Chapter Text
It's been a week or two since they'd gifted her the room. Coral checked in with her every night before leaving and ENA assured her that she liked it, that she'd use it, and that she was grateful. Coral asked Froggy every morning if he'd seen her use it. Every morning, Froggy said no. In that week or two, ENA had continued to find refuge at the dock, still watching the waves, still staying awake. Coral feared ENA was lying to her, that she hated the gift and would never use it, that she would have preferred it had stayed a cleaning closet she could meticulously organize when her mind was racing.
She couldn't sleep that night, wondering if ENA was attempting slumber herself or if she too was wide awake with the eyes of the moon. She shifted in her bed, squeezing her eye shut in one last ditch effort to succumb to sleep, but the melatonin seemed non-existent. Her head wouldn't shut up, insisting she should check on ENA again, should check to see if she was still sitting on that dock, lying to her. With a heavy sigh, Coral swung her legs over the edge of the bed, grabbed her glasses, and stood. She threw on some semblance of an outfit appropriate for leaving the house and promptly began her walk to the hub.
Arriving at her destination, she found exactly what she thought she'd find: ENA curled up on the dock and staring out at the inky horizon. She was a little harder to spot wearing the dark, baggy cardigan, blending in with the night. Coral approached quietly, but seemingly not quiet enough seeing as how ENA still jumped at the sound of footsteps on the dock behind her. Her head turned, and below the shadowy brim of her hat, Coral could see for what may be the first time, dark circles under her eyes. ENA looked tired and maybe a little scared. Perhaps ashamed was a better word for it, like a kid that had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Coral didn't say anything right away, she just sat down next to the woman and let their hands overlap and their fingers tangle together, the crashing waves filled the silence for them. She drew in a deep breath in time with the sea and let her thumb ghost over sharp, white knuckles.
“You should be in bed.” She stated simply, calm and quiet. ENA swayed, mouth scrunched in a wobbly frown.
“I know. I'm sorry.” She mumbled.
“It's alright… I should have known you wouldn't like the room…” Coral sighed. ENA perked up frantically.
“No no! I like it! I promise, I do! I appreciate the gift!” She tried to reassure, distraught.
“But you're not using it.” Coral reminds her. “You've been lying to me. I don't value dishonesty.” She felt ENA tense, her claws gripping tighter, shaky and cold. She turned to look at her, watched as she tried and failed to form words, but nothing came. She settled for withdrawing, pulling her hand away as she sank further into herself and wrapped the cardigan around her body even tighter. Coral let the silence linger as she pulled a pack of cigarettes from the pocket of her jacket, igniting one and taking a long, slow drag. The nicotine would help her nerves through this conversation. “If this is going to work, you have to be honest with me.” She gruffed, holding out the cigarette to ENA, an offer. ENA hesitated. She'd never smoked before, just snacked on the butts, but coral made it seem appealing. Shaky claws pinched the paraphernalia, bringing it to her mouth to suck in a puff of smoke too fast, too deep. She doubled over in a coughing fit, smoke emanating from the cracks in her torso as well as from her mouth. Coral cracked a smile, trying her best to hold in her laughter as she took the cigarette back, dragging in another breath and tasting ENA on the tip. When ENA finished catching her breath, she slumped, using her clawed finger to trace shapes in the dark water.
“It’s not a lie… I like the gift…” She replied meekly, hesitating on her words. “... I guess I lied about using it though… I just didn’t want you to be upset with me…” She glanced at Coral through her peripheral, pulling her hat down a little further in an attempt to hide her shame. Coral softened.
“I’m not upset with you. I just… don’t want you hiding things from me.” She sighed. “If you like the room, then why aren’t you using it?”
“...You’ll think it’s silly…” ENA crooned weakly.
“It’s not silly. I’m listening, I promise.” Coral reassured, a gentle hand on her shoulder. ENA hesitated, trying to catch her words before they ran away from her again.
“...it’s…scary…”
Coral blinked, not quite understanding. It wasn’t silly, even if it didn’t make much sense to her.
“How is it scary?” she pushed, not in a mean way, but softer, more delicate.
“I don’t know… I try to spend time in there but it just feels so… overwhelming… like I’m suffocating…” She groaned, running her hands over her face in frustration. “It feels too safe, too still, too… too quiet. I can hear my gears turning in there.” Her palms moved to cover her ears, her eyes clenched shut. “I want to use it, but it’s so… I-... I just can’t get comfortable in it…”
Coral’s heart broke as she listened to ENA’s reasoning and the unrest it seemed to cause her. She hadn’t considered that ENA’s usual after-work environment was much more stimulating than that of an empty room. You could fill it with as much decor as you wanted, but it wouldn’t change how still it was compared to the sea. Still, this was a solvable issue, one she wished ENA would have had the courage to tell her sooner. She stood, offering her hand to ENA.
“Let’s go take a look together. I think I have some ideas on how we can make you more at ease, soldier.” She smiled down at her softly, staring into ENA’s weary eyes as she hesitantly took her hand. She allowed herself to be led down the steps, back to the source of this inner turmoil, back to what was supposed to be her new home. Coral raised the metal door and flicked on the lights, ushering her in and letting the door shut behind them. They sat on the bed, Coral’s back against the wall and ENA curled in her lap snuggly, both assessing the situation.
ENA was right, the room was quiet. The tinnitus buzzed in Coral’s ears almost immediately. She watched ENA grow restless in the silence, tapping her fingers together to calm her racing mechanical heart. The air felt stagnant, almost stale, making the room feel stuffy and humid. It still smelled of mildew and floor cleaner as well. Coral was pulled from her thoughts at the feeling of ENA, eyes closed and pressing herself against her chest with a deep sigh.
“It’s less scary with you here.” she admitted quietly. It was then Coral realized she was listening to her heartbeat. She rested her head atop ENA’s, running her fingers through her hair gently.
“I see what you mean about the quiet now. I don’t think I could sleep like this either.” Coral hummed, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of her head, causing ENA to squirm. “But I’ve got some ideas on how to fix it. Why don’t you come stay with me tonight and we can solve it after work tomorrow?” ENA stiffened, fidgeting with the hat in her hands.
“I don’t want to impose…”
“You wouldn’t be. I’m inviting you.”
“But what if…” ENA stalled, anxiety bubbling, her white side shifting a slightly bluer hue. “What if that… thing happens again?” Coral squeezed her a little tighter in her embrace.
“Then I’ll be right there next to you to help you through it.” She snaked her hands into ENA’s grasp, fingers interlocking. “Come on. Let’s go get some sleep.”
The two made their way back to Coral’s house, shutting the door on the dilemma for the night. Coral reminded ENA to bring her pajamas, the set that had remained unused up to this point due to ENA’s sleep deprivation. There was much less fanfare this time, no dinner or bath or other slumber party activities. It was late, they needed rest. ENA changed into her sleepwear for the first time, feeling strange, but rather cozy. In bed, Coral curled around her, keeping her warm and secure. ENA held onto the arms wrapped around her as she allowed her heavy eyes to close and her mind to go quiet. Her form was stable. She was safe. She slept with no issue for the first time in her life.