genre : fluff; more than friends, less than lovers
tags: unresolved sexual tension if you squint, domestic fluff, cuddles, kakashi has a hair pulling kink
synopsis : responsibilities drained the life out of kakashi. when you suggested that he comes sleep and rest at your place whenever he's too tired to make the way to his house, you never expected the hokage to completely let you in, seeking your warmth and longstanding affection to get him through his days.
or in which kakashi comes one evening, exhausted but content to fall asleep in your arms.
wc : 2.9k
a/n: this was very much inspired by yamato’s prompt from this hc by bttrflybb like i couldn’t stopppp thinking about a kakashi ver so here it is
masterlist
you told kakashi he didn't need to knock to come into your appartment. he never even used to. he was always more of a breaking-in-silently-and-give-you-a-heart-attack kind of guy.
but for some reasons, he'd always knock now. you suspected he thought he was respecting your privacy, which was ridiculous, given that you'd known each other since ANBU, and then again after, when you'd both quietly found your way back to each other as regular jōnin. you had been friends for a decade now. though 'friends' seemed like a word only accurate to the extent of a map - technically correct, missing most of the texture. you knew you weren't friends with him the way you were friends with others.
still, he now knocked. you thought about teasing him for it, but eh. he had enough going on.
things had changed since he became hokage. you had never seen him so disheartened. one time when you handed in your mission's report, you were commenting on how rarely you crossed paths with him these days until you caught his glassy eyes, his dark circles, his back hunched under the weight of exhaustion.
"kakashi," you had frowned, stopping in your tracks. "are you ok?"
it had taken some insistence for him to spill his guts, but he was never one to resist you, and you had known exactly how to get your way with him since approximately your second year in ANBU. when you realized just how much this new function consumed him - not just the work, but the isolation too - something tugged at your heart. guilt, for not having noticed sooner. concern, definitely. and... well, that other thing too.
it was what drove you to offer him to sleep over at your apartment whenever he left the office too late, or had to come in too early. your house was indeed conveniently located just a few minutes away - a handful of seconds if he bothered to use the rooftops, which you knew he would.
he'd made an odd sound, eyes wide and alert. something between a cough and a stutter; and you'd watched him try to find a reason to say no with red ears and come up empty. you'd ignore your own blush you could feel creep in under his intense stare. instead, you'd shove his shoulder playfully, a smile eating your face as you looked up to him fondly. "i don't have spares, but i don't doubt the window will do just fine for you."
you were surprised he proved you wrong three days later. and then ever since. more and more frequently.
sometimes, you were asleep or even away on missions, and in those cases, you wondered how much time he waited behind the door before entering. the thought put a small smile on your face as you walked towards your entrance.
as usual nowadays, a soft knock had disrupted your evening. not like you had stayed up waiting for him or anything... no, you were just... coincidentally awake.
"hey," you opened gently.
kakashi was leaning on the doorframe, his hokage hat dangling from two fingers like he forgot he was holding it, his shoulders dropping under the weight of the world and his right eye, tired, softening imperceptibly when he landed on you.
"you look awful."
there was a teasing tone in your voice that did not escape him. "thank you," he sighed, stepping inside. "i feel awful too."
he stepped out of his sandals, automatically placing them right by yours as he had started doing since month one. his vest found its place on the back of the chair he'd slowly claim as his - the one you stopped using around month two, carefully setting it aside for kakashi even on the days he was not there.
you let him undress, walking back to the stove where soup was waiting to be re-heated. "aw," you cooed, still teasing him. "what put my favourite hokage in this state?"
kakashi sighed, making his way towards you. "there was a council meeting." a long exhale punctuated the explanation. "five hours."
suddenly, you felt his presence way too close to you - one hand resting right next to yours near the gas cooker, his body almost caging you against the stove but not quite touching you. your heart rate picked up, shoulders stiffening until you felt a tingle on your collarbone. grey hair brushed softly against your cheek until kakashi fully nestled his chin in the crook of your neck, resting his weight on you, his eyes closing in exhaustion.
"need help?" he mumbled, his mask barely retaining the breath that caressed your skin and sent a chill down your spine.
your heart melted. occasionally living with kakashi meant witnessing sides of him you didn't expect. for instance, you knew he never was one for physical contact. you didn't know if it was the lateness of the hour or the intimacy of four walls and a roof, but with you, he turned clingy sometimes, needy even, in a way you never saw him be before.
"all good kashi," you answered softly, and you could've sworn he hummed in contentment at the nickname. "go rest. i'll bring you dinner."
he didn't make a move yet. you'd thought he fell asleep right here still standing up, head resting on your shoulder if he hadn't thanked you, his hand travelling to your hips to give a light, grateful, squeeze. you bit your lips, cursing your body's reaction and the way your breath hitched every time he'd get close to you.
when he tore himself away finally your mind cleared, your heart's frenetic gallop slowing down only ever so slightly. well, that was until you noticed a splash of colour on your table from the corner of your eyes. a fresh bouquet of pink lilies - your favourites - proudly spilled from the edge of your previously empty vase. this sneaky- when did he even find time to get those? or even put them here without me noticing?
your questions didn't tame the surge of affection you now felt.
when you entered his room - well, the guest room, but really, his room now - with an irrepressible smile and two bowls of soup in your hand, he was exactly where you expected him to be. sat cross-legged on his bed, his back against the wall, head tipped up toward the ceiling, eyes closed, looking as drained as he probably was. you didn't let your eyes wander on the muscular arms that poured from his sleeveless tank top. nope, definitely not oggling him.
you settled on the bed next to him and set a bowl in his hand.
"thank you, y/n."
he always said 'thank you' with an intensity way too excessive for a simple polite formula, searching for your eyes and looking at you in a mysterious, pensive way.
"my pleasure, lord sixth," you deflected, a chuckled leaving your lips when his eyes drooped.
he let out a small groan. "it's bad enough others keep calling me that, please don't start."
you swung his way so that your shoulder gently bumped his. "my most sincere apologies, lord hokage, sixth of the name. are you still feeling shy about your outstanding, once-in-a-lifetime achievement?"
"y/n."
"kakashi," you returned, matching his tone.
the corner of his eyes creased, and you knew his mask was hiding a smile.
well, until it wasn't anymore.
the butterflies in your stomach always fluttered their wings frantically whenever kakashi'd slid down his mask before you. it was just not his handsome face - which, trust, was out of this world - but also the sheer intimacy, vulnerability, and trust that the gesture implied.
unbeknownst to you, the ninja enjoyed just as much the warmth of sharing this well-kept side of him with you. plus, he loved seeing you all flustered, pretending he couldn't feel you trying not to stare even after countless meals where he chose to stop hiding from you. it filled him with pride and a giddy sensation to know he had that effect on you. so what if he abused of it a bit from time to time?
"so, five hours, uh?" you said eventually, curious about this day. "finally settling the whole mission filing system reform thing then. you did a lot of talking in there?"
"not exactly," he winced, grim. "they didn't received my suggestion well to settle it with a coin at hour two. thought it better to keep to myself after that."
he knew you'd be looking at him with a shocked expression, and the corners of his mouth curled.
you gave him a stern look. "kakashi."
"though i also suggested they were welcome to do the filing themselves if they had such strong opinions about it."
"kakashi."
you pressed your lips together very hard, suppressing a laugh. he glanced at you sidelong, that single grey eye catching the light and sparkling with amusement, fondly scanning your reaction.
soon, the bowls emptied and his head found the wall again, eyes drifting shut. you admired his profile as the tension held in his features slowly disappeared. your brave, selfless, tiny bit lazy but admirable kakashi, bound by responsabilities he never asked for. he was far from the wilderness - the freedom - of your S-ranks missions now, and there was no doubt in your mind he missed the thrill of adventure.
you took his bowl from his loosening grip before it could tip.
"hey," you kept your voice low. "don't sleep sitting up, you'll feel horrible."
"m'fine," he muttered.
"you need a good night of sleep, kakashi," you set both bowls aside on the nightstand and shifted to face him. "don't be stubborn."
a long pause. "...don't go."
the words startled you. kakashi was never one for confessions.
your hand hesitated as it rose. "okay," you murmured, the beats of your heart resonating in your entire self. slowly, shifting on the bed, you let your fingers graze the side of his jaw, guiding his head, and then his entire body, to lay down, his head resting on your lap. kakashi's right eye fluttered opened, scanning your face in silence, too long for your own comfort. "sleep," you ordered, and he made a show of closing his eye right back and sighing in content.
a lock of grey hair slipped, brushing the side of his eye to lodge against his nose. without thinking, you reached over and pushed the hair back from his forehead. you felt kakashi's entire body stiffen, and, realizing what you just did, you stilled. but he moved into your hand, silently beckoning you to continue. slowly, you let your fingers move tentatively through the silver strands, unhurried, tracing no particular path. his breath heaved, and you wondered if it was just because he was falling asleep.
you let your thoughts wander as you admired his features, enjoying the softness of his hair.
"sleeping yet?" you whispered, barely audibly.
"'m not tired," he answered back, making you frown with confusion. the man just collapsed from exhaustion. "you can talk," he added, knowing you too well not to sense you had a question on the tip of your tongue.
"i saw tenzō yesterday," you said, and kakashi's head shifted on your lap.
"...ah."
you knew he knew where you were getting at, and his little innocence act was not holding up. "he looked like he hadn't slept since the fourth great war."
"tenzō is very dedicated to his work."
you raised a dubious brow. "kakashi."
"he volunteered, actually-"
catching him in his lie, you tugged at his hair. not hard, but a firm pull at the root, meant as a gentle punishment and not as anything else. certainly not something that elicited such a reaction from him. the noise he made was not very successfully swallowed - it'd been quiet, very quiet, and brief, and he covered it almost immediately with a rough exhale, but you felt it.
oh.
kakashi jumped up, out of your lap, red tainting his entire face as he looked anywhere but at you.
something warm unfurled in your chest and travelled somewhere it had absolutely no business going, you stared at the wall ahead. that was... interesting.
a long moment passed. then another.
"...you were saying," kakashi cleared his throat at last. careful and robotic like a man insisting nothing happened. "something about tenzō."
the devil on your shoulder tempted you to torture the man a bit by letting the moment drag, playing clueless, watching him getting all flustered. but one look of his stiff, straight body made you take pity. mostly.
"right," you couldn't control the amused edge of your tone. "you can't keep guilt tripping him into taking on your paperwork load. you know he can't refuse you anything."
"i handle plenty of work myself," he replied, a slight pout in his voice that you only ever heard in the privacy of your apartment. he really is like a puppy sometimes, the thought popped into your mind. so needy.
"i know," you laughed, letting yourself fall on the bed, laying on your back and looking up at kakashi. "and i know you're saturated with the new mission report system. but come on. spare the poor man."
a sigh. a long pause. "i'll make it up to him," the hokage conceded.
"you will," you agreed. "starting tomorrow."
"starting tomorrow," he nodded, admitting defeat.
you let out a satisfied hum.
the weight of the bed dipped under you, and suddenly kakashi was laying next to you, putting a respectful distance between your bodies - as much as he could on the one-person bed he usually occupied alone.
"you're terrible," you heard him mutter, but his face turned just far enough that you couldn't quite make out the rest. you wiggled on the bed, trying to find a comfortable position where you could read the words on his lips.
"what are you even grumpy about now," you muttered as you attempted to roll over.
suddenly, a muscular arm grabbed your middle, pinning you to the mattress. you gasped, stunned by the sight of him propped up on his elbow above you. "stop kicking me," he scolded, playful, his tired eye tracing fondly the curves of your face.
"i couldn't hear what you were saying."
"i said you're terrible," he repeated. "they all go through you. tenzō, naruto. the others. they know if they want something you'll find a way to get me to do it." a pause. "it's irritating."
"maybe stop pretending you don't hear them then."
you chuckled at the face he pulled, half exasperated and half resigned. "aw, poor you," you cooed, one hand rising to cradle the side of his face. "everyone using me to get to the great and terrible sixth hokage."
his eyes fluttered at your touch. you hadn't noticed before, but he truly was battling sleep ever since he finished eating, just for the sake of talking with you. your heart melted, that familiar fond exasperation sitting warm in your chest.
"maybe they come to me because i know your weaknesses," you lowered your voice, and, sensing he was starting to lose his battle, you made space for him and he took it immediately, his head settling right below yours.
you never had him so close physically, yet it did not feel weird. when the rest of his body moved, you felt his hesitancy, his stiffness, but you let him make his own choice, deciding what was too much or not for him. his arm ended up draping over you, bringing you closer than you think he'd want. a content sigh brushed over your skin.
you thought the conversation died before you heard his question, "such as?"
a smile threatened to rip your face into. he was almost half asleep, warm and serene against you. you felt a bit guilt closing your trap on him but...
you let the pause stretch just long enough.
"such as a raging hair pulling kink, for instance."
the effect was instantaneous.
the red that had barely faded from his ears came back more bright than it was before, flooding up his neck, across his cheeks, all the way to the tips of his ears in a single catastrophic wave. he made a sound that was not a word.
then, with the quiet dignity of a man who had run out of all other options, kakashi hatake, sixth hokage, legendary warrior and copy ninja, buried his face directly into the curve of your neck to hide his blush.
“knew you wouldn’t let that slide…”
you burst out laughing, unable to hear if he had replied anything. for reading so much smut, he surely got shy with alarming ease.
at least you were sure he was no longer dwelling on council meetings and mission filing systems. your fingers found their way again to the nape of his neck, brushing gently over his skin, soothing.
you were still smiling at the ceiling. his hair was soft against your jaw and his breath was warm and he was heavy and probably a bit embarrassed at your side and you had never in your life felt more fond of another human being.
"go to sleep, kashi," you murmured softly.
a long exhale - then his arm, still around your middle, pulled you imperceptibly closer.
"goodnight," he muttered, and the tenderness with which he said it made your heart race.
Please picture this: it's the first time you've stayed the night at Bucky's place, though you spend almost as much time there as you do at your place. Alpine loves you, but you're kind of worried that she'll be angry or upset that you're also cuddling her human at night.
Flash forward, and you're sound asleep. You wake up to Bucky trying to convince Alpine that she's in his spot and that he's also allowed to sleep by you, because the second he got up for something she settled into his place and claimed you.
You don’t think you’re nervous until you’re standing in Bucky’s bedroom in socked feet, holding an overnight bag like it might bite you.
You practically live here already. Your toothbrush has been in his bathroom for weeks. Your hoodie hangs on the back of his chair. Alpine knows the sound of your footsteps and greets you at the door like you belong there. Still—this feels different. Sleeping here. Staying the whole night.
Bucky notices immediately.
“You okay?” he asks softly, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed loose and relaxed. Alpine is already at your ankles, circling like a fluffy little shark, tail flicking.
“I’m fine,” you say, which is a lie. “Just… first night jitters, I guess.”
He smiles, small and fond. “She already claimed you, y’know.”
You look down. Alpine has plopped directly onto your feet, sitting like a sentry.
“That’s actually what I’m worried about,” you admit, lowering your voice like she might understand. “What if she gets mad that I’m… you know. In your bed. With you.”
Bucky snorts, then immediately softens when Alpine looks up at him. “She gets mad if I sit in the wrong chair. You’re fine.”
Still, later, when you’re brushing your teeth side by side, you catch yourself glancing at the cat bed in the corner. At the empty space on the other side of his mattress. You’ve seen Alpine curl up there before, possessive and proud.
When you finally crawl into bed, Bucky goes out of his way to make space. He keeps his arm light around your waist, like he’s giving you an out. Alpine hops up a minute later, does one slow, deliberate circle near your chest, then settles between you and Bucky with a satisfied huff.
You freeze.
“She—she’s okay, right?” you whisper.
Bucky presses a kiss to your hair. “She likes you. That’s her saying it.”
Eventually, the warmth of them both pulls you under. Bucky’s steady breathing. Alpine’s rumbling purr, loud and insistent against your ribs. You fall asleep thinking, maybe foolishly, that this might be the safest you’ve ever felt.
---
You wake up to murmuring.
Low. Careful. Slightly exasperated.
“Al, c’mon. That’s not fair.”
Your eyes stay closed as your brain catches up. The bed feels… different. Warmer on one side. Heavier on the other.
“Alpine,” Bucky whispers, trying—and failing—to keep the fondness out of his voice. “That’s my spot.”
A soft, unimpressed mrrp answers him.
You crack one eye open.
Sometime during the night, Bucky must have gotten up. Bathroom, water, nightmares—you’re not sure. What you are sure of is that Alpine has taken full advantage of his absence.
She’s sprawled exactly where he was, pressed flush against your side, one paw draped possessively over your stomach. Her chin is tucked under your jaw. You are, unmistakably, claimed.
Bucky stands at the edge of the bed, hair a mess, t-shirt wrinkled, looking betrayed.
“You don’t even like that side,” he says quietly, gesturing. “You always sleep by the window.”
Alpine flicks an ear and does not move.
You bite your lip to keep from laughing.
“I live here too,” he continues, earnest now. “I’m also allowed to sleep with my girlfriend.”
Girlfriend.
Your chest warms at the word.
Alpine’s tail swishes once. Her paw tightens, claws just barely pressing through the fabric of your shirt.
Bucky sighs. “You’re doing this on purpose.”
He tries to ease her paw away. She tightens her grip and lets out a warning trill.
“Al,” he warns, glancing at you apologetically. “Don’t bully her.”
You finally open your eyes all the way. “She’s not bullying me,” you mumble sleepily. “I think she’s protecting me.”
“That’s my job,” he says immediately.
Alpine lifts her head and stares him down.
There’s a long, silent standoff. Super soldier versus cat. The cat is winning.
Bucky scrubs a hand down his face. “I was gone for two minutes.”
“She missed me,” you say, half-asleep and teasing.
“She replaced me.”
Eventually, Bucky gives up on moving her and carefully slides in on the other side instead, crowding closer until you’re sandwiched. Alpine grumbles but allows it, adjusting just enough that she stays pressed to you while acknowledging his presence.
Bucky wraps an arm around you from behind, tucking his chin over your shoulder.
“She kicked me out of my own bed,” he mutters.
You reach back, threading your fingers through his. “You can share.”
He presses a soft kiss to your neck. “You’re worth it.”
Alpine purrs louder, victorious.
Bucky watches her for a moment, then huffs a quiet laugh. “Guess that’s it, then.”
“What?”
“She picked you.” His voice is gentle, almost reverent. “Took my place without even askin’.”
Your throat tightens. You shift just enough to kiss his knuckles. “She learned from you.”
He stills, then squeezes your hand.
The three of you settle like that—warm, tangled, claimed—until sleep pulls you back under, this time with Bucky right where he belongs and Alpine making sure neither of you even thinks about moving.
You have a napping problem. Spencer has a you problem. Featuring the classic one bed trope, nosy friends, and a 2000’s rom com.
TW: Nightmares, there was only one bed!, scheming friends (per usual), friends to lovers, potential 27 Dresses slander (it's for driving the plot it hurt me too)
I trace it all back, 3:30 AM
That night, something turned in my heart
While you were sleeping, I fell in love
While you were sleeping - Laufey
It was no secret that you could fall asleep anytime, anywhere. Spencer had seen you asleep face down on your desk, on the couches in the office, tucked in some quiet corner, or even during a night out at the bar. He had always thought you were pretty then, mixed with a flicker of jealousy that he couldn’t find rest so easily, even at home in his bed. But nothing compared to right now.
Right now, you were stunning. Well, you were always stunning. You had fallen asleep on his shoulder on the car ride to the hotel, craving the warmth and scent of someone familiar. Even Angela had gone silent from the exhaustion, but Spencer was wide awake, heart swelling as you nuzzled into his shoulder. Courtney gave him a look over their shoulder, but he couldn’t care less. He would take what he could get for now, even if it was the most fleeting moment with his crush while she was asleep.
As the Uber driver pulled up to the hotel, you woke, stretching your arms above your head and cracking your neck. You nearly punched Spencer in the face in the process.
“Damn, for someone who used me as a pillow you could be nicer.”
You realized what you’d done, putting your hands over your mouth to try and stifle your giggles. “Sorry Spence, I didn’t mean to try to hurt your precious face. How else would you make money?”
“I’ll have you know that people would go crazy for my feet if I got desperate enough.”
Your face wrinkled as you thought about how he was probably right. “Ew. Never say that again.” You shimmied out of the backseat, taking your bag from the trunk and going to the front desk where Shayne and Court were getting room keys.
“Okay, we have three rooms since Ian is staying with his friend. That’s about two of us per room I think.”
“I call not Spencer!” Angela yelled. “I love you Spence but no way. I need my girl time.” She linked arms with Alexcina and Emily, who were standing on either side of her.
You thought for a minute. “Well, I don’t know if the four of us could fit in one room, and personally I don’t want to watch Shayne and Court make out.”
A devilish look flashed in Courtney’s eye. “So why don’t you room with Spencer? That way Angela can have girl time and the two of you can have nerd time or whatever.”
You froze, heart racing. Court knew exactly what she was doing. Tentatively, you said, “I guess. It’s probably fine, right?”
Spencer just shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me as long as you don’t snore.”
You glared at him. “Fine. Give me the keys, this dork will lose them.” You snatched the keys out of Courtney’s hand as she winked at you, and you took off, muttering to yourself about stupid people and stupid Courtney and stupid London.
Spencer turned to the group, sighing. “You just had to go and provoke the beast, didn’t you?”
Shayne gave him a gentle push on the shoulder. “You can handle it buddy, go get her.”
Spencer rolled his eyes, following the gray storm cloud that surrounded his crush. He nearly crashed into you as you abruptly stopped in the doorway. He peered over her shoulder to see why and froze too.
Of course. One bed. Mischievous bitches.
“Nope. Mm mm. Not gonna happen.” You shook your head. “There has to have been some sort of mistake.”
Spencer looked at the receipt for the reservations. “Nope, no mistake, we booked three queen rooms.”
“Ugh, you’ve got to be kidding me.” You threw your stuff next to the couch then flopped down on it. “I barely slept at all on that flight, I’m exhausted.”
“You? You barely slept? Did you suddenly develop a whole new personality trait in the time it took to get from LA to London?”
“It’s not funny Spencer.” You muttered angrily into the couch. “The only sleep I got was on the drive from the airport to here.” A frustrated tear slipped out of your eye and he longed to wipe it away.
“Then take the bed.”
“No, your old man back needs it more than me.”
“I’m only like two years older than you.”
“It’s the principle of the thing.”
“Look, I get that you want your space, but I think you should sleep in the bed, you’re already grumpy enough. We’ll put up a pillow wall or something if you don’t want me to sleep on the couch.”
You pulled yourself out of your slump, hair falling in front of your face, then took two steps over to the bed and fell face first on it. Spencer thought he heard you mumble something along the lines of thank you before he watched you fall asleep, feet hanging haphazardly off the bed. He took his time getting ready for bed, being as quiet as he could. He was reluctantly setting up a pillow between the two of you when he heard you whimper. Concerned, he sat up and watched as your fists clenched the blanket.
“Please, no, get away, no!” You cried out in your sleep, starting to thrash.
Spencer shook your shoulder roughly. “Hey, it’s okay, it’s time to wake up now.”
You awoke with a start, body shaking. You rubbed your eyes furiously, trying to clear them of the sleep sand and tears. “Sorry, I need a minute.” Rushing to the bathroom, you splashed cold water on your face. You looked like a hot mess. Spencer had been kind enough to unpack your toiletries and put a pair of your pajamas in there, knowing you would inevitably wake up and realize you were uncomfortable. Of course he did. That thoughtful motherfucker.
Spencer was sitting up on the bed when you finally came out, phone glowing in the darkness of the bedroom. You sat next to him, pulling the covers up onto your lap and avoiding his gaze.
“Talk to me.” He left no room for argument.
“I have chronic nightmares. Sometimes I take sleeping pills for them, but they usually make me sleep through alarms and things. So I didn’t bring them. I figured I couldn’t miss any of this. I figured I’d be sharing a room with Emily since she knows, but…”
“You ended up with me.”
“Exactly.”
“And that’s why you nap all the time?”
“Pretty much. Sleeping for more than two hours makes my brain overactive or something.”
“And that’s why you didn’t sleep on the plane either?”
“Right on the money.” You looked at him, making out his concerned look in the dark. “Sorry for all of this.”
“You don’t need to apologize, I totally get it.” He slid down the headboard, wrapping himself in the blanket. “So what do we do to get you to sleep?”
You thought back to all of the home remedies and medications you had tried. Only one had ever really worked. But you couldn’t do that to him. Could you? But friends cuddled all the time. This could be a normal, totally platonic and not at all fantasy fueling cuddle sesh.
“Okay, you can say no, I just want to preface that.”
“Okay?”
“But the only thing that’s ever worked is, uh, cuddling.” Your face burned with embarrassment. “Andit’stotallyfineifyoudon’twanttobecausethatwouldbecrazyright.”
Little did you know, his face was flushing too, for completely different reasons. He took a deep breath, steeling himself. “Sure, if it’ll get you to sleep.”
You sunk into the pillows. “Really?”
“Yep. C’mere you.” He opened his arms, making room for you to lay against his chest. You scooched closer, tentatively wrapping your arms around him. He rested his chin on the top of your head, squeezing you in a hug as you settled in.
“Thanks Spence.”
“Of course.”
—-----
“And then we cuddled.” Angela squealed, grabbing Alexcina’s arm.
“And how did you sleep?”
“It was the best I’ve slept in a long time. Like a long long time.” Angela started bouncing up and down, fork flying out of her salad and onto the floor. As she picked it up, you slid yours into her salad. You didn’t need one to eat your sandwich anyway.
Alexcina grinned at you from across the table. “So are you gonna do it again tonight?”
You sighed dreamily, glancing at where Spencer, Ian and Sean were drinking tea at a table near you. “Is it selfish to say that I hope so?”
“I don’t think so.” She took a sip of her tea. “It’s been a long time coming.”
“He’s just being nice.”
Angela rolled her eyes. “You think that man cuddles just to be nice?”
“Absolutely yes. He’s so touchy with everyone.”
Her eyes flicked over to the boys, looking at how Spencer was leaning on Sean. “Not like how he is with you.”
As if on cue, Spencer caught your eye and came walking over to your table, slumping over on top of you. “You’ll never believe this. They forgot to give me a tea bag. I was drinking plain hot water the whole time.”
You burst into laughter, shaking the two of you violently. He grinned ear-to-ear, getting exactly the reaction he’d hoped for. “You didn’t think anything when it was clear?”
“I don’t know, it could’ve been special.”
You shook your head lightly, leaning back into him. “Only you Spence, only you.” He looked down at you, eyes flitting over your lips briefly before he stood back up.
“Well, back to being the court jester, see you later!” He practically bounded back to the boys, laughing as he went.
Alexcina and Angela were staring at you. “What?”
“Just nice my ass.” Angela muttered, downing the rest of her tea. “I need liquor after watching that.”
“Liquor? I hardly know her.”
She groaned and walked away, leaving you and Alexcina snickering in the background.
—------
The day had absolutely wiped you out. You loved your job, you really did, but sometimes you felt like you weren’t cut out for the amount of social interaction it required. You were booed when you said no to going out, but you told them you’d rather be in bed with a glass of wine and a cheesy movie than spend another minute talking to someone you didn’t know.
Reluctantly, they let you go back to the hotel, and you were very contentedly sipping a glass of cheap white wine and finishing the movie 27 Dresses when you heard the door handle click open.
Spencer kicked off his shoes and laid down next to you, looking flushed and exhausted.
“I split the G once, and I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus.”
“That’s exactly why you don’t drink anymore, stupid.”
“I know, I know, but like when in Rome y’know.” You nodded as you watched Jane walk down the aisle for the millionth time. “You really like this movie.”
You shrugged. “It’s cute.”
“Not to dog your taste, but it’s a little predictable.”
“I fear that’s the point.” He raised an eyebrow in a silent question, which prompted you to continue. “Girl meets guy, they slowly fall in love, there’s a big fight then they get back together. It’s simple and easy. No complications. Not like real life.”
“What’s wrong with real life?”
You were quiet for a minute before you settled on the words you wanted to say. “Feelings in real life are messy.”
“But isn’t that what makes it beautiful?” He was leaning on his elbow now, intently focused on what you had to say.
“I mean, you aren’t wrong, but to me it’s just confusing.”
“Tell me about it.”
You sighed and set your glass down, the alcohol fueling your openness. “So there’s this guy.” Spencer frowned for a second, but quickly replaced it with a thoughtful expression. “And I really like him, and my friends say he likes me too, but like- sometimes I just think, why would he? I’m just me. And he’s a really good friend of mine, so what if I mess up and lose him?”
“I think anyone who’d turn you down would be stupid. And he would like you for you dipshit, that’s kinda how that works.”
You leaned back against the headboard, glaring at him. “You’re just saying that to be nice.”
“Do I look nice to you? I thought I was menacing.” He stuck his tongue out at you.
You snorted. “As menacing and cute as a teddy bear.”
“Cute? That’s a new one.”
Pink crept up your neck and you turned your head away from him. “Shut up.”
He tugged on your hand that was resting in your lap. “Hey, seriously, I think you should tell that guy you like him. It might go better than you think.”
“Go put your pajamas on and stop being wise.”
He pushed himself off the bed with a Herculean effort, rolling on top of you in the process. “Cuddle time again tonight?”
Before he could disappear into the bathroom, you nodded. “Yes please.” The door gently shut behind him and his words rang in your head. ‘It might go better than you think.’ That bastard, he knew already, didn’t he.
Stupid Spencer.
—---------
Late that night, tucked into the crook of his neck, you still couldn’t fall asleep. You were too anxious, mind occupied by how easily it had been for him to read you. Had he known all this time? Did someone tell him? Was it Angela? It was definitely Angela.
After shifting to try and get more comfortable for the nth time that night, Spencer stirred from his slumber. “Your thoughts are loud.”
“Did Angela tell you?”
“Did Angela tell me what?” He murmured sleepily.
“That I like you.”
“No, I figured it out on my own. But I wanted you to tell me yourself.” You huffed at him, annoyed, and turned away from him. “Baby, come back.”
The name slipped from his mouth like it always belonged there and wormed its way into your chest. “Oh. Spence, you can’t say that.”
“Why not? Do you not like it? If you don’t like it I’ll stop.” He was fully awake now, eyes wide.
You turned back to face him, heart thumping wildly. “I think you just rewrote my whole life. In a good way.”
His head fell onto your shoulder. “Thank god. I was worried I was wrong.”
“You could never be wrong, not about this.”
“Does that mean I get a goodnight kiss now with my cuddles?”
“Take me on a date first and then we’ll see.” You snuggled back into his arms, the adrenaline fading into a calming warmth. The steady beat of his heart sung you to sleep, and as your eyes closed, you felt him place a small kiss on your forehead.
“Sweet dreams.”
A/N: A third fic in three days????? Who is she, I don't know her. (My drafts are full of half finished fics and I have about a month until school starts again so they need to get done lol)
