bittersweet //scorbus//

cry in the shower

Scorpius was lying on Albus's floor, letting the moon beams shine through the window and illuminate his pale skin. His eyes were closed as he listened to the flow of water in the bathroom. Albus was taking a shower, and Scorpius felt comfort in listening to the calming tsskk of the water he knew Albus was in. 

Scorpius decided if he was going to cry, it would be in the shower. He couldn't risk Albus or any of the Potter family hearing him sob again. They would know something was wrong. 

After a few more minutes, Scorpius heard the water stop flowing and heard Albus shuffle around the bathroom. 

The wood door creaked open and Albus saw Scorpius lying on the floor.

"Scorp? Are you okay?" he asked.

Scorpius smiled and sat up, "Yeah. I'll go shower now."

As Scorpius shut the bathroom door, he had to restrain from crying right there. He couldn't go on. Albus had asked so gently, so innocently, if he was okay. And he wasn't.

Scorpius bit his lip and squinted his eyes shut as he turned on the water. He sniffed loudly as he slipped off his clothes. He stepped into the shower, and as soon as the warm water hit his skin, he began crying. 

The tears flowed steadily down his cheeks, his nose stuffed up, and he could barely stand. He fell onto his knees as he cradled his head in his hands. He cried, not nearly as hard as he had the night of the kiss, but hard enough that his whole body shook with every breath.

James was alone in his room, reading. He saw Albus pass with wet hair downstairs to get a movie ready. Not long after, he heard a cry come from Albus's room. It was one of those sobs where you know with every part of you that the person is not okay, and most likely never will be. 

So James closed his book and walked to his little brother's room. He heard the crying coming from the bathroom, with water running. So James sat down on Albus's bed and waited.

Scorpius eventually stood up and washed himself. He turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, and got dressed into pajamas. 

James heard Scorpius shuffle around, so he stood up. He walked to the bathroom door and knocked softly. 

"Albus?" he gasped.

"No, it's James."

Scorpius opened the door. James saw his blotchy red face, puffy eyes, and running nose. Scorpius looked at the ground.

"Scorpius, why were you crying?" James whispered.

"Don't tell Albus," Scorpius said in a hushed voice, "I didn't mean for anyone to hear me."

James shook his head and opened his arms. Scorpius fell into them and squeezed James as tightly as he could.