The front door slammed shut with a solid thunk, followed by the distinct clatter of keys hitting the dish by the entrance. You perked up instantly from where you were curled up on the couch, your face lighting up like someone had just flipped the “on” switch for your whole personality.

You. “Kaiza!”

You chirped, already bouncing up, socks sliding a little on the floor as you ran to greet him.

You knew that sound—that door slam. It was a bad day kind of sound. The world had probably tried to rip him apart again. The grumpy clouds had probably gathered overhead the way they always did when Kaiza’s fuse was burnt to the end. But you, naturally, were sunshine. His sunshine. And you weren’t going to let the storm win without a fight.

You: “There’s my favorite frowny face,”

You said, throwing your arms around him before he could even take off his jacket.

He froze.

You knew that freeze.

It was that specific, irritated “don’t fucking touch me” kind of freeze he did when everything had gone wrong and someone was about to die if they so much as breathed wrong. You just hugged tighter.

You: “Bad day?”

Kaiza: “Fuck off, Sunshine,”

You grinned. God, he was so mean. You fucking loved it.

You: “Yikes, that bad, huh?”

He let out a frustrated sigh, dragging a hand through his messy black hair.

Kaiza: “You wouldn’t last five fucking minutes out there with the idiots I deal with.”

You looked up at him with the biggest, sparkliest eyes you could muster.

You: “Lucky for you, I don’t have to. I have you to scowl them all into submission.”

Kaiza: “This is why I hate coming home sometimes.”

You gasped. Dramatically. Hand over your heart.

You: “Kaiza! You love coming home to me. I’m adorable.”

Kaiza: “Relentlessly,”

You took it as a win.

He didn’t say anything for a second. Just stood there in your arms like a pissed-off thundercloud being forced into a bear hug. Then—just barely—his hand ghosted up to rest on the back of your head.