The Hurt/Comfort Meme

[winterbolt]

Hurt/Comfort - Hurt/comfort is a fan fiction genre that involves the physical pain or emotional distress of one character, who is cared for by another character. The injury, sickness or other kind of hurt allows an exploration of the characters and their relationship.

- Post with Character Name | Series in the subject.
- Others respond.
- Roll 1-10 at RNG for a scene, play it out and have fun!

1. INJURY. You've been injured. Broken bones or bleeding out or maybe just a tiny little papercut. The choice is yours.
2. SICKNESS. You're sick and laid up in bed, at home or in a hospital. The severity is up to you.
3. FEAR/ANXIETY. Something is happening and you're scared beyond belief.
4. LOSS OF SENSES. Sight, touch, taste, hearing, smell, etc. You've lost some important sense or ability and now you're left to deal with it.
5. DESPAIR. Nothing is good or right anymore and you can't shake the depression. Maybe that friend of yours can help though...
6. BREAKUP. You've been dumped. You need someone to comfort you, possibly by the one who dumped you.
7. MAKE UP. Fight or break up, it's time to makeup.
8. RESCUED. You've just been held captive and/or tortured for however long and finally, someone has come to the rescue.
9. BAD ROMANCE. Fight, cheated on, abused, whatever the case is, someone else can clearly see you need comfort from someone who isn't your terrible lover tonight.
10. LOSS. You've experience a loss of some kind and need help getting through it.
11. INSANITY. You're seeing things that aren't really there, hearing voices, or you're just convinced you're at your wit's end finally and you're going to crack. Maybe someone can give you a helping hand.
12. TIRED. You've had a heard life recently and you're just worn too thin to really care anymore. There's no fight left in you anymore. Can someone help change your mind?
13. ADDICTION. Drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, or any other type of addiction has got you in its grasp. First time or relapse. Will someone be able to save you?
14. INSOMNIA. You can't sleep anymore, no matter how hard you try. Maybe someone can give you company.
15. NIGHTMARES. Or, on the other end of the spectrum, you can't sleep without gruesome, horrible nightmares. Either someone is stuck in your dream with you, witnessing it or they're just waking you up, soothing you out of it.
16. BLACKMAIL. You've been caught doing something you shouldn't and you were blackmailed because of it
17. SEPARATION. You're going to be separated for awhile or were separated for a long time. Either make up for lost time or try to spend every last moment together.
18. VIOLATED. You've been violated in some way. Can include sexual overtones or not. Can someone help you through it?
19. STRANDED. You've been stranded somewhere remote, with no help of anyone finding you for awhile. Can you survive this together?
20. SINS You're feeling the weight of your sins and guilt clearer than ever. Can someone give you absolution or lessen the ache any?
21. SECRET. It's difficult having to keep that secret of yours, be it a relationship or something you just don't want to share with anybody else. Maybe it's okay to talk about it now though...

From Bakerstreet

Comments

Nagisa Hazuki | Free!

[naggysa]

[showyouthesight]

[It's been a few days since his last visit (since practice has gotten especially intense lately and it's getting closer to the time when he'll have to actually choose his relay swimmers) and Rin is surprised to learn from Makoto that Nagisa has seemed oddly subdued lately. It's confusing since the last time he saw Nagisa, he was in fairly bright spirits, despite his condition.

By now, he was back in school, still benched from any training but able to get around. Though Makoto said Nagisa wasn't even getting in the pool for a dip while the others swam. He hasn't worn his swimsuit since they got back from the islands. The others have apparently tried to get to the bottom of things, with little success.

So Rin is back again, this time armed with his iPod and some motivational music, along with a book on physical rehabilitation.]

[naggysa]

[Nagisa hadn't really been expecting company today. He declined walking home with Rei for one thing, which was exceptionally unusual. Usually he was begging to have someone to walk back home with, or go somewhere with so he could put off doing homework for as long as possible. But today he'd left school as soon as he was able, saying that his mother really needed him back home today. Rei had tried to ask why, but the blonde left before he could get a word in edgewise.

Curious. Very curious.

When Rin knocks in the door he'll receive no answer, at least not at first. It wasn't locked, but it looked like Nagisa's parents weren't home. Nagisa had heard the knocking from upstairs, jarring him from where he'd been trying to distract himself by drawing in the margins of one of his notebooks.]

Ah-! Just a sec!

[He shouts, hoping whoever is down there will be able to actually hear. A few minutes pass in which Nagisa struggles his way off the bed, wincing as his injured heel brushes the floor when he stands. It had been hurting a lot worse than normal lately, but Nagisa had assumed the pain would just fade with time. Unfortunately, that hadn't been the case, and now the skin beneath bandages hiding it was angry red and painful to the touch.

...and it doesn't take him long, hovering next to his bed like that, to realize he's not going to make it back downstairs in time for it not to seem odd. So instead, he calls out again as he crawls quickly- and carefully- back onto his bed.]

Um- ...the door's open! I'm upstairs!

[There's no thought as to whether or not it's even someone he knows. He assumes it has to be, seeing how his friends have been coming over more often lately.]

[showyouthesight]

[Rin frowns at the anxiety in Nagisa's tone. What the hell is up to? He really should be able to walk on his own by now. Carefully and maybe with the aid of crutches if he's super hard up, but he should be able to manage it. That Nagisa isn't taking full advantage of that fact, even now, is distressing. Since when does Nagisa miss a chance to fling himself at him? Especially if his parents aren't home? He'd been half-hoping for it, just to put to rest any worries that his conversation with Makoto had caused. Obvious, Makoto isn't just being his usual worrywart self.

Not to mention that Nagisa has absolutely no idea who's at the door. He could be a robber or a serial killer for all he knows. He thought only Haruka was crazy enough to leave his door perpetually unlocked. He huffs and lets himself inside.]

Oi, try asking who it is first! [He belts the words toward the stairs, as he toes off his shoes and then makes the trek up.] Seriously, you leave your door open when you can't even manage the trip downstairs? Aren't you supposed to be some sort of expert on those bad movie cliches?

[When he reaches the top, he doesn't stop to see whether Nagisa's door is open. Privacy is the last thing on his mind after hearing that uncertainty in Nagisa's voice. He wants to get to the bottom of this right fucking now.]

[naggysa]

[Nagisa is spacey today, moreso than usual. He hadn't even thought about the door, even though his mom told him to come downstairs to lock it when she left. He just hadn't gotten to it...his crutches are leaning against the edge of the bed, but it doesn't look like he's really used them since he got home from school. Which, incidentally, wasn't even that long ago. The trip home had been a lot longer of one than usual.

As for his door, it's been left slightly ajar, and upon entering Rin will see Nagisa sitting there with his foot stretched out in front of him as usual. He has a notebook in hand with more doodles than actual notes, and when he catches sight of Rin he puts on the biggest grin he can muster.]

Sorry! I guess I forgot.

[He fidgets a little as he talks, glancing away to let his gaze wander the room.]

What are you doing here, Rin-chan? You don't have practice?

[showyouthesight]

[Rin's frown deepens. He glances at the crutches and then the doodles. Nagisa shouldn't still be this incapacitated. He should be with his friends, at the pool. He glances at that foot too, even though the socks Nagisa's wearing do a good job of hiding the current condition of his injury.

He ignores Nagisa's question entirely, remaining at the door's entrance, arms at his sides still holding onto the items he brought for entertainment.]

You don't look... Are you doing all right? Makoto said you've been cutting out a lot.

[naggysa]

[He pauses for a moment, trying to wrack his mind for some sort of believable excuse. He told Rei that his mother needed him for things at home, but seeing how she's not here, that won't fly with Rin.]

Me? I'm fine! I've uh...

[Nagisa glances down again, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth before it seems to come to him and he continues, quickly.]

I've had a lot of homework to catch up on! And you know my parents...they want me to put my grades before everything else.

[showyouthesight]

[He eyes him skeptically, although he is bothered by the parents thing. Are Nagisa's parents really pressuring him like that? He still doesn't move though.]

I didn't know that, actually. That doesn't explain why you're acting so... [He makes a motion with his hand.] frantic.

[naggysa]

[...oh, well, shit. That's right. How could Rin know about that? Not unless Haru or someone else told him, anyway...but that slip aside, Nagisa shakes his head a little, his brows furrowing.]

Frantic? I'm not acting frantic! Are you sure you're not mistaking that for how I always am?

[He brings that smile of his back, though it's more than a little forced as he tosses the notebook he'd been scribbling in to the side.]

[showyouthesight]

[Rin finally steps into the room, fixing him with a look that clearly says "Don't bullshit me."]

No, you're acting like you act when you're hiding something. I know you, Nagisa.

[He sighs and rubs roughly at his neck.]

Don't pull a Makoto on me right now. What's wrong?

[naggysa]

[Nagisa balks, shrinking under Rin's gaze almost instantly. He holds it for a moment before he has to look away, pressing his fingertips together.]

Mmhh...nothing's wrong!

[God he regrets it the moment the words come out of his mouth but he doesn't want to tell Rin. He doesn't want to tell anyone, but certainly not Rin. He adds in a mumbled undertone, still looking off elsewhere in the bedroom.]

And I'm not hiding anything.

[showyouthesight]

[Rin's anxiety flares, as he slams a hand onto the end of the bed.]

I came all the way here to check on you and you're going to sit there and lie to me? You can't even look at me, Nagisa.

[Guilting Nagisa wasn't exactly high on Rin's list of solutions, but it's clear normal discourse isn't yielding results either. In fact, it's just making this whole thing worse. And if Nagisa is this insistent about his evasion, something's definitely wrong.]

[naggysa]

[Nagisa winces when his hand comes down, still not looking at him with his head angled toward his lap. He keeps silent beyond a small whine in the back of his throat, but for a split second his gaze flicks up and over at his bandaged foot before he looks away again.

While Nagisa has clammed up for the time being, Rin's close enough now that he will have been able to catch that glance.]

[showyouthesight]

[Yes, Rin does. He shifts from the end of the bed to go grab just above Nagisa's ankle, the hold firm but not squeezing. Without saying anything else, he starts by yanking off Nagisa's sock to see if anything looks off about the bandaging.]

[naggysa]

[Nagisa stiffens, nearly drawing his leg up to pull it out of Rin's grasp. Instead, he keeps still as Rin pulls his sock off, revealing the bandaged foot beneath. The bandages are clean from a glance, evidence that they'd been changed recently...but they're also a little awkwardly put on, as if Nagisa had done it himself. But right where the worst of the wound had been stitched along his heel there's a slight tinge of red, almost unnoticeable if you weren't looking right at it.]

[showyouthesight]

[Unfortunately (or fortunately) for Nagisa, Rin's examining that foot pretty carefully. He gently lifts it up so he can get a closer look at that red and his eyes widen.]

Shit, this looks infected, Nagisa! How long has it been like this? [His voice is tight, as he turns back to Nagisa.]

[naggysa]

It's-! ...not...

[He starts to retort but ends up trailing off as he lifts a hand to brush his bangs from his eyes, his face heating up with shame.]

It's...just hurting a little, but it's fine, Rin-chan.

[Nagisa mutters stiffly, ignoring the question as he lowers his hands to let them rest against the bed.]

[showyouthesight]

[Rin pulls back from the bed and heads for the door, done with dealing with these token protests. He still wants answers but those can wait.]

You need new bandages. Where can I find them?

[naggysa]

[At this point, Nagisa's actually finding himself wishing Rin hadn't come over, and his anxiety over this isn't making his foot throb any less.]

...bathroom. In the cabinet.

[Rin will find that the cabinet door was left open from the last time Nagisa staggered in there, the box with the bandage roll inside already on the sink.]

[showyouthesight]

[He recovers the bandages easily enough and also snatches some disinfectant spray for good measure. He considers for a moment before also grabbing a warm wet towel. Rin carts all of the supplies back into Nagisa's room and drops them on the bed, relieved that Nagisa hasn't made an attempt to hide that foot under the covers or anything like that. He gets down on his knees to make this process easier and reaches for Nagisa's ankle again.]

I'm going to redress it. [It's a warning and also an inevitability.]

[naggysa]

[If his mind were in a different place, he may have just thought to do that. Right now, though, he's too worried to really do anything but sit there, finally glancing up when Rin returns.]

...Kay.

[He doesn't have the heart to protest, responding quietly as he watches Rin through his bangs. He already feels bad about lying, and it really hurts. It's been a while since he's chanced a look at the stitches himself, but what he saw didn't look good, hence the hasty redressing on his part to try and mask it.

Nagisa also wants to warn Rin to be careful, but that would be admitting how badly it's been bothering him.]

[showyouthesight]

[Rin doesn't have to be warned, as he unwraps the bandages slowly, not wanting to further aggravate what is probably inflamed skin. He hisses inwardly when he sees the actual wound and the angry infection surrounding it.]

Why didn't you tell anyone? [It's not really to Nagisa, maybe more to himself. But it's said with absolute disbelief. And pain.

He wastes no time in bringing the cloth to it to dab at the area, cleaning it as best and as carefully he can before spraying it several times with the medical disinfectant. His hair's pulled back as he works, something he also thought to do while fetching the supplies. Nagisa might even recognize the barrettes holding the errant bangs in place as his sisters'.]

[naggysa]

[He can sense by his tone that it's not so much a question, but he can't find it in him to answer right now anyway. He doesn't have much chance to think about how he'd respond either way, because when Rin starts to touch the skin he hisses and jerks his foot back a little. Not too far that he won't be able to go in with the spray, but that causes him to let out a muffled cry of pain that he bites back quickly before it can really escape.

Nagisa does take notice of the barrettes, though. If he wasn't like this right now, he would have zeroed in on them immediately, commenting on how nice they made Rin's hair look and suggesting that he maybe wear them all the time.

Now, he's scared to really say anything.]

[showyouthesight]

[Rin struggles to maintain his grip on that ankle, although Nagisa's hiss makes him want to drop it like it was on fire.]

Shit! Sorry, sorry, I'm trying here... It's just... really bad... I don't understand...

[He reaches for the iPod that pocketed when he went to get the bandages and hits a few buttons to quickly skip through the tracks. His hand shakes as he holds the earbud out to Nagisa.] Here. Just focus on this while I finish.

[The track is heavy trance, beautiful and easy to lose yourself in its heavy beats. Distracting and demanding. Rin figured Nagisa would appreciate it and hopefully never ask why it's part of Rin's playlist.]

[naggysa]

[It's just...really bad.

Nagisa feels a jolt of panic spike through him at those words- so unusually unsure for Rin- and he's grateful for the distraction in the form of the music. His hand shakes a little too as he takes the earbud, fitting it into his ear with a short, shaky nod.

Maybe he'll ask him about it later, but for now he focuses on it intently, letting the beats take his mind off of the pain thrumming through his foot.]