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The day started so simple for Rain. They woke up, did their morning stretches, and headed to breakfast. They made quiet conversation with his pack, everyone still waking up, before going about their day of chores.
It was noon when Rain started to feel it. They couldn’t place what exactly, this feeling in their chest, behind their eyes. They knew it wasn’t physical, they weren’t in pain, but they recognized now that they’ve felt it since they woke up. It was a form of pressure on their body that seemed to only grow throughout the afternoon.
It was around three when rehearsals began. The feeling had not let up, in fact it only grew. Now surrounding their lungs and heart, making it hard to breathe, hard to relax. They tried a few breathing techniques as they waited on the mock stage, pacing in a small circle. They had their bass already on their person, it seemed to only weigh them down. By the time the room was filled, everyone chatting amongst themselves while they waited for their Papa to join them, Rain kept to themself. Shook their hands out, let out a deep sigh, eyes scanning frantically between ghoul to ghoul.
Their heart began racing when Papa entered with an ecstatic, “My ghouls!” Everyone greeted him with smiles and waves, Rain tried to follow suit. Papa began talking about something , they didn’t care to actually figure out what it was when it felt like they were having a heart attack.
Was he having a heart attack? They flexed his hand a couple times, noting it felt fine. No heart attack was good, they thought. They could feel someone’s eyes on them, though, maybe multiple eyes? And it was unnerving them. They scanned the room again before they noticed Aether across from them, a small frown on his face as he kept looking between Rain and Papa. Was Aether feeling this too? This weird physical yet not physical pressure on his body?
Rain’s hands were shaking when they finally, finally, began rehearsals. Why were they shaking? Were they nervous? About what? They’ve played this song multiple times, so much so that they could probably play it during brain surgery with no issues. They missed a couple notes thanks to their useless, useless hands, Satanas they were so useless. Why did they summon Rain, anyway? They were useless with the bass. They should’ve kept Dew on it, he was a much better player than they were. No. Breathing, they needed to breathe but it was so hard to breathe. In through the nose, out through the mouth, just like Aether taught them.
Aether. They looked back over to Aether, who was still just staring at them, his frown only deepened. Something was wrong, Rain realized a little too late. Something was wrong, Aether knew, too.
They tried to get through just the first song with no issues. But oh, there were so many issues and they were all from this stupid water ghoul. Their bass was too loud, they think, it’s blasting over Papa’s vocals. They’re messing up too many notes, they know it. So why isn’t Papa stopping them to fix their mistake? Does Papa know something? Will they be sent back, is that why they’re not stopping? To give Rain this last performance for seven? Is Sister here somewhere with her guard dogs, ready to take Rain back with a fight? They will fight.
Their vision is swimming. Everyone is so loud. Aether won’t stop looking at him. Something is so wrong. They’ve barely registered that they stopped playing, their hands shaking too much to really play anymore because of course they messed up this early in the game. They’re hyperventilating, they know it, can feel it. He grasps at his chest, trying to squeeze his heart to just slow down, begging it to please just slow down for a second. They can feel it pounding in their hand, they can hear it. Their knees feel like they’re going to give out. They hang their head as sudden tears start to fall. Satanas, what were they even crying about? Everything suddenly stops when someone, definitely Aether, yells something. They hear heavy footsteps and think, this is it, Sister is here to take me away. A hand touches their shoulder and they flinch hard, backing up until they're close to the edge of the stage.
“Get off me!” Both hands make their way to their head, pulling at their hair. “Please, no!”
“Raindrop,” Aether calls out. Rain can see through his hair that Aether is approaching him like a scared animal, frowning. “Hey, it’s just me. Can I touch you?”
Rain chokes out a sob. Where is Sister? They thought she was taking him. Their hands start to feel like static, They can’t feel them. They’re dying now, and they just want to be held close before they’re gone. They nod. Aether nods with them and as he presses a hand into Rain’s shoulder, their knees finally give out. He’s on Rain in an instant, making sure they go down slowly in an attempt to not hurt them even more.
Rain’s distantly aware of someone prying their hands away from their hair as they just started hitting themselves, taking the bass off of them. They need to do something with their hands, they need to feel them again. They hold their arms, claws digging into their shoulders and pulling. The pain that blooms grounds them, they think. Someone is talking, multiple people, actually, all around them. They dig their claws further, gasping loud enough for them to hear.
“Hey, no,” Aether whispers to them, grabbing their hands and taking them away. Rain sobs harder. They can’t breathe. They’re going to die before they can breathe again. Satanas, they’re such a fuck up. Worst of the pack, he-
“Rain, love, come back to me.” Aether is whispering in their ear, his hands running along the knuckles of Rain’s. They look up to meet his eyes. When they do, Aether smiles. “Good, good job”
“I can’t breathe .” They manage choke out, desperation in their voice.
“Okay, just follow my breathing, can you do that with me?” Aether takes one hand and places it on his broad chest. He takes a deep breath in, holds, and let's go. Rain tries to follow, just barely getting there when a hiccup forces them back into hyperventilating. Aether’s patient, though, and continues to hold them as they try again.
It doesn’t take long for Rain to feel their hands again. They flex their fingers against Aether’s chest to feel the fabric, letting out a quick sigh before going back to evening their breathing. Their vision slowly starts to even out, and soon so does their breathing. They’re now aware of Aether’s second hand behind their neck, pumping Rain full of magick.
When their breathing is finally back to normal, they sob. Their eyes close and they hide their face into Aether’s neck, mumbling out quiet apologies.
“None of that,” Aether begins rocking them both, “what happened?”
“I don’t,” Rain chokes out a sob, “I don’t know. I really don’t know, I’m sorry.”
“You’re okay.” Aether kisses Rain’s hair. “Let’s get you to my room, okay?”
Rain nods before Aether lifts them up. They flinch slightly as the gouges in their arms sting. They only now realize that the practice room is empty, save for them two. They hide their face back into Aether’s neck as they make their way down to his room.
It didn’t take long, soon he was placed on Aether’s toilet seat as he began rummaging through his cabinets. Rain’s cries had ceased, only a stray hiccup making its way every now and then.
“Can you take off your sweater, please?” Aether knelt down by Rain, first aid kit in hand. “Gotta clean those cuts of yours.”
Rain nodded, lifting the sweater from the hem and tossing it over themselves, gasping at the pain it brought. Aether opened the kit once it was off, and Rain held it in their hands.
“I ruined my sweater…” They mourned quietly, more to themselves.
“We’ll get you a new one.” Aether took a cotton swab to their arm and began working.
Rain stared at the garment, bloodied and shredded at their arms. They felt new tears form and fall as Aether began to wrap the first arm.
“I really liked this sweater…” Rain cried, pathetically.
“I know, it was a good sweater.” Aether mourned with them, starting at the second arm.
They fell silent while Aether finished up his work, letting their tears flow.
When he was done, he took the med kit and stood, stashing it away and washing his hands. Rain looked up at him, sniffing.
“I’m sorry about that.” The tears finally stopped and they stood with him.
“It’s okay, Rainy.” Aether leaned down slightly to kiss their hair, making them hum. “It happens.”
“It came out of nowhere.” Rain sighed, dropping the sweater onto the toilet seat.
“And that happens sometimes.” Aether reasoned. “There was nothing you could do about that.”
Rain nodded, keeping their eyes glued to the floor. They were exhausted, their eyes stung from the tears. They really didn’t mean to ruin the day like that. It was supposed to be a good day. But of course, they ruined it all. Rehearsals had to stop because of them, everyone was left to pity this poor, water ghoul, who couldn’t keep their emotions from fucking up a good, simple day. They just wanted a good-
“Hey, where are you?” Aether’s palm was suddenly on their cheek, caressing them. They looked at him, pursing their lips. “There you are. Let’s get some fluid in you and think about resting for today, okay?”
Rain leaned into the touch and nodded. They couldn’t argue with that.
___
Even though the afternoon was chaotic for them, the night was simple. Aether forced them to drink a whole glass of water before he took them to his bed (not without them stealing a shirt from him), and had them take a nap. They weren’t complaining, immediately shutting their eyes and drifting.
They were woken a few hours later, Aether leading them out to the kitchen for dinner. Mountain had prepared a beef stew that they’ve been smelling all day, new excitement coursing through them to get food in their empty stomach. Everyone that passed them had left them a loving touch. Dew ruffled their hair as they passed him. Mountain rubbed their back as they tried to get first dibs on dinner. Cirrus and Cumulus hugged them tight from behind before they got a chance to sit down. Swiss kissed them on the cheek with a whisper that made them blush. Aether sat beside them as they ate, rubbing his hand across their thigh in encouragement.
The night ended in a cuddle pile in front of the common room sofa. Cumulus had brought out all the extra bedding from the closet before dinner, creating a faux nest for all of them to lounge in. Rain was cradled into Aether’s chest as a thriller was playing in the background. Dew’s tail wrapped with their own from behind. Their stomach was full and with heavy eyes, he looked up at Aether, Aether looking down at them with a content smile.
“Were you serious about a new sweater?” They mumbled.
He chuckled quietly and ran a hand through their hair. “Of course, Raindrop.”
They hummed and closed their eyes, the only thing they heard was Aether’s heartbeat against their ear.