Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Vigo woke up in a cold sweat. He'd had a nightmare. Again. This one had been worse than normal. He could practically FEEL the hands pulling and slashing at his body. TASTE the poison in his mouth. Smell the blood. His hands pulsed with pain, nails digging into his palms as he woke up with an embarrassingly weak yelp of fear. He felt a long-dormant defensive magic course through him, making him shiver, his body ready for an attack he knew wasn't really coming.

"Uuuhhhhhgggggg…"

He clambered out of his canopy bed, wincing as he felt his legs shake and his pulse increased in speed. He glanced at his clock. 1:39AM. Perfect. Just perfect. He picked up his phone to check for messages, his tired eyes screaming in protest as the blue light of the screen hit his face. Nothing.

As he reached for his bedside table to put his phone down he saw the screen light up again and felt the device vibrate. It was Gozer. He unlocked his phone to check the text.

"u up?"
He typed back. "Yes."
"lmao why dumbass its 2 am go 2 bed."
"Bitch. I just woke up."
"oh. Y? u ok?"
"I'm fine."

Across town Gozer sighed. Melissa was on nightshift at 7/11 so they had nothing but time- Which was good because it may take a minute for Vigo to finally open up about what was wrong.

"no ur not fine. Y. R. U. AWAKE"
"Can you type like a normal person?"
"stop avoiding the question"
"Stop avoiding grammer."
"ill come over and kick ur ass"
"I had a nightmare, okay?? I'm fine."

Gozer paused. "Ohhh. That explains it."

"ill be over in 5 min"

Vigo froze. He was still shaking and breathing heavily from his dream- he didn't want to be seen in such a vulnerable and embarrassing state.

"What?" "No! Gozer you don't need to come over."
"stfu yes I do"
"No. You DONT."
"do you want earl grey tea or peppermint"
…
…
…
"Earl Grey please."
"omw <3"

Chapter Text

Janosz was so happy. It was him and his boyfrien- no- fianc- no- HUSBAND's (they were finally married!) first night together in their new home. Vigo bought a newer, bigger apartment for the both of them, as a sort of "wedding gift" (Janosz had insisted it wasn't necessary but Vigo is stubborn). And Janosz was very excited. Sure- they'd shared a bed plenty of times before, but somehow this felt different. He got dressed in his favorite silky pajamas set (one covered in a printed-on paintbrushes pattern, gifted to him by Vigo for his birthday last year.), and climbed into the queen-sized bed. Vigo was already there, his blonde hair tied in a small ponytail to keep it from being tangled, reading a book on ancient wars.

"Cozy darling?" Janosz asked. Vigo responded with a curt nod and a "Hmph." Which Janosz simply chuckled at. He laid down beneath the covers and quickly fell asleep next to his husband.

It was around three in the morning that Janosz awoke to screaming. "What's happening- Who broke in- Am I about to be possessed again-" All valid worries that shot through Janosz' mind, before he realized it was only Vigo. He glanced outside the window. "No screams of terror or blood rain. Good signs..." He thought. So… What was wrong?

"Vigo? Darling, what's happened?"

Upon further inspection, and turning the bedside lamp on (His eyes aren't what they used to be in the dark.) Janosz saw Vigo sitting upright in bed, sweating bullets with shaky hands. His ponytail holder had fallen out during his tossing and turning so his blonde hair was now sticking to his forehead and fanning out on his shaking shoulders.

Vigo tried to speak, but with his thick accent, and the stuttering that his crying was causing he couldn't seem to find the right words, so he just put his face in his hands, defeated and embarrassed. Janosz put a soft hand on his shoulder.

"Would talking about it help or do you want to just get your mind off it for a bit?"

Janosz asked. Vigo sheepishly held up two fingers. The second option- getting his mind off of whatever the issue was, seemed to be what he was asking for. So Janosz took the softest blanket they had, which was on the bed with them, wrapped it around Vigo's shoulders and pulled him off the bed.

Vigo stood with his lover, still trembling pitifully, and let Janosz pull him out of their bedroom and down the hallway to the kitchen. Janosz calmly sat him down at the kitchen island, and turned on the kettle to boil. He then grabbed some leftover soup (Both Vigo and Janosz had the same comfort food, soup.) out of the fridge and put it in two bowls to heat up.

Vigo was still shaking, feeling sick. Janosz sat down next to him while the kettle heated.

“Ready to talk now?” “...Not really.” “Okaaay…. Can you at least tell me what happened?” “.....Nightmare.” Janosz nodded. “I see. Do you-.... Get those often?” Vigo sighed. He could tell his husband wasn't backing down. He might as well open up “....Yes.” Janosz nodded again. “How have i never known this? We’ve spent so many nights together…?” I-...” Vigo mumbled something incoherent. “Pardon?” “I said I would take meds to help me stay asleep...”

Janosz had to stop himself from gasping. “You- What?!” “It wasn't anything serious I promise!- Only melatonin. But before we got married I would take a few to make sure I didn't get nightmares around you or wake you.” “So why didn't you tonight? Out of curiosity.” “it just wasn't helping anymore. I started to get them again anyways- plus I dont think my magic likes any sort of medicine. Makes my body and powers act up a bit.” Vigo shrugged like it wasn't anything important. Janosz resisted the urge to hit him. “Okay- Well thats good to know for future reference… no more taking random meds then okay? “Yeah, I'll stay away from anything more than Advil for now." “Good. Getting back on topic… What are the nightmares about? If you’re alright sharing.”

Vigo paused, then spoke. “It varies. Sometimes its you dying in horrific ways or saying you hate me. Sometimes its Gozer hurting me or something. Sometimes its just flashbacks to my life in Moldavia. And my… assassination. Just- anything my mind decides to torture me with.”

Janosz grimaced. Gods he wanted to just pull Vigo into a hug and never let him go. Despite his husband being a feared dictator and powerful sorcerer, whom had even possessed Janosz in the past- Janosz couldn't help but only see him as a hurt, traumatized and loving man. And the more their lives continued together the more Janosz thought maybe that’s exactly what Vigo is now. He himself just doesnt always
realize it.

“Im so sorry to hear all that love. Next time- please promise me you’ll tell me about things like this! I can help! And if I can't then I can find someone who will? You just have to let me.” Vigo took a deep breath and nodded, brushing the hair out of his face with a huff. “I promise you Janosz.” “Thank you.” Janosz finally pulled him into that hug. Vigo let it happen, nuzzling his face into the crook of Janosz’ neck. Janosz sighed happily, putting his face in Vigo’s hair and taking in the way his husband smelled and how his body felt beneath his hands. They fit perfectly together, like puzzle pieces. In that moment, Vigo could forget about his trauma, Janosz could focus on his husband, and they both felt so happy.