PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT

Y/N couldn't help herself. It wasn't like Mattheo ever asked for help with his homework; in fact, he actively refused it most of the time. He would pull his usual "I've got this" with that stubborn look on his face, even when it was clear he was barely holding it together. He never showed it, but Y/N could tell when the weight of his family, his responsibilities, and his reputation as the "Riddle heir" were getting to him. And this was one of those nights.

Mattheo had collapsed into bed, exhausted after a long day filled with practices, meetings with his father's associates, and endless expectations from the world around him. He had dropped his schoolbag by his desk, but when he finally let himself slip under the covers, he didn't even have the energy to glance at it.

Y/N wasn't the kind of person who could leave things like that. Seeing him so tired, she felt a strange mix of tenderness and concern. She wanted to help him, but he'd never let her do so directly. That's when she got the idea.

With a sigh, she stood up from the small sofa across the room and quietly crossed to his desk. The stack of homework waiting for him was no small task—an essay for Transfiguration, a detailed potion brewing guide, and a charms assignment that was more complex than most students would ever dare attempt. If Mattheo tried to do it all himself, he would be awake until dawn, and she couldn't stand the thought of him wearing himself out further.

Y/N had always been good at a lot of things—being sneaky was definitely one of them. She gathered the homework up and got to work, her mind racing to make sure she completed everything in his signature style. She wrote the Transfiguration essay in his messy but intelligent handwriting, making sure the content was flawless, as if he'd spent hours carefully crafting it. The potion brewing diagrams were neat and precise, every step detailed as if Mattheo had truly labored over it. And the charms theory essay? It had Mattheo's voice in it—sarcastic, clever, and just the right amount of snarky.

Every now and then, Y/N would glance over at him, watching his peaceful form curled under the blankets. His face was softened in sleep, the lines of tension that usually creased his brow relaxed. It was rare for him to let his guard down like that. It made her heart ache a little, and she smiled to herself. He deserved this—he deserved peace.

She was so absorbed in her work that she didn't even realize how much time had passed. By the time she finished, the sun was just starting to rise, and she set the last piece of parchment in front of his desk with a quiet sense of pride. She carefully placed his quill beside it, as if he'd been the one to do all the work himself.

With a soft sigh of relief, Y/N stood and looked at the clock. It was almost time for her to leave and get some sleep too, but before she did, she couldn't help herself. She quietly approached Mattheo's bed, just to make sure he was okay. She had never once told him she helped him—she knew he'd never accept it. But she did it because she cared.

Y/N paused by the side of the bed, her hand instinctively brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead. His breathing was slow and steady, and the sight of him at peace made her smile softly.

As she turned to leave, Mattheo's voice broke through the quiet room.

"Y/N...?"

She froze. Slowly, she turned back toward him, her heart pounding in her chest. He was awake now, his eyes still heavy with sleep as he sat up against the headboard, rubbing at his eyes.

"You didn't have to do all that," he muttered groggily, his voice rough from just waking up. "I could have—"

Before he could finish, he reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her with surprising strength. Y/N's breath caught in her throat as she was enveloped in his warmth, his face buried in her hair as he held her close.

"Thank you," he murmured, his voice a little softer now. "I didn't deserve that. I don't know how you do it... help me even when I don't ask for it. But you do, and I can't ever figure out how to repay you."

Y/N's heart swelled at his words. She wasn't doing it for repayment. She was doing it because she loved him, and because she couldn't stand to see him struggling alone. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"I don't need you to repay me, Mattheo," she whispered, her voice soft but firm. "I'm here because I care about you. You don't have to carry everything on your own. Not when you have me."

He pulled back slightly, just enough to look at her, his eyes softening. There was something vulnerable in his gaze that Y/N wasn't used to seeing. Normally, he wore his pride like armor, never letting anyone see the cracks, but in this moment, he didn't seem afraid to show how much her kindness meant to him.

"I'm lucky to have you," he said quietly, his thumb gently brushing her cheek. "More than you know."

Y/N smiled, her heart fluttering in her chest. "No. I'm the lucky one."

Mattheo let out a small laugh, the sound low and rumbling in his chest as he pulled her back in for another hug. This time, there was no rush. No urgency to get back to his responsibilities or to pretend that everything was fine. It was just him, Y/N, and the moment they shared.

For a while, they stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms, until the sun was fully up and the day began to call them both back to reality.

But for now, Y/N had done what she always did best: helped him when he needed it, even if he didn't ask for it. And in return, he held her a little closer, whispering words that made her believe that maybe, just maybe, they were exactly where they were meant to be.