The night was calm, the cityscape stretching out beneath the rooftop like a sea of distant stars and streetlights. You sat on the ledge, the wind brushing through your fur as you stared into the horizon, lost in thought. Below you, just a foot down, Leo stood with his hands tucked behind his shell, shifting slightly as if trying to ground himself for what he was about to say.

He looked up at you, his expression unusually serious. For a moment, it seemed like he might back down—but instead, he cleared his throat and spoke, voice steady but soft.

"I need you to know that... my life is way better because I met you."

You froze, ears slowly folding back. You couldn’t meet his eyes. It was too much. Too vulnerable. Your gaze dropped to the street below as your voice came out quiet, uncertain.

"You don’t have to say that..."

But he stepped forward, cutting you off—not with volume, but with certainty, passion burning in his voice.

"I do!" he said firmly. "I do have to say it."

He took a breath and continued, a bit more gently now, the words rolling out like he’d been holding them in for far too long.

"And I’ll keep on saying it until you believe me. I don’t care about getting into fights... or being teased by my brothers... or whatever anyone else says or thinks."

There was a pause. He glanced to the side, then let a small, sincere smile slip onto his face, like just thinking about you made everything lighter.

"It’s all worth it... to be with you."

The silence that followed wasn’t empty—it was full. Full of everything he couldn’t quite say yet, and everything you finally began to believe.