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There was a distinct buzzing in Yellows ear. The hum of technology which she would typically find much more comfort in the familiarity of, only serves as faint bells of warning in its ears. Her vision blurred, glasses shattered many moments ago during a reckless act she should've simply never followed alongside. She can hear waves of distant water, and voices, and the technological humming, but finds herself unable to attach the noises to any visual, everything is blurred by a lack of glasses mixed with dirt caught in her eyes. She desperately rubbed at her face, trying to rid herself of such unwanted vulnerability in this current predicament, because it's absolutely not an appropriate time to be so lost, such a liability.
She rises from the ground, pushing aside rubble as she stumbles up to stand beside her friends. What a foolish stance they're all making. Facing someone who seems so.. cruel, this is reckless and she knows it and cursors, does she wish she said something then.
But she didn't. She stood, hands raised like it really believed this was a winnable fight. Only to be proven wrong so, so quickly.
As Red rushed in, and fell just as quick.
The thud against the floor was only the opening act to a more sickening scene.
It was horrifying, hearing Reds desperate gasps for air as it was slammed out of them, the noise of their skin deteriorating into code, crunching and crumbling away into jumbled lines of letters and numbers that made all of Reds entire being, their hand lifting only to fall flat in seconds as any sign she existed at all was seeped into the air right before Yellows blurry vision. She almost fell right back to her knees if it wasn't for the kick she witnessed The Dark Lord deliver moments after, filling her with enough fury to attempt revenge.
She threw herself at the other stick over and over, hitting with all the might it could manage at this moment. But between the distress of Reds existence deteriorating right before her eyes, and the fact her eyes weren't quite cooperating with her right now, it certainly wasn't the best fight she'd done.
She was slammed into the ground beside Orange with a gasp, but got back up as soon as its leg cooperated enough, but this was most definitely her most foolish moment of this entire fight. Her hits did practically nothing as she felt a hand grasp her neck. She struggled, kicked and hit with everything it could manage, and even that was nothing but a faint mark to the figure holding her up. She could faintly see Green rush in and hold back the arm holding the large, jagged blade used to slice Reds code, as if it could do anything to prevent what was coming next.
Yellows eyes widened as the blade was sunk into Greens core, as a gargled noise followed from the shaking form of her friend. She grew more desperate, she couldn't just sit here and do nothing! The movements that left her legs did nothing to deter the stronger stick figure from ending the life of her friend. She felt a shake as Blue had followed similarly. Slamming themself into the taller stick, with desperate hits that everyone knew would not even be close to enough, but the slim illusion of hope of stopping the blades from being the end of them all was oddly comforting, until the grim reality was shown as the code-breaking blade was stabbed into Blues back.
And then-
A gasp, as Yellow shot up in its bed, the blankets nearly slipping off the mattress entirely. Her heart beating at an unnaturally fast pace as she clasped her sleep-top, clutching onto the fabric like it could stop the ringing and the panting and the nightmares.
She was so sick of this.
It was almost a pattern, every few days she'd have nightmares, of that day. The day she nearly lost everyone and everything. She'd been so close to death. And she'd seen it all firsthand. And it was far from the first time she'd been so useless and lost her friends. if she's supposed to be the smart one, why can't she stop being so stupid?
Small sobs slipped out of her body, as her legs met her chest as she sat up. She blindly reached out an arm to her bedside table and patted around for her glasses, eventually finding them and using her other hand to wipe away the tears, placing her glasses on. With a shuddering sigh, she glanced around before dangling her legs off her bed, sparing a look towards Reds side of the room. Red was laid out flat across their bed, a plushie hooked in one of her arms, the other dangling off the bed a little. The blanket had been kicked off like it didn't belong, half crumpled on the floor, string lights very dimly illuminating the area and making it appear way too inviting for Yellows current state.
She shook her head, she shouldn't. Besides, she could be working right now, making something useful, something better, something that'll protect her friends when she's too weak. She quickly pushed away another tear before it could even fall, and stood up, only to be met with wobbly legs as she stumbled and quickly used her hand to stabilize herself against the wall, letting out a quiet sigh.
Unfortunately for it, the stumbling awoke Red, whose feline-like ears they'd had added to themself twitched. She let out a disgruntled noise, nose twitching. Yellow bit her lip and hoped if she didn't make any further noises, Red would go back to sleep like normal. But Red seemed to just sense something was amiss and opened an eye, the slit pupil very tiredly drifting onto Yellows disoriented figure by the door.
"..Yels..?" Red hummed, voice scratchy as their vocal cords struggled to catch up with the sudden wake-up.
Yellow quickly straightened up, and stumbled to find the right excuse. "Ah- Red.. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Yellow fidgeted with her hands, "I just- Forgot something in my workshop. That's all."
But anyone who knows Yellow, knows it's an awful liar.
Red raised an eyebrow.
"You're not working on another project are you..? It's late, go to bed.." Red grumbled, squinting at Yellow as if studying the other girl.
Yellow waved her hands around tiredly yet frantically. "Nno.. I promise. Just.. grabbing something." Yellows voice wavered, as she honestly just wanted out of this conversation. She wasn't really in a talking mood, if she had the choice she wouldn't be speaking at all. It stepped closer to the door, only for Red to suddenly sit up.
"We'll go grab it together, then."
Yellows eye twitched.
"Red, there's no need-"
"Yels, I love you but you're the worst liar."
..No arguing with that, Yellow groans. She crosses her arms and tries to think of any, any escape from this. But she can't, just like how she couldn't think of how to save her friends from The Dark Lord, or Rocket Corp, or the various life threatening situations they find themself in… Her legs feel weaker than before. Yellow looks away, unable to maintain any sort of focus on Red, honestly this is pathetic. It's a pathetic, guilt-ridden sight. And she scolds herself for being so stupid yet again.
Red quietly gets up, a look of recognition in their tired gaze as they cautiously reach out a hand to Yellow, an invitation to touch, to be held, since Yellow usually would avert from touch, especially in a situation like this, Red is well aware how Yellows shutdowns typically behave, but no matter what, Red always offers the comfort, and is surprised when Yellow takes her hand. Red gently pulls Yellow onto their bed, raising an arm for Yellow to lean on them, when Yellow instead launches onto Red, holding them tighter than they would've expected from her, but they don't protest, they're glad she's comfortable. The two lay on Reds bed, Yellow resting atop Red with a hold on them. There a small silence, before Red decides to speak in a lowered voice.
"..Did something happen?" A nod. Red hums, giving an experimental stroke to Yellows hair, when she doesn't shift away, Red takes it as an okay to continue. "A nightmare?" She asks, and is met with another nod against her chest.
Red knew Yellow had been having nightmares for years. Guilt haunted the other like a spirit. Between the times Yellow had unwillingly done harm, or bared witness to the violence all of them had experienced.. It was no surprise Yellow was tormented by the memories. Red wished they could do anything to shake Yellow out of their worries, regrets and guilts, but it was an impossible ask. The least she could do for her was offer support.
Yellow felt comfort being against Reds chest, the others heartbeat was steady and alive, it brought comfort to her troubled mind. She was here, Red was here, Everyone was here and wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. She was safe, They were safe. Her heart was beating, her code within her body.
Yellow felt small tears begin to slip out again, but couldn't be bothered to move to wipe them away.
Red felt the slight dampness on their chest, so very gently they moved a hand to hold Yellows cheek and tilted her head up a little. "Sorry, just hold on.." She murmured, before removing Yellows glasses and placing them on their bedside table, so that it would be more comfortable for Yellow to rest, who let out an appreciative hum, before pushing Reds hand off her face, wanting to go back to resting her head above Reds consistent heartbeat. The slow rise and fall of Reds body, the rhythmic breathing that meant they were still here, with her.
She still remembers the horror when Red got struck first. She had no clue if she'd ever see them again, hold them again, feel them again. It was terrifying. She'd do anything to never, ever feel that again. It'd do whatever it takes to never have it happen again.
Quiet tears turned to ugly sobs, Red continued to limit her touch on Yellow, continuing the gently, patterned pats through Yellows hair, combing it with her clawed fingers. Tears fell and fell until Red pajama top was soaked, not that Red minded at all, of course. Red let out a small hum to get Yellows attention. The other glanced up, sniffling a little as she hesitantly met Reds gaze.
"Wanna sleep here?"
Yellow nodded, moving a little so Red could be comfortable enough to sleep. Red faintly smiled, letting Yellow continue to cry itself to sleep on their chest, gently running their fingers through her hair as they purred, the familiar rumble of their purring soothing Yellow further, as she drifted off into much needed rest.
Red could only continue to stare at Yellows resting form, expression softer now that they had stopped crying, seeming more at peace in their sleep. She wished she could help them more, but she knows the last thing Yellow wants is to be treated like someone who needed help. They could only watch as Yellows guilt drove her further into desperation for a impossible solution, and into a state of paranoia. Red held Yellow a little tighter, finally drifting off themself into sleep.