[Center][Img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjg4LmYwYmRjZi5Ubmx0Y0dnLjA/nebulo.demo.webp[/img] [h1][color=lightgreen]&[/color][/h1] [Img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210419/b20e29e2aece398f677b72adcb18d2b2.png[/img] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/250130/9990732a1211c3c60ace0f85c6068120.png[/img][/center] Daphne stood in front of Viktor’s room and had been standing there for a good five minutes or so. She lifted her hand up to the door for the third time and knocked. The matching lavender gown and robe she was wearing contrasted to the disheveled braid that was hanging on for dear life. There were dark circles under her eyes and her face was puffy. [color=Lightgreen]“Viktor…?”[/color] She said softly. [color=Lightgreen]“I’m sorry I know it’s late….” “Are you still awake?”[/color] She struggled with the pillow and the comforter she was holding, readjusting them in her arms. This was her last resort, she exhausted every other option. The sleeping pills Black Canary gave her weren’t working like they used to. She even tried Kassy’s tank, hoping that would do something. Viktor opened his door wearing a black t-shirt and blue-checkered boxers while rubbing one of his eyes. There were no alarms blaring so he didn't bother pushing through his drowsiness. Messy hair and low eyelids was a rare look for Daphne to see. [Color=silver]“Daph…”[/color] He yawned before he craned his neck down to take a better look at her face. [I][color=silver]Crying? No… just tired. Very tired.[/color][/I] Viktor noted. [Color=silver]“Need something?”[/color] [color=Lightgreen]“Do you mind if I come in for a sec?”[/color] The lack of sleep made her behave very uncharacteristically. She didn’t wait for an answer and ducked under Viktor’s arm, entering his room. She took some uneasy steps forward, feeling out of place. [Color=silver][I]What is she doing?[/I][/color] Viktor’s room was mainly grey and black. The desk area was the most decorated area of the room, if you would classify the items on the wall opposite of the desk as decorations. There were posters of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman lining one of the walls. In between the desk and the closet was a small couch, probably used for reading. Daphne had planned what to say, but she honestly hadn’t expected to get this far. [color=Lightgreen]“So uhm I got you your shirt back…”[/color] It was the t-shirt Viktor gave her when she woke up from her coma. She had been holding onto it for longer than she intended. She placed the neatly folded shirt on his desk. [Color=silver]“Thanks…”[/color] He wouldn't have minded if she just kept it with how long he's gone without it. Thinking the shirt was the only reason for Daphne’s late night visit, Viktor started toward his bed. [color=Lightgreen][i]Come on just ask him, the worst thing he can say is no. And if he says no you’re just going to have to go back and suffer by yourself[/i][/color] [color=Lightgreen]“Actually…….is it okay if I sleep here for the rest of the night?”[/color] She winced like the question itself was painful. Her back was still facing Viktor so she forced herself to turn around. She started to undo what was left of her braid and finger combed through it. Her tired eyes surveyed an equally sleepy Viktor. It was strange to see him like this. It was less rigid, more like a regular teen. [Color=silver]“Um? What?”[/color] Viktor didn't really understand what Daphne was asking. [Color=silver]“Are you kicking me out of my room or are we switching beds?”[/color] Viktor sighed as he could only imagine this being yet another sociocultural thing that was flying way over his head. If she wasn’t so tired she would have died of embarrassment right about now. Daphne flopped down on the small grey couch. She fluffed up her pillow and set it down on one end. [color=Lightgreen]“No, I'm not kicking you out of your room. I can just sleep here.”[/color] She made herself comfortable and prayed Viktor would just go back to bed. Hopefully this would work as well as the t-shirt did. If it didn't, someone was going to have to knock her out. [color=silver]“Perfect.”[/color] Viktor said, trudging back to his door, shutting it quietly. He gave one good look at Daphne, which was just the best look he could give at the time, and flipped off the light. The room went pitch black before a dim red light softly illuminated the room from a wall-mounted lamp. [Color=silver]“Helps me sleep sometimes… when it's not so easy.”[/color] Viktor nearly mumbled to her before lying in bed. [color=Lightgreen]”Thanks Viktor”[/color] Daphne pulled the comforter up to her chin and let out a deep sigh. She was exhausted. Slowly but surely her breathing settled. The soft glow that was barely visible through her eyelashes faded into darkness. When she opened her eyes again she flinched at the bright light. A feeling of hope swelled in her chest. Did she finally sleep till morning? That feeling immediately turned into dread when she looked up to find the source of the light. They were the greenhouse growing lights shining down on her from the ceiling. [color=Lightgreen][i]No no no….please no… It didn’t work.[/i][/color] Viktor’s room was slowly disappearing around her. The desk transformed into glass and expanded around everything she could still see. The mission souvenirs turned into potted plants. [color=Lightgreen][i]This isn’t real Daphne, you know this. Wake up![/i][/color] The familiar cramp was already starting to spread. It always started at her feet then slowly paralyzed her entire body. Daphne frantically pushed the comforter away. Both her feet were fused together, like the clump of an uprooted plant. The transformation was creeping upwards. She couldn’t call for help or move. From the corner of her eye she could see the red wall light of Viktor’s room, breaking through the nightmare. [color=Lightgreen][i]Focus Daphne…[/i][/color] She fought to move towards the glimmer of reality and eventually managed to fall off the couch. The edges of the greenhouse started to melt, peeling away to reveal Viktor’s room. The only thing that remained the same was her transformed lower body. Daphne broke out in a cold sweat. [Color=silver]“Daph!”[/color] Viktor quickly scooped her off the floor, his eyes looking over at her legs hardened over by bark. He didn't appear as tired as previous, mostly due to hearing Daphne fall quite hard from the couch. [Color=silver]“Relax, Daph. Tell me what I need to do.”[/color] He carried her away from the couch and to his bed, while cradling her in his arms. Daphne took some shuddering breaths after Viktor set her down on the edge of his bed. [color=Lightgreen]”Give me a minute….[/color] Viktor’s presence made it slightly easier to regain her composure. She looked at him and she could tell he was also stressed. [color=Lightgreen]”If I go to sleep like this it’s just going to keep moving upwards.”[/color] She pulled the fabric of her nightgown up to her ankles. [Color=silver]“...”[/color] Viktor parted his lips to demand more information but stopped himself as he noticed she was much more relaxed than initially. [color=Lightgreen]“I think…..” “Can you separate them?”[/color] [color=silver]“... I can.”[/color] He answered, trusting her way of remedying the situation. He placed his hands on her ankles before making eye contact with her and shook his head. [Color=silver]“I have a better idea. It worked before.”[/color] Viktor released Daphne's ankles and instead, lied beside her and pulled her in close to him. [Color=silver]“Remember La Hoya? Our first mission together. First it got really bad but then it calmed down. If you're cold, you won't be. If you're afraid, then just trust me. Relax, Daph.”[/color] [color=Lightgreen]“I…I don’t..thi”[/color] Daphne stammered. Her face grew hot and she was sure Viktor could feel her cheeks burning a hole through his shirt. [color=Lightgreen]“Viktor….”[/color] She quietly adjusted herself, as much as her bound feet and Viktor’s hold allowed at least. It was difficult to tell if the tremble in her body came from the night terrors or…..or that she was laying in Viktor’s bed…..with Viktor. All the while, Viktor seemed so comfortable with this. She let the last thing he said repeat over and over in her mind. [color=Lightgreen][i]Just trust him…[/i][/color] [Color=silver]“Perhaps talking will help?”[/color] Viktor was just experimenting at this point because he could still feel her tenseness. [Color=silver]“It might be a good distraction… Any topics in mind?”[/color] Daphne definitely preferred the stress of being close to Viktor to that of her night terrors. Though this situation left her equally unable to think normally. It felt like her feet were loosening up ever so slightly, but maybe she was just imagining that. [color=Lightgreen]“What was your favorite thing to do growing up?”[/color] [color=Lightgreen][i]Great question Daph………[/i][/color] [Color=silver]“I grew up in two very different places. So I'll give you two answers if that suffices… Before HIVE, I enjoyed baseball. My father and I used to go to the Gotham Knights games whenever he was in town long enough to do so. I also played Little League for a time before… HIVE.”[/color] Viktor took a deep breath to relax himself but it was this very action that truly made him aware of the non-existent space between Daphne and himself. [Color=silver]“While I was with HIVE, I think my favorite thing was to simply go out on missions. It didn't matter what it was as long as I had the opportunity to leave and put my skills to work. I had more freedom and typically one or two objectives to keep in mind. Very unlike here… but that's for the better, I think.”[/color] Viktor took another deep breath but this time there was no reason behind it, or that is what he made himself believe. In truth, he surprisingly liked this moment he was sharing with Daphne but couldn't place the reason just yet. [color=silver]“Daph… can I admit something?”[/color] Daphne’s eyelids were starting to feel heavy. When Viktor talked she could feel the tremors from his deep voice exit his chest and reverberate through her. It lulled her into a sense of safety and she was longing for sleep. She wrapped one arm around Viktor, her hand resting somewhere on his back and closed her eyes. [Color=silver]“I missed this…”[/color] Viktor started as drowsiness crept in. It wouldn't be long until he fell asleep but he wanted to finish what he had to say before it was lost in him. [Color=silver]“I missed it, a lot. When I would come and just speak to you when you had been… in your deepest of slumbers. Our talks were one sided and you say you don't quite remember them but, I believed that you could at the time… It's selfish to want something like that from you and I wouldn't even know what to call that but this… This feels just like it.”[/color] He shook his head. [Color=silver]“I can't force it... I wouldn't… So I just have to take this moment and… hold on to it.”[/color] While tethering on the edge of sleep Viktor’s confession, pulled her back in. She blinked a few times, thinking about what his words meant. Daphne looked up at his face, the movement causing the tip of her nose to touch the light stubble on his chin. His eyes were open and he had a look on his face that was difficult to describe. There was a flutter in her chest and she lowered her gaze, smiling to herself. [color=Lightgreen][i]Stop it Daphne[/i][/color] [color=Lightgreen]“I think I remember more than I know, sometimes I just need something to trigger it. Like I remember you telling me you missed the sandwiches I pack for everyone when we go on missions.”[/color] She managed to get a light scoff out of him. [Color=silver]“Another admission.”[/color] Viktor grinned ever so slightly [color=Lightgreen]“You’ve done more for me than you realize.”[/color] She paused and took a nervous breath. [color=Lightgreen]“So I don’t think you’re being selfish.”[/color] [Color=silver]“Hmm… Or maybe you're just too selfless… I don't mean that in a negative way but… I don't believe I’ve ever seen you take something you wanted for yourself… It's a pleasant thing but sometimes I wonder if too much is harmful. To give and never take. It makes you… strong? Yes. But… even steel can break and bend under the right pressure.”[/color] He shook his head again. [Color=silver]“And I don't want that… Perhaps, the next decision we have to make, you can choose it. Just take the opp-”[/color] Viktor was cut off mid sentence when Daphne planted an unexpected kiss on his lips. It was a strange sensation. His lips were warm and soft, not at all like the rest of him. Even though this wasn’t exactly how she imagined her first kiss to be, it gave her all the feelings she thought she would have and more. She felt his mouth move against hers when he mumbled the last of what he wanted to say. She could guess he was just as surprised as she was, and she was spot on. Before Viktor could really kiss her back, that is if he had wanted to, Daphne pulled back and buried her face in his chest. She was smiling and blushing like an idiot. If she could she would have squealed and smacked herself in the face ten times. Mostly out of excitement but also disbelief. [color=Lightgreen][i]“OMG Daphne what did you just do!![/i][/color] She left him wide-eyed and surprised but it wasn't just her actions that caught him off guard… It was how he felt when she kissed him and how he felt even now. He furrowed his brows, attempting to understand what had occurred until the essence of something Cyborg had told him surfaced within his thoughts. [Color=royalblue][I]You're smart, sure, but you think too hard about the simple things, Vik. Enjoy the moment! Not everything's a mission.[/I][/color] [Color=silver]“Daphne.”[/color] He said her name in full before he drew her face up gently with his hand. [Color=silver]“Why’d you stop?”[/color] He asked rhetorically with an eyebrow raised before he surprisingly kissed her back. What he thought he wanted from what he had done was confirmed at that moment. Viktor had seen things like this in television shows and movies, often wondering what the magic was behind what he thought to be a simple gesture. Daphne gasped in surprise and the sound was muffled by Viktor’s kiss. With him initiating this time, it felt much more intense and she began seeing stars. Shivers ran through her starting from the crown of her head all the way down to her feet. She closed her eyes and slowly her left foot popped up, just like in the movies. With how the two started out… who might have imagined?