I kinda really like companion pieces so this is a companion to Fort. Once again, it could be read without the other.
"I'll keep you company."
Fine couldn't stop fidgeting when she stepped out of the shower. She couldn't believe she ended up drawing the same stick as Bright when they were deciding roommates. Of all the possibilities. She didn't have a problem with Bright, it's just... Sharing a room with him definitely felt awkward.
Plus, Rein being absent made Fine a little stressed when sleeping without her. She sighed, rubbing her hair with the towel as she knocked on the entry door. "I'm done." She said. Seconds later, Bright walked in. "Thanks for waiting outside, but you really didn't have to." Fine said. She understood that a guy and a girl sharing a room could be inappropriate, but she trusted Bright.
"My sister usually made me wait outside the room when we traveled together." Bright said. "I thought maybe you would prefer that too." Fine chuckled.
"I think Altezza is a little more high maintenance is all. Feel free to relax when I'm here. We're friends after all." Even Fine couldn't listen to her own words. She felt so nervous and awkward, but she couldn't understand it.
"Rein told me that you both get anxious when you don't sleep in the same room. Is that true?" Bright asked curiously. Fine jumped at his question, completely caught off guard.
"Ah, yeah. It's gotten a lot better since we've gotten older, but when we were younger, Rein and I would cry our eyes out when we slept in different rooms. Even if one of us was with our parents, we'd still be restless." Fine said with a laugh.
"Do you happen to know why?" Bright leaned back on the couch, his thumbs twiddling. Fine sat on the bed.
"Well, when we were young, a burglar broke into our house, right through our bedroom window." Fine said, rubbing her arm. "We couldn't see him, but we heard him. We shared a bed that night, and the two of us were so scared, we huddled as close as possible." She looked at the floor. "I ended up wailing from fear, and he ran off, but Rein and I were so scared of something like that happening again. We didn't want to leave each other's side at night."
"Did I bring up bad memories?" Bright asked. Fine shook her head.
"No, not at all. That was, what 14 years ago? It never happened again so..." Fine trailed off. Bright smiled and stood up. As he passed by, he gave Fine a comforting pat on the head.
"That's good to hear. I'll take my shower now so..." Fine nodded, feeling heat rush to her cheeks. It's just a pat on the head though? Fine thought. But it felt so comforting... She spared the bathroom door one more glance.
When Fine finished drying her hair, she passed out on her bed without a second thought.
When she woke up again, the room was dark. She was soaked in sweat and she could hardly breathe. When she spotted a dark figure approaching her, she screamed and attempted to scramble out of bed when Bright turned on the light.
"Fine, Fine, it's me, Bright! It's just me!" Bright said with his hands up, showing he meant no harm. Fine stared at him, shivering. She didn't pull the covers down. "Breathe, Fine. It's just me." He slowly approached her, his expression full of worry. "I'm sorry I scared you."
"What time is it?" Fine asked, glancing at the clock by the bed. It was about 2 am. She let out a deep breath, and relaxed a little. "What happened?" Bright handed her a cup of water she didn't realize he was holding. He took a seat at the foot of her bed.
"You were whimpering in your sleep. I figured you were having a nightmare, so I got some water and planned to wake you up. I guess I should have turned the light on first." Bright said. Fine fidgeted uncomfortably.
"I'm sorry, I sometimes have nightmares when I sleep without my sister. I haven't told her though." Fine replied. She knew she was more cowardly than her sister. Those memories haunted her more than it did Rein.
Bright suddenly got up and kneeled right next to her pillow. "You're afraid of being alone at night right?" Bright asked. Fine slowly nodded her head. He motioned for her to lay down, which she did. Hesitantly, he reached for Fine's hair, and slowly began to stroke it. "This is something I used to do to calm Altezza when she had nightmares." He gently combed his fingers through her hair. Fine pulled the covers up her face even more.
"You don't have to..." Fine mumbled.
"I'll keep you company." Bright softly said. Fine looked at him. She felt a strange sense of peace when she looked at him like this.
It didn't take long for Fine to fall asleep as Bright gently stroked her hair. She slept peacefully.