An Awfully Eventful Day

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce saod his goodnight to Briella outside the carriage house and waited to acconpany Zander back from there. It was good to get some fresh ait and Breeze found hin before Zander, head butting him happily before wandering off into the night again.

He tried his best not to fret over Zander and let the young man handle his injuries himself though he did catch himself wincing along with his pained noises. Instead, he got himself ready for bed, pulling off his own shirt and settling into bed with a yawn amd anxious eyes on his boyfriend's bare back.

"Are you alright, love? Coming to bed?" The marquis wasn't so tired as he had felt yesterday. He was too worried about Zander to be sleepy but mentally he knew he needed rest too.

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander wrapped the bandage back around his chest before stripping out of his pants as well. "Sorry, love, just wanted to check on my ouchie." He said with a soft chuckle. As he climbed into bed he did his best to bite back another wince until he settled against the pillows.

He moved close to Pearce and pressed little kisses against the mans shoulder with a smile. "I didn't mean to worry you." Zander traced idle shapes on the marquis chest. While he was physically tired he wasn't sure how easy it would be for him to fall asleep. Of course it was never as easy for him to fall asleep as his boyfriend. Still, his mind felt far too...heavy. Though he was more worried about Pearce falling asleep.

Zander hummed softly but it was hard to even keep his eyes closed.

[Pearce Lockheed]

He chuckled lightly at Zanders terminology. Down playing everything. Still, he couldn't complain; the redhead was resting. Not to mention he would neber complain about seeing the young man scantily clothed or having him pressed against him.

"Never mean to, always do," he said through another yawn. He kissed Zander's forehead and then lips. "Goodnight, Zander," he said, stretching and settling under the blankets. Zander's kisses and touch and warmth were reassuring, washing away enough anxiety that he did manage to fall asleep soon enough. Long before Zander

He didn't stay that way very long. Normally once he was asleep, he hardly moved but something forced him awake. He hummed slightly, shifting but forever feeling like he couldn't get comfortable. He reached out for Zander next to him, wondering if maybe he was simply worried the boy might run off over night and strain himself more.

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander was far too right about not being able to sleep. For the start of the night he simply stared into the dark. Listening to Pearces soft breathing and the occasional snore. It was nice and while it would normally have been relaxing the red head found himself restless. Finally he couldn't take it any more.

Zander slowly pulled himself out of the bed. Doing his best to ignore any pain so he wouldn't make any noise. Though he knew it wouldn't matter much with how heavy of a sleeper his boyfriend was. For a moment he paced the pitch black room. When that wasn't helping he attempted to drop into some pushups but very quickly realized that wasn't going to work. Instead he pulled his clothes back on with a jacket this time, knowing how cold it would be outside.

He was certain Pearce wouldn't wake up for a while. Especially with how tired he'd been when they had gone to bed. Zander walked through the quiet house until he was outside again. The cold air bit at his nose. He hated the cold. Still he stood out in the cold, barefoot, watching his breath come out in small puffs. As he began shivering he ignored the prickling pain in the bottom of his feet.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Whatever had pulled him from sleep initially, what woke him up was the slow shock of being in bed alone. He often woke to find Zander gone for his morning run, but he realized it was still dark out.

He ignored how tired he was, ignored whatever discomfort woke him up and pushed hinself out of bed, snagging a robe from nearby and moving stiffly across the room searching for his reckless idiot of a boyfriend.

He fumbled his way down the stairs when he couldn't find him, deciding perhaps he had gone back to Briella or for a walk and either way wanting to make sure he was okay.

Pearce made it to the rear exit to the gardens and stopped to watch Zander in the cold. "Zander?" He called softly, the name containing a sleepy question about what the hell he was doing and what was wrong all rolled together.

[Zander Brogthamon]

For a long moment everything around Zander faded out. He struggled to pull himself out of painful memories. Remind himself he wasn't in Teronna anymore. Still, he couldn't get the sound of his fathers voice out of his head. It made him feel anxious and nauseated. He tried looking down at his hands but it was almost as if he was looking through them. Nothing felt right.

It took a moment for Pearces voice to break through but when he finally heard his name he flinched at the sound. Zander whipped around and searched in the dim lighting until his eyes landed on the familiar blonde. "P...Pearce..." The name felt heavy in his mouth at first. He pressed the heels of hands against his eyes trying to rub away the fog.

"What are you doing up?" It didn't exactly occur to him that the same question could be directed at him. Especially since he was standing out in the cold on his own. "I didn't wake you up did I?" His voice wavered as words felt wrong. Zanders eyes wouldn't focus on the tired man in front of him making him rub them again and shake his head. At this point he was more trembling than hecwas shivering. Though he couldn't tell if it was from the cold or being trapped in his memories.

[Pearce Lockheed]

The strangeness in Zander's tone pulled him outside. He didn't want to be in the cold but he wasn't about to leave Zander out there alone. He looked half frozen already. Had he been sleep walking maybe?


Thankfully, the blonde ran rather warm and the cold wasn't that bad. He took Zander's elbow gently in one hand and wrapped his arm and the robe around him in a hug. "No, you didn't. You'll get sick out here without shoes on. Come back to bed with me?" he suggested, hugging Zander to his chest.

He almost worried the young man might pass out the way he was shaking. "You're alright," he mumbled reflexively.

[Zander Brogthamon]

When his elbow was grabbed Zander flinched again with a small whimper. Though it wasn't his normal impatient whimper. His whole body tensed until he was pulled against Pearces chest. Holding onto the robe and feeling the mans arm around him helped ground him a bit more back into reality. The redhead pressed his face into the marquis chest. Trying to fully pull his mind out of the past.

The question on if he wanted to go inside made him nod his head. It seemed for the moment he wasn't able to speak. Or particularly move. Though a voice in the back of his mind reminded him that he didn't want to keep Pearce out in the cold for long. Though his limbs felt like they were weighed down by sand Zander managed to make himself move.

Zander kept a grip on Pearces robe as he managed to make his way back to the manor. " 'm sorry." He finally managed to mutter out between his softly clattering teeth.

[Pearce Lockheed]

He murmured softly, reassuring Zander and rubbing his shoulder softly. The wince didn't faze him - he knew they could both be a little jumpy sometimes. The marquis yawned again as they made their way back inside, glad for whatever had woken him so he could comfort the young man.

Pearce shushed Zander gently. "You're too stubborn for you're own good, you know," he teased. "I'll help you sleep this time," he whispered, leaning over to kiss Zander's cheek softly. The young man had alluded to things a few times as it was.

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander was stubborn. Far too terribly stubborn for his own good. That at least was true. The comment however took him a moment to process. Or more so the tone behind it. "No." He said quickly with a shake of his head. He stopped just outside the bedroom door to turn and press his face back to Pearces chest.

"I just...wanna be close..." It didn't really mattered if he slept that night right? He was supposed to be resting the next day as it was. Besides he'd stayed up for two days straight before.

Zander finally pulled them back into the room and stripped out of the jacket and pants but left his shirt on for once. He climbed back into the bed and curled in on himself.

[Pearce Lockheed]

"Alright." Pearce relented rather quickly considering he personally wasn't interested. He grunted in soft surprise as Zander pressed back against him. The blonde smiled softly, already half asleep again now that their bed was in sight. He wrapped the young man in a loose hug and kissed the top of his head.

He shrugged out of the robe, dropping it on the floor and climbed into bed after Zander, reaching over to wrap his arms around Zander's stomach, pulling over to his side of the bed and out of the ball he was attempting to be in. "I need a blanket," he mumbled pleadingly.

Zander certainly was supposed to sleep. Pearce tried really, really hard to stay awake to make sure he did, especially now that the other man had already wandered off in the night once. When he did start to drift off, something jerked him awake again and he moaned faintly, trying to be quiet on the off chance the redhead was in fact asleep.

[Zander Brogthamon]

There was a bit of resistance as the marquis tried to pull the redhead out of his ball and closer to him. He relented fairly quickly though since he was serious about wanting to be close to the man. Pearce was currently the only thing keeping him even semigrounded. The only thing that felt real and tangible which meant he was also real.

He snuggled close to him and tried his best to drift off to sleep. He really did. Though every time he closed his eyes he saw another ginger man he'd rather not think about. Zander had to remind himself his father was dead. He had to be. It was the only thought that could calm his nerves. Eventually the redhead did manage to drift off though it wasn't a very restful sleep. Still filled with soft whimpers and pleads whispered in his native tongue.

By the time the birds started chirping their early morning song Zander felt worse than he had when he'd laid down. He groaned as he rolled onto his back and used one arm to cover his eyes. Every inch of him was screaming that he was late. That he needed to go on a run. But the idea of moving made him want to simply evaporate. The sound of footsteps outside the door though jolted him more awake however. He was sure it was just some of the staff going about their daily routines but the redhead was still a bit on edge.

His bright green eyes darted around the still dark room. Part of him wanted to fall back asleep but he knew that wouldn't be possible. Instead he rolled over onto his side. He could see the outline of his boyfriends face in the very dim light and couldn't help but feel a little more safe. Light as a feather he traced his finger tips over the blondes cheek bones and down his jaw.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Despite himself and whatever forces kept trying to wake him up, Pearce succeeded at falling asleep more soundly than his boyfriend. It was actually really nice having the young man draped over him and pressed close. If he dreamed, he didn't remember any of it.

Pearce blinked awake slowly as Zander moved in the early morning. Zander's touch made him shiver and start awake, his heart lurching painfully in his chest with his own unfortunate memories. He was quick to bury them, though it was a lot more difficult to bury the headache he woke up with. He groaned softly and tried to sit up. "Morning, handsome..." he mumbled, eyes closed against the soft light.

"I told you...you'd feel worse...in the morning," he said, words broken with sleep and a yawn that made his head hurt worse. He hadn't said that out loud, he didn't think, but he had thought it. "We can...take a walk if you can move."

[Zander Brogthamon]

The comment made him smile softly. "How do you know I'm handsome if you're eyes are closed?" The redhead teased as a small playful grin crossed his lips. The mention of him feeling worse made him conscious once again of the fact that he was still in bed. That he hadn't gotten up just before the break of dawn to go on his morning run. That thought was enough to make his heart pound painfully in his chest. Anxiety welled inside of him but Zander tried his best to push the feeling aside. "I feel fine." He lied as his body could decide whether to ache from anxiety or yesterdays work.

Still, he moved closer to his boyfriend. Albeit a bit stiffly. Zander leaned up on his elbow and looked down at the blonde as he brushed his thumb over the mans bottom lip. "A walk would be nice." It wouldn't be running but at least he'd be outside and moving. Besides he'd need to wake up his sister and their dog anyway.

"Someone needs to be awake for that first though." He whispered teasingly with a sly little grin.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce was too sleepy and in too much pain to hear Zander's reply, much less listen. It wasn't until Zander pressed his thumb to his lip that he successfully blinked himself awake.

Whatever the redhead said didn't make much sense to the man. He recalled vaguely that he had said something and Zander was answering him but he must still have been asleep... "Wha...?" He managed to mumble the question, barely. Zander's teasing was quite adorable, his boyfriend was simply too out of it to appreciate it to the fullest.

He pulled himself up on the bed to wake himself up, massaging his temples in an attempt to make the head ache go away. Some of Zander's words belatedly made sense. "I'm awake."