viaticumforthemarquise:

6: Gentle Peck

On the Path to Sonoma:

He’d been weeping in his sleep—even the deathsleep couldn’t keep him from having nightmares, and she’d realised as soon as she’d awakened that he was struggling against them. The effects of the deathsleep being what they were, there was no way for her to rescue him from them—he would have to ride them out until he awoke. 

Twenty or so minutes later, he awoke quite suddenly with his head in her lap. He was still weeping, his face stained with blood tears, but now his eyes bespoke confusion and embarrassment. She did not release him, instead humming softly as she placed one hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently as he closed his eyes and grasped at the fabric of her coatsleeves. She leaned over him, placing an almost invisible kiss upon each eyelid, releasing him gently back to fight his monsters alone.