3After saving Gauche from death when Dante attacked the Black Bull's hideout, Gray started having nightmares. She was used to having nightmares about people staring at her or her friends insulting her, but these were different. Now Gray was seeing her friends die in front of her while she was helpless to protect them. More importantly she kept seeing Gauche impaled by that sword and dying while she tried to stop it. Only in her dreams she didn't save him.
This was one of those nights. Gray woke up in a sweat, her whimpers seemed loud in the quiet of her room. She couldn't get the image of Gauche bleeding out under her hands. Sitting up and wrapping her blanket tightly around her small body, Gray tried to remind herself that Gauche was okay. She managed to save him and he was probably sleeping in his room. Still just thinking it wasn't enough to help calm her down or push those images from her mind.
Feeling herself start to go into another panic attack, Gray looked at the door of her room and thought about what she should do. She could just try and go back to sleep but just the thought of being alone here with nightmares awaiting her when she slept only made her more anxious and grip the blanket tighter.
On the other hand, she could go and check on Gauche. He would probably be annoyed but seeing him alive and in front of her could calm her nerves. Despite knowing that seeing Gauche could mean having the door slammed in her face she put on her slippers and went in search of his room.
Gray found his door not too far down the hall from hers. He had a carving of Marie on the outside of the door that made his room easy to spot. She quietly walked up to the door and lightly knocked. She sat anxious for a few seconds worried she had been too quiet and would have to be louder. The door swung open so suddenly that the bluenette had sqeaked and jumped back.
"What" His voice was gruff from sleep. He stared down at the smaller woman with a tired disinterested eye. Gray was surprised that the man slept shirtless. Despite the embarrassment of seeing her sqaudmate partially naked she was pleased to see the there was no bloody gaping wound on his stomach.
"Uhm, I uh, had a nightmare." She knew it was a pitiful excuse to wake someone up. Gray struggled to look Gauche in the eye and stared at his feet instead. She waited for him to make a rude comment and shut the door. That didn't happen.
"And?" He leaned against the door frame and continued to stare at her. This time he looked different than when he opened the door. Gray would know that if she looked at him.
If she looked up Gray would be able to see the concern and love inside his stare. Gauche genuinely wanted to care for Gray and protect her. However she was too embarrassed to look him in the eye and he was too much of a coward to tell her.
She honestly hadn't expected him to care enough to continue the conversation. She figured her nightmares had no interest to him. Gray wrapped her arms around her tighter and tried to figure out what he wanted her to say. Gauche was patient for once while she figured out what to say.
"Well, uh, yo-you were hurt a-a-and I c-couldn't he-h-help." Gray's stutter got worse as she started to cry. Her hands shot up to her face to hide her embarrassment about crying over something that didn't happen. Soon she was hiccupping for air between sobs as she started to crumble in on herself.
Gauche stepped in as soon as he noticed her struggling for air. He caught her in his arms and pulled the small bluenette to his chest. Gray's legs seemed to give out as soon as she buried her face in his shoulder. He didn't hesitate to pick her up and bring her inside his room.
Wrapping her arms around his neck she held onto him as Gauche set them both down onto the bed. She cried in his lap for what felt like an hour. He held her tightly. One hand resting on her head, keeping her pressed against his chest, the other under her legs. Gray didn't seem bothered by the closeness of the younger male, but comforted by his presence.
Gauche rubbed her back and tried to help even out her breathe. "You got to breathe in slower. Just follow my breathing since you seem incapable of breathing." He was only being mean because he had no clue how to actually help Gray calm down and it frustrated him.
Once she calmed down however, Gray became hyper aware of her body being held by Gauche. A shirtless Gauche. Her face turned bright red and she hid herself behind her hands once again.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to cry like that in front you! I'm just really happy you're okay." Her words came out rushed. She wanted to run away from the situation but it was hard with Gauche holding her. Gray was embarrassed to admit how much comfort it gave her.
"I am okay because of you Gray. You saved me that day and protected the squad." Gauche used one hand to gently turn her face towards his. "You're amazing Gray. Almost as amazing and important to me as Marie. Crying won't change that, turtle brain."
Gray stared at Gauche looking at his warm eyes and empathetic smile. He wanted to comfort her and he even admitted that she was important to him. Gray couldn't believe that Gauche cared about her enough to treat her this way. It became too much and she sqeaked as she transformed in his lap.
Gauche gasped as he was now suddenly holding himself in his own arms. He instinctively stood up and threw the clone of himself into the floor. "Shit! Sorry Gray. But in my defense, you shouldn't transform when someone is holding you dumbass!"
He actually didn't look mad. Actually if Gray was seeing it correctly, Gauche was blushing. She transformed back into the small blue girl Gauche was originally holding. Seemingly more relaxed now that he wasn't staring at himself, Gauche reached down to help her up.
"Sorry. I sh-should get g-going. I've ruined your night enough." Covering her face, Gray turned to leave but Gauche grabbed her shoulder. Tonight was full of surprises.
"You didn't ruin anything about my night." He coughed and looked away from her. "You can stay here for the night. No point in going back to your room and having another nightmare and waking me up again. Take the bed I will sleep on the floor."
"I can sleep on the floor! I can't take your bed from you." Gray was trying to not feel anxious about sleeping in the same room as Gauche. He was right about it being pointless to go back to her room and end up in another nightmare. She really didnt want to be alone but she felt embarrassed that she was putting Gauche out.
"We could just share the bed. It's already late and there is no point arguing when we can both fit on the bed." Gauche seemed exhausted. Gray felt guilty for being the reason he was awake so she nodded quickly.
Gauche grunted in response as he sat down and moved over closer to the wall so Gray had room to lay down on the bed. Gray shuffled down on the bed trying not to be subconscious of every little thing she did. Gauche noticed.
"C'mere" His voice sounded sleepy but demanding. Gray wasn't going to argue with him after how kind he has been to her. She laid down on her side with her back to him.
Apparently that wasn't good enough for Gauche. He reached over and pulled her to his chest by her waist. Gray squeaked at the contact but didn't move away or try to stop him.
Gray felt better being able to feel Gauche breathing against her back. It was a reminder that he was safe and she wasn't alone. She fell asleep without nightmares for the first time in weeks since they were threatened.
Gauche wouldn't admit it but he slept as good as he does with Marie when he slept with Gray. Something about the woman's presence made him feel more comfortable and calm. He wouldn't mind having Gray sleep with him more.
The Next Morning
Yami was going to take his morning shit when he noticed Gauche's door open. That was weird since the man was extremely private and kept it close so no one would bother him. Not that anyone would. Or at least that's what Yami always thought.
He peaked in out of curiosity. The Black Bulls captain was surprised to see his most anxious and weirdest members of his squad curled up together. The bluenette was resting her head on the mirror mage's bare chest while he held her closer.
"Looks like that dumbass actually cares about something other than his sister." Yami smiled as he headed towards the toilet.
Later that day Gauche told Gray that he liked her and was going to take her on a date. It sounded more like a threat to Vanessa and Noelle but Gray seemed happy about it. She was happy to go anywhere with Gauche.