Disclaimer: I own nothing.
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Piece 11: Safety Blanket
Theme: Shield
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That night was particularly hard on Neku. Instead of his usual nightmares, they were filled with frogs, frogs, and more frogs. Instead of waking up with a startling cry and being sung back to sleep by Joshua's lullaby, Neku woke up suddenly and silently.
In the darkness, his room looks larger and scarier and Neku resists the urge to let out a low whimper.
Instantly Neku's child mind causes him to scramble for the nearest safe spot. He climbs out of bed and heads down the hall to the next bedroom over.
Without wasting any movement, Neku swiftly climbs into Joshua's bed. Feeling the new weight on his bed, Joshua rolls over, his eyes blinking rapidly as he tries to focus on the said intruder. "Neku," he muttered groggily. Really, he shouldn't be surprised. Neku had woken him up nearly every night due to his nightmares, tonight should be no different, especially given what happened this afternoon. Joshua is merely surprised that Neku came to him when it's usually the other way around.
"Scare," Neku whined. "Wanna stay."
Joshua shifts closer to the wall. Then he wraps Neku in his blanket like a protective cocoon. Neku practically lets out a gleeful sound and snuggles closer to Joshua. Within seconds, Neku is fast asleep, slumbering peacefully. Joshua, still very sleep deprived, follows quickly after.
It wasn't until three days during history class that it occurred to Joshua that Neku had spoken for the first time.