[He was quiet as could be as he snuck into Shuichi's cabin, knowing that he's a heavy sleeper but preferring not to risk it anyway. While he's done this numerous times before already - "Of course I can pick the locks here too, it only took a little digging to figure out how. They're electronic, but that doesn't mean they're invincible," had been his lie to explain how the detective found himself waking up to Kokichi lounging on his couch, breakfast for the two of them on the coffee table the first time it had happened - this was more important. It didn't matter if he'd woken up and caught him any of those times.
This time it was different. It was the middle of the night rather than merely the early hours of the morning, and there were still fresh tears refusing to go away prickling at the corners of his eyes and dripping from his chin. He'd asked a few times already to cuddle with his friends before, but he'd never really needed it beyond nightmare prevention. Nights when he slept on his own and had nightmares he'd simply stay awake afterward, focus on something else, deal with it on his own. Sometimes he'd text Kaede but not often.
This was the worst one though...the nightmare that always got him, that he couldn't ever actually tell them about, that was hardest to ignore and forget and distract himself from. That's why he was cracking, giving in and seeking out some form of comfort. Once he was sure Shuichi was still asleep, he clicked the door shut behind and slipped out of his shoes, then made his way over to the other boy's bed. He had to wonder how his friend would react in the morning as he very carefully slipped under the covers. Would he be mad? Upset? It's not like he wasn't allowed to cuddle with him, but he's supposed to ask first, not just sneak in like this...
Maybe he'd get a good chance to tease him out of it. "Oh, you don't remember? How cruel~ We slept together, you know! That's why we're curled up like this~" Then again, maybe not. That might be too painful of a lie to tell. He'd think about it again in the morning, and instead focus on the now. At first he kept some space between them, just laying on his side and watching Shuichi sleep. Watching his chest rise and fall with his easy breathing, trying to slow his own down to match, maybe calm himself down that way...admiring his peaceful expression, and the features of his face. He can look without really being judged like this - aside from heavily judging himself - and so he does, once again trying to distract himself. Maybe try and separate this Shuichi from the one in his dream that always gives him such a cold, hateful and piercing glare...can this gentle person really make such an expression?
Well...of course he can. He already has, towards Kokichi at least. Frowning, he reaches a hand up to rub at his eyes, just willing himself to stop thinking about that. Okay, Plan C for "Forget about that nightmare". He scoots forward, closing the distance between them and hesitantly, carefully curls up against his side. He has to nudge Shuichi's arm out of the way a little, but that doesn't stop him. He's so light, there's no way he could wake him up like this, right? If Kaede can manages to sneak in here to sleep with him - and she must, he's convinced that she does - then he can too, easily. He's tiny and thin and light, Shuichi won't know that he's there. He tucks his cheek against his chest, choosing to ignore the fact that he's still crying and that'll surely get his shirt wet, and brings his hands up. His fingers curl slightly into the fabric of the other boy's nightshirt, rather than wrapping his arms around him like he wants to.]
...h-hey, Saihara-chan, this is okay right? Stay asleep if it is, okay?
[That totally counts as permission. If it really bothered him, he would wake up! It's not like he's the familiar body and weight that Shuichi would be used to, so he'd definitely wake up if he cared...]
2/4; Action
This time it was different. It was the middle of the night rather than merely the early hours of the morning, and there were still fresh tears refusing to go away prickling at the corners of his eyes and dripping from his chin. He'd asked a few times already to cuddle with his friends before, but he'd never really needed it beyond nightmare prevention. Nights when he slept on his own and had nightmares he'd simply stay awake afterward, focus on something else, deal with it on his own. Sometimes he'd text Kaede but not often.
This was the worst one though...the nightmare that always got him, that he couldn't ever actually tell them about, that was hardest to ignore and forget and distract himself from. That's why he was cracking, giving in and seeking out some form of comfort. Once he was sure Shuichi was still asleep, he clicked the door shut behind and slipped out of his shoes, then made his way over to the other boy's bed. He had to wonder how his friend would react in the morning as he very carefully slipped under the covers. Would he be mad? Upset? It's not like he wasn't allowed to cuddle with him, but he's supposed to ask first, not just sneak in like this...
Maybe he'd get a good chance to tease him out of it. "Oh, you don't remember? How cruel~ We slept together, you know! That's why we're curled up like this~" Then again, maybe not. That might be too painful of a lie to tell. He'd think about it again in the morning, and instead focus on the now. At first he kept some space between them, just laying on his side and watching Shuichi sleep. Watching his chest rise and fall with his easy breathing, trying to slow his own down to match, maybe calm himself down that way...admiring his peaceful expression, and the features of his face. He can look without really being judged like this - aside from heavily judging himself - and so he does, once again trying to distract himself. Maybe try and separate this Shuichi from the one in his dream that always gives him such a cold, hateful and piercing glare...can this gentle person really make such an expression?
Well...of course he can. He already has, towards Kokichi at least. Frowning, he reaches a hand up to rub at his eyes, just willing himself to stop thinking about that. Okay, Plan C for "Forget about that nightmare". He scoots forward, closing the distance between them and hesitantly, carefully curls up against his side. He has to nudge Shuichi's arm out of the way a little, but that doesn't stop him. He's so light, there's no way he could wake him up like this, right? If Kaede can manages to sneak in here to sleep with him - and she must, he's convinced that she does - then he can too, easily. He's tiny and thin and light, Shuichi won't know that he's there. He tucks his cheek against his chest, choosing to ignore the fact that he's still crying and that'll surely get his shirt wet, and brings his hands up. His fingers curl slightly into the fabric of the other boy's nightshirt, rather than wrapping his arms around him like he wants to.]
...h-hey, Saihara-chan, this is okay right? Stay asleep if it is, okay?
[That totally counts as permission. If it really bothered him, he would wake up! It's not like he's the familiar body and weight that Shuichi would be used to, so he'd definitely wake up if he cared...]