Chapter Text
When Nene wakes, several things register to her almost immediately in her half-asleep haze.
For one, it’s cold and she knows that her room is fairly warm no matter the season because her window is almost always closed. With as many escape attempts as Black Canyon attempted, she knew better than to leave it open especially when she was sleeping.
Secondly, the ceiling of her bedroom didn’t have glow in the dark stars and as pretty as they were, they wouldn’t match with the decor that she favored.
Thirdly, she felt heavy as if something was weighing her down and as she tried to shuffle away from it, a warmth touched her hip and dragged her closer.
Her eyes widened and she blinked owlishly, slowly turning her head until her face pressed against the soft plush of the star-patterned pillow tucked beneath her head. In the low light of the early morning hours, she could barely make out the dark mop of black hair splayed across the other side of the pillow obscuring a face lax with sleep. A squeak was muffled behind her hand clasped tightly around her mouth as she stared at him.
The puzzle pieces slowly falling into place as she remembered falling asleep at the Tsuchigomori-Yugi residence. Staying up for most of the night talking about constellations and learning more about space while her attention was solely on the bright eyed boy at her side. Amane’s mischievous grin and the way his eyes crinkled at the corners, a far cry from the relaxed and innocent expression he wore as he nestled his face against his pillow.
The warmth at her hip slowly shifting to the small of her back and pressing, his face gradually coming closer and her own was burning as his breaths fanned across her lips as they laid nose to nose.
She almost thought that he was teasing her as he often did when he was wake. That he’d open his eyes when she made the mistake of squeaking or a flustered response, grinning like the cat that got the cream when he managed to surprise her. But he stayed asleep, breathing softly and deeply, his hand resting at the small of her back and his arm thrown around her waist almost protectively.
Her gaze swept over his face, taking in the faint rose-colored hue of his lips and the length of his eyelashes. It was unfair. When he wasn’t grinning at her impishly or making faces, he looked cute — handsome — beautiful beyond any word that she could use to describe him.
Her lips pursed and she nearly pouted, feeling ill with herself for being jealous of his beauty and somewhat embarrassed that she was admiring him openly.
Slowly lifting her head, she tried to find her phone in the number of silhouettes in the room. Where had she left it last after messaging her parents? Leaning closer, she glanced to make sure that he wasn’t stirring as she leant over him, reaching toward his nightstand to feel for the device.
A squeak carefully muffled as she bit her lower lip. His arm tightening around her waist and she halted, glancing down at him. He remained asleep, his deep even breathing evident of that but his hold on her was pulling her down and closer to him. Nene screamed internally.
Ah, what would Tsuchigomori think if he found her lying Amane’s bed?
The bespectacled man’s amused grin and flippant wave quickly dispelled the worry of his disappointment but that didn’t help her situation any. No matter how she tried to maneuver herself, if she moved too far out of his grasp, Amane held tighter and pulled her in closer.
Her heart leapt in her throat as he rubbed his cheek against her shoulder once she failed again to grab her phone, simply lying there and watching him with tenderness threatening to explode in her chest.
Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad to just stay there with him a little longer. He was warm and undeniably cuddly. Cute, even with how he wanted to be close to her. Shifting to lie on her side, she threw her arm over his shoulders, choppy black hair slipping through her fingers as she rubbed them against his scalp.
He hummed low in his sleep and his head dipped down, effectively tucking beneath her chin. His legs tangling with hers with his foot brushing against her ankle, almost tickling her.
If there was any plan to escape now, it was shot. She was trapped in his hold, but incredibly warm. The early morning chill almost forgotten.
Pulling the star-printed quilt over his shoulders, she tucked her arms around him and closed her eyes, pillowing her cheek against his head. He’d probably deny that this ever happened when he woke up or it’d be something that they didn’t speak about — but that was fine.
As long as she could hold him like this a little longer.