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Your mind was most active at night, when the world was quiet with sleep and the sun had long since set beneath the horizon. Oftentimes, you were able to quiet it just enough to fall asleep at a semi-reasonable hour, but some nights nothing could silence the buzzing stream of consciousness in your brain. Miguel knew the feeling all too well, as he also had sleepless nights because of the deafening noise in his mind. You always knew he’d had a night like that, because in the morning, without fail, he’d be holding you a little closer, a little tighter, than usual. And similarly, Miguel could always tell you’d had a sleepless night by the way you ended up nearly on top of him come morning. Both of you found comfort in the other, the steady rise and fall of their breathing lulling your eyelids shut.
This was a sleepless night. It was nearly 3 in the morning, and you were laying in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Miguel was turned away from you, snoring softly. You’d stayed still, not wanting to wake him up with tossing and turning, and secretly hoping that listening to his deep, rhythmic breathing could overpower your mind. You don’t even know what started it. You were thinking about everything and nothing. There was just…noise. Noise that wouldn’t shut up.
With a soft, defeated sigh, you carefully pushed the covers back and shifted to sit up on the edge of the bed. Goosebumps hit your bare arms as the cool night air hit your skin, and you shivered. You stood up, some of your joints popping and groaning with the effort.
‘At this rate, I’ll be a senior citizen by 30,’ you thought to yourself with a silent laugh. You shuffled over to where your favorite hoodie lie abandoned on the floor, pulling it on and letting the comforting smell invade your senses. It reached well past your hips, the sleeves swallowing your arms whole. This was actually Miguel’s favorite hoodie, but that just meant it was the one you stole most often. You tamed the hair that had been disheveled from putting on the hoodie and quietly left the bedroom.
The apartment you shared with Miguel was small, but it was the perfect size for both of you. Everything felt cozy, homey, and was your little escape from the world. At first, he insisted that he had the means to get a larger, more modern apartment, but then you two found this one and not even he could deny its charm.
You padded into the kitchen, a turned the electric kettle on. Maybe a cup of tea would help you fall asleep. You opened the cupboard above the kettle, taking out your favorite mug. Your favorite box of tea sat on the counter nearby, and you preemptively dropped a tea bag into your mug. The soft sound of water boiling filled the kitchen, and you leaned against the counter while you waited. The kettle clicked off automatically once the water was hot enough, and you filled your mug about two thirds of the way, leaving room for sugar and a splash of milk.
As the tea steeped, you got out the milk, the sugar, and a spoon. You removed the tea bag, setting it in the sink to cool off for a bit before throwing it away. Steam swirled in mesmerizing patterns above the mug, and you added amounts of milk and honey that you knew would yield the best flavor. You gave it a quick stir, and moved to sit on the couch.
The mug was hot in your hands, but not hot enough to burn you. You cupped the mug with both hands, allowing its warmth to seep into your tired bones. The actual tea, however, scalded your tongue and you had to set the mug down. You were always impatient when it came to your tea, something Miguel often teased you for. Thinking about him caused an involuntary to work its way onto your lips. You turned yourself so that you were facing the large window adjacent to the couch. Watching the dark city skyline was comforting to you, on nights like these. Seeing random lights on in windows across the city made you feel a little less alone at this hour.
Sometimes, you liked to imagine backstories and lives for these window lights. The window light on the far left was a college undergrad, trying to finish an essay or a project or whatever by the due date. There was a window light that belonged to a couple, and if you squinted just right, you could imagine two dancing shadows, laughing and enjoying life. A light clicked on in the distance. To your imagination, that was a kindred spirit, someone who couldn’t find sleep same as you.
Absentmindedly, you reached for your mug, feeling the cool ceramic handle contrasted by the still warm, but not nearly as hot as before, tea inside. You sipped it, the liquid running down your throat, warming your insides as it did. You felt the heat spread through your body, and you let out a deep sigh.
“I thought I’d find you here, amor,” Miguel’s voice broke you from your daydreaming, and you chuckled.
“Am I really that predictable?” you asked teasingly. Miguel laughed softly and sat down next to you as you took another drink from your mug.
“Maybe, but that’s just fine with me.” he replied, pausing. He knew your sleepless night routine like the back of his hand. He stretched his arms out on the back of the couch, getting comfortable. You knew this position. He was planning on staying out here with you. You frowned slightly into your mug.
“Love, you don’t have to stay out here with me. I’ll come back to bed in a little bit,” you said, biting at the skin of your lower lip. Miguel just shrugged, a knowing look in his eyes.
“I know I don’t. But I can’t sleep without you, cariño,” he said, pouting. You rolled your eyes, amused at your partner’s antics. This was a side of him he rarely displayed in public, especially at the Spider HQ. No, this was a softness he reserved for you, and only for you. It made your heart melt, and you found yourself falling for him all over again. How he managed to capture your heart so completely and entirely, was a mystery to both of you.
You sighed, a small smile ghosting your lips, knowing that you weren’t going to change his mind. You drained the last of your tea, setting the mug gently down onto the coffee table. Miguel shifted closer to you, and wrapped his arms around you. What you thought was a gentle hug was in fact, not. Instead, he hoisted you fully onto his lap, your head fitting comfortably on his chest. You couldn’t help but yelp at the sudden movement. No matter how long you’d been with Miguel, his strength never failed to surprise you. Instinctively, you curled into him, letting his warmth overwhelm your senses.
“You know I won’t be able to sleep for a while, right?” you murmured into him. Despite your doubts, you relaxed in his hold, your eyelids beginning to grow heavier. A soft chuckle rumbled in his chest, and he pulled you closer.
“I know, querida,” he replied, an amused lilt in his voice. Sure enough, about 10 minutes later, you were fast asleep, snoring softly into his chest. Miguel gazed down at you with love he didn’t think he was capable of. He rubbed your back in arbitrary patterns, and kissed the top of your hair.
“Te quiero muchísimo, mi vida,” he whispered into your hair. He closed his eyes and fell asleep shortly after you did, and although his back was absolutely going to ache due to sleeping on the couch, he couldn’t lie that having you in his arms made it better.