Work Text:
The clock in Heartslaybul's lounge ticked past midnight just as Katherine slipped into Riddle's room, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.
Riddle was still awake, of course. He sat alone by a lit fireplace, hair slightly tousled likely from running his hands through it. Katherine was surprised to see him like that; she didn't know if she'd ever seen him so… untidy? Was that the word?
A half-finished stack of papers rested on a table beside him, but he wasn't looking at them. He was staring out of the window, seemingly deep in thought. He turned when the door clicked and his eyes widened when he saw Katherine standing there in the dark.
"Kat?" His voice was quiet yet surprised, softer than it was all day. He stood from the sofa and stepped towards her. "It's past curfew and this isn't your dorm, you shouldn't be-"
She held up a small, neatly wrapped package, the ribbon tied in a precise bow, just the way she knew he'd like it. "Happy birthday, Riddle." She said with a bright grin, waving the box in her hand.
For a second Riddle simply looked at her. And then the corners of his mouth twitched, before softening into something almost… shy.
"You really didn't have to." He started, then stopped, gaze dropping to the carefully tied ribbon. A faint flush colored his cheeks as he accepted the package, gloved fingers brushing hers for a heartbeat longer than necessary.
"I wanted to," Katherine answered, tilting her head and keeping her smile as she watched him turn over the box in his hands a few times. "And I… wanted to be the first to say it. Happy birthday."
Riddle looked down then and carefully untied the ribbon, fingers slightly trembling, and lifted the lid. Inside was a small, red leather-bound notebook, its cover embossed with gold floral patterns.
"I'm- this is incredible," he shakily exhaled, running his fingers over the cover. "How did you know I wanted one like this?" he looked up with wide eyes.
Katherine shrugged, trying to ignore the warmth rising in her chest. "I may have noticed you eyeing something similar in the library." she admitted with a teasing smile, leaning against the couch.
Riddle chuckled softly, as he opened the notebook and flipped through the blank pages. "It's perfect," he said quietly, then looked back at her. "Thank you… truly."
Katherine watched the way the firelight caught the red of his hair and the faint pink that had risen to his cheeks. The usual sharpness in his posture had melted by now, and he seemed fully comfortable. Despite them not being in the same dorm, since Katherine was in Diasomnia, they were… close, and it showed now. Especially now.
"You don’t have to keep working tonight," she said gently. "It’s your birthday. Even the Queen of Hearts is allowed one night off."
A small huff of laughter escaped him. "You sound like Trey."
"Trey is right sometimes, you know. You deserve a break." Katherine retorted, and they both laughed.
At that point, Katherine nearly left, maybe should have left, but something told her to say. So she did.
They talked then. Really talked. About the weight of expectations, how their home lives messed them both up, and they found themselves opening up to each other more than they typically opened up to others (which was never, admittedly.)
Their voices softened after a while, the room shrinking around them until it felt as if they were the only two people in the world. Riddle’s hand hovered near hers, unsure, then slowly brushed against her fingers, sending a spark up her arm. Katherine’s breath caught, and she found herself leaning in slightly, enough to make things more intimate but not enough to be exactly… questionable.
Neither pulled away.
Riddle’s grey eyes searched hers in the firelight, the usual strictness gone, replaced by something quieter and more vulnerable. His gloved hand turned, fingers lightly intertwining with hers, testing the feeling.
"Kat…" he whispered, voice barely above the crackle of the flames.
She answered by swallowing deeply, leaning in just a few more inches. She let out a shaky breath before mumbling, "Can I…?"
Riddle’s eyes softened, searching hers with a vulnerability that made her heart skip. "Mm?"
"…kiss you," she whispered finally, her voice barely audible.
A slow, genuine smile curved his lips, and he leaned in just slightly, giving her the space to pull closer. Their foreheads touched first, a gentle brush that sent warmth through both of them, and then their lips met. The kiss was tentative at first, testing the waters, but it deepened nearly immediately as if they were waiting for this without knowing it.
Riddle held her hands tighter, and Katherine returned the grip without thinking much of it.
When they finally pulled back to breathe, Riddle’s grey eyes were brighter, and Katherine’s chest fluttered with adrenaline and the rush of feelings being discovered. "I’ve wanted to do that for a long time." he admitted, eyes flitting to her lips before coming back to her eyes.
"Me too." she replied, smiling against his lips before leaning in to feel that closeness once more.
They shared a few more soft, unhurried kisses, each one quieter than the last, until the moment faded into simple closeness. Riddle drew her against his side on the sofa, one arm settling carefully around her shoulders. Katherine rested her head against him, listening to the steady beat of his heart and the gentle crackle of the fire.
No more words were needed. The notebook lay open on the table, the discarded ribbon beside it. Sometime before dawn, still fully dressed and tangled together, they drifted into sleep.