#𐔌 .⋮artist!chris.ᐟ꒱

[darksturnz]

NIGHTS LIKE THIS

CONTENTS:・teeth rotting fluff-heavy plot (imo) ・star!reader ・mild language ・sleeping in the same bed・artist!chris ・substance use + more WC: 2.3k

i highly highly recommend listening to this on repeat, as that’s what i did :,) promise it sets the mood. + heavily dedicated to my literal star @55sturn

The roof of Chris’s trailer creaked as Star stretched out on the patchy blanket, her black hoodie blending into the night sky above. The air was cool, almost cold, but not quite enough to send her shivering. Pine View was never silent, even at night—the hum of cicadas buzzed low in the background, broken occasionally by a bark or the far-off growl of an engine.

Chris sat beside her, leaning back on one elbow, a joint hanging loosely from his fingers. His face was calm, unreadable as always, except for the faint furrow in his brow. Smoke curled lazily in the air between them, dissipating into the starry sky.

“I’m telling you,” Star said, voice animated as her finger traced a constellation, “if aliens exist, there’s no way they’re not watching us right now. We’re like, prime reality TV for them. Chaos, drama, stupidity—it’s got everything.”

Chris exhaled a slow stream of smoke, not bothering to look up. “Pretty sure aliens have better taste than watching us fail at life.” His tone was dry, the corner of his mouth twitching like he wanted to smile but wouldn’t let himself.

Star glanced over at him, her lips twitching into a smirk. “You’re such an optimist, Chris.”

“Realist,” he corrected, passing the joint to her without looking. His eyes were fixed somewhere on the horizon, but she could feel him listening in that quiet way he always did.

She took a drag, coughing slightly before handing it back. “Still. If they’re watching us, I bet they’re rooting for us, y’know? Like… even when life’s a mess, people find these little moments of peace. Kinda like this.”

Chris finally glanced at her, the faintest flicker of something soft in his sharp features. The way her nose crinkled when she tried to suppress her laugh; the way her eyes lit up, reflecting the stars she couldn’t stop rambling about—it was… annoying, maybe, how effortlessly she made the night feel less heavy. But not in a bad way.

“Maybe,” he muttered, almost to himself, before looking away again.

They lapsed into silence for a while, the kind that felt comfortable after months of stolen nights like this. Star broke it first, as she always did.

“You’re extra quiet tonight,” she said, nudging his shoulder. “What’s on your mind? Or are you just too high to function?”

Chris rolled his eyes, taking another drag. “Maybe I like the quiet, Kid. You ever think about that?”

“Nope,” she replied easily, grinning. “You’d be miserable without me, admit it.”

“Sure,” he said, deadpan, though the corners of his mouth twitched again.

Eventually, Star sat up, wobbling slightly as she eyed the trellis below. “Alright, we should head down before I fall asleep up here. You’re terrible at carrying people, and I refuse to be a headline in the Pine View Gazette: Local Emo Girl Plummets to Death Off Trailer Roof.”

Chris snorted. “They’d probably get your name wrong, too.”

Star nudged him with her elbow. “Go first. You’re the guy. Don’t guys like… live for this macho stuff? Protecting damsels in distress n’all that?”

Chris rolled his eyes. “You’re about as distressed as a cat on catnip.”

He swung his legs over the edge of the roof, gripping the trellis. It creaked under his weight, but he made it down smoothly, dusting his hands on his jeans when he reached the ground.

“See?” he called up. “s’fine. Just don’t be an idiot about it.”

Star pulled a face. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Captain Supportive.”

As she carefully climbed down, the trellis groaned ominously. Her foot slipped on a loose slat, and the sound of wood snapping was followed by a startled yelp.

“Chris!”

She fell backward, and he scrambled to catch her. The impact sent them both crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Star landed on top of him, groaning as she tried to sit up. “Oh my god, I told you this thing was a death trap! Are you okay? Did I��”

“Shut up,” Chris said, breathless, but there was no heat in his words.

He stared up at her, his eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to still. The joint haze lingered in the air, making every detail sharper—the warmth of her body against his, the way her breath hitched slightly, the glint of stars in her wide eyes.

Her voice softened. “Chris…”

He didn’t move, didn’t speak, his gaze flicking briefly to her lips. It was as if gravity itself was pulling them closer, and she swayed slightly, her hands braced against his chest.

And then—

“Chris?”

Lila’s small, groggy voice shattered the moment. They froze, heads snapping toward the trailer’s back door, where Lila stood in her pajamas, rubbing her eyes.

Star scrambled to her feet, her cheeks burning. Chris sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair as he muttered, “What are you doing up, Lila?”

“I had a bad dream,” she mumbled, sniffling.

Chris sighed, climbing to his feet and brushing off the dirt. “Alright, c’mon,” he said, jerking his head toward the trailer. “Let’s get you back to bed.”

Star stood awkwardly to the side, still flustered, as Chris led Lila inside. When he came back out a few minutes later, his face was unreadable again, the moment between them seemingly forgotten.

“You coming?” he asked, nodding toward the trailer.

“Yeah,” she said quickly, following him in.

They collapsed onto the couch with a spread of leftover snacks, bingeing Rick and Morty in comfortable silence. But every so often, Star caught Chris sneaking glances at her, his expression softening just slightly before he turned back to the screen.

Star popped a fry into her mouth, her legs curled beneath her on the couch. The glow from the TV flickered across her face as the absurd antics of Rick and Morty filled the small living room. She stole a glance at Chris, who sat slouched next to her, picking at the crust of a slice of leftover pizza.

She couldn’t stop thinking about the moment on the ground—the way his eyes had locked with hers, the way her heart had flipped in her chest. It was ridiculous, really. Chris was… Chris. Gruff, blunt, emotionally unavailable Chris. And yet, her cheeks still felt warm when she thought about how close they’d been.

“You’re staring,” Chris said without looking up. His tone was as dry as ever, but the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Star jerked her gaze back to the TV, stuffing another fry into her mouth. “I’m not staring. Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Right,” he drawled, finally glancing over at her. “Because you’re the picture of subtlety.”

“Like you’re one to talk,” she shot back, turning to face him fully now. “You’ve been sneaking looks at me all night. What, do I have something on my face?”

Chris raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as he leaned back against the couch. “Maybe. Or maybe you’re just paranoid.”

She narrowed her eyes, trying to gauge if he was messing with her. “You’re so annoying, you know that?”

“And yet, here you are,” he replied smoothly, grabbing the remote and flipping to the next episode.

Star crossed her arms, leaning back with a huff. “I could’ve stayed home.”

Chris turned to her, the ghost of a smirk still lingering. “You wouldn’t have. You like it here too much.”

Her mouth opened to argue, but no words came out. Because he wasn’t wrong. For all his snark and the peeling wallpaper of his trailer, Chris’s place felt… safe.

“Whatever,” she muttered, grabbing a handful of fries.

They watched the episode in silence for a while, the tension between them softening into something almost comfortable again. But as the credits rolled, Chris spoke, his voice quieter than usual.

“What…what was that earlier,” he said, not looking at her.

Star stiffened, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. “What was what earlier?”

His jaw shifted, like he was debating whether to say it. Finally, he turned his head to meet her gaze, his expression unreadable. “You almost kissed me.”

Her face burned. “I—what? No, I didn’t!”

Chris arched an eyebrow, leaning slightly closer. “You sure about that?”

The air between them grew heavier, the space on the couch suddenly feeling much too small. Star swallowed hard, her pulse quickening as she held his gaze.

“Well, if I did,” she said, trying to sound casual, “you almost…did it back.”

He didn’t deny it. Instead, his eyes flicked down to her lips, just for a second, before meeting hers again.

For a moment, it felt like they were back on the ground outside, the rest of the world fading away as gravity pulled them closer.

But then, from the hallway, Lila’s small voice rang out again.

“Chris? Can I have water?”

Chris sighed, breaking eye contact as he stood up. “Yeah, I got it,” he called, his tone softer than usual.

Star exhaled, her shoulders slumping as the tension dissolved into the air. She stared at the TV, her fries forgotten, as Chris disappeared into the kitchen to help his sister.

When he came back, he sat down beside her without a word, grabbing another slice of pizza.

“Chris,” she said after a long pause, her voice quieter now.

He glanced at her, chewing lazily. “Yeah?”

She hesitated, her fingers twisting in the hem of her hoodie. “Never mind.”

Chris studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he leaned back, grabbing the remote again. “You’re weird,” he muttered, though there was no edge to his voice.

Star rolled her eyes, pulling her knees to her chest as the next episode started. But despite the casual banter, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something between them had shifted.

Neither of them said anything more about it, but as the night stretched on, Chris stayed just a little closer to her on the couch, his shoulder brushing hers every now and then.

The glow of the TV flickered softly across the living room, the chaos of Rick and Morty still playing, though Star hadn’t laughed in a while. Chris glanced over, noticing her head drooping slightly, her knees pulled to her chest. Her eyelids fluttered shut, the stubbornness that usually lit up her expression now replaced by something softer, more unguarded.

“Star,” Chris muttered, nudging her leg with his foot.

She mumbled something incoherent, barely stirring.

He sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. The night had already been a whirlwind—her almost falling off the roof, the tension of their moment on the ground, and now this. Yet here she was, passed out on his couch like it was her own home.

Chris stood, stretching before leaning down to scoop up the half-empty plate of fries on her lap. He set it on the coffee table, shaking his head. “You really can’t hang, can you?” he muttered under his breath, though his voice lacked any real bite.

Star whimpered lightly but didn’t wake. Chris hesitated, his hands twitching at his sides as he debated whether to just leave her there. But something about the thought of her waking up in an uncomfortable position, complaining about her back for the next week, pushed him to act.

He bent down, sliding an arm under her legs and another behind her back. She stirred slightly as he lifted her, her body instinctively curling into his chest. Her head lolled against him, nestling into the crook of his shoulder, and Chris froze mid-step.

Her soft breath tickled his neck as she adjusted again, snuggling closer, completely unaware of what she was doing. His heart stuttered in a way he wasn’t used to, an unfamiliar warmth blooming low in his stomach.

“Damn it, Kid,” he muttered under his breath, though there was no malice in his tone.

She mumbled something incoherent again, her arm curling loosely against his chest like she belonged there. It was so unlike her usual sharp edges, her endless teasing and snarky comments. Like this, she was… soft. Vulnerable. The part of her she didn’t let the world see.

Chris carried her down the narrow hallway to his room, his movements careful and deliberate, as if afraid to wake her. The soft creak of his bedroom door greeted him as he nudged it open with his foot. Moonlight spilled in through the window, casting a faint glow over the small, familiar space.

As he lowered her onto the bed, she stirred, her head shifting slightly. For a brief moment, he thought she’d wake, but she just sighed, curling into herself instinctively.

Chris lingered, crouched beside the bed, watching the way her face relaxed, her lips slightly parted as she fell deeper into sleep. The faintest furrow creased his brow as he studied her, caught between the familiarity of her presence and the strange, twisting feelings in his chest.

She shifted again, burrowing deeper into the blankets as her arm stretched out toward the space where he usually slept. He swallowed hard, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at the pillow he always placed between them. The unspoken rule—his own attempt to avoid another awkward morning of waking up to find her tangled around him.

But now, as he watched her, those feelings from earlier returned—the strange pull, the warmth that made him feel more unsettled than he wanted to admit.

Chris dropped the pillow.

He stood there for another moment, his gaze lingering on her soft features before he climbed into the bed beside her. He stayed on his side at first, stiff and unsure, leaning back against the headboard.

But when her arm instinctively draped across his stomach and her head found his shoulder again, he didn’t pull away.

For a while, he just lays there, staring up at the ceiling, her even breaths filling the quiet space around them. The barrier was gone, and something in him—something unspoken—decided it didn’t need to come back.

AUTHORS NOTE: i love him. i literally LOVE him. my sweet angel boy. that’s all.

TAG LIST: @jetaimevous @sturnsblunt @riasturns @ifwdominicfike @chrissturns-wife @mattsmunch @pip4444chris @ribread03 @ariestrxsh @angelic-sturniolos111 @pvssychicken @mattslolita @stvrnzcherries @dottieboo @lovergirl4gracieabrams @bluestriips

[darksturnz]

SKETCHES & SPACE

CONTENTS:・BLURB plot with tension ・artist!chris ・star!reader・marijuana usage・slight fluff WC: 3.8k

You didn't plan on ending your night sitting cross-legged on Chris's bed, the hum of the air conditioner mixing with the low music playing from his speaker. The trailer was unusually still-Lila was at a friend's house, and Chris's mom was at the hospital for overnight tests. For once, the place didn't carry its usual noise or chaos, and you weren't sure if that made it better or worse.

Chris hadn't invited you over, but he hadn't complained when you barged in earlier, tossing your bag onto the couch and wandering straight to his room like you lived there. Now, the two of you sat in companionable silence, passing a joint back and forth, the smoke curling lazily toward the ceiling.

The quiet was almost comfortable, but the haze in your head made everything feel slightly heavier. You were mid-exhale when Chris, sitting at the edge of the bed, broke the silence.

“Take your shorts off,” he said flatly, as though he were asking you to hand him the remote.

You choked on the smoke, coughing violently as your brain scrambled to process what he’d just said. “Excuse me?” you croaked, your voice higher than you’d like.

He glanced over his shoulder at you, completely unfazed. “Your shorts? Take them off.”

Your heart slammed against your ribs, and you stared at him, trying to decide if you were having some kind of THC-induced hallucination. “…why?” you managed, feeling your face heat.

Chris let out an annoyed sigh, turning fully to face you now. “ star just do it.”

“You can’t just command me to do things idiot,” you muttered, but still you hesitantly stood up, your hands fumbling with the waistband of your shorts. Your mind raced with every possible explanation for what was happening, none of them making you feel any less like you were about to pass out.

Once you’d awkwardly stepped out of your shorts, Chris grabbed a Sharpie from the cluttered table beside his bed and motioned for you to sit back down. You did, stiffly, crossing your arms over your knees.

“What are you doing?” you asked, your voice sharp with suspicion.

“Hold still,” he muttered, leaning down and gripping your thigh to steady it. The Sharpie’s tip touched your skin, and you froze, realization dawning.

“You’re drawing on me?”

“Yeah,” he said bluntly, not looking up. “What did you think I was doing?”

You didn’t answer, too busy dying inside. Your heart was still racing, but now it was out of sheer embarrassment.

Chris smirked faintly, clearly catching on but mercifully not saying anything about it. He focused on the lines he was sketching, his hand steady as the dragon took shape across your thigh. The black ink stood out starkly against your skin, the design intricate and fluid.

You glanced down, watching as his hand moved, his fingers brushing against your leg every now and then. “You didn’t even ask,” you said, trying to sound annoyed but failing.

“You didn’t exactly stop me,” he shot back, his tone dry.

You huffed but stayed still, your nerves slowly replaced by a strange, quiet tension. The Sharpie glided over your skin, his grip firm but not rough. The way he was focused—so deliberate, so precise—made the air between you feel heavier somehow.

Minutes passed in silence, the music continuing to play softly in the background. Chris leaned back to inspect his work, his fingers lingering on your thigh for just a second longer than necessary.

“Not bad?” he questioned, finally meeting your eyes.

You glanced down at the dragon etched across your skin, the lines intricate and wild. “Well You missed a spot,” you said, pointing at the tail.

Chris rolled his eyes, leaning forward again. “If you’re seriously gonna criticize, do it after I’m finished.” His voice was sharp, but the corners of his mouth twitched, and you swore you saw the faintest hint of a smile.

As Chris continued to add the smoke curling from the dragon's mouth, the Sharpie gliding across the back of your thigh, you shifted slightly, trying to stretch your leg. The movement caused his hand to slip, the line wavering.

"Stop moving," he muttered, his tone annoyed but calm.

"I'm not moving," you shot back, though you absolutely were. Sitting still this long was starting to make your muscles ache, and the growing awareness of his hand so close to you wasn't helping.

"You are," Chris said sharply, lifting the pen to fix the line. "If you don't stay still, this is gonna look like shit."

You huffed, trying to lock your leg into place, but after another minute, you shifted again, this time without meaning to.

Chris cursed under his breath, setting the Sharpie down on the bed. "Alright, always s’fuckin difficult," he said bluntly, his hands gripping your hips before you could react.

"Wait-what are you-"

Before you could finish your protest, he pulled you into his lap, settling you sideways across his legs. The suddenness of the movement left you stunned, your heart thudding in your chest.

"Stay still," he said firmly, adjusting you so your thigh was in the perfect position for him to finish the design. His voice was steady, almost cold, but there was an edge to it that sent heat rushing to your face.

You opened your mouth to argue, but his hand was already back on your leg, holding it steady as the Sharpie resumed its path. His grip was firm, his fingers digging just enough into your skin to keep you from moving again.

"Comfortable?" you asked dryly, trying to regain some semblance of composure.

"Very," he muttered, not looking up.

The air felt heavier now, and you were acutely aware of how close you were-your knee brushing his side, his arm nearly circling your waist as he leaned in to add the final details.You swallowed hard, keeping your eyes on the wall as the minutes dragged on.

Every now and then, his thumb would brush against your skin as he adjusted his hold, each touch sending a jolt of something through you that you refused to acknowledge. The Sharpie scratched softly against your thigh, the design coming to life under his hand.

"Is this better?" you asked, your voice quieter than you'd intended.

Chris didn't answer immediately. He sat back slightly, inspecting his work, his hand still resting on your leg. "Yeah," he said finally, his voice low. "Much better."

You tried to ignore the heat spreading across your face as he leaned closer again, adding the last curl of smoke to the design. The silence between you was thick, the music in the background barely registering over the sound of your heartbeat.

"Seriously, don’t move on this part," he said again, his voice softer now but still carrying that edge.

As if you could.

The air crackled with tension the longer you found yourself sitting on Chris's lap, your heart hammering in your chest as he continued to draw on your thigh. It was an inexplicably intimate moment, one that had you biting your lip to keep from making a sound.

"Are you almost done?" you managed to mutter, your throat dry.

Chris didn't look up, his focus still on the design he was creating. "Almost."

His hand slid further up your thigh, his callused fingers brushing against your skin, and you shivered involuntarily. You felt exposed, sitting on his lap like this, the silence between you filled with a strange, electric energy.

Without warning, Chris's hand shifted, the pad of his thumb pressing against a particularly sensitive spot on your inner thigh. You let out a small gasp, your body tensing as the sensation shot through you. Chris paused for a split second, his thumb still pressed against your skin.

"Sorry," he muttered, his voice low. Though he didn't move his hand back, and something told you that he wasn't sorry at all. You could feel his breath against your skin, his proximity making your head spin.

The tension between you was unbearable now, the silence heavy with something unspoken. Your body was on fire, your mind racing with possibilities that you were too afraid to acknowledge. And through it all, Chris continued to draw, the sharpie rubbing against your skin, his hand holding you in place with an almost possessiveness.

Chris's hand hadn't moved from your thigh, and you were suddenly very conscious of the fact that you were still sitting on his lap. The heat of his body radiated through you, adding to the already heady mix of emotions swirling within you, and you were acutely aware of every point where he was touching you—his hand on your leg, his arm around your waist, his breath warm against your neck.

The moment stretched on, the charged air around you refusing to dissipate. You couldn't bring yourself to move, your heart thudding so loudly you were sure Chris could hear it. Your mind was a whirl of confusion and desire, your body screaming for you to do something, anything, to break the tension. Chris set the Sharpie down on the bed and leaned back, his hand still resting on your thigh as he inspected his work. “There,” he said finally, his voice steady but quieter than usual. “All done.”

You glanced down at the dragon now coiled across your skin, its tail curling around your thigh in intricate, fluid lines. The detail was incredible—too good for something drawn with a Sharpie on a whim.

“Yeah, not bad,” you said, trying to sound casual despite the faint heat rising to your face.

Chris didn’t respond right away, his eyes lingering on the design before his gaze flicked up, and he seemed to realize the position the two of you were in. His body stiffened slightly, his jaw tightening as the weight of the moment hung between you.

Without a word, he shifted his grip on your leg, carefully moving it aside as he nudged you off his lap. The abruptness of it made you feel unsteady for a second, but you didn’t say anything, your own thoughts spiraling too fast to form words.

Chris stood quickly, running a hand through his hair as he avoided looking at you. “be right back,” he muttered, his voice lower than usual.

Before you could respond, he crossed the room and grabbed his sketchpad from the cluttered desk near the window. His movements were quick, almost hurried, like he needed something—anything—to focus on other than what had just happened.

You stayed where you were, still sitting on the bed with your legs crossed, your fingers absentmindedly tracing the edges of the dragon. The air in the room felt heavier now, the faint hum of the air conditioner and music filling the silence like static.

Chris flipped open the sketchpad and sat down at the desk, his back to you. He picked up a pencil and started sketching, his hand moving rapidly across the page as though it would help drown out whatever had just passed between you.

You didn’t bring it up. Maybe it was the haze in your head, or maybe it was the fact that your own heart was still racing in a way you didn’t quite understand. Either way, you stayed quiet, glancing at the dragon one more time before leaning back against the pillows, letting the music and hum of the trailer fill the space between you. You leaned back on Chris’s bed, still tracing the edges of the dragon on your thigh, the quiet of the trailer settling over you again. Your fingers brushed absently over the lines as your thoughts wandered, and before you knew it, you were speaking without really thinking.

“You ever wonder what it’s like to be out there?” you asked, your voice breaking the comfortable silence.

Chris glanced up briefly from his sketchpad, his pencil pausing mid-line. “Out where?”

“Space,” you said, gesturing vaguely toward the ceiling as though it were a window to the stars. “Like, just floating out there with no noise, no gravity, no bullshit. Just… nothing.”

He went back to his sketch, the faint scratch of pencil on paper filling the gap before he responded. “Sounds peaceful.”

“It’s not, though,” you continued, your fingers still idly brushing over the dragon. “It’s terrifying. Like, you’re literally one wrong move away from being sucked into a vacuum where no one can hear you scream.”

Chris’s lips quirked, a soft huff of amusement escaping him. “Very optimistic of you.”

You tilted your head to look at him, watching the way his brow furrowed slightly as he worked on whatever he was sketching. “But it’s kind of beautiful too, you know? Like, everything out there is just… endless. Infinite. No rules, no boundaries, no limits. It’s pure chaos, but it works somehow.”

Chris didn’t look up this time, but his voice was soft. “Sounds like you.”

You blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“Chaos that works,” he said simply, not elaborating as his pencil scratched another line.

Your face warmed slightly, and you turned your gaze back to the ceiling, pretending to ignore the way your chest tightened at his words. “Well, I’m not infinite,” you muttered.

“Thank God,” Chris murmured, the faintest trace of a smirk tugging at his mouth.

You huffed a giggle, shaking your head. “Asshole.”

His response was a noncommittal grunt, but the way he angled his head slightly toward you let you know he was still listening.

“You know,” you said after a beat, “there’s this theory that the universe is expanding faster than we thought. Like, galaxies are speeding away from each other, getting farther and farther apart. It’s wild.”

Chris’s pencil paused for a fraction of a second before continuing. “Why’s that wild?”

“Because it’s like everything’s trying to escape everything else,” you said, your voice quieter now. “But at the same time, it’s all connected, you know? Like, even the emptiest parts of space are still full of something. Energy, dark matter, whatever.”

“Sounds crowded,” Chris said, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly as he kept his eyes on the page.

You smiled faintly, your gaze still on the ceiling. “It is. But it’s also lonely.”

The pencil stopped, and you heard Chris shift slightly in his chair. “That make you nervous?” he asked, his voice quieter than before.

You shrugged, playing with the edge of the blanket. “Not really. I think it’s kind of nice. Like, even when you’re out there, completely alone, you’re still part of something bigger.”

The room fell silent again, save for the hum of the air conditioning and the faint scratch of his pencil. His questions were small, almost offhand, but they kept coming, pulling more of your thoughts from you as he sketched in that quiet, unhurried way of his.

“You talk about space like you’ve been there,” he said after a while, his tone light.

“Maybe I have,” you shot back, smirking slightly.

Chris shook his head, his smirk faint but visible as he glanced at you briefly. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you’re boring,” you countered, grinning as you stretched out on the bed.

“Better than being sucked into a vacuum,” he muttered, going back to his sketching.

And just like that, the quiet settled again, the conversation ebbing and flowing in a way that felt easy, even as something heavier lingered. The two of you sat side by side on Chris’s bed, the air conditioning humming softly, the smell of smoke lingering faintly from earlier. He was leaned back against the headboard, sketchbook balanced on his knee, pencil moving quietly as he worked on something. You were scrolling absentmindedly through your phone, occasionally glancing at the Sharpie dragon on your thigh.

Neither of you spoke much, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was just… there. Like the kind of quiet that exists when two people have been around each other long enough to not need to fill the space with words.

Chris shifted suddenly, setting his pencil down on the edge of the sketchbook. “Be right back, again” he muttered, swinging his legs off the bed and standing up.

“Don’t have to announce your departure every time,” you replied, not looking up as he disappeared down the narrow hallway.

The creak of the bathroom door shutting made you glance up, your gaze landing on his sketchbook left open on the bed. You hesitated for a second before curiosity got the better of you.

Sliding the book toward you, you tilted it slightly to get a better look. The first sketch was striking: a tall, shadowy church with jagged spires, the lines rough but deliberate. You stared at it for a moment, recognizing the eeriness in the way he’d drawn it, almost like it was crumbling but still standing tall.

Flipping the page, you found a sketch of Lila. The detail was softer, more careful—her small face framed by loose curls, her grin wide and toothy like she’d just said something she thought was the funniest thing in the world. You could practically hear her giggling through the lines.

The next page stopped you in your tracks. It was a statue, wings spread wide, its face serene but haunting. You squinted at it, certain you’d seen it somewhere before—probably in Pine View’s graveyard. Chris had captured every detail: the folds of the fabric, the slight tilt of the head, the rosary dangling from its hands. It looked like it could step right off the page.

And then you turned to the next sketch, the one he must have been working on just moments ago.

Your stomach flipped. It was you.

Or at least, it looked awfully like you—same slouched position, same lazy grip on your phone, even the crumpled hem of your shirt sitting exactly the way it did now. He’d even drawn the faint lines of the Sharpie dragon on your thigh.

You stared at it, your chest tightening. The detail was striking, but what got to you was the way he’d drawn it: with an intimacy that felt too precise to be accidental. There was something about the tilt of your head, the way your posture looked so familiar but also so studied.

The sound of the bathroom door opening snapped you out of it. You scrambled to set the sketchbook back down where he’d left it, flipping the cover closed just as Chris walked back into the room.

He glanced at you briefly as he crossed the small space to the bed. “You good?” he asked, his tone casual but with the faintest trace of suspicion.

“Yeah,” you said quickly, tucking your phone into your pocket and leaning back like nothing had happened.

Chris sat back down, picking up his sketchbook without a word. He didn’t open it, though, just held it in his lap as he looked at you. His brow furrowed slightly, like he was about to say something, but instead, he leaned back and grabbed his pencil.

You stayed quiet, pretending not to notice the way your pulse was still racing. The air in the room felt heavier now, though you couldn’t tell if that was just your imagination. If Chris suspected anything, he didn’t show it, his pencil scratching softly against the paper again as if nothing had happened. You shifted slightly, leaning back against the headboard, feigning a casualness you didn’t feel. Your fingers picked idly at a loose thread on your shorts, your gaze fixed on the faint glow of the bedside lamp. But your mind kept drifting back to the sketch—the way he’d captured you so effortlessly, like he’d been watching longer than you realized.

Chris was quiet as he worked, the faint scratching of his pencil filling the space between you. You wanted to say something, anything, to cut through the strange weight that had settled in the room, but nothing came to mind.

“Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?” he asked, not looking up. His voice was even, but there was a faint edge of curiosity, like he already suspected the answer.

“M’just thinking,” you said, a little too quickly.

Chris hummed, the kind of noncommittal sound he made when he wasn’t entirely convinced. “ ‘bout what?”

You shrugged, your eyes flicking toward the dragon still etched on your thigh. “I don’t know. Space stuff.”

That earned a faint smirk from him, though his pencil didn’t stop moving. “You’re always thinking about space stuff.”

“It’s better than thinking about… other stuff,” you muttered, your voice trailing off.

Chris finally looked up at that, his dark eyes studying you for a moment. The silence stretched again, heavier this time, before he went back to his sketch.

“I saw the one of Lila,” you blurted out before you could stop yourself.

Chris paused mid-line, his hand stilling as his gaze flicked toward you again. “What?”

You gestured toward his sketchbook, trying to keep your tone casual. “When you went to the bathroom. I peeked. There’s one of Lila. It’s… really good.”

His expression softened slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing as he leaned back against the wall. “Yeah. She sat still for like five minutes, which is a miracle.”

You smiled faintly, relieved that he didn’t seem upset. “The one of the statue… is that from Pine View’s graveyard?”

Chris nodded, his pencil tapping lightly against the edge of the sketchbook. “Yeah. I go there sometimes to sketch. It’s quiet.”

“Figures,” you said, shaking your head. “You’re the only person I know who’d find a graveyard relaxing.”

He rolled his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching. “I was gone for like three minutes max, kid, why you writin’ a biography of me.”

You snorted softly, but your mind was still stuck on the last sketch. The one of you. You wanted to ask about it, to call him out, but the words felt too big, too risky. Instead, you reached for the joint still sitting in the ashtray on the nightstand, lighting it and taking a slow drag.

Chris didn’t say anything as you passed it to him, his fingers brushing yours briefly before he took it. The air was thick with unspoken words, but Chris wasn’t stupid. He’d noticed the way you avoided looking at him when he came back into the room, how your fingers fidgeted with the edge of your shorts like you were trying to distract yourself. He knew you’d seen the drawing—he could tell by the way your voice had faltered when you brought up Lila’s sketch, as if you were testing the waters. But when you didn’t mention it, when you chose not to talk about anything else instead, he felt a strange sense of relief. He wasn’t sure what he would’ve said if you’d brought it up, wasn’t ready to explain why he’d felt compelled to draw you the way he had. So instead, he let the silence stretch between you, grateful that, for once, neither of you pushed too hard.

authors note: for all my priest!matthew babies, promise ur getting fed soon! i’m binge watching euphoria and i still can’t help but need nate, elliot and fez in a way detrimental to feminism :,p

TAG LIST: @jetaimevous @sturnsblunt @riasturns @ifwdominicfike @chrissturns-wife @mattsmunch @pip4444chris @ribread03 @ariestrxsh @angelic-sturniolos111 @pvssychicken @mattslolita @stvrnzcherries @dottieboo @lovergirl4gracieabrams

[darksturnz]

THE COST OF LEAVING

CONTENTS:・angst-heavy plot ・artist!chris ・mentions of drug use・terminal illness・financial hardship ・parental abandonment ・unintentional child neglect. WC: 1.9k

The house had a strange hum to it now, a mixture of silence and sounds that only reminded Chris of what was missing. When James Sturniolo walked out, he didn’t slam the door or pack a dramatic bag. He just… left. There was no screaming, no scene. Chris could still remember the steady cadence of his dad’s boots crossing the wooden floor, the brief exchange of heated whispers between his parents before his father’s voice cut out entirely. And then, silence.

Chris was sixteen, old enough to understand what had happened but young enough for it to devastate him. For Lila, just two, the loss wasn’t as visceral. She toddled through the house the next morning, dragging her stuffed bunny by its ear and calling, “Daddy?” in her tiny voice, as if he’d just been misplaced. Chris had stood frozen in the hallway, watching her, something breaking in him that he didn’t yet have the words to explain.

Evelyn tried to pick up the pieces. She worked longer shifts at the diner, pulling doubles when she could, but she always came home with a tired smile for her kids. She was the kind of mother who baked birthday cakes from scratch, even when the pantry was nearly empty. The kind who sang Lila to sleep at night and stayed up late to help Chris with his geometry homework, even if she didn’t understand it herself. She made life bearable.

But James’s absence left cracks no amount of glue could fix.

At first, Chris was just angry. He lashed out at teachers, snapped at his mom, stormed out of the house more times than he could count. His grades began to slip. Once a B+ student with the occasional A, he now stared blankly at tests and left half the questions unanswered. Evelyn did her best to rein him in, but between work and caring for Lila, there wasn’t much of her left to go around.

By the time he was seventeen, Chris had all but given up on school. He spent most of his time with a group of kids his mom didn’t approve of—guys who always seemed to have a joint or a flask in hand, who laughed too loud and drove too fast. They weren’t friends, not really, but they made it easy to forget the ache in his chest.

Drugs became his escape. At first, it was just weed, something to dull the edges of his anger. But soon, he found himself experimenting with harder substances, chasing a numbness he could never quite reach. He told himself he could stop anytime. That he wasn’t like the guys who used until their faces hollowed out and their hands shook. He was just… managing.

Then came Evelyn’s diagnosis.

It was two days after Lila’s fourth birthday. Evelyn had been complaining of fatigue for weeks, brushing it off as stress or overwork. But when she collapsed in the kitchen, Chris had to carry her to the car and drive her to the hospital himself.

“Leukemia,” the doctor said, his voice clinical and detached, as if the word wouldn’t shatter their world.

Chris didn’t cry in front of her. He held her hand and promised it would be okay, even as his mind spiraled. He didn’t cry that night, either, when he sat in his car outside the hospital, staring at the dashboard and trying to figure out how the hell he was supposed to keep his family afloat. He didn’t cry the next morning, or the morning after that.

Instead, he got to work.

Evelyn insisted on continuing to work, even as the chemo sapped her strength. Chris hated seeing her like that—pale and frail, her once-bright eyes dull with exhaustion. He picked up a part-time job at a local auto shop, but it wasn’t enough. The bills piled up faster than they could pay them, and Chris felt like he was drowning, so he made a decision.

The same guys he got high with had connections. It wasn’t hard to start selling on the side, just enough to make ends meet. At first, he told himself it was temporary. Just until his mom got better. Just until he could figure something else out. But the money came fast, and for the first time in months, Chris felt like he could breathe.

Then came the night Evelyn collapsed again.

Chris had been out making a drop when it happened. Lila, now six, found her mother unconscious in the living room. She didn’t know what to do, so she grabbed her stuffed bunny and wandered to the neighbor’s house, tears streaming down her face.

By the time Chris got home, the ambulance was already there. The neighbor—a middle-aged woman named Mrs. Carter—tore into him as soon as she saw him.

“What kind of son leaves his sick mother and little sister alone like that?” she hissed, her voice sharp with judgment.

Chris didn’t answer. He couldn’t. He just stood there, watching as the paramedics loaded Evelyn into the ambulance, feeling like the worst person in the world.

Chris followed the ambulance to the hospital in silence, Lila curled up in the backseat with her stuffed bunny clutched tightly in her arms. She didn’t cry anymore; her wide eyes just stared out the window, as though she was trying to process the enormity of what had just happened.

When they got to the hospital, Chris parked haphazardly in the lot and scooped Lila into his arms. She didn’t protest, just buried her face in his shoulder.

The doctors stabilized Evelyn that night, but the news wasn’t good. The leukemia was progressing faster than expected, and the treatments weren’t working the way they’d hoped. Chris sat by her bedside, his hand wrapped around hers, while Lila slept fitfully in the chair beside him.

“You can’t keep doing this,” Evelyn murmured, her voice weak but firm.

“Doing what?” Chris asked, though he already knew what she meant.

“Carrying all this on your shoulders,” she said. “You’re…you’re just a kid, Chris. You should be in school, not… whatever it is you’ve been doing.”

Chris’s jaw clenched. He wanted to tell her everything—to confess the depths of what he’d done to keep them afloat. But he couldn’t. The shame was too heavy.

“I’m fine, Mom,” he said instead. “I can handle it.”

Evelyn’s eyes softened, and she reached up to touch his cheek. Her hand was cold, her fingers trembling.

“You’re not fine,” she whispered. “But you’re trying. And I’m so proud of you for that.”

Those words broke something in Chris. He stayed by her side until morning, holding her hand and trying to memorize the feel of it—just in case.

Over the next few weeks, Evelyn’s condition worsened. She couldn’t work anymore, which meant the financial strain was worse than ever. Chris picked up more shifts at the auto shop, but it still wasn’t enough. He found himself taking more risks with his dealing—bigger quantities, sketchier buyers.

One night, he came home to find Lila sitting at the kitchen table with Mrs. Carter. The woman had a hard look in her eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“She showed up at my door again,” Mrs. Carter said, gesturing to Lila. “Said she was hungry.”

Chris felt the blood drain from his face. “I—she—” He didn’t know what to say.

“I know you’re doing your best,” Mrs. Carter continued, her tone softening slightly. “But you’re just a kid, Chris. You can’t do this alone.”

“I don’t have a choice,” Chris snapped, his voice rising before he could stop it. Lila flinched, and he immediately regretted it.

Mrs. Carter stood, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. “There’s always a choice,” she said. “But you need to think about what’s best for Lila. She’s just a little girl. She shouldn’t have to grow up like this.”

After she left, Chris sat at the table with his head in his hands. Lila climbed into his lap, wrapping her small arms around his neck.

“Don’t be sad, Chris,” she whispered. “I’m not hungry anymore.”

Her innocence was a knife in his chest.

The decision to leave wasn’t an easy one, but it felt inevitable. The town was a dead end, a place where hope went to die. Chris had no future here, and neither did Lila.

One night, after putting Lila to bed, he sat down with Evelyn to tell her his plan.

“You’re going to move us?” she asked, her voice quiet.

Chris nodded. “We can’t stay here, Mom. It’s not working. I’ve saved up enough to get us somewhere else—somewhere cheaper. A fresh start.”

Evelyn’s eyes filled with tears, but she didn’t argue. She just reached out and squeezed his hand. “You’re a good boy, Chris,” she said. “Better than I deserve.”

“Don’t say that,” he replied, his throat tightening.

They sat together in silence, the weight of everything they’d lost hanging heavy between them.

The day they left, the house felt like a hollow shell of its former self. Most of their belongings were gone—sold to pay bills or crammed into the trunk of Chris’s black 1963 Pontiac Tempest. The car sat in the driveway, gleaming in the soft morning light, a sharp contrast to the tired faces of the family leaving everything behind.

Chris stood at the edge of the driveway, staring at the house that had been their home for so long. It still looked the same—faded shutters, a crooked mailbox, and the porch steps that creaked when you stepped on them. But it didn’t feel like home anymore. Too much had happened here. Too much had been lost.

Evelyn sat in the passenger seat of the Tempest, leaning back against the headrest with her eyes closed. She was exhausted, her thin frame barely filling the seat. In the back, Lila was strapped into the seatbelt, her stuffed bunny perched on her lap. She stared out the window, quiet and solemn, as though she understood the weight of what was happening.

Chris took a deep breath and opened the driver’s side door, sliding into the cracked leather seat. He ran his hands over the steering wheel, the cool metal grounding him for a moment. This car had been one of the few constants in his life—his sanctuary on countless nights when the weight of the world was too much to bear.

“Ready?” he asked, glancing at Lila in the rearview mirror.

She nodded, her small hands gripping the bunny tighter.

Chris looked over at his mother. Evelyn opened her eyes and gave him a weak smile, the kind that broke his heart every time he saw it.

“You’re doing the right thing, Chris,” she whispered. Her voice was faint, but the conviction in it was strong.

He nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.

The Tempest roared to life with a deep rumble that filled the air, steady and reliable. Chris shifted into gear and glanced one last time at the house. The memories it held—both good and bad—swirled in his mind.

But then he looked at Lila, her wide doe eyes watching him in the mirror, filled with quiet trust. She was the reason he kept going, the light in a world that felt too dark most days.

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and pulled out of the driveway. The Tempest rolled smoothly onto the road, leaving the house—and the life they once knew—behind.

As they drove away, Chris felt the faintest glimmer of something he hadn’t felt in a long time: hope. The road ahead was uncertain, but it was a chance to start over. A chance to give Lila the life she deserved.

And he’d do whatever it took to make that happen.

AUTHORS NOTE: i love a good lore drop + you need to understand artist!chris just a tad more :3 as always, ask about any and all of my au’s are welcomed.

TAG LIST: @jetaimevous @sturnsblunt @riasturns @ifwdominicfike @chrissturns-wife @mattsmunch @pip4444chris @ribread03 @ariestrxsh @angelic-sturniolos111 @pvssychicken @mattslolita @stvrnzcherries @dottieboo @lovergirl4gracieabrams

[darksturnz]

──────── ⵌ star!reader x artist!chris instagram posts.

layout inspired by @sturnioz

st444rgrl

ᯤ Risk・Deftones ᯤ

liked by madisonbeer, christophersturniolo, dullangel and 379 others.

st444rgrl got ahold of the needles… again ^-^ 👥madisonbeer

view all comments…

christophersturniolo

ᯤ Everybody wants to rule the world ・Tears For Fears ᯤ

liked by nathandoe8, st444rgrl, madisonbeer and 538 others.

christophersturniolo 📦📦.

view all comments…

AUTHORS NOTE: i love insta au’s, makes the character feel real :,D im so so so sooo proud of my au’s and im so glad yall like them! ALSO the little girl WILL be lila’s face claim.

TAG LIST: @jetaimevous @sturnsblunt @riasturns @ifwdominicfike @chrissturns-wife @mattsmunch @pip4444chris @ribread03 @ariestrxsh @angelic-sturniolos111 @pvssychicken @mattslolita @stvrnzcherries @dottieboo @lovergirl4gracieabrams

[darksturnz]

what are star and chris doing right now?

8:38 am

Star is still dead asleep in Chris’s room. Sunlight seeps through the half-open blinds, stretching across the cluttered floor and pooling at the edge of the bed where her foot peeks out from under his worn comforter. It’s become something of a habit lately—showing up unannounced after arguments with her father, eyes raw and voice tight, a silent plea that Chris always seems to understand without a word. Unlike Madison, who would gently pry and try to piece her back together with soft questions and careful hands, Chris never asks. He never makes her talk about what happened, and although she loves Madison for her unwavering care, sometimes Star doesn’t want to be pieced back together. Sometimes, she just wants to forget, and Chris gives her that.

Chris’s bed is an oversized mess of tangled sheets, fraying blankets, and too many pillows—an unspoken compromise born out of nights like this. A pillow barrier sits clumsily between them now, built half-heartedly, as though both of them know it’s more of a suggestion than a rule. Star, curled up on her side, has somehow managed to look both small and impossibly stubborn, her face buried into Chris’s pillow while she clings to the comforter with one hand like a toddler. Her breathing is deep and even, but every once in a while, she stirs, mumbling something unintelligible and adjusting her position until she settles again.

Chris, under the disguise of “looking for something,” drifts in and out of the room with his usual quiet tread, careful to avoid the floorboards that creak. He doesn’t really have a reason to keep coming back—at least not one he’ll admit to. Lila knows it too. She’s perched in the living room, legs swinging off the couch, her bowl of Lucky Charms precariously balanced on her knees as Bluey plays on the TV at a low volume. Chris muttered something earlier about keeping her quiet so she “doesn’t wake Star,” and Lila didn’t miss the way he said it with that same strange care in his voice. She just nodded knowingly, like she’s seen this before.

The soft hum of Bluey fills the living room, its cheerful dialogue blending with the occasional clink of Lila’s spoon against her bowl. Chris leans against the doorframe for a beat too long before turning back into the room to “check his closet” for the third time. Star doesn’t stir, and Chris watches her for a second—her face half-hidden, her breathing steady, like sleep has finally given her some fragile peace.

The house is quiet except for the TV in the other room, Lila’s contented munching, and the sound of Chris moving through his space. It’s routine now, even if neither of them would call it that. He doesn’t wake her, though—never does.

TAG LIST: @jetaimevous @sturnsblunt @riasturns @ifwdominicfike @chrissturns-wife @mattsmunch @pip4444chris @ribread03 @ariestrxsh @angelic-sturniolos111 @pvssychicken @mattslolita @stvrnzcherries @dottieboo @lovergirl4gracieabrams @bluestriips

[darksturnz]

Can we send in ask about your AU’s? I’m so curious as to how did star!reader and artist!chris meet? English is not my first language sorry 🥺💞

you absolutely can, in fact i’d love it a lot actually lol! for any of my au’s :). WC: 1K.

The first time you see them, it’s through the dusty blinds of your bedroom window. The rusted white trailer next door has been empty for months, and you’d gotten used to the silence. But now, there’s a moving truck parked haphazardly out front, and the muffled sound of a girl’s laughter floats through the open window. You peek out cautiously, careful not to disturb the carefully balanced stack of books by your windowsill.

The girl is younger than you—maybe 7, at most. She’s spinning in circles with her arms outstretched, like she’s trying to take flight. Her messy ponytail bounces with each turn, and the way her laughter echoes in the stillness makes you smile despite yourself. Beside her, a figure leans against the side of the truck. Older. A guy, maybe a year or two older than you. He’s dressed in black, from his scuffed boots to his leather jacket, the sleeves pushed up to reveal faded tattoos snaking up his forearms.

You watch as he picks up a box and carries it toward the trailer, his movements unhurried, almost reluctant. The girl trails after him, her words tumbling out too fast to catch, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He doesn’t say anything back—at least not that you can hear—but the tilt of his head suggests he’s listening. You notice how he pauses for just a second before disappearing inside, the girl darting in after him.

You keep watching for longer than you should. Something about them feels different—like they don’t quite belong here in Pine View, but they’re trying to make it work anyway. It’s not until the girl bursts back out, her arms full of mismatched stuffed animals, that you realize you’ve been staring. You pull the blinds shut, heart pounding for reasons you can’t quite explain.

Later that night, after another screaming match with your dad leaves your throat raw and your hands trembling, you slip outside. The air is cool against your overheated skin, and the sky is wide and open above you, dotted with stars that feel closer than they should. You find your usual spot—an old, sagging lawn chair by the edge of your trailer—and tilt your head back, letting the quiet blanket you.

It’s not until you catch the faint scent of weed that you realize you’re not alone. Your gaze shifts, and there he is—the guy from earlier. He’s perched on the steps of his trailer, a joint dangling lazily between his fingers. The faint orange glow of the ember illuminates his face in brief flashes, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the faint shadows under his eyes.

For a moment, neither of you says anything. His gaze flicks to you, sharp and assessing, before settling back on the horizon. He doesn’t offer a greeting, but he doesn’t tell you to leave, either. You should probably feel self-conscious, but you don’t. Instead, you speak, the words tumbling out before you can stop them.

“You ever think about how small we are?” you ask, your voice quiet but steady. “Like, in the grand scheme of things? The universe is just… so big. Bigger than we can even comprehend.”

He exhales a slow stream of smoke, his expression unreadable. “Can’t say I’ve thought about it,” he says finally, his voice low and rough, like gravel underfoot.

You don’t let his indifference deter you. “You should. It’s kinda comforting, actually. Knowing that none of this—” you gesture vaguely toward the rows of trailers, the distant hum of someone’s TV, “—really matters. Not in the long run.”

He doesn’t respond right away, just taps the ash from his joint and looks up at the sky. You think he’s going to ignore you entirely, but then he speaks again, his tone softer this time. “What’s your favorite one?”

It takes you a second to realize he’s talking about the stars. Your heart stutters, caught off guard by the question. “Oh, uh… probably Orion’s Belt. It’s not the most interesting, but it’s easy to find. Reliable, you know?”

He hums in acknowledgment, and the two of you lapse into silence again. It’s not uncomfortable, though. If anything, it feels… peaceful. Like you’ve both found a tiny sliver of calm in the chaos of your lives.

As the silence stretches, the smoke from his joint drifts lazily in the cool night air. You catch yourself glancing at it, the faint orange ember glowing in his hand. He notices, of course. He doesn’t miss much, you’re starting to realize.

“You smoke?” he asks, his voice low and even, like he’s asking about the weather. There’s no judgment in it, just curiosity, though his eyes stay fixed on the horizon as if the answer doesn’t matter either way.

“Sometimes,” you admit, fiddling with the chipped polish on your thumbnail. “Not, like… often.” You shift in your chair, suddenly hyperaware of how your words tumble out a little too fast.

He finally looks at you, tilting his head slightly like he’s sizing you up. Then, without a word, he holds the joint out, pinched loosely between his fingers. It’s a casual gesture, like he’s done it a thousand times before, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes—something guarded, like he’s bracing for you to say no.

You hesitate for half a second, then reach out, your fingers brushing his briefly as you take it. It’s warm, and the faint smell of smoke and something earthy lingers in the air between you.

“Don’t choke,” he says dryly, his lips twitching into something that’s not quite a smirk, not quite a smile.

You roll your eyes but bring it to your lips anyway, inhaling slowly. The burn hits your throat, but you manage to keep your composure, handing it back with a small cough. His expression doesn’t change, but there’s the slightest quirk of his brow, like he’s surprised you didn’t make a fool of yourself.

The silence returns after that, but it feels different now. Lighter, maybe. Or maybe that’s just the weed settling in. You don’t ask his name. He doesn’t ask yours. But for now, that feels okay.

TAG LIST: @jetaimevous @sturnsblunt @riasturns @ifwdominicfike @chrissturns-wife @mattsmunch @pip4444chris @ribread03 @ariestrxsh @angelic-sturniolos111 @pvssychicken @mattslolita @stvrnzcherries @dottieboo @lovergirl4gracieabrams @mbbsgf

[darksturnz]

i also think that academic weapon!reader, artist!chris, star!reader and loser!matt would be a fun dynamic

i could SO imagine academic weapon!reader & star!reader going on such long rambles about all the facts they know, more so a friendly competition to see who’s really the most knowledgeable on the current subject while loser!matt & artist!chris are betting on whose girl “knows the most”, the both of them chiming in with idiotic comments and questions here and there to fuel the fire !!

[darksturnz]

thank you guys so much.

from the top of my head to the tops of my toes, i appreciate all of your kind words, interactions & support. i was super nervous to bring my work over to tumblr as i didn’t know how to actually even use the app, nor if what i write would have an audience here. i won’t get too sappy with you buuuttt i will let you pick what i post next as a thank you :,D

DARKSTURNZ CURRENT WIP:

1: voided

2: Snowed in- contents: pillow riding, pervy!matt, bff!reader, FWB + more EDIT: WINNING STORY

3: voided

[darksturnz]

i just found and read everything abt star!reader and artist chris and lemme tell u. i need everything. LOL

YAYAYAYAY i’m so happy to hear that :,) they make me delusional if i’m being honest #needthat HAHAHA

[darksturnz]

i loveeee artist!chris and star!reader so much they are so comforting to me

that makes me so happy :,) i hold them very close to my heart. i’m so glad you love my sweet little babies !

[darksturnz]

COMFORT IN THE CHAOS

CONTENTS:・emotional distress-heavy plot ・star!reader ・mild language ・sleeping in the same bed・artist!chris ・piercing discussion (self-piercing mentioned) ・fluff/found family vibes :3 + more WC: 11.5k

You’re sitting cross-legged at the edge of the trailer park playground, a cigarette dangling between your fingers, watching the sky bleed into a bruise of purples and greys. The swings creak in the breeze, empty but moving like ghosts are riding them. It’s the kind of silence that makes you feel like you’re the only one alive here.

Then you see her.

She’s small—probably no more than six—and she’s making a beeline straight for you. Loose curls of brown hair bounce against her shoulders, the kind that’s already starting to frizz in the sticky air, and her greenish-brown eyes look determined. You recognize her before she’s even close: Chris’s sister. Lila.

She’s clutching something to her chest, tiny fingers wrapped tight around it. As she stops in front of you, she presses her lips together, like she’s sizing you up.

“Uh… hey,” you say, because what else do you say to a kid who comes up to you unprompted? “You lost or something?”

She shakes her head solemnly. “You’re Star.”

It’s not a question.

You blink, a little caught off guard. “Yeah. That’s me.”

Satisfied, she drops her hands, holding her stuffed bunny up for you to see. You notice the torn ear right away, the uneven stitching like someone—probably Chris—tried to fix it but gave up halfway through. The poor thing’s been through hell.

“This is Bunny,” Lila says. “He’s tired.”

You tilt your head, amusement flickering across your face. “Same.”

Lila’s smile is shy but pleased, like you’ve passed some secret test. Without waiting for an invitation, she plops down next to you on the gravel, the stuffed rabbit settling into her lap like a living thing.

For a second, you just watch her, mildly bewildered. You don’t exactly scream kid-friendly, not with the cigarette stubs and piercings and eyeliner smeared under your eyes. But she seems unbothered, picking at a loose thread on Bunny’s paw as she leans back like she’s been planning to hang out with you all day.

“You’re not supposed to talk to strangers, you know,” you tell her, nudging a pebble with your boot.

“You’re not a stranger,” she says matter-of-factly.

“Yeah? Who told you that?”

“Chris.”

Your eyebrows shoot up, surprised. Chris talks about me?

You’re about to ask what he said when you hear it—the unmistakable sound of someone calling her name. Sharp. Frantic. You glance up just in time to see Chris stalking toward the playground, panic written all over his face, his hood pushed back and his dark hair a mess like he ran all the way here.

“Lila,” he calls again, his voice edged with something rougher than worry, and she perks up like nothing’s wrong at all.

“Over here!” she chirps, waving one small arm above her head.

Chris’s gaze snaps to her—and then to you. He freezes mid-step, his shoulders stiffening as he takes in the scene: Lila sitting cross-legged beside you like you’re old friends, her bunny nestled in her lap, and you sitting there with your half-smoked cigarette and black nails tapping idly against your knee.

His face goes a shade darker, embarrassment settling in as he swipes a hand over his jaw.

“Lila,” he mutters, striding over and crouching down in front of her. “You can’t just run off like that. I told you to stay inside.”

“I wasn’t far,” she insists, all innocence. “You were sleeping.”

Chris shoots you a look like this is somehow your fault. You hold up your hands in surrender, amused. “Hey, don’t look at me. She found me.”

He doesn’t answer, just exhales sharply as he runs a hand through his hair. “Come on,” he says quietly to Lila, his voice softer now. “Let’s go.”

Lila pouts, clinging to Bunny. “But I like Star.”

Chris’s ears go pink, and he shoots you a glare like you’re going to make this worse somehow. You smirk, leaning back against your palms. “I didn’t kidnap her, you know.”

“Yeah, well, you’re still smoking around her,” he mutters, standing up and brushing gravel off his jeans.

You roll your eyes but drop the cigarette, grinding it into the dirt with your heel. “Happy?”

He doesn’t answer, just mumbles something under his breath as he grabs Lila’s hand. She stares up at him, unimpressed. “Chris, you’re being weird.”

“You’re being weird,” he mutters back, then freezes, realizing how stupid that sounds. He shifts uncomfortably, eyes flicking to you like he’s hoping the ground will swallow him whole.

You grin. “You guys make a good team.”

Chris glares, but it doesn’t hold much weight. He just looks tired, embarrassed, and maybe a little grateful that you didn’t make this into a thing. “Let’s go, Lila,” he mutters again, tugging her hand gently.

“Bye, Star!” Lila calls as they turn away, her curls bouncing again. “Say bye, Chris.”

Chris doesn’t say anything—he just shoves his hands in his pockets, his face turned down. But as they walk off, you think you see him glance back once, just for a second.

You don’t wave. You don’t say anything. You just smile to yourself and lean back into the silence, watching the empty swings sway in the wind.

The trailer feels smaller than usual tonight. The kind of small that presses against your ribs, suffocating you even when there’s no one in the room. But there is someone in the room—him. Sitting in his stained recliner with a half-empty beer can on the armrest, his voice a low, slurred hum of irritation that’s been building for the last ten minutes.

“Where the hell were you all day?” he spits, his words slow and deliberate, like he’s trying to corner you with each one.

You stand by the counter, jaw tight, arms crossed over your chest. “Around.”

“Around?” He laughs—short and humorless—and smacks the arm of the chair with his palm. “What’s that mean, huh? You think you can just disappear whenever you feel like it?”

“It means it’s none of your business,” you fire back, the edge in your voice sharper than you intended. You regret it as soon as his head snaps up.

His face darkens, brows pulling together as he points a finger at you. “Don’t start with me, Y/N. Not tonight. I work my assoff to keep a roof over your head, and you—”

“You sit around drinking all day,” you interrupt, your voice cracking slightly. “That’s not working your ass off, and we both know it.”

The silence that follows is loud. Too loud. He stares at you for a moment, his eyes cold and mean in the lamplight. Then he stands—slow and deliberate—and you feel your heart slam against your ribs.

“You’re lucky you’ve got a roof at all,” he growls, the words low but thick with anger. “You think anyone else would put up with you? Huh? Look at yourself. You’re a goddamn mess.”

The words hit you harder than they should, and you can’t stand to hear another one. “Screw this,” you mutter, grabbing your jacket off the back of a chair and shoving your feet into your boots.

“Where are you going?” he barks, but you’re already at the door.

“Out.”

“You come back in this house when I say—”

The door slams behind you before he can finish, the sound shaking through the frame. The cool night air hits you like a shock, sharp and sobering. You take a deep breath, letting it fill your lungs, trying to push his words out with it.

The trailer park is quiet at this hour, most of the lights turned off, the gravel beneath your boots crunching as you head toward the road. Your hands are shaking. You jam them into your jacket pockets and keep walking, letting the dark swallow you whole. You don’t know where you’re going—just that anywhere is better than here.

The gravel crunches under your boots as you storm across the trailer park, the sharp chill of the night air biting at your cheeks. Your ears are still ringing with the last echoes of your father’s voice—mess, lucky, roof—words you didn’t want to hear but couldn’t shut out.

You don’t stop walking until you see the faint orange glow of a joint flickering in the darkness.

At first, you think it’s nothing—just another shadow against the trailers—but then the low creak of metal catches your attention. A figure bends over the open hood of a car, lit faintly by the weak yellow light of the porch bulb. Chris.

His once-white wife beater is smeared with grease and oil, clinging to his skin in places where sweat’s soaked through. A red bandana—darkened with its own share of stains—hangs from the back pocket of his jeans, forgotten as he works. His dark curls are matted against his forehead, slick with sweat, and his jaw tenses slightly around the joint wedged between his lips.

You slow down without meaning to, your anger cooling just a little as you take him in. He doesn’t look up, not at first—too focused on whatever’s under the hood. But there’s something in the set of his shoulders, the way his movements seem heavy, like even this takes more energy than he has.

You clear your throat, just enough to let him know you’re there. He straightens up immediately, turning toward you, brows pulling together in that guarded way of his.

For a moment, neither of you say anything. The glow of the joint brightens as he takes a drag, exhaling a thin stream of smoke before muttering, “You lost or something?”

His voice is rough, gruff in the way it always is, but tonight there’s a softness under it—like he doesn’t have the energy to put up too much of a front.

“No,” you answer, shoving your hands deeper into your jacket pockets. “Just… walking.”

He eyes you for a moment, his dark blue gaze lingering on the way your shoulders are hunched, the tension still obvious in your frame. He doesn’t ask any questions, though. Chris doesn’t ask questions.

“You look like shit,” he says finally, blunt as ever, but there’s no malice in it.

“So do you,” you shoot back, motioning to his grease-streaked shirt and the curls sticking to his forehead.

That earns you a faint, almost imperceptible smirk. He shakes his head slightly, pulling the joint from his lips and tapping the ash onto the ground. “Fair enough.”

The two of you fall quiet again, the only sounds the faint hum of crickets and the soft ticking of the car’s engine as it cools. Chris turns back toward the hood, wiping his hands on the bandana before tucking it into his pocket again.

“Your car broken?” you ask after a moment, just to fill the silence.

“Always is,” he replies, glancing over his shoulder at you. His eyes still hold that tired, distant look, like he hasn’t really slept in days. “Gotta keep it running somehow.”

You nod, even though you don’t really know what else to say. He seems fine with the silence, though. Chris always does.

“Where’s Lila?” you ask softly, surprising yourself with the question.

“Inside,” he says, his voice losing some of its edge. “Sleeping.”

“She’s cute,” you offer. “She told me about Bunny.”

That earns you something—a short, rough chuckle as he runs a hand through his hair, smearing a little grease into the curls. “Yeah, she would.”

You watch him for a moment longer, his silhouette outlined against the dim light. He doesn’t look at you again, but you can tell he knows you’re still there, lingering like you’re not ready to go back yet.

“You’re out late,” he says suddenly, though his tone is careful, like he’s not trying to pry.

“So are you.”

He snorts, shaking his head slightly. “I don’t have much of a choice.”

There’s something in the way he says it—a kind of resignation that makes your chest feel heavy. You look at him then, really look, and for a second it feels like neither of you have a choice. Like you’re both stuck here in this trailer park, leaning on broken cars and broken homes just to make it through the night.

“You want me to go?” you ask, though you don’t really want him to say yes.

Chris doesn’t answer right away. He takes another slow drag from his joint, staring at something in the distance before finally shaking his head. “Nah. You’re good.”

You nod, sinking down to sit on the edge of the gravel, your knees pulled up to your chest. You don’t talk. He doesn’t either. But the silence feels different now—not suffocating, not angry. Just quiet.

The quiet settles in, not quite comfortable, but not suffocating either. Chris keeps his focus on the open hood, the occasional clink of metal and soft murmur of frustration breaking the silence. You sit perched on the gravel a few feet away, elbows on your knees, your boots scuffing against the dirt. From where you are, you can see the way his arms flex as he works—lean, tense muscles moving under skin smudged with oil and sweat.

“Pass me the—” he pauses, glancing over his shoulder at you. “Shit. The socket wrench. Small one.”

You blink, staring at the scattered mess of tools in the box next to you like they’re written in another language. “Uh… sure.”

Grabbing the first thing that seems like it might work, you hold it up for inspection. Chris barely glances before shaking his head. “No. Not that. The other one. Looks like a ratchet.”

“A ratchet?” you echo, scowling at him. “I don’t know what that means.”

He sighs, muttering something under his breath before jerking his chin at the toolbox. “Silver handle. Little head. Spins.”

You frown down at the tools again, narrowing your eyes as if that’ll help. After a few seconds of trial and error, you grab one and hold it up like you’ve won a prize. “This?”

Chris finally looks up, his dark blue gaze sweeping over it before nodding once. “Yeah. That’s the one.”

You toss it to him underhand, and he catches it without breaking stride, sliding back under the hood like the conversation never happened.

“That was a total guess,” you admit, smirking a little to yourself. “I’m basically a mechanic now.”

“You’d be a shitty mechanic,” he mutters, but there’s the faintest trace of amusement in his voice.

You rest your chin on your knees, watching as he works. There’s something about the way he moves—steady, deliberate—that makes you feel calmer just sitting there. It’s like every motion has a purpose, every clink of the tools against the metal a reminder that he knows what he’s doing. You don’t see much of that in Pine View—people who actually dosomething instead of just saying they will.

After a while, he asks again. “Need the pliers.”

You hand him the needle-nose pliers without hesitation this time, earning you a glance from under his sweat-damp curls. “Quicker that time.”

“Shut up,” you mutter, but there’s no heat behind it.

He keeps going, a low hum of focus settling around him as the minutes stretch on. You lose track of time out there, the night growing darker, the trailer park falling into a heavy kind of quiet. Every now and then, Chris adjusts his joint between his lips, inhaling slow before letting the smoke curl up into the humid air. The smell of it mixes with the sharp scent of oil and metal—something oddly familiar and grounding.

“Why’d you start working on cars?” you ask eventually, your voice low enough not to break the stillness.

Chris pauses just long enough to swipe his bandana over his forehead, leaving a darker streak across the fabric. “Didn’t have a choice,” he says simply, leaning back to check something under the hood. “Car broke, no money to fix it. You figure it out or you walk everywhere.”

“You get good at it?”

“Good enough.”

You nod like that makes perfect sense. Because it does. Pine View is full of people who have to figure it out—or don’t.

“Star.”

You blink at the sound of your name, glancing up. Chris’s hand is out, palm open. “Flathead screwdriver.”

You reach into the box again, grabbing what you think is right and handing it over. This time, Chris doesn’t even look—just takes it like he trusts you to get it right. For some reason, that makes your chest feel a little less tight.

He works for another few minutes before standing up fully, stretching out his back with a low groan. The joint’s burned down to almost nothing now, barely a flicker between his fingers. He tilts his head back, staring at the dark sky as he exhales the last drag, the smoke catching the faint glow of the porch light.

“You don’t talk much, do you?” you say quietly, your voice cutting through the silence.

Chris glances down at you, dark blue eyes still holding that perpetual tiredness, though there’s something else too—something less sharp. “No.”

“That’s okay,” you reply, pulling your knees closer to your chest. “I talk enough for both of us.”

His mouth twitches like he might smile, but he doesn’t. Instead, he looks at you for a beat longer than he needs to, then shakes his head slightly and goes back to wiping his hands on the stained bandana.

“You should get inside,” he says eventually, his voice softer than before. “It’s late.”

“Yeah.” You don’t move.

Chris doesn’t say anything else. He doesn’t need to. He just tosses the wrench back into the toolbox with a clatter and leans against the car, his arms crossed as he stares out at the empty stretch of trailers beyond you both. You don’t know how long you sit there, quiet but not alone. Long enough for the night air to feel a little less cold. Long enough for the knots in your chest to loosen, just a little.

Chris exhales, long and slow, like he’s been thinking about something for a while before finally deciding to say it. He pushes away from the car, flicking the remains of his joint into the gravel where it smolders out. “You wanna come inside?”

You look up, surprised. “What?”

He shrugs, not quite meeting your gaze as he wipes his hands down the front of his oil-streaked shirt. “It’s not much, but I need to check on Lila, and you shouldn’t be out here alone. Place gets sketchy this time of night.”

That makes you laugh, a sharp sound that echoes a little too loudly in the quiet. “I grew up here, Chris. I think I can handle it.”

“Yeah, well,” he mutters, jaw tightening, “I don’t like it.”

You raise an eyebrow at him, something flickering through you—annoyance, curiosity, maybe a bit of both. “Why do you care?”

He pauses for a beat, shoving the stained bandana back into his pocket. “I just do.”

It’s simple. Final. Like he doesn’t need to explain himself further. He glances toward the shadows stretching across the trailer park, the kind that swallow up anything just out of sight. His voice softens a little. “You don’t gotta stay out here.”

You hesitate, glancing back toward your trailer—toward him—and suddenly, being out here alone doesn’t feel so great. You hate that Chris might be right.

“It’s not that bad,” you mumble, half-hearted, because you’ve said it so many times before that it’s practically a reflex.

Chris just stares at you, his expression unreadable but his eyes steady. There’s something about him that makes you feel like you can’t lie to yourself tonight—not with him standing there, oil-slicked and sweaty, watching you like he’s already decided you’re coming inside whether you argue or not.

“Fine,” you say finally, pushing yourself to your feet. “But if your place smells like feet and motor oil, I’m leaving.”

Chris’s lips twitch like he’s trying not to smirk. “I’ll survive.”

He turns without another word, leading the way toward his trailer. You follow a few steps behind, your boots crunching in the gravel. It feels weird, letting someone look out for you—especially him. But you don’t hate it. Not tonight.

Chris doesn’t look back as he walks, but he doesn’t need to. You follow him up the short set of steps to his trailer, where the porch light flickers dimly, barely enough to cast shadows. He unlocks the door with a quiet clink, nudging it open with his shoulder.

“Watch your step,” he mutters, stepping aside to let you in first.

You hesitate for just a second before walking past him, the inside of the trailer warmer than you expected. It smells faintly of something familiar—laundry detergent, maybe—and something else beneath it: motor oil and faint smoke, a scent you’re starting to associate with him. It’s not a mess, exactly, but it’s not neat either. A stack of Lila’s drawings is scattered across the coffee table, along with an empty cereal bowl and a few crumpled fast-food napkins. On the couch sits one of Lila’s small sneakers, abandoned like she kicked it off mid-run.

Chris steps in behind you, pulling the door shut softly. “Like I said, it’s not much.”

“It’s fine,” you say, brushing off the comment as you glance around. The place feels… lived in. Not cold. Not empty. Just a little worn, like him.

Chris drops his keys on the counter, the faint clink loud in the quiet. He pulls the bandana from his pocket again and wipes the sweat from his neck before tossing it into a laundry basket near the door. Then he jerks his chin toward the couch. “Sit if you want. I’ll be quick.”

You hover awkwardly for a second before perching on the edge of the couch cushion. It’s softer than it looks. You glance down at the drawings scattered across the coffee table—crayon sketches of flowers, some wonky-looking animals, and a big house with stick figures holding hands in front of it. You feel something in your chest pull a little.

Chris disappears down the narrow hall toward the back room, where the soft sound of a door creaking open reaches your ears. You hear him moving, his voice low and quiet—gentler than you’d expect.

“Lila?” A beat. “You good?”

There’s no response that you can hear, but after a moment, his footsteps return, slower this time. He reappears in the doorway, running a hand through his damp curls, leaving behind a streak of oil he doesn’t seem to notice.

“She’s still out,” he says, like he needs to explain himself. “Sleeps through anything.”

You nod, not sure what to say. Chris lingers for a second, his dark blue eyes flicking to you as he crosses the room and drops into the recliner across from you. He leans back, stretching one arm along the armrest as he exhales through his nose.

“Sorry,” he mutters, though you’re not sure what for. “About earlier. I didn’t mean to—” He stops himself, frowning slightly before shaking his head. “Forget it.”

You look at him, watching the way he slouches into the chair like he’s just done. Done with the day, done with the car, done with everything. You shrug, fiddling with the hem of your sleeve. “It’s fine. You didn’t do anything.”

Chris glances at you, his tired gaze lingering for a moment longer than necessary before he looks away, staring somewhere past you. The porch light outside casts shadows across his face, making the sharp angles of his jaw and cheekbones stand out even more. He looks like he’s about to say something, but doesn’t.

Instead, the two of you just sit there, the silence stretching out again—but it’s not the heavy, tense kind that makes you want to bolt. It’s different. Quieter. Settled. You find yourself relaxing into the couch without realizing it, the weight of the night finally easing off your shoulders.

“Why were you out there?” he asks eventually, his voice low but even.

You blink, caught off guard. “What?”

“Earlier,” he says, not looking at you. “In the dark, walking around by yourself.”

Your stomach twists slightly, the fight with your dad flashing through your mind like a bruise you’re not ready to touch. You pick at the loose threads in the cushion beneath your hand. “Just… needed air.”

Chris doesn’t push. He just nods slowly, like he gets it—like he’s been there before. “Yeah.”

You glance over at him, at the tired set of his shoulders and the dark circles beneath his eyes. The small house Lila drew on the table catches your eye again, and you wonder how often he feels like this—like the walls are closing in, like there’s nowhere to go but out.

“Thanks,” you say quietly.

Chris looks at you, brow furrowing slightly. “For what?”

You shrug, looking down at your hands. “Not letting me sit out there.”

He doesn’t say anything right away, but you can feel his gaze linger on you. “Yeah. Sure.”

You look up, and for a second, you swear he’s about to smile—but then he blinks, the moment slipping away, and he stands up abruptly. “I’ll get you something to drink. You want water or…?”

“Water’s fine.”

Chris nods and disappears into the small kitchen. You listen to the sound of cabinets opening, the faint clang of glass against the counter. You exhale slowly, letting yourself sink deeper into the couch. The soft clink of glass fills the space as Chris moves around the kitchen, his footsteps heavy against the trailer floor. You lean back further into the couch, the quiet hum of the place settling over you like a blanket. It feels strange to be here, strange in the way that something too normal feels after a fight. Like you’ve slipped sideways into someone else’s night, someone else’s life.

When Chris returns, he hands you a glass of water without a word, his fingers brushing yours briefly before he drops back into his chair. He sits forward this time, elbows on his knees, his oil-streaked hands hanging loosely between them. He looks like he’s about to say something, but instead, he just sighs and drags a hand through his curls again—only smearing more grease into them.

“You’ve got…” You motion vaguely to your head. “Oil. Everywhere.”

Chris snorts under his breath and wipes at it with his wrist, only making it worse. “Yeah, well. Comes with the job.” He tilts his head slightly, shooting you a dry look. “You offerin’ t’fix it?”

You grin faintly. “Nah. Not much of a stylist.”

“Didn’t think so.”

Silence stretches again, but it’s different this time—less heavy, less awkward. Chris leans back again, his head tipping against the back of the chair, eyes flickering shut for a second. His chest rises and falls steadily, like he’s trying to take one decent breath after a long day.

“Lila likes you,” he says suddenly, eyes still closed.

You blink, caught off guard. “What?”

“She said so,” he mutters, cracking one eye open to glance at you. “Said you were ‘cool.’ And that Bunny likes you too.”

That makes you smile. You think about Lila earlier, her little face so serious as she introduced you to her torn-eared rabbit, and you can’t help but feel a flicker of warmth in your chest. “Well, Bunny’s got good taste.”

Chris huffs a quiet laugh, though it’s more air than sound. “Yeah, don’t let it go to your head.”

“I won’t.” You sip from the glass, watching him carefully. There’s something about the way he talks about Lila—soft, careful, like he knows how fragile she is. “You take care of her a lot?”

Chris doesn’t answer right away. He stares at a spot on the floor like he’s deciding what to say. “Yeah. Someone’s gotta.”

It’s simple, but there’s so much weight behind it—like those three words carry everything he doesn’t say. Because Mom can’t. Because it’s just us. Because no one else will. You don’t press, though. You don’t need to.

“I get it,” you say softly, though you’re not sure if you’re talking about him or yourself.

Chris looks at you then, really looks, like he’s seeing you in a different light. His blue eyes are darker in the dim room, but there’s something softer in them too, something quieter. He doesn’t say anything, just nods faintly before pushing himself to his feet.

“Lila’ll freak if you wake her up,” he mutters, moving toward the hallway. “I’ll grab you a blanket or something.”

You sit up straighter, blinking. “Wait—what?”

He pauses, turning back with a raised eyebrow. “You’re not walking back. Not this late.”

“I can handle it,” you argue, though the idea of going back to your trailer, to him, makes your stomach twist.

Chris doesn’t budge. “It’s fine. Couch isn’t great, but it’s better than walking through this dump alone.” He hesitates, frowning slightly before adding, “It’s just a couch. Don’t get weird about it.”

You don’t know why that makes you feel so seen—like he already knew you’d argue, like he already knew you wouldn’t want to ask for this. You glance at the coffee table again, at the crayon drawings of flowers and houses, at the empty sneaker, at the life that’s been built here in pieces.

“Fine,” you mumble, leaning back into the cushions like you’re totally unaffected. “But if you snore, I’m out.”

Chris rolls his eyes as he turns toward the back room. “You won’t hear me.”

You don’t argue with him this time. Instead, you let yourself settle in, the glass of water still cool in your hand. The hum of the trailer settles back over you, and for once, it doesn’t feel like a trap. It feels… still.

And you think maybe, just maybe, you won’t hear anything tonight except the quiet.

Chris disappears down the narrow hallway, leaving you alone in the quiet hum of the trailer. You sit there, awkwardly at first, picking at a loose thread on the couch cushion while the faint creak of a door opening echoes down the hall. A minute later, he reappears, holding a crumpled blanket that looks like it’s been shoved into a closet for months. He tosses it onto the couch beside you with a quick, almost sheepish motion.

“Here,” he mutters. “Best I’ve got.”

You grab it before it slides onto the floor, and as soon as you do, you catch the smell—familiar in a way you can’t quite place. Faint cigarette smoke. A hint of motor oil. That sharp scent of clean laundry that only barely cuts through it. Your fingers sink into the worn fabric, and for some reason, it makes your chest feel tight. Like you’re holding something you shouldn’t, something that feels too close.

“You good?” Chris asks, pausing halfway to the hallway.

You look up quickly, masking whatever you were feeling. “Yeah. It’s fine.”

Chris doesn’t press. He just nods, running a hand through his curls again and grimacing when his fingers catch on something sticky—probably more oil. “I’m gonna shower. Don’t break anything.”

“I’ll try not to,” you shoot back, rolling your eyes.

He disappears again, the sound of the bathroom door closing behind him followed by the hiss of old pipes groaning to life. You hear the water turn on a moment later, a dull rush that fills the silence in the trailer.

For a moment, you just sit there, fingers still curled around the blanket, your thoughts drifting to the fight you left behind. To your dad’s voice, sharp and cutting. To the slamming door and the way your own breathing felt too loud as you stepped outside. Now, wrapped up in the dim light of Chris’s space, it all feels distant—like the anger’s been stripped from it, leaving only exhaustion behind.

Your eyes drift to the coffee table again—Lila’s crayon drawings spread out in a messy stack, one page overlapping the next. You see the house again, the one she drew with thick brown walls and a triangle roof, stick figures holding hands out front. The tallest one has curls. Chris. The little one has bunny ears sticking out of her head. Lila.

You pull the blanket tighter around yourself, chewing the inside of your cheek as curiosity tugs at the edge of your mind. The water’s still running—Chris is still in the shower—and the rest of the trailer feels so still, so there.

You stand, moving quietly toward the small kitchen area. A couple of dishes sit in the sink, one of them holding a soggy cereal spoon. There’s an unopened box of crackers on the counter next to a stack of overdue bills, their edges curled and frayed. Your gaze drifts up to a corkboard tacked to the wall, cluttered with half-pinned papers and reminders scrawled in Chris’s sharp, blocky handwriting. Some of them are grocery lists.

Milk, cereal, ramen. Lila likes those gummy worms.

You don’t realize you’re smiling until you catch yourself, your lips twitching faintly as you step back. Something about it feels real—this life he’s patching together out of lists and leftovers and old blankets shoved into corners.

You glance back toward the hall, listening to the faint trickle of the shower. He’s still in there.

Your curiosity pulls you to the corner of the living room, where a few of Chris’s sketches are piled on a small, dented table. You hover for a second, your fingers twitching at your sides. Then, slowly, you reach out and pick up the top sheet.

It’s a charcoal drawing—a skull, its shadows so deep and detailed it almost looks three-dimensional. Around it, faint flowers bloom from cracks in the bone, the petals shaded with the kind of precision that makes your breath catch. You flip to the next one, another skull—this time paired with thorny vines, curling around its hollow eye sockets. There’s something beautiful and haunting about it, something that feels him.

You hear the pipes groan again, the water pressure shifting slightly, and you freeze. Carefully, you place the sketches back where you found them and return to the couch, sinking down quickly with the blanket still bunched in your lap.

The shower cuts off, and for a moment, the only sound is the faint drip of water before the pipes settle again. You lean back into the cushions, forcing your gaze on the ceiling as you try to ignore the way your chest feels—like you’ve seen something you weren’t supposed to. Like you’ve been let in, just a little, to a world Chris doesn’t show anyone.

A few minutes later, the bathroom door creaks open, and Chris’s footsteps shuffle back down the hallway. You glance over to see him in a clean shirt—this one black and loose—his curls still damp and sticking to his forehead. He pauses when he sees you sitting exactly where he left you, the blanket tucked around your shoulders.

“You didn’t snoop, did you?” he asks, but there’s no real bite to it—just the same dry, tired Chris.

“Nope,” you say quickly, looking at the TV like it’s suddenly the most interesting thing in the world.

He eyes you for a moment, like he doesn’t quite believe you, but then he shakes his head and drops back into his chair with a groan. “You’re a terrible liar.”

You don’t answer. You just tuck the blanket tighter around yourself and let your gaze flicker toward the window, where the night outside feels a little less lonely than it did an hour ago.

Chris doesn’t say anything for a while, settling deeper into the recliner with that same tired look he always seems to carry. You hear the springs creak faintly under his weight, the sound filling the space where conversation might go. You don’t mind. The quiet feels easier now, softer somehow.

You adjust the blanket in your lap, the familiar smell still lingering. It’s strange—almost comforting—but it makes your chest ache a little, like it knows something about you that you don’t want to admit.

Chris catches you staring at the window. “What, you scared of the dark now?”

You glance at him, rolling your eyes. “No.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

You open your mouth to fire something back, but when you see him leaning back like that, his arms hanging loosely over the chair’s sides, you lose your edge. There’s no malice in his words—just something dry and unbothered, like he’s filling the silence out of habit.

“What’s your deal with this place anyway?” you ask suddenly, voice quieter than you meant it to be. “You hate it or what?”

Chris doesn’t answer right away. He tips his head back against the chair, staring up at the ceiling like the answer’s written somewhere in the shadows there. “What do you think?”

“I think you don’t say much of anything,” you shoot back, though there’s no bite to it.

He huffs softly through his nose, his mouth twitching like he might smirk. “What’s there to say? It’s a dump. Same as everywhere else.”

You watch him carefully, the way his gaze stays fixed on a crack in the ceiling, the way his fingers twitch faintly where they rest. “Does Lila know that?”

Chris’s jaw tenses slightly, but he doesn’t look at you. “No.”

“Good,” you say simply, leaning back into the couch. “Because she seems pretty happy here.”

That gets him to glance at you, his blue eyes darker in the dim light. For a moment, he just stares, his gaze heavy but unreadable, like he’s trying to figure out why you’re saying any of this. Then he shakes his head, muttering, “You’re weird.”

“Thanks,” you reply, a faint smile tugging at the corner of your lips.

Chris snorts quietly, the sound barely there, before running a hand through his damp curls. “Don’t make it sound like some big secret, alright? Lila thinks it’s good here because I want her to think that. That’s all.”

You don’t respond right away. The weight behind his words settles between you both, and you realize there’s nothing easy about what he’s carrying—not the trailer, not Lila, not the quiet resentment that simmers behind everything he does.

“Doesn’t mean you’re wrong,” you say finally, surprising even yourself.

Chris looks at you again, brow furrowing slightly. “About what?”

“That it’s a dump,” you say simply, shrugging. “But sometimes dumps are all you’ve got.”

He watches you for a second longer, like he wants to argue, like he wants to say something, but the words never come. Instead, he just shifts in his chair, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Yeah.”

The clock ticks faintly on the far wall, the sound almost loud in the quiet. You pull the blanket tighter around yourself again, letting its familiar scent wrap around you. Chris doesn’t say anything else, and neither do you. But you don’t leave, either.

Instead, you sit there in the dim light, the shadows stretching longer, the quiet settling deep into your bones. For the first time all night, you don’t feel like you need to go anywhere.

The stillness stretches, not heavy, but weighted—like it knows it belongs there. Chris leans further into the recliner, his head tipped back and his breathing even, almost like he’s teetering on the edge of sleep. You’re not sure how long you’ve been sitting there, only that the world outside feels far away. Even the sound of your father’s voice, still echoing faintly in the back of your mind, has been drowned out by the faint hum of the trailer and the way the room seems to hold its breath.

Your gaze drifts over to Chris again, your eyes catching on the rise and fall of his chest. For once, the tension in his shoulders seems to have let go, his face softer without its usual guarded edge. He’s got that same kind of tired look he always carries, like sleep doesn’t come easy, but here, in the quiet of his own space, it doesn’t seem to bother him as much.

And you don’t know why, but something about it makes your chest ache.

You pull the blanket closer around you, sinking further into the couch, the worn fabric soft against your hands. It’s not just the smell that’s familiar anymore—it’s the feeling. A kind of warmth that comes from something lived in, something that’s been through its share of wear and tear but hasn’t fallen apart yet. It makes you feel strangely safe, even if you don’t want to admit it. Even if you haven’t felt that way in a long time.

From across the room, Chris’s voice cuts through the quiet, low and slightly groggy. “You’re staring.”

You blink, jolted back to the moment. Chris doesn’t move much—his head still leans against the back of the recliner—but one blue eye cracks open, catching you in the act.

“Was not,” you mutter, defensive but not sharp.

“Yeah?” He raises an eyebrow, that familiar hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You’re a shitty liar.”

“You’ve said that already,” you fire back, but there’s no real heat in it.

Chris just snorts softly, letting his eyes slip shut again. For a moment, you think he’s going to drift off completely, the slow rhythm of his breathing filling the silence. Then he speaks again, quieter this time.

“You don’t have to stay, you know.”

You glance at him, frowning slightly. “Hm?”

His voice stays even, but there’s something softer underneath. “Here. I’m not… I didn’t mean to keep you or anything.”

“M’fine,” you say quickly, because you are. Or maybe you just don’t want to leave. “It’s better than…” You stop yourself, biting back the words better than home.

Chris doesn’t press you. He never does. Instead, he shifts slightly in the recliner, turning his head toward you without opening his eyes. “Suit yourself.”

Another beat of quiet settles, and you let your eyes drift back to the coffee table, where one of Lila’s crayon drawings peeks out from the pile. It’s not much—just a bright yellow sun with wobbly beams stretching out from the center—but it feels important somehow. Like it’s holding something together.

“You take care of her,” you say softly, surprising yourself.

Chris hums faintly, like he’s not sure if it’s a question or not. “Yeah.”

“You’re good at it,” you add, even softer.

Chris doesn’t respond right away, but when he does, his voice is quieter than you’ve heard it all night. “Not really.”

You don’t argue, but you don’t agree either. Because you see it—the way Lila lights up when she’s around him, the way her drawings seem to fill the space he doesn’t talk about. It’s the kind of care you don’t see in most people, the kind that doesn’t get shown off but sits there, constant and steady.

Chris doesn’t say anything else, and you don’t push. Instead, you sink back into the couch again, the blanket pulled up to your chin, and let the quiet return. The hum of the trailer wraps around both of you, its walls creaking faintly with the settling night.

The quiet stretches out again, and for the first time all night, it feels like you can actually breathe. Chris’s breathing evens out too, slower now, like he’s on the verge of slipping into sleep. His head tilts to one side, his curls damp and messy against his forehead, and his arms hang loosely over the sides of the recliner.

For a moment, you think he’s finally out—but then he jerks awake slightly, his eyes flickering open as he shifts in his seat. He sits up straighter, blinking at you like he’s trying to shake off the drowsiness.

“You good?” he mutters, his voice rougher now, thicker with sleep.

“Yeah,” you say quickly, adjusting the blanket over your lap. “I’m fine.”

He studies you for a second, his blue eyes narrowed slightly like he doesn’t quite believe you. You glance away, pulling the blanket tighter around yourself, but it doesn’t help. You know what he’s looking at—your face, the way it’s probably giving you away, showing everything you don’t want to admit.

Chris leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “That couch isn’t great,” he says quietly, nodding toward the lumpy cushions beneath you. “You’re not used to it.”

“It’s fine,” you say again, sharper this time, even though the ache in your chest isn’t from the couch at all. It’s from everything else—the fight, the words, the way your own home feels like a warzone every time you walk through the door. But you can’t say that. Not to him.

Chris doesn’t look convinced. His brows furrow slightly, his hand raking through his curls again as he thinks. Finally, he stands, stretching his arms over his head before motioning toward the back of the trailer.

“Take the bed,” he says simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

You blink up at him, startled. “What?”

“The bed,” he repeats, like it’s obvious. “It’s better than this. You’ll sleep better.”

“I’m not taking your bed,” you shoot back, frowning at him. “You’re already letting me crash here. I’m not—”

“Star,” he cuts you off, his voice calm but firm. “S’fine. I don’t sleep much anyway.”

“That’s not the point,” you argue, but the look he gives you stops you mid-sentence. It’s not harsh or annoyed—it’s steady, like he’s already decided and there’s no point in fighting him.

“I’m not doing it for me,” he says quietly, his blue eyes holding yours. “You’re not fine, and we both know it.”

You feel your chest tighten at his words, and for a second, you can’t look at him. He doesn’t mean it in a bad way, you can tell, but hearing it out loud makes it harder to keep the walls up. You glance down at the blanket, your fingers curling into the fabric.

“It’s not the couch,” you mumble, the words slipping out before you can stop them.

Chris exhales slowly, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “I know.”

You look up at him, surprised. He shrugs, leaning back against the edge of the recliner. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m just saying… if it helps, take the bed. I’ll stay out here.”

His words hang in the air, heavy but not suffocating. You know he means it—there’s no pity in his voice, no expectation, just an offering. A way to let you breathe, even if it’s only for a night.

After a long pause, you nod, your voice barely above a whisper. “Okay.”

Chris nods too, his expression unreadable but softer somehow. He gestures toward the hallway again. “Door on the right. Sheets are clean.”

You stand, still clutching the blanket around your shoulders, and glance back at him before heading toward the hall. He’s already moving back toward the couch, grabbing another blanket off the back of the recliner as he settles in.

“Chris,” you say softly, pausing in the doorway.

He looks up, his gaze steady but tired. “What?”

“Thanks,” you say, your voice cracking just enough for him to notice.

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, just nods once before leaning back into the couch. “Yeah. Get some sleep.”

You step into the room, the door clicking softly behind you. The bed is small but neatly made, the faint smell of his cologne lingering on the sheets. You climb in slowly, sinking into the mattress as the weight of the night finally starts to lift.

You lie on the bed for a while, staring up at the ceiling. The mattress is soft, and the faint scent of Chris—cologne, smoke, and something earthy you can’t quite place—lingers on the sheets. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s enough to make you feel a little… uneasy. Not in a bad way, just in a way that makes your chest feel too tight, like you don’t quite deserve the comfort of it.

Your eyes wander around the room, taking it in. It’s simple, like the rest of the trailer—just a dresser against the far wall, a few scattered shirts peeking out from an open drawer. There’s a sketchbook on the bedside table, its edges worn, with a pencil lying haphazardly across it. The walls are bare, except for a single framed photo on the dresser. You squint, barely making out the image of a younger Chris with Lila perched on his shoulders, her wide grin almost overshadowing his reluctant one.

You roll onto your side, tucking the blanket tighter around you, but the guilt creeps in anyway. The bed feels too warm, too good, too… his. You stare at the faint light seeping in through the cracks of the door, imagining him out there on the couch, probably just as tired as you but too stubborn to admit it.

You sigh, sitting up and rubbing a hand over your face. The thought of him trying to sleep in that lumpy old recliner makes your stomach twist, and before you can overthink it, you push the blanket off and swing your legs over the side of the bed.

The trailer is quiet when you open the door. The faint light from the kitchen spills into the living room, casting shadows over the couch where Chris is stretched out, one arm thrown over his face. His blanket barely covers him, the edges falling short of his feet.

You hover for a second, second-guessing yourself, but then you take a step forward and clear your throat softly. “Chris.”

He stirs, his arm dropping slightly so his eyes—half-lidded and groggy—meet yours. “What?” he mutters, his voice low and thick with sleep.

“You don’t have to sleep out here,” you say quickly, before you lose your nerve. “I mean—you can come back. To the bed. Just… separate blankets or whatever.”

He blinks at you, his brows furrowing slightly as he pushes himself up onto one elbow. “What?”

“I feel bad,” you admit, crossing your arms over your chest. “It’s your bed. You shouldn’t have to give it up.”

Chris stares at you for a moment, like he’s trying to process what you’re saying, before shaking his head slightly. “S’fine, Star. I told you—”

“I know what you told me,” you interrupt, frowning at him. “But you look just as wrecked as I feel, so stop being stubborn and come back there. I’m not gonna bite.”

That earns you a faint snort, though his face is still guarded. “You sure about this?”

“Yeah.” You shrug, trying to play it cool even though your chest feels tight again. “It’s just one night. You don’t have to sleep on that deathtrap.”

Chris hesitates, running a hand through his curls as he considers it. Finally, he sighs and swings his legs off the couch, standing up and grabbing his blanket. “Separate blankets,” he mutters, his voice dry but not unkind.

“Obviously,” you shoot back, rolling your eyes as you head back toward the room.

Chris follows, his footsteps quiet behind you. The bed feels smaller when you climb back in, scooting to one side as he drops his blanket on the other. He doesn’t say anything as he settles in, lying stiffly on his back with his own blanket pulled up to his chest.

The silence stretches out again, but this time it feels heavier, more aware of itself. You stare at the ceiling, your heartbeat a little too loud in your ears.

“Thanks,” you say finally, your voice barely above a whisper.

Chris doesn’t look at you, but his voice is low and steady when he replies. “Yeah. Go to sleep, Star.”

You close your eyes, the faint sound of his breathing filling the room. And somehow, with him there, the weight on your chest feels just a little bit lighter.

The room is quiet except for the faint creak of the trailer settling and the steady rhythm of Chris’s breathing. You lie on your side, facing away from him, staring at the faint outlines of the dresser in the dark. The guilt and awkwardness of earlier fade slowly, replaced by the steady calm of his presence just a foot away. His breathing evens out after a while, the tension in his frame melting as sleep takes over. You hear him shift once, settling deeper into the mattress, his quiet exhale signaling that he’s finally out.

You don’t know when your own eyes drift shut, but when they do, the room falls into a stillness that swallows you whole. The bed, the space, the faint hum of his existence next to you—it all pulls you under like a tide.

Chris stirs at first light, groggy and disoriented, the sharp pang of something warm and heavy on his chest dragging him out of sleep. He blinks, squinting against the pale light seeping through the blinds, his mind sluggish as he tries to figure out what’s wrong. It takes a second for him to register it—why his left arm feels pinned, why the blanket he remembers pulling over himself is now somewhere at the foot of the bed.

And then he sees her.

Star.

She’s not in her designated zone. Not even close. Her head rests against his chest, her face relaxed, lips slightly parted as soft snores escape her. One of her arms is draped lazily across his stomach, and her leg—barely covered by her own blanket—has somehow tangled with his.

Chris freezes, his breath catching in his throat as he stares down at her. His mind races in a million directions, but none of them seem to help the situation. She looks so… soft. Completely out of place from the sharp, sarcastic edges she normally carries like armor. Her messy hair is splayed across his shirt, a few strands tickling his chin, and her face is tilted just enough that he can see the faint rise and fall of her chest, the slow rhythm of her breathing.

“Shit,” he mutters under his breath, careful not to move too much.

He’s not sure how this happened—how she ended up here, draped over him like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Part of him wants to wake her up, to shift her back to her side of the bed before she realizes what she’s done. But another part—the part he’s trying hard to ignore—can’t bring himself to disturb her. She looks… peaceful. More peaceful than he’s ever seen her.

Chris glances toward the door, half-hoping for some kind of escape route, but there’s no way out of this without waking her. He sighs quietly, his chest rising under her weight, and lets his head fall back against the pillow.

The warmth of her against him is distracting—too distracting. He feels her breath ghost over his collarbone, soft and steady, and it makes his throat tighten. Her hand shifts slightly, her fingers twitching against his side, and he has to clench his jaw to keep himself still.

This is fine, he tells himself, though the heat creeping up his neck says otherwise. She’s asleep. She doesn’t know.

He closes his eyes for a moment, trying to will himself back to calm, but it’s impossible. Every breath she takes, every slight movement, pulls his focus right back to her.

Finally, he mutters under his breath again, quieter this time. “Shit.”

Chris leans his head back against the pillow, his body still stiff beneath her weight. He doesn’t move, just lets his tired gaze drift down to her face. There’s something almost strange about seeing her like this—so quiet, so still, so… unguarded. It’s a far cry from the sharp edges and quick comebacks he’s come to expect.

His eyes linger on her lips, parted just enough for her soft, even breaths to brush against his chest. That’s when he notices them—two new piercings he definitely didn’t see last night. A small hoop glinting faintly from just under the curve of her upper lip, tucked near the corner of her mouth. And below that, in the center of her bottom lip, another piercing—vertical, the shiny ends of a barbell catching the early light filtering through the blinds.

Chris furrows his brow slightly, the sluggish haze of sleep keeping his thoughts slow. He wonders when she had the time—or the nerve—to get them done. He thinks about her rambling about something ridiculous like piercing her own face and winces faintly at the possibility that she actually did.

He doesn’t even realize he’s been staring until his own exhaustion starts to creep back in, the steady warmth of her body pulling him under. He blinks once, then twice, his lids growing heavier with each passing second. The last thing he registers before sleep claims him is the quiet sound of her breathing, the faint weight of her resting against him.

Chris isn’t sure how long he’s out before the door bursts open with a bang, jolting him awake.

“Chris! Waffles! I want—”

Lila’s voice cuts off sharply, replaced by an ear-piercing squeal that makes him wince. His eyes snap open, his mind catching up slower than his body as he registers the weight still pressed against him—and the very smug expression on Lila’s face standing in the doorway.

“Lila,” he groans, his voice rough with sleep, “what the hell?”

“Chris!” she shrieks again, pointing dramatically at the bed. “What are you doing?”

Chris looks down to find Star still half-asleep on his chest, her head nestled there like she belongs. Her lips part slightly, a faint mumble slipping out as she stirs, her fingers twitching against his side. And just like that, the heat that had started creeping up his neck earlier comes rushing back in full force.

“Lila, get out!” he snaps, his voice louder now as he tries to sit up, but Star shifts against him, groaning softly as her eyes flutter open.

She blinks blearily, her face inches from his chest, before realization sets in. Her head jerks up, her eyes wide as she scrambles back to her side of the bed, yanking her blanket around her like a shield. “What the—Chris?”

“It wasn’t me!” Chris blurts, his voice defensive as he throws his hands up. “You were—you just—”

Lila is practically bouncing on her toes now, her squeals turning into giggles as she clutches Bunny to her chest. “You two were cuddling!”

“We were not,” Chris says firmly, glaring at her as he swings his legs over the side of the bed. “Go wait in the kitchen, Lila.”

“But you were sleeping together!” she insists, her giggles growing louder.

Star groans, burying her face in her hands. “Oh my God.”

Chris pinches the bridge of his nose, muttering under his breath. “I swear to God, Lila, if you don’t—”

“Waffles!” Lila announces, spinning on her heel and darting out of the room, her laughter echoing down the hall.

Chris exhales sharply, his shoulders slumping as the room falls silent again. He glances over at Star, who’s still wrapped tightly in her blanket, her face buried in her hands. Her hair’s a mess, sticking up at odd angles, and there’s a red crease on her cheek from the pillow—or, more likely, his chest.

“You good?” he asks after a beat, his voice low and gruff.

Star groans into her hands. “Absolutely not.”

He huffs out a dry laugh, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Could’ve been worse.”

She finally peeks out from behind her hands, glaring at him. “Worse than your little sister catching us in the world’s most awkward position and making it sound ten times worse? Sure. Let me know when that happens.”

Chris smirks faintly, leaning back against the edge of the dresser. “She’s six. She’ll forget about it by lunchtime.”

“You sure about that?” Star mutters, pulling the blanket tighter around herself like it’ll somehow shield her from the sheer embarrassment radiating through her body.

“Not even a little,” he admits, shrugging. “But it’s not like she’s gonna tell anyone. What’s she gonna do, run to the neighbors?”

Star lets out a dry laugh, finally dropping her hands to her lap. “I don’t even care about that. I just—” She cuts herself off, shaking her head. “Forget it.”

Chris doesn’t press, but his tired gaze lingers on her for a moment longer, studying the way her shoulders are still hunched under the blanket. “You didn’t do anything wrong, you know.”

She snorts softly, brushing her messy hair back from her face. “I think your sister would disagree.”

“Lila’s six,” he says again, pushing himself off the dresser. “She also thinks Bunny’s alive. Not exactly a credible source.”

That earns him the faintest smile, though she quickly hides it by ducking her head. He sighs, raking a hand through his curls as he nods toward the door.

“Come on,” he mutters. “You might as well eat something before she makes this worse.”

Star looks up at him, her eyebrows raising. “She’s gonna make it worse?”

“Oh, I definitely lied,” Chris says, smirking faintly. “This’ll be all she talks about for days.”

She groans, throwing the blanket off and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. “Great. Can’t wait.”

Chris doesn’t respond, just turns toward the door and heads into the hall. Star follows a second later, still trying to shake off the awkwardness of waking up where she definitely wasn’t supposed to be.

When they reach the kitchen, Lila’s already at the table, Bunny perched on the edge like he’s part of the conversation. She grins at them as they walk in, her greenish-brown eyes sparkling with barely-contained glee.

“You guys were cuddling,” she announces again, just in case anyone forgot.

Chris groans, opening a cabinet to grab the waffle mix. “Drop it, Lila.”

“But it was so cute,” she insists, swinging her legs under the table. “Like you were best friends or something.”

“Drop it,” he says again, though his voice lacks any real heat.

Star slides into the chair across from Lila, her face still warm but her smirk returning. “You’re relentless, kid.”

Lila shrugs, flashing her a cheeky grin. “You’re lucky I like you.”

Chris snorts as he measures the mix into a bowl. “Don’t let it go to your head, Star.”

“Too late,” she fires back, and for the first time in a long time, the smile that spreads across her face feels easy.

Lila chatters away like a radio stuck on full volume, her words tumbling out so fast you can barely keep up. She’s already telling you about Bunny’s “big adventures” this week—apparently, he had to “save the day” when her friend’s toy broke at school—and you nod along, biting back a grin as she gestures wildly, her curls bouncing with every word.

Across the tiny kitchen, Chris stands at the counter, methodically sliding frozen Eggo waffles into the toaster. He doesn’t say much, just glances over his shoulder every so often to make sure neither of you are about to set something on fire.

“Star,” Lila says suddenly, leaning forward and propping her chin on her hands. “Do you like waffles?”

“Uh, yeah,” you reply, glancing at Chris. “Who doesn’t?”

“Right?” Lila says, throwing her hands up like it’s a universal truth. “Chris makes the best waffles.”

You snort softly, raising an eyebrow at him. “Does he now?”

Chris rolls his eyes, pulling a plate from the cabinet. “They’re frozen, Star. Let’s not get crazy.”

“Yeah, but you put the good stuff on them,” Lila insists, beaming as she watches him grab a jar of Nutella. “That’s what makes them the best.”

Chris sighs but doesn’t argue, twisting the jar open and slathering a thick layer of Nutella over the steaming waffles. He grabs a banana from the counter, slicing it with the precision of someone who’s clearly done this routine a hundred times before. When he’s finished, he pours a cup of strawberry milk and sets everything on the table in front of Lila.

“Here,” he mutters, sliding the plate and cup over. “Knock yourself out.”

You watch, wide-eyed, as Lila digs in immediately, taking a huge bite and humming with exaggerated delight. Chris catches the look on your face and smirks faintly, leaning back against the counter with his arms crossed.

“What?” he asks, feigning innocence.

“Nutella? Bananas? Strawberry milk?” you say, motioning to Lila’s plate like it’s some kind of luxury breakfast. “You’re gonna have her bouncing off the walls.”

Chris shrugs, his smirk growing. “Almond moms would probably kill me, but I don’t have the energy to fight a six-year-old over food. Besides,” he adds, nodding toward Lila, “she’d win.”

Lila grins, her cheeks already sticky with Nutella. “I’m unstoppable!”

You laugh, shaking your head as Chris grabs another pair of waffles from the toaster and slaps them onto a plate. This time, he doesn’t bother with the toppings, just slides the plain ones across the table toward you.

“Sorry,” he says, smirking as he sets a butter knife down beside you. “You don’t rate the deluxe version.”

“Gee, thanks,” you reply, but your smile lingers as you pick up the knife and start spreading butter over the still-warm waffles.

Lila kicks her feet happily under the table, pausing only to take a long sip of her strawberry milk before launching into another story—this one about a school art project Chris apparently helped her with. You glance at him, raising an eyebrow, and he just shrugs, his tired eyes softening slightly as he watches her ramble.

It’s loud and chaotic, but as you sit there, listening to Lila’s endless chatter and the faint clatter of Chris cleaning up at the counter, you realize it doesn’t feel overwhelming. It feels warm. Familiar. Like maybe this is what mornings are supposed to be.

Lila clings to your arm like she’s physically trying to anchor you to the trailer. Her curls are wild from the morning’s chaos, and there’s still a faint smudge of Nutella at the corner of her mouth as she pouts up at you.

“Don’t go!” she whines, her voice teetering on the edge of dramatic. “You just got here!”

“I’ve been here all night, kid,” you say with a small laugh, gently prying her fingers off your sleeve. “I’ve gotta go. I’ve got plans.”

“But Bunny likes you!” she insists, holding up her stuffed rabbit like it’s a compelling argument. “He says you should stay.”

Chris, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, rolls his eyes. “Bunny doesn’t pay rent, Lila. He doesn’t get a vote.”

Lila glares at him but turns back to you, her greenish-brown eyes wide with determination. “Stay for just a little longer? Please?”

You crouch down to her level, your hands resting lightly on her shoulders. “I wish I could, but my friend Madison’s waiting for me. I promised her.”

Lila’s pout deepens, and for a second, you think she might actually cry. Chris clears his throat from behind her, his tone dry but not unkind. “Star’s gotta go, Lila. You’ll see her again.”

“You promise?” she asks, turning to look at him, her voice suddenly softer.

Chris’s gaze flicks to you briefly before nodding. “Yeah. She’ll come back.”

You stand, glancing at him, and there’s something unspoken in the way he meets your eyes. He doesn’t say it, but you can tell he means it—that he expects you to follow through.

“Of course I will,” you say, ruffling Lila’s curls. “Who else is gonna hear about Bunny’s next big adventure?”

That earns you a small, reluctant smile from Lila, though she still looks a little heartbroken. “Okay,” she mumbles, her voice barely above a whisper.

Chris straightens up from the doorframe, opening the door and nodding toward the gravel outside. “I’ll walk you out.”

You grab your jacket from the back of the couch and follow him, Lila trailing behind until Chris gives her a look that sends her back inside with one last wistful wave. The morning sun is brighter now, cutting through the cool air as you step onto the porch.

Chris steps down after you, his hands shoved into his pockets. “She’s dramatic, in case you didn’t notice.”

“She’s sweet,” you counter, glancing back at the trailer. “You’re lucky to have her.”

His jaw tenses slightly, but he nods, his gaze dropping to the ground. “Yeah. I know.”

For a moment, the two of you just stand there, the sound of the gravel crunching faintly under your boots as you shift your weight. Finally, you glance at him, tilting your head slightly.

“You’re not gonna get all sappy, are you?” you tease, trying to lighten the mood.

Chris smirks faintly, his tired eyes narrowing slightly. “Not a chance.”

You grin, pulling your jacket tighter around you as you take a step toward the road. “See you around, Chris.”

He nods, leaning back against the porch railing. “Yeah. Take it easy.”

As you walk away, you can still feel his gaze lingering on your back. And even though the morning feels a little too bright, a little too sharp, you find yourself smiling as you head toward Madison’s.

AUTHORS NOTE: can you tell i have some time on my hands today…

TAG LIST: @jetaimevous @sturnsblunt @riasturns @ifwdominicfike @chrissturns-wife @mattsmunch @pip4444chris @ribread03 @ariestrxsh @angelic-sturniolos111 @pvssychicken @mattslolita @stvrnzcherries @dottieboo @lovergirl4gracieabrams

[chrisslut04]

Can we just literally talk about how much i ADORE this au? I relate to star!reader so much and her character overall is really comforting :)) Just wanted to let you know how amazing this is!!

NIGHTS LIKE THIS

CONTENTS:・teeth rotting fluff-heavy plot (imo) ・star!reader ・mild language ・sleeping in the same bed・artist!chris ・substance use + more WC: 2.3k

i highly highly recommend listening to this on repeat, as that’s what i did :,) promise it sets the mood. + heavily dedicated to my literal star @55sturn

The roof of Chris’s trailer creaked as Star stretched out on the patchy blanket, her black hoodie blending into the night sky above. The air was cool, almost cold, but not quite enough to send her shivering. Pine View was never silent, even at night—the hum of cicadas buzzed low in the background, broken occasionally by a bark or the far-off growl of an engine.

Chris sat beside her, leaning back on one elbow, a joint hanging loosely from his fingers. His face was calm, unreadable as always, except for the faint furrow in his brow. Smoke curled lazily in the air between them, dissipating into the starry sky.

“I’m telling you,” Star said, voice animated as her finger traced a constellation, “if aliens exist, there’s no way they’re not watching us right now. We’re like, prime reality TV for them. Chaos, drama, stupidity—it’s got everything.”

Chris exhaled a slow stream of smoke, not bothering to look up. “Pretty sure aliens have better taste than watching us fail at life.” His tone was dry, the corner of his mouth twitching like he wanted to smile but wouldn’t let himself.

Star glanced over at him, her lips twitching into a smirk. “You’re such an optimist, Chris.”

“Realist,” he corrected, passing the joint to her without looking. His eyes were fixed somewhere on the horizon, but she could feel him listening in that quiet way he always did.

She took a drag, coughing slightly before handing it back. “Still. If they’re watching us, I bet they’re rooting for us, y’know? Like… even when life’s a mess, people find these little moments of peace. Kinda like this.”

Chris finally glanced at her, the faintest flicker of something soft in his sharp features. The way her nose crinkled when she tried to suppress her laugh; the way her eyes lit up, reflecting the stars she couldn’t stop rambling about—it was… annoying, maybe, how effortlessly she made the night feel less heavy. But not in a bad way.

“Maybe,” he muttered, almost to himself, before looking away again.

They lapsed into silence for a while, the kind that felt comfortable after months of stolen nights like this. Star broke it first, as she always did.

“You’re extra quiet tonight,” she said, nudging his shoulder. “What’s on your mind? Or are you just too high to function?”

Chris rolled his eyes, taking another drag. “Maybe I like the quiet, Kid. You ever think about that?”

“Nope,” she replied easily, grinning. “You’d be miserable without me, admit it.”

“Sure,” he said, deadpan, though the corners of his mouth twitched again.

Eventually, Star sat up, wobbling slightly as she eyed the trellis below. “Alright, we should head down before I fall asleep up here. You’re terrible at carrying people, and I refuse to be a headline in the Pine View Gazette: Local Emo Girl Plummets to Death Off Trailer Roof.”

Chris snorted. “They’d probably get your name wrong, too.”

Star nudged him with her elbow. “Go first. You’re the guy. Don’t guys like… live for this macho stuff? Protecting damsels in distress n’all that?”

Chris rolled his eyes. “You’re about as distressed as a cat on catnip.”

He swung his legs over the edge of the roof, gripping the trellis. It creaked under his weight, but he made it down smoothly, dusting his hands on his jeans when he reached the ground.

“See?” he called up. “s’fine. Just don’t be an idiot about it.”

Star pulled a face. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Captain Supportive.”

As she carefully climbed down, the trellis groaned ominously. Her foot slipped on a loose slat, and the sound of wood snapping was followed by a startled yelp.

“Chris!”

She fell backward, and he scrambled to catch her. The impact sent them both crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Star landed on top of him, groaning as she tried to sit up. “Oh my god, I told you this thing was a death trap! Are you okay? Did I—”

“Shut up,” Chris said, breathless, but there was no heat in his words.

He stared up at her, his eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to still. The joint haze lingered in the air, making every detail sharper—the warmth of her body against his, the way her breath hitched slightly, the glint of stars in her wide eyes.

Her voice softened. “Chris…”

He didn’t move, didn’t speak, his gaze flicking briefly to her lips. It was as if gravity itself was pulling them closer, and she swayed slightly, her hands braced against his chest.

And then—

“Chris?”

Lila’s small, groggy voice shattered the moment. They froze, heads snapping toward the trailer’s back door, where Lila stood in her pajamas, rubbing her eyes.

Star scrambled to her feet, her cheeks burning. Chris sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair as he muttered, “What are you doing up, Lila?”

“I had a bad dream,” she mumbled, sniffling.

Chris sighed, climbing to his feet and brushing off the dirt. “Alright, c’mon,” he said, jerking his head toward the trailer. “Let’s get you back to bed.”

Star stood awkwardly to the side, still flustered, as Chris led Lila inside. When he came back out a few minutes later, his face was unreadable again, the moment between them seemingly forgotten.

“You coming?” he asked, nodding toward the trailer.

“Yeah,” she said quickly, following him in.

They collapsed onto the couch with a spread of leftover snacks, bingeing Rick and Morty in comfortable silence. But every so often, Star caught Chris sneaking glances at her, his expression softening just slightly before he turned back to the screen.

Star popped a fry into her mouth, her legs curled beneath her on the couch. The glow from the TV flickered across her face as the absurd antics of Rick and Morty filled the small living room. She stole a glance at Chris, who sat slouched next to her, picking at the crust of a slice of leftover pizza.

She couldn’t stop thinking about the moment on the ground—the way his eyes had locked with hers, the way her heart had flipped in her chest. It was ridiculous, really. Chris was… Chris. Gruff, blunt, emotionally unavailable Chris. And yet, her cheeks still felt warm when she thought about how close they’d been.

“You’re staring,” Chris said without looking up. His tone was as dry as ever, but the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Star jerked her gaze back to the TV, stuffing another fry into her mouth. “I’m not staring. Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Right,” he drawled, finally glancing over at her. “Because you’re the picture of subtlety.”

“Like you’re one to talk,” she shot back, turning to face him fully now. “You’ve been sneaking looks at me all night. What, do I have something on my face?”

Chris raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as he leaned back against the couch. “Maybe. Or maybe you’re just paranoid.”

She narrowed her eyes, trying to gauge if he was messing with her. “You’re so annoying, you know that?”

“And yet, here you are,” he replied smoothly, grabbing the remote and flipping to the next episode.

Star crossed her arms, leaning back with a huff. “I could’ve stayed home.”

Chris turned to her, the ghost of a smirk still lingering. “You wouldn’t have. You like it here too much.”

Her mouth opened to argue, but no words came out. Because he wasn’t wrong. For all his snark and the peeling wallpaper of his trailer, Chris’s place felt… safe.

“Whatever,” she muttered, grabbing a handful of fries.

They watched the episode in silence for a while, the tension between them softening into something almost comfortable again. But as the credits rolled, Chris spoke, his voice quieter than usual.

“What…what was that earlier,” he said, not looking at her.

Star stiffened, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. “What was what earlier?”

His jaw shifted, like he was debating whether to say it. Finally, he turned his head to meet her gaze, his expression unreadable. “You almost kissed me.”

Her face burned. “I—what? No, I didn’t!”

Chris arched an eyebrow, leaning slightly closer. “You sure about that?”

The air between them grew heavier, the space on the couch suddenly feeling much too small. Star swallowed hard, her pulse quickening as she held his gaze.

“Well, if I did,” she said, trying to sound casual, “you almost…did it back.”

He didn’t deny it. Instead, his eyes flicked down to her lips, just for a second, before meeting hers again.

For a moment, it felt like they were back on the ground outside, the rest of the world fading away as gravity pulled them closer.

But then, from the hallway, Lila’s small voice rang out again.

“Chris? Can I have water?”

Chris sighed, breaking eye contact as he stood up. “Yeah, I got it,” he called, his tone softer than usual.

Star exhaled, her shoulders slumping as the tension dissolved into the air. She stared at the TV, her fries forgotten, as Chris disappeared into the kitchen to help his sister.

When he came back, he sat down beside her without a word, grabbing another slice of pizza.

“Chris,” she said after a long pause, her voice quieter now.

He glanced at her, chewing lazily. “Yeah?”

She hesitated, her fingers twisting in the hem of her hoodie. “Never mind.”

Chris studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he leaned back, grabbing the remote again. “You’re weird,” he muttered, though there was no edge to his voice.

Star rolled her eyes, pulling her knees to her chest as the next episode started. But despite the casual banter, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something between them had shifted.

Neither of them said anything more about it, but as the night stretched on, Chris stayed just a little closer to her on the couch, his shoulder brushing hers every now and then.

The glow of the TV flickered softly across the living room, the chaos of Rick and Morty still playing, though Star hadn’t laughed in a while. Chris glanced over, noticing her head drooping slightly, her knees pulled to her chest. Her eyelids fluttered shut, the stubbornness that usually lit up her expression now replaced by something softer, more unguarded.

“Star,” Chris muttered, nudging her leg with his foot.

She mumbled something incoherent, barely stirring.

He sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. The night had already been a whirlwind—her almost falling off the roof, the tension of their moment on the ground, and now this. Yet here she was, passed out on his couch like it was her own home.

Chris stood, stretching before leaning down to scoop up the half-empty plate of fries on her lap. He set it on the coffee table, shaking his head. “You really can’t hang, can you?” he muttered under his breath, though his voice lacked any real bite.

Star whimpered lightly but didn’t wake. Chris hesitated, his hands twitching at his sides as he debated whether to just leave her there. But something about the thought of her waking up in an uncomfortable position, complaining about her back for the next week, pushed him to act.

He bent down, sliding an arm under her legs and another behind her back. She stirred slightly as he lifted her, her body instinctively curling into his chest. Her head lolled against him, nestling into the crook of his shoulder, and Chris froze mid-step.

Her soft breath tickled his neck as she adjusted again, snuggling closer, completely unaware of what she was doing. His heart stuttered in a way he wasn’t used to, an unfamiliar warmth blooming low in his stomach.

“Damn it, Kid,” he muttered under his breath, though there was no malice in his tone.

She mumbled something incoherent again, her arm curling loosely against his chest like she belonged there. It was so unlike her usual sharp edges, her endless teasing and snarky comments. Like this, she was… soft. Vulnerable. The part of her she didn’t let the world see.

Chris carried her down the narrow hallway to his room, his movements careful and deliberate, as if afraid to wake her. The soft creak of his bedroom door greeted him as he nudged it open with his foot. Moonlight spilled in through the window, casting a faint glow over the small, familiar space.

As he lowered her onto the bed, she stirred, her head shifting slightly. For a brief moment, he thought she’d wake, but she just sighed, curling into herself instinctively.

Chris lingered, crouched beside the bed, watching the way her face relaxed, her lips slightly parted as she fell deeper into sleep. The faintest furrow creased his brow as he studied her, caught between the familiarity of her presence and the strange, twisting feelings in his chest.

She shifted again, burrowing deeper into the blankets as her arm stretched out toward the space where he usually slept. He swallowed hard, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at the pillow he always placed between them. The unspoken rule—his own attempt to avoid another awkward morning of waking up to find her tangled around him.

But now, as he watched her, those feelings from earlier returned—the strange pull, the warmth that made him feel more unsettled than he wanted to admit.

Chris dropped the pillow.

He stood there for another moment, his gaze lingering on her soft features before he climbed into the bed beside her. He stayed on his side at first, stiff and unsure, leaning back against the headboard.

But when her arm instinctively draped across his stomach and her head found his shoulder again, he didn’t pull away.

For a while, he just lays there, staring up at the ceiling, her even breaths filling the quiet space around them. The barrier was gone, and something in him—something unspoken—decided it didn’t need to come back.

AUTHORS NOTE: i love him. i literally LOVE him. my sweet angel boy. that’s all.

TAG LIST: @jetaimevous @sturnsblunt @riasturns @ifwdominicfike @chrissturns-wife @mattsmunch @pip4444chris @ribread03 @ariestrxsh @angelic-sturniolos111 @pvssychicken @mattslolita @stvrnzcherries @dottieboo @lovergirl4gracieabrams @bluestriips

[darksturnz]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. seriously this means so so so much to me.

NIGHTS LIKE THIS

CONTENTS:・teeth rotting fluff-heavy plot (imo) ・star!reader ・mild language ・sleeping in the same bed・artist!chris ・substance use + more WC: 2.3k

i highly highly recommend listening to this on repeat, as that’s what i did :,) promise it sets the mood. + heavily dedicated to my literal star @55sturn

The roof of Chris’s trailer creaked as Star stretched out on the patchy blanket, her black hoodie blending into the night sky above. The air was cool, almost cold, but not quite enough to send her shivering. Pine View was never silent, even at night—the hum of cicadas buzzed low in the background, broken occasionally by a bark or the far-off growl of an engine.

Chris sat beside her, leaning back on one elbow, a joint hanging loosely from his fingers. His face was calm, unreadable as always, except for the faint furrow in his brow. Smoke curled lazily in the air between them, dissipating into the starry sky.

“I’m telling you,” Star said, voice animated as her finger traced a constellation, “if aliens exist, there’s no way they’re not watching us right now. We’re like, prime reality TV for them. Chaos, drama, stupidity—it’s got everything.”

Chris exhaled a slow stream of smoke, not bothering to look up. “Pretty sure aliens have better taste than watching us fail at life.” His tone was dry, the corner of his mouth twitching like he wanted to smile but wouldn’t let himself.

Star glanced over at him, her lips twitching into a smirk. “You’re such an optimist, Chris.”

“Realist,” he corrected, passing the joint to her without looking. His eyes were fixed somewhere on the horizon, but she could feel him listening in that quiet way he always did.

She took a drag, coughing slightly before handing it back. “Still. If they’re watching us, I bet they’re rooting for us, y’know? Like… even when life’s a mess, people find these little moments of peace. Kinda like this.”

Chris finally glanced at her, the faintest flicker of something soft in his sharp features. The way her nose crinkled when she tried to suppress her laugh; the way her eyes lit up, reflecting the stars she couldn’t stop rambling about—it was… annoying, maybe, how effortlessly she made the night feel less heavy. But not in a bad way.

“Maybe,” he muttered, almost to himself, before looking away again.

They lapsed into silence for a while, the kind that felt comfortable after months of stolen nights like this. Star broke it first, as she always did.

“You’re extra quiet tonight,” she said, nudging his shoulder. “What’s on your mind? Or are you just too high to function?”

Chris rolled his eyes, taking another drag. “Maybe I like the quiet, Kid. You ever think about that?”

“Nope,” she replied easily, grinning. “You’d be miserable without me, admit it.”

“Sure,” he said, deadpan, though the corners of his mouth twitched again.

Eventually, Star sat up, wobbling slightly as she eyed the trellis below. “Alright, we should head down before I fall asleep up here. You’re terrible at carrying people, and I refuse to be a headline in the Pine View Gazette: Local Emo Girl Plummets to Death Off Trailer Roof.”

Chris snorted. “They’d probably get your name wrong, too.”

Star nudged him with her elbow. “Go first. You’re the guy. Don’t guys like… live for this macho stuff? Protecting damsels in distress n’all that?”

Chris rolled his eyes. “You’re about as distressed as a cat on catnip.”

He swung his legs over the edge of the roof, gripping the trellis. It creaked under his weight, but he made it down smoothly, dusting his hands on his jeans when he reached the ground.

“See?” he called up. “s’fine. Just don’t be an idiot about it.”

Star pulled a face. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Captain Supportive.”

As she carefully climbed down, the trellis groaned ominously. Her foot slipped on a loose slat, and the sound of wood snapping was followed by a startled yelp.

“Chris!”

She fell backward, and he scrambled to catch her. The impact sent them both crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Star landed on top of him, groaning as she tried to sit up. “Oh my god, I told you this thing was a death trap! Are you okay? Did I—”

“Shut up,” Chris said, breathless, but there was no heat in his words.

He stared up at her, his eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to still. The joint haze lingered in the air, making every detail sharper—the warmth of her body against his, the way her breath hitched slightly, the glint of stars in her wide eyes.

Her voice softened. “Chris…”

He didn’t move, didn’t speak, his gaze flicking briefly to her lips. It was as if gravity itself was pulling them closer, and she swayed slightly, her hands braced against his chest.

And then—

“Chris?”

Lila’s small, groggy voice shattered the moment. They froze, heads snapping toward the trailer’s back door, where Lila stood in her pajamas, rubbing her eyes.

Star scrambled to her feet, her cheeks burning. Chris sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair as he muttered, “What are you doing up, Lila?”

“I had a bad dream,” she mumbled, sniffling.

Chris sighed, climbing to his feet and brushing off the dirt. “Alright, c’mon,” he said, jerking his head toward the trailer. “Let’s get you back to bed.”

Star stood awkwardly to the side, still flustered, as Chris led Lila inside. When he came back out a few minutes later, his face was unreadable again, the moment between them seemingly forgotten.

“You coming?” he asked, nodding toward the trailer.

“Yeah,” she said quickly, following him in.

They collapsed onto the couch with a spread of leftover snacks, bingeing Rick and Morty in comfortable silence. But every so often, Star caught Chris sneaking glances at her, his expression softening just slightly before he turned back to the screen.

Star popped a fry into her mouth, her legs curled beneath her on the couch. The glow from the TV flickered across her face as the absurd antics of Rick and Morty filled the small living room. She stole a glance at Chris, who sat slouched next to her, picking at the crust of a slice of leftover pizza.

She couldn’t stop thinking about the moment on the ground—the way his eyes had locked with hers, the way her heart had flipped in her chest. It was ridiculous, really. Chris was… Chris. Gruff, blunt, emotionally unavailable Chris. And yet, her cheeks still felt warm when she thought about how close they’d been.

“You’re staring,” Chris said without looking up. His tone was as dry as ever, but the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Star jerked her gaze back to the TV, stuffing another fry into her mouth. “I’m not staring. Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Right,” he drawled, finally glancing over at her. “Because you’re the picture of subtlety.”

“Like you’re one to talk,” she shot back, turning to face him fully now. “You’ve been sneaking looks at me all night. What, do I have something on my face?”

Chris raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as he leaned back against the couch. “Maybe. Or maybe you’re just paranoid.”

She narrowed her eyes, trying to gauge if he was messing with her. “You’re so annoying, you know that?”

“And yet, here you are,” he replied smoothly, grabbing the remote and flipping to the next episode.

Star crossed her arms, leaning back with a huff. “I could’ve stayed home.”

Chris turned to her, the ghost of a smirk still lingering. “You wouldn’t have. You like it here too much.”

Her mouth opened to argue, but no words came out. Because he wasn’t wrong. For all his snark and the peeling wallpaper of his trailer, Chris’s place felt… safe.

“Whatever,” she muttered, grabbing a handful of fries.

They watched the episode in silence for a while, the tension between them softening into something almost comfortable again. But as the credits rolled, Chris spoke, his voice quieter than usual.

“What…what was that earlier,” he said, not looking at her.

Star stiffened, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. “What was what earlier?”

His jaw shifted, like he was debating whether to say it. Finally, he turned his head to meet her gaze, his expression unreadable. “You almost kissed me.”

Her face burned. “I—what? No, I didn’t!”

Chris arched an eyebrow, leaning slightly closer. “You sure about that?”

The air between them grew heavier, the space on the couch suddenly feeling much too small. Star swallowed hard, her pulse quickening as she held his gaze.

“Well, if I did,” she said, trying to sound casual, “you almost…did it back.”

He didn’t deny it. Instead, his eyes flicked down to her lips, just for a second, before meeting hers again.

For a moment, it felt like they were back on the ground outside, the rest of the world fading away as gravity pulled them closer.

But then, from the hallway, Lila’s small voice rang out again.

“Chris? Can I have water?”

Chris sighed, breaking eye contact as he stood up. “Yeah, I got it,” he called, his tone softer than usual.

Star exhaled, her shoulders slumping as the tension dissolved into the air. She stared at the TV, her fries forgotten, as Chris disappeared into the kitchen to help his sister.

When he came back, he sat down beside her without a word, grabbing another slice of pizza.

“Chris,” she said after a long pause, her voice quieter now.

He glanced at her, chewing lazily. “Yeah?”

She hesitated, her fingers twisting in the hem of her hoodie. “Never mind.”

Chris studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he leaned back, grabbing the remote again. “You’re weird,” he muttered, though there was no edge to his voice.

Star rolled her eyes, pulling her knees to her chest as the next episode started. But despite the casual banter, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something between them had shifted.

Neither of them said anything more about it, but as the night stretched on, Chris stayed just a little closer to her on the couch, his shoulder brushing hers every now and then.

The glow of the TV flickered softly across the living room, the chaos of Rick and Morty still playing, though Star hadn’t laughed in a while. Chris glanced over, noticing her head drooping slightly, her knees pulled to her chest. Her eyelids fluttered shut, the stubbornness that usually lit up her expression now replaced by something softer, more unguarded.

“Star,” Chris muttered, nudging her leg with his foot.

She mumbled something incoherent, barely stirring.

He sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. The night had already been a whirlwind—her almost falling off the roof, the tension of their moment on the ground, and now this. Yet here she was, passed out on his couch like it was her own home.

Chris stood, stretching before leaning down to scoop up the half-empty plate of fries on her lap. He set it on the coffee table, shaking his head. “You really can’t hang, can you?” he muttered under his breath, though his voice lacked any real bite.

Star whimpered lightly but didn’t wake. Chris hesitated, his hands twitching at his sides as he debated whether to just leave her there. But something about the thought of her waking up in an uncomfortable position, complaining about her back for the next week, pushed him to act.

He bent down, sliding an arm under her legs and another behind her back. She stirred slightly as he lifted her, her body instinctively curling into his chest. Her head lolled against him, nestling into the crook of his shoulder, and Chris froze mid-step.

Her soft breath tickled his neck as she adjusted again, snuggling closer, completely unaware of what she was doing. His heart stuttered in a way he wasn’t used to, an unfamiliar warmth blooming low in his stomach.

“Damn it, Kid,” he muttered under his breath, though there was no malice in his tone.

She mumbled something incoherent again, her arm curling loosely against his chest like she belonged there. It was so unlike her usual sharp edges, her endless teasing and snarky comments. Like this, she was… soft. Vulnerable. The part of her she didn’t let the world see.

Chris carried her down the narrow hallway to his room, his movements careful and deliberate, as if afraid to wake her. The soft creak of his bedroom door greeted him as he nudged it open with his foot. Moonlight spilled in through the window, casting a faint glow over the small, familiar space.

As he lowered her onto the bed, she stirred, her head shifting slightly. For a brief moment, he thought she’d wake, but she just sighed, curling into herself instinctively.

Chris lingered, crouched beside the bed, watching the way her face relaxed, her lips slightly parted as she fell deeper into sleep. The faintest furrow creased his brow as he studied her, caught between the familiarity of her presence and the strange, twisting feelings in his chest.

She shifted again, burrowing deeper into the blankets as her arm stretched out toward the space where he usually slept. He swallowed hard, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at the pillow he always placed between them. The unspoken rule—his own attempt to avoid another awkward morning of waking up to find her tangled around him.

But now, as he watched her, those feelings from earlier returned—the strange pull, the warmth that made him feel more unsettled than he wanted to admit.

Chris dropped the pillow.

He stood there for another moment, his gaze lingering on her soft features before he climbed into the bed beside her. He stayed on his side at first, stiff and unsure, leaning back against the headboard.

But when her arm instinctively draped across his stomach and her head found his shoulder again, he didn’t pull away.

For a while, he just lays there, staring up at the ceiling, her even breaths filling the quiet space around them. The barrier was gone, and something in him—something unspoken—decided it didn’t need to come back.

AUTHORS NOTE: i love him. i literally LOVE him. my sweet angel boy. that’s all.

TAG LIST: @jetaimevous @sturnsblunt @riasturns @ifwdominicfike @chrissturns-wife @mattsmunch @pip4444chris @ribread03 @ariestrxsh @angelic-sturniolos111 @pvssychicken @mattslolita @stvrnzcherries @dottieboo @lovergirl4gracieabrams @bluestriips