X-X-X-X-X
Drake came awake with a start, casting around the dimly lit room for a potential threat before remembering where he was. With a sigh he flopped back onto the bed, before turning his head to look at the woman still asleep beside him. Nike was curled up on her side, facing him, fingers curling and uncurling unconsciously.
He frowned.
It wasn't the first time they'd ended up in bed together, though they'd never done anything other than sleep. Usually it followed a heavy night of drinking on his part or had been back when they were still in North Blue and it was unbearably cold. But, now, everything seemed different. The past 24 hours had changed everything.
"You're thinking too much." Came a mumbled voice from the covers. Drake started, looking down to see heavy lidded brown eyes looking up at him. Nike yawned.
"Sorry, did I wake you?" He asked. She hummed noncommittally.
"I could hear the gears in your head overheating," she teased sleepily. He smiled, turning on his own side to face her. She blinked slowly at him, the tug of sleep apparent. He hesitated for a moment before reaching for her, gathering her in his arms and drawing her close. He felt her sigh against his chest, snuggling against him.
"What happens now?" He asked. In truth, he was uncertain of their future. There were so many implications to them starting a relationship that it made his head spin. Nike, who had apparently been close to going back to sleep, grumbled something against his shoulder.
"What do you mean?" She asked. He sighed.
"I mean, what do we do now? About us?" He asked. He felt her draw back and looked down at her. She was frowning at him.
"Drake, nothing has changed," she said. He blinked in confusion, opening his mouth to say something, but she placed a finger against his lips, silencing him.
"Do you feel any differently than you did yesterday? A week ago? A month?" She asked him. He paused, thinking for a moment. He finally shook his head. She smiled at him.
"See? Nothing between us has changed. You've simply placed a name to an emotion you've had for a while." She said. He stared at her for a minute before a relieved smile spread across his face. He caught her hand as she drew it away from his mouth, kissing her palm gently.
"You really are amazing." He murmured. Nike snorted.
"And don't you forget it." She said. He chuckled, leaning forward to kiss her forehead. She snuggled back down against his chest, fingers curling in his shirt. Soon, the sound of her breathing evened out and he closed his own eyes, content to let sleep take him over.
His final thought before drifting off was that having her in his arms felt right.
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/AN/
Short chapter, major fluff. I regret nothing.
This officially ends the Canon/Dinner arc and is the beginning of the 2 year arc, where we find out what everyone was up to during the time skip.
To Rejar: I always look forward to your reviews, so no worries there. I was almost done with that last chapter before I stopped and thought: 'where's the garter'? So, yeah, threw it in at the end, but it still turned out pretty good, so meh. I went back and re-read the chapter and I have to agree with you. You're reading and it flows smoothly and then, BAM, 'baka' just leaps out at you and smacks you in the face. So I went and changed it. I imagine that Nike says it in a fond way, so it's not insulting. Like a nickname. For Nike 'idiot' is the equivalent of 'sweetheart'.
To Shiningheart of ThunderClan: Yes, Drake wasn't aware. I imagine he's one of those men whose just obtuse enough that he realizes that he has feelings for someone, but doesn't see the extent of them until someone (like Garp) bluntly comes out and puts a name to them. And I smacked myself in the face when I noticed I'd spelled 'wine' incorrectly. I mean, come on, self. So, thanks for pointing that out.