True love is supposed to be something that takes time to develop and something that doesn't just happen instantaneously. It doesn't have to be passionate all of the time. As times goes on the crazy passion of new love often settles down into calm comfort that only a couple can have. That was something both Levi and Ashe had settled into after being in a relationship for over a decade.
Growing up together had certainly managed to temper the two and verse them well into how to deal with the other. There was very little that phased the two anymore. Except having to be separated from one another for extended periods of time.
"Levi I don't want to!" Ashe whines, throwing himself across their bed.
The shorter man smacks his lover in the face with another t-shirt. "It doesn't matter. Until we can figure out what's the matter with your night-terrors and sleepwalking, you can't stay here. It's a danger to Tara if she has her own nightmare and comes in to sleep in our bed and you lash out. If you accidentally hit her you could put her in the hospital."
At the possibility of him accidentally hurting their daughter nearly takes Ashe's breath away. "I... okay I get it, we don't have a choice."
Levi grabs out a few shirts and grabs the one off of Ashe's face. He packs them away in a bag, long enough for a week's stay. "Good, I'm glad you have the bigger picture in mind." He kisses Ashe, "Besides it's only for a week. They'll do a sleep study with you and then hopefully they'll figure out what's going on."
It was close to two weeks ago when Ashe started to have his night terrors reappearing. The sleepwalking came close to two days after that. As it was now, Levi was working on covering up another bruise on his ribs. Last night Ashe had, had one of the worst night-terrors to date. He leapt out of bed and started to swing random punches all around to nothing in general.
Levi slipped out of bed just in time to stop him from leaving their bedroom and potentially hurting their little girl. However the downside was that he got a nice uppercut to his ribs. There was nothing broken but he had quite the bruise, one he was looking at in the mirror right now.
"Either way, I don't want to be away from you two." He stands up and hugs Levi from behind, pressing his chest into Levi's back, arms wrapping around his bare chest. "It always unnerves me to leave you two here. I'm so sorry about that." He whispers, fingers ghosting over the purple discoloration.
Levi snorts, "Please, I'm the one legally certified to kill people. Don't worry about this. I should've reacted faster; It'll heal."
"Regardless, you two are the most important things to me. I want to protect the two of you, it's only natural."
***
"But Papa, why does daddy have to stay here for a week?" Tara, now seven years old, whines with hair flopping around her shoulders in a braid. She was at that phase where she wanted her hair always braided and to wear frilly dresses and skirts 24/7. Today she decided to have on a purple dress with striped leggings on underneath.
Ashe smiles down at his daughter and gives her a kiss on her forehead, "Daddy needs to learn how to fight the bad dreams away so that he can come back and become a knight for you."
She wrinkles her nose and looks up at Levi, "But then why isn't Papa going with you?"
"Tch, I'm already certified to fight your nightmares away, it's Ashe's turn to become a knight."
"But papa you aren't a knight, you're a ninja."
"Regardless."
Ashe is practically bursting at the seams with laughter. He truly loved his little girl to death, she was so adorable. Tara lets go of Levi's hand and hugs Ashe around his neck, "I don't want you to go. You already do fight my bad dreams. You and Papa."
"It's only for a week, seven measley days. I'll be back before you know it and I'll take you out for ice cream."
"Ice cream isn't good for kids." Levi cuts in, taking Tara's hand once more in his.
Ashe rolls his eyes, "Calm down mama Levi. Ice cream occasionally isn't bad." He comes over and pecks Levi on his cheek, "I love you."
"I love you too, call and keep us updated."
Ashe picks up his bags and the receptionist from the check in counter smiles, showing Ashe to his room for the next seven days. It was a nice enough clinic, very state of the art and open, lots of windows. Still it was nothing like his home and that was something that Ashe hated. Already he missed his husband and daughter. He wants to be home, with them.
"We hope you'll be as comfortable as possible Mister Micheals. I'll send over Dr.Kokalis to speak with you." The receptionist exits the room and Ashe is left alone.
He settles his bag down on the ground next to his bed and takes his phone out of his pocket. He sends a quick 'I love you' text to Levi and then sets about putting his stuff away.
It's only a few minutes later when his phone alerts him of an incoming text. Stopping long enough to check it, Ashe smirks. Out of all of the replies he could recieve it was Levi telling him to keep everything neat and tidy.
Same old Levi.
Once he sets everything up just the way Levi would the room, Ashe settles down on his bed. He turns back and presses his face into the pillow he brought from home. They're probably having dinner right about now. Levi pressuring Tara into eating all of her vegetables. The girl, herself, doing everything to put up a fight against it all.
Levi still wins in the end, the man always does.
Closing his eyes and smiling, Ashe leans back and thinks about his family.
Levi's Pov
"Alright baby girl, it's time to go to sleep." Levi says as he ushers his darling little one off to bed.
Ever since they had separated from Ashe at the sleep clinic the little girl had been very clingy and whiny. Ashe was generally the one that gave into her each and every whim and so she was feeling very left out. Already though Levi had fed her dinner, watched her favorite evening cartoons, and then played 'house' with her for the next few hours.
"Noooo, I don't want to sleep here!" She squirms and tries to get out of her bed.
Levi sighs, "What's wrong with your bed?"
"I don't want to sleep on my own. I wanna stay with papa tonight."
"Why? You've never had a problem before now."
She looks down at the ground, "I... I'm scared. With Daddy gone I feel like the monsters are gonna come get me."
For a moment Levi debates on whether or not he should let her sleep in their room or not tonight. However at the look on her face Levi can't say no. He nods and motions for her to grab her things. Tara picks up the rabbit that Ashe got for her the day they brought her home. It was a disgusting, old thing now with worn blue fur but Levi could never bring himself to throw it away, she loved that thing.
Tara also has Levi take her 'Frozen' blanket in his arms to carry into the other bedroom. Once all of her things, story book included, were gathered up into their arms the two make their way into Levi and Ashe's bedroom. Tara takes a running leap onto the bed and bounces, laughing.
Levi frowns at the bouncing but ignores reprimanding her as the little girl settles back down. She crawls up to Ashe's side of the bed and curls up. The bunny in her arms stares back at Levi, he hates that thing. Even now he wished he had told Ashe no. Idiot always managed to get his way eventually.
