Asher couldn't sleep. It's not like insomnia was something new to him, years of abusing caffeine from the cans and matches to be played and won taking a toll on him, catching up in the least expected and desired moments.
But at least for once, he was glad to be able to stay awake. With another threat looming over the pack, he couldn't bring himself to calm down fully.
The thunder roared outside, summer heat finally coming down with lighting that ripped the sky in half and a sound that rumbled the dark bedroom, casting faint and temporary glow that disappeared as quickly as it happened. His hand reached for the edge of a duvet that slipped from his chest, the scar going right through his sternum, aching a different type of pain.
His spouse, the one he swore every single day and night to protect with all his might, stirred in his arms, head lolling gently to the side, neck resting at an angle that would for sure make it hurt in the morning. But as he tried to help them back into more comfortable position, they stirred, bleary eyes blinking themselves awake.
"Shhh. Go back to sleep, Babe."
The analog clock his bedside table ticked the seconds away, alarm set on for a run he wasn't sure whether to take or not. They would tell him to go, push him out the doors if they had to, but was it smart to leave them alone? Scratch that, was it safe?
He was losing his mind. Or maybe it was that second can of redbull he definitely shouldn't have drunk so late.
"You're squeezing too much." Right. He forgot himself a little.
"Sorry. Can't control it." he finally eased the hug, his arms still lingering on them, making sure they were close to him. Where he could take care of them, if necessary.
"Do you want me to talk a little?" it always helped before. Putting his buzzing mind at ease when it was working itself into overdrive may have been hard enough, but somehow their voice worked better than warm milk, counting sheep and sleeping medicine combined.
He had no heart to ask, knowing how late it was. How busy their day would be after waking up few hours later, but they already knew what he needed. Marriage may have not worked the same as a true mate bond, but they made it work without the convenience of magic.
"There's this guy in the office next doors, he always occupies the vending machine–"
The rest of the story blurred, words jumbed into mess that could have been a made up thing, he didn't care. It was about their voice amd them still cuddling close to him, close enough that if he was shifted, his tail would curl up around them like a shield to ward anything bad.
He still didn't go to sleep, his mind too loud. But he at least closed his eyes and started breathing easier, until their speech turned more slurred and they fell asleep again, his precious mate too tired to stay up longer.
That was fine, he could keep watch. And them in his arms, for as long as was necessary, which to him meant forever.
