Tw Panicking - Tumblr Posts
HE’S DIZZY AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME FROM RELIEF. Well, Michael thinks it’s relief. It could just be exhaustion, those long angry nights catching up with his emotions, or maybe surprise at having anyone (let alone his father!) on his side. But no matter, because tears nip at his eyes and Michael turns away to the cabinet indicated to hide them, scuffing roughly at his eyes with his bloodied cuffs. Any comfort, no matter how basic, is unfamiliar […] But in a situation like this, he could practically fall at his father’s feet in praise. A man of devout faith to a god.
“No, it was— it was slow,” he says, just as drawn out, like he’s not really there at all, “he— I didn’t even know him much, and I just heard him saying shi— STUFF ABOUT OUR FAMILY. Stuff about you and me. I just wanted to make him stop.”
The cabinet is opened, but his arms are occupied with dirty, bloodied rug. In this state — a little numb, a little dazed, Michael blindly copies his father, rolling up his already sullied sleeves and dropping the rug at the side of the room. Tunes out the repugnant tang of blood and the sight of the body. It’s the little things, the unthinking obedience, that helps him cope with the next words.
“I just… lost it, I guess. And I didn’t even realise ‘til halfway through, didn’t realise how bad I’d hurt him.”
Rug, discarded. Sleeves, pushed back. Michael falters briefly, and keeps his eyes firmly averted from the corpse as he opens the cabinet. He’d punched until the red mist cleared and the throbbing in his hands made him cry out, and then he’d panicked and floundered at the mess he’d made.
All of you Aftons, the boy had spat, you’re all monsters, and everybody knows it.
The queasiness returns at the memory, and Michael lurches over to his father with cleaning products like he’s forgotten how to walk. William is so nonchalant and vaguely pleased about the whole situation that he’s beginning to feel some of that sought-after delight of killing (alongside the disgust and dread).
Well. Of his father’s praise and attention. But he won’t realize the difference between the two for another couple of months.
William’s last words steady him. Breathe. His chest heaves up automatically, and it’s ridiculous how much easier it feels now that he’s been told to do it — breaths jerky, but less panicked, Michael shoots his father a look. It oozes more gratitude and more positive emotion than he’s aimed at the man in several years.
“Thank you. Thank you. I’m okay. I promise I’m okay. I just— didn’t know what to do, and I was so angry. It— It felt good.” A lie, but he’s seeking approval. It feels like the right thing to say. “To just… let it all out.” (Now that’s not a lie.)
CONTINUED. / @behindslaughter
"...Sora?" (TW nightmare, angst, panic, body horror)
MC - Roxas
(Not a ship)
(short story/context under the cut)
The dream Roxas was having was getting weird, weirder than most.
He had suddenly found himself in a dark area devoid of any people or objects except for a crescent moon shining far above his head. The ground he was on was invisible with a thin layer of water on top of it. Roxas couldn't help but wander and occasionally call for someone, but no matter where he chose to go, he found nothing. Just the same void.
At least, that's what he thought for a moment.
"Roxas? Is that you?"
That voice! Roxas spun around to see his sudden visitor. The joy and excitement he felt at that moment, however, immediately drained from his body as shock settled in.
"It really is you! I thought I was seeing things for a moment, haha... Roxas?"
That was Sora, alright, but something was terribly, terribly wrong. Those parts of his body should not be crystallized like that. His fingers shouldn't look that sharp. Those tears in his eyes shouldn't be there. He shouldn't look so fragile, so in pain, so... hysterical.
What happened to you?! Roxas wanted to scream, but he couldn't bring himself to utter a sound.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sora asked with a nervous smile. "It's just me, Roxas."
It doesn't look like it.
"I-I'm not gonna hurt you."
How could I know that?!
"Why are you suddenly so scared of me? Was it something I said?" Sora's voice was quivering as tears began to fall from his one unchanged eye.
Oh god, wake up! There's no way this is real!
Sora looked horrified suddenly, like he just heard his former Nobody's thoughts.
"Wait... Roxas, don't!" he cried, breaking into a run with one hand outstretched. "NO!"
Roxas screamed, and his body jerked violently from his position on the bed. His eyes flew open as he gasped for air. He was back in his room, and from the darkness of the place and the moonlight filtering in through the windows, it was still the dead of night.
Sora... What happened to you?