Work Text:
The streets outside were now quiet, the faint glow of the lamps being the only source of light. Dr. Retro was downstairs half asleep on the couch as her work lay out on the stained coffee table; upstairs, Pest and Melanie lay quietly in their shared room. Pest stared at ceiling fan, watching it spin. It had been a while since he had gotten a proper night's sleep since everything had happened. Every time he would close his eyes, he would see those familiar red eyes watching him, stalking his every movement, making him feel small. But of course he would never admit this; he had a reputation to keep, and any show of weakness could ruin that.
Melanie lay nearby, her Hello Kitty bedsheet wrapped tightly around her as she slept. She soon began to twitch slightly, her ears drooping down as she began to silently panic. A familiar tightness around her neck as she felt those cold, dead hands wrap around it. The soft whisper that promised that it would be soon over and that it wouldn't hurt that much. That red eye staring into hers, unmoving, unblinking.
Pest peered over confused at the quiet sniffling to be met by Melanie curled in a foetal position as she tried to pull something from her neck. Not knowing what to do, Pest silently rose from the bed and quickly ran down the stairs to go find Dr. Retro, although once he reached her, she was fast asleep. Sighing, he climbed back up the stairs to his and Melanie's room. Hesitantly he shook her shoulder, causing her to suddenly wake in a fit of tears. "I-I-saw her ag-again. I could feel... I could feel her hands... I thought... I-." Was all that Melanie could get out amongst the tears as Pest shushed her before climbing into the bed beside her and gently taking her hand. Melanie stared at him, confused at the sudden gentleness that Pest was showing. This was extremely out of character for him, as he usually didn't care for people crying, but maybe just for once he chose to care.
Pest simply lay down, pulling her down with him, making sure to be extra careful with his mandibles. He softly guided her head to his chest and began stroking her ears until she fell asleep. Once he was sure that she was asleep, he slipped from under her, placing her head on the pillow before crawling to the end of her bed and curling up similarly to how a cat would.
That morning as the sun slowly rose, Dr. Retro slowly climbed the stairs to Melanie and Pest's bedroom, carefully opening the door to find them both asleep, holding one another's hand. She softly smiled at this before going to make breakfast.