In DreamLand

Paetyn opened her eyes. She found herself lying covered in bed. As she sat up and looked around, squinting her eyes to see through the darkness, she located the window dressed in blinds on the right.

The smell of freshly washed bedsheets stuck in her nose. Left from the bed, was the closet. It seemed like her old apartment. She misses the old apartment, that's why she is now dreaming about that place. A light smile appeared on her face. She can visit it at least in her dreams. Why not take a stroll in it?

She grabbed the handle of the door, which was ajar, and walked over to the dimly lit living room. The Kotatsu stood in front of the TV like in the past. Paetyn was pleased to dream sweetly about her once dear place. Everything inside looked the same.

A car passing by lit up the room for just a split second. A silhouette with pointy ears stretched from the window caught her attention. She turned her head in that direction. There he was... did she miss him too? Was she longing to have him as a housemate again?

Paetyn slowly walked over to the seemingly sleeping Beastman. He was leaning on the window breathing shallowly. The steam of his breath was appearing and disappearing on the cold glass.

Since she was dreaming, Paetyn had the courage to raise her hand and poke his cheek with the index finger. Even in her dreamland, he turned his head with that turquoise glare she knew very well. "Don't be always this serious. The gentle smile, you once showed me, was very charming, you know. I never meant harm, at least I hope you realized that."

Unexpectedly she boobed his nose. If it were for real and not a dream, he would already swipe his claws at her. Paetyn was always curious about how his hair felt to the touch, so she just stroked the top of his head. It was so soft and silky. Before, she always thought it would be rough like touching wire.

And then, she had to touch his ears with both hands. She loved to do that. In the past, Kay let her. It was like a wish come true. She glided her hands down again and with her right hand put his bangs behind the ear, like she did that faithful night when he struggled the most.

Abruptly she crouched down, placing her arms on the sitting space and resting her head on them. She noticed his claws. They were short in her dream. Her subconsciousness tried to make him less threatening for her. "I miss this apartment and since you appeared in this dream, I guess I miss you too."

She took a look back inside of her previous home and sighed heavily. The Beastman was watching her every move, without saying anything. Right... Probably she had forgotten his voice and she did not know what he would say to her anyway in her dream.

Despite being in the dreamland she felt a little tired. Standing up, turning her back towards the Beastman, sitting down next to him, leaning on his left shoulder, and snuggling up to his chest... "I wish, I had a way to contact you somehow..." And she fell asleep.



What really happened?
Ivaylo is a smart beast. He put two and two together about Kay's claws. He pretended to have enough, paid, and left the bar. Despite the cold weather, the alcohol flowing in his veins was warming him up.

He stood on the other side of the street in the shadows, watching the bar. There! At first, that sweet scent caught his attention and then Paetyn appeared not so long after. Ivaylo's suspicions were correct. Kay was meeting up with her but he didn't come clean to Ivaylo about it.

At the closing time, two hours later, they came out together. Ivaylo waited outside with his hands in his pocket the whole time. The duo walked down the streets and Ivaylo lurking a distance after them. They had a little chit chat which Ivaylo just ignored. He wasn't interested in that. At an intersection, they said their goodbyes.

Ivaylo followed her for a while and then dared to approach her. He was contemplating if he should and if, then he should fully apologize. He gathered all the courage and sped up. The alcohol made him irrational again and he desired to hug her.

From behind, he stretched out his arms but the height difference made him miscalculate and he was wrapping his arms around her head. As she saw the claws in front of her eyes, coming closer, she panicked and it triggered her trauma.

Paetyn was shocked into unconsciousness and Ivaylo managed to catch her in time, as she began to fall to the ground. What the hell happened? This sobered up Ivaylo in an instant. He checked her vitals. He sighed out of relief. What now? The hospital around here won't treat her. She is a human...

Hmmm...

He should take her home. Grabbing her limp body into his arms and carrying her all the way through the streets. At the apartment, he took off her shoes and coat, leaving it with her handbag in the entrance hall. After a few weeks, she was back lying in her former bed. Ivaylo had the feeling of old times. He wanted to let her sleep, so he left to the living room and sat at the window.

Ivaylo was woken up from his nap, by someone poking his cheek. Normally he would snap at her for daring to touch him. But he knew, he had to change his behavior, so instead, he toned it down and just glared at her. If he would overreact, then she would be really mad at him and leave forever.

He was taken aback, when she booped his nose. She did and said all those things to him. Surprisingly he kept calm. At first, he thought she was drunk, but he didn't detect any alcohol smell coming from her and when he heard about the dream and missing him, he not only understood but it made him happy.

Then, she caught him off guard when she snuggled up to him. His cheek flushed red and after the last sentence, he understood one thing. Marsh and Kay lied to him! For a while he allowed her to dream on his chest, even extending his blanket over her and wrapping one arm around Paetyn, so she wouldn't fall. It brought some peace to his mind and heart, that he didn't feel in a long time.

Ivaylo started to be sleepy as well, so he decided to bring her back to her old bed. As he placed her into the sheets, she grabbed his sleeve and didn't let go. Great... now what? Should he? Just for a second and then he will return to his window spot.

He lay down next to her watching her sleep. What he didn't intend to happen... he fell asleep.