Snickering, accepting the kiss on the cheek.

“The snakes wanted kisses.”

Serpents excitedly trying to get more affection. Nuzzling into his face with quite some force.

“Sorry, they’re… I don’t know. Attention whores.”

somehow. They feel so unbearably alone.

They woke up screaming. Not an unusual event for them. Snakes all gradually beginning to wake as well, looking nervous and confused.

Pulling their knees to their chest, the tears quickly follow.

They’d talk to his friends, but they’re convinced they don’t have the right. This was their fault

Even though the words should be comforting, they feel like they’re only sinking deeper in despair. It worsens when he vanishes from their grasp, leaving them with the dark of their mind again.

“Wait, come back! Come back! Stop, I need you here, you can’t leave me!”

And everyone who doesn’t wishes I was dead. I.. I wish I was dead. I wanna be with auntie. I wanna be with papa. I’m scared. I wanna die.”

death of their aunt. Their father’s rotting corpse. Every single time their mother took out her rage on them, whether by words or by fists.

It seems like they’ve physically shifted back to that scared child. Holding tight to him, their voice so meek and quiet.

“Everyone who likes me dies.

They sunk into him, crying hysterically, arms wrapping around him just barely too tight.

“I can’t save myself, I want to die! You’re supposed to save everyone, you’re— you’re supposed to save me!”

Their ears are ringing. Every ounce of trauma they’ve been through replaying around them. The

able to get just enough of a breath to not fully drown, but they’re exhausted.

“I should’ve been there to save you. I’m not a hero. You were wrong. I can’t save a thing. I’m so sorry.”

they reached to finally touch him, but the injuries on his body seem to pulsate at the brief contact. It looks painful.

“Συγγνώμη. Έπρεπε να ήμουν εκεί. Λυπάμαι πολύ.”

All of the guilt is crashing down on them, caught in the tsunami of their self hatred as it crashes over and over. They’re always

It’s him. There’s both relief and dread while they look at him. He’s finally here, in front of them, but he’s so… broken. And they weren’t there to save him. They couldn’t make it better. They’ve failed him.

For being named ‘shield’, they can’t protect a thing.

“Clark…” Their voice softened,

they can’t.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry I wasn’t there, I’m sorry. Please, come back, I need you, I—… I love you.”

Clawed hands reaching to grasp the false image of him, yet they’re never close enough.

“I can’t do it— I can’t be alone.”

Squinting. Tongue flickering over and over to try and catch his scent a verify that it’s still their friend.

“What do you mean—? Why *what*?”

Every time they move closer, it seems like he’s moved farther away. They want to hug him and tell him how much they adore him, how much they miss him, but

“Clark? Clark, please!”

It’s wrong, it’s not him. But they still search, they still run towards him. Crying, in complete hysterics.

“You can’t leave me alone- I don’t want to be alone. I need you here. Clark, please, please, speak to me.”

please.” Their voice shook as they spoke. Repeating his name.

Another laugh. But it’s wrong. There’s something very, very wrong.

“Clark, I’m scared. I don’t want to be alone, I’m so scared. Please,” they whimpered out, “I need you here with me. Come back.”

does everyone get to die but me?”