Whumptober Prompt #16- Pinned Down And #22- Hallucination

Whumptober Prompt #16- Pinned Down and #22- Hallucination

Tony had officially graduated from worried to scared.  Peter’s fever had been steadily climbing for hours since he arrived at the Compound.  May had called last night, panicking as she knew she couldn’t take him to the hospital where she worked, but he had gotten sick the previous day and he wasn’t getting better.  It had started as a simple cold but overnight, it seemed, it had turned into full-blown viral fever.  He had immediately contacted Shuri, as the Princess of Wakanda had immediately taken to Peter once they had finally met, and sent her everything she asked for.  But Shuri hadn’t found an antiviral yet, hadn’t even gotten a fever reducer to him yet.  And Peter’s fever kept climbing.  So Tony was scared, teetering on the edge of terrified.

“Have to… have to…”  Peter mumbled, lost in the throes of fever.

“Have to what, Pete?”  Tony asked, trying to rearrange the wet washcloths on Peter.  It felt like they’d been forced back into the stone age with Peter’s metabolism burning through antivirals like butter in a microwave.  But he had to keep trying, no matter how old the remedy was.  He had to try and cool Peter down.

“Have to find… find…”

“Find?  Find what, Peter?”  Tony murmured.

“Danger… spi…”

“You don’t have to be Spider-man right now, Pete.”  Tony whispered.  “No one is in danger.”

“Safe?”  Peter sagged against his pillows, exhausted.

“Yeah, we’re all safe.”  Tony soothed.  “Morgan’s safe, May is safe, I’m safe.”

Peter’s brow furrowed.  “Mor-gan?”

Tony stopped.  Peter’s fever was cooking the memories right out of his head.

“Yeah, Morgan.”  Tony answered.  “She’s with Pep, upstate.  We didn’t want to scare her by letting her see you like this.  We knew you wouldn’t want that.”

That had been a hard won battle.  Morgan had not wanted to stay at home, she’d wanted to be with her brother.  Since Tony had all but adopted Peter after surviving the snap, Morgan had taken to calling Peter her brother.  No one, not Pepper, not May, not himself, not even Peter had corrected her. 

“Ben, who’s Morgan?”  Peter asked, his confused voice sending ice through Tony’s veins.

Tony had obviously looked into Peter Parker’s life before recruiting him to what eventually became known as Team Iron Man.  He hadn’t wanted to go in blind to someone who may not agree with him.  He’d seen the scholarship to Midtown Tech, the parents dying in a plane crash as a child, being raised by a single Aunt after his uncle had died in a robbery.  Once Peter had become a legitimate intern at Stark Industries, and he’d met with May to discuss how Peter was going to be continuing Spider-man activities, he’d learned the rest of the story.  May had told him that Peter had been there when his Uncle Ben died, that the man had bled out in his arms.  That Peter blamed himself for his own inaction, though it had been Ben who threw himself in front of Peter.  It explained why Peter was so fueled to make sure Queens was safe, even if it meant breaking curfew to do it.  Peter hadn’t wanted anyone to suffer like he did, not when he knew he had the power to save people.

“Never mind, buddy.”  Tony said, unsure if agreeing with Peter’s delirium or fighting it was the right way to go.  He had to read more books on high fevers when this was over.

“Ben, where are we?”  Peter’s confusion grew and he tried to sit up.  “Ben, we can’t afford this.”

“It’s okay, it’s already paid for.”  Tony hushed, using the best way to calm Peter down that he knew.  Peter could easily be assuaged if their money problems were not in the picture.  “Uh, Tony Stark is paying for it.  Says he wants to give back to the community.”

That wasn’t technically a lie so he figured he wasn’t adding to Peter’s delusions.

“Mister Stark?”  Peter’s childish voice, one he never heard unless Peter was drop dead exhausted or injured, was slurred and slow.  “Ben, did I get to meet him?”

“He’s… around.”  Tony said, trying to find the quickest loopholes he could.  “I’m sure you’ll meet him soon.”

Peter smiled, as if meeting his childhood hero was all he wanted in the world.  “Ben that would be so cool.”

“I know, buddy.”  Tony brushed a hand through Peter’s hair.  It seemed he had already given in to Peter’s delusions by accepting his role as Ben.  “I’m sure Tony Stark would love to meet you too.”

Peter giggled lightly, sending himself into a coughing fit.  Tony wiped away the phlegm, trying to ease Peter onto his side, to take pressure off his lungs.

 “‘M sorry.”  Peter mumbled, seemingly embarrassed.

“Please, Pete, I’ve had to do far worse.”  Tony said.

Peter’s brow furrowed.

“Ben?  You… never call me Pete.  You never…”  Peter frowned up at Tony, his glazed eyes full of mistrust and fear.  His breathing quickened, pushing Tony away.  “You’re not Ben.”

Oh, shit.

“Peter, it’s me.  It’s Mister Stark.”

Peter shoved at Tony, nearly knocking him over.  Even in Peter’s fevered state, his spider-strength shone through.

“Ben?!?  BEN?!?”  Peter screamed, trying to scramble away from Tony.

“It’s okay, kid, you’re alright, Ben’s here, I’m right here, buddy.”  Tony tried but Peter kept struggling to stand.  “Peter, you have to calm down or you’re going to hurt yourself more!”

Tony had never wished for May Parker’s presence more than he was now, but May was at work, unable to take the days off.  Next time, he was just paying her to miss the day.

“Ben??”  Peter shouted, seemingly unable to even recognize Tony’s voice, still struggling.

“FRIDAY, call Steve and Sam, get them down here, now!”  Tony ordered, trying to get Peter to lay back down.  “And call Shuri and ask what the hell is taking so long!”

Not three minutes of wrestling Peter from getting out of bed later, Steve sprinted into the room, Sam right behind him.

“I can’t calm him down!”  Tony shouted, grabbing for Peter’s hand which had been swatting at him.

“Steve, help Tony.”  Sam ordered.  Out of the entire Avengers, Sam had the most medical training as a counsellor for PTSD and other medical discharges so in case of mental breakdowns, Sam was always placed in charge.  “He’s gonna hurt himself more if he keeps trying to get up.”

Steve, ever the good soldier, immediately went to Peter’s other side, climbing onto the bed beside him.  Together, they were able to wrangle Peter back in bed, effectively pinning him down.

“No, please, don’t, Ben, Ben help me, please, stop, no, no!”  Peter’s cries for help tore at Tony’s heart, welling tears up in his eyes, but Tony had to stay strong.  He had to help Peter because Peter couldn’t help himself.

“Stark, what set this off?”  Sam asked, holding Peter’s legs as best as he could without getting kicked.

“He was hallucinating, thought I was his Uncle Ben.”  Tony answered, trying to keep his voice stable.  “Lost him as a kid, died in front of him.  He figured out I wasn’t Ben because I called him Pete but couldn’t remember who I was so he panicked.”

Peter suddenly went limp in their arms, still muttering pleas and distress calls.

“Peter?”  Tony called.  “Peter?!?”

“Please, I just want him back.”  Peter mumbled, completely incoherent.  “Please.”

“It’s okay, Peter.”  Sam hushed, stroking his leg in a circular motion, trying to ground the young teen.  “Just breathe.  All you need to worry about right now is breathing.”

Peter seemed to respond to Sam’s voice.  “Wha-?”

“Just breathe, Peter.”  Sam instructed, keeping up his ministrations.

Steve silently offered to take Sam’s place and Sam nodded, switching with Steve so now Steve was pinning Peter’s legs down, rubbing one hand up and down his calf, and Sam was beside Peter, with easier access to the teen who was now all but resting against Tony’s chest.

“It’s okay, Peter, just breathe.”  Sam exaggerated his own deep breathing, clear enough for Peter to hear.

Miraculously, Peter started to breathe in time with Sam.

“That’s good, Peter, that’s good.  Just like that.”

Tony felt brave enough to gently thread his fingers through Peter’s hair.

Sam nodded at him.  “Do you feel that, Peter?  That’s Mister Stark and Mister Captain Rogers.  You know them.”

Peter’s eyes fluttered open, still glazed over but Tony’s relief, a flash of recognition in them.

“M’ster Stark?”  Peter whispered.

“Yeah, buddy that’s me.”  Tony smiled, and Steve and Sam relaxed their grips on the kid.

“Yo’r cryin’.”  Peter mumbled, frowning.

Tony hadn’t even noticed.  “It’s okay, buddy.  You just focus on breathing.”

“Boss, incoming call from Princess Shuri.”  FRIDAY announced.

“We got him.”  Sam said, already moving Peter into a more comfortable position with Steve’s help.   “You take that.”

Tony nodded, and although he hated to leave Peter, he hurried out the door.  The faster he got this over with, the faster he could return to Peter.

“Yes, your Highness?”  Tony called out, answering Shuri’s call.

“I’m on my way.”  Shuri replied, all business.  “I’ve got an antiviral that should last for his system and help bring down his fever.”

Tony slumped in relief.  “Thank God.  How soon can you be here?”

“I’ll arrive in an hour, max.”  Shuri said.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”  Tony said.  “I’ve got to get back to Peter.”

“Go.”  Shuri all but ordered him.  “See you soon.”

Tony walked back into the room, where Peter seemed to be sleeping, with Sam and Steve sitting on the edge of his bed and computer chair respectively.

“Shuri’ll be here in an hour.”  Tony relayed.  “Said she’s got meds for him.”

Steve nodded.  “I’ll wait for her on the landing pad.”

Tony nodded, and settled in with Sam in case Peter woke up.

OMgOMGOMGOMGOMG!!! I’m so excited!  Let’s see....

favorite tv show: It changes every year but right now it’s a toss-up between M*A*S*H and The Twilight Zone- I’ve always loved those shows.  The sociopolitical commentary, the intense camerawork, the characters, the scripts, I just can’t get enough of them!

favorite tv show character ever: ............ uhhh that’s difficult.  All the ones I can really think of are technically not TV characters but movie/comic characters portrayed on TV- fuck it, I’m going with Anakin Skywalker because he’s my murder child and I will not hear a word against him.  Especially Clone Wars Anakin- he’s my favorite.  Angel wing hair, clones he loves at his back, Ashoka right next to him, Obi-Wan too... it’s good stuff.

TV show you thought you wouldn’t like but did: Lucifer- I was wayyyyyy wrong about the premise.  Thought it was just another crime drama.  Didn’t realize how funny, how heart-breaking, how fucking good it was.  Such a good show.  Love every minute of it.  Even Season four.  

favorite tv show ship: No favorite but I do have some to list off- ColdFlash, Black Canary and Green Arrow (Justice League Unlimited), KiriBaku, Spirk/McKirk/McSpirk,  Lucifer/happiness

a show you used to like but don’t anymore: Honestly?  There’s more than one.  I think what I’ll say is Flash because even though I still like to write ColdFlash, the show the Flash just doesn’t do it for me anymore.  Some of my favorite heroes and villains are in that show but ever since Flashpoint I just couldn’t do it.  I stopped watching and never got back in.  I still love ColdFlash though.

if you were able to be a character in a tv show which one would you pick?: Okay I’m cheating with this one- Captain Cold (Season 1 of Legends of Tomorrow) I know technically he was a comic book villain first but Wentworth Miller is my boi, and I love him, I’m very weak for a villain who is snarky, cold, and callous but not unnecessarily cruel- a criminal with a code of honor and a tragic past. Besides he’s a Central City Rogue, we all know he loves Flash as much as Flash loves them

a show you want to watch but still haven’t started: Good Omens- I haven’t had the time to just sit and binge watch so I still haven’t seen it.  I know I’ll love it but I gotta pay rent and live life without for now

a tv show you started way after everyone else: Literally everything?  I only watch shows based on friends reveiws, or seeing the gifs on tumblr.  I’m so behind on literally everything, and that’s not counting the retro stuff I like that hasn’t been off the air for years.  For an actual answer, let’s say Gilligan’s Island.  I fucking love that show- it’s hilarious.

last tv show you watched: Last one that wasn’t a rewatch of a show I’ve seen fifty million times? Lucifer.  Like I said, very recent.

Tagging: @fallingstormphoenix @the-wandering-whumper @whatiswhump @winedark-whump @whumpster-dumpster @jo-castle @la-vie-en-whump and @whumpingmydarlings

Have fun!!!!  I can’t wait to hear y’all’s answers, if you want to participate.  Up to you.

TV show tag game

tagged by @myellenficent 💖💖

favorite tv show: twin peaks!!!

favorite tv show character ever: dale cooper ❤️

tv show you thought you wouldn’t like but did: i can’t think of any at the moment. i tend to watch shows i know i’m gonna like 

favorite tv show ship: mulder x scully 

a show you used to like but don’t anymore: girls. it took me so long to answer this question and then i remembered that this show existed lol 

if you were able to be a character in a tv show which one would you pick?: i can’t think of any that i actually want to be, but i can think of 100′s that i want to be friends with 

a show you want to watch but still haven’t started: dark (netflix), the wire, & the west wing

a tv show you started way after everyone else: b99 

last tv show you watched: season 3 of stranger things and b99. almost done re-watching the sopranos

i tag @fovmulder, @bills-skarsgards, @eggogorgon, @cinesolo, @elizascanlens​ if you want to! 

Whump-tober Day 1 - Shaky Hands

“you’re doing ok, uunffff, really, it’s gonna be fine”

The reply was something between a whimper and a laugh

“I should be telling you that.”

The tech pulled the last piece of shrapnel out of the medic’s chest and dropped the shred of metal on the dirt, their shaking hands nearly dropping the forceps in the process.

“Please don’t drop those! They’re barely clean as it is and you’ll need them for sutures. There’s a kit in the bag.” 

The medic lifted a shaky blood stained hand and feebly pointed towards the first aid backpack that lay next to a crew member who then pushed it towards the tech.

The backpack had been tossed aside when the tech skidded to a stop and dropped to their knees when the medic went down. The tech ripped the backpack off the medic’s back so they could push the the medic onto their back. The blast had thrown the medic face first into the dirt but not before embedding no less that 15 jagged fragments of hot metal into the medic’s chest. Usually kept out of the line of fire, the medic had forgone the kevlar vest and everyone was regretting it as they watched the tech play a high stakes game of Operation and pick shrapnel out of the medic’s pale sweaty chest. While several hands pressed down on the medic’s chest to stem the bleeding, it was quickly decided that if the tech’s hands were steady enough to defuse a bomb, they could pull shrapnel out of their medic’s body.

“No not-next to it-yes that one.” The tech pulled a box of curved needles and packets of suture thread out of a side pocket and ripped open a packet. Their hands were quivering so severely that they could barely thread the needle. “Come on, c’mon, you stupid sonofa- got it.” The relief of threading the needle momentarily soothed them as pressed their shaking hands into their thighs and dropped their chin towards their chest.

“I can’t do this, pulling out shit is one thing, but stitching you up…I clip wires, dismantle electronics-”

“Exactly, the medic sighed, you keep us alive, and that’s literally what you’re doing now. I trust you.” The medic laid their trembling hand over the medic’s and weakly squeezed it.

“You can do this. I need you to do this.”

@99point9percentwhump @whumptober2019

Whumptober Prompt #7 Isolation and #9 Shackled

@winedark-whump So here’s a bit more about a certain Hero who needs some more character development.  I hope you enjoy it.  Dammit all, I hope you see it.  I have no idea how long this unflagged status will last me.

Line

Fayelin tested out the restraints she was locked in for what must’ve been the millionth time.  She knew she had been strapped down for her own safety, but getting out of these restraints was her top priority these past few days.  At least, she thought so.  The days blurred together without sunlight, she wasn’t sure how long she had left, but it couldn’t be too much longer.  They were already at the torture bit, and the torture bit was always last, according to her friends.

She kept her breathing as controlled as she could.  She could do this.  Killian wouldn’t have recommended her for the higher level courses if she couldn’t handle it.  Sure, minor Heroes-in-training weren’t allowed to take these courses because they were too young, but Killian knew her limits.  He had pulled a few strings to get her into this test.  He believed in her, she couldn’t let him down.

The cacophony of sounds was awful, but bearable, at least at first.  She knew it would get worse.  But this exercise was about being able to withstand unbearable torture, and to be able to escape when the time came.  She hadn’t been given permission to escape yet, but she was allowed to figure a way out beforehand.  A Hero should always be able to escape any situation, with as few injuries as possible.  That’s what the whole test was, you had to escape capture, with off duty Heroes pretending to be villains, after being able to withstand torture.

The sounds were growing louder.  There were newly added screams, screams she could’ve sworn she recognized.  She could’ve sworn she heard one of her best friends, Wonder, it sounded just like her.  They were definitely pulling from her personal background, that was definitely Gold, followed closely by Glitter.  She was rather close with the twins.  She supposed it was be able to withstand others getting tortured as well, more than one Villain tortured two heroes at once by torturing only one and making the other watch.  She could withstand that easily.  As much as she loved her friends, just hearing them scream was nothing.  Villains tortured, that was a fact of their lifestyle. Screams were just a way she could tell they were still alive.  Killian had told her several times to listen to how he screamed, as he would communicate to her through them.

Speak of the devil, Soldier’s screams were coming through now.  She wondered how they had gotten his screams because he wasn’t communicating, that was simply pain.  Fayelin blocked out the noise, after all, it was just noise, and went back to the restraints.  Thick iron wrapped solidly around her wrists with a thick chain wrapping around the legs of the bed.  It was made to withstand those with super strength but her strength was not her greatest ally here.  Her mind was.

“Remember little one, a Hero’s power can be their strength and weakness, only a Hero’s mind is their true strength.”

Killian was right after all.  Some Villains could take or copy abilities, but no one could take someone’s mind.  She just had to focus.  Killian had taught her to pick locks without her gift.  She simply needed something long and sharp, like one of the pins in her hair.  Problem was getting it.  She couldn’t lift her arms very high, her legs had weights on them, her hips were tied down with rope, and she wasn’t allowed to get off the bed until release was granted.  Her biggest advantage was how tiny she was, no matter how much she hated being so small.  If she played her cards right, she could slip between the ropes and slid herself into a position where she could grab a hairpin.  So she flexed some of her leg muscles, pulling on the ropes tautness.  When she felt her opening, she went for it.  She slid through the ropes, and got her hand to her left wrist, pulling a nonessential hairpin from her hair.  She always kept a few extra that didn’t keep up her ridiculous hairdo.  Logically, she knew her hairdo marked her status as a Sidekick, and Killian had spent a lot of time designing it, but the minute she became her own Hero, she was changing it.  She looked more like a sci-fi character than a Sidekick.

She hid the hairpin in her hand, just in case.  Then she drowned out the screams, she drowned out the crashing, the screeching, the breaking glass, the breaking of bones and focused.  Killian was trusting her to prove that he hadn’t made a mistake taking her on so early.  Other Heroes has whispered she wasn’t ready, that Killian was mad for taking a sidekick so young, that she couldn’t compete with her peers.  She couldn’t wait until she wiped those smirks off their faces.

“Heroes are now allowed to fight their way out of Caina.”  A loudspeaker spoke.  “If medical assistance is needed, then please contact Heroes before the rendezvous point is reached.”

She easily picked the lock of the left chain, then the right.  She kept the weights on her feet, to further her impact if she ran into anyone with invulnerability or super strength.  She was small, so she needed every advantage.  Once she broke out of the cell, a simple task with her gift pinpointing the systems weaknesses, she easily ran down the corridors.  She had all but grown up in Caina, where she was allowed to go anyway.  No one except a few Heroes were allowed to the lower levels (as that was where they kept unredeemable Villains, those with high body counts and usually personal vendettas against Heroes.  The two Killian had put down there had killed more than one Hero).  So working her way through was easier, she had no problems finding wherever she wanted to go.

Her first problem was Jerry.  That wasn’t his name, but she couldn’t pronounce his very Russian Hero name, but she thought he looked like a Jerry so Jerry it was.  Jerry had gravitational density manipulation, so he could give himself super strength when he wanted to, which was often his main weapon.

“I’m glad to see you out, little one, but I’m afraid this is the end of the line.”  Jerry cooed.

She growled. She hated when they treated her like a little kid.  But it did give her one great advantage.  They treated her like a little kid in fights as well.  She was often underestimated.

So when Jerry made an obvious feint to her right, she used his own momentum against him, flipping herself up using his arm and bringing her legs down  on the back of his neck.  She didn’t need to knock him fully unconscious, she just needed to run fast enough away that he couldn’t catch her.  So after making contact, she used the movement to propel herself forward and she made it past him.

Two more corridors to get through.  She could hear and feel the last Hero she would see inside Caina.  She snickered.  She’d nicknamed him Marshmallow because he was so soft and gooey on the inside, especially with children, and had the intelligence of a sugar molecule.  He used to give all the little Sidekicks or minor Heroes-in-training rides on his back when their Heroes were busy.  He was a solid mass of blue skin, muscles, and a mouth he couldn’t quite close.  She always thought of that old comic book series, back when those with unnatural abilities were considered fantasy.  Grundy, she believed he was called.  He would be easy enough, as she wouldn’t make the mistake everyone else makes when facing him.  Fighting him was unneccessary and stupid, it just wore you out and that’s how he caught his criminals.  He simply outlasted them in strength.  All she had to do was keep moving forward.

“Stop little one.”  He grumbled, raising his fists above his head.

She slid underneath his feet, unable to watch the confusion on his face.  Once through, she scrambled to her feet and kept running.  She was almost through to the end of the test, dodging explosions.  There were no mines in Caina, just in case some random civilian came wandering in, as this base wasn’t on a map to protect the people living here.  So that meant that other Heroes with gifts similar to hers would be launching projectiles ranging from cannonball size to actual missiles.  So once she made it to the open clearing that they used to hide the base, she turned around to see the five projectiles heading toward her.  Those were easy enough to dodge with her gift, after all, she never missed a step.  Dodging an explosion was simply a matter of jumping off debris at the right time and only putting a certain amount of weight down at a time.  That had been one of the first ways Killian had tested out the extent of her powers.

She made it to the end of the clearing, and found the rendezvous point.  Killian, and three other Heroes were waiting for their Sidekicks, with The Administrator.  She didn’t see any other Sidekicks but that didn’t mean she was first.  Once The Administrator said you passed, Heroes were allowed to leave to celebrate.  She skidded on her knees until she reached Killian, and stuck her leg out to stop herself, arresting momentum in a kneeling stance, arms crossed over her chest.

“Sir!  I have escaped Caina as ordered in the fastest manner I could, sir!”  She said.

“Well done.”  Killian said.

She fought the smile threatening to burst out.  Killian rarely praised her in front of other Heroes as to not seem unprofessional.

“You do continue to surprise young one.”  The Administrator said, his voice sounding as old as he was.  He was the oldest of their program, for this country at least.  He had once been a great Hero until he had finally gotten too old to keep up with the growing threat of Villains and now trained other Heroes to take his place.   “You are the youngest to ever complete this test, let alone unscathed.”

“Screams are just noise, sir.”  Fayelin said, bowing her head.  “Screams and begs for mercy will not interfere with how I do my job.  I cannot always trust what I am seeing or hearing so I cannot allow it to influence my work.”

“Good answer.”  The Administrator said.  “Villains will look for any excuse and will go to every new low you can think of to trick Heroes.  You must have the ultimate strength of will if you are to resist them.”

“I shall always endeavor for that strength.”  She replied.

“She has answered well, Soldier.”  The Administrator said.  “However, there is the matter of her age.”

She cursed silently.

“Heroes her age are not to be in this test.”  The Administrator said.  “While she has proven she is ready, we must abide by our own laws or we are no better than the criminals we hunt.”

“Sir, she turns sixteen in two months.”  Killian said.  “What is the difference between her being ready now and her being ready in two months?”

“I have not finished, Soldier, you would do well to not interrupt me.”  The Administrator snapped and even Fayelin saw the other Heroes flinch at his tone.  No one pissed off the Administrator.

“I’m sorry, sir, it won’t happen again.”  Killian said, bowing his head.

“I assure you, it won’t.”  The Administrator said. “As I was saying, we must abide by our own laws.  And our laws state that a Hero-in-training cannot become a Sidekick until they are sixteen.  However, due to this unparalleled show of bravery, control, and skill, I am allowing this passing grade to transfer over in two months.  She will become your Sidekick on the day of her sixteenth birthday.”

She couldn’t fight that smile from spreading across her face, and it seemed neither could Killian.

“You may rise, Arrow.”  The Administrator said, and she slowly stood.

“Sir, isn’t it my job to choose her Sidekick name?”  KIllian whispered.

“Do not test your limits further, Soldier.”  The Administrator said coldly.  “You should feel lucky that I will not put you on probation for those two months of waiting.  If she hadn’t performed as admirably as she did, I assure you, you would’ve been suspended for putting her in this test.  Now, you will take Arrow as a Sidekick in two months.”

“Yes, sir.”  Killian said, saluting.  She very quickly followed suit.

“And Miss Arrow?”  The Administrator said. “I expect great things of you, young one.”

“I won’t let you down, sir!”

It wasn’t too bad once my fever broke. I slept through most of the illness, I just remember that waterfall even though I was nowhere near one. I’ve turned it into fun bits of whump idea after idea.

I once hallucinated when I had a fever of 104! I was lying in bed, burning up, and knew it was a school day. So I got out of bed and immediately collapsed to the ground. Thankfully my door was open and roommates were able to check on me. They couldn’t lift me into bed, but made sure I wasn’t dead and got me some water. Except- that’s not what I remember. I remember being stuck under a cold waterfall, against a rocky surface. When I woke up a few hours later, I could stand and got back in bed

Ooo, that sounds really scary!

Whumptober Prompt #13- Adrenaline and #17- “Stay With Me”

Heeeey.  I’ll make this short, no one’s really reading anyways. This is ColdFlash.  The Adrenaline is interpreted rather loosely.

Chest compressions.  Breath.  Breath.  Chest compressions.  Gasp like there’s no air.  Breath.  Breath.  Listen to his heart.  Don’t hear anything.  Chest compressions.  Don’t panic, don’t paNIC, DON’T PANIC.  Breath.  Breath.  Nothing.  Start chest compressions again.

“Stay with me, Barry, stay with me.”  Mutter under breath.  Barely notice the water vapor.  Jacket is still sticking to skin.  Hope that the cold won’t kill him faster.

Don’t look at his slack, angelic face.  Rip off mask just in case it’s impeding his breathing.  Check his airway again.  Don’t think about doing CPR on his lifeless body.  Continue doing chest compressions.  Breath.  Breath.  Check his pulse.  Check again.

Panic.

“No, no, no, please, Barry, stay with me.  Don’t go, don’t go, stay with me, please.”

Feel lost.  Feel scared.  Feel angry.

“You bastard!  How dare you?  Come back, you bastard!  Come back!”

Clench your hand into a fist.  Pound on his chest.  His body jerks.  A small trickle of water comes out of his mouth.  Grasp onto the smallest hope.  Do it again.  And again.

… 

With the greatest sound Len had ever heard in his life, Barry coughed, throwing up water and bile as his airways cleared.  Len turned Barry onto his side, and the coughing became easier.  When he stopped throwing up, and his breathing seemed to come naturally, Len hooked his arms around Barry’s knees and back, hauling him into Len’s arms.  He really wished he could take Barry to Star Labs where his friends could help him, but there was no way he could do that.  Len would have to leave his bike behind, he couldn’t hold onto an unconscious Barry and drive at the same time, but thankfully, he had a safehouse a couple of blocks away so he planned out a route in his head.  They were in a neighborhood where nobody ever looked out their windows, so he could just run with an unmasked Flash in his arms and no one would see anything, or say anything if they did.

In exactly fifteen point seven minutes, Len fumbled for his keys in his back pocket, trying to balance an unconscious Flash and open his locked door at the same time.  It took him fourteen point three seconds, an increase from his usual ten point nine, to get the door open and manhandle Barry inside.  He set Barry down on the nearby couch, glad he had had the foresight to put the couch close to the door, though he had done it in case he needed a quick shield or barricade.  He grabbed the throw pillows Lisa had given him as gag gifts, the ones with the Flash and Captain Cold personas on each, and tried to set Barry up so he was comfortable but still kept his airways clear and his chest without too much pressure on it.  He wasn’t a doctor by any means, but he’d read enough from the medical textbooks the prison libraries had available to know he needed to keep the stress off of Barry’s chest.  Soon as he was satisfied, he wrapped Barry in as many blankets as he could find.

Soon after, Barry’s wonderful, beautiful green eyes fluttered open.  Len’s entire body sagged in relief.  Barry’s eyebrows knit together in confusion, his mouth moving stiltedly.

“Barry?”  Len asked, trying to be gentle.

“-one.”  Barry struggled to get out, coughing again.

“One?  One what?”

Barry tried to clear his throat.  “Phone.”

Len pat down his jacket, and pulled a waterlogged phone out of his pocket.  He grimaced.  He hadn’t taken anything out of his pockets before jumping into the water after Barry.

“I have others.”  Len stated, setting the now useless phone on the coffee table.

He bolted to the bedroom and easily got into his safe, the one where he kept his important documents for the apartment like ownership papers and fake identities in case he needed to run, and pulled out the first burner phone he saw.  When he returned, he saw Barry trying to reach for the dead phone.

“Use this one, this one works.”  Len pressed the phone into Barry’s hands.

Barry’s hands were shaking as he tried to type a number into the text message function.  He kept slipping so Len gently took it from him, listening ardently.  Barry rattled off a number, a local one, so it was either Cisco or his father.

“What do you want to say?”  Len asked quietly.

“Cisco- it’s Bar.  Am safe.  Will come back ASAIC.”  Barry panted, sounding exhausted.  “Am safe, aren’t I?”

Len chuckled dryly.  “Yes because I’ve gone to all of this trouble to pull you out of a river, given you CPR, and dragged your dumb Hero ass all the way to one of my apartments to kill you.  It’s all a part of my master plan.”

Barry’s mouth quirked into a small smile.  Len would deny ever feeling a flutter of butterflies in his stomach like a schoolgirl at seeing that smile.

“Typed and sent.”  Len said, showing Barry the phone.

Barry nodded and closed his eyes again.

Len sighed, feeling just a tad guilty but shook Barry anyway.  “Nope.  You can’t rest just yet.  You gotta help me get you out of this suit.  You’re freezing.”

Barry didn’t open his eyes, he merely hit a button on the chest plate of his suit and it became more relaxed than Len’d ever seen it.

“Come on, you can’t help me?”  Len teased, feeling a little better about getting back into their usual rhythm.  “You’re gonna make me strip you alone?”

Barry didn’t answer him.

Len checked his pulse and breathing, and found them both strong.  It seemed Barry’s metahuman healing factor was putting him back together at record speed.  Len double checked them again, just in case.

Then he soldiered on, manhandling Barry out of the Flash suit.  Barry must’ve been more than exhausted to let him do this alone because all he found underneath the Flash’s red not-leather, as Barry once insisted, was Barry’s smooth marble skin and toned muscles.  He didn’t even know that Barry had a six-pack, but to be honest, it made sense.  Flash was strong enough to take on guys like King Shark and Gorilla Grodd so having a six-pack and muscles that almost made Len drool didn’t seem too far-fetched.

When he got to the legs aspect of the suit, he hesitated.  Barry only wore his boxers underneath, and those certainly couldn’t stay but he did not want to do that alone.  But it seemed Barry was good and out, and wouldn’t be helping.  So Len tried to push his personal feelings for Barry, and definitely his attraction to Barry’s stunning runner’s physique, as deep in the back of his mind as he could and got to work.  He peeled the fabric away, first from the suit, then from the soaking wet cotton that was the only thing left protecting Barry’s modesty.  As soon as he could, he threw the blankets back over Barry so the temptation to look would not have its day.  He hung the soaking wet Flash suit over his shower curtain, with Barry’s boxers right next to it.  Hopefully, they could dry a little that way.

A low moan caught his attention.  He returned to the couch to find that Barry was beginning to wake up a little.

“Come on, baby, wake up.”  Len whispered, shaking Barry’s shoulder a little.

“Baby?”  Barry blinked his eyes open, much more coherent that the last time.

“What?  No, I called you Barry.”  Len said, cursing his stupid mouth for acting without his permission.  “You must still have water in your ears.”

“Water?”  Thankfully, Barry seemed to buy it.  “Wait, when did I get wet?  When-” Barry reached up to his face and recognized that he was no longer dressed.  “Where is my suit?!?”

“Relax, Scarlet,” Len smirked, enjoying that Barry was turning the color of his nickname, “It’s drying in my bathroom.  You were soaking wet, you needed to get out of those wet clothes.”

Barry nodded.  “That explains why I’m so cold.”

“What’s the last thing you remember?”  Len asked.

Barry frowned.  “Jewelry store.  A new meta with some kind of either super strength or molecular density rearrangement… That’s it.”

“He got you pretty good.”  Len filled in.  “You took a bad hit to the head, and went flying over the bridge into the Mississippi.”

Barry stared at him.  “Then… how did I get here? With my suit in your bathroom?  Did you pull me out?”

Len distinctly ignored the memory of panicking in the murky water, desperately searching for the speedster.

“Eh, you more washed up on shore.” Len lied. “I couldn’t have anyone find you and know your secret.  How else would I still be able to continue working without you constantly throwing me in jail?”

Barry stared at him, his mouth twitching until he smiled.

“You saved my life.”

“I merely did what was necessary for me to do what I want to do.”  Len said.

“Then why did you give me CPR?”  Barry asked.  “I can feel it, you know.  I can feel my ribs knitting themselves back together and my lungs aching from the water.  You said I took a bad hit to the head.  Not the chest.”

“You probably broke your ribs when you hit the water.”  Len tried.

Barry’s smug smile was spreading across his face.  “No I didn’t. You saved me.”

“If you start with that ‘there’s good in you’ shit again, I’m kicking you out.”  Len snarled, his hackles rising.

Barry put up his hands in surrender.  “Wouldn’t want that.  You got a phone I can borrow? I need to tell the team I’m okay.”

“I already sent them a text.”  Len grumbled.

Barry’s smug smile got worse.

“Hey, that was your fault.”  Len accused.  “You were moving around trying to get a phone, I had to send it because you couldn’t.”

“I was?”  Barry asked.

Len nodded.

“I don’t remember any of that.”  The smug smile vanished, replaced by a worried frown.

“You took a bad hit to the head and fell off a bridge.”  Len said, gentler.  “Cut yourself some slack.”

Barry nodded back, then looked Len up and down.  “Are you okay?”

“Ask yourself that.”  Len said.  “You’re the one who fell off a bridge.”

“You seem cold.”  Barry started.

“Why thank you, and me without my parka.”  Len shot back.

“No seriously, you look cold.”  Barry tried again.

“The cold never bothered me anyway, Scarlet.”  Len smirked.

“Then why are your hands shaking?”  Barry asked bluntly, ignoring the terrible line.

That caught Len off guard.  He looked down and, shit, Barry was right. He shoved his hands and found his jacket still soaked through.

“Let me get out of these wet clothes and I’m sure they’ll freeze.”  Len said, standing.

Barry groaned.  “That was terrible!”