Comms and Other Long FE Oneshots

Overactive Minds

     Morgan still wasn't sleeping, despite the fact that the sun that had been filtering in from the window had been replaced with soft silver moonlight. Nah had learned to tell the difference between his thinking-with-my-eyes-closed expression and body language and his actual sleeping posture. He seemed more relaxed this time as she came in though, more settled. He opened one dark eye as she came closer, opened the other when she sat on the bed. "You're back earlier than I thought you'd be," he remarked softly, giving her a tired smile. "You'll catch what I have if you're not careful."

"No, I won't," she replied gently, bringing her bare feet up onto the bed. He scooted over a bit so she could lie on her stomach next to him. She could still feel how abnormally hot his body was without even touching him. "Dragons have amazing immune systems, remember?"

"There's dragon in me." He snorted.

"Yes, well, hexes tend to wreck the immune system of anyone that they've been used on," she replied. "And it's diluted dragon, while the blood pumping through my veins is still plenty strong."

"Heh." He closed his eyes again, but his smile was more amused than tired now. "You're right. You're always right."

"I had Naga guiding my steps."

"You're still always right, even without her," he countered, but his tone was gentle.

She settled next to him, leaning into him somewhat. "I still have the teachings that Father gave me before we left. Her words still guide us, even if her true voice isn't a part of my everyday life anymore." It was odd, not being able to hear Naga's voice. But the sacrifice, just as everything else, had been necessary. "You should sleep," she continued, voice quieter. "You need it."

"I know," he sighed softly, eyes still closed. "I'm tired enough to, have been tired enough to sleep this entire time. It's just not really coming is all."

"You've always had trouble sleeping when your mind is busy." Something else she'd learned after the war, and he tensed just slightly at those words. "My mind is always busy in autumn," she continued quietly. "I'd assume all of ours are. But there are so many leaves here, I still can't believe all of the colors that we've seen them turn."

He exhaled softly at the change in topic, opening his eyes slightly. "They really are beautiful. It's a shame that we need to stay in the town and not in the forest." Another faint smile flickered on his face. "A slightly dusted green forest floor scattered with messy splotches of color."

"That sounds like something Father would love to paint," Nah replied softly. "Nature really is beautiful. I'm glad it has so many guardians here."

"Tellius is fortunate to have so many types of laguz. Yarne probably wouldn't like it here, though."

"Gods, no," Nah chuckled. "People that have the ability to turn into giant wolves? He'd be out of the country before you could say bunny."

"So many birds, though." His breathing was started to slow slightly, his voice becoming less focused as his eyes fluttered closed again. "I like birds."

"They're beautiful creatures," Nah agreed softly. "And of all species, those who know the most about freedom. It's a shame that the dragon laguz here don't have feathers of sorts on their wings... though I suppose the same could be said about manaketes, though we do have something akin to feathers, just not..."

She trailed off as Morgan's hand poked out from under the blanket to gently touch hers, his body relaxing completely as his breathing evened out. His expression completely smooth for the first time since he'd started having his headaches. She smiled gently, carefully sitting up and smoothing his sweaty black hair away from his face. "Sleep well," she told him quietly, lightly thumbing the dark circles under his eyes. "You need it. Optimism, love."

He gave the smallest of snores almost in response and her smile grew. She took Soren's notes about his fever from the desk near his bed, staying at his side and reading to make sure that he got his rest tonight. She would sleep too, but she didn't do well with sleeping when her mind was busy either, and tossing and turning was certain to wake him.