Work Text:
i wrote this in ~2024- just thought i’d post it because i haven’t done anything new in a while
9/26- finally fixed a couple spelling and grammar errors
I groan in pain, cramps in my lower stomach driving me wild. I don’t know what to do. I want to cry, but I can't bring myself to.
I decide to seek out comfort in the only person I can- Backpack.
It’s eight pm, he’s been home for a few hours. The two of us ate dinner together, but he’s been cooped up in his room since, as he usually is. Dinner must be the cause of my problems- my stomach has a slight bump to it. I haven’t eaten a big meal in years, but tonight was a night where Backpack cooked for the two of us, instead of us ordering food from local places.
I pad from the living room in which I’ve been sleeping up to Backpack’s room, knocking on the door gently. Backpack unlocks and opens the door with a sigh.
“What is it?” He looks at me expectantly, annoyance clear in his eyes.
“…my tummy hurts.”
“…seriously? I told you not to eat so much. Go take an Aspirin.”
“..Backpack… can, uh.. can you-“
“My name is not ‘Backpack.’ I don’t know who you’re talking to, because it’s not me.”
“…..” I go silent for a moment, trying to remember what he wants me to call him.
“Um…… Liam…”
Backpack smiles. I fall silent once more at the sight. Backpack.. is smiling. At me. I made.. Backpack smile!
I’m pulled from my thoughts as another wave of pain hits my stomach. I crumple into a pile on the floor, clutching my bulging stomach.
“Ow.” I whimper. Backpacks smile fades.
“That bad, huh?” Backpack frowns, worry in his eyes.
“Help..?” I beg, my voice pleading.
“Okay, fine. Stand up, you big baby..” Backpack mutters, taking my hand, pulling me to my feet and gently leading me to his bed, motioning for me to lay in it.
I sit on the bed, and Backpack sits behind me, wrapping his arms around me and draping me across his lap. He begins rubbing my stomach in slow, counter-clockwise circles with one hand, propping my head up with the other.
“You’re an idiot, you know that? I warned you about eating so much after eating practically nothing for so long. God, this is why I keep the door locked. You’re too needy, Airy.”
“Mmhmm…” I mumble, barely processing his insults. My head is far in the sky, far above cloud nine, Backpacks palms tracing patterns in my lower torso. The pleasant sensation forces out small grunts and squeaks that I didn’t know I was even capable of making. I cant help but whine when Backpack pulls away, raising an eyebrow.
“You realize I’m treating you like a baby. You’re a grown ass man, it’s time you act like it.”
“But.. this is nice..” I pout, furrowing my brows.
Backpack doesn’t respond for a few moments, opting to focus on stroking my stomach again instead. He sighs, gazing at the ceiling.
“It’s only nice because I’m coddling you. How you survived on your own for so long eludes me…” Backpack ceases his movements for a moment while he thinks. “You’re too needy, too *soft.* You’d never survive on Earth without me. You wouldn’t know what to do without someone to cling to.”
I frown. “But.. what’s wrong with, uh.. being soft…?” I ask, genuine confusion clouding my features.
Backpack sighs, rubbing my stomach again. "Nothing," he mumbles.
He continues his rubbing a bit longer, then looks over at me.
"You're just so dependent," Backpack grumbles. "If I wasn't here, I bet you couldn't even get through one day on your own."
There's a little bit of genuine annoyance in his voice.
“That’s.. not true. I.. um.. I’m fine when you go to work..”
Backpack raises an eyebrow, as if he doesn't believe you.
"You are? You're really fine with it?" Backpack asks, not trying to hide the skepticism in his voice. "You don't spend the whole time pacing the house, waiting for me to get back home? You don't spend those lonely hours calling me, because you don't know what to do with yourself?"
I can tell he's just trying to make me admit it. Living with him for a few months, I can finally read him.
"And..." he continues, with a smirk, "you aren't all excited when I finally get back?"
I press my lips together, embarrassed. I had thought I was doing pretty well on my own!
Backpack chuckles. "You don’t do any of that?" he asks, still not hiding that smirk.
At this point, he stops rubbing my stomach, and just leans back onto the head of the bed, watching me. He has his arms crossed, looking satisfied with himself.
"Can't stand not getting attention, can you?" he asks quietly.
I pout, unsure if I should reply.
Backpack notices my pout.
"Aww... I struck a nerve, didn't I?" he chuckles. "It's true, isn't it? You can't stand being alone. You have to depend on someone else every second of the day. You're like a little baby. Need someone to hold you, and cuddle you, and protect you..."
Backpack smirks.
“….” I like it when Backpack teases me. I like when Backpack does anything. I wish he would keep rubbing my tummy. It hurts really bad.
“It’s true.”
Backpack laughs.
"I knew it," he mutters. "I'm not at all surprised you admitted it so easily. Poor baby can't stand his ground. He begins rubbing me once more.
"You're the definition of helpless," Backpack grumbles.
"How do you even function when I'm not here? I bet you're just miserable and lonely and bored out of your mind. It's pretty sad, honestly."
He chuckles, and starts massaging my achy tummy again.
The humiliation sends a pang through my entire being. I hope Backpack can’t tell what he’s doing to me- he might stop if he figures it out.
"You're so needy, it's pathetic," Backpack mutters quietly, and continues kneading my stomach.
"You'd be a nervous wreck if someone wasn't constantly holding your hand, and cuddling you, and rubbing your tummy. I bet you'd just break down if someone ignored you for even one day, huh?" Backpack smirks.
"I doubt you'd even be able to fall asleep without someone holding you. I wonder how you'd feel if you didn't come sleep with me half the time. You'd probably cry yourself to sleep every night...."
that one hit a little too close to home. I don’t like thinking about life before Backpack. Tears form in my eyes, but I don’t tell him to stop.
Backpack looks up to see the tears forming in my eyes. I do my best not to let them fall, but i fail.
Backpack’s face immediately changes. Guilt flashes in his eyes for a moment.
“Hey, hey… Airy, I was just- it’s okay.” He mumbles, forgetting to ‘not care’ for the moment.
“I’m- I’m sorry, I just…”
“Shh, Airy, it’s okay…”
“…”
Backpack smiles reassuringly at me.