WMMAP - [S2] Shelter You

71: Vulnerability After Reminiscence

The outside windowpanes were heavily hit by snowstorms. Temperature dropping like madness. A mild wind blew from the little opening of the front door, sending thrills down anyone's spine. But underneath these layers and layers of blanket, and with everyone sleeping just a few safe meters away from the fireplace, the atmosphere became bearable.

After an exhausting day out at the snowfield, chasing, tracking, chopping wood, and all the traveling, the two couples fell into a deep slumber fast and were sound asleep.

Or at least it was just Ezekiel and Jennette.

Athanasia, on the other hand, as someone who could easily fall asleep and rarely be awakened, slowly regained her consciousness. It started with the subtle movement of the other side of her. Then the shift became so imminent that it could no longer be ignored.

Athanasia opened her eyelids halfway, watching Lucas tossing and turning back and forth. She watched for a while longer, thinking he would fall asleep eventually, but it didn't go as she expected.

As she grew concerned, Athanasia sat up. Usually her movements would surely wake Lucas up. He had always been a light sleeper. But yet again, Lucas did not stop moving.

The flickering light from the flame in front of them illuminated the distress on Lucas' face. His brows knitted together. With his hands fisted in the blanket tightly, Lucas' lips mumbled something inaudible.

From days to days to months together, there was little to no vulnerability that Lucas was willing to show. It was mostly him comforting her if she ever woke up in the middle of the night or had trouble sleeping.

This was the very first time that Athanasia had witnessed Lucas having a nightmare, or at least whatever was bothering him in the dream at the moment.

Athanasia almost did not know what to do, knowing full well Lucas was very reactive if not woken up properly. 

Most of the time when she came home from work, she would wait or stare at him until he could sense her presence. That was when he would wake up with a lazy smile on his face.

The other times, if Athanasia would tap him awake, he would wake up with a jolt, loud and rapid panting, and his pupils would be blown wide from shock. The sweat that trickled down his forehead made her heart bleed for him.

Athanasia fretted that this time would be no different. Yet, she knew she could not watch him flailing around as if he were stuck in a loophole of his nightmare.

Ready to risk the consequences, Athanasia reached her hand slowly and placed her palm on his fisted hand. Lucas' movements gradually relaxed instead of responding as she had anticipated. His brows released, and his breathing became even with every steady motion of his chest. The warmth of her hand seemed to chase away the chill that had sunk deep within him.

Athanasia chose to stay up a while longer. Her hand rested there, giving comfort until he was sound asleep. When she thought he finally submitted to the slumber, her thumb caressed the back of his hand and then moved onto his knuckle. Her eyes moved to where their hands were. 

Lucas even had scars on his knuckles as if he had been ripping through sharp objects. Those ones were fresh, or perhaps she didn't notice it before. But the rate of the healing showed that it likely happened during the test.

"Why are you not sleeping?"

Athanasia was a little bit startled by the whispering yet raspy voice. She gazed toward him only to see his red eyes were searching for answers.