"I went a week, once. Without sleep. Silas and Rico teamed on me, though. Locked me in a broom closet, and before I knew it, I was asleep." She said with a shrug, scooting down on the bed anyway. "Fine. Just to avoid another closet."
Raymond stood up from the bed and walked over to the light switch, flicking it in the down position before walking back over to the bed. The room was dark, but not pitch black, so he could slip under the covers with relative ease.
Khione set her phone on the night stand, rolling over onto her side without slipping under the covers. She was facing Raymond, eyes closed again, but a decent distance away. “Feels so weird. I’m used to Rico next to me.”
"Is….that what you need?" Raymond asked, turning hid head to look at her. God, that sounded so weird.
"Hm?" She popped an eye open to look at him, definitely looking exhausted. "Not sure what you're askin', Ray."
"Do you need me to move closer?" he asked slowly, rolling over so he could face her without craning his neck.
She studied him for a moment before closing her eyes, humming. "If you're cool with it. If not, stay where you're at, and I can manage. I was commenting on the fact that it's weird havin' someone other than Rico sleep in the same bed."
After a moment of hesitation, he scooted his way over to her, stopping about an inch away from her and settling into the spot. "Is this good?"
"Yeah. Yeah, that's good." She said with a nod, shifting to get a bit more comfortable. If she was sleeping alone, she always faced the door. But with someone else, she preferred facing them, being able to wake up and see them right there.
Raymond laid on his back, staring up at the ceiling as if he was wide awake. He never slept anyway else. "Alright. Goodnight."
"'Night, Ray." Her words were slowing again, more rapidly this time, as sleep snuck up behind her with a baseball bat. "'S good t' see you again."
"It's good to see you again, too," he mumbled, sleep coming to him much slower, with a pillow instead of a bat.
((Weeeeeeeee should skip forward to something. Nightmare or morning?))
(Nightmare would be a bit more drama, since you like it so much)
When Khione woke from her nightmare, it was violently. She jerked straight up, hand reaching for the gun she kept under her pillow before she paused. This wasn’t the couch, or Rico’s bed. You’re at Ray’s place. She reminded herself, over and over again as she pressed her hand to her chest instead, willing her heart to slow and her heavy and panicked breathing to quiet. She didn’t want to wake Raymond.
It was too late for that. Raymond grunted slightly as his eyes opened and he sat up, yawning loudly.
"Mmmhph?" he said, turning to Khione with a slightly confused expression.
“S-sorry.” Khione stuttered out, curling up to hide the trembling as well as she could. “Go back to sleep, Ray.” ”What are you doing all alone, Frost? Don’t you know pretty girls should be careful around here?” Scrambling for the sleeves of the hoodie, she pulled them up, pressing her fingernails into her arms to try and clear her head using the pain.
"You don't stutter," he mumbled, his confused expression changing into a frown. "What was the dream about?"
She shook her head hurriedly. “Nothing. It’s nothing. Just something that happened long enough ago I should be over it.”
"That's not true," he insisted, shaking the last bit of sleep from his eyes and focusing on Khione. "When there's things to get over, you get over it. This is something serious."
She didn’t respond for a bit, what was only maybe a minute but felt like a thousand. “God, I-I can still feels his hands. It’s been years. I should’ve gotten over it. It’s been long enough.” ”You don’t get to run, sweetheart.” At least it hadn’t been the other nightmare.
Raymond frowned, conflicted between anger and sadness. He was too tired to be angry, so he just scooted the rest of the way over to Khione and wrapped an arm around her shoulders again.
"I….when did this happen?"
“Started after…I first joined the Reapers. He knew. Right after o passed.” She whispered, still shaking her head. It slowed the other shaking. “Last time was…out of nowhere. Right after Rico and I moved.”
"Why didn't you even tell me?" he asked, beginning to gently rub the shoulder his hand rested on. "I could have helped you. Maybe not prevent it, but….still."
(I made a typo, hold up)
(fixed it)
“Nothin’ t’ be done. Just had to ignore it. There were more important things to focus on.” She said, the running of her shoulder a bit more comforting than she’d expected. “I had things to do.”
"That doesn't make any sense," he said, his hand pausing from rubbing her shoulder. "Having things to do doesn't mean you don't ask for help."
“Too busy. I don’t need help, anyway.” She said, managing to take a full and steady breath. “I’m supposed to be strong. That’s my job. Strong enough to be in charge. Can’t do that if I need help.”
"Being strong has nothing to do with needing help," he said, his voice catching a bit more heat than usual. "And if you didn't need help, you wouldn't have nightmares, Khione."