That first night had been rough. Considering how exhausted he'd been, not to mention having his mind to himself, he'd been hoping for a peaceful sleep. It'd been needed, desperately, to help him organize. It felt like he'd been going almost non-stop since he and Syd swapped places and now? He could afford some rest.
Unfortunately, the dreams that suffused him were alarming. Troubling. Initially they were little more than disjointed, senseless garbage. Random bits that made for a blurry haze of tossing and turning -- he knew he was dreaming. He knew his brain was processing, trying to cleanse all the internal wirings to make a clean slate. In that place between sleep and dream, he knew this, but there'd been absolutely no controlling it. That frustration eventually exhausted him into something a little deeper.
That was when things really got fucked up. And not even on a scary scale -- no, he'd experienced enough of that thanks to every manipulated memory, thanks to diving deep into places Lenny didn't want him, or anyone else, to be. No, after the first night, it was pure, raw emotion driving his nightmares.
Anger. Regret. Sadness.
The memories tended to focus heavily on family. All the times he'd let his parents down, all the ways he'd frightened his sister. God, that he knew what his sister looked like when she was terrified well before Lenny got hold of her...
Most mornings he was awake before anyone else, giving up around two in the morning most times. The days that followed he could focus, listening to plots and plans, mostly keeping to the listening side. David knew he was out of his element here. The real world and anything to do with it tended to be a stretch for him to handle -- laying out what was essentially turning out to be battle plans left him feeling even more like a fish out of water.
But every now and again he had something to offer, some vote of confidence, a note of agreement. At one point he asked flat out if anyone else knew any more telepaths they could just recruit to force Lenny and Oliver to separate in the Astral Plane: his answer had been a bunch of solemn looks. Guess not. Sole telepath in the room. Cool.
Fourth day and David had managed to go most of it without speaking at all. Everything was internalized, thoughts drawn inwards as his body and mind continued to grow more and more exhausted. Something had to give and only one idea came to mind of what could be done. It was something he didn't feel he could do alone, however.
Instinct drove him in the right direction without much thought. David felt he would always have a connection to Syd, and not just because he still found himself moving to push away long blonde hair -- they'd shared their minds, swapped bodies, and David loved her with every fiber of his being. Connection seemed like an understatement. Especially as he sought her out now, knowing she'd be able to offer perspective, as well as be the strong foundation she'd been since day one.
And, turning a corner, there she was! The pensive expression immediately melted in favor of a warm smile as soon as he saw her, all of her. Body, mind, soul. Whatever that aura was that seemed to surround everyone if he just looked with the proverbial third eye.
"Hey," he started, only to note the attire, smile turning swiftly into a smirk. "Comfy?"