Aftermath

[notagiraffe]

Characters: Taiki and anyone
Setting: meadow floor, morning after Hitori Kakurenbo.
Format: I'll follow you
Summary: Taiki revives, is miraculously not ill, seeks the most open bright space he can and cries.
Warnings: mentions of death and events of Hitori Kaakurenbo

Sleep paralysis was terrifying, it was longer this time and Taiki felt like he was trapped in darkness forever. Unable to move, unable to breathe, it was like he was drowning again. Maybe he was.

The first thing he saw when it faded and he could open his eyes was a teddy bear. On his bedside stand. Taiki's eyes widened and he screamed. He scrambled out of bed, the events of the night and day before him crashing down on him. Strangely he wasn't feverish, it was a strange thought, he remembered his cupboard filling with blood and yet...

He felt better than he had in months. But he wanted to be outside, he had been in a cupboard for hours and hours. He ran out of the room and down the stairs into the meadow. Transforming he flew around, a blur in the sky. Finally he landed; managing to pull on his tunic before curling into a ball and sobbing.

Comments

[queenofbass]

It'd be a lie, the biggest lie she'd ever told herself, if Marceline said she wasn't terrified. But there was a reason to be tough, wasn't there, especially if it would help give Taiki the confidence needed to keep going? She wasn't going to freak out that bad again. She hugged him one more time, an honest smile on her face this time.

"You bet we can. Just gotta keep going." She moved a step back, straightened her hat, and let her feet come off the ground, trying to settle back into some semblance of coolness, as if nothing was going to affect her anymore.

[notagiraffe]

Taiki smiled and nodded, feeling stronger. He wrapped his arms around her to give her a hug. "Thank you Marceline." He slipped his hand into hers.

[queenofbass]

The hand in her own had Marceline startled- people didn't exactly line up to hold her hand anyway, and the number had sharply dropped since she'd arrived here. But a smile settled back on her face again, and she squeezed Taiki's hand reassuringly.

"It's cool," she said quietly. "Don't need to thank me."

[notagiraffe]

Taiki smiled and nodded, though he thought he did need to thank her, because she had helped him. He held her hand tight as they left the meadow.