Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sunny wakes up crying. Sunny doesn't often bother to wake up. Why would he? After all, dreams are so much nicer. And yet he does, his aching bony chest heaves with sobs that rip through still air. No one has cleaned this house in years. Sunny is almost sticky with sweat and oils. He hardly gets out of bed, and the only time he's in the bathroom is when his trembling fingers grip the edge of the toilet bowl while his body rejects any food he tries to force down his greedy maw with his dirty hands.

How could he eat when he knows that she can't? He deserves to rot and decay more than she did, but the ground only consumed one of them. 

But delusional as he is, he hides away. He keeps himself alive like a parasite in the very earth. Trembling hands undeservedly crawl forward, forcing himself to stay alive. 

Sunny doesn't want to be awake anymore. What woke him up in the first place? Sunny what's it to stop- Sunny wants it all to stop. Sunny wants to take the knife he keeps under his pillow and just-

oh. There it is again. 

Knocking.

On Sunny's door?? He's going insane. He clutches his sides, a laugh crackles from his lips as they twist into a grotesque smile. No one wants to see Sunny. 

His shaking hands drag him out of bed with a thunk. He only laughs harder at the sting of the fall. He doesn't know why anymore. He's just laughing. It makes his dry throat ache.

"Sunny?" His mind's illusion of Kel speaks nervously. Wasn't he younger? Where is Omori... Sunny.... what's happening? He isn't laughing anymore. "Sunny I heard you. I won't stay for long if you don't want me, I swear." Huh. His mind never makes Kel that old. And he... he isn't Omori. No, it's Sunny who reaches for the door reaches for the door. He knows... he knows this isn't real. But, if there's a chance... 

 Please stay Kel. he can't form the words. he tries again. Not a single sound. He coughs and splutters, clawing at his frost until it's red and raw. Useless body!! His cheeks are already wet with tears. Please don't go Kel! I don't want to be alone anymore! The knocking turns to pounding. Kel sounds startled. "Sunny? Are you okay in there?" No, Kel! Please help me! Please I can’t do this on my own! Shaking legs heave themselves up inching closer to the door. They don't manage a single step as his malnourished form gives out with a sickening crack.

"... Sunny, I’m coming in, ok?"

Tanned skin and calloused hands, Kel still smells faintly of oranges and something earthy. "Shit... what the hell happened?" His voice was clearer through the door, but it sounded softer now... scared? Why? Desperate greedy hands cling to Kel's jersey. Sunny's probably getting it dirty, staining it. Kel is more gentle than Sunny expected, than Sunny deserves. He... Oh no. nonononono. Sunny, move! Don't let Kel see that! For fucks sake move! but the deep red claw marks had started ebbing hot sticky blood “Oh god... that can't be good.... hold on Sunny..." A hand moves patting something quickly. Kel's looking for something? Oh. Kel pulls out a phone, cursing under his breath as he punches in numbers that have been drilled into their heads as kids. The world is spinning. Sunny grips Kel tighter. Kel was his lighthouse and Sunny was drowning. His eyelids are heavy. Sorry, Kel. I don't think I can hold on like you asked me to. Still, Sunny can't force the words out of his wretched mouth. Sunny closes his eyes.

Chapter Text

Omori opens his eyes. He expected bruised knees and scraped elbows but... someone caught him? he looked up at the goofy grin of his saviour. Ah. Kel. Distantly, Omori registers Hero fussing over how Aubrey could have hurt Omori, but he really couldn't care less. He feels... fuzzy and warm.

"Are you ok Omori?" Kel tilts his head same goofy grin as always “That looks like it hurts." .... wait no, that's not right. Kel doesn't say that. Omori isn't hurt. so instead Kel says "That looked like it could have hurt!" Yep. That's better. Aubrey huffs.

"Don't be stupid Kel! Omori isn't delicate! we were just having fun!" Aubrey crosses her arms in her small night dress, her bare feet stamping softly in protest.

Basil laughs softly. Dang it! It's that same fluffy warm feeling seeing his smile. He sits between the shade of the trees, camera in hand. Omori tries not to show his reluctance when he pushes off Kel. Hero looks over at Omori. “Do you want to keep playing Omori?" Omori only nods. Aubry laughs as her feet hit the grass Omori breaking out back into a run.

Aubrey catches him in the end. She always does. She slams into Omori with a laugh as the two collide, hitting the soft grass floor, Hero calls out to the two rolling in the grass. "Be gentle!" Aubry laughs as she pins Omori underneath her, she leans down affectionately nibbling in his neck. But even though it's light, it doesn't matter. Because Omori is already bleeding from the neck. Deep claw marks. He opens his mouth to say something, anything, but nothing comes out and no one sees the wound. They let Aubrey bite into the bleeding tissue like her mouth wasn't dripping with Omori's blood.

But... in a moment, Omori swears he smells orange and something earthy as he's wrapped in arms, stronger than any of Omori's friends. "Sunny..." the voice is older but familiar. so so familiar... "Sunny open your eyes, please." the voice is getting choked up. Are they crying? The arms grip..... omori? No..... the arms grip Sunny tighter as he opens his eyes.

Bandages wrap Sunny's neck. It's not very tight, but it sure as hell is itchy. Kel is looming over him, face visibly relieved as they make eye contact. "Holy shit Sunny! Oh my god! I thought you were dying!" Kel speaks... incredibly fast. Sunny blinks.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Sunny isn't sure, Kel doesn't wait too long for Sunny to continue. "the doctors say you can't be alone. I wasn't sure whether to tell them that you don't have anyone around to take care of you or not, but you probably need to stay at a friend’s house until you get better." A friend’s house? Whose house would he even go to? “I think it was because you can't check if it's infected yourself and might need help redoing the dressings? I’m not quite sure exactly why but you should always listen to doctors, you know?" Kel keeps rambling and Sunny listens. He doesn't know why he listens, Kel isn't really saying anything that he cares about.

Maybe he just misses this. Misses the silly habits like how he fiddles with his fingers and rants about whatever's on his mind when he's stressed Kel hasn't really changed, huh?

Kel pauses. Oh shit did he think Sunny didn't care? Sunny does care and he feels bad that the words just don't come out.

"I'm sorry, by the way. I know you like your space but I heard a thud and I got scared. I just wanted to know if you were all right."

...

...

...

Kel was worried for Sunny.

Sunny spots his phone on the bedside table. Huh? Did Kel grab it for him?

Sunny grabs it. He can't talk, but maybe he can thank Kel in a different way?

Notes-> new note

'Thanks.'

Kel makes a little o shape with his mouth. If Sunny wasn't so damn pale he might blush. Then he laughs softly. It's more adorable than he remembered. Did Kel always make his head so fuzzy? "No problem Sunny! That's what friends are for!" Sunny's head is spinning. He has friends still?!