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A new wave of thunder rolls through the ship, shaking through its whole frame. You jolt up, blurry eyes frantically flitting around the dark room to try and make out where you are.
Still in a weird half-sleep state you barely register a warm hand suddenly gliding up your back. You flinch away instantly and in your haste to get away you forget how small these beds really are, especially when your sharing one with someone as big as Wrecker. A dull thunk echoes when you wack your head into the bunk above, groaning and bringing a hand up to cradle your head.
A low chuckle rumbles behind you and you tense up, panic beginning to rise again until you recognise the voice that follows it
“You okay there? Hit your head pretty good”
Wrecker. You breathe out a shaky sigh of relief, shoulders visibly slumping. It’s just Wrecker. When you still haven’t answered he repeats the question, a more concerned edge to his voice this time
“Hey, you okay?”
You swallow thickly, still trying to get a control on your breathing “Yeah I’m- I’m fine Wrecker. Go back to sleep”
He ignores your request, the sheets rustling behind you as he sits up, scooting closer and tentatively laying his palm on your back again. This time, though, you lean into the touch, silently savouring the warmth of his skin. You've always joked that Wrecker is like a big portable heater. Even through his shirt you're wearing, you can feel it, the touch calming you.
“C’mon, talk to me pretty girl. What’s wrong?”
His hand is moving in small circles on your back, and his voice sounds so sincere you briefly consider just telling letting it all out, telling him the truth. But the nagging voice in the back of your head wins over, the words coming out your mouth before you can stop them
“Nothing wrong, I’m fine Wreck” you shift slightly, enough to send him a tiny smile over your shoulder and place a shaky hand on his knee in an attempt of reassurance “Now please, go back to sleep”
He glances down at your hand on his knee, a pained look taking over his face when he see how much it’s trembling
“You’re not okay, you’re shaking”
Hi gaze flits back up to yours, warm hand grasping your hand and engulfing it completely. He squeezes lightly, rough thumb running softly over your knuckles.
“Please, let me help you.”
Guilt twists in your stomach at how sincere he’s being, how hurt he sounds. You open your mouth to reply, just as a new clap of thunder rumbles through, making you flinch and squeeze his hand hard.
He looks confused for a beat before his lips part in surprise, relization dawning on him
"It's- it's the storm isn't it? The thunder, it scares you"
You squeeze your eyes shut in shame. It sounds so childish, so pathetic when he say it like that. But there’s no point in denying it anymore, he already knows, so you just give him the tiniest of nods.
“Oh meshla… C’mere” he pulls on your hand, turning you around and tugging you into his lap.
You clamber onto his thighs, too tired to try and fight it as snuggle down into his chest, arms looping around his neck. His own arms circle your back, one resting on the back of your head as the other tightens around your waist.
“Can I get you anything? A blanket or a glass of water-”
You chuckle quietly, endeared by his thoughtfulness.
“No, no it’s okay. Thank you”
A beat of silence before he’s whispering again.
“Do you wanna… talk about it?”
“No.” it comes out quicker and much harsher than you intended. You feel him tense up underneath you and you cringe at yourself. He’s just trying to help.
“Sorry I just- It brings back memories… bad memories. And I’d rather not relive them.” you snuggle closer to him unconsciously “Can you just… hold me? Like this?”
He nods instantly, pulling you impossibly closer and lifting a hand to stroke your hair, rocking you slightly. He holds you in a comfortable silence for a while, before he speaks up again, whispering into your hair.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
You tense, still reluctant to fully share your fears. But he’s being so kind and understanding that opening up and telling him the truth is the least you could do. So taking a shaky breath, you mumble into his neck
“I- I was ashamed”
He frowns, the hand in your hair stilling.
“Ashamed? Why?”
“I guess I just … didn’t want you to think less of me. To think that I was a coward, or that I was pathetic” you confess, shrugging slightly. He tightens his hold on you, staying silent for a few seconds.
“Do you… think it’s pathetic when I’m scared of heights?” he asks quietly and you frown, pulling your head form his neck and looking up so you can see his face. He’s looking down at you with a look you can quite decipher, and it makes you heart clench instantly.
“Of course not Wrecker. Why would you say that?”
He dips his chin further, tilting his head at you, voice quiet
“Then why would I think any less of you for being scared of thunder?”
Something about his tone of voice, the fact that it's so soft and gentle in contrast to his usual boom, just hits you right in the chest. Before you can help it tears are brimming in your eyes and threatening to spill.
Stars, if he didn't think you were pathetic before, he certainly does now.
He tenses up immediately, eyes widening in panic as he sits up straighter
“Oh kriff, did I- did I say something wrong? What did I do??”
His concern only makes you tear up more, a few escaping and rolling down your cheeks. This only seems to increase his panic, a hand laying on your cheek and frantically swiping at your tears
“No, no please don't cry, I hate it when you cry”
You place a hand on his cheek, chuckling softly “I’m sorry I just- I love you so much”
He blinks, taken aback.
“W-what? So you're not… mad?”
You huff out a laugh, slapping him lightly on the chest
“Of course I’m not mad! Why the kriff would I be mad at you right now?”
“I dunno, you just- I- Maybe I said something wrong or-”
“Wrecker…” you smile softly, placing a hand on the nape of his neck and tugging down until your foreheads meet. “I’m not mad. I’m just really fucking happy right now. You’re making me happy”
His hands cups your jaw, rough thumb brushing softly over your cheekbone as he grins you, big a bright.
“That’s what I’m here for right? To keep ya safe and happy”
You giggle, leaning into his touch and hand coming up to rest over his own. “I guess so”
You tilt your head to press a kiss to is palm and he smiles, eyes widening as he suddenly perks up in excitement
“Hey, y’know what always helps me sleep?”
You quirk an eyebrow in question and he leans over the back of the bunk. You curiously peer over his shoulder as he rummages noisily through his crate, letting out a little ‘aha’ when he finds what he’s looking for.
“My Lula!” he grins, whirling back around, so quickly that you have to brace your hands on his chest to steady yourself. He smiles sheepishly, hand grasping your waist to keep you from toppling of his lap.
You giggle softly, hand coming up to hold the little stuffed tooka, gently taking it from his grasp. He watches expectantly as you smile down at it, turning it around in your hands.
“You can borrow her for tonight, if you want.” He says, hurriedly adding on “Or- or any other night, whenever you need.”
You look up at him, smiling at his bashfulness and leaning forward to press an adoring kiss to his cheek. When you pull back he's blushing, dusty pink spreading across his cheeks and your smile widens.
“Thank you Wreck”
The little black and red tooka clutched tight to your chest, you snuggle down into him. His warmth is already beginning to slowly lulling you to sleep when you feel him press a kiss to your head before he’s muttering into your hair
“Anything for my cyare”