─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Stopping before one of the many doors lining the hallway Bruno paused gripping the door handle and swinging it open. The man motioned into the room briefly before catching sight of your blurry confused expression, leading him to reach out and rest a hand along your back nudging you into the dark room before stepping in himself.

"Wait here." Hearing him say that then walk farther into the dark room your eyes bounced between everything unable to see squat. Though you did hear a door close and a line of light appear below it, leading you to assume that was the connected bathroom.

But why you had to wait was something you had no idea why.

Drumming your fingers along the top of your legs while waiting you contemplated flicking on the light or making an attempt to find the switch in general. But you knew doing so would result in light spots and your eyes would heavily disagree with those actions.

Thus you just stood there awkwardly awaiting the ebony haired man to return allowing you to take your leave.

Catching sight of the light flip off and the sound of the door followed. Your ears strained to hear Bruno's footsteps, the man himself must've been walking very meticulously to not have made a sound and that confused you.

"Uh why are you being so quiet?" Speaking nervously and still hoping to figure out where he was, you thought about using your stand to illuminate the room before a squeal tore through your lips having been hoisted off the floor.

"What?! Are you doing?!" Confused as to what was going on you blinked a few times trying to get your eyes to adjust to the room quicker, your face was definitely on fire having just been swept off your feet.

Literally.

Knowing that he was moving around the room you went to speak once more before being dropped onto the soft mattress almost instantly wanting to fall asleep before the covers were raised over top of you.

Moving to sit up and question what the heck was happening you could feel the mattress dip and a set of arms coil around your waist tugging you as well as the covers back down and over.

Freezing in place you could feel your heart soar in your chest as a chin was lightly placed just along your shoulder, ebony locks tickling the side of your neck and the bottom of your chin.

He could probably feel how hot your face was.

"What are you doing?" Your voice came out soft, hesitant. A stutter wanted to make an appearance but you were successfully able to keep it at bay instead whispering those words.

Shifting a bit so that your back was pressed up against his chest a deep hum left him, the vibration of which right away was sent through where his chin rested. "Well I figured this way you'll be able to know I've gotten some sleep and I'll be able to know you have gotten some as well." His tone of voice was low but melodic, there was a sort of cheekiness to it but the warm breath emanating from each word itself casted a shiver down your spine.

"Ok I get that but I trust you can sleep by yourself and and I could be sleeping in my own room. You know I don't lie about sleep." Sputtering that out in response you internally cursed for fumbling over your almost perfect sentence.

Once again a hum left him, the side of his face trailed softly along the side of your neck before he once again responded to your statement. "It's quite a ways away and it's going to almost be morning soon. It's beneficial to just sleep here."

Unable to come up with another solid response you swallowed thickly, the sound of which was presumably heard by the ebony haired man and you could just imagine the look on his face.

A playful smirk overtook his expression even if you couldn't see it and upon shifting once more he paused where your ear was. "Why are you asking? Do I make you. . . .nervous?" The word nervous seemed to have been drawled out and you could feel yourself once again shudder.

Sure you've been alone with Bruno before and he'd always let out quick quips here and there but now. . .it was almost like this was a different side of the same coin. There were no other members around, no façade to keep up.

Sure he kept his passes at you to a minimum around the others. But that was because he already knew they also harbored feelings for you.

Feelings that he himself have grown accustomed to.

"What do you uh mean?" Breathing that out and remaining still you tried calming down the rapid beating of your heart, it would be futile in the end but at least it would give you some sort of clarity.

"I mean am I making you nervous?" Murmuring that out once more he still lingered by your ear, the soft skin of his lips briefly brushing against it as he spoke once more, "You can't really hide it mi cara, your heartbeat gives it away."

Nearly choking on your own spit at the term used you pursed your lips untrusting that whatever you would say wouldn't come out with a stutter. Your attempt to calm down the erratic beating had obviously failed and had been quickly brought to attention.

Your mind was in a frenzie.

Every nerve in your body was buzzing from the sheer undertone of what was uttered and your brain came up with nothing in response to your current predicament.

"I think you're tired." Murmuring that out your words came out a bit muddled, you were grateful to have been able to acquire a logical explanation to what he was saying. But all that logic flew out the window as a baritone chuckle had flown over the top of your ear, the man behind shifting once more so that his cheek was back to being pressed against the length of your neck.

"Truth be told I am past the point of tired, but even so and even without seeing you I can still read you like a book." Once again his tone was low, almost murmured and he seemed to have followed it up with a soft hum. "And right now I can tell I'm making you flustered. The quick pace of your heart and the pause in your breaths can tell me that much."

"Ok and so what if I am flustered? You usually make me flustered." Muttering the last bit and moving your hands to fiddle a bit with the blanket you could feel him let out another hum.

Taking off his arms that was wrapped around you and moving it he lightly followed the length of your arm before taking one of your hands in his own. Thumb rubbing over the palm of your hand in a soothing manner. "That's good to hear then, I was beginning to think my passes at you were taken in a more friendly manner."

"But I do want to be clear about things. Everything I say and do comes straight from the heart, no strings attached." Beginning with that he closed his eyes letting out a soft sigh, "Since you first joined the team I could see the determination shining from within your eyes, a soft candle flame that only grew overtime into a glorious blaze. The way you carry yourself now tells me that you've grown as a person and I was happy enough to have aided in that journey. . ."Taking a pause he noticed how your breathing had evened out and how your heart rate had calmed down substantially.

A gentle smile had fallen across his lips coming to the realization that you'd fallen asleep, but even so he continued regardless. "And I suppose while on that journey I've discovered that making memories with you, is my favorite thing." Tilting his head up lightly and resting a feather like kiss along the bottom of your jaw he allowed himself to finally slip off into a comforting slumber.

"Buonanotte amore mio."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Y/N this chapter:

To tell you I get BUTTERFLIES each time I read this chapter is an understatement- My touch starved ass would literally disintegrate if Bruno even looked in my direction.

Anywho, there's two more chapters and then the epilogue left! I don't even remember what they're about haha!