Pairing: Jo × Yuma
Genre: Fluff / Comfort / Soft Night Whispers
Prompt: One has a nightmare. The other is the warmth waiting for them.

Requested by loveforseungmin

*****
"I—I thought I was alone. And no one came back."

***** 

Jo was used to waking up early, not in the middle of the night.

But tonight, something felt off. The dorm was quiet, too quiet, except for the soft hum of the AC and—

A sound.

Like a muffled breath. Sharp. Strained.

Jo sat up in his bed, blinking through the dark.

From the other side of the room, Yuma stirred violently in his sleep, tangled in his blanket, fists clenched. His face was tight with something Jo didn't like—fear.

Then came the whisper.

"Don't—please—don't leave—"

Jo was on his feet before his brain fully caught up.

He knelt next to Yuma's bed, voice soft but steady. "Yuma. Hey... hey, it's just a dream."

Yuma twitched, eyes still closed, a tiny breath caught in his throat.

Jo reached out and touched his shoulder gently. "Yuma. Wake up."

That finally did it.

Yuma jolted upright, gasping.

His eyes flicked around the room, wild and disoriented, until they locked on Jo's face.

His chest heaved once—twice—and then he whispered, "...Jo?"

"I'm here," Jo said quietly. "You were having a nightmare."

Yuma didn't speak right away. Just nodded, arms still curled tightly around himself like he was trying to hold himself together.

"Can I sit?" Jo asked softly.

Yuma nodded again.

Jo sat on the edge of the bed, careful, like moving too quickly might shatter the moment. He waited. He always waited for Yuma to come to him—especially on days when the walls got too high.

Tonight was one of those nights.

"It was bad," Yuma finally said, voice hoarse. "I—I thought I was alone. And no one came back."

Jo's heart ached. "You're not alone," he said gently. "We're all here. I'm here."

Yuma's voice was even quieter now. "It felt real."

Jo didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached out and opened his arms—an invitation.

Yuma hesitated for only a second before leaning into him.

He folded into Jo's chest like he'd done it a hundred times before, like he was made to fit there. Jo wrapped his arms around him and rested his chin lightly on Yuma's head.

"You're okay," Jo murmured. "You're safe. I've got you."

Yuma didn't cry. He just clung tighter. His fingers curled into Jo's hoodie like he needed something to ground him.

Jo rocked them slightly, slow and steady, like the rhythm of a lullaby.

"You don't have to talk about it right now," he said, fingers brushing gently through Yuma's hair. "But if you want to... I'll listen."

"It was the stage," Yuma said softly. "But no one was there. I was singing but my mic didn't work, and the lights were off, and the room was empty. And I just—" He broke off, voice cracking. "I thought everyone had left me."

Jo closed his eyes, holding him tighter.

"You're never alone, Yuyu."

The nickname slipped out without thinking.

Yuma looked up, just a little.

Jo smiled gently. "You can't get rid of me that easy. I'd follow you off stage, backstage, through every dream—even the scary ones."

Yuma let out a soft, wet laugh. "That's really cheesy."

"I'm trying," Jo whispered. "You scared me."

Yuma blinked up at him. "You?"

Jo nodded. "You don't usually toss in your sleep. You're like a perfectly folded blanket when you're out. I knew something was wrong."

"Sorry I woke you."

"I'm glad you did," Jo said, brushing his thumb against Yuma's cheek without thinking. "I'd rather be tired and with you than sleep through you hurting alone."

Silence settled between them again, softer this time.

Yuma leaned back slightly, enough to see Jo's face.

"You always know how to calm me down."

Jo shrugged lightly. "Because I pay attention. To you."

Yuma's breath hitched.

There were a thousand things he could say. But none of them felt right. So instead, he reached out and tugged Jo's hoodie gently, the universal sign of please stay.

Jo kicked off his slippers and slipped under the covers beside him. No words. Just warmth.

Yuma tucked himself under Jo's arm, head resting on his chest, their legs tangled comfortably.

The silence between them was no longer heavy.

Jo spoke softly. "When you wake up tomorrow, I'm still gonna be here."

Yuma smiled against his shirt. "You promise?"

Jo kissed the top of his head. "Always."

In the morning, Taki would raise an eyebrow at seeing both of them curled up in one bed.
Maki would whisper "they're soft" before making breakfast.
K would mutter something about "finally."

But for now, in the stillness of 4:03 a.m., it was just them.

And the soft rise and fall of shared breath.

The End.
(And maybe... the beginning of something more.)