Nightlight
Red vs Blue fic
561 words | [G] There are still a lot Wash has to learn about the inner workings of Blue base now that Epsilon is gone. Like Caboose's sleeping habits.
The knock on the door is light. For a moment, Wash isnât sure he heard anything, but there it is again. A soft tap, tap, tap. He rolls over, checking the time on his computer terminal. 0124.
âThis better be important,â he grumbles, hauling himself out of bed. âI was sleeping good. Sort of.â
Heâs ready to dress-down the idiot waking him up, but itâs Caboose standing there, shifting from foot to foot and fiddling with the edge of his t-shirt.
âCaboose?â
âOh, hey, Agent Washington. Did I wake you up?â
âYes, you did. Itâs one-thirty in the morning, Caboose. Whatâs wrong?â
âOh.â He pulls on the hem so hard it tears. His shoulders slump. âI was just kind of having a problem.â
Washâs brain is still fuzzy from sleep, and he really doesnât feel like dealing with Caboose tonight, but he pulls in all his frustration. âWhat kind of problem?â
âI was just, uh, scared. Itâs not a big deal. Iâll leave you alone now.â
Wash snags Cabooseâs arm as he turns away. âWait, Caboose, why were you scared? Did you have a bad dream? Did something happen?â
Caboose shakes his head then looks at his feet. âIâm afraid of the dark,â he whispers.
âYou are?â Wash frowns. âYou never said anything about it before.â
âItâs not so much the dark thatâs scary but the not being able to see anything. Church used toâŚâ He takes a deep breath like talking about Church physically pains him. Maybe it does. âSometimes he would stay with me and be glowy so it wasnât so scary. He wouldnât talk unless to tell me to stop snoring, but he would stay.â
âOh.â Wash pushes a hand through his hairâhis annoyance evaporating. âBut Church has been gone for a while,â he says as gently as he can. âWhat have you been doing since then?â
Caboose shrugs. âI had a flashlight. It wasnât as good as glowy Church. It died. Now itâs too dark.â
âThen just turn the overhead light on.â
âThen itâs too bright.â
Wash pinches the bridge of his nose. âCaboose-â His reprimand dies on his tongue when he sees the loneliness in the other manâs eyes. He has a feeling this isnât just about the dark. âItâs okay, Caboose. You can stay here tonight, and weâll find you some batteries in the morning.â
Caboose looks unsure until Wash flips on the computerâa soft blue glow filling the room. âOkay?â
His face lights up. âItâs just like Church!â
Tossing an extra blanket and pillow on the floor, Wash tries to hide his smile. âSo should I yell at you when you snore, too?â
âThat would be great,â Caboose chirps.
Wash opens his mouth to tell Caboose he was joking but decides itâs not worth the energy. Instead, he climbs into bed, pulling the blanket up to his chin. âGood night, Caboose.â
âGood night, Agent Washington.â Caboose snuggles into his blanket, and a moment later, heâs snoring. Loudly.
Wash canât decide if he wants to cry or laugh. âStop snoring!â he barks in his best âChurchâ voice.
Caboose rolls over with a snort and mumbles something that sounds like, âperfect,â in a content voice before falling back asleep.
Wash shakes his head. Itâs going to be a long night, he thinks as Caboose starts to snore again. A really long night.
