Oneshots (Gwendoline & others)

Everything will be ok (Emma D'Arcy, h&c/fluff, SFW)

A/N: I've been in a pretty shitty headspace recently and wrote this when I was feeling particularly low and needed a cuddle :( I also wrote this from my POV so I used my own name.

Trigger warnings: burnout, feeling overwhelmed, mental breakdown, disassociation, crying, mention of neurodiversity.

Emma arrived home from work one day to find me sitting lifelessly on the office room floor. Their sixth sense immediately told them something was very wrong. They dropped their bag and darted over to me, holding my tear-stained face in their hands.
"Nikki? Nikki, speak to me love" Emma pleaded, their concern growing by the second. I didn't respond, I just sat there all cried out and staring into space with blood-shot eyes.

Emma had noticed something wasn't quite right a few days ago and anticipated a breakdown coming. My mood was constantly low, I couldn't sleep properly, I'd lost my appetite and my motivation to do anything. They tried so hard to encourage me but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to change the state I was in and I didn't know why.
But that day my mind had become so overwhelmed with negative thoughts and intense emotions that I just broke. I had cried for hours on my own, letting my demons taunt me. Now I just sat there completely numb.

Their comforting voice pulled me back to reality, but as soon as I met their gaze the tears started once again. I clung onto them so tightly, like they were the only thing anchoring me to this world. Still no words came, just endless crying.
"Shhh, shhh, it's ok love. I'm here now" they whispered in my ear.
Their arms felt like a safe haven, their words like a soothing mantra.

They didn't ask me what was wrong, they just held me and rocked me gently. They kissed my temple and the warmth from their lips surged through my body. This wasn't the first time I had experienced a burnout, Emma had experienced it themselves and knew I was prone to them due to being neurodiverse. They recognised the signs and always knew exactly what to do, it was one of the many many reasons I loved them.

"Can you stand?" they asked, I nodded.
They gripped my hand and held onto my waist to help me up, my body was stiff from sitting for so long. They walked me to the living room and me down on the sofa. They plumped up the cushions behind me then wrapped a crochet blanket around me. They dragged the footstool over and lifted my feet onto it, removing my shoes so I felt more comfortable.
"Have you eaten today?" they said, already knowing my answer. I shook my head, I had been feeling nauseous constantly so food was the last thing on my mind.
They sighed, "let me make you some soup".
"No" I mumbled.
"It wasn't a question Nik" they said sternly but I could hear the care behind them.
They went to the kitchen and started preparing some tomato soup for me, along with some buttered bread to dip in.

They came back a few minutes later with the piping hot meal on a lap tray. The smell was incredible and my stomach growled loudly.
Emma chuckled, "someone's hungry".
After a few tentative spoonfuls I tucked into the rest of the rich soup and tasty bread, scoffing the whole lot. Emma beamed at me once I had finished.
"Did you enjoy that?" they asked and I nodded with a quiet 'thank you'.
They rubbed my back and looked at me with their loving gaze. It amazed (and baffled) me how they had managed to put up with me for so long. I wasn't complaining but I wouldn't have blamed them for walking away. But the look in Emma's kind sympathetic eyes told me they weren't going anywhere.

A while later we laid on the sofa together, the crochet blanket now covering us both. I was snuggled into Emma's chest with my arm around their waist, drifting in and out of sleep. They idly played with my hair while they read a book. I nuzzled into their neck inhaling their scent, the remnants of men's cologne along with their own natural smell. It was so comforting to me and filled my senses.
"Awww" Emma giggled, my breath tickling their skin slightly.
"Love you" I muttered shyly.
"Look at me" Emma said softly and I lifted my head, "I love you too. Everything will be ok".
I gave them a weak smile and they kissed me in reassurance, when we broke apart they stroked my cheek and pressed their forehead against mine.
"I'll always be here for you" they whispered.
Their statements were simple but so full of love and sincerity, putting my mind at ease and finally steadying my anxious heart.