Daisy awoke with a start, her chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths as her eyes adjusted to the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains. The night outside was utterly still, wrapping the room in a blanket of silence, only interrupted by the occasional rustle of the trees swaying in the breeze. She blinked, momentarily disoriented, and for a second, panic surged through her. But then she recognized the familiar surroundings—the understated elegance of Ferdinand's bedroom—and her pulse slowed.
The darkened room felt soothing now. The faint scent of cedarwood and something distinctly *him* lingered in the air, mixing with the soft fabric of the sheets against her skin. Daisy sank deeper into the pillows, feeling the faintest tingle of security wash over her. She couldn't remember when exactly she had fallen asleep, but the exhaustion from the movie and the quiet, winding drive back had caught up to her.
She turned her head toward the nightstand, squinting at the faint glow of her phone. The screen blinked with the time: 1:03 AM. She groaned softly, rubbing her face with both hands before letting them fall back onto the blanket, sinking into the quiet. *It's so late,* she thought, though her mind wasn't quite ready to let her drift back into sleep.
For a few moments, she simply lay there, staring up at the ceiling. Her thoughts meandered lazily through the events of the evening—her stomach still fluttered from the memory of how attentive Ferdinand had been. His small, quiet gestures throughout the night—the way he'd kept refilling her popcorn without a word, how he'd adjusted the blanket over her legs in the chilly theater—all replayed in her mind like soft echoes, bringing a smile to her face. Her heart beat just a little quicker.
*Does he get it now?* she wondered, an affectionate smile pulling at her lips as her thoughts danced around the possibility. *I mean, I did take him to the movie… isn't that enough of a hint?* Daisy's fingers curled into the blanket as she bit her lip, half-embarrassed, half-excited by the idea. She hadn't exactly been subtle lately, and while Ferdinand wasn't clueless, his composed demeanor sometimes made it hard for her to tell if he really understood the signals she'd been sending.
*Could he be my boyfriend?* The thought made her cheeks flush with warmth, and she chuckled softly to herself, her fingers brushing her lips. She could feel a certain closeness building between them lately, an unspoken understanding. Maybe he was slow to catch on—or maybe he already knew, and this was just his way of letting things unfold naturally.
Still smiling to herself, Daisy shifted under the covers, but a dry sensation tugged at her throat. She realized she was parched. Throwing off the blanket, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her feet touching the cool floor with a soft thud. The bedroom was dark, save for the sliver of moonlight illuminating a path toward the door.
She padded silently across the room, her footsteps barely audible as she made her way to the door. She opened it gently, careful not to make too much noise. The hallway was quiet, bathed in soft shadows as she slipped down it toward the kitchen. But as she passed the living room, she froze.
There, on the couch, was Ferdinand.
He was curled up in an awkward position, his long legs dangling slightly off the edge of the couch, his arm bent beneath his head in an effort to use it as a pillow. His face was turned toward the backrest, his soft, even breathing the only sound in the room. Daisy's heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.
She stood still for a moment, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the sight of him sleeping so peacefully. There was something about the vulnerability of sleep—the way it stripped away the composed, confident exterior he carried during the day. His expression was soft, gentle, and Daisy felt a twinge of guilt seeing him cramped on the couch.
*He gave me his bed,* she thought, frowning slightly. *And I didn't even realize…* Her heart warmed at the thought of him offering her his space without a second thought, but guilt gnawed at her too. He was always so considerate, thinking about her comfort first.
She bit her lip, glancing toward the bedroom door, and then back at Ferdinand. *I can't let him stay out here like this,* she decided. Quietly, she tiptoed over to the couch, careful not to disturb him with her footsteps. Kneeling beside him, she watched him for a moment, her gaze lingering on the soft rise and fall of his chest. He looked so different when he was sleeping, his face completely relaxed, free of the usual stoic expression he wore in daylight.
"Ferdinand," she whispered, her voice barely audible. He didn't stir, so she leaned in a little closer, hesitating for just a second before gently placing a hand on his arm. "Ferdy…"
At her touch, his eyes fluttered open slowly. He blinked, disoriented at first, his gaze wandering until it finally landed on her. "Daisy?" His voice was rough with sleep, low and groggy, and he shifted slightly, turning to face her more fully. His brow furrowed in mild confusion.
"Hey," she whispered back, her voice soft. "You should come into your own bed. You're going to hurt your neck sleeping out here like this." Her words were laced with concern as she kept her gaze on him.
Ferdinand blinked again, processing what she'd said. He sat up a little, rubbing a hand over his face, clearly trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "You're in there already," he mumbled. His words were slow, still heavy with sleep, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "I didn't want to wake you."
"I know," Daisy said softly, feeling a surge of affection for him. "But seriously, come on. I don't want you to sleep out here on the couch." She was more insistent this time, her eyes gently urging him to take her up on the offer.
Ferdinand rubbed his eyes and let out a soft chuckle, still groggy but clearly amused by her persistence. "You sure?"
"Yeah, I mean…" Daisy paused, a shy smile creeping onto her face. She glanced away for a second, feeling her cheeks flush with warmth. "I might kick you off the bed… but I'll try not to."
Ferdinand chuckled again, shaking his head as he sat up fully, stretching his arms above his head. "Alright, alright," he muttered, his smile widening as he stood. "But I can't promise I'll stay on if you start kicking."
Daisy grinned, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her. She stepped back to give him room as he stood, watching as he stretched the stiffness from his muscles. There was something incredibly endearing about seeing him in this half-awake, relaxed state—so different from his usual composed self.
They walked together back to the bedroom, the quiet of the apartment wrapping around them like a soft blanket. As they slipped under the covers, a comfortable silence settled between them. Ferdinand adjusted the pillow beneath his head, settling in beside her without a word, and Daisy felt the warmth of his presence beside her.
*He's here,* she thought, her heart fluttering in her chest. *Right here beside me.* The excitement bubbled up in her stomach, a soft, giddy feeling that made her want to grin like an idiot. *I'll definitely have a good time with Ferdinand,* she mused, her thoughts drifting to the future.
But as the minutes passed and the steady rhythm of Ferdinand's breathing filled the room, Daisy's eyelids grew heavy. The warmth of the bed, the soothing presence of Ferdinand, and the late hour all worked together, pulling her slowly back into the depths of sleep. Before she knew it, she was drifting, her mind fading into a peaceful blur as she succumbed to the overwhelming comfort of the moment.