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Screams echoed. The ground was covered in glass, concrete and all other materials. People seemed to rain from the sky. There was no saving all the ones who fell, the ones trapped. It horrified him. He did his best to help, moving between teams. At one point he was covered in soot and concrete dust and exhausted, but people still needed him. He remembers the burning pain he felt the entire way through, how terrible it all was. The nightmare continued, the events replaying easily in his mind. A record that looped and looped with no ends in sight. Something ingrained into him until time stopped.
The state shot up, eyes wide. The nightmare is still working adrenaline through his mind. He looked over at a clock on his nightstand. It was late into the night, the house was quiet mostly. All that really made noise were the various animals some states owned, televisions some had on as well. And now footsteps. They were light and quick. A practiced way of walking for the state they came from. His breaths were quick, almost shallow as he made his way to the kitchen. His mind raced, the only thing that was going through fully was the nightmare that had come back. The horrors of those days still haunt him. That’s if these dreams were anything to go by.
It was too late for a drink.. He had work to do tomorrow. Meetings and papers. That’s all things seemed to be right now. He hates the sameness of it all. The world barely changed to him. The easy flow was nice at first but after so long it became stagnant. It all stuck with him, making him uncomfortable in these late hours. It all melded together, his mind racing around still. He leaned on the counter, head in his hands. The tears that seemed to bubble up, threatening to fall from his eyes. He was getting overwhelmed by nothing. Everything piling up, senses screaming at him. It all was terrible.
“New York?” A voice broke the quiet. The empire state looked over, he took in the figure in the doorway. It was Florida, he looked concerned. New York shifted around. He didn’t expect to see one of his partners up this late. He leaned on the counter, staring back.
“What?” New York growls at the sunshine state. Florida takes a step forward.
“What are you doing up.. Well.. what are you doing out here?” Florida clarified. New York raised an eyebrow at the other, a scoff coming from him. Like Florida was one to talk. The sunshine state had a worse sleep schedule than he did. Miami and The Keys were easily to blame for that. While New York City was his reason for having trouble sleeping.
“It’s none of your business, citrus boy,” The empire state grumbled. Florida moved to get into the fridge beside the empire state. He was looking through it before pulling out two smaller bottles of orange juice stored in the fridge. He looked over at New York, holding one out. New York looked at it then at him.
“Look, something is bothering you, clearly,” Florida says, he continues, “It’s just juice, man.”
The empire state takes the bottle and opens it. He looks at it, inspecting it as best he can. Once he deems it safe enough looks wise he takes a sip. The state is pleasantly surprised that it was in fact just juice. New York sighed. As that happened Florida hopped up onto a nearby counter. He also cracked open his bottle, easily taking a swig. New York looked up at the other, a bit of confusion was now on his face. Florida looked at him, expectantly.
“Stop lookin’ at me like that,” New York mutters.
“Nope, not going to,” Florida says, a small smile on his face.
“You will when I knock your teeth in,” New York threatens.
“Look.. I want to know what’s wrong,” Florida says easily, he puts the bottle off to the side. His eyes were softer than normal. They didn’t hold that chaotic edge New York always worried about. “I care about you, I just want to help.”
“What’s your game?” New york growls, putting down the bottle.
“There’s no game here, promise,” Florida holds his hands up, a mock surrender.
An interruption came just moments later, a shuffling of feet and a soft groan. And from around the corner came California, seeming to be just barely awake. The empire and sunshine states look at the golden state as they walk in. California looked towards the two, a soft hum of confusion. New York looked down and away. Florida offered a small smile.
“What are you two doing up?” The state murmurs, rubbing away some of the sleep still in his eyes.
“Nothing much, just talking,” Florida offered, he was being surprisingly tame. Maybe it was how late it was.
“It's more like you were talking,” New York corrected. Florida rolls his eyes at the other. California looked at New York, worry on his face. New York hated when he got that look from California, because usually he was right to be worried.
“Something seems wrong,” California observes.
“There is nothing wrong!” New York exclaims, trying to be quiet so as to not wake other states. That was the last thing the Empire state would have needed at this time. He was already so stressed with these two asking him what was going on.
Florida sighed. California looked at New York, suspicion in his gaze. The two looked at one another then back at the empire state. The empire state had just wanted a bit of time to take a breath, get out of his head. And having Florida and California there made him feel worse at the moment, he loved them for sure but there were times he wished that they didn’t, he knew that wouldn’t happen anytime soon. But going back to the real topic.. they did have a point. If it was noticeable that something was wrong.. then he couldn’t hide it. Not anymore at the very least.
“Look, New York, you really don’t need to say anything, but we just want to know what happened,” California piped up. “Whether or not we should be severely worried or just normal worried.”
“I don’t know, how do I even say it,” New York grumbled.
“Was it a bad dream or something?” Florida questions. New York gave him a nod. Florida moved from his spot on the counter to stand in front of the other state. “This may be a strange request from me of all people.. but do you want a hug?”
The empire state glanced over at the Sunshine state, a feeling of shock washed over him. Florida was never like this. He stared at the everglades state now, observing him. He didn’t seem like he was just doing it to do it. A hesitant look came from the empire state. California looked between the two, hoping something wouldn’t go wrong. The empire state opened his arms, the orange state rushed forward. He took the state into his arms easily. He hadn’t felt much intimacy as of late. The empire state practically melted into the sunshine state.
California made his way over as well, standing beside the two. An idea had come to him in those short moments. A soft smile spread across his face. The golden state tapped the sunshine state’s shoulder, grabbing his attention. The everglades state looked at the el dorado state, eyes inspecting the state’s face. New York didn’t budge (luckily enough for Florida).
“Why don’t we go lay down, my room is closest,” California offers. Florida looked down at New York then at California.
“Can I even move with him?” Florida asked.
“I’m sure you can, come on,” California answers. The three slowly, but surely, make it to the western state’s room. California opened the door. Florida, with some struggle, got New York into the room and into the bed. The two seemed to easily curl together. California would make his way over as well, slipping into bed as well. The three wrapped together with ease. Sleep wrapping its warm arms around them.
The morning would come quickly, greeting the three with practiced ease. California was the first one up. He slowly sat up, looking over the two. He smiled seeing the sunshine state being now enveloped by the empire state, it was funny to him. Soon the empire state stirred, eyes opening slowly. New York looked up at California.
“Morning, bluebird,” California easily says. New York grumbles and shifts a bit. California leans down, planting a kiss on the male’s forehead. The two would sit and enjoy the quiet of the morning as their third kept sleeping. New York figured one of their other partners would come barging in soon enough, but he wanted to enjoy his short time. California interrupted the silence.
“Do you want to talk about last night at all?” They question.
“It was just a bad dream, California,” New York answers.
“If it was just a bad dream.. Why did you look so.. worked up?”
“What?” New York shifted, sitting up.
“You were shaking.. the entire time. You looked paler,” California easily explained.
“I was?” New York’s eyes widened. California nodded. A sigh came from the other.
“It was a flashback,” New York reasoned, “That must be why.”
“A flashback.. was it back to.. You know?” California gestured a ‘flying’ motion with his hand. New York gave a nod. The golden state wrapped around the empire state instantly, not another word needing to be said in that moment. New York returned the hug he was now wrapped in. The two stayed like that until they heard a soft sound from the other.
Florida sat up, looking at the two. He just silently joined in the huddle. They enjoyed this warm moment longer. Being surrounded by two of the people he loved helped drive away any bad feelings from before. It was quiet, for once. Though, it was interrupted by a soft knock and the door creaking open, Texas and Louisiana in the doorway. The three looked over.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Texas begins, “but Gov needs us for a meetin’. Somethin’ about news in Florida and in South Carolina.”
A few soft groans came from them as their day was forced to begin. The group stayed there a moment longer, before they all got up. Making their way as a group to the meeting room. The sunshine state’s hand had wrapped around the empire states. They all chuckled and joked, lightening things up before they had to be.. somewhat serious. And the day started.
It always seemed like despite the years that passed they would always have each other's backs. Despite the terrors, the tragedy, despite it all, they would all be there. For better or worse honestly. Things may change, views and ideals, but that didn’t mean that they were not going to be there. And New York decided that despite his usually ill temper, he could enjoy that. That small detail of their lives was something he (and all the other honestly) could fully appreciate. So there he sat, at the table, with people who were there with him for their immortal lives.