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Screams ripped through the cold air as shades ravaged the stadium. The adrenaline pumping through Asher’s veins was enough to give him the strength to race across the open field toward his goal. He had to find David. Where was David? His heart pounded like a million drums in his ears as he desperately searched the sea of frantic and terrified people for his mate. Just then, he finally singled out his aura amongst all of the chaos and began sprinting toward it. He’d never run that fast in his entire life. It felt as if his legs were going to break off at any second, unable to keep up with the rest of his body. Then, in a flash, a searing, white-hot pain ripped its way through Asher’s entire body. Within seconds he fell to the ground, gasping for the air that had been knocked clean from his lungs. His hands flew to his chest, feeling blood cover his palms as he tried desperately to stand.
His name. Someone was screaming his name. Through blurry vision, Asher could see David racing towards him. He was saved, he was going to be okay. However, his internal celebration had been premature. The shade that had cut him down sprung on David, causing the once great pillar of a man to fall to his knees, a deep gash running across his lower abdomen. Asher could do nothing but hoarsely cry out for David, his strength fading quicker by the second. The shade hovered over David’s lifeless body, sucking out his life force until there was nothing left but an empty body. The creature turned its attention towards Asher, a wide and crooked smile plastered on its features as it drew closer to him. Fear paralyzed Asher to the point where he couldn’t even breathe, he simply lay there staring his demise in its face. And then, his world snapped to black.
Asher’s eyes shot open. His entire body shook as his chest heaved up and down. Sweat covered his skin as he grappled with the scenes he’d just witnessed. The images of David flashing through his mind caused Asher’s throat to tighten. After a few moments of trying to regulate his breathing, he willed himself to sit upright. Pulling his knees close to his chest, he turned to make sure David was still sleeping soundly beside him. The alpha was on his stomach, his pillow being held in a death grip beneath his head. Had it not just been for the horrible nightmare he’d just had, Asher would’ve probably laughed at his mate. The man released the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding as soon as he saw David sleeping safely beside him. Tears welled up in his eyes the longer he stared at his mate’s form, the terrors of his nightmare coming back to plague him. Asher wiped his eyes as he choked down a few whimpers, trying his best not to wake David. His hands gripped the roots of his hair in an attempt to get the images to stop, thinking that perhaps the pain would distract him. While Asher was preoccupied with trying to calm himself down, David shifted beside him, opening his eyes and seeing his mate sitting up. The distraught sounds of quiet sobbing caused David to spring into action, outstretching his hand and gripping Asher’s arm.
“Ash, baby, are you okay?” The gruff tiredness of his voice sent chills down Asher’s spine. He jumped slightly, not expecting to hear his mate’s voice then. Slightly embarrassed, he furiously wiped away his tears and nodded.
“Yeah. I’m fine babe, go back to sleep”. This of course was a bold-faced lie. Absolutely anyone could see just how not true it was. Ash was a wreck, shaking and sniffling while David gently rubbed his arm. The man in question sat up slowly, moving closer to his mate.
“Don’t pull that bullshit with me. Asher… what’s wrong?” David’s voice was firm yet not angry. He wasn’t upset with Asher for waking him, but rather extremely concerned. The two of them were far from okay ever since the inversion, but Asher had been reeling with the effects the most. Nearly every night the first week after the games, he’d wake up sobbing or screaming. David was no better, but in the way that he rarely went to sleep at a reasonable hour. It was a rarity that he actually dreamt, so in that sense, he’d lucked out. As of late, it had seemed that Ash was getting his nightmares under control, but there was still a long road ahead. “Ash, please. Talk to me, tell me what happened”.
“I can’t,” his voice wavered, tears building in his eyes once again as he stared at his legs. “It was so… you were. Fuck, I’m so sick of this. I’m so sick of waking up in the middle of the damn night. I’m sick of these nightmares”. Asher’s frustration was apparent as hot tears fell down his face. He grimaced at the idea of having to repeat this cycle again the next night and the night after that. David sighed and gently pulled Asher into his arms and pressed a gentle kiss to his mate’s face. Asher was exhausted, and he could see that. But not just because he was waking up every night, but also due to the emotional toll the dreams took on him.
“I know it’s not what you want to hear right now, but you just need to be patient-“
“I don’t want to be patient! I’m tired of this, David!” Asher cried, breaking away from his mate's grasp to look him in the eyes. The tears flowed more freely now as his built-up frustration finally broke free. “I’m tired of waiting for the day that this is going to all feel okay. I’m tired of waiting and being patient. I just want one night t-to go well! I just want one night where I sleep, and that’s it”. David grabbed his mate's face, wiping his tears away as Asher struggled to breathe. He hiccupped a few times before finally calming down, the feeling of David’s warm hands soothing his nerves.
“I know you are, Ash. I wish there was more that I could do for you. If I could take this away from you I would. But all I can do is try and help after the fact. So will you let me do that? Let me help you back to sleep, baby,” David whispered, pressing soft kisses to Ash’s tear-stained face. His mate nodded and David gathered him back up into his arms, positioning them so he was practically cradling Asher in a way. Asher rested his head on David’s chest as he felt the man’s strong arms wrap around him. There was little in this world that could bring him instant peace quite like being in David’s arms. “How can I help, baby?”
“I don’t know. Can you j-just hold me for now?” Asher mumbled against his mate’s chest. He hummed a response that rumbled beneath Asher’s head, causing the man to smile. David gently ran his hands up and down his mate’s back, trying to soothe the man back to sleep. His heart thumped in Asher’s ear, creating a rhythmic lullaby slowly easing him into sleep. “I’m sorry I do this,” Asher muttered quietly.
“Don’t apologize, you brat. This isn’t your fault. It’s okay, I’ve got you now. You’re safe here with me. I’m never going to let anything like that happen to you again,” David grumbled, his hold tightening ever so slightly. Asher nodded and pressed a kiss to his mate’s chest as he balled his fists up tighter into David’s shirt. “I love you, Ash. So much”.
“I love you too, David. Thank you… for sticking with me. And… well, for everything”. David let out a huff, clearly embarrassed, which caused Asher to laugh.
“Alright enough mushy shit. Let’s try to get you back to sleep”. David guided the two back, laying down carefully so as to not let go of Asher at any point. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you,” he whispered against his skin, pressing kisses all the while.
“I love you,” Asher mumbled, his tired voice giving away just how close sleep was. David’s heartbeat drummed in his ears, eventually lulling him off to sleep.
“I love you too,” David spoke. He knew that in the end, this wouldn’t fix Asher’s problems. That a simple cuddle session wouldn’t undo all of the trauma the two underwent. But for now, it was enough. It was enough to simply hold his mate and tell him it would be alright, and that he was safe. It was enough to repeat the same routine every night. Because to David, while he may not be able to undo the past, he was given the chance to be around for the future. And he would take every second he could to try and give him and Asher a life worth living. A life that was full of love and hope.