Snow squinted up at the round LED light in his face and tried to raise his hand to shield his eyes. But... He couldn't lift it. He settled for a groan and turned his head to the side. The simple motion had him feeling sick as everything spun and moved with him. He swallowed against the bile rising in his throat.
"Snow?"
He heard Nicholas say, but he could only make out unclear shapes and a shadow in the corner. It was like looking through a raindrop through the window, everything a jumble of shapes and lights and blurred edges.
"I can't... I can't see."
"Snow..."
The voice had taken on a deeper, more demonic tone and made all the hairs rise on his skin. He felt something sharp in his skin and screamed at the fire that entered his veins.
Snow gasped and opened his eyes as he was shaken from his sleep.
"Snow!"
He held onto the wrists on his shoulders and stared wide eyed up at the figure above him. He saw brown hair through his blurred vision and pulled the other down to his lips. Before they could meet, his face was pushed away.
"Snow! What are you doing?"
He blinked and blinked until his vision cleared and he was more aware of where he was and who was over him.
"Get out."
Nicholas blinked at him and didn't move.
"You just tried to kiss me."
"Yes. Thanks for stating the obvious. Get out."
"Do you like me?"
Snow glared at him.
"No. Not the way you think I do. You just looked like him for a moment."
Snow put a hand over his mouth and squeezed his eyes closed. Nicholas gulped and left the room in a hurry. He went down to Skins and the others.
"This feels cruel."
"What does?"
Skins asked him. She didn't look up from where she was tending to Narcolepse's feet.
"Keeping them apart. Clearly they need each other."
Skins looked at him then.
"Narcolepse isn't conscious and isn't in good condition right now. If Snow sees him now..."
"He just tried to kiss me because he thought I looked like him."
Skins paused.
"When Narcolepse wakes up... We'll tell him."
Nicholas sighed and shook his head, then went to the kitchen. Books came over to Skins' side and knelt.
"We could wake him up any time. Why are you being so cautious?"
"I'm afraid."
"What are you afraid of?"
"What if Narcolepse isn't himself anymore? What if he destroys Snow?"
Books frowned.
"That's not something we can control or should even try to control. We just need to be there for them."
Skins sighed and looked away.
"Wait until morning..."
"I'll wait."
Books left the basement and went up to bed. When Snow got up the next afternoon, he didn't look at all rested. He came downstairs and heard voices in the kitchen so he followed them in. He looked at the table and everyone sitting around it with cups while they asked questions. It took Snow three tries to fully register what he was seeing. He shook his head, rubbed his eyes and rubbed them again. Narcolepse lifted his head and his teal eyes landed on Snow. He started to stand and Skins put a hand on his wrist.
