#something something Imogen always knew that Laudna wanted to kiss her but never did but now that she's doesn't know she has to ask | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sociallyawkwardfoxwriter · 2 years

Text

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Archive Warning: Major Character Death Category: M/M Fandoms: Critical Role (Web Series),Biohazard | Resident Evil (Gameverse) Relationships: Orym/Dorian Storm, Leon S. Kennedy/Chris Redfield Characters: Orym (Critical Role), Dorian Storm, Leon S. Kennedy, Chris Redfield, Rebecca Chambers, Imogen Temult, Ashton Greymoore, Cyrus Wyvernwind, Piers Nivans, Laudna (Critical Role), Fearne Calloway Additional Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Blood and Injury, Canon-Typical Violence, Established Relationship, Nightmares, Burns, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Orym's Dead Spouse (Critical Role), Sobbing, Human Experimentation, Stitches, drugged, Hospitals, Injury Recovery, Chronic Pain, Scars, Strangulation, Panic, Mind Control, Dissociation, Depression

Day Six. "I Dreamt You Were Alive"

“I'm not sure this is a good idea.” While the others moved cautiously further into the large space, Dorian slowed down to stay even with Orym's hesitant steps. “There's something strange about this place. I don't know what it is.”

“Considering all the ghosts we fought to get here, I can't say I blame you. What do you think this place is?”

Orym's eyes flicked around the room searching for whatever hints might be found in the long-abandoned space. “I don't know. Someone or someones cleared this place out and everything else... I wonder what those statues used to be.”

“Do you want to take a closer look?”

“I don't-”

The brush of something cold across the back of Orym's neck immediately stopped the words in his throat. His hand jumped to the hilt of his sword, but he never got the chance to pull it free of his scabbard. That cold sensation on the back of his neck moved seemingly instantaneously to cover his hand. He expected the cold to grow in intensity and try to force its way into him the same way the other ghosts did, but nothing more happened. It just held on.

“Orym.” His heart stopped in his chest at the familiar voice that whispered in his ear-one that he hadn't heard in years. “Orym?”

“This isn't real. It's just in my head.”

“I know why you would think that. I promise you it isn't. She needs me to talk to you.”

“Who?”

“The Raven Queen. This used to be her temple. She knew you were here the moment you walked in.”

“Why now? Why you?”

The hold on his hand disappeared, then for the first time in six years he found himself looking up into the eyes of his late husband. His cold hands cupped Orym's jaw just like he always used to do when he arrived home from a long day's work and would pull Orym in for a kiss. While he wanted nothing more than to lean into it, the rational part of his brain continued to fight against it. He looked like him-except for the completely white eyes-but that didn't mean it was him. Plenty of things could take his face to use it.

“Hey, I know what's going on in that brain of yours. It's me. I can't stay long, and I'm sorry for that. I know this is hard, but I'm so proud of you. You've done so much. It's incredible. You're incredible, Orym.”

“There were so many nights-so many nights I dreamt you were alive. You would come home, and it was like nothing happened, then I'd wake up alone. I missed you so much. I still do. Every single day I miss you. My heart will always have a hole in it because you're gone.”

“I'm sorry. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“And you have so much love to give. That's one of my favorite things about you.”

“Riegel,” For the first time, Orym let himself reach up to loosely hold a cool wrist. “I... what do I need to do?”

“What she needs from you is important. All of you. I'm sorry to be the one to put this weight on your shoulders. I wish I could be there to carry it with you.”

“You were always a smooth talker.”

A soft laugh that used to fill their home and his heart with joy bubbled out of Riegel's mouth. “Only with you. These undead creatures you've been facing are suffering. They're being puppeted against their will when they should be at rest. You're on the trail to who's doing this. Put an end to it. Let them have their peace.”

“We will.”

“I know you'll take care of them. Make sure you take care of yourself, too.”

“I'll do my best.”

“I mean it. Be safe.” A hint of a smile vanished from view when Riegel dipped his head down to press a kiss to Orym's forehead. “Don't be afraid to open yourself up to love again. I might be a hole in your heart, but I know how big it is. There's plenty of space for another. Let yourself fall in love again, Orym.”

He knew even at a whisper his voice would crack from the emotion welling in his throat, threatening to constrict it. “But I don't want to let you go.”

“That wouldn't be letting me go. It's continuing to live. You have so much of your life left. Don't stop it because of me. I don't want to be a ghost haunting you.”

“Never. You could never.”

“I love you. I will always love you.”

“I love you so much.”

“I'll see you in your dreams.” The gentle brush of a thumb across his cheek spirited away the tear that slipped from his face as the cold around him faded.

For a moment, he could still feel the phantom of hands on his face and a wrist clutched in his hand, then the tingles on his jaw faded and his fingers tightened around nothing. Without anything there to hold him up, the weight of everything brought him to his knees and curled his shoulders in. Through the blur of tears clouding his eyes, the outline of six people in the distance watching him was barely visible. Before he had time to consider what that meant, something blocked everything from view. Or someone.

Gentle hands guided him into a hug that prevented him from tipping forward from the weight continuing to crush him. The tears flowed freely as he desperately held onto whatever his hands found purchase on. A slow humming lulled him through the sobbing, until he was left breathing heavily into damp fabric. Even though the tears stopped and his hands loosened, the humming didn't stop, not even when he pulled away to look Dorian in the eye.

“Did you hear all of that?”

The melody faded to an end that almost made him regret asking the question. “Not all of it, but enough. I'm so sorry, Orym.”

“It happened a long time ago.”

“That doesn't mean anything when you love someone.”

“Yeah.” After taking a moment to scrub at his eyes, Orym straightened up so Dorian no longer held all of his weight. “How bad do I look?”

“Hold on, you've got something in your hair.”

“What?”

He curiously watched Dorian open the small front pocket of his bag and pull something blue out of it that he slid behind Orym's ear. “There. They won't even notice.”

“Is that why they're staring at us? Because they don't notice.”

“I don't know what you're talking about. Now, come on. We should keep moving. I'd prefer not to get possessed again.”

“I'll protect you.”

“I know.” Just like Riegel, Dorian tenderly brushed away a stray tear, then rose to his feet with a smile. “Let's go. The longer we wait, the more time they have to think of questions.”

“I'm with you.”

#febuwhump2022 #febuwhumpday6 #alt4 #i dreamt you were alive #critical role #dorym #orym #dorian storm #riegel #orym's dead spouse #implied/referenced character death #hurt/comfort #sobbing #fanfic

10 notes · View notes