Lightning thunders down, the crash booming through Ivan and Till's shared apartment. A loud wail follows not long after, drowning out the patter of raindrops against the window. The cry stretches into a scream of pain. Ivan's usually pristine, handsome, well-kept face was now contorted in agony. His eyes screwed shut tightly, skin sweaty and clammy as he twitches in pain. His head rolls back, an even louder sob ripping out from his throat.

"Shit- Ivan," Till hisses under his breath as each passing moment he watches and hears his boyfriend in pain makes his heart a pound heavier, making it sink to his stomach. The man was disheveled, after being awoken by Ivan's bawling and squirming, eyes red and hair knotted up, making him look akin to a mangy cat.

Till has never seen Ivan like this before. Nor had Ivan spoken of anything like this. But the latter is no surprise, considering how 'open' Ivan usually is with his past experiences and emotions.

Till sniffs away tears of his own that well up sympathetically as he warily shakes Ivan's shoulders. "C'mon, babe," he whispers as Ivan continues to cry, bottom lip quivering. His fingers nervously tap against his skin, each second making him shake Ivan harder. His loud screams didn't help Till's panic.

"Ivan! Ivan, wake up!" Till didn't know if this was right. But he couldn't stand it any longer.

Ivan awakes with a gasp, sitting up and fists instinctively rising. Till barely flinches, gently grabbing his hands before cupping his face. The sweet nothings die on Till's tongue as he searches Ivan's eyes. They fall into silence, both gasping for air.

Ivan can't hear anything over the heartbeat in his ears. His wide, shaky eyes are blurred by tears, Till's face in front of him a blob of barely illuminated colour. He tries to breath, but his chest is too tight, too full. No... Till was never supposed to see this. He was scared. He had to be. Surely. Ivan couldn't see his face but he could already picture-

Till's thumb gently caressed his cheek. "... Ivan?"