Chapter Text
"So how was staying with Blackquill?"
Nahyuta sighed, throwing himself on his much missed sofa, littering the floor with his bags.
He had just come back from a trip to LA to take care of a couple of cases. As luck would have it he had to stay at Simon Blackquill's flat, due to complications with booking a nearby hotel and no other co-worker had space available for him.
Blackquill had been someone he was trying to get along with, or rather make up with given how unfairly he had treated the man on their first meeting. It was something the other man was seeking too, as he had discovered during his stay.
That being said…
"All things considered it was terrible. The most atrocious thing that man does is sleepwalk most nights and wakes up grumpy." He grumbled into a cushion, recounting all the times he had to spend in awkward silence so as not to disturb the grouchy panda.
"Sleepwalking huh?" Apollo asked, wavering around the grumpy sounding prince on the sofa. Nahyuta sighed, deciding to flip himself so that he could see the man whose curiosity had peaked.
"Yes, it's odd too because it's always the same." He said, grimacing.
"...how so?" Apollo asked again, deciding to sit down on a nearby chair, looking at Nahyuta so as to say "go on".
"He walks slowly towards the dining room chair, sitting down very precisely with his arms firm on the armrests, legs sitting upright and his head lifted up. Hesuddenly jolts, shaking all over before his head slops down. I think he sleeps there because I've been unable to move him the few times that I tried."
After he explained it went awkwardly silent. Apollo tried to process what he was saying, his face going more sour as he connected the dots together in his head. At the final connection all he could muster was "That's-".
"Hm? Why do you look so horrified?" Nahyuta asked concerningly, sitting up from the sofa so he could actually look at Apollo.
"I mean that sounds like- are you familiar with executions in the US?"
Of course Nahyuta was, he has spent so many years comparing the legal systems of many countries, including the exact methods of executions performed in said counties, most shocking fact being how many countries like his still had the death penalty.
"Wh-why are you bringing that up?" He tensed up, not liking the sound of where this is going, Apollo answering him before he even had the chance to think about it further.
"Nahyuta it sounds like he's sleepwalking to the electric chair."
Reality came crashing down on him, hurting his head in the process. It felt so obvious now that it was pointed out to him, the specific way the man acted, the fact that the man had been on death row expecting to die until the last minute. He knew all the facts and yet.
"...!...I…" he shuddered, matching the horrified face that Apollo had under his hand covering his mouth.
"Right?" Apollo exclaimed.
"But…surely he knows he's not- he isn't going to be- " Nahyuta muttered, trying to make sense of what this behaviour implies. Does Simon think he's still in jail? Does he feel trapped despite being set free? Does he think he's going to die?
…does he feel the need he has to die?
"Just trying to make sense of what he went through is a lot, but what he's feeling? He has to be so strong just to act normal when he's in plain sight…"
The extent of what Simon has gone through, Nahyuta feels like he doesn't know much about it at all. The details have been explained to him, Simon made sure of that before he could enter his flat, but those feelings as Apollo said were such a mystery to try and grasp. Yet at the same time the general feeling of unworthiness, that you still need to go through with your plan of self sacrifice, Nahyuta could understand completely, he would be lying if he said he didn't feel the exact same way.
"And here I am talking as though it's a quirk just to irritate me…" he remorsed, embarrassed as well that he would speak, even think, ill of a man who was barely that much different to himself.
"H-hey sometimes things don't connect right away unless you say it out loud you know? I know you wouldn't have said it like that if you knew." Apollo assured him, getting up to gently pat him on his shoulder.
"I…I guess so…" he sighed, telling himself that Apollo is right in that he would never have said it had he pieced it together sooner.
If only he could have pieced it together sooner he thought, sinking deeper into remorse.
"...Yuty?" Apollo asked concerningly, tilting his head down further to try and meet Nahyuta's now gloomy eyes.
"He…he's held onto this…this pain…for far too long…" he mumbled, Nahyuta could only bring himself to mumble at this point.
Everything was too heavy on him, he ached everywhere, each word he tried to speak taking so much energy out of him. Simon was just meant to be the one coworker he used to sass every now and then, in one single comment he became larger than that; he was someone he so desperately wished he could protect from the nightmares of the world.
"Yeah…I think you're the only one who's ever noticed this. He's only ever stayed with Athena who's a real heavy sleeper…"
Nahyuta shook his head in his arms, it wouldn't help with anything but he wanted to weep.
He wanted to weep so badly for Simon Blackquill.
"That's…that's too much…"
"Yeah…"
–
As luck would have it Edgeworth would call him again some time to work on a couple more cases, apologising for the back and forth, even offering a good hotel room as compensation.
Nahyuta politely declined, insisting that he would like to stay with Simon again, which surprised both of them but was not argued against to his delight.
He couldn't bring himself to ask Simon about the sleepwalking, no moment ever felt appropriate to bring it up, be it due to work, or not disturbing the man as he cooked dinner for the two, or simply just because he didn't want to ruin the nice conversation they were having.
Before he knew it they had departed for bed, Nahyuta slunking into the guest bedroom which was very obviously mostly used by Athena based on the numerous space and gadget objects she so "happened to forget" as Simon put it. He threw himself on the bed, which had that fine smell of being freshly cleaned but not just straight out the washer, and let himself be carried away…
…which lasted an hour before he could hear familiar footsteps from the hallway. It could only mean one thing; that Simon is up and sleepwalking. He jumped out of bed and into the hallway, confirming his fears.
"Simon?" He asked, voice hesitating on whether or not he should be loud or quiet. Simon didn't seem to react either way as he continued walking, still a good distance away from his fateful chair.
"Simon, wait!" He screamed, starting to panic. He knew that it would be impossible to shift him after he sat down so diverting him now was his only shot at helping him, but how he was going to do that swirled in his mind.
Nahyuta needed to act, and his thoughts were getting in the way. In one push he threw them all away and leapt in front of Simon, grabbing him tightly in a deep embrace.
To his relief this managed to stop him. Simon was still clearly trying to move but despite being the bigger and stronger man he was held well in place. Nahyuta was right up against his chest, able to hear how fast his heart was beating in fear, a beat he was far too familiar with.
"It's ok, everyone's safe now, the real culprit is behind bars, there's no need for you to sacrifice yourself." He whispered softly into him, trying to send the words to his heart.
The darkness of the hallway elevated his sense of hearing to unbearable degrees. There was the heartbeat, still going fast. Also breathing, mixed muffled breathing from both of them, Simon's much more in a rhythm than Nahyuta's heavy, shaky ones. Then there was the shuffling, Simon was still very much trying to move which is the primary cause of his fear. He had no idea what to do, what else could be said, any and all ideas returning to swirl in his mind like a tornado.
But as time went on one of those sounds changed. The shuffling; it was getting slower, turning into tiny pitter patters, until miraculously Simon came to a complete halt. Nahyuta looked up to his face in relief, trying to make out any kind of expression on his face only to find the darkness had blanketed it.
"...safe?" Simon had mumbled, sounding like he was still very much asleep but reacting to Nahyuta nonetheless. He took a deep sigh of relief in response, releasing some of the fear from inside him. It was a scary first step but it has been taken, he just needed to leave the step to go onto the next.
"Yes! Athena is safe, Aura is safe, everyone at that space center is safe. You managed to protect them and yourself."
He spoke loudly and quickly, fearing it may have been a little too quick for the sleeping man, perhaps also a little too loud as well. It mattered not as a second sound began to adjust; his heart beat. It must've listened as it began to calm down, slowing to a normal, soft, warm beat.
"...safe…" he mumbled again, newfound warmth in his heart making it to his voice, and resting on Nahyuta.
Everything, from the sounds to scuttle movements, was relaxed. As quickly as the panic settled in, everything was calm. Nahyuta slowed down his breathing, relaxing his grip on Simon and taking a step back, still looking up at him with a soft expression he hopes Simon is matching.
"Come let's go back to bed." Nahyuta whispered, taking Simon by the hand and leading him back to the bedroom, thankfully not being resisted at all by him.
Guided by the brief shimmer of moonlight bouncing off the metal bed frame he had placed Simon on his bed. He quickly sunk into the mattress, curling up his legs and hugged the pillows.
Nahyuta released a quick, soft sigh, pouring the duvet over the man. It was still hard to see him completely but he can just make out the shape of his body, completely sunken into the comfort of his bed. He was completely at peace, possibly for the first time in a long while, and he was glad that he was able to help him obtain this well deserved rest.
"...Sweet dreams Simon." He whispered, leaning into his ear. He could've sworn he heard Simon try to mumble something back but it was completely inaudible if he did, only catching a "ta" at the very end.
It was either a casual "thank you" or a "sweet dreams Nahyuta", and he's choosing to believe it was the latter.
–
"Good morning monk."
Morning came and everything was bright, including the happy chef in the kitchen preparing breakfast. It surprised Nahyuta, even on a better day he had never seen him wake up this cheerful.
"Good morning. You sound more cheery than usual." He commented, sitted down at the breakfast counter looking into the kitchen. An unsuspecting yawn caused the other to hand over a coffee he had already prepared in advance, another surprise but largely welcomed.
"Do I? I guess I had a good night's sleep for once." He said, confused by the remark. It stands to reason that he doesn't remember any of last night, probably for the better Nahyuta thought, at least he wasn't about to ruin the breakfast mood by bringing it up.
"Good...I'm glad you did." He said gleefully, startling the man by matching his cheer. Simon looked like he was waiting for him to suddenly take back his words, but instead he just smiled gently at him, which seemed to surprise him even more.
"Thank you?" He said, with an amusing face that was both smiling and utterly confused, as he turned back around to cook what Nahyuta assumes to be sausage and pancakes based on the smell.
He took a sip of his coffee, in an attempt to hide any giggles he may have from seeing the man look adorable from being flustered. This was a good Simon, he thought, one that isn't rough and hides away the pain behind an edgy exterior, but one who can break away from the pain and shoot joy into life.
"Simon?"
He turned around, pancake pan in hand, and looked eagerly at Nahyuta, who was looking back at him with soft eyes.
"Hm?" He mumbled, contemplating expanding further but deciding to simply wait for Nahyuta to speak up again.
"I'm glad that you're here, and I get to know you. You add so much to my life that I would be sorely missing."
Simon stood agape, trying his damnedest to say anything but taking back every breath that was about to become words. He looked lovingly at him; he was not about to give him any ideas that might not be taking this seriously.
He was being absolutely truthful. Sure there were moments where he had to put up with Mr Depraved Prosecutor or Mr Grumpy Panda but even those moments were extremely important to him, after all they led him to all the lunchtime gossip in the office, all the nights where they laughed over the worst movies they saw in their entire lives, to this exact moment right now.
And then there it was, a smile that melted Nahyuta's heart.
"I…I'm glad too, and thank you."