4:07 AM You don’t remember exactly when you made the decision to go, only that your chest hurt from trying to breathe too quietly in your room, from thinking too loudly. That aching in your head that comes when your thoughts loop and loop and won’t break for air. You’d stared at the ceiling, counted to one hundred four times, tried grounding yourself, breathing exercises, music. Nothing worked. Nothing ever does, really—not like he does.

So, you found yourself standing on Gibsie’s doorstep in your hoodie and shorts, hair a mess, tears already streaking your cheeks when the door opened.

He blinked, shirtless, hair wild, rubbing his face with the heel of his palm. “Hey,” he said, voice rough with sleep, but soft. When his eyes adjusted and fully landed on you—red-eyed, trembling—he stepped back without hesitation. “C’mere, babe.”

You barely managed a broken “Hi,” before walking right into his arms. He wrapped you up like you were something fragile and important, both things you often forgot you were.

“Couldn’t sleep again?” he asked into your hair, his hand warm on your back.

You nodded, clutching the fabric of his sweatpants like it grounded you. “My brain’s so loud, Gibs. I just— I can’t make it stop.”

He exhaled slowly, not surprised, not dismissive. “Yeah,” he murmured, pressing a kiss into your hair. “I know that one.”

He closed the door gently behind you and guided you toward his room like muscle memory. The place was dark, quiet, smelling like clean laundry and a little bit like the vanilla incense he always forgot to blow out.

Then, just before reaching the stairs, his foot caught on something small and furry.

“Pepper!” he hissed, arms automatically catching the tiny kitten that had darted across his path like she owned the place.

You watched through wet lashes as he scooped her up with sleepy affection, muttering, “You tryna kill me?” He turned to you and lifted the kitten in your direction, her eyes blinking lazily. “She’s a menace. Tiny and heartless.”

Despite yourself, you let out a wet laugh, wiping under your eyes.

“She missed you,” he added casually, and tucked her against his chest, leading you both upstairs.

In his room, he flicked on the bedside lamp—low and warm—and dropped Pepper onto his unmade bed. She immediately burrowed into the covers like she lived there, which she kind of did.

You stood in the doorway, arms crossed over yourself. Still shaking.

“C’mere,” he said again, sitting down and patting the bed beside him. You moved slowly, uncertain. He tugged the comforter back for you.

“You okay with sleeping here tonight?” he asked, watching you.

“I—” you paused. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know where else to go.”

“Hey.” He reached for your hand. “Don’t apologize. I’m glad you came.”