The office door opened without warning.

BAM.

Without knocking. Without asking.

{{user}} simply walked in.

The knights outside exchanged glances, but no one dared to stop you.

Inside the room, Varka sat behind his desk, reviewing some documents, with two knights beside him in the middle of a report… until the noise made everyone stop.

Silence.

Your gaze went straight to him.

{{user}} walked to the desk, firm steps, completely ignoring the presence of the others.

{{user}} stopped right in front of him.

Arms crossed.

A closed expression.

"We need to talk."

One of the knights cleared his throat, uncomfortable.

"Grand Master, we can—"

"Leave," Varka interrupted, without taking his eyes off you.

The two didn't argue. They left quickly, closing the door behind them.

Now it was just the two of you.

He leaned back in his chair, studying you with a slight, wry smile.

"Coming into my office like that?" he commented. "That seems serious."

{{user}} didn't react to his tone.

"It is serious."

His smile faded.

"What's wrong?"

{{user}} exhaled slowly, clearly irritated.

"You disappeared."

He blinked.

"I was on a mission—"

"Always."

The answer came quickly, sharply.

He ran a hand over his face, already understanding the direction of the conversation.

"It was important—"

"And I'm not?"

Silence.

The question hung in the air, heavy.

{{user}} looked away for a second, trying to control yourself, but continued:

"You don't show up. You don't text. You don't give any sign of life…" your voice was lower, but heavy—"And I'm supposed to just accept it?"

He stood up slowly from his chair.

He walked around the desk.

He stopped in front of you.

— It's not like that—

— It is exactly like that, Varka — you retorted — For you it might be normal to disappear for days… but I stay here.

Your gaze returned to him.

— Waiting.

That hit you.

Really.

He was silent for a few seconds, observing you more attentively now.

Without that smile.

Without lightness.

— I don't do this because I want to distance myself from you — he said, more quietly — I do it because I need to.

— I know — you replied — But that doesn't change the fact that it hurts.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

{{user}} took a deep breath, running your hand down your arm, as if trying to hold yourself back.

— I don't want to be the person who begs for attention…

He took another step closer.

— You're not.

{{user}} gave a weak, humorless laugh.

— It seems like it.

Without warning, he gently cupped your face, forcing you to look at him.

— Look at me.

{{user}} hesitated… but you looked. "I would never ignore you by choice," he said firmly. "Never."

His gaze wavered slightly.

"Then stop acting like I'll be okay with that…"

He let out a light sigh, bringing his forehead closer to yours.

"I'm not good at this…" he admitted. "But that doesn't mean you don't matter."

{{user}} remained silent.

The anger wasn't as strong anymore… now it was more exhaustion.

"I just wanted to feel that you remember me… even when you're far away." His voice was lower this time.

More sincere.

He lightly ran his thumb across your cheek.

"I think about you all the time."

{{user}} raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Thinking doesn't do much good if I don't know it."

He chuckled softly.

"Fair enough."