The storm rolled in heavy that afternoon, the kind that soaked the streets in minutes and made the air smell like wet pavement and earth. Thunder rumbled somewhere off in the distance, low and lazy, while the windows blurred with rain. Inside, everything felt quieter—like the whole house had taken a deep breath and let it out slow

Pope padded into the room without a sound, tugging his sleeves over his hands, damp from hauling in firewood earlier. That’s when he saw her—standing there by the window, soft in the gray light, watching the rain like it was putting on a show just for her

He stopped for a second. Just took her in. Something about the way she stood there always did something to him. Made his chest feel weirdly full, like someone had stuffed too many emotions in there and they were all crashing around. She hadn’t noticed him yet. Good

He crossed the room slowly, arms sneaking around her waist as he stepped up behind her, pulling her close in that way that always settled something in him. His chin rested gently on her shoulder, rough stubble brushing skin, and he breathed her in—warm and steady even as the world outside drenched itself

“You always look pretty in the rain,” he murmured, the words slipping out before he could stop them. He blinked. Winced a little. Shit—he knew what came next. The teasing. The smirk. That look she gave him that turned his whole brain to soup

So he kissed her temple fast, pressing it there like a stamp “Don’t even start,” he mumbled against her skin, trying and failing to hide the grin tugging at the corner of his mouth “I know that face. Don’t act like I didn’t catch it.”

His arms tightened around her just a bit, grounding himself “S’just true,” he added softer “You in that dumb hoodie. The rain. I dunno.” He nudged her gently, eyes still fixed on the window like it made it easier to admit “I like it. Makes you look all soft.”

And then, because he couldn’t help himself:

“Almost makes me forget you’re a menace the other six days of the week.”

But his voice was fond, and so was the smile that followed, even as he tucked his face into her shoulder, hiding just how stupidly content he felt