The curtains were drawn, the windows open, the covers on the floor - because like hell were you staying under those heated quilts of death - and yet.
And yet here I am, still feeling the urge to rip my own skin off to see if that'll help.
It just had to be tonight of all nights, huh? When everything had finally calmed down; when nobody was fighting; when everybody was just taking advantage of that fact to rest, heal and most of all sleep. It just had to be tonight the earth decided everybody needed to burn.
Sighing, you rubbed a hand over your face and through your hair, wincing at how dry it felt. Your scalp was coated in sweat but your hair felt like one tug away from falling out. You grunted in annoyance, frowning.
A snore seemed to respond but a quick glance over showed the body beside you was sleeping still.
You glared. The urge to wake him was strong. How could he sleep through this heat? And with the covers on, albeit sliding down precariously over his lap.
Jacob was sprawled out like he had all the room in the world - which mind, he didn't but that didn't usually stop him, and you were used to it; one hand was tucked underneath the pillow while the other laid across his chest. He was looked as relaxed and casual as the next person, and while you knew it was a lie - that hand grasped more than just the underside of a pillowcase - you still couldn't help but wonder how he did it.
Could he maybe share with you? You'd really like some sleep 'round about now! Like, any moment now. Sleep! Come!
Please?
God, you hated this heat.
You shifted as carefully as you possibly could, not wanting to wake the light-sleeper up and tried to get into a comfortable position, which lasted for a whole three seconds before that position too became uncomfortable. Your eyes snapped open and you glared off into the shadows.
Well, I'm not sleeping tonight, you thought grumpily. You certainly weren't staying in this bed, that's for sure; too sticky and warm. So, careful once again, you slid out of the bed and stepped out of the room, down the stairs and out of the sliding back doors. The air hit your face as you breathed it in- and then frowned.
Even the air outside was hot! In fact, you'd bet it was hotter outside than in! You shook your head with a tired sigh and just decided it'll have to do, laying down on one of the garden benches. It was wooden and old and you were pretty sure it had splinters galore just waiting to stick in you, but it was surprisingly comfortable. You could draw your knees up to a bending point and just gaze at the stairs, so you did, placing your arms on your stomach in a lazy fold.
The stars were visible tonight. You suppose that was one of the few good things about Montana; no matter where you go in it, you could stargaze to your heart's content, and why wouldn't you? It was beautiful, more beautiful than the day time you'd say; the bright cluster of stars against the dark background of shadowed mountains. It was almost like something out of a romance novel, the perfect view to look at, right before the love interest comes walking through the-
The back door opened with a quiet creak and you glanced in its direction to see a groggily-looking Jacob step through.
Oh.
Alright then.
Sitting up, you pulled your knees closer to your chest and smiled at him. He seemed to struggle between glaring at you with tired annoyance and concern, before finally settling on a strange twisted mixture of both. Silently, he moved until he could sit beside you and despite the uncomfortable warmth, you didn't hesitate to snuggle into his side, his arm instantly moving to rest on your shoulders.
You would never give up this, no matter the weather. His hugs were the best, you were sure of it. They never made you feel claustrophobic, they were never too tight to push away from. He always gave you the chance, even when you knew all he wanted to do was wrap you up and never let you go. He wasn't as bad as everybody made him out to be...with cuddles anyway.
Quickly, you shoved those thoughts aside by burying your face into his neck, laying a feather-light kiss on his skin that granted you a shiver throughout his body. You smiled, though that threatened to fall when the previous thoughts seemed eager to return.
You knew Jacob, more than he'd like to admit, and you knew he was broken. Broken beyond repair, no matter how many times you promised to try and fix him, no matter how many times you actually tried. He was too far gone, too stuck in his own mindset to ever really change and you suppose, if you were honest with yourself, you detested it.
Absolutely hated it.
You didn't like the man he became when he was away from you; even when around his siblings, he was different - this silent, looming figure that threatened everybody who even looked at his brothers and sister with a painful death - and you knew he'd do it. Has done it.
He wasn't a nice person, not really.
Maybe you weren't a nice person for putting up with it, for loving him regardless, for staying with him. Maybe you were a monster for loving the monster.
You didn't know. You weren't sure if you ever did.
But maybe that didn't matter. Maybe you were supposed to love him no matter how he turned out, no matter what life threw at him. Maybe you were supposed to be here, in his arms, lazily tracing the old and new scars on his skin just so somebody - anybody - can see that there was still a human inside him, deep down; that he did try.
Sometimes.
A hand running down your arm tore your attention away from your thoughts, and you looked up to see Jacob looking down at you, blank to all others but you. His eyes crinkled ever-so-slightly in concern and you smiled to calm him. You pulled away from him, finding the embrace too hot now to stay in it, and felt as he almost hesitated, the urge to keep you in his arms apparent, only to let you go anyway.
Pecking him on the lips, you shifted until you were back in your old position, legs bent at the knee but not drawn to your chest, laying down the best you could with another person sitting on the bench as well. It wasn't nearly as comfortable as it used to be but it would do, especially when Jacob huffed and moved your legs over his own, grasping one of your feet to begin gently kneading into it.
You sighed almost without meaning to, and then slapped his arm when you saw the smirk threatening to appear on Jacob's face.
"Shut up," You mumbled.
"Didn't say anything," Jacob replied almost innocently, hands still expertly massaging any potential tension in your feet and legs. You huffed a laugh.
Silence enveloped the area again but it was as comfortable as any other silence; just you two there, basking in each other's glory under the starlit sky, and you could almost drift off to sleep.
Just...slowly...-
"Why are you out here, anyway?" Jacob asked, probably unintentionally interrupting your only chance of sleep, and you sighed, folding your arms back over your stomach.
"Can't sleep. It's too hot inside."
Jacob hummed in agreement and you half-heartedly glared at him.
"I don't know what your problem is though. You were snoring your head off." You told him. Jacob froze, a hint of surprise flashing across his eyes before he seemed to mentally shrug himself out of it and continue on with the foot massage.
"I don't snore," was all he said, and you snorted.
"Sure, and I'm the Queen of England."
"Definitely the Queen of sarcasm," Jacob mumbled and you cackled. Jacob didn't bother hiding his grin - he must be tired -, the smirk smoothing out into a tired, barely-there upwards tilt. You leaned up, causing your foot to dislodge out of his grip but you didn't care. Leaning up, you gently rested a kiss on the corners of his mouth before laying back down.
You always loved kissing his smile, so rare it was.
"Don't worry, you'll always be my King," You muttered, promise strong as it was the day you first said 'I love you'. He'll always be yours as you would always be his; not even the near-'Collapse' changed that. Not the fighting, not the holy war that nearly took you away from everything (from him).
Nothing.
You would stay by his side, always. You've both been through too much together for this relationship to go any other way.
Jacob blushed, a faint hint of red on his tanned cheeks and you cackled once again, resting your head onto the bench arm.