#king writes

Nurse!Gerard coming into your hospital room and upping your pain meds until youre too doped up to properly process your surroundings

Nurse!Gerard wheeling your bed, along with your IV, down the hall and into a secluded operating room

Nurse!Gerard setting out all kinds of tools- knives, tongs, blades, skin retractors- the whole nine yards

Nurse!Gerard peeling away your ratty old hospital gown, admiring your naked body

Nurse!Gerard selecting the sharpest blade and slowly pressing it into the soft skin of your stomach

Nurse!Gerard drawing the scalpel across your skin expertly, smiling as pinpricks of blood spring up in its wake

Nurse!Gerard driving the blade in again, deeper this time

Nurse!Gerard watching you gasp and sputter in pain as she grabs the skin retractors and forces the wound open

Nurse!Gerard cutting again, delighting in your slurred yowls of discomfort

Nurse!Gerard snapping on blue sterile gloves and plunging her hand into your gut

Nurse!Gerard shifting her hand around just to feel your warm guts pulse and squirm around her

Nurse!Gerard pulling out the fleshy tubes of your small intestine, gently squeezing it between her fingers and grinning when blood and wetness oozes from it

Nurse!Gerard sinking her hands in again, pulling more and more

Nurse!Gerard forcing Armodafinil down your throat to keep you awake through the entire process

Nurse!Gerard giggling in excitement as more and more blood spurts out and pools on the bed, dripping to the floor

Nurse!Gerard finding herself unable to resist a little taste of your insides, peppering the gaping wound with sucks and kisses

Nurse!Gerard contentedly removing organ after organ until you can’t take it anymore

Nurse!Gerard still smiling and watching you fondly as you bleed out under her hands, unable to do anything to stop it

Nurse!Gerard pushing your organs back into your corpse, delighting in the way she can slot everything back into the wetness it came from

When you wake up the next morning your body is warm, not uncomfortably so but it's noticeable. You don't pay it any mind and grab your phone, pausing when you notice what day it is.

Oh. Right. It's April 1st.

What a joke huh? You were born on April Fool's Day. Almost like it was one more fuck you from the universe of just how unwanted you were, a joke that you were born, the freak that's two different colors.

Before your thoughts could spiral any further, there's rapid knocking on your door and twin calls of your name. The knocking doesn't let up until you shout that the door's unlocked, they can stop knocking! They know it doesn't lock; you hadn't gotten around to actually replacing it just yet.

You hear it open and see Nirei's face poke around the corner, he looks exasperated as he scolds you for not yet fixing the door, how it was dangerous! Please, as if anything could ever get the jump on you, you slept too lightly for anyone to try and break in. You told him as much as you got up and started putting your futon away, besides it's not like there's anything in here worth steal... you trail off as you think of the gifts your classmates gave you.

Curtains... a kettle... a weight... the table, gas burner, cookware and tableware...

You're silent for a moment before you avert your gaze and mutter an apology, say that you'll look into replacing the lock soon. Nirei looks confused at the sudden change in attitude before Suo (that bastard!) chimes in with an all-too amused grin on his face, saying that you're embarrassed to admit that you cherish the gifts everyone's given you.

You can feel your ears and face glow bright red as you snap at them, demanding to know why they're even here so damn early?! Nirei's face lights up as ushers you to hurry up and get ready, that you were late to get to Cafe Pothos! He's pushing you towards your own bathroom as you question what the hell you were "late" for? You had no plans today!

Suo takes over in putting your futon away, simply stating that it was your birthday and that everyone (everyone?) was waiting for you to arrive. How did they even know your birthday was today, you sure as hell didn't tell anyone? (It never mattered in the past but... then again you suppose you should've expected this to a degree) Suo seems to read your thoughts and says they got it from the school staff, saying that despite a handful of birthdays coming and going, yours never came up.

You should be angry, or at least annoyed that they've once again butt into your business but you can't bring yourself to be. Not when Nirei is excitedly tugging your hand towards and out the door while Suo shuts it behind you three, listening off everything he wanted to do to make sure today was special. He's rambling as you make your way to Pothos and as soon as you were within reach, the door bursts open and you're grabbed from all sides. A chorus of HAPPY BIRTHDAY (you can clearly hear Tsugeura above everyone else) rings out in your ears.

Anzai has you in a loose chokehold, Kurita is nudging you with his foot, Takanashi pats you on the head, Kakiuchi has enough sense to give you some semblance of space and Kiryuu has his phone out recording. All of them are teasingly berating you for keeping your birthday a secret from the rest of the class, it reminds you of when you realized how warm the human body is.

You jump up and shout at them to let you go as they push you into Pothos to another chorus of various cries of you finally being present. There're balloons, streamers, a banner that wishes you a happy birthday and everyone is wearing at least one stupid looking party hat.

You notice a small pile of gifts tucked away in the corner while your upperclassmen take turns ruffling your hair and patting any part of your body they can reach. Kotoha comes out and snaps at them to stop being so loud in the morning and sighs before wishing you a happy birthday as well.

Umemiya is quick to proclaim he wants to give you his present first, though while he's searching Kaji comes up to you and holds out a single lollipop to your utter confusion. You look between the candy and him a couple of times before slowly reaching out to it, he doesn't even say anything and just hums with a nod before going back to sit with his vice captains. Did he switch places with one of Tsubaki's vice's or something?

You look at the lollipop and tear off the wrapper, humming once the peach flavor coats your tongue. Hiragi chuckles and at your questioning eyebrow raise he explains that Kaji rarely shares his lollipops, let alone gives away his cherished peach flavored ones. Kaji's hackles raise and he snaps back that it was all he had on hand, it wasn't any deeper than that! (You notice the candy he has in his mouth is red.)

You're startled out of your thoughts when Tsubaki pulls you into a bone-crushing hug, cooing about how excited they were about spoiling you rotten for your birthday and you can hear Umemiya whining about not having gotten to give the first gift to you.

The warmth from that morning comes rushing back and you suddenly realize what that feeling was.

Love.

Love from your classmates, love from your new family (could you really call them that?)

Love from the people of Makochi that you only saw in passing.

Love from people you hadn't even met yet.

(Maybe... even a long-forgotten love. All-encompassing as you were held in someone's arms. How they held you as if you were something so precious to them, as if being away from you for a single second was the hardest thing they could ever do.)

It was pouring out of everything in the small cafe, in the small gestures you could see everyone doing, in the fact that they were here today in the small cafe (even Sugishita's scowling face seems to have lessened a little).

A small smile appears on your face before you realize it's there as one thought floats through your mind.

Despite their protests upon returning to their hideout, especially since Itto's dangerous bean allergy being abused that same day leaving him feeling super sorry for himself, the gang quickly changes their mind especially when Akira notices the sublime smell coming from the kitchen!

You cook meals for them every night, its not much, but it's cheap, hearty, and the most delicious thing they've had in months! This daily ritual becomes like family time, and each member starts helping out around the place after being shown by you, how small gestures can really add up.

Gossip spreads around town about how they are just that little more humble than they used to be, Itto gets into a little less trouble, and spends his mora a bit more wisely, usually on things he knows will help the hideout, or make you happy!

Itto needed no convincing to die for you if you were in trouble, he would do so for anyone who needed help! That's just how this oni rolls! But each day he grows a little more smitten, and the unsubtle jabs from his crew were always brushed off with embarrassment "Hah, c'mon guys! no need to embarrass y/n like that!" He'll stammer, before challenging one to an arm wrestle. But his blush gets deeper and deeper each time.

It's the day he brings Takuya home that you rush up to hug him. He had been gone for weeks, locked up by the tenryou commission, with his gang, for assaulting them to protect the Blue Oni's pride. The boys show the blue horned oni around, giving Itto a moment alone with you.

"ahah! hey there little one, didn't miss lil' ole me did ya?" he laughs, one hand patting you on the shoulder and the other rubbing the back of his head, trying his best to hide his blush. Your arms squeeze tighter around him. You'd missed his stupidly loud laughter, his obnoxious challenges and gambling issues, his wayward glances as they all ate your food, flashing you a wink as if to say 'thanks'. Itto was a burning sun in your life, he lit up every room he entered and loved every life that he came across. So spending such a long time without him? you had fallen into a boring routine, work, and coming home to the empty hideout, cooking for one, and missing every noisy soul who made you sometimes want to gag them.

You didn't even realise you'd started crying until Itto crouched down out of your grasp and took your hands. Stupid Oni being so tall.. "Woah.. hold on there.." The oni hushes you, cupping your cheek with a gentle touch, his clawed fingertips barely caressing your hairline. "You don't have to cry lil one, I'm back." He smiles genuinely, a little less goofy and more genuine and somber than you've seen him in a long time. "I missed you" You whisper, holding his hand against your cheek as you watch him inch closer to you, your vision clearing in time to see streaks of red and white, his beautiful markings and snow white hair nothing but a blur as his lips meet your own, gentle and yet surprisingly forceful. Itto draws back shortly after, thick lashes fluttering open to gaze at your still surprised face. You cant help but feel the heat from your cheeks travel lower as you catch a foreign spark in the demons blood red eyes, that alluring ruby so dark, so.. ravenous. "I missed you too.. little one." Seconds later you're hoisted into his arms bridal style. "Outta the way, Oni comin' through!" He roars to his men who had been peeking around the corner. There was something guttural and beastial to his voice, undertones of something dark that made them scatter as you are taken to his private quarters.

Dave had his days.

There were days where he could swear he was better, where he could come to a moderate acceptance of the fact that he was blind, where he could cry, where he could maybe even consider doing things like using a cane or reading braille, where his bro was just a distant memory and not even a consideration.

But then there were other days. Days where he ended up accidentally insulting other blind people, where he couldn’t even tell anyone that anything was wrong at all for fear of seeming uncool, days where he could almost hear him again.

Today was seeming to be one of those days, and it was only 3 in the morning.

He shot up in bed, gasping for breath. He could hear Karkat sleeping next to him, breathing softly with the occasional grumble that almost sounded like a growl. He chuckled to himself. Slowly he got up, careful to not wake Karkat up. He felt like he couldn’t breathe, like he was trapped. He made his way towards the door, with his hands out to make sure he didn’t bump into something. With his hands on the wall, he made his way into the living room and started pacing in front of the couch.

It had been 7 years since the cops had raided Bro’s house for coke and had found out about his situation. After that, he bounced around in foster care for 3 years before the Lalondes adopted him. By all counts, he should be happy, content, and adjusted. Rose had done her usual psychoanalyzing and had tried to get him to ‘talk about it’ and, heaven forbid, cry. Roxy had tried to get him to use a cane, read braille, feel faces, the usual blind things. But none of those would have been very effective after the first year out.

He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. Pacing wasn’t doing any good. He still felt trapped, and he still felt terrified. He had to find something, he had to do something… The roof. The roof might work. With his hands on the wall, he made his way out of the apartment, down the hallway, and up the stairs to the roof. He had to get out, he had to get fresh air at least.

A year after the raid, something else had come in the form of a news article. Bro had been supposedly been mugged, stabbed, and killed by someone named Jack Noir. Dirk, his only cousin he stayed in contact with, had read him the article, and everything stopped. He had asked to go see the body, or at least be there to tell. He had felt the knife, and felt the stab wounds, and everything had changed. He couldn’t abandon everything Bro taught him, couldn’t just forget it. He was dead. He was dead, and Dave couldn’t forget every lesson, every idea his Bro had ever taught him. Dirk had tried to tell him that it didn’t matter, that it was still toxic, and he could still move on and grow, but that wasn’t true. He couldn’t move on, it wasn’t toxic, and of course it mattered because he was dead. He was dead, and if he moved on and forgot everything he taught him, he would be gone.

He opened the door to the roof and felt the cool night air hit his face. The cool breeze was a nice change from the hot, humid air that suffocated him back in Texas like a tangible weight, but he felt his throat close anyway. Hot tears welled in his eyes as he tried desperately to blink them away.

“Striders don’t cry. Striders don’t cry. Striders don’t cry!” Dave choked out in a desperate attempt to save himself.

Despite his efforts, everything was way too much. He could hear the air conditioning unit’s whirring growl as the fan blades spun in an all too familiar cycle. He could feel the air, despite the temperature difference, blow through his hair and past his face. He struggled to remind himself that this wasn’t Texas, that he was 20 and in college, that Bro was dead, but nothing worked. Everything was too similar for anything too work.

Shameful fear rushed through his 10-year-old mind as he raised his fists. Bro had asked him to come up here, which meant that it was another lesson. He kept his fists near his chest and turned his head, listening for Bro to move, but the only thing he could hear was the AC unit. He couldn’t hear him, he didn’t know where he was. He could be right in front of him, ready to strike, and he was terrified. He ran for the only sound that he could hear, but two steps in and he was met with a painful impact to the left side of his face, knocking him to the ground.

“Can’t run away, bro,” called the deep, rasp voice of his Bro.

Hot blood rolled down hid face from his nose. He tried to wipe it away with his hand, but he doubted it did any good. He backed up against the unit, hot tears welling in his eyes. He muttered to himself that Striders didn’t cry, repeating himself several times. He raised his hands in a futile attempt to guard his face, expecting another blow to continue the lesson.

“Dave?” a higher pitched, slightly nasal-y voice called. Karkat.

Dave was shocked back to the present with a gasp. Karkat was awake.

“Dave, are you okay?” he continued.

“I’m fine,” Dave grumbled in response.

“Well, it’s 3 am, you’re on the roof instead of in bed, I found you shielding your face, and you’re shaking,” Karkat retorted.

“I’m fine,” Dave repeated.

“I can stay here if you want me to,” Karkat tried.

“No, you have class tomorrow, I’m fine,” Dave responded, standing up.

“It’s just another lecture, I can get the notes from Egbert,” Karkat provided.

“No, you need to be there, I’ll be fine,” Dave told him.

“Fine, but we could call Dirk or Roxy, they don’t have class,” Karkat said.

“I- Yeah. Yeah, okay,” Dave conceded.

Karkat put his hand on his arm, silently inviting him to a hug. Dave obliged.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s okay,” Karkat whispered comfortingly into his ear.

Dave buried his face into Karkat’s shoulder, and for the first time in 15 years, he cried.