#lonlibra

It wasn’t the first time Libra hadhad nightmares. They were less frequent, sure, with the fighting over and Grimalong dead. The sudden calm didn’t make them any less intense, any lessfrightening. They were always brought on by this intense loneliness, some fearof abandonment that wouldn’t go away no matter how tightly Lon’qu held onto himat night.

Tonight, it was nothing but puredarkness, and when it finally took over, Libra found himself jolted up right inbed: hair, pasted to his face with sweat, and his breath heavy in his chest. Helooked down, trying to keep himself quiet, but watching in vain as Lon’qustirred from his rest.

“Bad dream?” he muttered lifelesslyinto his pillow. His eyes weren’t even opened, and save for the idle movementof his foot now tapping at the edge of the bed, Libra might have not known hewas awake at all.

“Something like that,” he replied.

Lon’qu’s eye opened, only a sliver,and he looked at Libra with some fancy of disbelief and awe, “You say thatevery time.”

Like clockwork.

Libra sighed, and Lon’qu closed hiseye again.

There it was, and Libra let out anothersigh. He slid down against the headboard and pulled the blankets up to hischest. Idly, he watched Lon’qu breathe. Like clockwork, every time, and it wascountless now.

“I’m sorry,” after a moment ofsilence.

Lon’qu opened his eye again, and daremight have rolled it in response. He pushed himself up, another hefty sigh onhis lips, and flopped so he could sit as well. The pillows would rebel laterwhen they laid back down to a flat headrest.

“Stop apologizing.”

“You seem bothered, is all,” Librashrugged. He kept his eyes away now, watching as he toyed with the edges of hisnails.

Lon’qu watched a second longerbefore reaching forward and taking Libra’s hand away from him. He held ittightly and leaned his head back against the board. Eyes, once more, closed,and another sigh from his belly.

“It’s that thing you do. The sighs—youwon’t look at me,” Libra’s voice was breathless.

Lon’qu did just that then, sighedand looked right at Libra. Libra was still away, glancing at some loose stringon the blanket, and his bangs hid his face like clockwork. Lon’qu reached outand brushed them back, curling the strands behind his ear. His face was red,and whether from embarrassment, a unshed rush of tears, or both, Lon’qu couldn’tplace.

“No… that’s not it,” Lon’qu decidedon. He sat back against the headboard, leaving Libra’s hair to fall back whereit had been.

Libra didn’t reply. Instead, hewent stiff, hunched over himself and cross legged on the bed. They were likethat for some time, what felt like hours. It was already late, and Lon’qu wantednothing better than to curl back down beneath the blankets and fall backasleep.

“Hey,” he started. His voice jerkedLibra back into reality, and their eyes finally met. “I’m with you, okay?”

Libra stared and watched as Lon’qubrought his hand up to his chest, beating Libra’s knuckles gently against itwith his own.

“Always.”