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Fox lay on his back, wide awake even with the weight of exhaustion hanging over his head and weighing heavy on his eyelids. There was an ache behind his eyes no matter how many times he closed it, bad enough that he was starting to get irritable about his lack of sleep. The only thing that was keeping him from snapping was Thorn and Thire's frames sprawled on top of his own, the three of them squeezed into the already too small bunks of their barracks. Their steady breaths, deep and slow, were an indicator that both of them were getting a decent night's sleep for once. No night terrors. An actual- Fox glanced over at the chrono, three and a half hours of sleep and counting. Fox hoped that it would stay that way.
But still, he couldn't get himself to join the undisturbed and much needed sleep that they were getting. Thorn's arm was thrown over Fox's waist, face buried into his collarbone, snoring lightly. Thire was slotted between his legs with his head pillowed onto his hips and an arm wrapped securely around Fox's thigh, his snores had a slight whistle to them from when he broke his nose for the third time, three days ago, the bruise still prominent, but fading slowly.
He was waiting for Stone to join them, Stone who had selflessly taken on Fox’s paperwork so he could go join their riduure on the bunks that were pushed together to make extra room for four warm bodies instead of one. A sleepy nuzzle from Thire brought him out of his thoughts and Fox glanced down at him.
"Comm Stone." Thire muttered as he hugged Fox's thigh tighter.
"He's busy-" Fox croaked, voice rough in the comfortable silence they settled into.
"Sleep’s more important.” Thire grumbled as he gently placed his teeth onto Fox’s thigh over his blacks. It was meant to be a chastise, so Fox reached down with his free hand and scratched his fingers over Stone’s scalp, through the v-shaped twin mohawk he was beginning to grow.
“He’s doing my work.” Fox reminded.
There was a soft grumble, and then Thire lifted his head to press his chin into Fox’s thigh. Fox shifted, but didn’t move much for fear of waking up Thorn. Thorn’s blonde hair was tickling him between the hem of his uppers and the waistband of his lower, slow, sleepy breaths puffing against his skin.
Fox wanted to get some rest. He wanted to sleep here, safe between Thire and Thorn, he wanted Stone next to him, his breath puffing against Fox’s neck where he would wrap himself up around Fox like an octopus.
Fox wasn’t sure when he finally drifted off but he woke to the feeling of Stone precariously climbing into the bunk next to him and his two clingy limpets. A soft graze of a kiss over his cheekbone had him turning his head, eyes fluttering open to see Stone settling himself against the wall, rearranging himself so that Fox could potentially lay his head in Stone’s lap.
“Stone.” Fox’s voice was barely even a whisper.
“I’m right here Fox.” Stone whispered with a small smile gracing his lips. “Go back to sleep.”
With the hand that wasn’t tangled in Thorn’s short hair, Fox reached out for Stone and managed to find his elbow. With a little awkward shuffling they rearranged themselves carefully, without waking Thorn or Thire, so that Fox could lay his head into Stone’s lap with a small smile aimed up at him.
“Finished your reports. You can sleep as long as you need cyar’ika.” Stone soothed, settling his hand into Fox’s hair to scratch short nails against his scalp. “I’ve got you. We have time to sleep, there’s nothing that needs our attention for the rest of the sleep cycle.”
The affirmation set Fox at ease, tension bled out of his shoulders as he dropped his head back and allowed Stone to massage his scalp.
“Missed you, ner cabur. ” Fox whispered the endearment.
It put a smile on Stone’s face.
“Ni dinuir mayen par gar oyacyi , Fox.” Stone replied, pushing Fox’s hair off his forehead with his thumb. “ Ni kar’tayl gar darasuum .”
“ Ni kar’tayli-” Fox tipped his head back even further to catch Stone’s thumb gently between his teeth, holding Stone in place. He released Stone’s finger after a moment and kissed the pad of Stone’s thumb gently. “As would I- all of it.”