The mansion was unusually quiet that morning. Gemini sat in his study, papers spread across the table, a deep crease forming between his brows as he reread the details of their upcoming mission. It was dangerous-more so than any they had faced before. The stakes were higher, the enemies crueler. The pressure weighed heavily on his shoulders, suffocating him.

His mind was a whirlwind of strategies and risks when the door creaked open. Soft footsteps padded into the room, and before he even turned, he knew who it was.

Fourth.

Lately, Fourth had been practically glued to him, always within arm's reach, seeking comfort in ways that made Gemini's chest tighten. At first, he hadn't minded. He had even grown accustomed to Fourth's presence. But today was different. Today, he wasn't in the mood for distractions.

"Gem?" Fourth's voice was small, hesitant. He lingered near the desk, his fingers curling into the hem of his oversized sweater. "Are you okay?"

Gemini exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Not now, Fourth."

Fourth bit his lip but didn't back away. Instead, he took a step closer, placing a gentle hand on Gemini's shoulder. "Maybe you should rest for a bit. You've been working since morning."

The touch should have been grounding, but to Gemini, it felt suffocating in that moment. The stress boiling inside him snapped free before he could stop it.

"God, can you not be so clingy all the time?!" he snapped, shoving Fourth's hand away. "I don't have time to babysit you every second!"

The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade.

Fourth flinched as if physically struck, his eyes wide with hurt. Gemini saw the way his lower lip trembled, the way his fingers dug into the sleeves of his sweater as if trying to hold himself together.

"I..." Fourth's voice was barely a whisper. His breathing turned uneven, shallow, and his hands started shaking.

Gemini should have stopped there. Should have realized the damage he had already done. But his frustration was still bubbling over, and he continued without thinking.

"You act like a lost puppy all the time. It's pathetic."

Silence.

Then, without another word, Fourth turned and walked out of the study, shoulders hunched, steps slow.

Gemini sat frozen, the weight of what he had just said sinking in, but before he could even call out to Fourth, his pride held him back.

---

Fourth barely made it to his room before the tears came. He curled up in the corner of his bed, hugging his knees as sobs wracked his body.

Pathetic.

Clingy.

Lost puppy.

Gemini's words echoed in his head, overlapping with voices from his past. His uncle's taunts. His cruel laughter. The pain. The loneliness.

He thought he had escaped it.

He thought he had finally found a place where he was wanted.

But Gemini's words had shattered that fragile illusion.

His breathing quickened, hands trembling uncontrollably. His vision blurred as the edges of his world started spinning. A familiar tightness squeezed his chest, suffocating him.

No, no, no-

A panic attack.

He gasped, clawing at his own arms, nails digging into his skin as he tried to ground himself, but it was useless. His mind was drowning in darkness, pulling him under.

And no one was home to help him.

Everyone else had already left for the mission. No Prim. No Phuwin. No one.

Alone. Just like before.

---

By the time the others returned, Fourth had composed himself-or at least, he had tried. He had washed his face, covered the faint scratch marks on his arms, and plastered on the quiet mask he used to wear before he met them all.

Prim was the first to notice something was off.

During dinner, Fourth barely spoke. He didn't sit next to Gemini like he usually did. Instead, he sat beside Phuwin and focused on his food, avoiding eye contact with everyone.

Phuwin picked up on it quickly. "Fourth?" he nudged him gently. "You okay?"

Fourth gave him a small, forced smile. "Yeah. Just tired."

Prim narrowed her eyes. "Liar."

Fourth flinched, but before he could say anything, Gemini walked into the dining room. The moment Fourth saw him, his body tensed. He averted his gaze immediately, gripping his fork tighter.

Gemini frowned, noticing the shift in atmosphere. "What's wrong?"

No one answered. Fourth stayed quiet, pushing food around his plate, refusing to acknowledge him.

It didn't take long for Prim to piece things together. She turned to Gemini, her expression unreadable. "What did you do?"

Gemini's frown deepened. "What?"

Phuwin set his utensils down, his usually playful demeanor gone. "Something happened when we were gone, didn't it?" He glanced at Fourth, then back at Gemini, his voice dangerously low. "Tell me you didn't say something stupid."

Gemini crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. "It was nothing-"

"It wasn't nothing," Prim cut him off, her voice sharper than usual. "Fourth hasn't spoken a full sentence since we got back. He won't even look at you."

That was when Gemini realized it.

Fourth had been avoiding him.

For the past few weeks, he had grown used to Fourth's presence-the way he naturally gravitated toward him, the way he clung to him without hesitation. But now, there was nothing.

The space between them felt wider than ever.

A sickening guilt settled in Gemini's chest.

Prim glared at him. "Fix it."

Phuwin nodded in agreement. "Or we will."

Gemini swallowed hard. For the first time in a long time, he wasn't sure how to make things right.

But he knew one thing-he couldn't stand the sight of Fourth looking so small, so distant.

And it was all his fault.

-----