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Klopp loved completing the night rounds. It allowed him to clear his mind after long and exciting days, and he could sleep easier at night. Walking around the Kirkby allowed him to think, because for once every day he was alone.
Well, not so alone. Because Klopp walked into the kitchen and straight into Tsimikas.
“Kostas! What are you doing here?! It’s two o'clock!” he whisper-shouted, careful not to cause any more clamor. “Are you an insomniac or something?”
The lack of an answer from the usually boisterous Greek told Klopp everything he needed to know. “Come here,” he said, pulling Tsimikas into a hug. “Can’t sleep?”
Tsimikas merely nodded. “I’m so sorry.”
The kitchen light flickered on. Klopp and Tsimikas now faced a very confused Thiago.
“I came for a snack,” Thiago explained, turning towards Tsimikas. He frowned upon noticing how many more eyebags the Greek carried under his eyes. “You look tired, Kostas.”
“Thiago, I know it’s late.” Klopp let Tsimikas go, silently hoping that he wasn’t asking too much of the Spanish midfielder. “But Kostas is suffering insomnia, and maybe since you know him better…”
“Say no more!” Any residual sleepiness on Thiago seemed to disappear as soon as Klopp mentioned the words Kostas and insomnia. “Go right ahead and finish the rounds. I’ll take care of Kosty, buenas noches.”
“Good night, both of you.” Klopp disappeared as soon as he came, leaving Tsimikas and Thiago alone. Part of him wondered if he had made the right decision; but Thiago was responsible, as well as a good cook, he thought. He would take care of Tsimikas, no problem.
*
"Pobrecito mio," Thiago crooned, pouring hot milk into a cup. "Why didn't you tell me you can't sleep?"
"Well..." Tsimikas stared down at the marble counters, tracing the dark swirls in the stone. "The first night the insomnia just hit me like a rock. I tossed and turned and I couldn't really sleep. When I couldn't sleep the night after that, I didn't want to wake you up."
"So what did you do?" Thiago glanced at the clock—two fifteen PM. "I can't imagine having all that time and I'm not sleeping."
"I...actually couldn't do anything much. I was so tired, yet I just couldn't sleep," Tsimikas confessed. "So I went out to the veranda and watched the clouds."
Thiago stared wide-eyed at the Greek, before setting the cup of milk on the counter and wrapping his arms around him. "Oh, my poor Kosty. It was snowing outside last night, wasn't it?"
Tsimikas nodded silently, relaxing into Thiago's embrace. "Gotta admit...I like when you hug me."
"You could hug me all night if you wanted." Thiago pushed the cup in front of him. "Now drink your milk and follow me."
*
After Tsimikas finished his milk, Thiago led him into bed and proceeded to tuck him in, adjusting every microinch of his bedding. Tsimikas hadn't been fussed over like this for a long time, but he didn't mind it. He appreciated the attention--it made him feel valuable, cared for.
"That should do it." Thiago placed his hands on his hips, satisfied with his handiwork. "Alright Kostas, I think you should be able to sleep now. Goodnight...wait, is something wrong? Did I tuck you in too tight? Need another pillow?"
"No, the bedding is fine. It's just..." The last part came out in a bashful whisper. "I never did like sleeping alone. I got used to it after a while but…”
Before he could finish, Thiago had already exited the room. Tsimikas flopped onto the pillows with a defeated sigh, closing his eyes. He tried and tried to go to sleep, but sleep still wouldn’t come.
Just before he screamed in defeat, he felt something large and soft nestled next to him in the covers. He opened his eyes to see the most comical yet shocking thing ever.
A plush catfish.
“I was saving it for your birthday, but better late than never,” Thiago explained. “It was meant to be a joke gift after that catfish you caught in Thailand, and you like fishing, so I went with the safe choice. I shopped around for a Sqiushmallow, but I couldn’t find anything that you’d like. Do you like it?”
“Do I like it? It’s lovely!” He had to admit, the sight of a plush catfish on his bed was slightly weird, but it was soft and warm and most of all big enough to hug. “I’m gonna call you Ioanna, Nana for short, after…”
He never finished that sentence. After three days, Tsimikas finally found the paradise of sleep.