Ice Scream/WATGBS one-shots (REQUESTS OPEN)

🖤Male!Rocma x Shirogane (Helpless) 🖤

Requested by hoveETinotinez

Tw: blood mention

Could be a part one of two I'm still not sure, in the meantime, enjoy!

**

"I'm not a lot of people's favorite person" said Rocma.
"D-don't say that... I-I think..."
"You think I'm reliable, maybe. But that's entirely different from being a likable person".
Shirogane shifted his feet on the snow uncomfortably. "...Well... I don't think I'm particularly likable, either".
"You are not, in fact".
Shirogane gulped, still looking down at his feet.
"But" Rocma continued "you're helpless, and that makes people attracted to you in a different way".
Shirogane blinked slowly, even daring to look up at him, even if cautiously. "...What do you mean?".
"I mean, who wouldn't be attracted to a helpless little thing? You can abuse it, save it from itself, force it to rely on you, console it. Just like Yukisada does".
Shirogane was even more confused.
"You could even say that Idate and Yukisada are both equally attracted to you, though in different ways".
Shirogane was uncomfortable having this conversation, but didn't really know how to make it stop or what to do about it.
"I guess that's true for me also" Rocma went on "since I'm still helping you out when you put yourself in trouble. I need someone to save, too" Rocma was almost mumbling at this point, which was unlike him.
Shirogane had a little shiver at those words, words that almost felt like a confession.
"I don't think I have that kind of power over other people, on the other hand" Rocma added.
"Power...?"
"Oh, yeah. Acting like a little helpless thing all the time does grant you some kind of power over other people. Their pity can be used in so many different ways. I'm surprised you haven't noticed, though it must be said" Rocma concluded, looking down at Shirogane darkly "it wouldn't fit your narrative".
"M-my narrative...?" Shirogane squeaked. He felt like his tears were going to come up again at any given point.
"Yeah, your narrative. Haven't you noticed? It's all a self-fulfilling prophecy, really".
"Are you saying I'm faking it?".
"No, it's more complicated than that. But I guess you wouldn't understand, not right now".
**
After that, they stayed silent together, watching over the sea at night.
It was the end of September, so that was one of the first nights in a good long while. They haven't seen the stars for months. Even this night was gonna last only a few hours at most.
But it was pretty until it lasted.
They have missed the dark. Rocma missed it especially. It was the right time to retreat and allow oneself to be more contemplative, almost - almost - relaxed.
**
Rocma invited Shirogane to stay over. "It would be dangerous to go around alone at this hour", was Rocma's justification. They were near his house anyway.
His place was very comfortable and very warm. Mafuyu was already sleeping in the other room.
Rocma's place was very well-kept for the isle's inhabitants' standards; sure, the kitchen was a little small, but it was very cozy. There was a nice bathroom with a bathtub, a comfortable sofa, and a couple of bedrooms. One was Mafuyu's, with all his toys, the other was Rocma's. It still had the queen sized bed he used to share with his wife.
Shirogane has never been invited to stay over before, or maybe once, a long time ago, when he was badly injured and Rocma's place was the easiest place to reach (which didn't happen often since it was one of the highest points of the isle). He didn't remember much of that time.
Shirogane was not sure if he was really allowed to sleep in Rocma's bed, but he seemed confused at the opposite idea.
"There's plenty of space here, don't worry".
They didn't talk much after that.
Shirogane struggled to fall asleep, staring at the ceiling for some time, while Rocma was already sleeping next to him.
The wolf was still thinking back on the conversation they had earlier, trying to understand more what Rocma meant.
**
The peace did not last long.
Shirogane had barely fallen asleep when he attacked.
**
"I'm... sorry."
"I wish you would stop apologizing. What are you even sorry for this time?". As the bear was talking, copious amounts of blood were still dripping down his clothes, but he seemed to be barely aware of it.
"Needing you more than you need me. I wish you would stop taking care of me".
"I'm not taking care of you".
"You are! You're protecting me, all the time. I can't stand this".
"...I didn't expect you to be so ungrateful".
Shirogane stopped mid-breath. "I... it's not being ungrateful. I'm just... concerned on how you're spending your energies, is all...".
"Oh, shut up. What do you even mean, my energies? I'm protecting you, I'm protecting the isle, its what I do! How else am I supposed to..." Rocma suddenly stopped mid sentence. He lost his balance and was about to collapse in the snow.
Shirogane was quick enough to catch him before he fell.
The wolf nervously stuttered they should go back home so that his wounds could be tended to. Rocma did not answer back.
He recalled how deadly scared he was that the bear would never wake up again, and that it would all be his fault, as usual.