darker_london | Keep this close - Scarlett, Stephie, Thomas (can stand alone though)

Visitors came and went but in the end, in the darkest hours of the night, it was often just the three of them. Scarlett. Stephie. Thomas. All with separate little worlds of fear in their head, and the knowledge of the shared one between them.

Scarlett was still hooked up to an IV, the doctors worried that she wasn't getting enough food, which was fair enough as she was having difficulty eating without remembering her snout buried in Thomas' stomach. A werewolf refusing to eat was a medical worry. Scarlett was happy to accept the needle in the back of her hand.

Her bed had been moved at their request, pushed up against Stephie's to make a wide thing that both girls could sleep on, and even Thomas could fit on to sleep if they all moved over a little, something Scarlett was more than happy to do. Waking up and not being able to see Stephie and Thomas almost sent her spinning into a panic attack.

The warmth and light of the hospital felt so safe and knowing that the Templar couldn't find them here was the only thing that let Scarlett sleep, curled in the makeshift queen-size bed and trying not to touch Stephie in case she hurt her. She didn't want to touch either of them, but she wanted to cling and never let go. Her head was so messy with them.

But as she lay there she could hear Stephie's breath, the other girl so close. She couldn't hear Thomas breathing - being dead and all - and every now and then she opened her eyes and raised her head, just to make sure he was still there as well. It was okay. They were all there, all safe.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The only time Thomas had left the hospital since arriving, was for a few hours last night to be with his husband before Spectre left for his European tour. He had returned to the hospital afterwards, not even spending the night with Spectre, because he couldn't bear to leave Stephie and Scarlett alone during the night. It was the most frightening time, in his mind, even though all the hours had run together down there in the bowels of St Sebastian's.

As Scarlett raised her head, Thomas raised his. He smiled at her over Stephie's curled form. He wanted so badly for her to understand he didn't blame her for what had happened. All he could do was prove it with his presence. With his time. "Do you need anything," he whispered, in case Stephie was asleep.

Scarlett gave him a small smile over Stephie's sleeping form. "Nothing," she promised. "Are you okay?" she whispered, considering concern on her face. She was always worried about them now. She was always scared for all three of them. The Templar. The god-damned fucking Templar and the way they could get into her head. The nightmares of them from the old days came so infrequently these days, but now they were back in full force. It didn't seem to matter that she had escaped the sort of tortures that last time had brought. Still in her dreams she was cold and naked in a cell, the scold's bridle weight down on her head and the thumb screws tight on her broken, frozen fingers.

Thomas nodded easily, though he didn't feel so easy and free. "I'm fine. Is Stephie sleeping?" Thomas couldn't see her face, just her hair splayed out across the pillow.

Scarlett smiled down lovingly at her friend and nodded. "She looks peaceful," Scarlett said, holding back the urge to brush hair from her face. That might startle her awake and if Stephie was having a moment of peace (it was possible) then Scarlett would rather die than ruin that. "Everything's all wrong," she said, looking up at him again, her expression hopeless.

Thomas knew what she meant. After he had gotten back from his ordeal with Amaris, nothing had been right. It was like he had left everything that was him down in that cellar, and he couldn't remember how to exist. His heart broke for her now, but he nodded. Not agreeing, but understanding. "I know it feels that way. It won't always."

"Just thinking about them..." Scarlett shivered and shook her head, and her fingers sought out Thomas' hand. "They scare me so much, more than anything."

Thomas curled his fingers gently around hers and he nodded again. "And I don't blame you. Amaris scares me more than anything. Just thinking about her makes me ill with fear. But I manage."

"I wish I'd been braver," Scarlett whispered, closing her eyes. Thomas and Stephie had both been so brave. "I wish I-" she shook her head gently. There were too many things she wished. She wished she wasn't a damned werewolf for a start. (It had been a very long time since she'd wished that.)

Thomas gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You were plenty brave, Scarlett. You got through it. That's pretty incredible. I think you were brave."

Keep this close - Scarlett, Stephie, Thomas (can stand alone though)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject