Work Text:
it’d been a long day for jesse.
he’d had two tests, which he’d studied for but still struggled with, so he was already stressed when he came home. to make it worse, he’d been stuck on a project his teacher just would not help him with, despite him doing everything he was supposed to to get help with the assignment.
lake had tried to help him with it, but wasn’t able to provide much outside of moral support. they’d watched him plug away at the project all night, occasionally switching to the other homework he had. thankfully, he still took breaks, but it was clear the work was tiring.
he’d finally caved and admitted that he just wouldn’t be able to get anything else done that night. he’d flopped face down onto the bed before rolling onto his side and curling up.
lake didn’t object; after a few minutes of him not moving though, they’d suggested he should get ready for bed before he fell asleep.
he didn’t answer.
“jess, did you hear me?” lake asked. still no reply.
“jess?” they leaned down over the bed, studying his face. they gently poked his nose, just to see if he was messing with them.
again, nothing.
“okay.” lake sighed, though there was a hint of a smile.
they went to his desk and tucked his homework in its folder, gathering the the supplies they knew he always had with him. they’d let him know in the morning to check that he still had everything.
a glow from jesse’s pocket caught lake’s eye. they fished his phone out, entering the code (he’d given it to them, just in case, and he trusted lake not to invade his privacy,) checked that the correct alarms were set, then plugged the phone in for the night.
jesse was still laying on top of the covers. lake carefully reached around either side of him, grabbed the blanket’s hem and wiggled it out from underneath him. they gently tucked him in.
lake did their own nightly routine, and when they were ready, turned the light off. they slowly crawled into bed with him, careful not to let the lifting of the blanket blow a cold breeze at jesse.
lake snuggled up to him. they knew he wouldn’t mind, if he didn’t want it he’d just move, but they still didn’t want to smother him. lake laid an arm around his waste.
they sighed contentedly. “g'night,” they mumbled. jesse always made sure to say goodnight, and to get one back before he went to bed.
“guh-ny,” jesse muttered, clearly half asleep. lake could’ve argued with him, that they should’ve just woken him up to get ready for bed himself.
they really didn’t mind, though. and, they knew he would do the same for them.
so instead, lake just smiled, enjoying the extra warmth as jesse snuggled into their chest.