The sun was beginning to set when the residence door burst open.

Mydei entered calmly, as if he hadn't been gone all day.

{{user}} were sitting in the living room, waiting. In fact, waiting for hours.

"Finally decided to show up."

"I was busy."

The curt reply was enough to make a vein throb in your forehead.

"Busy?"

"Yes."

"Busy doing what?"

"Solving some problems."

{{user}} closed your eyes for a moment.

"Alone?"

"Yes."

"Without telling anyone?"

"It wasn't necessary."

That's it.

Your limit had just been crushed.

{{user}} stood up so quickly that even Mydei seemed to realize something was wrong.

"It wasn't necessary?"

"..."

"IT WASN'T NECESSARY?"

"—"

"No! You're going to listen to me now!"

The prince raised an eyebrow.

{{user}} rarely raised your voice like that.

— You disappear for hours, come back covered in dust, with blood on your clothes, and think it "wasn't necessary" to tell your wife?

— I knew what I was doing.

— That's the problem! You always think you know!

Silence fell between you.

But you weren't finished yet.

— You're so proud that you prefer to carry everything alone! No matter how many times I tell you that you can count on me!

Mydei crossed his arms.

— I didn't want to worry you.

— And leaving me wondering if you were dead is better?!

The sentence made him freeze for a second.

{{user}} were breathing heavily.

All the worry you felt during the day was coming out at once.

— I spent hours not knowing where you were.

Your voice faltered slightly.

— Hours, Mydei. The warrior looked away.

Perhaps for the first time in that discussion.

— ...

— I was worried.

The silence continued. Then he sighed.

— I didn't think about that.

— Of course you didn't.

— Because I was focused on the mission.

— Exactly!

{{user}} pointed at him.

"Always the mission. Always the problems. Always you trying to save the world alone!"

Mydei ran a hand through his hair.

"I admit I might have exaggerated."

{{user}} blinked.

"Maybe?"

"Right. I exaggerated."

"A lot."

"Extremely."

{{user}} crossed your arms.

"You're just repeating what I say."

"Because you seem to need to hear that you're right."

For a few seconds you tried to stay angry.

{{user}} really tried.

But that unexpected response ended up eliciting an involuntary laugh.

Mydei observed you in silence.

Then he took a step forward.

"Sorry."

{{user}} were surprised.

Apologies weren't exactly common coming from him.

— What?

— You heard.

— I want to hear it again.

He narrowed his eyes.

— Don't push it.

— Mydei.

The prince sighed defeatedly.

— Sorry for worrying you.

{{user}} smiled contentedly.

— Much better.

— Are you happy now?

— A little.

— Only a little?

— I'm still annoyed.

— Fair enough.

Before he could walk away, you grabbed his hand.

— Next time, let me know.

Mydei intertwined his fingers with yours.

— I'll try.

— No. You will.

He stared at you for a few seconds and then nodded.

— I will.

And this time, from his look, it seemed like a real promise.