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Sleep had never come easy to Sean, even in death. Or not death? Whatever this state of being he was in was called. Between everything that had happened before, the poking, the prodding, the videos and questions, he never had time. When he did, he’d end up right back in front of those countless eyes.
So he stopped trying and it hadn't changed since he ended up in this weird, well not any weirder than Nilspace, place.
He had more time to try, technically speaking, but he also had the kids to watch over. Ones that clearly have no sense of self preservation in them, if the last few events told him anything. The kids needed someone that could be there whenever, so he stayed awake and kept an ear out for sneaking around footsteps and soft sniffles.
Was he tired? Sure, but when hasn't he? Even when alive, he’d stay awake for more than he should’ve, sleep alluding him at every turn.
It was nothing new.
The lack of sleep probably was the reason he didn't notice the quiet plotting of four kids, the hushed whispers in other rooms that were not so quiet as the children thought.
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It was late. The children were all asleep and the house was mostly quiet. The fireplace crackled with fake fire while the tv had soft music playing through the whole room. Most of the lights were off and Sean stayed cozy on the couch, wide awake as usual. He was lost in thought, not paying attention to much. Why he missed the footsteps creeping his way.
Well until one child landed right on top of him.
“Mister Sean!” Ace’s voice filled the room, loud and bright, like it wasn't the middle of the night and the others weren't asleep.
“Ace. What are you doing?” Sean wheezed out a bit, the sudden weight certainly affecting him.
“Checking on you! The others are here too!” The kid grinned and Sean turned his head towards the side.
The other three stood there, with Deivy looking the most tired out of the four. Jacob had the decency to look sheepish while Brandon was just as cheerful as Ace.
“What are you four doing..? You need your sleep.” He spoke with a tired sigh.
“Funny coming from you.” Deivy muttered.
“The others just thought…you needed some help with getting rest? If we help you, you'd worry less.” Jacob explained.
Sean stared at them, opening his mouth and closing it again with a lack of words.
“You don't need to worry about it. You guys just-”
“Nuh uh!” Brandon interrupted. “We are going to get you to bed! Like you do for us” He pointed at him.
Ace had moved off him at some point and was now gripping his sleeve trying to drag him off the couch. A part of Sean, the very stubborn part, wanted to stay right where he was. But he knew these kids, just as stubborn as he was, if not worse.
With a deep sigh, he moved to sit up and move off the couch with Ace still gripping his sleeve. Brandon let out a little cheer while Sean was pretty sure Deivy muttered out a “Finally”. The other three followed after the two as Ace dragged him towards his room, practically slamming Sean’s door open in his excitement. The pulling continued till they reached the side of the bed, where Brandon and Ace both started pushing him to lay down.
‘This is seriously not something you need to do.” He tried again.
“But we want to.” Jacob replied.
The two managed to get Sean to lay down, trying to tuck him in as well as two young kids could. When it was done the two practically flopped onto the bed on either side of him, with Brandon curling around a pillow and Ace gripping onto his arm like earlier. He watched as Deivy just landed on top of Brandon’s legs not really caring about asking.
Jacob still stood next to the bed.
‘Well?” Sean spoke.
“Hm?” Jacob looked towards him.
“Well come on, the others are, might as well. Guessing its their plan to keep me in bed and asleep.”
Jacob seemed to think on it before slowing moving to lay on the bed. His head landed between Sean and Ace, and Sean pulled a blanket over him and the others.
“Alright now all of you sleep.” Sean spoke, closing his eyes as he did. Even if he didn't actually sleep he could pretend for their sakes.
The excited energy of Brandon and Ace seemed to have vanished, quiet snores and soft breaths being the only sounds from them, while Deivy was utterly quiet while asleep. He could feel Jacob toss and turn for a bit before his movements stilled.
It was nice, honestly.
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The first two things he noticed when waking up; Was that there was way too much light in his room and that something smelt like it was on fire.
Which led to Sean practically bolting up and out of bed and running to the kitchen. As his hand slammed into the doorway wall, as he came to a stop in the kitchen doorway, the kids stared back in shock or embarrassment with a smoking pan on the stove between them. Jacob was holding an empty cup, which probably had water.
“What. Are you doing?” Sean asked, already fearing the answer.
The kids all looked towards each other, probably debating who was going to explain or maybe coming up with an excuse to tell him.
“Breakfast.” Deivy stated.
“Breakfast?” Sean replied.
“We were trying to make breakfast for you but…” Brandon explained with tears welling up in his eyes.
Sean dragged his hands down his face, breathing deeply before exhaling.
“We’ll just try again.”
“But we're trying to make it for you!” Ace whined.
“We can make it together, easier that way. You guys wont burn down the only kitchen we have and you still get to make me breakfast.” He responded.
He walked forward, moving the pan from the stove and grabbing a new one. He turned to the kids, hands on his hips.
“Alright, what are we making?”