A Reprieve from Nightmares

Warmth. That’s the first feeling. Wonderful blessed warmth. The next is a soft, silky feeling against his back and across his chest. Which is strange because he doesn’t remember having any blankets that felt this soft. The third that he notices is the smell. It’s not unpleasant, far from it actually. But he knows it’s not his, nor is it that of anyone else he’s had in the room. Twitching, and a strange sound. Those two things are what finally drags his mind away from the blessed warmth and sleep, into a harsh reality of an aching body still recovering from abuse.
 
Looking under the blankets, he can see the white furred arm, draped over his side and down his chest, and he watches as the fingers twitch in their sleep. Behind him is a quiet, but high pitched snore. Under different circumstances he’d have found it cute. But right now, with his mind still fuzzy and a familiar headache of dehydration making itself known, he’s just confused why Koren is in bed with him. He considers trying to move without waking them, except he’d have to crawl over them to get to anything anyway. So deciding to just go for it and get it over with, he turns over onto his right side, his face close to theirs, and he whispers.
 
 
“Koren. Koren, wake up. I need water and other things and you’re in the way.” Amusement tinges his voice and he also finds that the feeling of their fur against his skin is quite pleasant. More so after the torture it endured so recently. He gently shakes them, calling their name again. A few seconds later, Koren yawns, and opens their bleary eyes, their expression one of contentment only a felalined race can pull off. Being so very close together, James can see their mind spark to life, and thoughts start to form. Contentment, happiness, concern, then eyes flying wide with embarrassed shock. “Good morning Koren. Or should I say good afternoon.”
 
If it could happen, their pure white fur would have blushed deep pink, as they pull in on themselves a bit, but also slowly pull away from the close body contact they had shared. “Mastr…James. I’m sorry. I’d…uh…I’d hoped to only lay down until you were warm and then head to my own room but, you were so cold, and it was so comfortable and so…” Their tone was full of worry, and embarrassment. James just smiles at them.
 
“You didn’t take advantage of me in my sleep did you?” He says with a teasing tone.
 
“NO! Never! I would never do such…” They stop as James laughs, and soon after they laugh too, though it is smaller.
 
“It’s alright Koren, I trust you.” Very rarely had James ever seen so few words produce such a profound reaction in someone. He felt their muscles tense before they pulled themself to him, wrapping him in a very warm hug. Which would have been much less awkward if they hadn’t both been nearly naked.
 
“Thank you.” Was their only response, before they pulled away again. “Sorry.”
 
“No need to apologize, I understand. And also this isn’t my first time dealing with massive blood loss.” Images from the night flashed through memory, phantom pains blooming all over him, but the one that stood out the most, was the ghost of a burning line along his left cheek. He snaps himself out of it and focuses back on Koren. “I’m betting I was half delirious, barely able to walk, and when you put me to bed, I assume it was you, that I was shivering and as cold as a dockside fish in winter.” Koren just nods at him. “So you, being the resourceful and caring person you are, decided to become my own, personal warmer to keep me comfortable and help recover. Does that about cover it?”
 
A grin breaks out on Koren’s face, and they nod vigorously. “Yes, yes that’s it exactly!” Their body language spoke of a tsunami of relief at not having their intentions misinterpreted.
 
“Then I thank you, Koren. Thank you for helping me in here, and thank you for seeing me through the night. However, we now have a dilemma.”
 
Koren looked at him with concern. “What’s that?”
 
“Well you see, both of us have very little clothes on, I have a headache strong enough to break a keel, and if I don’t get up soon, this will be less a bed and more a pool.” He gave Koren a cheeky grin. “All that to say, either you can lay here and I can crawl over you, or you can get out first, and let me take care of necessities.”
 
They thought about it for only a few seconds. “Um…you can crawl over me James. I’m not ready to move yet.” Their eyes flashed embarrassment again.
 
“Okay, you stay here. I’ll be back in a bit, hopefully with enough water to deal with this headache.” Doing his awkward best to not brush against them as he moved over them and out of the blankets into the cool air of the room. He got himself into a robe, and went to take care of necessities.
 
James returned, with a pitcher of water in hand and, not thinking, opened the door to his room. Koren was shimmying into their pants. “Oh shit, sorry!” He says as he turns around and walks out the door, his back turned to it, embarrassment adding color to his face. A squeak had come from Koren before James could make his way out the door. A minute later a quiet “I’m decent”came out of the room, prompting James to enter, more carefully this time.
 
Exhaustion still pulled hard at him, but it was tolerable for now. James set the pitcher down on the desk, and filled two cups, holding one out for Koren. “Here, for you.” He meets their eyes, and forces himself to not blush. He slowly drinks his water, letting the coolness of it soothe his body. “Koren, please sit.” James says as he pulls another chair out for them. Doing anything is better than standing there rigid, they do. As they both drink, and refill the cups and drink again, a pleading look comes into Korens eyes as they stare at James, and the scar, a white line against his tanned skin.
 
“I know what you want Koren. But I won’t tell you, can’t tell you.” They seem deflated, but then a bold defiance takes over, but James holds out a hand, silencing them before they can put voice to their demand. “I’m not going to tell you because it’ll put you in danger. And before you go on, I know you’re not a child.” James puts a hand on theirs. “And I trust you, deeply. Now more than ever. Outside of my blood, there’s only two others I’d currently trust in my bed, while I sleep, and more so when I’m in that condition.” Korens expression softens, as the truth of James’s words are truly heard. Wonder, and joy at having someone trust them that much, leaves them near tears.
 
“I would have still made it through last night without your help. But with it, you kept me safe, and made it much more pleasant. I wasn’t looking forward to collapsing on the street, I’ll tell you that.” He laughs, and Koren joins him in the mirth. “So again, thank you. And if I ever find myself in that same position, I invite you to do the same.” Again, that playful smirk on his face, enjoying the minor discomfort of poking at society's mores.
 
Koren’s expression sobers, their voice soft with restrained fear. “Is it going to happen again?”
 
Taking his time, James leans back, his hand leaving theres and he takes a long, slow drink of the water, giving him precious time before responding. “Yes, I think there will be. Probably many more.” Tears born of fear, of not wanting to see someone who’s given their trust, someone who’s quickly become a dear friend and mentor being hurt, threaten to fall from their eyes. James waits a minute, letting mind work, weighing possible outcomes and actions, and deciding that this one is worth it.
 
“I won’t tell you anything about where I go, or what I do, or about anyone involved. But I’ll make you a deal. I’ll tell you before I leave next time. That way you can be here for me when I come back. You can help me get up here, maybe get some food and drink in me, and yes, if needed, you can be a bed warmer again.” They both smile, on the verge of chuckling. Koren’s expression becomes one of gratitude.
 
“Thank you. I’ve lost so many already. I don’t want the curse to strike again. I want you to stick around Mae, James.”
 
“And I’d also like to stick around.” He takes a good sized drink before continuing. “Also, I’ll give you an address and a name. If I happen to come back, and I’m still broken, get me up here, and then go find a Lady Mirabella Rosebriar. She’s a healer I trust implicitly. She’s, thankfully, residing in Rosebriar Hall. She may just direct you to another healer, and if she does, thank her and follow her direction. Also, she might send a page named Ian instead. Just get them here and follow what they say. Understand?”
 
Koren nods, thankful to know what to do next time. “I’m hoping that you're wrong and there won’t be a next time. But I’ll be here when there is.”
 
They spend the next little while drinking water and engaging in idle chat as James’s headache recedes. Afterwards, he asks, for propriety's sake, for Koren to wait outside for him to get dressed. Because now that he’s awake, he’s starving and this hunger demands attention.