002. Middles
Habit
Wilson had a habit of waking in the middle of the night. It had started when he was a teenager; he'd wake up when his brother came home, no matter what time of the night it was. Things were looking ominous even then and subconsciously he'd woken every time his brother came home just to reassure himself.
It had continued after he left home, through college, through marriages…after his brother disappeared. He didn't try and do anything about it because it didn't really bother him. He was quite capable of falling asleep again and his various partners over the years had rarely known of this little nocturnal habit of his.
Tonight is the first time he's not indifferent to his habit. He's glad to be awake. House is curled around him, spooning him, his breath coming in soft puffs against the back of Wilson's neck. House's arms are wrapped around him, slightly relaxed in sleep but still tight enough to be called possessive and to be comforting in a way Wilson hadn't felt before.
He sighed happily and snuggled back a little further into House's embrace, smiling when House's arms tightened briefly and he felt the scrape of stubble against his shoulder along with a small, indistinct mumble.
As he closed his eyes again, he reminded himself not to lose this habit. He wanted to wake up like this in the middle of the night more often.