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Once upon a time, Angel thought that stopping Solas would fix everything. He'd fulfill his contract and prove that he wasn't the disappointment that Viago thought he was, and then he'd put it behind him and move on with his life. It would be as simple as that.
Reality wasn't nearly so clean cut.
Angel knew what it was like to shatter and then have to put yourself back together again. He'd done it before after all. He just hadn't expected that particular job to end up going that way, not until he'd already found himself broken into pieces once more.
It didn't matter how much time passed. Some things could never fully be fixed, no matter hard you might wish otherwise. Angel knew that all too well.
That didn't stop him from wishing.
It was late, or perhaps early, the moons and stars all but disappeared from the sky. Angel had given up on sleeping hours earlier, though, as soon as he'd woken from a nightmare with terror rushing through his veins.
A small part of him wished that there had been someone sharing his bed to notice when he'd jerked awake. A larger part was relieved that Lucanis was in Minrathous for a few days and that Viago had been busy until the wee hours of the morning more often than not the past week or so. As much as he craved the comfort he knew they would gladly provide, he couldn't help but want to hide the fact that he was still having nightmares even after all that time.
They were protective enough as it was. He didn't want to give them a reason to become even more so.
Angel closed his eyes and did his best to enjoy the summer breeze that was blowing through his hair. He was exhausted, and he knew that the smart thing to do would be to at least attempt going back to sleep for a bit longer. Yes, he technically didn't have anywhere to be the next morning, but he knew his luck. There would be some urgent emergency the moment he considered sleeping in.
It was better not to tempt fate.
With a tired sigh, he ran his fingers through his hair. There was a good chance that he'd simply be woken up again within an hour, but he wouldn't know unless he at least tried to fall back to sleep. And at least that way he'd have an excuse when Viago glared disapprovingly at him in a few hours.
Shaking his head, Angel turned around to head back inside. Then he froze at the sight of Viago watching him from just inside the doorway that led out to the balcony, his face utterly devoid of expression.
Either a curse or a question as to just how long Viago had been standing there were on the tip of Angel's tongue, but he managed to cut them both off before either could slip out. It was bad enough that he hadn't noticed that someone was behind him. The last thing he needed to do was actually admit to it. That would have been a rookie level mistake.
"Viago," Angel said mildly, hoping that his lack of attention hadn't been noticed even though he was well aware that it must have been.
Viago tilted his head ever so slightly as he studied Angel. "You look horrible."
Angel made a face. "'Hello' to you too," he shot back.
The look that Viago shot him managed to be both disapproving and worried at the same time, and Angel bit back a sigh.
"I'm fine," he said, well aware that Viago wasn't actually going to take him at his word but still giving it a try.
Viago's expression shifted to one that was skeptical at best. "You should go back to bed."
"That's where I was heading," Angel said, reaching up to a cover his mouth as an ill-timed yawn made its presence known. "Are you planning on joining me?"
Angel was going for something akin to coy, but he was fairly certain he was too tired for it to even come close to actually being that. Judging by the look on Viago's face, he was right.
"Yes, but only for sleep," Viago said, turning to the side and gesturing in a way that made it clear that he wanted Angel to go ahead of him. "I think we could both use some."
Angel snorted before he could stop himself, which was a clear sign that he was exhausted. "At least I have nightmares to blame for me being up right now," he said. "What's your excuse?"
Viago's face shifted through a number of expressions that Angel was fairly certain meant someone had royally fucked up and he'd had to clean it up. His actual response was a half-hearted shrug, though, as he made his way towards the bed and started slipping out of his clothes.
Oh, well. Angel honestly wasn't all that curious. If it had been an entertaining story, Viago wouldn't have hesitated to tell him.
It felt almost domestic, crawling into bed and waiting for Viago to join him with no expectations other than both of them getting some rest. It was almost funny how much things could change in just a few short years. Almost.
Angel felt some of the tension in his shoulders that he hadn't even realized was there fade away as Viago climbed into bed and curled up beside him, not pressing but still clearly making his presence known. The faint remnants of his earlier nightmare faded away, visions of broken bodies and the sound of screams replaced by a warm presence at his side.
Viago didn't touch him. He didn't press any kisses against Angel's skin. He didn't spoon up close to him, bare chest against bare back. He didn't make any sudden movements. He was simply there, a steady presence that Angel had desperately needed even if he hadn't quite realized it until then.
"Goodnight," Angel whispered, his eyes already drifting closed now that he was back in bed and no longer fighting against sleep.
He felt a warm huff of air hit his back, just as comforting as a kiss might have been. Viago didn't say anything, but then again he didn't need to. Both of them knew exactly what it was that he was saying even if he didn't actually speak.
Sometimes there wasn't actually any need for words.