Summary: Dark Spear doesn't let Tao sleep one night; he's sure he knows one person that can help.

Set after season 7.

Disturb

By Dark Ice Dragon

Tao woke with a sucking breath, his eyes snapping open. Dark Spear thrummed in his mind, clutching at his thoughts. Shit. He couldn't rest even while sleeping, huh? His cheek itched and Tao scratched it out of habit, grimacing when his fingertips tingled, Dark Spear hissing in response.

Right. No scratching. Good to know.

Exhaling, Tao sat up, running a hand thought his hair. He just had to ignore Dark Spear, supress it so-

Dark Spear lashed out, clawing the inside of his skull and dammit-! That wasn't going to work.

Tao stumbled to his feet and went out his room, one destination in mind.

It wasn't far, but every step was one more that Dark Spear used to gain ground, spreading out.

He nudged M-21's door open with a foot and yeah, he did wander into other people's rooms unannounced, but this was different. He wasn't sure if M-21 was even awake.

He was, a book in hand as he lay in bed.

M-21's eyes flicked up over the top of the book and Tao saw his lips purse for a second before M-21 lifted an arm, pulling his blanket up with it.

Relief flooded Tao. He closed the door and scurried over, going into the space M-21 had offered him. He threw an arm around M-21's torso, and rested his head on M-21's chest, his warmth seeping into him.

"Thanks," Tao murmured, hearing M-21's heartbeat and Dark Spear's presence faded from his mind. They still hadn't figured out why contact with M-21 was so effective at keeping Dark Spear at bay, but for the moment all that mattered was that it worked.

"Mm."

Tao chuckled as M-21 rested the book on his head and kept reading. "So I'm a bookrest now?"

"Yeah. Hold still."

Smiling, Tao's eyelids grew heavy again as he heard M-21 turn a page. "Fine. Jus' don't drop it on me…"

"All right."

M-21's breathing followed Tao as he slept.

I drew art for it, but the link was obnoxiously long. :l

Spawned by the otpprompt 'Person A is in bed reading a book. Person B enters and climbs into bed with them. Without looking up person A raises their arm so that person B can crawl under and snuggle up with them. Person B falls asleep.