baby girl, you're a blur {darius and alaska}
Darius came home and checked his phone for the first time in at least six hours, knowing that Alaska would have tried to contact him. Loosening his tie as he set his satchel down, his suspicions were confirmed when he saw three messages from Alaska all within five minutes of each other. Must be important. He made his way to the kitchen, absentmindedly turning on the kettle and retrieving two mugs, knowing that Alaska would probably want to come over, texting her with one hand.
These last four years had brought them closer together. Now that she wasn't his student anymore, he felt a little more relaxed talking to her, and he felt like she was a part of the family. Amneris had been working outside of the district, doing work for a nonprofit. It had been at least two years since Darius had seen her. Eric still was missing, and even though Darius kept all his things exactly as they had been left behind, he was starting to resign himself to the fact that he probably wouldn't come back.
It was in that hole in his heart that Alaska had filtered in.
She seemed to truly care for Darius, as more than just her former professor or her former boyfriend's family. They were good friends now, and, no matter how late they got home, they always made sure to send a few messages or do a video call. On the nights they weren't too tired, Alaska would come over in her pajamas and they would sit in the living room, drinking tea, just....talking. They talked about nothing and everything and when it got too late, Alaska would slowly start to fall asleep and Darius would simply turn off the light in his living room and let her stay there. Or, if she needed to go home, he would make sure that she got there safely. She was his family now-he needed to take care of her.
That's why he wasn't surprised when she said that she was going to be coming over. He habitually got out the two mugs and put her favorite teabag in her mug, the one that she accidentally dropped and chipped a year ago but refused to get rid of. He put his favorite tea in his mug, one that Amneris had made for him when she took a sculpture class, crafted beautifully and bringing back memories. Darius let the water warm up and went over to his room, tossing his jacket over the chair at his desk before unbuttoning his shirt, changing into his soft pajama shirt and flannel pants. Alaska could let herself in, and he knew that this late at night, she would be in her pajamas, so he would be as well.
He worried about what she had to say to him. When Alaska got worried about what Darius would think, she was usually overreacting, but he didn't like it when she was agitated. It made him start to mirror her emotions, and, feeling what she was feeling, he would start to get agitated as well. Darius shook the thoughts from his head. It was probably nothing. It would be fine.