Stalker's Tango | Bartolomeo x Reader

Below the Surface (I)

For the first time in two weeks, the building was back to its usual business. Term had started up once more and everyone was as busy as ever. Yet despite that, you found yourself sitting down in the lobby for once in your life. You had spent so much time in your room, Bartolomeo's or just out with him in general that you felt seeing some other people was in order.

You were enjoying watching the world go by from the comfort of one of the huge "L" shaped sofas. Your eyes were cast out the tall, glass windows, your legs pulled up to your chest comfortably as your phone-holding hand rested on your knees. In a way, you also felt like the streets had been much busier now that everyone was back. There were far more cars than usual and with that, a lot more noise.

As much as you liked the holidays, you really did prefer the term as it was. University was hard and dragged you down more often than not, but it was all a learning process you were willing to push through. Thankfully so as you knew you would be only getting busier now lectures were starting up once more.

After a little while, you turned to tapping away at your phone to see what was going down in your friends' lives. You hadn't been able to catch up with them as they had their own work to do and not just because of the conversation you and Law had, either.

Because yes, that still nagged at you even weeks later.

"If it's Meo you're worrying about, then don't. He's a great guy, Law."

"Great guy, huh? You do realise you can spend time away from him, right?"

You tilted your head to one side before letting your eyes fall to the floor. "I'm away from him right now, am I not?"

The two of you rounded the corner and as you did, you almost bumped into someone and fell a little behind. You apologised quickly before catching back up to your friend, who was now faced away from you. There was this weird sensation related to remorse shaking you up inside.

Were you subconsciously pushing your friends away or something?

You paused in thought as you revised the mechanisms within your mind and shook yourself.

No, nothing had changed.

You were still hanging around with them and Bartolomeo in equal amounts. If this really was a problem, they would've said, right?

Then again that's kind of what Law was saying to you now...

"So, do you want to do something sometime?" You asked hopefully, flipping the subject on its head to a certain degree. Maybe all you needed to do was be the one to reach instead.

"If Bartolomeo lets you, then sure."

"Come on, we're going."

The familiar voice belonging only to your boyfriend pulled you up from your thoughtful state. You clicked your phone off immediately, worried he would react if he saw that you were messaging Law. Without even looking too far into it, you could tell Bartolomeo wasn't in the best of moods. Clearly those few that were around the both of you could also tell.

The green haired man had his arms crossed over his front, very unlike his usual laidback stance of pushing his hands into his pockets. He looked much more tired than usual, lips pressed into a frown, the bag he usually used for lectures was slung over one shoulder. You thought he had the day off, but evidently you were wrong.

"Where we off to?" You asked, getting to your feet nonetheless.

Your boyfriend started off towards the main door and then held it open for you to go through, a cold blast of wind rippling through the room.