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“...please... win the universe…”
“Yes, of course. With you.”
he smiled his gentle smile.. one last time.. just for him.
“Open your eyes, Kircheis. Kircheis… Kircheis!.. KIRCHEIS!”
-
Reinhard jolted awake in a cold sweat. He looked around in terror and then met eyes with.. Kircheis.
“Kircheis! you- I-,” he stumbled over his words somewhat short of breath,”you’re still here..”
The blonde looked at him teary eyed. He was alive and breathing still. No blood, just a relieved yet concerned look on his face that was a familiar one to Reinhard.
“You were yelling my name so I’ve been trying to wake you up for a little while now. I was worried,” Kircheis put a supportive hand on his friend's shoulder giving a small smile.
He was crouched next to Reinhard’s bed.
“But you..,”his eyes were quivering now; he was trying so hard to not let the tears welting in his eyes spill.
“Reinhard-sama, it’s alright. I’m here now. Do you want to talk about it?” He slowly pulled his friend into a hug.
Reinhard gripped the back of the redheads night shirt burying his face in the crook of his neck.
“..you.. died. You left me.. Kircheis.. you left me and I was all alone..” his voice was barely even a whisper at this point.
He couldn’t help silently letting tears fall now.
Kircheis felt his unsteady breathing and heard small sniffles. He supportively rubbed his back.
“That must have been difficult.. I’m sorry you went through that.. I am here now though and I am not going anywhere,” The taller man had never seen him so distressed and scared.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen Reinhard afraid of anything before. After a little while the blonde started to calm down.
“..do you promise you won’t leave me?” he whispered with his face pressed against his neck.
Kircheis didn’t know what the future held but he felt that going into that would make his friend more upset right now. He would of course try his best to protect him but also be safe enough to stay with him. He hoped he would be able to do so.
“Of course.. I promise.. I will try my hardest, Reinhard-sama.”
Kircheis definitely wasn’t planning on leaving him alone like this tonight of course.
“I trust in you,” he absently played with the red curls on the back of Kircheis’s neck.
He seemed to become less tense now but his breath against the redhead was still unsteady. It broke his heart to see him so upset so he didn’t let him go quite yet. He slowly got up with Reinhard still clinging on to him as he sat on the bed.
“Do you wanna lay down? I can stay until you fall asleep..” he softly spoke, rubbing his back gently with his thumb.
Reinhard pulled out of the hug slowly.
“..okay..” he laid down slowly curling back into the comforter.
Kircheis stayed on the edge of the bed while Reinhard looked up at him. His face was puffy and red with tear stained cheeks. It was not a look that suited him. Kircheis had never seen him cry before and he hoped this was the last. Reinhard held onto his hand as the taller man stayed close to him using his other hand to stroke his bangs that were also tear stained.
“What can I do to help you sleep, Reinhard-sama?” He pulled his hand away and rested it on his lap.
Reinhard looked down for a moment.
“..can you..” he hesitated.
“I just want you to have a good night’s rest with no distress so whatever will help is okay with me,” he spoke so sincerely.
He cared so dearly for him. More than he would probably ever be able to express. His devotion never stopped at just military affairs.
“..can you.. lay with me? Just until I fall asleep at least.. I just.. am too.. afraid to fall asleep alone..” it was odd to hear these words come from Reinhard.
He was not one to admit to weakness but the taller man knew he was the exception in times like these. Even so he could see the embarrassment he was trying to hide on his face.
“If that’s what you want,” the blonde moved so there was enough room for them both.
Being that the beds provided in their apartment weren’t meant for two it was a tight fit. Kircheis laid on top of the covers facing Reinhard.
“Thank you, Kircheis..” he closed his eyes and scooted closer until he was comfortable below the taller man.
“No need to thank me. I know how you are without your rest,” Reinhard softly chuckled.
Kircheis was glad he was relaxed enough to be humored. The redhead stared down pleasantly at the man he vowed to protect. He had his eyes still closed but he wasn’t yet asleep. The taller man was curled into himself but he hesitantly reached out an arm to put around his friend. Reinhard nuzzled into the touch causing Kircheis to softly smile to himself. He reached his hand up to gently stroke his blonde locks. He lightly combed his fingers through his hair. It felt as though the blonde melted by each touch.
“Is this okay?” Reinhard slightly nodded.
He continued to do this until he realized his friend was no longer conscious. He fell asleep smiling slightly and close enough to Kircheis that it would be hard for him to move back to his own bed without disturbing him. He had decided after a moment that he’d stay there just for tonight. He didn’t want to risk his friend waking up again.
He kept his arm around Reinhard but he held him a little tighter as a reassurance for him even in his sleep. He moved slightly closer just to become more comfortable but he tried his hardest to move slowly and not too much. The taller man gazed at the blonde until he felt his eyelids grow heavy. It was nice to have his other self as the last thing he saw before slumber and the first thing he saw when he awoke.