100 Ways

16. It's Okay. I couldn't sleep anyway

It's almost two in the morning when (y/n) is awoken, making her wonder why she ever decided that sleeping on the couch was a good idea in the first place. Her gaze floats to the front door, the source of her consciousness, and then to the clock, confirming that it is, in fact, too late for visitors. Another knock brings her gaze back to the door and she groans, rolling off the couch and stumbling tiredly to the door. The knocking isn't insistent, but it still sends a pang of worry through (y/n)'s core. Who the hell wants to visit at oh dark o'clock? Stifling a yawn, (y/n) peers through the peephole of the door and gasps in shock at the sight.

"Holy shit!" she shouts, fumbling near blindly to unlock the door as fast as her sleep numbed fingers can take her. "Urushihara!?"

Like a lost puppy, Urushihara stands in front of her door, soaked to the bone from the rain she didn't even hear falling. He looks almost nervous to be here, which is understandable considering how she lives about two cities away from the Devil's Castle. Even more surprising, he's alone.

"Get in here!" she hurries, reaching out and grabbing his shoulder to drag him inside. "You're soaking wet! Where's your coat? Who let you out without a coat in the rain!?"

The nerves grow on Urushihara's face and he locks his gaze on the floor, causing (y/n) to raise an eyebrow at his behavior. "No one knows I'm here," he informs, the confusion on (y/n)'s face shifting to shock. He must sense her change in emotion because his eyes widen and snap up to hers. "It's not a big deal though!" he assures, tone setting into a near plead that sends more confusion in (y/n)'s core. "I made sure I avoided all heavy crowds and no one recognized me on the way here and-"

His eyes are rimmed red. His face is flushed. Now that (y/n)'s more awake and can focus better, she can see the signs of distress written clearly in his body language, tone, and facial expressions.

"Can I stay here?" he asks, pulling her from her examination and back to the conversation. "I can leave in the morning, I just didn't know who else to go to." His eyes float back to the floor. "I didn't want to wake Maou or Ashiya, but I didn't want to be alone. . ." His shock returns and he lifts his gaze again. "I didn't wake you did I?"

Her heart breaks. He's scared. He's so scared that he travelled alone through two cities to get to her. Without letting anyone know at that.

Any traces of exhaustion are forced from her being and she shakes her head. "No, no! Not at all!" she lies, watching a slight hint of relief ease into Urushihara's eyes. "Yeah, it's ok. I couldn't get to sleep anyway." A faint smile touches her lips and reaches out again, pulling him under her arm and guiding him inside. "Here, let's get you into dry clothes, hm? I'll send Sadou a text while you change."

Urushihara nods and relaxes more in her hold, causing (y/n) to relax her own nerves at the situation. "And you're sure you're cool with me being here?" he asks, causing (y/n)'s smile to grow. "I can leave-"

"You're not going anywhere," she rejects quickly. "We can watch a movie or something. I just got the new Holy Popper movie a few days ago. You liked that series, right?"

The smile spreads to Urushihara and he nods. "Yeah," he confirms. "It's addicting."

"That it is," she agrees. "You can go change," she instructs, gently pushing him forward to her room. "You know where everything is. I'll set up out here."

"Alright," he says with another nod, glancing back once again before disappearing into the room. "Thank you."

A stab of sadness punches through (y/n)'s heart, springing a few tears into her eyes at the weakness in his tone. She suspected he had some sort of anxiety disorder, but she didn't think it was this bad. She doesn't even know what to do at this point.

Her phone rings and her train of thought is broken, sending her into another tizzy as she scrambles to wherever she left her phone. Under the pillow she was sleeping on. Of course. She's just about to miss it, but her fingers are faster and she actually makes it. "Hello."

"Tec, zazc*," Maou's tired Etean flows from the line, bringing another smile to her face.

"You're slipping babe," she reminds. "We're Japanese now, remember?"

"Hm? Oh. Sorry," he says, right before he yawns deeply into the line. "Ashiya just woke me up throwing a fit. He woke up to use the bathroom and Urushihara's gone. Do-"

"He's over here," she assures, almost laughing at the groan of relief that Ashiya releases in the background. "He's fine." She glances behind herself and drops her tone. "I think he had a panic attack or something." she informs quietly, turning away from the hallway again. "He seems to be ok now, though."

"That's good," Maou yawns again, though he does sound more relaxed now that he knows Urushihara's safe. "I'll come get him and-"

"He can stay here," she interrupts. "He's alright. I don't want him to think he's in trouble."

"Even better. I'll pick him up after my shift tomorrow?"

"If he wants." Her bedroom door opens and she glances back, smiling at Urushihara as he steps into the living room. "Hey," she says into the receiver. "Vohha vo. Zce, zaze**."

Maou laughs lazily on his end of the line. "Who's slipping now?"

(Y/N) hangs up without responding, but she does smile fondly and shake her head at the teasing. "Hey," she calls to Urushihara as he rolls his eyes. "Better?"

"I was before you two got all mushy," he informs, his snark still a few shades less intense than normal. "If you're asking if I'm dry, then yes."

"Hush," she laughs, tossing her phone back onto the couch and moving to the TV. "Anyway, lemme get set up and we can watch, alright?" 

_______________________________________________________________________________

*"Hey, baby." 

** "Gotta go. Bye, babe." 

A/N: I based this off the headcanon that Urushihara has anxiety, so if he seems a bit out of character, that's why.