❝𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐚❞

Third one from the left looked like a rabbit. The fourth one looked like your sleep schedule. A mess.

You sighed, trying not to move too much. You didn't want to wake him. He needed his rest. He always looked a little less haunted in the morning when he slept well, the shadows under his eyes fading just slightly.

You were so focused on being still that you didn't notice his breathing change.

"Baby?"

His voice was barely a whisper. Sleep-drunk and soft around the edges.

You froze. "Did I wake you? I'm sorry, I tried to—"

"S'okay." He didn't even open his eyes. His hand just slid from your hair down to your cheek, his thumb brushing back and forth in a motion so tender it made your throat tight. "Knew you were still awake."

"How?"

"I can hear you thinking," he murmured, and you could hear the fond, sleepy smile in his voice. "Can hear it. Buzz buzz buzz."

You huffed a quiet laugh despite yourself. "I don't buzz."

"You do." He pulled you closer, tucking your head right under his chin, and you were suddenly surrounded by nothing but Yuuta. Warm skin and slow heartbeat and the faint scent of the lavender soap he used because you once said you liked it. "Little bee. My little bee. Always buzzing."

You felt him press a kiss to the crown of your head. Soft. Lingering. Like he had all the time in the world and wanted to spend every second of it right here.

"I'll be your flower," he continued, the words slurring together with exhaustion and sincerity. "Bee can land on me. Rest."

Your eyes were stinging. "Yuuta..."

"And I'll be your honey," he added, impossibly softer. "So you don't have to make any. Just... be. Just sleep."

His hand found your back again, but this time he wasn't drawing stars. He was just holding you. Like you were something precious. Something worth protecting from even your own cruel mind.

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me," he breathed, and it was so quiet, so unguarded. "Want you to be happy. Want you to rest. Please rest, baby. Please."

Something in your chest cracked open, honey-warm and aching.

"Okay," you whispered back, your voice wobbly. "Okay. I'll rest."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

You felt his whole body relax at that, like your promise was the only thing he'd been waiting for. His heartbeat under your ear slowed further, steady and sure.

"Good," he mumbled. "Love you. Love you more than... than all the bees. All the flowers. Everything."

And before you could even process the sweetness of that half-asleep declaration, he was gone again, slipped back into dreams with you cradled against his chest like a treasure he'd guard forever.

You closed your eyes. Wrapped in Yuuta's arms with his love settled around you like a second blanket, you felt your buzzing mind finally, finally go quiet.

Because how could you not fall asleep, when your personal lullaby was the sound of his heart whispering I love you, I love you, I love you against your ear?