You come to slowly. Your chest aches and you have a pounding headache. You slowly open your eyes, giving them time to adjust to the dim light. You're on a couch, wrapped in blankets, and you're probably at Sollux's house. You sit up drowsily, your nose following the scent of something rich and savory. You are jolted awake as the air hits your now bare chest. You look down at the exposed bruises and quickly pull the blanket back over your thin shoulders and look around warily.
You know He couldn't be here. There's no way He would know where you are.
That doesn't stop you from being worried, though.
You look around the room you're in, trying to spot your missing clothing. You move your legs and find out that your pants are missing too. And your glasses. You wrap the blanket tighter around yourself, squinting. You stand shakily and take several faltering steps toward the doorway leading out of the room. Sollux appears in it before you can react, carrying a laundry basket and wearing... An apron? He looks at you and blushes slightly under his messy fringe of hair.
"Hey Ampora, glad to thee you're awake. Here are your clotheth, I wathed and dried them. Thoup's in the kitchen if you want thome." He scuttles out of the room, leaving the laundry basket on the floor next to your couch. You stumble slowly to it, your steps uneven and unsteady. You slowly reach down and try not to fall. Pitching sideways, you barely get your arm out to catch yourself before you fall. You make a slight thump as you hit the ground, your arm crumpling underneath you.
Sollux pokes his head into the room. "Dude! You okay?"
"I'm FINE. FUCK OFF," you say. Your voice is gravelly and rough. You raise yourself up, your arms shaking under the weight of your thin torso. Sollux walks over to you, taking one of your arms over his neck and placing one of his arms under your other shoulder.
"Thtand on your own and tell me that." He pulls you upright surprisingly gently. He sets you back down on the couch and pulls the laundry basket to your side. He walks out of the room back into the kitchen and starts fussing with something. You stare after him, astounded. He was helping you again? Why?
You are pathetic, you are worthless, and all you are good for is complaining. You're useless and weak. He had no reason to be helping you!
As you puzzled over his kindness, you pulled your shirt over your head. It was deliciously warm. It smelled like him... You blush ever so slightly and yank your pants on. Standing and almost falling again, you clear your throat.
"S-Sollux...?" You call quizzically.
His head pokes into he room you're in, slightly tousled. "Yeah? You need help?"
You look down, ashamed at your weakness. You almost fall yet again as Sollux wraps your arm around his shoulder. "W-What?"
"Lean on me," he says simply. You try to take a step on your own, not putting any weight on your arm, but you pitch sideways into Sollux. He doesn't say anything but supports you into the kitchen.
He sets you in a chair and places a bowl of something that smelled heavenly in front of you. "Thoup?"
"Thanks..." You take the spoon he offers you and gingerly sample it. It's amazing... Almost like the chicken noodle soup He used to make...
When you think about Him, your stomach clenches and you can't eat any more. "This is good, Captor."
He nods. "Damn thtraight, I made it."
You almost smile at his comment.
You take a deep breath and notice the way you smell. Your stench was a mixture of old, mildew-y basement, dirt, sweat, and wet dog. You cringe. Sollux looks at you, his eyebrows creased slightly in the middle.
"You okay Ampora?"
"Yeah... It's just... Can I use your shower?"
"Yeah, thure, I'll thow you where it ith." He stands and offers you his arm. You stare disdainfully down your nose at it. You stand as steadily as you can and slowly, shakily take small steps towards the direction Sollux walks.
