The change was small at first, almost unnoticeable. A lingering glance that lasted a second too long. A hesitation in his voice where there used to be sharp, cutting words. A softness in his tone that felt so out of place coming from Gemini that even Fourth struggled to believe it was real.

It wasn’t just Fourth who noticed. Their friends did too.

Prim had outright stared when Gemini handed Fourth a plate of food without a single complaint or insult. Tu had raised an eyebrow when Gemini asked, "Did you sleep well?" instead of his usual indifferent silence. Phuwin and Pond had exchanged wide-eyed glances when Gemini, without thinking, placed a steadying hand on Fourth’s back as he swayed slightly on his feet.

Fourth didn’t know what to make of it.

For so long, he had prepared himself for Gemini’s coldness. He had braced himself for harsh words, for dismissive looks, for the constant reminder that he was nothing more than an inconvenience. But now—now, Gemini was different.

And Fourth didn’t know if that scared him more.

---

Gemini wasn’t sure when it had started.

This tight, unbearable feeling in his chest whenever he looked at Fourth. It wasn’t pity. He had felt pity before, and this was something else entirely. It wasn’t obligation, either—though he had told himself that it was for days, trying to shove away the weight in his heart.

No. It was deeper than that.

It was dangerous.

He hated it. Hated that he didn’t have control over it. Hated that, for years, he had built himself into someone untouchable—someone who didn’t let emotions interfere with logic. And yet, Fourth had undone all of that in a matter of days.

He caught himself watching Fourth too much.

Noticing things he never had before.

The way Fourth’s fingers fidgeted when he was nervous. The way his shoulders tensed when too many people were around, as if he were preparing for something bad to happen. The way his eyes—so often dulled by exhaustion and guarded with walls—lit up just a little when he felt safe.

And Gemini wanted—needed—to be the one to make him feel that way.

He didn’t even think about it anymore. His body acted on its own.

When Fourth winced at the dinner table, Gemini instinctively reached for the serving spoon and placed more food on his plate before he could say he wasn’t hungry. When Fourth’s breathing hitched at the sight of too many unfamiliar faces, Gemini moved closer, a silent barrier between him and the world. When Fourth tripped slightly on the stairs, Gemini’s hand shot out without hesitation, gripping his wrist, steady and firm.

Everyone noticed.

But it was Fourth’s reaction that surprised him the most.

Because Fourth didn’t flinch anymore.

He used to. He used to pull away, used to stiffen every time Gemini got too close. But now, he stayed. His body still held hesitancy, uncertainty—but he didn’t move away. He let Gemini be near him.

And Gemini?

Gemini didn’t think he could go back to the way things were.

---

The sky was painted in shades of deep blue and orange as the sun set, casting a warm glow over the city below. The balcony of the mansion was quiet, the only sound being the faint rustling of leaves in the wind.

Fourth sat curled into the chair, his arms wrapped loosely around his legs. The evening air was cool against his skin, but he didn’t mind. It was peaceful.

Gemini sat beside him, his posture relaxed, though his mind was anything but.

A comfortable silence stretched between them. Neither felt the need to fill it with pointless words.

But Fourth’s heart was pounding.

He had been thinking about it for days. The change in Gemini. The warmth that was never there before. The way he looked at him now—not with annoyance, not with resentment, but with something else. Something gentler.

And he had to ask.

“…Why are you being nice to me?”

His voice was quiet, but the words hung heavy in the air.

Gemini exhaled, tilting his head slightly as he gazed at the horizon. "Because I want to be."

Fourth frowned, studying him carefully. "That’s not like you."

Gemini let out a small chuckle—soft, almost amused. But there was no mockery in it. "Maybe I’m not who I thought I was."

The answer sat between them, unanswered questions lingering in the silence that followed.

Fourth hesitated before murmuring, "I think… I like this version of you."

Something inside Gemini twisted.

His heart clenched in a way that was unfamiliar, that made his chest feel too tight, like he couldn’t quite catch his breath.

He didn’t say anything.

Instead, he reached out.

Carefully. Deliberately.

His fingers brushed against Fourth’s hand, hesitant for only a second before resting there fully. There was no force, no demand. Just warmth. Just presence.

And Fourth—

Fourth didn’t pull away.

He stared at their hands for a long moment, his heart hammering against his ribs. His fingers twitched, uncertain. But then, slowly, he relaxed.

He let himself accept it.

The warmth. The comfort. The safety.

For the first time in a long, long while, he let himself believe that maybe—just maybe—he didn’t have to be alone.

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