Matt sleeps better in their house than... anywhere ever, really, but he can still snap awake at a moment's notice. He feels around for Near in the dark, hand finding his knee.
"Or we could put another log on the fire, and make hot chocolate at a civilized hour."
This would be best, he thinks. He crawls out of bed to go stoke their little stove, lifting the lid off the wooden box where he keeps the kindling and grabbing some on the way.
Matt sleeps for a couple more hours, long enough that the room gets just chilly enough to make the warm bed feel all the better. After he opens his eyes, he turns carefully around so he can look at Near without waking him.
If you lined a photo of him up next to the person who arrived in the mansion, who Matt met, first, you might not be able to recognize him. He's gained enough weight that his cheeks have some of the roundness they did when he was in the orphanage. His cheeks have colour in them, his skin doesn't look like paper any longer. The crows feet around his eyes are from old age, rather than the old dark circles of exhaustion.
"What, what's wrong?"
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He thinks, for a moment.
"We could make hot chocolate, and watch the sunrise."
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This would be best, he thinks. He crawls out of bed to go stoke their little stove, lifting the lid off the wooden box where he keeps the kindling and grabbing some on the way.
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He settles contentedly into the warm space Near left behind.
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"Goodnight."
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As he presses against his back, curling an arm around him.
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"Hm?"
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He turns, to stiffle a yawn into the pillow.
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He stretches lazily. "You remember why?"
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