Space Lion - Tumblr Posts

Faye jerked awake with a start, her heart racing and her mind stumbling over what had happened to jolt her from her slumber. Had it been a bad dream? But, no… she couldn't remember any details of a dream.

Awareness trickled in as she became cognizant of choppy breathing next to her and a tense figure shifting restlessly. Thrashing, really. Spike's bare upper body was covered in sweat and his expression was a disturbing combination of distraught and angry.

She carefully slipped out of bed. Now that was an acrobatic feat Ed would be proud of considering how wedged into the space between the wall and Spike she had been. It wouldn't be smart to brush against Spike right now - she knew this from personal experience. He had been a well trained killing machine and that sort of conditioning doesn't just go away when you change your lifestyle to something moderately less bloody.

He'd nearly given her a black eye the time she'd tentatively tried to wake him during one of these dreams. They plagued him more during recovery periods but it had been a long while since she'd seen him dealing with one while he was uninjured. Thankfully, she had sorted out a solution to this dilemma that had worked a handful of times now.

Hmm. Something that starts off low and slow, easing into the ear and triggering something soothing. Miles Davis? No, something newer… Yoko Kanno, yes. A smooth jazz piece with the wail of a sad sax. Space Lion for her space cowboy.

There was never complete darkness in Spike's room so she had no trouble discerning where the stereo was and getting something playing through the speakers quietly.

It was mesmerizing to watch the moment the music hit him and registered subconsciously. Tension oozed out of him like a vengeful spirit leaving an unwilling host as he collapsed onto the mattress, chest still heaving but his breathing would calm down soon. She left the room to fetch a washcloth and dampen it with cool water.

Returning silently, she gently wiped off his face and neck, his chest and shoulders and arms. He was overheated but this would bring his temperature back to something approaching normal. He sighed in his sleep as she worked, mumbling nothing coherent but responding positively to her ministrations. A smile curled her lips.

He was always so tightly wound, even though he gave off every appearance of being lazy and without care. Sleeping deeply was something neither of them were much accustomed to but here he was drowsing right through her tender care. There was something so powerful about having him trust her to be there at his side through the night. Not only that but knowing he drew such reassurance from her presence… it was a heady feeling.

Setting aside the washcloth, she climbed confidently back onto the bed and tucked herself into the gap again. He'd woken once when she was tentative about it, but for some reason he tended to sleep through her return when she wasn't shy about it. His arms automatically wrapped around her as she settled in. Nuzzling her hair, he gave a happy little sigh and relaxed further.

"Mm, Faye," Her name fell from his lips carelessly, absently, full of love. She stilled, her heart pounding again. This was a new development. She'd never heard her own name from him in his sleep. Was he awake? But...no, his breathing was still regular.

Had she been in his bad dream? She devoutly hoped not. But it seemed like she did feature prominently as a source of respite. She kissed his chest as she snuggled closer and let out a happy sigh. Maybe both their dreams would be good ones now.