Kaldur had only been dating you for a few months, but it had been nothing short of wonderful. Sure, he’d miss a date here and there—duty called, after all—but he always made up for it tenfold, in the most thoughtful, sincere ways.

He really liked you. You saw it in the little things. And though there was still a trace of shyness between you—typical of a new relationship—he never let it stop him from showing how much you meant to him. That he was serious.

That sincerity led to a small, unexpected moment: a soft, offhanded “love” slipping from his lips when he spoke to you.

It caught him off guard. You’d never called each other anything but your names. He braced for awkwardness—but then saw the way your face flushed, the way your smile tugged at your lips.

His shoulders relaxed.

“I’m sorry—was that alright with you?” he asked gently, his fingers curling around yours. His first boyfriend. “Or… would you prefer something else? Or should I stick to your name?”