Saving Athena ✓

48) Saturn

A t h e n a

(Tw: ptsd, panic attack)

I think I've changed my mind about Jupiter being my favorite planet, I honestly think my new ultimatum is Saturn.

I shift on the couch and draw the blankets close to me. It's been a few weeks since the party from hell. Ace claimed he was okay, but I had my doubts. That's why I'm sleeping on the couch in his room instead of the guest room. Just to make sure he's okay.

I'm close to falling asleep when I hear Ace mumbling under his breath as his body churns in his bed. I hear his breaths get labored and slight panting. I peek my head up to him shaking his head and mumbling in his sleep.

"No," he shakes his head and furrows his brows. "Stop it."

"Ace?" I ask, gripping the sides of the couch and lifting myself up.

"Please stop," he shakes his head frivolously. "Please!"

"Ace," I throw the covers off of me and carefully walk over. "Hey, Ace-"

"Please don't," his hands are clutching the covers, sweat beads down his forehead. I press my weight beside him and let out a breath.

"Ace," I press my palm to his arm, he flinches away before finally his eyes open and he jerks up. Pushing himself to the headboard. "Hey," I smile softly and grab his hands. "You're okay."

"No," he shakes his head as his eyes well up with tears. "Athena, she was here, she was here with me-"

"Look around," I say, pushing myself closer to him and holding the sides of his face gently. "Look around, you're in your room, it's just you and I."

His hand goes over mine as he holds it tightly and lays his head back. His Adam's apple hastily going up and down as he tries to gather his breath. I go and sit beside him, bringing his body to mine. "You're okay," I run my hand down his back soothingly. "I got you, I got you."

"I'm sorry," he whispers.

I shake my head. "Don't be."

He pulls away, yawning softly. I brush away his tears as he lets his head hang down. I run my hand through his hair, calming his nerves. I do that for a while until his breathing is lighter, until his eyes are fluttering to close.

I go to move but his hands wrap around my waist as he pulls me close. "No," he murmurs softly. "Can you stay?"

"Are you sure?" I ask, raising a brow.

"Please," he repeats again, peeling off the covers beside him and gesturing for me to lay down. I do, pulling the blanket up to cover us. He lays down and pulls me close, sighing into my skin. I tilt my head and lay my hand on the side of his face, brushing my thumb delicately across his skin.

After a few minutes of this, his eyes finally close. His chest rises and falls steadily. I pull the blanket up to cover him. I lean in and kiss his forehead before nestling into the sheets. "Thank you," I mumble, yawning into my pillow. "Thank you for saving me."

✧

"I can't keep you from your life," Ace says.

"If we're being frank, I don't have a life," I laugh quietly in-between bites of cereal. He shakes his head and rests his head on my shoulder. "We're like little kids," I point out. "Watching cartoons with bowls of cereal."

"I think it's cute," he shrugs.

"Super cute," I nod. A light blush rises to my cheeks, he spreads the blanket over us and leans closer to me.