Chapter Text
"Incoming!!"
Tsukasa's head shot up from looking at his phone to see Emu sprinting right towards him. He dropped his phone onto the bed, holding his arms out for Emu.
Emu slid into the side of the bed, standing while she tightly hugged Tsukasa. She giggled uncontrollably while Tsukasa returned the hug.
Tsukasa couldn't help but smile as well. "Emu-!"
"It's sleepover day!!"
Ah of course.. He's been home for almost a week, and the rest of WxS had spent quite a lot of time with him seeing as they've still got school. Since it's the weekend now however, they all insisted on a sleepover. And.. how could he decline?
Rui and Nene followed shortly behind Emu, Nene grumbling about how she was stuck carrying Emu's stuff. Tsukasa moved one of his arms out of the hug to wave at the other two. "Rui!! Nene!! Join the hug!" Emu waved at them as well while watching them expectantly.
Rui smiled, making his way over and wrapping his arms around Emu and Tsukasa. Nene grumbled, yet set the stuff down and wormed her way into the hug.
Tsukasa couldn't stop the silly grin on his face. They've been so great to him..
"So anyway, Rui wasn't meant to be in that building," Nene retold the events of looking for Tsukasa.
"Ahh- Nene you can't just expose me like this-!" Rui dramatically put a hand against his chest.
"The police had to explicitly tell you not to go in!"
"And they didn't try any other methods of keeping me out. Honestly Nene, why am I the bad guy here?" Rui pouted.
Tsukasa giggled to himself. He's missed seeing Rui and Nene lightly argue about things.
"You broke in."
"Who hasn't done that at least once.."
"Rui you can't just say these things!" Tsukasa said between giggles. "They'll think wrong of you."
☆
Tsukasa stared up at the ceiling, holding the pegasus plushie close to his chest. It's been 20 minutes. Everyone else fell asleep. Why hasn't he? They've been having fun all night, and he's exhausted. And yet neither of those things stop the nightmares. He should've considered this before agreeing to a sleepover. However, the fun was worth it.
Whether he liked it or not, Tsukasa closed his eyes, slowly drifting to sleep.
Tsukasa pulled against his restraints. It's been 3 days. Every day felt worse. This was his least favorite. Tsukasa coughed, trying to get all the water out of his lungs.
His head was shoved underwater until he almost passed out before being pulled back out. Then the process repeats. Tsukasa dug his nails into his hands while his head was shoved back under the water.
Drowning was always one of his biggest fears. As was the entire ocean. It was suffocating. His head hurt. Everything was spinning.
Tsukasa gasped for air, coughing while trying to breathe. It's been 4 or 5 times now? He couldn't keep count. He never had long enough to breathe before being shoved back under.
Tsukasa quickly sat up, arms wrapping around himself. He struggled to breathe, coughing as if the water was still in his lungs. It was dark. He knew he was in his room. His mind said otherwise. The lamp on his bedside table turning on caused him to flinch.
"Tsukasa-kun?" It was Emu.
He forgot they were there. He should've considered the fact he was still getting nightmares before saying yes to a sleelover. Tsukasa dug his hands into his sides, ignoring the pain. He couldn't breathe.
Tsukasa looked over to Emu when he felt something soft pressed against his cheek. Emu held the pegasus plushie up to his cheek. She frowned, looking ready to cry.
Tsukasa slowly reached up, taking the pegasus in his arms, holding it close to his chest.
Emu sat on the bed beside him, holding an arm out for him. Tsukasa hesitantly leaned into Emu and cuddled into the gentle embrace. Emu rested her head on his shoulder.
"Do you feel better?"
Tsukasa hummed, running his hands across the soft fabric of the pegasus. "Yeah." It no longer felt like he was drowning.
"That's good!" Emu smiled, but it seemed sad. "It's late.. We should get back to sleep.."
Tsukasa shook his head. "I don't want to have another nightmare."
"Me and Mr. Pegasus will protect you!!"
Tsukasa smiled gently, leaning his head against Emu's. "Thanks Emu." Putting his trust in Emu, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to drift off to sleep again.
It was quiet. It was peaceful. It was safe.