#you're a LIAR

[scarlettohairdye]

What's up, I made a meme that I'm sure is extremely broad-audience and relatable

[ps1demodisk]

Vegans(a very specific type, not all) when they say "it's more environmentally friendly to not use animal products! Think about how many resources cows take up!" Make me laugh cause like

Babygirl the fish are dying from the microplastics from all the pleather you lot use which is quite literally disintegrating after a certain amount of time and doesn't last anywhere near as long as leather.

Sacrificing a thousand fish to save one cow, and you're probably not even saving that cow, you're just letting more of it go to waste.

Oh but you can't say that to them, they'll just call you a "carnist" or some shit instead of trying to have an actual conversation

[omgiamwish]

Whumptober 2023 Day 9 - "You're a liar."

[breannasfluff]

Whump Rating: 2.5/5 TW: Passive suicidal thoughts, depression; has comfort

AO3 Link

Legend sets his jaw, digging in his metaphorical heels. “I don’t care.”

“You’re a liar! All you do is lie to avoid getting hurt!” Hyrule’s face is red and blotchy from yelling.

“Yeah, and? Is it better to turn into someone like you, who wears their heart on their sleeve? Oh, feel bad for me, I have trauma.”

“It’s not a competition!”

“Well, it feels like one!” Legend’s hands fist at his side, chest heaving. “We’re heroes! We don’t get the luxury of breaking down! We don’t get to stop! It doesn’t matter if—if we want to die! We keep! Going!”

Silence is thick and heavy. Hyrule opens his mouth, then closes it again.

It’s Wild who finally breaks the silence. “Legend? Do you…” he pauses, takes a breath, and restructures his words. “Sometimes it’s just easier to imagine not waking up, right?”

The vet stares at him but doesn’t answer.

There’s something broken in the slump of Wild’s shoulders as he continues. “You think, this time if a monster gets me, it wasn’t on purpose. I’ll have fulfilled my duty. I’m out of healing supplies, but I’m going to fight the monsters anyway because that’s what heroes do. I’ve saved my Hyrule, so they don’t need me anymore. Now I’m just in the way.”

No one moves. No one knows how to address the damning words. Finally, Legend unclenches his fists and stares at the ground. “I’m just so…tired.”

Closing his eyes, Wild nods. “I get it.”

“You, too?”

“It’s hard.”

Legend’s snort is more watery tears than anything else. “Shit. It’s fucking hard to live.”

Finally, the champion edges closer and leans against Legend. The hand around his side is automatic. Wild’s voice is a whisper when he says, “Living is the bravest thing we can do.”

It’s Hyrule’s quiet sobs that catch their attention. His face crumbles as he looks at Legend—his hero. “This is all my fault.”

“No, I just—” The vet reaches for him, but it’s too late.

Hyrule turns and runs into the woods.

~

The traveler has years of experience in hiding from monsters. It takes all of Legend’s considerable skill and some blind luck to find his hiding spot, wedged into a shallow alcove in a pile of rocks.

“Go away.”

Ah. So he knows the vet is there.

“Hyrule��”

“I said, go away! I’m fine!”

“That’s not for you to decide.”

“Well, neither is you wanting to—to—” Hyrule breaks into sobs and huddles into his knees. “Ledge, why do you want to die? Isn’t there enough to live for? Aren’t we…enough?”

With a deep sigh, Legend sinks to the ground as close to Hyrule as he can get. He’s not going to yank the traveler out by the arm, even if he’s tempting. “Hyrule, I don’t—”

“The truth.” The strength in his voice is uncompromising.

“Okay. The truth.” Fuck. He doesn’t want to do this. “After Marin I…I dunno. I got sad. Numb. It’s just one thing after another. I started to wonder what the point of caring was. It just ends in getting hurt. It’s easier to just—not feel.”

“But everyone feels.”

“When’s the last time you cried, Rulie?”

The traveler, whose cheeks are still wet with tears, shoots him a livid look.

Legend ignores it and nods. “Exactly. The last time I cried was…” he sighs and leans back on his palms. “Hell, I don’t know. Last year, maybe?”

“But…” Wide brown eyes blink at him from the alcove. “Everyone cries. Even Time does.”

He can’t hold back the snort. “Yeah, the old man has turned on the waterworks a few times. I used to. Cry, I mean.”

“What changed?”

“I just…” he shrugged one shoulder. “I just decided to stop crying. If it started, I held it back as long as I could. Over time, I got good at it. Why feel sad?”

Hyrule’s question is barely a whisper. “You can do that?”

“I can. But, ah—” he gestures to the air like he can sum up the situation “—look how it ends up. It’s not healthy.”

“I cry all the time.” Hyrule crawls out of his alcove—progress—and edges closer to Legend. “Do you think I’m weak?”

“Course not. You’re one of the strongest heroes I know.”

“That’s a lie with Twilight in the mix.”

Legend can’t help but roll his eyes. “Sure, he’s physically strong, but have you seen him around a litter of kittens? He folds like wet paper. It’s not about appearing strong. I just…I dunno how else to explain it.”

“You said you got sad?”

“I got sad. And then I got empty.”

Hyrule edges a little closer. “Do you still feel happy?”

“Sometimes, yeah. It’s hard not to laugh at you lot sometimes.”

“But…why, then?”

Legend closes his eyes, but the inside of his eyelids don’t hold the answer. “I don’t know.” The answer is full of exhaustion. “I really don’t, Rulie. I just…sometimes it’s easier to imagine not waking up. To save someone’s life and just—rest. I know, I know there are good things to live for. Good people. Experiences. But that doesn’t…change how I feel sometimes.”

“I’m sorry.” Hyrule is right next to him and curls into his side, snaking his arms around Legend’s waist. “I’m sorry we aren’t enough.”

“Oh, Rulie. You’re one of the things that keeps me going.” Legend pulls Hyrule into a tight hug, head buried in his neck. His curls tickle his forehead and he smells like the honey candy Wild likes to sneak him. “I’m sorry I’m like this.”

“I don’t care.” The traveler is staunch in his refusal. “I’ll take you whatever way you are if it means I get to keep you. And if you are feeling bad, let me know, okay?”

“I don’t need to—”

“Legend.” The arms around him tighten; edging on a threat. “I will check in with you every day on how you are doing. And you are going to tell me the truth. Or so help me I’ll, I’ll…” he trails off for a moment, thinking. “I’ll cook you my specialty dish.”

“No!” Legend jerks and nearly chokes himself with Hyrule doesn’t let go. “I promise, I’ll tell the truth. Please don’t make me eat that again.”

The answering giggle is wet, but there. Legend lets himself settle back into the hug. His problems aren’t going to go away in one day, but support—it helps.

“I love you,” Hyrule whispers, squeezing tighter.

Legend squeezes back. “Love you too, Rulie.”

[whumpslist]

Whumptober 2023 no.9 'Mistaken Identity | “You're a liar”'

The Enemy Within episode 1.11 "The Embassy"

Jason (Noah Mills) is shot in the vest and his cover blows up.

@whumptober @whumptober-archive

[dresden-syndrome]

25/II-1964. Class 4 detention unit, State Security department No. 419, Berlin region, German Democratic Union Republic, EESU

"I told you to answer the f**king question!"

The officers' screams kept ringing in Axel's head, echoing through the dirty dimly-lit basement room. He was dragged to the interrogation room about five hours ago - not a long time - yet it felt like an eternity. Every movement, every breath penetrated his body with sharp jolts of pain. His arms, twitched behind the back by a rusty chain, were getting unbearably exhausted - Axel felt himself almost wishing not even for a release, but for another torture, just to get his aching muscles a long-awaited relief.

Back then, listening to the plans of a mission he was assigned on, Axel never thought he would end up like this - let alone be exposed so fast. "How foolish", he wondered of himself, "expecting anything nice from this shithole of a country". Given a chance to wind the time back, he would've refused the task without a second thought. Now, it's far too late.

"Still silent, huh? You're getting yourself into a really bad position, boy."

A punch in the face.

In a shot of blinding pain Axel felt a warm stream of blood running down his mouth, giving an unpleasant metallic taste.

"Say it! Now! You're not getting any mercy from us, you disgusting bourgeoise West German spy!"

Another punch. Even harder.

"I'm... Not a..."

As Axel tried to raise his voice through the agony, the blood filling his mouth dripped on the floor. The pain was turning into anger.

"You're a liar!" the officer yelled right in the prisoner's face, "Don't try to fool us around!"

"I'm not... from the West..." Axel gathered his remaining bits of strength to finish the sentence, spitting the blood into, as he hoped, officer's jacket.

Next thing he felt was an excruciating sharp punch in the stomach - so hard it caused him to cough up.

"We'll kick out all these disgusting lies out of you."

Day 9 of Whumptober

Prompt: "You're a liar"

Art taglist: @painful-pooch @prismpanic @generic-whumperz @suspicious-whumping-egg @onlywhump

[rd-eternity]

Whumptober Day 9: "Learning everything ain't what it seems, that's the thing about these days.” | Polaroid | Mistaken Identity | “You're a liar.” WITH THE ALTS OF: Miscommunication | Betrayal

Words: 4.4k

Summary: The McCall pack keeps telling Liam to stay way from Theo, that he's not changed and is prone to backstabbing them again, growing especially concerned when the two start dating. Not long after, Theo disappears, and the pack thinks he’s joined Monroe as a traitor, which Liam doesn’t believe. Until he goes to look for him.

Deeper into the preserve, the scent gets stronger with every step he takes, until the hunters meet up with another group.  Liam could cry.  Theo’s standing next to Monroe.  His arms are bloody, but his otherwise untouched, standing silently like a watchful entity. No chains. No gun to his head. No fearful chemosignals, only ones of confidence and smug pride. A knot twists in Liam’s stomach.  He knows Theo could kill every hunter there with his eyes closed, one hand tied behind his back.  But he’s just standing there.  Next to Monroe, watching her every word.  Liam doesn’t hear her at all.  Nausea fills his stomach, up to his throat.  Theo kneels, opening a hatch in the ground, speaking lowly to the hunters. It’s a Dread Doctors Operating Theater.  And he led them right to it.

[tathrin]

What's that, somebody sliding in at the very last minute to post one more entry for whumptober before November begins? Who could that be, not me? Oh surely not! Shhhh.

Anyway: The Last Temptation of Narvi of Khazad-dûm

a.k.a. that "little snippet" I've been working on, wherein Narvi discovers that Annatar is up to something terrible and goes to confront him and maybe just maybe save all of Eregion in the process...provided that Narvi can resist Sauron's honeyed words and stand stalwart in the face of terrible doubts.

So that should be fine I'm sure.

Anyway I figure it's about time for me to finally post something for my favorite-underated-(nonexistant?)-ship that desperately needs more (any) people writing for it, right? So here we go!

(Also I'm really not sure it merits the M rating but that one paragraph felt a little too overtly descriptive to be T? idk, let me know your thoughts, I feel like I'm always bad at judging that stuff.)

[kayamark]

Whumptober: No. 9 - "You're a liar"

Oh! My sweet liar (2020)

Ep 18

[all-the-gory-details]

Whumptober Day 9

Polaroid / Mistaken Identity / “You’re a liar.”

TW: Restraints, partial nudity (non-sexual), knife, creepy whumper

The morning had gone by like usual. Alexei had come in to hand out food, water, and meds. Casey took a few minutes to go through Georgia’s paper cup and point out each supplement, antidepressant, and vitaman, to ease her mind. There was only one he didn’t recognise, but she quickly explained that it was her estrogen supplement.

“I don’t know how he knew my brand or dosage, though.”

“He has his ways,” Casey sighed.

Alexei came by to collect dishes, and the three started a game of go fish using Felix’s cards, asking questions with each play to get to know each other. Felix insisted on starting with simple questions, which Casey quickly agreed to. Felix tended to avoid talking about deep subjects, when at all possible. Besides, Casey didn’t know all that much about either Felix and Georgia, and favorite colors and animals seemed like a good place to start.

They only had a few minutes of playing before the door opened and Alexei walked in again. “Come on, Casey, let’s get moving,” he ordered, holding the door open and looking impatient.

Casey’s stomach dropped. “Where are we-”

“You’ve got a client,” Alexei interrupted, annoyed, “and they’ll be here any minute, so let’s move.”

Casey stayed motionless, rooted to the floor as the surprise and terror set in. He had only had a few clients since Alexei deemed him ‘trained’ enough to be on the market. He hadn’t gotten used to the paralyzing, horrible sensation of looming pain, hadn’t figured out how to push back the what-ifs and reluctance.

Alexei rolled his eyes and stepped into the room, grabbing Casey and yanking him up to his feet. He put a firm hand on his shoulder, pulling him out of his room and down the dreaded hallway. He stopped to grab something out of a cupboard, but Casey hardly noticed. He couldn’t stop staring at the steel door.

When Alexei pushed him towards it once more, the panic surged and filled his body. “Sir, don’t make me, please don’t-”

Alexei didn’t stop, sliding the bolt and pulling the door open. Casey was pushed inside. His eyes moved on their own accord, and he could not take responsibility for their sweep over the many weapons on the wall in front of him.

Something hit Casey’s back, and he flinched and turned to see a small heap of clothing on the floor. “Get changed quickly,” Alexei ordered, turning to unwrap a thick rope from an anchor on the wall.

Casey did as he was told, pulling off his old clothes and putting on a fresh white tee and a pair of black athletic shorts. He balled the dirty clothes up and held onto them nervously.

Alexei had untied the rope and added more slack. The rope was threaded through a loop on the ceiling, and the end now hung at about eye level. Tied onto it was a large, metal hook.

Alexei pulled a sturdy pair of handcuffs off a shelf, and Casey realized what was happening.

He backed away a step, shaking his head as tears started to well up in his eyes. This was all too much, he didn’t want this, he couldn’t handle this.

Alexei didn’t care. He grabbed his wrists and forced the handcuffs on, letting the bundle of clothes drop to the floor. He placed them on the hook and pulled the rope, and suddenly Casey was on his toes, hands above his head, caught like a worm on a hook.

“They’ll be here in a minute,” Alexei said, grabbing the dirty clothes and moving towards the door. “On your best behavior, understand?”

Casey said nothing, eyes screwed tightly shut.

“I said, do you understand?” The darkened tone made Casey flinch, and he nodded immediately.

“Yes, sir,” he whispered. Alexei left without another word.

The client opened the door a few minutes later, and before Casey knew it, they were momentarily blinded by the flash of a camera. Once their vision came back, blurry and littered with spots, they got a look at the client.

She looked to be in her mid 30s, with blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. She smiled at Casey, holding the polaroid camera up again. This time, Casey had the foresight to close his eyes before the flash.

“Don’t mind me,” the woman said, bending down and pointing the camera up at him. “I’m just getting some ‘before’ pictures. We can get started in a minute.”

Casey found himself not minding the wait, as she lined up a few more shots. Anything to delay ‘getting started’.

Eventually, she put the camera down on a table, laying the developing photos out in a row. She turned to the wall of weapons and started looking. Casey didn’t know whether he wanted to watch or not, whether he wanted to know what would happen to him in a minute or two. In the end, it didn’t matter. He couldn’t bring himself to look away.

“So many interesting toys to play with,” the woman mused, tapping her chin in indecision. “In the end, though, I think I’ll stick to the classics.”

She pulled a knife off a magnetic strip, a small, curved weapon with a wicked shard point and a much duller blade. Casey couldn’t help the pathetic little whimper that escaped from his lips.

He wasn’t strong like Felix, not yet at least. He didn’t know how to bite back the screams, how to stay witty and brave through the pain.

When that knife bit into his chest as she slit his new clean shirt, when it carved patterns into his skin like he was a block of wood, he wasn’t able to hold back the sobs.

The client stepped back after what felt like hours, circling his shaking form like an artist around a sculpture. She picked up the camera and snapped picture after picture as Casey hung, barely supporting his weight, letting the cuffs rub his wrists raw.

She watched as they developed, smiling at each new addition to the collection of Casey’s pain. At one point, she picked one up and walked over to him.

“Look,” She said, grabbing his chin and forcing him to stare at the polaroid, showing off the blood dripping down his chest. “Don’t you think you look just beautiful like this?”

She was gripping him so hard, and his body hurt so much, and he wanted her to be happy, to leave him alone. “Y-yes,” he muttered, closing his eyes once more.

“Aww, you’re lying, aren’t you.” He felt a jolt of fear at these words. Would she punish him for the lie? Should he have told the truth, that he thought he looked like a cut of meat, barely human and hardly pleasing to the eye?

“No matter,” she continued, and he breathed a sigh of relief. “I can see enough beauty for the both of us.”

[ragecndybars]

“Megumi afureru sei Maria,” she mumbled into the beads. Hail Mary, brimming full with grace. At this point, her own voice sounded foreign and faraway, as if it came from somewhere outside of herself, echoing back to her from the chapel rafters above. “Shu wa anata wo erabi, shukufuku shi…” Listlessly, her eyes flicked up to the statue at the head of the chapel. Mary’s glassy, supposedly benevolent gaze stared pitilessly out over the empty pews, her stone hands spread to appease an invisible crowd of their invisible worries, even as her foot ground down upon the carved neck of a serpent. That would be just like her, Saori thought, the nostalgia unbidden and bitter to the taste. Though, more likely, she would pick the snake up and dispose of it safely somewhere out of sight, where it wouldn’t scare anyone and no one would take its life, either. That was what she did whenever some student or other was shrieking over some spider or beetle they’d found tucked into a distant corner of the library. What she had done.

Fandom: Persona 3 Characters: Hasegawa Saori, Shiomi Kotone Relationships: SaoriHam Summary:

Brown in some lights; red in others. Both her hair and eyes were like that; they weren’t really the same color, but they both seemed to catch the sun and transform from wood to precious stones. Like well-polished mahogany beneath warm light, or rosy rooibos tea swirling in a china cup. Everything about her was like that. Had been like that.

Word Count: ~3,000 Notes: Persona 3 spoilers. Also I made myself sad lmao enjoy. Whumptober prompts used: No. 7: "Can you hear me?" No. 8: "It's all for nothing." No. 9: "You're a liar."

[red-queen-incorrect-quotes]

Over breakfast

Maven: You look good in that dress. Mare: You know where else I'd look good? Maven, zero hesitation: My bed. Mare, at the same time, trying to manipulate him: By your side- wait, what? Maven, coughing: I mean, out of my head.

[secretwhumplair]

Friendly visit

268 words | Sequel to Alleyway

Prompt | No. 9: "You're a liar" - @whumptober

Content | Distrust, referenced: possession, murder

Notes | Things are going well! /SARCASM

They weren’t sure this was a good idea. Weren’t they incredibly selfish? What if it would - what if they were putting another life in danger?

But they had to go somewhere. They probably couldn’t go home - surely they’d be caught there. Right?

They knocked, their heart hammering inside their chest. They hoped it would stay down. They hoped it wouldn’t-

When their friend opened, she flinched back, clapping a hand to her mouth. They weren’t sure what she saw. Just the wanted criminal she’d seen on the news? Or was there blood left they’d failed to wash off?

»Hi-«

»I can’t believe you’re showing up here.«

Their heart sank at her harsh tone, a thin line of panic running underneath it. »I know, I’m sorry, I didn’t know-«

»You - you have five minutes to disappear before I call the police.« She stepped back, holding on to the door.

They could feel despair rising in their throat. »No - listen - it’s not how you think-«

»I saw the footage! Get out!«

»Listen, I was possessed. Like, literally. And then this guy kidnapped me-« As they heard themself talking, they noticed how absurd they sounded. »Please, you’ve got to believe - you’ve got to he-«

She stared at them, and for a moment, they allowed themself to hope. Before- »You’re insane.« Her voice was shaking. »You’ve completely lost your mind. Or you’re a liar who thinks I’m really stupid. That’s it, I’m calling the cops.«

They made a half-hearted attempt to stop her, barely reaching out - but it was enough to draw a screech from her.

The door slammed in their face.

[meetinginsamarra]

Whumptober Day 9 "You're a liar"

John gasped for air that did not find a way into his lungs, slowly suffocating on the monstrous terror that Sherlock might have died again.

Taking advantage of John’s momentary paralysis, Smith straightened up to look John dead into the eyes. In an attempt to distract and shock John even further, trying to gain valuable seconds in order to make an escape through the secret door, Smith bared his crooked teeth.

“Too late, Doctor Watson,” Smith sneered, “he’s already mine.” He released his hands from Sherlock’s face and held his fingers up, wriggling them in the way a party magician would do after having performed his best trick.

“Dead things, you know?” Smith chuckled happily.

However, this remark had the exact opposite effect on John. Clenching his hands, John’s combat reflexes took control, breaking the paralysis and banishing every shred of doubt.

I refuse to believe that Sherlock’s dead! I was made to watch him die before and every time he came back!

“You’re a liar!” John roared and sprang into action.

—

find the fic on AO3 HERE

---

Please tell me if anybody wants to get tagged or untagged (just say it, I won’t get mad).

@helloliriels @calaisreno @7-percent @lisbeth-kk @inevitably-johnlocked @peageetibbs @gaylilsherlock @totallysilvergirl @alexisnoir @blogstandbygo @jobooksncoffee @missdeliadili @kabubsmagga @mary-johnlocked

[alicewritingstories]

Whumptober Prompt Fills Part 5: Truth

~Also on AO3~

Prompts:

No. 9: “Learning everything ain’t what it seems, that’s the thing about these days.” | Polaroid | Mistaken Identity | “You’re a liar.”

No. 17: “You’re the lump in my throat and the knot in my chest.” | Collar | Touch Aversion | “Leave me alone.”

Warnings: Emotional pain

Central character(s): Hyrule

Link - Hyrule, as his four new companions had nicknamed him - had crept away from camp to get some space. While they seemed like good people, he wasn't used to having company and just the feeling of another person nearby was sometimes stifling.

It didn't help that they were all clearly much better at being heroes than him. The hints they had dropped about their own worlds sounded alien to him: tales of prosperity and happiness and comfort. They had defeated their enemies and until this new quest their adventures had been over. None of them had to constantly sleep with one eye open. None of them had to constantly run and hide.

None of them carried the fear that a drop of his blood could revive the monster he had tried so hard to defeat.

None of them were tainted with such evil.

He sat down on the stump of a long-dead tree with a sigh. He'd go back soon. It was just that sometimes having so much light near him was too much. He was too used to darkness.

"You really had us fooled."

He startled so much he sprang off the stump, drawing his sword before he'd even thought about it. 

He recognised Time even as he turned.

Then he registered his new friend's words and the look of anger and disgust on his face as he walked out of the trees.

"What?" Hyrule stammered.

"I think you heard him," said Sky, walking out of the trees to Hyrule's right. His usual kind and friendly expression was gone. His upper lip drew back in a snarl of rage, his eyes shining. "You're a liar. We thought you were one of us. A fellow hero. Not just another servant of Ganon."

Hyrule's breath caught in a desperate sob. How had they found out? How could they possibly have found out what he was? What he carried? He dropped the sword and raised his hands desperately.

"I'm not!" he stammered. "I'm not, I… I tried. I tried so hard…"

"You? Tried to fight?" It almost wasn't a surprise to hear Four to his left, but the words still hurt more than any arrow. Hyrule spun to look at him, but there was no protest he could make. Four just shook his head and laughed without any humor. "You haven't got it in you. A hero? You even run from townspeople."

Hyrule choked, tears streaming down his face. When they had first tracked him down he'd thought they meant to kill him. He had run. Of course that was their first impression.

But Legend had been the one to bring him to the group. He had been the one…

Then came Legend's voice from behind him. "Is your name even really Link? Or is that a lie too?"

At the sound of such an accusation from his friend, Hyrule dropped to his knees, his face in his hands, crying uncontrollably. He'd thought he was safe. He'd thought maybe he finally had friends.

And now this.

Hands grabbed him and shook him. He instinctively struggled. Someone was calling, "Hyrule?" But he didn't want to hear what they had to say. He didn't want to hurt any more.

"Hyrule, wake up!"

Suddenly he wasn't in the forest. He was in camp, tangled up in his worn blanket. The hands gripping his shoulders belonged to Sky. The other hylian was kneeling over him, eyes that Hyrule had just seen filled with anger and loathing looking at him with concern.

Despite that, he shoved him away and scrambled to put his back to a tree, breathing hard, tears still running down his cheeks. On the other side of camp, Time had pushed himself up on an elbow, blinking his one eye sleepily. Legend was stirring. Four was still asleep.

"It's OK, Hyrule," said Sky, sitting back on his heels and raising his hands. "You were having a nightmare."

"D-don't touch me," said Hyrule, sniffing back his tears as best he could. Touch was always bad. Being grabbed was always bad. "Just… leave me alone."

"OK," said Sky. He sounded hurt.

No. Angry. Hateful.

Hyrule took another shuddering breath.

"Don't touch me," he said again, more forcefully.

"I'm not going to."

Hyrule curled up in a ball, burying his face in his knees. After a while he heard Sky move away, his and Time's soft voices.

One day they would find out the truth about him.

One day they would hate him.

[much-obliged-timothy]

Whumptober #9

Day 9 - Batboys - "You're a liar"

*

Jason fired his guns with a certain glee. The gang scattered behind cover, yelling at each other for someone to take Jason out.

“Someone can try!” Jason called cheerfully, launching over a dumpster to kick one of the gang members in the face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Jason easily flipped his gun around in his hand and smacked the butt of it into the man’s temple to knock him out. 

Tim leapt over the crates they were using as cover to take out a few more with smooth, practiced moves. He clearly wasn’t taking as much glee in the mission as Jason, but he didn’t chastise Jason for his fun.

After all, why would he? They were cleaning up a poorer section of Gotham. This gang had formed to prey on the poor who didn’t have transportation or couldn’t afford good security in their homes. They’d break in, steal what little they had, or jump them as they walked or biked home after a hard day of working to feed themselves. 

Just two days ago, they’d jumped two young boys who’d earned some money with a lemonade stand. They boys were on their way home, elated that they had enough money to go on their school field trip at last, when the attack hit them. One boy was left hospitalized. 

Jason could picture so many times he’d walked around after dark. It could’ve been him if he was still young. No little kid deserved that.

Tim had agreed to help him stop the gang when Babs got wind they were planning to pull off a bigger job on a delivery truck tonight. Jason was grateful for the support, because Tim knew what this particular mission meant to Jason. 

And Jason was having a great time making these streets safer for kids like he had been once, right up until he heard the gunshot and Tim’s scream.

“No!” He whipped around, his joy gone in an instant. Tim laid on the ground, blood pooling out from his body, his hands pressed to his abdomen.

Jason barely remembered the next few minutes. He became a whirlwind of furious, protective movement, taking out every single gang member he could get his hands on, barely suppressing the urge to kill the bastards. They deserved it; they all fucking deserved it.

But he held back just enough to knock them out instead. When the last fell, he leapt over the unmoving body and raced to Tim’s side.

“Hey, hey!” he said, grabbing Tim’s wrists and trying to pull them away. “Dammit, let me see, Tim.”

Tim moved his hands and Jason’s face paled at the gunshot wound in his abdomen and the blood pouring from it. He put Tim’s hands back, applying pressure.

“Babs, Tim was shot,” he said into his earpiece, his voice tight. “Get us help. Now.”

She was replying, but he didn’t hear the words. He was too focused on Tim’s face and the way it was contorted in anguish.

This was Jason’s fault. He hadn’t been taking it seriously. He hadn’t been properly watching Tim’s back.

The wound was so bad.

“You’re going to be fine. Just stay with me,” Jason said.

“You’re a liar,” Tim choked out with a weak laugh. Jason was horrified to see blood leaking out of the corner of his mouth. “A good man, but a liar.”

“Tim-”

“I know what you’re thinking. It’s not your fault, Jason. I let my guard drop.”

“But-”

“No. It is NOT your fault this happened.”

His voice was fierce despite how weak his movements were growing and how pale he was becoming. The blood just kept coming up between his fingers, spilling out onto the ground.

“You protected…t-those kids. All those p-people,” Tim said, giving a faint smile. “I’m proud of you. P-Proud to help you.”

“Shit,” Jason whispered, feeling the tears in his eyes. “Hang on, you bastard. Don’t you- Just hang on. Please, Tim. Please.”

Tim’s eyes dropped shut. Jason let out a despaired noise and applied more pressure to the wound, knowing it was all he could do as he prayed help came in time and no one else had to die on these streets.