REQUESTED BY: Loaqis

A/N: "Sometimes life is like this dark tunnel. You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving, you will come to a better place."

-- Uncle Iroh

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Implied eating disorder.

--

Another slump again.

Matt sighed heavily as he knocked on her door. Chances were that she was blasting music through her earbuds too loudly to hear him.

"(y/n)?" He called. No sound from inside, other than the shifting of sheets. "C'mon, you need to come out. We-- they're worrying to death about you."

No answer.

He rolled his eyes in concern, pointing a thumb at her door as he turned to look at Tom. "You try it, then. She's in love with you, maybe she'll open for you."

Tom blushed at that, but nodded and went up to the door. He knocked gently, calling softly, "(y/n)? Please let me in. It-- it really hurts me to see you so sad. I can help you."

There was a pause.

Then slowly, the lock on her door clicked, signifying that he could open it.

After a brief moment of shock when he turned to stare wide-eyed at Matt, he creaked open the door and stepped into the near-blackness of her room.

The blinds were drawn, her window was shut and locked, and the only light came from under her covers, which seemed to be her phone.

He shut the door quietly and padded over, sitting on the edge of her bed. She was under the covers, likely with her earbuds in, but just being in here was good enough.

He lay a hand over where he thought her head was and asked, "(y/n)?"

A moment of silence. Then she shifted and poked her head out, the light from her phone harshly highlighting the dark bags sagging underneath her eyes and the way her pained (e/c) irises were red and puffy from crying. Her hair was a mess, her skin pale from not eating. She was a total wreck.

His heart broke when she tried to mute a sniffle.

"Wh-- what?" Her voice cracked at the end, and she briefly turned her face back to her phone before pulling out one earbud.

He cringed a little as the loud music of Evanescence started blasting into the air from it.

He waited until she paused the song before gesturing to her king-sized bed. "Can I cuddle with you?"

She shrugged loosely, patting the other side. He flipped open the covers and snuggled in, wrapping his arms around her while she nestled her head on his chest.

They stayed that way for quite a while, until she spoke up quietly. "Sorry if I... if I stink."

"I didn't even notice." He replied honestly, closing his eyes as he rested his face in her hair. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

She shrugged again. "I dunno."

"That's fine."

They lay there, (y/n)'s body heat warming him quickly. The coldness of the other side of the bed dissipated, and it wasn't long until they were both toasty.

She shifted in his arms, yawning into the crook of her elbow as she blinked blearily.

"Getting enough sleep?" He asked.

She nodded. "I just woke up a little while ago."

"That's good." He sighed through his nose. "Don't you want to eat anything?"

"I'm not hungry," she mumbled. "And I've got water, I'm fine."

"What about bathroom breaks?"

She became a bit more forceful with her shrug this time, getting a bit irritated. "Why all the questions?"

He was quiet for a moment before answering. "Because I'm worried about you, (y/n). I love you."

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine." She snapped, turning and planting her face into her pillow.

Tom sighed again, gently running his finger down her wrist. Thankfully, it held no marks, but her refusal to eat was alarming. "(y/n), it's been four days already... you need to eat."

"I said I'm fine." She insisted.

"No, you're not." He shook his head, his back trembling a little with emotion. He could feel tears rising in his eyes, but he kept going. "We all get depressed, (y/n). Tord, Matt, Edd, even me. You can't let it overpower you like this. I love you too much to watch you waste away."

She didn't say anything in reply.

"If you don't eat something soon, your body's going to start breaking itself down," he continued, tugging at the strap of her nightgown pleadingly as he spoke. "If you need to talk to someone about it, talk to Edd. He's gone through this before, he can help you."

"..."

"You're my only girlfriend, (y/n)," he was teary-eyed now, sniffling, his breath hitched. "I-- I don't want to lose you."

After a moment, she moved her head, as if considering. Then, hesitantly, she rose her free hand to clasp his, allowing him to thread his fingers through.

She let out a quiet sigh. "... fine. I'll eat. But don't start spouting off about losing me yet, okay?"

"I-- I promise," Tom eagerly wiped his tears away as she sat up.

One of her straps fell down her arm, and she put it back up. She got up from her bed dizzily, nearly passing out back into the covers. But Tom was quick to help steady her, and he helped walk her to her door and down the hall.

The effects of hunger were beginning to take hold, and quickly. It might've not bothered her at first, but now she could hardly think straight, her mind muddled as she stumbled into the kitchen.

Tord and Matt looked up from the counter, the former having just been comforted from crying, and the latter looking angry, but relieved.

"Let's start her off with something small, like a salad," he said, getting up from the stool. "Here, sit here."

She did as told and shakily got onto the chair. Tord was quick to pull her in for a side-hug, whimpering into her shoulder.

"P-- please don't do that again," he blubbered, looking up at her with a wide, weepy gray eye."You scared a-- all of us."

She frowned guiltily, leaning in to plant a small kiss on his forehead. "... I'll try. I'm sorry."

--

A/N: Mmkay, so at the risk of worrying some of you, I pulled this from some of my darker moments recently. During one of my darkest points this year, I went a full six days without eating before my roommate took me to the ER. Starving yourself is serious. If it had gotten past a certain point, I would have done permanent damage to my body.

If you ever have the urge and/or the lack of will to eat for long periods, please, please, please get help. Eating disorders are very serious.

Hopeline Network (available 24/7): 1 800-442-4673

And, as always, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1 800-273-8255

Mental illness is not something to trifle with. Depression is not something to trifle with. Please don't let yourself lose the battle. There is always something worth fighting for. Life is worth fighting for.