𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 || Cillian Murphy ¹

twenty (edited)

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, painting golden streaks across Cillian's bedroom. The sheets beside Auden were tangled, his warmth still lingering, but he was sound asleep — his bare back rising and falling with the steady rhythm of his breath. She hesitated before moving, watching him for a moment, committing the image to memory. Peaceful. Unaware.

Her chest ached at the thought of what she was keeping from him.

Carefully, she slid out of bed, wrapping his robe around herself as she padded across the hardwood floor. The ensuite bathroom was cool, the tile chilling her bare feet as she shut the door behind her. She caught sight of herself in the mirror— cheeks still flushed from sleep, her hair a wild mess from the night before. She looked different here, in his house. Less guarded. Almost as if she belonged.

But the moment her eyes flicked down to the bathroom counter, the illusion cracked.

Her phone sat there, face-down. She had turned off notifications last night, trying to silence the anxious churning in her stomach. But the meeting with Jenni loomed, an inevitability she couldn't ignore.

Auden took a slow, shaky breath, bracing her hands against the cool marble of the sink. She had spent days convincing herself this was the right thing to do. That if she could just get through it, if she could keep Jenni from spreading more poison, it would all be worth it.

And yet, what if Jenni had already told him? What if Cillian woke up today and knew? What if he looked at her and saw guilt written all over her face?

She squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head as if she could physically force the thoughts away. Don't think about it. Just get through today.

The door creaked open behind her.

Auden's stomach twisted, her reflection betraying her before she could even attempt to school her expression.

Cillian stood in the doorway, squinting against the light, his hair sleep-mussed, the waistband of his sweatpants hanging dangerously low on his hips. His voice was rough with sleep.

"Why are you up so early?"

Auden forced a smile, turning away from the mirror as she reached for her toothbrush. "Work. Some of us have to be functioning members of society, you know."

Cillian hummed, stepping further into the bathroom, eyes scanning her face like he was searching for something unspoken. "Right. And that's why you're gripping the counter like you're about to pass out?"

Her fingers immediately loosened their hold. "I'm fine."

Cillian wasn't convinced. He moved closer, the warmth of him almost unnerving. "You sure about that?"

Auden turned, brushing past him to grab her makeup bag. "I just didn't sleep well. It's nothing."

His hands found her waist, his grip gentle but firm as he halted her movement. "Auden."