seattle ; monday afternoon

[necroslacker]

It'd been another night racked with nightmares. They were getting worse and worse and Sam had no idea what had seemingly opened the floodgates. He didn't know what was causing everything to spiral out of control. He'd found himself downstairs in the basement way too much and for way too long. Ramon and Frank had even started questioning him and he'd just snapped angrily and stalked away.

That had just concerned them more. And they'd threatened to tell Brid which was great. He didn't want to deal with her when it came to this. He didn't want to deal with anyone. He just wanted to internalize it and make it go away.

He'd locked himself in his room for right now. The bed was unmade and messy and his clothes were strewn about, a testament to just how unfocused he was. But, he was still up and he was still mobile. Well, he was looking out one of the windows at the gray afternoon.

But, that counted.

[NFB but open for interactions]

Comments

[whenshewasnice]

Maybe. Natalie hoped she might. Since he was being so firm about not letting her help in other ways.

She started to hum, softly. A song she'd been writing earlier. He probably wouldn't want to know the words, which was all the same really because they were only half written, anyway. But maybe the humming would help.

[necroslacker]

He didn't ask for the words only because he didn't want anything breaking the lull he'd gotten his mind forced into. He didn't want to think of meanings behind things. He just wanted to listen to her and he wanted her to keep touching him.

His needs were minimal.

[whenshewasnice]

And Natalie could provide.

She inched just a little closer again, rubbing her hand down the upper part of his arm. Humming, softly, gently.

[necroslacker]

And Sam relaxed just a little further. His breathing seemed to even out somewhat and his limbs got a little heavier. He did feel drowsy though he was still resisting sleep for all he could.

Nightmares, you know.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie stayed how she was for a moment. And then she moved her hand down his arm so she could gently pull him back against her.

He'd held her when she'd cried. She would hold him so he'd sleep, if he just let her. And it wasn't an ex thing, it was a friend thing. Assuming those two could ever truly be separate.

[necroslacker]

Sam didn't resist when she pulled him back against her. He scooted back, molding his back against her front as best he could in his position.

He even yawned.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie draped her arm over his side to keep him close to her, and brushed her hand lightly and slowly back and forth against his chest. Still humming, too. Just closer to his ear now.

Everything was soft and gentle right now. To soothe.

[necroslacker]

"Natalie..."

Sam trailed off, lulled by the humming and the rhythm of her hand and the comfort she was providing for him right now.

"Can you...?"

He trailed off again and sighed.

[whenshewasnice]

She only just barely broke off her humming to murmur three words.

"Can I what?"

Her hand didn't still at all because it didn't have to.

[necroslacker]

"If it starts looking like I'm having...a bad dream," he mumbled, "I need you to wake me up. Don't let me sleep through it."

[whenshewasnice]

"Okay," she murmured, nodding against the back of his shoulder. "I'll wake you up. I promise."

[necroslacker]

"Okay." With that said, his eyes drooped closed and he fell quiet. He didn't know if he was going to fall asleep but he was definitely comfortable enough to maybe doze a bit and rest his eyes.

[whenshewasnice]

And that would be good enough under the circumstances.

Natalie couldn't force him to fall asleep, but she could make sure he was comfortable. She kept touching him, and she kept humming to him.

It was enough.