Work Text:
Blue Sargent was tired. No, she was exhausted.
Exhausted from school. Exhausted from work. Exhausted from her family life. Just…exhausted. Blue didn’t understand it, no matter how she budgeted her time and adhered to a consistent sleep schedule, she’s always been perpetually exhausted.
Blue blinked away her drowsiness, focusing on where she was headed, Monmouth of course. It would’ve been easier to call Gansey and ask for a ride, he’d have been delighted to spend any extra time he could with her. However, Blue needed time to herself to think and recharge. As much as she loves her drives in the Pig with Gansey, there’s something different about riding her bike to Monmouth. Maybe it was the fresh air. Maybe it was the rhythmic pedaling of her bike, perhaps. Most of all, Blue felt alive. She didn’t feel tired, exhausted, or overwhelmed. Physically exhausted, sure, but just being outside cleared her mind.
Monmouth quickly came into view as Blue pulled up to the building, a bright orange camaro sitting in the front parking lot. She smiled to herself, Gansey was home. Blue quickly raced up the stairs to the front door, barely able to knock before the door swung open.
“Jane!” Blue smiled, taking in the appearance of Gansey. His shirt was wrinkled ever so slightly, his hair a mess, as if he had just woken up from a long nap. His wireframes perched on his nose, crooked as well. However, it was Gansey;s grin that filled Blue with butterflies. It was a grin he only reserved for her, one filled with love and adoration.
“Hi,” She breathed out, slightly flustered from the bike ride here and Gansey’s smile.
“Here, come inside. I know you must be tired,” Gansey said, grabbing her hand and pulling her inside the building. He shut the door with his foot and swept Blue up in his arms. Blue shrieked as she was lifted off the floor.
“Gansey! Put me down!” She managed between giggles. Gansey simply just grinned at her, spinning her around and pressing kisses to her neck and cheek.
“What? Am I not allowed to greet my wonderful girlfriend?” Blue smacked him on his arm but rolled her eyes fondly. Gansey set her down and grabbed her hand once more, leasing her to his bed in the middle of the room. Blue all but collapsed onto his bed, content to just breath in the scent of Gansey and get off her feet.
“So. How was school? Work?” Gansey asked, lying next to her on the bed. Blue mumbled an inaudible reply, Gansey laughed. “What was that again? This time with less mattress.”
“I said, school was tiring, work was tiring. I’m tired.”
“I’m sorry, Jane.”
“It’s not your fault. It was my choice to take a full class schedule on top of my shifts at Nino’s. I have no one to blame but myself.”
“But still, I’m sorry. You deserve a break sometime.”
“What, and go Welsh king hunting with you?” Blue teased, grinning at him and poking him in the cheek. Gansey’s eyes twinkled as he flashed her a playful grin,“Why, of course!”
Gansey's expression softened as he looked at Blue knowingly. “Something’s bothering you, what is it? You don’t need to tell me if you don’t want to, but I would like to help.”
“It’s nothing. Stupid, really.”
“Jane.”
“Dick.”
“If something upsets you, it’s not stupid. Not in the slightest,” Gansey said, fumbling for her hand on the bed before finding it and clasping it tight. Blue opened her mouth as if she was going to say something but then hesitated. She averted her gaze from Gansy, instead focusing on their intertwined hands.
“I’ve just been feeling really tired lately,” she said. “I’ve been getting enough sleep and keeping a consistent sleep schedule, but I’m still exhausted. It's making me even more tired at the fact that I don’t know why. Sometimes, I don’t even want to get out of bed, but lying there awake weighs on me until eventually I get up. I just wish I felt like I had energy and an actual will to function like a human being.”
Gansey looked down to their hands as well, Blue could see the gears in his head turning. He swept his thumb in comforting circles on her hand, gently grounding her in the present.
“Perhaps I can help you lighten the load?” He offered. “I could help with your homework assignments from school, or show up at Nino’s during your shift as emotional support?” That was her Gansey alright. Always problem solving, always putting others needs before his own.
Blue shook her head.
“No, no. It’s alright, really. You have enough stuff to deal with, I wouldn’t want you to have to deal with my stuff on top of your own work.”
“It’s not an inconvenience at all, believe me. I care about you, Blue. I want to make things easier for you, even if it is just talking about the problem.”
“I know, Gansey. Thank you for the offer though.”
Gansey flashed her another grin, a genuine one filled with understanding. Blue let out a yawn, stretching her arms out and dropping Gansey’s hand in the process.
“Would you like to take a nap, Jane?” Gansey asked, brushing away the locks of hair covering Blue’s eyes. Blue thought about it, on the one hand if she slept now her sleep schedule would be messed up for at least a couple of days. But on the other hand, she sleeps much better when she’s with Gansey, and when he was looking at her like that, soft and loving, how could she refuse him anything?
“Yes, I’d appreciate that very much.”
Gansey smiled at her once more, shifting them around on the bed so that Blue was lying curled up on his chest, his arm wrapped around her side. Gansey buried his face in Blue’s hair, gently threading his fingers through it and taking out the hair clips holding it in place. Blue pressed her face into Gansey’s neck, breathing in the scent of mint and something unique to Gansey. Blue slipped her hand into his free one, bringing it up to her mouth to press a kiss to the back of his hand.
Gansey simply sighed into her hair, content to have her near him once more. He pressed kisses to the crown of her head, gently running his hand up and down her back.
“Sleep, Jane. I’ll be here when you wake,” Gansey murmured. Blue let her eyes fall shut as Gansey’s warmth and ministrations lulled her to sleep. There, curled up on Gansey’s chest with his face in her hair and arms and legs intertwined with one another, Blue finally felt rested.