Work Text:
What a hectic day.
First the Ditchlings, then the mine collapse, and now this. Thankfully, Wayne is here to accompany them. He’s always just trying to help them—sure, he has a pungent smell, but his protectiveness makes up for it.
He’s the one guy actually doing his best to keep them safe, and Tabitha tries but she can’t do much.
“Thanks for always keeping an eye on me.” They say, turning their head towards him.
“I will always be there when you need my help. Always.” Their chest warms up considerably at the implications of that, their own knight in shining armor. How cheesy is that?
Wayne’s shirt is all tattered now, [Y/N] frowns. “I’m sorry about your shirt, though… Are you okay? Reese didn’t hurt you too much, did he?”
A coughing sound takes over the crickets and other critters of the night, but then they realize it’s just him laughing. It’s almost like a wheeze and a croak, but it’s kind of endearing either way.
“He just caught me off-guard, next time he won’t be so lucky.”
“Alright, then… if you say so.” They nod.
It isn’t easy, walking through the same mountains in which they got attacked by a mountain lion, but with Wayne here all of their worries disappear somehow. They need to thank him somehow, but they still haven’t figured out how. Maybe some flowers will do, he seems like a simple man… if he even is one.
The thoughts come to a stop when they turn their gaze down, staring at his hand. They could, they probably shouldn’t…
Their stomach flutters when their own hand reaches for his, but with his ever quick reflexes, he takes his hand back.
“A thoughtful gesture, but you don’t want to do that. I wouldn’t wish to frighten you.” He turns his head to look at them. “But I promise there will be a time and place.”
Hope blossoms in their chest and they nod, retracting their hand as well.
“The bond we could share, [Y/N]… it would be deeper than any bond you could form with anyone else.” Wayne continues.
“Are we… friends? Can we be friends? I’d like to be your friend…”
Wayne doesn’t respond for a while, but then he says, “you’re not scared of me.”
They can’t help but smile. “Mhm…! You’re just trying to help.”
He glances back at them again then continues looking forward. “I’m glad you understand.”
Wayne stops walking, so do they. “We’re here.”
Before they can speak up he tells them something about investigating the forbidden wings of the Estate tomorrow, but all their mind can do is think of having him for themself a little longer.
“Until then, sleep well—“ he turns to walk away.
“Wait, wait wait!”
He stops in his tracks, turning back.
“…Uh… can you stay with me? Just until I fall asleep… it just doesn’t feel safe without Tabitha in there.”
It’s obvious he’s pondering on it with how still and quiet he is. “Will it make you feel safer?” He asks. “Because I will never leave your side, I am always watching no matter what.”
“I know, but it’ll make me feel better if you’re right there with me… if that’s okay, of course?”
“…I can do that.”
“Thank you, Wayne.”
He just glances at them again before they both make their way to the Estate.
—
The bed is creaky, damp, and dusty… but it’s starting to become their little escape from everything else. They go under the covers and lay on their side. Wayne watches them from the door, rigid as ever.
“Can you come closer?” [Y/N] asks quietly.
Wayne’s boots thump over the old wooden floorboards, making his way towards them.
“You can sit, by the way… I won’t mind.”
Standing completely still by the bedside, Wayne says nothing. But he does eventually sit down on the edge of the bed, staring at them as if expecting something to happen. [Y/N] does their best not to move an inch from where they lay, staring back at Wayne as well.
They then shift a little closer to him, now slowly sitting up with the blanket over their legs. He almost moves away before they reach for his hand, taking it in theirs gently. Wayne looks down at their hand then at them. His eyes are as bright as always, and his hand is rough and freezing to the touch, but soothing to hold nonetheless.
Brushing their thumb over his knuckles makes their stomach flutter again, and as much as they try to, they can’t push down that same smile from before.
“I know I’ve said it before, but thanks for always having my back. It means a lot.” [Y/N] whispers, leaning closer to him.
He doesn’t lean forward but neither does he lean back. Wayne lightly squeezes their hand back, fixated on how softly their thumb caresses his hand.
The closer they get, the more intense that rotting smell becomes, but they don’t mind too much. [Y/N] gets close enough that they can see the horrified expression forever carved into Wayne’s face, or at least the body’s face. They don’t know much about this man, they don’t even know what he is, if he is even a he, but it’s enough for them knowing how much he just wants them to be safe.
Wayne now studies the expression on their face, which must be anything but terrified with the way he’s still sitting there, despite them being so close.
They kiss a spot on his cold cheek, right over the veil, and lean back to see how he reacts. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem disgusted.
“You definitely aren’t afraid of me.” He says.
“Nope, I wouldn’t have invited you here if I was.”
“This bond we share will only strengthen, I’m sure.” And he laughs.
“So, we’re friends now?” They ask, tone unequivocally hopeful.
Wayne continues staring them down, “perhaps.”
They squeeze his hand a little tighter, face beaming with a grin. “Okay!” And that's a good enough answer for them.
Though, unluckily for [Y/N], they begin fighting with their eyes, trying to keep them open.
“You should sleep.” Wayne says, helping them lay back down on the bed.
They mindlessly comply, still keeping their hand intertwined with his.
“Night night,” they mutter, hugging his hand close to their chest. Immediately, they close their eyes and fall asleep.
“Goodnight.” Wayne whispers, still sitting down by their side and glancing down at his hand which is now held captive. He tries mimicking what [Y/N] had done and he brushes his thumb over their knuckles, finding the repeating motion a little redundant but… nice, somehow.
With [Y/N] so close to him, he can sit guard with more calm than ever before.