xxxviii. atlas couldn't move
3.15

Atlas learned to trust his gut. Whether it was a terrible-no-good-im-dead kind of feeling or a today-will-be-the-best-day-ever kind of feeling, Atlas had learnt his lesson to trust those feeling.

Atlas was curled deep in his bed under as many blankets he could find — every blanket from the hallway closet, the guest room, living rooms and any other place he could have stored a blanket.

"Atlas, love." Derek kneeled down on the floor beside the bed, he was on Atlas's side of the bed.

Atlas grumbled some words into his castle of blankets. Something bad is going to happen, replayed over and over in Atlas's head like his favourite song.

"Come on, love." The word love made Atlas blush, especially the way Derek let it roll of his tongue.

Atlas poked his head out from the blankets, "I am not going to work."

"And why's that?" Derek moved some blankets around so he could see Atlas.

"I have a feeling. A-and my brain keeps telling me something wrong will happen." Atlas closed his eyes, he didn't want to see the look Derek would give him — whether it be moving or a "your crazy" kind of look.

Derek racked his brain for a solution to Atlases worry, now accepting the fact that work wasn't an option.

"Why don't you at least leave the house? You could do something that you love, something that calms you." Derek told his boyfriend.

Atlas looked at him skeptically. "Yeah? Like what?"

"The weather is supposed to be perfect today," Derek suggested. "It'll be cold, but that's how you like it. You could go wonder around, sight see?"

"I do love to wear sweaters," Atlas grinned under his lump of blankets.

"Exactly. It'll take your mind off of it." Derek nodded.

Atlas considered it for a moment. "Okay. Yeah, that, uh, sounds very nice."

"Everything is going to fine, Atly. I promise," Derek smiled, heading for the door. At the last second, he turned around and moved so he could give his boyfriend a kiss. "Hey Atly?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you," Derek smiled and gave his boyfriend another kiss.

Atlas returned the smile, they had said "I love you" before — way before Addison showed up. Atlas had even proposed his love to Derek after Addison had showed up in his whole "pick me, chose me, love me" moment.

Atlas had said I love you lots before: to his family (mother, brother, sister, father, grandparents and others) to significant others, to friends. But when he thought about saying it to Derek, it felt right.

"I love you too." The words felt right to them both.

╚═ ☆ ═╝

Atlas couldn't move.

Atlas could not move.

There was a loud ringing in his ears, the volume preventing him from hearing anything other than the beating of his own heart. He liked the sound, it was calming, but fast — too fast for a cardio surgeons liking. He knew that something was wrong.

Questioning his consciousness. Atlas slowly opened his eyes as far as they would go. He was met with nothing other than a blurry outline of whatever was above her. Maybe it was metal, or the clouds in the sky, hell it could be a person and Atlas wouldn't have been able to tell.

Then, Atlas smelled smoke, he froze, his body stopped the shaking it had been doing ( something Atlas hadn't noticed ) and focused on everything around him.

The screams of pain — pain of loss, pain of injury, pain of surprise, stupid no good pain.

The smell of fire — it reminded Atlas of camping, the relaxing crackle of the fire.

And the blood. Atlas would never get used to it. He was a surgeon, he was supposed to be used to blood, but whenever an accident happened, it's like his body would tell him "run away now" and he would.

It slowly began to come back to him.

╚═ ☆ ═╝

Atlas's breathing was shallow. Causing his chest to move up and down at a rapid pace. He knew that whatever was happening to his body wasn't good. He was a kick ass surgeon, he knew the signals.

His chest burned like it had once he woke up from his surgery after being shot. It burned and Atlas couldn't move to look down, he couldn't even bring him self to lift his hand.

He was too scared to move.

"You're okay," he whispered to himself, eyes snapped open and unfocused.

"Good morning, love." Derek Shepherds voice rang in his ears, he couldn't tell if the adult was beside him or not.

Water unknowingly pooled in his eyes, as his gaze frantically darted around the empty space surrounding her. He was starting to regain vision.

"Atlas! Your the best big brother in the world!" Oliver's voice shouted next.

"You're okay, you're okay, you're okay, you're okay." Atlas repeated over and over.

"Thanks for reading to be Atly. And building the fort with me." Eliza's voice went through one ear and out the other.

Being a surgeon, Atlas was self aware enough to realize that be was in shock. But if anything, that made her even more nervous. When someone is in shock, it's nearly impossible for them to feel the extent of their injuries. And Atlas had a feeling that he had some injuries.

"Oh my baby! I'm sorry I forgot to bake them something! Thank you so much!" Atlas could practically feel his mother hugging him as she spoke thankfully.

For all he knew, he could be dying.

"My son, I love you. Don't forget that." Brian whispered to his son, Atlas met the tears pool in his eyes.

"Help!" a small voice startled Atlas from his spiraling thoughts.

"Your my best friend, okay?" Bailey muttered and the words echoed inside Atlas head.

Finally able to see somewhat clearly, Atlas attempted to find the source of the cry. He had thought he was alone. The ferry was far enough away that no one was around, though he was laying only a few feet away from the edge of the water. Atlas really couldn't tell where he was.

"Help me, please!" the voice screamed once again.

Now fully alert, Atlas tilted his chin downwards so it was resting against his chest so he could look down towards his feet.

"It hurts!" The unknown person cried out.

Atlas froze once again in place at the sight of a young boy, no older than six, with his leg trapped under what seemed to be a large piece of metal.

But the worst part, was that the boy was staring directly at Atlas.

And Atlas still couldn't move.

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hello! hi! double update! and all i have to say about this is... oops?

please read if you like MARVEL or THE AVENGERS! my brain is going haywire with these plots! i want to do a 'Jane the virgin' kind of au then have it lead into one of the avengers movies. now — if you like that and think it's a good idea and would read it — let me know!

═ WHO would the love interest be? tony Stark? clint? Who?

thank you!