Skyler parked his car outside the apartment building, a sense of heaviness hanging over him like a thick fog. The familiar sight of his high-rise apartment loomed in the distance, its pristine exterior gleaming under the streetlights. But as he stepped out of the car and looked up at the massive structure, a sudden wave of emptiness washed over him. It was strange—this place had always been a haven, a symbol of his independence and success. Now, it felt too vast, too cold, and too detached.
His mind wandered back to Ocean's apartment. It was much smaller, almost cozy compared to his own—a humble one-bedroom with worn, comfortable furniture and the faint, lingering scent of Ocean. That scent. It had been in the back of his mind since the moment he'd left Ocean earlier that evening. Ocean's apartment may have been small, but it felt lived-in. It felt warm. Every corner seemed to reflect Ocean's presence, from the tiny kitchen where they had shared their cake to the couch where they'd sat together. There was life there, and Skyler found himself missing it terribly.
As Skyler unlocked the door to his apartment and stepped inside, the difference was stark. The vastness of the space hit him instantly. His luxury apartment was modern, sleek, and immaculately clean. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a stunning view of the city, but tonight it felt like a hollow spectacle. The high ceilings and open floor plan made everything feel distant, as if the space itself was keeping him at arm's length.
He tossed his keys onto the marble countertop and sighed, the sound echoing softly in the large room. There was no warmth here, no faint trace of Ocean's scent. It was just cold air and silence. For the first time, Skyler realized how empty his apartment really was. It was filled with all the trappings of success—expensive furniture, modern art, and the latest gadgets—but none of it mattered. Not now. Not after feeling the quiet intimacy of Ocean's world.
He walked slowly through the living room, his footsteps sounding louder than they should have. His gaze drifted across the oversized couch, the minimalist kitchen, and the large, impersonal dining table. Everything was perfectly in place, as it always was. But instead of feeling comfort in the neatness, Skyler felt disconnected.
As he made his way to the couch, memories of earlier in the day flooded his mind—Ocean's shy smile when he'd let Skyler hold his hand in class, the way his eyes lit up when he saw the strawberry cake, the soft laughter they shared during their small talk. Ocean had been letting him in, slowly, cautiously, and that had meant everything to Skyler. But now, without Ocean near him, Skyler felt... incomplete. It was as if his world had lost its color.
He collapsed onto the couch, leaning his head back against the cushion. He closed his eyes, but all he could see was Ocean's face, the way he'd blushed earlier when Skyler had refused to let go of his hand. Skyler chuckled softly at the memory, but it quickly turned into a sigh.
"This place is too big," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. Compared to Ocean's apartment, his felt like an empty shell. No matter how beautiful the view was or how expensive the furnishings were, it didn't matter. It wasn't home. Not like Ocean's place had felt.
He sat there for a long time, letting the silence of the apartment settle over him. For the first time in a while, he felt truly alone. He had grown used to solitude, but tonight it felt unbearable. He'd been so used to keeping his distance from people, living his life in a way that was carefully controlled and measured. But now, after being with Ocean, he craved something more—something real and intimate, something that went beyond the surface.
His phone buzzed on the coffee table, pulling him from his thoughts. He reached for it, hoping for a message from Ocean, but it was just a notification from a group chat. He tossed the phone back down, suddenly irritated by how empty everything felt without Ocean's presence.
Skyler thought back to his conversation with Viktor earlier. His brother had been surprised at just how patient Skyler was being with Ocean, given how much Skyler loved him. Viktor knew how deep his feelings ran, how Skyler's love for Ocean was as endless as the sea. But Viktor had also sensed something else—how much Skyler longed for Ocean to reciprocate, fully and without hesitation.
But Skyler knew he couldn't rush this. Ocean had only just started to open up to him. There was still so much healing to be done, so much trust to build. And Skyler was willing to wait, no matter how long it took.
His mind drifted back to the way Ocean had looked at him tonight. Those fleeting glances filled with something new—trust, maybe even affection. The thought filled Skyler with warmth, even as the cold emptiness of his apartment surrounded him.
He couldn't stay here tonight. Not like this.
Without thinking, Skyler stood up, grabbing his keys and heading for the door. His body moved before his mind could process the decision. The emptiness in this apartment was too much to bear right now, and there was only one place he wanted to be.
The drive back to Ocean's apartment was quiet, the city's streets mostly empty at this hour. As Skyler pulled into the familiar parking lot, he felt his heart rate quicken. He didn't even know if Ocean would still be awake, but that didn't matter. Being near him, even if just outside his apartment, was enough to settle the ache in Skyler's chest.
As he walked up the steps to Ocean's door, he hesitated for a moment. What if he was intruding? What if Ocean needed space after everything that had happened between them today?
But before he could overthink it, the door opened, and there stood Ocean, looking surprised but not upset.
"Skyler?" Ocean asked softly, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"I... I couldn't stay at my place," Skyler admitted, his voice low but sincere. "It's too big. Too empty. I just... wanted to be here."
Ocean blinked, processing the words. There was a long pause before he stepped aside, opening the door wider.
"You don't have to stay there if you don't want to," Ocean said quietly, his voice filled with warmth. "You can stay here. With me."
Skyler's chest tightened at the offer, and he stepped inside, feeling the familiar warmth of Ocean's small, cozy apartment wrap around him like a comforting embrace. The scent of strawberries lingered faintly in the air from the cake they'd shared earlier, mixing with Ocean's own scent, making Skyler feel at home in a way his own apartment never could.
For the first time that night, Skyler felt at peace.
TBC. 🩵
