Falling - Benny and Nina - An Adapted In The Heights Roleplay (COMPLETE)

34 - Falling Home

Usnavi said, "We're home," and yawned. At once, Nina woke up. Benny, not so much. He said, "Benny," in a tone that hinted slight annoyance.

"Huh" he rubbed his eyes trying to remember where he was. He looked at Nina's hand again as he must have let go while asleep.

Losing her sass, she sweetly said, "Yep. And it's barely dark."

Benny opened the door, "Thanks for being the taxi driver for Nina these last few days. I really appreciate it. I'll come see you briefly tomorrow. Bye." He climbed out and helped Nina out afterwards. He shut the door and they waved Usnavi off. Usnavi scratched his head, eyes barely open. "Uh, yeah. No problem." He didn't need the initiative to leave.

"It's good to be back here again, shall we head on up to my place?" Benny asked looking into Nina's eyes.

"Yeah," Nina said, absolutely exhausted, despite her nap on the way back.

Just as tired Benny wrapped his arm around her waist and lead her up to his apartment. When they walked inside, everything was exactly as they left it before they went to the club. He shut the door behind them using his foot and lead her to his bed. Their blanket was still out. "I'm just going to change quickly I'll be out in a second. You get in." Benny said. He let go of Nina and grabbed a large tank top and a pair of shorts and went to change in the bathroom.

"Alright." Her clothes weren't exactly comfortable, but she was so exhausted that she didn't have the energy to care.

When Benny came out the bathroom Nina was still standing by the bed. "Wait, sweetheart do you want a T-shirt? I have plenty you can borrow, pick any one you want, I don't mind." He pulled open his dresser draw again showing all his tops.

"It's alright," she said, but was cut off by a yawn, "I'm too tired to change. I can sleep in this."

He grabbed one out anyway. And headed over to Nina. He put his hands on her hips at the bottom of her top. He looked into her sleepy eyes. "Nina, I want you to be comfortable tonight, you won't get any good sleep if your uncomfortable." He looked down and took ahold of her top. "May I?"

"N-no, I'll do it," she said, nervously. Even though she knew that he wasn't making sexual advances, it still felt like it. She wasn't ready to expose herself quite yet.

"Okay baby, go change and I'll see you in a second. I love you." He said as he kissed her forehead and handed her the top.

"O-Okay." Nina walked to his bathroom and quickly changed out her shirt for his. She put her shirt in the corner of Benny's room and then climbed into his bed. Even though she had already been in the same bed as him, she wasn't quite ready for him to see her without clothes. She hoped that he didn't take it personally.

"Shirt looks good on you baby" He said just as she got in. Once they were both in bed he moved closer to her and enveloped her in a hug. Just wanting to hold her close. He'd missed out on lying next to her in bed for the last 3 nights and finally they were there just relaxing. Enjoying each other's presence.

"Thanks," she said. When he wrapped his arms around her, she mumbled, "Sorry." She felt the need to apologize. With all they had gone through in the past couple of days, being half-naked in front of him should be nothing.

"No, Nina, don't apologize. It's all up to you, I'm only happy as long as your happy. If you're not comfortable with something, I'll respect that. I don't want to do anything you don't want to do. I'm here for you, not to use you."

"Sorry," she apologized again.

"Nina, cariña. All that matters to me, is that I'm here, with you, right now. You are the only thing I care about in this world right now," he pulled her into a cuddle, he slowly placed his hands on her back, just under her the shirt to try and radiate what heat he could despite having the brace. He looked into her sparkling eyes. "I love you Nina Rosario, and I only want to make you happy. So, let's just cuddle here, get some sleep and enjoy ourselves." He then leant in and kissed her, this time more passionately than in the hospital. They were together, just the two of them, and that's all that they wanted. Each other.

She kissed back, and as passionately as she could muster. Emotionally, but also physically. When she got tired, she pulled back and felt guilty that she couldn't go on. "Sorry," she muttered again. She couldn't figure out what was so wrong with her that she couldn't kiss the person she loved for as long as she wanted.

"Baby, there's nothing to be sorry for, you're doing everything perfectly. There's nothing else I could ask for right now." He kissed her forehead and held her close, so her head was against his chest.

Nina sighed. He didn't seem to understand. She knew that she was making mistakes, more than she could count on two hands. But she somewhat wanted them to be validated, instead of deemed "perfect." Her options were anything but, in her opinion.

As she sighed Benny stroked her hair, "Nina sweetie. I can tell you're upset with yourself. Remember what you've been telling me the last 3 days. Stop beating yourself up." He looked down at her and wiped a few tears from her cheeks. " I love you just the way you are, because that's who you are." he whispered in her ear.

"Mmhm." Nina sucked it up and stopped crying. She managed to fight down the emotions to the point where not even Abuela would have been able to read her. Her emotions were furiously dancing throughout her mind and she could only hope that she wouldn't start crying again. Nevertheless, she kept up her impenetrable strong personal.

Benny held onto her even tighter, not saying anything but just wanting her to know he'll always be there beside her, no matter what happens. Benny didn't really know what else to do besides hold her close.

She wanted to just fall asleep right then and there in his arms, but grew restless. Though she couldn't sleep, she acted as if she was, for Benny's sake. She didn't want him losing sleep just because she couldn't catch any Z's.

Benny's eyelids started to fall, every time he closed them for a second he suddenly opened them. As much as he wanted to sleep he had to make sure Nina slept first as she hadn't slept properly since she came home from Stanford.

Since she knew how she slept, as she had trained herself for something like this, she did what she knew she did when falling asleep. She went partially limp and sniffled softly, making sure to be believably asleep.

Benny was relieved that she had fallen asleep, he kissed her on the forehead and whispered "I love you Nina, don't ever forget that. I will always be right here besides you." He paused for a moment, realizing that when she left he wouldn't be there. "Even if that is via a phone call, I'm only in your pocket. I'll always be there baby."

As much as she wanted to respond to him, she didn't for the sake of being 'asleep.' She wished he would just go to sleep.

He gave her a little peck on the lips, and then eventually closed his eyes and slept.

When he fell asleep, she sighed a silent sigh of relief. She couldn't seem to grasp how much had changed in these last few days. This finally gave her the chance to take a step back and ponder through all of it.

As Benny slept he thought about how he was going to address Nina's depression to her. They had to talk about it together at some point soon, he just wasn't sure when, or how to talk to her about it.