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 she’s already buried half her face under , the very comforter that’s 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 hadn’t realized he’d leaned down so close , a wasted attempt to get her to hear him out no doubt , and she can see he’s realized it too when that defeated sigh passes from between his lips . “ that’s right , ” she answers , the corners of her mouth lifting up just the tiniest bit into what could have been a smile . it’s not amusement this time , but gratitude that prompts the gesture . he’d opened the door . he didn’t have to open the door , but he did , and now he was giving her his bed . it didn’t matter that she’d woken him up , or that she’d spent the night with someone he didn’t like ––––– he wasn’t holding any of it against her . perhaps it’s exhaustion that’s holding him back , or that he’s realized it’s easier to give into her whims than to try and fight them , or maybe he’s 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 that’s why her fingers curl around the fabric of ace’s shirt , momentarily holding him in place . “ wait , ” she says , although she’s unsure what exactly she’s asking him to wait for . all she knows as that she’s grateful , that she’s tired , that it’s warm where she is but it’d be warmer if he stayed . “ can you just — can you just lie down here for a second ? ” the soft lull of her voice is followed by an exhausted sigh of her own , her grip falling away as she drops her hand . “ just until i fall asleep , ” she says , eyes closing again as if to signify just how close she is to doing so . “ then you can go over there . no bedtime story , i pinky swear , ” she promises , holding the finger up as long as she could manage before gravity forces it back down .
ace finds himself still the moment the other’s fingertips meet the material of his shirt, features twisting faintly enough to show his sudden confusion. whatever else it was she needed, ace truly didn’t 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. there’s two — 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 he’s pulled back as he watches her raise her pinky, the small finger being drawn away from him just as soon as it’s offered. and there’s 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 wouldn’t hurt to give in to her just once more, would it ? it’s an innocent request from the other, he knows that. to do something as easy and uninvolved as lay with her. but he’s tentative to the intimacy it offers. he always had been, so what would make now any different ? ——— yet . . before he knows it, his body has already surrendered. it’s 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 doesn’t 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. “ no more, ” he mumbles. but the context is lost in the exhaustion of his head. he didn’t exactly know himself what no more meant — 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 he’d let this happen. though whichever it may be, the idea falls to the back of his mind as he’s already easing into a sleep, no intentions on moving beds any time soon.
