AN: I literally wrote this first chapter in a day on a sudden burst of inspiration.
There isn't really any context-other than the fact that Sasuke has a messed-up past and suffers from really bad nightmares, so you can read this as being in the Canon universe or whatever AU you happen to be into at the moment.

Please review!
I may choose to continue this one


The scream that woke him was a scream of torment...

Juugo woke with a start, listening intently as he focused his mind on the room next door. He was no psychic but he didn't need to be to be able to feel the fear that was in the next room.

It wasn't an unusual happenstance, Sasuke often woke in the middle of the night, plagued by nightmares and it wouldn't be the first time that the presence of a friend would be needed to calm him down.

Juugo stood and moved towards the door, leaving it ajar as he barged into the next room...he had long since stopped knocking and as he entered the room-as it was every other night- he was met with a terrified gaze as Sasuke shrunk into the row of pillows that surrounded him.

Some nights would continue into a violent struggle as Juugo fought to bring Sasuke's mind back to where it should be, while other nights would continue with Sasuke realizing he wasn't in imminent danger and collapsing into Juugo's embrace, sobbing.

And as he moved forward cautiously, Juugo found himself praying that the latter one would be the choice for the night.

Not that his willingness to help his friend had diminished, because it hadn't. If anything it had strengthened, but he didn't enjoy the way those onyx eyes would dart helplessly around the room, or the way Sasuke's face would fill with terror as he pinned him to the bed to keep him from injuring himself.

Sometimes he wondered what it was that haunted Sasuke, the desire to know aching in his heart until he supposed it would break, and then there were the times when he realized that he didn't want to know. The mere idea of hearing about the torment Sasuke had faced in his past...it was too cruel and so he chose to leave the topic alone.

Maybe one day Sasuke would be ready and they could talk about it. Maybe one day HE would be ready to ask, but in the meantime-

Juugo moved forward slowly, his arms raised to show that he had no intention to injure, talking in a low, soothing voice
"It's me Sasuke...it's Juugo" he waited, watching Sasuke carefully for any sign of recognition. There was nothing.

"You had a nightmare, but it's over now..." he went on, trying to soothe the fear that darted in and out of the dark eyes that were locked on him.
Sasuke shook his head slowly, his eyes widening and his fist tightening on the twisted mess of blankets "-no" his voice, raw from his earlier cries came out in a cracked whisper and Juugo felt a dull ache begin to grow somewhere in his chest, pulsing through him as he fought the urge to take Sasuke into his arms.

"I-" he stopped, licking his dry lips "It's just me Sasuke..." there was a tone of pleading in his voice and he took an involuntary step forward, coming closer to the edge of Sasuke's bed before he even realized what he was doing.

Sasuke's body jerked back in a convulsion of alarm and Juugo forced himself to stop, bitting his cheek and holding perfectly still as Sasuke's eyes darted around the room, searching for a way of escape.
*No Sasuke, please don't look like that. I'm not going to hurt you, please don't look at me like I'm one of your nightmares*

the silent plea was like a chant in his head, a sort of prayer that was starting to become ritualistic.

"Everything's alright Sasuke, you're safe-" safe from what? he didn't even know what to say and yet there he was, going on in what seemed like circles in a non-progressing cycle.

There was dead silence in the room as he waited for Sasuke to say SOMETHING. But nothing came out and he held back a sigh. What was he to do? He'd never had this kind of stand-off before; on the verge of disaster while still so close to helping his friend...it was frustrating.

Sasuke was completely silent, sitting with his shoulders tense, his body quivering, and all of his senses on hyper-alert as he watched the somewhat familiar stranger in his room.

What was going on?

Where was he?

Who was that? every form of alarm was going off inside of his body, yet at the same time he felt a stirring deep within his chest, as if he somehow knew the person that was talking to him and that he was...important to him.

His body shuddered and he arched his back in pain, a gutteral cry ripping through his throat. His mind frustrated at the confusion, his thoughts completely and utterly lost.

"Sasuke-" the man spoke again and Sasuke's head jerked up. The stranger had moved closer

"Sasuke, it's me. It's Juugo" the tone was soft, non-threatening and yet it made his heart beat that much faster. What was wrong with him?

"You had a nightmare...but it's over now..." Juugo repeated the words carefully, kindly, doing his best to sound soothing and familiar.

Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed and Juugo felt his hopes rise at the change from the terror-stricken expression to one of confusion. Juugo...he could have sworn he saw Sasuke's lips form his name.

*That's it, come back to me* he waited anxiously, sure that he was emitting tension but unable to turn it off.

Sasuke stared at the face in front of him, watching as the handsome features came into focus, striking him with their familiarity. He KNEW this man. Knew him well...maybe even...loved him?

"J-go..." he half chocked on the word and Juugo nodded, not daring to move but wishing he could sit beside his friend. "Yeah, that's me..." he sounded so reassuring and Sasuke felt a pricking sensation around the back of his eyes...tears?

He was in a sort of numb shock as the first trail of liquid made its way down his face and fell to the covers below, leaving a small wet stain that grew as another drop followed the first, then another, then finally he was crying, his fists contorted in the sheets as his shoulders shook with tearing sobs.

"Juu-" his voice cut-off halfway through, leaving a voiceless whisper that echoed in Juugo's ears.

He moved forward, unable to hold himself back any longer and sat beside Sasuke, his arms quickly making their way around his slender shoulders and pulling him close, whispering quiet words of comfort as he began to stroke the back of Sasuke's head.

"It's okay...I've got you...It's okay..." over and over again, providing a steady rythm for Sasuke to match his ragged breaths to. "I've got you...It's okay..."


. . .TBC?