Nightmares
"Kaoru…" a young Hikaru whined, clad in a set of blue pajamas and holding a brown teddy bear near the floor. The other hand was occupied wiping away the tears that had formed in his eyes, and he looked like he was on the verge of sobbing.
"Hikaru," Kaoru greeted gently. Without saying a word, he lifted the covers and scooted closer to the window, opening up room for Hikaru to get in the bed. Hikaru smiled before running up to the bed and jumping beside his brother ecstatically.
"Nightmares?" Kaoru asked gently. Hikaru nodded against the safety of his brother's chest as he squirmed closer to his brother. "What about?" Kaoru asked gently.
"You… were fading away…" Hikaru explained. Kaoru glanced at the clock, which read 9:07. Hikaru had made it seven minutes before feeling compelled to come sleep with him.
And how could there be nightmares? Simple. There were no nightmares. Or at least, that's what Kaoru thought. Kaoru expected that Hikaru just came up with the idea of nightmares to make it seem somehow plausible that he'd want to sleep in the same bed as his brother.
Not that Kaoru minded. In fact, he slept better when Hikaru was next to him. If only the stupid nannies would get it through their thick heads that they were going to sleep in the same bed, if Hikaru had to scale the outer wall and climb in through the window…
In fact, that was Plan B, if just walking out the room didn't work. Plan C involved the air vents, and Plan D involved throwing temper tantrums until they got what they wanted.
After all, they did have a little class, at least for seven-year-olds. Tantrum-throwing would always be a last resort, because it was too easy getting what they wanted that way all the time.
And so, Hikaru snuggled into his brother's arms nightly, and Kaoru always allowed him to sneak into his room, if only to chase away 'nightmares'.
But, if you asked Hikaru, the nightmares were real. Except, for some odd reason, they didn't come only when he was asleep. They also came whenever he wasn't in watching distance of Kaoru. But, that was okay. Because, for as long as Hikaru needed to chase away nightmares, worries, anxiety, unhappiness… As long as Kaoru was needed, he was happy.
Because, one day, he knew that someone else might end up meaning as much, or more, to Hikaru as he did. And then, he'd run to them. And then, Kaoru would miss protecting, comforting, and overly just being there to care for his brother.
So he vowed to always be there, arms outstretched, open to welcome a plagued, worried, anxious, unhappy… whatever Hikaru into his arms.
No matter the cost.