Merry couldn't sleep.
Of course, how could he be EXPECTED to sleep after what had just happened? Especially when Pippin now lay just inches away from him in the darkness, snoring away.
Of course, sharing a bed with Pippin wasn't a new experience. They'd done it off and on their entire lives, and every night this summer. But now everything had changed. Every snore, every stir, every touch made Merry feel a surge of energy pulse through him. And he was supposed to fall ASLEEP under these circumstances?
And Pippin had just laughed when Merry suggested he sleep on the floor. "Why would you want to do THAT?" Pippin has asked, completely oblivious to Merry's distress. But THIS was why. Merry knew that he'd never be able to fall asleep with each snore ruffling his hair.
'I'm not gonna fall asleep,' Merry thought to himself, 'so why even bother trying?'
Opening his eyes, Merry stared at the sleeping face on the pillow next to him. Through the darkness, Merry could see Pippin's curls matted against the pillow, his long eyelashes fluttering against his cheek, his mouth hung open as he slept. But once Merry's eyes fell upon Pippin's lips they stayed there, unable to be averted. Those lips had kissed him. Those lips had touched his. Those lips had changed EVERYTHING.
Pippin stirred somewhat in his sleep, his foot brushing softly against Merry's shin. Without thinking, Merry jerked his leg away and then scolded himself for doing so. 'He's still just Pippin,' he reminded himself.
But that wasn't really true, for now he was so much more. He was Pippin who had kissed him, Pippin who had touched him, Pippin whom he wanted to hold for the rest of his life.
Merry sighed frustratedly and rolled onto his back. He was gonna be a wreck tomorrow without sleep, and he wished he could just turn off his mind for awhile. 'Perhaps I should try counting sheep,' Merry thought even as his mind turned once again to the evening's events, reliving them again and again.
Pippin's snore suddenly turned into a snort, waking himself for an instant before turning over onto his other side so that his back was now to Merry. His even breathing returned, although the snores did not, and Merry thought he heard Pippin whisper something through the darkness.
"What?" Merry asked, turning back onto his side and staring at Pippin's curls.
Pippin turned his head slightly and mumbled groggily, "You can spoon me if you want." He reached back blindly with his free arm and fumbled around until he found Merry's hand, taking it and pulling it over so he could snuggle it against his chest.
His hand held so prisoner, Merry had no choice but to scooch forward on the bed till he was indeed spooning Pippin, his chest ever so slightly touching Pippin's back, his thighs brushing against Pippin's. Merry held his breath, thinking that he'd NEVER fall asleep now.
But he was wrong. For the safety and warmth he now felt, pressed against Pippin so, relaxed and comforted him. He may be Pippin who had kissed him, but he was also Pippin his lifelong friend and confidante. And things were going to be okay, despite the confusion inside his head.
And almost immediately after Pippin's groggy, "G'night," Merry fell fast asleep.
***
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