#weapongirl

"Kalim — ?" Her voice is quiet when she speaks, standing in the doorway to his room. She doesn't fidget; unnaturally still, as always. But her eyes are nervous. "Can I... sleep with you? I've been having bad dreams, and I think it would... help."

          Despite being so soft, Eve’s voice feels so loud against the night, and Kalim rouses at the sound of it. Being an older brother, he’s familiar with his own siblings coming to seek comfort from nightmares of their own, and seeing Eve, alone in his doorway, haloed by the faint light from the hall, it reminds him of the sight. Since coming here, there’s no little bodies clambering into his bed. No tears needing to be wiped. No bedtime stories being told. 

          Kalim knows his siblings fare fine without him, but sometimes he regrets not being able to be with them when they need him most. Since growing apart from Jamil, he suspects that maybe he’s needed them more than they’ve ever needed him. But now, Eve needs him. 

          “Of course,” he replies softly as he sits up, all messy bedhead and sleepy red eyes. He rearranges the plethora of pillows and pulls back the covers on the other side of the bed for her. “You can sleep here.” 

          Once Eve’s in bed, he pulls the covers around her, carefully tucking her in, a movement so familiar yet so strange to do here at school. Maybe this all feels the same for her—strange yet familiar. This isn’t her world, her home, or her bed, but Kalim can help try and make it as close as possible. Even if it’s only by helping her get a good night’s rest. 

          Kalim lays back down himself and reaches for her hand, yet another quiet comfort in the night. That way, if she wakes and feels alone in a world unknown, she’ll know he’s right there. 

          “Goodnight, Eve.”