#Whumptober day 13

[sarahsmi13s]

Don't Leave Your Wingman

whumptober day 13: grief

pairing: pete 'maverick' mitchell x kazansky!reader (father figure relationship)

characters: pete mitchell, kazansky!reader, sarah kazansky

warnings: 18+ MDNI, language, mentions of cancer, canon death, death, fear of being alone, death of a parent, grief, 5 stages of grief, fear of losing family, loss of appetite, anger, mood swings, broken glass, throwing things, please let me know if I missed any

word count: ~1.8k

a/n: this is for whumptober! please please please proceed with caution and use discretion, protect your peace

also if you are on the whump taglist but are not familiar with a character, you can skip it will not hurt my feelings!

i am so so sorry i got this up late, please forgive me

whumptober 2023 masterlist

summary: you wouldn't leave your wingman in the sky... why should you on the ground?

“It’s come back.”

One sentence. Three words.

That’s all it took for the world to crash down around you.

Your father, your best friend, your wingman, was already dying. 

But with three words he was dead and in the ground.

You started the grieving process the moment your mother told you about the results of your father’s tests. His cancer was back and this time he wasn’t fighting it. So, start grieving now so it doesn’t hurt when he passes.

It should cushion the pain right?

No.

It doesn’t.

Because when you watched Pete Mitchell slam his wings into your father’s coffin, it’s like he’s punching them right through your heart.

You thought you prepared yourself better. Thinking ahead to how everything would be different. Going through the motions of him missing so much of your life, everything he wouldn’t be a part of. You were only 21, you had so much left to accomplish and celebrate with him.

He would never walk you down the aisle at your wedding. He would never meet your kids and tell them cool stories about the famous Iceman and show them his collection of medals and patches. He would never tell them the story of how he met his best friend and wingman, the friendship’s birth captured in a photo on his desk.

He would never tell you he loved you again.

You wanted to hear it one last time… even if it was in that broken, raspy tone.

“How is she?” 

You could hear your uncle talking to your mom outside in the living room. 

It had been a few days since the funeral and you had barely left your father’s office in the living room. You barely ate, your appetite coming in and out as you went through the motions. You just sat in the office, wrapped up in his blanket with his dog tags around your neck or clenched in your hand. You were nearly numb at this point, sitting and staring at the photo of you and him at your graduation.

You had hit the “depression” part of your grieving process. Denial, anger, and bargaining had passed when you learned about the return of your father’s cancer. But you were sure they’d resurface at some point, grieving is never linear and it’s not a short lived thing. 

But when it was something that you prepared for, something that you could see coming from miles and miles away? It should be easier right?

“She doesn’t leave that chair often… I don’t blame her. But I’m worried. You and Ron have been a big help with brightening her days,” you mom said, a gentle smile on her face at Mav. 

It was true, they both had been a huge help. Just sitting with you so you weren’t alone, that you had someone in the room with you also grieving – even if it was different. Both had lost a best friend, your mom had lost a husband. She sat with you too, holding your hand and making sure you weren’t completely alone. She made sure that even though you were both grieving, that you could talk to her. 

Mav looked into the room, seeing you in that position – curled up with your dad’s dog tags in your hand, lips pressed against them as you stared out the window. 

He gave Sarah a hug before walking towards the office doors and knocking before opening it. 

“Hey kid, how can I help today?” 

You shrugged a little bit, not having the energy to do much else. You sniffled and dropped your hand to the desk, pointing to a book that was resting there, “I um… I found that while going through some of his things…”

Sniffling again, you adjusted your blanket, “I can’t bring myself to read it… it’s all in his hand writing…” Mav nodded and came over, “I can read it to you, if you want.” “Please…”

“Would you want to go out on the porch swing? Get some sun, fresh air?” You looked up at him and he could see just how tired you were. You probably got a lot more sleep than you should have, or very little sleep that wasn’t good.

You looked at the photo on your dad’s desk, seeing him smiling down at your 18 year old self in your cap and gown, diploma in your hand.

“Yeah… yeah, that sounds nice,” you said, your voice a little lighter and the ghost of a smile threatened your lips.

Mav smiled and helped you up, grabbing the book and leading you to the swing on the front porch. 

You sat down with him, resting your head on his shoulder as he put the book in his lap.

As he began to read, you both began to notice that these were your dad’s stories. Stories you had heard from him, stories you begged him to tell you no matter how many times you had heard them… All there in a book.

You cried at first, so did Mav. But as he continued, reading your dad’s words and the side commentary he never failed to add, you both started to laugh. 

It was nice to laugh, it helped you begin to feel like everything was going to be okay.

“Today will be better.” 

That’s what you told yourself when you woke up the past few days. 

You could never tell yourself that it would be great or amazing. Because you knew you couldn’t make that promise to yourself. But you could always try better, your best would always vary from day to day.

And you were doing okay. You were making it.

Until Maverick showed up in his whites.

Your heart had sunk like a brick in your stomach.

You knew what those meant.

He was going out with them on the carrier.

That’s not so bad right? He would be safe right? 

But the look on his face as he stood in front of the office's french doors told you something else.

“I was picked as team leader to fly the mission.” 

The brick in your stomach started dissolving, making your stomach acid fizz and bubble up your throat. 

You shook your head, the dusting rag and photo clenched in your fist. “No, no you’re not.. You’re not flying this mission, Uncle Mav… You-you were just supposed to teach it.. You’re a teacher!”

He mirrored your movements, “Admiral Simpson-”

“No!” 

Your shout had startled him, you hadn’t raised your voice in any capacity for a while so your outburst startled him.

“I’m sorry, kid… There’s a chance someone doesn’t make it back and I would rather it be me–”

“So you have a death wish? Is that it? Can’t go one damn day without risking your life like no one is gonna miss you if you burn in, can you?” 

Maverick was unsure how to respond to that, standing there awkwardly as you yelled at him.

“You’re selfish, you know that? The both of you, fucking selfish,” you said, your voice cracking at the end as you poked his chest with the picture frame. 

“B-both… Y/N what-”

“You’re never supposed to leave your wingman… ever. So tell me why I’ve been left behind! Why everyone is fucking leaving me?!” 

In your anger you threw the photo on the floor, glass shattering and the frame breaking apart.

“He left me and now you’re leaving me too!” 

Mav watched the tears streaming down your face as you shoved past him and ran out of the office and out of the house.

Sighing, he looked down and noticed the photo under the shards of glass was the photo of him and Ice shaking hands after saving one another on that mission after graduation. 

“You can be my wingman anytime…”

After your blow up at Maverick, you ran straight to the beach.

The second your feet hit the damp sand on the shoreline you were collapsing to your knees. 

Clutching your chest, you sobbed.

“Why?! Why couldn’t you have just fought? One more time… for me! I need you Dad! And you’re gone! You left me here! And-and now you want to take Mav with you? It’s not fair!”

You fell forward, clutching at the sand, “It’s not fair!” You sobbed, not caring if anyone around you could hear you. You were in pain, you were now not only grieving your father, but you were now going to be grieving his best friend, your friend.

A pair of gentle hands pulled you back up into a seated position on your knees.

“Sweetheart…”

“It’s not fair, Mom!” You shouted, your voice raw with tears as you looked out on the horizon before looking down at the frothing tide, “It’s not fair…” 

Sarah felt tears sting her own eyes at the utter brokenness of your voice, the rawness in it.

She pulled you into her lap, shushing you gently as you sobbed into her neck. She looked up at the sky, “You better bring him home Tommy. Don’t you leave her without a wingman.”

The next week and a half was filled with dread and worry. 

Worry that Maverick would make good on that promise of being the one to die on this mission. Worry that it would be Rooster, someone you weren’t as close to but you knew he meant a lot to Mav. Worry that you would be alone, grieving another father figure.

You barely left the office, sat there in that damn chair looking at that damn computer screen. The last words he typed on it were still displayed.

“It’s time to let go.”

The five words felt like mockery as you read them over and over and over.

How could you just “let go”? Did he really think you hadn’t tried that? Or that it was that simple?

Because it wasn’t. 

You wish you could have just accepted it, that grieving someone as they sat in front of you breathing would have made it easier. But it didn’t. 

You felt like you were on the monkey bars again, the ground miles away from you and you were scared to fall.

“How can I let go when I have no one to catch me?”

As you waited in the silence, for a response that you knew wouldn’t come, a knock sounded through the quiet house. 

Your mom had stepped out to go get stuff for dinner. So you were the only one at home.

Sniffling and turning the monitor off, you got up and went to the front door.

When you opened it, you nearly collapsed.

There on your front porch was Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell. He was scraped up a little, but he was alive.

“Mav… Mav!”

He smiled as he caught you, keeping you from falling onto the ground and holding you close as you clung onto his bomber jacket, tears staining the vinyl. 

“You’re here… you came home.”

He kissed your temple, rubbing your back and cradling the back of your head.

“Of course I did, I couldn’t leave my wingman.”

taglist: @bradleybeachbabe @mayhemmanaged @kmc1989 @lovinglyeternal @horseshoegirl @cassiemitchell @fanboyswhore9 @nightowlalltheway @86laura11 @els-marvelvsp @valmare @startrekfangirl2233

hi, if you're seeing this and are currently not on the taglist and would like to be please fill out the taglist form -> whumptober taglist

i can not stress this enough, but whumptober can have some very serious and heavy topics and i want to make sure i am doing my part as an author to prepare my readers for what they are about to experience and that includes not only warnings above but my taglists as well

so if you want to be added check out the masterlist and read that carefully and fill out the form -> whumptober 2023

#vinny's whumptober #vinny's rainy day records #whumptober day 13 #whumptober #ailesswhumptober2023 #whumptober 2023 #tgm #top gun maverick #tom iceman kazansky #pete maverick mitchell x kazansky!reader #kazansky!reader #pete maverick mitchell #top gun #whump #angst #tw: death #tw: grief #sarahsmi13s

[whumpster-dumpster]

Whumptober Day 13: Cold Compress

#whump #whumptober 2023 #whumptober day 13 #cold compress #lord of the rings #gif #caretaking

[serickswrites]

Strength in Your Bones

Warnings: captivity, restraints, rescue, hidden injury, unconsciousness, blood, bloody nose

Caretaker raced to the room that they knew Whumper had stashed Whumpee in. Raced to get there to rescue Whumpee, to liberate them from the prison Whumper kept them in.

Caretaker breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Whumpee was chained to the wall, but seemingly unharmed. "Thank God, Whumpee. You're ok."

Whumpee gave a weak smile. "You found me."

Caretaker hurried over, lock picks in hand to break Whumpee free from the chains. "Course I did. I'll always find you, Whumpee. Are you ok?"

Whumpee nodded. "Now that you're here."

"I was so worried about Whumper would do to you in the time that it took me to get here."

"I'm ok, Caretaker. You found me. I'm ok."

Caretaker made quick work of breaking Whumpee out of the locks. "Let's get you out of here and get you home. Can you stand?"

Whumpee nodded, slowly rising. "How do we get out of here?"

Caretaker took Whumpee's hand in theirs and began to run. "Follow me."

Caretaker ran through the maze of Whumper's compound. They had Whumpee. Whumpee was safe. Everything was going to be ok. They just had to get out of here. The words were a mantra that filled Caretaker's head.

"Almost there, Whumpee," Caretaker murmured over their shoulder as the door to the outside came into view.

"Good," Whumpee replied breathlessly.

Whumpee stumbled, dropping Caretaker's hand. Caretaker whirled round as Whumpee's knees buckled. "Whumpee?" Caretaker's heart raced. They grabbed Whumpee by the lapels of their jacket to keep Whumpee upright.

"I.....I....I don't ffffffeellllll so....so....goooood," Whumpee muttered as they collapsed in Caretaker's arms, going completely limp as they lost consciousness.

"Whumpee?" Caretaker shrieked as they tried to shake Whumpee awake. "Whumpee! Open your eyes! Say something! Whumpee!"

Caretaker's mouth went dry as they saw the blood dripping from Whumpee's nose. What had Whumper done to them? "Whumpee!"

#serickswrites #whump #whump writing #whumpblr #whump community #tw captivity #tw restraints #tw hidden injury #tw unconsciousness #tw rescue #whumptober #whumptober 2023 #whumptober day 13 #“it comes and goes like the strength in your bones” #prompt: “i don't feel so good” #queue #tw blood #tw bloody nose

[smilesrobotlover]

Whumptober day 13- infection

Idk if any of you remember the post about me asking about how to write signing, but that post was for this fic. This is about Moon, my beloved Link oc and he is deaf, so I needed to write a way for him to be signing. I was originally going just use apostrophes but most of the deaf people who responded to that post said how I should use normal quotation marks, so that’s what I did. I hope it won’t get confusing, I tried to make it clear that Moon and Groose were signing, so just know that when they’re talking to each other, they’re signing. Thanks again to the deaf people who responded to that post ☺️

Anyways if you wanna know more about Moon, you can just go on the “moon” tag or “the hand of Farore” tag. There’s A LOT to Moon. You can even go to @thehandoffarorecomic if you want, but there’s no comic just yet. Rn I’m playing with the story.

Warning for an infection. It’s pretty mild lol.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Link had been distant from the others for a while now, and Groose was starting to get worried about him. Link wasn’t a very social person, so him keeping to himself wasn't at all strange, especially after what happened in Groose’s own home. But the way he walked away from Groose everytime he approached him was odd, it was almost as if he was avoiding him. Farore noticed his behavior as well, and though she tried to talk to him about it, it seemed to have been in vain.

“He won’t talk to me,” she said, her little bunny nose twitching, “I know that he’s still new at signing, but I figured that he’d at least tell me something.”

Groose shrugged. “Link isn’t that new to sign language. He’s actually quite a chatterbox whenever we talk.”

Farore frowned. “So he’s good at sign language, why isn’t he telling me anything?”

“You’re a goddess aren’t you? Shouldn’t you know everything?”

“Knowing everything is Nayru’s job, not mine!”

Groose rolled his eyes. “Isn’t that just convenient.”

“Watch it Groosie, I’m still a goddess.”

Groose snorted. “Sure sure, don’t call me Groosie. So what should we do?”

Farore hopped closer to him and rested against his legs. “Have you tried talking to him?”

“I have. He just walks away from me. I’m worried.”

“Well, you should try harder.”

Groose was taken aback. Of course he would’ve tried harder, but after what happened, he didn’t want to overstep his boundaries. “W-why me? He’s with you all the time!”

“Yes, but… I think you’re the first friend he’s ever had. Plus, you’re both the same age, I think you’ll have an easier time connecting with him.”

“Farore, I’ve tried to talk to him. It’s not gonna work now.”

“Then try harder.”

“Oh my Din, why do you want me to try harder? You’re around him more, you know him more, I… my mom tried to get him killed, why would he— why would he want to talk to me?”

“Groose, please,” Farore pleaded, giving him a serious look. “Just try one more time.”

Groose groaned “Fine! Fine, I’ll ‘try harder’!”

“Thank you.”

Groose glared at Farore and stomped away. He didn’t care that she was a goddess and that he was sassing her, she was annoying, and it wasn’t like she was Din anyways. It took him a moment to find Link, but Groose finally found him under a tree by a pond. His eyes were closed, and he was holding his leg with a strained expression on his face. Groose frowned and knelt down in front of him, lightly tapping him on the knee. Link flinched and his eyes opened wide as he stared at Groose in shock, but he calmed down when he realized he was in no danger.

“Are you ok?” Groose signed, titling his head in concern. Link was pale, and his eyes had bags underneath them.

“I’m good,” Link quickly signed back, and Groose figured that he would say that. It’s all he told him since he started acting strange.

“Just try one more time.”

Farore’s words echoed through Groose’s mind and he rolled his eyes. He should obey the goddess, or at least put some effort in. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that Link was still upset over what happened with his mother… he didn’t want to overstep his boundaries.

Link’s eyes closed and Groose tapped his leg again, being met with annoyed blue eyes.

“You’re not good. You look sick.”

Link looked away, and Groose moved so he was in his vision.

“Are you sick?”

Link pursed his lips and looked down at his leg. “It won’t slow me down. Don’t worry,” he finally answered. Groose frowned. That was a weird thing to say.

“I don’t care that it won’t slow you down, I care that it will hurt you, or worse.”

Link stared at him, his grip around his leg tightening. Groose noticed and reached for his hand, but stopped.

“May I?” He asked, and Link didn’t respond. Groose slowly reached for his hand again, and Link didn’t fight back, instead, he let his hand be taken off his leg. Groose didn’t know what he expected, but he realized that with Link wearing pants, it would be difficult to see anything wrong. Groose sighed, at least there was no visible blood. “Does it hurt there?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I got a cut. It’s been there for a while.”

Groose felt his blood run cold. Was there an infection?

“I need to see it. Now,” Groose signed rather quickly, and Link looked at him confused. He brought his fingers together in one hand and pointed them all to his palm, then dragged a finger up his arm slowly. Groose sighed and signed a little slower and more clearly. “I need to see your injury. This could be serious.”

“I’ve turned out fine before.”

“Have you had cuts like this before?”

“I have. And I’ve walked them off before.”

“Link, you can’t just walk injuries off.”

“I had to,” Link’s face had nothing but anger written on it, and he stared straight into Groose’s eyes that it made him squirm. “If I couldn’t, then I would’ve been left for dead!” Link’s arms flailed slightly as his hands flip-flopped at the end of his sentence.

Groose backed away a little as Link’s breathing grew heavy, tears beginning to appear in his eyes. Guilt gripped Groose’s heart as he thought about everything that happened before. His mother trying to kill Link, the slavers tormenting Link with their very existence, and Groose didn’t do enough to stop it. He sighed and stared at Link’s shaking hands. He looked up and waved at Link to make sure he was watching.

“You won’t be left for dead. Not with me. I promise,” he signed slowly and clearly, making sure that Link understood that Groose would never do such a thing. “You’re my friend,” Groose’s pointer fingers hooked together, and he kept them there for a while while Link just stared, looking more exhausted than before, and Groose tried again. “Let me help you. Please.”

Link finally nodded and let Groose check his leg. He rolled up his pants and inspected his shin, which was where the injury was. Groose was not a medic by any means, but he could tell that with the way the cut was inflamed that it was infected. He decided to go to Farore to help, figuring that she would know what to do more than himself. Groose’s worry grew when Link limped painfully to Farore, and he knew that the infection was severe, he just didn’t know how bad it was.

Thankfully, Farore knew ingredients for a healing potion, which Groose was able to make right away. As soon as Link drank it, he started to act more like himself. His color returned to him, his fever went down, and his eyes were lit up again. Groose was relieved that the healing potion worked, and he stuck by Link’s side while it went through his system. It didn’t take long for Link to finally fall asleep, and Groose was left alone with Farore, who was curled up on his chest for comfort.

“I knew you could do it,” she said after a moment of silence.

“Do what?” Groose asked.

“Get through to him.”

Groose rolled his eyes, but he smiled slightly.

“Why were you so intent on me getting through to him though? He likes you more, you—“ Groose paused, feeling guilty again, “you aren’t responsible for his pain.”

Farore tilted her head. “You’re not responsible for his pain either.”

“No, not for all of it, but… if I had stood up to my mother more, or had spoken up against the slavers that she worked with or—or anything to stop my mother’s involvement with slavery I— Link wouldn’t had suffered like he did!”

Farore frowned. “That’s not fair to you Groose. You are not responsible for your mother’s actions. You were manipulated by her. You didn’t understand the extent of what was happening with slavery.” Farore got close to Groose’s face. “You didn’t know any better.”

“I should’ve known. I’m going to be the king of the Gerudo, I should’ve known better.”

Farore made a sad face and backed away. “You’re only sixteen. You’re still a child.”

Groose didn’t say anything and instead held onto Link’s hand. Farore rested her paw on their clasped hands and they all stayed there for a moment, until Farore spoke up again.

“I’m not gonna be with him forever.”

Groose looked at her confused. “What do you mean?”

“When this is all over, me and my sisters will return to the sacred realm, we will leave Hylia to protect Hyrule again, and… I’ll have to leave Link behind.”

Groose stared at her. She was going to leave everything behind?

“I won’t be gone gone,” she quickly clarified, “I’ll be here in spirit, and I’ll listen and answer your prayers. But physically I won’t be here anymore. I just want…. I just want Link to have support when I’m away. That’s why I pushed you to talk to him.”

“O-oh,” was all that Groose was able to say. Though he knew she was a goddess, it was easy to forget. Farore gave Groose a smile and hopped away. But before she jumped off the bed, she turned to Groose.

“Link doesn’t blame you for anything. I hope you know that.”

Groose’s hand tightened around Link’s. He didn’t believe her, even though he knew she was right, it wasn’t ok for Groose to believe her. Farore hummed at his reaction.

“You should talk to Link about it.”

Groose pursed his lips and stared at his unconscious friend. “I’ll do it when he’s better.”

Farore smiled slightly. “Ok, fair enough. Do it when he’s better.” Groose smiled at Farore before she jumped off the bed, leaving him alone with Link.

#gosh what even are endings #agh #anyways #smiles writes #thehandoffarore #moon #whumptober #whumptober 2023 #ugh I need to get started on Moon’s story #I love him #whumptober day 13 #anyways I hope you guys liked this cuz it felt like pulling teeth lol #describing signs are difficult fr #I hope I did a good enough job with that #like describing the sign ‘again’ was way too difficult dhdjdbdj #I’m much better at visually showing things #anyways I hope the signing isn’t hard to understand #I love moon #the poor kid :( #and poor groose #there’s a lot of context that i should add huh….. #bascially when the world was taken over by demise and dying #some selfish people used others to become powerful. #and Groose’s mother worked with slavers so that the Gerudo could get food #Groose’s mother is… a mess to say the least

[finn-m-corvex]

Whumptober 2023 Day 13 - Infection

Ba bam, here's Day 13! We're almost there and then it's on to writing the second batch; it's gonna be great! I definitely played fast and loose with this one but that's okay, I'm exhausted, so I'm giving myself some wiggle room. This one is also the shortest of the bunch!

@splinnters third to last one to go for right now!

Words: 2k

They were running, but Jay was less focused on the running part and more focused on the part where he kept his guts from spilling all out on the pavement.

One of the thugs had gotten a lucky nick on him, and Jay could feel the blood soaking into his gi through the gaps in his fingers. His chest was heaving, legs sore from pounding against the concrete as they ran, his brothers in front of him setting a relentless pace.

It was more than a nick.

And the blade that had done the nicking had definitely been coated in something.

But he kept his mouth shut, determined to at least make it to the Bounty in one piece; they could patch him up there. The wound continued to throb and pulse, gushing a steady stream of blood down his torso and leaving quite the colorful trail behind him. If the thugs decided to pursue then they would easily be able to follow, and Jay couldn’t find a scrap of concern over that matter in any bone in his body. The others would be able to take care of any stragglers.

“Jay, keep up! You’re falling behind!” Kai yelled from the front, and shouldn’t they have learned some sort of lesson by now about letting Kai in the front?

“Coming!” but Jay was flagging, the blood loss and the hit he had taken to the back of his head catching up to him. Just like he thought, Kai led them straight into a dead-end alleyway, and they were definitely going to have to scale the side of the buildings to get to the top. Yippee.

Zane frowned on Jay’s left, and Jay only knew that the nindroid hadn’t caught on to his injury because it was the middle of the night. “Kai, you do remember where everything is, yes?”

“Do you know how many times this city has been rebuilt?!” Kai fumed, and Jay could sympathize. “How was I supposed to know that this led to an alley and not the bakery?”

“Why were you taking us to a bakery?” Lloyd asked. Jay could see his little brother mapping out the route up to the roof in his head, only visible through his eyes darting from side to side and low murmuring to himself.

“Because it was the closest thing I could remember to Skylor’s place,” Kai explained. He stored his katana away in its holster, and Jay belatedly realized that he was the only one with his weapon still out. He quickly put his kurisagama away, trying to hide how the movement aggravated his wound and the pillar of fire that shot through his chest.

Nya had stayed behind on this mission because it was meant to be a boys’ night out. So much for that.

“Going up!” Cole said excitedly from next to him, and Jay watched as the earth ninja started climbing with the agility of someone half his size. Lloyd and Kai were right behind him, but Zane was hesitating, glancing at Jay out of the corner of his eye.

He couldn’t know about the injury. “After you, Icebox.”

Zane’s eyebrows furrowed at the forced tone Jay was using, but a bit of his gi had just sunk into the wound and it was taking everything in him not to scream. “Are you sure, Jay? If something is wrong-”

Bang!

Holy shit, the thugs had guns.

“Go!” Jay barked, making sure all of his armor was in place. His vision was tilting, but he couldn’t afford to let that make him slip.

“I am the one who is bulletproof-”

“Zane, go!”

Jay shoved as much menace into his tone as he could, and he watched as Zane started scrambling up the building with ease, waiting around the halfway point for Jay to start making his way up. Zane’s glowing eyes followed the trail of blood that Jay had left behind, his face tightening once he saw the thugs wheel around the corner. They had followed the trail.

“Brother, you need to hurry!” Zane grit his teeth, yelling up to the others. “They followed us! And they have firearms!”

He was trying to hurry, but his legs started to buckle under his weight. Jay clumsily grabbed the bottom rung of a fire escape ladder that Zane kicked down for him, and the blood started pouring even faster now that he wasn’t putting pressure on it. He gasped as the skin stretched itself out, his wound widening and protesting at the movements.

Hand over hand, Jay reminded himself as he climbed up the ladder, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from crying out. Reaching the first landing, Jay’s foot almost went out from under him as the slick blood coated the ground, and Jay caught himself on the rusted railing. Shaking, he pushed himself off and went for the next ladder, seeing that he had two more to go to reach Zane.

Some of the rust had flaked off into his open wound, and Jay had to stop himself from trying to dig it back out. He needed stitches desperately, or at least pressure on the wound, but he couldn’t stop.

The second landing shifted under him as he pulled himself up, and Jay was overwhelmed by the vertigo that smashed into his head. Blood loss; he knew it well, and he knew that he was already far down that dangerous path. 

An arm latched onto the sleeve of his gi, and Jay couldn’t contain the scream that left his mouth as Zane hauled him upwards. Zane almost lost his grip from how hard he startled, but he kept ahold of the blue ninja, pulling him up and to his chest. His arm settled directly over the wound and Jay blacked out from the white-hot pain that filled his stomach, and Zane quickly grabbed his brother’s head to keep it from slamming into the brick.

Frowning, Zane noticed the blood quickly staining his snow-white gi, and he gasped upon seeing that it was coming from Jay.

It only took him one arm to heave both of them up to the next landing, and Zane saw as Kai looked over the edge in worry. “Guys! A little quicker, please!”

“Jay is injured!” Zane yelled, readjusting his hold on the smaller male as the blood slickened up his metal hands. “I need you to cover us!”

Kai’s eyes widened as he too spotted the trail of blood that Jay had left behind, forming a small ball of fire in his hands at the sight of the thugs still trying to get past the ice floor that Zane had put down in order to buy Jay time. “I’m on it! Just get him up here!”

Doing just that, Zane had to duck his head as a column of fire blasted past, and he tucked his body over Jay’s as best as he could. The fire would hit its target, he already knew, so he focused all of his efforts on reaching Cole, who was now leaning over the edge and waiting to grab the blue ninja.

“He’s bleeding, be careful,” Zane warned as Cole hooked his arms under Jay’s armpits, lifting him up and over the edge of the roof. Jay chose this moment to start coming to, looking at the night sky in confusion before startling as Lloyd put pressure on his wound. He shoved at his little brother’s hands, but the blood loss had sapped most of his strength, and the worry spreading over Lloyd’s face made his heart ache.

Even though his hand was covered in blood, Jay still grasped Lloyd’s green gi, truning it an ugly shade of brown. “H-Hey, I’m okay, Lloyd-''

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Lloyd said hotly. “You’re bleeding out, Jay! You’ve been bleeding out, why didn’t you say anything?”

“Didn’t want you to worry about it,” Jay slurred, letting his head thunk against the rooftop. Lloyd shook his head in disbelief, pressing down and watching the blood well up around his gloves. It started spreading in a small pool, and Lloyd felt it soak his knees and the soles of his boots with a growing sense of dread. They were running out of time.

Zane trotted over with Cole, both of them crouching on Jay’s other side. “Nya, we need you to grab the first aid kit and rush to our location as soon as possible,” Zane was saying into his comm unit, anxiously watching as Kai backed away from the edge of the building. His expression suggested that the thugs had successfully been deterred, but Zane was more than alarmed to see a cut across Kai’s cheek.

Cole was working at Jay’s gi belt, rushing to untie it. “We need to see what we’re dealing with here.”

And what they were dealing with was bad.

Dark and sickly lines webbed across Jay’s torso, extending from a deep cut along his side. It was easily the length of Jay’s forearm, and Cole felt his stomach lurch when he saw some semblance of a rib bone close to the top of the gash.

“For fuck’s sake, Jay,” Kai breathed, already shrugging off his own gi top. He quickly folded it into a square, handing it to Cole. “Would it kill you to go one mission without shit hitting the fan?”

“No,” Jay wheezed, and he yelled as Cole pressed the square directly on top of the wound. It was a reflex to try and push his brother away, tears obscuring his vision, but Cole didn’t budge.

“What the hell are those?” Lloyd asked, pale, and he pointed to the lines. Zane’s eyes lit up as he started scanning Jay’s body for anomalies. Jay needed someone to start comforting him in a non-clinical fashion, craved any sort of friendly touch, so he let out a small sob when Lloyd finally grabbed his hand and squeezed.

Leaning back, Zane exhaled heavily, reaching back up to his comms unit. “They must’ve coated the blade in some sort of poisonous substance, because an infection is spreading through his abdomen. Does he have a fever, Lloyd?”

The green ninja reached up and did his best not to get Jay’s blood all over the blue ninja’s face, frowning. “Yeah, I think so. It’s not too high but it’s noticeable.”

“I was afraid of that,” Zane sighed. He pressed the button on his mic. “Nya, have you already left the Bounty?”

Everyone jumped when her voice crackled over the speaker, and Jay let out a small sob. “I’m just about to, why?”

“Grab Wu’s healing teas and one of the travelling kettles,” Zane said gravely. “Jay’s wound is infected and we need to treat it as soon as possible.”

“On it, just keep him breathing until I get there.”

“That’s the plan, sis,” Kai said, noticing that Cole’s arms were starting to shake from how much pressure he was using. He sat on Cole’s left, nudging him out of the way. “Scoot, I’m taking over. Just get Jay talking.”

A Jay Walker who was talking was the best Jay Walker, as they liked to joke.

Cole quickly did as he was told, switching places with Kai and wincing when the fire ninja reapplied the pressure to make Jay let out a strangled cry. The earth ninja settled himself down at Jay’s head next to Lloyd, and Zane kept giving quick glances to the sky to check for Nya’s arrival while Lloyd kept a careful eye on the fire escape. If any of the thugs got a little too cocky, they would have to move quickly.

“Jay, tell me about the latest Starfarer issue,” Cole coaxed, cleaning his hand as best as he could on the fabric of his gi before running his fingers through Jay’s hair. Jay took a deep breath out of his nose, trying to let the feeling distract him from the ball of fire that was his stomach.

“I’m bleeding the fuck out in the middle of a random rooftop in Ninjago,” Jay grit out, sobbing when Kai shifted the pressure, “and you want me to talk about Starfarer?”

“Unless you want to sit here and tell us why you felt it necessary to hide the fact that you have a gash the size of a fucking baguette, I suggest you start telling me about Fred Donnegan.”

“Fritz,” Jay corrected, and he didn’t really have anything better to do until Nya got there. “Fine, whatever, I guess I can tell you.”

#whumptober 2023 #finn's writing #ninjago jay #ninjago fanfiction #lego ninjago #ninjago cole #ninjago whumptober #whumptober day 13 #ninjago zane #ninjago kai #ninjago lloyd

[comfort-questing]

13. "I don't feel so good"

we thought you were fine.

and you were fine, the whole way back to the armory from the port district, laughing and joking with the rest of us, wiping the black fey-blood off your daggers. another report taken care of, another nest of nasty things put to rest. washed up and went to the mess hall for supper, just like we all did.

it was after, when I went looking; missed you halfway through the checkers game I was watching, and wondered where you'd wandered off to. if I hadn't gone - if I hadn't wondered -

well.

you weren't in the dormitory and you weren't in the sparring yard and the gate guard hadn't seen you leave. in the end I found you in the back hallway in the dark, hunched over and rubbing your eyes, like you'd taken a surprise nap on the flagstones and were still trying to wake from it.

"Cel," you said, and your voice had a strange sort of hollow sound to it, "I - I don't feel so good."

-

a quarter hour it must have been, from then till I got you to the infirmary, but it felt like ages. you were shivering so hard it shook my own bones, almost; I started by holding your hand and ended by holding you upright at each step.

"what happened?" I remember I kept saying, and your eyes had gone all hazy. "what happened to you?"

they found the marks on the back of your sword-arm. it must have slipped in under your guard, while we were fighting the sea-ghasts in the waterweed under the docks. just scrapes, just four little lines and a nick, where one of the fangs had gone quite in.

that was all. that was enough.

we get so silly, sometimes. we get complacent. we forget it can all go wrong so quick, still. that it can end up like this, with you in the infirmary bed as they try to slip enough antivenom into you fast enough to counteract a water wraith's bite and a couple hours' delay.

so I held you while you shivered and cried, the black marks spreading up your arm and shoulder; it'll be worse before it's better, they said, and I let go of you when the fits started, so as not to hurt you, and wiped your mouth clear afterwards, and said all the words for you so that you didn't need to spend your strength to try.

-

midnight, when you turned your face towards me from the pillow, and your grasp was feathery-weak but your eyes were clear; then I knew we were going to be all right.

"Cel, what even... where am I... what..."

and so I tell you.

#whump #whumptober day 13 #whumptober 2023 #crow writes a thing #heh my old vibe of monster-hunters in the a port city returns i guess

[dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night]

Whumptober No. 13: Cold Compress | “I don’t feel so good."

TW: blunt force trauma, loose teeth, blood, swelling, broken nose, carewhumper

"I don't feel so good," Whumpee mumbled, bringing a hand to their cheek.

Whumper grabbed their face, examining the source of their discomfort. They were much gentler than usual, something Whumpee was very grateful for.

"You don't look so good." Whumper tilted their head. "I didn't know hitting your head on the table would make your face swell up so much. I was only trying to break your nose."

Whumpee wasn't sure whether this was meant to be comforting or not. But they were sure that it was in their best interest to shut the fuck up. Hopefully Whumper was in a good mood.

"Honestly-" Whumper slowly shook their head "-you should be more careful."

"I'm sorry," Whumpee said, trying valiantly not to press their bloody tongue against the teeth Whumper had knocked loose. "I'll do better. I promise."

Whumper fished an ice pack out of their freezer and pressed it to Whumpee's cheek. It was horribly cold, but Whumpee forced themself to hold still, knowing that using the ice pack and not pissing off Whumper would both be good for their health.

Taglist: @hugh-lauries-bald-spot @whumpsday @whumpshaped @heavenlyeden @whumpytine

#Whumptober2023 #Whumptober day 13 #Cold compress #I don't feel so good #Abraham original: Hot off the press #blunt force trauma #loose teeth #blood #swelling #broken nose #carewhumper #Whump writing

[basicallyjaywalker]

Whumptober Day 13

Bite

Characters: Lloyd, Kai, Cole, Zane (Focus on Lloyd and Kai)

Prompts: cold compress, infection, "I don't feel so good"

Length: 1,639

All I have to say is. Oops.

#ninjago #lego ninjago #cole brookstone #zane julien #kai jiang #lloyd garmadon #zombie au #whumptober 2023 #whumptober day 13 #cold compress #infection #'i don't feel so good' #whump #whump fic #ninjago fanfic #ninjago fanfiction #rgb siblings but it's just kai and lloyd suffering

[fletcherwilbury]

@whumptober Day 13: "I don't feel so good."

Warning for Physical combat, verbal abuse, malnutrition, dehydration, injury, illness, vomiting, misgendering

#whumptober #whumptober 2023 #whumptober day 13 #“I don't feel so good.” #tmnt #tmnt 2012 #teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt 2012 donnie #tmnt 2012 casey jones #tmnt 2012 tiger claw #jonatello #physical combat cw #verbal abuse tw #malnutrition cw #dehydration cw #injury tw #illness cw #vomiting tw #misgendering tw

[fanfictasia]

Whumptober Day 13

“Are you here to break me out?”

Spoiler: This is an excerpt from The Chosen Twins

Anakin Skywalker

The door to my cell suddenly snaps open, a frowning Obi-Wan appearing in the doorway.

“Are you here to break me out?” I ask dryly, pushing myself up. “Or to join me here?”

“It’s good to see you, too,” he gripes, stepping inside and igniting his lightsaber, slashing through the cuffs on my wrist.

The full intensity of the Force floods me, and it’s momentarily breathtaking. I hate feeling so much, loathe being able to feeling the thoughts and pain and death of everyone around me, I hate being unable to even more. It’s such an intricate part of me. I couldn’t… be separate from it.

“Where are we?” I ask, as I climb unsteadily to my feet. The aftershocks are still lingering, and my arm isn’t responding quite normally when I try to move it. Not good. It’s stinging where flesh meets metal, random shocks running up my arm. Whatever Dooku did, he must’ve short-circuited it.

Obi-Wan catches my other arm to stabilize me. “Can you walk?”

“Of course.” I take a few steps towards the door to make a point.

I’m unsteady on my feet, mostly because I’m still being overwhelmed at feeling. It’s so, so relieving to have it back. Obi-Wan still hovers right beside me as we exit the prison cell. The pain is easy enough to tune out – I’ve been through far worse, and it’s been a while. “How long has it been?” I inquire, just to make sure.

“A few hours,” Obi-Wan replies, “Krell attacked Coruscant. Dooku must have brought you here when he came. They have the Chancellor. Aniya is currently on her ray to find him.”

Coruscant?! I can’t deny the alarm shooting through me, even if I let it go into the Force – if it’s happening, we’ll handle it. We’ll stop them. What other choice is there? “We should hurry and find her,” I point out. “I imagine both Dooku and Krell are here. Aniya can’t handle them alone.” She’ll distract them if she has to, but she won’t be able to do that and get herself and the Chancellor to safety.

#star wars #star wars fanfiction #fanfiction #whumptober #whumptober 2022 #whumptober day 13 #day 13 #anakin skywalker #obi-wan kenobi #anakin #obi-wan #anakin and obi-wan #day thirteen #are you here to break me out #revenge of the sith au #star wars rots #whump #rescue #obi-wan is anakin's brotherdad

[calinaannehart]

Day 13: You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few legs

Fracture | dislocation | “Are you here to break me out?”

It’s 3 am and the drunk in the cell next to him is yelling again. The slurred shouts to be released echo around the open space, and Buck can’t see him from his vantage point, but he can hear the thuds and clangs as he lashes out against the iron bars keeping him prisoner.

#whumptober 2022 #whumptober #whumptober day 13 #whump #evan buckley #911 fox #evan buck buckely #9 1 1 on fox #fanfiction #9 1 1 fanfiction #911 on fox #eddie diaz #911 fanfic

[newwwwusername]

Fic title : "You Lied to Me"

@febuwhump 2024 prompt : "You lied to me"

@whumptober 2023 prompt : "It comes and goes like the strength in your bones" (Cold Compress | Infection | "I don't feel so good")

Rating : Teen & Up Audiences

Fandom : Cabaret (Stage Musical)

Pairing : Sally & Emcee

Additional tags : Hiding Medical Issues, Infection, Sickfic, Vomiting, Nausea, Injury, Cold Compress, Caring Emcee (Cabaret), Sally Bowles Needs a Hug, Hurt/Comfort, Apologies, Lies

Word count : 373

#fanfiction #fanfic #fanfic challenge #fanfic prompts #febuwhump #febuwhump2024 #febuwhumpday6 #whumptober #whumptober 2023 #whumptober day 13 #cabaret #cabaret musical #sickfic

[serickswrites]

Break Free

Warnings: captivity, cages, escape, implied torture

Team Leader crept through Whumper’s compound. Teammate One and Three were making a distraction for Whumper so that Team Leader could break Teammate Three out. It was a risky plan, but it was the only one they had. 

Team Leader shouldered the door open and breathed a sigh of relief. Teammate Two sat in a cage in the center of the room. And they were unharmed. 

“Team Leader!” Teammate Two whisper shouted. “Are you here to break me out?”

“No,” Team Leader smirked as they immediately set to picking the lock on the cage, “I just came to admire the view. ‘Course I’m here to break you out.” 

Teammate Two gave them a careful smile. “Where are Teammate One and Three?”

“Hopefully giving Whumper a run for their money.” The door to the cage swung open. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

They pushed Teammate Two ahead of them and the two of them began to run. “Whatever you do, Teammate Two, don’t stop. I’ll be right behind you no matter what.”

“Ok, Team Leader, I think that--” Teammate Two’s words were cut off by an explosion in the distance. 

“RUN!” Team Leader roared and shoved Teammate Two forward. “That’s the signal. I’m right behind you.”

Teammate Two put their head down and ran. They knew the way out of Whumper’s compound. They knew if they just kept running they would be out and the whole team would be together. 

Teammate Two only stopped running when the cool evening air was on their face. 

“Teammate Two! Glad to have you back.” Teammate One put a hand on Teammate Two’s shoulder. 

“Where’s Team Leader?” Teammate Three asked, their eyes searching Teammate Two’s face. 

“They were,” Teammate Two panted, “right behind me.” Their blood ran cold as they spun around and Team Leader was not behind them. 

***

“At long last,” Whumper murmured as they circled the cage, “you came to me willingly, Team Leader Whumpee.”

“Couldn’t let you hurt my team, Whumper,” Whumpee thrust their chin out. 

“No. No, you couldn’t do that, could you?” Whumper’s voice dropped an octave. “But I was never going to hurt them. Only you.”

#serickswrites #whump #whumpblr #whump writing #whump community #tw captivity #tw cages #tw escape #tw implied torture #whumptober #whumptober 2022 #whumptober day 13 #whumptober day 14 #prompt: can't make an omelette without breaking a few legs #prompt: die a hero or live long enough to become a villain #are you here to break me out #"I'll be right behind you

[boowhumps]

Whumptober 2023

Day 13

(@whumptober)

By - B.W

⚠TW⚠

~ Swearing

~ Mentions of Death

~ Mentions of Illness

~ Mentions of Hospitals

Enjoy!

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

"..102.4.." Karyme sighs, putting down the thermometer.

She kneels by her 5 year old son's bed, placing a hand to his forehead.

"..still warm.." She mumbles, watching him sleep.

She pulls her hand away, closing her eyes. She slowly puts her hands together, bowing her head down.

She takes a deep breath, and speaks softly.

"..Dear deity.. our salvation.. the lace on life and death.. lay your hands on death as it creeps in and replace it with your light.. lead the lost and broken souls to you.. and let them be at peace eternally.. I plead.."

She sighs, opening her eyes to see Ashton still asleep. She stands up and walks out of the room, closing the door softly.

As she stands outside his room, she leans her head on the door, eyes closed.

Her eyebrows furrow as her hands ball into fists. She takes a deep breath..

A sudden hand on her shoulder makes her eyes snap open, she flinches away, turning to Kaiden.

He immediately pulls his hand away, giving her an apologetic look.

"Sorry.. just wanted to check up on you." He mumbles.

Karyme sighs. "..I'm okay.." She looks behind him. "Is Astrid still up.?"

Kaiden nods. "She's worried for Ash, but she'll tucker herself out soon."

Karyme crosses her arms. "..alright.."

There's a silence as Kaiden studies her face.

Kaiden frowns. "Karyme, I've been with you for 12 years, and I know that face."

Karyme gives him a look. "..what face.?"

"That's you worried face." He replies. "C'mon, let's go to the living room."

Karyme slowly nods, following him. Once they arrive, they see Astrid asleep on the couch. Kaiden smiles at her, picking up the 7 year old.

"Sit tight. I'll put her to bed." He whispers before leaving.

Karyme sits on the couch, arms crossed. She anxiously taps her fingers on her knee.

She runs a hand through her hair, eyes darting to the hallway every two seconds.

Finally, Kaiden comes back, looking more concerned than before.

"Alright, something's definitely wrong." He says, sitting next to her. "I know your worried about Ash-"

"It's not worried, I'm scared for him.!" Karyme explains in an anxious frenzy.

"Every time I look away or walk away from him, I get this- damn feeling-!" She says. "It's like I'm leaving him for dead-! It's making me fucking spiral-"

Kaiden talks a hold of her shaking hands. "Listen.. you're not leaving him for dead.. he's not going to-"

"But what if he does-?" She whispers. "Like when he almost did a year ago.. or the way he almost did when he was born.."

Kaiden sighs. "Hun.. we've been over this with your therapist.. the day he was born.. nothing that happened was on you.."

"I could've done something, Kaiden-! I could've gotten maternity leave earlier.. I could've been more careful.. Hell, I could've just stayed in bed like you wanted me to-!" She replies, breathing heavily.

"But nothing of that would've changes what happened. You heard the doctor herself, she said there was no explanation to why he came so early.. It wasn't anything you did, it just.. happened." He says softly.

"Nothing just happens.." Karyme mumbles back. "There has to be a reason.."

"Maybe.. but it wasn't anything you did.." Kaiden sighs.

"I've noticed so much new things about you since Ash was born. You became more.. cautious. When we finally brought him home from the hospital, I would wake up.. and I would see you sitting there on the bed.. just staring at the baby monitor.." He explains.

"..I would even hear you get up, and go to the room, just to make sure he was still alive.." He sighs deeply.

"It calmed down, until a year ago.. and you're back to that headspace." He shakes his head. "It's taking a toll on you.. you hardly sleep.. hardly eat.. all the time, you're with him.."

"He's our son.. I have to care for him.." Karyme replies.

"And I know that.. but you need to put yourself first sometimes. It won't make you a bad mom to take a couple days and let me handle things.." He says back.

Karyme shakes her head. "I can't.. If I leave him.. it feels like the day he was born.."

Kaiden sighs. "I know.."

"When he was minutes old.. and already so close to death.. I saw him for a split second before they took him away.. He was so little, hardly moving.." Karyme covers her face. "I thought he was already gone.."

"..before I blacked out.. I felt something.." Karyme mumbles. "It felt like a part of me was dying with him.."

Kaiden pulls her closer. "It was hard on all of us.. but we got through that.. and he's here.. alive and as happy as any kid could be.."

Karyme nods. "..no thanks to me.."

Kaiden frowns. "You know that's not true.. he loves you.. he's always been more attached to you.."

"But why.?" She replies. "I pushed him away when he was days old and so sick.. how can he love me.?"

Kaiden holds her tight. "Because kids see the good in everyone.. especially with their own parents.."

"He loves you because you've been there with him.. through all the doctors visits, the speech therapy.. even the whole time he was in a hospital a year ago."

Karyme shrugs. "I had to be there. I couldn't leave him.."

"You did it because you love him.. and even though he's only 5.. I think he understands just how much you did for him.." Kaiden replies with a smile.

Karyme sighs, leaning her head against his shoulder. "..you really think so.?"

"Positive." He says back. "Now C'mon, we should get some rest-"

"What about Ashton.? What if he gets worse.." Karyme mumbles.

Kaiden sighs. "How about this.? I'll bring the kids to the guest room, and we can all sleep there tonight, or until Ash is better."

Karyme nods. "I can get Ashton.."

Kaiden nods back. "Alright, then I'll get Astrid. Meet you there." He responds, walking away.

Karyme walks over to Ashton's bedroom, slowly opening the door. To her surprise, Ashton is awake, holding his blue teddy bear in his arms.

"Ash.?" Karyme sighs. "Why are you up, bud.?"

The little boy pouts. "..no tired.."

Karyme goes over to him, picking him up. "Come on, you can sleep with us tonight.."

"..asti.." He mumbles sleepily.

"She'll be there too.." Karyme whispers to him, slowly making her way to the bedroom.

Once there, she sees Kaiden tucking Astrid in, who's still fast asleep.

Karyme sits on the edge of the bed, feeling Ashton's forehead again.

"..not as warm as before.." She mumbles.

Kaiden smiles at her. "See? We're all good hun.."

Karyme nods, laying Ashton down next to his older sister. He stirs a bit before settling down and promptly falling asleep.

Karyme runs her fingers through his hair, humming.

Kaiden sits next to her. "You really are a great mom.."

She looks over to him. "I try.."

He shakes his head playfully. "Don't go that route.. I won't stop until you agree with me.."

Karyme gives a slim half-smile. "Wouldn't dream of it.."

"Speaking of dreaming.. let's do that, I'm damn tired-" He says as Karyme shoots him a glare, hinting him toward their sleeping kids.

"..right.. sorry.." He whispers.

Karyme shake her head, laying down to sleep.

"I really am sorry-"

"I know, Kaiden.."

"..right.."

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

#whumptober #whumptober day 13 #whump writing #its Friday the 13th #spooky. #ohh yeas does me writing kinda whump about a child a bad thing? #like am i gonna get cancelled for this? #hopefully not. #i cant afford to catch a case like that- #anywayssss that all for today guys #and as always #enjoy! :)

[skyward-floored]

Whumptober Day 13: Cold compress, Infection, “I don’t feel so good”

This was originally day 2’s fic, but looking at the prompts, I decided to swap them because they fit a little better. Course this one didn’t turn out exactly the way I wanted... *grumble grumble*

Also my medical research was a bit stymied by a lot of “if this happens you’re dead basically” but this is fiction so I decided it was fine. He’s fine. Dw.

Read on ao3

Warnings: injury, infected injury, intense symptoms that arise from infected injury.

————————————————————

Warriors hurried through the woods, nearly tripping on a root as the setting sun shone in his eyes through the trees.

He’d been away from the cave where he’d left Four for more than an hour now, collecting water and looking for signs of the others, and leaving the smithy alone had sent his stomach into knots, even though it had been a necessary trip.

He and Four had been separated from the others after a portal the night before, dropped right into a rough fight. Warriors was only superficially injured, but Four had gotten a nasty gash that went nearly from his ankle to his knee.

They’d done their best to clean and bandage it, but they had no potions and few supplies, and the smithy had lost a lot of blood. He put on a brave face, but was obviously in a lot of pain, and couldn’t even stand without Warriors holding him up.

“I’ll be fine,” he’d said before Warriors had left, but the captain had heard the tremble in his voice, despite the easy-going grin Four had shot him.

And Warriors had left him anyway.

You had no other option, he tried to tell himself as the small cave where he and Four had hunkered down came into view. We needed more water, and that stream was the closest one. Leaving him completely undefended and barely able to move was your only option...

Warriors quickly brushed past the handful of vines that half-obscured the opening, and looked around, breathing heavily from his run.

“Smithy?” he asked as he caught his breath, and the small lump near the wall shifted slightly, revealing a few wayward strands of blond hair.

Warriors let out a quiet sigh of relief at the sight and went over to the pile. Two eyes peered at him through tired sockets, pale cheeks making the grey of Four’s eyes seem even brighter, and for a moment when they caught the light, they almost seemed to shine with a faint iridescence.

“...Wars?” Four mumbled, and Warriors quickly got to a knee next to him, studying the smithy.

Perhaps it was because he’d been away from him for a while, but Four looked significantly worse than he had just an hour ago, pale and weak, trembling when he moved. He seemed even smaller like this, and terribly young, but Warriors firmly shook his worry aside, placing a gentle hand on his forehead. The heat that met him made his heart sink, and he leaned back, feeling dread creep up his spine.

If Four had a fever, that could only mean two things, neither of them good.

“You’re back,” Four murmured in a tired voice, and Warriors nodded, guilt threatening to knock him over with its intensity.

“Yes. I’m so sorry I was gone as long as I was,” he apologized quietly, and Four hummed.

“S’okay. I was fine.”

Warriors looked at him a moment, then asked if he could check his bandages.

Four mumbled an affirmative as he stretched out his leg, and Warriors gently began removing the bandages, trying to convince himself that Four’s skin was merely hot from being wrapped in a blanket. He pulled the bandages loose, and stopped short, heart sinking at the sight underneath confirming what he had suspected.

The gash was now an angry red, inflamed and radiating heat. The edges had hints of pus around them, an unpleasant smell hitting his nose, and Warriors swallowed, setting aside the old bandages and wishing fervently he had more supplies.

Infection had set in.

“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Four murmured when he continued to stare, and Warriors nodded, dread hollowing out his chest. “....it infected?”

“Yes,” Warriors said steadily, hoping his voice didn’t betray his fear. “But I’ll get you through it until the others find us. You’ll be fine Smithy.”

“That’s good...”

He went silent, and Warriors got to work cleaning the wound as best as he could, murmuring apologies whenever Four flinched. The bandages were replaced overtop it, and Warriors leaned back, looking over his work. He had laughably few supplies to be dealing with an infection, or really any injury, but he did his best.

No worse then some of the supply shortages in the war.

He could handle this.

“Wars..?” Four murmured a little bit after he finished, and the captain looked down at him, still swaddled in blankets.

“Yes smithy?”

Four looked at him a moment, his grey eyes looking unnaturally bright, then he closed them, turning his head to the side.

“...I don’t feel so good,” Four admitted quietly.

And that more than anything else that had happened today made Warriors’ heart stop with fear. Four never admitted to feeling anything less than fine.

Ever.

Warriors swallowed, and pushed down the panic that was threatening to constrict him. Focus on the problem!

“Can you try eating something?” Warriors said quietly. “You need to keep up your strength.”

Four nodded in reply, and Warriors handed him some of the food they had, watching him nibble silently at the bread. He only managed about half before stopping, and Warriors helped him lie back down, unable to stop himself from feeling his forehead again.

It seemed even hotter, and he quietly sent up a prayer, hoping fervently that Four would only improve.

Goddesses please let this be mild.

But as the sun sank below the horizon and twilight set in, Four grew more and more hazy, taking longer to reply to Warriors’ questions, hands shaking when he reached for water. With every star that appeared, his shivers increased, and Warriors soon found himself waging war against Four’s raging fever.

The smithy kept turning from side to side, seeming like he just couldn’t get comfortable no matter how he lay. Sweat poured down his face, and Warriors had to stop him from getting up more than once, his addled brain making him forget he was injured.

He’d deteriorated so rapidly, Warriors was beginning to wonder if Four had already been sick.

The smithy moaned, and Warriors replaced the damp cloth over his forehead after it was knocked off yet again, sighing as he brushed some dirt off of it.

“Wars...” Four croaked, and the captain ran a hand through his hair, fingers catching on the sweaty strands.

“I’m here smithy, you’re alright,” he said softly, and Four closed his eyes, face screwed up in a wince.

“Wh-where’s everyone else..?” he asked, cracking his eyes open again.

“We were separated, remember Four?” Warriors reminded him. “I’m sure they’re nearby, they’ll be here soon. I know they have potions, so as soon as they get here we’ll fix you up.”

“Oh... good,” he said hazily, then shivered as he closed his eyes. “Not feeling s-so great...”

“I know, just hang on Smithy,” Warriors said quietly, running his hand through his hair again. “You’ll be okay.”

Four leaned into the touch, and soon fell asleep, still shivering on and off. Warriors tucked him a little closer to his side, and made sure he was wrapped fully in the blanket. All he could really do was keep Four comfortable, and try to ease his symptoms until the others found them.

He just hoped it would be enough.

Warriors spent most of the night in a light doze, tending to Four and keeping an ear out for anything approaching the cave. Sometime before dawn Four began to whimper, and Warriors calmed him down, wiping the sweat from his face yet again. His worry only grew stronger as he felt his temperature, and he looked down at the smithy in dismay.

Four looked dazed where he was lying, his eyes half-lidded, shivers wracking through his body. Warriors had never seen him so fragile-looking before, and it... scared him, honestly.

Warriors admittedly didn’t know all that much about Four, not compared to some of the others. But he knew that he was an experienced young man, and possessed a surprising strength for his size, in both physical and mental capacities. Four always came across as so put-together, strong in the face of pain, and dependable to a fault.

Seeing him laid up by an infection, shivering and moaning, and pale as a sheet, worried Warriors more then he’d care to admit.

He’d never seen Four like this.

Warriors sighed, and leaned away to rifle through his bag yet again, hoping he’d find some supplies he’d somehow missed. But a hand grabbed at his arm, hot and shaking, and he looked back to see Four’s expression had turned to a frantic one, eyes wide and scared.

“Don’... don’ leave...” Four breathed, his voice slurred and panicked. “Don’...”

“I’m not going to leave,” Warriors soothed as he leaned back to where he had been, wiping Four’s face again. “I’m staying right here.”

A violent shiver wracked through him, and Warriors moved Four so he was more on his lap, hoping his body heat would help warm him up. Four whimpered and turned into Warriors’ chest, and the captain ran a hand through his sweat-soaked hair, firmly squashing his fear.

Four would be fine. He was strong. He would be able to fight through this until the others came.

The words were harder to believe the next day when Four was in even worse shape.

His temperature was blistering hot, so much that Warriors was beginning to run out of water to dip the cloth in. He thought about heading to the stream again, but the thought of leaving Four alone in his condition made his stomach churn. Leaving Four by himself wasn’t an option, unless it was a matter of life or death.

It may come to that, he thought grimly as Four moaned, sweat pouring down his face.

“Z-Zel...” he murmured, shivering under the blankets Warriors had placed over him. “Vio, y-you have t...”

Four’s feverish gaze caught on Warriors’ scarf, and his eyes widened, reaching a hand out towards him.

“W-Wars, don’...” he whispered, and Warriors took his hand in his. “I’m not crazy, I’m n-not... I’m not...”

A tear trickled down his cheek, and Warriors gently squeezed his hand.

“I don’t think you’re crazy, Four,” he said in a reassuring voice, and Four closed his eyes, shaking his head.

“Everyone does...” he whimpered, more tears falling. “Th-they say I talk to nothing, a-and my shadow... they don’t think Zel should b-be near... me...”

He let out a hiccupy sob, and Warriors tucked him more into his arms, rubbing his back to try and calm him down.

“Shh, smithy, you’re alright,” he said, and Four buried his head in his lap, a muffled sob escaping him.

“I’m not crazy... I’m not crazy...” Four cried into his tunic, and Warriors continued to hold him until his breathing evened out, and he fell back asleep.

Warriors held him a little tighter, and cleaned his wound again, using up the last of his bandages.

Please, let them find us.

The hours ticked by with nary a sign of anyone aside from themselves, and Four grew weaker every time Warriors checked. He could barely get him to eat anything, no less drink, and his feverish rambling had mostly petered out, replaced only with occasional, faint mumbling.

Warriors never let him go, dutifully cleaning his wound, helping him drink water, and calming him down when he suddenly started crying or otherwise reacted strangely.

Four abruptly woke up again and started gasping that the mirror was broken, and no matter what Warriors did he couldn’t get him to calm down, the smithy either ignoring Warriors’ presence or completely unaware of it.

“Link, easy, you’re safe,” Warriors said soothingly, but Four only panicked even more, nearly throwing himself out of Warriors’ arms.

“He wants to marry her!” Four screamed, and tried to jump to his feet. Warriors put an arm around him to stop him from moving, and Four thrashed, surprisingly strong. “No! No, no no l-lemme go!”

“Four, please, it’s okay,” Warriors tried, and Four screamed again, though it quickly dissolved into more sobbing.

“No, no no no sh-she’s dead...” he wailed, and Warriors held him tight to his chest, trying to comfort him in the only way his addled brain could understand. “Th-the bell... E-Ezlo we were too late.”

He let out an agonized sob, then stared up at Warriors’ face, tears pouring down his cheeks.

Then he abruptly fell limp.

Warriors’ heart skipped a beat as all of Four’s frantic resisting stopped, and his head fell against his arm.

“Smithy?” he asked, but Four didn’t reply, and Warriors quickly turned him over, careful not to jar his leg. “Link. Link.”

Four didn’t move, and Warriors pressed an ear to his chest, blood roaring in his ears. Come on Four, please...

A faint breath rattled under his ear, and Warriors exhaled in relief, sitting up and running a hand through his hair. He was still alive. He still had time.

But now he had a choice.

He could stay here, in a defensible position, safe from monsters and other dangers, or... try and find help.

It wouldn’t be the best for Four to be moved, not with his leg injured, and the overall state he was in. But between sitting here and watching more and more life drain out of him, or be out and actively searching for a way to help...

Warriors closed his eyes, and began to shove things into his pouch.

He couldn’t wait any longer. Staying here wasn’t doing Four any favors.

At least out of the cave, they’d have a chance of finding a town, one with a doctor, or maybe even a fairy loose in the forest. If they were truly fortunate they’d come across the others, but Warriors wasn’t confident in that regard.

They might not even be in the same era as us.

Warriors finished collecting all of his things, and he nudged Four, hoping for a reaction of some kind.

Nothing.

“Come on Smithy. We’re going to find the others,” Warriors said softly, and pulled Four up into his arms, blankets and all. “Or a fairy or something, but we’re not waiting here any longer.”

Four’s head flopped against his shoulder, and Warriors got him settled, making sure his leg especially was secure and wouldn’t be knocked around.

Then he set off into the woods, the late afternoon sun lighting his path.

The weight of Four in his arms was a familiar one, and as Warriors trotted quickly along, he couldn’t help but think back to during the war, and carrying around a different blond hero.

He’d ended up carrying Mask around more than once, but he remembered one incident in particular where Mask had broken his ankle, and Warriors had had to carry him since he could barely move. Mask had nearly complained his ear off at not being able to walk, but he’d rested his head on Warriors’ shoulder anyway, and in the end, fallen asleep in his arms.

Four let out a weak moan, and Warriors sped up his pace. Now wasn’t the time to get lost in memories.

The woods went by at a steady pace, Warriors keeping a sharp eye out for any herbs or fairies or anything that could help Four. His eye didn’t catch on anything though, and all he could do was keep walking as the sun began to go down, and the shadows grew longer.

Four remained almost completely still in his arms, and Warriors stopped more than once to make sure he was still breathing. It was hard to make out, but it was there, and as long as Four was fighting, Warriors would keep walking.

As long as it took.

A flicker of light caught his eye, and Warriors turned to it, immediately hopeful.

“Hello?” he called, then immediately cursed himself for giving himself away. If it was a monster, they were dead.

But Four doesn’t have much longer anyway.

The light flickered again, and Warriors stayed still as he watched it, on guard, but hopeful. A blue, glowing creature abruptly poked its head up, and Warriors stared, watching as it wiggled its... antennae?

Is that a rabbit? he thought wonderingly, staring at the little creature in awe. He’d never seen one before, only heard stories. It’s cute I guess... in a weird sort of way.

“...Can you help me?” he asked, slowly crouching down while still holding Four to his chest. “My friend needs to be healed, he’s... he’s sick.”

The rabbit tilted it’s head, then hopped an inch or two forward, it’s heart-shaped face turned towards Four. It’s nose twitched slightly, then it bolted away and disappeared into a shower of sparkles.

Warriors stared, then closed his eyes in disappointment. He should have known better. Strange magical creatures in the woods were rarely helpful, unless they were fairies.

Four let out a weak murmur, and Warriors pressed his forehead to the smithy’s burning one.

“I’m sorry Four,” he apologized in a whisper, listening to his labored breathing. “I’m so sorry.”

A faint flicker of light caught his eye again, and Warriors raised his head, meeting the golden eyes of the blue rabbit.

It blinked at him, then tilted its head, almost as if it was beckoning him towards him. Warriors carefully got to his feet and took a step forward, and the rabbit twitched it’s antennae, taking a hop away from him. Warriors repeated the action, and the rabbit hopped again, and he began to follow it through the woods, hope starting to rise in his chest.

The sun began to disappear behind the tree trunks, the sky darkening and making the glow of the rabbit stick out more.

Warriors continued to follow, Four growing heavy in his arms. He was still sore from the battle that Four had been injured in, and gotten barely any sleep the night before. He was tired, and aching, and nearly sick with fear for Four, but he kept going, Four’s head tucked under his chin.

The rabbit suddenly stopped in its tracks, raising itself up onto its haunches and twitching its nose. Warriors stopped as well, and the rabbit met his eyes again, glowing softly in the darkness of the woods.

“Captain?!”

Warriors’ head shot to the side, and he nearly fell to his knees in relief as Sky and Wild ran towards him, their worried faces lit by a glowing rod Wild held.

“We’ve been looking for you for days Captain! After that portal we were all together except you and— what happened to Four?” Wild asked, and Warriors closed his eyes as Sky put a worried hand on Four’s head.

“Infection. We need to get him to camp,” he managed to get out, worry for Four one of the few things still fueling him. Sky gave him a searching look as Wild immediately began to lead them back the way they came, and Warriors didn’t resist when he gave him a bit of support.

“How did you find us?” Sky asked, and Warriors glanced back at the rabbit, not surprised to see the creature was nowhere to be found.

“...long story,” he settled with, and Four murmured something in his arms as Sky nodded in silence. Warriors held the smithy tighter, and ran a hand through his hair.

Hold on Four. You’re safe now, you’ll be okay.

Just hold on.

#all tiny creatures care for Four #linkeduniverse #linked universe #lu four #lu warriors #linked universe fanfic #whumptober #whumptober 2023 #day 13 #cold compress #infection #i don’t feel good #writing from the floor

[comfort-questing]

"fractured"

it might be mean to recruit people during Crimson Flower but I sure wasn't leaving Ashe out of the "fun" during my last playthrough. anyway... whump!

"but - it can't be broken." Ashe clenched his knuckles tightly in the folds of his sniper's uniform coat, staring wide-eyed at Bernadetta across the clearing from him. one leg was pulled up to his chest, the other stretched out awkwardly in front of him, booted foot ever so slightly askew. "if it's broken we won't be able to get back to camp before nightfall - "

"well, I'm not a healer," Bernadetta said, "but if you can't put weight on it and it isn't going in quite the right direction, I think that does mean it's broken." she sat back on her heels, twining the longest strand of her long purple hair around her gloved hand. "surely Professor and Edelgard and the others aren't going to leave without us."

"I don't know," said Ashe, miserably. "they - they wouldn't leave without you, anyway."

Bernadetta frowned and scooted closer, hitching her quiver back over her shoulder. the dry leaves of autumn crackled under her knees. "should I get your boot off?"

"no. we'd better splint it boot and all. Prince Dimitri always - " Ashe froze, then, his voice breaking off in the midst of his words. "I mean, I was once - told it was best that way, if you hurt your foot in the wilds..."

"you don't have to pretend like that." Bernadetta still had one hand buried in her hair, now up closer to her ears. "if Edelgard and Hubert and Professor didn't want you, they'd have gotten rid of you by now. they're very good at getting rid of people. therefore they want you here, all right? we know you weren't with us back in the old days..."

Ashe gritted his teeth and carefully tried to draw his injured ankle back towards him. the attempt made him wince and cry out in a stifled gasp, then bury his face in his jacket shoulder. "I - think I'm going to need you to help me."

"oh-oh-oh. you don't want Bernie working on your bones." Bernadetta skittered backwards in a rustle of leaves. "if something goes wrong with one of our valuable archers Hubert is going to put me on a spit and serve me for supper, just see if he doesn't - "

"aren't you a valuable archer too?" Ashe squinted at her through the gathering dusk. "and I can't see why he'd do that, anyway."

"well... if you're sure." Bernadetta returned to his side, tentative as one of the Garreg Mach cats. "so what do I do?"

"a couple of arrows. get ones with the feathers already mussed, I don't want to ruin good ones... and I should have bandages in my pack." Ashe was rapidly growing more pale, but spoke quickly, as if making sure to get the words out. "or rope. you could also use rope if you can't find the bandages. two arrows on either side of my ankle for the splint, and wrap it in a cross over the top..."

Bernadetta sighed and wiggled her fingers in rapid distress in the corner of her eye, but chose several arrows out of Ashe's quiver nonetheless. the bandages were easy enough to find, thankfully for both parties' waning composure.

she positioned the makeshift splint gingerly, then held the roll of bandages poised and ready. "I remember Dorothea doing this once to my foot, when I fell down the stairs." then, as if to answer an unasked question: "I fell down the stairs because she surprised me. so - if they keep me around they'll certainly keep you around."

Ashe tried to smile, a little ghastly in the result.

"all right, here I go," said Bernadetta, desperately.

she made it through two wraps of the bandage before Ashe fainted.

*

to her credit she did get him back to camp in the end, and with a properly splinted ankle, too.

Linhardt wasn't very happy about getting bothered out of his after-supper reading in his tent, but Professor and Mercedes were out with the searchers already, so he was the only healer available. Dorothea sent up a spell as a flare, to show everyone in the woods that the lost archers were home; in its strange white-gold light Ashe blinked his eyes open again to see the denizens of his peculiar new House around clustered around him, and for one split second his dazed mind said oh - home, before reason and memory caught up with him. but still it felt good, to be there.

#fe3h whump #whumptober2022 #whumptober day 13 #hurt comfort #whump #minor crests of hurt comfort