Save me from this nightmare | For thisblankpage

[noassgardian]

Spending the night hadn't exactly been the plan or anything. Billy had come over to hang out -- and hanging out had somehow led to talking way into the night had led to an offer to just crash, which Billy had gladly taken. He'd had fun anyway. Nick was an interesting guy and a good friend.

And Billy just really liked being around him when they had time.

Sometime during the night though, Billy woke up to pretty distinct sounds of distress. The bed shifting under someone restlessly moving was enough to get him to sit up and look over at Nick blearily in the dark of the room.

"Hey--" The word was out before he realized that Nick wouldn't be able to hear him anyway. He rubbed at his eyes to clear away some of the sleep, suddenly glad that they'd decided to sleep in the same room. Reaching over, he carefully shook Nick to wake him.

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[thisblankpage]

The best kind of nights were the ones that you didn't plan out anyway, and Nick kind of preferred it that way. Not many people had the patience for extended conversations that required the other party to write/type/whatever out their responses, and he was grateful that Billy did. He was fast becoming a good friend and someone he could easily confide in.

So when the hour got late, and then later still, it had been easy to suggest that Billy crash at his place rather than stumble home tired.

He might not be in Boulder anymore, but that didn't mean the nightmares from home hadn't followed him. Ray Booth, looming over him, trying to squeeze the life out of him, Tom's face white with terror as a tornado very nearly overtook them. The Dark Man. Red eyes in the cornfield. A disjointed slide show of images and terror.

Noise wouldn't wake him, but the firm hand on his shoulder did and Nick startled awake, eyes wide and chest heaving.

[noassgardian]

"Nick," he started when he saw him open his eyes, leaning towards him so he could see the movement of his mouth. Reading wasn't an issue when Nick was an interesting guy... but it did make these things more complicated. He couldn't ask what was wrong and expect an answer--

But he thought he had an idea anyway.

He softened his touch a little and settled for rubbing his shoulder in what he hoped was a soothing gesture. "It's okay now. I'm here."

[thisblankpage]

Nick's used to shaking himself out of nightmares. But he's not used to another person being so close by and the contact helps him pull himself together a hell of a lot faster. He scrubs at his face for a moment before reaching to squeeze Billy's hand in a grateful gesture.

It only takes a moment to fumble for his tablet. "Thanks. Bad dreams, I guess. I'm okay."

Well. Sort of okay.

[noassgardian]

"Are you sure?"

Once he's sure that Nick's at least a little bit calmer, he leans back against the bed with a sigh... he still stays pretty close though. It seemed to relax Nick a minute ago.

"You want to tell me about it or anything?"

[thisblankpage]

"I guess I thought I was done with the nightmares when I was pulled out of home. It was like all the usual nightmares, monsters in the dark hallways, someone lurking out there to get you, but after the plague, it was like it all got turned up." He drags in another breath, scrubbing a hand across his face.

"It was feeling helpless that I hated the most. And he offered me everything. To hear. To speak. If I just knelt."

"I was tempted, for just a moment to say yes. I still kind of hate myself for thinking it, but in that dream I could hear and it was magic."

[noassgardian]

Billy didn't know what to say... he couldn't imagine what an offer like that would mean -- and if he thought his magic wouldn't make matters worse, there was a wild moment there he thought he could maybe offer to try to help Nick.

Reality warping had gotten him into trouble before though and he really didn't have a strong clue as to what he was doing.

"I'm sorry," he murmured after a moment. "You're not bad for being tempted... anyone would be."

Billy hesitated only for a moment before he shifted closer -- enough to slide his arms around Nick and draw him into an embrace.

[thisblankpage]

The reassurance helps. Nick knows that he's only human, that an offer like that would be tempting. Sometimes when he closes his eyes he can still cling to those memories, the secret sound of rain, or the rich thrum of a guitar. But it wasn't worth the price.

Oh. Oh that's nice. Nick can't recall the last time he was held like that and his arms slide easily around Billy. Nestling his cheek against his chest, he can faintly feel the pulse of his heartbeat and it's close enough, almost like hearing. Nick can close his eyes for a moment and know that he's not alone.

He balances the tablet on his leg, using one hand to poke at it while the other arm stayed firmly around Billy. "Thanks. I know it's kind of silly, missing something I never even had, but there are times I really hate being deaf. Mute I could deal with. But deaf is so much harder."

[noassgardian]

Billy didn't mind it if Nick wanted to lean on him or keep close. He kept his arms around him securely, trying to offer whatever comfort he could. "It's not the same," he started after a moment.

"It's totally not the same, I know, but one time... my boyfriend and I were kidnapped along with some others-- and I can only use my magic if I can hear myself casting the spells. Well, the guy who held us took that away from me. he made sure I couldn't hear myself or anything else while he cut up my boyfriend in front of me. It was frustrating though." And well, horrible, but he tried really hard not to think about it...

"It was isolating. It has to be tough dealing with that constantly. If I could help you, I would... Just-- my magic isn't always reliable and I'd hate hurting you."

[thisblankpage]

"It wasn't as bad before the dreams. When I didn't know what I was missing out on, you know?" He nods thoughtfully, finally able to summon up a faint smile. "Thanks. But it's okay. Most of the time I don't even think about it. It's just who I am."

Staying close was a comfort as much as talking about it was and Nick would be lying if he didn't admit he was a little touch starved. Most people didn't want to get too close, like being deaf was somehow contagious. "Were you able to help him? Your boyfriend?"

[noassgardian]

"Yeah, I get it." He sighs a little, one hand absently rubbing over Nick's back and shoulders in what he hoped was at least a little bit comforting.

"Yeah... our friends found us, thankfully."