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"Theo?” The curly haired boy hummed in response, body slumped against a dull colored wall in the darkness of the home. “Where are you?” Theo let out another, louder hum, feeling like his voice wouldn’t work with him if he tried anything more. His eyes were shut so he himself honestly wasn’t sure how much of a challenge he was giving for Artie though he knew he left the light off when he came in here.
The soft padding of the others feet shuffled around the room until Theodore could hear it right in front of him. Then he was being jabbed lightly in the thigh with a foot. Theodore groaned, he felt so defeated and drained. It was the night of another fledgling day - another of someone who had tried to escape the night before, that Theodore had begged to stay because they wouldn’t make it.
They didn’t listen to him, obviously. He probably wouldn’t listen to him either if only he wasn’t the one to witness the consequences time and time again. Because of the events of the day though, he’d been emotionally exhausted the entirety of it and just happened to be able to get away into one of the shared bedroom-like rooms before having a complete breakdown.
He never imagined how much worse it would be when he had to cut the persons hair. He never realized how much he’d want to throw up with worry until he was standing there, doing it, apologizing for his tears and claiming he was just so happy his brother was going to have a family. And he had just been slumped against the wall since — it was dinner time, so no one else was around to bother him, so it had been perfect. That was, until Artie cracked the door open and began calling out.
Theodore could feel Artie jab him again, whining in response. He was sure if he was bothered anymore for any longer he’d probably break down again. He was so exhausted he just wanted to go to sleep and wake up just about anywhere else.
“Leave me alone, Artie. Please.” Theodore croaked out, sniffling and rubbing at his eyes roughly, letting his arms fall limply beside him right after. There was a beat of silence then a heavy sigh that shook above him. Suddenly the blond headed boy was lowering himself down next to him.
“Artie, seriously- please just-“ Theodore cut himself off when Artie pressed into his side, a warm feeling spreading through him. Artie snaked an arm behind Theodore’s neck and wrapped his hand in strands of hair on the side of his head, pulling it to lay against his shoulder. Theodore let himself get pulled, fluttering his eyes open and taking in a shaky breath.
Theodore melted against the taller, the boys fingers threading through his hair softly. A softness Theodore knew only he got from Artie, knew Artie only left himself exposed enough to give to Theo in such a way. As he breathed in again, a hiccup shook his shoulders and he could feel Artie nuzzling his face into the side of Theo’s head in response.
“There, there. It’s ok Theo.. we’ll find him again…. We’ll figure out a way to get out of here. And we’ll find him when we do, and save him from whatever messed up shit they’re doing out there.” Artie whispered, voice almost muffled from his lips pressing against Theodore’s curls - but it was close enough to his ear that Theo could hear him crystal clear.
He nods in response, short simple nods. Feeling the back of his eyes burn. He blinked until it felt like they wouldn’t take over him - he couldn’t start crying again, especially not with how he’d have to explain why his face was so red whenever they inevitably had to go back to where the workers were.
“Artie,” He found himself whispering before he realized, and the taller boys was humming before he could rethink what he was doing to say. Artie’s hand stilling to lightly scratch at Theo’s scalp. “I’m-“ He paused, stuttered. He felt so weak it was embarrassing. “I’m scared.” Theodore whispered quieter than Artie had just a minute ago.
“I’m so scared. They’re going to get us before we can get out too.. I don’t know why, I know we don’t know what’s happening to everyone but.. I think we’re going to die here, Artie. I can feel it. They’re going to suffocate us.. all of us.” Theodore struggled to speak near the end, a lump forming thick in his throat and he knew he was going to cry again soon.
“Hey, don’t talk like that, Theo. Don’t you dare.. what are you saying? Of course we’re going to make it out of here.” Artie sat up a little and Theodore, in his drained state, let out a small whine at the loss of touch that Artie didn’t seem to notice and he nearly flushed at. “When have we not made it out?” Artie asked, voice confident and clear in trying to cheer Theodore up.
Theo sighed and shook his head. “Never.. but.. Artie I’m seriously scared. What if we can’t make it? What if we can’t save anyone else?” Theodore continued and he sighed in a tone just about as content as he could get at the moment when Artie nuzzled his face against the side of his head. Lips pressing into his hair.
Theodore doesn’t think he’d ever find Artie not comforting, the other boy was everything to him.
“We will, Thee. I swear to you. We and all the other kids, every last one. We’re all going to make it out of here and we’ll find someplace nice for us all to live.” Artie’s voice was muffled this time, and if Theo didn’t know any better he would have assumed Artie pressed a small kiss against the side of his head after the words.
Theo nods, muttering a few small ‘yea’s as Artie’s hands go back to carding through his hair. He leans against him more and Artie gladly accepts the pressure. Pressing his head closer, feeling Theo’s body tremble with the still suppressed cries.
There was a quiet that followed, and after only a minute Theodore could feel himself dozing off against the blond. He let his eyes shift closed again, post-cry breaths shaking his shoulders as he let the warmth from Artie take over his body fully.
“Theo, hey Thee.” Theodore groaned, feeling his body be shaken, still pressed up against Artie. “Hmn..?” He hummed, forcing his eyes open. The light spilling from the still open doorway was illuminating Artie’s face and it made Theodore want to nuzzle back into the boy, he looked as warm as he had felt.
“You dozed off for a bit there.. I was going to let you keep sleeping, but how about we get you moved to a bed, yeah?” Artie offered, a soft smile pulling at his cheeks and showing off his teeth. Theodore nods, rubbing his eyes and whining once again as Artie’s hand was pulled from his hair.
“Wait.. don’t leave me though.” Theodore mumbled his request as Artie helped him stand, hands staying on his sides because of his tired wobbling. “Leave you?” Artie huffed a simple laugh, pulling Theo even closer to him so he could help keep him up as they walked.
Theodore hummed his conformation as he shuffled his feet in time with Artie until he was over what he could only assume was his bed. Being lowered down into it in a sitting position, he soon felt Artie’s hands working at his jacket and bow.
“If I lay down you’re gonna go away.. help with the chores n’ all of that.. I don’t want you to go away.” He mumbled, voice getting heavier as he tried. He wanted to be embarrassed by the fact Artie was undressing him but he truly didn’t care. With no one around, he couldn’t care less what Artie did with him - honestly it was sweet the boy would help him with something like this when he was too tired to do so himself.
A huffed laugh left the one lingering over him and he watched as Artie shook his head as he laughed. “Do you want a different shirt or are you going to sleep in this under one?” Artie asks instead of answering, and Theodore hums. “Th’s is fine.. and don’t avoid answering..” A small pout grazed the boys lip and Artie punched out an actual laugh at the face. “I won’t leave you, I promise Thee.”
“Promise promise?” Theo asked, the last word breaking up by a long yawn. Artie looked at him with a soft smile, eyes careful and corners of them upturned. “What’s with the clinginess, Thee? Of course I promise promise.” Artie responds and Theodore watches through half opened eyes as Artie slips off his own suit top.
“You can lay back, Thee.” Artie comments and Theodore doesn’t wait a second and falling back and hitting the mattress with a smack. He sighs heavily and kicks himself until he’s laid properly in it and forces his eyes open again despite the comfort, watching Artie fold up his top. He rolls his eyes fondly at the blond and is delighted when the top is laid carefully at the very top corner of the mattress before Artie drops himself into the bed.
“If I get in trouble for not helping today though, you aren’t safe from being blamed.” Artie chides, squirming them both underneath a cover. “M’kay.” Theodore mumbles back, not even actually processing what the taller had just told him. He grabbed onto Artie and pulled him closer, the blond boy huffing another laugh and wrapping an arm over Theo.
Theodore did the same, one arm around Artie’s side and the other tangled in his shirt; clinging like Artie was going to fall away if he was gentle with him. In turn, Artie continued to hold Theo with the same gentleness Theo had begun to associate with being next to the blond. One arm wrapped around his waist and hand splayed against his back carefully and the other snakes underneath his head to play with his hair just as he had when they were sitting.
Theodore hummed, a noise so far from himself he almost thought Artie made it. He was so exhausted in every way that he was almost certain he could sleep for an entire week. Nuzzling his head against Artie’s, foreheads pressing together and legs nudging to be thrown across one another - Theodore almost felt he would be safe forever.
He let his body go completely limp, listening to the deep breaths falling from Artie, and let himself fall into what was probably the best sleep he’d had in months.