#ariaoc: Sephirah

[aria0fgold]

Whumptober day 17, alternative prompt used: Shaking

Characters: Marcellus, Sephirah Ages: 18, 15

Marcellus woke up with a jolt, remnants of a scream echoing around his room remained for a moment, taking him awhile to realize it as his. His body trembled, his breaths came quick and shallow. He hugged himself tightly in an attempt to stop his shaking. Beads of sweat dripped onto his blanket as he tried to take slow, deep breaths. It was somewhat working.

Marcellus was never good with nightmares but It was somewhat easy to calm down by convincing himself that the monsters he saw weren't real. Not this time, not when the monster he saw was very much real, in the form of his own father.

It's been awhile since he last dreamt of that man. He had hoped it stayed that way so that he can finally forget about him entirely. But that seemed too impossible of a wish. Marcellus doesn't know how much time has passed, he merely focused on catching his breath and keeping his body steady. Though a sudden knock on his door made him flinch and panic once more.

He stared at the door, the layout of his room thankfully brought some of his panic down. He's safe, he wasn't nowhere near his father anymore, he's safe. With a deep breath, Marcellus got out of bed, hoping that the one knocking on his door was his mom. There were only two others living in the floor he's on, his friend, Sephirah and his mom. He had hoped the one knocking was his mom instead of Sephirah, he always had trouble sleeping.

Marcellus timidly opened the door, his hands were still a bit shaky, “…W-who…?” And as his luck would have it, Sephirah stood right outside.

He held a thermos flask in one hand and a small box in the other. There was a small pout on his face.

“Ah… S-seph… Sorry, d-did I—”

“No.” Sephirah cut him off immediately, waving his hand dismissively, “Move.”

Marcellus blinked a few times, “O-okay.” He moved aside, watching with his head tilted to the side as Sephirah went inside his room.

He sat by the edge of the bed, placing the small box on the bedside table and pouring whatever drink was in the thermos on its lid. To most people, the way Sephirah acts can be considered rude. Though Marcellus had known him long enough to know his intentions behind such actions, Sephirah was, in a way, not that good at expressing himself.

Sephirah sighed, making Marcellus flinch a bit, “I don't remember hiring a new bodyguard.” He glanced at Marcellus, using his index finger from the hand that held the thermos' lid to point to the spot beside him.

It took a couple of seconds before Marcellus understood it, it seemed he was still disoriented from the nightmare. He sat beside Sephirah, who handed him the lid, it was warm to the touch. There was what seemed to be milk in it.

Sephirah stood the moment he gave that to him, placing the thermos beside the box as he took out what was inside it. Marcellus stared curiously, just as Sephirah isn't good at expressing himself, he always tried to show what he can with his actions instead, at least, that's what Marcellus thinks. Sephirah always denied caring for others despite how his actions say otherwise.

Sephirah took out a small music box, winding it up before finally moving to walk out the door.

“Ah— T-thank you…” Marcellus rushed to thank him.

“Whatever. Sweet dreams so you don't disturb my sleep.” He spoke without turning back just as he walked out the door.

A soft soothing tune resounded in his room. Marcellus took a sip of the drink, his hands that he hadn't realized had stopped shaking awhile ago, were warm from the heat of it. “Sweet…” There was a taste of honey mixed in.