Morning Surprises

[POST-RELATIONSHIP, PRE-MOVIE]

OJ blinked his eyes awake, rolling over on his side as the first rays of sunshine burst through his window. He let out a tired, groggy groan as they adjusted to the light, glancing up at the clock on the wall with a frown.

6AM.

He'd normally get up at 5... but... it was fine. He didn't really have much to take care of today, anyway.

Why did he feel so... tired, though? And...

Cold.

Very, very cold.

He rolled over on his side, bringing some of the covers with him, when he realised that... Paper wasn't there. There was only a slight dip in the bed where his lover would usually be. OJ's eyes widened and he felt his heart drop at the realisation...

Paper NEVER woke up this early... so OJ immediately began to panic. He wasted no time sitting up on the bed and practically rushing out the door, cork still in his glass. It was a miracle that nobody else in the hotel woke up with how loud his steps must've been.

He bolted down the stairs, almost tripping on the way, before spotting Paper in the kitchen.

He was absolutely unharmed and innocently humming a tune as he flipped pancakes on the stove.

...Oh. OJ may have been overreacting a little.

"Mm... Paps? What are you doing up so... early..?"

He asked, visibly relaxing, watching as Paper turned around with a surprised little hum.

"Oh! I just... woke up earlier and couldn't get back to sleep. So I decided to make breakfast for us."

He couldn't help the way his heart both lit up and ached at those words. Paper preparing breakfast was sweet, but...

"...You couldn't get back to sleep..?"

"Yeah... I just..-"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Paper's face fell slightly at that, a somewhat guilty frown on his face.

"You were sleeping so peacefully... I didn't want to bother you. You rarely ever sleep, anyway. I think that might've been the first time I woke up with you beside me..."

OJ's expression immediately shifted to a more worried and concerned one, stepping closer to his partner.

"Paper... you know you can always talk to me, don't you? No matter what, I'm here."

Paper was stunned for a moment, processing those words, but he soon managed a relieved little smile.

"...Yeah, I know."