☞ like nobody's won and we're safe at the end.

[stomped]

who jack + isaac
what now with 70% more fourth-walling
rating pg-13
warnings video game trauma.

[ It's a new thing every day, Isaac finds as he walks past the television. Gaming systems have come along way (at least what he's seen), but ultimately, it's all the same. He glances around the apartment briefly, a slight prickle of paranoia riding the rise of his spine. These definitely weren't there before, but then again--the television didn't plug in, the goddamn house ran off of embarrassment, and well. Just well. Leaning down, Isaac grabs the controller and sees the pair of cases that are laid out next to it on the low coffee table.

Haha. No.

You can't be. This is not serious. This isn't even real life right now.

Isaac picks up the top one and hums, popping in the disk. Oh hey. There's the remote (where the fuck were you when we needed you the most, asshole?) Slumping down on the couch with the controller in both hands, he passes through the introduction without much of a qualm aside from the fact that he ends up tilting his head a bit. Oh hey, Jack--Great things. Definitely great things. Except then the plane's going down and Isaac is cocked forward in his seat, clearly concerned that they just went down in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The game is pretty interesting (not every day you get to play as someone you know).

"Now, would you kindly find a crowbar or something?" the game says.

There are those words. ]

( BIOSHOCK | DEAD SPACE | THAT NIGHT )

Comments

[stomped]

[ His hand shifts, moves up to just cradle the back of Jack's head. Keep him steady, that's what he'll do. It's his warmth pressing through him and his grip unwavering. It's okay, he bleeds into it, everything's okay. You're here, you're not there, no one will make you do a thing here. Everything's your own choice.

Quietly, very quietly, lips against his ear, he tries. ]

You're a man, Jack.

[ He breathes out. ]

You are a man.

[ It's a hand on his wrist, fingers closing over one of the tattoos on his wrist, covering the chains. ]

[unkindly]

[And then he does start crying, silent tears streaming down his cheeks onto Isaac's shoulder. He shakes a little with quiet sobs, never letting go of Isaac, he needs his steadiness he needs his warmth, he needs him whispering into his ear.]

[stomped]

[ Letting go doesn't cross his mind. He pulls Jack a bit closer, fingers rubbing gentle circles at the base of his neck while he lets Jack cling and hold as much as he wants. The hand on his wrist moves up, rests over Jack's heart, hears the anxious beating of Jack's heart. It's the thrum of memories and of seeing them flicker in your head over and over, a movie that doesn't stop, burned into your brain.

The tears that wet his should fray his heart a bit and he continues. ]

I've got you, okay? You need anything...?

[unkindly]

[The first time he never had enough time to react, never had enough time to process everything he had learned. He had been angry, and that anger drove him through the rest of Rapture, drove him to finally confront Fontaine/Atlas and kill him.

This time he doesn't have the distractions of people trying to kill him or him trying to kill other people. This time he has Isaac though.

He can't answer Isaac, he's incapable of forming words around the tears, but they're slowing, and gradually he starts to regain control, breathing more deeply, slowly, but still not letting go.]

[stomped]

[ This.

He'll give him this.

The breath that passes between them is warm and unsteady and Isaac keeps him tightly held to his chest. He's been poked and prodded, would you kindly'd enough. Pressed to push on, move forward, when the going got tough, well. Jack got going.

It's something he can identify with. Go further, go further, they say. Only you, just you. Tools along the way, injuries, pitfalls, monsters and men one and the same.

He encourages him softly. ]

There you go.

You're a man, Jack. You'll always be a man. Your own.

[unkindly]

[And the breath slows until it's steady once more, until Jack is no longer crying. He's a little embarrassed of it now, but it's in the background, shadow to everything else he's feeling.

He breathes.

Finally, he's able to get the words out, though he only as a couple for the moment, muffled into Isaac's shoulder but still audible.]

...thank you.

[stomped]

[ Isaac smiles just slightly, feels him calm. His hand moves to just slowly rub up and down against Jack's back, following the curved line of his spine with care. ]

Don't have to thank someone for the truth.

[unkindly]

[Jack laughs, a broken, painful sound.]

Kind of feel like I do since I didn't get any of it until that moment.

[stomped]

[ Isaac hums, deep in his throat and turns his head a bit, finds his lips pressing against skin, eyes closing a bit. The noise that Jack makes only brings him to let out a breath against his cheek, hold him tighter. ]

[unkindly]

[Just breathe, Jack. Just breathe. It's over.

It's over, it's over, it's over.

It's over, it's over, it's over.

it's overit'soverit'sover

breathe in.

breathe out.

it's okay.

it's over.]

[stomped]

[ Isaac slowly moves them, brings his head down so their foreheads briefly touch. ]

Hey. Look at me.

[unkindly]

[Breathe in,

breathe out.

After a moment he lifts his eyes to look at Isaac.]

[stomped]

[ Isaac gives him a quiet smile, his hand coming up to just rest against Jack's cheek, warm, dry. ]

You're okay now. I've got you.

[unkindly]

[Breathe in.

Breathe out.

And there's suddenly a sense of relief, looking at Isaac, hearing him say that, feeling the contact.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

He's okay now. Isaac's got him.

And Isaac wouldn't lie.]

[stomped]

[ He pats the side of his face slightly, taking in a breath. ]

Let's find something else to do, alright? I'll finish later.

[unkindly]

[Jack exhales and nods just a tiny bit.

Yeah.

Something else.

Anything else.]