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

[samsa]

[That gets him to shake his head a little, but whether it's at what she's saying or just at the situation in general, it's hard to tell. If nothing else, his breathing has nearly returned to normal with his only problem being how his body trembles slightly beyond his control. That won't stop for a while, probably not until he goes back to sleep.]

It just felt too real.

[The blood didn't help, solidifying that strange sensation of not knowing whether he's dreaming or awake.]

[soundmind]

I know. I know the feeling.

[How many nightmares has she had about past encounters, she doesn't even know anymore.]

...Crona can eat that dream, and I can keep him in here with you in case it happens again. I think you need him more than me right now.

[Meaning he needs to Musharna's services more than she does, not that he doesn't need her around. ...Maybe. Though she doesn't like the idea of being pushed away either.]

[samsa]

Thank you.

[Kaneki's answer comes quietly, but sincerely. The Musharna's presence would be more than welcome right now, especially if he'll be able to keep the nightmares from returning. A blank, thoughtless sleep would be far better than one riddled with nightmares.

He doesn't intend to tell Maka to leave, either. He's too wary to let her get too close, but he doesn't want her to go away either. Being alone would just make it worse, leaving him with nothing but his thoughts and the sound of the storm outside.]

...I'm sorry I woke you up. You're probably tired.

[Kaneki knows he doesn't need to apologize for that, really, but he can't think of much else to say.]

[soundmind]

[She shrugs, reaching up to pet Hide as her eyes cast down to her lap. It's all right, Hide, we're all here and safe.]

I'm...a light sleeper anyway.

[You have to be if you're a Meister, you have to be aware of your surroundings at all times and be able to quickly act.]

Ken, can I stay here with you? Let's just read a book together and not worry about the storm or what dreams you had.

[samsa]

[He glances down as well, his hands playing with the edge of the bed sheets. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Hide still watching him while nudging his head up into Maka's hand when she pets him.]

Please. I...I don't want you to leave.

[soundmind]

Hide.

[She directs her attention to the little Smeargle, smiling gently.]

Why don't you pick out a story for us to read? Ken and I will read it together.

["Together" of course implies being close to each other, so when Maka looks back up at Kaneki her expression falls into the same one of concern she's been carrying since she arrived.]

Ken...can I sit next to you? Please, I want to.

[samsa]

[The Smeargle nods quickly, looking back at Kaneki one last time before slowly climbing down from the bed, scurrying off to where he knows Maka's bookshelf is.

In the meantime, Kaneki looks back over as well, his uneasy expression momentarily illuminated by a flash of lightning. She was just asking to sit next to him. That's all.

He swallows thickly before nodding.]

[soundmind]

[All right. Good, that's progress. Maka carefully moves herself over so she's sitting next to Kaneki, pausing for a second to consider what to do next, then she looks away.]

[Now, more than ever, the burden of her memories weighs on her--the thoughts of all the kishin eggs still shaped like humans that tried to torture or kill her. Retaliation against Lord Death and her father, mostly, being the Death Scythe's daughter was more troublesome than glamorous. All of these kishin eggs, these monsters that masqueraded as humans, would brag about different aspects of how they were injuring Maka, how they were going to kill her, how delicious and rare her soul looked.

No, there's worse than the ghouls in her mind. There's worse atrocities than what Kaneki saw in his nightmare...and many times, it's Maka herself who's committed them just so she can stay alive. "Kill or be killed" "fight to the death" those were the orders Lord Death gave to her as a form of permission. There's still so much he doesn't know about how truly violent her life in her own world was...how violent she actually is...and he never will. He doesn't need that burden on his mind.]

Crona should be coming in when he realizes I'm gone. I'll stay here until you go back to sleep.

[samsa]

[While he still seems a little uncomfortable and definitely not at ease, he doesn't move away when Maka sits next to him. He just nods again to what she says, watching the doorway until Hide returns carrying a large, flat book over his head. He tosses it up onto the bed with a grunt before climbing back up, reaching out to take Maka's sleeve and tug on it a little to guide her hand toward the book.

It's "Good Night Lunatone". What else?]

[soundmind]

[Carefully, Maka takes the book and opens it, leaning it over to Kaneki slightly so he can see the contents too, and patting her lap with her free hand to invite Hide to join there.]

In the great green room
there was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of the Miltank jumping over the Lunatone.

[Well, it's rhyming, so it can give the two of them something to focus on. As Maka reads, Crona floats in and takes the spot next to the bed. He's aware of what's going on, it's pretty easy to sense in the air, but he won't interrupt Maka while she's reading and instead direct thoughts of "are you all okay?" to Hide and Rikki.]

And there were three little Ursaring sitting in a hot spring,
And two little Skittens and a pair of mittens
And a little toy igloo and a young Pikachu.

[samsa]

[Hide wastes no time crawling into Maka's lap, looking up at Kaneki expectantly for a moment to see if he's reading too before looking down at the book.

The Smeargle is too distracted to answer Crona- though he seems content enough- so Rikki does instead, rolling her eyes to look up at him from where she's laying against Kaneki's leg. Things could be better, but they'll live.

When Maka reaches the part about the Skitty, Hide reaches over and puts a paw on Kaneki's arm, pulling on his sleeve and pointing at the pictures. The boy's response is to stiffen slightly at the unexpected contact, but he doesn't move away this time. He just offers Hide a small smile until he turns his attention back to the book.]

[soundmind]

And a comb and a brush
And a bowl full of mush
And a quiet old lady who was whispering, "Hush."

[Hush, right, an odd stillness has fallen over the group despite the thunder still rumbling outside. Out of the corner of her eye, Maka sees Kaneki twitch again--is he still worried? Well, now that Crona is here hopefully the nightmares won't come back.]

Good night, phone. Good night, Lunatone.
Good night, Miltank jumping over the Lunatone.

[Goodnight nightmares, goodnight unwelcome thoughts, goodnight ghouls and goodnight Meisters.]

Good night, light and the red balloon.
Good night, Ursaring. Good night, spring.
Good night, Skittens. Good night, mittens.
Good night, clocks. Good night, socks.
Good night, little igloo. Good night, Pikachu.

[This feels like the longest goodnight ever, but as long as they're reading and not worrying about whatever's waiting for Kaneki back in his dreams it's fine. As she's reading, Maka gradually leans against him, mostly out of habit, some part due to sleepiness starting to claw at her mind again.]

Good night, comb. Good night, brush.
Good night, nobody. Good night, mush.
Good night to the old lady whispering, "Hush."
Good night, stars. Good night, air.
Good night, noises everywhere.

[samsa]

[Usually, Hide can last for several readings of this book, but it's still the middle of the night. By the time it starts to wrap up, he's laying his head against the crook of Maka's arm, trying his best not to fall asleep. Something about the repetition of the words, though juvenile, helps Kaneki to calm down too. The anxiety twisting its claws inside is finally starting to let him go, giving way to a creeping exhaustion starting to take him over as well.

When the story is over, he glances down to see that his Smeargle has all but fallen asleep in Maka's lap, his tongue lolling from his mouth. At least she'll be spared from having to read it a second time.]

Must be tired...

[He mutters quietly, hyper aware of the fact that Maka's leaning against him. It's easier to let her now that he's been awake for a little while.]

[soundmind]

Mhm...

[They're all ready to follow Hide into dreamland, it seems, and...Maka has been trapped. She'd feel too guilty about moving the sleeping Pokemon to leave.

But that's not on her mind, she doesn't care, the girl just knows there's one last thing that needs to be accomplished before they all drift off.]

...Ken, can you close your eyes for a second?

[samsa]

...okay...

[He looks over at her out of the corner of his eye for a moment before letting his eyes slowly fall closed. It's not hard, given how tired he already is.]

[soundmind]

[All right. Before her nerves get totally shot and she psychs herself out of it, she shifts up and quickly--carefully--brushes her lips against his. Though it was a decidedly chaste action, Maka still withdraws back into her spot of leaning against Kaneki.]

[After a second she mumbles something, then speaks a little louder:] I just wanted you to know that it's okay.

[A pause, she adds:] Goodnight, Ken.

[samsa]

[It comes and goes so suddenly that he doesn't have much chance to react. He hadn't known it was coming since his eyes were closed. He hadn't even stiffened in response. He just stared down at her in shock, his face burning in the wake of it. His own shyness seems to override his fear from the nightmare, just long enough for him to register what she'd said.

His eyes fall closed again as he lets himself relax a bit further

It feels weird to think of it that way, but he sortof...needed it? Not so much the kiss as much as the confirmation that it was okay. Maybe it would have been different under different circumstances, but it doesn't do to think of the what-ifs.]

Goodnight, Maka.