1375. The Insomnia Meme

[memep0ster]

the i n s o m n i a meme

It happens to everyone - sometimes, you have nights where you just can't fall asleep, no matter what you do. It could be for a number of reasons, or no reason at all. And this is what's happened now: you've been laying in bed for what feels like hours, just tossing and turning, and nothing seems to help. So what's left to do

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6. So this is happening.

[drosyrenfys]

Maybe it's the fact that she'd been up since before the sunrise early the day before. Maybe it's the fact that she insisted Howard stay in the house for the night instead of taking that long ride back to his hotel room. Surely that would be there for him the day after. So, while he's asleep on the spare bed, she's laying awake in bed

I squeed. Not even going to lie.

[au_avenger]

Howard's been feeling nervous all day, that jittery raw feeling that comes with sobriety. He normally coats the worst of his problems and nerves and fears in a drink; what real New Yorker wouldn't? But here he couldn't even contemplate drinking. Dorothy makes him want to be a better man

I told rng to lay it on me. It definitely did, and I just hope they don't mess it up.

[drosyrenfys]

The silence from the next room, the long moments it takes for him to knock back has her heart sinking, her stomach tightening. It's very hard not to read further into his motives. A romantic holiday, arms filled with gifts and his mouth pouring out such sweet things. It took, not all day, but the past four hours of staring at the ceiling to realize that maybe he isn't just her friend

Oh, awkward romance. I love it so.

[au_avenger]

Howard has to push himself up before he loses his nerve and curls up and ruins the moment entirely. He can feel his heart beating in his chest. It's unfamiliar, this kind of nervousness, and he wants to try to do this right but she's just so young. If he were in New York and she were even just five years older he'd know what to do.

For now he just cautiously emerges into the hallway, silent as a ghost, well aware his hair's a mess and he probably looks exhausted. When he got so self conscious, he didn't know, but here he is, studying the way she looks with her hair out of its pigtails. It's not fair that she gets prettier when she's undone and he just looks worse.

Somehow he comes much closer than he means to, and his hands find their way into her hair, fingers carding through it. He looks at her eyes in the dark. Somehow, he just doesn't have the words for this moment.

Me too, and they do it so well.

[drosyrenfys]

Oh, good. Good. Her heart skips a beat or two, and she's so glad he's in the hall with her. She can feel the goosebumps on her skin and uncertainty in the air, but he's so close and his fingers found her hair. She smiles at him, and while she's tired, this feeling perks her up.

She really isn't sure what to say, so she sets a hand in the crook of his elbow, not to push it away or decline his advance, but only to touch. Her other hand moves behind his back, knotting up in his shirt as she steps closer. And without warning, her mouth opens to whisper simply, "I can't sleep."

Although, that much is obvious, and apparently, he can't either. And even looking as if he hasn't slept in days, she doesn't feel her chest slowing in its quick pitter patter or her head pulling from the clouds. She likes how this feels, and it worries her a bit. That doesn't mean it stops anything, and she moves closer to press her ear to his chest, briefly wondering if she's forcing his heart to drop and quicken in the same manner he's making hers.

LJ RP has made me ship things I never even thought of. <3

[au_avenger]

He can't get over how soft and gentle she is to the touch, like a living embodiment of everything trustworthy in the world. She is a soft place to fall, and the wild pounding of his heart in his ears is worth the smile on her face. Somehow they're both extremely close and nowhere near close enough at the same time. He shuts his eyes, resting his forehead against hers

I maintain these two being the cutest thing ever in a meme. <3

[drosyrenfys]

She could listen to his speedy and nervous heartbeat through the night if he'd let her, but there's something in her that tells her to look at him. Dark eyes look up to his, although she can barely see his dark circle of his pupil in the awful lighting. She swallows a lump in her throat as his head dips and her eyes flutter closed.

It is a cliff. She can definitely attest to that, as can her stomach. The flip-flops, the butterflies, the knots all seem to untangle and stop for a moment when his mouth finds hers. It all seems to pause for one deliriously happy moment, and then it's back and the fist in his shirt only seems to tighten.

The only thing she can think is again, but she pauses and takes a moment to think, as she has been the entire night and into the morning. She ought to, after all, if kissing him again is in her priorities somewhere. She lets her eyes open, the hand on his arm moving to cup his cheek, when she decides that it doesn't matter why. He did it, and she decides to press another kiss to his lips a bit more soft

They need to get married and have an epic fluffy wedding, seriously.

[au_avenger]

The world melts away when she kisses him back. It's the single most amazing thing he's ever experienced, because his entire life has been composed of uncertainties, always looking for ulterior motives in anyone who tried to so much as befriend him.

There were no ulterior motives to Dorothy. There was nothing to be afraid of. This was the one person he could trust not to burn him. He drinks in every detail of how she looks right now and takes a half step closer, so he can feel how warm she is against him. Everything is finally right with the world.

Ohmigosh. Yes. They do. Maybe elope?

[drosyrenfys]

Howard makes her feel safe and cared for and, most of all, special. She leans into his chest, a small smile playing on her lips. She likes the certainty of his arms around her and the way the rest of the house seems to fade into the background.

Nothing is more important to her right now than him holding her tight or the way he looks at her like she's the prettiest and most special young woman he's ever seen before. It's as if a light switch has been flicked on, and it's put a grin on her face. "Oh, Howard," she murmurs into his shirt, because it's all she can think to say right now.

Well, probably, but wow that would be awkward afterwards. "I can explain!"

[au_avenger]

"Dorothy..." he whispers, keenly aware there's probably some very special place in Hell for him now and... not really caring, honestly, compared to how wonderful and warm and not alone he feels. "I love you."

Well, that just fell out of his mouth. But he can't take back the truth.

We'll just put it on the list of things that make them perfectly awkward.

[drosyrenfys]

That gets a little gasp out of her, but not one out of fright. She lights up brilliantly, arms wrapping around him so tightly. "Oh, I love you, too," she whispers back, worried if she says it any louder that he might take it back, or worse, her family would overhear and tell him to leave.

And adorable.

[au_avenger]

He wraps his arms around her tightly, nuzzling his head against hers, breathing out a sigh of relief. The tension eases out of him. He smiles, holding her close, unable to move, locked into the moment.

<3 Indeed.

[drosyrenfys]

Oh, goodness. This isn't something she wants to let go of at all. She wants to continue to stand here, warm in his embrace. The sharp thoughts in her head seem to wane, and she feels any stress melt away. She kisses his cheek softly, and it's good to feel just a little bit tired.

[au_avenger]

He can't help kissing her again. It's addictive. Why didn't he do something sooner? Why didn't he say anything before, why didn't he at least say something before she left New York? She feels small and fragile in his arms, but it's odd how familiar and comforting she smells.

[drosyrenfys]

His kiss is warm, welcoming, and she breathes him in, more than happy to keep kissing like this. This could have been so much easier, so much better understood, if she'd thought to kiss him sooner. If she'd thought to take him in her arms and simply not let go, maybe this would be simpler, and maybe they wouldn't be standing in the hallway kissing quietly in an effort not to wake anyone.

[au_avenger]

He slips his tongue against her lips, instinctively, not sure if that's pushing too far or not. It probably is, but they'll be lucky to get a few kisses in and not get caught; he has no intentions to go any farther than this. This is already far, far beyond anything he dared hope for.