Chapter Text
Centross sits bolt upright in bed, the cold air of the stonghold base shocking him awake even more than the nightmare already fading from his mind. Hope shifts at his feet, and he stills as much as he can, slowing his breathing on the chance that he might not wake her up.
She stirs anyway, because of course she does, looking up at him.
"Sorry, Hope," he whispers, quiet even though they're the only ones around for miles. "It was just a nightmare. Nothing to worry about." He reaches out, running his fingers though her fur, pretending that the reassurance was only for her. "I'm ok," he says, then repeats it. Maybe if he says it enough times it'll be true.
After a moment of this, of muttered words and soft fur, Hope gets up fully, extracting herself from the bed of blankets at his feet and making her way to his lap, putting two paws on his chest and pushing with surprising strength for someone so little. Centross takes the cue, and lies back down, pulling the blanket over the both of them as Hope curls up on his chest.
"You comfy there, Hope?" he asks, resting his hand on her back. She huffs at him, indignant at the fact that he would ever question her decisions, and promptly falls back asleep. Centross laughs softly, and tries his best to follow suit.
He doesn't have any more nightmares that night.