TW:

PAST Rape, Torture, and Abuse
Character Death

Enjoy!

Despite Purple being safe and sound in the hospital, it doesn't stop King's worries in the slightest.

Midnight's also in the hospital, and none of them are sure he's going to die or not.

Second had checked on him earlier and said he most likely wouldn't make it another couple days, which eased King's worries a little.

Son of a bitch deserved it for hurting his kid.

Purple also seemed to be doing a lot better over the next day. His color slowly started returning back to the purple King knew, and he seemed to be growing stronger.

Lilac noticed the change in his demeanor.

"Looks better than when he was barely able to move from a tiny cellar corner." She noted the day she was able to leave her room and go bug other people.

"How's Midnight, by the way?" Green asked.

"They're closing in on pulling the plug on him."

King tightens his grip on Purple's hand. "They better."

"That's what me and the others think. With his injuries, he won't last much longer."

"You know King wants them to pull the plug on the guy because he hurt Purple and King can't kill Midnight himself, right?"

"Right, but still!"

"At least he can't turn out like his shitty dad any more than he already has." Red said.

"He makes a point." Yellow said from beside him.

"You're supposed to agree with me!" Blue whined.

"Oh, shut up."

A couple more days pass, and Purple is released from the hospital.

King couldn't be more grateful for that.

Midnight was dead. He'd died a day prior to Purple's release, and King can't tell if he should be grateful or upset.

Midnight's parents were heartbroken, sure, but King had a feeling they felt Midnight deserved it. At least Space did.

Moon had again gone off the radar, but Cornflower promised to find him. King isn't sure what his intentions are, but doesn't dwell on it much.

Right now, he focuses on helping Purple recover somehow.

King stares at the sleeping child as he reluctantly trusts Green with driving them home. He isn't sure it's a good idea, but he wants to hold his kid, knowing he's not going anywhere.

"King."

King snaps himself back to reality.

"What are you gonna do about…"

Red is trying to avoid the subject, no matter how hard he tries not to.

King understands what he means.

"I already know what you mean, Red, and I honestly have no idea."

"How do you not know how to help heal a traumatized kid?!"

"Yellow, easy. Purple's been raped. This is a different kind of trauma we're dealing with." Red quickly calms him down.

"And we'll help him recover slowly." King says, tightening his grip on Purple's hand.

Slow recovery was key. Sure, King hadn't done that himself, but he was getting there.

And he had spent so much time almost reliving that grief since there was a point where Purple was almost never found.

And he'd never be able to deal with that.

Purple tightens his grip subconsciously, almost as a reassurance that he's not alone.

And after almost three months, he's not alone.

King's there to protect him again.

And that's all that mattered.

King almost doesn't acknowledge he's sitting on the floor in his living room, holding Purple's hand while he sleeps on the couch.

Green and the other returned to the desktop, excited to tell Alan that three months of intense waiting had finally paid off.

Which it has. The three long, agonizing month-long wait for a clue in Purple's case was finally over.

As was the repeat of King's ascent into villainy.

He almost dozes off before Purple grips his hand in a death grip and starts whimpering.

"Purple, hey. I'm here, you're okay."

Purple grips his hand tighter. "King…please help…please…"

King's heart shatters as his kid begs for his help. "I'm here, you're okay. You're alright. I'm right here. Wake up."

Purple doesn't seem to get the message, and King resorts to shaking the kid awake.

"Wake up!"

Suddenly, Purple gasps himself awake. His heavy breathing quickly dissolves into hysterical sobbing.

King wastes no time with climbing onto the couch and hugging the kid tightly.

"You're okay, you're okay. It's okay, Purple. It's okay."

Purple clings to him, sobbing so hard King fears he'll hyperventilate. "Purple, calm down. You're okay."

"King…King!" As soon as Purple realizes it's him, he starts calming down.

"It's just a dream, honey. You're alright. I've got you."

"Oh my god…"

King isn't sure what to do. "Purple, what happened?"

Purple is slowly calming down, but King isn't sure how long it'll take before he starts panicking again.

Oh God, what does he do?

Purple is still crying, but not as hard as earlier.

God, the nightmare must've been horrible if Purple is reacting this badly.

"Midnight…he…where is he…"

That must've taken a lot out of him. He looked exhausted almost instantly.

"He's dead, remember? Cornflower shot him before he could hurt you again."

He knows Purple remembers, but the reminder calms him down just a little bit more.

Purple stares down at the bandages still on his wrists. King had kept them on just in case. It seemed to do something, since the slits looked a little better.

"You're safe, kid. Don't worry. I'll make sure nobody hurts you like this ever again."

"Promise?"

King holds one of his hands tight. "I promise."

Purple lunges at him, hugging him tightly. "I missed you."

King smiles, hugging him back. "Right back at you, kid. I love you."

Even if Purple doesn't say anything afterwards, King knows he feels the same.

Nobody is touching this kid.

King will make sure of it.

King realizes just how many friends Purple made while being held captive.

And how much of an impact they make on the group.

Ruby and the others form an instant bond with Second and his friends as soon as they get to know each other better.

King watches as they all chat about random things in particular.

Lilac is always watching Purple, in case something bad happens.

Although she knows King will jump straight into action as soon as Purple collapses or something, she still keeps a wary eye on him.

King notices how much happier Purple is, however.

In the months it's been since they first met, King realizes that it's one of the first times he's seen Purple genuinely happy.

King watches Purple with a keen eye, and notices that for the first time in three months, Purple is genuinely smiling.

It makes King happy knowing that despite all Purple's been put through, he's at least trying to move past it the best he can.

King admires that about Purple. He'll try and move past anything, no matter how traumatic.

Even after the Nether, he's moved past anything thrown his way.

King's proud of him because of that.

Purple was doing just fine.

Purple was going to be fine.

After all, he had King.

King would make sure Purple was alright, no matter what.

He loved Purple as much as he loved Gold.

He knew Gold was watching from above, smiling.

They would recover together, King thought to himself.

They would recover together.

Fin.

Anyways, keep running up those hills, dreamchasers! And stay tuned!