Ticks Tocks And Twitches

4. PTSD

|Toby|
~November 18th~

When I woke up I felt an odd weight on my shoulder, looking over I saw the cutest thing I've ever seen. Clocky was cuddling into my side, her face was on my shoulder and she was placed right next to me. Her arm was curled into her chest and her perfect brown hair was messily thrown about. She looked beautiful.

It was no secret I had a huge crush on Clockwork, I really liked her. Everything about her was perfect. The way she blushed at compliments, the way her clock ticked, the was she slept, everything. It all began after she woke up, we sat in her room reading some comics I brought to help with her boredom. Although she'll never admit it I saw the way she secretly lit up at the sight of the comics, she was a fan and would never admit it. Then our huge fit of laughter to my offence about her mistakes at The Walking Dead, it was one of the happiest moments I felt in a long time. And that's when I knew she was special, that's when I knew she was perfect. And no matter what we ended up being I knew I would always protect her.

Soon I fell asleep once again besides her.

|Clockwork|

My eyes fluttered open and I immediately noticed how warm I was, it was like I was covered with the warmest and most comfortable blanket in the world, I felt safe.
I looked down to see that I was not covered at all, but I did see an arm running across my chest, hugging me tightly. It was Toby's arm.

He had thrown himself over me and was cuddling me....really cuddling me! I was starstruck, I couldn't move. And the strange thing was that...I didn't want to. I wanted to stay here forever and never leave this comfort. Unfortunately Toby was starting to wake up, I panicked and began lifting his arm off of me and placed it at his side before he could wake up completely.

He lifted his head and looked confused before he realized he was practically laying on me. He started moving away nervously.
"Oh uh! S-sorry Clocky, I g-guess I got c-cold." He removed himself and sat up in the bed.
"I-it's fine, it's my fault for falling asleep in here. Sorry." I said with flushed cheeks.
"D-don't worry a-about it." He assured.
There was a small silence that got more awkward the longer it lasted. I decided it needed to end before I began panicking.
"I uh, I better h-head back to m-my, uh room." I said shaky voiced.
"Y-yeah, o-ok." He said, almost sadly. Did I miss something? I asked myself
I got up and walked to the door but stopped and turned back to Toby.
"Thank you Toby. For spending time with me, it really means a lot to me." I said honestly.
"O-of course. A-anytime." He said with a prize winning smile.
I returned it and exited his room with an even bigger smile...and red cheeks.

|Toby|

I think I'm in love

|Clockwork|

I showered and changed into some ripped jeans and a white tank top. Ann was gonna check on my collar today she noticed I was able to move it slightly without wincing so she wanted to check on it. She found me after my shower and led me to her room. Her room was simple and did remind me of a hospital room, white walls and matching flooring, a small twin bed with white sheet and a pillow, a table next to it and a small lamp resting on it. The only thing that stood out was the eerie dark red armoire sitting in the corner. It was about six feet tall and had gold handles but resembled a standard armoire. Ann sat me on her bed and pulled up a chair in front of me.

She removed the layers of gauze and tape and gasped at what she saw.
"W-what?? What's wrong?" I demanded answers.
"T-the gash. It's almost healed...fully healed."
"W-what?" I asked in confusion.
She grabbed a small mirror and held it for me to see and as she said my torn flesh was nothing more than a few puncture holes still healing and red, rough skin.
"How is that possible Ann?" I started to panic.
"Ok hold on." She walked away and returned with a magnifying glass and tall standing lamp. She positioned the lamp above me and began to inspect my wound with the glass.
"I don't know how it's possible but your wound is healing rapidly. Just the other day it was torn and in horrible condition but now...now the muscles are healed almost fully and the skin has mostly regrown. There's not even a scab." She inspected for a few more minutes then sat up and turned off the lamp.
"I don't know want to say. I've never, never in all of my years in medicine seen something like this. I would like to study it further if you don't mind, but I will need a blood sample or two." She finished and still looked astonished at what she found.
"Y-yeah of course."
She took an ounce or two of blood and said she would contact an old friend in the other world to have him look into it.
"I don't know what to expect from this but we will soon find out." She assured me and sent me on my way.

I confronted Toby and told him about it. He was interested but only asked to see it, I removed my bandage and showed him. He too inspected it but told me he has never seen anything like it.
"I w-wouldn't worry t-too m-much about i-it, I m-mean it's not l-like i-it's hurting you r-right. I-it's healing y-you, I w-wouldn't consider t-that a p-problem." He made a point, I was worried for nothing.
"Yeah, you're right."
I pushed any thoughts about it away and asked what he was doing for the day.
"W-well actually I-I have to g-go o-out today." I was disappointed.
"Oh, uh...ok. How long?" I asked with disappointment.
"M-most of t-the day, sorry C-Clocky."
"No no no! It's fine I just don't know a lot of people that well. I'd be lost all day." I said honestly, I wouldn't make it a day without Toby.
"Well y-you know J-Jane, why d-don't you t-two h-hang out?"
"I guess...."
"Ok t-tell you w-what, hang i-in there f-for t-the day and when I-I get b-back I-I'll introduce you t-to e-everyone." He said with a reassuring smile.
"Ok, deal."
"G-good."
"Toby! Let's go!" Hoodie called from downstairs.
"S-sorry, I h-have to g-go. See y-you later C-Clocky." He waved and left down the stairs and followed Hoodie and Masky out the front door.
My first day without Toby....

|Toby|

We we're making our way out the forest and into the city when Hoodie spoke up.
"So Toby, you and Clockwork huh." I knew what he was trying to say but ignored him.
"You guys official or undercover?" He asked with amusement in his voice.
"N-nothings going on H-Hoodie, we're j-just friends." I told him.
"Toby I'm your best friend and trust me, there's something going on. Whether the feeling is mutual is undecided yet but, it's pretty obvious you like her." He finished.
"But don't worry, I got nothing on you and her. It's actually pretty nice. I think you two would make a good couple." He turned and although his mask covers it I knew he was giving me a reassuring smile.
"T-thanks Hoodie." I turned to Masky.
"A-and what d-do y-you think a-about this?" I ask genuinely curious.
He lifted his head and stared for a moment.
"I believe what you are feeling towards Clockwork is genuine. However, Clockwork's reactions to some of your affection is...odd, almost as if she wants love but, doesn't simultaneously. It's difficult to say whether she returns the affection or not." Masky always evaluated situations thoroughly before assuming. He was usually very accurate.
"W-why wouldn't s-she return m-my f-feeling?" I asked, I was a little nervous to hear his answer.
He looked down before going deeper into his thoughts.
"Some time ago I was reading about psychological thoughts and behaviors. I found something interesting that may be the cause of Clockwork's hesitant feeling. PTSD. PTSD is often associated with returning from war but, it has found that it also can occur in everyday life through traumatizing or life changing events." I stared at him for a moment confused and he understood that and went into depth.
"Allow me to recite that in terms you would understand: the Hulk. The Hulk understands what will happen if he is angered. And for that reason he does all he can to not reach any point of anger. He is afraid of anger." I started to put pieces together.
"Something may have happened to Clockwork that has now made her afraid to love once more, or any more for that matter." He finished and I understood. Until Clockwork overcomes her fears she might never love me back. The thought was gut wrenching.
"But, there are ways to help those suffering from PTSD. Therapy...opening up about what happened. It's found that releasing those stored emotions and thoughts can relieve the fear of other emotions." He said. So there's hope.
"T-thanks Masky." He nodded and before I knew it we were reaching the forest line of the city.

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A/N- Sorry this one's a little shorter guys but I wanted to fit the introductions into it's own chapter. I hope you guys are enjoying the story and again thank you so much for reading.

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