Atobe's body shot up, jolted wide awake by what he'd seen in his sleep. He panted slightly, and he was covered in a fine layer of sweat.

What he had seen...the most horrible thing his subconscious mind could ever fathom.

"Are you alright?" Tezuka asked sleepily beside him. Apparently the movement had woken him too.

"Yeah." Atobe's heart rate slowed to a normal pace, and he became more aware of his surroundings. "It was just a dream."

Tezuka gave an "ah," then turned to go back to sleep, but after a minute Atobe had pressed up against his back, wrapping his arms tightly around him. "You're sure you're alright?"

Atobe nodded against his lover's back. "Just...don't ever die on me, ok?"

"...What?"

"Promise me!"

Turning around so they were facing, Tezuka kissed Atobe softly. "Ok. I promise."

There was no need for a verbal response; Atobe's body relaxed without him even having realized he was so tense. The dream must have had more of an effect on him than he'd thought.

But Tezuka was here with him now, and he was alive and promised to stay that way. And he believed him, because Tezuka didn't lie. Even if it wasn't something a person really had control over, and it was a promise nobody could be sure they'd be able to keep, it made Atobe feel better to hear it, and he let himself pretend it was so.

And with that comfort, he fell back into a peaceful sleep, filled with only good dreams.