(Warning⚠️:mention of selfharm)

Morning light seeped through the curtains, soft yet uninvited. Fourth lay still, curled up on the very edge of the bed, arms wrapped around himself. His body ached from the restless night, every muscle stiff, but the dull pain inside him weighed far heavier than anything physical.

Beside him, Gemini stirred. Fourth held his breath, hoping that maybe, just maybe, Gemini would leave the bed without a word. But he wasn't that lucky.

A low groan sounded, followed by the rustling of sheets. Fourth squeezed his eyes shut, pretending to still be asleep, but Gemini wasn't fooled.

"You're awake," Gemini muttered.

Fourth hesitated before responding, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah."

There was a pause before Gemini let out a scoff. "You always sleep like that?"

Fourth blinked. "Like what?"

"Like you're trying to disappear."

The words struck something deep inside him. He gripped the blanket tighter, his nails digging into the fabric as he forced a neutral expression. "I just don't move much when I sleep."

"Right." Gemini didn't sound convinced. He stretched, standing up and ruffling his messy hair. "Well, whatever. Do what you want."

Fourth sat up slowly, careful to keep his sleeves pulled down. "I need to shower."

Gemini shrugged as he grabbed his phone off the nightstand. "Then do it."

Fourth swallowed back the lump forming in his throat. He hated the way Gemini spoke to him-like he was an annoyance, an obligation. Like he didn't belong here. He forced himself to move, grabbing a fresh set of clothes before making his way to the bathroom. He locked the door behind him with shaky fingers, resting his forehead against the cool wood for a moment before turning to the sink.

His reflection stared back at him-tired eyes, pale skin, the faintest redness along the edges of his sleeves where he had been too careless the night before. He quickly rolled them down further before stepping into the shower.

The water was scalding, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he let it burn against his skin, a temporary distraction from the storm raging inside him. With practiced ease, he reached for the small razor he had hidden inside his toiletry bag, fingers tracing the cold metal before gripping it tightly.

The sting was sharp, but brief. The relief, however, was immediate. The panic that had been building inside him since waking up, the suffocating feeling of being trapped-it all dulled, if only for a moment.

He exhaled shakily, watching the water turn a shade darker before it swirled down the drain. He knew this wasn't a solution. He knew it wasn't healthy. But it was the only thing that made him feel in control.

A sudden knock on the door made him jump, his heart hammering against his ribs.

"Hurry up," Gemini's voice came through, sharp and impatient. "We have stuff to do, and I don't have all day to wait for you."

Fourth clenched his jaw, quickly washing away any traces before stepping out of the shower. He wrapped himself in a towel, staring at the fogged-up mirror, his own blurred reflection barely visible. He could still hear Gemini outside, pacing, waiting.

He swallowed hard, pressing a hand to his chest in an attempt to steady himself before slowly getting dressed, carefully pulling his sleeves down once more. He took a deep breath before unlocking the door.

Gemini barely spared him a glance. "Finally."

Fourth bit the inside of his cheek, nodding silently.

Gemini's gaze flickered over him briefly before he turned away. "You look like hell."

Fourth felt something inside him crack. He forced out a small, humorless laugh, hoping it would mask the sting of Gemini's words. "Thanks."

Gemini frowned but said nothing more. Instead, he walked past Fourth, heading toward the kitchen as if the conversation meant nothing.

Fourth, however, felt the weight of it all settle deeper in his chest.

As he followed Gemini out of the room, he kept his sleeves pulled down, his secrets hidden beneath layers of fabric and silence.

And, as always, no one noticed.

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