Whumptober Day 12: Red

Whumptober Day 12: Red

Fandom: Spider-verse

Warning: Violence

Summary: Miles used to love red. After becoming a hero he starts to hate it.

  Red used to be one of Miles's favorite colors. That was until he became a hero. Red became something he avoided seeing.

    Red always meant something bad. Red was the color of blood, of anger and hatred. But I was also one of his colors. In some twisted way it meant both death and hope.

    It wasn't something he found as beautiful as he once did. The red in the sky or painted on the wall used to make Miles happy. It used to be beautiful. Now it was terrifying.

    Sometimes beautiful things are meant to be scary. But not this. Deaths like these weren't beautiful and they weren't poetic. Nothing like that could ever be poetry. Yet people still made it into it.

    Words on a paper, the last few words being in red ink. They made Miles hate poetry. He couldn't stand red. Not anymore.

    Red things had no right to be so pretty anymore. The red sky only made him think of two things; blood and beauty. They were a terrible mix that should never go hand in hand.

    But they did. They skipped down the high school halls and giggled as they entered their class. The red on Miles's suit mirrored the purple of his uncle's.

    The red on Miles's papers when he got them back made him wonder about the papers of all of the victims of the villain's attacks and his mistakes. Were they good? Did their teacher mark them in red? Like how death claimed them? He marked them in red.

    Miles didn't want to hate red, he didn't want to associate it with so many bad things. The more he tried to relate it to the beautiful things in his life, the less he could look at them.

    In a way, red became his least favorite color. He'd never see it the same. Ever.

    But red was also Peter B's color. That and blue. He wondered if he had this problem. The color red has never been a problem.

    Miles started to have a reaction to certain shades of red. He asked his teacher to mark his paper in a different color. When she asked why, he delicately danced around the point. He avoided his favorite shoes and took down one of his posters.

    However Miles tried to use his red pen as often as he could. 'Exposure therapy' he told himself. That came to a quick stop when the pen broke and red spilled all over his sketchbook. Just like it spilled from the victims.

    He cried, cleaning it up. He hid the red mug he used to use all the time. When his parents asked where it went he just said "I don't know."

    Red would never be the same for him. Miles didn't like that something so common as a primary color was a trigger for him. Why did it have to be his  favorite color? Why did he have to see so much blood? What did the villains get from so much death?

    All questions that Miles would never get an answer to. He would instead scribble them in red into his sketchbook. Closing the book Miles stood up. He tried to leave his room. As he opened the door his mother held out a red mug. "Here, since your favorite one got lost!" She smiled.

    Miles smiled. "Thank you." Why did it have to be red?

Merry Whumpmas Day 5: Poison

Fandom: The Dragon Prince

Summary: Runaan leaves a poison on the table as he goes to grab something before leaving not knowing anyone was home. Ethari comes out of his workshop and decides he wants a drink.

  Assassins are careful. But sometimes being careful isn't enough. Sometimes you need to make sure your husband isn't home when you leave your poison next to his glass. The color of the liquids were that different.

    Ethari walked out of his workshop to realize he had forgotten his drink on the table. Runaan had almost forgotten his small knife he kept on him just in case.

    As he walked out to the dinning room where he had left his supplies, he paused for a moment. "I didn't know you were home."

    "Oh, I was in my workshop. Are you about to head out love?" Ethari asked as he set down his glass.

    Runaan looked at the glass. He looked at the one next to it and froze. His eyes locked on the two glasses as he realized that his husband had grabbed the wrong glass.

    "Ethari, sit down." He pulled out a chair at the table and pushed him into it.

    "Is everything okay?" the man asked.

    "No. You grabbed the wrong glass."

    Runaan's heart sank as he watched Ethari realize what had happened.

    "It's okay. Go get the antidote. I'll be fine here."

    The elf ran back to his closet. He had moved everything there when Rayla moved in. He tore it apart trying to find it.

    In the other room, Ethari started to feel the effects of the poison. He tried to stand to go help Runaan and to maybe help him calm down. He got a few feet before he collapsed. His breathing speed slightly as he sat against the table.

    A crash came from their room. Runaan pulled away from the object that fell. He looked at his shaking hand to see blood coming out of a large cut. He shook it off and looked back to the closet.

    Rayla hadn't moved in all that long ago and he hadn't had a chance to really organize everything yet. She took up a lot more time then Runaan had realized she would. He didn't mind most of the time but right now he almost resented taking her in.

    But even then he knew it wasn't her fault. As he grabbed for a vile at the top of the shelf, he thought about how he knew better then to leave something as deadly as poison on the table. He knew better then to assume it would be okay.

    The vile came into his grasp and he looked at the label on the bottom. He had found what he needed.

    Ethari couldn't see straight. He had a terrible headache and everything felt off center. Even though he knew he was staying still, everything felt like it was moving. The worst part was feeling tired. He felt so tired.

    When Runaan came into the room, Ethari hadn't noticed at first. He only saw him when he was a few feet in front of him.

    "Love?" He asked.

    "Drink this." Runaan put the small vile against Ethari's lips and tipped it some. The elf tried to take the glass but Runaan didn't let him.

    Slowly he started to recover. While he still couldn't see straight or think very well, Ethari took his husband's injured hand into his own. He looked at his, swaying and tried to get him to take care of it.

    At first Runaan didn't understand but slowly he got the point and grabbed a nearby towel and pressed it against his hand. "Is that better?"

    Ethari smiled. Runaan grabbed him and laid him down on the couch. He grabbed the trash can and put it next to them and held Ethari's hair when he threw up. He pulled the other back into the couch when he almost fell off.

    Another assassin walked into their home. He didn't even knock. He looked at Runaan confused. "Everything okay? You were supposed to meet up like thirty minutes ago."

    "I'm going to be late. If the time comes and you must leave, I will catch up."

    "Okay?" The elf sounded skeptical as he started to walk away.

    "Can you, find Rayla for me? Take her the coins on the counter and tell her to grab some bread from the market."

    "Don't want her home yet?" He asked.

    "Not yet."

    The assassin grabbed the coins and headed for the door. "I'll keep her distracted."

    "Thank you." Runaan looked back at the man in front of him. He sighed. This had never happened before. Normally he was more careful than that. He never should have left such a strong poison on the table.

    It was yours before Ethari came close to recovering. The assassin had done as he said he and had kept Rayla away from the home.

    "I'm so sorry" Runaan began. "I never should have left poison on the table. I was just going to grab something."

    "It's okay." Ethari spoke slowly and softly. "I probably should have looked."

    "No this is my fault. How are you feeling?"

    "Better then before."

    "Good."

    "You need to go right?"

    "I can stay."

    "No, you go ahead. I'll be okay."

    It took awhile before Runaan finally agreed to leave. He left the trash can by his side and bright Ethari a glass of water.

    "I'll be home soon. I love you." He kissed  Ethari's forehead and made his way to the door.

    "I love you too dear." Ethari laid back down on the couch. He grabbed the glass of water and took a sip of it. Then he set it back on the table and grabbed the book that was there. Taking the blanket into his hands, he pulled it over him and opened the book. At least he had a reason to read now.

Merry Whumpmas Day 1: Hospital

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Summary: Echo has to go to the hospital after cutting his hand open. Tech goes with him to help his stay calm as he tries not to think about Skako Minor.

    Echo hated hospitals. They scared him. They seemed to quite and to loud for his liking. He hated being around them but even more he hated being in them.

    Pabu was a beautiful place. Even that wouldn't ease Echo's mind as Tech and him walked towards their hospital.

    "Are you sure we have to go?" Echo asked.

    "The laseration in your palm is deep. It will need stitches. Maybe be more careful around knives next time." Tech kept walking forwards. "It should be a simple procedure. They will numb your hand and stitch it. You will have to come back to get the stitches out."

    "Why can't we wrap it?"

    "Bacta is not something overly easy to come by so they need to preserve it. So do we."

    "Alright."

    Hospitals were to clean, to blank, and to bright. Even though Echo didn't remember much from when he was with the Techno Union, he did remember some things.

    It was cold and white. It smelled too clean. Echo shook his head. He tried to clear his mind. As they arrived the clone paused. "I don't think I can go in."

    "I understand this may be difficult for you. Trauma is not easy to overcome. We will take it slowly. Or at least we will try. Can I provide some form of comfort to you?" Tech walked up to be right beside him. Despite his slightly robotic tone, Echo knew he was genuine.

    Nothing came to mind. The domino tried to find anything that might help. even in the slightest. But there was nothing. "Just stay close?" He shook.

    "I intend to." Tech started to walk forward.

Echo had been right. Exam rooms always looked the same. He sat in his, trying not to cry as a droid came in to look at his hand. Tech intervened quickly and asked if there was a living doctor there. The droid seemed offended but Tech didn't seem to notice. Still he went to grab a doctor.

Just as Echo had feared, all he could think about was the Techno Union. He thought about how the only memories he had were before he was put in the tube he was found in. Memories filled with pain and suffering.

Memories of droids that had stood over him, putting him back together. The few thoughts he had had been wondering if he should have survived or about what happened to the others; what would happen to him. The pain, though only a memory, had been the worst thing he had ever physically felt.

That pain could never compare to the pain that would come with healing from what had happened to him. That pain could never compare to the pain of losing your brothers.

Even now he wasn't completely healed. It felt like those droid's scalpels just kept cutting. Maybe he would never heal? Maybe those wounds would never scar.

Those droids had stood in a clean, white room. When thinking about it, it only ever reminded him of hospital rooms. Sometimes the people nearby cities or towns would let the clones use their hospitals. Other than that, Echo had never been in a hospital.

But now he knew why he feared them so much. They looked just like that room he had been put back together in. Even if his time on Skako Minor was a blur, he knew that this was what the room looked like.

A chill went down Echo's metal spine. He looked over at Tech who stood near the door. He wanted to call for him but his voice hung in his throat. The tears he had been trying so hard to hold back started to slide down his face.

Tech turned around and walked to his side. Unsure of what to say, he just sat with him. He had learned that he wasn't very good at handling current emotional reactions and crying was one of them. Echo reached for his brother and cried into his shoulder.

The doctor opened the door but stopped. She stood in the doorway, confused and slightly concerned. "Is everything alright?" She asked kindly.

"My brother suffers with trauma related to rooms that look similar to this one. Let him calm down." Tech never even looked at her. He just, somewhat awkwardly, held Echo.

Soon he was able to think a little better. He moved from his place in Techs arms to look at the doctor. She had gone to get him some ice chips and had just gotten back. "ice chips?" She asked.

"Sure." Echo didn't question why she had brought him ice chips of all things. He reached for one but hissed as he remembered why he was there. Tech took the cup and ate one of the pieces of ice.

"Let's get that taken care of." The doctor talked to Echo through the whole thing. It helped being able to focus on something else. When she was done, they were sent to the front to check out and then they could leave.

As they left the building Tech spoke. "That could have been worse" he said.

"Yeah. It could have been."

AI-less Whumptober Day 10: Mouth Stitched Shut (Alt Prompt 21)

Fandom: The Dragon Prince

Summary: Finnergrin gets tired of Callum trying to use magic to kill him, so he takes it into his own hands.

  "Fulminis!" Callum shouted. He aimed the attack at Finnergrin. A strong hand grabbed his wrist and the lightning shot up towards the sky. Then the world went dark.

    When Callum woke up he looked around. He was back under the deck of the Sea Legs. "Great" he mumbled.

    Finnergrin removed his feet from his desk and started to walk over to him. "That was quite the show you put on." He pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small box with a gold trim. "As much as I would like to see that again, I think this will be for the better."

    Callum fought against his chains as Finnergrin opened the box. Whatever was in it was clearly not a good thing. He was surprised when he pulled out a needle.

    "What's that for?" Callum almost wanted to laugh but he knew he'd regret it if he did.

    "This is a needle. In this box I have stitches. If you can't talk, you're no threat." Yep, not funny.

    Callum tried to fight back. He pulled against his chains until his wrists burned. A crew member was instructed to come down to hold the mage in place.

    Finnergrin kneeled on Callum's legs. He loomed over him. He took the needle and the crew member snapped his head into place. "please don't do this! I'll give you the spell!" Callum shook.

    "The time for that has passed my boy. You reap what you sow." The boy tried to raise his legs. He tried to pull his body forward. When he ran out of options he tried to use magic.

    Before he got the chance to open his mouth, Finnergrin had already grabbed his bottom lip and was about to make the first stitch.

    The silver needle met with Callum's pail skin. It glided through his flesh. His eyes water both out of fear and pain.

    He never stopped fighting. As the needle went through his skin, he kept trying to escape. Tears fell from his eyes but they never softened. Hate and anger and a hit of fear was the only story they told. He tried to open his mouth but Finnergrin moved his other hand to hold his jaw.

    The stitches glided though his skin. They silenced him. Callum didn't like being silenced. It hurt sure but that would be temporary. This, this could be permanent. He had no intent of letting it be.

    When Finnergrin finished the last stitch he chuckled. "I admire your determination. He grabbed a rag from his desk and dipped it in some water.

    The mage noticed the taste of blood for the time. The only thing he could do was swallow it. Callum started to wonder what was next. He couldn't eat, he couldn't drink. At least not yet. He wouldn't let this be what took him down. He still needed to take down Aaravos, bring Rayla's parents back, and see Ezren grow up.

     Finnergrin put the rage on Callum's face and held it there for a moment. He took it away and looked at the crewmate. "Take him to see his friends."

    The crewmate unchained him from the poll and took him above deck. Callum stood angerly. His shoulders never dropped. His eyes were still filled with anger. Being angry felt easier than being scared.

    "Callum!" Ezren screamed.

    "What did you do to him?!" Rayla yelled, trying to go to him.

    "Are you okay?" Soren asked, trying to remain calm.

    Callum nodded. When he tried to say he was fine, he felt the stitches tug. "What's happen'?" Velads asked. 

    "Callum's mouth has been sawn shut" Soren told him.

    "Well, that's a problem."

    "No, it thought it was fine!" Rayla scowled.

    Callum tried to stop them. Ezren saw and calmed them down. Mostly.

    "It's going to be okay." Soren looked at the others. "He's going to be okay."

    No one knew what to do. Finnergrin came back from below deck and smiled. "Like my hand work?"

    "Why you little-" Rayla started before looking over at Ezren and chuckling nervously.

    Callum tried to walk over to his family. He couldn't reach them. It was starting to get dark. If they didn't find a way out Aaravos would be released and everything they love would be thrown into chaos. But what could they do? They had to think fast. Time never seemed to be on their side.

Part 2: _____

Merry Whumpmas Day 3: Fever

Fandom: The Dragon Prince

Summary: Ezren gets sick

  It had been a while since Ezren or Callum had gotten sick. That was good. The Opeli came to talk to Callum. Ezren may be the king but he is still a child. Children are fragile.

    "High mage, your brother has fallen ill. He is in his room." Opeli informed him. Callum closed his book and walked to Ezren's room. He knew he would really only be able to keep him company.

    As he opened the door Bait greeted him. He walked over to Ezren's bed and sat down. The boy shifted from his place and leaned against Callum.

    Ezren was so warm. His skin felt like it was burning. "hey Ez, how are you doing?"

    "I don't feel well." Ezren muttered.

    "You'll be okay Ez. Get some rest."

Soon Ezren had fallen asleep. Callum leaned against his head broad and sighed. He pulled out a book and started to read it.

Opeli quietly came into the room with a glass of water and a small bucket of water that had a rag on the side of it. She placed them beside the bed and nodded to Callum. He smiled softly as she left the room, closing the door almost silently.

Almost an hour later Ezren started to stir. He muttered about something before waking up slightly. "Callum, can you get Dad?" He asked innocently.

Callum tried to figure out what to say. He was delirious. The fever had started to cause painful dreams. "He's busy but I'm here. Try to go back to sleep okay?"

Tears welled in the older brother's eyes as he reached for the rag and rang it out. He pressed the cloth gently against Ezren's head and shortly the boy was back asleep. Callum put the rage back in the bucket and leaned back against the headboard.

Tears fell softly from his eyes as he wondered about what would be different about their lives if Harrow had survived. Maybe Ezren's only family wouldn't be a mage and a general who is hours away. Maybe he wouldn't be the one who has to take care of Ezren.

It wasn't that Callum minded. He would do anything for him. But a father seemed better than a brother. They weren't very old and were already alone.

Of course there were doctors that could take care of Ezren. He was the king of Katolis after all. But for now all they could do is keep him comfortable. It was just a virus that would go away soon enough.

Still Callum worried. He did a lot of that as of lately. He worried about the people he was around. He couldn't help it.

Again Ezren stirred. Before he could wake up, Callum placed the damp rag on his head and started to whisper softly. He whispered words of comfort to him and soon the boy had settled again.

The rag hit the water as Callum closed his eyes. Hopefully Ezren would feel better soon.

Winter Whumperland Day 3: George Bailey (We've lost everything we've had!"

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Summary: After the events of season two, Echo talks to Phee on Pabu

Phee hadn't expected to only see three people get off the Marauder. In fact she didn't expect to see the Marauder so soon. It was too soon.

"Where's Brown eyes and the kid?" She asked.

Wrecker tried to answer but looked like he might cry. Echo stood in front of her but Hunter bet him to it. "Techs gone and Omega was taken."

"Gone? Taken? What?" Phee hadn't expected that. She was unsure of what to say now.

"He's dead. Empire took her." Echo spoke. He looked down and realized she had probably already known what that meant.

"Do you know anything about where she could have been taken?" Phee tried to stay calm. She had really liked Tech. Actually she had liked him a lot. Now he was gone, without so much as a warning.

"No." Hunter walked passed her and to a set of stairs. "I'll be back."

Wrecker walked over to Echo and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Me too. I'm going to find Shep, fill him in." Then he walked away.

Echo just stood there with Phee. He wasn't sure what to do anymore.

"It's going to be okay." Phee tried to assure him.

"We've lost everything we've had! We've lost our home, our purpose, our brothers, our employer! It doesn't seem like it's going to be 'okay'!" Echo started to pace a little.

"You have each other."

"Really? Because I'm pretty sure Tech's in the bottom of a ravine, Omega and Crosshair are who knows where, and Hunter and Wrecker have gone off on their own too! That doesn't seem like we have each other!"

Phee took a step back, stunned. "Don't you have your rebel friend? Or anyone else? Maybe some you knew from before?" She tried.

"Rex is too busy. The rest are dead, they are all dead. I told you, we've lost everything." Echo stopped and stood in front of her. He tried to keep tears from falling down his face. "I've lost everything but them. I can't-" his voice broke, "I can't lose them too."

"Oh honey." Phee moved and hung Echo. "You won't. We'll find her okay? Reach out to your friend, Rex right? Call him. Even if you just talk to him. It might help."

"Maybe you're right." Echo raised his scomp up and commed Rex. He spoke with him for a while before he started to feel better. Rex told him he would be there to help find Omega and Crosshair and that he was sorry about Tech.

The cyborg walked back up to Phee when he was done. She had made herself a cup of Tech's favorite tea and had sat in the chair by the beach he had called his.

"You know, you're not the only one who has lost something."

Echo hadn't expected to hear her say that. He stood beside her as she started to talk.

"Why do you think I'm here? I love this place but I didn't always have a place here. I didn't lose my family exactly the same way, at least not all of them. I thought that Tech was finally getting the hint but, I guess we'll never know." Echo looked down before looking back at her.

"I know. I'm sorry. I just- there's only so much you can deal with before you have to tell someone. I shouldn't have blown up at you I just, can't do another death." Echo sat beside the chair, ignoring the one he could have sat in on the other side of Phee.

"I understand, just try to be calmer next time?"

"Hopefully there won't be a next time."

Phee smiled softly, "your right. Let's hope. Now we should probably find the other two parts of you."