NEPHRITE AND MAKOTO - HIS NIGHTMARES
The sound pierced her ears. Makoto sat up and rubbed her eyes.
That sound, again: a nervous ringing.
Makoto looked at Nephrite who was sleeping by her side, whispering, "Nobuo."
Nephrite yawned and glanced at the clock on the night table, while the ring filled his apartment for the third time, "The intercom. I wonder who is out there, in the middle of the night and under the rain." He stood up and walked to the door.
Makoto's green eyes followed Nephrite until he left the room, then she glanced at the clock on the night table (2 o'clock) and at the lashing rain outside the window. She shivered, she grabbed Nephrite's wide sweater and she dressed it, covering her underpants and top. When her feet touched the floor she shivered once more, "So cold", and she finally walked to the living room.
"What's happening?" She stared at Nephrite standing in front of the open door, waiting for someone who was now walking up the stairs. She wrapped her arms around her chest against the wind entering the apartment through the open door whereas Nephrite, just his pajamas' trousers on, seemed unaware of it. She smiled, trying to smooth the heavy vibe, "You are going to catch a cold."
Nephrite didn't answer her smile, his eyes on the open door and his features worried.
Makoto had a deep sigh and walked closer Nephrite, "What's going – " She stopped, her feet glued to the floor on her way to Nephrite, while her eyes opened wide in surprise.
Nephrite turned to her, his voice soft, "Mako, please, bring me some dry clothes and prepare some tea." He wrapped his arm around the shoulders of the arrival, drenched by the rain, and walked to the bathroom, "Stupid! What the heck are you doing?" in his voice not reproach but a calm affection for the arrival.
Makoto remained still, looking at the two walking to the bathroom and then at the bathroom's door closing. She finally woke up from her shocked state and walked back to Nephrite's bedroom; she opened the dresser and grabbed a pair of jeans, a sweater, undershirt, boxers and socks.
Through the bathroom's door, she tried to listen to the voices, catching some words – Beryl, Metalia, darkness – were they still haunted by their past in the Dark Kingdom? Of course, yes. She gently knocked at the door and passed Nephrite the clothes in her arms.
In the kitchen, she stared outside the window while waiting for the water to boil.
Why did he come to Nephrite's apartment instead of Kunzite's, Zoisite's or Mamoru's? Makoto smiled: it wasn't so strange he chose Nephrite's apartment, after all. Not strange at all, but natural, due to their close friendship and his nature.
Lost in her thoughts and conjectures, Makoto poured the tea in the cups. Why didn't he go to -?
"Thanks, Mako." Nephrite entered the kitchen and smiled, interrupting her silent questions.
Jadeite had a faint smile and sat at the table, "Thanks. Sorry for the busy night."
Makoto smiled and winked, "Don't worry. Do you want a piece of cheesecake?"
Jadeite nodded, "Thanks."
She stared at Nephrite placing the plate with the piece of cake in front of Jadeite.
"Makoto cooked it. It's sublime, like her." Nephrite smiled and glanced at Makoto, making her blush.
Makoto sat at the table and sipped her tea, observing Jadeite. She wasn't surprised for Jadeite's coming at Nephrite's place; Jadeite was too formal and respectful to go to Mamoru's place in the middle of the night: she couldn't picture him knocking at the apartment's door of 'Mamoru-sama' (Jadeite's way to call Mamoru), too formal to go to Kunzite's place either ('Kazuo-san', in Jadeite's speech). Between Nephrite and Zoisite, his choice focused on Nephrite because of their strong friendship: they were two faces of the same coin, so different but so close; besides, Nephrite had a particular gift for comforting people.
"This cake is really great, Makoto, thanks."
Makoto smiled happily, "Thanks, Jun. I am glad you like it." Jadeite's sudden confused look made her smile fade, "Is something wrong with the cake?"
Jadeite shook his head and had a brief laugh, "Sorry. I am not used to see you without your ponytail. I just noticed your hair."
Makoto smiled sweetly and winked, her hand caressing her wavy and brown hair now free on her shoulders, long to her upper back, "My ponytail is just for the day, not for the night."
Jadeite sighed and stood up. He walked to the window and stared at the night's lights outside, "Sorry. I didn't want to show up at Nobuo's place this way, so late at night." He rested his right hand on his forehead and closed his eyes, "I don't even know how arrived here. I think I walked along the streets like in trance until I found myself ringing the intercom."
Makoto held her breath. Did it happen to Nephrite too, walking along the streets like a zombie while nightmares of the Dark Kingdom chased him?
Nephrite walked closer Jadeite and patted his shoulder, "Don't worry, Jun." He rested his hands on his hips whereas Jadeite kept his arms along his body.
Remaining sitting at the table, Makoto observed the two friends staring at the night skyline of Tokyo, the short blond haired Shitennou near the long brown haired one, the brown haired Shitennou towering above the blond one, the clothes of Nephrite a bit larger on Jadeite who now looked even more shorter (Jadeite wasn't short but Nephrite was really tall, not as much as Kunzite but really tall, and Makoto was glad to have finally by her side a man taller than her).
She yawned and stirred, suddenly overwhelmed by drowsiness.
Nephrite turned around and smiled, "I think it's time to go to sleep." He turned his head to Jadeite, "Obviously, you're going to stay for the night."
Jadeite shook his head, "I am able to go back to my apartment. Don't worry."
"No way!" Nephrite left the kitchen and headed to the living room, "You can sleep on the couch," he giggled and smirked, "unless you want to sleep with me and Mako."
Jadeite blushed furiously, "The couch is fine!"
Makoto followed Nephrite, "I am going to prepare the couch for you, Jun. It's cold, and you need a warm blanket. And a pillow."
Jadeite scratched his nape and reached the living room, "Thanks."
"Nobuo," she whispered his name, "Jun and you were talking about the Dark Kingdom, Queen Beryl and Metalia, weren't you?"
Nephrite rolled on his back and looked at the ceiling, "Did you hear us through the bathroom's door?"
Makoto blushed and sat up, "I wasn't eavesdropping!"
Nephrite smiled, "I know. I know."
She averted her eyes from him, trying to ponder her words; she finally let it go, "Did you ever happen to you too? I mean, being haunted by the past as Jun. Did you ever run to Jun's place in the middle of the night?" Her cheeks turned red, "If you are going to have nightmares, run to my place, instead."
Nephrite sat up and hugged her, "Mako! No, it has never happened to me. I am different from Jun. He has a different way to deal with bad things; he keeps things inside until they explode."
Makoto nodded, "You are really protective over Jun, aren't you?"
Nephrite smiled, "Yes, I have always been." He stood up, "And since I am really protective, I am going to check if that stupid is sleeping!"
"Why didn't he go to Rei's place? Do you think I should talk to Rei-chan about it? I don't want to disappoint Jun."
Nephrite stirred, "Jun would never show up at the Shrine in the middle of the night; what would Rei's grandfather say? I think Rei and Jun should deal with Jun's nightmares by their own, but … yes … I think you could be helpful if you talk to Rei about what happened; besides, I think that Jun is aware that Rei is going to know everything, 'cause he knows you girls have no secrets with each others."
Makoto watched Nephrite leaving the room, then flopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. She sighed, realizing that having Nephrite as boyfriend meant also to deal with the other Shitennou, like a large and complex family. Tiring but pleasant: a large family. She smiled and closed her eyes.
Yes, he was protective over Jadeite. Over-protective.
Since always, also during their time under Queen Beryl's spell. Despite Queen Beryl's spell.
His protective attitude over Jadeite had shown even then: he had distracted Queen Beryl by her willing to punish Jadeite for his failures, he had watched over him while he was kidnapping the bus' passengers in order to have Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury showing up, he had checked his safety when Sailor Mars had hit him and he had luckily managed to teletransport away from her flames. At that time just confusion in his head and a cocky attitude (a confused willing to find the Silver Crystal and to please Queen Beryl), but his instinct was keeping him protective over the younger Shitennou, though he didn't understand why and he was somehow annoyed by it (confused if it was sense of protection over Jadeite or a sort of competition against him).
He stared at Jadeite sleeping.
He covered the blond Shitennou with the blanket, his voice a soft whisper, "Stupid. Beryl can't hurt us anymore. We are alive."
He smiled and went back to the bedroom; he slipped under the blankets and hugged Makoto.
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