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Grace can't sleep. She's lying next to Wolfgang, who quietly snores. She stares at the ceiling, feeling...lost. Confused.
It wasn't like her to get all sappy over a guy, let alone someone she'd just met. But there was something about Wolfgang that made her feel at ease. Comfortable, even though she was never into the prickly uptight posh guys. And she wasn't stupid enough to be charmed by some guy when they were in a killing game, even if Wolfgang said nobody was going to die. So why does she feel like this?
Wolfgang stirs, muttering something under his breath. Before she could stop herself, Grace reaches out an arm to gently stroke his hair. As if it was second nature - muscle memory, to try and soothe him having some kind of...bad dream? Nightmare? The contact doesn't help, as he only grows more agitated, words becoming decipherable: no, stay away, leave me alone-
And he jolts awake, hyperventilating, trembling like a leaf.
"W-Wolfgang?" Grace retracts her hand cautiously, sitting up. Giving him space.
"Grace." he breathes out, squeezing his eyes shut. She resists the urge to get any closer - Wolfgang doesn't usually like...
...doesn't usually like what? The thought disappears as soon as it arrives. He struggles to maintain his composure, flashing her a weak smile.
"My apologies. You shouldn't have had to see that." He tries to act like he usually does, but Grace sees through his flimsy act. "Please, go back to sleep. There is nothing to be worried about."
Grace knows she shouldn't pry. If anyone caught her having any kind of bad dream, she'd prefer them not saying a word, no matter how annoyingly attractive they were. With Wolfgang, it feels...different. Like she shouldn't just leave him be.
"You, uh..." Her throat is dry, all of a sudden. "You wanna talk about it?"
HIs smile falters. "A-Ah, I would rather not. But thank you for your concern...I'll be fine."
But he looks hesitant. Grace considers pushing him to talk, but again she gets that weird feeling to hold back slightly. The sense that letting him open up to her would be for the best, even though it gives her a headache trying to figure out why she's thinking this way.
She tries something else. A last ditch effort. "It feels wrong to just...leave you alone. Is there anything I can do?"
And this is what makes his expression shift away from that practised polite expression. He looks downwards, conflicted, and for a long moment doesn't say a word.
"Can you hold me?" he finally asks, almost so quiet she can't make it out. He looks at her shocked expression and immediately starts to backtrack, "N-Never mind, perhaps I shouldn't-"
"Okay." Grace shrugs. Not as bothered as she thought she would be.
It's a bit awkward at first, as he's a bit taller than her, but eventually they fit together. He buries his face into her shoulder and she wraps her arms around him tightly. And despite the weirdness of the situation, this too feels familiar in a way she can't describe. Familiar enough, that she finds herself falling asleep sooner than expected.