|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 5:19 pm
Candace was content, snuggled up close against Jerry. She had to stay awake, right? So he would believe her lie that she said she'd leave when she was starting to feel sleepy because she couldn't sleep with the lights on? Or well..no. That wasn't actually a lie; Candace really only slept with the lights on when she was so exhausted she just passed out and didn't get a chance to turn the lights off. And now she wasn't exhausted. Oh! Oh but maybe she could make herself that way, right? Her eyes widened a little as an excited grin crept across her lips, snuggling back against Jerry with a little more push against his lower regions as she turned her head to look back at him. "Baaaaaaby~? Think tonight we co--oh." So that was why he was so quiet.
Well damn. This meant no sex?
Pouting, Candace rest her head on the pillow again and slipped her fingers between Jerry's to hold his hand, pressing soft kisses against it before realizing..hey! He was asleep! Perhaps...she could sleep here after all! She could just say it was an accident and she didn't remember falling asleep. Ugh. But the lights. Maybe...if she was quiet?
Candace slowly peeled Jerry's arms away from her and climbed off the bed as slowly as she could. She was trying not to move the bed in a way that would wake him up, and somehow she succeeded. She hurried across the room on her tiptoes, flicked off the lights and then hurried back to the bed. The blanket was pulled up over them and she snuggled against Jerry again with a happy sigh, nuzzling her face against his chest. He'd be fiiiiine! By the time he woke up there'd be natural light filling the room from the window!
The night wore on, and it seemed her plan would work. Jerry cuddled up against her, snoring softly against her neck until it was nearly three in the morning. There was a stirring behind her, his nearly-blind eyes cracking as he instinctually rose for the bathroom. But froze in place when he noticed.... his eyes were open. But there was only blackness around them. "Aaah..." His throat constricted, breathing becoming fast and labored as he groped frantically for the wall, the pillow, the shape beside him before lunging for the bedside table, regardless of what lay in the way. It was too dark- too dark oh god oh god he couldn't breathe HE COULDN'T BREATHE what was happening why was it so dark was Killzone back oh god this wasn't funny- whimpering frantically, he practically fell over her to the floor, only to get completely disoriented. Years and years and years of avoiding it, his night time vision was severely lacking. Even as bits of the room came into focus, it didn't help, strangled by being surrounded by the enemy, scrambling frantically for a piece of furniture, a wall, anything to get his orientation back, Jerry screamed.
She was fast asleep when it happened. She didn't notice Jerry's stirring until he was suddenly on top of her and practically shoving her off the bed onto the floor with a grunt. A shadow flew over her and she damn well hoped that was Jerry flying off the bed. "Jerry?!" She asked in a worried, disoriented voice. She was still waking up thanks to the abruptness of her awakening. He screamed and she winced, crawling toward him. "Jerry, baby! It's okay.." Normally Candace would have gotten up and turned on the lights. Normally Candace would not have even turned them off. But she was too tired to try and stumble across the room. So instead she would crawl to him, putting a gentle hand on his knee and leaning in as close as he would let her. "Jerry, baby. Shhhh. It's okay." She kept her voice soft and even, or tried anyway. She was tiiiiired. Damnit Jerry! What time was it even?! "I'm right here, Jerry. Nothing's gonna get you."
It didn't seem to help, the screaming continuing as he flailed, trying to get the mysterious shape AWAY from him, an ominous glow at his throat where Roar hung- he hadn't thought rationally enough to summon the weapon yet, but that was clearly on the cusp of his mind.
Oh god. That glow. Not that glow. Nonono! Candace made a grab for it to try and rip it from around his neck. He would not be shooting in his bedroom. "Jerry. Baby. It's me." What to do what to..oh! She grabbed one of his hands and leaned in to brush her lips against his cheek. "Baby, it's me. Candace. It's okay~. Please stop screaming. Don't you l..love," She swallowed hard. "Don't you love me, Jerry?"
He jerked sharply, hands flailing as the scream wobbled, turning into a wild whimper and wordless babble as he tried to get the speech centers of his brain under control. "AaaaaaaahuhuhuhuhaaaaaOOoaaaaaiiiightaaaaaaaaaa~" He slumped, still scrambling for the wall, shaking too hard to even stand. Light switch. Light switch. Just reach it just reach it and it would all go away and things would be ok again just find it and... and...
Damnit! It didn't work. Candace frowned and let go of Jerry to grab the nearest stable object she could to pull herself up to her feet, walking along the wall with her hand against it until she found the switch. She flicked it up and the lights lit again. Though she looked miserable. And tired. Miserably tired?
By the time she got the lights on, the scrawny man was curled up at the base of his dresser in the fetal position, arms wrapped around his head, but almost immediately the wailing stopped, trailing off and he remembered how to breath. When he did look up, there was a twisted, enraged look on his reddened face, "Why would you do that?? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?"
Wh..what the...he'd never looked at her like that before. Her eyes widened and her heart dropped into her stomach as she actually backed away from him. He..he was yelling at her! He'd never yelled at her before! "I..I didn't...it..." She swallowed again, rubbing her lips together and hugging her arms. "Y..you were asleep I didn't...think you'd..." He was yelling at her!
"I... I TOLD you! I thought you KNEW! I should... I should tape it in place, I should... d-d-d-DAMMIT, Candace! Nearly KILLED me!" Still panting, he wobbled to his feet, stumbling to his desk to dig for anything useful in the drawer.
She continued to back away until her back met the wall, lip quivering as he continued to yell at her. Candace was used to being scolded, and reprimanded, and yelled at but..but not by Jerry. Her Jerrbear would never yell at her, would he? But he was! Killed?! She didn't..what?! "I..I'm sorry." She choked out, pressing back against the wall. "Ijust..I thought if..you were asleep and di-didn't wake up it'd be light out before you even noticed I..I'msorry." Stopyellingstopyellingstopyelling! She was too tired for this! What was he looking for? Roar was around his neck what was he looking for?
He straightened with a roll of scotch tape, still looking frazzled and breathless and blind as he groped his way for the wall, a hand out to try to feel the doorway before locating the switch. He hadn't even stopped to find his glasses as he pulled out the tape, "You KNOW I have a problem. I know you know, I mean HARRISON knows, I know you know! Throw a... a person afraid of spiders into a bathtub full, why don't you."
"IknowIjust.." Candace actually flinched as Jerry came closer to where she was standing, noticing the tape and looking toward the lightswitch. He was really going to tape it up. "Ididn'tmeananyharmIpromise." She pursed her lips a moment. He was so angry. "I-I'm sorry!" Why wasn't he accepting her apology!? He always accepted her apologies!
Once happy enough with layer upon layer of protective tape holding the switch into place, he backed away from his work with a snort, groping blindly through the blurs for the bed before sitting on the edge and finally reaching for his glasses.
Oh god..he'd stopped talking. He'd stopped talking to her. Her chest rose and fell with short, rapid breaths as she took a shaky step away from the wall. "Jerry, please..I swear I didn't mean any harm I..I just...please baby I'm sorry." She took another step and then another until she was in front of him, sinking to her knees on the floor and resting her hands on his knees. She stared up at him with wide, glassy eyes. It hurt that he was angry with her. She was tired, and upset. She wanted to cry. "I won't do it again I promise I won't. Please, Jerry. I'm so sorry. Pleasepleasebelieveme."
Now a bit more awake himself, and the shadows in his brain already fleeing from the bright light around him, he seemed to return to himself a bit. His lips pursed as he watched her, brows furrowing before he murmured, "I... I know. I'm sorry... I just... I told you..." He had almost forgotten why he had gotten up in the middle of the night at all. "I... I just... needed to pee and... I'm sorry."
Candace sniffed and wiped at the corner of her eyes, giving his knees an affectionate squeeze and offering him a forced smile. "You did I'm so sorry. It won't happen again." She pushed at his knees to slip between them so she could get closer and curl her arms around his waist, nuzzling her face against his abdomen. "You yelled at me." Candace whimpered a little, her grip on him tightening until she relaxed again.
...Wait. Needed? Past tense? "...You...needed?"
His face stayed red as he pushed his glasses up his nose, trying to nervously flatten his bed-tussled hair, "Well, I still need to," He added, a bit more pointedly than necessary. So long as... she didn't push the issue. He shifted as though trying to stand.
Oh thank god. When he said 'needed' she got worried that he had..well...at least it was good that he hadn't! "O-oh. Okay. Um...right." Candace got up to sit at the edge of the bed, pulling the blanket that had fallen off the bed in their sudden wakeup call. "I'll..be out here then. Um." She fidgeted uncomfortably. Candace wasn't used to fighting with a boyfriend even if it was for a couple minutes; any argument she'd had with her boyfriends in high school ended with her getting bored of them and dumping them. "If I promise not to turn the light off again," Not that she could with how he'd taped it. "Can I still stay..?"
He took the opportunity of slipping into the bathroom and shutting the door to fail to answer.
...
.......
........ "Jerry?" She squeaked out, fidgeting with the blanket some more. He didn't answer. Why didn't he answer? Damnit! Maybe if she took her clothes off he'd be more inclined to answer yes when she returned? She looked down at her shirt. Maybe uh...hm...damnit. She didn't know what to do in this situation, it made her terribly uncomfortable.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 5:20 pm
A long while went by before there was the sound of flushing, and then a good while longer than that (during which hopefully hand washing took place) before the door finally cracked open. He was awake now, and feeling cold now that the sudden sweat had come and gone.
Candace perked up a little when she heard signs of life, and then even more when the door opened. It was like watching a puppy wait for its owner. She was the more dominant one but Jerry had her whipped. "Heyyyy, baby." She crooned, holding her arms out and waiting for him to come to her.
"L-look... m-maybe... maybe you should go," He murmured quietly, not leaving the doorway.
Her heart dropped into her stomach and her eyes widened. "Wh..what?"
"I'm... I'm sorry. It's just... I... it's... I don't..." How did he explain it? 'I don't want to be embarrassed like this again in front of you' didn't seem to cut it.
Her hands shook a little as her arms dropped to her sides, but she didn't move. She refused to move. "You don't what, Jerry? I don't want to leave. I want to stay with you. I want you to hold me, to kiss me, to touch me and forget I did something so stupid." Yes, she was calling what she did stupid. She wasn't calling his fear of the dark stupid at all. "You have nothing to be sorry for. It was all me being a senseless idiot." Candace was being completely honest in this.
"I know it was stupid but I-" He hesitated. Wait. She... was saying SHE had been- He bit his lip, rubbing his forehead anxiously, "C-candace... I... I'm s-seeing someone about it. Sort of. I just... I don't want there to be... any more... embarrassment. For... for either of us." He managed with a weak smile.
Candace almost, almost expected to hear an 'else' after that 'seeing someone' bit. Guilt much? She frowned. "I'm not embarrassed." Did..did he want her to be? She raised her arms again and made little grabbing motions for him to come to her. "You can only be embarrassed about something if you choose to be, darlin'. Would youuuu be embarrassed if I did this?" Without a moment's hesitation she pulled her shirt up over her head and tossed it aside, sitting there shamelessly. "Cause I'm not." She pouted. "Jerry, baby. You underestimate my level of tolerance."
"I'm.... *I'm* embarrassed," He murmured, still hovering in the brightly lit bathroom door before recoiling, "Er- n-not about that!" although he still seemed flustered as she did it, his face reddening anew, "About... about... oh... balls."
"Well then stop that. It's a silly feeling to have. There's nothing wrong with you having a legitimate fear of something. We all know there're terrible things in the dark...sometimes." Candace pulled the blanket up around herself and huddled into it, bringing her legs up to sit lotus style on the bed. His reaction to her taking her shirt off was adorable. That was the only reason she was covering up for him. "Balls? Gosh, Jerry. Such language around your lady." She giggled, a hand slipping out to gesture for him to come closer again. "Come here. I want to tell you something." Candace sounded honest.
He swallowed before meekly obeying, moving to sit beside her, his hands folded on his lap. "I'm er... not a casual curser. But er... everyone else around here seems to be er... looser about that sort of thing so... ah.. I suppose I'm starting to pick it up, ahaha.." And was not very practiced at it.
He finally sat beside her and she sighed contently, lifting an arm to drape the blanket around him as well and pull him close. She nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder and reached down to hold one of his hands in both of hers. "I've got the mouth of a sailor, I know." Candace chuckled. "Bad habit I picked up because of my parents. Don't force it out, darlin'. You're perfect how you are." And again she sounded like she meant it. Sure, he had his flaws but his flaws made him perfect. Her hands squeezed his and she looked up at him again, a warm smile on her lips as she reached a hand up to gently cup his cheek and turn his head toward her. "Jerry. I'll never let anything in the darkness hurt you, okay?" Her voice was soft and gentle, very unlike how she usually spoke. She leaned in to catch his lips for a soft, lingering kiss. "Never." She kissed him again.
He smiled softly against the kiss before leaning in to gently brush her hair out of her face. After a few moments he finally looked down, although the smile remained, "I've never met a girl like you, Candace. Well... I suppose I *have* but I mean, one that... that...." He cleared his throat, glancing up again, "I'm glad I have you."
When he brushed at her hair she blushed and even looked a little startled. The last person to play with her hair..hadn't been Jerry. Her heart clenched with guilt, especially when he spoke such loving words. She smiled. "I'm glad I have you too, Jerry." She could say that. Candace still couldn't bring herself to say she was in love with someone but she could loudly proclaim she was glad to have him from the highest mountain tops. "I don't know how I got so lucky to get the sweetest, most thoughtful man." She whispered as she leaned in to kiss him again, closing her eyes and squeezing his hand again.
"I guess... I guess you can stay. M-maybe... maybe we can... come up with a sort of compromise, ahahaa... " Although night-lights only creeped him out more, sending long shadows and creatures that moved on the walls and turned out to be the wind catching whatever garment of clothing was hanging from his desk-chair.
Candace chuckled. "Thank you, Jerrbear." Wait, what? She blinked, tilting her head to one side. "A compromise? What do you mean?"
"Er... we leave the desk lamp on at least?"
"..Wait you mean...a compromise on the light?" Candace sounded surprised, she looked surprised.
"Er... yeah. What did you think I meant?"
She shrugged. "I had no idea, actually! I wasn't expecting you to suddenly offer that." Candace chuckled and brushed her lips against his cheek. "I won't make you do something unless you're sure you want to try it, okay?"
"I'm just... tired," He assured her, smiling softly as he rose again to timidly turn on his desk lamp before crossing to the taped switch. He might have gone just a bit overboard. His ears burning, he pealed it up and after a few deep breaths, turned it off, leaving them in oppressing gloom.
Candace watched him with a soft smile, ready to get up and comfort him at a moment's notice as he started to peel layer after layer after layer of tape from the light switch. The light turned off and her eyes turned toward the desk lamp shining and providing the room with way less light than he probably liked. "You're okay with this?" She asked gently as she scoot back on the bed to give him room to join her, not even bothering to look for her tossed shirt. She was fine like this. Wasn't like Jerry hadn't seen it all before.
"I'll manage," He still was blushing as he returned to the bed, crawling past her to sit in his spot and pull the blanket over them both, "I'm... ahaha... n-not... used to roommates of any sort. H-harrison er... walked in on me in the middle of the night once, he er... did give me a few funny looks."
"If you're sure.." Candace scoot over again as he crawled past her until he was comfortable, moving closer to slide her arms around him and slip her hands under the back of his shirt. For now her fingers just lightly brushed along his spine as she made herself comfortable, sighing contently and pressing her cheek against his chest. "The only roommates I'm used to are regular ones who slept in their own bed." She chuckled, closing her eyes. "I won't give you funny looks." Candace tipped her head back to look up at him again, pouting her lips. "Quite the opposite..." She suddenly grinned mischievously and kissed his chin. "Jerry, darling. How tired are you~?" Even if he was completely naive and had no idea? Candace knew of something wonderful to be done after a fight.
The skin of his back was rough, twisted by the burn scars he kept carefully covered when possible, and he shifted against the touch. "P-pretty tired," He managed weakly. It was the middle of the night and she wanted... *that*?
She tried not to flinch away from the feel of his back. It wasn't the scars themselves..it was knowing how he got them. "Oh~. Okay. I was just thinking...well..." Candace giggled quietly and settled down beside him, her fingers still traced along his back however. "If you weren't too tired we could have a little fun to make up for the very un-fun fight. But if you're not up for it...that's fine, too." She was being honest, though it would be hard to tell with how she was hugging herself against him. She was snuggling.
Jerry shifted, pulling off his glasses to lean across her and set them on the bedside table, pausing to give her another kiss, "Just... some quiet time would be nice. I'm sorry," He smiled weakly, giving her his slightly-cross-eyed smile before laying beside her, an arm draped around her.
The kiss was eagerly returned and it almost got her hopes up, at least until he gave her a verbal answer. Admittedly Candace looked a bit disappointed, but it was a short-lived disappointment. It was only a moment before she smiled and nodded, though despite his decision her fingers still traced his scars; she honestly meant it just to be affectionate now. "That's fine. I understand. Nothing to be sorry for." Candace replied in a soft voice, pulling him close. "...Do I have to put my shirt on? I don't wanna get up and find it right now." It honestly was just laziness.
"So long as you aren't too cold," He chuckled, but yawned. Sorry, Candace... he wasn't really in the mood. The forefront of his mind was concentrating on pretending what had just happened, hadn't. His hand ran up to her smooth shoulder and along her back, his head tucking against her neck as he gave a sigh. He was lucky to have her. Real lucky. He could almost relax in the gloom so long as she was there.
She couldn't help but grin. "I'm not cold at all." Candace whispered in a teasing purr, lifting a leg to drape it over his waist and snuggling up to him. Despite saying she wasn't cold, however, his touches made her shiver and sigh. As awkward as he was he really did seem to have a knack for making her feel good and wanted probably without realizing he was doing it. He deserved better than her but she refused to give him up. Refused. "Jerry...? Do you remember what you told me last time I stayed here?" Candace asked quietly after a few moments of peace and quiet. "Could...could you say it again?" Maybe it wouldn't scare her to hear it this time.
"Hmmm?" He said quietly, already drifting off back to sleep again. The darkness behind his eyelids was apparently the only acceptable one.
She blushed. "You know...when you said you...ah.." Candace closed her eyes and gently buried a hair in his hair to massage the back of his scalp. "Don't you remember..? When you said you...love me?" Maybe he didn't mean it after all if he didn't even remember saying it...
"I do," He sighed, chuckling softly, although he was nearly gone, "I love you, Candy..." Although the rest was drowned out in a soft snore.
He did..he did love her. Candace's eyes snapped open and widened as she stared down at the man whose face was buried against her neck. I love you, Candy. He said it. She didn't even mind that he'd called her Candy. He..he loved her. She was the worst girlfriend ever and yet he loved her. Don't freak out..don't freak out...! Candace settled for an almost nervous giggle and a kiss to the top of his head. He loved her... "Good night, Jerrbear.." She said quietly, closing her eyes again and curling up around him. She still couldn't get herself to say it back, apparently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
