spirituals | the fell asleep on meme!

[At some point, it seems like Zee fell asleep during the movie. Dick isn't entirely surprised. He suspected that she might not be sleeping well lately.

Regardless, he'll let her doze.]

[Would it have been too cliche to say there was a major disturbance in the magic force? Because, cliche or not, that was what was happening. Ever since Fate had returned. She couldn't be sure exactly if he was causing it, but then again, his presence certainly wasn't helping, either.]

[Her dreams had been plagued with half-remembered visions and flashes. Most of them lost once she awakened...but the emotions that came with them lingering. Especially the sadness. Several times, she had even woken up crying.]

[But right then, she was sound asleep, burrowing into his shoulder without shame.]

[And he still refuses to move. He'll give her what little peace he can-- he knows that there's only so much he can do for her. Even if he didn't know about the nightmares in detail, he could spot someone whose heartache madde it hard to sleep.

The movie over, he switches to the TV input. He'll be camping here for the long haul.]

[He was about to find out: the moment of peace was soon marred by a furrowing of the brows. She subconsciously shifted in her seat as he mind struggled against something he couldn't see. A faint whimper escaped her lips.]

[He senses the change in her almost immediately. Concerned, he gently shakes her shoulders.]

Zatanna?

[Her body falls still, before her eyes slowly flutter open. Staring up at him through half lids and a fog of only partial consciousness]

Hmm?

[He smiles, though he still seems slightly worried.]

You were having a nightmare.

I was?

[A faint yawn, and she rubs at her eyes. The question was somewhat rhetorical; for once, she could actually remember certain details that tended to escape her. Maybe because she had been interrupted mid-dream?]

Sorry. I must've fallen asleep on you.

You don't have to apologize. I do it to you all the time.

[He wraps his arm around her shoulders.]

Do you want to talk about it?

[He says this gently, without pressure. He's used to people not wanting to talk about anything.]

[It was one of the countless reasons why she was so fond of him. He was there, understanding and ready to listen, but always willing to give her space when she needed. Even though she knew it wasn't his intention, his approach always just made her want to be closer to him.]

[Sitting straight up, she slumped into the back of the couch. His arm comfortable around her shoulders.]

It's...sort of complicated.

Do you want me to make you some tea while you sort it out?

[Alfred's secret for handling nightmares? Herbal tea and understanding.]

[A nod]

Tea would be great, actually.

I'll be right back.

[He gives her a light kiss on the forehead and goes off to the kitchen, leaving Zee to try to re-whelm herself after that nightmare.]

[A brief smile at the kiss, and her eyes follow him until he's out of sight.]

[Once left to her thoughts, however, her expression glosses over as she thinks back to the images still fresh in her mind's eye. They could easily have been mistaken for remnants of the horrors she had been through recently...but she couldn't shake the notion there was more to it than that.]

[It takes him a little while to get the tea ready. But once it's done, he comes back with two mug of tea. He hands her one and settles himself back on the couch.]

I have no idea how you like your tea, so I guessed.

Anything's fine.

[Sure enough, when she blows on the steam and takes a small sip, a low 'mmm' escapes her lips]

It's delicious. Thanks.

No problem. It's kind of a home remedy for nightmares.

[He looks concerned.]

It was bad, wasn't it?

Pretty bad, yeah.

I was fighting Klarion. From inside the Helmet.

That guy definitely gives me the creeps. But that's not all, is it?

[Of course he would know.]

This isn't the first time I've had that dream.

And every time, I've been forced to watch him kill everyone on the team while I stood by, powerless.

[He sets down his mug and rests his hands on her shoulders]

It's not going to happen. We'll wipe the smug grin right off his face.

[She's not looking him in the eye right now because she's calm. And if she looks at him, she might not be able to stay so calm]

I know. I know it's a dream and probably won't ever actually happen. Sometimes, I even know this when I'm dreaming.

But...

...that doesn't make it any easier to watch.

[He moves one hand from her shoulder and gently cups her cheek]

I know. I've had dreams like that too.

[She risks a glance]

...you have?

Not exactly like yours but [He sighs] being afraid of losing someone, of being helpless to save them...it's something that bothers me, I guess.

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