Notes #1- Don't own 'em. Pity.
She wakes up screaming from nightmares. Over the years they have become fewer in number, but they have never lessened in their intensity. Sometimes he can sooth her back to sleep with murmured words and gentle hands, other times it takes intense, physical pleasure to exhaust her beyond the dreams. Then there were the nights when no amount of gentle soothing or hard thrusts could break through the dream's hold, and it's those nights when, after he learned to recognize the difference, he pretends to sleep as she carefully crawls out of their shared futon, choking back sobs as she leaves the room. Those nights he would be unable to return to sleep himself, and would stand in one small area of their bedroom and do simple strength exercises over and over again. He returns to their futon shortly before dawn, always making sure to lie down on his side, facing the door as if his body had naturally shifted that way in sleep.
He closes his eyes and listens to the shoji door opening and closing softly, and then there is a sudden brush of cold air as the covers are lifted and a small body slides underneath them to rest once again at his side. He pretends to shift in his sleep and stretches out an arm over her, gathering her close to his body. He tucks her against him protectively, knowing that she accepts it for what it is, just as her burrowing into his warmth is her own voiceless apology even as her breathing remains harsh from the long hours of sobbing.
As the sun continues to rise and brighten the day, Anotsu begins to stroke her back softly, pretending that he is slowly waking up. For a short while he simply relaxes into the sensation of holding and being held, all the while marveling at the strange twists that Fate always brings into his life; he knew her nightmares would never fully leave, for they were based on horrific memories that he had given her so many years ago.
He shifts slightly at this point and moves his hand from her back to her head, where he gently runs his fingers through her unbound hair. While they had walked a twisted, pain filled path to get to this point, and while he hated himself a little for the pain and nightmares he had caused, Anotsu was selfish enough to also be thankful for everything that had led to this point, because as she had every other time she had left their bed due to a nightmare, Rin pulls back enough to gaze at his face, eyes red rimmed in the growing light before they slide closed as she lifts her lips to his in a soft, caressing kiss. Similar to their embrace, her kiss is a wordless communication that speaks of forgiveness and love, and Anotsu was enough of a bastard to take it, hold it close to his heart, and vow to protect it for the rest of his life.
Author Notes #2: I apologize for any OOCness on the part of both of these characters (seriously, Anotsu cuddling??) but this idea wouldn't leave me alone. I figure it takes place about ten years after the end of Blade and "if" Anotsu and Rin marry as a way to break the cycle of revenge that was started so many years ago. Do I honestly think that will happen? I don't know, I'm not up to date on the Blade volumes, but I loved how they interacted when they traveled together before and after Anotsu got sick. And I've been hearing rumbles about them meeting up again around volume 20 or 21, so I'm back to buying the books so I can play catch up. Again. XD