[Coda ignores the sound as well, leaping up onto the bed as well in order to try to reduce the height advantage. Not eliminate it, because Coda's short, but they're trying! But they're also slowly beginning to get winded.]
[ Artemis sounds downright smug about it, and it doesn't take long for the why to become obvious. He gives the side of Coda's head one final bap before dropping his weapon and twisting around to throw them over his shoulder. ]
[What does it say that Coda doesn't give more than a token struggle against him picking them up? That they trust him not to hurt them with his strength, that they're content to be held, even in a really awkward position like this?
Don't think about it too much.
Also don't think about the fact that they're going to try to sneak one hand into his pocket just to see if they can get away with it, but it's another token effort, not serious Winter sneakery.]
[ Artemis doesn't comment on Coda's hand sliding in his pocket, though he does cough in a choked sort of way that gets cut off entirely. ]
If you wanted a cigarette you just had to ask.
[ Because that's what's in that pocket - a dented pack he'd picked up somewhere - along with a few random hair ties and a handful of crumpled receipts from the diner.
Artemis takes a step toward the edge of the bed, intending to step off, but it gives another loud and ominous creek a moment before Artemis feels the balance of the thing start to shift under them. ]
[As the bed cracks and buckles, the only thing Coda can think to do is to hold onto Artemis, trusting in him to keep them from dropping bang on their head.]
[ Artemis is quick to shift Coda around and twist his own body to at least make sure that they don't end up hitting their head on the wall or getting crushed beneath Artemis as they land hard on the bed.
He bounces hard on the mattress and then slides down to the floor toward the corner with the broken leg. ]
[Coda...well. They just burst out laughing. Like, they've hit the point of silly-exhausted and they're alright, and so is he, and it's just so ridiculous. It really is. They're sprawled out across him, but it doesn't feel too awkward and all they can do is laugh.]
[ Artemis is stunned to silence for a moment before he joins them in laughing, though his is a little less sleepy-silly. ]
-Probably not. [ He has slept on weirder surfaces, but - not without fucking up his back badly enough to need an adjustment the next day. He's not making any move to get off it just then, though. ] That counts as a win, though.
If I state aloud that I will sleep better if you hold me, you'll probably make a huge deal out of it, tease me for the rest of time. So I won't say that, nope.
[ The room's small enough that it takes two steps before he can deposit Coda gently in their bed and drop down beside them on the mattress. His boots need to be unlaced, and he's taking his time about it. ]
I'd find something else to tease you about eventually.
Something else is fine. But not this. Artemis, you've asked me what I want before--right now, what I want is you holding me and being warm beside me. No strings, no expectations of it happening again.
Can you do that for me?
I don't have a good serious but not unhappy icon orz
[ He hadn't expected the seriousness, but the urge to tease dies down pretty quickly after that. He pulls free the first boot and moves to the second one as he considers it. Finally: ]
[Their face lights up like he just told them it's Christmas, eyes glowing brighter as they lift the covers and wiggles their way under them, curling up right beside where he's sitting.]
[ He pauses in what he's doing to rest a hand on their arm and squeeze it gently before he finishes it up. There are a few questions on his mind, but he lets them wash over him without taking root. They'll keep for later.
Right now he kicks the shoe off, and both his socks with it, and then climbs over Coda so that he can be the big spoon without moving them. ]
[ Artemis settles with his nose pressed to the top of Coda's head and his arm slung loosely over their hips, but between the chill and his thoughts it takes him much longer to fall asleep.
He does eventually, though, and he's - of course - a restless sleeper when he does. By the time Coda wakes up, there's small amounts of glitter spread over most of their bed and Artemis himself is hanging on like a limpet. ]
[Coda, like many people, wakes up needing to go to the bathroom, so they need to gently disengage Artemis. They try to be delicate about it, wriggling out from under the blankets lightly.]
[ Artemis is fairly easy to dislodge - though there's a moment where it seems like he isn't going to let go of their shirt - but a lot harder to wake up. He just hums in gentle agreement and buries his face in a pillow, instead. ]
[ Artemis eyes open after the kiss, watching Coda leave silently, but they're closed again by the time they come back. The question doesn't get a verbal answer, just a man burying his face a little deeper in the pillow and reaching out to tug at the hem of Coda's shirt. ]
[So Coda folds themself back into bed, back to that tucked in place with Artemis offering them warmth and closeness. It's an odd parallel to when Coda will tug Artemis into the cuddle with Gil. These two, they don't know how to actually ask for the comfort they need. Not with words at least.
But the request seems to get understood regardless.]
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I've got you now, scallywag!
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[ Artemis sounds downright smug about it, and it doesn't take long for the why to become obvious. He gives the side of Coda's head one final bap before dropping his weapon and twisting around to throw them over his shoulder. ]
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Don't think about it too much.
Also don't think about the fact that they're going to try to sneak one hand into his pocket just to see if they can get away with it, but it's another token effort, not serious Winter sneakery.]
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If you wanted a cigarette you just had to ask.
[ Because that's what's in that pocket - a dented pack he'd picked up somewhere - along with a few random hair ties and a handful of crumpled receipts from the diner.
Artemis takes a step toward the edge of the bed, intending to step off, but it gives another loud and ominous creek a moment before Artemis feels the balance of the thing start to shift under them. ]
- Oh, fuck -
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[As the bed cracks and buckles, the only thing Coda can think to do is to hold onto Artemis, trusting in him to keep them from dropping bang on their head.]
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He bounces hard on the mattress and then slides down to the floor toward the corner with the broken leg. ]
Um. Oops?
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Guess you're not sleeping on that one tonight.
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-Probably not. [ He has slept on weirder surfaces, but - not without fucking up his back badly enough to need an adjustment the next day. He's not making any move to get off it just then, though. ] That counts as a win, though.
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[Their gaze flickers up to his eyes gently.]
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The glory's enough.
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I suppose this means you're not sleeping in this bed tonight. Couch or...or you could share mine, I guess.
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You guess, huh? No strong feelings either way?
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[Except...they just totally did.]
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[ The room's small enough that it takes two steps before he can deposit Coda gently in their bed and drop down beside them on the mattress. His boots need to be unlaced, and he's taking his time about it. ]
I'd find something else to tease you about eventually.
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Can you do that for me?
I don't have a good serious but not unhappy icon orz
I'm not leaving, Coda.
I don't have a single real smile. OTL
Thank you.
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Right now he kicks the shoe off, and both his socks with it, and then climbs over Coda so that he can be the big spoon without moving them. ]
There. Now you can sleep.
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Hopefully you can too.
[But they're exhausted and content and warm, and they're out really soon after that. It's easy, like this, when someone's got their back.]
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He does eventually, though, and he's - of course - a restless sleeper when he does. By the time Coda wakes up, there's small amounts of glitter spread over most of their bed and Artemis himself is hanging on like a limpet. ]
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Oh no, I'm sparkly...
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Sure...are.
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Are you getting up or am I coming back into the bed?
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But the request seems to get understood regardless.]
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