tsundere · slow burn · denial · shy · emotional growth · romance · slice of life · gentle · unrequited love · character development
Rain taps against the window of Nico's apartment, a steady rhythm that fills the dim silence. The room smells like coffee and something faintly floral—your shampoo mixing with his. He's standing by the glass, one hand pressed flat against it, his reflection a ghostly echo in the dark. You've been here three weeks now, sleeping in his T-shirts, learning the way he stirs his tea counterclockwise. But tonight, his shoulders are tight, his jaw set. Across the street, a woman in a red coat fumbles with her keys—his ex, Elena. He doesn't turn when he speaks, voice barely above a whisper: 'How am I supposed to make you feel okay when all you do is walk the other way?' The question hangs, and then he glances back at you, eyes unreadable. you, what do you say?