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There are some nights when Lilia falls into a restless sleep.On those nights, he wakes and sleeps in short bursts, struggling to remember time and memories and places. It was hard enough as it was for him to fall into a deep sleep. Not being able to close his eyes for a few hours made it more difficult to manage.
Back in Valley of Thorns, Lilia would wander around until his restlessness subsided. The familiarity of home was usually enough to put him at ease.
He enjoyed it when he discovered gaming on his travels. Though it wasn’t until he arrived at NRC that he really had a chance to explore it more. It was fun, usually mindless fun. It even became something he could do with Silver once he joined them at the school. It became something they could do together, but also kept Lilia’s thoughts from getting away from him. After he’d stay up for a few days playing, Lilia could fall into a dreamless sleep and would stay that way from a full day to maybe two. He might get in trouble for missing classes, but that never really concerned him much.
Sleeping at NRC was different from back home. Not better, not worse, just different. He was never one to let his guard down no matter his surroundings, and here was no different. Unfortunately, he dreams were one of the few consistent things that followed him to the school.
Lilia doesn’t dream often. It’s hard to really do so when you don’t allow yourself those deep sleeps that provide them. But once in awhile, they will sneak up on him. Good dreams, the nightmares. Either way, they always leave him more than a little disoriented.
When Lilia jolts awake, he was instantly aware of the presence next to him.
He was also aware of his wrist held tightly in their grasp, preventing him from any movement. That wasn’t enough to make Lilia panic, but when he realizes there’s the scent of blood in the air, he tenses. Not just because of smell, but because of whose blood it is.
“M-Malleus...?” He voice comes out hoarse, a rare stammer falling from his lips.
“I heard you talking in your sleep.” Malleus says. His voice is so loud in the still air, but just hearing it eases Lilia’s heart rate. “So I came.”
It’s almost a struggle for Lilia to take in a deep breath. Trying to gain some kind of composure. He’s too aware he can’t make his claws disappear as easily as he should. His teeth feel too sharp, making his jaw ache, and his mind is racing to focus on several things at once. He’s too alert, too aware yet not aware enough. Waiting for a danger that isn’t here. Not anymore.
Once he becomes more awake, Lilia focus on Malleus a little easier. His eyes zero in on the cuts across his cheek. When he starts to sit up, Malleus releases his grip on him and Lilia brushes his hand over the marks; they line up perfectly with his fingers.
A silent spell is cast to heal it over like they were never there. To take away the blood staining that pale skin.
Barley above a whisper, Lilia says, “I’m sorry.”
It hardly counts as something serious. He doubts Malleus would have felt any kind of pain from such a small scratch. But Lilia remembers telling Malleus of how he’d never bring him harm, and feels something inside him break.
Lilia falls back against the bed and covers his eyes with his arm. He takes several deep breaths, attempting to calm himself. But with the lingering scent of blood in the air, Malleus’ blood, Lilia can’t even begin to grasp the control he usually takes pride in. He can’t focus and can’t find the ground he needs to land on to feel steady once more.
And then Malleus is on top of him. Not in a way that makes Lilia’s reflexes react, but similar to when they were outside not too long ago. When Lilia had allowed himself to be pinned down after his mind strayed too far in the past.
An arm goes under and around his back, pulling him up. Malleus holds him close, in a way Lilia’s not sure he ever has before. His scent is so close, and his warmth pressed against him.
“You don’t have to apologize to me.” Malleus’ breath hits his neck and his chest vibrates when he speaks. Lilia knows the hand at the back of his neck is comforting and not threatening. The size of it Lilia knows what time he’s in, that he knows he’s no longer dreaming.
But he did dream and Malleus heard him. Swallowing thickly, Lilia asks, “What did I say?”
“....nothing good.” When Lilia stiffens, Malleus adds, “then you said my name. You called my name. So I came here.”
His name. Lilia had called to Malleus in his sleep. And as promised, Malleus was here to bring Lilia back to the present.
Lilia tightens his hold around Malleus, trying to remember to be careful of the claws he still can’t make return to normal.
“Stay.” Is all he says. All he allows himself. He feels a light touch on the side of his neck and closes his eyes.
“Where else would I be?”