As Balthus sets down her pillow, Hilda adds the extra blankets to the side of the bed that is to be hers before crawling under them all. It's quite cozy, although she has a feeling that even if it weren't she would still feel comfortable and safe here because of whose bed it is.]
I don't know if you like light or noise or anything when you sleep. I can sleep through whatever, so don't change your routine on my behalf, okay?
[He waits for her to settle a little before he gives a stretch and slides in beside her, careful not to jostle the mattress too much as he reaches to shove his pillow further against the headboard.]
Don't worry about it. Honestly? Don't have much of a routine.
[He gives her a crooked half-smile, followed by an easy shrug as he stretches his legs out in front of him.]
Spend enough time on the run, then living in a place like Abyss, and you learn to sleep under all sorts of conditions. I can sleep anytime, anywhere. A little broken up sometimes, but no big deal. I get by.
[There's a lot that Hilda wants to say in response to that statement. He's speaking casually as anything about something that's actually pretty terrible. In his place, she wouldn't be nearly as able to roll with the punches. And, perhaps more importantly, in her current place she wishes there was more she could do. His debts are his problem, of course, but his step-mother...
Ultimately, there's no really anything she can say. It is what it is, and she doubts he wants her pity. So, after a pause, she simply cuddles in closer to him and rests her head on his chest. The gesture feels comfortable and right in the moment, soothing and warm for the both of them.]
[It shouldn't take him by surprise, not after that kiss in the front room, and not now that they're settled into bed beside one another, but he still finds himself mildly startled for a moment as she pulls herself close and rests her head atop his chest.
It doesn't last; he easily puts an arm around her shoulders while reaching across with his free hand to tuck one of her pigtails back so it doesn't get caught between them before he props that same hand behind his head, settling in comfortably to look up at the ceiling.]
... it's nice here, isn't it. Being able to stay in one place, not having to worry about being seen by the wrong people— I'd forgotten what that was like.
[He still speaks of his situation fairly casually, but there is a bit of weight to his voice— he knows precisely how grim things are for him back home, but they had been decidedly worse before he'd joined the Professor's class. Really, it was running into Hilda beneath the monastery that had kicked all of that off.]
Plus, you're here. I miss a lot of the others, but... couldn't ask for better company.
[Balthus is made of stronger stuff than Hilda is, in that regard. He puts up with a lot, and does so without complaint. It's admirable, really, and Hilda finds herself glad that he's been able to have something of a fresh start here. No debts (and no ability to run any up, given the lack of currency), no crazy step-mother breathing down his neck. He can just be himself here.
And then he specifies that having her here makes things all the better. She blushes and buries her face a bit more into him so that he can't see.]
I couldn't either, Baltie. I'm glad you're here.
[She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, letting the sound of his heartbeat soothe her.]
[For a moment, all he can do is smile to himself, his gaze still fixed on the ceiling. He's sorry for the reason she'd come knocking on his door, but just for a moment, things feel— easy. Natural. Enough so that he wonders why they haven't done something like this sooner.
Maybe he's just overthinking it.]
I'm glad you're here, too.
[He'd already said as much, in so many words, but it bears repeating. His fingers trail upwards lightly, his touch surprisingly gently despite his size and the fact that he usually uses those hands of his for brawling, and he carefully brushes her bangs to one side.]
Get some good sleep, okay? If you need anything, I'm right here.
[His touch, like everything else about him right now, is gentle and soothing, and even as her eyes are closed and she's trying to relax she can't help her smile from getting that much bigger in reaction to it.]
I know you are. Thank you, Baltie.
[She shifts a bit, cuddling in closer as she gets comfortable.]
Good night.
[Amazingly, given the dream that drove her to his door, it doesn't take very long for Hilda to drift off. Her breaths become deep and even, and she remains curled up half-on-top-of him as she snoozes.]
[He almost leaves it there. He could simply drift off, the same as her, and let the both of them rest in comfortable silence— and he will, but he feels compelled to do one last thing first, the urge too powerful to ignore. He lifts his head just enough to be able to bend forward to drop a chaste kiss against the top of her head, pressing his lips against her hair before falling back against his own pillow.]
Goodnight, Hilda.
[After that, he'll say nothing more, finding his eyelids grow heavy as he finds himself surprisingly at ease, as though not a single part of this is out of place.
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no subject
[Deep in her heart, she's always known.
As Balthus sets down her pillow, Hilda adds the extra blankets to the side of the bed that is to be hers before crawling under them all. It's quite cozy, although she has a feeling that even if it weren't she would still feel comfortable and safe here because of whose bed it is.]
I don't know if you like light or noise or anything when you sleep. I can sleep through whatever, so don't change your routine on my behalf, okay?
no subject
Don't worry about it. Honestly? Don't have much of a routine.
[He gives her a crooked half-smile, followed by an easy shrug as he stretches his legs out in front of him.]
Spend enough time on the run, then living in a place like Abyss, and you learn to sleep under all sorts of conditions. I can sleep anytime, anywhere. A little broken up sometimes, but no big deal. I get by.
no subject
Ultimately, there's no really anything she can say. It is what it is, and she doubts he wants her pity. So, after a pause, she simply cuddles in closer to him and rests her head on his chest. The gesture feels comfortable and right in the moment, soothing and warm for the both of them.]
I know you do.
no subject
It doesn't last; he easily puts an arm around her shoulders while reaching across with his free hand to tuck one of her pigtails back so it doesn't get caught between them before he props that same hand behind his head, settling in comfortably to look up at the ceiling.]
... it's nice here, isn't it. Being able to stay in one place, not having to worry about being seen by the wrong people— I'd forgotten what that was like.
[He still speaks of his situation fairly casually, but there is a bit of weight to his voice— he knows precisely how grim things are for him back home, but they had been decidedly worse before he'd joined the Professor's class. Really, it was running into Hilda beneath the monastery that had kicked all of that off.]
Plus, you're here. I miss a lot of the others, but... couldn't ask for better company.
no subject
And then he specifies that having her here makes things all the better. She blushes and buries her face a bit more into him so that he can't see.]
I couldn't either, Baltie. I'm glad you're here.
[She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, letting the sound of his heartbeat soothe her.]
no subject
Maybe he's just overthinking it.]
I'm glad you're here, too.
[He'd already said as much, in so many words, but it bears repeating. His fingers trail upwards lightly, his touch surprisingly gently despite his size and the fact that he usually uses those hands of his for brawling, and he carefully brushes her bangs to one side.]
Get some good sleep, okay? If you need anything, I'm right here.
no subject
I know you are. Thank you, Baltie.
[She shifts a bit, cuddling in closer as she gets comfortable.]
Good night.
[Amazingly, given the dream that drove her to his door, it doesn't take very long for Hilda to drift off. Her breaths become deep and even, and she remains curled up half-on-top-of him as she snoozes.]
no subject
Goodnight, Hilda.
[After that, he'll say nothing more, finding his eyelids grow heavy as he finds himself surprisingly at ease, as though not a single part of this is out of place.
Maybe it isn't.]