Firefly (boyxboy) (step-brothers)

28

It was a normal January night. Maybe a little bit colder than usual; in some parts of the town it even reached fifty degrees, but normal nonetheless. The residents of Belvedere slept soundly in their beds. Well, most residents...

Jayden shut his eyes tighter, willing his body to go to sleep. It didn't obey his instructions and he opened his eyes again, glaring at his watch. Two a.m. it read. He cursed out loud, turning so his back was facing the clock. He'd twisted and turned so many times the bed sheet beneath him was a crumbled mess. He knew why he couldn't sleep.

Fucking Nate! He thought angrily.

How could Nate do this to him? To miss the most important moment of his life!

He knew Nate's job was important to him and that it wasn't just a job. It was his dream. But the anger burning up his insides refused to see reason. Or maybe it was the hurt. The fact that Nate hadn't chosen him first for once in their lives. He would always pick Nate first, come what may. So why couldn't Nate do the same?! What angered him further was the betrayal he felt. It made him feel vulnerable. Pathetic even. He turned again, hugging the cover closer to his body. It didn't matter how much he missed Nate's body next to his, how much his whole being ached for his stepbrother's close contact. He. Would. NOT. Sleep. In. Nate's. Bed. Period.

Unfortunately, it seemed to mean no sleep at all...

As the clock struck three, his determination withered like dust in the wind. He needed to sleep, God damnit! He couldn't allow himself to fall asleep during his lectures in school, that would be freaking embarrassing! With a string of curse words, he finally gave in. He scrambled out of bed and left his bedroom with heavy strides.

Nate, who'd also been awake this whole time, was surprised when the door to his bedroom flung open. He was even more surprised to see Jayden standing there, even though there was no other possible option of who would come into his room, at any time of day. Unless it was a burglary, he supposed. But no, it was Jayden. His beloved Jayden. Nate's heart took a leap, a jump even, at the mere possibility that his stepbrother might've forgiven him. He knew he should feel sorry for Jayden that he still couldn't seem to fall asleep without Nate, but in that moment he couldn't dig up any sadness of that apparent fact. All he could feel was relief. A blissful, heart shattering relief.

He silently lifted the covers, never tearing his gaze away from Jayden, afraid the younger man would disappear if he so much as blinked.

Jayden waited an eon before he finally gave in and crept under the covers. He made sure to stay as far away from Nathan as the bed would allow, which, yeah, it stung. Nate didn't say anything, didn't dare to open his mouth. But tentatively, he crept forward and placed a hand on Jayden's shoulder. A hand that'd ached for his stepbrother's contact since the fight. Skin on skin. That's what he needed.

"Don't touch me," Jayden growled.

Pain shot up Nate's body and landed in his heart. Fuck, that hurt. He retracted like a wounded animal but and laid back down on the side, quietly staring at his stepbrother's back. He stayed like that, eyes open, ears alert, watching over his stepbrother until soft, even breaths could be heard.

Jayden was finally asleep.

Fuck, his heart ached in the worst way. He just wanted to pull Jayden close to his body and never let go. Beg for his forgiveness. Plead until he was allowed to hold him again. Because unlike Jayden, it seemed, Nate needed the contact to be able to fall asleep. Ignoring the shame over his own actions, Nate slowly scooted forward and placed an arm around Jayden's waist, careful not to wake the younger man. He craved some sort of contact, however meager. He could live on crumbs if crumbs were all he was given from Jayden. A sleeping Jayden, mind you. Because after all, crumbs were better than nothing for a starving man.