Nastya raised an eyebrow in response to her sister’s own raised eyebrows, wondering what Aglayka was thinking. It was awfully difficult to tell, and Nastya wasn’t sure if she actually wanted to know her sister’s thoughts so she kept her mouth shut and didn’t question the odd look she was receiving.
Her sister whispered and Nastya was lucky that it was so silent or she might not have heard it. Nastya’s chin wobbled as she took a steadying breath in and out as she tried to remain calm and level-headed. She wanted to tell Aglaya that she needed her, that she loved her, but as she opened her mouth Anastasiya couldn’t make the words come out and she shut her mouth again. It felt selfish to say that she wanted her sister to stay because she couldn’t continue without her. She didn’t really know how Aglayka would react to it either, she was so unpredictable these days. Her opinion of Aglayka had changed a lot in recent times. Of course, the younger of the sisters had always respected her elder, and had even always loved her in her cold, distant way. But now Nastya genuinely felt warm feelings towards her, was loyal to her sister, devoted even. “Because I’ll have no one to compete with otherwise.†Nastya blurted out the only intelligible thing that came out of her head, regretting it immediately as she looked down at her lap. Somehow that sounded even more selfish than what she had thought before. “And because…†Nastya paused, speaking in a softer tone, “you’re needed.â€
Nastya barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes as Aglaya stated the obvious. Obviously she was tired, Aglayka had literally woken her up from her first decent night’s sleep in weeks. Her elder sister was right, she absolutely should have been going to bed, after all she needed the rest because she was the one actually doing any training, but Aglaya clearly wasn’t going to bed. For some strange reason, Nastya felt that meant she couldn’t either. “I’m not of importance here,†Nastya stated quietly in reflex as she half shook her head.
Aglayka shook her head as she tried to get her to come up to bed and Nastya wanted to breathe a heavy sigh of frustration, but she tried to contain it. She was doing her best to be patient. Aglaya did look tired, after all, and she certainly wasn’t willing to haul her sister all the way up the stairs again. That kind of effort more than once was too much for her lifetime. “It’s alright.†Nastya sighed as she retracted her hand and ran it through her hair. Aglayka said she should go upstairs but Nastya shook her head, she wasn’t going to leave her. Her sister looked like she needed the company whether she wanted to admit it or not. “Okay, that’s fine.†Nastya muttered, as she didn't sit back down but instead moved towards the staircase, where the bedroom door was still ajar.
Aiming her wand at the door, Nastya quietly muttered “Accio blanket,†under her breath. Her free hand caught it as she gently laid it over Aglayka before she then glanced around the room, leaving the sofa entirely to her sister. After some hesitation, Nastya moved towards the low beam, perching on top of it. Sleep was no longer important to her, she had a feeling she’d be interrupted at some point if she tried anyway. And if she was woken up again, Anastasiya didn’t think she’d be so patient a second time around. Aglayka didn’t deserve that. Trying to be semi-productive, Nastya positioned herself into the splits, gripping the edge of the beam either side, and resting her head on her front leg, waiting for the morning to come.
[out]
