nisacharakj | [FIC] Nightmares [mild Shisui/Sasuke]

Title: Nightmares
Author: nisacharakj
Type and Genre: Shonen Ai; Hurt/Comfort
Rating: G
Characters: Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Shisui
Summary: Sasuke is having a nightmare; Shisui offers comfort.
Warnings: --
Notes: Based on an AU rp in which Sasuke is deaf/blind and also aquaphobic.

His assignment lay forgotten in a slew of papers strewn all over the floor amidst a collection of open books, all dealing with ornithology. The laptop screen was blank, only the orange light on its side blinking in sleep mode. Half reclining, half seated, one leg bent at the knee and the other almost falling off the edge of the couch, Shisui dozed on. His head rested lightly against the backrest of the couch. Perhaps it had been a bad idea to pick the couch to study if he was only going to fall asleep at the drop of a hat; he needed to get things done by the end of week, and since the events that had unfolded six weeks ago, Shisui had been trying not to drown under the backlog of work that had accumulated.

But juggling work and academics in addition to taking care of his traumatized cousin was looking to be a tad more than he could handle. Not that he’d ever admit it, of course. But with the number of days he’s gone without food or sleep or even brushing his hair or changing out of his pajamas, it wasn’t looking too good. Today, however, he’d managed to remember to shower and get into clean clothes. After which he had done the laundry and sorted and ironed Sasuke’s clothes—plus the few items of his that he’d managed to wash as well. Perhaps it was because he was clean today that sleep felt like it couldn’t escape him. So much so that Shisui, who was usually alert enough to notice even from all the way in the living room when Sasuke stopped moving around in his bed and finally fell asleep, didn’t really hear him whimper.

Fluff, however—she’d padded over to Shisui and at first, nuzzled his hand. There hadn’t really been any response. Not even when she’d whined, then whined a little louder.

It’s been a minute since. Sasuke’s still stirring in bed, broken syllables leaving his lips every now and then. Fluff needed Shisui awake. Now.

Eventually, the dog reaches up, paws on the edge of the seat as she pressed her cold, wet snout up against Shisui’s cheek.

“Huh what?!” Of course, that does the trick.

He’s wiping his face and the sleep out of his eyes simultaneously, still in a daze as to where he was and what just happened. There’s a yip from the goldie sitting next to him, thumping her tail on the floor. An urgent little yip.

Shisui groans, closing his laptop and letting it slide off his lap and onto the cushions.

“Mrnn. What is it, girl?” And she’s up, paws shuffling on the floor, signaling that he was needed in Sasuke’s room right away—that something wasn’t right with Sasuke.

It’s enough to have Shisui bolting upright. “What’s wrong?” But she’s padding towards the room, and Shisui is all but running.

“Sasuke?”

It’s not like he can hear him, but Shisui doesn’t care right now. All he can see is his little cousin in distress. Still dreaming, but still in distress. Whimpering in his sleep like the worst was happening to him, like he was in some far off place and nothing was happy.

And Shisui knew exactly where he was—back in that river, holding on for dear life as the current tried to take him.

“Sasuke…” It’s murmured as he slides into bed behind him, arms coming to wrap around him in an embrace. Shisui pulls himself closer, an arm across Sasuke’s chest, the gesture protective. “I’m so sorry…”

He was. It had been his fault for leaving Sasuke alone and taking his word that he’d stay put until he returned from class that day. If anything, Shisui should have just taken him to class with him. And now—

The whimpers and the struggles cease, however, and Sasuke reaches up to rest his hands on Shisui’s arm. He isn’t alone, he realizes. He isn’t drowning; he could still breathe. Someone’s got him. Shisui’s got him.

Sasuke feels his cousin nuzzle at his ear, warm breath fanning his neck—enough to lull him back to sleep, his heartbeat slowing down once more to something calmer.

Shisui smiles, mostly in relief, and presses a chaste kiss to the back of Sasuke’s neck. A little gesture that was more familial than anything. –And he reaches his free arm over to Fluff, who settles on the other side and brings her big fluffy head to rest atop Sasuke. Shisui pets it, smiling at her.

“Good girl.”