The soft hum of Gus’s tank replaced the silence that hung in the air. The light illuminating from his tank, shining off the layers of sand at the foot of the bed. Steven stood before you, his hands wringing in uncertainty as he witnessed you perched upon his bed.
“Are you sure you don’t mind staying?”, he asked quietly, his eyes wide with anticipation. You smiled softly, causing the tension to visibly release from his muscles, his shoulders relaxing in its wake.
“Steven, of course, I don't mind. I want to stay”, You responded before ushering him to sit next to you on the bed, the ankle cuffs lying atop the comforter. He obliged, but not before taking one last glance to the front door, his eyes scanning to ensure that each and every lock was in place. He found his way to the other side of the bed, his body shifting onto the mattress awkwardly, his mind still racing with hesitancies.
“Are you positive?”, Steven questioned, his hand reaching out to grasp yours. “Because you know I have my sleeping problems and I-”
“Shhh”, you interrupted, your hand giving his a tight squeeze. “It’s okay sweetheart. I love you and I’m here to stay.” The nickname caused his cheeks to turn pink, his eyes cast shyly downward, as he shifted to join you under the covers.
You felt a warmth settle in your chest as his large hands reached out to pull you closer, your bodies nestled snuggly against one another under the peaceful guise of nighttime. It was an unfamiliar feeling, the weight of his body pressed against you, his breath on your skin.
Despite your five months of dating, Steven had been extremely uncertain about the idea of you spending the night. He was terrified of scaring you off, of you discovering his strange sleeping habits and leaving him in the dust. It had taken months of convincing, but finally, you won him over.
You finally convinced him you weren’t temporary.
So, there you were, reaping the benefits from the cause you had sown; his shackled legs tangled with your own. Slowly, but surely, you could feel the tension dissipate from his body, his form melting into the mattress more and more with each passing moment.
“This is nice.” He whispered. “Goodnight Darling.”
Before you even got the chance to respond he was out cold. His breathing steady and his mind was finally at peace.
______________________
The clock on his bedside table shone the time 3:02 AM in bright red numbers as the feeling of a shift in the mattress disturbed your peaceful slumber. It was accompanied by jangling of cuffs, and quiet yet frustrated murmuring. It took you a moment to come to your senses, the sheets beside you growing cold in Steven’s absence. After a few moments your eyes opened to the sound of footsteps, a quiet tiptoeing that grew farther and farther away from the bed and closer to the door. Immediately, you jumped up from the bed in a panic, your eyes searching to ensure that Steven hadn’t left.
This wouldn’t be the first time you had to go and search for him at such an ungodly hour, the streets empty, cold, and unforgiving, leaving Steven to freeze. He had called you in a panic, his voice wavering under the threat of tears. It scared the shit out of you, seeing that far-off look in his eye as he got into the passenger seat of your car, miles away from the safety of his bed. You didn’t understand how someone could manage to do that; to walk miles through the streets of London all while still in a deep sleep. You worried for his safety, his state so vulnerable as he aimlessly wandered alleyways and street corners under the darkness of night.
Now there you were, faced with his sleep-walking form, his hands fumbling with the locks on the door, his voice in conversation whilst mimicking an accent that wasn’t his own.
“Steven?” You questioned causing him to freeze in his tracks, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Steven!” You shouted once again, before making your way closer to his frozen form. You reached out and touched his arm.
“Come back to bed sweetheart. Come on.” He refused to look at you, his actions seeming to display some sort of frustration.
“Wake up baby. Come on, let’s go back to sleep.”
He grew unnaturally still, his eyes cast down onto the wooden floor below, a deep sigh exiting his chest. Then, as if with the flip of a switch, Steven came back to reality. His eyes frantically taking in his surroundings, his eyes welling up with tears as he finally turned to face you.
“I’m so sorry Darling.” He croaked, his hands shaking in fear. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m so sorry I-”
You wrapped him up in a hug, allowing him to take refuge in the nape of your neck. He held on tightly, his body pressed impossibly close to your own.
“Please don’t go.” He whispered, his voice breaking under the weight of his tears, causing your heart to split in two.
“I’m not going anywhere I promise. It’s okay sweetheart. It’s okay.”
You pulled away slightly to cup his face in your hands. You used your thumbs to wipe his tears, before he leaned forward to kiss your lips, his arms remaining wrapped tightly around you.
After a few moments, he turned around to fix the locks on the door, before taking your hand and following you back to bed. This time he laid his head on your chest, your arms wrapped around his middle. You rubbed his back until you felt his body begin to relax, before placing a gentle kiss on his hairline.
“Thank you so much.” He whispered, his hands tightly gripping your shirt as if he was afraid something was going to come and take him away.
“I’m here, get some sleep. You’re safe. I won’t let you go anywhere.”
And with that Steven felt at ease, a sense of security relieving his shaking body. You weren’t leaving and neither was he; this wasn’t temporary.