#anyway! sorry if im rusty and things don't make sense i am just vibing

[impossible-rat-babies]

#8 for the sleeby prompts but maybe just work/books instead of homework 👀

ty azia and @roguelioness for this prompt ;--; it kinda uhh.....hurts lmao

prompt: 8. “Put the homework away and go to bed.  You look exhausted.”

word count: 1.3k

when does this take place? dw about it, it's fine <3 (to say otherwise is spoilers)

--

Candles flicker on the table, wax dripping past the holders—the flames large and flickering, sending soot trailing up to the ceiling. The wicks long past due for a trim. A task ordinarily handled on set schedules, but forgotten for more pressing endeavors. Scholars books borrowed from the Noumenon remain stacked upon chairs and the table along with half a dozen tea cups, little rings of sugar and milk left in the bottom from days long past. Broken quills and empty ink bottles neatly set aside next to crumpled and smoothed out pieces of paper, notes scribbled and ink accidentally smeared in the rush.

The window left cracked open, letting in the cool night air; the trees outside rustle in the breeze, the only sound now--the orchestration left unwound--paper tapes left to fold up upon themselves. 

A fresh bottle of ink uncorks and the smell draws Eyrie’s eyes open. They breathe deep, staring half lidded at the ceiling above painted with warm shadows. They turn their head, silk cool to the touch against the side of their head still warm with scabs and bruises, still kept wrapped in bandages.

G’raha works at the table, his quill nib scratching across paper. Leg bouncing beneath the table as his tail flicks and twitches in thought. Removing a few books from a pile and Eyrie catches most of his face. Backlit by candles, there’s already pain building behind their eyes from the light but they don’t want to look away.

G’raha readjusts his legs, still engrossed in work—blissfully aware of their waking. Good.

His brow scrunches and eyes narrow, mouthing unspoken thoughts as he fusses with his quill; twisting it betwixt fingers before pausing to look close at it. Must be broken again and he sets it aside, sorting once more through the mess in front of him for another. He carefully handles each of the books—perhaps from one too many scolding about how to properly hold a books—in contrast to the ink blotches and stains across his hands. Does he know about the ink across the side of his left hand as he licks his thumb to turn a page? The edge of his sleep shirt sleeve stained from dragging it across notes?

They doubt he knows, too preoccupied by pressing issues. They’ve only been awake for a few minutes, but nausea already tinges their stomach in a familiar aether sick way. Hands trembling, not yet feverish but it will hit soon.

“You promised me you would be coming to bed before long…”

G’raha’s tail twitches and ears shoot up in surprise, a faint curse spilling from his lips. Righting the bottle of ink neatly tipped over in setting his book aside, he turns to look at them. They fight a teasing smile, committed to having a decent pout aimed at him.

“My apologies...” His ears droop, fingers anxiously tapping against the table. “I had intended to look only a little bit longer before retiring. I’m sorry for waking you—“ He looks up at them again.

“Ah, Eyrie, your blindfold…” He shifts his leg out from under him to stand. They shake their head to stop him, a smile turning their lips.

“Hush, it’s alright. I just woke up and don’t need it. Besides—I wished to look at you without it on.”

They catch the flush as he dips his head and quietly laughs; affectionate heat blooms in their chest. A naught uncommon feeling when it comes to catching G’raha off guard with their blatant expressions of their affections. Stuck in bed and they’ve become a slave to sentiment.

“Again my apologies for waking you; how have you slept? Do you require anything?”

“You are better for it—waking me.” They ignore his baited question, looking down at the sheets. Tucked in once again. “Who else would tell you to come to bed yet again?”

“Yes, well,” he looks away, back to the books scattered about—laid atop each other. “While the business of your condition remains a mystery, tis best we keep exploring our options. Especially if aetherspurn is our best guess, then—I was only going to be a little bit longer--“

Eyrie’s brow furrows.

“G’raha…”

A quiet slip of his name from their lips and they watch him deflate. It’s all he can do to help, they know this; ever the mind set to wander and think—the brain of a scholar beset with a problem he hasn’t puzzled out; hasn’t *yet* puzzled out. Eyrie’s seen the motions enough times, the loop G’raha chases in his mind. Wondering if there is any hope—chastising his own negativity and redoubling his efforts. There is a solution buried deep down somewhere. Nothing is impossible--the exploits of the scions damning proof of such--but research texts, old tomes and hand written journal accounts are finite. Even in the largest library in the known world there is only so much knowledge.

Aetherspurn has no known cure—only palliative care until the affliction runs its course.

Eyrie sighs, looking down at their hand and they pat the sheets to try and beckon him.

“Options best explored in the light of the day. It will avail you naught to keep this up until dawn. You will scarcely remember any tome you devour now, and be back at square one yet again come morning.”

Moments like these, they regret inspiring further and further heights of tenacity. They would be scolded for voicing such thoughts; already they hear Alisaie telling them what for—that they give so much, it’s only natural they be given so much in return. They’re the eye of the storm now, watching the rest all rush past; they only wish they didn’t feel as if they were falling behind somehow. Trapped in a bed, waiting for bad news or even worse news. 

The lingering shadow at the edge of their thoughts of scions being the ones to deliver such news--the time their dearest friend has left is limited. They’ve dreamed of that moment before—it never sits well, even imagined.

G’raha sighs, picking the stained shirt sleeve and they know he knows. The long nights are proof enough.

“Ask me once more?”

G’raha speaks softly, looking up at Eyrie. They smile through the sting in their lip and the pull of the bandages across their jaw.

“Please,” they whisper, “Come to bed, Raha. You look exhausted.”

Looking longer still at them in bed; lines in his face, an expression they’re not sure if he knows he’s making. One they aren’t used to seeing on his face--one not seen since a night many long years ago. A far different place than here.

Memorizing their face in the orange candle glow; perhaps it makes them look better—a better memory to hold onto. One of the few. Before they can speak his name again, he gets up. Gently extinguishes the candles until there’s only the soft blue moonlight through the window; a full moon with naught but a cloud in the sky.

“The candles need changed tomorrow…” They mumble. In this light it’s almost too much to speak louder.

The sheets move and bed dips, Eyrie watching G’raha sit beside them. How he reaches out--touches the side of their face; tender, like a whisper to match their voice.

“I’ll change the candles tomorrow.” He murmurs absentmindedly, the light catching on red irises. Pupils darting in the dark. “Gods, how they bandage your head each day is beyond me in terms of comfort.”

“Tis quite a dashing with the blindfold, or I’m so told by the nurses. I believe tis to soothe my wounded ego.” They roll their eyes, reaching up to brush their hand over G’raha’s. Guide his hand to their lips in a soft kiss—lips barely puckered. A sigh of breath across skin so warm.

G’raha’s laugh hiccups in his chest, brushing his thumb near the corner of their lips. “I was not aware you had an ego to bruise.”

He shifts carefully, always mindful of where it hurts for them; eyrie pulls him in nonetheless, guiding him close; tucking their chin against the top of G’raha’s head, brushing their fingers through his hair to rest at the back of his head.

“I do not...”

“How unheroic of you.”

Eyrie grins, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

“Tis disastrous, I know. Better to sleep than think about heroics, I say.” They close their eyes, sinking back into the pillow once more. G’raha shifts and they open their eyes, surprised by the intensity of his look.

“Eyrie, I--”

“I know...” They whisper, brushing their hand back along to cradle his cheek. “I know. I’ve always known.”

“Now sleep...I will be here in the morning, as I have every morning since.”

A sigh and G’raha settles back in, resting his hand on their chest. Fresh scars under the loose fabric, but still they breathe; rattling breaths as they breathe from their stomach, but breathing nonetheless. Heartbeat beneath it all, still going. Still alive.

[xnchxntmxnt]

Hello, my name is Ghost and I'd like to put in for an Ouran matchup please (if you have any slots left). I'm genderfluid, use any pronouns, and I'll date anyone regardless of gender. I'm on the shy side when I first meet someone and don't talk very much to anyone I don't know, but once I'm comfortable I open up and share my interests and other things about myself. Although, even if I don't know someone well I always make a considerable effort to be incredibly polite and kind to them because I don't know if someone is already having a bad day and I don't want to make it any worse. I'm definitely the mom friend of my group and always carry first aid supplies, snacks, water, a blanket, and fidget toys. I love music and can't go a day without using my headphones. I can play the drums but I'm a bit rusty since I haven't played in a year or two and I also play some piano and am working to learn more. I've been in choir since I was a little kid and love to sing but I have too much stage fright to perform alone. I have a naturally deeper singing voice despite being AFAB. I'm also very into cooking, baking, mythology, reading and writing. I'm starting college a semester late as biology major with emphasis on zoology as I love animals and would want to be a veterinarian at zoo that's involved in conservation efforts. I hope you have a lovely rest of your day and remember to eat, drink some water, and take any meds if you need to. ❤

aaa this took forever im sorry i got super busy after i put out the thing for these but ANYWAY its done now

also the name ghost is so cute what <3 idk why i love it though

kaoru hitachiin!

do u know how long it took me to find a picture without his brother and im still not 100% sure i have the right one— anyway

mom friend. perfect. he needs one.

mans a royal mess

we know this

honestly i think his first impression of you was. he was probably excited to see someone who wasn't so into the whole act he and hikaru do and just liked talking to him

he also saw the shyness and (whenever hikaru wasnt around) let himself be a little more genuine, which meant he was less flirty and more soft with you

im getting lots of accidentally bushing hands and gentle conversations over tea at the beginning vibes

once you're comfortable around each other though?? that changes a little

yell at him to eat breakfast bc he'll get busy and wont (or jsut doesnt feel like getting up some days)

he'll do the same to you of course

mutually taking care of each other <3

you might always have stuff, but anything you forget, he seems to have

need a hair tie? he's got it. Forgot an extra bottle of water for yourself? he's got one (or knows where to get one)

he loves to buy things for you but not like. super fancy extravagant gifts. he likes doing chill and not necessarily inexpensive things, but he likes showing up with your favorite snack or "i saw this stuffed animal and thought you'd like it so here" kinda vibes

if that makes sense at all

he LOVES sharing music with you

please give him your other earbud and lean your head on his shoulder on long car rides

he loves it so much

he loves getting to know you through music because music can honestly be so intimate

make him a playlist. its the best gift you can give him

make him several playlists

he loves when you do that and listens to them all

on loop

he'll make you playlists too you guys are just exchanging them all the time

he likes listening to you play too whether its drums or piano or anything else you pick up

he just enjoys seeing you have fun w it

dont get me started on how much he likes listening to you sing

swoons

every time

he's so in love

anything youre into he immediately just. finds as much information as he can about it

he loves listening to you rant about mythology and stuff like that

maybe you're reading a new book

the moment he gets you to spit out the title and author he's scrolling through google trying to find little trivia about it

this is of course so when you talk about it he can be excited about it with you

this happens a lot

half the time he'll end up just reading the book

and if its a series? good luck.

you two WILL be up until 2am or later finishing the last book because you have to see how it ends

overall wholesome. 10/10 would reccomend