#implied past torture

CW: Torture aftermath, implied continued torture, implied past torture

“Just breathe.”

Leader exhaled a pained breath. It sounded almost like a quiet scream.

“You’ll be okay. I know— it hurts— but your wounds aren’t life threatening. They’re trying to hurt you, not kill you.”

“H-how… how do you kn-know—” Leader gasped as the pain came in a hot flash.

Youngest hesitated. “… You don’t need to worry about how I know right now. The important thing is to stay strong. You can’t break— you know you can’t.”

“It hu-hurts so much—” Leader whimpered.

Youngest gently started to run their fingers through Leaders hair, carefully working out the tangles. “You need to find something else to focus on— something to ground you. I won’t be there when they take you again, but for now, you can focus on me, okay? Listen to my voice. Can you feel my hands in your hair?”

“Mhm—” Leader squeezed their eyes shut, trying with all their might to block out the pain and focus on Youngest.

“That’s good. Try and just breathe, okay? In… and out… that’s good, like that.”

Youngest continued to stroke Leader’s hair for hours until they heard footsteps coming back to the cell.

“They’re coming back.” Youngest whispered to Leader.

Leader whimpered, squeezing their eyes shut so Youngest couldn’t see the fear in them.

“Don’t be afraid to scream. It’s better if they think they’re being successful. You just have to hold out until help gets here. They are coming. Don’t give up yet.”

Leader nodded a little and Youngest slid away from them.

“Remember to ground yourself when you can.” Youngest whispered, then said nothing else as Leader was dragged back out of the cell, already screaming.