It hurt.

All the noise had piled up into a cacophony of pain.

The other's talking.

Their footsteps.

Their humming, singing, pen tapping.

It was too loud

His head hurt so bad.

Everything was pounding.

Heck even the veins in his neck were pulsing in pain, he just wanted out.

So that's what he did.

----

"Wha-! Anxiety?!"

He was happily catching up on episodes of Avatar when suddenly, he ended up with a lap full of Anxiety.

The trait in question groaned, moved his computer and latched onto him, burrying his head onto his stomach.

So here they were on the couch, host sitting up straight while his dark trait lay stretched, hiding his face in his favorite pineapple shirt.

Because the persona didn't answer him, Thomas decided that it was a good idea to gently poke the trait.

"Mnh"

"Hey, you ok?" Asked the Manifestor slightly concerned.

"no"

"Uh...do you wanna talk about it?-"

Anxiety huffed and Thomas frowned, he was confused as to why his least contact loving trait was practically holding onto him as if he were a life line.

But seeing as his youngest manifestation wasn't up for speaking and was currently on his lap, he couldn't really help but run his fingers through the soft brown locks.

The dark persona leaned to the touch.

Smiling a bit, he had to admit that he was a bit jealous that Anxiety's hair was so soft, but it was fun to play in.

"It hurts"

It was but a whisper, Thomas paused immediately.

"It's too loud in there-"

"Headache?"

"Probably, just everything hurts, the littlest things, I can't even listen to music"

The host winced, everyone knew how much Anxiety liked listening to music.

Tentatively he ran his fingers, in what he hoped was a comforting manner, through the dark trait's hair.

Anxiety moved his head away from the host's stomach only to snap his eyes shut and flinch.

"Want me to stop?"

"no", breathed out the persona as he re-burried his face onto Thomas' stomach.

The host was sceptical. "You flinched"

"It's too bright"

"Ah"

With that, Thomas continued running his fingers through Anxiety's hair.
The persona in turn curled up more, thoroughly melting at the feeling.

-----

"That's rough buddy"

Thomas continued to watch Avatar, he had his earphones in and his laptop balanced on Anxiety's side and hip. The dark persona had finally slipped into sleep about two episodes ago and was content with hugging onto his stomach.

He paused the episode when he felt the dark trait fussing. Quickly yet gently, he carded his fingers through the persona's hair.

Really the host had no clue as to why Anxiety choose to come to him instead of Morality but he was happy to help.

He continued to run his fingers through the darker's hair, chuckling slightly as a small sigh escaped the sleeping one's lips.

Shaking his head he pressed the space bar to unpause the vidoe. He was comfortable and content with watching the episode and the three more after.

He was comfortable, until he needed to pee.

----
AN:// aaaay, I'm alive...kinda. I'm feeling crappy as heck, and by the title you can guess why. Idk man I'm always in pain, if it's not my back it's headaches and migraines galor, just why?? I've been trying to fill in requests and such but... ugh, I have 5 drafts and I haven't even started on the next chap of Innerworks yet, my hands are numb and shaking too much, life. I have the day off tommorow hopefully  so yeah, that chap should be out by Tuesday latest. Sorry for the inconvenience guys, but I really don't feel good rn.
I'mma go take a nap, when I wake up later I should be able to type about 10 pages for Innerworks.