The change had been gradual, almost imperceptible at first. But now, it was impossible to ignore.

Gemini felt it in the way his fingers hesitated before letting go of Fourth’s wrist, in the way his voice softened when speaking to him. It wasn’t just pity or obligation anymore—it was something deeper, something unfamiliar and terrifying. And he wasn’t the only one who noticed.

Tu and Prim had been whispering about it for days, their knowing glances growing more frequent. Pond had nudged Phuwin every time Gemini did something remotely gentle, like handing Fourth a blanket without a single complaint. And Phuwin, never one to let things go, had outright smirked when Gemini instinctively reached out to steady Fourth as he stood up too quickly.

But what really unnerved Gemini was that Fourth had noticed too.

Instead of flinching away from him like before, Fourth had started leaning into the warmth—hesitant at first, but there. He didn’t recoil when Gemini brushed against him in passing. He didn’t tense when Gemini sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched. It was subtle, but it was a shift.

And Gemini didn’t know how to handle it.

---

One evening, they all found themselves on the balcony of the mansion. The air was cool, carrying the scent of rain-soaked earth, and the soft glow of the city lights cast a peaceful haze over them.

Fourth sat on the cushioned bench, wrapped in a thick sweater that Gemini had casually tossed over his shoulders earlier. He hadn’t even questioned it, just pulled it tighter around himself like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Tu was curled up beside Prim, their fingers loosely intertwined as they whispered to each other. Prim giggled at something Tu said, nudging her girlfriend’s shoulder playfully, while Tu grinned, clearly pleased with herself. They had always been affectionate, but tonight, their closeness felt even more comforting.

Pond sat cross-legged on the floor, leaning lazily against Phuwin’s legs, his head tilted back to look up at his boyfriend. Phuwin, always doting, absentmindedly ran his fingers through Pond’s hair, smiling at nothing in particular.

Gemini watched all of them, feeling something unfamiliar settle in his chest. A strange kind of warmth. A kind of… belonging.

Fourth shifted beside him, and when Gemini turned to look, he found Fourth watching him with quiet curiosity.

Gemini exhaled, resting his arms against the railing.

But then Fourth did something unexpected. He reached out, his fingers brushing against Gemini’s wrist—just barely, just enough to test the waters. Gemini froze, but not out of discomfort. It was the opposite, actually.

Fourth gave him a small, almost shy smile.

The conversation around them continued—Prim teasing Tu about something, Pond whining about how Phuwin always stole his fries—but in that moment, it felt like there was only the two of them.

Fourth didn’t let go. And for once, Gemini didn’t pull away.

Maybe—just maybe—this was something he didn’t need to run from.

---

The mansion was quieter than usual. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, but one that carried the weight of things unsaid.

Fourth sat on the couch, knees tucked under him, absentmindedly twirling a loose thread on his sweater. Across from him, Gemini was scrolling through his phone, but Fourth could tell he wasn’t really focused on whatever was on the screen. His brows were slightly furrowed, his jaw tense—a sure sign that something was on his mind.

Fourth had gotten better at reading him.

"Are you going to keep pretending nothing’s changed?" Fourth finally asked, his voice softer than usual.

Gemini’s eyes flicked up to meet his. He opened his mouth as if to argue, but then closed it. A sigh left his lips as he put his phone down. "No," he admitted.

Fourth raised an eyebrow. "Then what is this?" He gestured between them.

Gemini exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I don’t know."

That was the thing—Gemini always knew. He was calculated, always in control. But now, for the first time, he looked lost.

Fourth wasn’t sure why, but that made him feel lighter.

"Maybe we don’t have to figure it out right now," Fourth said, leaning back against the cushions. "Maybe it’s okay to just... be."

Gemini studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Yeah. Maybe."

The sound of footsteps broke the quiet as Prim and Tu walked in, hand in hand, laughing about something. Tu was wearing one of Prim’s hoodies, the sleeves slightly too long on her, and Prim was looking at her like she had hung the stars in the sky.

"You two looked suspiciously serious," Prim teased as she plopped onto the couch beside Fourth, resting her head on Tu’s shoulder. "What’s going on?"

"Gemini’s having an identity crisis," Fourth deadpanned.

Tu smirked. "Sounds about right. You are acting weird, Gem."

Gemini groaned. "Not you too."

"Hey, I’m just saying," Tu shrugged. "I like this version of you."

Prim hummed in agreement. "Less glaring, more caring."

Fourth bit his lip to keep from laughing, while Gemini shot them all a glare that held absolutely no heat.

Before Gemini could respond, Pond and Phuwin entered the room, mid-argument.

"—I'm just saying," Pond huffed, "you always pick the worst movies, babe."

Phuwin rolled his eyes. "That’s because you have terrible taste."

"I have fun taste."

"You made me watch a three-hour movie about talking animals last week."

Pond crossed his arms. "It had plot!"

Gemini sighed, rubbing his temples. "Why are you guys even here?"

Pond flopped down dramatically next to Fourth. "Because Tu and Prim kicked us out of their room."

"We did not," Tu shot back. "We suggested you find something else to do before we threw you out."

Prim grinned, lacing her fingers through Tu’s. "Which we totally would’ve done."

Pond gasped. "Betrayal."

Fourth smiled, feeling something settle comfortably in his chest.

This was nice. The easy laughter, the bickering, the warmth of people who cared.

And as he glanced at Gemini—who, despite his protests, was watching everything unfold with the smallest hint of a smile—Fourth realized something.

Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t the only one learning how to be okay again.

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