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The bedroom door was half-open, casting a warm beam of light into the hallway.
Jude stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the collar of his black jacket. He grabbed his keys and phone off the dresser, tossing a quick glance over his shoulder at the bed.
"Alright, I'm heading out," Jude said smoothly, checking his watch. "Erling's waiting downstairs. We're grabbing dinner before his flight tomorrow."
Gavi was slouched against the headboard, his arms crossed tight over his chest, his face locked in a deep, dark pout. "Whatever. Have fun with your boyfriend."
Jude stopped, turning around with a quiet laugh. "He's not my boyfriend, Pablo. We're just getting food. I'll be back in a couple of hours, okay?" He walked over to the side of the bed, leaning down to press a quick, soft kiss to Gavi's forehead.
Gavi didn't move, just staring blankly ahead, stubborn to the bone. "Don't care."
Jude chuckled, shaking his head fondly as he stroked Gavi's cheek for a second. "I'll bring you back some dessert. See you later."
The front door clicked shut down the hall, followed by the heavy silence of the empty apartment.
The second Jude was fully gone, the stubborn wall Gavi had built completely collapsed.
His lip trembled. A sudden, hot wave of chest-tightening jealousy and exhaustion hit him all at once. He reached under the pillow, pulling out his battered, floppy-eared dog plushie, and pulled it violently against his chest. He rolled onto his side, burying his face straight into the soft brown fur.
Quiet, heavy hiccups broke through his throat, and the first tears spilled over, dampening the plushie’s ear.
"It's not fair, perro," Gavi sobbed softly into the toy, his voice cracking, completely broken. He squeezed the plushie so hard his knuckles turned white. "He always has time for him. He goes all the way to dinner with him, but he leaves me here..."
He hugged the dog tighter, digging his heels into the mattress as the tears came faster, hot and angry and miserable. "I hate it. I hate Haaland, and I hate Jude, and I hate that he doesn't see how much I want him to just stay here with me."
He was so caught up in his small, tearful rant, sniffing heavily against the plushie's head, that he didn't hear the front door unlock down the hall. He didn't hear the soft footsteps hurrying back inside.
"Pablo? I forgot my wallet—"
Jude froze in the bedroom doorway.
The sight hit him like a physical blow. Gavi was curled into a tight ball in the middle of the mattress, trembling, crying his eyes out into his stuffed animal, his dark hair a messy tangle.
"Pablo?" Jude's voice dropped instantly, full of concern.
Gavi gasped, his head snapping up. His eyes were red, wet tears tracks shining on his flushed cheeks. In absolute panic, he tried to shove the plushie under the blanket, but it was way too late.
Jude dropped his keys onto the dresser and moved across the room in two strides. He didn't say a word about the tears, didn't tease him, didn't hesitate. He just kicked off his shoes, climbed straight onto the bed, and gathered Gavi up into his broad, warm arms.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong?" Jude murmured softly, pulling Gavi flush against his chest.
Gavi tried to push him away at first, a weak, embarrassed shove against Jude's jacket, but Jude held firm, tucking Gavi's head right under his chin.
"Go away," Gavi choked out, his voice muffled against Jude's neck. "Go eat with Erling."
Jude let out a soft, heartbroken breath, finally piecing it together. He wrapped his arms tighter around Gavi, holding him so close Gavi could feel the steady beat of his heart.
"I'm not going anywhere," Jude whispered, his fingers gently running through Gavi's dark hair, kissing the top of his head over and over. "I'm staying right here. Look at me, love."
Gavi sniffled, slowly tilting his face up, his eyelashes clumping together with tears, still clutching the dog plushie against his stomach with one hand.
Jude reached down, gently wiping the wet tracks off Gavi's cheeks with the pad of his thumb. "I’ll text Erling. And tell him I'm staying home tonight. It's just you and me."
"Your gonna cancel?" Gavi mumbled, his chest still heaving with small, lingering hiccups.
"Of course I will," Jude said softly, his dark eyes warm and completely sincere. "If I knew it made you feel like this, I never would've planned it. I don't care about dinner with Erling. You're my priority, Pablo. Always."
Gavi's lip quivered again, but this time the heavy weight in his chest dissolved. He let go of the stubborn act, dropping his face back into the crook of Jude's neck, letting out a long, shaky sigh.
Jude pulled the blanket up over both of them, trapping them in a warm, quiet bubble. He kept one arm locked around Gavi's waist and used his other hand to lightly pat the dog plushie tucked between them.
"Thank you," Gavi muttered softly against his collarbone, his breathing finally slowing down.
"No problem," Jude smiled gently, pressing a kiss to Gavi's temple. "Now go to sleep. I'm right here."