|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:26 pm
He didn't get into his bed so much as he fell into it. A shower and some pajamas later, he couldn't even remember when he'd gotten his shoes off (though he did make sure to check up on Sydni and see if she was sleeping well). It had definitely been a long day, but rewarding as always. He couldn't complain.
He knew the covers were supposed to go over him, he knew that. Grunting, he wrestled with the things from where he flopped, eventually shoving them down far enough for him to slide and squirm underneath.
Mm. Pillow. He buried his face into it, finally giving up on all movement and letting his leaden limbs lay where they pleased. He had more things to do tomorrow. Even now, he went through his mental checklist - making breakfast, dropping Sydni off with the babysitter, seeing if Tepin felt better about returning home, maybe mustering up the courage to go knock on Quinn's door and see if he wanted to go out for ice cream again...
Minutes later found the boy dead asleep, mind blissfully empty of any thoughts beyond darkness.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:45 pm
Wriggling, creeping, sneaking. These were things that children were not particularly good at, and Tepin was no exception. No, she was actually quite loud-- bonking into the wall as she went to turn the light on, closing the door a little too loudly, even tripping on her way to the hall. And yet despite this, she noted, she had not yet been scolded.
The crying had stopped-- her eyes had simply dried out. She knew that once she had the moister and energy inside her once more, the crying would continue. But still, she was lonely, she was miserable, and she couldn’t stand to be alone any longer.
The door across the hall. He said to come get him if he needed anything. Anything, right? That really did mean anything-- or so she hoped.
And so, hand on the doorknob, she entered. Tiny feet crossed the room, tiny hands clinging to a pillow as if it were the most important thing ever. The bed was easily climbed, and while looking down at his cat-like features, she hid her face behind her stolen pillow.
Anything really did mean anything, right? She wouldn’t get in trouble, right?
Through the darkness, her tanning hand reached out, pressing down against the man’s shoulder. She gave him a quick shake before retracting it to clutch desperately at the pillow.
She really, really, hoped that anything really meant anything.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:58 pm
His senses were nagging at him. Breaking through his sleep to announce to the groggy boy that someone was in his room. The shake to his shoulder re-affirmed this information, and he grudgingly opened an eye. A yawn, and he was pushing himself up sleepily with his elbow, shaking his grogginess off as best as he could to give his attention to the girl.
"Ee's everything all right, Tepin?" Another, wider yawn, running a hand through his messy hair. He had the strangest feeling of disorientation. He'd never had the role of being the one woken up in the middle of the night - that had been left to his parents.
He felt - hm. Just a little bit like a real adult.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:21 pm
Her voice was muffled by her pillow, she was using it to hide the embarrassment on her face. If this did not look childish, she didn’t know what would. But, inhaling a lungful of breath, she had to try.
“C-Can I sleep with you tonight?”
There! She said it! At least it was over! But the thumping of her heart was clear-- this was not over. Not until he either sent her back into the hall or welcomed her into his bed. So far, he had been quite nice, but Tepin wasn’t sure if this was the line he would draw.
Still, as she hugged the pillow closer, it would help to have someone nearby-- at least then she would not feel so utterly alone in the world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:48 pm
For a moment, his sleep-logged mind didn't quite hear what she asked - but once they processed through his tired brain, he broke into a smile, something in his heart warming.
Maybe Valeriu was made to be a parent. Maybe it was just the big brother in him. But nothing could've made him cave faster than those words. He remembered doing the exact same thing to his parents when he'd had nightmares as a younger child, always grateful every time they readily invited him in.
To be seen as someone just as reliable and reassuring made him ridiculously proud.
"Come on," he lifted the covers up for her to scoot under, moving over to make room. "Of course you can."
It might make his sleep a little harder - he tended to wake up at the tiniest of noises from Sydni, and she was in a whole different room. But it was worth a little bit of lost sleep to help soothe a scared kid.
It made him feel a little bit human again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:55 pm
On her hands and knees, one arm still latched around her pillow, she crawled under. With rustling and a bit of effort, her body righted itself-- head was now above the covers while the pillow was now held in both arms like a stuffed animal.
That was one of the many things she had forgotten to bring: stuffed animals for company.
She dared a look up to him-- just a quick one, before burying her face in her protective pillow once more.
“Thank you.”
Maybe, just maybe, she’d be able to get some well earned sleep with him by her side.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:36 pm
"You are most v'elcome, Tepin," he hummed back, tucking her in securely before settling down himself, reaching over to ruffle her hair warmly one last time.
"Good night, and sleep v'ell." One last shift to get comfortable in his protective position semi-curled around her, and he closed his own eyes for sleep.
Maybe they could both get some good rest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
