Noramila Sleepy Drabble, 1.14.2026

Long day?” asked Mila, as Nora trudged into the bed room.

In front of others, Nora affected a certain blasé nonchalance. It took someone they trusted for them express ever more amounts of sincere emotions, a leftover from the mental harrowing their father had caused them. It never failed to make Mila feel warm and fuzzy inside, to consider the trust Nora put in her, and so, she held back a giggle at Nora’s exaggerated expression.

Nora seemed to notice Mila swallowing her laughter. They tossed one of Mila’s throw pillows at her playfully, as if to say, ‘You’re good.’

Mila took the hint. She let her power spread, filling her body from that warm feeling in her chest, as her limbs stretched and grew. It wasn’t long before she was large enough to catch the pillow as if it were a [soccer ball]. She was about to throw it back at Nora, when her partner now threw themselves at Mila. It took Mila a good moment to rearrange her brain, but she managed to scoop up Nora, holding her as if she were nothing more than a stuffed toy.

Nora nuzzled into her chest, and Mila felt fit to burst with joy. She laid her cheek on top of Nora’s head and squeezed.

“You’re such a sap.” With their face pressed into Mila, Nora’s words were muffled. “Soft and comfy though.”

Carefully, Mila eased herself onto the double cot they had set up on the floor. Between the two cots, the cushioned area was just enough that Mila fit at this elongated size; far from her full size, but big enough that she could cuddle Nora close to her. It was Mila’s favorite size to be, and Nora obliged her by starting off most nights like this.

“You want to talk about it?” asked Mila, rubbing soft circles into Nora’s back. She was rewarded with a soft moan from Nora.

“No,” said Nora. “Maybe tomorrow. Right now, I’m just…” Nora began to shift and Mila loosened her grip. They finished rotating, now nudging themselves backwards into Mila, so she brought her arms ever closer and tighter. “I’m just really tired.”

Mila bent her head until her lips brushed the top of Nora’s red hair. “Well, you’re always safe to rest in my big, strong arms, little one.” She was feeling pretty good about that line, until Nora started cackling. “Oh come on. That was decent, at least.”

She felt Nora’s hands snake around and latch around her fingers; with that, any remaining annoyance faded. Their touch was slow and firm, and entirely too adorable. They stayed in comfortable silence, still save for the gentle exploration of Nora’s fingers around her arms and hands.

Then, in a voice soft enough that Mila may have imagined it, “…I know I am.”

#

Not that feeling safe made it any easier to sleep, which was the core problem. There Nora lay, tangled and swallowed up by their beefcake of a giant cuddly girlfriend, who even now snored softly and preciously into the crown of their head. They were surrounded by a level of comfort they would have scarcely believed possible a few months back, before the several reconciliations that had transpired.

And they couldn’t sleep. They could close their eyes. They could feel the weight of exhaustion in their muscles. They mostly definitely could imagine grinding lack of energy tomorrow. But try as Nora might, wait as they might, sleep did not come.

It was nothing new—if anything, the last few nights were a clear improvement. Better to struggle with insomnia here, in Mila’s arms, comfortably in bed, then to spend all night in a whirl of activity. At least now, they had a chance to fall asleep. At least now, they might train their body to get used to an as yet unacknowledged resting hour.

Most nights, the gnawing twitchiness of sleeplessness would lead Nora to scruffle out from between Mila’s arms, shuffling tentatively around her, until they repositioned themselves behind Mila. Even Mila’s smallest, [non-shrunken size/non-recovery] size was still over a foot taller than Nora, but even so, their preferred spot was as the big spoon, holding tight onto Mila, the same position that she also preferred.

Most nights, they would trade on and off, but in the midst of their dread for the coming day, Nora found it easier to sink into Mila. A gentle grunt, and the ever-attentive Mila squeezed them closer, though they doubted she could possibly be awake.

There were worse situations to find themselves in, Nora supposed.

#

Mila