More Conservatorship AU??
(It’s more likely than you think)
Stanford felt somewhat awkward and uncomfortable—mentally that was. Physically he was perfectly comfortable. He just wasn’t used to prolonged, close contact with another person. It had been a very long time since Stanford had done anything like cuddling with anyone. Not since he was a child, certainly.
Yet here he was now, a fully grown man all but cuddling another fully grown man. Although, said fully grown man was not mentally a fully grown man at the current moment. But it was still awkward regardless.
Unfortunately, it had also been the only way to calm Stanley down. He’d had the biggest meltdown Stanford had seen so far shortly after dinner, and none of Stanford’s usual tactics worked in helping. Stanley had regressed to a much younger age than usual, and could not be consoled by any means.
Until Stanford had tried to hug him in a desperate, last-ditch effort, and Stanley had clung to him like a limpet, unashamedly seeking comfort and wanting to be held.
That had been half an hour ago. Stanford had since successfully moved them to the couch, and Stanley had fallen asleep in his arms after crying his eyes out. Sleep was now also pulling at Stanford’s lids, the couch beneath him feeling plush and cozy. Stanley was like a heavy blanket on him, his upper half in Stanford’s lap, cradled in Stanford’s arms as he slept.
Practically rocking his grown brother to sleep had not been something Stanford had ever wanted to do, but a sleeping Stanley was better than a screaming, crying, and overwhelmed Stanley. Stanford was just glad that breakdown was over. He’d clean up the mess Stanley had made during it in the morning.
Part of him wondered if he should wake Stanley and try to get him to bed—so that Stanford could go to bed too—but he was loathe to disturb the peace he’d worked so hard for. Surely it wouldn’t be so bad to just close his eyes for a bit where he was. He could move them to their rooms later. He’d just rest for a little while first.
Stanford let his eyes drift shut, his arms tightening ever so slightly around Stanley, who sniffled in his sleep, nosing further into Stanford’s sweater. With an exhausted sigh, Stanford’s head thumped back against the couch and he slumped further down, holding his brother as sleep took him.
