Nightmares Cye S2
By Robin Gurl
He sat up in a panic out of breath as he tried to shake off what he'd seen. So much blood. So many innocent lives. He hunches over pulling his knees to his chest as he tried not to make too much of a noise.. Kento was sleeping on the other bed after all.
Thankfully, Hardrock's loud snoring had hidden the scream he'd woken up with. Torrent looks outside the window as the rain comes down hard. Any normal night and it would have been relaxing.
Tonight, it just looked cold and lonely.
He knew what they had told him, but he felt like he had taken advantage of their kindness too much during the Battle with Talpa. That was over and he should be able to handle his own nightmares now.
He didn't have to sleep with someone to feel safe. He was going to keep telling himself this until he believed it. Even if he would have done anything to curl up with one of the guys.. even loud snoring Kento. He would have felt safer than he did now…
As it stood, he was still seeing the vivid images and shivered. He could smell the blood and stink of death. The smoke left over was from the attacks the Dynasty soldiers. He knew it, he'd seen it and yet for some reason he was still dreaming about it.
He gets up as quietly as he can opening the door to the hallway. He looks either way before hurrying to the bathroom. He closes the door, turns on the fan and the faucet before throwing up.
The smell of blood was awful.
The innocent lives that were taken.
Why was he having to be the one to see it? He shudders heaving again, somewhere deep down he hoped he could throw it up and it would be gone. He could flush it away and he wouldn't have these dreams anymore.
He sits back on the floor exhausted, his armor orb burning in his pocket. He held his hand out and it appeared glowing, his symbol glowed underneath his bangs as he leaned against the wall trying to relax.
He remembered Sage being able to see his nightmares because of how he unknowingly projected them out in the sheer panic. He was doing his best to not do it, not that he knew how.
If Sage hadn't said anything though, it meant it was working.
His eyes grow heavy as he falls asleep on the bathroom floor, exhausted from getting sick and his alderine wearing off. He kept telling himself he needed to get up and get to bed or they would know something was wrong with him.
But his body was too tired, his mind was too fried… he just needed to sleep.
~*
Ryo yawned as he walked out of his room, groggily he looks down at White Blaze who follows him. He was usually the first up because of his tiger, though he'd fall right back asleep after letting Blaze out of the house – it still counted.
"Man, I don't know… h-he was just gone this morning." Kento rambles scared. "W-What if Sarenbo got ahold of him?"
"Easy Kento. We'll find him." Sage nods to Rowen.
"Find who?" Ryo asks curiously.
"Cye. He's gone missing. I-I don't know how to explain it, but I could just tell something was off. I woke up and he was gone."
"Maybe he's downstairs?"
"No, I checked. That was my first thought. Every room is empty down there." Kento wrings his hands just wanting to find his best friend.
White Blaze nudges Ryo's thigh pushing him down the hallway, he chuffs a few times. "H-Hey hold on White Blaze.. what's going on ….the bathroom?" Wildfire stumbles slightly and pushes the door open.
His eyes widen. "G-Guys. I found Cye."
~*
"At least let Sage look you over!" Kento exclaimed as he followed the younger warrior around the kitchen. "We found you asleep in the bathroom."
"I told you, I had eaten something that disagreed with me last night." Cye says for the fifth time. He bends down and pulls out one of his aprons. He pulls it over his head before tying it back as he turns around.
"You made dinner last night."
"And? Just because I cooked the food doesn't mean my body decides to like everything it's eaten." The bearer of torrent sighs frustrated. He knew Kento was overprotective, he just didn't realize how overprotective. He felt bad lying him on. "If you're going to stay in here while I make breakfast, I need you to go over to the counter and sit."
Hardrock grumbles as he moves to sit at the counter. He wanted to believe what his best friend was telling him, but he couldn't shake that something was wrong.
Cye's smiles weren't genuine anymore but forced, like he was hiding something. The dark circles were starting to come back, and the usual bright green eyes were dulling again. He knew something was happening.
He sits watching as the smaller warrior moves about the kitchen starting breakfast. He lets out a sigh watching him pull ingredients out and start cooking. At least Cye was still cooking. If he ever stopped that, then he'd be really worried.
Torrent felt eyes on him and stopped cracking the eggs before looking over his shoulder, "What?"
"Nothing. Just happy to see you able to be yourself." Hardrock smiles placing his hands behind his head as he stretches. "Without Talpa around, you're not as tense and it's a relief."
The other blinks before blushing going back to his cooking, "Flattery will not earn you more eggs, Kento."
"AW MAN!"
"Get. Out."
~*
Rowen looks up from moving one of his chess pieces getting a frustrated noise from Sage who was watching. "Kento? Did Cye tell you what happened last night?"
The heavy set Ronin just shrugged helplessly, "He says his stomach was upset."
"You don't believe him?" Sage asks. "I could always check him over."
"I tried that already. He was adamant on you not looking him over." Kento flops on the couch frustrated. "I know something is going on with him. He doesn't look right anymore."
"Doesn't look right? He looks like Cye to me." Ryo offers as he sits on the couch beside the other.
"No. He looks tired…but a nervous tired. Like he doesn't want us figuring something out tired. He's having to deal with something on his own." Hardrock sits up hunching over. "…he's got that battle tired look again. The dark circles under his eyes are coming back…uggh. I'm telling you guys, something's up."
"If he's not going to let us help, there isn't much we can do, Kento." The blonde sighs as he pushes the board away unable to focus on the game and Cye. "He could just be tired. We're all exhausted with the White Armor. If his stomach really was upset last night, then he's tired from not sleeping on top of the White Armor."
"Wait.. not sleepin'," Rowen looks up at them all. "You don't think the nightmares are back?"
They all shared a worried look.
Sage shakes his head, "I would have felt it, he's not "quiet" about his nightmares. Regardless of what he thinks he does, his nightmares are "loud". Not to mention I put the block on his mind for them."
"He also knows he doesn't have to hide them." Ryo says worried.
"Besides the battle is over… the nightmares should go away, right?" The bearer of Hardrock asks hopefully as he shifts trying to see into the kitchen.
Wildfire shakes his head sadly, "I still have nightmares about the battle with Talpa. They don't end that easily."
"Before we all overreact, let's see if we can get him to rest today." Halo butts in wanting to stop everyone from assuming things. "He could be recovering like he said. If that's the case, he'll feel better this afternoon." He turns to look at Strata, "I know you wanted to get some training in, but right now Cye trusts you more than the rest of us." He sighs at seeing Kento's upset look. "You don't bombard him with questions and he can just relax. If he's with you, he'll more than likely wind up taking a nap, which is what we want."
"I'm alright with that." Strata shrugs before smiling. "Mia's Grandfather has all of these books and I want to read them all."
"Only you could be excited to read all day."
"Hey! Some of us enjoy enriching our minds."
"You "in-rich" your mind. I'm going to "in-rich" my body." Kento mutters. Though he sighs relieved knowing someone was going to be in here watching over Cye.
~*
Cye leans against the counter in the kitchen letting out a sigh of relief at hearing everyone go outside to train. This would leave him with peace and quiet for a few hours. He reaches up rubbing his eyes, they were sore… an exhausted sore.
He knew he needed to get some sleep but didn't want to be alone. The day nightmares were sometimes worse than the night time. As much as he wanted peace and quiet he could always go rest outside where they would be doing their thing.
He looks outside at the bright flashes of light; they were calling their armors. This meant actual training was going to happen. There was no where that he'd be safe to rest with that going on. They didn't even allow Yuli or Mia outside when they were serious training.
His hands shake as he starts to wash the dishes from breakfast. He was dizzy and didn't feel that great. The lie he had told Kento about his stomach was upset was becoming an actual thing and he didn't like it.
It was because he was lying. He hated lying. He hated liars even more. He couldn't bare it when someone hid something from him and yet he was doing it to them.
No wonder he felt sick.
No, he had to do this. He was fine and didn't need their help to sleep at night. They had enough to worry about with Ryo and the White Armor. They didn't need to be worrying about him as well.
"Cye?"
He startles nearly dropping the plate he was washing. He turns around, "….R-Rowen. Bloody hell, announce yourself or something."
"Sorry, I forget how quiet I can be sometimes. You ok?" The blue haired teen walks in carrying a few books in his arms. He sits them down on the counter before walking over rolling up his sleeves. "Here, let me dry."
"Don't you want to go outside and train as well? If I recall, last night at dinner, you were wanting to try to shoot some arrows to space?"
"Nah, I can do that later. Besides Kento and Ryo wanted to have a "whose surekill is bigger" contest. It won't be fair if I'm out there.. I'll win."
Cye glances over before laughing. "And who is judging this contest?"
"As far as I can tell, they roped Sage into that role." Rowen then smirks as he places a dry glass on the counter. "However, we all know who would truly win that contest."
"Who?" His eyes widen as he realizes then he shakes his head. "No, my attack isn't that powerful, Rowen."
"Buddy, you have the ability to drop an entire ocean on someone's head just because you feel like it, fish included if you're having a good day." He drops one of the spoons into the sink water for effect. "Just boom! Tidal Wave."
"Maybe." He then sighs rubbing his eyes with his arm instead of his soapy hands.
"You ok?"
"Yeah, just tired."
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to and I'm not going to hound you on anything like Kento… but are your nightmares back?"
Torrent lowers his arm looking down into the murky dish water. He bites his lip nervously not sure what to say. He had never lied to Rowen before, ever. It was one of the things that drove him crazy about the bearer of strata. He couldn't lie to him, couldn't hide things from him.
Strata heaves a sigh at the silence, "Will you come chill with me?"
"Chill with you?"
"Yeah, get that needle point stuff you like to do and join me in the sitting room. We'll be away from the racket outside and can even turn some of that ocean soundscape stuff you like on the CD player."
"Rowen, I'm not forcing you to listen to ocean sounds for 3 hours."
"And what if I want to? What if I like it? It reminds me of you and lately I enjoy listening to it."
The other blushes bright red, he looks away before he responds again. "….I-I'd like that. But what are you going to be doing?"
"Reading. Have you seen the size of Mia's Grandfather's Library!?" Strata asks excited. "THREE rooms, Cye. THREE. Full of just wall to wall shelves."
Torrent looks over finding himself smiling again at how excited the other was over what he'd found. He almost forgot how awful he felt. "That's a whole lot of books."
"It is! And I'm going to read every single one of them." Rowen finishes drying the dishes and reaches down into the water pulling the drain. "Now. You. Go get that whatever it is."
"Cross stitch."
"Yeah that. Go get your cross stitch, put on some comfy sweats and socks – I know you like to get cozy, bring your favorite blanket down and let's chill." The blue haired teen pulled the smaller warrior away from the sink before undoing his apron. "Go on. I'll finish here."
"But Rowen-"
"Go. I'll meet you in the sitting room." He turns and watches Cye head out. He sighs leaning back against the counter, the others were right. Something was going on.
When asking about the nightmares he expected an emphatic no not silence. Cye was hiding something from him or at least attempting to. If he were to take a guess, they were back and that's why Cye was so tired.
~*
Sage steps inside a few hours later hoping he gave Rowen enough time to get Cye relaxed. He walks quietly down the hallway looking in the rooms before he stops and listens. He can hear ocean sounds… he follows the sound and walks into the sitting room as quiet as he can. "Rowen? Cye?"
"He's out."
The blonde walks into the room properly and around to the other side of the couch. He sighs with relief seeing the bearer of torrent passed out curled up against Rowen. "How long did he last?"
"Maybe 30 minutes." The other sighs before smiling as he watches the youngest sleep. "He got settled to do that needle point thing, pressed himself against my side then he started to nod off… not 30 minutes later was he asleep."
Sage sits on the coffee table watching to see how deep in sleep Cye was before he reached out and gently took the wooden hoop out of the others hands making sure to mind the needle. Then he tucked the hands under the blanket and pulled it up over the small shoulders. "Were you able to figure anything out?"
"I asked him about the nightmares up front and I didn't get any response. He couldn't look at me." Rowen explains wrapping his arm around the small waist pulling him closer. "I just don't understand how your block was removed."
"Nothing I do is permanent, Rowen. I'm only able to do so much. If he is that stressed out and exhausted, the block could come off on it's own."
"But you said so yourself that if the block did come off that you would feel his nightmares and you haven't felt any?"
"No. I haven't." He sighs. "Being sensitive to different energies, when someone like Cye has a nightmare like he's been having during the war with Talpa… it knocks you off your feet and if you aren't careful, you get pulled into his dream world with no way out."
"So, the block helped both of you."
"For sure. I didn't have to worry as much about going to sleep and waking up in some hell scape he was dreaming about." Halo looks up sadly. "I just hope he hasn't found a way to hide them from us. No one should have to deal with them on their own."
~*
He curls up in the corner of one of the downstairs rooms crying into his knees. His arms cover his head trying to dampen the sobs as he tried to calm himself down.
It was just a dream.
Only a dream.
It wasn't real.
He had woken up again from yet another really bad dream. He was unable to be quiet about this one and had stumbled down the stairs only half awake just wanting to get somewhere that he could break down without waking anyone up.
He hated this. Why couldn't he just tell them!? It had been three days since Rowen asked him if the nightmares were back and he still hadn't given him an answer.
He was so tired of waking up crying but having to be silent. His chest still hurt from having to hold in the noise of his heavy breathing as he made his way out of the room, he shared with Kento.
Finally, he curls up on his side, too exhausted to sit up anymore. He told himself that he needed to just sleep for a few minutes then go back upstairs. He could do it. He was going to be fine.
~*
"CYE?" Rowen calls as he hurries down the stairs that morning. "Cye? Buddy, can you hear me?!"
Once again, Cye had gone missing overnight. Kento had woken up when the sun came into the room and the other's bed was empty. Blanket and sheets were everywhere, pillows on the ground… it looked like he had struggled to get away from something.
He runs down the hallway poking his head into every room, each one coming up empty.
"Anything?" Ryo calls from upstairs.
"Nothing."
"I'm going to go look outside." Wildfire is heard saying as he hops down the stairs pulling his socks off.
"He wouldn't have gone out there – would he?"
"Look, we're all in agreement that it's more than likely the nightmares that are back. His are real freaky, right? He could have tried to run away from something and gone outside." He explains as he walks to the side door.
"He has a point Kento."
Hardrock sits back on the stairs wide eyed. "…Sage, we have to do something. He can't keep doing this."
"I know. Deep breath. Let's find him first. Then we'll figure out how we want to strangle him." The blonde pats the other's shoulder as he steps down past him.
"Why did Mia's house have to have 100 different rooms." Rowen mutters as he passes the blonde.
"Have you checked the main room?"
"Not yet. I honestly didn't think he'd make it there if he was running in a panic. He'd just go to the nearest room possible…" The other admits. He sighs running his hand through his blue hair – he still wasn't awake even as his heartbeat was pounding in his ears out of worry.
He hurries past the other to go check on it. He steps in expecting to see the other curled up on the floor but finds it empty.
~*
"CYE?!" Ryo calls as he walks out onto the wet grass. "Can you hear me? Let me know you're okay!"
White Blaze walks beside him looking around the landscape. He roared slightly as he lifted his head. He felt Ryo's hand on his head.
"I know, another storm is rolling through." As he said that it started to sprinkle before turning quickly into a steady cold rain. It didn't bother him, he had grown up in the mountains living off the land with White Blaze.
If Cye were out here…
He shakes his head. He sighs frustrated as he walks the perimeter of the giant house hoping to see anything out of the ordinary. He stops eyes widening, "C-Cye…?" The youngest was curled up on the porch. He had fallen asleep on the part that wasn't covered. He was soaken wet.
Wildfire runs over kneeling in front of him. His friend was cold to the touch and shivering. "Dude what is going on?" He says more to himself as he gathers his friend into his arms. He stands unsteadily and staggers back into the house. He kicks the door with his foot "GUYS. FRONT DOOR." He calls loudly.
White Blaze roars getting everyone's attention. Kento opens the front door wide eyed, "C-Cye?! What the hell man." Finding him only gave him a little bit of a relief.
"Take him. He's soaked to the bone and freezing." Ryo hands him off and shakes himself off trying to get most of the water off himself before he pushes past Kento. "Sage!? Rowen!? We need blankets and dry clothes."
"He was outside?"
"Looks like most of the night."
Kento turns around holding the smallest warrior in his arms, he feels him shiver in his sleep. "Sage, help him.. please… " He begs terrified.
Sage stops staring wide eyed. Cye was pale and dripping wet. His pajamas were clinging to the small body, the red hair matted against his face. Rowen stops behind him looking just as terrified.
They were going to have to find an answer today.
~*
"Ryo, dry yourself off as best you can then come let Cye lean against yiou. He needs heat and you're the best we got until Kento and Rowen can figure out the fire place." Sage calls as he pulls off Cye's wet clothes throwing them to the side. He took one of the towels and started to gently dry the youngest off as best and quickly as he could.
"Here," Kento says as he hurries back into the room. He throws one of his own t-shirts and a pair of Cye's sweat pants. "It's all I could get in a hurry. I couldn't find his hoodie."
"As long as the clothes are dry. That's all that matters." The blonde catches the clothes and starts to redress Torrent in them.
Ryo runs back into the room already dry. He only wore a tank top and bright red sweat pants. Sage rolls his eyes, "I forget, you don't need layers."
Wildfire shrugs smiling weakly, "What can I say?" He kneels down helping Sage get the sweat pants on the other before he sighs worried, "Now what Sage?"
"Now we get him warmed up and grill him on what is going on." Halo grumbles frustrated. "And we're going to get a real answer this time."
"Did he manage to skate through with just being cold?"
"No. He's got a fever and will probably end up with a cold." He sits the youngest up worried at how limp he was and watches Ryo get comfortable leaning against the wall near the fireplace. Rowen and Kento were still trying to get the furnace lit. "Even we're not immune to getting sick."
~*
Ryo sits back holding the youngest in his arms, hoping and praying his heat would help. The others were standing around or pacing worried as well. Sage had gone to get a wet compress for the fever that he claimed would hit once Cye woke up.
The bearer of torrent was still cold to the touch but wasn't shivering as badly as he had been. If only he would wake up, they could get something warm inside him as well.
He heard a weak moan and sits up slightly hearing another one, "…Cye? J-Just take it slow." Wildfire looks up at the others. "He's moving."
Rowen and Kento both let out sighs of relief at hearing that. Rowen walks over kneeling in front of them taking hold of one of the hands. "Cye? Buddy, can you hear me? We need you to wake up."
Slowly the bearer of Torrent started to come to. He felt someone holding his hand and attempted to squeeze back but his fingers hurt to move. His eyes opened and through blurry vision could see Rowen and Kento hovering over him. He was laying against someone who was warm.
Why was he so cold?
"Rowen?" His voice was hoarse as he called the first person he could think of.
"Yeah, it's me.. you fell asleep outside on us. Ryo found you soaked to the bone." Strata explains gently rubbing the smaller hands hoping to get blood moving through them again.
"O-Outside..?"
"You were on the porch." Ryo exclaims. "You slept out in the rain last night. Why did you do that?" He helps Cye sit up waiting to see if he could support himself or not. He keeps an arm around the smaller waist just in case.
"It's the nightmares against isn't it?" Kento states rather than asking. He sighs, "And man, don't lie. You scared us half to death."
"S-Scared you?"
"I thought some Dynasty thing came and snapped you up! We got rid of Sarenbo but whose next?!" Hardrock sits down on the ground in front of Torrent. "Please, don't do this to us again."
The smaller warrior bites his lip looking down unable to make eye contact with any of them. "…we have enough to worry about with the White Armor a-and Sarenbo and Ryo's swords a-and the Dynasty still existing and…"
"How long have they been going on?" Kento pressed his eyes narrowing. He reaches out placing his hand on top of the wet auburn hair. "Don't even think of lying to me."
Frustrated, Cye reaches up wiping his eyes and trying to wipe the tears away. He pulls away from Ryo hanging his head… he then realized he was wearing one of Kento's shirts. He grips it with one of his hands as he pulls away from Rowen.
He just wanted to disappear.
"They never went away did they?" Rowen finally answered for him. He sighs realizing what had happened. "That block didn't take them away."
"…temporarily it did…" The other finally says sniffling. "Then they came back with a vengeance and were worse than before." He pulls his knees up to his chest still unable to look them in the eye. "Everyone was so tired with everything going on, we were worried about Ryo, about the white armor… I would have just made it worse."
"That doesn't mean you go and hide something like this."
"When Sage didn't say anything, I realized that he couldn't feel them anymore and thought I could handle it on my own…" He laughs weakly. "A lot of good that did."
Sage stepped inside, his eyes widening at hearing that. He walks over and sits the bowl of water and cloth down. "You hid it from us?"
"Yeah, an attempt at not worryin' us."
"The first week or so it worked…. Then they just got worse…"
"Is that when we started finding you random places in the morning?" Kento feels the small head nod and he sits back on the ground shaking his head. He knew getting angry would just scare his friend and Cye would go quiet.
"I'm ..I'm sorry…. What I would have done to wake one of you up a-and just get out of the nightmare…." He sighs sadly realizing he'd been torturing himself. He smiles sadly not wiping the tears away this time. "…I tried to keep you all from worrying and I just made it worse.."
"Yeah, none of us got much rest. We were all too worried aboutcha." Kento finally sighs smiling. "You didn't inconvience us before when you had these… you're not doing it now, Cye."
"He's right… we helped you once, dude. Will you let us help you again?" Ryo asks hopefully, he reaches out rubbing the small back in front of him. "We need you on the team, you're special to us.."
"If you're not feeling great or something is wrong, you have to trust us enough to tell us." Sage kneels down joining everyone else. "At the very least you have a body guard over there who is ready to kill to save you."
"Heck yeah I will. No one messes with my best buddy! Nightmares included!"
"My bed is always open, Cye. You don't have to knock just climb in.. or to save steps, you could just start beside me." The blue haired warrior winks getting the other one to blush again.
"That goes for all of us."
Cye looks up at all of them overwhelmed with all of the support he was receiving. He had no explanation for why he had thought it would go any other way. A nervous smile crosses his features as he tries to find the right words to say, he finally whispers 'thank you' …unknown to him his symbol glows briefly on his forehead before disappearing.
The other four all sigh at the same time relieved. Torrent didn't have to verbalize his feelings, his armor just gave them an answer.
"Ok, first things first, you're going to bed. I don't care which bed, but you need to rest. You've got quite the fever from sleeping outside all night." Sage instructs as he places his hand on the pale forehead. "Sadly, Ryo – you're out on pillow."
Cye doesn't pull away knowing better then the test Sage's patience twice. He shivers as Kento takes the cold compress to his face and neck. It felt good, better than the over heated sensation he had right now.
"I think Rowen would be best," Kento finally says heaving a sigh as he smiles. "I give off too much heat. You don't need anymore lil buddy. I can carry you up there though."
"Kento, I can walk-"
"Let me have this." Hardrock stands before bending down. He gently gathers the smallest warrior into his arms and hugs him close. "You really scared me, Cye… please let us help."
"I will…" Torrent curls up in his friend's arms, resting his head comfortably against the other's chest. "…I promise."
Sage watches as Kento carries the other up the stairs and looks over at Rowen, "Sorry. You've been volunteered again."
"Why be sorry and who says I dislike it? KENTO! Wait up!" Rowen hurries to catch up with the others.
Ryo walks over to Sage, "Is it over?"
"With Cye? No. It's just beginning. I just want to get him sleeping again, then we can figure the rest out." The blonde picks up the wet clothes handing them to Ryo. "Go put these in the laundry."
~*
A month later..
"Come on, you're falling asleep on us." Ryo says laughing as he tugs the quilt off the youngest as he dozed. "It's late. We can finish the movie tomorrow."
"But Ryo… I'm awake really."
"You were snoring."
Cye looks insulted, "I was not." Though he sat back yawning.
"Look even Rowen's asleep." The dark haired ronin got to his feet and reached down before pulling Cye up off the nest of blankets he had made for him. He turns and kicks at the one on the couch. "Hey sleepin' beauty… you ready to go to bed?"
The other grunts groggily as he stretches then stumbkles to his feet. "'m awake…did the shark marry the girl…"
The other two look at each other before bursting out into laughter. "Yes, Rowen. The shark decided he was going to marry the girl instead of eating her."
"Seems reasonable to me." He yawns again reaching out to tug Cye to his side. "You still want me tonight?"
The other nods silently. He turns back to Ryo expecting a wave goodbye.. instead the other walks over placing a faint kiss on his forehead. "Sleep well, dude. I hope you've got no nightmares tonight."
He stays there blushing bright red but smiles as he's tugged up the stairs by Rowen. He rounds the corner to go into his room and grab Suki but is met by Kento at the door.
Hardrock smiles handing the stuffed whale over, "If you get cold, you know where I am." He ruffles the auburn hair.
Halo meets them at the door that lead to Strata's room. He reaches out making sure Torrent didn't have a fever and would sleep ok as he could. Just to make sure he used some of his power and the youngest staggered groggily. He steadied him smiling, "Take care of him, Rowen."
"Don't I always?" Strata smiles wrapping an arm around the smaller shoulders. He helps the youngest to the bed before getting changed into his pajamas. He climbs in tucking them both in and lays back, he feels Cye get situated resting his head on his chest. "Good Night, buddy…"
Cye curls up contently able to fall asleep knowing if he woke up screaming he'd have someone there to pull him out of it.