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Scott’s fine.
Okay, that’s a lie, but he can pretend he’s fine well enough.
Running from killer snails all session is, while funny, very hard on his creaky joints. There’s about ten minutes left until break and it can’t come soon enough. Now Scott is used to pushing through pain — it’s a constant in his life, but this is one rough flare up.
The non stop running, and standing, and looking over his shoulder does nothing to help with the aches in his limbs. It’s uncomfortable and annoying.
Yes, he could ask for a small break, but that would be unfair. He’s sure that Grian has a way to stop the snails, but why should he get special privileges? Everyone else is fine, so he can be fine as well.
He can ignore the fire burning under his skin. It’s fine.
Scott checks the time on his comm, seeing five minutes left until the break. Thank void. He starts walking back to his base, the one in the far off corner where hopefully nobody is. It would be embarrassing to be seen like this.
Weaving through the trees, his snail follows. He makes sure to keep a good distance from it, far enough that it won’t pounce. He wonders if the snail shares his pain. Is its shell hurting while it slithers around, just like his own legs?
When he finally makes it down into the little area he had dug out, his comm pings with Grian announcing the end of the session. He nearly cries with relief.
The snail has frozen on its spot on the stairs. He doesn’t have to run anymore.
Immediately he collapses onto the floor, leaning his back against the cold stone wall and pulling his legs to his chest. Scott rests his head against his knees, doing his best to hold back the tears that threaten to spill.
He had fun, but this session was just too much. The constant paranoia and the steady growth of burning pain in his joints all crashes down on him at once. Everything hurts, and it all hurts so badly. It’s not a stinging type of pain, or an ache like when you have a bruise. It’s a pain that burns under his skin, that screams at him with hatred. It can’t be quieted with a bandaid, or with an ice pack pressed against it. (Although ice packs do help, a small bit but they help regardless. Heat tends to work better.)
One cold tear falls from his eye. Traitor.
Scott’s about to give in and let the damn break, let all his emotions come pouring out, but is interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. He hurriedly wipes at his face with his hands, attempting to scrub any signs of his breakdown away. He looks up to see a zombie staring down at him with a concerned expression.
“Scott? What are you doing down here?” Cleo asks.
He doesn’t make eye contact. “Just… getting materials we left here.”
She doesn’t believe him, and she knows that Scott knows she doesn’t believe him. “How funny. I’m also here to get forgotten materials.” They walk over to a chest and open it, digging through and putting anything needed into their inventory.
After a few minutes she closes the chest and walks to the stairs. Cleo turns around and gives Scott a once over, making him try to shrink into his skin.
“…I’m getting your boyfriends.”
They bolt up the stairs before he can protest. He still tries his best to shout, but it does no good. There is no way he’d be able to chase her down with the amount of pain he’s in.
The man sighs, resigning himself to his fate.
He can play it off, as long as he can hold himself together enough to convince Jimmy and Tango that he’s fine.
There’s got to be at least ten minutes until they arrive in the bunker. Scott can have a quick and controlled little breakdown in that time. He lets his head fall back onto his knees, this time allowing all of the tears to flow. Everything just hurts so bad.
Being curled up on hard stone flooring does nothing to ease the pain whatsoever, but he can’t be bothered to move. Maybe it’s painful, but when are things not painful?
A ping rings out from his comm. Scott checks it with teary eyes, making it difficult to read.
Jimmy: we’re on the way. don't you dare hide
Scott laughs slightly despite the circumstances. He probably would be hiding from them if he could move — he is not a fan of being seen like this.
Having his weakness on display, being so vulnerable in front of anybody makes him shiver, even with his boyfriends. They’ve seen him on bad pain days before, but never this bad. This is going to be awful.
He decides it’s time to act normal, wiping his tears and taking deep breaths. Will they see right through him? Probably!
Will that stop him from trying? No!
More footsteps echo from the stairs, two pairs of legs on their way down. He hears two voices ring out from above. “Scott?”
“You better not be hiding!”
“Ow! Don’t pinch me!”
Scott can’t help but giggle at their shenanigans. Jimmy makes it to the bottom first, scanning the room until his eyes land on Scott. Tango tumbles down behind him, bonking into his wings. “Hey! Watch your feathers!”
Jimmy ignores Tango, immediately walking over towards the Scott shaped ball in the corner instead. The blazeborne then notices Scott and bounces over as well.
The two men sit on the floor in front of him. They look at him intently, staring into his soul as if they can see all of his mind. It’s unnerving, just how easily they read him like an open book. Or maybe Scott’s just not as good at hiding things as he thinks. Both are bad options.
“You okay, petal?” Jimmy asks in a soft voice, breaking Scott out of his thoughts.
He takes a deep breath. “Yeah, fine. Pain is just acting up a little.” Scott winces at the same time from a sudden sharp pang in his shoulder.
Jimmy raises an eyebrow. “I’m not buying that, Scott.”
“Yeah! We can tell it’s not fine. Let us helpificate, Please.” Tango adds on.
Scott takes time to weigh the options. He could accept the help, but that would mean being vulnerable and open. He could decline and stay in pain. Either way, neither of his boyfriends will be leaving anytime soon, and Scott knows it.
If he’s going to be stuck with them, he might as well get some relief out of it.
“Alright.”
Both of the blond men’s faces light up with happiness. He can’t help but smile at the sight, even with the pain. Maybe this won’t be as bad as he thought.
Tango jumps up and places two beds against each other, fully equipped with blankets and plushies. They’ve each got one plushie to represent themself; Scott’s is a snowman, Tango’s is a fire with a smiley face, and Jimmy has a canary bird. The three usually rotate the plushies around, making sure each one gets love. Maybe it’s silly, but it’s also heartwarming, so he doesn’t mind.
“C’mon! Cuddle time!” Tango points to the beds, trying to look mean but coming off more as an angry kitten.
The beds look so much more comfortable than the floor, but Scott might explode if he has to stand. “I’m fine here.”
He gets skeptical looks from the two of them. Jimmy points an accusatory finger at him. “You’re hurting too much to walk, aren’t you?”
Scott folds immediately, any fight having long left him. He sighs, “I’m hurting too much to walk. But it’s okay! The floor is… comfy!”
Jimmy kneels down next to him, and lifts Scott up in a bridal carry before he even knows what’s happening. His arms immediately latch around Jimmy’s neck, holding on tightly. Scott knows Jimmy won’t drop him, but it’s better safe than sorry.
“Good thing you don’t have to walk!” Jimmy laughs, and Scott can’t help but giggle.
When they make it to the beds, Tango’s already sitting on one of the blankets, the bed already set up. It’s more of a nest, but he doesn’t mind. It makes Jimmy’s bird instincts happy, so it makes him happy as well.
Scott tries to get down from Jimmy’s hold himself, but the man doesn’t let go. Tango reaches up to him, tail swaying across the sheets. “Gimme.”
He’s handed to Tango despite his protests. Any complaints leave the moment he’s engulfed by warm arms, made better by Tango’s tail wrapping around his waist.
The blanket seems extra warm, as if it’s been put in the dryer and just came out. Of course Tango heated it up for him, Tango knows how much heat helps calm the pain. Scott might cry, his boyfriends are so thoughtful.
He feels Jimmy climb into the bed behind them, wrapping them up in yellow feathers. Scott’s pulled onto Jimmy’s lap, Tango following close behind. It’s a mess of limbs. Tango wraps his arms and legs around Scott, making sure his warmth covers as much as it can.
“What’s wrong, petal?” Jimmy asks, noticing how Scott’s nearing tears.
“Nothing, just…” Scott pauses and takes a deep breath. “I really love you two. You didn’t have to do this, y’know?”
Jimmy’s hands start to comb through his hair, melting Scott into a pile of mush. “We love you too. And we’re here because we want to be. We want to help you, even if you think your problems are stupid.”
Scott closes his eyes, willing the tears to not fall. He leans his chin onto Tango’s shoulder. The blaze’s purrs rumble against his skin, soothing the pain.
“Yeah. I like being a heating pad!” Tango exclaims, making the other two laugh. Scott hugs him slightly tighter, breathing in the smell of smoke and redstone.
“I’m glad.”
Fluffy wings some closer, creating a true cocoon of coziness. Scott’s barely noticing the pain anymore, the fire in his limbs being replaced by Tango’s warm hug and distractions from Jimmy. The tears build up again, but this time he lets them fall. He’s safe here.
He pulls his head away, looking Tango in the eyes. “I love you. A lot.” Scott tries to look backwards at Jimmy, but ends up looking at the ceiling. “And you.”
A warm hand cups his cheek, making him look into red eyes. Tango’s thumb wipes the fallen tears, a gesture so sweet it only serves to create more. He continues to wipe Scott’s tears, a loving look never leaving his face.
Jimmy’s hands continue to play with his hair, making Scott drowsy. The tears eventually stop, replaced by yawning. The blonds are having a quiet conversation, but he doesn’t try to make sense of it. He’s too tired, too cozy to think properly. The warmth and love and feeling of safety swirl around in the air, lulling him to sleep.
The last thing his mind registers are the rumbles of purrs and a kiss against the top of his head.
Maybe it’s okay to accept help sometimes.