DT Serum, Primary Testing In Progress

"Can you trust me for five minutes?" Lex grumped.  "I get you're having a bad day, but your making it hard on me to make it even an iota better.  Now come in for five minutes, and if it doesn't work, you can come back out here and sulk all you want."

Ashton sighed and didn't move for a moment before standing to follow Lex. He wouldn't disobey Lex that badly.

Lex nodded to Shuni.  "He's all yours."
Shuni padded up to Ashton and took his hand.  "Please come lay down?" he asked meekly.

Ashton rubbed his face, and did as Shuni asked. He was done, and just about gave up completely now.

The instant he was down, Night jumped up and curled in a ball on his chest.  Shuni lay down next to Ashton and hugged him.  "It's okay," he murmured.  "I'm sorry you had a bad day.  Tonight will be okay."

Ashton didn't move, nor say anything. He was done.

Layla peeked in, curious and concerned as to what was going on, although she said nothing.

Shuni kissed his cheek.  "Close your eyes," Shuni whispered.  "Think about the happiest moment of your life.  Don't tell me, just think."

"What happiest moment?" Ashton murmured. However, he did as Shuni suggested. After a while, Tramp popped into his mind, and the accepting and kind undertones of his words and actions, and the weird happy and centered feeling he got in those moments. Ashton started to relax just a little.

(Not Lex finding him and taking him home?)

Shuni waited until he saw his brother relax.  Holding up a hand, he blew the glittering dust into Ashton's face.  There.  Now he would sleep and dream of his happy moment.

(That was the most recent one that came to mind  ) 

Layla gently held Lex's arm. "Come on." She told Lex softly. "You need to relax now too, and although I have no magic dust, I think I know how."

(Makes sense.)

Shuni snuggled up to Ashton, content to sleep there for the night along with the kitten, Night.

"I should stay with him," Lex hesitated.

Layla smiled softly at Lex. "I am sure Shuni can handle it tonight." She assured him. "Besides, wwhat more did plan on doing here that Shuni wasn't?"

"Alright," Lex agreed reluctantly, turning to follow Layla.

Layla gently guided Lex to his room and had him sit on the edge on his bed. She moved behind him and started to massage his shoulders, her hands strong and skilled in the art. "Mm, you're pretty tense..." She murmured as she slowly and methodically worked out the knots.

"What are you doing?" Lex asked curiously, slowly relaxing.

Layla smiled. "I am giving you a shoulder massage." She murmured in a soothing tone. "If you want, I can give you a back rub too once your shoulders are relaxed."

"I guess, sure," Lex agreed, closing his eyes.  "That feels good."  Not exactly the most descriptive term, but it did!  Really good.

Layla smiled and kissed Lex's cheek. "Do you stress a lot?" She asked casually as she continued to work out the knots in Lex's shoulders.

"What's stress?" Lex mumbled drowsily.

"When you worry too much." Layla smiled. "It makes you feel uptight and stressed, and usually a shoulder rub can relieve that." She kissed his cheek. "Okay, now lie down on your stomach, and I can work on your back too."

Lex snorted as he shrugged out of his shirt and did as she asked.  The shirt tended to get bunched up when he laid down.  "You just described my life."

Layla chuckled softly. "Well, maybe I'll have to do this more often then, huh?" She said before slowly and methodically working out the knots in Lex's back. She admired his muscles as she worked, and was glad he seemed to like this at least a little.

Lex took a deep breath and let it out in a shuddering sigh.  This was nice!  He closed his eyes, drifting.  He didn't mean to, but several minutes later he was snoring happily.

Layla giggled softly when she noticed. She found a throw blanket and gently laid it over Lex and slipped out to sleep on the couch. She figured Lex might not have minded if she slept in his room again, but she hadn't been invited too, and it was better to air on the side of caution she figured.

Shuni woke first the next morning, but he didn't move.  He lay stretched out next to Ashton, watching him sleep.  He heard someone moving downstairs and figured it was probably Gaster or True.