Don't Touch || BOYxBOY ✔️

20

The night was dense with the low hum of distant traffic, punctuated by the occasional shout of revelers or the muffled roar of a bus rumbling down the street. Leo and Dante slipped out of the back gate, the sound of the party fading behind them. They moved in silence, the cold night air sharpening their senses. The narrow streets of London wrapped around them like a familiar cloak, darkened shop windows and rows of terraced houses standing sentinel as they walked.

Leo kept glancing at Dante, who was quiet, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets. The soft orange glow of the streetlights bathed his face in shadow, making his expression unreadable. Leo couldn't shake the slight tension that had been lingering between them since they left the party. Dante had agreed to leave without much convincing, but Leo knew him well enough to sense the undercurrent of unease.

"Thanks for leaving with me," Leo said, breaking the silence.

Dante shrugged, his breath visible in the cool air. "I needed to get out of there too. Too awkward."

They walked in comfortable silence for a while longer, passing the familiar parks and pubs of their much loved city. As they drew closer to the university campus, the buildings grew taller, their modern facades a sharp contrast to the historic charm of the city center.

When they reached the entrance to Dante's building, Leo hesitated, feeling the weight of his presence in Dante's space. This wasn't the first time he'd been to Dante's room, but he knew how much it cost Dante to let anyone in, even him. There was something sacred about it, a sanctuary that Dante guarded fiercely. As they ascended the stairs, Leo found himself wondering if he was pushing too much, asking too much. He hated being a burden.

Dante unlocked the door to his accommodation flat, the click of the latch breaking the stillness, and they stepped inside the hallway. It was quiet and Leo liked that. They walked down the hallway until they reached Dante's room. The bed was unmade with the sheets crumpled. A laptop was closed at the foot of the bed and Leo smiled to himself as he imagined Dante laying down in bed watching Breaking Bad.

Leo stood awkwardly by the door as Dante moved around the room, gathering the spare sheets and blankets from inside his bed. It was a ritual by now, this quiet preparation for the night ahead. Dante grabbed his clothes from behind the door and entered the small bathroom, all without a word. Leo knew he wouldn't get changed in front of him so he quickly pulled his own joggers and t-shirt out of his bag and changed.

When Dante re-entered the room and knelt down to spread the blankets on the floor, Leo hesitated again, the words he wanted to say catching in his throat. He watched Dante work, his movements careful, almost methodical. There was something vulnerable about the way Dante moved in his own space, as if he were always bracing for an intrusion. He kept glancing back at Leo, almost like he didn't like the fact that he was behind him so quietly.

"Dante," Leo began, his voice soft. Dante paused, glancing up. "Can you... can you sleep down here with me?"

The question hung in the air between them, a fragile thing. Dante's expression didn't change much, but Leo saw the subtle flicker of surprise in his eyes. For a moment, Dante seemed to weigh the request, his gaze searching Leo's face. Then, with a slight nod, he shifted over, making room on the floor.

"Sure," Dante said quietly.

Leo smiled, a wave of relief washing over him. He grabbed the pillows from the bed and settled down beside Dante on the floor, their shoulders brushing lightly. The room was quiet, save for the sound of their breathing and the distant hum of the city outside. Lying there, side by side with only the moonlight shining through the window, Leo felt the tension between them slowly ebb away. He liked being here like this. He felt somewhat safe and comfortable.