Baby Steps - Kusuo Saiki x Reader

25. Apaixone

The night felt like it held a weight I couldn't quite name. I glanced at Saiki as he rambled, my attention drifting away from the conversation and back to the skyline, my eyes tracing the lights flickering in the distance.

There was something comforting about the rhythm of his voice, even if he was talking about something that bugged him—probably another one of his brother's inventions or something mundane that only Saiki could get so riled up over.

I fiddled with the piece of metal snapped tightly around my wrist, the familiar weight of it pressing against my skin. It was past midnight, and I could feel my eyelids growing heavier. Each second felt longer, like time itself was lulling me to sleep. I fought against it, trying to focus on Saiki, on the warmth of his voice and the subtle expression changes on his face, no matter how small.

Before I realized it, I had leaned my head onto his shoulder, feeling the cool evening breeze graze my skin. I could sense him tense up ever so slightly. His voice softened as he asked, "If you're tired, we can go to bed."

"No," I murmured, barely stifling a yawn. "No, it's fine." I tried to sit up straight, lifting my head, but I couldn't keep from smiling at him sleepily, my head refusing to cooperate.

Saiki chuckled softly—a sound so rare, it pulled me back to attention. He stood up, and I blinked, not entirely sure how I had managed to sit here so long, my body sluggish but oddly content. Saiki extended his hand towards me, and I grabbed it, letting him pull me to my feet. I could sense that classic faux annoyance in his sigh, making me laugh.

"It's so rare to hear you laugh," I said, smiling as I squeezed his hand.

He shrugged, avoiding my gaze. "Kusuke said he got us a two-bed room."

Maybe it was the drowsiness, maybe it was just the peace I felt being beside him, but I didn't let go of his hand, and he didn't pull away. We walked in silence back to the hotel, hand in hand, and he teleported us straight to the hallway outside our room.

Saiki pulled out the key card, still one-handed, and slid it into the lock. The door clicked open, and I followed him inside, immediately spotting a problem: one bed.

Saiki groaned. "I'm going to kill him."

"It's okay," I reassured him, giving his hand a small squeeze before letting go. "I'll take the couch." He turned to me, his face a mixture of exhaustion and... concern? Or was I imagining that?

"No, you need the rest," he insisted, crossing his arms. He could be so stubborn sometimes, but I knew it came from a good place. Rolling my eyes, I reassured him. "I'll get plenty of rest." He didn't look convinced, but I was too tired to argue more.

I grabbed my bag from where it had been set on the bed, probably by one of Kusuke's security guards, and went to the bathroom to get ready for bed.

Without my powers, even something as simple as brushing my teeth and washing my face felt like an obstacle course. I fumbled with the toothpaste, nearly dropping my toothbrush three times, and struggled to wash my face. Everything seemed so... unnecessarily hard. I sighed in exasperation at my own clumsiness, wishing my powers would return in full already.

When I finally stumbled out, feeling more disheveled than refreshed, Saiki looked up, his eyebrows raised slightly in confusion. I couldn't help but sigh. "It's so difficult doing normal things without my abilities."

"Which is why you need good rest," he replied smoothly. "The better you feel, the sooner they'll come back."

I nodded, taking his advice to heart, and collapsed into bed. Saiki made his way to the bathroom, and I barely managed to keep my eyes open as I waited for him.