Prompt 023: Haunted Soul, Damaged Heart, Wounded Pride

[okdeanna.livejournal.com]

Title: Haunted Soul, Damaged Heart, Wounded Pride

Author: OKDeanna

Rating: PG

Word Count: 177, 224, 287, Ficlet

Prompt 023: Haunted, Portal Through Time, Monster Island

Characters/Pairing: Willow/Angel/Buffy

A/N: Takes place after BTVS Season 2 and during BTVS Season 3

 

HAUNTED SOUL

By

OKDeanna

 

She couldn’t stop thinking about him. About the nightmares. The pain. The torture. The unbelievable screams of agony and terror. Each remained locked inside her mind, haunting her days and disturbing her nights.

 

She wanted to tell someone. Wanted to share her fear. Her torment.

 

But they wouldn’t understand. How could they? She didn’t even understand herself.

 

And yet, night after night, he called to her. Begging her to help him. To save him.

 

Her. Willow Rosenburg. Girl most likely to be overlooked and cast aside. His savior.

 

If she didn’t know soul touching were possible, she might’ve worried she lost her mind. But she wasn’t crazy. She knew that much.

 

Angel spoke to her. Cried for her. She heard him. Felt him. It didn’t matter that she didn’t know how or why. That the very idea of his soul calling to hers made no sense.

 

He needed her help. And somehow, someway, she would find a way to give it. If for nothing more than to stop the nightmares from tearing her fragile dream world apart.

 

 

DAMAGED HEART

By

OKDeanna

 

 

She was back. He couldn’t see her, of course. But he felt her. Her presence. Her essence. It circled his wounds, coaxing him to hold on. Not give up. To fight back against the fire that imprisoned him. Find a way to beat it. To break free. Find a way home. Home to her.

 

He didn’t know how she knew where he was. How she knew what he felt. Heard what he said. And yet, despite his ignorance, he held onto her like a lifeline. Drowning in the innocence her ethereal soul left behind.

 

He drew on her strength. On her courage. Using her friendship as a rope on which to climb. Slow at first, struggling beneath the burden of torture and pain, and then faster, steadier. Until finally he saw it.

 

A small opening in the portal of time.

 

He blinked. Confused by the sight of the slender fingers that reached for him, curling around his wrist with a force he could not fight, dragging him from the fiery depths in which burned.

 

And then he was falling, and she was there. Cradling his head atop her lap. Her shaky voice promising comfort. Freedom. Salivation. Everything he knew he didn’t deserve yet needed to feel to survive.

 

“It’s okay,” she murmured softly. “I’ve got you, Angel. You’re safe. You’re home.”

 

Safe.

 

Home.

 

Willow.

    

WOUNDED PRIDE

By

OKDeanna

 

He wanted her to go. She could see it in his eyes. Hear it in his voice. She brought him home, nursed him back to health, and now it was over. It was done. He wanted her gone. Away. Far, far away.

 

It hurt. The knowledge that he didn’t want her around. That he didn’t want her to help.

But she couldn’t abandon him. Not now. Not when he needed her the most.

 

So what if he did call out her best friend’s name in his sleep. It didn’t mean anything. He didn’t love her. He didn’t even know her. He just…wanted her.

 

He’d get over it, though. The want. The need. As soon as he became himself again, he would realize the truth. He would understand why she did what she did. He wouldn’t blame her for it. He loved her. She knew he did. He told her he did.

 

And yet, the nagging suspicion in her brain refused to let her believe it. Despite everything they’d gone through and fought against, she had lost him. To the one person in the whole world she thought that she could trust.

 

The knowledge stung. Deeply. But she wouldn’t let it get to her. No. She would fight it. She had to. She loved him. She wouldn’t give him up. Not now. Not ever.

 

Angel belonged with her. Not Willow. Her. And somehow, someway, she’d make him remember it. No matter how long or what it took. He would be hers again. She wouldn’t accept anything less. Not from him. Never from him.

 

They were forever. Angel and Buffy. Forever and always.

 

He just didn’t remember right now. But he would. Soon. He had to. He just…had to.

Comments

[boy-named-susie.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for your very creative submissions. They were very interesting interpretations of the prompts.

However, I would ask that you would please use the header provided in the rules post (http://community.livejournal.com/still_grrr/358.html) and a very short author's note if necessary. Since this is a challenge community, we like to keep everything uniform so it is fair to all our participants. And, as usual, if you don't follow all the rules, including those about using our header, you submissions will not be up for voting. Thanks in advance for your understanding.

[okdeanna.livejournal.com]

My apologies. I hope I corrected the problem to your satisfaction. If not, please let me. I'm not sure how one goes about posting multiple submissions such as this.

[boy-named-susie.livejournal.com]

Looks great. Thanks for fixing it!

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Very nice work, hon. You seem to be quite busy of late.


Gabrielle

[okdeanna.livejournal.com]

Thanks Gabrielle! I actually had this idea floating around in my head for a while, just never got around to fleshing it out. Its not exactly what I originally had in mind for Willow and Angel, but...it'll do. For now anyway. :-)

[lauratd.livejournal.com]

Interesting job of combining the prompts.

[okdeanna.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Had fun working on these.

[xlivvielockex.livejournal.com]

Would you like these voted on as one submission or three different entries?

[okdeanna.livejournal.com]

Three separate entries, I guess. Honestly, it doesn't matter to me. Whichever is easiest.

[xlivvielockex.livejournal.com]

It is the same amount of work either way. It is really up to the participant. If you want them as 3 separate ones, can do that. :)

[divadea.livejournal.com]

These are neat, and I really enjoyed reading them.

[okdeanna.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed the stories!

[wereleopard58.livejournal.com]

Beautifully written, really well done