Chapter Text
It was midnight by the time the five of them returned to the computer. Usually Alan would be awake and wondering where they had been off to the past few days, but normally doesn’t account for newborn children. Maybe it’s for the best, otherwise he’d notice a few differences. How Blue limps and clings to Green’s side. How hollow Red’s motions seem to be, a shell of his former cheerful self. How Yellow flinches away as their home pops up. How Green continues to cough. How Orange collapses almost as soon as he passes through the doorway of their home.
None of them have the strength to carry the now unconscious Orange to his room, nor do they feel right leaving him alone. Yellow staggers towards the light switch as Green grabs some blankets and pillows from the nearby couch. It’s not much, but it’s enough for Blue to collapse at Orange’s side as fall asleep. It takes more persuading from Red. Green has to lower him to the ground and whisper reassurances until they both pass out. It’s no surprise that Yellow’s the last to sleep. Even so, the buzzing and humming of their simple home turns sinister in her ears, after all the fights, after all the violence, nothing feels safe save for Blue’s limp hand in hers.
The darkness persists
Their moment of rest doesn’t.
Green’s body moves before her lungs do. She shoots upright, clutching at her throat, gasping for air that was readily available to her moments prior. She can’t breathe. She can’t breathe and if she dares open her eyes she knows she’ll see the eyes of a disgraced King looking back at her in disgust. She could fight it, she could fight him, she just needs to breathe but she can’t no matter what she does.
It’s her gasping that awakens Orange. Unlike her he can breathe just fine but pain renders him immobile. He tries to whisper and get her attention. It works for a moment. Relief flashes across her face as she sees her friend awake, conscious, alive. Just long enough for air to enter her lungs once more.
She tries to exhale next. Vomit comes out instead.
It’s not pretty, splattering across the floor, in her lap and onto Orange and Red’s legs. Her body only allows her a moment to realize what just happened before another bout leaves her mouth. Orange’s reassurances blend into her apologies though neither of them can do anything.
Red stirs and rises to his feet, startling another weakened cough from Green and a glance from Orange. He doesn’t realize it’s his friends vomit on his clothes, nor that that very friend is curled in a puddle at his feet. All he sees is a problem to be solved. A problem he is not a part of.
Orange’s heart sinks as he meets the darkened eyes of scarlet. Dissociation had been one of Red’s coping strategies after being possessed. He’s regressing. Hard. Though maybe he doesn’t deserve to help him. They had argued only a few days prior. The exact words escape him but the memory of his rage and Red’s battered body remains.
A shriek interrupts everything and everyone.
Yellow had woken up as well, but the stick lying next to her hadn’t. She hovers over him, grasping his body just before it dissolves into smoke.
Blue was gone. Well that wasn’t exactly true, he would respawn eventually but a death was the last thing any of them needed right now.
Yellow’s cries fill the silent room, only pausing for breath. Green approaches her tentatively, aware of their shared fragility and the vomit on her clothes. Yellow doesn’t care. In a moment they’re wrapped in each other's arms. Weeping for the lives lost before their eyes. The violence they had seen. The brutality. The hurt. Everything.
“Green…”
It takes all of Orange’s strength to say the name, he passes out once more before the sticks can reposition to include him in their group hug. At least he doesn't have any trouble sleeping.
“Do you think it’s safe to use potions?” Green whispers, suddenly aware of the cuts scattered across her body. A good portion of those had been caused by splash potions. How long ago was that fight? Where did everything go so… wrong?
Yellow’s touch brings Green back to reality. She was crying. So was Yellow. Red continues to watch as the three remaining sticks draw closer, attempting to reassure each other while keeping Orange asleep.
*Strange. They care about each other quite a bit.*
Yellow’s tearstained eyes meet Red’s after some time, motioning for him to join them. He does, moving on her command and only resting against the others with their guidance. It’s going to be a long night.
It’s going to be a long night.