I needed some Glacier. I know that's practically all I write (y'all do NOT want to know how many WIPs I have) but I needed some more. This one is short and kinda doesn't make any sense, but it's cute.


Tags: Fluff, Exhaustion, Sleepiness, Cuddling and Snuggling, Pre-Relationship, I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping


Zane sighed as he went down the long hallway, still winding down from his long mission. The lonely silence of his mission had been abruptly ended by the loud welcome when he had gotten back, and now that he had sufficiently socialized, he was drained.

Entering his room, he dropped his bag in a corner as he closed his door. He could go through and put his stuff away later. For now, he breathed in the old smell of his room, thankful that his air freshener hadn't been drained of resources just yet. It still smelled of mint and sandalwood, fresh and him.

He looked around wistfully, wanting nothing more than to rest…

Zane climbed into bed and melted against the covers, forgetting to turn his lights off as he mindlessly dozed right there on top of his blanket.

He was exhausted, but his mind lay half aware, not allowing him the full satisfaction of sleep. Unfortunately, he kept waking to nothing, either to the smallest noise or because he felt like he was falling. Or because his mind kept playing vague memories that only his ears could hear.

Eventually, Zane was awake again, unable to go back to sleep. He stared at the ceiling, frowning irritably to himself. His bed didn't feel welcoming anymore, too familiar and unsatisfying.

How was he supposed to sleep now?

In a moment of weakness and desperation, he knocked on the door.

"It's Jay and Kai's turn to patrol, Sensei Wu," a voice called out. Despite the shrouding irritation that he could easily pick up now, the sounds of shuffling could also be heard beneath the sound of the other's words.

The door opened. "They should have already left! They can handle themselves-"

Cole froze as he realized that he certainly was not Sensei Wu, and he blushed. Zane couldn't keep the smirk from his face.

"I suppose it was better that I was here and not Kai nor Jay," he mumbled, a laugh threatening to bubble out of his throat.

"Zane- I didn't think I'd see you 'til tomorrow morning. What's up?" He stepped to the side to allow Zane entry, which he quickly did to let Cole close his door again.

He was met with his earthy smells; grass, cedar, moss, and the faint smell of some sort of flower that was too buried beneath the other scents to distinguish. He sat down on Cole's comfier-than-usual bed, feeling heavier than ever.

"I had fully intended on that, but… I cannot keep myself asleep." … Had his voice been this hoarse when he had gotten back earlier? For once, he sounded as tired as he felt. "I believe I am still in my mission mindset… Could I possibly stay the night? I had just meant to ask for advice, but your room seems to be putting me at ease…"

Cole's brow shot up at that, and his cheeks grew darker. "Oh- uh… yeah, I don't mind! I can find some place else to sleep-"

"No-" The thought had his heart dipping down, and he felt as if he should be embarrassed, but… "Please do not leave me alone here. I would feel awful for kicking you out of your own room." Then maybe his exhaustion was getting to him, because he added, "Besides, you help me relax more than any room could," without a second thought.

The other looked startled by that, mouth moving in various ways with no sound, before he stopped and collected himself. "... O-Okay!"

He was dressed in a navy blue tank and dark gray basketball shorts. He only ever wore them to sleep, if he didn't just go sans the shirt, but based on the lamp being on and the sketchbook that lay abandoned, he hadn't been quite ready to rest. He lay down on the spot that he had seemingly assigned himself before patting the spot beside him.

"Come on; get comfortable. You need all the sleep you can get before training tomorrow," Cole hummed.

Zane grinned. He crawled over and climbed under the covers, yawning while Cole turned his fan on and his lamp off.

The nindroid felt more welcomed than he had in his own bed, causing him to sink into the mattress. The warmth beside him helped soothe him back into his life again, and he couldn't help but get closer, wanting to soak up the attention.

"Mm… Cole?" he whispered into the darkness, eyes too heavy to open again.

"Y-Yeah?" came the tight reply. Zane felt as a hand gently rubbed his arm before the body beside him scooted closer. He nestled his cheek into the broad chest with a grateful hum.

"Could you… tell me about your week?"

"What, didn't hear enough about the last month?" Two hands clipped around his back, keeping the nindroid close.

"Not from you." He brought up a hand to Cole's shoulder under the covers, finger daintily swiping back and forth against the bare skin. "... You were kind of quiet towards the end."

Earth's chest rumbled as he hummed in surprise. "I… didn't think you'd noticed. You looked like you were zoning out." He sighed before he gave a long drawn out sound of thought. "Lemme see… it wasn't so busy while you were gone, so I went and visited Dad. He's been wanting a 'test audience' for him and the rest of the quartet, but he only asked me to come. I think he's trying to get me to visit more often, but he knows I'm busy, and I… I do feel bad about…"

Zane had been listening; he really had. But, as his consciousness faded, so did his hearing. It was just him and the rumble against his cheek.


"And… he's out."

Cole smiled to himself as he felt Zane relax every muscle his robotic body had, listened to his breath even out as he finally fell into a deep sleep. With his vision having gotten used to the dark, he could make out the vague silhouette of Zane's cheek squished against his chest.

Warmth bloomed in his heart, and he wondered if the other had figured him out. He pressed a gentle kiss to his cold forehead and gathered the nindroid closer. He wondered when he should tell him…

Maybe tomorrow morning?


I WAS gonna leave the relationship up to interpretation, but then I couldn't help myself, lol sorry.