for meet cutes day 16 - a and b were on the subway when the lights go out and a grabs b's hand

for 366 words - humiliating

355 words by google docs


They're three stops away from Scorpius' stop when the train light flickers. He flinches, and then cringes at himself for flinching. He's almost an adult, he shouldn't be afraid of the dark.

But even though he's almost an adult and he's been taking the subway since he was pretty young, part of him still has all of these irrational fears.

The train lights flicker again.

Scorpius looks around, and no one on the train seems to be concerned. He shouldn't be either.

He tells himself that, but not even a second later, the lights on the train completely go out. The track screeches to a halt, and Scorpius is glad he was able to get a seat, because he hears people fall over themselves.

He tries to even his breathing, but he's still breathing quickly. He doesn't like the dark. Every kid has a phase when they're young when they're afraid of the dark. Scorpius just never outgrew his.

The train conductor announces that there's a problem with the subway (duh, Scorpius thinks) and their arrival will be delayed. Scorpius doesn't mind about the delay. He does mind the darkness of the train.

The darkness persists, and Scorpius' heart beats loudly in his chest. He can't stand it anymore. It's sort of humiliating, but he reaches a hand out to grab the hand of the person sitting next to him. He just needs some human interaction, reassurance that someone's there, too.

The person sitting next to him holds his hand back, and gives it a light squeeze.

Scorpius finds himself relaxing.

After that, he doesn't know how much time passes. While he's holding this stranger's hand, it doesn't seem like so long. Before he knows it, the lights flicker back on.

He flicks his eyes to the person in the seat next to him and he quickly realizes that they're still holding hands. His face burning, he pulls his hand back. The other guy gives him a small smile.

"I'm Albus," he offers, as the train starts to move again.

"I'm Scorpius," Scorpius says softly.

He doesn't get scared for the rest of the ride.