Chapter Text
The next morning arrives too bright.
Theo wakes first.
His head feels packed with cotton. Every movement sends a dull ache through his skull. For a moment he doesn't remember where he is.
Then he feels warmth.
Boris is half draped over him, one arm thrown across his stomach, breathing steadily into the back of his shoulder.
Theo freezes.
Normally he would shove him away.
Normally Boris would wake up swearing and claim it was an accident.
But neither of them is awake enough for that yet.
Theo stares at the faded wallpaper across the room.
The nightmare lingers in fragments. The pressure on his chest. The voice. The feeling of being trapped inside his own head.
Without really thinking, he lets himself stay still.
Behind him Boris shifts.
"You staring at wall again, Potter?"
Theo groans. "You drool."
''that's because i'm too comfortable''
For a second neither of them moves.
The room feels strangely peaceful.
Dangerously peaceful.
Theo clears his throat and sits up.
"I need coffee."
"Need water first."
"You sound like an old man."
"You look like dead Victorian child."
Theo snorts despite himself.
Boris grins.
The strange feeling from last night returns for only a second.
A twist somewhere beneath his ribs.
He looks away before Theo can notice.
"Come on," he mutters, standing. "Before you die."
Theo follows him toward the kitchen.
Neither of them mentions the nightmare.
Neither of them mentions the hug.
And neither of them notices how much harder it is becoming to pretend nothing is changing.
They walk up to the kitchen. Theo grabs two glasses, fills them with water and gives one to Boris.
''thanks'' Boris mutters.
Theo leans against the counter and drinks half the glass in one go.
The water tastes stale.
Still better than the feeling in his mouth.
Boris is watching him.
Theo notices after a few seconds.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You are staring."
"I am not."
"You literally are."
Boris shrugs and takes a sip of water.
Theo narrows his eyes.
For some reason Boris looks away first.
A small silence settles between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Just strange.
The apartment is quiet except for the hum of the refrigerator.
Theo rubs a hand over his face.
"I had a really weird dream."
The words slip out before he can stop them.
Boris glances at him.
"Nightmare."
"Yeah."
"What happened?"
Theo hesitates.
The details are already fading. They feel ridiculous now that he's awake.
"I don't know. Everything was moving." He frowns. "There was this thing. I don't even know what it was."
"Drug dream."
"Probably."
"You were breathing like somebody was chasing you."
Theo looks up.
"You noticed?"
Boris gives him a look.
"Of course I noticed."
Something warm twists unexpectedly in Theo's chest.
He focuses on his water.
Outside, a car passes through the street below.
Neither of them says anything for a moment.
Then Boris nudges his shoulder.
"Next time just wake me up."
Theo lets out a short laugh.
"You were unconscious."
"I can multitask."
"Sure."
"I am serious, Potter."
Theo glances over.
Boris is smiling, but only a little.
Just enough to make it clear he means it.
The strange warmth returns.
Neither of them knows what to do with it.