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 Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:50 am
Home. Not her dorm, her home. It was quiet, but it was always quiet here. Sometimes too quiet, and she wished that there were others who lived here but…it was hers…in every way that it could be, and she loved it.
Her heart had mostly returned to a normal rate of pounding, but her wrist hadn’t felt any better at all. It was still hurting horribly and she didn’t know what to do about it. Maybe take some pain pills? She could do that, but when Brooklyn tried to open the container she ended up jarring her already injured wrist and white hot pain shot up her arm, almost blinding her.
…Okay. Okay no pain pills and…
Turning sharply she made her way to the bathroom and puked up whatever was in her stomach into the toilet, feeling just a little bit dizzy.
Sleep. Sleep would help this…was just…it was just something. Just something.
Her lip trembled as she made her way to her bed and carefully lay down on it, and before she knew what she was doing, the tears began to fall in earnest, soft sobs breaking from her chest.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:52 am
Soleiyu was overprotective, in his own way. He wanted to protect the people close to him in the only way he could–and that mostly meant keeping an eye out for danger. Making sure no one broke into the home, monitoring for danger.
Yes, he had a lot of cameras. And a lot of extra security in places an intruder wouldn’t expect.
Installed in Zac’s house. And Brooklyn’s, too.
He was already determined to check on her when Talia informed him that Luke and Jason had been hurt and she was needed at the Celestial Theater but when he saw Brooklyn return, he almost immediately made his way over.
A group of teenagers had gone out tonight, he’d talked to Riker and Julian before they went out. Brooklyn had gone with the group. And Luke and Jason.
Naturally, he worried. Talia hadn’t mentioned that anyone was hurt too badly–or worse. Riker nor Julian had asked for help or said they were in danger.
But still, something didn’t quite sit right.
Soleiyu was glad he followed his instincts.
He’d let himself in just in time to hear the sound of quiet crying. His face settled into a worried frown. He was quiet–not a problem usually but he didn’t want to spook her.
“Brooklyn,” he called from the door, trotting over. He jumped on her bed. “What happened?”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:53 am
She hadn’t heard anyone come in, and really hadn’t thought that anyone would, which…was kind of silly really, but…she was fine. Hardly hurt at all and the others…well, she was just fine.
But Soleiyu’s voice cut through her sobs and made Brooklyn go silent, her body stilling as she tried to pretend that she was asleep. That obviously nothing was wrong and she was absolutely fine and this…was simply the overactive imagination of a very intelligent Mauvian.
Well. No. Okay so she was being stupid but. “...Just hurt my wrist a little bit, I think. I should be fine with some sleep…there are others who are hurt a lot worse than I am, you should be hanging out with them, like Julian? He was really upset, I think and then I tried to like…help but. Then others kept telling him to do other things and it just…didn’t make a difference but.”
She was rambling. Brooklyn knew it, she could feel it but. She wasn’t sure what else to do.
“I honestly. Might have broken it? I heard this gross snapping sound and it hurts so badly but I felt like a baby trying to complain about it when like. People were actively bleeding out? So I just…came home…but healing magic won’t work on bones besides those who were literally bleeding out needed it more so I just…was going to sleep it off…?”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:54 am
The faux-silence wouldn’t have been enough to keep Soleiyu away even if it had been real. He trotted over quickly, jumping up on the bed. Of course she’d said other things but how was he supposed to focus on any of that when she could have been seriously injured? And she was trying to play it off?
“...Brooklyn, if you thought it was broken, why would you think you could just sleep it off? A broken bone? No. That’s–a very serious injury. You can absolutely complain about being in pain about that. Well, you can complain about being in pain about anything, you don’t have to get hurt enough to ‘earn it’. It’s not a competition about ‘who is hurt worse’. The thing is, you’re hurt.”
He pawed his way across the edge of the bed and immediately frowned when he saw the swollen, discolored state of her wrist.
Soleiyu didn’t want to chastise her. Didn’t want to scold her. She was obviously in pain–undoubtedly a lot of pain.
“Do you have an ice pack? Have you taken medicine? That doesn’t look like something you can sleep off.” He was asking too many questions. In the end, it wasn’t going to be enough. He had to force himself to sit down in front of her and take in a deep, steadying breath. “If you think it’s broken, I think we need to get someone to look at it. An injury like that needs to be taken care of. And you–you–deserve to be taken care of. You don’t have to just hole yourself up when you’re hurting. I know a guy–a good guy. He’s a doctor. Let me call him up. He’s got a clinic–small, but at this hour, I bet there won’t be anyone else there.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:54 am
“I tried to take some medicine but opening the bottle hurt too much so I wasn’t able to…I just…” Brooklyn trailed off and finally just shrugged. The bone would heal on its own…they did that it just…might not heal well...but it wasn’t her main hand, so that was fine! It was all fine but..
“Is it going to cost a lot of money? I don’t want to be a bother, Soleiyu…seriously. If I had just been a little more observant this wouldn’t have happened anyway, or if I would have…fallen right?” Or moved out of the way of that psychopath? There were dozens of ways she could rationalize that this was her fault, and honestly? That was fine. It was easier that way really.
“...How…what would I say to him? Cheerleading injury? Skateboarding? Sol, I don’t do any of those things…”
Of course she could lie, she was honestly pretty good with lying but…everything hurt too much right now to think about that.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:54 am
“Brooklyn,” he said gently, but firmly. “It’s not going to cost anything, that’s not for you to worry about. Nor should you worry about ‘being a bother’. Please, you’re a person, not a problem. People get hurt sometimes. People need help sometimes. Let me take care of you. Can you sit up? I can carry you if you can’t walk.” He pulled a cell phone out and was pawing through apps, apparently already prepared to call someone to pick them up.
“You won’t have to lie. Tell him what really happened. Tell me what happened, too.” He knew she’d been hurt. He just didn’t know how badly, or how. Yet.
“He’s a doctor. A Knight. You don’t have to sugarcoat things. He’s had a hard time with the Negaverse but he won’t make you answer any questions you don’t want to answer. If you don’t want to talk to him, I’ll do it. Where did you leave that bottle? I’ll get it for you. And an ice pack. Okay?”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:55 am
“I can walk...I’m not helpless…not hopeless. A lot of things happened. We were…there were these rumors of this place that we all…like a bunch of us decided to go and investigate. It smelled awful, and honestly I’m still not convinced that it wasn’t just a big homeless encampment at one time but…there were youma and creepy like, vines? And then we were all blindsided by this freakishly fast General? He absolutely decimated us…it was a slaughter, Sol. That’s the only word I can think of that fits what happened…um. He threw me by my wrist and I’m pretty sure that’s…when it broke. Like. He broke it by throwing me…it was. So fast...”
She shuddered and finally nodded at the bedside table where the small bottle stood, mocking her with the cap that was absolutely impossible at this moment.
“I…would love an ice pack, yeah…um. We went up to the moon…but the plants were coming back? So I was hacking at them after the guy was gone…this. I’m sorry it sounds so stupid. It was just a lot, I guess. But we went to the moon and…regrouped? Um…Julian was really out of it…others were bleeding really badly? I think someone might have died for a few minutes? I don’t know…I was trying to keep Julian calm and like, let the ones dealing with the big things to it…I’m no healer so…I felt really useless…but um. Yeah. That’s…that’s about it…”
She sniffled once again. “...He’s a Knight? That’s cool…”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:55 am
Soleiyu ensured his expression remained judgment-free while he listened, well-used to the goings-on of teenage stories. He nodded as she spoke, but prioritized opening the bottle. Even with his Mauvian paws, he opened it without much effort.
However, from there he shifted into a different form–a human. Or, close enough. Dressed in crisp white slacks and a comfortable, purple sweater. His hair was tied up in a very clean bun, so long that it still spilled down his back. He poured a few pills into the palm of his hand and set the bottle down. “Here,” he said, dropping them into her good hand so she could take them herself. He uncapped the water bottle, too, and waited for her to have a free hand for it.
“That sounds horrible, Brooklyn. But it sounds like you were very brave, and you did your best. So I’m very proud of you. Do you think accepting my offer makes you helpless? I don’t think you’re hopeless. I think you’re hurt. And very used to having to be strong all the time. If you’re self-conscious, I won’t tell anyone. I only care about you feeling better. I don’t want you to stand up so quickly and pass out. That’s very common after a severe injury. So let’s just go slow.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:57 am
Brooklyn looked down at the pills for a moment before putting them in her mouth and drinking some water to wash them down. “I puked already. I think that’s when I really figured out it was broken. I read that sometimes you puke when bones are broken, which honestly? Is really messed up, like you’re already hurt and then you have to puke too? It might have been a good thing though ‘cause we were breathing in some real crap…but.” Carefully she got to her feet, not wanting to upset him, and though there was some dizziness, she forced her way through it. “I don’t need to be carried, but. Thanks…are we walking to your friend's place? Can you drive? I don’t think I can drive right now.” She had her learners permit but…gripping the steering wheel took both hands if she were doing it right so…
That was out of the question for the moment.
“If we’re walking, I’ll do my best but. We’ll see how far I get. How far is it?”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:57 am
“It is messed up,” Soleiyu agreed, probably more to placate Brooklyn than because he felt particularly passionate about the subject.
He stood to his full height when she did, and placed a hand at the small of her back to steady her. "We won't walk, Brooklyn," he said gently. He picked up his phone, glanced at the screen, and reported, "The Uber will be here in a few minutes."
It probably wasn't more than a ten minute drive. He didn't want to think about how long it would have taken them to walk. Especially her, in this condition.
For all his technological prowess, he didn't know how to drive. Maybe he needed to make a self-driving car next.
"We'll go sit out front. I'll get you that ice pack, and a little snack, on the way. Do you think you can eat some crackers? I don't want to upset your stomach. But don't worry about anything. We'll get you taken care of. And then I'll get you home and tucked in. Do you want me to sleep over tonight? I'd feel better if you weren't alone."
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:58 am
“Oh, sometimes I forget that Ubers exist. Thanks though…Sounds a lot better than walking. I can try crackers, yeah…and um. I wouldn’t mind if you stayed tonight…I’d like it, honestly.”
She flashed what nearly passed for a smile and began walking towards the door. “I can wait outside, yeah. Maybe the night air will feel good. Thanks, Soleiyu…I really appreciate all of this…um…really.”
Honestly, she felt a little awkward, but…it was fine. She was fine. She would be fine and soon enough…maybe her arm wouldn’t be hurting…that would be.
…Amazing, honestly.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:59 am
The smile wasn’t particularly convincing but Soleiyu appreciated that she made an effort.
“Well, I’m glad you’d like for me to stay.” He’d been planning on it anyway, so being invited was a much nicer option. Briefly, he placed his hand on her shoulder. If he’d been in his other form, he’d have butted his head against her, but that was significantly less effective in this form.
Their time separated was minimal. He walked with long, purposeful steps and joined her on the steps with the ice pack, a package of crackers, and some water.
He was still wrapping the ice pack in a hand towel but passed it over.
“Soon,” he promised, busying himself with opening the crackers next. “This won’t take too long. We’ll get you all taken care of, and then you can come back and sleep. I’ll look after you, you’ll be safe.”
He wished he could do more for her now. She was trying so hard to hold it together. Brooklyn was always like that, carrying the world on her shoulders and doing her best to be strong so she didn’t have to lean on anyone else.
But she was so young.
And she was a good kid, too. She deserted to have someone looking after her.
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