she  can  feel  the  time  between  blinks  growing  shorter  and  shorter  ,  the  dreamy  allure  of  unconsciousness  just  around  the  corner  . runa  even  attempts  to  let  out  a  laugh  as  he  responds  to  her  teasing  question  about  them  sleeping  together  ,  but  the  soft  hmph  is  muffled  by  the  comforter  sheâs  already  buried  half  her  face  under  ,  the  very  comforter  thatâs  pulled  away  from  her  just  moments  later  .  she  can  hear  him  say  her  name  ,  his  tone  a  lot  of  things  ,  exhausted  definitely  being  one  of  them  .  so  she  forces  her  dark  eyes  open  once  again  ,  sleepy  gaze  focusing  on  his  face  .  she  hadnât  realized  heâd  leaned  down  so  close  ,  a  wasted  attempt  to  get  her  to  hear  him  out  no  doubt  ,  and  she  can  see  heâs  realized  it  too  when  that  defeated  sigh  passes  from  between  his  lips  .  â  thatâs  right  ,  â  she  answers  ,  the  corners  of  her  mouth  lifting  up  just  the  tiniest  bit  into  what  could  have  been  a  smile  .  itâs  not  amusement  this  time  ,  but  gratitude  that  prompts  the  gesture  .  heâd  opened  the  door  .  he  didnât  have  to  open  the  door  ,  but  he  did  ,  and  now  he  was  giving  her  his  bed  .  it  didnât  matter  that  sheâd  woken  him  up  ,  or  that  sheâd  spent  the  night  with  someone  he  didnât  like   âââââ  he  wasnât  holding  any  of  it  against  her  .  perhaps  itâs  exhaustion  thatâs  holding  him  back  ,  or  that  heâs realized  itâs  easier  to  give  into  her  whims  than  to  try  and  fight  them  ,  or  maybe  heâs  planning  on  smothering  her  as  soon  as  she  drifts  off  to  sleep  .  whatever  it  was  ,  he  was  still  acting  selflessly  in  a  moment  she  needed  it  .  it  reminds  her  of  liam  .  the  realization  is  followed  by  a  hollow  ache  some  place  deep  inside  her  chest  ,  and  maybe  thatâs  why  her  fingers  curl  around  the  fabric  of  aceâs  shirt  ,  momentarily  holding  him  in  place  .  â  wait  ,  â   she  says  ,  although  sheâs  unsure  what  exactly  sheâs  asking  him  to  wait  for  .  all  she  knows  as  that  sheâs  grateful  ,  that  sheâs  tired  ,  that  itâs  warm  where  she  is  but  itâd  be  warmer  if  he  stayed  .  â  can  you  just  â  can  you  just  lie  down  here  for  a  second  ? â  the  soft  lull  of  her  voice  is  followed  by  an  exhausted  sigh  of  her  own  ,  her  grip  falling  away  as  she  drops  her  hand   .  â  just  until  i  fall  asleep  ,  â  she  says  ,  eyes  closing  again  as  if  to  signify  just  how  close  she  is  to  doing  so  .  â  then  you  can  go  over  there  .  no  bedtime  story  ,  i  pinky  swear  ,  â  she  promises  ,  holding  the  finger  up  as  long  as  she  could  manage  before  gravity  forces  it  back  down  .  Â
ace finds himself still the moment the otherâs fingertips meet the material of his shirt, features twisting faintly enough to show his sudden confusion. whatever else it was she needed, ace truly didnât know if he had the energy left in him to provide it. ever since his hands pressed back into the lost comfort of the bedsheets, he could feel himself slowly being lulled in the familiar drowsiness that had left him. but once runa speaks again, her words admittedly catch him off guard -- and it takes a moment for them to settle within him. he understands her request, realizes that the most rational thing to do is what she has asked, but his movements are laced with an uncertain hesitance. his attention shifts from her tired face, dark hues beginning to scope the room as he weighs his options. thereâs two â he could decline and still have the other bed all to himself, resist the urge to give in to her consistent pleading once again. or he could make it all so easy, simply say nothing at all and fit himself in the comfort that she was willing to give. yet heâs pulled back as he watches her raise her pinky, the small finger being drawn away from him just as soon as itâs offered. and thereâs a faint smile that hangs on his lips at the action, lazily put and genuine, but again, leaving him just as quickly. they were both so drained -- it wouldnât hurt to give in to her just once more, would it ? itâs an innocent request from the other, he knows that. to do something as easy and uninvolved as lay with her. but heâs tentative to the intimacy it offers. he always had been, so what would make now any different ? âââ yet . . before he knows it, his body has already surrendered. itâs one step ahead of him as he pulls the blanket back from runa like he did before, though this time to crawl underneath it. the warmth it all emits immediately pulls him in and ace doesnât say a word. too content in the feeling of tranquility taking over his entirety as he climbs in. instead, he allows the room to fall quiet as he fits himself against her. the oversized comforter is dragged back up to his shoulders as he squirms into place underneath it, one of his arms reaching out to wrap around runa just long enough to pull her into his side before he lets go. heavy eyes are already struggling to remain open, his cheek pressing into the softness of the pillow. â no more, â he mumbles. but the context is lost in the exhaustion of his head. he didnât exactly know himself what no more meant â maybe it was merely no more requesting things from him, too tired and finally giving up for the rest of the night. or maybe it meant that this was the last time heâd let this happen. though whichever it may be, the idea falls to the back of his mind as heâs already easing into a sleep, no intentions on moving beds any time soon.