The Waters - A Beta Squad Story (bxb)

46. The End (2/2)

"Stay with me tonight? Please?" Niko whispers to Aj as they walk back into their house. Aj looks into Niko's eyes, feeling the weight of his desperation. "You need a night of good sleep."

"Okay," Aj agrees, his voice cracking. They both understood the meaning behind the request. The two say goodnight to Chunkz and head straight to Niko's room, having already eaten food on their way back to the house. They sit on Niko's bed, laying on the headboard, the silence stretching between them like a tightrope, threatening to snap at any moment.

"How did you find out?" Aj asks, trying to keep his voice steady.

Niko looks down at his hands, fidgeting with his thumbs. "Find out what?" he asks, though he already knows what Aj is referring to.

"Nik," Aj says, frustrated. "You know what I mean. How did you find out about my sleeping... thing?"

Niko sighs, "Aje, you can call them nightmares, night terrors, bad dreams, whatever you want. You shouldn't be ashamed of it. We all have our own battles." He looks up at Aj, his eyes filled with understanding. "And I first noticed you weren't sleeping well when you came downstairs looking exhausted and jumpy. And then there was that night. I heard you screaming. I should have come to see if you were alright, but I didn't want to push you. Oh, and then, when you fell asleep in the car and woke up very startled, it's okay to need help."

Aj's eyes widen. "You heard me screaming?" He whispers, feeling a new level of embarrassment.

Niko nods. "I did, and it broke my heart. You shouldn't have to go through that alone." There was a pause in the conversation. Aj felt his chest tighten, his heart racing. He had always tried to keep his inner demons hidden, but now it felt like they were all laid bare for the world to see. "I'm guessing your therapist suggested you spend the night with someone?" Niko asks, trying to ease the tension. "I only ask because almost every time you were with me, you slept through the night." He tries to smile, but it's clear he's worried.

Aj nods, his eyes welling up. "Yeah, she did. And... I don't know if it's the right thing to do, but I don't mind feeling safe tonight." He leans into Niko, burying his face in his chest. Niko wraps his arms around Aj, holding him tightly. "You're always safe with me," he whispers, stroking Aj's hair.

The room is silent except for the occasional sniffle and the sound of their hearts beating in sync. They stay like that for a while. Aj pulls away, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "Thank you, Niko," he says, his voice still shaky.

Niko nods, reaching out to hold Aj's hand. "Let's get you into bed, okay?" He stands up and gently pulls Aj to his feet. They walk into Aj's bedroom, the room dimly lit by the moon shining through the curtains. Aj takes off his clothes and changes into a t-shirt and boxers, Niko's eyes never leaving him, as if afraid he might disappear if he looked away.

They walk back into Niko's room, and Niko changes into a pair of pyjama trousers and a t-shirt. He turns down the bed covers and gestures for Aj to climb in. Aj crawls under the covers, feeling the warmth of the freshly washed sheets and the comfort of Niko's scent surrounding him. Niko slides in beside him, reaching for the light switch on the bedside lamp.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Niko asks, his voice gentle in the dark.

Aj takes a deep breath, the silence thick with unspoken words. "I don't know what to say," he admits, his voice small.

Niko nods, understanding. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything." He pulls Aj closer, resting the shorter man's head against his chest, feeling the warmth of their bodies meld together. They lay there, listening to the sound of each other's breathing. Aj's heart races, and he feels the tremble in Niko's hand as it rests around his waist. The quiet of the night stretches on, the only sound being the occasional creak of the ageing house settling.