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Party Poison jolted awake in a panic, gasping heart pounding in his throat.
Korse was right there. Korse was back and he was going to hurt Party again and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
He looked around the dark room, trying to reassure himself that his dream hadn’t been real, that he wasn’t going to be captured and tortured again.
Once he had properly scoured the shadows of the room, he laid back down, curling around Ghoul for comfort. As soon as he did, though, the shorter man stirred, blinking slowly before awakening fully.
“Did you have another nightmare?” Ghoul asked sleepily, shifting his position so he was facing Party in the bed.
“I’m sorry for waking you,” Party replied, purposely avoiding Ghoul’s question. He hadn’t meant to disturb the other man, and now he felt bad for waking him up.
“Party, you never did tell me what happened to you while you were with Better Living Industries,” Ghoul said softly, eyebrows creased with worry. “I don’t want to press, but maybe if you told me, I could help you.”
Party swallowed the rising lump in his throat. He’d kept everything a secret for so long, but maybe Ghoul was right. Maybe he needed help. Maybe he didn’t have to be alone anymore.
“They tortured me, Ghoul,” he whispered, feeling his eyes fill with tears. “They’d send in Korse just to hurt me. They fucking beat me into confessions. I never gave them anything real, but they could always tell. They’d always hurt me worse when I lied.”
“Party…” Ghoul started, then trailed off. His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something, but didn’t know what.
“The day you guys rescued me was the worst of it,” Party continued, his voice trembling slightly. “Korse had really fucked me up. Broke my fingers, strangled me, and when that didn’t work, he tased me over and over.”
“You told me the broken fingers were from an accident on the way out,” Ghoul replied. “I wish you’d told me, I could’ve known sooner, helped you sooner.”
Party let out a bitter laugh. “It was easier for you not to know that way you wouldn’t have to worry. You wouldn't have to bother caring about a broken man.”
“You’re not broken, Party.” Ghoul’s voice broke over the redhead’s name, and he pulled the Killjoy towards him in a tight hug. “You’re not broken. No matter what Korse did, no matter how he hurt you, you’re still the man I love. You’re still Party Poison.”
But Party didn’t know if that was true. He felt shattered inside and outside, every moment filled with visions of Korse and needles and fingers bent the wrong way.
Korse had taken away everything.
And he didn’t know if he could get it back.
“Party,” Ghoul continued, sensing the tension in the silence. “We’re going to get through this. All of us. Together. You aren’t alone anymore.”
The words echoed through the redhead’s mind. They felt empty, false.
“I don’t know if I can believe you,” he replied.
“Then I’ll do everything I can to change that.” Ghoul’s voice was earnest as he held Party tighter. “You aren’t alone anymore and I’m going to fucking prove it.”