//Riptide! :D
None of this is canon to the storyline! I just liked writing about ansgty ideas of this prophecy child..! I can't imagine it was always fun ;')
Kind of based off of cliche villain origin stories lmao
hurt/comfort? kinda? Idk Eden is in this so I don't think I'm able to write something with Eden in that DOESN'T involve comfort tbh-
also i was listening to "Nobody" by Mitski so,,,that probably fuelled me for angst sndisnxj
Again this isn't canon, we haven't had much of a look into Gillion's backstory..!
*This is a draft, im posting this since im recovering from an op ive just gotten back from! please excuse any late more updated posts! i will note what chapters are drafts and which are not!*
TW// intrusive thoughts - low self esteem/ arguing with family? (if there are any more, feel free to tell me!)
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"Again. Really, Champion, this should be second nature to you by now...We have been going over this training for many many days now..." Gillion swallowed down his frustration as the Elder sighed loudly, most likely to further show their annoyance with the hero's constant failures. The young triton had been training since early hours, it now being quite late, or at least a lot later than he usually stayed up for training. Gillion ignored the aches screaming throughout his whole body, shaking his head to refocus as he took to his beginning stance. He waited until the elder gave the instruction to start, calling out certain moves that the other had to make, all of them being extremely complex, requiring a lot of concentration and effort. Gillion felt himself become slower nearing the middle of a certain attack move, instead of being able to dash through the water like he was supposed to, he instead headed straight for a wall, groaning quietly in pain as he moved back, slowly floating down to the sandy ground.
"I-..I apologise, Elder..I am just tired. I am sure I will get it this time around. I-" Before Gillion could further explain himself, he looked up to see the elder hold out a hand. Not to help him up, of course, but to silence him.
"No need. I have seen enough for today. Tomorrow we will train much more. It is clear how little you are understanding these moves and attacks. We will meet here at the same time tomorrow morning, understood Champion?" Rather than answering the question, though Gillion was willing to bet many sand dollars that it was very much a rhetorical question, he simply nodded,
"I-I understand...Though, we are not really doing anything too...formal, are we? Surely I do not have to go by the title whilst we train... Couldn't you just call me Gi-"
"Of course not! How foolish of you! This is why we train so excessively, to not only prepare you physically but mentally! And clearly that has not been effective. Champion, it is an honour to be called by the title of our people! And you wish to go by a simple name?!" The elder scoffed and shook their head, turning their back to Gillion. "Tomorrow morning, same time- well...no. We shall meet here a hour earlier, that way you can fit in a new curriculum I will work on. Understood, Champion?" Gillion felt the same frustration now turn to anger. That stupid title. It's not his name. His name is-
"Y-..Yes. Yes I understand, elder. Thank you for your training for today...I will not be late for tomorrow."
Gillion didn't bother to get up from where he sat on the seabed. He was too tired, too frustrated, too angry. All of these angry cries swarmed his head. He got up, ignoring the shooting pain that went through his entire body, grabbing his sword and gripping it tightly, looking to the wall he had been very well acquainted with earlier and swam up to it, swinging recklessly at the stone, exclaiming as he did so. Screams of anger and frustrated erupted from his throat, leaving it hoarse and sore. Gillion was left panting, feeling his eyes sting for a second before his tears immediately mixed with the water around him. He stayed there, now staring at the scarred wall, watching as small pieces of rock tumbled out of the grooves that he had made in the once smooth and flat surface.
His angered thoughts were still very much there, seeming to add another thing to be angry at. He failed at training for what seemed to be the hundredth time this week so it only made sense that he'd fail at making an outlet for his emotions. This wasn't the first time that Gillion had felt such overwhelming emotions of frustration. It had been happening so much recently that it was starting to scare him. It scared him because then he experienced the intrusive thoughts, that always said the same things...You're just wasting the elders' time. They all think you're useless. They aren't wrong. What idiot can't figure out how to do those dumb attacks? You've been doing it for so long...It's your destiny, how are you failing this bad at following a predetermined plan? It'd be better for everyone if you left. Run away. Run away run away run away. Leave. Leave home leave home leave home leave home le-
If Finn left , why can't you?
Gillion quickly backed away, wincing as he did so. He shook his head, ignoring his shaking hands. He had to get back home before these intrusive thoughts made him do something he'd end up regretting. More so for the fact that he'd anger a lot of people if he did runaway, he himself would be very much okay. Though he couldn't be sure that the other thoughts would leave if he did run away...He ignored that for now, taking a few deep breaths that had little to no effect of calming him down, but he'd pretend like it helped him. He then sheathed his sword and headed home, hoping for no further problems.
---
"O-Oh...Hello father..." Gillion internally cursed upon seeing his father's figure as soon as he got home. To his surprise, his father was silent. It did not help Gillion's beating heart. His father was hardly ever silent. The Tidestrider family was never silent. Ever. So clearly something was wrong. Clearly you are the something wrong.
"Son. You are late home. I was informed by your tutor as to why...They came by just a while ago."
"Ah...I-I...I was not aware they would come by. Father, I apologise but I am very tired from-"
"Training? I hope you aren't about to say you're tired from training, Gillion. From what I heard from the elder, there is simply no reason for you to be exhausted to any extent from training."
Shit. Okay, maybe he was the something wrong. Gillion mentally kicked himself for being naive enough to hope for no further troubles.
"I am very disappointed to hear that the elder is going to be adding an extra curriculum for you. I believe I am correct in saying that you have still failed to understand and perfect the techniques you've been learning since...what was it, three weeks ago?" Gillion's father then turned, his back no longer facing his son, instead he was now looking down at him. In both ways. The expression on his face certainly matched the tone of his voice. Gillion seemed to shrink into himself at his father's expression.
"father please...I am trying, I promise. I just...I do not take breaks in training and...a-and that makes me get so much more tired a lot faster than if I were granted-" Gillion flinched at his father slamming his hand on the wall beside him.
"EXCUSES." His father then huffed, still glaring at Gillion. "You are a Tidestrider. You are the Champion of the Deep. A prophecy child. Act like one. Excuses are pathetic and we do NOT accept pathetic behaviour in this family. Understood?" Gillion hesitated, feeling the same anger bubble in his chest at the title. His father clearly did not appreciate the hesitation as he raised his voice more, "I said UNDERSTOOD?!"
Gillion took no time in answering this time, his voice wavering for a second, "Y-Yes father! Yes I understand, I'm sorry..." he nodded slowly, his eyes falling to the ground. Without another word between the two of them, he headed for his room, already knowing it'd be his father's next words.
Gillion took off his armour, placing it on the stand in his room, placing his sword next to the stand, changing into more comfortable clothes. He had learned through his years of training that it was beneficial to change into very easy clothes to change out of, as to not waste too much time for changing in the early mornings. As Gillion sat on his bed, he brought he knees up to his chest, hugging them. He closed his eyes and rested his head against his arms, hiding his face. The triton found that, as childish as the position may have looked, it helped to calm him down after particularly bad days. After a few minutes of sitting like this, Gillion felt a soft nudge on his head, lifting his head to see a familiar pink frogtopus. Gillion lowered his legs, crossing them before laying out his palm, smiling tiredly at the sea creature.
"Ah, hello there, Pretzel. How are you this evening..? Hopefully your day has been much better than mine..." Gillion chuckled weakly, then raising a brow as Pretzel spun, turning and motioning over to the entrance of his room, Looking up again, he saw Eden, his younger sister quietly looking into the room. "Eden..? Are you alright? I had assumed you were asleep at this time."
Eden smiled softly and shook her head. "No need to apologise. You and father's 'conversation' kinda woke me up anyways...And Pretzel here wanted to see you! we haven't seen you all day, Gill..." Eden frowned slightly, sitting on the bed and looking to the very tired Gillion sitting in front of her. Pretel had already snuggled into herself on Gillion's palm, sleeping even as Gillion slowly lowered his hand to rest in his lap.
"Oh...yes, I suppose you haven't. I'm sorry...I did try to see you this morning but...well it was very early and you were still asleep so...I didn't want to wake you." Gillion nodded, then sighing, "I am also sorry that you were woken up by father and I. Today was not a very good day so...he was upset..."
"I assumed...I'm sorry you had a bad day, Gillion...B-But! Remember what I always tell you..! Prophecy or not, you're amazing the way you are. Don't let the prophecy make you think any differently, okay..? I...don't exactly know what happens when you do training...and sure I don't understand all of it that much, but I know that you're giving it your best..! And that's all you can do!"
Eden was right, he was trying his best. Every single day. He tried so much to get it right...he just couldn't. "I...appreciate your kind words, Eden. But I...I fear that my best isn't good enough. I know it isn't good enough...It all should've clicked by now, you know? It's just frustrating... I-" Gillion was interrupted by Eden leaning in and hugging him carefully (not only for his bones' sake but for Pretzel's also). She shook her head, then pulling away.
"None of that! Your best is always good enough. Look, I know everything is getting to you, but you can get through it. You're Gillion Tidestrider..!" She giggled softly, dramatically throwing her arms in the air for emphasis. She grinned as Gillion chuckled, shaking his head fondly at his sister's dramatics. His fond expression slowly faded as he thought more about his training from today. The way that he got so angry...at how he had gotten that way more or less every time he was alone after training for the past few days. How those outbursts of anger started the intrusive thoughts...
"E-Eden..? Can I tell you something? But you must promise me that you won't tell anyone..." The sudden seriousness of his tone caught the younger triton off guard, looking to Gillion worriedly, but agreeing all the same.
"Of course, Gillion...I promise. You can tell me anything. I won't tell another soul."
Gillion hesitated, which only deepened Eden's worry for her brother, she had never seen him so tired for so long before. She had expected bad days, sure, but nothing like this.
"A-Alright. I...Do you remember our grandfather, Finn...?" Eden raised a brow, slowly nodding.
"Yes, of course...He left to go explore the oversea. He has more or less been banished because of that..." The younger frowned, crossing her arms loosely. "Even after all of the stories we've heard of from up there..." Gillion tensed slightly, sighing. He was very aware of the consequences for leaving the sea...
"Okay w-well...Yes. Yes he was basically banished. However...don't you think about what he's done up there..? Do you think he's made achievements? Or..." Gillion seemed to trail off at his sister's expressions. Eden's frown was soft, sympathetic as she knew what he was hinting at.
"Do...you really think that leaving would be the best idea...? I mean- I know that I've said before that you didn't need to listen to the prophecy or the elders but..."
"I-I...I don't know. If I'm being honest, I've been having thoughts of perhaps...leaving for a while now. A-As well as less...pleasant thoughts." Gillion slowly nodded, letting out a breath he wasn't really aware he had been holding.
The two sat on the bed and continued to talk, Pretzel being placed at the end of the bed as she stayed sleeping. Gillion finally opened up about what the thoughts he was experiencing were specifically. Eden listened, this being a refreshing reaction for Gillion.
"I think...for now it'd be best if you just...try and hold out on all of this for a little longer...I may be selfish for saying that as my reasoning is mainly because I'll miss you if you leave..." Eden chuckled weakly. Gillion smiled softly, nodding understandably.
"I believe I can do that...I'll be honest, even as tempting as leaving may be, I do feel hesitant to go through with it...for many reasons. Of course, leaving you is the immediate reason..." Gillion smiled more, Eden rolling her eyes fondly and hugging Gillion again, burying her head in his shoulder as the two sat there in silence for a few minutes. When the two siblings pulled away, Eden yawned, it being something she seemed to have been holding back for a while now. Gillion chuckled at this and shook his head. "Go to bed, Eden. It is late...you should've been asleep a while ago." Eden sighed and nodded, getting up from where she was sitting.
"I know I probably won't see you tomorrow morning, so good luck for training tomorrow, Gill. G'night..!" She gave a small smile before going off to her room to finally sleep. Gillion hummed as a response, his exhaustion finally taking a complete toll on him. Gillion finally got into bed properly, getting as comfortable as he could with his aching muscles.
He was able to get some sleep, a few hours at most. His dreams consisted of the potential scenarios he was able to imagine with his extremely limited experience with the oversea. The types of humans he'd see, how they'd act...maybe even befriending one or two! Perhaps even being reunited with Finn, having him tell him of his adventures and his experiences of the oversea.
Never once, in Gillion's dreams, was he called by his title given to him by the elders. Just his name. Just Gillion. Nothing else was ever expected of him. No training, no fighting. He was just Gillion Tidestrider. And so he introduced himself whenever he was able to as such.