asked quietly.

You gave him a small frown of confusion. “What do you mean?”

“About ‘im,” Arthur clarified. “That asshole.”

“Oh.” You swallowed uncomfortably, drumming your fingers on the mug. “I…I’m not sure.”

“He’s a regular at that club, right?” When you nodded, Arthur continued. “Then tell your boss he ain’t welcome there anymore.”

It would be the right thing to do. But your boss would go the extra mile, trying to get the police involved. Word would get out what happened, and you’d be seen as a victim to feel sorry for. You pursed your lips in thought.

Arthur sensed your hesitation. “I know it ain’t the easiest thing to do, Y/N. Men like him ain’t worth keeping your mouth shut about. You gotta keep yourself safe.”

He was right. You nodded silently in agreement, knowing it would be an uncomfortable topic to bring up again. You took another drink, each sip seemingly calming you down more and more. “I’ll talk to my boss tomorrow night. And take the day off.”

“Good, you need a personal day.” Arthur patted your shoulder.

Somehow his touch was soothing as well. God, what else would have happened if Arthur didn’t show up when he did? Quickly, you diverted those thoughts away. You were home and safe, albeit a little injured. You sighed slightly and turned to look at him fully, seeing the content emotion in his face. “Thank you, Arthur. Thank you so much.”

He gave you a small smile. “You’re welcome, darlin’.”

Though you didn’t mind the sudden nickname, the way his voice rumbled was…something else. Placing the mug down, you reached out and hugged him tightly. He flinched a little in response, though relaxed after a moment and lightly patted your back.

He was cold, how was he so cold? You slightly breathed in the scent of his jacket, he smelled like rain and nature with a tiny hint of gasoline. It was evident he was a man that spent a lot of time outside, and he smelled good.

You pulled away before the embrace became a little too long, and a large yawn escaped your mouth. The tea definitely had done its job to calm you, picking it up to finish off the rest. The warmth spread through your insides, allowing a serene feeling to overcome you.

“I’ll let you sleep.” Arthur murmured, standing up and stepping away from your bed.

The last dregs of fear had been washed away, your mind able to relax now. You nodded and scooted back, sliding yourself under the covers. As your head rested against the cool pillow, your eyelids felt heavy. “Thanks again, Arthur,” you said through another yawn. “You’re such a great guy…”

The last thing you saw was his lips forming into a half smile.

[murdertrialimagines]

Accident

“How would the V3 boys react to finding themselves accidentally killing someone or killing out of self defense in a killing game? Bonus if Kiyo kills a man and Kaede has expose Shuichi in the trial!”

Oooh this sounds great! I have so many ideas for this! Story under the tag!

Shuichi Saihara

He didn’t mean for it to go this way

He had been plotting a trap to stop the mastermind with Kaede

He was in the library looking for good places to set the cameras while Kaede went to go get more tape to set them up

As he was moving books to create a hiding hole he heard the doorknob rattle

Quickly hiding behind a pile of books, Shuichi watched as the door opened, Rantaro stepping in

Was Rantaro the mastermind?

That wouldn’t make sense, unless his obsession with stopping the mastermind was a facade

Shuichi held his breath as Rantaro opened the hidden door, his suspicions confirmed

He had to do something! What if Kaede walked in and Rantaro attacked her?

He rushed from his hiding spot, running towards Rantaro

He grabbed his arm, earning a look from the boy

“Shuichi, what are you-”

Shuichi shoved him away from the door, noticing it close behind him

Rantaro stumbled, tripping over a few books and falling, hitting his head on the edge of a bookshelf

The detective watched as he fell to the floor, a pool of blood forming under his head

Oh no

What should he do? Kaede would be back any minute.

He ran out, knocking some books over in the process

He ran to the dining hall, where Kirumi, Tenko, and Himiko resided

He sat with them, trying to be casual when he heard a scream come from the library

They all ran out, reaching the library and seeing Kaede in the doorway

Over her shoulder, they could see Rantaro’s body sprawled out on the floor

The investigation happened quickly, Shuichi excusing his nervousness as shock from his first time seeing a real body

When the trial came, he started the discussion, but was soon lost to his own thoughts

He couldn’t let them all die for him, could he?

Shuichi let Kaede carry the trial, only speaking up to confirm evidence or alibis

Finally, Kaede seemed to have pieced it together, looking at Shuichi with an expression that made his whole body churn with guilt

“Shuichi...was it...you?”

He clenched his fists, staring at her with defeated eyes

Everyone was shocked, how could their detective, their friend kill someone?

He nodded, earning a shout of denial from Kaito

He explained what happened, keeping his eyes on his own shoes

He let his classmates throw words of hate at him

He deserved it, after all

Once voting came, he voted for himself

He and Kaede shared look, shedding tears for each other

One final hug

One final smile

One final goodbye.

Kaito Momota

How could he have done this?

Just one second ago Maki was showing him all the weapons in her ultimate lab

Just one second ago she was sternly telling him to not mess with anything

But he didn’t listen

He had to play with the crossbow

He had to accidentally pull the trigger

And now one of his best friends, someone who could’ve possibly been more, was bleeding out on the floor next to him

He grabbed her, earning a sharp gasp of pain from her 

He cried, incoherent words tumbling out of his mouth

She didn’t say anything, only staring up at him with wide eyes, hand holding his cheek

When her eyes glazed over and her hand fell, he screamed, not caring who heard him

When people came rushing in, he didn’t move, still holding Maki’s body

He watched as his tears fell onto her uniform, darkening the red of her coat

The trial came and went, Monokuma calling it one of the fastest trials in killing game history

He didn’t care

He deserved it

He killed one of his best friends

Ryoma Hoshi

Ryoma had expected to be targeted first

And he was right

What he didn’t expect though, was his reaction to the attack

So when Kirumi came up behind him and swung at him with a weapon, his first instinct was to swing at her with his racket

Startled, she spun and stepped back, tripping over the tennis net and hitting the floor, gasping for air at the impact

He watched, wide eyes when he noticed the wooden stick she had attacked him with had pierced through her stomach

He watched as she coughed up blood, staring at him with pained eyes

He saw the life drain from her eyes, her fingers stopped twitching and her chest stopped moving

Ryoma stood, staring at Kirumi’s still corpse

He only moved when he heard a gasp, looking over to see Angie in the doorway

So there was no way he was getting out of this, huh?

Rantaro Amami

Rantaro didn’t understand why he didn’t know his ultimate talent

Everyone else did so he obviously had one

Right?

He sat in the courtyard, aimlessly rearranging heavy rocks into patterns while he let himself get lost in his thoughts

Angie was with him, trying to help him remember his talent and be more happy

Atua told her to, apparently

All it did was make Rantaro frustrated, her constant talking and shaking him when he didn’t respond with more than a hum

“So you should get to know everyone around here more, huh?”

He gave another hum, shoving another rock into place

“Maybe it’ll help you remember your talent!”

“Maybe”

“You know, Atua says that everything happens for a reason, yea? You have sisters, yea? Maybe they went missing for a reason!”

Rantaro let in a deep breath, closing his eyes

“Angie, stop it”

“Maybe they went missing because your talent is super important, or dangerous!”

His hands grasped a rock, knuckles whitening

Rantaro doesn’t lose his cool

“I said drop it, Angie”

“Man, that must feel terrible, being the reason your sisters are gone. But don’t worry! Atua-”

“I SAID STOP!”

He swung at her, only remembering what was in his hand when it was too late.

He watched as she fell into the grass, blood staining it a dark color

He dropped the rock, watching it roll a few inches

What did he do?

He just killed someone

He only planned on killing the mastermind, and he definitely doubted it was Angie

After standing for a minute, thinking about his predicament, Rantaro calmly went back to his dorm, trying to pretend nothing happened

Which was kind of hard when the body discovery announcement woke him up from a nap, only a few hours later

He contributed to the investigation for only a small portion of the time, mostly looking out for who might be suspicious enough to be the mastermind

Not figuring anyone out only made him more frustrated

When the trial came, he tried to spin it on the mastermind, hoping that it would draw them out

But in the end, it was a lost cause, and he was voted as the true culprit

He looked at everyone around himself, giving them a half-hearted salute

“Well, I guess this is it for me. I hope you guys find the person behind this, okay? Get out of here, I know you guys can”

Rantaro gave one last look to all of the students, before turning to the bear

“Okay Monokuma, I’m ready.”

Gonta Gokuhara

Gonta sometimes underestimates his own strength, but it usually earns him a few laughs and some stern lectures

This time, it earned him a horrific sight

He had been helping Himiko with some of her magic tricks in her lab. She wanted him to help her practice some of her illusions, mostly the ones pertaining impossible feats

She was a mage, after all

But when she asked for his help with her sword box trick, he didn’t fully understand that she wanted him to wait a few seconds before putting in the first sword. So as soon as she entered, he stabbed the sword into the box at a random angle

He didn’t realize anything was wrong until he saw blood dripping out from underneath the box

He threw the door open, seeing Himiko standing in the middle, sword through her chest and gasping for air

Gonta yelled, not knowing what to do

“D...don’t worry! Gonta go get help!”

He ran to the nearest room, the dining hall. In there he found Tenko, Shuichi, and Kaito

He explained the situation through a flurry of tears and hiccups, dragging them to her ultimate lab

When they got there, Tenko screamed and immediately ran towards Himiko, noticing that she had already stopped breathing

She ran towards Gonta but Kaito held her back, only earning himself a kick to the stomach

She hit Gonta, screaming at him, but it did nothing as he stared at Himiko’s body

Shuichi went and gathered everyone else, before they waited out the investigation period and headed towards the trial grounds

The trial tensely came and went, everyone already knowing who the blackened was.

Kokichi Oma

Kokichi didn’t understand

Didn’t Gonta understand how to do anything?

He knew Miu planned to kill him, so he manipulated Gonta into killing her

But it went wrong

Did Kokichi’s plans ever go wrong?

Gonta had cornered Miu and began choking her, but Kokichi saw his face as it turned into one of confusion and guilt

“Gonta...Gonta no can do this!”

Before He could release Miu, Kokichi noticed the hammer she had dropped

He picked it up and swung at her, hitting her in the head with a harsh blow

She went limp immediately, Gonta freaking out

“Kokichi...kill Miu!”

Kokichi sighed, looking at her bleeding body

He’d have to pin this on Gonta, huh?

He talked Gonta down from his hysterics, telling him that it was alright 

The entomologist would lose his memory anyways, right? So there were technically no witnesses!

They quickly put her body through the fake wall and returned to the cabin, joining everyone in the panic of Miu’s glitch

When they logged off, Kokichi realized the mistake

He had planted a bottle of poison, yet it was evidence she didn’t show any of the symptoms the poison had

Stupid Gonta!

He went along the investigation as usual, cracking jokes about how stupid the culprit was and calling Miu horrible names anytime she was brought up

When the trial came, he tried to spin it on his accomplice, but that defeated the whole purpose of his plans all along, doesn’t it? 

He wanted them to get out, so he’s been setting up for an impossible crime, he didn’t want them to die

Well, maybe

But he didn’t want Monokuma to win!

When he first said it was himself, no one believed him. He did do that every trial though

But after more talking on Shuchi’s side he finally pieced together what really happened, and that Kokichi was really the culprit

After they voted, everyone was quiet

Shouldn’t they all be happy he’s leaving? He’s been tormenting them their whole lives here!

But it was still a heavy atmosphere, knowing they were now down two more classmates

This a snide one liner, he waved goodbye and let Monokuma walk him to his death.

Korekiyo Shinguuji

Korekiyo knew people were scared off by him. He knew his creepy look and intense personality warded everyone off from him. He didn’t mind, though. 

Korekiyo would much rather watch everything unfold than have to interact with the other students in this academy

Which is why he was even more surprised when he was planning a murder of his own and Kaito walked in

This was an empty classroom on the third floor, why would anyone need to be in here?“H...hey, Kiyo...”

Korekiyo watched him, occasionally glancing back at the cage and sheet he had in the room. “Hey, what’s in your hand?”

Kiyo looked at his hand, noticing he was still gripping the sickle he planned to kill one of the girls with. 

“Oh, I was using it to make markings in the floor”

“Okay.” Korekiyo began to turn back to his work when he heard a click, turning around to see Kaito pointing a crossbow at him. “What are you doing?” 

“I was always suspicious of you. You’re planning a murder, aren’t you?!”

Kaito shot, but his shakiness and inexperience with a crossbow made him miss, hitting the wall behind Korekiyo

The ultimate astronaut swore, and charged at Kiyo. Kiyo dodged a punch, moving through the center of the room, careful not to land on his own trap

Kaito, on the other hand, was unaware of the modifications he had made to the floorboards. He ran towards Korekiyo, stepping on the board and tripping, leg stuck in the trap

Kiyo, in the rush of the moment, swiftly moved towards Kaito, slamming the sickle into his neck

He watched as he bled, silently panicking. He’s only supposed to kill girls, that was his promise to his sister! What did he do?!

He quickly left, going back to his lab 

The body discovery announcement rang out, and he walked slowly to the classroom

Inside was Angie, sitting down and pale, along with a few of their other classmates

He sat in the corner like he usually did, watching Shuichi panic over his best friend. He noted how silent Maki was, before she stormed out.

When the trial began, he continued like he usually did, dropping small bits of info he deemed irrelevant to the case

Then, the mystery was cleared up when they looked at the cultural side of everything that was in the classroom

The voting commence, everyone voting for the ultimate anthropologist

It took all of Maki’s strength not to hurt Kiyo, it was evident by the stare she was giving him. It only angered her more when he said he had no pity for Kaito, only for the fact that he couldn’t keep his promise to his sister

With a laugh, Monokuma dragged him off to his death

‘At least I’ll be with my beloved once more.’

Kiibo

Miu had been trying out new functions on him practically everyday

He had been in her ultimate lab quite frequently, and most of the time he was shut off to make sure nothing went wrong

And nothing every did, till Miu tried to add a hologram function, so they could see his memories. It seemed to work find when they first tested it, but after a few moments of using it Kiibo blacked out

When he regained consciousness, he saw Miu on the floor, bleeding from a head wound. He looked at his own hand, noticing the blood splatter on it

He practically short circuited from the sight, screaming

This alerted Gonta and Kaede, who had been bug hunting in the fields closest to the ultimate inventor lab

Kiibo apologized profusely, if he could cry he would be

Kaede went and got the rest of the class after calming Gonta down

The trial happened without an investigation, Kiibo silently voting for himself

It still hurt when Monokuma announced him as the blackened.He whispered one final apology before being hauled away by Monokuma.

________________________________________________________________

I hope you like it! Sorry it took so long, and I apologize that some are super short!