sunset_horizons | Promised a Friend... (for attheclocktower)

The night had been rough, to say the least. Yet under shared blankets on the futon, Yu never once let go unless Xion pried herself from his hold. He knew her nightmares. They were the same he had that had caused him to invest in the expensive soundproofing that hung about his walls. Making the room dark without the small light from the hall and the natural light from the glass doorway to the balcony. Something he purposely left on to filter through the crack beneath the door to keep his own night terrors at bay.

He had woken up in cold sweats or sleep paralysis far too many times for his own comfort, even after knowing it was all over. That the girl could no longer hurt his friends. Now, though, he feared men in black coats similar to Xion's coming to rip her from his protective grasp.

Much like how Namatame had Nanako, when he'd been taken in for questioning all those ~~years~~ months ago. He feared what would happen if he left her alone.

When the sun began to filter through the glass panes, Yu stirred, grey eyes blearily looking to the mess of ebony hair before he lightly pressed his lips to the top of her head. He would have to get up, clean the dishes he'd left to soak last night, and prepare breakfast for them both. Yet he found he did not want toget up just yet. Not until she did as well.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

In all honesty, for Excalibur not being there, it isn't a bad night. She doesn't wake up screaming. That being said, that didn't mean her dreams had been peaceful. Instead... it almost felt like that time she had touched the mirror, the one where she'd seen everything. The images and flashes that assaulted her dreams were broken, disjointed, and never stayed long. There were times where she thought she woke up, only to be pulled back to sleep again after closing her eyes again for but a few moments.

There was one universal constant, one that stalked her through all these visions - dark figures with silver hair and gold eyes, reaching, grasping, some casting that same spell that Xigbar had, branding her with the X mark again...

So light and restless was her sleep by the time morning came that she started awake when she felt the kiss on her head. For a moment she froze, heartrate... much slower than she would've expected, given that she had no idea where she-

Oh. Oh, right. She wasn't even in her own universe. She was with Yu, and it was his arms wrapped around her so protectively. Slowly, her own arms crept up and wrapped around his torso as she buried her face in his chest.

She was safe.

When she wrapped her arms around him, Yu lightly squeezed tighter. Quietly uttering a 'shh' sound over and over. He recognized the signs, how she froze, how restless she seemed. A hand lightly rubbed circles at the small of her back as they held onto one another. While he would wish and pray that her dreams would be peaceful, he would never expect it with their shared history.

With what she had experienced that led her to his doorstep once more.

Yet Igor's warning persisted. The Moon, upright. The Tower, upright. The Hanged Man, reversed. Another mystery, another journey that only promised hardship and sacrifice. Willing or not, if it could not be changed. Something twisted in his gut as he recalled the last one. This time, however... he had none of his friends nearby.

"Morning, Xion," he quietly greeted her, once she calmed down some. A faint smile crossed the bow of his lips. No matter what happened, he'd fight to keep her safe.

"Good morning," she murmured, slowly relaxing into his hold again. Not the worst way in the worlds to wake up, not by a long shot, "Guess... we didn't need Excalibur after all."

Because honestly, by her standards that sleep was positively peaceful, especially with the Dream Eater absent. Though if she was going to be staying longer, she definitely wanted to get him. She should stop by the Old Mansion as well, come to think of it. Let Riku and Namine know what was going on, and that she'd be lying even lower than usual for a bit.

Maybe they'd even know what that spell was, that Xigbar had used.

"Not last night, anyway." Yu replied in quiet amusement, gently brushing her bangs from her face. Albeit temporarily, because they're more stubborn than his own when his hair had grown out back then.

He was reluctant to let go and get up, but he would need to clean the dishes from last night he'd neglected to after they went to bed early. Not to mention prepare breakfast regardless of what they did next. So he lingered for a few more moments, proposing a slight compromise.

"How would you like to help prepare breakfast?" He asked gently. She wouldn't have to do anything too complicated, of course - he'd never ask her to do anything she wouldn't be comfortable with, and even then. He'd be right there. It would also give them something to focus on as they talked.

Edited 2018-02-19 09:52 (UTC)

Honestly, she’s loath to leave as well, but breakfast does sound like a good idea. She’s a bit taken aback by the suggestion that she could help, but not uncomfortably so. It’s just... very much not her area of expertise. But it does mean she won’t be left waiting with her thoughts while he works in the kitchen, she realizes. And that may be the idea.

She nods, grinning sheepishly. “You’ll have to show me what to do.” Regardless, she still leans into his hold for a few more seconds while he responds, cherishing the feeling of safety that had always been so sparse for her, both in and out of the Tower.

It was indeed the idea behind him asking her if she would, though he'd never say that aloud. If only out of concern that it would lead her down that spiral anyway. A spiral he was trying to avoid so early in the morning.

"Of course," he replied, gently pressing his lips to the top of her head before loosening his grip to move to his feet. "How does omurice sound?"

She paused for a moment, biting her lip, "I don't think I remember that one..."

Which isn't a rejection. Just... a lack of recognition. The Tower had had a... variety of foods, but not a huge amount of Japanese dishes, so she'd been learning a lot of them from her visits here; not enough for a full-time study though, so she's still mixing plenty of them up. In the end though, with her helping with cooking, it'll still be an adventure. But... a decent one, maybe even fun.

Slowly she lets go and sits up, lifting a hand to rub at her face. All of this being said, even with the prospect of cooking, it's hard to just... stop her brain working entirely, even this morning. Something's occurred to her, now that she's calm enough to consider it.

"We... we should talk to Riku and Namine later. The ones from my world." Although seeing the Riku from the Tower would... be nice, too, even if it wouldn't be direct progress on her current problem. "They should know what happened, and if... if I'm going to be missing, for a few days."

Shit, would Namine even be able to work on restoring Sora's memory if she wasn't there? She hadn't really asked about it before, given that her jaunts outside her own universe had, up until now, been fairly short. This could be a big problem.

Promised a Friend... (for attheclocktower)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

/late, but brought starbucks

hot chocolate? '^'