The Buddy System. *Updating In Process*

40. The Lines We Cross for Each Other

"You are," I said, inching just a bit closer. "Is something wrong?"

He hesitated.

A long, taut pause stretched between us, the blankets warm, the world outside quiet, the kind of silence where truth slips out easier because there's no one else to hear it.

Finally, Draco exhaled.

"Rae... I'm nervous."

The words were small. Raw. Like they'd been ripped out of him.

My heart softened. "Why?"

He looked at our tangled hands before answering.

"Because this matters." His voice was barely above a whisper. "You matter. And I don't want to... mess anything up. I don't want to say the wrong thing or move the wrong way or—Merlin forbid—grab Blaise's ass again while half-asleep."

I burst into quiet laughter, and he cracked the faintest, embarrassed smile.

"But really," he said gently, squeezing my fingers. "I've never—done this. The whole... staying-with-someone-because-you-care thing. I don't exactly have a guidebook."

"Neither do I," I whispered. "We can figure it out together."

His eyes softened. Melted, almost.

"I just—" He swallowed. "I don't want to hurt you. Or scare you. Or make you think less of me. I've wanted this for... a while." His cheeks warmed slightly. "Longer than I'd ever admit aloud."

I shifted closer until our foreheads brushed.

"You could never scare me," I murmured. "And there's nothing you could do that would make me think less of you."

He breathed out, shaky, like he'd been holding that fear in for years.

"I'm still learning how to be... good," he admitted quietly. "How to be someone worthy of—this. Of you."

"Draco," I whispered, tightening my grip on his hand, "you already are."

He blinked rapidly — surprised, touched, a little overwhelmed.

"I am?" he asked in a voice so tentative it made my chest ache.

"You are," I repeated. "You're kind. You're trying. You protect people you care about even when you're terrified. You opened up to me tonight. Do you know how brave that is?"

He looked away briefly, eyes glistening.

"I just... I want to do right by you."

"You do," I said. "Every day."

A long silence wrapped around us — not uncomfortable, but full. Full of everything we hadn't said yet. Everything we were still learning to trust.

He shifted just a little, his knee brushing mine under the blankets.

"Can I..." he murmured, hesitant, "hold you properly?"

My smile was soft as I nodded.

He moved slowly, reverently almost, and slid his arm around my waist, drawing me closer until I fit perfectly against him — warm chest to my forehead, his hand splayed gently across my back.

Not possessive.
Not desperate.
Just... safe.

His breath found the top of my hair.

"This is okay?" he whispered.

"Perfect," I murmured.

Another breath. Softer this time.

"I think," he said against my temple, "that you're the best thing to ever happen to me."