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Mind shot up with a jolt.
He was sweating. His heart was racing. His breaths were short.
Where was he? He looked around. It was dark, but he recognized the glow of the moon through the window. He was in his room. His bed. Not... there.
He looked down beside him. Heart was there. Sleeping. Thank god.
He took a second to calm down. Evened his breathing, fanned himself off to cool down. But somehow, he still woke Heart.
[Somehow? You fucking shook the whole bed. Of course he woke up.]
His partner awoke groggily, with a soft groan. Heart's eyes opened, and through blurry, foggy vision, he saw Mind. Even through the minimal lighting, he could tell he certainly wasn't doing good.
("Sunshine?") he rasped, slowly sitting up beside Mind. ("Are you...")
He trailed off. Of course Mind wasn't okay. Nobody who's doing okay would look like they'd just...
Then realization hit. ("Mind... did you have a nightmare?") His voice was gentle, cautious to not anger or scare Mind.
Mind was quiet. But, almost imperceivably, he nodded.
Heart's chest felt heavy. As if Mind's didn't as well. ("Baby... come here.")
He pulled Mind in for a hug, and Mind gratefully accepted it. His arms were wrapped around Heart faster than he could even realize it, tighter than was probably comfortable for Heart. His shoulders shook with quiet sobs.
("It's okay,") Heart whispered into Mind's hair, combing through the coils. ("it's okay. You're okay. You're safe. I won't hurt you again.")
Mind didn't respond. His muffled sobs turned into freely flowing tears, staining Heart's white hoodie a sapphire blue. He clung to him tight, unwilling to ever let go.
But he had to sometime.
A few minutes passed. Mind's cries slowed to a stop. He didn't let go, but his grip loosened, exhaustion setting in again.
Heart smiled. A fond smile. A caring smile.
Pulling back - much to Mind's dismay - Heart gazed at Mind with one that was foggy yet comforting, the shine on his cheek from tears. ("Here. Let me see that pretty face of yours.")
Mind almost reeled back as Heart cupped his cheek. Heart froze, until Mind relaxed and leaned into him, then slowly brushed away the hair covering Mind's left eye. Or... the eye socket, and whatever was left from the Incident.
("There's my pretty man,") he cooed, thumb rubbing soothing circles on Mind's cheek, just under the empty socket. ("Still just as beautiful as always.")
Heart paused, hand stilling. ("I really am sorry,") he murmured, only hoping he came off as remorseful as he was. ("I... I wish I never-... I shouldn't have...")
He couldn't think of a way to apologize again. He'd apologized countless times. Mind always said he understood and forgave him. But there was always a part of him that doubted his forgiveness, that made him want to say it again and again until he really believed it. Like that would ever happen.
Mind wanted to reply, reassure him. But his throat was tight, he could barely get a syllable out. He just nodded again. He knew it wasn't enough, but it was all that he could do.
Heart understood the gesture. Letting go of Mind's cheek, he pulled him back into a hug. Mind didn't resist, obviously. He let himself be pulled back down to lie against the mattress.
["...Thank you,"] Mind finally whispered, voice glitching and cracking.
Heart smiled again. ("Of course.")
A beat of silence.
("I love you, Mind,") Heart whispered, pressing a kiss to Mind's forehead.
More silence.
["I love you too."]