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Leo doesn’t remember when the days and nights blurred together or when the world started feeling like a burden too heavy for him to carry. All he remembered were the restless nights tucked under his blanket, tears soaking his pillow as he cried for nothing and everything at once.
His chest ached in all the wrong places and each breath he took on those nights felt like another stab piercing right through the weakest spots of his heart.
On one of those nights, when the world felt too heavy to breathe in and too easy to break in, Leo found himself crying again. His shaky hands scrambled to find purchase on anything they could find before settling on a plushie that has been with him since his 15th birthday. He clutched the worn out kitten plushie to his chest, sobbing into the soft material for any relief the world could offer him.
However, unknown to him, the front door of his apartment opened, but he barely heard it through the sound of his own sobs.
Too loud. Everything’s too loud.
He clasped his hands over his ears and cried against his knees, into the plushie, breathing ragged.
But Claude didn’t need permission to enter, he just needed efficiency whenever his best friend disappeared.
When the door to Leo’s room opened, there stood a worried blonde who immediately rushed to sit beside Leo on the bed, reaching out gently. Claude’s face was a mix of concern and confusion.
“Leo, can you hear me? I’m here.” He spoke softly, trying not to startle the man in his fragile state. When Leo only managed a broken sob, Claude scooted closer and pulled the shorter man against his chest. As if on cue, Leo’s hands clung to Claude’s hoodie and a series of broken cries left his lips.
“I’ve got you, I’ve got you.” Claude tried to shush him by whispering against his ear, hand rubbing circles into Leo’s back. “You’re not alone, Leo. I’m here.” His voice was so gentle it could’ve easily been mistaken as a mumbled mess of words, but the grey haired understood. Even through the haze, he understood. Because it was Claude.
He’d always understand Claude.
“I can’t.. No more. It hurts.” Leo sobbed out painfully against Claude’s chest who rocked the boy gently, pressing kisses against his temple. “You’re safe. It’s okay, we’ll figure it out.” He reassured and caressed Leo’s hair, understanding how much the gesture calmed the boy down.
Leo’s sobs subsided into hiccups and occasional sniffles as the minutes passed, the said man now lying exhausted against Claude’s side, eyes red and puffy, and still clinging. But Claude didn’t mind, he never would. As long as his best friend was safe, that’s all he could ask for. He didn’t need words nor explanations for the sudden radio silence, he didn’t need empty promises.
He just needed Leo safe.
And if that safe place was in his arms, even for a while, then Claude would give it to him. Because for him, seeing Leo hurting is worse than getting his own heart ripped out. It’s worse than seeing the world burn.
He cared for his best friend and now that he’s able to see him in person whenever, he’ll use that chance to take care of Leo even on the days where he thinks the world hates him.
Because that’s how Claude is and that’s how they’ve grown to be.