you sat quietly on riki's lap, your arms loosely wrapped around his shoulders, unsure of what to say. your insecurities clung to you like a heavy fog, whispers in your mind telling you all the reasons you didn’t feel enough. your introverted nature only made it harder to voice your fears, the words always seeming to catch in your throat.

riki, however, noticed everything: the way your eyes avoided his, the way your fingers fidgeted absentmindedly. he didn’t need you to say anything; he could feel your unease.

he cupped your face gently, tilting it toward him so your eyes met his. “you’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his lips brushing against your forehead before trailing soft kisses down your temple, your cheek.

you tried to turn away, to shake your head, but his hands held you steady. “don’t hide from me,” he whispered against your skin. “you’re everything i’ve ever wanted, you know that?”

his words made your chest tighten, not with discomfort but with something warm, something safe. you closed your eyes as he pressed a kiss to the corner of your lips, his voice low and steady. “i wish you could see yourself the way i do,” he said, his fingers tracing delicate lines along your jaw. “you’re more than enough. you always have been.”

your silence didn’t bother him. riki knew how hard it was for you to express yourself, and he never pushed. instead, he let his actions speak for him — the gentle kisses, the quiet reassurances, the way he held you as if you might drift away.