Title: Deadly Dream
Fandom: Gankutsuou
Pairing: Franz/Albert
Notes: This is AU. It's either just set in a universe where the Count never showed up, or set in an entirely different setting/timeline/whatever altogether. And there are SPOILERS for episode 18. A little vague, yes, but still there.
Franz woke abruptly, still trying to pull himself the rest of the way from sleep's grasp even while wondering what had woken him. It didn't take him long to notice the restless shifting and unhappy expression of the figure beside him though, and he quickly was completely conscious after noticing that.
Propping himself up on one elbow and reaching over with the other arm to grasp and shake his shoulder, Franz called softly, trying not to startle him, "Albert. Albert, wake up!"
Franz had scarcely a moment to register Albert's eyes opening before he was suddenly pounced and being hugged tightly. He blinked from where he was now lying flat on his back on the bed again, and then shifted his head to look down at Albert's face pressed against his chest. "Albert?"
There was a moment of silence, during which Albert didn't let go at all, before he finally let out a soft sigh and loosened his grip a little, though still keeping his arms around Franz. Turning his head to the side so that his voice wasn't muffled, he answered the unasked question, "I had a bad dream."
Franz lifted a hand and ran it through Albert's soft brown hair. "Want to tell me about it?" he asked patiently, used to dealing with his lover's, and before that his friend's, random and sometimes even downright stupid antics.
He could feel Albert hesitate, but then he finally said bluntly, "You died. In my dream, I mean."
Franz froze, hand pausing in Albert's hair before resuming its movement and letting the strands fall from his fingers again. "Oh," he said, keeping his voice calm and casual. "It was just a dream though, Albert. Don't let your imagination get carried away. I'm right here, aren't I?"
As if to test that, Albert's arms briefly tightened around him again. "It felt so real though," he added quietly.
"Albert, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere for a very, very long time. Alright?"
"...yeah."
"Now, try to go back to sleep. I'm not going anywhere."
"Damn right," Albert muttered, but he closed his eyes, not moving from his position hugging Franz and resting on his chest. He tried to ignore the images from his dream still playing through his mind, and instead concentrated on what was real; the feel of Franz in his arms, chest moving up and down from never ceasing breath.
But he couldn't stop himself from wondering why the evil stranger in his dream had felt so familiar, or why seeing him do the deed had hurt almost as much as the deed itself.