Florence

"I'm going to be staying at the hotel tonight." I said slowly, hoping to god she wouldn't find anything wrong with it. Of course, if I were her I'd be questioning a lot. She noticed zoe had been crying just earlier today and now I was suddenly staying at a hotel? She probably thought I was avoiding home. That I was avoiding her.

"The hotel?" She echoed, her tone a mixture of both worry and confusion. I cringed at the thought of her lost face as I twiddled my thumbs and ticked the hotel phone between my ear and my shoulder. "Y-Yeah. I just have a few things to do here and I thought I might as well stay here."

There was a brief loop of silence. It was a cruel, saddening quietness that made me feel slightly queasy. "I hope you're not avoiding coming back." She uttered just barely above a whisper. My last intention was to make her think I was avoiding home yet apart of me knew the atmosphere there would be unnerving. I had created my own blackhole, sucking in almost all feeling and emotion leaving me with nothing but tiredness. In the time between the festival and the mausoleum visit it only grew wider and wider but now that I was out of there and with them... I didn't feel like going back.

"I-I'm not!" I assured her. "Please believe me. I promise I'm not avoiding you or the house I-I just need a break." Once again she left nothing but silence. The white noise along with the ringing slowly getting louder didn't help to ease me either. "Ok. Check in with me every hour, okay Florence? A-And don't you dare get into trouble. I don't want to have to fire you." She joked and that alone helped ease the awkward tension we had out between each other.

"Of course. I'll see you soon." I quickly said as I noticed Remus who was patiently waiting for me. The sight of him and a ticked off Rian right behind had me hovering over the end call button. "Keep safe. I love you, Flo." She beamed, the smile evident in her voice. "Love you too," I whispered before hanging.

As I hooked the phone back in it's spot I felt a very rapid blush creeping up my neck. It was weird having them listen to me say 'I love you' and ever more strange that they both wore blushes as well.

"W-What?" I questioned. They both looked at each other as if one of them had the answers to my very easy question.

"Uh, nothing." Rian grumbled before snatching a packet of popcorn off the table and practically shoving it in my face. "You said you'd make us this popcorn shit half an hour ago!" He complained. I scoffed, snatching the packet out of his hands. "Not my fault you're too stupid to make it yourself," I quipped playfully.

At this point I knew, by default, that Rian was an asshat. Although at one point it might've been genuine I could tell more and more he was shedding the hard outer layer that was this persona. Obviously he had his reasons and I didn't mean to pry but there was some solace in knowing that he felt comfortable around me. Around us.

He stammered for a comeback but Remus beat him to it. "What he meant to say was please." He gritted out as he handed me his own packet.

Remus wasn't quite the same as Rian, but they were similar. Whereas Rian acted like an asshat to everyone around him, Remus showed me there were other sides to him from the very first day we met. He could be threatening, he could be serious, he can act stupid in the fun type of way and he has the softest personality I'd ever seen someone harbour. It could be a little confusing at times to tell which form he decided to take but in the end we was always acting bashful towards me.

"Wow, great sucking up, Remus." Rian said with a slight eye roll. He drew a small growl from the man but the noise was easily ignored.

I wanted to show them the wonders of popcorn yet I had other pressing matters to take care of; Eurus. I'd suspected he had woken up by now but I wasn't too sure. A little checkup was in order.

"Why don't you guys get the bowls ready while I go check up on Eurus, okay?" I reasoned, as both of them stiffened at the mere mention of his name. I was still trying to figure out why on earth they would start acting civil with each other- seemingly out of nowhere- yet the fact that they both seemed on edge by Eurus made me question them more.

It wouldn't be too long before dark, clouded thoughts seeped their way to the front of my mind and occupied my headspace for the next week.

"Ok." Remus said lowly. I tried smiling in hopes that it would lighten the atmosphere but it did little to nothing.

I made my way to the other end of the hotel room and to the door joining our rooms. Because of the crowds still lingering outside we decided to use the door to maintain as much secrecy as we could. We didn't have a definite answer to give the people outside and we didn't know how exactly we could explain this to them so we held off on the idea. For now. The door itself wasn't used that often but I guessed Eurus had booked a joint room specifically just for the space.

I knocked lightly on the door and waited until Samson opened the door himself. There was a minute or two of just staring at the door before the lock clicked and the door cracked open.

A pair of obscuring glasses and a mop of red hair squeezed through the tight fit and leered down at me. "I just wanted to check up on him." I said quietly as if I were right there next to him. He gave me an incredulous look. "Just like how you checked in about.." he tucked his head back, presumably looking at a clock. "Half an hour ago?".

I felt a strange blush taint my cheeks at the realisation. I did checkup on him right before I had called mom but surely it hadn't been only half an hour!

"W-Well has he woken up?" I asked, trying to ignore the faint smile he had. "Yes, I was actually about to come get you." He admitted as he opened the door just wide enough for me to for through. I managed to squeeze through and into the much colder hotel room. The atmosphere wasn't nearly as care-free as it was back there but it had definitely improved from the desolate feeling it first had.

I headed straight for his room and settled in-front of his door with a small knock. I didn't have to wait too long as the door flew open almost instantly, a still tried looking Eurus awaiting me. "Eurus.." I breathed out, all the words I wanted to say to him deserting me on the spot.

Before either of us could get another word in I felt strong arms wrap around my waist and I was pulled forward, the door closing behind me. "I was hoping you'd be here when I woke up," he muttered into my hair, the heat from the top of my head spreading to the rest of my face and down my neck. "S-Sorry. I got distracted, then I had some stuff to do." I stammered as I tried controlling my racing heart. I was too busy trying to figure out whether or not Eurus was always a touchy person or if this was a recent development. He hummed, his chest vibrating mine.

The air around us stilled and everything was silent. All I could focus on was the rapid beating of my own heart. We stood like this for a few minutes as we soaked in each others company. The feeling was both strange and pleasant. "I wanted to talk to you about something," I admitted. He gave me a small hum as the go-ahead.

"Listen, Eurus.." I started carefully. I knew the plan was outrageous in it's own right, but two out of three had already agreed to stay over! Surely that meant something.

"Remus and Rian they're-" my words stumbled at his slight reaction to their names, more importantly Remus'. It was the small flinch, the glimmer of distrust. "We're- no, they want... do you...?"

"Florence, what is it?"

"Did you want to sleepover? I-It's just in the other room but I figured you'd sleep easier if we were... together."

He unwrapped himself from me and gripped my shoulders tightly. His eyes never seemed so intense until now. Even in the somewhat dark room they looked piercing, ready to cut. "With Remus and Rian?" He asked with some bitterness in his tone. I was glad he skipped over the whole 'sleeping well' part but now I was presented with another problem.

"Y-Yeah. I asked them if they wanted to sleepover, since I was staying here for you-"

"For me? You were staying here for me?" He wondered aloud. I'm glad he was feeling good enough to pick up his habit of interrupting again. "Yeah, it didn't feel right to leave you here," I answered truthfully. "Plus, I wanted you to know I meant it. I want you to stay."

Another breeze of calm quiet blew through quickly, a sigh breaking the sudden spell. "I don't trust Rian and Remus..." He sighed, taking a had away from my shoulder to rub his temples. "I-I don't feel comfortable with them being around you. Alone."

My chest constricted at his statement. My skin felt all sorts of weird at the fact that he didn't trust the others. He had every right to but... it didn't feel right. Not to me, at least. "I'll stay. But only for you." He decided, a determined frown resting on his features. My breath caught on my own words as I got all caught up in his. He'd stay for me.

"D-Did you want to come over now? We're making popcorn and then we're going to watch a movie, make a fort- all the stupid stuff!" I beamed happily as I practically jumped up and down. He had the faintest of smiles on, but it died soon after. "I've got a few things to deal with first. I'll come over soon, alright?" He compromised with a quick quirk of his lips. My excitement didn't vaporise completely but it was slightly diminished. "O-Ok."

He took a step back as he allowed the space to fill between us. With his bare chest still on display it was evident he had been scratching again. Just looking at the off-putting gashes made me run my own chest subconsciously, my finger pausing over the small scratch he had given me. He seemed to notice my staring and placed a hand over his chest. "I'll see you later, Florence." He whispered, his tone adding a heaviness to the atmosphere.

"Okay, don't be too late," I said with a soft smile to which he returned his. I turned on my heel and fluidly opened the door and rushed out, Samson awaiting me patiently.

"Did you guys..?" He started, purposefully trailing off leaving me with nothing but an absent mind and a burning face. Just the small indication of his words was enough to make me go wide eyed and snappy. "He'll be staying with me tonight. Thanks for letting me in!" I quickly said before practically running to the door and rushing into the next room. Now safe from the red-hot embarrassment I was briefly subjected to I had time to relax and look forward to tonight with Eurus.

Ugh, the totally sounded weird.

"Fuck off Remus!" Rian hollered which was then followed by a loud crash. My heart rate spiked again and I rushed into the kitchen, catching the scent of unmistakable smoke. I was expecting a totally different scene then what was presented to me. Remus was holding a steaming bowl of black rubble whilst Rian had his own bowl full of nice, fluffy popcorn. "It's not fair!" Remus whined, trying to reach out for his.

"You burnt yours, now piss off." Rian grumbled as he chucked a handful of popcorn into his mouth. "But you said mine was just a test! How was I supposed to know not to put it in for longer than four minutes!" Remus argued as he took another swipe at Rian. The interaction was silly but it still put a smile on my face. It warmed my heart immensely to see them interacting in a non-violent way without me.

"Should've looked at the directions dumbass!" Rian snickered with a mouth still full of popcorn. Remus huffed angrily. "You're a lying prick." He grunted and there were no more comebacks between the two of them.

I took that as my time to make my presence known, snatching the bowl away from an unsuspecting Rian who, whilst trying to swallow his popcorn and attempting to yell at my choked a little.

I took a handful of it and popped it in my mouth, instantly frowning when absolutely no flavour greeted my tongue. "Give it back!" He growled with and outstretched arm. I handed the bowl to Remus who wore a smug expression was he dug in. He didn't seem to notice the absence of butter, sugar or salt. "Ish gfood!" Remus sounded happily as he stuffed more into his mouth.

"You're supposed to add stuff to it," I mumbled as I watched them fight over the bowl again.

I looked at the clock and noticed how much time had passed. I hadn't even noticed the barely visible sun as it set.

"Eurus is staying over," I said quickly before my mind could set itself a trap. If I hadn't said it now I probably would've never said it and there would be a not so happy surprise. "I think... I think it'll make him for comfortable."

They both stopped their squabbling and looked at me. Unlike Eurus, they didn't show any signs. I was so used to being able to tell what they were feeling through their expressions I was kinda unnerved when they came up blank faced. "I mean, that's why you're here in the first place, isn't it?" Rian said dismissively.

"W-Well yeah, but I'm also here for you guys." I said sternly. I came because they needed help with Eurus, it just turned out that Eurus needed my help a little more. "It's only for one night." I assured them with a small smile. It lightened the mood somewhat. Remus didn't look too sure about this yet he hadn't voiced any of his thoughts. I sighed, wanting the bright atmosphere that was here just a few seconds ago to return. My brain worked itself thin as I tried thinking of ways to brighten our moods. There were many ways that could be achieved, but in the end it was the idea of a movie and popcorn that seemed the best fit.

I gently took the bowl from their hands and placed it on the counter. "Why don't you guys go get the movie ready while I try and salvage the popcorn?" I hummed. There faces lit up almost instantly as they both turned and booked it to the TV.

"I get to pick the movie!" Remus exclaimed.

"Like hell you do!"

I smiled to my self as I focused my attention on the tasteless popcorn. It only just occurred to me that if they couldn't make popcorn, they probably wouldn't know how to use any kind of streaming service.

One loud crash later and I was running after them.

A longer chapter for you all! I hope the sleepover isn't coming off as being "drawn out", I'm just really enjoying writing them all together. Fluff is the stuff, guys.

I also might try writing in a different perspective for next chapter. We'll see how that goes. (If I do, I'd really appreciated hearing who you want to hear from next!)

Not much to think about or predict based off this chapter, but it's still welcomed!