Title: Breathless
Author: Anactoria
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 182
***
The face above Adrian is blank and impassive, the hands around his neck crushing the life from him with slow certainty.
"Jon," he chokes out. "Please."
There is no response, and he does not try again. He does not struggle. It occurs to him that, even if to do so would not be useless, it would be cheating, somehow. He should have expected this; the punishment is his due. His vision begins to blur.
The touch that awakens him is cool and gentle. Jon brushes sweat-dampened hair out of his face. His eyes hold no expression, but if they did, Adrian knows it would be concern.
He feels his heartbeat slow. "Just a nightmare," he murmurs. "Don't worry."
"You called my name," Jon says, seriously. "You were afraid. I don't hurt you. I can promise that." He leans down and kisses Adrian's forehead. The touch of his lips fizzes softly. Adrian smiles with relief as he slips back towards sleep.
In later dreams, he gasps, But you promised with the last of his breath, but Jon does not appear to hear him.