xp_logs | Log: Julian & Tandy: Knightlight

In the aftermath of his trip to Saint Louis, Julian has been suffering nightmares. After a particularly bad one, Julian awakes to a trashed room and a panic attack- luckily, Tandy is there to help.

Warning: Contains some disturbing imagery and descriptions of PTSD.

There was a closed door at the end of a long hallway. The smell of bleach and other cleaners hung in the air- along with something else that he could identify, but didn't want to admit to. Wherever he'd been before didn't matter, all that did was the other side of the door. The hallways was unnaturally quiet, his footsteps the only thing that could be heard as the door drew closer. With every step a sense of dread built within him. He knew what was on the other side, he didn't want to open it, but his body had a mind of its own. He tried to use his powers, to force himself back down the hallway, or to stop himself, but it didn't work. Whispers began to gnaw at his ears, growing louder with each agonizing moment as he drew closer. His hand reached out and grasped the cold, damp metal of the knob firmly, twisting it slowly, time slowed as he did. Then sped up, altogether too fast, as the door ripped forward and he saw the bloody corpse tied to the chair inside.

***

Julian Keller awoke, floating above his bed, gasping for air. He was vaguely aware that someone was screaming, and looked to see if Tandy was alright before he realized that it was him crying out.

Tandy awoke to the bed shaking and her first thought was a earthquake. She sat up but realized that the bed shaking was the least of her worries. She quickly ducked as the alarm clock came zooming past her head. "Julian..." She went to grab her boyfriend only to realize he wasn't there.

Turning her head to see him not in bed but floating. It seemed like one of her horror movies coming to life. She did jump when he started to scream and reached up to pull him down when suddenly it woke and everything in the room came crashing down. "Hey...are you okay?" Her skin was giving off a faint glow in the dark room.

Breathing deeply, Julian let himself drop onto the bed a few feet below. The springs and foam absorbed the impact, as the memory of the room came flooding back to his waking self. He began to hyperventilate, clutching at his bare chest and looking to Tandy for help as panic started to set in.

Tandy knelt next to him and tried to calm him down, "Take deep breaths." She whispered. Nightmares, she was a pro on handling them as she was prone to them with Dweller and D'spayre. "It is alright. You are back in the bedroom."

Julian began to calm down with her touch, he shut his eyes to try and focus, but the door was clearer there. Opening them again, there were tears begining to form in his eyes. Force of will was brought to bear as he refused to let Tandy see him cry, again. "There," he gulped down air, trying to steady his breathing. "The door," he managed to get out.

Looking to see the closed door, "What is it?" She got off the bed, went to the door and opened it. The commonroom he shared with Sue was dark but otherwise empty. She disappeared for a few minutes, the sounds of running water turning on and then off and Tandy appearing back into the bedroom. She walked to his side of the bed and handed him the water. "Want to talk about it?" She got back into the bed and cuddled up to him.

He was a bit more composed upon her return, but was still holding his knees to his chest on the bed. Her boyfriend took the water, leaning against her as he took a trembling sip. "D-different, door," he took another sip, centering himself like he'd learned in China. "DeMattis, dreamed about...about him again," he paused, "finding him." In truth, it hadn't been Devon DeMattis in the chair beyond the door, but he wasn't ready to talk about that yet.

"Did you find him?" She knew it must had been terrible, if the floating objects, shaking bed and Julian floating like he was possessed by the gatekeeper. "I'll keep the light on for you as long as you like."

"I just..." he wasn't certain that he was ready to talk about it. Taking a moment to breath deeply, and down another gulp of water, he exhaled sharply. "There's a hallway, with a door on the end, and I can't stop myself from opening it and he's dead on the other side." It had all come out very quickly, he looked to her to see if she had heard clearly.

Tan was silent for awhile as she let it process for a moment. Moving her head up towards him, "I am sorry. It is over now. Back in your room. Nightmares suck."

Julian looked away from her, ashamed, "It felt so real." His voice trembled as he spoke, he felt weak...unworthy. He'd failed his friend in Saint Louis, how long until that happened again. "Yeah, just a dream," he forced a smile and reached out, shifting so he could wrap his arms around Tandy and not have to look into her eyes.

"Julian. There is nothing too be ashamed of. If anyone understands nightmares and how terrifying they are, it is me." She reached up to touch his chin. "They do feel real. And that is what makes them terrifying."

In all the time that had passed since they'd first met, Julian had nearly forgotten that Tandy had similar troubles just before their first encounter on the roof. He smiled, weakly, but genuinely, "Well if anyone would know..." He hugged her again, pulling her tightly and trying to forget as he whispered in her ear, "Thank you, Bow."

She snuggled more into the hug. "is this a bad time to say that the alarm clock is probably broken?" She leaned over and kissed his cheek.