#wftb

And it's Edge's time to have a nightmare! Because I love angst!

Stretch could not just stand here frozen. He could not keep lying to himself. He needed to face his actions. He should have listened to Edge. He knew it, and yet he did not. This was all his fault. He sighed. He had absolutely no idea which brand of cereal Edge wanted.

He was doing the shopping alone this day. He had insisted that Edge stayed at home to rest and he had promised that he would be fine. But now, he stood there, in the aisle, unable to choose between two brands of cereal. He remembered which one was Edge’s favourite. But he also knew that Edge’s tastes were weird these days and he would be upset if he brought home the wrong one.

Stretch looked inside his cart. He was not sure if he picked the right vegetables either. His lover had mentioned a recipe that he wanted to try with these vegetables, therefore he could not buy the wrong one. The skeleton quickly realised that his best choice was to call him.

He pulled out his phone and called Edge. He just hoped that he would not wake him up.

The phone rang for a few seconds before Edge answered.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me.”

“I know it’s you. What do you want?”

Stretch paused for a moment. Edge only spoke a few words but he could feel that something was wrong. Was overprotective again or did Edge sounded off? His voice was weak, shaky even. He could swear that he heard him sniff. Had he been crying?

“Stretch? Are you…” Stretch heard a muffled hiccuped. Just as if Edge moved away from the phone so he did not hear it. But he did hear it. “Are you still here?” Edge kept on as if nothing happened.

He was certain now. Edge definitely sounded off. It was as if he tried, and barely succeed, to stop himself from crying because Stretch was here to hear.

“Edge, are you okay?” He asked gently. The shopping was completely forgotten. He knew something was wrong with his mate, nothing else mattered.

“What? Of course. I’m... fine.”

His hesitation on the last word did not make him convincing. He was far from fine. Stretch knew it. He did not push it immediately though.

“Do you want me to come home?” He asked instead.

“I…” Edge sobbed. “Yes, please.” He answered, his voice shaking.

Stretch did not think twice. He directly teleported at home.

He appeared in the living room, where Edge was sitting on the couch, curled up on himself. The tears strains of his cheek made it obvious that he had been crying. It broke Stretch’s heart.

Stretch sat down next to him. Then he reached out for his hands. He moved slowly, to let Edge move away if he wanted to. Stretch was not sure of what happened. What if Edge did not want to be touched? However, Edge immediately moved closer to him, hugging him tightly. He hid his face in his shoulder. He was not crying anymore but Stretch could feel him shaking. With one hand, he slowly stroked his back and held the back of his head with the other, hoping to calm him down.

“Hey. I’m here now. Okay?” He whispered into his ear. “I’m here.”

Edge nodded. Just having his mate against him made him feel better. The aching in his chest slowly faded away. He breathed in and out. And after a moment, he stopped shaking. Still, he stayed in Stretch’s arms for a few more minutes. Stretch did not mind. He just held him for as long as he wanted. He did not know what happened, and he would not ask until Edge was ready to talk. But he would stay here, holding him tight, whispering that he was not leaving for as long as his lover needed him.

Eventually, Edge moved away his face to look at Stretch. The latter kissed his cheek, smiling softly. Edge could not help but smile too.

“Are you better?” Stretch asked. Edge seemed to be a little better. But he was still worried.

“I am. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He stopped for a second, as he hesitated to keep on. “Do you… want to talk about it?”

Edge looked away, but he tightened his grip on Stretch’s shirt. He then sighed.

“It’s stupid.” He said.

Stretch knew it was difficult for Edge to admit his weaknesses. But he could also see that Edge wanted to talk about it. Otherwise, he would have changed the subject or moved away. Yet, he stayed there, holding on him.

“I’m sure it’s not.” He reassured him, hoping that it would help Edge to talk.

“It is.” His lover insisted.

But Edge put his head against Stretch chest. Stretch hugged him tightly.

“I had a nightmare.” Edge admitted.

Stretch was not expecting that. A nightmare? It was not like Edge never had nightmares. Growing up in Underfell left marks. However, Stretch was certain that he never saw Edge crying because of a nightmare. When he woke up, he would be tense, and would not go back to bed until he was certain that there would be no intruders. He often called his brother too, just to be sure he was alright. But crying and shaking like this? It was a first. Maybe it was the hormone he guessed. He made no comment on it tough. He did not want to upset Edge more by pointing out his weaknesses.

“Do you remember what it was about?” He asked gently instead.

Edge nodded slowly. He was still clinging almost desperately on Stretch, but he was avoiding his eyes, more at ease with looking at the floor.

“I…” He breathed slowly. He tried to control his voice, to stop himself from shaking. “I had a miscarriage. I dreamt that I had a miscarriage.” It had been a dream. Only a dream. One of his hands stroked his stomach. His baby, their baby, was still here.

Stretch’s eyes widened. The thought only of losing their baby was unbearable. His grip on Edge tighten.

“There was so much dust…” Edge whispered. His eyes were lost, as he lived again his nightmare. “And you left me…” He hiccuped, a broken sob passing his lips. “I was all alone with that dust all over me…”

“Edge… I would never…” Stretch started. He did not finish his sentence but both of them knew what he was not saying. He would never leave him alone. He swore it long ago. He knew that things could be hard. It was part of life in a way. But he would never leave. He would always be by his side.

“I know.” Edge finally looked at him in the eyes. Stretch hated to see the tears in his mate’s eyes. “I know you would never.” Edge said more firmly. He wiped away his tears, but new ones kept coming. “I know but…” His voice cracked, as he gave up to hold back the tears. He hid his face once again in Stretch’s hoodie.

But it felt so real and it still hurts was left untold between them.

“I’m here,” Stretch whispered to him. “I’m not leaving.” He could not say that a miscarriage would never happen. He did not know. He could not promise such a thing to him. It would be unfair to both of them.

“I’m here.” He repeated.

#September 11, 2020 #Instagram post from Johnny includes a handwritten #letter 10th of September #message

#Instagram #wftb

#video #September 8, 2019 #Johnny Depp at 45th annual #Deauville Film Festival #France #WFTB #Waiting For The Barbarians #film