Bad Dreams | Hurt/Comfort | {BYOA}

[healsforjustice]

It was all so clear. Despite everything around her being dark, blending into the night, the scene before her was vivid, almost as if surrounded by an unearthly glow to highlight it in the blackness. Yes it was right in front of her, and yet she could do nothing but stare; the scream of panic, a body falling to the floor, the glint of a blade as it

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[divine_streak]

Being a knight meant that Flynn rarely had something that could be called a regular sleep schedule. And since he had taken it upon himself to patrol the hotel for people in need of whatever help or protection he could provide, he decided to add in the occasional night-time patrol. He knew he couldn't have any chance of protecting every single denizen of the hotel all the time, but until he could find like-minded individuals to join him, he had vowed to do whatever he could. Each day he patrolled random areas of the hotel at random times, so his presence was hard for the more sinister elements of the hotel to predict.

Today, his patrol happened to take him by the door of Amelia's room. While Flynn would never dream of disturbing her this late, he was pinged by seeing her leave her room dressed in only a nightie.

"Amelia?" Flynn asked, concern evident in his voice. "Are you alright?"

[healsforjustice]

Amelia barely had any time to slip into her hazy thoughts, a radical attempt to try and fight the images in her head to get rid of them, before the sound of her name being called drew her back into reality. Turning her head to the side, she blinked, still somewhat dazed as her eyes took in the sight of a familiar person standing nearby.

"Sir Flynn..." she droned, before apparently awakening fully, shaking her head lightly as she tried to make her appearance less dishevelled. "Yes, I'm alright. Just having trouble sleeping." she waved a hand in dismissal, not to be callous, but simply to show he didn't need to worry. It wasn't a complete lie, which was alright, since the princess couldn't lie to save herself without being obvious. Hopefully, she would be able to prevent the knight fretting; the last thing she wished to do was burden someone else with her silly paranoia.

[divine_streak]

Unfortunately for Amelia, fretting was practically a default setting for the blond knight. He doesn't want to smother the young woman, but he doesn't want to ignore someone in trouble either.

"Are you certain?" Flynn asked, immediately feeling guilty for pursuing something his conversation partner clearly did not. "Forgive me for prying, but it's dangerous to be outside your room wearing so little."

The unspoken message was, and it take more than trouble sleeping to bring one outside.

[healsforjustice]

She appreciated the fact he wanted to help, but it wasn't something anyone could do, including herself. It was just a dream after all, she was probably taking the matter too seriously. Thus, she tried to reassure Flynn as best she could.

"Oh don't worry, I'm not defenceless you know. I can handle anyone who gets any wrong ideas." she insisted, nervously trying to laugh off any concerns to try and show she was alright. Even so, she still hugged her arms around her form a bit tighter as she spoke, trying to suppress shivering.

I'll try to tag at a decent pace from now on. I'm so sorry. /rl is a bitch

[divine_streak]

Flynn gave the young woman a smile. He was not one to doubt a woman who said she could take care of herself, but he was also no stranger to someone who tended to speak with more confidence than they actually had, sometimes falling into that category himself. The hugging of herself was all the indication Flynn needed that not everything was as well as she told him.

Oh he didn't doubt she could take care of herself if need be, but those were just some of the dangers one faced in this hotel. The more dangerous dangers were most often those faced within the mind.

"I see," Flynn said carefully, not wishing to talk down to his friend, but his inner-paladin not allowing him to leave her so easily. "I don't wish to overstay my welcome, but would you like to talk about what keeps you awake? I certainly don't mind lending you my ear."

Don't worry about it, tis okay, take all the time you need~

[healsforjustice]

Most of the time, Amelia's words would have held up well. With her magic and hand to hand experience, she was quite prepared to deal with mostly anyone who was a threat. Still, this wasn't normal circumstances. She was upset, and therefore a good bit more vulnerable than usual.

She shifted a little, leaning back into the wall on hearing Flynn's offer, sighing heavily. It wasn't aggravation aimed at him, but rather herself, for obviously not being able to deal with the matter as well as she believed she should.

"It's...rather silly honestly. I'm probably letting to get to me too easily. I don't want to waste your time." she answered, rubbing her eyes as dark circles started to form beneath them.

<3

[divine_streak]

If all it took was a sigh to dissuade Flynn, he never would have made it past recruitment for the Knights.

"I wouldn't offer if I thought it was a waste of my time Amelia," Flynn smiled. "And if it's enough to keep you awake, then it clearly isn't silly to you.

"I know we only met recently, and this might seem presumptuous of me, but I consider you a friend. I'm not one to turn my back on a friend in need, especially if all I need do is listen to what's on her mind."

[healsforjustice]

Even with her wish to not burden Flynn with her problems, it was pretty clear he wasn't about to let the matter go so easily. Truth be told, she would have acted the same way in his position. Perhaps that was why she liked him as much as she did. They dud share the same values, and she could respect that enough to accept his help.

"You better come in then." she replied, nudging the door open for him so he could follow in after her, offering him to sit down. It was best not to do all this in the hallway after, especially with him going to all the trouble of listening to her.

"I've been having bad dreams, that's why I've had trouble sleeping." she explained, unsure of how to proceed without sounding foolish over a matter she had no control of.

[divine_streak]

Flynn did as he was bid, entering the room and sitting down on a nearby chair.

"Amelia," he said kindly. "That's nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone has bad dreams sometimes, and they can scare us no matter what age we are. You just need to remember that scaring you is the worst they can do."

[healsforjustice]

Glancing over, she soon cast her eyes to the ground again, looking all the more tired and haunted for the effort it took to admit more of what was bothering her.

"It's not that it scares me though. It just...makes me sad, because it makes me remember." she murmured, one of her hands fisting the material of her sleeve. Surely that was silly, being so paranoid over a memory.

[divine_streak]

Flynn's expression sobered. He took something like this seriously, and he wanted Amelia to know that from his expression.

"In many ways," he said after a pause. "That can be much worse. Memories can haunt us, and there's the added fact that unlike dreams, they were once real."

He paused again before speaking. "Do you think you could tell me what it is that you remember?"

[healsforjustice]

There was no point in hiding it now, it was best to be honest. It was logical, but it still stung, her throat drying out as she tried to force the words past her lips. She didn't talk about this with anyone except her father, so actually opening up to another person felt alien, frightening. Even so, though quiet, the words came.

"My mother's death, or what I know of it at least." came the hushed reply, Amelia staring down at the floor as her hands tightly hugged her form. In moments, she found herself sinking down onto a nearby seat, unsure of what to do, remaining silent and waiting for any response from Flynn.

[divine_streak]

"Amelia..."

Without thinking, Flynn was on his feet. Kneeling by her chair, he clasped her hand in his, being careful with his gauntleted arms.

"I'm so sorry..." Flynn wasn't sure how to react, especially since he felt so guilty for forcing her to divulge such a private memory. It was no wonder she couldn't sleep. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I know what it's like to lose a parent. You feel sad, angry, but most of all you feel lost.

"I'm sorry I made you tell me this," he said softly, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, while making sure not to hurt her with the gauntlet. "But this is nothing to be embarassed about. Pain like this... it never truly goes away. That's why it's important to put your trust in friends who can help you with this pain. And I promise to do whatever I can."

[healsforjustice]

Amelia could do nothing to respond, not even will herself to lift her head. She simply sat there, absorbing the words and attempting to process them, a difficult task for her weary mind at that moment

[divine_streak]

Flynn sank to the floor with Amelia, holding her closely. He let an armored hand go up behind her head and held her there. He shushed her soothingly and stroked her hair comfortingly.

If there was one thing Flynn was good at doing regardless of whether it coincided with his own well-being, it was shouldering burdens and doing so willingly. Fortunately for them both, this particular burden posed no trouble for Flynn to take. The white knight would doubtless feel worse if he walked away without even attempting to support his friend.

"I give you my word," he soothed. "I'm not going anywhere."

Later he would thank the princess for confiding in him, but at the moment, just being a receptacle for her emotions would suffice. He was a shield, not only to protect, but to lean against when one needed support. It was a role Flynn filled eagerly.

[healsforjustice]

It was odd really, to be in this position, so much so Amelia was tempted to try and shake herself off and draw away. Those thoughts were soon put out of her mind though by the warmth and comfort that surrounded her when Flynn embraced her. Usually she was the one who had to be optomistic, the one who helped other people and supported them like any good friend would. It was no wonder that she was so reluctant, not wanting to leave others worrying about her