𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒: not able to sleep, you run into your roommate in the kitchen. to try and get you to feel sleepy again, he shows you how he would take his mind off of things in high school.
𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒: fluff, comfort, slice of life, insomnia
𝐂𝐖: gene smokes a cigarette
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you stretch out uncomfortably under the sheets, your back popping as you try to release the aching tension in your shoulders. for three hours, you've been staring at the ceiling. you've flipped your pillows to the cool side until they were all warm, ripped your sheets off and buried yourself back in them again, but nothing has worked.
turning onto your side, you squint as your bright phone screen lights up, revealing the bright 2:47am on the screen. after groaning into the pillow, you frustratedly rip the bed cover off of your body for what felt like the fiftieth time tonight. after pacing your way to the kitchen with blurry vision, you fill up a cup with water and quickly start gulping it down.
"can't sleep?" gene's deep voice startles you, causing you to nearly choke and drop your glass.
you set down your drink, the cup making a small clink against the counter. gene is leaning on the doorway with his arms crossed, and his eyes hooded and sleep deprived. the dim kitchen night light and the moonlight shining through the window casted a soft glow against his skin, making him look paler and his eye bags darker. his black hair was even messier than usual, the wavy strands sticking out in all directions.
you sigh, leaning back against the counter. "nope."
he rolls his neck, the action causing a faint popping sound to resonate from his spine. he glances at your now empty water glass before tipping his head back, motioning for you to follow him.
"huh?" you question, trailing behind him as he approaches the window of your small living room.
"just follow me." he insists with a groan, too tired to explain himself as he swiftly unlocks the latch and lifts the creaky window like it was routine.
you freeze for a split second as the window makes a particularly loud squeak, not wanting to wake up and alert sasha or zenix of your little escapade. gene turns to stare at you with a look of mild amusement before he shimmies his way out of the window, using the sill to boost himself onto the low-hanging edge of the roof.
you lean out the window, peering up at the empty space where gene's feet disappeared. a short moment later, his head leans over the edge of the roof as he looks at you expectantly.
"you coming up here?" he questions, his eyebrows furrowing as you glance between him and the ground.
"you're taller than me, i can't climb up there like that." you explain, your hands getting clammy as you think of slipping from the edge.
gene's hands reach down for yours, playfully grabbing onto your shoulder as you hesitate.
"c'mon, kitty. i won't let you fall."
you sigh, clasping your hand tightly with his and letting him carefully tug you to stand out of the window. after fumbling halfway onto the roof, gene helps pull you up the rest of the way. catching your breath, you glance at gene with a puzzled look. he only smirks in response, shimmying up the slope of the roof a bit and looking out at the night scenery.
you lean back next to him, glancing out in the same direction. the house your group rented out was in a neighborhood on the outskirts of phoenix drop. the distant twinkle of city lights glowed in the distance, far enough to admire while still being able to see a few stars in the sky. the cool breeze carries the scent of fresh night air and a hint of dampness like it may rain later. in the opposite direction, there was a lack of stars as distant dark clouds cover the sky.
gene reaches into his pocket and pulls out a beat-up pack of cigarettes, glancing back over at you.
"you okay if i smoke one?" he asks, pulling one out and lightly waving it between his fingers.
you nod, leaning forward and resting your head on your knees.
"i didn't know you still smoked."
"i'm trying to stop, but every once in a while i'll have one," he lazily holds up the worn pack before pocketing it again. "i've been stringing this one out for a couple of months."
i nod, staring at his features as he pulls out his lighter. his long lashes brush against his high-set cheekbones and hide his dark blue irises as he situates the cigarette between his teeth. the lighter sparks before the flame takes shape, illuminating his sharp features with an orange glow. he takes the first drag with a deep inhale, before turning his face away to blow the smoke away from you.
he turns his head back towards you lazily, raising an eyebrow as he notices your stare.
"what's going on in your pretty head, there?"
you clear your throat, cheeks reddening as you realize you've been caught. "just thinking."
he quietly snorts out a laugh at you, eyes squinting mirthfully as he uses the palm of his free hand to lightly smack your forehead.
"well, obviously, silly girl."
you press your lips together and roll your eyes.
"do you come up here when you can't sleep?"
"yeah, i started doing it in high school. when i wanted to clear my head." he takes another drag. "i couldn't sleep pretty often and i was pretty... pent up, i guess."
his eyes dart to mine as his face twists to an almost sheepish expression. "well, you remember how i was."
you lightheartedly scoff as you remember the delinquent he used to be: skipping classes, vandalizing, drinking and smoking. you two definitely did not have the same relationship that you two have now.
"oh i remember," you recall, your voice sarcastic in tone before shifting to something more genuine. "but... you turned out pretty cool. and, for what it's worth, i think you're a good person now. so there's no use in rehashing the old stuff, right?"
gene's eyes drift down, his eyes softening as he stares at the number of roof tiles between the two of you. the corner of his mouth turns up and his eyebrows raise as he looks back up at you. it's only a second that he appears this soft, before his eyes squint again and he makes a face like he was cringing at his own thoughts.
"well, thanks. i think you're giving me a little too much grace, but..." he stares down at the barely smoked cigarette in his hand, before putting it out on the cool roof tiles. "i appreciate it."
he sighs, submitting to his previous thought as his eyes move back up to meet yours. his hand reaches up, fingers sweeping away stray strands of hair the light breeze had blown in your face.
"i appreciate you."
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