Keep this close - Scarlett, Stephie, Thomas (can stand alone though)

[scarlettvoices]

Visitors came and went but in the end, in the darkest hours of the night, it was often just the three of them. Scarlett. Stephie. Thomas. All with separate little worlds of fear in their head, and the knowledge of the shared one between them

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[suave_thomas]

The only time Thomas had left the hospital since arriving, was for a few hours last night to be with his husband before Spectre left for his European tour. He had returned to the hospital afterwards, not even spending the night with Spectre, because he couldn't bear to leave Stephie and Scarlett alone during the night. It was the most frightening time, in his mind, even though all the hours had run together down there in the bowels of St Sebastian's.

As Scarlett raised her head, Thomas raised his. He smiled at her over Stephie's curled form. He wanted so badly for her to understand he didn't blame her for what had happened. All he could do was prove it with his presence. With his time. "Do you need anything," he whispered, in case Stephie was asleep.

[scarlettvoices]

Scarlett gave him a small smile over Stephie's sleeping form. "Nothing," she promised. "Are you okay?" she whispered, considering concern on her face. She was always worried about them now. She was always scared for all three of them. The Templar. The god-damned fucking Templar and the way they could get into her head. The nightmares of them from the old days came so infrequently these days, but now they were back in full force. It didn't seem to matter that she had escaped the sort of tortures that last time had brought. Still in her dreams she was cold and naked in a cell, the scold's bridle weight down on her head and the thumb screws tight on her broken, frozen fingers.

[suave_thomas]

Thomas nodded easily, though he didn't feel so easy and free. "I'm fine. Is Stephie sleeping?" Thomas couldn't see her face, just her hair splayed out across the pillow.

[scarlettvoices]

Scarlett smiled down lovingly at her friend and nodded. "She looks peaceful," Scarlett said, holding back the urge to brush hair from her face. That might startle her awake and if Stephie was having a moment of peace (it was possible) then Scarlett would rather die than ruin that. "Everything's all wrong," she said, looking up at him again, her expression hopeless.

[suave_thomas]

Thomas knew what she meant. After he had gotten back from his ordeal with Amaris, nothing had been right. It was like he had left everything that was him down in that cellar, and he couldn't remember how to exist. His heart broke for her now, but he nodded. Not agreeing, but understanding. "I know it feels that way. It won't always."