sixwordstories | (no subject)

*nudges him slightly because she's not sleeping much at all these days*

Marlon?

*His eyes flutter open only half conscious. On reflex, he automatically turns over and puts an arm around her*

Hmm?

*speaks softly*

I think you're talking about your dog in your sleep.

*still half asleep he subconsciously trails his fingers through her hair*

Hm?...Oh, m'sorry.
*He's still registering what she said*...Wait, not my dog. Russell.

*still softly*

Russell was who you were talking about and you called him like someone would call a dog. You okay?

*closes his eyes again but keeps his arm around her*
...Mm-hmmm. Russell's my raccoon.

*eyebrow raise*

Your raccoon?

*The surprise in her voice wakes him up a bit more. He smiles drowsily over at her*

Yeah...well, he was anyway.

A raccoon, that's something I never expected from you.

*Only mostly awake, he lets out a soft chuckle and cradles her more comfortably against him* Heh...surprise.

*He smiles off into space for a second* Ah, Russell...

Don't tell me you want another raccoon.

*he laughs a bit more at this* Nah, just couldn't have another one like him, y'know? ...And he'd prob'ly tear your room apart.

If I wanted my room torn apart, I'd give my nine-year-old sugar and set her loose.

*laughs a bit harder, slowly regaining full consciousness* Just be glad your kid doesn't play in the toilet, tickle your feet when you're tryin' to sleep or steal people's dentures if they get too close.

God, you were one hell of a trouble maker weren't you?

*bursts out laughing* No, Russell was! Well, granted I was a big troublemaker myself, but not-...God, you kill me Murph.

Hey, you can't possibly expect me to be completely conscious right now.

Yeah? Well I am now. I'm thinkin' I'll chuck out my alarm clock and just have you talk to me in the morning.

*stroking her hair* What about you? Can't you sleep?

Most mornings I'm up before you are anyway.

Well, someone started talking...

*smiles* Oh yeah. Heh, sorry about that. Well you talked, and now I'm awake, so we're square, huh?

You can go back to sleep. I was just worried.

*gently tilting her chin up* Hopefully you can go to sleep too...I worry about you sometimes...

I'll catch up. Don't worry.

Okay.

*releasing her, he puts a hand on her cheek and kisses her gently before rolling over and nodding off again, while memories of chasing, fighting, and tickling Russell fill his head*

*goes back to laying awake, staring off into the distance*