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Nimona wakes with a shout.
Beads of sweat roll down the side of her face, mixing with the salty tears that fall from her eyes. Her usually bright red hair lays dull, damp from sweat and flat against her head.
Her sheets are torn below her from her fingernails transforming into claws during her fitful, nightmarish slumber.
A sob rips from her throat as she realises she has destroyed another set of sheets. Thoughts of how burdening she must be for Ballister run through her head in circles as she curls in on herself.
Her door slams open and she jumps, curling tighter, ducking her head - making sure that Bal won’t be able to see her tear stained cheeks. She doesn’t want to bother him again, he already has to deal with his own nightmares.
The bed dips beside her and a soft sigh breaks the otherwise suffocating silence that has filled her room. She flinches and shuffles awkwardly away before opening her mouth.
“I’m sorry.” She whispers softly through her arms, her eyes welling up again as she thinks about how annoyed Bal must feel. All she does is ruin everything, maybe she really is a…
“Oh Nimona…” He mutters, she hears some rustling and what sounds like Bal moving. He must be leaving her, she figures, she can’t blame him, she’s a mess.
“Gah-!” A half garbled response breaks free from her fanged mouth as she is pulled from under her arms and into Bal’s lap.
She peers her head up, confused. Ballister had moved himself to be lying on her bed, pillows keeping his upper half up as he pulled her up onto his lap. He reached his arm forward and pulled her torso close, resting her body on his chest.
“A Nightmare?” He guessed, shaking his head lightly when he saw her faint nod in response. Another sob breaks free from her as she perceives his action as a shake of annoyance. “I’m not upset at you Nimona, I’m upset at the world that made you so afraid.” He shared.
He curls his arm around her, pulling her close. These are the times when he wishes he could sleep with his prosthetic arm in, so when he cuddled, he could use both arms.
Nimona sighs softly as Bal puts just the right amount of pressure on her body, slowly draining the adrenaline from her body and relaxing her tight muscles.
Bal leans forward and kisses her forehead, grimacing slightly at the taste of sweat, luckily Nimona couldn’t see his face at this angle, he thought. He then leans back, still holding her and making her lay with him. He pulls her even closer, rubbing the top of her beach reassuringly with his hand.
“I’ve got you.” He mumbles, brushing her hair out of her face before going back to rubbing her back in circles.
Her vision turns blurry as her eyelids become heavier the more she blinks. She closes her eyes, head going lax, leaning against Bal. Her breathing evens out as a peaceful, safe sleep greets her.
Before she fully succumbs, she manages to whisper a small thanks to Bal. He always makes her feel safe and calm after a nightmare.
Ballister smiles as he relaxes under her, preparing to go back to sleep as well. Ambrosius will understand, he always does.
As he drifts off, Nimona’s words circle his head.
“Thanks dad.”