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Finn can't figure out why he's so tired.
Usually he does well with helping Bonnibel run errands, usually he's the best assistant anyone could ask for, ready to do anything that is asked of him.
But today, the sun is blazing and he just feels sluggish, every step he takes feels like dragging weights from his legs.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact he stayed up until 5am playing video games? Or maybe it doesn't. Finn's just too tired to know for sure.
So he just keeps pushing through. That's always the best course of action, right? But as he looks over at Bonnibel, he can feel concerned eyes on him.
"Finn, are you feeling alright?" She goes over to him, sitting down with him on the grass, "You look tired. You know, you don't have to keep helping, it's been 3 hours after all."
He hears what she says, but barely processes it as he just blinks, his vision seems to blur as he stares off into the distance. Despite the hot weather, it's quite a nice day, and the soft breeze feels nice against his skin. Bonnibel keeps staring at him as his own eyes close-- Not sleeping, just resting as he finds himself forgetting to even respond to her.
His mind is oddly quiet for a boy like him, it's almost refreshing in a way. On a normal day a million thoughts would be coursing through his head all at once, but right now it's just thoughts about the breeze. He just thinks about the breeze.
Actually, the one coherent thought that forms is that he should really tie his hair up. At this length, it's getting all up in his face from the wind blowing through it. He knows he has a spare hair-tie in his bag, so he reaches down to grab it. He doesn't need to open his eyes to find it, he just reaches up to tie up his hair in a bun. There, now the breeze won't inconvenience him.
"What are you doing?" Bonnibel giggles slightly, "Is that some sort of sign language?"
Finn doesn't open his eyes, "I'm just tying my hair up," His fingers tap against fabric. Wait, what?
He forces his eyes open and squints at a perplexed Bonnibel, who appears as just a vague blur to his tired eyes.
"Your hat is on, Finn," She looks a little perplexed but Finn can tell she's smiling, "Were you dreaming or something?"
He looks away from her and taps the back of his head again, then the sides, and confirms that his hair isn't even out. Not to mention his bag is sitting a fair few feet away.
"Ah... Right, I.. I think I was, sorry." He rubs his eyes, groaning, "I'll get back to work-"
"You don't have to keep helping," She cuts him off, "I told you that a minute ago."
He slowly blinks again, "You did?... Sorry, Prubs...." He scratches at the back of his neck, "I should probably have a nap or somethin, but just, y'know, I like feeling... I'unno... Handy? Is that the right word?"
Bonnibel frowns slightly and Finn doesn't know why. The brief silence afterwards feels weird.
"...You can have a nap if you want, Finn. I'll be okay for the moment."
He sighs in relief as he lays down on the grass, "Thanks, P-Bubs." He never seems to use the same nickname twice, Bonnibel notices.
Finn takes off his hat for real, but doesn't bother doing anything with his hair once he realises it's barely shoulder length.
He just goes to sleep.
After about 20 minutes, Bonnibel returns from her errands to check up on the sleeping Finn.
He's still fast asleep, turned onto his side mumbling incoherent phrases every so often.
With nothing better to do, she sits down next to him.
She notices he even flails his hands sometimes, forming vague gestures along with his slurred sentences. Although right now he only seems to use his left arm...
It's kind of amusing, actually. She wonders what really goes on inside that boy's head, she can barely remember what it's like to be that young. As he mumbles more, she occasionally recognises his slurred speech as actual words, like when he mentions a computer. She can't understand the words surrounding it, but she assumes it might be in reference to BMO.
Suddenly, Finn begins to sob, tears rolling down his cheeks as he blinks slightly, still asleep. Bonnibel gasps and watches him closely. He's still mumbling sentences, the only intelligible part being a wavering, "I'm sorry, I gotta go," followed by something unintelligible again.
Bonnibel blinks. She doesn't like that it sounds a little familiar. But she trusts that it's just a coincidence. What would Finn know about...
"I'm sorry, Princess Bubblegum..." Finn interrupts, and Bonnibel notices he's lifting his right arm for the first time in ten minutes, making a vague clasping gesture. What is he meant to be clasping? Why is he addressing her while he's doing it?
She's not sure if she wants to know, and this is the point where she decides enough is enough.
She reaches out to shake his shoulders, "Finn?"
Finn awakes shrieking, but the panic leaves his face once he sees Bonnibel close to him.
"Woah..." He sits up, hair dangling in his face, "Whuzzup, Peebles?" He mumbles, scratching his head.
"I.." She thinks for a moment, "I think you were having a nightmare or something, Finn. I was just checking on you."
As Finn blinks he feels more tears run down his cheeks, "Oh... Yeah, maybe.."
Bonnibel tilts her head, curiosity getting the better of her, "Was I in it? I heard you say my name."
Finn does a so-so gesture with his hand, "You were there earlier but you weren't in the room...?" His tone sounds unsure, as if he's already forgetting all the events of the dream.
"Hmm." Bonnibel mimics the clasping gesture, "Why were you doing this? What were you holding?"
"Nuthin, I was just testing out my..." Finn pauses, squeezing his eyes shut, "Uhh......"
Eventually he shrugs, "I dunno, sorry. I forgot in the middle of saying it."
"You forget your dreams that quickly?"
Finn lays back down lazily, "I usually forget 'em before I even wake up. I only told you stuff cause 'm still half asleep...."
Bonnibel watches him curl up on the grass, wiping the tears off of his face, "I'm goin' back to sleep, g'night Peebs."
Even though it's the middle of the day, Bonnibel replies with, "Goodnight, Finn."