The smell of breakfast wafted in the air, drifting through the cracked bedroom door where Noir lay, still in a deep sleep. Or so you thought.

The soft sizzle of batter hitting the pan filled the quiet morning as you carefully flipped another pancake, the golden surface catching the light. The warmth of the stove contrasted with the crisp morning air that lingered in the apartment, a comforting balance that made the moment feel even cozier.

Just as you reached for the next ladle of batter, you heard it—the sluggish pattering of bare feet against the hardwood floor. Slow, heavy steps, as if their owner was being pulled by an invisible force rather than walking by his own will.

Noir, still half-asleep, trudged into the kitchen dressed in the Hello Kitty pajama set you had somehow convinced him to wear last night. The fabric hung slightly loose on his frame, the tiny bows and pastel colors clashing hilariously with the sheer exhaustion on his face. His jet-black hair was an absolute disaster, sticking up in every possible direction, and he lazily rubbed at his left eye as he let out a yawn.

For a moment, he simply stood there, gaze hazy, barely registering his surroundings—until his eyes landed on you.

Instantly, it was as if gravity itself shifted, pulling him in like a magnet. Before you could react, his still-warm body pressed up against your back, his weight settling against you as his chin came to rest on your shoulder. A lazy, sluggish embrace. His arms found their way around your middle, barely holding on, more like draping himself over you than anything else.

“Come back to bed…” he mumbled, voice thick with sleep, raspy and low, sending a small shiver down your spine.

You chuckled, reaching back to run a hand through his mess of hair. "Breakfast is almost ready."

“Mmm…” His grip tightened slightly, burying his face into the crook of your neck. "Breakfast can wait."

And judging by how he was already swaying slightly, it seemed like he was seconds away from dozing off right then and there.