A/N This is a short one-shot for this year's Hurt/Comfort Bingo challenge on life journal! If you don't like slash, don't read! other wise, enjoy!
"C-can't b-breathe!" Jeremy gulped as Katherine's hand closed around his throat.
"Oh, little Jeremy." Katherine laughed. "Do you really think I care if you can breathe?"
"C-can't kill me," Jeremy managed to choke out.
"Oh, I know that." Katherine smirked. "Doesn't mean I can't cause you as much pain as I want; after all, that ring brings you back from the dead, doesn't stop how much it hurts to die." She laughed, gripping his throat tighter. "The more pain I cause you, little Jeremy, the more likely your sister is to play right into my hands and do exactly as I like."
"B-bitch," Jeremy spat out as best he could.
"You're wasting your breath, little Gilbert." She laughed, again, rolling her eyes at Jeremy's pathetic attempts to wiggle away from her grip…after all, he was only human.
"Let him go." Katherine turned to see who had spoken, though she kept her hand on Jeremy's throat, just to make sure he didn't get away.
"Yeah, right." Katherine rolled her eyes again. "And what, you're gonna be his brave boyfriend and stop me? Come on, Tyler, we both know you're not as strong as I am, especially when you're not even transitioned."
"It's close to a full moon," Tyler stated. "I'm getting stronger. If you don't let go, I'm going to kill you, Katherine, and you know that I can. I will come for you the second I'm stronger than you which, well, should be tomorrow night." He smirked. "Now leave Jeremy here with me, Katherine, and you get to live just a little bit longer."
"Fine." Katherine shrugged. "I was just playing around with him anyways." She pulled Jeremy around, squeezing his throat, crushing his airway until it was completely useless. She then threw him at Tyler with enough force to knock both boys down and disappeared from the room, leaving the two boys in a mess on the floor.
Tyler scrambled to his knees, grabbing Jeremy's lifeless body and pulling him up onto the bed. "Come on," Tyler whispered. "Wake up…" he looked at the ring on Jeremy's finger. "How long does this thing take, anyways?" He pulled Jeremy into his arms, holding him there for a few minutes.
"What the hell?" Jeremy gasped a huge breath of air as he came back to life, a look of utter terror on his face. "What happened?" He grabbed onto his boyfriends arm, clinging to him as he breathed.
"It's okay, Jeremy," Tyler whispered, holding him just a little bit tighter. "Katherine killed you, but she's gone, it's just us now, you're safe. I always forget that she can get into your house. I'm so sorry, Jeremy."
"Fuck…" Jeremy leaned against Tyler, using him for comfort as he worked on getting back to life. "I hate dying…I know it's better than actually dying, but Katherine was right, I come back, but it still hurts, and I still remember it." He shuddered, turning and burying his face in Jeremy's shoulder.
"Shhh, baby, it's okay!" Tyler kissed the top of Jeremy's head. "She can't come into my house, why don't you come stay with me for a few days? I'll take care of you, baby."
"But…you have to transform…"
"So one night, there will be one night where I'm not with you." He put his hand on Jeremy's cheek. "I'll still do anything to protect you."
"I know." Jeremy let out a deep breath of relief. "Just…hold me?"
"Always." Tyler nodded, lying down on Jeremy's bed, gently guiding Jeremy with him, prepared to hold the boy for as long as he wanted to be held.