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It took Noel a while to get moved into the same room as Mischa and Ocean, but he eventually did.
Ocean still hadn’t been discharged for various reasons, most involving her physical therapy progress, so she was still in the hospital despite originally going to be discharged weeks ago.
Which was a surprise to Noel, but he was glad to see that she was okay despite all that.
Mischa had…something that night, meaning he was out of the room — Noel thinks another surgery or something similar, but to be completely honest with himself, he doesn’t remember.
So it was just him and Ocean, and Mischa’s empty hospital bed.
Ocean had pushed her hospital bed right against Noel’s — lowering the railing on the left side of her bed and the right side of his — giving the two more space.
It comforted Noel. It reminded him of sleepovers when they were young, when he and Ocean shared her bed and fucked around and watched their favorite movies together.
And this wasn't the same, but it was close. Ish.
Especially as Ocean immediately curled into his side.
It was so oddly normal, the first bit of normal he’s felt since waking up.
And even if this wouldn’t be seen as “normal” to most people, it was to him. And Ocean. And that’s all that mattered, really.
“Th-a-anks…” Noel muttered, voice hoarse and broken, barely there, “Nee-ede-d…thi-is…”
“Anytime, Noel,” Ocean replied, speaking softly, draping an arm over his waist. She moved her head so it was resting on Noel’s chest, his heartbeat pounding in her ear.
Noel knew why she did that. She wanted to feel the rise and fall of his chest and the beat of his heart; she wanted to be sure he was alive and that he’d stay that way.
And the weight of her against his chest and side is comforting, so he doesn’t mind in the slightest. Especially because he definitely didn’t want to be alone again.
For a good while, the only noises in the room were the two’s breathing and the machines connected to them.
And even though it was silent and Noel was just staring up at the ceiling and Ocean was just staring at Noel, it was a comfortable silence.
Noel swore Ocean fell asleep until she said his name. “Noel?”
Noel hummed, looking down at Ocean, cocking his head to one side.
“I missed this…” she mumbled, eyes darting away from Noel’s, moving a bit to hide her face from him, “Just us…like this, like we used to…”
“M-e…too…” Noel replied, feeling Ocean smile just the slightest amount from where her face was tucked against his neck. “C-a-an y’u…st-a-ay?”
Ocean nods. “I'm staying here in this spot whether you want me to or not, Noel.”
“Goo-ood…All I want.”
Ocean smiles, kissing the side of Noel’s neck as she curls up even closer to him. “All I want too.”
Noel smiled, ruffling Ocean’s hair and leaning down just barely to kiss the top of Ocean’s head in a form of thanks – and just because he wanted to. So he loves Ocean, sue him – this affection between them is (and has always been) platonic . And they’re both okay with it of course, so, it’s normal between them.
Even if some others think it’s weird.
But again, it’s their thing, who cares what others think.
“Thank you for waking up, Noel…”
Noel ruffled Ocean’s hair, running his fingers through the strands, getting his fingers caught in the few knots. “Th-a-ank you for…visiti-ing…me.”
“I love you, it’s the least I could do.”
“St-i-i-ill…” Noel muttered, struggling a bit to talk. He still was not used to it, his voice hoarse as hell. “I…lo-ov-...-ve…y’u…too…”
“It’s true, Noel. I would’ve fought Karnak myself if the doctors were right that you wouldn’t wake.”
“Well…good th’t…didn’t…ha-ap-p-pen…”
Ocean hummed, nodding and yawning.
“Ti-i-r’d?”
Ocean hums again, burying her face further in the crook of Noel’s neck as Noel yawns too.
“Sle-eep…”
“Can I move a bit?” Noel nods with a hum, and Ocean half-reluctantly pulls herself away from Noel, stretching before going back to the same position, only with one of her legs half-draped over Noel’s. “This alright?”
“Ye-a-ah, per-f-fe-ect…”
“Good, because I am officially too comfortable to move now.” Ocean was talking into Noel’s neck, her lips brushing his skin. She presses a kiss there with a mumbled “goodnight”, and Noel yawns, wrapping his arms around Ocean.
He pressed a quick kiss to the crown of her head, hugging her tight, whispering a broken “I lo-ove…y’u” into her hair, noticing she’d already fallen asleep.
Noel doesn’t fall asleep for a while, staying in a state between being awake and being asleep, just…thinking, hearing the machines connected to him and Ocean beep rhythmically.
He’s just lying there thinking of him and Ocean and their relationship.
It was weird to some people, sure, but it was pretty perfect to them.
They’ve known each other for practically their entire lives, having quite literally grown up together, it’s only natural they were this close.
Though there are a few people who don’t understand their relationship is fully platonic, mostly because of the fact they’re both perfectly okay with giving each other affection – which could seem romantic to others but between them, it’s platonic. They’re both comfortable with it, so hey, if Noel kisses Ocean’s cheek, who’s to care?
And sure, sometimes they argue too, but they don’t actually hate each other. It’s just sibling fights the majority of the time. It’s insanely rare that there are actual fights between them.
And most people just see the fighting, too, so most people assume they hate each other.
And those who do know them both still find their relationship weird, generally – barring the choir though, for the most part. The choir still finds Noel’s and Ocean’s relationship odd, but it’s them, so it’s normal. They know the relationship between the two and how “unconventional” it is, but it’s perfect for them. And that’s all that matters.
And the two of them are there for each other through everything, especially this. Which is why Noel felt such comfort in this, in cuddling with Ocean in their hospital beds. It’s another sense of normalcy, how they fell into this again.
He’s thankful for it and for his and Ocean’s seemingly odd relationship.
He’d never trade it for the world.
Ocean is his best friend, practical soulmate – soulmates don’t need to be romantic, Ocean is definitely Noel’s soulmate and Noel is Ocean’s – and one of the people he loves most in life.
Sure they don’t act like “normal” best friends, but who really cares about that? They’re them , Noel and Ocean, it’s always been like that for as long as either can remember. They fight sometimes, just stupid squabbles, but they love each other to death.
They’d do anything for each other and will always be there for each other.
It was easy for Noel to fall asleep, too, despite the thoughts that took over his mind.
He falls asleep to the beeping of machines and Ocean’s light snoring, holding Ocean in his arms as he sleeps for the first time since waking up.