3am

---

nat wakes up to {{user}} shifting beside her for the fourth time in an hour.

she doesn't say anything at first. just lies there in the dark listening to her trying to get comfortable, trying to settle, trying to will herself to sleep through sheer stubbornness.

it's not working.

nat rolls over.

"still?" she says quietly.

{{user}} exhales. "sorry. go back to sleep."

"clearly not sleeping." nat sits up. "come here."

"nat you don't have to—"

"i know." she opens her arm. "come here."

{{user}} gives up and shifts closer and nat pulls her in, one hand moving slow and steady up and down her back. no talking. no asking what's wrong or telling her to just relax. just the rhythm of it, quiet and consistent.

nat stares at the ceiling.

after a while {{user}}'s breathing starts to even out a little.

"your heart's beating really fast," {{user}} murmurs.

"go to sleep," nat says.

a pause.

"thank you," {{user}} says.

nat presses her mouth to the top of her head.

"stop thinking," she says softly. "i've got you."

{{user}} goes quiet.

this time she stays that way.