Work Text:
Craig woke up with a groan. He stretched his frail arms before sitting up on the stiff cot, making a creak sound.
Across from him was another cot, belonging to Ammoses. Him and Craig shared this tent, another one nearby housing the other members of the Squidbeak Splatoon. The inkling quickly noticed the cot's emptiness. Where had Ammoses gone?
The next thing Craig saw was the nightstand next to him. On it was a small lamp which was turned off, his sketchbook, and an old framed photo of him and Octavio.
He almost forgot about that photo.
That was a lie. He looked at it every night, thinking about those times when the two of them didn't have to think of being apart. The inkling wondered what their lives would've been like if the war didn't happen. Did Octavio also think about those things?
It didn't really matter now though. All those moments of them being close together were in the past. Craig wished he could go back to those moments.
His vision got blurry as tears pricked in his eyes. Not now! He couldn't cry now.
But of course he was. It was the only thing keeping him from doing anything worse. At least that's what he thought before he saw a blade sticking out from under his cot.
No, no, not this again.
The inkling begged himself not to do it, But the other side of him wanted to feel that pain again.
He picked up the knife.
Craig wondered where he even got this, before quickly dismissing that thought as the sharp blade grazed his skin.
Fuck, was he really about to do this? He hadn't since the war started, why did he have to do it again?
He didn't want to think about it anymore. Craig winced as he cut himself, ironically right over a previous cut which had scarred over by this point.
The rest was a blur. He remembered doing it a second time, then over and over until he heard the tent open.
Shit!
He tried hiding the knife, but it was useless given that he was bleeding all over.
And of course the person who came in had to be Ammoses.
The horseshoe crab didn't say anything for a while, just standing there.
Eventually, Craig burst into tears again. "I'm sorry!"
Ammoses walked over to him. "Craig..."
"I'm so stupid!" The inkling said, looking up at him.
"I thought you swore not to do this again." Ammoses proceeded to get some bandages from his bag, putting them on Craig's thighs with care.
"I-I wasn't thinking..." The inkling sobbed.
Ammoses looked at the photo Craig had been holding. It had blood stains and tears on it.
"I know you miss him, but we can't have you doing this! We need you Craig. You aren't alone."
"I know..." The inkling suddenly pulled Ammoses into a hug.
The horseshoe crabs' eyes widened. "I'm sorry I left, Mira wanted me to do something."
Craig laughed slightly, imagining what things might have happened during their visit.
Maybe he laughed a little too hard, cause Ammoses had taken notice. "Shut up..."
He smirked. "Sorry." The inkling then let go of the other man before noticing his face was beet red.
"I always laughed at you when you said that stuff about Octavio!"
Craig chuckled, thinking back to that time when Ammoses would catch them kissing, hugging, or whatever else they got up to.
"Y-you're right." The inkling had almost forgotten about everything that happened within the past hour.
"Look... remember when this all first started happening, and I told you to distract yourself by sketching?" The horseshoe crab looked over to his sketchbook.
"Yeah..." Craig looked over. He realized he hadn't drawn anything in a while. Maybe he could start doing that again?
"T-thanks Ammoses... for everything." The inkling hugged him again.
"You too." He patted Craig's back. "I gotta go now, but remember what I said. You aren't alone."
Craig nodded, before watching Ammoses walk away. He then grabbed his sketchbook, opening to a new page. Maybe he could draw Ammoses this time?
He grabbed a pencil, quickly getting to work. Somehow this felt better than some silly distraction. It was better than that.
The inkling glanced over at the photo again, this time with a smile.