Can't you feel my heart beating? (Gabenath)

Chapter 4

She's woken up by a sharp press to her midsection. With her eyes still closed, she brings her hand down to try and see what's pressing onto her stomach so unpleasantly.

As soon as she feels the large hand thrown over her stomach, Nathalie snaps open her eyes. She looks down to find Gabriel's hand tugging at her pajama top and almost scratching her skin underneath it. With great effort she pushes his hand away from her to be able to turn around and look at him.

She finds him lying on his side with the sheets completely dislodged from his body. His breathing is rough and he seems to be trembling a bit. She can hear him mumble a few incoherent words as his hands ball up in fists.

Nathalie very gently begins to run her hand through his disheveled hair, attempting to soothe his distress.
"Shh," she whispers, "you're okay, everything will be alright." She continues.

Gabriel seems to settle down a bit as she continues her ministrations.

———

Since the first night she allowed him into her bed, he's been sleeping here with her. He only ever appears hours into the night and when he's sure she's asleep. But it doesn't matter if Nathalie is already asleep when he comes in, because he always manages to wake her up, no matter how careful he is when climbing into her bed. They don't discuss this nightly habit of his of coming into her room and staying there until the sun comes up.

Even though she sometimes is dying to ask him why.

Why is he doing this, after weeks of showing his distaste towards her, and how much her presence was hated here. He has suddenly decided he wants to share a bed with her? The thought makes her head spin, but she tries to make it all disappear because if she isn't going to ask herself why she's allowing him to be here then she should probably keep to herself.

As Nathalie continues to stroke his hair, she thinks of how they also never discuss the nightmares he seems to experience almost every night.

She wants to ask him, but she's afraid of stepping into unknown territory.

She watches his eyes begin to flutter open, and she thinks if she should mention it to him this time.

———

Nathalie moves from the bed, allowing him to incorporate himself properly.

Gabriel opens his eyes, revealing the intensity of their stormy gray. It seems that the color of his eyes sharpen when he wakes in the mornings, and Nathalie usually looks away, always trying to prevent their intense glare. Today, she wishes to look away once again, but somehow her own eyes seem glued to his.

Gabriel moves from the bed, ready to abandon her bedroom like he does every morning.

Ready to pretend he was never in there, and act like he doesn't need her company to conceive rest.

His feet move towards the door of the bedroom, but when he hears Nathalie's voice, his steps instantly disappear.

"Do you constantly have nightmares?" She asks.

Gabriel's eyes widen at her words, and his heart seems to beat faster than usual as he slowly begins to process her words. He wants to yell at her for being so intrusive and daring to ask him something so personal, but his words seem to be trapped behind his lips.

"Because it appears that you do." She continues. "It seems that you suffer from constant nightmares, Gabriel... is that why you've begun to sleep here?"

"Why are you asking me this? Do you feel sorry for me?" He finally says.
Nathalie rolls her eyes at his words. It's always the same with Gabriel. He always grows very defensive when it comes to his mental health.
"No, it's not that. I simply wish to help you, that's all."