Work Text:
Guest grimaced. Today’s round had been anything but pleasant, especially with the new killer: Noli. Who seemed unstoppable, she was able to give everyone hallucinations for crying out loud! Guest frowned, looking over and seeing Matt get his head bashed in.
‘It’s not real. I’m fine, he’s fine-’ He could feel his lungs struggling for air, Guest forcing his body to run down to the underground area of the map. His nails dug into his sweating palms. He leaned against the generator, listening to its quiet whirring, praying it’s not fraudulent.
His throat was parched as he tried to take a deep breath. Guest couldn’t rest for long, though, immediately standing up at the sound of a large explosion. He looked down at the watch, and the only dead survivor was Chance; however, everyone else was on low health.
Guest thought he should probably help, groaning as he suddenly as the area around him suddenly started to spin, his head feeling severely light, ‘ What’s going on with me?!’ he thought, collapsing down on the generator again.
‘ I’m supposed to be strong,’ he let out a sob, the melancholy sinking in deep, ‘ I promised that… I’d always stay strong’ the last thing Guest saw before fainting was Daisy and Charlotte watching with blank expressions.
When Guest came to, he was sitting in one of the diner booths, an open medkit sat on the table, Guest’s eyes met Seven’s, who stood over him while wrapping up his injuries, with a look of concern for the veteran. Guest tried to reach over and help, but his hand was shooed away.
“You should be resting,” Seven muttered, “everyone else already is”.
Guest grumbled, “Shouldn’t you be too?” he questioned, “Go on, I can handle myself.” Guest pulled his arm away, taking the gauze from the ex-hacker and starting to wrap his own wounds (not without great difficulty, however).
Seven grunted, but decided he was too fed up with today's rounds to retaliate, letting the veteran struggle to fix himself. He’d never expected Guest to be so stubborn, someone who gave everything to protect the others, yet refused to let another reciprocate by treating his injuries.
“So stubborn. ” The ex-hacker muttered under his breath.
“Excuse me?”
“Um- nothing!”
The veteran gave a small grin, “Whatever you say, Sev,” he chuckled, placing the leftover gauze in the medkit. Seven cheeks reddened, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Guest shifted closer to the ex-hacker, a silent request for him to move so he could stand, which Seven complied with. Guest stood as well, making his way to the door.
Seven grimaced, “Where are you going?” he asked.
Guest only gave a muted “going to train.”, not bothering to look back at the ex-hacker.
The ex-hacker frowned, not liking that answer– Guest should be resting! He stormed after the veteran, grabbing the other's arm, deterring him from moving any further.
“You should be resting,” He huffed, “you’re injured!” Guest gave a protesting grunt, dislodging his arm from Seven’s firm grip.
“I’m fine.” Guest continued his route, following the path towards one of the smaller cabins, used to store exercise equipment. He pulled one of the boxing bags out of the corner, already getting into assaulting the poor thing, which had already been taped and fixed numerous times.
The veteran could see Seven standing in the doorway, eyebrows close-knit and jaw clenched; the ex-hacker's agitation was apparent, especially with the way the man was hunched over, arms crossed over his chest, like an angry father– how ironic!
‘ I need to be stronger, ’ he grunted, slamming his bandaged fist into the solid leather that encased the stuffing, ‘ I promised to be strong.’ Guest’s mind was plagued by the image of his family and friends disappointed for letting his guard down, jaw clenching at the thought.
He repeatedly swung at the bag, an anguished grunt escaping his throat. He slammed his head against the leather, ‘ SFOTH damn it, Guest, ’ he whined, struggling to catch his breath, ‘ get it together’.
Seven stepped towards the crumbling man, attentively putting a hand on the other's back, “It’s going to be alright,” he soothed, “but you need to rest.” Guest inspected Seven’s soft expression.
He huffed, “Fine”.
Seven grinned tenderly, leading the veteran to one of the other small cabins, where the survivors all slept. Seven and Guest shared a cabin, and while they both tried to convince themselves it was because they were both fathers–
–Seven knew the real reason.
Guest sat on his bed, not bothered to untie the laces before he kicked them off. Seven sat on the bed across from his, watching attentively. Guest sighed, trying to fight the inner feeling of disappointment he had towards himself. The emotions eventually won, Guest not being able to prevent the tears from escaping, along with a bitter sob.
Seven was immediately rushing over, wrapping his arms around the sorrow-stricken man. He pet Guest’s deep blue hair as he muttered assuring words. Guest returned the hug, pulling Seven closer, who let out a small hum in response.
“Do you need a hug to fall asleep?” Seven questions, nestling his face into the veteran’s shoulder, smiling as Guest mumbled a tired “ mhm ” before lying back, the ex-hacker collapsing alongside him. Seven curled up against Guest, who let out a contented sigh, wrapping an arm around him.
Seven’s hand wrapped around Guest’s, which were much stronger compared to the ex-hacker's. Guest let out one less sniffle and a long yawn, his nose establishing its place in Seven’s soft brunette hair. For once, his mind felt calm. Seven had a peculiar way that made Guest feel tranquil, despite the ex-hacker's apprehensive personality and how the man hid away in the corner when too many people were in the cabin.
But that didn’t matter to him–despite how the others treated Seven–every moment the two spent together made the veteran feel a type of tranquillity not even his strainful PTSD from the war could oppose.
For now, Guest would rest, even if it was just for a little while.