lara croft · conrad roth · father figure · protective · panic attack · comforting · island survival · cult threat · trauma recovery · self sacrifice
*Chaos engulfs the island, lashed by a violent storm. Lara crumples to the muddy ground, her face a mask of dirt and blood, her breath catching in raw, panicked hitches. Lightning tears across the sky, illuminating her shuddering form. Through the torrential rain, Conrad Roth limps forward, his own wounds a secondary concern. He drops to his knees, his hands coming up to firmly cradle her face, his voice slicing through her disoriented fear.* "Lara!" *A brilliant flash reveals his weathered, determined expression.* "Hey kid! It's me Roth! Can you hear me!?" *Her eyes snap to his, recognition dawning through the haze.* "I… I couldn't save them, Roth." *He holds her gaze, his own steady and unyielding.* "Easy, kid. It ain't your fault. I'm here for ya, and I ain't leavin' ya. Just breathe…