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Lucy knew nightmare like an old friend. It was always there, dancing at the edge of her dream, a big dark cloud ready to engulf her in terror. Almost every night.
With the stuff she saw and hear, it didn’t take a genius to know she would get a recurring nightmare. Many of them.
But, the thing about Lucy’s nightmare is, it wasn’t just there when she is asleep, it didn’t stopped even after she is awake, it stay and cling to her, letting the cold seep through her skin and paralyzed her for a moment.
Today nightmare was about Norrie, again, she missed her so much it hurts.
The case last night brought forth so many memories of Norrie, the girl who died and became phantasm look so much like Norrie. The same hair and mouth, even the similar smile. It was torture. Like imagining how Norrie…
Lucy shook her head slightly, as she padded her feet slowly down the stairs on her way to the kitchen and avoiding that one part that creak, careful not to wake Lockwood and George. They all have been exhausted after the case, they deserve a good rest.
Gently, she opened the kitchen’s door, only to be stopped short by a boy standing there with his back toward her, as he pop the kettle on.
“Lockwood?”
“Hey Lucy,” Lockwood greet her as soon as he turned around and see her. “Tea?”
“Yes, please,” she murmured softly, before pulling a chair and sat down.
There were dark eye bags under Lockwood’s eyes, Lucy wonder if he even go to bed last night. She bit her cheeks to prevent herself from asking. They are not close enough to talk about things like that. She just hope he did her the same courtesy, she probably looked worse than him, with red rimmed eyes from crying.
“Earl grey good?" he asked without looking, his hands busy prepping the tea.
"Yes," she answered, any tea is good for her as long as it warm.
"Alright," he said as he pulled out two tea bags and putting them in the cups, before pouring hot water into it.
Her eyes following his movement, finding it somewhat soothing, calming her nerves slightly.
He turned around, with two cups of tea in his hands. He smiled and put one cup in front of her. "Here,"
"Thank you," she gave him a small smile and reaching for the cup, watching him took a seat across her.
They silently waiting for the tea to brew. No words exchanged between them. It was strangely comfortable.
The light filtering through the window, as sun began to rise on the horizon and with that the chill in her bones began to dissipate.
She sip her tea and felt the warm washed over her.
Maybe it was the tea, or the company, or the new day. But she did feel better.
What Lucy didn't know yet was, this is a start of a routine for them.
'No! No! Don't go! Please! Norrie!' Lucy screamed, her hands reached out to Norrie, but as soon as her hand made contact with her, Norrie disintegrate into a smoke.
'No!' she screamed herself hoarse. 'Norrie!'
"Lucy!" she heard someone calling her name, who? accompanied by a knock?
She abruptly opened her eyes, finding herself staring at the roof above her heads and feeling the soft bed beneath her. Her breath went out in puff, as her heart beating hard in her chest.
She was in her room at 35 Portland Row. It was all a nightmare.
"Lucy?" she heard Lockwood's voice behind the door.
She cleared her dry throat before answering. "Yeah?"
"Breakfast is ready," she maybe imagining it, but she could hear a relief on his voice.
"A moment,"
"Alright, don't take too long though. George hate tardiness when it come to breakfast," he told her, as she heard his footsteps faded away.
Catching her breath, she wonder, 'Did she scream? Will they ask?'
Later, as she walked into the kitchen, it wasn't to a bombard of questions she was afraid of, instead it was to a pile of Noon Khamei on her plate.
"What the occasion?" she asked, as she bit into the the pastry, feeling the heavenly taste on her tongue.
"No occasion," Lockwood smiled, as he also bit into his own Noon Khamei. "This is so good, George,"
"Of course it's good. This is my specialty," George said, smiling. "Don't ever doubt my Grandmum recipe,"
"Said that to your first attempt making it," Lockwood quipped, a tiny smirk on his face.
"Hey, that was slander, Lockwood!" George protested.
Lucy felt a smile tug at her lips seeing their banter, as the cold that always come with her nightmare dissipate, replaced by warm, as warm as the cup of tea in her hand.
There were hands holding Lucy down as she trashed.
No! Let her go!
She punched into something solid and heard a yelp.
"Lucy!" a familiar voice sounded in her ear. "It's me, Lockwood,"
The mention of his name jolted her awake, as she abruptly sitting, still gasping for breath.
"You are safe, Luce," her gaze focusing on the source of the voice and saw Lockwood kneeled beside her bed, in his pajamas, looking like he just rolled out from bed, with his hands on her shoulders. "It's just a nightmare,"
Nightmare? Right, that blasted nightmare.
Wait, if that was a nightmare, what did she punch?
More like who, as she saw George standing across the room, cradling his cheek.
"I'm sorry, George," she said remorsefully, staring at his red cheek.
"Nevermind," George said, waving her apology away. "It happen. Nightmare is always unpredictable,"
"I'm going to ice it," he said to no one on particular, and walked out of her room.
"I'm sorry we barged into your room. It just you wouldn't stopped screaming and knocking on your door can't wake you up," she turned her attention back to Lockwood, who still kneeled beside her bed, as he explained to her, his eyes looking at her in concern.
"It's alright. I would do the same," she said and giving him a small smile. "Thank you,"
He smiled, as he stood up and offering his hand to her. "Fancy a cup of tea? I heard it was a good remedy for nightmares,"
"Yes," she said, and took his hand.
The chill that come with her nightmare didn't even have a chance to settle before it was dissipate completely.
"Lockwood! George!" Lucy wake up with their names on her lips.
Her eyes looking around her frantically, where is she? Where is Lockwood and George? as she took stock to everything around her, windows, people, seats, until it landed on the snoring George across from her.
She sighed in relief. It was just a nightmare. They were on the train, on their way home after finishing the case outside of London.
A gentle squeeze on her wrist make her look up and saw Lockwood looking at her with concern.
"Are you alright, Luce?" he asked, worry was palpable in his voice.
"Yeah," she nodded and rubbing her face tiredly. "Sorry,"
"Nothing to be sorry of, Luce," he smiled softly at her, the smile she saw directed to her lately. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Maybe later," she answered diplomatically, not anywhere ready to tell anyone about her nightmare.
He looked at her closely and nodded in understanding. "Alright, just get back to sleep, Luce. I will keep watch,"
"But-
He ignored her protest and gently guiding her back to lean against his chest, the position she realized she was in before the nightmare strike. Her cheeks grew warmer. She must be fell asleep on him and he was to polite to pushed her away. But that doesn't explain-
"Sleep, Luce. I could hear you thinking from here. Just sleep. You need it," he murmured, as his hand gently carded through her hair.
"Alright," she relented, as yawn come out of her mouth.
The sound of his heart beat was lulling her to sleep. She didn't feel the cold, only warm as she plunged into a dreamless sleep.
Lucy nightmares changed shape and person, she still dreamt of Norrie sometimes, but now the stars of her nightmare were Lockwood and George.
It was midnight and she can't go back to sleep.
She was on her way to the kitchen when she saw lights from the library.
Pushing the door slightly, she saw Lockwood still up and reading a magazine. Typical. Did he even go to sleep?
"Lockwood," she called, as she walked in to the library.
"Hey, Luce," he looked up from his magazine and smiled. "Can't sleep?"
"Yeah," she sighed, as she plopped down on the chair opposite of him. "The usual,"
"I might have the remedy for it," he smiled, as he closed his magazine and put it on the table. "Care for some tea?"
"Yes, please. That would be amazing," she smiled and followed him to the kitchen.
"Earl gray?" he asked and pop the kettle on.
She smiled remembering that first time he made a cup tea for her after her nightmare. "Yes,"
As she saw him prepping the tea, Lucy realized the cold that usually accompany her nightmare was blessedly absent.
+1
"No! Luce! George!"
Lucy was jolted awake by a scream.
"No!"
Lockwood! Her mind hazily told her as she shake herself awake, hastily get up from the chair and kneeled beside his bed.
After bone glass, she and George had take turn to watch him, at least for this week, Lockwood as usual is too stubborn and like to pretend everything is fine. This is them running interference.
He was trashing in his sleep, sweat beaded on his forehead.
Gently, Lucy shake him awake, careful not to jostle his shoulder, as she quietly called his name. "Lockwood,"
"Lockwood," she called again, her hand grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently, but he continued to trash. A whimper was heard from him.
Lucy hated seeing him like this, she felt helpless.
"Anthony," she whispered his given name, her fingers brushing his mated hair aside. "Anthony, it's Lucy,"
"Lucy?" he croaked, eyeing her blearily.
"Yes, it's me," she breathed out and squeezing his hand. "You have nightmare,"
"Did I wake you? Sorry,"
"No, don't be sorry about that," she smiled reassuringly at him, as she carded her hand through his hair. "Just go back to sleep,"
She was about to let go of his hand and go back to her chair when his hand tightened around hers, "Stay,"
"I'm staying,"
"No, stay here,"
It took her a moment to understand what his meaning was.
"Please, Luce," he whispered, as his eyes plead to her.
"Alright," she said and carefully crawling into his bed.
Lucy would lie if she say her heart doesn't beat like crazy.
She lay her head on the pillow and facing him, her free hand carding through his hair. "Go back to sleep, Anthony,"
"I don't know if I could, Luce,"
She opened her mouth and sang, a lullaby Norrie used to sang to her everytime she had a nightmare.
His breath was evened out, as he go back to sleep.
Lucy smiled at that and closed her eyes, a warm feeling was brushed over her as sleep claiming her back into it's warm embrace.
Their hands were still intertwined with each other when George found them in the morning.