Elliot - [016]

[snapekillsedgar]

Who: Elliot Nightray and anyone who lives with him
Where: The Pandora Hearts Estate
Style: Either
Status: Closed

Comments

[unsureazure]

Noel knew this was going to happen. They've known each other for over a year now, and she knew how stubborn he could be when it came to his own well-being. It was a good thing that she was so adamant about him staying home while she worked in his stead. Still, she wasn't mean enough to rub it in his face with a very mature "told you so" or demanding an apology

[snapekillsedgar]

She wouldn't get an answer. After hours of bearing his misery, he knew that his fever was only getting even worse. All he was doing was exhausting himself more and more, until he finally couldn't keep himself awake anymore.

... Of course, Elliot was right to try to keep himself from sleeping in the first place. He knew himself far too well, and knew that the moment he slept his mind would start to do what it did best when he was asleep. Almost immediately, he was dreaming, and by the time that Noel knocked on his door, he was tossing back and forth on the bed, moaning in his sleep.

[unsureazure]

Damn it, it seems like she can never make the appropriate choice. Noel doesn't take any hesitation in turning the doorknob and letting herself in. She knew he needed the rest, and that he could get better faster if he slept but... It wasn't going to do any good if he kept having nightmares. She knelt on the ground at his bedside, takes in a deep breath, and---

"Elliot, wake up!"

[snapekillsedgar]

"Noel..."

He was mumbling her name in a pained voice, but he wasn't awake. As she sat down, he turned over on his side facing her, one hand clenched in the bedspread beneath him. His face was pale, aside from the flush in his cheeks, and even in his sleep, he was still grimacing in discomfort.

[unsureazure]

"Wh..."

That wasn't something she expected. Noel thought that she would be the last person he would dream of. Especially since usually, his dreams were nothing good. She could only assume that whatever he's seeing isn't pretty.

As gently as she could, she placed her hand on his clenched fist in attempt to comfort him, no matter how futile it could be.

"It's okay, I'm right here! You're just dreaming..."

[snapekillsedgar]

Slowly, as she spoke the tension began to drain from him. He let out an incoherent mumble as his hand relaxed under hers and he stopped moving. His breathing started to even out a little as well and the pained look on his face didn't fully go away, but he was starting to calm down. Even though he was settling down, she could probably feel that his skin was blazingly hot.

[unsureazure]

Seeing him less tense gave Noel a small bit of relief. If only there were a way for her to protect him from his nightmares too... She'd do it in less a heartbeat. Well, the very least she could do now is stay by his side as he slept. She leaned forward, resting her head and free arm upon the mattress as she studied his face.

His fever was much higher than it was last time she checked, but she didn't have the heart to leave him in order to find something to cool him down just yet. Right now, she felt he needed somebody to be with him.

"I'm right here," she repeated, her tone less panicked. "I'm not leaving you, Elliot."

[snapekillsedgar]

Unconsciously, Elliot shifted in his sleep, moving a little bit closer to her, if only to be closer to any form of comfort he could sense. His forehead ended up touching the back of the hand she had over his own. He sighed, as if only that contact made him feel better.

[unsureazure]

... Well, he seemed to have calmed down, thankfully. Noel is quite pleased with the accomplishment. Though... What now? Now that he was having a somewhat better time sleeping, she didn't want to risk waking him by moving.

...

Well, it probably wouldn't be bad to watch him a little longer.

[snapekillsedgar]

Pretty much, he's going to look like he's still sleeping, now that he finally was able to move on to getting rest instead of being tormented. He never looks entirely peaceful, but at least he's asleep and not forcing himself to keep staying awake.

[unsureazure]

It's certainly a huge improvement. Noel wanted him to recover quickly, so she's glad that he's finally getting some decent rest. Watching him like this, though, is making her kind of sleepy too---

... Er, wait, no, she couldn't take a nap here. If she ended up drifting to sleep, she'd probably get yelled at, either by Elliot himself or his sister. Speaking of which, wouldn't it get awkward if he woke up to her staring at him? Maybe she should make an escape now that he seems to be sleeping more soundly... But what she moves too fast and he wakes up? What if his dreaming takes a turn for the worse again? But then if she stayed here, it would be awkward...

Oh god. Oh god. She should have thought this through first. Noel had found herself stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Sorry for the shortness of the tags. They'll get longer as it goes on!

[snapekillsedgar]

She'd soon find that the choice was about to be made for her. As she thought, Elliot let out a tiny groan, and blearily, he finally blinked his eyes open a crack. Even with them open though, he wasn't looking at her yet. He stared straight at the wall, completely unfocused.

Haha, it's okay ♥

[unsureazure]

Urk! Noel manages to keep herself from flinching in surprise when he stirred. Even if he wasn't looking directly at her, she's feeling much like a deer in headlights right now. Okay. What do.

"E-Elliot...?"

[snapekillsedgar]

Slowly, his gaze tracked up to her, his eyes glassy and dulled from the fever. Nothing made any sense to him right now, but he knew what he'd just seen. Seeing her leaning over him now was almost cruel.

"I'm so sorry. I--" He was hardly whispering his words before he mumbled inaudibly, nearly shutting his eyes again before jerking to make sure he stayed awake. "Sorry..."

[unsureazure]

This was the first time Noel heard him actually straight up apologize to her, and it took her slightly aback. However, the confusion only piled up even more, because she had no idea why he was apologizing. She finally noticed that he wasn't completely awake yet... Could it be because of something from his dream?

Though she had second thoughts about asking, she decided to do it anyway, her expression becoming increasingly concerned:

"Why are you apologizing?"

[snapekillsedgar]

"Couldn't protect you." Elliot murmured brokenly, hardly able to keep his eyes on her. Even when he could keep his gaze steady, the look he was giving her was horribly sad, the guilt and disbelief in his eyes was painfully obvious. He felt as if he was looking at a ghost.