aftermath | for thomas accounts

[butfortheirvirtue]

[It had all happened in a rush, so fast that in his exhausted state he had barely registered what was happening until it was over. One minute Thomas was leaning over him, guarding him, and the next the door was being thrown open and their father was in the room, pulling Thomas away, throwing him to the ground so he could rush Chris out of the room and bolt the door behind them.

(He remembers vaguely wondering, in past weeks, why there had been a lock installed on the outside of Thomas' door.)

He slept for two days, only ever waking to use the bathroom and to eat (and even for meals he didn't leave his bed). It's dangerous, evidently, to feed an incubus during the days after his first meal from a conscious human. He's lucky (according to the internet, at least) that he was only out for two days.

He'd have preferred to sleep longer, honestly. Because being awake for the third day meant he heard everything that happened in the room next to his. He heard the scratching at the walls, the body thrown against the door, the constant chorus of please Chris please let me out feed me Chris please I can't stand it please Chris I'm going to die.

(it was hard, not to let him, when he heard that)

(even if he knew what would happen if he did)

Today is the fourth day, and the noises have stopped. It's safe, Chris has read (and Byron has confirmed), to open the door.

So he unlatches the door now, bearing a lunch tray (he figures that Thomas will appreciate food that isn't pushed under the door), and steps inside.]

Comments

[andafighter]

[...he puts the tray aside so he can move Thomas into his lap, put his arms around him.

(he seems so small right now, so fragile)

(he needs protection)]

...is this really what you want?

[He shifts so his hair falls on either side of Thomas, forms a curtain between him and the scratched-up room.]

Because I don't...

[A deep breath.]

I can't think about you feeding from other people.

[fiveiv321]

[ He shouldn't. He should-- he should pull away, should stay away from Chris to make sure he doesn't hurt him.

But he leans in, instead.

Leans in and clings on tighter, wings folding in tight so that he can get in closer.

(he doesn't want this)

(but he wants to hurt Chris less)

He curls his tail in close, too. ]

I--

I won't hurt you. I won't.

I have to... I have to keep you safe, you're special, I can't let anything hurt you...

[andafighter]

[He closes his eyes, pulls his legs up a little so he can curl a bit around Thomas.

(he can't let him go)

(can't let him leave and take from someone else)]

I...

Even if you did. Hurt me by accident.

I'd...

[He struggles with words.]

...it would be better than trusting someone else with you.

[fiveiv321]

[ Thomas shakes his head, tries to pull himself away from Chris.

(it's hard)

(Chris is holding him)

(and he doesn't want to let go)

(he's not supposed to let go, it hurts it hurts it hurts he's not supposed to try to leave Chris when Chris is what he needs) ]

No. No, I... I can't hurt you.

I won't.

[andafighter]

[...for a moment, he's at a loss. He lets Thomas pull away, if he needs to, as much as he needs to.

(he can't explain how important it is to him, that Thomas stay with him)

(how important it is that he doesn't just feed from strangers)

After a moment, though, something occurs to him.]

...it never hurt me before, Thomas.

Not even the first time I was awake.

[fiveiv321]

I hurt you the last time though. And I-- I won't hurt you again.

[ He pulls away completely.

(it hurts)

(his legs are shaking and it hurts and he's still hungry - both ways, when he's only had that one piece of bread to eat - but he pulls away completely and stands up from the bed) ]

I--

I can't.

I'm going to shower and then I... I need to go out.

[andafighter]

[...he stares, for a moment, and then just...lies back on the bed, rests his head on the shredded sheets.

(he shouldn't have told him)

(he should have kept it from him)

(he doesn't know what to do)]