starchilde_lost | in the stillness of remembering what you had and what you lost [Aidan]

Her sleep was, unsurprisingly, filled with nightmares and anxiety. The kinds of dreams she hadn't had in months where family accused her of letting them die and scores of enemies waited in the shadows to tear what little happiness she had apart. She ran through cemeteries and camps and ruined school halls and all the while she knew there was no hope, there was nothing she could do. She would awake, disoriented, crying and afraid and the only thing that kept her grounded was the feel of warm arms around her.

Aidan didn't leave. Every time she woke up he was there, even if she was pretty sure he was asleep, he was still there. And not once did she wake up thinking he was anyone else. It surprised the hell out of her, she thought at least once she'd think she was back on the Jammer with Korvus, but nope, she always knew it was him. She was glad for it, too even if she didn't want to think about why that was too much.

Eventually, she gave up on sleep, lying awake and watching the sun spill through the windows. At some point she'd need to get up, take a shower, eat something, but right now she just snuggled back against the warm body in her bed, glad it was there. Glad he was there.

Threaded | Flat

Aidan slept better than Rachel, although it wasn't entirely peaceful. She continually tossed and turned, but he didn't mind. Each time he was forced closer to consciousness, he pressed closer and made sure that an arm was wrapped around her, holding her close and just being a solid presence there.

Sometimes, when he didn't think it would wake her, he'd whisper reassurances to her. No false platitudes or Hallmark sentiments, just letting her know that someone was there for her and cared for her. Reminding her that it wasn't her fault and that she shouldn't blame herself.

When he finally woke up, the sun had already risen and Rachel was awake next to him. He half thought she might have been gone when he woke up, remembering how the last time they had spent the night together she wasn't comfortable waking up with him next to her. Entirely different circumstances, but still he had wondered.

"How you feeling?" he asked, snuggling up closer to her and breathing deeply.

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