One F*cked Up Piece of Heaven (Avenged Sevenfold/Vengeance)

Fire and Pranks

 Fire...smoke, everywhere...can't beathe...heat, burning, stop! Please...the pain...screaming...no, stop! Can't save her...the fire...burning...something heavy...back...hurts...flames, higher...screams...can't...breathe...lungs hurts...smoke...thicker, heavier...fire...fire...make it stop...make it stop...fire...fire...fire...wake up...wake UP!

     Briar snapped her eyes open, her body in a cold sweat, chest heaving, and her mind in panic. Her heart was pounding and her eyes darted back and forth as she registered someone shaking her shoulder lightly, the same person who had roused her from the nightmare.

     As her eyes focused, Briar saw Zacky standing above her, a concerned, panicked look on his face.

     "Briar? Briar, are you ok?" he asked desperately. She nodded.

     "Oi. I...I'm fine," she said, sitting up, running a hand through her thick hair. Looking around, she was met with everyone's concerned faces. "What's going on?" she asked shakily. "Why's everyone up?"

     "Briar, you were screaming bloody murder in your sleep!" Matt exclaimed. "I was driving. It scared the shit out of me!"

     "Seriously, Bri," said Emmarosa, clutching Jimmy's arm. "It sounded like a horror film or something. We thought something was really wrong."

     "Oh...I'm sorry, I...I didn't...," Briar stuttered, still dazed.

     "Briar?" said Jimmy softly. "Are you...crying?" The Australian furrowed her brows for a moment before reaching a hand tentatively to her cheek. Sure enough, she hand came back wet with warm, salty tears. Briar stared at her fingers for a long moment, as if stunned by them, before looking at Zacky in panic, like a scared, vulnerable child. This scared the others more than the screams did. Briar never cried. Ever.

     "Guys, go on back to bed. I got this." said Zacky. Everyne sort of looked at each other for a moment before slowly breaking off towards the bunks. As soon as they were clear, Zacky turned his green eyes back to his friend.

     "You said they'd stopped," he said quietly, but demandingly. Briar just nodded dumbly.

     "They did. At least, for a while, but-," she broke off as tears dripped faster, silently running down her cheeks.

     "Was it the same?" Briar nodded again.

     "Oi. The fire, the smoke...the screams," she sucked in a breath, unable to continue. "Zacky, I'm crying. Why am I crying? I don't cry!" she said, her voice growing louder, almost frightened.

     "Because no matter how tough you are, you're only human, Bri," he said, pulling her close against his chest. She didn't sob, or weep, or wail. No, she just pulled him closer, her eyes glazed over as the tears continuously fell.

     "I don't want the dreams to come back, Zacky," she whispered into his chest. Zacky stroked her hair softly.

     "It'll be ok," he assured her, slowly laying himself and Briar down on the couch. After that, they simply laid there, holding each other. Briar's head rested on his chest as Zacky kept running his hand soothingly through her hair, sometimes switching to lightly trace the black and blue flames of her tattoo sleeve with his finger. Soon, her breaths became even and slow. Zacky then started to push himself up and off the couch, careful not to wake her.

     "Don't even think about it," Briar mumbled without opening her eyes, making Zacky freeze. Then, her eyes shut tighter and her grip on Zacky strengthened. "Please don't leave me." It was barley a breath, but Zacky heard it loud and clear. The guitarist grinned softly before settling back down.