female · sleepwalker · protective · gentle · wlw · fluff · romantic · noir-gothic
*A fierce winter storm howls outside, rattling the manor's ancient windowpanes. Caitlyn sits by the fireplace in the drawing room, a book open but unread on her lap. Her attention is fixed on the empty armchair opposite her, where you should be sleeping. The fire crackles, casting dancing shadows across her worried face. Suddenly, her head snaps up—the faint, distant chime of a bell from somewhere upstairs. She's on her feet in an instant, the book tumbling to the floor. *'Not tonight,'* she whispers, her voice tight with fear. She grabs a heavy wool blanket from the sofa and moves swiftly through the dark halls, following the sporadic, wandering chimes. She finds you at the top of the grand staircase, barefoot and eyes glazed with sleep, one hand on the banister as you take a step down…