PRETEND ━━ lyney ( ✓ )

𝟯𝟬

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘

his glimmer of hope

───── ☆ ─────

I love you.

Those three exact words — words that were uttered in a moment of desperation, words that were emitted from the deepest depths of a timid heart, words that could mean absolutely nothing or absolutely everything. This particular set of words had been playing over and over like some sort of mantra through Y/N's mind for well over a week now. They were certain that they had dealt with every single human emotion possible in this short amount of time.

Y/N couldn't even begin to imagine how Lynette and Freminet were feeling as of the moment. Ever since that unforgiving day, they had barely uttered a word and often kept their distance. Y/N held no grudges towards them in the slightest, however, for they had every right to feel how they did currently.

Yes, Y/N was upset — distraught, even — continuously checking on Lyney's condition with a small glimmer of hope that his vegetated state might have changed. Yet, more than anything, they couldn't help but to feel confused. Confused as to why exactly The Doctor felt the need to harm Lyney in such a way, for surely he wasn't a large threat. Not to The Doctor, at least. Nothing was deemed as a threat to that man. He wouldn't even know what a threat was if it were to slap him in the face.

They were confused about how the mission was going to progress from hereon out. With Lyney out of the picture and two siblings who were thinking about anything but the mission, this proved to be quite the challenge.

Y/N paced back and forth repeatedly, their mind feeling as if it were about to explode. Concerns, doubts, angered phrases, the whole package were jumbled within their mind. Their footsteps were heavy as they waited outside the infirmary.

[ ☆ ]

The night was all a blur to Y/N. One moment, they were cradling the one soul who they adored so much in their arms as he lay, more or less lifeless, against them. The next, they were being carried away by a familiar force, along with Lyney. They woke up the following day in a daze, eventually noticing that they had wound up in the Fortress of Meropide once again. They later found out from their brother that he was the one who had brought the two to safety, having heard of some strange activities being pursued from outside the Fortress itself. When he came across the horrific scene, he didn't think twice, just acted. Because of his actions, Lyney could potentially have a chance of survival.

... Or so Y/N would like to think.

His condition had made absolutely no progress whatsoever, and he had to be forced to breathe, for his body was unable to do so. Sigewinne and the other medical staff appeared to be having a rather difficult time treating his many wounds, too, claiming that some of them were just too deep.

To Y/N's surprise, in the entirety of the time that Lyney had been cooped up within the infirmary, not once had his siblings been to visit him. Y/N confronted them on this almost instantly, not understanding why they wouldn't want to see their brother after such a traumatic event occurred.

"We weren't there to help him."

"We could've easily prevented this from happening and yet, we still didn't."

"He wouldn't be able to hear our apologies."

"He wouldn't be able to come up with some unfunny joke in order to lighten the heavy atmosphere."