COZY LITTLE MUMMY ⋆ ˚｡ ୨୧˚ ethan landry
⋆ ★ loudly woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of a fire alarm going off in the dorms, you were smart enough to grab a blanket before you left. too bad the cute guy a few rooms over forgot to do the same, and he looks cold.
cw ᝰ.ᐟ sfw ,, up to you whether you want ethan to be ghostface here or not it’s not mentioned ,, fluff ,, ethan doesn’t know how to talk to people ,, gn!reader
PURPOSELY LOWERCASE 🎧 &&. written on iphone sorry if funky =)
the graphite-lullaby hidden deep in the city seemed to bring you a sense of security lathered in warmth and the feeling of a fluffy and soft blanket wrapped around your body like a self made cocoon.
as you lay there, cozy and safe while feeling the surroundings around you all fade away as you surrendered yourself to the night, eyelids droopy and body giving its final notice for the day; there was only one thing on your mind, and that was nothing at all.
at least, that’s how it was.
a loud screeching sound you could only identify as a fire alarm seemed to rip itself through the sound barrier, blazing a blinding white light through under the cracks of your door and the frenzy and panic of students hustling through the hallways stirred you away from the rest of your sleep you were desperately chasing after.
though you wished to ignore it, to flip over and continue into your peaceful bliss, you knew better, mumbling tired insults and swears under your breath at the idiot who probably started the fire.
scooting out of bed, blanket still wrapped around you and hair going in what felt like every which way, you slid on some shoes as quickly as possible, reaching for your phone with a yawn and holding it close to you while walking up to your door, flinging it open and immediately being met with a mass of students fleeing down the hallways.
you wanna let out an agitated sound but decide against in, shutting your dorm door behind you before finding a spot along the crowd to escape the building from, scampering through the halls and down the stairs to exit the building.
into the rich tapestry of a darkened blue your shoes meet the stoney pavement of the outside, walking along the path to find yourself located now in the blackmore university dorm room school parking lot where almost a hundred other students were, talking to their friends in awe about the situation and already starting small and useless gossip about what could’ve happened or who started the flames.
you find yourself standing alone under the lucid moon, a cold night breeze dancing it’s way past you.
classmates were swarmed all around like a hive of insects, blankets and jackets alike covering the bodies of others as the chilly wind made itself known.
you glanced around, hugging the security of your own cloth material closer to your body.
you’re unsure what to do, standing around as you wait for the okay signal to go back in. you could be outside for minutes. it could be up to an hour.
in the sea of bundled up students, your gaze landed upon a familiar figure standing alone, hugging himself in a futile attempt to ward off the biting cold. it was ethan, the shy boy from a few dorms down, now shivering without the warmth of a blanket or jacket to call his own.
his usually neat hair was disheveled with bed head, sticking out in awkward tufts from the chill. his arms were wrapped tightly around his slender frame, hands clutching at the thin fabric of his shirt. the material did little to protect him from the elements and you could see his teeth chattering slightly as he tried to stamp his slides against the icy ground.
despite the darkness and chaos of the other students surrounding you both, there was something about ethans solitary figure that caught your attention. maybe it was the vulnerability he exuded, or perhaps the fact that you had shared a few awkward smiles in passing before. whatever the reason, you found yourself drawn to him.
tucking the blanket tighter around your shoulders, you made your way over to where the curly haired boy stood, the cold night air nipping at your heels. as you approached, he glanced up, his brown eyes wide and startled. a faint blush crept up his neck as he noticed your approach and he quickly dropped his gaze, staring down at his slides peeking out from under his pajama pants.
"uh, hi," ethan stammered, his voice slightly hoarse from the cold. "did you.., did you need something?" he rubbed his arms, trying to generate some warmth. the chill was evident in the goosebumps prickling his skin and the way he hunched his shoulders.
you stopped a few feet away from him, the blanket wrapped snugly around you. "i was just going to offer to share my blanket," you said, gesturing to the extra material draped over your shoulders. "you look pretty cold, and i have enough room under here for one more."
ethans eyes widened in surprise and he opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. he glanced down at your blanket, then back up at you, a mix of gratitude and disbelief on his face. "oh, um, thank you," he finally managed to say, a shy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
you couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle at the boys flustered state, finding his awkwardness oddly endearing. "well, we can't have you turning into a human popsicle out here," you teased, shrugging off a portion of the blanket and taking a step closer to him.
his gaze flickering from your face to the offered blanket and back again. he swallowed hard, adam's apple bobbing in his slender throat. "i, um, i don't know what to say," he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. "i don't want to impose..."
you rolled your eyes playfully, shaking your head. "don't be silly," you interrupted, reaching out to drape the extra blanket around his narrow shoulders. "its not like I'm going to let you freeze to death out here."
as you settled the blanket around him, your fingers brushed against his arm and you felt him shiver, though whether it was from the cold or your touch, you couldn't be sure. the blanket was a bit too large for his slender frame and he had to tug at it a few times to get it to stay put.
"there," you spoke with satisfaction, "much better. you look like a cozy little mummy now."
the landry boys blush deepened at your words, spreading across his cheeks and even dipping down to color the tips of his ears. "a mummy?" he repeated, sounding slightly scandalized. "i don't know if i should be flattered by that comparison."
shrugging, you grinned at him impishly. "well, you know what they say - if the blanket fits..." you quipped, letting the joke hang in the air between you.
he opened his mouth as if to retort, but then closed it again, shaking his head in rueful amusement. "that… was horrible," he said, but there was a note of fondness in his voice that belied the words. a ghost of a smile even threatened to reveal itself beyond his lips.
ethan let out a soft, surprised laugh. "though i suppose i should just be grateful you're not trying to shank me underneath this thing and bury me alive, blanket and all."
you couldn't help but grin back at him, feeling a sense of camaraderie blossoming between you in the midst of the chaotic evacuation. "i did say you looked like a cozy little mummy," you pointed out, leaning in closer to him as you spoke. in doing so, your shoulders brushed against each other, the combined warmth of your shared blanket and proximity creating a pleasant contrast to the biting cold.
the brunettes breath hitched slightly at the contact, and he glanced down at where your shoulders touched, a faint blush still dusting his cheeks. "i suppose i should count my blessings then," he murmured, a hint of playfulness entering his voice. "though im not sure id make a very good mummy. id get too restless and try to claw my way out of the wrappings."
"probably," you agreed, nodding sagely. "you don't strike me as the patient type." as you spoke, you realized that you were still standing quite close to him, your faces mere inches apart. the soft blanket draped over your shared shoulders, cocooning you both in a warm, intimate space amidst the chilly night and the chatter of your dorm mates.
his gaze flicked up to meet yours, and for a moment, there was a charged silence between you. the air seemed to still and you had the sudden, crazy thought that he might lean in and close the scant distance between your lips. but then he blinked and the moment passed.
"guess you've got me all figured out then," his voice dropped to a soft whisper, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "though im not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing." he mumbled under his breath, and there was a note of something unreadable in his voice, a hint of meaning beneath the words. you decided to ignore it, not wanting to pry.
it was a heady feeling lingering in the air, one that made your heart race and your skin prickle with something more than just the cold.
but as quickly as it had come, it had gone. he cleared his throat, glancing away as if suddenly self-conscious about your proximity.
"anyway, um, thanks again for the blanket," he said, fingering the edge of it nervously. "youre.. really nice to share it with me like this."
shrugging, you tried to act casual even as your pulse continued to flutter in your chest. "its no big deal," you assured him, though you knew it was a small lie. sharing your blanket with the boy felt like a big deal, even if you couldn't quite put your finger on why.
as if sensing your thoughts, he glanced back at you, a tentative smile on his face. "im still glad you did," his voice was gentle, a warmth coated in his words that didn’t quite reach the depth behind his intense eyes that bore into yours. it was like he was this flustered shy school boy and this cocky, intelligent and confident student all at the same time.
you felt a warmth bloom in your chest at his words, and you found yourself smiling back at him, your eyes meeting his in the dim light. "yeah," you agreed, your voice just as soft. "no problem."
for a moment you simply stood there, shoulder to shoulder, sharing your blanket. it was strange, you thought, how you could feel so at ease with someone you barely knew. but then again, maybe it wasn't so strange after all. sometimes, you just clicked with people, and there was no rhyme or reason to it.
suddenly, a gust of wind whipped through the parking lot, sending your hair flying and the blanket fluttering. ethan let out a startled yelp as the cold air hit his face, and he instinctively leaned closer to you, seeking shelter under the blanket.
you laughed at his reaction, your eyes sparkling with mirth. "careful, the wind might carry you away like a tumbleweed," you teased, teasingly holding onto the blanket to keep him anchored.
he rolled his eyes, but a reluctant smile tugged at his lips. "ha ha. very funny." sarcasm laced his words, but there was no real bite. "ill have you know im not that easily blown away."
"oh, that right?" you challenged playfully, a mischievous glint in your eye. "from where im standing, you look like a human kite in this wind."
his smile widened, a hint of laughter escaping him. "i would at least be a cute kite. or a cool one." he retorted, a note of playfulness in his voice.
you couldn't argue with that assessment, not with the way his chocolate brown hair was whipping around in the wind and his eyes were sparkling with humor. "cute" was definitely the right word for ethan in that moment.
you grinned at his response, feeling a surge of warmth that had nothing to do with the blanket wrapped around you. " youd be a cute kite." you teased, bumping your shoulder against his in a friendly gesture.
ethan blushed at your words, ducking his head slightly to hide the reddening of his cheeks. "i, uh, i wasn't..." he stammered, before catching himself and shaking his head. "n-nevermind."
you chuckled, amused by his flustered state. he huffed, but you could see the smile he was trying to suppress.
he opened his mouth, eager to find some sort of retort to half-ass, but hesitated, closing his mouth again.
the second time he goes to open it, he gets cut off.
a sudden announcement crackled over the loudspeaker. "attention all residents, the fire was a false alarm and the building has been deemed safe after inspection. you may now return to your dorms."
around you the sea of students began to stir, the chatter and murmurs growing louder as they prepared to head back inside. Ethan glanced up at the sound, his eyes widening slightly as he processed the news.
"well, that's good," he said, a note of relief in his voice. he shifted as if to move, but then paused, seeming to remember the blanket still draped over his shoulders. he looked at you questioningly. "should we, um, should we head back too?"
you hummed, tugging the blanket a bit tighter around yourself. "we shall," you agreed.
he nodded and fell into step beside you as you began to make your way back towards the dorms. the blanket draped over your shoulders, binding you together.
as you walked, you couldn't help but steal glances at ethan from the corner of your eye. his cheeks were still tinged pink and he kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, as if determined not to meet your eyes. it was cute, really, how easily you could fluster him.
a gust of wind caught the blanket just as you finally made it inside the building, threatening to pull the cloth off your shoulders. ethan stumbled slightly, and instinctively, he reached out to grab onto you, his hand finding your wrist. "whoa," he said, steadying himself. "sorry about that."
you acted on impulse, enjoying his touch too much and suddenly feeling bold and not wanting ethan to stumble again. as he regained his balance, you reached out and grasped his hand, lacing your fingers with his. the boys eyes widened in surprise at the sudden contact, and he glanced down at your intertwined hands before meeting your gaze.
"careful," you said softly, a playful smile on your lips as you guided him to walk closer to you, your hands still clasped together. "wouldnt want you to fall and take me down with you."
his blush deepened to a shade of red you didn't think was possible, spreading from his cheeks down to the tip of his nose. he swallowed hard, his adams apple bobbing. "i-i, um, ‘m being careful," he said, his voice slightly hoarse and extremely quiet.
you and ethan walked hand in hand through the now quiet school halls, the ruckus fading as more kids made it to their rooms. the only sounds were the distant murmurs of your fellow students who hadn’t yet made it inside and the soft shuffling of your feet on the linoleum floor. the emergency lights cast an eerie glow, casting long shadows that danced and swayed with each step.
the brown eyed boys hand felt warm and slightly clammy in yours, a testament to his nervousness. you could feel the delicate bones of his fingers, the calluses from where he gripped his pencil too tightly as he studied. it was a comforting feeling to have his hand in yours. it almost gave you a sense of responsibility, too. like you had to guide him to safety.
as you turned the corner, the long hallway stretched out before you, leading towards the dormitory wing. ethan's arm continued to brush against yours as you walked, the contact sending a little shiver down your spine.
ethan stumbled slightly, his foot catching on the carpet. he tightened his grip on your hand, and instinctively, you pulled him closer to steady him. he collided with your side, his shoulder pressing against the back of yours.
"shit! s-sorry," he mumbled, his face flushed and his gaze downcast. "im not usually this clumsy, i swear.” he trails off in embarrassment.
you giggled, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "its okay," you said, your voice soft and reassuring. "ive got you.”
he swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. "i, um, you, ah..." he stammered, his usual awkwardness amplified by your comforting tone.
you couldn't help but find his reaction endearing, the way he got all tongue-tied and red-faced at the slightest bit of kindness.
as you continued your walk down the hallway, closer to your room, he seemed to lean into you slightly, as if seeking comfort and support.
suddenly, just before you reach your door, ethan stopped short, pulling you up with him. "wait," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "i just wanted to, uh, thank you. for everything." he glanced down at your intertwined hands, then back up at you, a shy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "youve been really nice to me tonight."
you smiled softly at his heartfelt thanks, feeling a warm glow spread through your chest. "of course," you said, giving his hand a final squeeze before gently pulling your fingers from his grasp.
with that, you reached up and tugged the blanket off of ethans shoulders, tossing it over your forearm. he looked down at the fabric, then back up at you, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
"don't be a stranger now," you said with a playful wink. "and try not to miss me too much until our next fire drill."
ethan blushed, a shy smile tugging at his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck. "ill try not to," he said, but there was a note of hesitation in his voice that made you wonder if he was telling the truth.
you turned and slipped inside your room, closing the door softly behind you. for a long moment, you leaned against the door, a silly grin on your face as you replayed the events of the night in your head.
on the other side of the door, ethan stood frozen, staring at the now closed door as if he could see right through it. the intense, blazing look in his eyes softened into a thoughtful gaze, a myriad of emotions flickering across his face.
a fierce feeling bubbled in his gut, a confusing mix of gratitude, longing, and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on. he pressed a hand against the door, as if trying to preserve the warmth and closeness of the moment, before letting out a soft sigh.
his heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the closed door. the intensity of his gaze could have burned a hole through the wood, so consumed was he by the sudden overwhelming urge to see you again.
he didn't understand it.
this feeling that had taken hold of him.
It was new and scary, but also exhilarating in a way he had never experienced before.
all he knew was that he couldn't let this be the last time he talked to you.
` ੈ˚ ★ a / n : i would suck the meat off this man btw :3
started 8.5.2023. finished 1.15.2025.
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