i wrote this as a request for somebody on tumblr yeah

disclaimer: nothing is mine

The small, slight boy was nearly invisible against the dark backdrop. His voice sounded bleary and tired. It was funny, how voices did that after you were asleep. Ralph's usually sounded rough, but Simon's voice was as soft and smooth as ever.

"What is it?" Ralph pulled himself up from his makeshift bed.

"I couldn't sleep properly." Simon's eyes were downcast, as though this was something to be ashamed of.

"Oh." He had an urge to ask why Simon was telling him this, but the boy was sensitive and being as tired as he was, he'd probably just run off and never tell him what was wrong. "Well, what would you like me to do about it?"

"I don't…I just wanted to…" He trailed off. Ralph put a hand on the smaller boy's shoulder.

"You seem awfully tired." Simon nodded. "Want to come lie with me for a little bit?" The phrase sounded downright wrong when he said it. Somehow he couldn't get the words 'lie with me' to sound like anything other than filthy and wrong. Wasn't that something you were supposed to do with girls?

But looking at Simon's sleepy, confused green eyes, he pushed that thought aside. Simon was the very picture of innocence, and honestly, it was just like comforting one of the younger schoolchildren or something like that.

Ralph laid back down on the pile of leaves and leftover fabric that made up the inside of his hut and patted the spot next to him, gesturing for Simon to lie down beside him. "Were you having nightmares?"

"Not nightmares. But…dreams. They weren't bad, just…different from good dreams."

"How so?"

Simon looked off into space, blowing a wisp of hair out of his eyes. "I was back in the church and we were singing. And suddenly somebody screamed and the church tore in two, like, you know when you rip a paper and there's that jagged, frayed thing on the edges? It was just like ripping paper and suddenly everyone was screaming instead of singing and Jack was…he was…"

"Go on." Ralph wrapped an arm around Simon, figuring that he probably needed the comfort.

"He was holding his knife and standing over a corpse. And now that I think of it…I think it might have been your corpse."

Ralph took a few minutes to think about this. He'd dismissed Simon's claim of nightmares as a childish thing, where there was only an imaginary monster and a clear line between what was bad and what was good.

This was different. This dream was eerily reminiscent of a possible reality. "Simon…"

"Yes?"

"It was only a dream. That's not going to happen. Nobody's going to die and nobody's going to break and we're all going to get back and it'll all get back to normal."

The reassurance was partially for himself as well as Simon, but it seemed to work. Simon scooted closer to him, resting his head in the crook of Ralph's neck. "Are you really sure of that? I've got my doubts…"

"Yes, I think I'm quite sure." But don't think about that right now, it's too late and it's dark and cold out. Just go to sleep, Simon."

"Alright. But, really, are you sure? There could be—"

Ralph cut Simon off by drawing him closer, gently stroking his dark hair with one hand in a comforting gesture. "It'll all be fine, I promise. I'll swear by whatever you'd like. Now just stop worrying and go to sleep."

Simon sighed softly, letting his eyes drift closed. Ralph looked around as though there might be somebody watching and kissed the other boy's forehead. "'Night, Simon."

But Simon was already asleep, and Ralph supposed he didn't really mind.

hey there lord of the flies fandom it's been awhile