Obviously set before .01
Also, a disclaimer that I forgot to do last chapter!
Disclaimer: Yep.
.02 Cuddling Somewhere
The only light in the room was that which the moon gave off through the curtained window beside Fakir's bed. The clock perched on his nightstand claimed it to be twenty-eight minutes into the tenth hour, the face of the ticking mechanism in perfect view of the small duckling whose makeshift bed was right next to it. The alarm on it was broken and for that the duck was grateful as the boy sleeping peacefully next to her relied on his inner time schedule to wake him up (and Charon on the few occasions it happens to fail him).
Ruffling her feathers, Duck wearily watched the seconds hand tick and willed her heavy eyes to stay shut, but the chill that kept at back made sleep hard. Winter was coming and the duckling had refused to join the other avians in their big flight to warmer climates in order to stay with the boy, her best friend, who had promised to stay by her. She fruitlessly tried to bury herself in the thick blanket that was in her basket, but her own body heat wasn't enough to warm her. Peeking her head over to the sleeping body on the bed, Duck envied how warm and snug Fakir must have been.
Observing him, Duck noted how still he always was when he slept. She marveled at how log-like he became when unconscious and then an idea popped into her head.
Quietly, Duck wiggled her way out of her bed and waddled over to the edge of the nightstand. Calculating the distance, and as softly and noiselessly as she could, she hopped and fluttered her way onto the bed. She looked up at slumbering boy and-
Hm.
As much as she was sure he wouldn't mind it-or very much hoped he wouldn't- Duck was sure that Fakir wouldn't take too kindly to suddenly awaking with a duck beside him that appeared without his knowledge. Also, on the off chance that he did roll over in his sleep, Duck didn't want to face the mortifying embarrassment of squawking and flailing only to have an angry Fakir reprimand her and tell her that it was her fault because he didn't know she was there.
So it seemed she would have to ask for permission.
She wondered if he would be angry at her for waking him up for something so dumb as her being cold. Or would he deny her and send her back to her chilly basket?
Tiny heart hammering in her chest, Duck flapped onto his pillow and nudged at his nose with her beak. His eyebrow twitched and she tried again with a bit more persistence. A bleary green eye began to open and she shifted back a few steps so he could see her.
Fakir's voice came out soft and sleepy, "…hn… Duck… what is it?"
Catching his eye so that she knew he was paying attention to her actions, she wiggled her body in an exaggerated shiver.
"Cold, huh?"
A soft quack.
Fakir let his eye close shut again, "Mm…"
He was quiet for a long moment, still and breathing deeply, and Duck was about to conclude that he had fallen back asleep until slowly the covers whispered with movement and there was suddenly an opening was created by his chest. Seeing the affirmation, Duck quickly waddled into the opening and was delighted to feel warmth envelope her on all sides. The heat coming from Fakir's chest, the warm blankets housing her, the hand that gently cupped her side: it was all warm.
Finally feeling sleep starting to wash over her, Duck snuggled against the soft fabric of Fakir's shirt and felt his thumb slowly pet her feathers before slumber consumed them both.
Author's Note: This counts… right?