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❝born ready❞
She felt like she was suffocating under her sheets but she couldn't wake up and take them off. Sweat was building up everywhere, but she was shivering as though she was freezing.
Her breathing was heavy and she let out a whimper, her eyes clamped shut as she turned from side to side aggressively on her bed. Her hands were holding onto her hair, clumps of it grasped between her fists.
Brad couldn't get to sleep, and across the hall he heard her panicking. He was hesitant to get up and help her in case she didn't actually need help but eventually he gets up and opens his door and then hers.
He sees her state and quickly shuts the door, attempting to wake her up by whispering her name, slowly her voice getting louder and louder as he held on to her delicately, as though she might break.
"Cassie, come on, wake up," he says, brushing some hair off of her forehead. Her skin was freezing but it was hot at his touch. "Cassandra, wake up."
Her eyes snap open and she finally takes a gasp of air that she felt like she was literally dying for. She shoots up so that she's sat on her bed and wraps the covers around her freezing body.
She was surprised and embarrassed to see Brad sat on her bed, "B-Brad—hi."
"Are you okay?" He frowns, despite knowing that she more than likely isn't. She shivers audibly and his frown only deepens.
"I'm f-fine," she says, her teeth chattering even though the room was at a normal temperature. He could see straight through her lies.
"Don't lie to me," he shakes his head, moving closer and putting his hands over hers. "You're freezing, bloody hell, Cassandra."
"I'll be fine," she tries to reassure him. "I'll just turn up the heater."
"Do you even know how to?" He asks, watching the girl wrap her thick sheets tighter around her petite figure as she shakes her head.
"Thanks for waking me up," she gives him a weak smile. "What time is it?"
He smiles slightly, "four in the morning. And it's fine, by the way. I couldn't sleep anyway and I heard you."
"Did I stop you from sleeping?"
"No! No, I just wasn't tired," he laughs halfheartedly and she nods slowly in response. "Hey, c'mere. Let me warm you up."
He reaches his arms out for her and she shuffled closer to him on the bed as he sat by the other side. He lifted his legs onto the bed and sat up beside her, letting her freezing body rest against his warm one.
She felt herself warming up slowly and eventually asks Brad shyly to get under the quilt so that the heat was stronger and would warm her up faster.
She lays on his chest, one of his arms behind her back and the other one over her stomach as he kept her warm. She didn't feel tired but eventually went back to sleep without knowing it. He smiles as soft snored escape her mouth and he didn't know why he was smiling about something so small.
His eyes eventually fall and he feels himself being pulled to sleep, for the first time in a while.
+
Brad woke up first. He assumed by the limited light wanting to shine through the curtains that it had only been a few hours since he fell asleep.
Cassandra now was laid in front of him, her back against his chest as his arms wrapped around her waist. He loosened his grip as he realised how tight he was actually holding her and he was thankful that she had warmed up a lot in the last few hours.
He felt a lot better about himself now that he'd gotten some sleep. He felt more refreshed and more prepared for the day, and not in a horrible mood for the day.
He sighs in content as he rests his head in the crook of Cassandra's shoulder, somewhat enjoying the comfort of her being so close to him. Maybe it was because he actually didn't mind the human touch or because it was Cassandra he was holding. He wasn't sure.
He never really went back to sleep but he did have his eyes shut until Cassandra stirred awake after a few hours. She lets out a tired groan, her arms bent as she rubs her eyes.
"Good morning," he says, surprising her and she turns around and smiles. "How did you sleep? Do you feel warmer now?"
"Yes, thank you," she smiles. "How did you sleep?"
"Fine," he replies and lets go of her. She didn't even realise his arms were around her because it felt so comfortable. "Do you wanna go grab breakfast?"
She nods and rolls off of the bed, falling on to her arse before standing up and hearing Brad chuckle at her. He sits up off of the bed and stands up. She never noticed that he wasn't wearing a shirt, only some joggers, but she definitely wasn't complaining.
He holds back a smirk as he catches her staring at his toned chest and instead walks towards the door and opens it for her. She quickly walks past, muttering a small thank you before going down the stairs quickly so that she could get the chocolate rice puffs before anyone else stole the last of them.
She sees Connor downstairs already, eating some toast and she smiles at him, pouring her cereal and putting the milk in before she sits down opposite him. Brad strolls in moments later and Connor visibly rolls his eyes at him but Brad pretends he didn't see it.
"So, what do you wanna do today?" Connor asks Cassandra before it can get awkward. "I was thinking we could train you to use some of the weapons, perhaps?"
"I was gonna help her with her kicks," Brad tells Connor as he pours himself some cornflakes and puts some milk in. "And help her with some other stuff."
"Well, she needs to start learning how to use weapons, doesn't she?"
"Yeah but what if she gets into a hand to hand combat? There's no point learning how to use weapons, then," Brad counters and Cassandra sighs.
"I'll finish up with Brad, and then you've got me for as long as you want, okay?" Cassandra smiles over to Connor, trying to make them both happy.
Connor hesitates before nodding and Brad sits next to Cassandra, all three of them eating in an awkward silence. Connor is the first to finish but he doesn't leave because he didn't want to leave the pair alone. Brad had a small feeling that Connor might like Cassandra and he was thinking about proposing the idea to the girl.
Within the next half an hour, Brad was setting up some stuff for training while Cassandra changed into some appropriate clothing for the day ahead.
She meets Brad in the training room and notices that Brad's still shirtless, however in a different pair of branded joggers that were low enough to show his Calvin Klein boxers.
"You ready?" Brad says and she nods, her eyes flickering away from him so that she's not distracted by his muscles while she stretches. "Cool, I just want you to warm up first, okay? Do some punches and kicked in the bag and then when you feel warmed up, we'll go one on one, yeah?"
"Awesome," she replies and starts warming up as Brad instructs. He readjusts her hips a few times so that she has the right stand and his breath tickled across her neck, sending warm shivers down her spine.
As she comes to a slow stop, Brad smirks at her, "Are you ready to fight me?"
