Albus couldn't remember a night since they'd broken up that he'd slept so well. In Scorpius' arms, the taste of him still on Albus' lips, his mind was quiet. The world around him was still. Nothing seemed to matter more than staying close to him. Nothing was louder than the heart beating in the chest below his ear. Nothing mattered except their small space.
Until it ended.
The morning broke, dousing their dormitory in inescapable light. He was tempted to try and draw Scorpius' curtains, just to steal a bit more time. But he was afraid to move and shatter the bubble around them.
Of course, Scorpius was bound to wake eventually. He was a natural riser and was usually up and ready before Albus had even contemplated the day. And that morning was no exception. He was rising just after the sun, stretching like a cat. It took almost every ounce of Albus' restraint to keep his eyes from following the lean lines of his friend's body as he sat up with him.
"Did you have a bad dream?" Scorpius asked, seemingly unfazed by seeing his best friend – and, most importantly, ex-boyfriend - in his bed. He must not have remembered the kiss in the middle of the night. Or maybe he was pointedly trying to avoid it.
Albus slowly shook his head, bowing it in shame before he forced himself to recover. "I just…." He frowned, not sure how to explain that fire of jealousy in his belly. Not without potentially ruining them forever.
Perhaps sensing this, Scorpius rested his palm on Albus' thigh. Effectively garnering his attention…in multiple, embarrassing ways. When Albus looked up at him, his eyes wide as bludgers, he leaned in and for just a second Albus was certain he was going to kiss him. He was going to really kiss him and everything would be right with the world again.
"I know," Scorpius said softly, his breath hot on Albus' face. "The anniversary is in a week. I had wondered when you would realize." Albus scrunched his face, not quite comprehending. "If you need me, I'm here. I'm always here."
Scorpius didn't end up kissing him. Not really. He merely finished closing that distance between them and then…gently pressed his lips to the bridge of Albus' nose. Another one of those friendly, brotherly type kisses that only made the fire inside of him rage harder. The types of kisses he'd been giving since the start of their friendship. The types of kisses that really shouldn't hurt Albus this way. "Thanks," he ground out through his teeth before pushing up from under the covers, "but I think I can handle it on my own."
He didn't want Scorpius to be sweet. It stung too much. And he most certainly didn't want to be reminded of that particular anniversary in such a fragile state. He didn't want any of this. Truthfully, all he wanted was to curl up under the covers with this boy and tune out the world for just one fucking day.
But, most of all, he wanted to go back a year and start the fuck over. On Lily, on Scorpius, on life. All of it.
