Woven

Convincing Nima that he was truly fine turned out to be one of Sage’s hardest challenges yet. Nima wouldn’t let go of the phone, his hand tightening around it every time Sage insisted. Even when Sage - moving slowly, with visible effort - sat up on the couch and gave him one of his gentle, reassuring smiles, Nima’s expression didn’t soften.

When he first woke, Sage had seemed a little lost, caught in a fog of confusion for a minute or two. After that, it only vaguely looked like he had simply slept for too long, as though his body had stolen more rest than he intended. The commotion of the others rushing in at the sound of his voice made him smile faintly, as if he understood without needing an explanation what kind of scare he had given them.

“I mean it - it must have been stress,” he said softly, his voice calm but tired. “I haven’t been sleeping much, and this whole situation is… strange, to say the least. But I am fine. Really. There must be so many true emergencies right now, people who need help more than I do. I can talk, I can stand -”

He cut himself off as he tried to prove it, forcing himself upright only to sway with dizziness and drop back onto the couch. Nima’s worry sharpened immediately.

But Sage pressed on, smiling faintly, speaking with the same quiet warmth as always. His soft words did their work. Little by little, his calm reassurances soothed the edges of the panic around him.

By the time the robotic voice announced, “Your position is now fourteen,” Nima finally exhaled, shoulders sinking. He hesitated for a long moment, then reluctantly ended the call, cutting off the Nocturne mid-breath; for an instant, the room felt unnaturally silent without it hanging in the air.

Sage leaned back against the couch, still smiling, though the paleness on his face betrayed the cost of the effort. Nima stayed close, watching him with eyes that never lost their worry, even in surrender.

Dinner that day was brief and quiet. Everyone ate alone, except Nima, who insisted on tending to Sage; he didn’t want the help, but he couldn’t bring himself to push his friend away.

Cove followed the situation from the sidelines, pretending not to be too invested, though the truth of his feelings was obvious to everyone but him. When the moment felt right, he stepped in.

“Why don’t you let me take over for a while? You’ve been helping him this whole time, Nima. You should rest too.”

To everyone’s surprise, Raven nodded in agreement, his rare show of concern catching them off guard. Nima glanced at the two, and, feeling as though he hadn’t slept in a week, reluctantly agreed as well.

Cove and Sage disappeared into the communal bedroom, where Cove helped him onto the bed. He stayed sitting by his side in silence, staring down at his own hands, until he finally spoke.

“Are you still dizzy?” he asked, his voice unsure, still avoiding Sage’s gaze.

“A bit,” Sage admitted, “but better than before. I feel the neons in my stomach,” he added, half-joking, though the truth rang familiar to every boy in the bunker - their sleep cycles were fucked.

Cove chuckled. “I know the feeling. Is this what pregnant women feel all the time?”

Sage raised his brows, caught between amusement and confusion. “That’s… an interesting connection your brain made.” Then he giggled. “Am I good at being diplomatic?”

They laughed sincerely, the sound easing the tension. But soon Cove’s smile faded.

“Sage… I’m sorry about last time. I screamed at you. I was scared, and I mistreated you. It wasn’t right. I truly am sorry.”

Sage nodded quietly, eyes warm with understanding.

“And also…” Cove’s tone grew serious. “I lied. I don’t want my old life back. It was literal shit.”

Sage blinked at him - then burst into laughter. Cove joined him, and soon they were laughing together, fully and sincerely, the heaviness of the day momentarily forgotten.

“Hey, Sage,” Cove asked after a pause, “can I… braid your hair?”

Sage blinked, caught off guard but pleasantly surprised. “You can… braid hair?” he asked sarcastically, widening his eyes. “You’re a boy boy who can braid hair!” he exclaimed, joking.

Cove laughed as he reached for Sage’s long black hair. “Well, you’re a boy too, aren’t you?” he teased, starting to section it.

Sage grinned with a bitter undertone. “I mean, yeah, I guess so.”

Cove tilted his head, puzzled, standing behind Sage now as he began the braid. “What do you mean?”

Sage sighed. “I guess I am. But when someone says it, it feels… weird. I wish I wasn’t, you know? Is there some specific way a boy is supposed to feel? Whatever that is, I don’t think I feel it. I mean, I don’t…” He faltered, his usual smile fading for just a moment. “When I’m talking to myself, in my head… when I think about myself, it just comes naturally to think of myself as a girl.”

Cove’s hands froze.

Sage felt the silence and broke it. “You think I’m delusional, don’t you?” he asked in the resigned tone of someone bracing for disappointment, almost smiling at the harshness of it.

Cove shook his head, resuming the braid gently. “Not at all. I think you’re amazing.” The words slipped out before he realized, and he didn’t bother to take them back. “If anything, I think this makes you even more amazing. I wish I was brave enough to… know who I am, really.”

Sage smiled and glanced back slightly, careful not to mess up Cove’s work on the braid.
“I also think you’re amazing,” Sage said, instead of pressing for the words she already understood.

They smiled at each other, basking in the quiet, until eventually they drifted to sleep side by side.