Simon awoke to a loud crashing sound. He felt for the normally occupied spot where Baz usually slept beside him, but instead felt the cold crinkle of their sheets. He hurried out of his room towards the kitchen, where he was met by a strange sight. Baz, normally calm Baz, was leaning against the kitchen counter having an intense conversation with a wooden spoon. Empty beer bottles covered the already-scarce counter space.
"Baz!" Simon exclaimed.
"Wha?" Baz looked around for the source of the noise. "Oh. Hi."
"Hi yourself, what are you doing up and about at," he checked a clock, "3 in the morning?"
Baz looked at his feet and spoke incredibly softly, and Simon almost didn't hear him. Almost.
"S' just that it's today that mom died, and I couldn't sleep thinking, what if this happens to me? What if I ended up leaving you and Bunce alone like my mother did to my father? What if..."
Simon was there in an instant, wrapping his arms around his partner. "Baz, that won't happen, you know that I won't let it. I love you, and I'm never letting you go."
It wasn't the first time they had said the l word, but it still felt tingly on his tongue, and slightly embarrassing to say, as if Baz wouldn't return the feeling. Simon knew that Baz had liked him for much longer than he had him, but in these past few years, Simon had fallen hard for the taller boy.
He had never felt this way before, not even with Agatha. And he wasn't letting Baz go that easily.
"Now let's go back to bed and hope that you don't die of alcohol poisoning."
"You always know what to say, Snow."
"Of course I do, I'm a genius."
"A big-headed genius at that."
"But you love me," Simon grinned.
Baz smirked. "Can't argue there. Carry on Simon."
"Carry on Baz."
And with that, Simon half-carried and half-dragged Baz back to their bedroom where they both finally fell asleep, and then all was quiet.