Table For Two

Chapter 5: Over and over

(I did it gays are you proud of me)

.

Rody shot up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat and rapid heartbeat. He clutched his chest as he tried to calm his breathing, looking around the room he found himself in. It was a familiar room. Vincent's room.
Why was he here again?

Oh, he remembered.

Rody ended up staying the night at Vincent's house.

"I'm going to bed, you coming?" Vincent asked, standing by the doorway to the kitchen. "What do you mean?" Rody asked, tilting his head curiously, before he realized what Vincent was implying."Oh, I'm the type of guy who can sleep anywhere, you don't have to keep me in the bed. It's fine."

Vincent sighed a rather disappointed sigh."Rody, I don't care if you sleep in my bed" "Really, you don't have to." Rody insisted, but it ended with Vincent dragging Rody behind him in a struggle.
"If you can sleep anywhere then I'm sure you'll have no problem sleeping in the bed."

And with that, Rody was then stuck in Vincent's bed all night, with him.

When Rody looked down beside him, he found the soundlessly sleeping body of Vincent, with his arms wrapped around a pillow. He looked as though he only just fell asleep, despite it being the middle of the night.

In reality, however, Vincent had just woke up, for the fourth time that night. He was an on and off sleeper, something Rody didn't know.

For now, Rody pressed his knees to his chest, and covered his face, sighing. This was normal for him at this point, waking up in the middle of the night, shaken.
He was used to the nightmares by now. They were so predictable. He was still worried what could have become of her, despite telling himself he was over her. Manon had been missing for weeks, and his concern only grew.

With the rise of stress, came an increase in horrid nightmares, that weren't just about her either. It was driving him silently mad. But for now, he just sobbed into his knees, hoping he could eventually cry himself back to sleep.

"Rody..? Are you alright?" The voice of Vincent rang out in the dark room, from right beside Rody.
Shit.

"Y-yeah, I'm uh," He sniffled, wiping his tears as he rose his head above is arms to look down at the groggy figure beside him. "I'm fine." His shaking voice told Vincent everything he needed to know at that moment. He sat up slowly beside Rody, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You don't look like it. Are you sure?"

Rody had to bite his tongue to hold back sobs. He shook his head, trying desperately not to cry. Not in front of his boss, god no.
"As I thought." Vincent sighed, closing his eyes. "Uhm..."

"Do you.. want a hug..?" He hesitantly asked, looking up to make eye contact with Rody. It took Rody a moment to respond, swallowing back tears as he nodded. Vincent opened his arms, welcoming Rody into his embrace, who simply leaned forward into his arms. He could feel Rody's tears sinking into his clothing, his warm and shaky breath on his neck, and his shoulders trembling in his arms.

Vincent never comforted anyone. Ever. But with the way Rody clung to him, he had a nagging feeling he was doing something right. "I'm here for you. When you're ready to talk, I'll be ready to listen." He muttered, pulling the older man closer to him, resting his head on the others.

"It's alright."

———★———

Rody woke up to the sunlight hitting his face, altered with a red tint from the curtains. When he tried to get up, he was held in place by two familiar slim arms wrapped around his waist. Turning his head to look, he found Vincent, fast asleep with his arms wrapped tightly around Rody as if trying to shield him from behind.