bakerstreet | It's a promise.

Swear I didn't leave the crater in your back yard.

This time.

...don't ask about your socks, though.

Do you really think I believe th- .... Terra. What happened to my socks.

I promise it's not as bad as it looks.

Edited 2022-07-13 20:56 (UTC)

I don't know, from where I'm standing, it looks pretty bad.

Yeah, well, circumstances bein' what they are, gas station coffee's better than no coffee. [ Joel sniffs the cup in his hand, makes a considering face, then shrugs. ] Could be fresher, though.

Yeah, she said you could be full of shit, but I'm pretty sure Ellie will kill me if you bleed out before we make it back. Sit down and let me look at it.

Well, that might be the nicest thing she's said about me in a real long time.

[ Eyes rolling in his long-suffering way, he grumbles, but sits to let Dina look. A gash down the back of his shoulder has left his flannel sodden with blood, and Joel has to strain his neck to get so much as a glance. ]

It don't feel too bad. How's it look?

Edited 2022-07-15 22:49 (UTC)

It's definitely not the worst thing she's said but... she cares.

[ No matter their ups and downs, Joel is precious to Ellie. ]

So, she's right. You're definitely full of shit. You'll live, but this is going to hurt.

[ None of them are nurses, but they have some basic first aid skills. ]

I'll know more after I clean it, but it'll probably need some stitches. Shirt off and start thinking happy thoughts.

Don't let her hear you say that.

[ That Ellie's right, or that she cares? Either. Damn kid's real prickly.

Dina earns herself a snort with 'happy thoughts.' She has caught him in an agreeable mood, so he unbuttons and shrugs off his outer shirt. The shoulder is a little more tender than he lets on. As the prodding commences, Joel keeps his eyes on the far wall. ]

Ellie. Is she, uh... Is she doin' alright? Y'all see more of each other than we do.

Oh, I say it. It's the cost of knowing me.

[ Dina might be as gentle as possible when peeling the fabric from his back, but she also doesn't hesitate. What needs to be done needs to be done. Their world doesn't allow for concessions beyond that.

There are a few noises as Dino opens her pack to pull out some water. You can't clean a wound you can't see. With a wet cloth, she cleans around the edges and shifts toward the center of the wound. ]

She's Ellie. It'll be her and the cockroaches left standing in the end. Besides that...

She's still Ellie. She seems okay but if you're watching, there's something there. It's probably the fact you guys seem to be in a weird place right now.

Any chance of that changing?

[ Joel firms up his jaw for the first couple swipes of Dina's cloth, though the topic of conversation gets more reaction than the physical sting of his ragged cut being cleaned. ]

That's always been up to her. She hasn't told me to fuck off since the dance, though, so there's progress.

Guess I just worry. She don't take care of herself like she oughta.

[ A couple weeks ago he would have sounded a lot more grim, but being in a weird place is better than being where they had been. He exhales heavily.

Speaking of people who don't take care of themselves... ]

How's that cut lookin'? Still bleedin', or can it wait til we're back in town?

[ Behind him, Dina snorts. ]

Today's word is 'hypocrite'. You're right, but she's not going to learn to take care of herself with you always being willing to ignore what you need, too. You're both human, you know. Tough but human. So keep your ass on the ground and let me finish here.

[ His back seems to keep bleeding but it's not as and as the collected blood made it seem. After wiping off what had dried, Dina can see the wound now. More than the blood, it's the open concept that worries her. ]

I can probably slap a bandage on it until we make it back to town if you're willing to get it patched up there. It's the kind of injury that's definitely begging for an infection if you leave it open, and you can't change a bandage on your own back.

[ Jesus, he says under his breath. These damn teenagers get mouthier and bossier by the year, especially the ones that Ellie seems partial to... but this is what he deserves after opening up the conversation in the first place. Joel keeps his ass planted, still grumbling. ]

Been takin' care of myself since before you was born, kid.

[ He likes Dina a little more for it, though. Ellie is a lot like him. She definitely needs a regular kick in the ass to keep on track, and this girl seems real capable. ]

Yes, ma'am. Ain't got much left to this patrol, just go ahead and bandage it. I'll head right to the clinic.

[ a pause. ]

Thanks.

Yes, Sir.

[ Behind him, the words are said in a lyrical, amused tone. Dina, like all of them, has been through too much to scare easily. Maybe they're not close and she knows more about him through the grapevine than through personal interaction, but she's willing to bet that someone Ellie cares for so much can only be so bad of a person. ]

No problem. You'd do the same for me, right?

[ She assumes. Maybe she's giving him too much credit, but he is a part of their community. ]

Maybe without the comforting part, but I wouldn't bleed to death from hurt feelings.

[ The entire time she talks, Dina's pulling a bandage from her pack and placing it over the wound. It's another sharp, direct pain, but it's the last one until he gets sewn up. ]

I just hope you weren't very attached to that shirt.

I'm not leaving you. Not until you're -

I promise I won't get mad.

[Hand to his heart. And the other hand he is holding behind his back, he is covertly crossing fingers.].

So self...I promise to avoid, like the plague, anything remotely batshit crazy. And possibly alcohol.
Amen.

Okay, maybe not so much the liquor.

My actions might seem.. questionable.

But I promise I'm on your side.

I promise it's not going to explode. Pinky promise!

You have disappointed me.

You want it to explode?!

It's like you don't know me at all.

I thought we were trying NOT to get the council's attention!

Somethings are worth getting in trouble for, and one of those things is explosions.

Next explosion, you're invited!

I know my reputation. It's one I took great care to cultivate. But if anything I say in the heat of the moment ever goes too far, just tell me so and I promise I'll never even approach that point again.

If you pay for the candy, I'll share it with you. Promise.

I know I'm not that smart or anything but whatever kind of support you need, I promise I'll do my very best to give that to you! I'm behind you, all the way!

Edited 2022-07-14 01:39 (UTC)

I can handle it, I promise.

I'll keep you safe, promise.

"And what exactly makes you think I need you to keep me safe?" Captain Sabertooth questions with a dismissive tut. He's the one with the sword here. This strange-clad man doesn't even seem to be armed.

I promise I will be by your side until the day you no longer need me.

It's not serious, promise.

I won't let you down this time. I promise.

[He smiles]

You haven't let me down, yet.

That's sweet of you to say, but I mean, come on Klaus. I've ended the world twice and accidentally caused the third.

[Half smile turning to a frown]

I literally have no idea what I'm doing.

[He waves a dismissive hand.]

Psh. The second one wasn't your fault. And the third? Well, we all kinda did that by bouncing through time, right?

[Draping an arm over his bro's shoulders, he shrugs.]

And let's be real, none of us really know what we're doing.

[Trying to be taller for Klaus’s sake, he looks thoughtful.]

That’s true. Sure seems like dad knew what he was doing though.

[He shook moody thoughts of Reggie away and tried to smile up at Klaus.]

I’m just tired of messing up and losing people I care about.

[It's okay, he likes his tiny bro. You're fun sized!

The mention of Dad gets a snort.]

Tell me about it. Though I suppose I do have to give him credit for helping me level up. But hey! He's dead! Again! So that's good.

[He gives Viktor a squeeze.]

Me, too. Maybe it's a Hargreeves curse.

[Viktor wraps both arms around Klaus to squeeze back with surprising force.]

You should be really proud of how you've been able to master your powers, Klaus. Dad may have helped you but... you're the one who overcame your fear and mastered coming back from the dead. That's a pretty big deal.

[Screw family curses, anyway.]

We should celebrate.

[Oh, hugs! He likes hugs. He happily hugs Viktor back. Someone acknowledging what he can do!! Joy!]

Hey, thanks! I mean, I really figured out I could do it by accident, but it's a pretty neat trick, right?

[He grins.]

Yes! What are you thinking, mi hermano?

[Seeing Klaus smile made him smile bigger. Joy was contagious to him, and he was definitely hungry for some good vibrations.

His grin turned into a smirk.] Aren't these edge of the universe places always supposed to have a bar or something?

God, I hope so.

[He looks around for a long moment, wagging a finger back and forth. Finally he settles on a direction.]

This way! Onward to booze!

I swear this to you on my life, I will not leave your side.

It's a promise.

terra | teen titans

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Joel Miller | The Last of Us

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if you play from LoU2?

i absolutely do!

<3 yay i love joel

💖

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casca | berserk

Maedhros | the silmarillion | ota

Jasper Wakefield | OC

Ocelot | MGSV

darcy lewis • mcu • ota

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shirabu kenjiro | hq!!

kunimi akira | hq!!

Pauline Bonheur | Original Character

Mafuyu Asahina | Project SEKAI

The Doctor | Doctor Who | OTA

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c.c. | code geass

viktor hargreeves | umbrella academy | pan/demi - platonic preferred

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Alphinaud Leveilleur || Final Fantasy XIV || M/M for romantic, OTA for platonic!