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“You sure you’re okay?”
Dick stood awkwardly in the doorway of Kory’s room. It had been a rough night, monsters and visions and things that most would rather not see. Kory was strong, stronger than most, but still. It was not a pleasant thing to endure. Dick felt somewhat fragile himself, and reluctant to leave.
Kory was staring into her vanity mirror, brushing her fiery hair. The knots were long removed, but the action was a comfort.
“Yes,” she said simply, only half lying. Catching Dick’s eye in the mirror, a tenseness in her shoulder’s dissipated. Her green ice, sharp and flint like, melted in a warm fire. “And you?”
His lingering in doorways was noted, and she craned her neck, inviting him inside. “Come in. Let me see you.”
Dick remained, reluctant to intrude. Kory caught this, as she always did, and set her brush down, standing up. Entreatingly, she moved close, taking Dick’s hand. He looked tired, as he always did, worn and sad but still smiling. Her warm hands held his cheeks, and he closed his eyes. In that moment he reminded her of an old dog, tired after the day’s events.
“Do you have time for a nap?”
He wouldn’t sleep for eight hours. Trying to convince him of this fact was futile. An exercise in stubbornness. What Kory could do, however, was insist on a power nap. And well, if that nap turned into an hour, or two, or four, then who was she to complain?
Besides, she slept better with him next to her.
Pulling gently, she got him into her room before wrapping her arms around his neck.The pair stood for a while, arms holding tight, swaying from side to side.
“You’re safe,” she murmured.
“As are you.”
“All the same, stay?” She felt his arms twinge around her waist. “Just for a bit.”
Feeling him sag against her, Kory moved back slowly until her calves touched her mattress. She sat down, pulling away from Dick, who searched for her hands, reluctant to let her go entirely. He stared at the bed and it’s pink covers for some time, seemingly in an argument with himself. Then out of the corner of his tired eyes, something caught his attention. The dull blues lit up, a spark of joy.
“You still have that?”
“Hm?” she turned, seeing what he had noticed. A large toy cat, more cartoon than realistic, with pink fur and plastic whiskers. “Oh! You remember her?”
“Her?”
Kory scooted back on her bed, settling up by the pillows. She picked up the toy, settling it in her lap. She rocked it back and forth as she spoke, almost beckoning Dick to come join her.
“Indeed. You won me her at a… what was it called? The ball throwing game at the carnival in New York?”
“Skeeball,” he answered, clambering on to the sheets. He crawled towards her, and she spread her legs, allowing him to slot between her and drag her down until she was lying flat. She pressed the creature’s face to Dick’s cheek; a mock kiss. Setting it aside, she made do with kissing his kiss herself.
“Skeeball. I kept her because you wanted to impress me, and it was a present. We were so young.”
The wistfulness in her voice made Dick pause. “Well, we’re not decrepit either. I can always win you more.”
A gentle snort escaped her, and her fingers tangled into his dark hair. “We’re not the same as we were.”
“But… not necessarily for the worst? Right?”
She shook her head, calming his nerves. “No. Change is good.”
His mouth twitched, as if to give a qualifying statement, but he thought better of it. “I suppose so,” he murmured, looking down.”
“Rest. Please. I need you here with me or I won't be able to sleep tonight.”
It was that request - the way that Dick was seemingly only able to take care of himself if it came with the excuse of caring for another at the same time - that made him sigh, and settle down on Kory’s chest, closing his eyes and listening to her heartbeat. She continued to stroke his hair.
“It was a hard day,” he repeated, sinking further and further into rest.
“It was.”
“But there’s always tomorrow.”
“There is.”
Gentle wheezing was her reply, and with that, Kory knew Dick was lost to the world, finally drawn into the sleep his body so desperately craved. She continued to brush his hair until sleep too took her, ready to escape the horrors of the day for a kinder tomorrow.