Fan Fiction ❯ Asleep ❯ Asleep ( Chapter 1 )

Asleep

The door was slightly ajar but no light was coming from the room behind it. Carefully, so as not to make any noise, he pushed the door further open and took a step forward but not farther than the doorway. He waited a moment for his eyes to adjust to the near darkness in the room, as the only light came from the window whose parted curtains allowed the full moon to send some silver rays inside. As he slowly became able to distinguish different contours, he sought out the bed, expecting it occupied. A frown crept onto his face. The bed was clearly empty, the blankets smooth, undisturbed - just as he had left it this morning. That wasn't right; he knew he must be in here. He wasn't anywhere else in the house. A bit worried now he began to look around, yet still not stepping fully into the room. As his gaze fell on the desk, a touch to the right of the window, he found what he was looking for and immediately relaxed again. There, sitting in a chair at the desk, head resting on folded arms, eyes closed, positively asleep, he was. The solitary candle with him on the desk had burned out recently, a thin thread of smoke lazily twirling its way up. The papers spread under his arms indicated that he had been at work when exhaustion caught him, overwhelmed him.

This was such a rare and unusual sight. He wasn't a slacker or prone to weaknesses. Everybody but him.

Taking advantage of the situation that presented itself, he began to study him. Staring without the danger of being caught and frowned at. Now there was no frown disturbing the fine features of the handsome face. Yet it wasn't relaxed, either. Lines of strain were creasing the forehead, the eyes shut a bit too tight, the mouth nearly disappearing as the lips were pressed together. No sight of relaxation. He was sure it wasn't the uncomfortable resting place alone. He knew him too well, knew that he just couldn't stop thinking, worrying. That happens when you think yourself responsible for everything and everyone. There was nothing like a simple off-switch for this. It haunted you in your dreams, made the nights your enemy and sleep an unwanted guest for you.

How often had he found himself alone in bed, his side long gone cold? Naturally this constant lack of sleep had its consequences. Ghostlike was his appearance nowadays. The dark hair in a stark contrast to the white skin, making it look even paler. The once so brilliant eyes were dull and bereft of all fire.

He was dying slowly, body and soul. Not yet but soon it would be too late and nothing would be left of the man he had been only a year ago. Why did he have to play the martyr so well? Why couldn't he just care for himself once in a while? The problem was he wasn't seeing what he was doing to himself. You could argue with him for hours about it but he would never acknowledge your words. It wasn't like he gave nothing to your opinion. While planning and scheming he listened to you, valued what you said. But as soon as you touched on the subject of his well-being he became unbelievable thick in the head and naïve. His health just wasn't open for discussion and anyway what was there to talk about?

Leaning against the doorframe he sighed in frustration. He himself wasn't any better or he would have turned and walked away long before it had reached this point. However here he was, staying by his side no matter what. Trying to stop the inevitable. Like Don Quixote and his futile fight against the windmill or …

Unwanted his eyes drifted back to the extinct candle. Or as if he was trying to protect a fleeting flame against a storm with only his bare hands.

Saddened he let his gaze drift back to the sleeper. Who still was completely unaware that he was being watched. Who always, even awake, seemed to be blissfully unaware that he was occupying someone else's mind so much. That he was the cause of worry and pain to someone he didn't consider one of his enemies.

Oh, that approach had been used as well. Don't you see what you are doing to me? Can't you see how much you are hurting me? Do you only care about everybody else but me? All this and more had been met with a blank look. Not even a glimpse of understanding in those deep eyes. Though the frown was there, directed at him as if he was being whimsy and egoistical, acting out of place. Maybe he was but you couldn't condemn one for trying, could you?

Any other time they understood each other without words. Just a look, sometimes not even that was needed to know what they meant, wanted. People thought them the perfect team in everything because of there unique understanding. The cliché of two-halves-of-a-whole came up from time to time. As if they were part of a romantic, heroic novel. Nothing seemed farther from the truth. He was sure a story likes theirs would never be written. People loved happy endings; books without them didn't sell well.

He had to fall for a hero of all people. No, normal wasn't good enough for him, the easy way not an option. So why was he complaining so much? Because he knew what the future would bring for all of them if he couldn't turn the wheel in time. Then he would take the part of the martyr. However he would do it only out of guilt and that was never a good motivation.

Not to forget, he was part of a team, unable to work alone, worse unable to function alone. Maybe the cliché wasn't so wrong after all. He had to find a way, no matter the costs. He had to take measures. Beginning with now.

He pushed himself from the doorframe, finally entering the room. He went to the bed first, folding the covers back. Quietly he approached the desk next. Putting his hand on a shoulder he leant closer, whispering in an ear, slowly awakening the man. His first response was only a groan, the eyes opened slowly, groggily. As his eyes focused on the figure standing over him, he nodded once and gave in to the cozening. Standing up carefully, still half asleep, he let himself be led to the near bed. His back was protesting the abuse it had to endure, sleeping in a chair was never a good idea. Together they made quick work of his clothes, discarding them on the floor without further thought. Soon he could sink between the sheets, his back thanking him for the change of position.

As strong arms wrapped around him from behind, pressing him against a warm body, he was already back asleep. But like the comfortable bed was soothing the cramps in his back, the second presence in bed with him smoothed out the lines of worry on his face. The warmth was filling his whole body and his thoughts. Making his dreams if not pleasant at least less painful.

Though lying behind him, his companion couldn't see his face, could not know how relaxed he looked now, how peaceful even.

~ End ~