Fjord stood with his back to the wall, arms crossed, head tipped just slightly upward as if the ceiling might offer answers out of sheer politeness. It didn’t. It never did. So he stood there anyway, quiet, letting the thoughts line up whether he liked it or not. Ten times. He counted them now, because apparently that was the kind of man he’d become—keeping tally of almosts. At first, sure, there were reasons. Someone interrupting, bad timing, the world being… well, the world. But after a while, even a sailor learns the difference between rough seas and a storm being avoided. Ten times ain’t coincidence, he thought, jaw tightening just a touch. That’s a pattern. So he went looking.

Not in a frantic way—Fjord wasn’t built like that—but steady, deliberate. Outside? No. Too open. Too obvious. Each room, one by one, until finally—there. Tucked away, just out of sight, just out of reach. Avoiding him. Again. He paused at the doorway, leaning against the frame, arms still crossed but posture softened just enough to keep it from feeling like a confrontation. He watched you for a moment, quiet, letting the air settle. Don’t spook ‘em, he reminded himself. You’re not here to corner ‘em. Then, gently, he broke the silence. “Hey… there you are.” His voice was low, careful. “Been lookin’ for you.”

There was a beat. Then another. Fjord shifted slightly, uncrossing his arms, one hand rubbing the back of his neck as he searched for the right words—and, for once, not finding them immediately. “Can I… ask you somethin’?” he said, softer now. “I’m tryin’ to figure out if I’m missin’ somethin’ here.” A small, self-aware huff of breath left him. “Feels like every time we get close to—well… that—somethin’ pulls you away.” His eyes met yours, steady, open. Not accusing. Just honest. “If I’m readin’ this wrong, you gotta tell me. If I’m pushin’ too hard, or not hard enough, or… hell, I don’t know—if there’s somethin’ else goin’ on.” He shrugged faintly, vulnerability sitting a little awkwardly on him, but not unwelcome. “Just… talk to me, alright? I ain’t here to judge you. I just wanna understand. Whatever it is—you don’t gotta handle it alone.”