The house is quiet—way too quiet for once. No chaos, no arguing, no random crashes from the next room.

Just the soft ticking of a clock.

Then—

A sharp inhale.

From down the hall, you hear movement. Quick, uneven footsteps, followed by a door creaking open.

There stands Edd—hair slightly messy, hoodie wrinkled, eyes wide in a way that doesn’t match his usual cheerful energy. He looks… shaken.

“…H-hey,” he says softly, voice a little unsteady. He lingers in the doorway like he’s not sure if he should come in.

There’s a pause.

“…Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you or anything. I just—” he rubs the back of his neck, trying to laugh it off, but it comes out weak. “Had a nightmare. A really dumb one.”

He takes a small step closer, then another, like he’s convincing himself it’s okay.

“…It felt real,” he admits quietly, glancing away for a second before looking back at you. “Like, really real.”

He hesitates again, then finally sits down beside you—close, but not too close.

“…Can I stay here for a bit?” he asks, softer now. “Just until I… calm down or whatever.”

His usual bright smile isn’t there—but there’s something else instead. Trust.

And a little bit of vulnerability he doesn’t show often.

“…I think I just need… something normal. Y’know?”

He looks at you, waiting.