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Kouga awoke with a start. A cry had just sounded from the next room and been quickly stifled.
He's having nightmares again, he thought, sitting up in his bed. Sasana had looked drained the last few days, but always just smiled and brushed it off when Kouga asked about it. He deliberated for a moment, absently picking up the stuffed rabbit next to him and squishing its paws in his hands. If he isn't well rested, it could put him in danger if Desparade’s forces attack.
He didn't want to embarrass Sasana by checking in on him. Sasana still tried to hide his struggles, even while he poked and prodded at everyone else's. He'd just insist he was fine. But… Kouga found himself unable to leave it alone this time.
Sasana sat with his face in his hands, trying to calm his breathing. The dream he'd snapped out of with a yell still floated half-formed behind his eyes, and if he opened them, the shadows around him seemed to be crushing inwards, suffocating him. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. Something so silly… His fingers clenched, tugging at his hair. Snap out of it already. Shouldn't you be past this by now?
The soft click of his door opening made him jolt. Dim light filtered in from the hallway, interrupted by a familiar silhouette.
“Kouga?” Sasana swallowed, fighting to keep his voice level. “Sorry, did I wake you?”
Kouga stepped into the room, avoiding eye contact. “No, no, um… there was a spider. In my room. So I thought I'd ask. If I could sleep… here.”
Sasana blinked, the shadows starting to clear from the edges of his vision. “A spider?”
“Yes, I… lost track of it, so I couldn't sleep. You know I don't like bugs.”
Liar. A smile tugged at the corners of Sasana's mouth despite himself.
“Alright, alright, come here then. I'll protect you from the scary spiders.”
Kouga threw his plushie at Sasana, who caught it with a laugh as he scooted to one side. It was a large bed - every bed in the mansion was - but sharing it still made Kouga feel a bit flustered. He laid down nonetheless, taking his glasses back off and setting them on the nightstand.
“You left the hallway light on,” Sasana pointed out.
“I prefer some light to sleep, if that's alright.” Kouga lied. Sasana was the one who was afraid of the dark.
Sasana huffed in a way that said “I know what you're doing”, but didn't object.
They laid in silence for a few minutes before Sasana shifted around to take Kouga's hand under the blankets, lacing their fingers together.
“Thank you,” he murmured, almost too quiet to hear.