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It's just after 11:00pm in New York City, which means around half of the city that never sleeps is getting ready for bed.
"Okay, pick a good five letter word." You say.
You and Leonardo are snuggled up in your bed, dimly lit by the warm fairy lights on your walls, and the blue light of your phone.
You like to play brain games before bed to wind down, and one time, during one of your many sleepovers together, Leonardo decided to join you in this bedtime routine. It's become a peaceful part of your routine that allows you to be alone together. A moment where you two can just be yourselves.
"Easy. Put blue." He says confidently. You suppress a laugh.
And you love quiet moments with a sleepy, silly Leonardo.
"So close - that's a four letter word." You tease, your mouth wobbling from holding in laughter. He scoffs.
"Uh-eeyeah, I was obviously kidding." He says through a smirk, but the way he won't look you in the eyes is very telling. He hears a giggle escape your mouth. "Don't laugh at me. I was only one letter off." He pouts. "I'm gonna think before I say more words."
Your full laughter finally escapes you and Leo sighs through his nose with a smile. He loves making you laugh, even if it's at his own expense.
"Like forever or just for this game of Wordle?" You say, winding down from your laughter. He chuckles and rubs his hand up and down your arm.
"Okay, okay, I've got a good one - try pizza." He says proudly. You hum thoughtfully.
"That's not a bad choice. Two vowels, two consonants, and a double letter. They're not afraid to choose a word with a double letter, based on the last three words they've picked..." You trail off. There's nothing wrong with words with double letters, but it feels like the New York Times has been picking them for multiple days in a row just to mess with players. But a ninja is never easily defeated.
You type 'pizza' into the empty boxes, and press submit.
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"We got the first letter! Nice!" You high five Leo with the hand not holding your phone, and he turns it into an excuse to hold your hand. Not that he ever needs an excuse. He just enjoys being sweet with you.
You mirror the soft smile he's giving you before turning your eyes back to your phone. He starts rubbing his thumb soothingly over your knuckles.
"We could try paper," You suggest. "Gives us a new vowel and a new consonant."
"But we already know there's no A in this word because of pizza?" Leo raises an eyebrow at you. You smile, as you often do around him.
"Leonardo, there are two known rules of Wordle," You begin in a sagely voice. Rule number one - do not be afraid of the possibility of a double letter. Rule number two - do not be afraid to reuse wrong letters in the pursuit of the right letters." He chuckles.
"Yes, master." He teases. You let out a short, delighted laugh.
"Uh oh. I hope this doesn't awaken anything in me." You can barely say it through your giggling. Leo brings your intertwined hands to his chest and laughs freely.
He sighs happily through the last of his laughter. "You're too cute. Let's put paper." You start typing your answer as you hear him chuckle to himself. "Be careful though - you might give yourself a paper cute." He says with a wink, his unoccupied hand giving you a finger gun. You shove him lightly through your laughter.
"Lame joke. Minus 2." You say. You laugh harder when he dramatically drapes his hand over his forehead.
"You don't appreciate my art." He peeks at your perpetually giggling state and begins to laugh with you again. He just can't help it - your laugh is so contagious.
You press submit with the word 'paper'.
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"Very nice! We got an E!" Leo says as he shakes your conjoined hands in celebration. "You're so pretty when you're smart. Which is, like, all the time."
You throw your head back in laughter as butterflies rush through your system. He always knew how to make you melt and make you laugh at the same time. It was one of the many reasons you fell in love with him.
"You're so sweet." You say, your voice barely above a whisper. You spend a moment staring at each other fondly before your eyes widen.
"Pretty!" You exclaim, pulling your gaze to your phone screen.
"You really think so?" Leo says while batting his eyelashes at you. You lightly shove him with a grin.
"Yes, you're very pretty Leo." You smirk at the bashfulness that overtakes his face. He could dish it, but he could never take it.
"But sometimes, you can be another word, a very similar word..." He looks at you curiously.
You type the word 'petty' and press submit.
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"Yeah, baby!" He exclaims as you cheer. "I knew we could do it."
"In three tries too. That's pretty impressive." You muse, clicking the sleep button and putting your phone face down on your bedside table. You snuggle into the crook of his neck and yawn.
"I'm surprised you don't have a problem with me calling you petty like that." You question. "Like, I kinda got you good." He hums and pulls you tighter against him, cherishing your warmth.
"Well one, you're not wrong. And two, you called me pretty first, so I'm willing to forgive you." You roll your eyes with a smile. "And three, I love you." He says, giving you a kiss on your forehead.
Here come the butterflies again. You give a chaste kiss right below his jaw, cuddling up to him tighter.
"But if you were one of my brothers, I would totally body slam you for dissing me through a word game on your phone." He says, making you chuckle into his neck.
"You could body slam me. If you weren't a coward." You joke. Leo giggles and rubs the small of your back soothingly as you close your eyes.
Suddenly, he picks you up and throws you underneath him. You let out a surprised yelp, and before you can process what's happening, he starts tickling you.
"BAHAHAHA - Leo! - HAHAHAHA! Nooooo! AAHAHA - You bitch!" You laugh endlessly as he mercilessly tickles you through his own laughter.
It's just after 11:15pm now in New York City, and you're wide awake. Adrenaline rushes through you as the premise of sleep drifts farther away. So much for winding down before bed. Lucky for you, it won't take long to fall asleep.
You always sleep best when Leo's around.