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.
[ 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.]
[ Artemis makes a pleased little hum and settles back in around them. He's quiet for a while, but doesn't fall back asleep; Coda's not the only one that has trouble with that when they're not exhausted.
[ He isn't sure how to feel about the fact that he's apparently a good sleep-aid, but he thinks for once he's too comfortable to care. No strings, the'd promised. ]
Other than a dream about a hologram juggling kumquats, I was dead to the world.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2021-05-01 12:46 pm (UTC)You guess, huh? No strong feelings either way?
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Date: 2021-05-01 12:59 pm (UTC)[Except...they just totally did.]
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Date: 2021-05-02 12:25 pm (UTC)[ 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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Date: 2021-05-02 03:41 pm (UTC)Can you do that for me?
I don't have a good serious but not unhappy icon orz
Date: 2021-05-03 04:22 am (UTC)I'm not leaving, Coda.
I don't have a single real smile. OTL
Date: 2021-05-03 04:35 am (UTC)Thank you.
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Date: 2021-05-03 06:29 am (UTC)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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Date: 2021-05-03 06:41 am (UTC)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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Date: 2021-05-05 09:31 am (UTC)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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Date: 2021-05-05 02:27 pm (UTC)Oh no, I'm sparkly...
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Date: 2021-05-06 05:04 am (UTC)Sure...are.
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Date: 2021-05-06 05:08 am (UTC)Are you getting up or am I coming back into the bed?
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Date: 2021-05-06 12:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-05-06 02:24 pm (UTC)But the request seems to get understood regardless.]
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Date: 2021-05-07 06:20 am (UTC)Eventually, he says softly: ]
Did you sleep well?
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Date: 2021-05-07 06:32 am (UTC)[Clearly they weren't asleep either. They were listening to the sound of him breathing. Is that weird? Creepy? It made them feel at-ease.]
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Date: 2021-05-07 09:55 am (UTC)[ He isn't sure how to feel about the fact that he's apparently a good sleep-aid, but he thinks for once he's too comfortable to care. No strings, the'd promised. ]
Other than a dream about a hologram juggling kumquats, I was dead to the world.
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Date: 2021-05-07 04:27 pm (UTC)[There's a mild tease behind the words.]
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Date: 2021-05-08 10:22 am (UTC)[ He glances over at the broken bed; yeah, that's still halfway between mortifying and really, really funny. ]
Who knew this was where the party was hiding all along.