I'm bored, so Imma writes some mini-stories. If you all would like to join me, here's your prompt: Your character(s) are panicking, having a flashback, or very stressed out. Write how you think their (future) partner(s) would react. If you're extra bored like me you could also write an extra angst scene about how their former partner(s) would have reacted. Have fun reading and maybe writing. :D
Also, I haven't written in a couple of days and this is unedited, so apologies for any weird wording or wrong punctuation. Or any just completely crappy writing, lmao.
Ethan and Tyler:
Ethan was surrounded by blank white walls, the room bare except for the bed he was sitting in, half-naked. At first, nothing happened, but then the door creaked open and a familiar face entered the room, bringing the stench of alcohol with him. E's breathing and heart rate sped up, everything seemed to blur a little.
"Hey, baby kitten~"
Val's voice rang through his head and the mute pressed himself back into the bed, he didn't want to do this again. He didn't want to be put through more pain. Please no more. Not again.
Still, the stronger man sauntered forward, swaying slightly in the way that drunks do. His eyes were glassy and filled with lust and hunger. He looked like a wolf about to pounce on a helpless rabbit.
In a way, he kind of was.
"Hey-"
The voice was coming from Val, but it wasn't his. Confused, Ethan looked around.
"Hey, you okay? Wake up!"
What?
"Come on, kitten, you're having a nightmare. It's okay, wake up!"
A hand touched his shoulder and E jolted awake, sitting up in a panic, eyes wide and unfocused, his breathing unsteady.
"Hey there, Kitten! It's okay, look! It was a nightmare, it wasn't real."
It took a few moments, but Tyler finally came into focus. He was sitting next to Ethan, a small, concerned smile playing on his lips. His head was cocked slightly and he looked kind of like a mother bird watching over her chicks.
"There you are! Hey, look, I got you some water and food. Oh! Do you need some more blankets? I can get those. It always helps to have something soft. Here, just lay down and relax, I got you. No one hurts my kitten!" A note of defensiveness slipped into TJ's voice in the last sentence.
For a moment, Ethan was a little overwhelmed. No one had ever really cared enough to help him with something like this before, so he wasn't really sure how to react. He also hadn't missed the fact that Tyler had been careful not to touch him once he woke up, something most people probably wouldn't even think of.
The birdman scurried across the room, returning with two very fluffy blankets that he held out to E with a warm smile. For a moment, the mute just stared, then, without really thinking, he tackled TJ in a hug, burying his face in his shoulder. He wished so badly he could just say a simple thank you.
For a second, Tyler just seemed surprised, but then his arms wrapped around the other boy and he smiled.
"You're welcome, kitten."
Axel, Aries, and Cal:
Axel cowered in the corner of his room, curled in a ball with his hands clawing at his ears, trying desperately to get rid of the yelling. He didn't want to hear them anymore. It was too loud.
Faintly, he heard Cal's familiar laugh, coming through the door. He was probably joking with someone. Axel opened his mouth to call out to him, or Aries, for help, but a lump built in the back of his throat, and the voices screamed louder, telling him that they wouldn't have time. He was being selfish, they didn't need to do anything for him. Axel's mouth fell shut again, and the door creaked, a sliver of light entering the dark room, spilling in from the hall.
"Hey, Axel, ya in here? Me and Aries were- Axel, hey, what's wrong?"
Cal's shadow knelt in front of him, reaching out and gently pulling a hand away from Axel's ear. Behind him, Aries hung back, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot, awkward and unsure of what to do.
Axel was fully aware that he was shaking and probably looked like a completely pathetic mess at the moment, he tried to respond, but couldn't find the words.
"Is there something I could do? Do you need anything? Some water, a hug?"
"I'll get water," Aries muttered, disappearing from the room again.
Cal nodded, keeping his eyes on Axel.
"So do you want a hug, or...?"
Axel managed the smallest of nods, forcing his other hand away from his ear and reaching to Cal who engulfed him in a large hug. For a long few minutes, Axel just clung to them and worked on steadying his breathing. It took a while, but he finally managed to get some level of control. Once his shaking stopped, Cal finally pulled back, leaving a hand on the smaller boy's shoulder.
At some point, Aries had re-entered, holding a cup of water and waiting silently in the doorway.
"T-thanks." Axel managed, looking at Cal and then Aries, who walked over and silently handed over the cup. Axel took it and took a drink before carefully putting it down.
Aries turned to leave, but, before he could stop himself, Axel spoke up.
"W-wait, Aries. C-can you s-stay?" He asked softly. Aries turned, surprise flickering in his eyes.
"Oh... uh, sure. I guess." He answered, walking back and sitting awkwardly on the edge of the bed across from the other two. Cal smiled widely.
"Hey, you guys can always talk to me, 'kay?" Cal stated. “If ya ever need anything, I mean."
Aries nodded, seeming a bit out of it, toying with the hem of his shirt rather nervously.
"Y-you too, t-thanks, Cal." Axel answered, feeling himself finally relax a little in the presence of his… friends? Is that what they were?
Well, anyway, Axel felt much more comfortable with the two of them, even if Aries did seem a little uneasy.
"Well, man, I don't know how you do it, but you somehow still look like a boss while crying. No idea how you do it, I just look like a crybaby bitch." Cal said jokingly. Axel laughed and Aries even cracked the faintest of smiles. Cal grinned. "Actually, you both look fucking amazing! How the hell am I the only ugly person in this group? Man, bad luck." He made a tsking sound with his tongue, shaking his head.
Axel smiled and shook his head as well, blushing slightly. "T-that's not true, y-you look great too, Cal!" He insisted. Aries nodded slightly as well, and the movement didn't go unseen.
"If you say so, I guess we're all hot." Cal joked, pretending to flip his hair while Axel cracked up and Aries actually smiled. Cal laughed as well, and for once, everyone seemed happy. Even if it was just temporary.
Nabih and Leroy:
Leroy felt tension building up in his head and shoulders. He was failing, again. He couldn’t protect the others like he was supposed to, he was slacking. It was his only job, but he couldn’t even do one small thing for the others. God, why did he have to be so stupid?!
“Shit!” Leroy slammed his fists down on the bathroom counter, tears spilling down his cheeks, out of control. The larger male bent over, trying to get control of his emotions. It wasn’t often that he lost it like this, but today was his little brother's birthday and Leroy’s mind was everywhere at once, screaming at him for failing with renewed rage. “Why do I have to be so fucking useless?” He growled, wiping his face helplessly, his whole body shaking with tears.
A soft knock came on the door.
“Leroy? Is everything okay in there?”
Nabih. Damn it. Why now? Why him?
“I’m fine!” Leroy snapped, trying to get himself together.
“Alright…” There was a long pause and Leroy assumed Nabih had just left, which was probably best anyway… even if it did hurt. “If you need something I can try to help.” Leroy flinched in surprise when Nabih spoke again, taking a deep breath and attempting to keep his voice from shaking.
“I said I’m fine.”
“Sure…”
Leroy stared at himself in the mirror for a long moment before hesitantly reaching over and unlocking the door, a quiet invitation.
Nabih opened the door a moment later, looking calm and collected, but worried nonetheless.
“Hey.” He said carefully, walking over and leaning against the counter, watching Leroy carefully.
“Hey.” The larger males voice cracked slightly and he kept his eyes trained on the sink.
“You want to talk about it?”
“I-” Leroy took another breath while Nabih waited patiently, never pressing. “It’s just, I feel like I’m letting everyone down, and it’s my brother's birthday, and I don’t want to lose anyone else, and I know I’m being pathetic, I just- I don't know.” His shoulders slumped, more tears forming. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You haven’t done anything wrong, Leroy, and you aren’t failing anyone. Just like you didn’t fail your brother. I know things feel terrible right now, but I can promise you that no one in this group thinks of you as a failure. You’ve done nothing but help.”
Leroy looked up for the first time, his eyes uncertain but hopeful. Nabih was probably the most knowledgeable one here anyway, so maybe…
"You think?"
Nabih smiled slightly. "I know."
The larger male wiped his eyes again, finally gaining some level of control again.
"Thank you."
"Any time."
Spring 
Day Weather: 
