Good Things Never Last

Chapter 73

Weeks had flown by, days had passed in the blink of an eye as I grew back the bond with Dream my mind was unfamiliar with. My sleep routine had gotten out of hand, turning me into a nocturnal creature as I slept during the day and patrolled at night. Nothing interesting had happened within the lands of L'Manburg, leaving me bored and disappointed.

I wanted some sort of drama, who wouldn't?

I was bored and pumped up on adrenaline as I walked back home. It was already the early hours of the morning, the winter breeze brushing against my skin as the trees opened up to present the place I now called home. I sighed as I pulled open the door and went inside to find an unsettling silence. It didn't surprise me however, it was way too early for anyone to be awake, especially when there was no need for them to be.

A tiny thudding noise resonated throughout the room as I made my way to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I thought nothing of it, thinking it was simply the pipe or something, but as the sound rang again, I paid closer attention. It was coming from the floor below me, and it sounded like it was moving, which piqued my interest.

I stumbled over to the staircase and quickly ran down it, gulping down the rest of my water. Hearing the sound again, I followed it along a corridor, carefully avoiding slipping on the hardwood floor. I rushed past a few doors, but when the noise came back, I had to backtrack until I was in front of one.

I didn't even hesitate as I brought my fist to the door, quickly knocking it before barging inside. The room wasn't the smallest ever, yet it still wasn't huge, with pure black walls and closed emerald green curtains. To my right was a queen-sized four-poster bed with black sheets. I took a step forwards onto the shiny oak floor and shifted my sight to the hooded man seated at the far end of the room, his back to me. His heavy breathing filled the room as he curled up in the back corner, slowly rocking back and forth.

"What?"
I tilted my head slightly, readjusting my mask as I did so.
"I heard a noise and I wanted to check if you were alr-"
He didn't move from his spot, but snorted and shook his head slightly.
"Get out"
I simply tutted and crossed my arms in front of my chest.
"No can do Mr green man"
I walked over to his gigantic bed and sat down.

"I came to see what was wrong and I'm not leaving without an answer"
I was greeted with quiet as I fidgeted with my thumbs, unsure of what to do.
"So you're just going to give me the silent treatment?"
Of course, he didn't say anything, merely shifting slightly in his upright stance, causing a flare of scarlet to flash across my vision.
"Why's there blood on your hand?"
Silence.
"Dream, why is there blood on your hand?"

"Clay. Call me Clay"
I hesitated for a second, taken aback by the fact that he had just told me his name out of the blue.
"Well then Clay, why's there blood on your hand?"
His breathing seemed to get caught in his throat for a second as he contemplated how to responding.
"I punched the wall..."
His voice faded away as he lowered his head, probably to look at his bleeding knuckles.
"I wanted it to go away..."

I got off the bed slowly, making sure I didn't make any noise, and tiptoed over to his curled-up body before sinking to the floor behind him. I instinctively wrapped my arms over his torso, causing the boy to stiffen in his place.
"What are you doing?"

As I became more comfortable on the floor, I began to carefully draw him towards me.
"Giving you a hug, what does it look like?"
My arms were still wrapped around his torso as his head came to rest on my chest. For some strange reason, it felt natural, as if it was something I was supposed to do, no matter how strange it was. It felt like I was with someone I'd known my entire life almost, even though I couldn't remember a single bit of it. But it just felt right.

I felt his fatigued body relax against my own as I began to play with his uncovered hair between my fingers, gently humming to myself as I did so.
"You know it's okay to not be okay?"
I just heard a sort of hum in agreement as the boy in my arms turned over, wrapping his own arms around my torso before nestling into my side. In any other sort of situation, I would've asked him how the hell the mask wasn't digging into his face or something, but I didn't want to ruin the moment. All that mattered was him.

As he slowly drifted asleep in my arms, his breathing became slower. It was at that moment that something dawned on me. It wasn't the smile on my face or the fact I had a boy asleep in my arms. It was the fact that I felt a tingling sensation in my abdomen. Something I don't recall feeling for a long time.

Butterflies

I couldn't understand why, but it was a rather peculiar situation I found myself in, plus I was a rather touch-deprived person, so maybe it was that. No matter what it was caused by, the feeling was odd but not uncomfortable. It was still weird though.

"I'm sorry"
His voice was deep and husky but soft and sweet all at the same time, sending shivers down my spine after nearly half an hour of silence.
"What?"
He shifted ever so slightly against me as his voice became muffled.
"I'm sorry...I wanted you to be safe from it..."
That was all I could make out of his jumbled words.
"Shhh, it's okay"
I just got a small huff in response, which was quickly followed by mild snoring.

The last thing I remember was the feeling of his fluffy hair between my fingers before my eyes finally fluttered shut.