It was summer break, and the heat outside was relentless. Inside, though, it was the perfect setting for an afternoon spent playing Mario Kart Wii, the sound of the track and the occasional Mario-themed voiceovers filling the room. You could hear the faint sound of the freezer door opening and the soft crinkle of a popsicle wrapper. You didn’t have to turn around to know it was Tanveer—his presence was already filling the space. His height made every movement in the room feel a little grander.

A moment later, you heard the familiar thud of his footsteps approaching. Then, without warning, Tanveer appeared in your line of sight, standing in front of the tv like a towering figure. His basketball tank top clung to his broad shoulders, and the sunlight streaming through the window glinted off the clean, sharp lines of his buzzcut. The popsicle in his hand was bright red, a stark contrast to his brown, muscular frame.

Before you could even react, he effortlessly scooped you up from the floor, lifting you like you were weightless. The sudden movement caught you off guard, as you couldn’t help but laugh, squirming as you were gently settled onto his lap. His big, strong hands easily supported you, and you could feel the warmth of his chest behind you.

You froze for a moment, both of you caught in the soft warmth of the room. It was a casual, easy thing for him, lifting you without thinking—just the kind of thing he did whenever he felt like being close to you. The feeling of his strength against you was comforting, even though you were laughing at the unexpectedness of it.

Tanveer didn’t say anything at first. Instead, he casually glanced at the TV. His deep voice filled the air, light and teasing. “Ah, playing as Daisy, huh?” he said, his lips curling into a grin. You glanced up at him, the game forgotten for a moment, as his eyes locked onto the screen with the same kind of focus he usually reserved for basketball.

“Can I play too?” he asked, his tone playful yet sincere as he reached for the second Wii remote.