Insomnia

You shift slightly as the window opens. Alita's back from her hunt.
You scoot in the bed a bit, making more room for her. After a quick change into her PJs (you're pleased to see she's wearing the ones you bought her, with small electic sheep on them), she snuggles up into bed with you, resting her head on your chest. Naturally, your arm goes around her. "Why are you still up? It's late, and you have work in the morning..." She's absolutely right, of course, but it's not like this is the first time this has happened.

"Sorry. I just wanted to see my darling girlfriend when she returned, is that so wrong?" You smile weakly at her, knowing her eyes are better suited to the dark than yours. "Just another one of those nights, I guess."

"Mmh." She leans up to kiss your jaw, moonlight glinting off her eyes. Captivating as always, they seem to entrance you. Not for the first time, you're struck by how expressive they are. The amount of love in her gaze almost melts you. You wrap your other arm around her, pulling her on top of you. She smiles at you, but her voice is soft and gentle, and warm as a cozy blanket on a chill autumn night. "Well, I guess I can't complain too much. Even if you should be asleep, I'd miss out on this. Is it...Bad of me, if part of me hopes you're still awake when I get home? There's just something about these late night talks that I can't get anywhere else."

You begin to stroke her back, the powerful synthetic muscles somewhat warm to the touch through her thin nightshirt. No doubt a product of her earlier exertions. "I know whatcha mean. It's easy to forget the outside world, and pretend we're the only two people left on earth. And it reminds me just how lucky I am to have you, Alita.” You're always a sap, but being so tired always sends you over the edge. You'd been embarrassed about it in the past, doing whatever you could to not say anything TOO sentimental, but Alita never seemed to mind. In fact, it was the opposite, even the lamest expression of love made her eyes sparkle and rewarded you with another of her smiles. But still, you can't help commenting: “You've ruined me, encouraging this. Anyone else would call me a dork.”

She closes her eyes, a smile forming on her lips. Her voice is softer, and she seems to already be on her way to sleep. “Then it's a good thing we're never going to be apart. I love you.”

You brush her hair off her face, savoring the sight for a brief moment before your eyes close as well. “I love you too, Alita. Sweet dreams.”