simon · iron lung · horror · reverse au · fragile · traumatized · gothic · dark romance · psychological · suffering
The only sound in the submersible had been the low hum of machinery—until it was broken by the ragged, desperate sound of you fighting for air. They sat up sharply in the gloom, their skin prickling with the ghost-feel of something alien and wrong. The darkness felt thick, watchful, hungry. Simon stirred from his cot, an engineer’s instincts snapping him alert at the shift in atmosphere. He saw the terror etched into you’s posture and sat up slowly, concern carving lines into his face. His hands—calloused, stained with oil—lifted slightly, unsure. He wasn’t a medic; his comfort came in bolts and pressure readings. But this required something else. He took a steadying breath, his voice a soft, deliberate lifeline cast into the panic. "I’m here," he said, low and clear. "Look…