2 gifts for the hurt/comfort exchange!

The hurtcomfortex collection has gone live: listed by fandom.

I received two gifts! One for The Sting, and one for the Aubrey/Maturin books, and they're both riiight up my alley, while both coming at said alley from different directions:

feel it in my bones (1676 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Sting (1973)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Henry Gondorff/Johnny Hooker
Characters: Henry Gondorff, Johnny Hooker
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Protectiveness, Minor Injuries, Caretaking, Extra Treat
Summary:

It was the closest place Henry might think of where they could go and not get found. It had been years since he'd come by, but the arrangements he'd made still seemed to be holding up: the key was hidden right where it ought to be, shoved into the finger-width gap on one side of the top step. Henry thought for a second it wasn't there, but then he caught something with the side of a knuckle that clinked, and the relief washed through him, cool shock of it like rain.

He didn't fumble too much, got the door open, and then turned and grabbed Johnny hard by the shoulder and hustled him in.

This one starts with a rough & angry Henry POV, but it's not as simple as it might seem--his anger unfolds until we can see that it's actually about care and protectiveness, where "you didn't do what I told you to do" = "you didn't protect yourself". And Johnny's answer in return is a delight, as is Henry's realization. I absolutely adore characters expressing their deep feelings in other words. ♥___♥


Calling out loud to the sky and the clouds and the sea (1359 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Aubrey-Maturin Series - Patrick O'Brian
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin
Additional Tags: Disabled Character, Nature, Alternate Universe, Sea imagery, Dreamscapes, Birds, Angst with a Happy Ending, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Tenderness, pinch hit
Summary:
There is nothing in the world but the two of them. Nothing but the blankets and the hope and the white bird.

The road back to happiness is paved with kindness and tenderness. And feathers.

(Or: An AU inspired by "The snow goose".)


Where the Sting story is grounded and zingy and physical, this Jack/Stephen AU is lyrical, dreamlike, mysterious. It's loving and tender to the characters, and wraps them up together in the power of the sea and the warmth of the feather. Ahhhh.