#sharing a bed

Pairing: Steve Harrington x female reader

Summary: Steve knows what he wants. He just doesn’t believe he’s allowed to have it.

Warnings: friends to lovers. one bed. words of affection. yearning. no use of y/n.

——————

 When Steve first met you, you had a boyfriend. He remembers that very clearly. 

You’d laughed at something he said - head tipped back and eyes bright with joy - and he’d thought … oh no. He could feel his heart doing a somersault. 

And then you’d said „My boyfriend loves that movie too,“ and just like that he shoved the feeling down. Because Steve Harrington, reformed idiot, does not cross this kind of line. 

So he becomes your friend. Just your friend. And it’s easy somehow. 

Movie nights with the whole gang and you teasing him about rewinding tapes at Family Video. Him stealing fries off your plate and pretending he doesn’t notices the way you look at him sometimes. 

Then one day, casually, you mentioning you broke up with your boyfriend. Steve nods, says he’s sorry it didn’t work out and absolutely does not let himself think anything else. Because if he would … he would’ve been overstepping a boundary, he could not go back from. 

A week later, everyone’s at your place. The kids are arguing about what movie to watch, someone spills popcorn, but at some point everything shifts from loud and chaotic to peaceful and warm. 

By midnight, they’re all gone. Except Steve. 

„I’ll help you clean up,“ he says, already stacking cups. 

Your both laughing over something Dustin said earlier while washing the dishes together. Time passes like it’s nothing and suddenly it’s the middle of the night. 

„I should go home.“ 

You glance at the clock on the counter. „It’s like three in the morning. You could just stay? I mean. If you want.“ 

He hesitates for half a second. „You sure?“ 

„Yeah. I’ll grab extra pillows.“ 

But your place was small. Too small to have a spare bed and your couch was drenched in sugary lemonade, that Dustin spilled by accident a few hours before. 

„I don’t mind if you don’t mind,“ you say flinching at how stupid that sounds. 

Steve smiles. „I don’t mind.“ 

You lay down on opposite sides at first, with a very obvious, polite distance between you. The darkness wraps itself around both of you like a safety blanket. 

„Goodnight, Steve,“ your voice barely a whisper. Heart beating loudly. 

„Night.“ 

Five minutes pass. Then ten. Neither you or Steve moved a muscle. 

„You still awake?“, Steve asks suddenly. 

„Yeah.“ 

You both laugh quietly like children sharing a secret. Then you start talking again, about stupid things and then about real things. Fears, hopes and childhood stories. The kind of stuff you don’t say in a crowded room. 

At some point, the space between you disappears almost naturally. Your shoulders brushing, but nothing happens until you fall asleep facing each other. 

But … it feels like something did happen. 

And then it keeps happening. The late night talks, shared blankets and hands accidentally touching in the safety of the night, repeating itself. Steve never tries anything. He never pushes further or assumes that something has to happen. 

Which only makes your crush worse, because he is so careful with you. So utterly good … so right. 

One night, the house is quiet. You’re lying on your sides again, facing each other. The soft glow of your bedside lamp as the only light source. 

Your heart is pounding so loudly you’re sure he can hear it. „Steve?“ 

„Yeah?“ 

„Can I ask you something?“ 

He sifts slightly closer. „Always.“ 

You swallow. „How do you… feel about me?“ 

The tension in the room shifts. He doesn’t joke or deflect. Steve just looks at you and for a second, he looks nervous. 

„I’ve liked you,“ he says softly. „Since the day we met.“ 

Your breath catches. 

„But you had a boyfriend,“ he continues. „And even after you broke up … I didn’t wanted to be that guy. I didn’t want you to ever think I was waiting around like some vulture.“ 

You blink, stunned. Unable to find words. 

„I wasn’t keeping my distance because I didn’t want you,“ Steve says with a gentle voice. „I was keeping it because I respect you. I’ve always been loyal to you. I always will be.“ 

You chest feels like it might burst. „So you haven’t thought about …“ you start. 

„Oh, I do,“ he cuts in softly. „Trust me. I do.“ 

You laugh a little breathlessly. „I thought I was loosing my mind,“ you admit. „I’ve liked you for months. I just didn’t know if I was imagining things.“ 

„You weren’t,“ he murmurs. 

„So,“ you whisper, heart racing. „What do we do now?“ 

He smiles - that warm, slightly shy smile that makes you melt. 

„We could,“ he says slowly while reaching for your hand. „Try this. For real. No rushing and without pressure. Just … us.“ 

Your whole face lights up. „Just us.“ 

He reaches up - hesitates for the briefest second - then brushes his thumb along your cheek. „Can I kiss you?“

You nod immediately and he leans in. Slow, to give you time to pull away. But you don’t. 

The kiss is soft, careful even and a little clumsy in the best way. His lips calming yours and a tiny moan escapes his throat. 

When you pull apart, you’re both smiling like idiots. 

„That was worth the wait,“ Steve murmurs. 

„Yeah,“ you grin. „It really was.“ 

He rests his forehead against yours and for the first time in weeks, the space between you isn’t filled with tension. Instead the warmth and certainty takes it‘s place.

You fall asleep that night tangled together. Steve’s arm wrapped around you like it belonged there from the beginning. 

———————

Thank you so much for reading! All interactions are highly appreciated 💙

Kaz and Inej who don't get over their traumas overnight.

Kaz and Inej where instead of pushing themselves to panic attacks and worse every single day, they adapt, they adjust, they get creative.

Kaz who sleeps on the side of the bed against the wall because the wall keeps him safe and ensures no one can touch him from one side.

Inej who sleeps on the open side of the bed makes for easy escapes where she can slip away if need be, and never feel like she is being trapped.

Kaz and Inej with separate comforters that if they're feeling particularly bold they can double up and share because the cold creeps in everywhere in Ketterdam.

Inej who sleeps with her hair in a bun so it never touches Kaz even though her hair doesn't usually bother him.

Inej who sleeps with her hair in a bun because it's hardest to grab that way, and gives her a feeling of control in the night.

Kaz who has a pair of lighter gloves he wears to sleep that are softer and more flexible so he doesn't have to touch anything.

Kaz who has a pair of lighter, softer gloves, so he can brush up against Inej with care without leather trapping a chill that wakes her.

Kaz and Inej eventually getting their own place with separate rooms.

Kaz's room which is used for sleeping together most of the time, but Inej can always excuse herself when she needs her space, and Kaz can always speak up when he needs his.

Kaz and Inej who have different pillows and switch those pillows when they love the idea of the other being near each other but can't physically manage it.

Leon x Gn!Reader

Leon had always been cold. Fearless. Detached. As a seasoned agent, you’d known him since your early days as recruits. You often wondered if the last bit of Leon’s soft side had faded since rising in the ranks. Or maybe, the rookie in him was just waiting for a moment to come back out.

Set between RE2R and RE4R. Can be read as pre-slash/romance or platonic. Whatever the heart desires.

Word Count: ~3.6k

Tags/Warnings: ptsd, flashbacks, hurt/comfort, reverse-comfort, agent!Reader, touch-starved!Leon, vulnerable!Leon, cuddling, crying, sharing a bed, Leon needs a hug (and gets a hug), references to RE2R, references to Tyrant/Mr. X, angst, gender-neutral reader.

A/N: I’m back! And I come with Rookie(ish) Leon as my offering. Been busy but I haven’t forgotten about all the tasty asks waiting for me (which are always open, by the way!) Thought I’d write a little warm-up to get me out of my block which eventually turned into a full-blown fic. Hope whoever reads enjoys it! 🖤🩶🤍

rhaeniczzZZZZ

Because yeah maybe they've shared a bed before but it still feels new and tentative, like another wall between them just came down and now they have no idea what to do with this new level of intimacy

Eddie breaks the silence first with a hushed "you okay?" And Buck just nods wordlessly because he's a little terrified of speaking and somehow ruining this whole thing even though it was Eddie that had insisted on sharing and it was Eddie that'd said that any perceived privacy and boundaries was not worth the damage inflicted from spending night after night on the couch

So now he's here, next to Eddie on his bed, staring at his best friend's face and cataloging it in a way he'd never been quite allowed to do before. The beauty mark under his eye didn't seem so black in colour now. It's more grey?

Something must be playing across his face because Eddie asks again. "What's wrong?"

Buck licks his lips, shrugging helplessly and ignoring that way Eddie's eyes had flicked down by his mouth to track that movement. "I feel a little worried."

"worried?"

"yeah, I don't want to accidentally kick you during the night. Or-or even make you uncomfortable by getting too close."

Surprisingly Eddie chuckles. "Too close? Buck we're sharing a bed, I think that ship has sailed"

"no it hasn't"

Eddie rolls his eyes, "Buck we're even sharing a blanket, it's fine"

"well, what if you feel something you don't want to" Buck rushes out, feeling stupid. He knows that some awkward situations are unavoidable and the only way out of them is through. The morning after a one night stand. The beginning of an agreed upon threesome when no one knows how to start it off smoothly. Talking to your best friend about possible morning wood.

Eddie frowns at him, clearly not getting it. "What?" He says, baffled.

Buck pointedly glances downwards, shifting his hips for emphasis.

There's a sharp intake of breath when it clicks for Eddie. "Oh, um..." his cheeks are tinged red, visible even in the moonlight from the window. And he's avoiding Buck's eyes for the first time since they slipped into bed together.

"that's-that's fine too"

Buck raises his eyebrows, staring skeptically at him, the corner of his mouth ticking up.

Eddie huffs when he glances at his expression, his foot kicking at him indignantly. "It is. It's not like it'll be the first time I felt a boner against me"

Buck chokes. "What?"

Eddie just shrugs, turning more scarlet "it wasn't exactly warm and cosy sleeping in the barracks or out in the open in a foreign country. We used to huddle together for warmth, and sometimes even for just comfort. The occasional morning wood against your thigh or back was just ignored."

"oh"

"like I said, it's fine, don't worry about it"

But Buck is worried. He's very worried.

"and what if -" Buck finds himself pushing again. It's like he's searching for a reason for Eddie to kick him out of bed, listing all the possible reasons it could get real awkward later on, even if that's the last thing he wants. What he actually wants is — "what-what if I cuddled you?"

"What?" Eddie asks, even more baffled than before.

"accidentally!" Buck rushes to explain, feeling himself heat up, "I — I meant, what if I moved around in my sleep and accidentally got an arm around you or something. It'll be like I was spooning you all night"

Eddie gets quiet after that, eyes darting around and biting his lip in contemplation. Then he gives Buck a small and hesitant smile

"So, let's spoon all night then"

Buck just gapes at the man shifting closer to him, hyper aware of the way their knees were overlapping now and the hot breath ghosting across his lower face as Eddie speaks again.

"if you cuddle me before sleeping, you don't have to worry about it during sleeping."

"Eddie..."

A palm lands softly on Buck's hip, fingers caressing the skin where the hem of his shirt had ridden up a little. "Come on, Buck," Eddie urges, squeezing, "I just want us to be comfortable."

Buck swallows, frozen with indecision. Then, Eddie's hand slips further in, thumb massaging at the small of his back.

God, Buck wants.

His other arm that had been lying still between them moves jerkily until it hovers over Eddie's waist.

Buck looks back at Eddie one last time, checking to see if he'd changed his mind. But Eddie just looks undeterred, gaze steady and calm

When Buck finally touches, it burns.

Eddie's skin is so hot against his, sending a shiver up his arm. It feels like the shock of entering a hot tub with steaming water, before it settles down into comfortable warmth.

Circling his waist, Buck tugs and Eddie comes easily.

They're chest to chest in a second, Eddie's arm nestling between them as the one of his hip slides fully around him, an anchor point to pull himself closer with. Their noses nudge together for a second before Eddie ducks his head, nosing into his neck, allowing them to shuffle closer still. Their legs intertwine fully now, the long limbs twisted enough for Buck to lose track of which belongs to him.

Eddie hums, nuzzling closer until he gets comfortable and sighs contently. "Now you can't kick me during the night either."

Buck laughs breathily, resting his chin stop Eddie's head, his hand rubbing soothingly on his back. Yeah, he could get used to this.

He closes his eyes, smiling.

"Good night, Buck."

➥ pairings. blue lock character x reader insert

➥ featuring. isagi yoichi & itoshi rin (seperate)

➥ tags. fluff

Prompt:

You're visiting Blue Lock, but accidentally stay past visitor hours, consequently being trapped with nowhere to go.

Masterlist

Isagi Yoichi

"Shit."

Isagi pounded his fist against the entrance door.

With a frustrated sigh, he turned to you, his shoulders sagged.

"We're... trapped."

Your eyes widened. "Seriously? When can I get out then?" You shivered. "This place makes me think about Squid Game."

Isagi furrowed his eyebrows in thought. "Maybe you can sneak out tomorrow morning? I believe with the visitor's pass," he nodded at the card around your neck, "you'll be able to bypass the gates."

"So I should just... stay the night?" You postulated.

A red flush overtook Isagi's features. "Maybe? I think? Unless you want to be caught by Ego..." Isagi trailed off, and with good reason.

If Ego would catch notice that you had overstayed long past visitor's hours, you wouldn't want to imagine what sorts of punishments he'd inflict upon you.

What if he made you do lifting? Squads? Cardio.

You sighed. "I guess it isn't too bad. But where can I stay though?"

Isagi chewed his lip. "Maybe a spare room? Or in an individual practice room?"

You cringed at the thought. Laying down on sweat-soaked grass for several hours was not really an appealing prospect.

But Isagi's first idea could maybe work out.

"Alright then." You conceded. "So we just have to... scavenge the place and see if there are any rooms to spare?"

"You got it!"

No, you didn't get it.

The Blue Lock facility was a damned maze. And for what good reason?

There were countless of hallways, each of them intersecting with more hallways, that, surprise, surprise, segued into even more hallways.

And what you didn't get at all, was why Ego felt the need to install over a dozen of training rooms and not even one spare room.

Okay, granted, Blue Lock wasn't really made with the purpose of catering impromptu guests, but ensuring enough sleeping quarters should at least be high on the list, right?

Wrong.

You dragged a hand over your face. "Ugh, this is pointless." After what seemed like hours that you've been searching, even those stupid sweat-soaked training facilities looked appealing to you.

Isagi chuckled awkwardly. "Maybe there is one behind..." He pulled open a door, "this one!" But behind the door was yet another screening room.

Isagi deflated in disappointment. "Shucks. At this rate, I don't think we'll find anything."

Your heart sank in your chest. Shit, did that mean--

"Or you can sleep with me?"

--the training grounds.

You choked.

Isagi hastily patted your back, a sheepish expression on his face. "Sorry uh... wrong phrasing. I meant to say, maybe you can sleep in my room?"

Your cheeks exploded. Rooming together... with Isagi?

"But... don't you have roommates?"

"Oh yeah, shit." Isagi rubbed his neck. "But maybe we can make it work? Like, we can sneak inside, while they're all sleeping?"

You pursed your lips in thought. Maybe it could work, but it had a high probability of failing. What if the others would notice there was another person in the room?

But then again, it was the only way.

"Alright."

Isagi's eyes widened. "Alright?"

You nodded. "But I'll have to leave before the others wake up."

"I'll set an alarm." Isagi promised.

Setting an alarm had ultimately been proven useless.

Why?

Well, it all started when you snuck in Isagi's joint dormitory at the unholy time of 2 am. (Thanks to Hiori being an insomniac gamer).

So you were dead tired, which of course would prompt a long, deep sleep.

And secondly, Isagi.

Luckily, Isagi's bed was big, so you didn't have to worry about falling off.

But unfortunately, it wasn't big enough to sustain two people while simultaneously leaving ample personal space.

You were just shy from pressing against Isagi. His breathing was maybe a little too irregular for you to believe he was actually sleeping, but by his slack posture, he probably wanted you to believe he was.

Isagi was warm. His body heat seeped into yours, even though there were no existing contact points between the two of you.

In a normal situation, you would've probably been a lot more freaked out about the current state of affairs. However, because of the ungodly hours you had been awake, your body was practically beat.

And with Isagi's inviting warmth, it didn't take you long to be swayed by the allure of sleep.

However, Isagi's warmth was both a blessing and a curse: it had helped you with dozing off, but it had also kept you asleep, even when Isagi's alarm blared like a jet engine about to take off.

Though, even if it was basically rabid dog level of screeching, your ears didn't pick up on it.

But the others had.

Confused murmers rose from the frazzled roommates, wondering who in the hell would set an alarm, when they all knew Ego would probably wake them up at an uncostly hour.

"Ugh... can someone stop that sound, sound?"

"I don't know where its comin' from, turn it off."

But the alarm kept blaring.

Finally, having had enough, Hiori stomped out of his bed, his hair sticking to all sides. He slugged over to the source of the noise, and slapped the alarm.

But all lethargy evaporated as he noticed the big bump on Isagi's bed.

His first thought was that Isagi had gained weight.

His second thought was that some sort of monster had eaten Isagi.

"Guys!" Hiori shouted, "Take a look!"

Yukimiya and Kurona got out of bed, eyes still hazy from sleep, but the grogginess faded when they saw the enormous bulge in Isagi's bed.

"Maybe Isagi sleeps with pillows, pillows?" Kurona offered.

"Or he was eaten by monsters." Hiori supplied.

Yukimiya narrowed his eyes. Then, he lifted the covers.

A collective gasp.

"I think this even worse than monsters..." Hiori mumbled.

"My eyes, my eyes!" Kurona slapped his hands over his eyes and promptly fell on the ground.

A loud slam! resounded through the room.

Movement stirred from the bed.

The three roommates froze.

"What are you..." Isagi let out a huge yawn, "guys doing?"

"What... what are we doin'?" Hiori raised an eyebrow. "What have ya been doin'?"

Isagi blinked slowly. "What have I been doing...?"

"Isagi?"

Isagi froze. They all froze.

Face heating up to insurmountable temperatures, Isagi looked downwards.

You were practically half-sprawled out over his lap, arms slung around his waist, sleepy face pressed against his torso.

His cheeks exploded.

"I... uh... this is not what it looks like!" Isagi stammered, his face resembling a tomato.

"Oh really?" Yukimiya countered, "Then what is she doing in your bed?"

"We lost track of time and we couldn't leave so we... we..." Isagi made a vague gesture that was supposed to explain the situation but it did nothing except for pushing aside some molecules in the air.

"Uh-uh. I see." Yukimiya nodded, sagely, as if he actually understood what the fuck Isagi was on about. (Spoiler alert: he didn't).

"Please don't tell Ego." Isagi pleaded. "I don't want to plank for ten minutes like Bachira."

Hiori pursed his lips, actually contemplating it. The fucking sadist.

"M'kay."

Isagi's eyebrows tilted. "For real?"

"Yeah, for real, real?" Kurona turned to Hiori.

"Yes. But ya owe us." Hiori grinned. There was a dark gleam in his eye.

"Ah... okay." Isagi went for a smile, but it was painfully forced. He didn't know whether he should be grateful or scared shitless.

"Alright, let's give the love birds some time alone." Hiori practically pushed the others out of the room. "Don't do things I wouldn't do!" He yelled over his shoulder before he slammed the door closed.

"Don't do things... Hiori!" Isagi's face was beet red.

But the only answer he got, was the faint sound of cackling, ominous, laughter.

A shudder ran along Isagi's back, his hands clenching the sheets.

"'Sagi?" You murmured, still half-asleep. "Cold?"

"Uh yeah... a little." Isagi admitted, though his face told him otherwise.

"Come." You drowsily pulled at his arm.

Isagi stilled.

Then, almost reverently, Isagi slipped deeper under the covers, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

"Is this... okay?" Isagi whispered, slinging an arm over your back, pressing you closer against his chest.

"More than okay." You sighed, snuggling your face closer into his neck.

"I... uh. Okay. Yes! That's good! Very good! Do you... maybe want to get up? Not that I want you to leave, but our alarm went off and we might not have enough ti--"

"We have enough time." You decided, pressing infinitesimally closer. He smelled like cedarwood and mint. "Just five more minutes."

"Five more minutes," Isagi repeated. "Okay, that's fine. Totally."

It did not, in fact, take five minutes. Those five minutes turned into ten, twenty, thirty seven and two seconds, until finally, finally, after an hour, there was some loud bonking on the door.

Maybe later, you would regret your actions. Because being scolded by one intimidating Ego, laughed at by a vindictive Hiori and known as "Isagi's girlfriend" by the majority of Blue Lock, would surely haunt you to your grave.

But now, now you relished in the alluring warmth that was Isagi, Isagi with his pretty blue eyes and a heart that ran warmer than the sun.

(And with a very, very warm body that was now your new pillow).

Itoshi Rin

He was not stressing. Nope. Nuh uh.

"Fucking goddammit!" He slammed his fist against the door.

...see? That's a totally normal reaction when things aren't going your way.

"Uhm... Rin?" You hovered next to him, wondering if you should step in and risk suffering the same fate as the poor door, or if maybe letting him rage for a few seconds would be more preferable.

"I... damnit." Rin's jaw clenched, but when he turned to you, the hard edges around his glare faded away.

"That NPC closed all the doors." Rin hissed.

"Well... maybe I can just... stay here?" You suggested. "Surely there will be some space in this enormous building."

At that, Rin seemed to calm down a bit. "Let's go find something then."

"I'm fucking sick of this place." Rin spat, kicking a door in.

Well, there went the peace.

"Okay, wait." You said hastily, before Rin could wreak havoc on another inanimate object. "What about your room?"

Rin stilled. His eyes narrowed. "What about my room?"

You shuffled on the spot. "...Maybe I can sleep on the ground?"

"I have roommates."

"We can sneak inside?"

"Sneak inside." Rin repeated.

"Yeah, I mean, it's just for one night, right?"

Rin stared at you for a few debilitating seconds.

Then, "Fine."

"Fine?" You repeated.

"Do I need to say things twice?" Rin grumped, ears tinted red.

"Let's go." He practically stomped away.

Because you had it bad, you followed him.

Having arrived at Rin's room, you scoured the hallways, mindful of every rustle, every stray noise that gave away another person's existence.

Rin pressed his ear against the door. "The coast's clear. Come on." He stepped inside, motioning for you to follow him.

You did. But you almost wished you hadn't.

"Eugh, what's that?!" You shrieked, soul almost jumping ten feet in the air.

Rin followed your line of sight and rolled his eyes. "That's antennae freak's underwear."

Ooookay. You chuckled awkwardly, taking a huge step around it. Maybe this was a bad idea.

"Here." Rin said as only preamble before he threw a hoodie in your face.

You spluttered, the hoodie falling in your hands. It smelled like aftercare ointments and fresh lavender. Like Rin. Your brain shortcircuited.

"What?" Rin groused.

"Uh... nothing!" You hastily said, before stepping closer to what seemed like Rin's corner of the room.

Luckily for you, Rin's side was neat and clean, as opposed to the pigsties that were the other corners.

Hm. Maybe you could sleep right in that corner, it didn't look very comfortable, but if it was just for one night, then it shouldn't be a problem, right?

You curled up on the floor, Rin's hoodie serving as a blanket. Huh. Aside from the harsh underground, this wasn't so bad.

"What the fuck are you doing."

You sat up. "Finding a good spot?"

"This again?" Rin waved his hand. "Come up here."

Your eyes widened. Rin, infamous private person, basically a germaphobe with how averse he was to touch, invited you in his bed?

"Why do I have to say everything twice?" Rin sighed. "You're a dead giveaway there."

Ah, so that's why. You scrambled from your spot, sliding in Rin's bed, the mattress dipping under your weight.

"Are you going to use my hoodie as a plushie now?" Rin lifted an eyebrow at you.

You followed his gaze, where his clothing piece was crumbled in a ball in your fist.

Rin pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're creasing it."

He snatched his hoodie out of your hands, and pushed it over your head.

You wrought your head through the opening, lavender all around you. Your cheeks flushed at the proximity between you two.

Up this close, you could see the tiny flecks in Rin's teal eyes, the long bottom lashes that fluttered against his soft skin. The soft dip in his pink lips.

"Hopeless." He murmured, but the bite was absent.

You inhaled shakily.

At the sound, Rin snapped back to his default grumpy mode. He took the two strings and pulled.

You blinked, but before you could react, the hoodie was screwed around your face, obscuring your vision.

You spluttered, blowing a hair from your mouth as you pulled the hoodie down.

Rin's back was turned to you, his hair splayed against the pillows. His ears were red.

"Sleep." Rin commanded to the wall, his voice hoarse.

As if on cue, you let out a yawn, tucking the covers nicely around you.

It was warm in Rin's bed, but you didn't know if that was because of Rin's body warmth or his thick hoodie.

Either way, you were contented, swallowed by the surprisingly soft blankets.

"Good night."

"...Night."

You closed your eyes, and just as sleep pulled you in, you could've sworn you felt a phantom touch along your waist.

"Underlashes Junior! Wake up!" A shrill voice hollered.

"Rin Rin Rin!" A high pitched voice chanted.

"Shut the fuck up, you imbeciles." Rin rasped.

"Oi... what's that?" A finger poked your side.

Your eyes shot open.

"Licky Rin-Rin, who you got in thereee?"

That was the only warning you got, before the covers were crudely thrown away.

"What the..."

"Who's that?!" The high pitched voice shrieked.

"Ugh..." You rubbed your temples, all the shouting accumulating in a migraine-inducing headache.

"It's a woman!" The high pitched voice exclaimed, before fleeing the scene.

"Oohhh is that Rin-Rin's girlie? He drools in his sleep!"

"No I fucking don't! Get lost."

You looked to the side, and saw Rin, still tucked underneath the covers to his abdomen, donning a furious expression.

"It's our room, too, Lashes." A pink streaked blondie teased. Ah, that must be antennae fre--Shidou. "But if you want to go all explosive..." Shidou tucked his hands in his pockets, a wide grin on his face. "Then go bam!"

"No, we fucking won't. Now get out, before I kick you out, you damned leech!" Rin hissed, his hand unconsciously clenching the sheets.

"Okay, okay!" Shidou threw his hands up in a placating manner, "Straightforward, aren't you? You like a bossy man?" Shidou winked at you.

Rin's eye twitched.

"Come on, Charles, let's make some explosions!" Shidou carted Charles out of the room, who had been lurking behind a bed after he'd screamed "It's a woman!" like a caveman.

"Rin-Rin wants some alone time with his gi--"

Rin stomped out of bed, basically shoved Shidou and Charles outside, and kicked the door shut.

You watched it happen with widened eyes.

Rin dragged a hand along his face, his eyes still fuming. "Don't mind that damn freak." He swept the cover from the floor and threw it on the bed.

"You have some interesting roommates." You laughed.

"They're not interesting. They're a pain." Rin grumbled. "Let's go already before they come back."

You slid out of the bed and helped Rin arrange all the pillows and the covers, before you both left the ravaged room.

All the while, Rin didn't even look at you, quietly smoothening out the creases in the fabric.

But you looked at him.

Rin on a normal day was a treat. All sharp edges, and even sharper eyes. Posture ram-rod straight and a permanent scowl fixed on his lips.

But Rin at 6 am in the morning was a feast.

Now, he was still sharp. But dulled. His shirt was haphazardly fluttering above his sweat pants. A scowl was still on his face, but sleep had made his eyes a little softer, his hair a little more messy.

He was beautiful.

But he was breathtaking when he bid you goodbye at the entrance of Blue Lock, not quite looking at you, not quite looking away either.

"Oh, I still have yo--"

"Keep it." Rin interjected, chancing a glance at you, then immediately looking away.

"...looks good on you." He mumbled, ears pinched red. Your chest lurched.

"Alright... I guess I'll go then." You hesitatently waved a hand at him, walking away from the entrance. Rin still hadn't looked you in the eye.

But you could've sworn you felt his stare in your back, still sharp but dulled.

Softened.

Yeah. Maybe that was the best way to describe Rin, Rin who watched you walk away for who knows how long, until you were a mere stip on the horizon, until the thrumming of his frantic heart ceased.

And only after that did he turn away, his eyes softened, mellowed, holding something that looked a little bit too much like lo--

Rin abruptly turned inside.

That was a story for next time. Now, dealing with the two devil roommates seemed more pressing.

Rin sighed, mentally preparing himself for the worst.

But it had been worth it.

No, you had been worth it.

Because if a little taunting and teasing is what it took for you to walk away with Rin's hoodie and a piece of his heart, then what was all that in the face of lo--

No, nope.

He was not ready for that.

But if Rin's heart quickened even just a little, who could tell what had been the cause of it?

© Do not copy my works, use it in AI or ChatGPT, or for other nefarious means.

Like Damien waking up with a gasp because he just dreamt that Bruce died in a brutal way right in front of him; and you know how in your dreams you can’t move as fast as you want to, that happeneds to him and he was stuck there forced to watch his father die in front of him.

And it takes him a moment to realize what happened but he eventually recognizes it was a dream. He knows the manor is safe and that no one could get in without anyone knowing. He knows that Bruce is fine…

But he has to go make sure, because what if that dream was his brain trying to tell him something. What if Bruce stopped breathing in the night and nobody knows. What if he’s had a stroke or a seizure… yea it’s better to just go check. A quick glance to make sure he’s okay.

So he goes to Bruce’s room determined to not get caught. Just in and out and he’ll go back to bed.

But Bruce has always been a light sleeper, and is always aware of his surroundings even in his sleep. He wakes up after hearing the floor creak ready to attack, grabbing the batarang that he keeps under his mattress ready to strike only to stop once he see’s Damien.

“Dami? What happened? Is something wrong?”

Damien just kinda stands there shocked at how quick Bruce went from Batman to Bruce so quickly.

“Nothing is wrong father, I’m sorry for disturbing you. I will go back to bed.”

Damien turns to leave only for Bruce to stop him. “Damien” Bruce calls out softly “Would you like to sleep in here with me tonight?” he says, with a fond look on his face.

Damien silently contemplates Bruce’s offer, not wanting to look weak in front of Bruce but wanting to stay.

Bruce can see the turmoil on his sons face, so he just scoots over on the bed and lifts the blanket. Not saying anything to rush Damien but letting him know he wants him there.

At his father’s actions, Damien silently crawls into Bruce’s bed. Bruce covers them both, letting Damien have his space.

Wanting to know what happened to make his son want comfort, but not wanting to push. But he can see that something is wrong.

“Dami” Bruce calls out. “Are you okay?”

“Of course father, why would you believe otherwise.” Damien says not looking at Bruce.

Bruce throws a look his way that Damien doesn’t see. “You don’t normally come in my room at night.”

Damien doesn’t say anything for a while but Bruce can see he’s hesitant about something. So he just gives him time, just watching the different emotions pass on Damien’s face.

After a while Damien finally says “I had a nightmare.” And Bruce…, Bruce is familiar with those, he’s had them since his parents died. He knows what they can do to a person because he’s the living proof.

“Do you want to tell me what happened in your dream?”

Damien takes a long pause, so long that Bruce thinks that he’s not going to respond, but he eventually whispers…

“I had a dream that you died… and I had to watch as you were brutally murdered in front of me, and I couldn’t do anything about it.”

There was a tense silence in the air after Damien spoke. Scared he just shouldn’t have spoken at all, but before he could make any type of move, Bruce turned and pulled Damien into his arms.

Damien stiffens at his father’s movements, not use to embracing like this with Bruce. “I’m sorry you had a nightmare, but I’m happy you came to me when you wanted to.” Bruce says as he rubs Damien’s back.

Damien goes slack in Bruce’s arm at his ministrations. In a small voice, spoken into Bruce’s chest Damien says. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I’m sorry I woke you up baba.”

“It’s okay Dami, you can always wake me up.” Bruce pauses for a moment before continuing. “I use to get those nightmares all the time when I was younger. I still get them from time to time.”

Damien looks up a little at Bruce’s words

“I would also crawl into Alfred’s bed when I had them. Most of the time they were about my parents, but a lot of them were about Alfred dying. So I would go check on him while he slept as well .”

Damien’s face looks shocked at what Bruce just told him. Not expecting Bruce to admit that he use to crawl into Alfred’s bed. But it makes him feel better knowing that Bruce understands his feelings.

Damien looks back down to hide in Bruce’s chest but also to discreetly listen to his heartbeat. Just to add that last bit of reassurance that Bruce was okay.

And that’s how they fall asleep, Damien feeling protected in his father’s embrace. Bruce stroking his son’s hair to lull him back to unconsciousness.