#aftermath of nightmare

[123passwort]

Talk to Me

Pairing: Soldier Boy x Reader

Summary: Ben had a vivid nightmare last night. You know how he is about is “man feelings.” But you try to get him to open up anyway, before you both lose your tempers.

AN: This was requested by my lovely friend @deans-spinster-witch. It's set in the Break Me Down-verse and is a sequel to the SB imagine below:

See this imagine for context: Ben loses you.

Word Count: 1,600 Tags/Warnings: Angst, hurt/comfort, fluff

Imagine: You confront Ben about his fears.

“What the fuck is wrong with this cocksucking coffee maker?” Ben snarked.

He bumped the top of it with his hand, so hard you thought he was going to break it.

Your brows furrowed as you shot him a look. It was too early for all that.

“Nothing?” you said. “Worked just fine for me.”

He sported an even grumpier face as the coffee finally poured into his mug.

Something’s wrong, you thought.

Ben was usually quiet in the morning. Relaxed and slow until he’d had his coffee and started his routine, with his newspaper at his favorite lounge chair, then breakfast in the kitchen with you.

You were making pancakes on a griddle, but you were also watching your boyfriend. He wasn’t just quiet. He was downright grouchy and taciturn.

What crawled up his ass? you thought. Though you had your suspicions...

“Breakfast is done,” you called to him.

He eventually joined you, sitting down at the breakfast bar. You served him a mildly enormous stack, and just two pancakes for yourself. In most respects, Ben was still a bottomless pit.

However, after eating the first couple of pancakes in silence, he pushed away from his plate and leaned back in his seat. You held your coffee mug between both hands and eyed him.

“You okay, baby?” you asked, repeating the very words you’d asked him last night.

He glanced at you through surly brows. “Yeah. You can stop asking me that.”

Right, you thought. He’d been twitching in his sleep, muttering, making sounds that had worried you enough to wake him with a gentle hand on his dewy arm. His response had worried you too—that haze of disoriented shock, followed by relief when he recognized your face.

You’d comforted him the best you could after his nightmare, but he hadn’t wanted to talk about it. You knew he wouldn’t now, either. That didn’t stop you from trying.

You set down your mug and soothed a hand up his arm, until your fingers disappeared under his shirt sleeve.

“What’s got you all sunshine and rainbows then, Mr. Grouch?” you lightly teased. “I even made you pancakes. Still waiting on my thank you.”

Ben didn’t want to answer, though he briefly glanced at you. He slurped at his coffee.

You sighed. A tick of annoyance at your brow.

“Okay," you said. "Well, since we had breakfast here, I figured we could go out for lunch later when we get to the city. There’s this amazing deli I could take you to—”

“We’re not going,” Ben said.

You blinked in surprise. Your hand fell away from his shoulder. “What?”

“I’ve got things to do,” he said. And without looking at you, he grabbed his half-full plate and got up to bring it over by the sink. He speared a few pancakes back onto the plate you’d served them up in before dumping his plate into the sink.

At least he was learning something about living with you. Now, if he really wanted to impress you, he'd wash that damn dish.

But for now, you wanted answers more than you wanted clean plates. You slowly got up out of your chair and went to him. You tried your best not to be accusatory when you asked your next questions.

“What do you mean? What do you have to do?”

He didn’t seem to want to answer you. Or maybe, he didn’t have a good answer, because he was fucking lying.

You laid a hand on his arm. “Ben. I need you to talk to me right now, because this is our first day off together in weeks. You know this was supposed to be our day. So you’d better have a damn good reason.”

He frowned angrily down at you. “We’re not going because I fucking said so. That’s all you need to know.”

You glared back at him, standing your ground.

You raised a brow. “That’s not good enough with me, and you know it. But if that’s how you’re going to be about it, I’ll call Annie and make it a girls’ day.”

You turned on your heel to walk away, but an iron hand grabbed your wrist. Holding back a wince, you frowned at Ben over your shoulder. His face was tight with irritation.

“You’re not going any-damn-where,” he snapped.

“You better let me go, right now,” your temper snapped right back.

This man was protective, but he had never been this bad. Not even after you got out of the hospital after Vought Tower collapsed. Granted, you’d been fully healed. He’d never outright tried to forbid you from leaving the house though.  

“What the hell is your problem?” you said.

He didn’t want to let you go, but after a beat, he released you. His frown deepened when you had to rub the ache out of your wrist.

He hadn’t meant to grip you that hard. Part of him relented…but then it firmed back up, when he remembered last night. The images were still filtering through his mind on a loop.

The alley, the blood slipping through his fingers, your pale, cold cheek, and lifeless eyes staring up at him.

“There’s something we need to discuss,” he said gruffly.

You tilted your head at him. Your face was tight and angry now, but you still followed him into the living room. You sat down together on the couch, and with crossed arms, you waited for him to speak.

His elbow rested on his knee while his hand swept over his mouth and beard. Then his gaze slid over to yours.

“You need to take Compound V,” he said.

To say that shocked you was an understatement. Your eyes widened, and your body went rigid.

“Excuse me?” you said lowly.

“There’s no way around it,” he said. Grit was laced in his voice, but you didn’t care.

“I’ve made myself very clear—”

“And you also said we’d revisit this little chat, so here we are,” Ben retorted. “You need to live in fucking reality. I can’t be with you 24/7. I don’t trust those CIA fucks to wipe their own ass, let alone keep an eye on you. Especially when I’m in the field.”

You just managed to lasso in your temper when you finally realized where this was coming from. You inhaled a couple of calming breaths. Your fingers tapped your knees. You sat up straighter before you turned to him more fully.

Your hand reached out to cover his on his thigh.

“Ben,” you started. Soft and even. “What did you dream last night?”

His face tightened further, his lips pressed into a line. It took him a moment, but eventually he answered.

“Nothing. Doesn’t fucking matter.”

“We both know that it does,” you chided.

When he just maintained his stoic façade, you slid closer to him on the couch. You curled a hand around his bicep and pressed a kiss to his shoulder.

You looked up at him.

He didn’t want to break.

You just waited until the green of his eyes met yours.

“Hey. It’s just me,” you said softly. “Talk to me.”

His brows knit together, slightly. His jaw clenched and twitched under his skin.

“I lost you,” he said.

Admitting to that was like admitting that his uniform was a lie; that he had no fear. That he was invulnerable. That he was a god in human form.

But you had become the last human part of him. To lose that would be to lose everything again, worse than 1984.

Somehow, you’d become his reason…for most things. He didn’t think you realized it, nor would he allow himself to tell you.

His eyes closed when you leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. You let your fingers sift through his hair, brushing it back and away from his forehead.

“Do you know why I want to stay normal?” you asked. "Albeit fragile and breakable."

He didn’t answer, but his eyes silently asked for one.

“Because I want to stay myself,” you said. “Power corrupts, and there’s a big chance I wouldn’t be the woman you loved anymore if I injected that shit into my veins.”

Ben frowned. He hadn’t considered that…but he still felt it was a price worth paying.

You moved off the couch and into his lap. He welcomed you with an arm curling around your waist and another moving up your thigh.

Your arms twined around his neck, and you kissed him properly, nice and slow. He tasted like coffee and maple syrup. His hair was soft between your curling fingers.

You parted from him after a while, just to press another comforting kiss to his temple.

“I know what I’m asking of you, and I’m sorry,” you whispered against his skin. “But we’ll figure something else out.”

“How?” he scoffed, his brows furrowing again. “In a few decades—”

“I thought you didn’t mind a few wrinkles,” you teased.

A smirk flickered across his lips. “You know what the fuck I mean.”

“I know,” you nodded. “But we have time. I promise, we’ll figure this out.”

Ben didn’t totally believe you. There was going to come a time where you were going to have to make a choice: between him and your principles.

It wasn’t fair, but that was the reality. Life wasn’t fucking fair.

Until then, maybe he could make one concession.

“If you want…” he said. You leaned back enough to see his face.

He met your gaze. “We can go to dinner later. In the city.”

A slow smile spread across your face.

“But we’re getting a private room,” he warned, squeezing your hips. “And we’re driving there and back. That’s it.”

Your smile warmed further, and kissed the corner of his mouth. You were sure you could convince him to go a Broadway show afterwards, if you plied him in a few key ways...

“I like the idea of a private room,” you said.

His fingers crept up your pajama pants, drifting down between your thighs. His thumb started to stroke warmth through your panties. It had you smiling, sighing, subtly pressing into his hand.

His smirk deepened.

“You do, don’t you?” he said.

You let out a breathy laugh at the change in him. It didn’t take much to get him worked up. So you hugged him close and spoke into his ear all the things you had planned for him tonight.

Before, and after dinner.

AN: Lol I love writing this lovable asshole. 💚 Especially in the BMD-verse.

I have more Dean imagines coming soon! Including a requested sequel to "You are Dean's one exception," in which Sam "crosses the line"... 🫣

Soldier Boy Masterlist

Main Masterlist

BMD Tag List (Part 1):

@this-is-me19 @waynes-multiverse @mrsjenniferwinchester @samanddeaninatrenchcoat @spalady26 @spnwoman @syrma-sensei @wirdbeimaufhebengebunden @muhahaha303 @123passwort

@xoxovienna @katherineann814 @lollag0w0 @globetrotter28 @nancymcl @ashbatz @secretdreamlandmentality @kristophalis @wonderland2022 @emily-winchester @shelh93 @sl33pylilbunny @spoonmynoodle @chernayawidow

@buckybarnes-1917 @asgardprincess97 @sometimes-i-sing @itsyellow @karnellius @kimberleymjw @is-this-a-febreze-commercial @iamsapphine @sanscas @se-fucking-hun @lassie-bird @jessjad @yepimthatperson @fromcaintodean @stoneyggirl2

@spnfamily-j2 @im-a-slut-for-fluff @lacilou @venicesem @mimaria420 @vanillawhiskeyflavoredkisses @tearsfortheyouth @agalliasi @chriszgirl92 @kazsrm67

[megamagimugi]

I Was-a Too Late

CW: blood, implied character death(s)

[insert your favorite Mario game over jingle here]

I have nothing to say for myself.

I'm so sorry.

@wahooitsamee @peaches2217 You guys seemed interested, so... enjoy?

EDIT: I have a Luigi version (well, sort of) now too, called He's-a Gone if anyone's interested!

[happyfoxx-art]

Aftermath: Impact Part 1 Welcome to the second arc! //sprinkles some disaster twins content on you

PREV | NEXT | FIRST   

[somegrumpynerd]

He's so normal

[serickswrites]

Sugar Plums Dancing in Their Heads

Warnings: captivity, torture, restraints, blood, temporary character death, nightmares, flashbacks, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery

Caretaker ran down the corridor. They couldn't be too late. Their exhausted body protested being pushed further, their lungs screaming for air. But they couldn't stop. They were so close. They had found Whumpee. Whumpee needed them.

Caretaker skidded to a halt at the end of the corridor, where it opened up to a great room. "NO!" They screeched as their brain finally made sense of what their eyes were seeing.

Whumpee hung limply in the chains keeping them suspended the air. Blood dripped from the deep cuts that littered their body. Their head hung low, obscuring their face from Caretaker's view.

"Whumpee, no! Say something! I'm here!" Caretaker shouted as they raced forward. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening.

Whumpee didn't move. Didn't groan. Didn't so much as even breathe as Caretaker called to them. "Whumpee, please, say something," Caretaker said as they reached Whumpee.

Caretaker gasped as they could finally see Whumpee's face. Their eyes were closed, their features lax. Blood and saliva dripped from their mouth. "Whumpee, please. Please, you have to be ok. You have to be ok." Caretaker pressed two shaking fingers to Whumpee's throat.

"NOOOOOOO!" They screamed as there was no pulse beating beneath their finger tips. "PLEASE NOOOO!"

"Caretaker, Caretaker," a voice called gently, wrenching Caretaker out of their horror, "Caretaker you have to wake up."

Caretaker jolted awake. They blinked against the bright lights in the room. Where were they? Whumpee? "I didn't fall asleep."

"You were having a nightmare," Friend said with a gentle smile, "you fell asleep after we got home from visiting Whumpee. You were so exhausted, I thought it best to let you sleep."

Caretaker breathed a sigh of relief. It was a nightmare. It was only a nightmare. Whumpee was alive. Whumpee was alive and healing in the hospital. Whumpee wasn't dead. They had arrived in time. "Thanks for waking me."

Friend nodded. "How about we get you some nice chamomile tea and see if we can chase that dream out of your head."

Tags: @mousepaw @jumpywhumpywriter @knightinbatteredarmor @hufflepuffwritingstuff2 @anightmarishwhump

@steh-lar-uh-nuhs @celestialsoyeon @st0rmm @ay5ksal @pedro-pedro-pedro-pedro-pe

@pepeniascat

[jalicecookie]

Little Climbing Champ!

A little Gift for @n1daehodefender and her work that inspired me to write this little Post. I totally love the Idea of the Squid Game Boys with their Babys and like to give you this Gift <3 - Check out her Storys, her writing is so good!

Summary: You wake up extra early on a Sunday morning and try to climb out of your bed with one goal - to steal your Appa's watch because it has caught your interest.

TW: Nothing except Cuteness and fatherly Love from Kang dae-ho, Nam-gyu & Thanos - as well as hints of nightmares based on the experiences in the Squid Games.

Characters: Kang dae-ho, Nam-gyu, Thanos

★★★Thanos★★★

You wake up a little tired and realize with a sleepy look that it wasn't even light yet…the small gap in the curtains on the window didn't let any sunlight through…but…if it was still bedtime and your mommy and your appa were still asleep…maybe you could try something really exciting and awesome?

With a quiet yawn, you kick the blanket off you and crawl closer to the bars of your bed.

You've already tried several times to climb over the edge of the crib because… it was so exciting and great (plus you wanted a little extra cuddle time with your Appa, you've been in your Appa only phase for a few days… which Thanos finds quite amusing, after all he is THE LEGEND - of course it was really cool that as your Appa he was much higher up in your eyes than your mommy) and you really want to take a closer look at that great watch, that your father is wearing… it's so sparkling and great and you want to have it.

Sometimes Thanos says the watch is off limits for you… whatever that means? You don't know but… if your parents are still asleep, they certainly won't notice that you're trying to sneak into the parents' bedroom.

Exactly! You would steal Appa's beautiful watch and just keep it… then it would no longer be Appa's watch but yours....your Watch.

Determined, you stand up and try to climb over the edge of the bed. It takes several attempts , before you can lift your right leg and then your left leg over it.

(When you tried a few days ago, either your mother or father caught you half-heartedly and either lifted you out of bed themselves and sat you on the large, soft play rug in the room, or you were placed on your parent's hip and your climbing ideas were doomed to failure.) Climbing over it was easy… landing on the rug… less so.

You land on your diapered, padded bottom and luckily the start wasn't too painful for you.

And luckily for you, the door to your room was only ajar.

It wasn't uncommon for you to wake up in the night and call for your parents - in the last few days, more often for Thanos, of course - but this time you use the ajar door , to walk clumsily down the dark hallway towards your parents' bedroom.

This door was also ajar and you pushed it open a little further.

It was dark and both Mommy and Appa seemed to still be asleep….okay….where did Appa have his watch….does he sleep with it on his arm, like you sometimes need your favorite stuffed animal to fall asleep?

"Kid what are you....how......wait is that my Watch?"

You giggle once and press the watch closer to your cheek, not really planning on giving it back to your Appa…but of course you wanted to tell him what great things you had accomplished…no matter how late or early it was.

"Appa! Me....climbed out ... baby bed! ALONE!"

It took a moment for Thanos to realize the words and a tired, broad grin on his lips before he playfully reached for you and pulled you into a loving hug.

"WOW, that's so cool! My little climbing champ! And at 4:44 in the morning! Appa is proud of you! And as a reward, you can continue sleeping in Appa and Mommy's bed… if you give me my watch back, hm?" - Thanos praised this night climbing action… and that was a much better reward than keeping the watch.

So you nod enthusiastically and voluntarily give him the watch back.

A few minutes later, you are lying between your Mommy and your Appa and quickly fall asleep again.

Thanos covers you and his partner with the blanket a little more carefully , before he also returns to dreamland with a happy smile.

★★★Kang dae-ho★★★

"Appa? Wakey-Wakey?"

You carefully support yourself on the edge of the mattress and try to check whether your father is still awake.

It was difficult to climb out of your bed… you somehow hurt yourself and actually wanted to call out loudly for your parents, but actually you also wanted to play with the watch, that your father accidentally left on the changing table in your room and… somehow everything ended in chaos… which is why you are now standing in your parents' bedroom and trying to wake up the sleeping Dae-ho.

Because somehow… when you tried to push the small chair that sometimes stands at the even smaller table in your room… closer to the changing table in order to get the watch… the chair somehow crashed into the small lamp and it broke… you still don't have the watch and Appa has to help you now! Very, very urgently.

You hear a rustling on your mommy's side of the bed and she struggles out of bed to pick you up a few moments later.

"Appa was really tired, baby… can we be a bit quieter?", your mommy whispers in your ear… but you see it as a game and clap your hands enthusiastically, only to shout a loud OKAY into the room and thus wake up your Appa, who… sits upright in bed, startled, and looks from you to his partner.

"What happened? Oh my God, is our baby sick? Was she crying and I overslept? Are you sick, darling? Is it already morning? What time is it? 4:44? oooh…", - came the confused reply from the former player of the brutal Squid Games.

Of course, his first concern was for your safety and that of his partner…and somehow he seems like a sleepy Labrador puppy to a person in the middle of the night.

"Climbed out baby bed…fell…little ouchie but kay kay….Appa Watch on changing table….lamp broken…..Appa fix it? Me wanna play with Appa Watch please!"

There was a moment of silence before your parents' amused laughter echoed through the bedroom, and your Appa dragged himself tiredly out of bed to check whether you had hurt yourself during your climbing.

Your parents cleaned up the night's chaos and Appa read you a little bedtime story, albeit in a tired voice… but with a fatherly, loving glow in his eyes, which made you forget about your beautiful watch and you quickly fell asleep again.

Without any more climbing… of course you didn't notice the slightly proud smile on your father's lips as he put the book aside… and was proud of this… could you call it a new milestone in his baby's life?

★★★ Nam-gyu★★★

"Woah woah…what do you think you're doing?"

It was the middle of the night and the voice of your Appa made you pause for a moment…actually you wanted to climb over the edge of your crib in a death-defying manner because you wanted to secretly steal that amazing clock from your parents' bedroom…but your climbing attempts were discovered because…Appa suddenly stood in the brightly lit room and there was a mixture of surprise in his voice.

"Appa! Help!" - you say tearfully, hanging half with one leg over the top edge of the bed and the other half on the other side, threatening to slide off.

"If you're tired of life, baby, I'd rather see this situation.... if you ever meet that crazy salesman on the subway…run Kid.....run", you hear your father mutter and he picks you up in a routine and fatherly gesture.

You look at him with big, pleading eyes and pat the right cheek of the… somewhat tired-looking Nam-Gyu lovingly.

"Wanna Appas Watch....pretty...", you said and cuddeld closer to your Father.

"Ah i get it, so that´s why you start this climbing adventure....sorry I promised to be the best Appa ever for you....no Watch"

"Pwetty please Appa!", you said and whinned once.

"How about this, instead of more climbing stuff this fu....very early night like we have 04:44 a.m.....i sneak you into our Room and you can fall asleep with Mommy and Appa for now?", - your Father said in a soft voice while giving you an calming kiss on the hair.

"Teddy too?", you asked and pointed towards your Crib where a Teddybear was sitting.

"Sure, what kind of an good Appa would i be, if the Teddy is left behind?", said Nam-Gyu and grabbed the stuffed Animal to give it to you.

Only a few Moment later, you were placed in the king sized double Bed next to your sleeping Mommy, while your Father wished you a good night and hummed a soft lullaby, which quickly made you fall asleep.

THE END

[jordanstrophe]

Caretaker jolted awake to the sound of whumpee crying. Caretaker hurried to their room, flicking on the light, expecting torn stitches and blood.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Caretaker whispered. They already knew the answer to the first question, feeling guilty for asking.

"I- I'm not hu-hurt." Whumpee responded, curling their knees to their chest. Caretaker pulled them into their arms and rested their hand on the side of whumpee's face. It was probably another nightmare; they were getting more frequent.

"Can you talk to me?" Caretaker asked. They felt whumpee shake their head against their shoulder.

"No, I-I'm okay I just-" Whumpee took a deep breath and relaxed. "I need a moment." They mumbled.

"Okay, then we'll take it easy. Do you want tea and we can work on that puzzle?" Caretaker nudged. They felt whumpee huff and nod their head.

The puzzle only ever got worked on in the middle of the night. Every time a piece was found, they asked mindless questions and kept eachother talking. They would go until whumpee was fully calm, then caretaker would put them back to bed.

[whumblr]

hii, can you please write about a whumpee that can’t sleep alone without caretaker, but the caretaker has an urgent business trip thus leaving whumpee alone at night?

Whumpee turned over again, eyes blank, staring at Caretaker's empty side of the bed. A soft sigh, almost a huff, brushed past their lips.

They'd meant it, when they'd said they'd be fine.

Or at least, they thought it would be fine. Just two days. They could certainly manage that, they had assured Caretaker. And they did. Everything went absolutely fine - not great, just fine like they'd said. Until night fell.

They never fully realised it, but just having Caretaker next to them made them feel safe. Even when he was completely conked out, snoring, far from this world. Just watching him, breathing softly, it was comforting. Knowing they weren't alone, knowing they weren't waking up in that cell--

They let their arm fall down, stretched out over the flat duvet.

Yesterday they didn't sleep at all. Just tossed and turned, hoping sleep would finally come. You can't sleep with enemies nearby. There weren't any nearby. Or so Whumpee hoped. But unfortunately, they carried their enemy with them. All the time.

The mocking voice in their head wasn't the only thing keeping them awake, but it certainly made things most difficult.

"I bet Caretaker is having a blast, finally having a day to himself."

Whumpee punched their pillow in frustration and almost threw themself on it, pulling up the blankets. Caretaker wasn't like that.

"I don't know. Maybe he grew tired of you. Scared little mouse to comfort at every little bit."

Deep breaths. Don't think. Don't engage those thoughts-- Okay, yeah, they were a scared little mouse. Even now, willfully ignoring every little sound in the house that made them want to snap up and scour every room every time something creaked. But they didn't. They had to prove that they could do this. That they didn't need Caretaker for everything.

Maybe that's why they had been so adamant in getting Caretaker to accept this business trip. Maybe they just wanted to show him - and themself - that they could do this. Could perfectly stay alone for a weekend and be absolutely fine.

"Are you sure it's a business trip?" the voice crooned and Whumpee's eyes snapped open. "Would make total sense if he just desperately needed a break from you."

No, that--. No, they'd seen the pictures he sent yesterday evening. Large podium. Nice snacks. Meeting room with some Zzz emoji's from Caretaker. It was a business trip. It definitely was!

"He probably volunteered, then. Needing some time away. Awful, really. He knows you can't be alone yet he still went."

"That's not true," Whumpee said out loud. Great, now they actually were arguing with just the darkness in their room. They knew that wasn't true. And they knew that horrible voice only echoed their own horrible thoughts pushed back to the back of their mind. The only one awful here was themself.

"It's okay, darling. You're just uncomfortable. You know why? Because you're doing something that would get you punished. That's why you're all jitters..."

"I'm not--"

"Your shirt. You know I don't like it when you cover your scars."

A chill went through them. The cotton of their oversized shirt snagged around them from all the twisting and turning, uncomfortably pulling at them. That's not it. That's not the reason why they couldn't sleep. No one could punish them anym--

"Take it off."

This is ridiculous, they huffed to themself. They flipped to their side, forced their eyes shut. But the brewing anxiety in their stomach only turned more heavy. And the shirt tangled around them started to feel constricting.

With a snap they sat up. Ripped their shirt over their head. And threw it across the room.

-

General whump tag list: @firewheeesky @myfriendcallsmeasickwoman19 @whumpawink @painsandconfusion @auroragehenna @chaotic-orphan

[ancha-aus]

RealAgeAU Drabble - Bath

Hello!

Direct continuation from the prev Drabble 'Mud'! Taking place almost directly after.

First Drabble (original prompt by @spotaus ) Prev drabble Next Drabble

So we take off almost right were we left off, only like a small hour later.

*---------------------*

Nighmtare can't stop the purr as warm water goes over his shoulders to clean some of the worst mud away from the cravices.

Dust hums "Yeah I figured it would feel nice. feeling warmer?"

Nightmare nods and leans back against the hand on his spine. Dust had been supporting his spine ever since they got back and told him what happened. They went straight to the bathroom.

"Hah! Dusty using his magic hands?"

Dust shoots Killer and annoyed look from where Killer is sitting with his boxers on in the bathtub with Ngihtmare. Grinning widely.

"What? I also needed to get cleaned up!" Killer looks very smug.

Dust shoots Nightmare a look "How is it that you are 6 yet he is more childish?"

Ngihtamre grins and just leans more into the hold. The touch is gentle as Dust removes mud from the sensitive and painful spots. It hurts a little but not nearly as much as it used to hurt when getting cleaned, and no were near as much hurt as with the mud in it.

Dust continues cleanign his spine and ribcage slowly "It didn't get too far in. Seems like your sweater protected you from that."

Ngihtmare pushes closer to Dust's touch "Sorry for getting it dirty..."

Dust hums "No need. You didn't mean to get it dirty and even fi you meant to. It is just a sweater. Even so Cross is already working on cleaning it. It will be fine." He uses a small bucket to let some water wash away the soap.

Killer grins as he leans agianst the tub edge "Me next dusty?"

Dust doesn't even look up as he keeps washing Nihgtmare's shoulders "You can wash yourself."

Killer whines "But dusty~ Stuff may have gotten between my joints! Same like nighty!"

Nightmare rolls his eye lights but purrs when Dust starts washing his skull and neck. It is so nice and familiar by now. They always do this even if Nightmare knows that Dust knows Nightmare can wash that himself. Dust always takes time to carefully wash his skull and neck for him.

Dust hums "And Nightmare is six. which you are not." Dust taps his shoulder carefully "close your sockets nightmare. I am going to wash off the soap."

Nightmare nods and closes his sockets before feeling the warm water wash over his skull and shoulders. It feels amazing!

Dust smiles "there is the happy purring. much better." then softer "Can I wash your sockets?"

Nightmare considers it for a moment. He never likes seeing the others when he baths, he should be able to wash himself and it make sit easier to accept their help when he can't see them... But Killer is also in the bath and that is fine... Maybe he will be fine with it?

Dust is silent and waits patiently as Nightmare thinks it over. Ngihtmare ends up nodding and turning around in the tub to be facing Dust instead.

Dust gives a small smile before focussing on his face as he looks at his sockets from different angles. as Dust stares at him Nightmare just looks back at Dust. Unlike Killer, who is mostly naked and with just his boxers on, Dust is still mostly dressed. Dust had only taken off his hoody, scarf and gloves. So Dust just sits by them in loose sweats and a shirt. Dust gives a quiet hum "Yeah I can see some mud in there. I am going to try and get it out okay?" he looks at their basket of bathstuff and takes out some soft cotton swabs. Dust soaps them up before holdign hsi skull steady with a gentle hand by his skull.

Dust looks at him "Still okay?"

Nightmare frowns as he thinks it over. This should feel bad or dangerous. people near his sockets or skull is very bad news. But no panic or fear. He hums and mutters "it is fine."

Dust looks a bit surprised before grinning "Brave babybones." ngihtamre knows he is glaring at Dust but Dust just chuckles "okay. No eye lights."

Nightmare huffs but does as told. he turns his eye lights off and with them goes his side.

The darkness does make him nervous but he still feels the steadying hand of Dust on his skull. He hears Killer whine and mumble about unfairness and that he wants the spa treatment as well. And that Dust is so unfair to not give him one as well!

the cotton swab touching the inside of his skull and near his sockets is weird. It doesn't hurt but it is still weird. His hands shoot up and he grabs Dust's arms.

Dust freezes "too much?"

Nightmare shallows and forces the words out "It is okay..." he just.. needs this... just a reminder. it is okay.

Dust mutters softly "I will be careful."

And as he said he would. He is. careful and slow movements. with purpose. And It does feel better! discomfort and itchiness he hadn't been fully aware of just disappears with each gentle movement.

"That was it. You can turn on your eye lights again."

NIghtmare needs a moment to get his magic to respond and get his eye lights to return. It is brihgt for a moment but even his sight seems better than before!

Dust grins "There. Almost all clean."

Killer grins and leans over the side of the tub "Which means it is mine turn!" causing a big wave to splash over and for Dust to now have wet pants.

Dust looks down before shooting him a glare "You did that on purpose."

Killer gasps and puts a hand above his soul "me?! I would never! I am sooooo sorry for your pants!" he grins and winks "You could just lose them." and he wiggles his eye brows.

Dust looks very unimpressed and Ngihtmare agrees. Not one of Killer's best tries at flirting.

Dust just looks at Nightmare again "do you want me to clean your arms or do you want to do it yourself today?"

Nightmare frowns and thinks it over. He did his own pelvis and legs as always but it was harder than he remembers to get dirt and mud out of those spots. He just looks at Dust "Can you do it?"

Dust nods and starts getting the shower floof ready again. Nightmare holds out his arms and lets Dust do his magic to get the stubborn dirt out off his joints. Dust just seems to know how to do it as the dirt and mud easily disappears.

Dust nods and looks very happy with himself "There he is. All clean." he puts the bathstuff to the side and goes to grab the towel.

Killer whines again "come on dusty~ Please?" Killer grins as he turns around until his spine is against the tub and he looks over backwards over the edge with his skull upsidedown to look at Dust. It can't be comfortable. Killer grins "Please~ What if some of the stuff stays behind? What if I can't clean myself right?"

Dust rolls hsi sockets as he gets the towel and with an easy motions nightmare is out of the bathtub and wrapped in the towel. Dust pats him down carefully as he ignroes the whining of the adult behind him. Killer bemoans about this unfair fate and how he needs help from his friend and teammate yet Dust is cruel to not help him.

Nightmare is dry and Dust dresses him in his PJs. Dust lifts him up and shoots Killer a look "Don't destroy our bathroom whiel I am gone." and Dust leaves the bathroom.

They exit into their downstairs bedroom and Dust goes straight to their pillow and blanket nest.

Dust sits down and grabs a blanket and wraps it around him "comfy?"

Nightmar enods "yeah." Dust hands over his plushy and NIghtmare is quick to put her right by his side. Batsie is her name... Like the cow name Bessie because they are on a farm but with bat because... bat.

Not that it matters because Nightmare isn't going to admit he named his plushy.

Dust smiles at him "I need to go clean the bathroom and make sure Killer doens't drown and kill himself with his stupidity. Horror is-"

"right here." and Horror joins him. Horror smiles at Dust "Good luck with Killer. I got this."

Dust nods and leaves to return to the bathroom.

Nightmare moves his plushy around until he can use the wings to blanket him as well. trying to keep his hands free. horror hands him a plate and fork as he sits with him. Asking him how his day had been at his appointment.

nightmare eats and calmly talks about his day and all that happened. his soul calm and content after his bath.

--

Killer chuckles as Dust leaves wiht Nightmare. He should have actually cleaned up but come on! It was too much fun to hoke around with Dusty! Especially the tiny blush he had managed to cause!

Killer chuckles as he kicks the water up before leaning back to lay in the tub. Ah, baths are very nice. Maybe he should take more of them.

He just lays there to enjoy the water.

"Dont'drown yourself. Water and dust together make a mess."

Killer opens his sockets and grins at Dust who looks very unimpressed "I don't know. YOu seem fine with bathtime."

Dust rolls his eye lights "You know what i mean. Also get dressed weirdo. Have some modesty."

Killer grins and winks "oh? Is the most powerful monster shy about bare bones?"

Dust shoots him a look "Just clean yourself."

Killer leans dramatically over the edge of the tub "I can't~ What if i miss a spot? And how am I suposed to wash myself if i have to fully dress myself? I can't do both at the same time dusty~"

Dust crosses his arms as he glares at him. "YOu seriously still on about this?"

Killer grins "Sorry. can't." he leans forwards and shrugs his shoulders.

Dust lets out a long annoyed sigh "fine."

Killer blinks and looks abck at Dust as Dust calmly cleans the shower fluff of dirty water and puts new soap on it. "euh?"

Dust moves in his blind spot and a hand touches his shoulders and Killer just freezes.

He hand pushes him a bit forover and oh fuck. fuck... that.. that is that seem shower fluff on his spine and it feels so good and how are dust's hand so secure?!

He doens't know what to think. What does he do?! Why?! Why is dust washing him? Oh fuck it feels so nice? No wonder Nightmare always purrs up a storm after bathtime. Fuck keep in the purring. You are making this weird. it is just your homie giving you a bath that you have been asking him for! Don't make it weird!

He... hadn't realised how nice this was. this touch. Normally Killer is the one that hangs all over the others and starts contact. This is technically stuff that Dust started and it feels so nice is this what it is suposed to feel like?! Is it normal that Killer just wants to melt into the touch and wnats it to never stop?!

how is this so nice?!

Killer straight up had one night stands with others across the multiverse and that is NOTHING compared to how nice this is.

The fluff disappears and some warm, almost scolding hot how does Nightmare deal with this heat every bath and whyt does he like it so much? Goes over his back and spine.

Dust snorts and speaks "There. your spine and ribcage are clean now."

Killer glances back and Dust looks highly amused and smug as he collects the shower stuff. He puts it on the side of the bath before he gets up. He shoots him a look "The rest you should be able to manage yourself." and he leaves the bathroom.

okay while Killer is sad the contact ended he is also thankful that Dust left because there is a very very very obvious reaction to the touch and his boxers are not doing a great job hiding it.

What the fuck is wrong with him!?

*---------------------*

Killer having a bit of a gay panic. It was his turn. Also I have so little drabbles from his POV?! It is criminal

First Drabble Prev drabble Next Drabble

[whumpetywhump]

Squid Game - 2x01

[thoughtsonhurtandcomfort]

day 11: escape/breaking the conditioning/safe and sound + daero

Prompt from the Augusnippets @augusnippets challenge!

Path of Comfort: day 11: escape/breaking the conditioning/safe and sound

Could loosely be read as a follow-up to this, with the same caretakers

Content Warnings: demon whump, aftermath of captivity, aftermath of torture, trauma, nightmares, comfort, rescue, recovery, pain medicine

----

A week later and it still doesn't feel real.

The two humans tell Daero that he is safe and sound. That there will continue to be food and water, that their hands won't strike him. Their touches are soft, their voices quiet. They smell like citrus and cinnamon.

But still Daero flinches when either one enters the room. He still expects to wake in that damp dungeon, chained, beaten and starved.

Nightmares plague him, disrupting his much needed rest. On the worst nights, like tonight, his cries wake the humans and they are quickly by his side.

He is just awake enough to hear and feel them. One soothes him with kind words while wiping his tears away. The other holds a spoonful of pain medicine to his lips until he drinks. Then they sit on either side of him and wait.

In the moments just before falling asleep, when the medicine kicks in and he melts into the cushions, Daero feels something like peace.

[vertigoartgore]

Iron Man Vol.1 #232 cover by Barry Windsor-Smith & Bob Layton.

[hersurvival]

His right shoe had flown several lanes as he lie in the middle of the intersection, watching life saving measures prove fruitless, watching his body being shrouded in a white sheet, already a ghost.

And dreams of a snow storm, in a different world.

Always ten minutes too late to say good bye to my grandmother, already stiff and growing cold upon my arrival.

At least I was able to breathe my niece back to life, though she's with cloudy eyes and gnashing teeth this time.

@nosebleedclub September 1st - Back To Life

[dynjay]

Recovery

[somegrumpynerd]

Rough doodles of the gang having to deal with Killer's stage 3 when Nightmare isn't around

I might finish these but right now it's late so here's the sketchy versions anyway

[serickswrites]

Don't Leave Me

Warnings: referenced captivity, referenced torture, broken bones, nightmares, PTSD, hurt/aftermath, hurt/comfort, hurt/recovery

"Caretaker," Whumpee moaned in their sleep.

Caretaker jolted awake. Though they had only just fallen asleep, and had slept fitfully, hearing Whumpee's pained moans startled them. Caretaker very quickly realized from the sweat on Whumpee's brow and their contorted features that Whumpee was in the throes of yet another nightmare.

Whumpee had nightmares every night since they came home. Every night since they were rescued. Every night since they came home from the hospital. And Caretaker was completely helpless to stop them.

"Whumpee," they murmured gently, "you're dreaming. I'm here."

"Please," Whumpee moaned again, "please, don't leave me. Please."

Caretaker's heart broke at Whumpee's words. They gently squeezed Whumpee's shoulder. "I'm never going to leave you, Whumpee. I'm right here. Wake up. You're ok. I've got you."

Whumpee began to thrash in their sleep, their limbs flailing wildly. Caretaker ducked to avoid being hit in the face by Whumpee's casted arm. Whumper had taken their time torturing Whumpee. But this was the physical wound that would likely take the longest to heal. The emotional wounds....Caretaker didn't want to think about it.

"Whumpee," Caretaker said a little louder, "wake up. You're having a nightmare. I'm right here."

"NOOOOO!" Whumpee screamed as they sat up suddenly. Their eyes wrenched open, but they were dazed and unfocused.

"Whumpee! Whumpee! You're ok, I've got you!" Caretaker gripped Whumpee's shoulder tightly. "I'm here. You're ok."

"Caretaker?" Whumpee whispered. "I...I....I'm sorry," they said as they hung their head in shame.

"Don't be, Whumpee," Caretaker said as they lifted Whumpee's chin with their fingers, "you were having a nightmare. I'm here. You're safe. And I won't ever, ever leave you."

Whumpee nodded, their eyes filling with tears. "I know. Whumper.....you know what Whumper was like."

"I do. And I won't ever let anyone hurt you like they hurt you, Whumpee. I promise. Come here," Caretaker opened their arms, "let me hold you while you fall back asleep."

Whumpee reluctantly settled into Caretaker's arms. Caretaker rubbed circles on Whumpee's back as they hummed a soothing song to Whumpee. Slowly, but surely, Whumpee relaxed in their arms until sleep sucked Whumpee under once more. "I'll always protect you, Whumpee," Caretaker whispered in Whumpee's ear. "I won't ever leave you alone or behind again."

Tags: @mousepaw @jumpywhumpywriter @knightinbatteredarmor @hufflepuffwritingstuff2 @anightmarishwhump

@steh-lar-uh-nuhs @celestialsoyeon @st0rmm @ay5ksal @pedro-pedro-pedro-pedro-pe

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