![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
[He hesitates. On one hand, going back to his empty room now feels completely unappealing. Leo is so unused to being alone that it drives him crazy; the only thing keeping him from going completely out of his mind is being able to hear other people in other rooms, or out in the hallways, on occasion.
On the other hand, he doesn't really want to put Huvrye out. It's not his job to deal with Leo and his bad brain. Even if he's done a pretty good job of it so far.
Still, Huvrye is offering. If he's offering, that means he doesn't mind, right?]
...You don't mind me taking your couch?
On the other hand, he doesn't really want to put Huvrye out. It's not his job to deal with Leo and his bad brain. Even if he's done a pretty good job of it so far.
Still, Huvrye is offering. If he's offering, that means he doesn't mind, right?]
...You don't mind me taking your couch?
Actually, you're taking the bed.
[Mark had protested the first time Huvrye had insisted he take it, so he's already prepared to argue the point to Leo.]
I don't actually need to sleep every night - it's a fairy thing - and I wasn't planning on sleeping tonight anyway. Plus, you'll sleep better on the bed than the couch.
[Something about the beds being enchanted for better sleep, according to the hotel. Regardless, Huvrye has more nightmares on the couch than he does the bed, and he doesn't think that's a coincidence.]
[Mark had protested the first time Huvrye had insisted he take it, so he's already prepared to argue the point to Leo.]
I don't actually need to sleep every night - it's a fairy thing - and I wasn't planning on sleeping tonight anyway. Plus, you'll sleep better on the bed than the couch.
[Something about the beds being enchanted for better sleep, according to the hotel. Regardless, Huvrye has more nightmares on the couch than he does the bed, and he doesn't think that's a coincidence.]
[He’s ready to push back as soon as Huvrye says it, but he’s ready for Leo’s objections before he can even voice them. So he doesn’t have to sleep every night? Man, that’s so lucky.
Assuming he’s telling the truth about it. Leo doesn’t know why he would lie, though, unless he’s trying to escape the nightmares too.
He’s too tired to think too hard about it.]
…Okay. If you’re sure. I don’t wanna put you out.
[Admittedly kind of a weird thing to say to a guy he stole food from multiple times, but there’s times Leo is bratty for attention and times he’d rather not be an inconvenience.]
Assuming he’s telling the truth about it. Leo doesn’t know why he would lie, though, unless he’s trying to escape the nightmares too.
He’s too tired to think too hard about it.]
…Okay. If you’re sure. I don’t wanna put you out.
[Admittedly kind of a weird thing to say to a guy he stole food from multiple times, but there’s times Leo is bratty for attention and times he’d rather not be an inconvenience.]
I'm sure.
[Zero hesitation. It's not the first time he's offered his bed to a friend, and it won't be the last.]
Are you ready to give it a try, or do you want a little more time to settle?
[Huvrye won't budge on Leo sleeping here or taking the bed - and it looks like Leo's not arguing that anyway - but he will give Leo the wiggle room to make his own choices in the leadup. The last thing he wants is for Leo to fall right back into the nightmare because it's fresh in his mind when he goes to bed.]
[Zero hesitation. It's not the first time he's offered his bed to a friend, and it won't be the last.]
Are you ready to give it a try, or do you want a little more time to settle?
[Huvrye won't budge on Leo sleeping here or taking the bed - and it looks like Leo's not arguing that anyway - but he will give Leo the wiggle room to make his own choices in the leadup. The last thing he wants is for Leo to fall right back into the nightmare because it's fresh in his mind when he goes to bed.]
...Maybe just... chill a little longer.
[It's still just a little too fresh, and Leo is afraid that the second he closes his eyes for more than a blink he'll see it all again.
He'll try, he will. Because he knows Huvrye won't let him get away without it, because he knows he's too tired to fight for long anyway. But he just wants to take some time.]
[It's still just a little too fresh, and Leo is afraid that the second he closes his eyes for more than a blink he'll see it all again.
He'll try, he will. Because he knows Huvrye won't let him get away without it, because he knows he's too tired to fight for long anyway. But he just wants to take some time.]
Okay.
[He doesn't move his arm from Leo's shoulders.]
Do you want to talk, or do you want to put something on?
[He's noticed that late-night TV can get a little weird - at least as far as his underdeveloped metric for TV goes - but as far as a distraction goes, he doesn't think Leo will mind.]
[He doesn't move his arm from Leo's shoulders.]
Do you want to talk, or do you want to put something on?
[He's noticed that late-night TV can get a little weird - at least as far as his underdeveloped metric for TV goes - but as far as a distraction goes, he doesn't think Leo will mind.]
Okay.
[He reaches for the remote and turns the TV on. Whatever had been on before has turned to those weird advertisements that last for half an hour, so he flips through channels until he finds the food channel. It's some chef with a deep southern accent halfway through making something; Huvrye is pretty sure this isn't one of the ones prone to yelling, so it should be fine. He puts the remote back down.]
If you need anything, tell me, okay?
[Hopefully Leo would anyway, but he doesn't think the reminder would be amiss right now.]
[He reaches for the remote and turns the TV on. Whatever had been on before has turned to those weird advertisements that last for half an hour, so he flips through channels until he finds the food channel. It's some chef with a deep southern accent halfway through making something; Huvrye is pretty sure this isn't one of the ones prone to yelling, so it should be fine. He puts the remote back down.]
If you need anything, tell me, okay?
[Hopefully Leo would anyway, but he doesn't think the reminder would be amiss right now.]
Mm.
[It's an acknowledgement at least. For now he doesn't ask for anything, just lets his head flop back against Huvrye's arm so he can settle in. He's not really watching the TV, but the gentle talking and the sound of things cooking is enough to mellow him back out.
He'll make it for maybe thirty or forty minutes before he's sagging a little harder into Huvrye. It might be about time to try that sleep thing again.]
[It's an acknowledgement at least. For now he doesn't ask for anything, just lets his head flop back against Huvrye's arm so he can settle in. He's not really watching the TV, but the gentle talking and the sound of things cooking is enough to mellow him back out.
He'll make it for maybe thirty or forty minutes before he's sagging a little harder into Huvrye. It might be about time to try that sleep thing again.]
[He lets Leo rest against him as the chef talks and cooks, and he lets his mind wander a bit. He doesn't care much about the cooking show; he's mostly just worried about Leo. He agreed to stay the night, and he's calming down; for now, that's all Huvrye can do for him. He knows there's no easy solution to Leo's nightmares, but hopefully being here for him - hopefully Leo knowing that he's no longer alone in dealing with this - will help. Hopefully.]
[The chef is plating the dish when Leo slumps a bit - looks like he's starting to fall asleep. Good. Huvrye squeezes his shoulder gently.]
Time for bed.
[He'll give Leo the chance to make it there under his own power; if he doesn't wake up enough to walk, or doesn't look steady when he does, then Huvrye will carry him.]
[The chef is plating the dish when Leo slumps a bit - looks like he's starting to fall asleep. Good. Huvrye squeezes his shoulder gently.]
Time for bed.
[He'll give Leo the chance to make it there under his own power; if he doesn't wake up enough to walk, or doesn't look steady when he does, then Huvrye will carry him.]
[He stirs at that, blinking a few times before his brain catches up with what's being asked of him. Right, bedtime. He's gotta actually get up and move over there.
He gets to his feet, and he's a little wobbly but he's holding himself up.]
So I'm willing to try this... [He cuts off with a yawn and wobbles again.] But no promises I won't wake up yelling my head off again.
[Just, as a warning.]
He gets to his feet, and he's a little wobbly but he's holding himself up.]
So I'm willing to try this... [He cuts off with a yawn and wobbles again.] But no promises I won't wake up yelling my head off again.
[Just, as a warning.]
[He stays close - Leo is steady enough to stay on his feet, but only just, and he's not about to let Leo fall.]
That's why I want you here. You shouldn't have to deal with that alone.
[It's gentle and sincere. He has to deal with his nightmares on his own; Leo shouldn't have to go through that. Not if he can prevent it.]
That's why I want you here. You shouldn't have to deal with that alone.
[It's gentle and sincere. He has to deal with his nightmares on his own; Leo shouldn't have to go through that. Not if he can prevent it.]
[He really isn't, but he's not about to argue. Instead, he gets the extra blanket from the closet, unfolds it, and lays it over Leo.]
Sleep well. I'll be here if you need me.
Sleep well. I'll be here if you need me.
Mm-hm...
[He gives the tiniest movement of his hand to indicate he heard and understand. Now that he's actually in the (allegedly enchanted!) bed, he's going down fast. There will be no more intelligent words from him until morning.
A morning he, blessedly, makes it to without waking up again.]
[He gives the tiniest movement of his hand to indicate he heard and understand. Now that he's actually in the (allegedly enchanted!) bed, he's going down fast. There will be no more intelligent words from him until morning.
A morning he, blessedly, makes it to without waking up again.]
[When Leo gets up the next day, he'll find his school things packed neatly in his backpack and breakfast on the table. Huvrye has found a pizza place that delivers something called Breakfast Pizza - evidently a pizza topped with scrambled eggs and bacon - and ordered some for them both. It's a gentle followup for what had been a rough night, and hopefully it'll help Leo ease into the day.]
Uh, sorry to say I'm going to have to cancel on having you over for dinner this week. Can't cook. Sorry.
For Leo | Early May| CW torture, gore, all sorts of unpleasantness
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
effiomsfavorite
2023-06-11 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
[When Huvrye sleeps to heal, he sleeps lightly; evidently the idea behind that design was to be able to wake up easily and get away if whatever hurt him was still around. He sleeps lightly after being shot, but eventually still heals. He doesn't need to sleep often after that, and he's been putting it off for as long as he can manage. The first time he sleeps after healing, it's easy and dreamless.]
[The second time he sleeps, his luck runs out.]
[He's strapped to the chair again, bindings tight across his wrists and elbows, blood dripping down his face along the lines of his alchemy. His guts aren't in his lap yet. They're not that far yet. Something to look forward to.]
[Hopefully he'll wake up before that part, because he does not want to do this again.]
[(Hopefully everything after this hasn't been a dream. Hopefully there's reality to wake up into, and that it hasn't all been a pain-fueled hallucination and he's still here-)]
[He hears a giggle - if he never hears that voice again it'll be too soon - and lifts his head, knowing what he'll see. The members of Interground that he knew - his friends - Joba - dead in a heap on the floor, tortured and murdered thanks to his failure. He looks up, and-]
[It's not them-]
[It's not them-]
[It's worse-]
[It's Hunter, broken and bloodied, chest stilled, facing away from him (he can't see Hunter's face; he doesn't want to see it, because he knows what he'll see). It's Mark, facedown on the floor, spine twisted in a way he knows a human can't survive, shattered glasses a few feet from his head. It's Leo-]
[It's Leo, slumped over a chair, bleeding from dozens of wounds. His right arm is missing, wound hastily tied off but still dripping; his legs are shattered, bent the wrong way; and a deep crack runs up his shell, threatening to spill if forced any wider. His shell moves, up and down slowly, as an agonized breath rattles out of his mouth.]
[Leo is still alive.]
[Leo's alive-]
[Huvrye's gaze snaps upwards, from the perfectly manicured but gore-spattered hand holding Leo in place on the chair, to the beautiful stained-glass rainbow wingspan, to the bright, awful smile on the face of Kyriena Ketta. First lady. Chief interrogator. Main player in Huvrye's nightmares.]
No-
[That smile widens as she gets his attention. "You knew this would happen, didn't you? You got too close. The other two didn't last nearly long enough, but this one is fun." She curls her fingers into the crack in Leo's shell and squeezes. A ragged gasp breaks Leo's breathing, but nothing else - he's too far gone to fight back, but still very much awake.]
No- please-
[He's begging- it won't do anything, but it's all he can do-]
Let him go- he's a kid, Kyriena, let him go!
[That predatory smile widens even more, sharp at the edges. She's enjoying this, and there's nothing he can do to get her to stop- he can't help- he can't save anyone- this is his fault-]
["This is what happens when a weapon thinks it can be anything else," she says brightly, adjusting her grip on the broken edge of Leo's shell before she yanks-]
[A sickening series of cracks splits the air, not loud enough to cover the sharp gasp that fades into a death rattle-]
[And Huvrye screams-]
NO!
[The scream follows him into the waking world as he bolts upright, overbalances, and nearly collapses off the bed. He scrabbles to right himself, shaking off the dream (it had better have been a dream- it had better have been a dream-) and yanking blankets and sheets off of him. He's not there. She's not here. He's in his apartment, in Michigan, in the wrong dimension, and she can't get them here.]
[It's still going to take him a minute to catch his breath and convince himself of that.]
[The second time he sleeps, his luck runs out.]
[He's strapped to the chair again, bindings tight across his wrists and elbows, blood dripping down his face along the lines of his alchemy. His guts aren't in his lap yet. They're not that far yet. Something to look forward to.]
[Hopefully he'll wake up before that part, because he does not want to do this again.]
[(Hopefully everything after this hasn't been a dream. Hopefully there's reality to wake up into, and that it hasn't all been a pain-fueled hallucination and he's still here-)]
[He hears a giggle - if he never hears that voice again it'll be too soon - and lifts his head, knowing what he'll see. The members of Interground that he knew - his friends - Joba - dead in a heap on the floor, tortured and murdered thanks to his failure. He looks up, and-]
[It's not them-]
[It's not them-]
[It's worse-]
[It's Hunter, broken and bloodied, chest stilled, facing away from him (he can't see Hunter's face; he doesn't want to see it, because he knows what he'll see). It's Mark, facedown on the floor, spine twisted in a way he knows a human can't survive, shattered glasses a few feet from his head. It's Leo-]
[It's Leo, slumped over a chair, bleeding from dozens of wounds. His right arm is missing, wound hastily tied off but still dripping; his legs are shattered, bent the wrong way; and a deep crack runs up his shell, threatening to spill if forced any wider. His shell moves, up and down slowly, as an agonized breath rattles out of his mouth.]
[Leo is still alive.]
[Leo's alive-]
[Huvrye's gaze snaps upwards, from the perfectly manicured but gore-spattered hand holding Leo in place on the chair, to the beautiful stained-glass rainbow wingspan, to the bright, awful smile on the face of Kyriena Ketta. First lady. Chief interrogator. Main player in Huvrye's nightmares.]
No-
[That smile widens as she gets his attention. "You knew this would happen, didn't you? You got too close. The other two didn't last nearly long enough, but this one is fun." She curls her fingers into the crack in Leo's shell and squeezes. A ragged gasp breaks Leo's breathing, but nothing else - he's too far gone to fight back, but still very much awake.]
No- please-
[He's begging- it won't do anything, but it's all he can do-]
Let him go- he's a kid, Kyriena, let him go!
[That predatory smile widens even more, sharp at the edges. She's enjoying this, and there's nothing he can do to get her to stop- he can't help- he can't save anyone- this is his fault-]
["This is what happens when a weapon thinks it can be anything else," she says brightly, adjusting her grip on the broken edge of Leo's shell before she yanks-]
[A sickening series of cracks splits the air, not loud enough to cover the sharp gasp that fades into a death rattle-]
[And Huvrye screams-]
NO!
[The scream follows him into the waking world as he bolts upright, overbalances, and nearly collapses off the bed. He scrabbles to right himself, shaking off the dream (it had better have been a dream- it had better have been a dream-) and yanking blankets and sheets off of him. He's not there. She's not here. He's in his apartment, in Michigan, in the wrong dimension, and she can't get them here.]
[It's still going to take him a minute to catch his breath and convince himself of that.]
[Leo's actually been sleeping pretty well lately, all things considered. His talk with Huvrye all those months ago in the Diadem had been the start, like he'd opened a release valve, and Donnie's arrival had only helped. As he's settled into his routine, found more people he can rely on, had more days where he was safe, he's had more and more peaceful nights.
Huvrye getting shot had messed him up just a little, insomnia catching him in its clutches for a few days yet again, but even that's ebbed as time has passed.
Still, his sleep has been light, like his body is waiting for another shoe to drop - and it seems like it has when he hears Huvrye scream.
He wakes in a flurry of motion, grabbing for his swords without even thinking about it. His immediate thought is that the guys who shot him (or someone worse) have shown up and are on the attack. He rushes into the hall, still in his pajamas, and for one dizzying second he debates if he should go for Huvrye or Donnie first before deciding to follow the screaming.
So Leo opens the door and shoots through it, one sword out and ready, the other slung over his shoulder, expecting enemies and finding only Huvrye, breathing hard and fast and tangled up in his bed sheets. His brain catches up with the situation, and he realizes what he's actually looking at.
I've had nightmares like that before, Huvrye had said. The kind where your body wakes up and your mind doesn't for a bit. The kind that take your worst memories and trap you in them.
Leo lowers his sword, straightens out of his fight stance, and nudges the door shut with his foot.]
...Huv?
[He watches him for signs that Huvrye is aware. That his mind is awake.]
Huvrye getting shot had messed him up just a little, insomnia catching him in its clutches for a few days yet again, but even that's ebbed as time has passed.
Still, his sleep has been light, like his body is waiting for another shoe to drop - and it seems like it has when he hears Huvrye scream.
He wakes in a flurry of motion, grabbing for his swords without even thinking about it. His immediate thought is that the guys who shot him (or someone worse) have shown up and are on the attack. He rushes into the hall, still in his pajamas, and for one dizzying second he debates if he should go for Huvrye or Donnie first before deciding to follow the screaming.
So Leo opens the door and shoots through it, one sword out and ready, the other slung over his shoulder, expecting enemies and finding only Huvrye, breathing hard and fast and tangled up in his bed sheets. His brain catches up with the situation, and he realizes what he's actually looking at.
I've had nightmares like that before, Huvrye had said. The kind where your body wakes up and your mind doesn't for a bit. The kind that take your worst memories and trap you in them.
Leo lowers his sword, straightens out of his fight stance, and nudges the door shut with his foot.]
...Huv?
[He watches him for signs that Huvrye is aware. That his mind is awake.]
[Huvrye is still trying to catch his breath when his door slams open and Leo bolts through it, and instantly he's back on alert. Something's wrong- she's here- she can't be here- but something's wrong-]
[He tears the sheet off him and gets to his feet, and Leo- relaxes? What-]
[It should mean everything's fine- Leo wouldn't relax if they were in danger-]
[But he can't look at Leo without seeing blood on his face and his shell torn open- Leo's death rattle is still echoing in his ears-]
Leo-
[He crosses the room quickly and wraps his arms around Leo, holding him tightly. He's okay. He's okay. But Huvrye needs to make sure-]
[He loosens his grip and runs a hand firmly and carefully over Leo's back. Even through his pajamas, it should be obvious he's checking Leo's shell for injury - for that monstrous crack that had become a gaping hole. He has to be okay.]
[He tears the sheet off him and gets to his feet, and Leo- relaxes? What-]
[It should mean everything's fine- Leo wouldn't relax if they were in danger-]
[But he can't look at Leo without seeing blood on his face and his shell torn open- Leo's death rattle is still echoing in his ears-]
Leo-
[He crosses the room quickly and wraps his arms around Leo, holding him tightly. He's okay. He's okay. But Huvrye needs to make sure-]
[He loosens his grip and runs a hand firmly and carefully over Leo's back. Even through his pajamas, it should be obvious he's checking Leo's shell for injury - for that monstrous crack that had become a gaping hole. He has to be okay.]
[Leo doesn’t fight the hug, just angling his katana away so no one gets hurt. The hug is more desperate than any Huvrye has ever given him before, and Leo reaches with his free arm to hug back.
Huvrye rubs his hand up and down Leo’s shell, and it feels too hurried, too methodical to be an attempt at comfort. He’s searching for something, and Leo wonders what that could possibly mean. What kind of nightmare this was.]
…I’m okay. [He says this because he thinks Huvrye thinks he wasn’t. That’s why he’s touching Leo’s shell, like he’s expecting cracks, but there are none there.] Don’t know what you saw, but it was just a nightmare.
You’re okay. [He grips Huvrye a little tighter, butting his head against his chest.] You’re safe.
[Echoing the words Huvrye says to him, when his own horrors wake him up at night.]
Huvrye rubs his hand up and down Leo’s shell, and it feels too hurried, too methodical to be an attempt at comfort. He’s searching for something, and Leo wonders what that could possibly mean. What kind of nightmare this was.]
…I’m okay. [He says this because he thinks Huvrye thinks he wasn’t. That’s why he’s touching Leo’s shell, like he’s expecting cracks, but there are none there.] Don’t know what you saw, but it was just a nightmare.
You’re okay. [He grips Huvrye a little tighter, butting his head against his chest.] You’re safe.
[Echoing the words Huvrye says to him, when his own horrors wake him up at night.]
[The crack isn't there.]
[The crack isn't there, and Leo is fine: he's hugging back, talking normally, not flinching under Huvrye's touch like he's in pain. He's not hurt. He's okay. It really was just a nightmare.]
[You're okay. You're safe. His own words, turned around and used on him.]
[He stops checking Leo's shell and hugs him again, shaking slightly as fear and adrenaline ebb from his system.]
I know.
[He's a mess. Leo shouldn't have to deal with this. He needs to pull himself together, but right now he's just grateful Leo is alive.]
[The crack isn't there, and Leo is fine: he's hugging back, talking normally, not flinching under Huvrye's touch like he's in pain. He's not hurt. He's okay. It really was just a nightmare.]
[You're okay. You're safe. His own words, turned around and used on him.]
[He stops checking Leo's shell and hugs him again, shaking slightly as fear and adrenaline ebb from his system.]
I know.
[He's a mess. Leo shouldn't have to deal with this. He needs to pull himself together, but right now he's just grateful Leo is alive.]
[Leo doesn’t break the hug or pull away, letting Huvrye hold on as long as he needs to. He can feel him shaking, and it worries Leo, but he thinks all Huvrye needs is to breathe through it. He’s healed from the gunshots, physically, but maybe not emotionally.
Or maybe this is about a wound that goes deeper than the gunshots.
I’ve had nightmares like that before.
So he lets Huvrye hug him and he hugs him back, and he doesn’t ask any questions. He just waits for Huvrye to finish coming back from wherever his mind took him.]
Or maybe this is about a wound that goes deeper than the gunshots.
I’ve had nightmares like that before.
So he lets Huvrye hug him and he hugs him back, and he doesn’t ask any questions. He just waits for Huvrye to finish coming back from wherever his mind took him.]
[So Accelerator has Huvrye's contact info now. He hasn't added him to his contact list (that list will forever consist of only two people), but thanks to the group chat Leo started he has it now. Which is good, he supposes. It at least isn't terrible.
It's a couple of days after the incident with the museum that Accelerator decides to text him. There's something that's been bugging him, so he might as well ask.]
Yo.
Why did you join the fucking Society?
It's a couple of days after the incident with the museum that Accelerator decides to text him. There's something that's been bugging him, so he might as well ask.]
Yo.
Why did you join the fucking Society?
[Huvrye is still hiding out in Dylan's apartment on account of still being a target for Fantastic's guards (and a wanted fugitive as a result of it), so getting a text out of the blue from a number he doesn't recognize is worrying, to say the least. The tone being familiar isn't reassuring, but it does give him a lead. He checks the group chat from Leo, and-]
[Yep. It's Accelerator. He should've known.]
Why do you want to know?
[Yep. It's Accelerator. He should've known.]
Why do you want to know?
Page 7 of 8