Ocean stirred as the soft morning light filtered through the curtains, slowly pulling him from the depths of sleep. His eyelids fluttered open, adjusting to the gentle warmth of the sun, and the events of the previous night gradually came back to him. He felt a familiar presence beside him and turned his head slightly.
There, lying on the bed, was Skyler.
Ocean's breath caught in his throat. Skyler was still there, resting peacefully, his features relaxed in the quiet comfort of sleep. For a brief moment, Ocean's heart raced, his thoughts spinning. He blushed deeply, the heat rising to his cheeks as he realized that Skyler had spent the entire night by his side.
His mind raced with a mix of emotions—nervousness, excitement, and something deeper that he couldn't quite place. He couldn't deny how safe he felt with Skyler next to him, how the presence of the other boy seemed to calm the ever-present anxieties that stirred in his heart.
Skyler looked so peaceful, his lips slightly parted, and Ocean couldn't help but let his gaze linger on him for a moment longer. His heart fluttered as he took in the softness of Skyler's expression, the way his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. There was something undeniably beautiful about the moment, something Ocean wasn't quite ready to admit to himself, but it was there, stirring quietly within him.
Ocean shifted slightly, careful not to wake him, but the subtle movement caused Skyler's eyes to blink open. Slowly, Skyler turned his head toward Ocean, and their gazes met.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, a soft, sleepy smile curved across Skyler's lips. "Good morning," he whispered, his voice low and gentle, like the morning itself.
Ocean, still blushing, pulled the blanket a little higher, as if that could hide his embarrassment. "Good morning," he mumbled back, his voice barely audible. He couldn't meet Skyler's eyes for more than a second without feeling his cheeks heat up even more.
Skyler chuckled softly, clearly amused by Ocean's shyness, but there was no teasing in his tone—just warmth. "Did you sleep well?" he asked, his gaze never leaving Ocean's face.
Ocean nodded quickly, his heart beating too fast. "Y-Yeah. I did."
Skyler propped himself up on one elbow, still watching him closely. "That's good to hear. I wasn't sure if I'd make you uncomfortable staying here," he said softly, his eyes filled with concern. "But I didn't want to leave you alone."
Ocean's heart skipped a beat at those words. The sincerity in Skyler's voice, the way he seemed to genuinely care—it made something inside him feel warm. "You didn't... I wasn't uncomfortable," Ocean admitted quietly, his gaze still averted.
Skyler smiled again, this time softer, as if relieved. "I'm glad."
There was a quiet pause between them, the kind of silence that felt delicate, filled with unspoken thoughts. Ocean's mind was still swirling with emotions he wasn't entirely sure how to process. Having Skyler there, seeing how much Skyler cared—it made him feel something he hadn't felt in a long time. Safe.
Ocean finally glanced up at Skyler, his blush still present but his voice a bit steadier now. "Thank you. For staying."
Skyler's gaze softened, and he leaned just a little closer, his voice low and sincere. "I'll always stay if you need me, Ocean. You're not alone, okay?"
Ocean didn't know how to respond to that, his chest tightening with an emotion he didn't fully understand. But the weight of Skyler's words, the gentle promise hidden in them, left him feeling something close to hope. He bit his lip, nodding slightly, and looked away again, feeling too vulnerable under Skyler's gaze.
After a few moments of comfortable silence, Skyler sat up fully, stretching his arms above his head as he let out a soft yawn. "We should probably get up. It's getting late," he said with a smile.
Ocean nodded but remained under the covers, watching as Skyler climbed out of bed. He couldn't help but feel a pang of... something. He wasn't sure what it was. Maybe he wasn't quite ready for the moment to end.
Skyler turned back toward him, noticing the look in Ocean's eyes. His voice softened again. "Take your time. I'll make us some breakfast."
Ocean gave him a small smile, grateful for Skyler's understanding. As Skyler left the room, Ocean sat up slowly, feeling the warmth of the moment linger in the air. His mind wandered to everything that had happened—the closeness they shared, the way Skyler had made him feel safe, how he had woken up to find someone by his side for the first time in what felt like forever.
The morning felt different. Lighter. As if something had shifted between them, something that Ocean couldn't quite put into words yet, but it was there—quiet, steady, and growing.
A few minutes later, Ocean finally slipped out of bed, gathering his thoughts and heading toward the kitchen, where Skyler was already busy making breakfast. The smell of food filled the air, and when Ocean entered the room, he found Skyler humming softly to himself, completely at ease.
Skyler was already standing at the stove, flipping pancakes with an easy smile when Ocean stepped into the kitchen. "Morning again," Skyler greeted, glancing over his shoulder. "I made your favorite—pancakes."
Ocean couldn't help but smile, a warmth spreading through him. "You remembered."
Skyler chuckled, turning back to the stove. "Of course. I know how much you like them. Figured it'd be a good way to start the day."
Ocean's chest tightened slightly at the thoughtfulness behind the gesture. "Thanks," he said softly, his nerves easing as the familiar smell of pancakes filled the room.
Skyler flipped the last pancake onto the stack, grinning. "I make a pretty good stack if I do say so myself."
But what caught Ocean's attention more than the breakfast was what Skyler was wearing—one of Ocean's school uniforms.
Ocean froze for a moment, his cheeks heating up as he took in the sight of Skyler casually dressed in his clothes. The way the shirt fit Skyler's lean form made Ocean's heart race. He quickly averted his gaze, feeling the blush spread over his face.
Ocean cleared his throat, trying to shake off the embarrassment. "You... you're wearing my uniform."
Skyler looked down at himself, then back at Ocean with a playful smirk. "Yeah, I hope you don't mind. I couldn't find anything else, and your closet seemed like the best option."
Ocean's blush deepened. "N-no, it's fine... it just... looks good on you."
Skyler's smile softened, his eyes locking onto Ocean's with a warmth that made Ocean's stomach flip. "Thanks," he said, his voice gentler now. "I figured since we're heading to school together, I might as well match."
