We Are the Kids From Yesterday

This Ain't a Party

Blood, gushing from Kobra's leg. He was bleeding, bleeding, bleeding heavily, everywhere. Party was so sure he'd die, bleed to death. He was in agony, his face in pain as he clutched his leg, his hands shaking as Jet tried desperately to find any sort of disinfectant to keep him from getting any worse.

"Godammit, you can't keep scaring me like that," Party said with tears burning his eyes. He grabbed Kobra's hand and clutched it tightly, pressing it to his chest as he added, "you know kid, I don't know how you keep convincing yourself I don't want you alive."

"It hurts..." was all Kobra said in response, his voice practically in a whimper.

Jet finally found what he was looking for and started cleaning Kobra's wound, causing him to flinch. "Hey, it's okay, you'll be okay," Jet had murmured as he wiped the wound down.

"It'll never be okay," muttered Kobra finally, when Jet had finished and started wrapping the raw wound.

That was when Party felt himself being shaken, his name being called. His eyes opened and the boys were sitting around him, looking concerned. Party looked over and saw it was still dark but everyone, even Ghoul was sitting around him. Jet had his arms on his shoulders and sighed when he saw Party open his eyes, but Party just appeared confused.

"What are you guys doing?" said Party, rubbing his eyes and sitting up.

The three all looked at each other, Kobra and Jet looking really worried and Ghoul leaning on Kobra, seeming tired but his eyes slightly concerned. He was the first to talk, his voice dreary and laced with worry, "You were screaming and thrashing," he said with a yawn.

"Another night terror?" said Party, glancing at Kobra, who would've known. Party had suffered from night terrors even before their parents died, but not at all frequently. But after they died, they'd come at the very least once a week and it was awful.

Kobra nodded as he said, "It was really bad. You like smacked Ghoul really hard, that's what got him up but you were also screaming a lot. You sounded so... scared. You were like, shouting my name."

"Yeah, it was bad," Jet added softly, rubbing his arm.

"I hit Ghoul?" said Party, suddenly alarmed, looking over to him. "I'm so sorry, oh God. Apparently I'd hit Kobra when they started getting bad. I'm so sorry, though."

"It's fine," said Ghoul with a sleepy giggle. He motioned to the section of his cheek under his left eye as he said, "That's where you got me. It'll probably bruise, but it's okay." His eyes were barely half opened at this point as he leaned his head onto Kobra's arm a bit more.

"Hey, c'mere," said Party, reaching out his arms so Ghoul would come back over from Kobra. He did and Party just held him tightly as Jet looked back at Party before saying,

"This happened often before?"

"Yeah, a bit," said Party. "It always starts getting worse when I'm worrying about something. Usually Kobra."

"Are you worrying about Kobra?" asked Jet.

"The dream was back from when he shot himself in the leg," said Party and Kobra flinched. "Sorry, kid. I know you don't like thinking about it."

"No, it's fine," said Kobra, quiet. "It was a scary time."

"I don't know why I'm suddenly worried about you again," said Party, a bit perplexed himself about what brought upon the terror. Maybe the slightly recent event of Kobra's overdose or just regular brotherly fear. But all he knew was for whatever reason he was horrified for his brother once again.

Party thought Ghoul had fallen back asleep, but apparently he hadn't as he said, though his eyes were closed with his arms wrapped around Party's chest, chin on Party's shoulder, "Maybe since we've been back in Bat City, you're worried his picture will get out there."