While She Sleeps
Rating: G
Genre: General
One-Shot
Nightmare
The tent was stuffy and that fact made it harder for Ulrich to fall asleep. He tossed and turned carelessly to find a comfortable position that he woke up his tent-mate with his noisy motions.
"Settle down, will ya?" snapped Sissi. "I'm trying to get some sleep here."
"I will when I get comfortable," Ulrich snapped back.
"Well hurry up, I need to rest," said Sissi, turning her back on Ulrich. "I'm starring a movie tomorrow, if you didn't know, and I need my rest."
Ulrich just rolled his eyes and settled into his sleeping bag, pulling up the cover.
"Yeah, you're a star all right, with only one line in the stupid movie," he muttered.
But Sissi's soft snore told him she didn't hear a word he said.
---
Ulrich bolted up from his sleep, sweating. He'd had another bad dream. It seemed as though his nightmares were becoming more and more often...
Tonight it had been those damn Crabs. He could swear that he felt those spindly arms clawing at his neck, barely out of reach. And just when he thought he'd be beheaded, everything exploded in a white light and he woke up to the real world.
Ever since Lyoko, he'd had recurring nightmares of his adventures there. He'd always dream that he was being chased by X.A.N.A.'s monsters but he was always too helpless to stop them. In one dream, he found that he didn't have his sword. In another, he felt like his body had turned into stone and all he could do was stare in fright instead of run away. It felt more real to him in his dreams than when he was actually in Lyoko. At least there, he was only a mix of data and zeroes and ones and numbers... but here, in the real world, where X.A.N.A. could actually touch him, the scent of danger was ever so near.
Ulrich sighed and buried his face in his hands in an effort to calm himself down. He was breathing heavily and his sweat made his shirt cling to his damp body.
Running his hands over his face to wipe the sweat, he leaned back on his arms and stared worriedly at the tent ceiling wondering if the others had dreams like these, too.
"What's wrong with me..." he asked no one in particular.
There was a shift in the sleeping bag next to him and Ulrich turned his head sharply, his body tense. He relaxed when he realized it was only Sissi.
"Mmm whatsa matter Ul... rich... " Sissi mumbled in her sleep. Ulrich was about to answer when she mumbled again, "I don't... wanna go... school... too sleepy... leave... alone..."
Ulrich smirked at his sleeping admirer. At least she's not having a nightmare...
Sissi shifted again until she faced Ulrich. Her left arm was splayed ungracefully beside her tilted face and her dark hair spread all around her like a shiny, black halo.
Curious like a child in wonder, Ulrich reached out a hand to touch her hair and found that it was very, very soft. He twirled a lock in his fingers and slowly rubbed it in between his thumb and forefinger. Leaning forward, he rested on his elbows and continued to fondle Sissi's hair.
Twirl, stop, rub... Twirl, stop, rub... rub...
Strangely enough, this seemed to comfort him and soon Ulrich felt peaceful enough to go back to sleep again.
He pushed himself back up and settled into his sleeping bag. This time, he didn't have to toss and turn to find the right spot. As soon as he pulled up the cover, he fell asleep instantly.
A minute later, screaming could be heard throughout the factory.
---
Author's Notes: I'm assuming most people don't agree with Sissi, so if you're gonna leave a comment, don't be immature and say "u SUcK aNd SiSSy suCks!!" If you're gonna criticize, at least be constructive ;)