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Julian had no idea how long he’d been awake, sapphire eyes wide and locked onto the textured ceiling of his new bedroom. The chocolate lab Staccato was clutched tightly to his body and the two of them (well, mostly Julian) had built a small blanket fortress to hide inside. Something was scratching on the roof, something… monstrous and alien. Was it the Negaverse?? Was it a youma??? The young man couldn’t help but closely examine that fear, for it was a real possibility - the Negaverse could be out to find him again and drag him back to the darkness of the Rift. Staccato whined from being held too tightly and that was it for Julian - they were going to find Roddy, who was big and strong and… not really scary, but still bigger than the two of them…

Scritch scritch scritch…

With a half-stifled yelp, both the dog and the young man fell out of bed and scrambled down the the hall to where one Roderick Bolasco was fast asleep. The man could sleep through earthquakes. Julian was convinced of this. Wearing an oversized shirt with a faded yellow star on the front and some well-loved pajama pants from Delilah, the Scooby and Shaggy stand-ins nearly leapt atop the poor larger man when the scratching grow louder.

Staccato licked Roddy’s face with Julian tried to shake him away. “R-roddy! Roddy! There’s… Roddy, wake up! There’s a--” Scritch scritch scritch. “---there’sathingontheroofroddywakeuppleasepleaseplease!!!”

Julian was squished into Roderick's side, between his roommate and the wall, scurrying under the blankets as if that would protect him from whatever was scratching on the roof. He was sure it was unholy, something awful, something that possibly came from the Rift. Would Roddy understand? As Bazzite, he was somewhat of an exception - sometimes able to communicate and think and feel as a human might, exempt from the horrible hunger and instinct to kill.

With a soft and concerned sigh, Julian wrapped an arm around Roddy's bicep. "Roddy... what if... what if it's the Negaverse? What if it's a youma? I don't... want you to get hurt... Maybe... Maybe it's a raccoon or something... something... not super super bad."

He was frightened, sure, but Roddy's safety meant more than his own mental relief. Even Staccato seemed more interested in snuggling than investigating. Already the pup was making himself comfortable on the opposite side of Roddy, though his fluffy ears twitched every time the scratching sound happened. Julian's blue eyes were locked onto the ceiling for a few tense moments, his grip tightening on the larger man's arm. "...do you think it's the Negaverse...? Do you think they... they found me...?"

Julian certainly hoped not, for that would place Roddy in immense danger, and a Page simply couldn't withstand the overwhelming assault the Negaverse could muster. The room was darkened, comfortable and warm. Aside from the scratching on the roof, nothing was amiss. Julian sighed and wondered if more blankets would make him feel more secure.

The young man tried to stifle a whine as Roddy pulled him in for a hug. One thing Julian learned immediately was that the larger man was much warmer than the people he was used to - literally. Julian himself ran cold, likely a leftover from being a giant insect trapped in a place with no sunlight. He practically lived in sweaters and cardigans and his hands and feet were icy to the touch. Roddy was the exact opposite - always warm and sometimes to the point of discomfort.

Roderick was a kind and gentle soul, so much that Julian still harbored a great deal of thick, black guilt in his delicate heart. As a youma, he'd wrapped razor teeth around Roddy's arm and ruined a beautiful tattoo his sister had created. Even now, the artwork was deformed and discolored from bruising and blood loss. He knew Roddy didn't blame him for his actions, but Julian blamed himself. He remembered so little of that life, but what he did remember was horrifying.

It kept him up at night.

With a sniffle, Julian settled against Roddy's chest, resting his head at the junction of Roddy's neck and shoulder. He was right - their furry companion seemed more agitated by Julian's reaction than by the sounds themselves. If anyone would know of something amiss, it would be Staccato - superior hearing had its perks. This knowledge, combined with Roddy's warmth, put his mind at ease. "Mmm... you're right, Roddy. Just..."

Lifting his head, despite knowing Roddy couldn't see his eyes very well in the darkness, Julian nudged beneath the larger man's chin with his puffy hair. "...I just... worry about you. I shouldn't worry about me. That's selfish. I don't want to be selfish... I just... don't want you to go out there and get hurt. You're right. If Staccato isn't scared, then," Yaaaawn. "...then, I'm not so scared, either..."

Maybe it was the adrenaline wearing off, but Julian was feeling incredibly sleepy. Staccato must've known it as well, for the dog scooted up next to the two of them for some serious snuggle time.