A/N: Take note I'm open to ideas! I have a slew of my own at this point I'm still working on but if you have a prompt for me or an idea you want to see then please don't hesitate to say so! I can't promise I will use your idea but I would most certainly consider it!
His nightmares were something of a common thing lately.
There were nights where his mind would be flooded with images of flames, his ears ringing with the sound of his clan's screams. Everything burned to ash around him, over and over again until nothing remained but the echoes of screams. It all felt so real. A physical manifestation of all the fears he kept locked away in his chest for no one to see. The worst was always Anna's screaming, followed by Tatara's. Because for all that he knew his flames couldn't harm him, he still held the fear that one day that wouldn't be true. That Tatara would get too close and burn up like everything else.
He would wake from these dreams in almost a panic, heart racing in his chest as if he had run a marathon all night long. The nightmares always seemed as if they were drowning him, keeping him from getting to the surface. Stopping him from waking.
Yet every time, there would always be a warm touch and smile waiting for him by his side. Just like there was now as he felt a warm hand slide soothingly over his cheek. "It's alright now." Tatara said softly, accepting the hand that came to his cheek as if to test he was real.
Mikoto moved closer and Tatara lay down again, accepting the redhead into his arms and settling his head on his chest without a word. He didn't question him this time. It had been harder to wake him from his dreams and he knew by now that meant he'd had one that really shouldn't be talked about. All he could do was brush aside Mikoto's apology for waking him and simply hold him close. Fingers soothed through his hair and over tense shoulders until one by one the muscles relaxed and Mikoto's grip around him loosened to indicate he was calming down.
Tatara bent his head, kissing the top of red hair softly before relaxing with a sigh. "No matter what nightmare it is, I'll stay here to sooth it away." He could tell by the tightening grip of Mikoto's arms that the promise was appreciated.
Anna was screaming again. It never seemed to end. How long had he been trapped here? How long did he have to listen to her screams as the flames took her? Took everyone?
"It's alright. I'm here." Tatara's voice was at his ear, speaking assurances and promises and he could almost feel the ghost of a touch in his hair before those assurances turned to screams that sent his head straight to his hands, fingers clenching his red hair in fists. Tatara was burning up in front of him, reaching out as if to grab onto him one more time before he blew away into ashes.
He jolted awake this time, chest heaving as he tried to get his bearings. That was the worst one. To see Tatara burn in front of his eyes and he could feel his shoulders shaking at the memory. He was hit with the overwhelming need to hold onto his lover. Hold him tight and hear him whispering in his ear everything he loved about him, about them together.
He rolled over to do just that, arm snaking out to wrap around that waist again and never let go until morning.
He was met with the cold space of an empty bed and his body seized up, shaking intensifying as memories of the day before came tumbling back. Tatara's body covered in blood, the warmth of his aura no longer present. He had been so cold, lying in that bed. Tonight was his first night truly alone.
Tatara wasn't here anymore. Never could be again.
He reached up, fingers rolling the earring in ear, remembering Tatara doing the same thing sometimes when he was nervous. The thought only made his chest tighter and he could feel his aura burning around him, untamed now without that soothing touch.
He pulled the covers tight around him, wanting to hide away from it all. Wanting some semblance to the warmth he'd had at his side for so long. Warmth that was suddenly stripped away and couldn't possibly be replaced.
You lied Tatara. You aren't here to sooth it away.
No one would ever bear witness to the tear that leaked from his eye, dropping down and soaking into the blanket to be forgotten.
