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[devoutish]

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[bywolves]

With a heater. [ Royce mumbles, turning on his side slowly to hide his face against Alfie's chest. ] A comfortable bed. Food delivered to us.

[devoutish]

A hotel, then. A hotel in the woods, where no one will bother us unless they're delivering us food.

[bywolves]

Mm. [ Royce shivers. ] You're talking about it like I'd be there with you. On Earth.

[devoutish]

Well, Elan hasn't got electric heaters.

[bywolves]

True. Don't have electricity.

[ It doesn't matter. They're not leaving here, but. Royce is quiet for a while. ]

We're staying here for today, right? We decided on that.

[devoutish]

Yeah. I don't wanna move.

[bywolves]

Rest, then. For a while. [ Royce sighs. ] I need sleep.

[devoutish]

Sleep.

[He agrees, resting his hand on the back of Royce's head. He can sleep like that if he wants, with his head buried in Alfie's chest.]

[bywolves]

[ He will, actually. No shame. It's safe, and he finds it easy to drift off, exhausted from everything. He'll sleep fine for a few hours, but as he falls deeper, he gets restless, twitching. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie doesn't notice at first - he's pretty conked out himself, snoring lightly.]

cw: past torture, finger mutilation, tongue mutilation, gore

[bywolves]

[ It doesn't matter much - it isn't going to take very long for both of them to be up.

He's awake, he thinks, staring up at the ceiling. It isn't the house with the hatch. It's the room, the big, empty, dirty room. There are people all around him, and he doesn't need to look twice to know they're dead, twisted and broken and staring up at the ceiling just like him. And he - can't move, he can't speak, everything hurts and he tastes blood. Blood, dripping down from his lips, from the ruined stump of his tongue and he chokes on it, trying to roll over on his side.

Royce can't. Nothing responds. The blood spills down from his mouth and pools around him, soaking his hair and his clothing, and all he can do is try to scrabble at the floor with the ruined remains of his hands, broken and bleeding, bones snapped and jutting out scraping painfully across the cement floor. All he can do is watch the static figures come for him.

No, no, no - it comes out in real life, quiet, desperate, as Royce starts to thrash, shoving at Alfie, at the blankets, get him out, get him away, please -- ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie rolls off the mattress when Royce pushes him, hitting the floor with a quiet oof. He's awake immediately, but isn't really alert at first; he takes a few moments to cast around wildly, reaching for Royce and coming up with thin air.]

Royce-- you're all right; you're fine. The fuck are you-- Royce.

[His hand lands, finally, on Royce's elbow.]

[bywolves]

No -- no --

[ His voice gets louder, and the touch has him letting out a desperate sort of yell, hoarse and terrified as he gets tangled in the blankets. They have him, he's gone, they're dragging him somewhere, they're going to stick more needles in him and he can't, he doesn't want to again, stop stop don't touch me at the top of his lungs, voice cracking. ]

[devoutish]

[Still on the floor, Alfie sits up and yanks the blankets away, tossing them aside and leaving Royce exposed - and, hopefully, feeling a little less trapped. It takes a few tugs to get them completely off, but he manages it.]

Royce, wake up; you're dreaming. You're dreaming; do you hear me?

[bywolves]

[ The blankets come off, and Royce falls off the air mattress, scrambling away. You're dreaming. You're awake. Gasping for air, Royce hits the wall and immediately brings his hands to his face, trying to feel for his tongue. It's there. His tongue is there, it's okay. His fingers are here too. Breathe.

He can't suck in air properly, but he's trying, knees pulled up to protect him, hands pressed to his face. You were dreaming. It's okay. ]

[devoutish]

[As he tumbles back, Royce's foot collides with Alfie's shoulder, which-- okay, ow. It keeps Alfie back for half a second, but then he's up and following after. He doesn't try to touch him again, but he keeps up a steady stream of talk.]

Royce, can you hear me? You're safe. You're here with me in this house, and no one's after you. I'd fight them off with my bare hands if they were, Royce; I do not fucking care.

[bywolves]

[ He's realizing where he is. His fingers are okay. He closes his eyes so he doesn't have to look at the scars, and drags in an unsteady breath, and then nods. It's weak, but it's there. He hears Alfie, he knows, he just - has to get there.

Another wheeze of a breath, and then he nods again, reaching up to run his hand through his hair and tangle it there, his free hand coming up to cover his mouth tightly. ]

[devoutish]

Tell me what you need.

[Alfie says quietly - still not touching, but holding out a hand to him.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce brings the hand from his hair down and takes Alfie's hand, trembling. He doesn't take his hand from his mouth, just shakes his head and attempts for steadying breaths. It's hard. He can't quite get it. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie tangles his own fingers in Royce's hair, squeezing Royce with his other hand.]

There you go.

[bywolves]

[ Deep breath. Finally. Finally, he manages, and when he does, his white-knuckled grip over his mouth eases up, and slides down off his face. It takes him a minute to speak, and when he does, he's hoarse, leftover scared. ]

It - it reminded me. [ He doesn't explain, but he thinks Alfie might understand. ]

[devoutish]

I'm sorry, mate.

[He tightens his grip on Royce's hand, just a little.]

[bywolves]

Don't be. [ Royce says, after another moment, reaching up to rub at his face, at his eyes. This is different, he thinks. It feels different than before, because it feels at all. He's scared and upset, but Alfie's comforting, too. It's not just desolate, hopeless, numbness. ] I didn't hurt you, did I?

[devoutish]

You've got a powerful kick.

[He says wryly. Then he pauses, adding:]

I am sorry, Royce. Let me be.

[bywolves]

Sorry. [ He mutters, massaging at the bridge of his nose. A shivery sniff, like the kind that comes with held-back tears. ]

I'm - I'm okay. I feel it. [ It's weird. ]