ame-no-katami:

He hadn’t realized what he said— that is, until he said it. The exhaustion was making his barrier slip— as though he was running out of batteries. All this work on keep his guard up was starting to slip underneath his feet. Once he snapped back into reality, he tried to recover with a smile, but it was too late. Lal already heard him, and the look of concern made the swordsman’s stomach churn with guilt.

“No, I’m okay,” he murmured, which was clearly a lie. He knew it, and he knew that Lal knew it. He shouldn’t have said anything in first place, but his exhaustion was deceiving him. He rubbed at his face, his muscles aching. But he tensed up at such a simple question. 

“It’s nothing, just—” He stopped his words. He really couldn’t describe the nightmares. It wasn’t like it was a flashback or anything— but maybe it was. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to put it into words, even if he knew that the ravenette, out of all people, would understand. He wasn’t ready to make these night terrors real. And if he talked about them, he knew they would.

ame-no-katami:

 “The nightmares won’t stop.”

<sub>⊰ —————  { ♚ }
 —— ;;   Lal had a feeling that after saying
those words to him, he’d brush her off. Either
with a lie, or simply doing so to prevent him
from having to show more weakness to her.
Either way, she did not believe his ’ No,
I’m okay ’ from him. Her expression said such.
Regardless of what he said next to her, she
was now determined not to leave him alone.
If the nightmares were as bad as he seemed to
look, then he needed someone to be there.
Someone who understood and would just sit
and let him vent. If he let her be that person
that is.

“ It’s nothing, just what?”.
Came Lal’s third question, looking at him with a
slight frown. She disliked seeing him like this,
despite him annoying her at times. Nightmares
were never fun. She would know, she had her own
demons plaguing her. So without another word
towards him she let herself quietly get up from
her spot and maneuver herself to sit behind him.
Arms wrapping around his torso – just so he didn’t
have to look at her if he wanted to hide.

“.. I’ll be here until they stop.., okay?:.

Was Lal’s final words before she went quiet and
let herself lean lightly against him. A way to show
him he had her support.</sub>