Northotto one shot

comfort

The glow of North's phone screen was the only light in the room, casting sharp shadows across his face. Outside, the Bangkok traffic was bustling, filled with the usual traffic of corporate workers going home. Inside, the silence was heavy enough for the wall clock to fill the entirety of his 2 bedroom apartment.

North shifted on the edge of the sofa, his thumb continuously dragging down his feed. Repost after repost. He didn't want anyone worry. It was just easier to hit repost than to explain why his chest felt so tight lately.

The soft click of the front door latch broke the quiet.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, quick and quiet at first, then deliberate and slow as they reached the doorway. Otto stood unnmovingly, wearing North's oversized black hoodie, his bag slipping off one shoulder. He looked like he'd run up the stairs, his hair a little messy, but his expression extremely soft as his eyes landed on North.

"You're still up," Otto said quietly. His voice was slightly raspy from the long rehearsal earlier, but it carried a warmth that instantly cut through the silence.

"Couldn't sleep," North murmured, looking down. He instinctively stuffed his phone into his hoodie's long pocket, though he knew it was already too late.

Otto didn't mention anything about the reposts yet. He set his bag down by the door, took off his shoes, and walked over to the kitchen counter. North heard the rustle of a plastic bag and then the steady pouring of water. A few seconds later, Otto walked back and sat down on the sofa right next to him. Not awkwardly far, but close enough that North could feel the faint warmth radiating off him.

He set a glass of water on the small table in front of them, along with a small paper bag of coconut cookies.

"Eat something," Otto said softly, nudging North's shoulder with his own. "You barely touched dinner earlier."

"I wasn't really hungry."

"I know," Otto replied, his voice dropping into a gentle, grounding tone. "That's why I bought the ones you actually like."

North stared at the paper bag for a moment, the small gesture suddenly making his throat feel tight. He swallowed hard, keeping his gaze fixed on the coffee table. "You didn't have to come over. It's late."

"I wanted to," Otto said simply. He leaned back against the cushions, turning slightly to face North. "And I saw your posts tonight."

North winced slightly, his fingers tightening around his phone. "They're just random quotes, Otto. It's not a big deal."

"It is a big deal if you're feeling that way, North," Otto said. "You don't have to pretend with me. You never have to."

North bit the inside of his cheek. He tried to hold onto his usual defenses, the quick smile or the easy I'm fine, but looking at Otto, standing right in front of him with nothing but pure care in his eyes, the wall crumbled fast.

"I just... feel like I'm falling behind sometimes," North admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He finally looked up, his eyes slightly glossy in the dim light. "Everyone works so hard, and people expect so much. I try to put everything into what we do, but some days it just feels like I'm carrying this weight that doesn't get any lighter no matter how much effort I put in."

Otto listened without interrupting. He didn't jump in with quick clichés or tell North he was overthinking. He just listened, letting North lay out every single heavy thought he'd been hiding for weeks.

When North finished, his breath hitched slightly, his head dropping.

Otto reached out, his hand settling firmly over North's shoulder. His touch was warm and steady, pulling North back from the edge of his own thoughts.

"Look at me," Otto said softly.

North hesitated, then raised his head.

"You give everything to what you do," Otto said, his eyes locking onto North's with complete honesty. "I see it every single day. The way you care about the details, the way you pour your whole heart into people, into the work, into us. You love so hard, North. It's one of the best things about you. But you can't keep giving all of yourself away without taking time to take care of yourself."

"I feel like I'm failing if I stop," North admitted, his voice cracking slightly.

"You're not failing," Otto insisted, his grip on North's shoulder tightening reassuringly. "You're human. You're allowed to be tired. You're allowed to have days where you don't have all the answers or all the strength. You don't have to carry every burden by yourself just to prove you're strong."

North wiped a hand quickly across his cheek, a stray tear escaping despite his best efforts. "I just don't want to let anyone down. Not the fans... not you."

Otto let out a soft, laugh- not mockingly, but with a deep, fond affection. He shifted closer, pulling North into a firm hug. He wrapped his arms around North, holding him close enough that North could hear the steady, calm rhythm of Otto's heart.

"You could never let me down," Otto whispered into the side of North's hair. "You work harder than anyone I know. The fans see it, the team sees it, and I see it every day. You don't have to prove anything to anyone, North. You're already doing so well. Better than you think."

North buried his face into Otto's shoulder, letting out a long, shaky exhale he felt like he'd been holding in for weeks.

"We're in this together," Otto continued gently, rubbing North's back in slow, reassuring circles. "Whenever it gets too heavy, you pass half the weight to me. You don't ever have to walk through it alone."

They stayed like that for a long moment, surrounded by the warm silence of the apartment. When Otto finally pulled back, he cupped North's cheeks with both his palms.

"Okay?" Otto asked softly.

North swallowed, looking at Otto's constant, reassuring gaze. For the first time all day, the heavy feeling in his chest slightly loosened, leaving behind a sense of hope.

"Okay," North murmured, a small, genuine smile finally touching his lips.

"Good," Otto said, reaching over to pick up the paper bag. "Now eat a cookie before I eat all of them."