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"Found it," he said, turning the corner and flipping the book in his hands. "It was on the top section of—"
Nezha stopped when he saw her head on the table, arms made into a makeshift pillow. Her eyes, barely visible underneath her hair, were closed.
"Rin?"
No response except even breaths.
It was, indeed, extremely late; they were scrambling to catch up on other teams already way ahead on their assignments. The library was almost empty. Rin had been frustrated, unable to find a book she had read before studying Lore. "I'm sure I put it here," she had said crossily, standing on her tiptoes to scan the books on the shelves. "It was one of the most helpful books I've read, you have to read it."
"I'll look around at the other sections."
He glanced back when she hid a yawn behind her hand. "Or maybe just call it off for the day?"
"What, too tired?" Her voice sounded half-teasing than usual, energy clearing sapping away from her.
"You look exhausted."
"I'm fucking fine, Nezha."
Now she was fast asleep on the chair.
He should probably wake her—despite her deep slumber, he couldn’t see how she’d be comfortable. But he also didn't want to wake her, not when she looked so peaceful. He didn't think he'd ever seen her like this—relaxed. Calm. No guard up. No tense energy, no glare, no wary glances.
It strangely felt like intruding on her. It felt like he should look away.
"Rin?"
No answer.
He hesitated, then approached her by her side. She didn't move a muscle.
Carefully, cautiously, he slid his arms underneath her body, gently lifting her up; her legs dangle over his left arm and his other arm around her back. Rin mumbled something incoherent, and Nezha tensed, but she merely turned her body toward him and leaned her head against his chest.
Now Nezha wasn't sure he was breathing.
After standing still for a moment, making sure she was still asleep, he slowly walked out of the library.
She was so light, so small in his arms that he couldn't believe that this was the most alive person he knew. Every so often she would shift and mumble, and he would stop, but she always eventually settled down and continued to sleep. Moonlight gleamed against her face and he had to look up and away.
Nezha was honestly surprised she hadn't caught him staring much. The other day she had been playing with her fire; making flames dance between her fingers, drawing a phoenix in the air, sending up a spark as high as she could. The look of pure concentration and casual delight on her face was just Rin, Rin in her best self without the burden of deadlines or exams or any weariness and Nezha thought he might get drunk on it.
For him, the god was a curse and a burden. For Rin, she toyed with the gods with just a flick of her wrist, as easy as breathing.
Sometimes, he would look at her, and think how on earth he ever thought for a second that she would barely last Sinegard.
In Nezha's opinion, Sinegard's own walls could barely contain her energy.
But at the moment, she was just a student curled up in his arms, exhaustion taken over her, sleeping so peacefully. The moment felt like glass, precariously balanced on his palm; one slip and it would shatter apart.
Nezha kicked the door of the girls' dorm and whisper-shouted: "Venka."
The door opened to reveal Venka, looking crossed. "What the fuck—oh?"
She caught sight of Rin curled up in his arms. "Now what happened?"
"Nothing. She fell asleep."
"And you decided to carry her around?"
"I didn't want to wake her."
"Of course. Right."
Ignoring her smirk, he pushed her aside and went to the only non-occupant bed besides Venka's. He tried to lay her down, but she had somehow twisted her hand around his shirt in her sleep, holding tight. He thought he heard Venka stifle a laugh.
"Fuck off." He lowered his arms to put her legs down first and used his free hand to gently pry her hands away. She mumbled a bit in her sleep in protest but eventually let go and curled up on her bed.
"You're a fucking sap."
"Shut up," Nezha muttered. "Don't tell her."
"Which? That you carried her? You brought her? You're hopelessly pathetic? You like her so much it's ridiculous if she doesn't know it yet?"
"It's not—I don't—just don't."
"You are in desperate need of help."
"Fuck off."
Venka shook her head, fighting back an amused laugh. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Nezha looked away.