Work Text:
WOED rested on their bed, staring at the wall as if trying to burn a hole through it. Or fix it. They didn't know.
The winged figure sighed, curling their feathers around themselves to make sure they were still there. They knew they weren't thinking right. Exhaustion and pain was catching up to them. Time and time again, rip after rip, their beautiful orange-black colored wings, gifted by their Lord Himself, didn't feel so secure anymore.
And for what? Some stupid P-rank win on max severity in probably one of the most stressful domains? Really? They called back all the attempts in Sinrow in some worse-than-it-already-is way of ruminating. Heavens, all the light, the sounds, the footsteps, the pain, the commands, the guilt for Fool, the pain, the pressure to just get up and keep going, the pain. Just thinking about it hurt. Every second felt like it was wrenching WOED's throat tighter.
And after so, so long, they let themselves start sobbing. At first small sounds clawing their way out of their throat, but more and more grew louder and louder and easier to choke out. One after another, they curled into themselves, frustrated surrender crashing and cascading through the dam of strength like a flood. It hurt. Everything hurt. Why did they try? The hurt never ended. WOED didn't know. It just hurt, hurt. Crying wouldn't fix it, but really what else was there to do? They reflected, ruminated, spiraled, until they heard a tiny voice.
"hey!"
WOED quieted their sobs to hear the voice better.
"you okay?"
The goober hopped up onto the bed, struggling as best as it could to make it onto flat ground. It was really hard not to smile at its puny little form. Stifling a laugh, WOED sobbed once, twice, before wiping their eyes.
"i'm always here for you, you know!"
It flopped down, resting against WOED's stomach. With a tear-streaked face, WOED muttered,
"th.. thank you.."
They felt their throat getting looser.
"for everything."
"hehe, always! i'll always Love you, no matter what, okay?"
"okay.."
And so it didn't feel like everything was for nothing after all.