Shin Kuroi [Comfort Writing]

Fright

Thick, black darkness. Weight smothering your body, firm thick blankets. There didn't seem to be a dream chugging, it was just plain, deep sleep.

A noise. It felt very faint at first, almost invisible to the ear. Louder. It was a scream. Increasing in clarity... louder, more clear... a horrified scream... sounded... sorrowful.... familiar.... Shin...?

...
...SHIN!

At that moment, the intensity completely shattered your state of sleep.

You gasped and sat up in bed, and immediately saw the feline in question. He was jolted up in bed, having done so maybe only a second before you'd awoke to his screaming. Tears were streaming down his face, his body shaking as anxiety overtook him. You couldn't bare to see him like this.

"H-Hey, hey- Shin! S-Shin, calm down! I'm here! What's wrong?" You clasped his shoulders, trying to calm him down.

You pulled him back down into laying, and were at his side. His quivering began to simmer down, but his eyes were teary. He was heaving his breath - if you were any later, he could've had an asthma attack... and his inhaler is across the room.

You placed a hand atop his head and methodically stroked it as he recovered his breath. His fur... it was just as silky as you remembered it.

"It's okay... it's okay.... shhhhh.... shhhh...."

Slowly and steadily, Shin's breath settled down and he stopped heaving. His eyes were still watery, the fur below the tearducts messied. He instinctively clasped your hand, and closed his eyes for a minute to fight back tears.

"Shin... hey... what's wrong? What happened...?" You gently asked in a soothing tone.

The feline let loose a few sniffles and opened his eyes again.

"I.... I saw... I saw you... but you... l-l-left me..." His hand tightened it's grip.

"I-I.... I got hurt! A-And then, m-my house burned down, and everybody hit me, and and and-"

"Hey hey hey, settle..." You stroked his head, stopping him from hyperventilating.

Time seemed to come to a standstill as you comforted the frightened cat. He'd gone most of his life expecting and recieving rejection and abandonment, fearing the worst... he must have those dark thoughts lingering.

"It's alright, Shin. I would never abandon you.... I just, couldn't. It was only a bad dream... you don't have to fear it. Shin, I....
...
I love you."

Shin once again tightened his hand around yours.

"I love you too...
...
... I just... still can't believe... I can actually say it."

A few stray tears rolled down the feline's cheeks, and you used your spare hand to wipe them off with a finger. Promptly afterwards, you reeled in together... pressing lips firmly against eachother, sharing a moment of intimate warmth.

As the kiss retracted, your bodies remained close in a cuddle. His half-nakedness radiated fuzzy warmth and was silky to the touch. It was time to go back to the realm of sleep, and Shin's firm grip ensured it would be a journey taken together.

"Good night, my love..."
...
"Good night, Terra..."