Where your favorite blogs come alive
Launt ficlet
I love them so much and I wish I had a james in my life but oh well
Nightmares and comfort. Adjoining rooms. I miss the connecting doors
James had just managed to drift into a restless sleep when a series of blood-curdling screams pierced the silence. Startled awake, he sat up, disoriented and alarmed, strained to hear through the wall. The screams continued, raw and desperate, unmistakably coming from Niki’s room. Heart pounding, James rushed to the adjoining door and knocked urgently, his mind racing.
“Niki!” he shouted, knocking firmly “Are you okay?” but the only response was more anguished cries. Without hesitation, James grabbed the spare key the hotel (thankfully) had provided and unlocked the door, bursting into Niki’s room.
What he saw stopped him in his tracks. Niki was thrashing wildly on the bed, drenched in sweat, his face twisted in fear, his cries were guttural, raw, as if he were reliving some horrendous event. He was trapped in the throes of a nightmare, reliving the terror of his crash. Unsure of what to do, James hesitated before stepping forward and grabbing Niki’s shoulders, shaking him gently but firmly.
“Hey hey, Niki” James tried “wake up” he said, his voice soft but urgent. Niki’s eyes snapped open, wild and disorientated, before they landed on James, filling with recognition and relief.
“James…” Niki’s voice was barely more than a whisper, choked with emotion.
“it’s okay. It’s just a nightmare.” James murmured, pulling Niki into a tight embrace. Niki clung to him, his body trembling, desperate for comfort. James held him close, feeling the rapid thud of Niki’s heart gradually slow against his own chest. “I’ve got you now—your dreams can’t hurt you here” James whispered.
For what felt like an eternity, they stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, as the terror of Niki’s nightmare began to fade. James could feel the tension easing from Niki’s body, though he still held on tightly. “Shh, it’s alright. You’re safe,” James whispered, running a soothing hand through Niki’s damp hair.
Niki’s breathing began to even out, his grip loosening but not letting go entirely. Exhaustion overtook him, and he nestled closer to James, finding solace in his friend’s warmth and steady presence. James could feel Niki’s body go limp as sleep reclaimed him, a soft, contented sigh escaping his lips.
James chuckled softly, the sound almost lost in the quiet of the room. “Well, this is a turn of events,” he muttered to himself, but there was no malice in his tone, only a gentle amusement and a deep, growing affection.
Slowly adjusting his position, careful not to disturb Niki, he leaned back against the headboard.
In the quiet darkness, James’s thoughts began to swirl. The reality of their situation, the upcoming race, and his burgeoning feelings for Niki all fought for prominence in his mind. He couldn’t deny that his feelings for the German hat exceeded what friends felt for each other. What they should feel for each other.
The Brit cursed at himself, wanting to pull away and leave but his body wouldn’t listen. Instead he pulled Niki closer. This would be a problem future James would have to face, for now he just reveled in the warmth of Niki’s body pressed against his.
The weight of the day and the emotional encounter began to press down on him as well, and he closed his eyes, feeling the steady rise and fall of Niki’s breathing.
As dawn began to break, casting a soft light into the room, James finally succumbed to sleep.
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. James stirred, feeling the weight of Niki still against him. He opened his eyes to find Niki looking up at him, a mix of surprise, embarrassment, and gratitude on his face.
“You stayed.” Niki whispered, clearly not planning on saying it out loud as the tips of his ears turned red with realization.
James nodded, feeling a warmth spread through him. “Yeah. I wasn’t going to leave you like that.” The Brit chuckled slightly “Hope I didn’t take up too much space”
“James, I—” Niki began, but words seemed to fail him. He stammered, trying to find the right way to express his feelings but just ending up babbling incoherent sentences. “I’m sorry, and thank you. I— I didn’t mean to wake you- I’m so sorry. On a race day as well. I thought they’d stopped- I-I don’t know why I have those dreams again. Thank you for-”
James silenced him with a gentle hand on his face, his thumb brushing lightly against Niki’s cheek. “It’s okay, Niki. You don’t need to explain.” Their eyes locked, and in that moment, all the unspoken words between them seemed to find their voice.
Without another thought, James leaned in and kissed Niki, softly and tenderly. It was a kiss filled with all the unspoken emotions, the fears, the hopes, and the unyielding bond that had formed between them. Niki, surprised at first, soon melted into the kiss, feeling the warmth and comfort that James offered.
When they finally pulled back, James smiled at Niki, his eyes sparkling with a mix of mischief and sincerity. “See? I told you it was okay.”
Niki nodded, still a little embarrassed but no longer feeling the need to pull away. “Thank you, James,” he whispered, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.
James just pulled him closer, ready to face whatever the day—and their futures—might bring. Together.