"Sleep… what? You need… what?" Dan said, propping himself up on his elbows. Every trace of confusion was evident on his face as he looked at Wave with alarm.
"Oh, Serious Boy…" Wave sighed, flopping down beside Dan, staring up at the ceiling. "I'm so tired. Really tired!"
"Tired?" Dan asked, turning slightly toward Wave.
"Yeah, and that's why I need you to sleep with me." Wave took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "You're the perfect person for this."
"What do you mean?"
Hearing the question, Wave opened his eyes with some effort and propped himself up on his elbows to face Dan. His eyelids were half-closed, and dark circles were prominent under his eyes.
"I haven't slept properly in days. Whenever I try, I end up dreaming about things I don't want to dream about. Maybe if I have someone sleeping with me, the nightmares will stop. I'm really, really tired!"
"And why am I the ideal person?" Dan asked in a low tone.
"Because you're still mad at me. That's actually a good thing, because if I asked a really close friend or a family member, they'd worry about me, and I don't want to worry anyone." Wave forced a faint smile. "Since you hate me a little, you won't care as much."
"That's…"
"And there's one more thing, something even more important."
"What?"
"You have…" Wave began, almost whispering as he leaned in. His right hand slowly moved to the back of Dan's neck, right where the tattoo was. "This. The Eye of Horus!"
Wave's fingertips lightly grazed the spot, a gentle touch he didn't even notice. Dan stayed still, his chest rising and falling with each touch. After pulling his hand away and giving Dan a simple smile, Wave continued:
"What could be better for stopping nightmares than sleeping with someone who has one of these amulets tattooed on their body?" he asked, already knowing there wouldn't be an answer. "So, will you help me? Can you sleep with me tonight?"
There was no need for a verbal answer or even a nod. The simple fact that Dan remained there and didn't run away upon hearing the request indicated that he was willing to help Wave, despite the oddity of the request.
At this point in the story, I don't even need to explain that everything coming out of Wave's mouth was the honest truth. He didn't, consciously, have any ulterior motives in asking Dan to sleep with him in his apartment, in his bedroom, and specifically in his bed. He was just too tired and saw in the younger guy a chance to get rid of what was tormenting him, even if it was based on a legend about the Eye of Horus.
What Wave hadn't realized was that all this could have consequences for both himself and the hearts involved.
After setting aside some clothes for Dan and preparing everything for them to take a shower, Wave was already lying on his bed, his head resting against the headboard. With a tired voice, he asked:
"Are you hungry?" Dan shook his head. "Will you hate me if I ask to go to sleep now, even though it's early?"
"Isn't that why I'm here?" Dan said softly. Wave just smiled.
"You can sleep on this side. I've set aside a pillow for you." He patted the soft object beside him. "My bed is big; I think you'll be comfortable."
"Okay."
The scene was both strange and amusing. Wave was almost asleep on his side of the bed, while Dan considered what to do and ultimately decided to quickly move to the indicated spot, lying on his back with his eyes wide open. He probably didn't know how to act in a situation like this and was clearly trying to understand how he ended up there.
"Good night," Wave said, trying to be polite as he turned to face Dan, though his eyes were already closed.
"Good night."
I wish I could tell you that Wave's plan worked perfectly, that the magic happened, and no nightmares troubled him that night, but I'd be lying. Everything went as it always: the walk, the dog, the leap into the canal, the rescue, the sweat, and the panic. But this time, when he woke up in distress, he was surprised to find two warm arms around him and a soft whisper in his ear.
"Calm down, calm down…" The voice murmured with each of Wave's restless breaths. "It's just a bad dream."
"Who is…" he whispered, barely audible.
"I'm here. Nothing can hurt you."
Wave was still completely disoriented, but he felt as if someone's breath was close to his ear. He wasn't sure, but he knew he was in that person's arms. When he managed to look up, he saw only a tattoo glowing on pale skin and realized it was Dan.
As always, that tattoo drew his gaze, and now it seemed to ease his need for touch. Without realizing it, he once again placed his trembling fingers on the spot and lightly touched it, as if that could calm his fear. After a few minutes, he fell back asleep, this time deeply, for the first time in many days.
The next morning, Wave struggled to open his eyes as the sun's rays blazed on his face. It felt unusual because the temperature usually wasn't that high so early. With his eyes still closed, he groped for his phone on the nightstand and brought it close to his face to see the screen.
"Eleven in the morning…" he murmured sleepily. Then his eyes flew open and he shouted, "Eleven in the morning!!"
The noise startled Dan, who had been sleeping beside him. He suddenly sat up in bed, looking groggy and confused. Wave was surprised by the movement, having forgotten that his junior had spent the night. The memory of Dan's arms around him made his face turn red almost immediately.
"What's going on?" Dan asked, his voice rough and eyes still half-closed.
"I…" Wave started, shaking his head to clear his confused thoughts. "The time! Why didn't we wake up earlier? We missed class!"
"I did it on purpose. Didn't you say you needed to sleep?" Dan replied, trying to fix his hair, still sleepy.
"And you? You missed class too!"
"I needed sleep as well."
"You…" Wave began, "I woke you up during the night, didn't I?"
"A little, but it was nothing. You fell back asleep right after."
'In your arms,' Wave thought, feeling his cheeks heat up again. He got up, eager to escape the awkward situation.
"Hmmm… want some breakfast?"
They both got up and had breakfast together in the most natural way for them: Wave chatting about random topics while Dan enjoyed a comfortable silence. They didn't go to university that day, and after eating, Dan headed home, leaving Wave alone to enjoy the company of his plants.
Wave felt incredibly refreshed, finally having gotten some rest. He was grateful to Dan and had many questions, especially about his forgiveness. Though he felt forgiven, he wanted to hear Dan say it. He felt calm, sensing he was on the right track.
When night fell and Wave was lying in bed reading a botany book, he was startled by the sound of the doorbell. Cautiously, he opened the door and was surprised by who was there:
"Dan?" he asked, seeing the tattooed boy in casual clothes with a backpack. "What's going on?"
"You said you hadn't slept in days. I think one good night's sleep won't be enough for you to recover," Dan said simply.
Hearing this, Wave couldn't suppress a nearly secretive smile that crept onto his lips. He didn't fully understand what he was feeling, but it was a warm sensation in his heart he had never experienced before. He welcomed Dan inside and agreed to let him stay the night once more.
That night, lying on their respective sides of the bed, Wave, feeling less exhausted than the night before, decided to take the opportunity to ask a question that had been on his mind:
"Dan," he said, turning his face toward the boy beside him.
"Hmm." It was too dark for Wave to be sure if Dan was looking at him.
"I have a question."
"Hmm." Dan's tone was light.
"The note I left with you that day…" Wave sighed and then gathered his courage. "Did you read it?"
"…."
"Dan?"
"Yes, I read it."
"Oh…"
Wave had considered asking what Dan thought of the note, but when Dan replied, "Yes, I read it," memories of his own words resurfaced. Overcome with embarrassment, Wave felt intensely awkward once more. This wasn't typical; he usually wasn't easily embarrassed. So why did his junior make him feel this way so often?
"Ah… that's good! I hope you liked it," were the only words he managed to say before turning to his side and trying to sleep. "Good night!"
With his body still exhausted, he fell asleep quickly once again, and, as always, the nightmare challenged him. But just like the night before, he woke up gasping in Dan's strong and comforting arms.
"It's just a dream, just a dream…"
The voice calmed his racing thoughts and made his body relax in the embrace. But before he could drift off again, his fingers once more found their way to the tattoo on Dan's neck, gently touching the area until he fell asleep.
That routine lasted for a couple of days: they would wake up and go to university together on Dan's bike. If they had theater in the afternoon, Dan would come straight to Wave's place afterward. Otherwise, he'd show up at Wave's door early in the evening, and they'd sleep together. This continued over the weekend as well. The nightmares still occurred, but they were managed each night by the tattooed boy's embrace and the other's gentle touch on his tattoo. None of this had been planned; there had been no agreement to establish this routine. It had formed between them very naturally.
So, on the sixth day, right after their theater class, Wave met Dan, who was already waiting for him in the parking lot.
"Dan! I forgot to tell you…" Wave said as he approached. "I can't come with you today. I promised my mom I'd sleep at home. So, I'm taking a taxi, okay?"
"Oh, ok…"
"Also, you need to give Marco an answer about the Adrien role as soon as possible. He keeps pressing me about it every day."
"Got it."
"I'm sure you'll make the right choice!" Wave said with a smile. "See you tomorrow!"
"Wait!" Dan said, grabbing Wave's wrist.
"What is it?"
Dan didn't respond immediately; he briefly let go of Wave and searched through his backpack, pulling out a black pen. He then took Wave's arm again, turning his palm up and starting to draw something on his forearm, near the wrist. He spent two to three minutes there, and Wave, extremely curious, stayed still, watching him. Then, Dan suddenly stopped and capped the pen.
"Maybe this will help you with the nightmares tonight."
As Wave brought his arm closer to his face to see what Dan had drawn, he couldn't help but smile when he saw the design: an Eye of Horus.
"This is…" he started, still looking at the lines, then facing Dan. "Thanks, Dan!"
He didn't get a response; Dan quickly mounted his bike and left the parking lot as fast as he could, leaving Wave standing there with a look of happiness and surprise on his face, and a heart racing faster than he expected.
As he got into the cab to head to his parents' house, he found it hard to look away from the black lines that Dan had drawn on his forearm. That simple act sparked a new and unexpected feeling; observing those contours made him feel like he was seeing Dan himself.
The Eye of Horus.
The dark lines of the tattoo, perfectly matching Dan's fair skin.
The sense of comfort and, at the same time, the excitement he felt when touching that tattoo on his neck.
He remembered how warm his junior's skin always felt when he touched that spot in the middle of the night, feeling Dan's arms around him. Something inside him awakened, creating an uncontrollable desire for more than just a touch. As he looked at the drawing on his arm more closely, he pressed his lips to the spot and, with his eyes closed, involuntarily imagined he was kissing Dan's original tattoo on his neck.
The skin felt exactly the same as he did in the embraces, and the woody freshness filled his senses. He had never realized how much his lips wanted to explore that area, at least not until that moment. So, he opened his eyes while still pressed against his own skin in a subtle kiss. His heart raced, and his body burned with an intensity he had never felt before.
"What's happening to me?" he whispered to himself, lost in his own emotions.