@stonedeafdog asked: He’s got a pain in his back that radiates everytime he moves. When he feels his partner move from bed , a fast metal hand moves to grab his wrist. [ stay ] he weakly pleads.
He couldn’t sleep. Plain and simple, he couldn’t get his mind to calm down, shut up, and rest. Staring at the ceiling, the clock on the bedside table reflecting time’s persistent march forward, he realized his counting tactic wasn’t working. It happened from time to time, probably at least once every week or two if he was honest. The culprits differed---work, stress, nightmares, or merely restless energy he had no idea what to do with. Sometimes, it was a combination of all the above.
Whatever it was now, he didn’t want to bother Emil with it. He deserved to get as much sleep as possible. There was a book in the other room he could read for a while until he tired himself out. What was it about again? Something about trains. Quietly, he slipped the covers off himself, and shifted one leg off the bed.
That was as far as he got. A metal hand grabbed his wrist, and he stopped moving. One word, one weak plea from his partner, and he acquiesced. He relaxed back into bed, pulling the covers back over him before shifting closer to Emil. No doubt he struggled to fall asleep as well. How much pain was he in? Moreover, was there anything he could do to help? If neither of them could sleep, the least he could do was help alleviate pain...
“Guide my hand to where the pain is.” He hadn’t pulled away, after all. Why would he? “I’ll do what I can to help. I’m not going anywhere.”