[ the body shaking sobs and the apologies come streaming out and he doesn't bother to try and quiet them, doesn't tell him to stop apologizing. he continues to smooth his hand over koby's hair, from his crown to his nape, press kisses where he can and let the other man soak his chest in tears. he just holds him tightly, lets him roll through the emotions like a sloop on a storm, tossed and turned in the night, sails haggard and worn.

but slowly, slowly, koby begins to come to, and all he needs to hear is her and he knows that should the pirate Alvida ever show her face on these grounds, he will put her in the bottom of the lake one way or another. he will seek out every little fear, find the buttons to press to make her come undone, and bring her to ashes. to bring a bright star like koby low, to dim his light with haze and clouds -

it's unforgivable. ]

Every night?

[ he hums lowly, listening, pulling back to wipe the tears from his face and kiss his damp cheeks, the flush across them, his forehead. ]

You can stay tonight - there's no need to ask. You can come every night. We will climb into bed as we would climb onto a warship and gun down any of those dream pirates. I won't let them harm you - not here. I won't stand for it.

[ his voice lacks all of its playful warmth, filled instead with a dogged determination. something aout the look of koby so fragile against him moves something again in his chest - the stupid, beating heart behind his ribs. the thing he's kept locked up for years and years now, protective. but here it is, thumping heavy and awake against his chest. ]

I've got you, Koby. You're safe here. [ he's going to keep saying it, over and over, until one day koby might believe it. ] And you've done well coming here. Dealing with these - nightmares are.... they're cruel.