Holding Hands

Zawk awoke, his sleep even lighter than usual, always aware of potential threats in the night. He sat still, listening for movement in the trees beyond the dim light of Dot's waning spell.

Hearing nothing after a moment, he shifted around to look in all directions. First he checked the kids, they were all where he'd last seen them, laying down for the night. Then Muien, who had his feet draped awkwardly over Kori. They were also both fast asleep. Finally, turning to his other side he found his answer.

Dot had his back to him, but Zawk could clearly see colored lights flickering, bouncing off his white hair. The lights stopped moving for several moments before a heavy sigh came from Dot. The lights resumed their flicker as his hand gestured to further scroll along in his textbook.

"Why are you reading, go to sleep," Zawk spoke softly, a sharp inhale came from Dot, despite trying his best not to startle him.

Dot turned onto his back, keeping his hands in the air to keep scrolling. "Ever since learning Fai's vision is about Emma Auber, I feel like there's something that I'm missing. Something that can help us."

"You already spent all day staring into that thing. You waked into three trees 'cause your nose was stuck in there."

"Two trees, actually, that last one was a bush."

Zawk had enough. He deftly snapped his hand over and grabbed the book out of Dot's hand.

"Hey!" cried Dot, and swung his other hand around to try and grab the book back.

Zawk caught the hand with his, surprised for a moment at just how much force Dot had behind it. "Quiet," he hissed, "you'll wake the kids."

Dot stayed silent, but continued to struggle for several more moments. Zawk felt Dot's hand slowly relax, and then go limp.

"It doesn't matter how much you know if you're too tired to use it for anything," Zawk said, loosening his grip but kept holding Dot's hand gently. "We're getting close to the beach, and we need everyone to be alert and ready at all times."

"I'm too nervous to sleep anyways, I might as well be productive while I'm awake."

"If you need help sleeping, that's something I can help with."

Dot shuffled inside his sleeping bag, turning to fully face Zawk. Zawk returned Dot's hand back to him, finally letting it go fully.

"If it will help you sleep, I'll hold you tight."

"I, er.." Dot paused, "If it's alright with you. It helps quiet my mind and stop all my senses going haywire."

"It's always alright with me. It's the least I can do."

"You say that, but I feel bad I can't given you anything in return. It's not like that for me." Dot started reorganizing his hair, pulling it over his shoulder and half pulling, half stroking it across his chest.

"Just knowing you are safe and comfortable is all that I need in return. Honest." Zawk reached out his hand again and placed it to stop Dot's hand, fist still full of silky hair.

Dot said nothing, but Zawk could just make out his slow nodding in the dim light. Without any more words, Zawk scooted next to Dot and slid his arm under and around Dots shoulders. In a single move he turned Dot and brought him close to his chest, so that his back lay against Zawk's chest.

With a contented sigh, Dot moved Zawk's willing arms to cross against his chest. He wrapped his slender hands around Zawk's much larger ones, barely containing a couple fingers in each fist.

After settling in, Zawk noticed just how much comfort it brought, having Dot hold his hands despite just how much smaller they were than his. He almost considered whispering it into Dot's ear, but had that thought answered by the slight twitch of Dot's fingers that indicated he was already fast asleep and dreaming. With a smile on his face, Zawk was not much further behind.