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A weak whimper nudged Aventurine from the tender embrace of slumber. It took a moment as his eyes slowly blinked open and his surroundings slowly came into focus. The first thing he’d taken in was how his hand rested atop the hand of the one who seemed to take the gambler’s long shattered heart and pieced it together with his own broken heart becoming two halves of a whole. The next thing he’d noticed was how the hand underneath his hand trembled.
Wait… trembled?
It was trembling?
Following the hand toward its owner gave Aventurine a vision that sank his heart and caused it to ache. Even in the dead of night and darkness of the room they shared there was something he could very clearly make out: Sunday was crying. In his slumber tears formed and slowly fell down his face. It was a sight that would cause anyone to feel their heart ache but it made Aventurine’s heart ache ten times worse.
It had taken him a good amount of time to accept the mere idea that someone else could love him let alone the person being Sunday of all people. Their initial impressions of one another weren’t the greatest and the events of Penacony caused the rift between them to build. Yet despite that rift he’d always felt himself drawn toward the Halovian for some reason still unknown to him. But that unknown reason allowed them to mend that rift and learn just how broken one another was and allowed the two to learn how to love someone else and learn that it was okay to accept the love in return.
Sunday was much more than that strict figurehead he’d come to initially know. He was a sensitive guy and had a tendency to carry not just his own burdens but the burdens of others as well. He’d taken on the unspoken duty to find a way to ease the pains of others while sacrificing himself in the process. Aventurine had come to learn that and it took him a good amount of time to try to help Sunday unlearn those tendencies and to learn he could rely on others. It started slowly with him learning to lean on Aventurine and then slowly the members of the Astral Express. While he still had the odd tendency to keep his worries to himself it was progress nonetheless.
Alongside Sunday’s progress was Aventurine’s progress. Thanks to Sunday he slowly began to accept that he was deserving of love and that he could indulge in the way his heart fluttered whenever Sunday smiled at him or how he could enjoy the sensation of being held in Sunday’s embrace. He’d learned the gentle side of affection that he’d long forgotten. From their strained beginnings they seemed to flourish into a beautiful relationship that healed wounds neither thought could ever be healed.
Were there still issues? Of course. On the odd occasion the two would argue over things as most anyone else does, but their arguments would resolve and it would help build the foundation and resolve for a stronger relationship. Every time they got knocked down they seemed to be able to get back up even if sometimes it would be difficult to get back up. If Aventurine had told his past self that he’d be in this current situation he’d scoff and not believe himself. To think what was once unbelievable could become believable.
A furrow formed on Aventurine’s brow as he saw how his lover trembled in his rest. Was this a nightmare? Most likely. What else could make his angel weep in the dead of night like this? Even when right next to him it seemed the bad dreams wouldn’t be something as easy to ward off. But there was at least one thing he could do.
" Hey… Sunday, get up. "
His voice was a gentle and just a tad above a whisper as he moved the hand that had been resting atop Sunday’s to gently nudge the halovian’s shoulder, shaking him as gently as possible until golden eyes fluttered open in the darkness. Even in the darkness of the night Sunday’s eyes were able to pierce it and draw Aventurine in. A huff of a laugh slipped past Aventurine’s lips as his hand moved to gently wipe the remnants of the tears from Sunday’s eyes before resting his hand atop the Halovian’s cheek.
“ Mmh… “
Sunday instinctively nuzzled his face into the gentle and comforting touch of his lover’s hand as he took a moment to register that he was awake. The gambler’s thumb gently caressed against Sunday’s cheek as a means to sooth him, taking in how his features softened and the face that had been troubled with whatever night terrors haunted his dreams. It was easy to get absorbed into Sunday’s features even if the night obscured them ever so slightly.
" You okay? You were crying in your sleep. "
Aventurine’s tone remained hush, just loud enough for Sunday to hear and no louder. He didn’t want to startle the sweet bird in his touch. Sunday had already been troubled enough by his dreams he didn’t need anything else to cause worry.
" A-ah– " Golden eyes widened momentarily before they shifted about and one of his wings went to try to obscure his face but it was a bit difficult with Aventurine’s hand on his cheek. His brow furrowed momentarily before a long, shaken sigh left his lips. " I’m sorry. "
All the while Aventurine’s thumb kept gently stroking Sunday’s cheek. A soft smile found its way to the gambler’s lips as he scooted a bit closer to his lover so Sunday could make his face out much clearer. His eyes reflected a gentle look full of adoration. His forehead gently rested against Sunday's, allowing the other man a moment of quiet to see the subtle cue that everything was alright and there was nothing to apologise for.
" Don’t worry. You’re safe. I’m here. "
Words that seemed to strike deep into Sunday’s heart and speak louder than anything else. That was right. He was here in bed safe and sound with his lover next to him. The warmth of Aventurine’s touch and the gentle tone of his voice seemed to do the trick to ease any possible worry. Sunday’s expression softened as he gave a sheepish grin with a small nod of his head.
" I know. "
Seeing that smile and Sunday’s breathing calm once more did the trick to melt Aventurine’s heart and he couldn’t help but close the distance to give a gentle peck on the Halovian’s lips before moving to kiss each eyelid and return his head to rest his forehead against Sunday’s once more. There was something special about the way Sunday reacted to every little thing he did. It was a constant reminder of who Aventurine’s heart belonged to and he had no complaints.
The two remained like that silently gazing into one another’s eyes as calm swept over the room and enveloped them in its gentle embrace. Not too much longer was there a yawn finding its way from Aventurine’s lips and an awkward chuckle following shortly after.
" How about we get back to sleep? "
There was a pause for a moment before Aventurine huffed and opened his arms wide–or as wide as he could in the bed–making a visual invitation for the Halovian to move in closer. Sunday didn’t need any words as he scooted himself closer, his head found its way on Aventurine’s chest, his ear resting in a way he could hear the other’s heartbeat. There was something comforting about listening to the rhythm of Aventurine’s heart like this. The two had found this a great way to comfort one or the other when troubles struck and night terrors were one of such troubles.
Sunday’s breathing slowed as Aventurine slowly pet his hair until he was certain the other had drifted off to sleep. A small huff of a laugh slipped out of the gambler’s lips before he leaned to place a kiss atop Sunday’s head and allowed his own eyes to close as he’d slowly drift off to sleep with the person he’d come to cherish more than anything safe and sound in his arms.
As Aventurine drifted off to sleep with a smile on his lips the two men had a peaceful rest with no more terrors or tears coming to disturb their sleep. Just the sound of their gentle breaths and Aventurine’s calming heartbeat.
Nothing was going to hurt them.
They were safe.