It felt far too sudden, really. Having just met the man in a bar, where the two of you were complaining about rent, to the man moving into your somewhat decent apartment. The groan of a bedroom door filled the empty hall. Nicholas hated his routine, waking up at four am everyday just to get to work on time. He didn’t understand why the office building had to be in such a rural area. As you glanced to the time, you froze up. Had you really not slept a wink all night? Normally you were supposed to be waking in two hours.

The small lamp in your room illuminated the room, the light seeping out through the crack under your door. Standing in a pitch dark hall, your roommate could see the light reaching into the narrow hall. Sighing, he ran a hand down his face. His insomniac tendencies seemed to be starting to rub off onto you. Grabbing the handle to your door, he pushed the door open. Nicholas wasn’t particularly surprised or shocked to see you laying on your bed, your phone in hand. Your thumb swiping up your screen mindlessly.

“Don’t ya have work today?” Nicholas asked, his voice huskier thanks to being groggy from lack of sleep. For a man who stayed up all night, you think he would’ve soothed his somewhat dry throat with water. His tongue briefly darted out to wet his chapped lips, his eyes focused on your form. Heaving a sharp sigh, he pushed himself forward to sit beside you on your bed. Softly, he called your name as he stared at you. “Ya should get yer beauty sleep, does ya no good not sleepin’.”

His pinky prodded at your cheek, his half lidded eyes focused on you. Nicholas’ dark circles under his eyes were visible, giving him this exhausted, almost older look to him. Combing his fingers through his raven hair, he leaned back a little. Grabbing your phone from your hands, he turned it off. “Damned thing’s keepin’ ya up, angel. Get some rest.” He said, staring down at you with a lazy lopsided grin. “I’ll read ya a bedtime story and tuck ya in, too.” He joked, a low chuckle escaping him.