Chapter Text
Mark poured over his computer screen, squinting his eyes as he tried to make sense of the code in front of him. It was 3 AM and the cramped dorm room was eerily silent, except for the occasional tapping of Mark's keyboard. Eduardo was sitting next to him, sifting through paperwork and charts as they worked together on their latest project. Despite being tired, Mark couldn't seem to get himself to sleep. He had almost convinced himself that he would be able to keep working until the morning light started to creep in through the window, but his stomach had other ideas. An empty rumble echoed through the room, and Mark finally pushed back from his laptop.
"I'm going to grab a snack," he mumbled to Eduardo.
Eduardo looked up from his work, "You want me to come with you?"
"It's okay," Mark said, as he stood up and stretched out his limbs. "I won't be long."
Mark slipped out of the room and Eduardo watched him go with a sigh.
It was only a few minutes before Mark returned, clutching a bag of chips and a small bottle of soda. Eduardo shook his head in concern as he watched Mark tuck into the late-night snack. He knew that Mark wasn't particularly interested in taking care of himself, especially when it came to his eating habits, and Eduardo often found himself quietly worrying about him.
"You need some rest, Mark," Eduardo said softly.
Mark huffed out a small laugh, "We all do, Eduardo."
"I'm serious," Eduardo urged. "You'll feel better if you sleep."
Mark shrugged, "Sleep is for the weak. Plus, we've got a deadline coming up."
Eduardo leaned back against the wall and watched Mark finish up his chips. For a moment, he considered trying to talk him into getting some sleep, but he could see the determined look on Mark's face and knew he wouldn't be pushed.
After they had both finished their snacks, Mark lazily threw the empty bag over his shoulder and burrowed into Eduardo's side. Eduardo wrapped his arm around Mark and pulled him close, settling into the cramped twin-sized bed. Eduardo wanted nothing more than to hold Mark, to press against his body and feel the warmth emanating from every inch of him. Mark shifted slightly, resting his head against Eduardo's chest, feeling the slow steady cadence of Eduardo's heartbeat as it lulled him to sleep.
The moonlight filtered in through the window, casting a comforting glow on the two sleeping figures. For a brief moment, the world outside of the dorm room and the anxieties of the upcoming deadline faded away, replaced only by the comforting embrace of Eduardo as they drifted into blissful sleep.
Ultimately, the deadline was met and the project was successful... but for Eduardo, the memory of this sleepy, intimate night with Mark far outstripped any of the technical achievements they had accomplished together.