Entry #12050104001305

ᴃᴌᴇᴇᴆᴍøᴚᴇ

I'll get to some actual content in the next chapter, but I feel like there hasn't been enough simple fluff for these two yet. I mean, we're already 30+ chapters in, so why not?

(Chapter title is "bleedmore")

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By the time everyone was ready for bed, sleeping arrangements had been decided. Though Jessica insisted that she sleep on the couch - Tim needed the bed more than she did - the stubborn man had insisted that she have it.

"I'll be fine, Jessica. It's not like I can't prop my foot up on the couch."

Jessica had given him a hesitant look but thanked him anyway before retiring to Tim's room for the night.

As soon as the sun had disappeared from the sky and night had fallen, Hoodie had left without a word, though that was to be expected.

And still, the final occupant remained in the bathroom, separated from everyone else. After Tim had let Skully be, he hadn't heard a single noise from that room.

Laying on the couch in the dark, Tim stared at the ground, absentmindedly watching the little light that streamed in through the blinds from the street lamps outside. He couldn't stop thinking about Jay. Was that what he was like when he wore the mask? He shuddered when he imagined the way he might act and dreaded the idea of Jay being afraid of him. He wouldn't hurt Jay, never, but not being in control all of the time meant he didn't necessarily control his actions. There was the very real possibility that he could severely injure Jay - or anyone else, for that matter - and never know it until it was too late.

Though his anxious mind was running a mile a minute, Tim managed to quiet his thoughts long enough to drift into a restless sleep.

Most of the night was spent tossing and turning uncomfortably on the small couch, waking up in uncomfortable positions and with his left leg aching. Thankfully, he was able to fall asleep quickly each time he woke up; that is, until he heard a noise directly beside him.

Fearing danger, Tim's eyes shot open and he scrambled to get his arms under himself so he could sit up. He froze in place - propped up on his elbows - when he saw the figure looming over him. Most of their features were lost in the dark and concealed by the mask they wore, but the slots of light from between the blinds cast an orange light over them. From what Tim could see, they were clothed in jeans, a black hoodie that hung from their frame loosely - suggesting their smaller frame - and a white mask. The mask itself was nearly an exact copy of Tim's own, but a rectangular grid of square "teeth" replaced the black lips.

Staring down at Tim, the person stood completely still, the only movement being the involuntary rise and fall of their chest beneath the hoodie as they breathed.

"Skully?" Tim quietly asked, his low voice shattering the silence. He prayed that this was Skully and not some fourth, unknown, potentially dangerous person. Or, God forbid, Alex. Though, if it had been Alex, he probably wouldn't have just stood there.

The person shuffled in place briefly before leaning closer, their hands gripping the edge and back of the couch - though it was obvious they favoured their left - as they placed one of their knees between Tim's legs, shifting their weight so that they slowly laid down on top of Tim.

His breath caught in his throat; he was balanced on the ledge, somewhere between fear and acceptance, he just wasn't sure which way to lean. He was almost positive this was Skully but he wasn't sure and his heart hammered in his chest with all of the possibilities flooding through his mind. He vaguely wondered if the other person could feel it through the layers of fabric between them, but they made no indication of it if they could.