[fic[ lately her face seems slowly sinking
Title: 'lately her face seems slowly sinking'
Characters: Scarlett Langford, Leon Warner.
Notes: People are more honest when they sleep, it seems.
Word Count: 616.
Prompt: 'Sleep'.
Leon’s only seen Scarlett sleep once whilst sober. As in actually not get drunk and high like she normally does - but to just fall asleep, normally, naturally. It was a somewhat awkward experience, seeing her like that, but it definitely said a few things about her. People are more honest when they sleep, it seems.
She’d let him stay again and this time she hadn’t started drinking or hadn’t left him alone. He wasn’t sure why she did that, invite him round them leave him by himself. It was like she couldn’t bear to be in the same room as him; well that’s how Leon felt about it anyway. She’d sometimes sit with him, but they barely spoke to one another. She’d ask if he’d want another beer or to try a cigarette - but that was it. Sat on a girl’s bed, nursing a beer bottle while said girl sat on her bay windowsill smoking and staring at you was not the best way to spend a Tuesday night.
But it had happened a few times, and the painful awkwardness never got any easier.
Perhaps Scarlett got a little lonely living in that big house all by herself, Leon thought to himself sometimes. He’d never met or had even seen her father. He was always gone when he was round and she never spoke about him other than the comment of him not being there. Maybe knowing someone else was in the house was better than no one at all.
As it got late one night, Leon decided on leaving or not. Usually when it got to that point, Scarlett might let him stay. He didn’t have anywhere else to go. She’d actually threaten him into staying, not because she cared, she’d say, but because he was a fucking idiot for sleeping on the streets. He never really knew what to ever make of that.
Getting up in the living room, he found the house silent. Usually Scarlett would be blasting music somewhere, or there’d be some sign of movement upstairs.
But there was nothing.
Gingerly heading up the stairs, he readied himself with words. I’m gonna go now. I’ll… see you.
He passed her room, the door open. Leon thought to just turn away and leave, but he caught her lying on her bed and there was some small part of him that thought she’d maybe gone too far with the cocaine. He hovered in the doorway, swearing under his breath before moving into the room.
But as he stooped by the bed to look at her, he saw her only sleeping. She was hunched over, arms crossed as she slept. She looked angry, which didn’t surprise him, but after a few moments, she let out a restless sound and her expression changed to one of fear.
To see the expression seemed unnatural to Leon. He’d never quite seen that look on her face before, a sort of hidden vulnerability. It was honest.
“Stop it,” she uttered. “Please..”
Leon reached forward, giving her a gentle nudge. Scarlett woke instantly with a look of distress before realising her dream. She looked up at him and glared in tired confusion.
“The fuck, man?” she growled, “What?”
Leon swore, staring at her wide-eyed and straightened up. “I’m gonna go.” he replied, “… You alright?”
“What?” she blinked, still pushing the nightmare away, “Yes. Fine. The fuck. Why you in my room? Leave me alone, okay? Jesus fucking Christ, lar,”
Leon swallowed hard, taking a long time before he spoke again, “Want me to stay?”
Scarlett huffed and rolled onto her back. She covered her eyes with one arm and made an abstract gesture with her free hand. “Whatever,”