The room was filled with silence, only the distant hum of the city outside filling the gaps between them. Skyler, sitting across from Ocean, felt the weight of something unsaid. The tension hung heavy in the air, but he knew better than to rush. He gazed at Ocean, waiting for him to open up, to let him in.
After a few minutes, Skyler finally broke the silence, his voice low and warm. "Were you about to go somewhere?"
Ocean's eyes flickered up, startled, as if he'd forgotten Skyler was there for a moment. "Humm... I couldn't sleep," he admitted, the vulnerability in his voice just barely masked. "So I decided to go down and take a walk."
The truth was, Ocean hadn't been able to sleep all night. Waves of fear and anxiety had crashed over him relentlessly, his mind haunted by old demons and dark thoughts that kept him on edge. The small comfort he had started to feel since letting Skyler back in was fragile, and tonight, it had nearly shattered. As he made his way toward the door earlier, trying to escape those thoughts, he was caught off guard to find Skyler standing there, his expression soft and patient.
Skyler tilted his head, his gaze searching Ocean's face for more than what was being said. "A walk at this hour? Is everything okay?" His voice was gentle, a contrast to the storm Ocean was feeling inside.
Ocean hesitated, but something in Skyler's eyes made it easier to speak. "I just... I get these thoughts sometimes. Negative ones. It's like they take over, and no matter what I do, they don't stop," he confessed, feeling a knot in his throat tighten. He wasn't used to admitting these things to anyone.
Skyler didn't push or prod. He nodded slowly, as if to show Ocean that he didn't need to explain more. There was no judgment, only understanding. He knew better than to overwhelm him with comforting words; instead, he let his presence do the talking. Silence, but the good kind.
"You don't have to be alone in those moments," Skyler said after a while, his voice soft, almost like a whisper. "I can be here. I can help, even if it's just by being around."
Ocean's heart thudded in his chest, unsure how to respond. It was hard for him to accept help, especially when it felt like it was undeserved. But there was something different about Skyler's offer—it wasn't forceful, it wasn't demanding. It was there, quiet and genuine.
"You can... you can sleep on the bed, if you want," Ocean said, shyly lowering his gaze.
Skyler shook his head gently, a soft smile forming on his lips. His eyes were filled with nothing but tenderness. "No, I don't want to make you uncomfortable," he said quietly. "I'll take the couch. It's fine, really."
Ocean hesitated, feeling a mix of emotions. Part of him wanted to accept Skyler's offer, but another part of him didn't want to push Skyler away completely. He looked up, meeting Skyler's kind gaze, and after a moment, he softly said, "You... don't have to. The bed's fine."
Skyler searched Ocean's face for reassurance, his tone remaining gentle. "Are you sure? I don't want to make things harder for you."
Ocean nodded, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Yeah... it's okay."
He wasn't sure why he was letting Skyler in like this, but for some reason, it felt right. He quietly moved to the bed, and Skyler followed him.
The bed wasn't large, but it was enough. As Ocean climbed under the covers, Skyler settled in beside him, keeping enough distance to give him space. But even with that small gap between them, Ocean felt the warmth of Skyler's presence. His fears still lingered, but they weren't as loud with Skyler there. There was a comfort in knowing he wasn't alone, that someone cared enough to stay.
A few minutes passed, neither of them speaking. Skyler lay there quietly, not wanting to disturb the fragile peace that had settled between them. Then, in a soft voice, he said, "You don't have to fight everything by yourself, Ocean."
Ocean didn't reply right away, but he felt the weight of those words sink in. Slowly, the tension in his body began to ease, and for the first time in hours, his mind started to calm. He wasn't sure if he believed Skyler yet, but it was nice to hear those words—nice to imagine, even if for a moment, that he didn't have to carry everything alone.
He drifted off to sleep, feeling Skyler's steady breathing beside him, his heart no longer racing with fear but with something else—something softer, warmer. As he drifted into unconsciousness, Ocean realized that maybe, just maybe, Skyler wasn't like anyone else.
Ocean settled into bed, lying on his side with his back turned to Skyler. The room was quiet except for the soft sounds of their breathing, a silence that felt almost too fragile to break. Skyler hesitated for a moment, watching Ocean's form as he lay there, vulnerable yet calm. He carefully eased himself into the bed, keeping a respectful distance, but his heart raced faster than ever before.
The night crept forward, but sleep eluded Skyler. His eyes stayed locked on Ocean, too afraid to blink, too afraid to miss even the smallest detail. Ocean's soft breathing, the subtle rise and fall of his chest, the way his hair lightly brushed against the pillow—it was everything Skyler had imagined in his quiet moments of longing, but now it was real, and it was right beside him.
Skyler's heart ached with the depth of his feelings. This close, he could see the shadows of Ocean's past still lingering in his delicate features, the guarded look that never fully left his eyes. He admired him not just for his beauty but for his strength, for the quiet resilience that Ocean carried, even when he didn't realize it. Skyler's gaze softened further as he drank in every little detail—each freckle, the curve of his lips, the way his lashes rested gently against his cheeks.
The longer he stared, the more his emotions swelled. It was more than affection; it was a deep, unwavering love that had grown over time, nourished by years of quiet observation and admiration from afar. He felt that same feeling now, stronger than ever, but even more sacred because Ocean had allowed him in, however cautiously.
Ocean shifted slightly in his sleep, a small sigh escaping his lips. Skyler froze for a second, worried that he had disturbed him, but Ocean remained still, lost in whatever dreams he was having. Skyler couldn't help but smile to himself, his heart full.
He didn't dare move. He didn't dare break the moment, no matter how fleeting it might be. Instead, he lay there, letting the minutes slip away, watching the gentle rhythm of Ocean's breathing. Skyler's hand twitched slightly, aching to reach out and brush a strand of hair from Ocean's forehead, to touch him in a way that felt more real than anything else in his life. But he didn't. He held back, respecting the boundaries that still lingered between them, even if they were slowly dissolving.
The hours ticked by, and Skyler never closed his eyes, too afraid that the moment might vanish if he slept. Every once in a while, Ocean would stir or murmur softly, but he remained peaceful, and Skyler couldn't help but think that this was how it should always be—Ocean at peace, unburdened by the demons that haunted him.
As dawn's light began to creep in through the blinds, Skyler finally allowed his eyes to close for a moment, his heart full of hope for what was to come. This was the start of something deeper, something that he would protect no matter what.
Even though they weren't officially together, Skyler knew that his love ran deeper than any title or declaration. It was in the quiet moments like these, the stillness of the night, that his love truly bloomed.
And as Ocean slept on, unaware of the depth of the feelings lying just beside him, Skyler silently promised himself that he would cherish every part of him, no matter how long it took for Ocean to fully open up. He was willing to wait as long as it took.
TBC. 🩵
