⍟ Broken Strings {A Chaos Theory x Male Reader Story - Ben}

𝟼. 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚎

When Y/N comes to, he's surrounded by the concerned faces of his friends. It takes a couple seconds for the harsh sting in his abdomen to catch up to him.

When it does, Y/N gasps, clutching his side in pain and feeling the warm red liquid leak through his shirt and onto his hands.

"Holy sh--" He leans his head back against the tree that had rendered him unconscious just moments ago, squeezing his eyes shut, "Is it bad? How bad is it?"

Brooklyn is the first to rush to his aid, she takes his hand, "You're gonna be okay, Y/N. Just relax."

Y/N nods, not daring to look down at his injury as Brooklyn takes off her shirt, leaving herself in a pink tank top, "Gotta get it stabilized."

"Stabilized? What are we... Brooklyn, how bad is it?" Y/N pleads, his brows furrowing.

"Kenji." Brooklyn calls, ignoring her injured friend's inquiries, "Whatever you do, do not pull out the thagomizer. It's slowing the bleeding, buying us time." She instructs as the man crouches beside her.

"The wha--" Y/N's eyes blow wide, "Wait! No, Brooklyn-- Don't--"

"We have no choice, Y/N." She frowns.

Ben rushes over, kneeling beside Y/N and taking his hand gently.

"One..." Brooklyn begins, Y/N squeezing his eyes shut once again, "Two... Three..." Her and Kenji both push on the bulk that's been plunged right above his hip using Brooklyn's balled up shirt.

Y/N cries out in pain, squeezing Ben's hand maybe a little too tight. Tears of agony well up in his eyes, similar to the one's he can see in the eyes of all of his friends.

A herd of herbivores begins zigzagging through the clearing, Sammy, Darius and Yaz doing their best to ward the dinosaurs off.

"We can't stay here." Darius realizes, "We're too exposed."

"The vet facility should be close. We'll take a look." Brooklyn nods, leaving Kenji to keep the pressure on Y/N's injury, "I'll check."

Y/N sucks in a sharp breath through gritted teeth, "Man, it really hurts."

"Hang in there." Ben gives him an encouraging smile, wiping away a tear from his cheek.

"You got this, bro." Kenji nods.

"The vet facility is just that way!" Brooklyn runs back over, "We can take shelter, find some medical supplies."

"We have to move him?" Sammy frowns and Brooklyn just shrugs, out of ideas.

Y/N glances around at all of his friends' anxiety ridden expressions and uses his trembling arms to help himself sit up more, "I... I can walk. It's fine." He insists.

"Let us help you." Ben puts a hand on his shoulder, stopping him before he can try and stand.

Kenji takes one of Y/N's arms, Darius swooping in to take the other. The two men wait a moment before hoisting him to his feet together.

Y/N cries out, trying his best to help them with his legs, another tear rolling down his cheek when he finally stands.

"It's gonna hurt." Ben reaches over and strokes his hair in a comforting manner, "But you're strong."

"We got you, buddy." Darius nods.

Kenji shifts to get a better grip, "You're doing great."

Y/N sighs, "Ow."

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

It's dark by now as Brooklyn leads the group through the forest. Roaring echoes in the distance, Y/N, Darius and Kenji taking slow careful steps.