The tension in the mansion was suffocating. Fourth remained eerily quiet, retreating into himself in a way that made everyone uneasy. It wasn’t just a bad mood—it was something deeper, something broken.

Gemini knew it was his fault.

He had spent the past few hours replaying the moment over and over again, realizing how cruel his words had been. He had seen the way Fourth flinched, how his eyes dimmed as if the light had been sucked out of them. The way he shut down completely.

And now, Fourth was avoiding him.

The realization made something twist painfully inside Gemini’s chest.

---

Dinner That Night

The dining room was filled with chatter—at least from everyone but Fourth. He sat between Phuwin and Prim, his head slightly lowered, his fingers gripping the fabric of his sweater as he picked at his food without taking a single bite.

Prim had been watching him carefully all evening. She knew him too well to be fooled. “Fourth, are you sure you’re okay?”

Fourth nodded without looking up. “Yeah.”

Gemini clenched his fists under the table. He had heard Fourth’s voice countless times, but tonight, it sounded different. It lacked warmth, as if it had been drained of all emotion.

Phuwin narrowed his eyes at Gemini. “What the hell did you say to him?”

Gemini stiffened. “I—”

Prim turned to Fourth, her voice softer. “Did something happen?”

Fourth hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. “Nothing important.”

That made Prim’s frustration spike. “Bullshit.” She turned to Gemini, eyes blazing with anger. “You did something, didn’t you?”

Gemini remained silent, his jaw tightening.

Phuwin was done playing nice. He leaned forward, his expression deadly serious. “You made him cry, didn’t you?”

Fourth flinched at the mention of crying, which was enough of an answer.

Gemini exhaled sharply, his guilt overwhelming him. “I didn’t mean to.”

“That doesn’t make it okay,” Prim snapped. “Do you have any idea how hard Fourth has worked to feel safe with us? And you—” she pointed an accusing finger at him “—you just tore that away.”

Fourth stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “I’m tired. I’ll go to bed first.”

He didn’t wait for a response. He just walked away, shoulders hunched, disappearing up the staircase. The silence he left behind was deafening.

---

Gemini didn’t sleep that night. He sat in his room, staring at the ceiling, drowning in guilt. The sight of Fourth’s tear-stained face kept replaying in his mind. The way he looked so small, so hurt.

Had he really been so blind?

Fourth wasn’t just clingy. He was trying to find comfort. He was trying to hold onto something—onto him. And Gemini had pushed him away with the very same cruelty that Fourth had endured for years.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration boiling inside him. “Damn it.”

He needed to fix this. But how?

The next morning, he had his answer.

---

The next day, Fourth didn’t come down for breakfast.

Prim stormed into Gemini’s room, hands on her hips, eyes blazing. “You’re fixing this today.”

Gemini groaned, rubbing his face. “I know.”

“No, you don’t.” Prim crossed her arms. “He had another panic attack last night, Gemini. And no one was here to help him.”

His stomach dropped.

Phuwin appeared behind Prim, his face tight with anger. “He was alone, and you know what that means for him.”

Gemini’s hands clenched into fists. Panic attack. Alone.

He felt sick.

Prim stepped forward. “You’re going to fix this, and you’re going to do it now.”

Gemini exhaled, nodded, and without another word, he walked straight to Fourth’s room.

---

Fourth’s door was unlocked, which meant he didn’t care enough to shut people out. Or he was too exhausted.

Gemini pushed the door open gently and stepped inside.

Fourth was sitting on the bed, hugging his knees, staring out the window. He didn’t react when Gemini entered.

Gemini’s chest tightened at the sight of him. “Fourth.”

No response.

Gemini sat on the bed beside him, maintaining some space. “I was an asshole.”

Fourth blinked slowly but still didn’t look at him.

“I said things I shouldn’t have,” Gemini continued. “And I hurt you. I know that.”

Silence.

Gemini ran a hand through his hair, hating how difficult this was. “I didn’t mean what I said. I was stressed, but that’s not an excuse.”

Fourth finally moved, just slightly. His voice was hoarse. “Do you even know what it’s like?”

Gemini frowned. “What?”

“To be treated like a burden,” Fourth whispered. “To feel like you have to beg for affection because you were never given any before?”

The words hit Gemini harder than he expected.

“I know I’m not easy to deal with,” Fourth continued, his voice trembling. “I know I’m annoying. But I—” his breath hitched “—I just wanted to be close to you.”

Gemini’s heart ached. “Fourth—”

“I thought I was finally wanted,” Fourth admitted, his hands gripping the blanket. “But maybe I was wrong.”

Gemini didn’t think. He just acted.

He pulled Fourth into his arms, holding him tight.

Fourth tensed, his breath catching.

“You are wanted,” Gemini murmured. “I was a fool not to see it sooner.”

Fourth trembled slightly but didn’t pull away.

Gemini tightened his arms around him. “I don’t ever want you to feel like that again. Not with me.”

Slowly, Fourth’s hands lifted, gripping the fabric of Gemini’s shirt. His forehead rested against Gemini’s shoulder.

For the first time in days, Fourth felt warmth again.

And Gemini knew exactly what he needed to do to make things right.

------