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From:

greatoldjohn

Sheehan is asleep.

The cat curled up against his side is not. He is ensuring that if anything tries to wake his human up, including bad dreams, they will be catbapped firmly away.

He will also be here when Sheehan wakes up.

Edited Date: 2025-10-11 06:16 pm (UTC)

From:

heyboss

He sleeps hard and soundly and no nightmares invade his dreams. And so he's able to wake slowly, on his own, which means he's aware of the cat before he's actually fully aware of the rest of the room.

So one arm sneaks out and wraps around the cat, pulling him close in a full cuddle.

From:

greatoldjohn

The cat will burrow against him in turn, purring happily at the cuddle.

From:

heyboss

He does not have the energy to speak.

You didn't see my dreams, did you?

From:

greatoldjohn

No. I don't look at that.

Ever.

From:

heyboss

He smiles, eyes still closed. I was a superhero. I saved you and Arthur and...one of my former patients...from a fire. And I got a very Superman and Lois Lane style kiss.

From:

greatoldjohn

Superman is the one that your son likes, isn't it? I don't think I've ever seen it. Is Lois Lane his wife?

From:

heyboss

Exactly. Billy and I used to watch it together.

Maybe that's why I dreamed of him. I think I'm missing him.

But no. They're not married. Just in love.

From:

greatoldjohn

That makes sense. I'm glad they're nice dreams, though.

And that you get to imagine saving them in a fun way.

From:

heyboss

Saving you, too. Since you spend so much time doing it.

He loosens his grip and sits up, rubbing his face.

From:

greatoldjohn

Doing what?

The cat will pad up into his lap now and biscuits will begin being made.

From:

heyboss

Sheehan pets him as he makes himself comfortable on the pillows.

"Saving people," he says aloud.

From:

greatoldjohn

The biscuits pause.

I help where I can. Saving people is more complicated.

Biscuits resume.

From:

heyboss

"I imagine it is. But we have that in common. Helping people."

He kisses his cat's head.

From:

greatoldjohn

I've helped one person.

He leans up into the kiss, nuzzling under Sheehan's chin afterwards.

From:

heyboss

"Only one?" he repeats.

From:

greatoldjohn

Natalie. I've only helped one person graduate.

He sounds very definite on that.

From:

heyboss

"John. Graduation is not the only thing you have to offer anyone," he points out.

From:

greatoldjohn

It's the only thing that really matters, isn't it?

He looks up, and he means that. He isn't trying to be dismissive or shitty. That's just... how it feels right now.

Everyone wants to leave here, get their deals, get their freedom. Everything else is just making sure they don't hate every second while they're doing it. It's not really helping.

From:

heyboss

"I know, John. I know. And you know the immense trauma that everyone has to go through in order to be here. But - graduation isn't the only thing that matters. Family matters. Do you see how many strange and diverse little families there are here? How people have found happiness in little pockets of each other?"

He gently strokes his back. "This place isn't good for everyone."

From:

greatoldjohn

No, it isn't.

It isn't a good place for Charlie. It isn't a good place for Trevor. It isn't a good place for Alexei. The fact that it's a good place for him...

What does that say? 'Immense trauma?' Christ. He isn't denying that. But the fact of the matter is, this place fits him. It's so much less awful and so much more wonderful than anywhere else he's ever been. It's given him so many wonderful people he never would have met otherwise.

And, frankly, he's so much more terrified of the real world, of going back, of trying to live some place where he's going to have to hide so much

I know.

From:

heyboss

"John..."

He gently cups the little cat's face in his hands. "What aren't you telling me?"

From:

greatoldjohn

The cat looks distinctly cornered for a moment before the eyes close and he nuzzles against his hand.

Everyone hates this place. I don't.

I love it. I love this place. I know I'll have to leave one day and I don't want to.

But it hurts everyone else.

From:

heyboss

"Oh John," he murmurs softly and drops a kiss on top of his head. "It must be disheartening to hear how miserable everyone else feels. But there is...nothing wrong with that. With how you feel."