On any normal night, the soft sheets of their shared bed, coupled with the comforting warmth of his lover's body curled up beside his, would have been more than enough to send Hanzo Shimada easily into a deep, untroubled sleep.

Not tonight.

Tonight, falling asleep was not going to be such an easy feat. Tonight, it was as though the silky fabric of his pillowcase had been replaced with the roughest of sandpaper.

Letting out a quiet groan, being careful not to wake McCree, Hanzo opened his eyes. The pale silvery moonlight he had so ardently admired the previous night could still be seen filtering through the curtains, slightly weaker now against the steadily lightening sky outside. Hastily, he turned his head so that he was facing the window. The action did nothing but irritate him further, as the harsh fabric of the pillow brushed against his newly-shaven head.

He sighed. He should have known that his soul-cleansing actions of the last night would inevitably come with some minor annoyances, but even so, he hadn't expected this.

"...Darlin'?"

Damn.

McCree's sleepy mumble, punctuated by a deep yawn, caused Hanzo to turn and face his partner. Deep black rings showed under the cowboy's eyes, a clear sign he had found it no easier to get to sleep.

"It's 'bout 3 in the mornin', Han," he mumbled, his thick American accent slurring his words in the way Hanzo particularly hated. "Why're ya still awake..."

"I am sorry if I woke you, Jesse," Hanzo simply whispered, after a few uncomfortable moments of silence.

McCree shifted around awkwardly, dragging a tired hand lazily through his dishevelled chestnut hair, and letting out another loud yawn.

"Somethin' the matter?"

Again, Hanzo let out a quiet sigh of frustration.

"I can't sleep."

McCree looked quite surprised.

"Why ever not?" he asked, puzzled. Hanzo subsequently felt McCree's tender arm place itself around his bare waist, pulling him close. "'S not like ya normally have any difficulty sleepin', 'specially not next t' me."

You are not wrong.

"No," Hanzo softly answered, "the pillow feels... strange."

Now McCree really did look confused.

"It's your pillow case," he said, hesitantly. "Same one as normal. It never bothered ya before..."

Hanzo promptly felt his lover's spare hand come to rest upon his bare scalp, his fingers once again slowly rubbing the sleek skin. He tried not to flinch as once again the crisp steely metal of the cowboy's prosthetic touched his skin, instead closing his eyes. The pleasant feeling was undoubtedly still a novelty, but it felt damn good.

It didn't last long. The gentle massaging motion of McCree's fingers slowed, then stopped altogether. Slowly, he removed his hand.

"...Oh."

Hanzo opened his eyes, hoping his lover had now taken the hint.

"...I see," was all McCree said, after a few moments. "Y're still not used to the feelin' of havin' a shaved head."

"You are right, Jesse," Hanzo answered, again with a weary sigh. "It is a feeling to which I am not well accustomed, unfortunately."

An odd look appeared on his lover's face, one which hovered between mild pity and amusement.

"Ain't much I can do 'bout it, 'm afraid," he said, once again bringing his hand to Hanzo's head and lightly caressing its even surface. McCree liked doing that so much, Hanzo thought, that it was as if he preferred the feeling over that of his long, silky hair beneath his fingers. "Y're just gonna have t' try and get used to it. It'll be a long time b'fore it grows out, Han."

Hanzo said nothing, only nestled himself closer to his lover and closed his eyes once more. McCree was right. Whether he liked it or not, he would just have to ignore the annoying feeling for the time being.

"I am fully aware," he replied, in a hushed tone, as he simply savoured the sensation of his lover's gentle rubbing motions against his bare skin. Despite the roughness of the pillowcase against his head, still lingering there awkwardly, he felt a little more soothed. Slowly, he relaxed himself.

"Jus' get back t' sleep," the archer heard McCree say to him, softly. "I'll sort somethin' out for ya tomorrow. Maybe give your pillowcase a good ol' wash, soften it out for ya."

Despite himself, Hanzo gave a small smile.

"Thank you," he replied, quietly.

"Y'know I'd do anythin' t' make ya comfortable, darlin'."

Slowly, the archer felt his lover's arm once more pulling him close, so that they were closely cuddled together in their shared space.

"'M here, darlin'. Relax."

Sure enough, soon Hanzo no longer felt the merciless insomnia tugging at his body and mind. Instead it was replaced with a steady passage into sleep, as the warmth he and his partner shared, along with the reassuring caress of the cowboy's hand, set his mind at ease.

"G'night, Han. Sleep well..."

"Good night, Jesse."

With his lover's serene words in his mind, Hanzo simply let himself fall into sleep's calming embrace.