#they’ll start screaming in the morning if MC actually stayed over and slept in the same bed as them 💀

[childrenofcain-if]

Drunk C will get my ass over and over again. Can we get a snippet of that though, dear Author?

you had been keeping an eye on C all evening, though you hadn’t meant to. it was hard not to.

they had always been a force of nature, sharp-tongued and quick-witted, always ready with a snarky remark or a sarcastic quip. but tonight, the alcohol had softened their edges, and you found yourself drawn to them in a way you hadn’t planned for.

C was giggling now, a sound so foreign coming from them that it made you raise an eyebrow. they were leaning heavily against you, their arm slung over your shoulders as you guided them through the dimly lit streets back to your residence hall.

their usual prickly demeanor had melted away, replaced by a warmth that was almost disarming. you couldn’t help but chuckle as they stumbled over their own feet, their laughter ringing out like bells in the quiet night.

“who knew you’d be such a lightweight,” you teased, adjusting your grip on them as they swayed dangerously to one side.

C pouted, their bottom lip jutting out in a way that was almost comical.

“am not,” they slurred, their voice thick with indignation. “i can hold my liquor just fine, thank you very much.”

“sure you can,” you replied, your tone dripping with sarcasm. “that explains why you’re currently using me as a human crutch.”

they giggled again, the sound so light and carefree that it made your heartbeat quicken. “you’re just jealous cause i had way more fun than you.”

you rolled your eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind the gesture. “yeah, you’ve got me all figured out. i’m just jealous of your impeccable ability to trip over literal air.”

C laughed harder at that, their body shaking against yours.

“you’re such an ass,” they said, although they didn’t sound angry at all. “but i’ve always liked that about you.”

you blinked, caught off guard by the admission. C had never been one to mince words, but they had also never been one to freely offer compliments, especially not to you.

you opened your mouth to respond, but before you could, they were stumbling again, and you had to focus on keeping them upright.

by the time you reached their suite, C was practically hanging off of you, their giggles having subsided into a soft, contented hum to a song you couldn’t exactly identify.

you fumbled with the key, your fingers clumsy as you tried to unlock the door without dropping them. finally, you managed to get it open, and you half-carried, half-dragged C inside.

their dorm room was dark, the only light coming from the streetlamp outside the window. you guided C to their bed, gently lowering them onto the plush mattress. they groaned softly, their head lolling to the side as they looked up at you with glassy chalcedony eyes.

“you’re so good to me,” they mumbled, their voice slurred but sincere. “i don’t tell you that enough.”

you felt a lump form in your throat, but you forced a smile. “yeah? well, don’t get used to it. i’m only doing this because D isn’t here to deal with your drunk ass.”

C pouted again, their lower lip trembling in a way that was almost comical.

“you’re so mean,” they whined, though there was no real heat behind their words. “i take it back. you’re not good to me at all”

you chuckled, shaking your head as you knelt down to take off their shoes. “yeah, yeah. whatever helps you sleep at night, lacroix.”

as you worked to remove their socks, C reached out, their fingers brushing against your cheek. you froze, your breath catching in your throat as they traced the line of your cheekbone with a tenderness that had your ribs creaking with the effort to keep your heart inside.

“call me by my name,” they murmured, their tone filled with a rare moment of soberness.

you frowned in confusion. “lacroix? i don’t kn—”

“i mean my first name,” C clarified, tilting their head as their eyes shone in insistence.

you swallowed hard then as you suddenly realised what they were implying. was it just you or was the room becoming uncomfortably hot?

“C?” you said, your voice barely above a whisper and you mentally patted yourself on the back for not stuttering.

the drunk student closed their eyes for a moment, an almost delirious smile taking over their face. their fingers still lingering on your face but the touch was now feather-light. “i’ve never heard something so beautiful.”

you felt your cheeks heat up, and you quickly looked away, focusing on the task at hand. “you’re drunk, lacroix.”

C vehemently shook their head in denial, pouting as you went back to calling them by their last name.

“you’re going to forget about this in the morning,” you spoke up before they could say anything, your voice tinged with sadness. “you’ll wake up and it’ll be like this never happened.”

C’s hand dropped from your face, and they shook their head again, more forcefully this time.

“no, i won’t,” they said, their voice firm despite the alcohol. “i don’t want to forget this. i don’t want to forget you.”

your heart clenched at their words, and you had to fight the urge to reach out and pull them into your arms. instead, you stood up, taking a step back to put some distance between you.

“you need to sleep,” you said, your voice gentle. “you’ll feel better in the morning.”

C’s eyes suddenly filled with tears, and they reached out for you, their fingers grasping at the air.

“don’t go,” they pleaded, their voice breaking as your jaw dropped in alarm. “please, stay with me.”

your resolve wavered as you looked down at them. they looked so vulnerable, so unlike the C you knew. the C who was always so guarded, so quick to push people away. the C who had never let you get close enough to see this side of them.

“C…” you started, but they cut you off, their voice desperate.

“please,” they whispered, their eyes locking with yours. “don’t leave.”

your heart broke at the raw emotion in their voice, and you found yourself nodding before you could stop yourself.

“okay,” you said softly. “i’ll stay.”

C’s face lit up with a smile that almost blinded you, and they reached out for you again, their fingers curling around your wrist. “thank you.”

you sat down on the edge of the bed, your heart pounding in your chest as C shifted closer to you, their head resting against your thigh. they let out a contented sigh, their eyes fluttering closed as they nuzzled against you like a cat.

“you smell so nice,” they mumbled, their voice drowsy. “mon étoile.”

you felt a lump form in your throat, and you reached out, gently brushing a strand of dark brown hair away from their face.

“sweet dreams, C,” you whispered, your voice thick with emotion. “i’ll be here when you wake up.”

they nodded, their breathing already starting to even out as they drifted off to sleep. you sat there, your hand resting lightly on their head, your heart aching with a mixture of longing and sadness.

you knew that this moment was fleeting, that come morning, C would be back to their usual self, grumpy and distant. but for now, you allowed yourself to savor the rare intimacy, the warmth of their body against yours, the soft sound of their breathing. you closed your eyes, letting yourself get lost in the moment, knowing that it would be over all too soon.

but for now, you were content to just be here, with them, in this quiet, fragile bubble of peace.