Atlas: FTWD (Nick/Troy) Fanfiction

09 // the projectionist

"in the darkest of rooms, light shines the brightest"

the projectionist, sleeping at last

projectionist - one that makes projections 

Nick

"It was just me. You're right, I couldn't handle it anymore. We just...we're not compatible anymore," I breathe and he nods silently, finally looking away from me and allowing me to relax. Why the hell does he put me so on edge lately?

"We should probably get out of here, I've got a ton of assignments waiting for me back in that damn dorm," Troy chuckles and I nod, my mind flying into a thousand different directions but my feet following after him down the stairwell. After walking with him the rest of the way to his dorm, I stand awkwardly in the doorway as he falls back onto his bed. None of his roommates are here but that's not unusual.

"You gonna help me with my assignments or something?" He chuckles, his teeth capturing his bottom lip again and I shake my head ferociously before taking a step back.

"Nah, just wanted to make sure you're alright before I leave you," I cringe internally at the words that come out. Sure, they're sweet but they sound...they just don't sound like something friends say to their other friends.

"I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me," Troy smiles crookedly and I take this as my chance to dip, shutting the door behind me before letting out a deep breath and making my way back to the parking lot. As soon as I reach my car, I'm fumbling with sticking the key in the ignition, my hands shaking and blood burning with the thought of that fucking drug I have less than a foot away from me.

Fuck. I shake off that feeling as best I can before zooming back to Lucy's. If I'm gonna do this, Troy is never gonna find out. As I stop the car and throw on the parking brake, it's almost becoming impossible to resist the bliss hiding from me in the glovebox. Groaning, I grab the bag of needles and other shit that's been ruining my life for years, and race upstairs to her dorm. After pounding on the door as rapidly and loudly as I can, I begin to get worried that she's not here and start feeling like I'm about to fucking pass out if I don't get this shit in my system.

"Nick?" Lucy questions as she slowly opens the door, her voice raspy as she rubs her eyes. I instantly push my way inside and hand her the bag.

"I need you to get rid of that shit. Now," I can tell I'm shaking all over as I shiver uncontrollably, my mind spinning and heart racing. There's only one damn thing that I'm sure of right now and it's that I'm getting rid of that shit. Or someone is. Her eyes go wide and I can see a flash of pain rush across her face as she realizes what exactly is in her hands.

"Oh," She whispers, her voice still coated with sleep but her mind clearly already racing. I feel so shitty bringing more of my damn problems to her, I feel like I'm constantly doing this shit. If I'm being honest, though, she's the only one I can bring these problems to. My mom thinks I've been clean for years and it would break her if I were to admit that I've fallen back into it. Fuck.

"Just...just get rid of it. However you can," I stutter as I grab the blanket strewn over her bed and lie down on it, wrapping myself in the warm fabric. Lucy's familiar smell comforts me as I breathe it in, trying to keep my mind off the fact that she's throwing out the one thing I need more than anything right now.

After a few minutes she's re-entering the dorm and I snap my head up to see her leaning against the door, her eyes clenched shut. My shaking has only gotten worse in the past few minutes as I wrap myself further in the blanket. Jesus, I don't want to go through this again. Her bloodshot eyes glance toward me and I can see them literally soften at the fucking pathetic sight in front of her.