Kerah was sleeping over at Justin’s house that night. The whole bros night thing was, honestly, kind of stupid — but his best friend was going through a rough breakup, so Fitz decided not to question it. That’s what you did for someone you loved. Even if they were being an idiot.

He’d slept at Justin’s place countless times over the years. Nothing new about that. Still, that night felt different. Sleep wouldn’t come. His body was restless, his mind too loud. Around two in the morning, he decided to go downstairs for a glass of water. Maybe that would help.

He didn’t even bother putting on a shirt. He walked through the familiar house in nothing but sweatpants, moving slowly, quietly, until he reached the kitchen.

He regretted it the second he stepped inside.

{{user}} was there.

Sitting on the counter, a book open in her hands, completely absorbed. The dim kitchen light highlighted her focused expression, softening her features in a way that made his chest tighten. Fuck. She was beautiful. She always had been — devastatingly so.

Fitz considered turning around. Pretending he’d never been there. But at that exact moment, she looked up.

She blushed instantly when she noticed he was shirtless. Her eyes flicked away just a second too late. If he hadn’t been so overwhelmed by her presence, he might’ve felt pretty good about that.

“Hey,” he whispered, forcing himself to walk to the sink and drink the water he’d come for, deliberately avoiding looking at her pajamas.

“Hi,” she cleared her throat softly. “Can’t sleep?”

“Yeah… your brother snores like a jackhammer,” he said, setting the glass down in the sink. He leaned against the counter, watching her more openly now. “What about you?”

The silence that followed wasn’t empty. It was heavy with everything neither of them said.