Chapter Text
Warning: Self harm
Nightmares were common, especially after the incident. They had never bugged you as much as they bugged Alex. Sure, you’d wake up and glance around, but it never bothered you too much. Alex, on the other hand, struggled more.
Which is why you were used to him waking up in the middle of the night and nudging you awake, but tonight was different. He wasn’t there, and the bathroom light was on. ‘Alex? Darling, are you alright?’ You call out to him from your place in bed, ‘Fine.’ He shouts back distractedly; he doesn’t sound fine.
You sigh, throw off the covers, and get out of bed. You wince as your feet hit the cold hardwood floor and make your way to the bathroom. You brace yourself and try the doorknob; it opens. You find Alex sitting on the sink counter, looking at his arm. 'Alex, what’s wrong?’ You ask him, and he doesn’t even move or respond.
You move closer, look at his arm, and sigh. Red lines from his wrist to just below his elbow cover the skin. ‘Oh, Alex…’ You murmur, looking over his arm. You feel a cold hand grab your chin and tilt your head up. Alex gives you a weak smile, and you take the time to study his features. His auburn hair was messy from sleep, and his blue eyes were droopy, and he had bags under them. Hey, love,' he says weakly.
‘What happened?’
‘I had another nightmare.’
You sigh and grab a washcloth and turn the sink on, running the washcloth under the cool stream before pressing it against his arm.
‘Why?’
‘I don’t know…’
You sit on the sink counter with him and rub his back with your free hand. ‘You can’t keep doing this to yourself.’ You tell him, ‘I know... I promised, and I sure fucked it up.’ Alex chuckles mirthlessly, ‘You didn’t fuck anything up; you had a moment of weakness and relapsed. That’s alright.’ You comfort him, rubbing his back still.
Alex leans his head against your own, sighing heavily. His breath ruffles a few strands of your hair, and you smile. ‘I don’t want to keep doing this.' Alex sighs, closing his eyes. ‘I just want it all to stop.’ It was rare that Alex was this vulnerable, even with you. He was normally a flirty jackass, not this sad, sweet, loveable mess who was sitting with you. ‘It’ll get better, alright?’ You tell him, and Alex nods. ‘With you by my side? Yeah, I think it will.’