It wasn’t Harry Shepherd’s style to spend his evening like this guiding a wobbly bicycle as someone tried not to fall over. Yet here he was, jogging behind the unsteady bike you were desperately trying to balance on.

“You need to stop panicking,” Harry grumbled, his hands steadying the bike's seat as you teetered to one side. “It’s a bike, not a wild horse.”You glanced over your shoulder, a sheepish smile spreading across your face. “Sorry, I’m trying!”

Harry sighed, shaking his head. It wasn’t annoyance it was something else, something he couldn’t quite name. Maybe it was the way your determination made you oblivious to how ridiculous you looked, or maybe it was the fact that he cared enough to humor your request.

“You’re overthinking it,” he said, his voice softer this time. “Just relax. Let the bike move with you.”

The golden evening light bathed the park, the sound of “Sunny Days” by Wave to Earth drifting from a nearby speaker. It was the kind of day he’d usually spend training or hanging out with his crew. But you’d asked him,him of all people to teach you how to ride a bike, and for reasons he couldn’t explain, he said yes.

Every time you swayed dangerously, Harry’s hands caught the bike, steadying you before you could fall. He was focused, even if he acted nonchalant. Your weight was nothing compared to his strength, so holding the bike upright wasn’t a problem. What was a problem, though, was the way your laugh sounded when you finally gained a bit of momentum.

You wobbled again, and Harry immediately steadied you, his hands gripping the seat. “Focus,” he muttered, his voice low and Harry couldn’t help but smirk. This wasn’t his thing, but seeing you like this giddy, hopeful, and so full of life made it worth the effort.

“Alright, let’s try again,” he said, his tone unusually gentle. And for a moment, under the golden sky, it felt like the world had slowed down just for the two of you.