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Date nights were always a fun thing to do. Getting to spend alone time and not having much worry of anyone bothering you? It was very nice.
That was what Genba and Jou had set up for the evening. It hadn't been much. Just a little movie date to end a week off. They had certainly had a busy week as always. Things never were that calm for them anymore.
They were still on the couch, the movie playing on the TV. Neither was really paying much attention to it anymore, though. For most of the night, Genba had pulled Jou in close and had him resting his head against his shoulder. But, their positions had changed now.
Genba was pressed up against Jou's side, his face buried into his neck. Jou had an arm loosely wrapped around him. Genba's eyes were closed and at a quick glance it seemed like he was asleep.
Jou didn't want to disturb him, so he just accepted this was how they were staying for now. Maybe in a little bit he would wake him and get him up to bed? This couldn't be that comfortable to sleep like for an entire night. Once the movie was over, he would determine his next course of action.
There wasn't much time left on the movie, judging from what the characters were doing. They had almost solved the main conflict. There couldn't be much more left to do at this point.
Jou wasn't really paying attention to the movie anyway. He was more focused on the sleeping man beside him. Genba had hugged him at some point, but then hadn't moved since. But now, he was starting to make small twitches every now and again. Jou wasn't sure what to think. Was he waking up? Didn't seem like a normal motion for that though. It had to be something else then, but what?
Jou placed his hand on Genba's head and slightly ruffled his hair. He didn't really know why he did that. Genba didn't react to it at all. Then he probably wasn't waking up. So what was going on?
Suddenly, the grip on him tightened. And then there was a small gasp and the weight on his neck moved. Jou moved to look at the older man. Genba was taking in labored breaths, trying to be quiet. He looked a little shaken up.
"Are you okay?" Jou asked.
Genba met his gaze for a moment. Jou wasn't expecting to see fear in his eyes. He especially wasn't expecting for Genba to shake his head in response to the question.
Before Jou could ask anything more, Genba had moved back in to press up against him. Jou could feel how badly he was shaking now. Just what had happened?
"What's wrong?" Jou asked, pulled him into a firm hug. The shaking eased a bit.
"...nightmare." Genba mumbled, almost too quiet to hear. Jou had to strain to make out what he had said.
"Do you... what to talk about it?" Jou questioned hesitantly.
He wasn't sure if that was asking too much. It was obvious whatever the nightmare and been had really shaken up Genba. He might not want to relive the dream for another minute.
Genba shook his head, as Jou had kind of expected. Jou pressed a kiss to Genba's head.
"That's fine. If you ever do want to talk, just let me know." Jou said.
Genba just nodded and somehow moved in closer. Jou wasn't sure what all he could do to help. Not knowing what exactly had shaken him up was making this harder. What could he do? He couldn't just leave Genba in this state. That much he knew.
"How about we go up to bed?" Jou suggested.
"No..."
"Alright..." Jou accepted the answer, as much as he wished it had been in agreement.
They fell into an awkward silence. Jou was struggling to figure out what to do. Genba had calmed a bit since initially waking up, but he still was clearly shaken up. Jou cursed himself for not being able to think of anything more to do. All he was doing was hugging him and hoping that did something. It had only done so much.
"I'm sorry..." Genba whispered.
"There's nothing to apologize for." Jou said.
There really wasn't in his mind. Sure, Genba wasn't making this that easy with his refusal to say much, but Jou couldn't exactly blame him for that. He didn't know if he would be that much different in this situation.
"I'm sorry for not being able to do more to help you." Jou continued. He still felt guilty over that. He should've been able to think of something else he could do to help.
"This is... fine." Genba replied.
"You sure you don't wanna go to a bed? We could probably cuddle a bit better there than here." Jou asked again.
"I... I guess." Genba finally agreed.
It was a slow process getting up to bed. Genba was slow to move. He seemed a bit disoriented. Even though he knew the layout of his own quite well, he wasn't acting it right now. Jou was quite concerned. Had the nightmare really shaken him up that much?
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jou asked as they finally made it to the bedroom.
"I'm fine... just... out of it." Genba mumbled. "Sorry... this isn't... what I wanted you to have to see."
"It's fine. Don't worry about it." Jou replied.
The two of them climbed into the bed. Genba hesitated and then snuggled up against Jou's side again. Jou placed an arm around him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Love you." Jou said.
"Love you too..." Genba mumbled.
"Are you going to try and get back to sleep?"
There was a long moment of silence for Genba replied to his question. "I... I'll try."
"I don't mind if you wake me again."
Genba still seemed hesitant, but did seem like he was trying to settle down again. Jou kissed him again, this time getting a kiss back. They moved to cuddle a bit better. Genba had his face pressed up against Jou's shirt.
It was a while, but Jou stayed awake until he heard Genba fall asleep again. Once that happened, he finally allowed himself to close his eyes. He hoped there wouldn't be a follow-up nightmare. This one had been hard enough on Genba.
Jou fell asleep, thinking of ways to make tomorrow nice for Genba to try and make up for not being able to do too much about tonight.