Work Text:
Percy has lost track of time at this point. He is aware of very few things. One, there's a bear on his door keeping him inside his workshop; two, Vox Machina has left to help someone in need; and three, he feels awful. He feels like he's about to faint, yet he continues working, trying to fix his gun. Also, the driver of the Briarwoods is in the dungeon and is fairly sure that the animal has been set on his door to ensure he doesn't cause any harm. They fear him, of course, why wouldn't they?
He continues working, trying to drown every thought in the heat of the forge. He reaches for a little crystal piece, when images of his family dying, of Cassandra falling in the snow, suddenly appear on its reflection, and he unconsciously crushes the crystal piece in his hand. Blood begins to pool on his hand, but he just sighs and reaches for a bandage to wrap around his hand. When it stops stinging, he goes back to working.
The forge is hot, and it doesn't help that his body is too. He's dizzy, almost tripping when reaching for the piece inside it, having to use the table for balance. But he continues working, because he has to. If he can't even work on his weapons while being a little sick, he won't be able to stand up against the Briarwoods. He won't be able to end them, to kill them. To get his revenge.
He's only useful if he's deadly. He's only useful if he can kill; the voice has made sure he knows that.
He pulls the burning piece out of the heat and goes to temper the iron, leaving there as he catches his breath. He doesn't feel well, he really doesn't. But he needs to keep working, he needs to keep working. How will he be useful if he doesn't?
His vision wavers once again, blurry, but this time, he's pretty sure it's thanks to the tears beginning to run down his cheeks, as he sobs against his hand. He's truly pathetic. He's heard everywhere how pain hardens you, but he feels as fragile as he felt when he saw his parents fall dead. He feels like that boy five years ago, trembling against his younger sister, trying to stay strong for her.
Then, his mother's face flashes on his mind, his sister's, his other siblings, and something breaks in him, shattering in a million pieces.
He leaves the iron piece on the desk and just…collapses against it, sobbing. He doesn't even remember what he was working on in the first place. There's a pain in his chest not related to the sickness, as he clutches his shirt, trying his best to swallow his tears. He would much rather throw up than cry, but at least, there's no one in the keep to see him. He can indulge in this.
Trinket stays outside the door, as Vex told him, even as he hears the human sob from outside. He suspects he's not being as quiet as he thinks he is, but he doesn't want to go inside. Vex has asked him not to go inside, to protect him and make sure he doesn't leave until they return, probably to protect the other man that's currently in their dungeons, whom the human doesn't seem to like.
But then, he hears what he supposes is a name. Names, in plural.
"Dad..."
It can barely be heard, but he catches it. It's almost a low moan, like the one he let out when his own mom stopped moving. Luckily, Vex and Uncle Vax were near and brought him with them. He doesn't know what he would have done if they hadn't been there for him. How would anyone survive losing a family without finding a new one?
"Mom…"
Another name. This time, surprisingly similar to the name Vex, whined when she had a bad dream, she had told him. He has also heard Vax saying it, and when his voice is rough, the name always softens it. Maybe it's a special person for the three of them? They say it in a similar tone. However, the human is sobbing, and surely, Vex wouldn't like Percy Dear sobbing. And he doesn't like what Vex doesn't like.
"Vesper, Whitney, Julius, Oliver…" The human lists, his voice tiny and broken.
Trinket paws at the door, calling the humans' name with a groan, asking to be let inside. He's being "beary" polite, as Percy Dear once chuckled, but he doesn't understand the joke. He's a very distinguished bear and has manners. Vex taught him well. He sometimes thinks Percy Dear isn't as smart as he thinks he is, but Vex says he's clever, so he must at least be competent.
"Cassandra..."
The noises from inside the room get louder, and he shivers. They remind him of an injured animal, of him before Vex. Maybe he has gotten hurt? He sounds like he's calling for his mother. Makes sense. He knows Percy Dear isn't a cub, but despite his white hair, he's younger than he looks. He knows that because the other humans with white hair don't move like him. But he seems to like appearing older, maybe because being older means being more mature, or stronger, at least in a pack. Capable of protecting himself and others. He also tries to make himself bigger when he or Vex are in danger, which makes other predators think he's scarier.
He paws at the door again, more insistently. He's sure the human will be able to hear him now.
"Mgh?" He whines as he raises his head. He swears he just heard a noise. A faint, scratching sound and a bear growling from the other side. Oh, right. Trinket is there. Vex told him. He wipes away his tears and stands up, walking towards the door and opening it.
Trinket is on his door, siting politely and staring up at him. The bear looks at him with a curiosity before headbutting against his hip, almost throwing him to the floor from the sheer force. "Oh-oh, hello, Trinket. Did you need something?" He says, dropping a hand to pet the animal. He almost feels dumb. Obviously, the bear can't understand him, but he's grown used to Vex talking to him as he did, and he's begun to replicate that.
The bear just approaches in response, sniffing him with curiosity. It's like he's trying to find something dangerous, the source of something that's happened. He would think the bear would have heard his little breakdown and had attempted to come in and protect him, but he pushes that idea away. Trinket’s just a bear, after all.
"Trinket, come on, what are you—Hey!" He yelps as the bear throws him to the floor. His heartbeat kicks up, and for a split second, he feels like a cornered animal. His pupils dilate, and, instinctively, he reaches for the gun, but then remembers he's still working on it. Unarmed, he just hides his face and wraps his arms around his body.
Trinket tilts his head, licking a stripe up his face. Why did the human seem so scared, all of a sudden? He wasn't going to hurt him, so why act like that?
He remembers Vex telling him about how people who have gone through a lot may feel in danger even when they aren't, so he supposes that's what's happening. He sits before the human, trying to tell him that he doesn't mean any harm.
Percy blinks, his heartbeat slowly steadying. "I-Don't do that, please. I don't like it." He feels childish asking the animal that, but it seems to understand. He sits in front of the bear. "I'd appreciate it."
Trinket nods, licking his face again. To Percy's own surprise, he lets out a chuckle, petting the animal's fur again. It's warm, but not uncomfortably warm as he's feeling. He can feel his vision blurring again, and the urge to close his eyes washes through him again.
The fur looks so comfortable right now...
No, he needs to keep working. He goes to stand up, but Trinket paws at him again.
Gods, he's so tired. A quick nap won't hurt, won't it?
He looks around as if someone were to see him, before sighing. "Alright, you win," he says, beginning to tidy his desk, putting all the materials away. The bear seems to be content, lying on the floor happily. Percy gives a faint smile, puts everything away, and sits on the floor alongside the bear. He pets the animal, yawning. Just a quick nap, barely ten minutes, and he'll go back to work. Yes, it's a great idea. He gets comfortable against the bear's fur and closes his eyes.
Trinket just allows him to do so, grabbing the human's coat and throwing it over his body, gaining a soft whine from the already asleep human. He doesn't mind him at all. Vex seems to like him, and so, it's his job to keep him safe.
"Percy, dear? Are you there?" Vex calls, going downstairs to Percy's workshop. He didn't look great that morning, so she's just hoping he didn't hurt the prisoner or himself.
She gets to the door and knocks again. Doing so, it opens. Percy's door? Unlocked? Her heart skips a beat; that is not a good sign. She knocks again, no answer, and her heart sinks. Please, let him be okay, please, she begs, as she pushes the door open, expecting the worst, and—
Oh.
He's lying on the floor, almost drooling against her bear's fur, curled and making little noises. It doesn't look like he's having a nightmare; in fact, he looks the calmest she's ever seen him be, especially in his sleep. He's usually plagued with nightmares, she has deduced, given how often he wakes up screaming. But here, he sleeps peacefully.
She kneels in front of him, with a puzzled look. He looks younger, almost as young as Keyleth. It's rude to ask a person's age, she knows, but she will have to ask him later.
She extends a hand to pet Trinket while brushing a lock of white hair off Percy's face. She gets a closer look at his face. He hasn't taken off his glasses, which are now askew. She grabs them and settles them on the table. He lets out a little whine when she does so, waking up Trinket in the process. The bear looks at her, expecting approval.
"You're doing a wonderful job, darling," she says, planting a kiss on the bear's forehead. The animal just groans, going back to sleep. Percy's hands are curled on its fur, holding onto it as a child would hold onto their plushie. The bear, who usually hates having his fur toyed with, doesn't mind. He must be making an exception for Percy, then. That's adorable, honestly.
She reaches to pet Trinket again, draping a second blanket over Percy's body. She knows that the second he woke up, he would be appalled by the situation, but currently, he just curls tighter into Trinket's fur, and for once, sleeps well.