[ He reaches out, though, fondly tapping her nose. He knows, though. He knows she believes otherwise, that she's charged herself as his protector - much to his dismay (he doesn't need protecting!) and bewilderment. It's supposed to be the other way around; only the other way around. ]
[ He absolutely does need protecting, and he's going to get said protection from a five-foot-no inches woman from Blackpool. Smiling softly at the tap, she wrinkles her nose affectionately. ]
Thank you.
[ She sighs softly and rubs her face with one hand. ]
I didn't know I could worry about so much at the same time. There's too much demanding attention at once up here. [ Her fingers tap the side of her head. ] Brain hardly knows where to start and focus.
Welcome to my life. [ He smiles a little, in spite of everything. ]
Though, a simple and very small human brain generally isn't supposed to comprehend such an enormity of things all at once. It's taxing in a way it isn't for me.
[ Small brain in comparison to his, that is. ]
Can't shut that brain off, though, can you? I can.
[ She's never asked him to do anything like that for her before, soothe her mind, switch off her thoughts. Then again, neither of them has been in a situation like this together, either. It's never been so hard for her to sleep, not even when her mum died. ]
And do you think maybe you could stay, too? Just for a few minutes after I'm asleep.
[ It doesn't really matter one way or another because she'll never know. But she wants to at least think he's there, watching over her for a bit. ]
[ A blatant lie, they both know it, but the sentiment is genuine. He'll stay and make sure she's okay, he always will. Not forever, but long enough to be sure she's settled. ]
Put your head on my shoulder. When I do this, it happens instantly.
[ He could have put her to sleep without her consent from the outset, but he wouldn't violate her agency like that. ]
[ Sometimes, there are lies a person needs to hear, and that was one of them for Clara. She needed to hear that and she does as he says, settling with her head on his shoulder and one hand in his. ]
I expect to see you fiddling with something when I open my eyes again.
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[ He reaches out, though, fondly tapping her nose. He knows, though. He knows she believes otherwise, that she's charged herself as his protector - much to his dismay (he doesn't need protecting!) and bewilderment. It's supposed to be the other way around; only the other way around. ]
But I can promise you that I'll be careful.
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Thank you.
[ She sighs softly and rubs her face with one hand. ]
I didn't know I could worry about so much at the same time. There's too much demanding attention at once up here. [ Her fingers tap the side of her head. ] Brain hardly knows where to start and focus.
[ That could also be because she's exhausted. ]
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Though, a simple and very small human brain generally isn't supposed to comprehend such an enormity of things all at once. It's taxing in a way it isn't for me.
[ Small brain in comparison to his, that is. ]
Can't shut that brain off, though, can you? I can.
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And do you think maybe you could stay, too? Just for a few minutes after I'm asleep.
[ It doesn't really matter one way or another because she'll never know. But she wants to at least think he's there, watching over her for a bit. ]
no subject
[ A blatant lie, they both know it, but the sentiment is genuine. He'll stay and make sure she's okay, he always will. Not forever, but long enough to be sure she's settled. ]
Put your head on my shoulder. When I do this, it happens instantly.
[ He could have put her to sleep without her consent from the outset, but he wouldn't violate her agency like that. ]
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I expect to see you fiddling with something when I open my eyes again.
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[ He smiles, and then just as quickly, he reaches out, tapping his index finger to her temple and sending her to sleep. ]