#10 - Soft
Adventures in Sharing a Bed
Segment Notes: I've been too sick to write anything new, but here's a cute piece I've had done for some weeks. I tried to lengthen it before, but it says it's done. I have experienced the flopping arm problem before. That was interesting.
Dozing off together, no matter how innocently, could have the most bizarre consequences. Radley really wasn't sure how it had happened, but one night he found himself waking up with a piece of Kalin's hair in his mouth and some of the other long blue locks flung up and resting on Radley's face. Kalin was sprawled all over the bed, with an arm resting on Radley's upper arm and a leg laying on Radley's.
Amused and incredulous, Radley brushed Kalin's hair aside and tried to gently drape it around Kalin's shoulder without waking him. Trying to lay Kalin's arm on his chest, however, only resulted in Kalin letting it flop back across Radley. When several more attempts failed likewise, Radley finally gave up and just tried to roll onto his side away from Kalin instead.
After a moment Kalin withdrew his arm and shifted position. Then Radley felt him snuggling close. The arm came back, but this time in a hug.
Radley chuckled under his breath. "Okay, Kalin. You win." He relaxed, laying his hand on Kalin's as he dozed. It was ironic and perhaps even touching that Kalin was a hugger in his sleep. He had started to appreciate physical contact while awake, but still not as much as he seemed to while asleep.
Although . . .
Radley frowned a bit. Maybe it was sad too. Given everything Kalin had been through, maybe he hugged in his sleep because he was so desperate not to lose what he had now.
Well, he definitely wouldn't lose Radley.
"I'm here," Radley said softly. "I'm in this for the long haul." But of course, that wasn't what Kalin feared. He feared outside forces separating them by death, and Radley couldn't provide as much comfort for that as he wished. Still, he added, "And I'll fight tooth and nail to stick around that long, and longer."
"You won't leave?" Kalin sleepily mumbled.
"Never," Radley insisted, and hoped he could keep that promise.
Kalin relaxed, still hugging him.
Smiling, Radley swiftly dozed off to sleep.
