TBO Canon, Charlie Thoughts (TBO-era), Gore
“What are you scared of?”
“Being split in half.”
What?? Charlie doesn’t know what to make of that. It’s an oddly specific fear. It rarely, if ever, comes up again.
But he watches her, wondering, what exactly does it mean? Is it literal? Figurative? Certainly everyone would be terrified of such an event, but the likelihood of it is so astronomically low. And yet, he sees small glimpses of fear crossing her face now and again.
Quietly, he wonders, perhaps… it’s a good thing he’s a healer. And his magic affords him a way to do the impossible. Flesh knitting back together, organs restored to their places, blood seeping back into wounds… but mental trauma, that he cannot fix. He’s ill suited to that.
But…
It’s silly. It is. To note down these impossible things that he can do… and begin to worry about the impossibility of someone doing that to Thandi. She’s already been mortally wounded multiple times. It doesn’t matter where she is or who is around her. Her magic makes her a target, and as the creatures around them become more brazen, he finds that he shares her fear. Can he fix a broken spine? Shredded organs? Torn muscles? Can he do it fast enough? Is there any way to protect her?
Is there any way to at least comfort her?
Can he hold her together, mentally?
The fear sits at the back of his mind. The anxiety drives him to pay undue attention to her health. He can’t seem to stop hovering. He’s scared.