Chenford + I hate going back to an empty apartment
Somewhere deep in his mind, he can hear the faint sound of knocking, but he’s too far into his sleepy state to really do anything about it. It's only when he feels Kujo’s cold wet nose pressed against his hand before he begins to bark that he finally wakes. The knocking clearer now, persistent and almost desperate, it’s enough to set his pulse racing. His blood runs cold when he grabs his phone from the side to see multiple missed calls from Lucy. Shit.
He’s up in a flash, already knowing in his gut who’s at the door. She’s in his arms the second the door opens, soaking from the rain, her hair plastered to her face as she immediately finds his embrace. Sobs rack through her body, and Tim can’t stop the guilt from overwhelming him. How long had she been there? How many times had she called him tonight? He’d promised she wouldn’t be alone now, and he’d let her down on the first night.
“Lucy.” He mumbles against the top of her head. He keeps his voice clear and concise, hoping to cut through the panic and pain going on inside her. His hands tangle in her hair as he reaches around her to push the door shut, never once letting her go. He tries to guide her further into the house, but she’s frozen, her tears still flowing in a steady stream.
“Lucy… Lucy look at me, please.” She doesn’t respond, her hands curled tight into his shirt like they had that day he’d found her. Tim takes a deep breath, rubbing her back softly, he waits patiently until she calms herself down.
“I hate going back to an empty apartment.” She mutters after a while. She’s still clinging to him, and It breaks his heart a little. He can’t fix this for her, there is nothing he can do to take her pain away. This is it. This is all he has to offer her.
Slowly he takes a step back, untangling his arms from her, and before she has a chance to react he’s lifting her up, one hand under her legs the other around her back cradling her against his chest. She doesn’t jump or even flinch as he expects. It gives him a little comfort to know that while he can’t fix this for her, but he can be her safe space.
He ignores the way her clothes soak through his, the cold water a steak contrast to her hot breath against his neck as Kujo guides them towards his room. Tim settles Lucy down on the pillows. “I’m sorry I came here… I… I didn’t know where else to go.”
“You can always come here, Lucy. Always.” He moves without thought. His hand coming up to cup her cheek, forcing her to look at him. The other settles around her waist as he kneels down in front of her. It's intimate holding her like this, in his room, with only the moonlight casting a glow across her face. He knows they’re crossing a line, one that they’ve been crossing for weeks now, one that he’s not ready to face. One he knows she is not ready for either. He wants this. He wants it badly. He thinks she might too, but now is not the right time. Not while she’s hurting. Grieving.
“I don’t want you to face this alone. I’m right here, let me help you.”
Lucy swallows. Nodding slowly, he feels her hand trace up his shirt until it’s resting above his heartbeat. Almost like she’s checking he’s still here, checking he’s alive. He lets her have a moment, waiting until he can see her visibly relax before speaking again.
“Let’s get you out of those wet clothes.” Lucy raises an eyebrow at his words, a tiny smirk playing on her lips.
“That’s not… I didn’t mean…” Tim stutters. “Get your mind out of the gutter Chen I just mean you’re soaking my sheets.”
Lucy shakes her head, a giggle falling from her lips and filling the room. That tense atmosphere from before that was overwhelming them both with feelings they weren’t quite ready to face dissipates. Tim can’t help it, before he knows it he’s laughing right alongside her.
He knows she’s not fixed. Knows they’ve both got invisible scars that will haunt them forever, but right now she’s laughing. For this single second, she’s happy. It’s only for a moment, but it’s enough. It’s a glimpse of the future they’ll have. So he gives her an old academy sweatshirt and a pair of worn joggers and holds onto her laughter long after it fades. He holds onto it for both of them.