#invalidating trauma

😭 - A shoulder to cry on

CW: lashing out at another whumpee, invalidating trauma, referenced captivity and torture

"I can't do this anymore." The words were soft, but they carried across the bedroom. "I don't belong here anymore."

Sapphire looked up from where he was taking the decorative pillows off his- their bed. "What are you talking about?" he asked, immediately on guard.

Carnelian gave a huff of breath, still not turning around from where he stood over their dresser. "I'm talking about this. Us. This house. This life. I- I don't fit in here anymore."

Sapphire turned, focusing all his attention on the other man. "Listen," he said. "I know- I know you suffered, what you went through, I can't imagine what that was like. But I'm here for you, we all are."

Carnelian laughed humorlessly, finally turning around. His face was cold, blank. "You're right," he scoffed. "You- you don't know what it was like. No, no matter what you went through, I went through worse. And I can't even talk-" His voice broke and before the first tear even rolled down his face, Sapphire was there, enveloping him in his arms, gently wiping his tears away.

"You can," Sapphire said gently. "You can talk about this. If not to me, then Tris. You know he specializes in, in this sort of thing. Or even someone else. J said she could get someone else here, someone who doesn't live in the house."

Carnelian crumpled in Sapphire's arms, letting the tears flow freely now. "I know," he whispered. "I know that, logically. But every time I try to- to say anything, it's like my throat closes up and I can't breathe."

Sapphire gently carded through his hair as the smaller man folded into him. "You also don't have to talk. You can take as long as you need for the words to come. Trust me, you should've heard what I was like when I first got here."