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"Takina! Wait!"
Takina was just about to leave when she heard Chisato's voice coming from the back.
"What?"
"Eh... Why don't you... Stay at my place tonight? We're both wasted, stay here so you won't have to go all the way back!"
Takina looked at her, blinked, then turned around one more time.
"I don't know."
"Please, Takina!"
When Chisato came and hug her from the back, clinging to her so she wouldn't leave, Takina had no choice but to accept.
"Okay."
"YAY!"
The blonde was quick to hold the other's hand and drag her in.
"I'll go and find a movie, you pick up some snacks and come to my room!"
Takina just nodded, speechless at the other's excitement.
When she stepped inside the other's room with the edible things she found at Chisato's kitchen, the other was already sitting in her bed, changed into pajamas, brows furrowed, apparently still searching for something to watch.
"Hey Takina, do you want to watch comedy or something darker?"
"Dark." Takina said, totally serious. "Like my soul."
Chisato looked at her for a moment, then she started laughing. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You can find something comfortable to wear in my wardrobe."
Takina looked at the wardrobe and opened it, finding something suitable for her.
"Thanks."
Putting the snacks she found beside Chisato, she went to the bathroom to change and when she came back, Chisato was already eating.
"Hey!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm just a bit hungry after today's mission, you know. It was tiring."
Takina sat beside her, huffing. "Right. It doesn't give you the right to eat before me, though. You invited me here, after all."
Chisato pouted, her gaze finding Takina's.
"You're so mean!"
"Am I now?"
Knowing she wouldn't be the winmer of this, Chisato sighed, tearing her gaze from Takina and turning back to her laptop. She had opened a light comedy.
"Okay, so... How is it? Should we watch it?"
Takina blinked.
"I thought I said something dark?"
Chisato grinned, boping the other's nose with her finger.
"You said like my soul, silly."
Takina blinked one more time, then two more times.
"Do you understand? I mean, because your soul isn't dark and..."
"Okay!" She cut Chisato off. "I understand. Please do not explain any further. This movie is also fine."
Chisato laughed. She might not be the winner of the staring challenge, but she was definitely winning the 'which movie should we watch' arguement.
It wasn't exactly an arguement, but anyways.
Starting the movie, they kept sitting there silently, eating the things Takina wasn't sure about what they were.
Even if the movie was boring, Takina was watching with full consantration. Because Chisato had choosen that one. Still, the way the blonde stayed silent and didn't make any comments about the protagonist's nonsense actions implied that even she had found the movie boring. Takina wasn't sure about that until she felt a head falling on her shoulder.
Looking at her side, she found Chisato sleeping peacefully, eyes closed, mouth agape, head on Takina's shoulder.
And what a sight it was.
She looked so peaceful and so much less energetic then when she was awake; so Takina just stared at her, ignoring the movie and cherishing the sight.
Chisato looked like an angel when she was sleeping.
She always looked like that, but when she's awake, she was a bit too excited about... Almost everything. More calm and collected than most people Takina knew, but still excited.
After looking at her for a few minutes, Takina closed the movie and the laptop, putting it on the bedside table. Sighing, she held Chisato and laid her on the bed softly, careful to not to wake her up. Putting the blanket on her, she tucked Chisato in the bed, making sure the other won't get cold.
Standing up to carry the leftovers to the kitchen, she looked at the blonde one last time.
She was sleeping.
She was safe.
And definitely alive.
Takina inhaled. It was good.
Good.
After she left the leftovers in the kitchen, she went to the bathroom, deciding to take a shower.
Well, shower meant thoughts occupying her mind.
The incident with Majima made her feel protective over Chisato, even though the other didn't need her protection at all. Takina knew it, she knew Chisato wasn't weak and maybe even stronger then her, but that didn't matter. The urge to hug her and protect her and keep her safe from the world had been nagging her since the other got her new heart.
If Chisato knew it, she wouldn't like it. She definitely wouldn't. She never cared about herself like others did for her, but she wouldn't get mad at Takina. Because Takina knew, even if Chisato didn't like people caring about her more then themselves, she needed a bit of care herself. She needed it, like everyone else.
She gave Takina what she needed, so it was Takina's turn to give her what she needed. Even if she wouldn't accept it.
Chisato wasn't unstable, but it didn't change the fact that she had the needs that everyone had.
A safe place for her mind and some caring.
And it was all right. Takina was there for her.
She would always be.
Thoughts still occupying her mind, she got out of the shower, wore the pajamas she took from Chisato and headed to Chisato's room with a towel on her shoulders and neck, hair still wet.
She huffed.
I probably need some sleep too.
But just when she was about to sit on the bed beside Chisato, she heard some mumblings coming from the blonde. Blinking, she looked at her, she didn't understand what the other said at all. Chisato was still sleeping.
"Chisato?"
"N..."
"Eh? What?"
She was talking in her sleep, sweat dripping from her forehead.
Was she dreaming?
"No... Please."
No.
It was a nightmare. Not a dream.
Takina sat beside her.
"Chisato, hey,"
Chisato didn't answer, still mumbling. Even if she was sleeping, she still inhaled shakily, her breathing unstable.
"I don't want to, please..."
"Wake up."
Takina touched her shoulder, slightly shaking her, trying to wake her up without startling her.
"Hah... No..."
She seemed so distressed, not a trace of her peaceful state from minutes ago.
"Chisato, wake up!"
The girl opened her eyes, panting and screaming a "No!" while reaching out with her hand.
Takina looked at her, realizing how those fearless eyes were looking terrified.
Chisato's unfocused eyes found Takina a moment later, breaths still shaky. "Ha?"
"You were having a nightmare."
"I..." She inhaled sharply. "I remember."
A few moments passed in silence, just staring at each other. It was awkward, yeah, but Takina wasn't gonna just let it pass. She could take care of it, she knew what to do. She dealed with ruthless criminals dozens of times, comforting Chisato after a nightmare shouldn't be so hard.
Her bottom lip was shaking.
"You can cry if you want."
Like that was her last straw, a tear escaped Chisato's eye, making it's way down her face.
"Ah..." She sniffed, voice raspy. "Yeah."
"Yeah." Takina ran her fingers among the blonde locks. "It's just me."
"It's just..." When she couldn't hold it together anymore, Chisato began to outright sob. "Takina..."
While her throat hurt and her tears wetted the pillows, Takina lay right beside her, letting Chisato bury her face on her nape and cry her heart out.
Heart.
She kept stroking her hair, hugging her tightly. Chisato buried herself even more, letting Takina to be her safe place.
Her home.
Takina would protect her. Even if she didn't need it. Even if she didn't deserve it. Takina would be with her and offer her her hugs.
Those warm hugs which lighted a sweet fire between them, shielding her from the cruel cold of the night.
Chisato loved it. Even if it made her feel guilty sometimes.
Takina was home. She was heaven.
She was Chisato's light at somber nights.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Takina said after Chisato had calmed down a bit.
"Mm... No." Still not looking at the other's face, Chisato buried herself even further.
"Okay."
They laid down quietly like that a bit more.
Takina smelled like lilies.
"This... Doesn't happen so often, you know?"
"Nightmares?"
"Yeah."
Takina held her a bit tighter.
"Are they that bad?"
Chisato hummed.
"So... So bad. It's hell."
Takina frowned. What kind of past could possibly make Chisato see nightmares that make her feel like she's in hell?
Aside from that, though, Takina was happy that Chisato was opening up to her and not just letting it slide easily. The fact that she trusted her with her heart and her mind. She didn't have to tell everything, it was enough.
It was just right.
"It's all gone now," Takina said, still stroking the other's hair. "You're awake and I'm here."
Chisato giggled to herself. "Right, my hero." She squeezed Takina tighter when the other tensed.
"Thank you."
Takina didn't respond that, she simply couldn't. So she just buried her face in Chisato's hair.
"Let's sleep, now," She said, voice barely above a whisper. "I'll keep the nightmares away."
"You make me feel safe, Takina," Chisato exhaled softly, nuzzling to the other's neck. "Just like home. "
Takina was happy that the room was dark and her face was buried in the other's hair, because her cheeks were flushed red. "Hm..."
Chisato giggled lightly again.
"Good night, Takina."
"Hmm... Night, Chisato."
"I love you."
Takina froze at that, holding her breath, letting Chisato bury her face even further on her neck. She blinked once, twice, thrice. It was still real.
Chisato was real, right there.
She waited until she made sure that the other had fallen asleep, listening to her breathing becoming regular. Sighing, she closed her eyes.
"I love you, too."
"I'm not asleep yet, silly."
Oh.