DisasterAce

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PROLOGUE DONE. for more details on whats happening next in this comic go down into the read more

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close ups (+ notes) \/

The kids don't know what happened at first because Ryland left so quickly, but they are eventually told by whatever substitute teacher they have that Mr. Grace's husband was hurt and he's going to be taking some time off to care for him. They don't get much more explanation than that, but the kids do absolutely make Simon get well cards regardless. I imagine Colt probably swings by the school to pick them up (bc Ryland ain't leaving that hospital room until Simon does, and Simon is in there for A While) and Simon Totally Doesn't Cry when Colt drops them off (yes he does. No one's ever given him a get well card and now he has. So many. He's never getting rid of them).

When Ryland does come back to teaching he doesn't tell the kids much else about what happened. Just that his husband was hurt very badly, but he's doing much better now. It's not until Simon is visiting the classroom (not for any specific reason, he just needs out of the house, to not be alone with his thoughts, and the school has been weirdly lax about letting him visit as long as he's not disrupting Ryland's class) where the kids realize exactly *how* badly he was hurt. Bc. You know. Last time they saw him he had two arms, not one. It's a bit of a slap to the face to the kids and a startlingly somber moment, and when one kid is finally brave enough to ask what happened, Simon, realizing he has the opportunity to be the funniest motherfucker on the planet, tells them "eel monster ripped it off."

It's...a weirdly healing moment for Simon.

And for Ryland, too.

The second (enginner/scientist/pilot) backup trio AU

None of you guys are indulging in the possibility of all 3 of them being dragged against their will AND with temporary amnesia so as always i gotta do everything myself/j

simon recovers slowly, at first he doesn’t fully realize his arm is gone. he knows, he remembers it being teared off, but his brain can’t quite make the connection, not yet. and ryland has to watch him suffer the same way he did. has to watch him cry over pain in a limb that isn’t there anymore. has to watch him grunt and swear in frustration as he tries to do things and realizes that his autonomy is gone. yeah, ryland knows that feeling.

one day, he sees simon trying desperately to tie his hair, and failing. ryland slowly approaches. simon isn’t good at accepting help, he says it’s humiliating. i’m a grown man. so ryland’s voice is soft when he asks "can i help you?"

simon nods. ryland grabs the hair tie and push simon’s hair back in a ponytail, making sure he doesn’t hurt him. when he’s done, simon mutters a "thank you" and ryland sits next to him.

a beat goes by before he rolls up his pants, extending his right leg so it’s in simon’s line of sight. ryland watches attentively as simon’s gaze goes to his prosthetic leg and his eyes slowly widen. his mouth opens, but no sounds come out. ryland says nothing; not yet. he bents down and unhooks his prosthetic, exposing his stump. simon’s gaze finally goes up to his face, his eyebrows knitted in both shock and confusion, and ryland smiles.