Disclaimer: I own neither Final Fantasy XII nor its characters.
It was quiet now, too quiet, Penelo thought to herself as she rolled over again for the tenth time trying to fall sleep. You would think that being back in her own bed would have made her sleep like a baby, but that just wasn't the case.
She'd been awake now for at least five hours and Vaan's loud snores could probably be heard a whole country away, but it was still too quiet. She sat up in bed and stared around noting the faces of the orphans strewn about in the cots of the room they had in Lowtown. Once again she sighed and flung herself back down on her pillow.
She was tired, exhausted even, but the darkness only made her weariness that much more apparent. She closed her eyes and tried to change her surroundings with her mind. To place herself inside a dream that might help her sleep. Her eyes flicked open and she sighed again.
Truthfully she missed the close confines that tent life had forced her, Vaan, and all the rest to acclimate to. She missed Ashe's restless stirring in her sleep and Balthier's slight wheeze that he would never admit to having. She missed being woken from a peaceful dream of happier days with a gentle shake on her shoulder from Basch so she could go and take her watch with Fran. But only Vaan was left now and Penelo simply sighed again as she turned from her back to her side.
She knew if she didn't get some sleep she would regret it tomorrow, but no matter how hard she tried her body refused to comply. Another hour slowly passed and Penelo could no longer hear Vaan snoring. Maybe she had fallen asleep, but as her eyes fluttered open yet again she realized dismally that she was still wide awake. Another sigh escaped her lips as she once again tossed onto her other side and came face to face with Vaan.
"Move over." Vaan whispered with a roll of his eyes.
Penelo smiled and did as he asked. Vaan slipped in beside her and drew his arms about her tightly.
"Now go to sleep." He whispered in her ear as she closed her eyes and grinned.
This time she sighed contentedly as she felt her body float along into peace. Maybe all she needed was to be reminded that at least he would never leave her. Or perhaps it wasn't too quiet after all.