It's All In Your Mind

8

Stiles woke up panting.

The clock on his bedside table showed 4:42 in thick red letters and Stiles felt a mix of both relief and agitation at the thought of still having so much time before he had to get up.

The whole situation honestly annoyed him. But it wasn't like he wasn't used to it. His nightmares had become a part of his silly stupid life years ago. He was happy that they'd gotten little better over the past months.

Nogitsune was sitting right next to him on the bed. That was another thing Stiles had gotten used to. The fox always watched him sleep. It was rather creepy, if Stiles were to be honest. But when hadn't the fox been creepy?

So it didn't surprise him to find his doppelganger's eyes on him. What did surprise him was the worried look in Nogitsune's eyes. There was a slight crease in his forehead, eyebrows furrowed. It was very subtle, but this was Stiles' face he was looking at. Nogitsune may have been someone completely different, but he still used Stiles' visage and had the same mimics.

Nogitsune was worried about him. Because he had a nightmare. That had never happened. Every time Stiles had had a nightmare, the fox either mocked him or ignored him. He had never looked worried.

But before Stiles could marvel about this oddity any more, the expression disappeared from Nogitsune's face and in its stead came one full of sick amusement.

The demon sneered down at him and asked in mock-worried voice. "Did you have a bad dream, Stiles? Should I sing you a lullaby?"

But even if Nogitsune was acting like a dick, Stiles couldn't be hurt. He had seen the expression and he was sure.

Despite Nogitsune acting like he hated him most of the times – if you didn't count those few moments he had actually been rather nice – the fox liked him. He could mock and tease him however he wanted, but it was clear. Nogitsune cared.

And somehow, that thought made everything better.