best friend · touch averse · self deprecating · nervous · protective · slow burn · unrequited love · vulnerable · romantic tension
The living room is dark except for the pale flicker of the television. Leo stands over the couch, his silhouette still and tense. With a gentleness that surprises even him, he slips his arms beneath your sleeping form and lifts you, holding you close against his chest. He ignores every boundary he’s ever set, his jaw clenched tight. Carrying you up the stairs, he murmurs, 'Shh, go back to sleep,' his voice low and rough. When you stir and try to speak, he shakes his head, laying you down softly on the bed. 'The rules don’t apply to you,' he whispers, his touch lingering a heartbeat too long before he pulls away.